Bodyguard

Rolling her eyes as Jason and Carson banter Katie shifts herself to look out the window. Watching the building and lights come into view Katie cant help but looks in aw. It worked that she was in aw after all they were "on vacation."

Finally landing and getting off the plane Katie holds tight to Jason's hand. The airport was packed and it was hard to move. It was easy to lose someone in this mess. Grabbing her bage she slings it over her should still glancing around at all the people. It wasnt her job to be a bodyguard on this mission but Katie couldnt help her instincts anyways as she took everything in and protected the two guys anyways.

Turning to see the guy coming twords them Katie holds out her own and gives her greeting to him giving one of her shinning smiles.

"Nice to meet you Ryder."

Starting to follow after him Katie knows not to talk about the case but keep it casule. Outside where anyone could be watching that was the best to do.

"So Ryder, have you always lived here in Austraila and can you sugest any good places for use to see?"

He seems ok to me. I am not here as your bodyguard but I cant help it anyways.

Hot one

Seeing Nate approach her cubicle, Laura tenses just a little. She knew she'd hurt his feelings, and she just felt horrible. Would he be upset with her?

The thought had been a silly one. Seeing the coffee and then the rose, Laura feels a part of her melt all over again. Looking at them, her gaze falls downward and she feels the kiss to her head. Looking up as Nate walks away, she just watches him as he goes to his own desk. She puts the rose to her face to feel the soft petals and smell the rich scent. "Oh, Nate," she whispers. "What am I supposed to do with you?"

Turning around, she gives a little sigh, but a slight smile is at the corner of her mouth. She still felt in limbo... but knowing he was willing to wait for an answer made it just a bit more bearable.


Kyle's shoulders drop. "You mean he won't be at the concert tomorrow night?"

"No. He and Katie are both on a case."

Kyle sighs and leans back against the wall, standing behind the keyboard in Mike's basement. Another morning practice. Except today it was just the Mitts and Mike. "So now what?"

Phil shrugs. "Jase said to be sure you knew he wasn't mad at you, and it was up to us to decide what to do. Far as I'm concerned, you can sing lead like you have for us any other time he's been out."

"I don't think that's such a good idea."

"You sang lead the whole time Jason was in prison," Mike reminds.

Kyle rolls his eyes. "That was before I was the big bad wolf."

"Nobody says that," Jen chides. "You did a good job before. You've always been a good singer. Now we just know that you're even more than that. You're a great singer and we just didn't realize it. So why not use your talent for the concert? What's the big deal?"

Kyle sits back down at the keyboard, his eyes lowered. "I'll have Cryptic the next night. That's too much."

Phil frowns. "So you'd choose them over us?"

"That's not it! Why don't you sing? You've got a voice."

Phil smirks. "Yeah. I know I can sing. And I'm fair. A month ago, I woulda said I was as good as you, so who cared who sang. But now I know that you're the one with the real vocal talent here. You want me to sing, I will, but the audience would rather have you."

"Great." Kyle runs a finger over the keys in front of him. "Everything is on my shoulders then."

Phil sighs. "Look, fine. If you don't want to be a part of the team and fill in while Jason's gone, so be it. But I thought that's what we were - a team."

"Alright, I'll do it." Kyle looks up at his brother. "But it's my last night."

Jen's eyes widen. "What do you mean?"

"I... I'm quitting the band."

Mike and Phil join in the shocked expressions. Phil blinks. "You're what?"

"Quitting." Kyle crosses his arms. "This is my last concert with JetStream, and the one with Cryptic is my last with them too."

"But, Kyle," Jen begs, "Why? This isn't anything we can't work through."

"Kinda hard to be in a band when I'm not here anymore." Kyle shakes his head tiredly. "Look, I've been invited to join Break Out and I'm going to. We pull out next week."

Tears fill Jen's eyes. "You're going to leave? For how long?"

Kyle shrugs. "The tour lasts a year. After that, who knows."

"So this is it." Phil was still stunned. "What... what happens to JetStream?"

"You can survive without me." Kyle rolls his eyes. "I don't add all that much anyway. You got Jason - he's what the crowd likes. You can be backup vocals, and if you really want a keyboardist, hit Rocky up. But... I've made up my mind."

Mike swallows hard. "So... you're not joining Cryptic then either."

"No. I have yet to tell them that."

"What will they do?"

Kyle shrugs. "I don't know. I don't think Rocky wants to sing lead. They might have Taylor sing for a while - it would be a different feel. Logan wants to but can't. Axel doesn't want to. Max can't sing all that well, and Joel isn't cut out for it. So... I don't know."

Phil looks down for a minute. "Guess you're a pretty big piece to both these bands, huh?"

Kyle doesn't answer him. Instead, he grabs some sheets of music. "If I'm singing tomorrow night, I need to figure out what songs we'll be doing. What should the lineup be?"


The delivery man opens the glass door and slips inside, scanning the package in his hand. Approaching the front desk, he purses his lips and nods. "I got something for Jem Ferchin." Rocky glances to Jess, humor in his eye. "She doesn't happen to be free for a signature and lunch, does she?"


Jason grins and brings Katie's hand to his lips to kiss it lightly. A kick to the seat makes him turn around and look at Carson in question. Carson just quirks an eyebrow at him, his eyes glinting with mischief. "Settle down up there, Hotshot."

Jason smirks and rolls his eyes, looking to Katie. "As if he's one to talk."

Carson laughs and settles back in his seat, pulling his ballcap down over his eyes. "Alright, now you can go ahead. I'm not watching."

Jason grins and leans over to give Katie a kiss on the lips.

If only he knew we were breaking the rule about not letting him hear everything that was said.

"Hey," Carson growls. "Shut up."

Jason withdraws from Katie, laughing. "Quit eavesdropping."

"I'm not." Carson keeps his eyes hidden beneath the brim of his hat. "If I was, I'd probably haul off and kick your seat again. But I'm being nice and not listening."

"Idiot."

"Hothead."

"Grouch."

"Numskull."

Jason opens his mouth to throw out another name, but a sudden jolt to the plane cuts him off as they run into turbulence.

Carson lifts his head to look around. "Well now. This is going to be fun..."


...The airport is a mass of moving bodies, all heading their own directions all at once. People talking everywhere. Intercom announcements. The sounds of planes taking off and landing.

Jason keeps a firm grip on Katie's hand, making sure he didn't lose her in the crowd. It fit - the three of them were supposed to be roommates on vacation. He looks to Carson, who nods toward the side where they could go downstairs and collect their bags.

Once retrieving their luggage, the three head toward the front of the airport. "So who are we looking for?" Jason asks.

"Don't know what he looks like," Carson admits. "But if he's any good, he'll find us."

As if on cue, a lanky blonde approaches them, looking out from under a straw cowboy hat. He holds out a hand to offer a handshake. "G'day, mate," he greets Carson. "You three look like you're just a little bit lost. How about a tour guide to get you going in the right direction?"

Carson grins and accepts the friendly gesture. "Ryder?"

"Carson?"

"And Jason and Katie," Carson introduces. "We're relying on you from here on out."

"No worries." Ryder smiles, his eyes shining. "Follow me. It's a hot one out here today."

Pink

In and out of sleep Katie trys her best to rest up. But with no luck much sleep at a time did not come. Katie's mind moves from one thing to the next so quickly. On the outside she looked calm and good excitment written on her face, but in ward was the constint though about what the trip was really about and the dangers.

Looking out the window and seeing the sun rise a small smile forms on Katie's lips. It was the same sun, that we there day after day. The same one everyone alse was looking at. The coming sun gave hope that everything would be ok.

Feelig Jason fingers in her own Katie tightens her own grip just alittle he smile forming on her face once again.

Good Morning!

Entering TJY Nate runs a hand through his wet hair. He was running later than he wanted to be today but it had been a restless night and now he was feeling it. The coffee in hand would serve its purpis well and the other along with the flower would as well.

Slowly walk to Laura's cubicle Nate gives a small tap on the wall to get her attachen. Handing her the extra coffee and the pretty pink rose Nate smile.

"Please dont feel strange around me now Laura. I love you just the same and for that fact I will give you all he time you need. I am in no hurry. Just let me know when ever you are ready."

Stepping closer to Laura Nate gives the top of her head a kiss before steping away and turning to leave.

Good morning

Con hangs up the phone a little wearily. He wished there was more he could do to help... but this was something he couldn't at all.

Wandering through the living room, he checks on Laura one more time, then heads upstairs. Crawling into bed next to Jamie, he wraps his arm around her to hold her close. He was glad that they'd found each other and had not questioned their love. He felt so blessed that Jamie had been willing to spend her life with him. He hoped his sister could find the same kind of happiness that he had.

Giving Jamie's cheek a kiss, he whispers in her ear. "I love you."


The ocean below was one big black expanse, yet to be lit by the morning sun. Stars dotted the sky, waiting for the hazy dawn.

Jason leans his head against the airplane's window, looking out into the great nothingness. He'd been able to sleep a little bit on the first leg of their journey, but as they headed for Australia, nerves had kept him awake.

Hearing the stirring behind him, he turns to see Carson awake in the seat behind him.

Carson catches his eye for a moment. No words needed to be said. Everyone knew at what stage they were, and what was happening. He glances up to Katie just to check on her. They were the only three people in the back corner of the plane, able to converse as freely as they dared, but remain quiet enough and not gain much attention. A chatterbox for a stewardess was the only annoyance they'd had thus far, having to lie through their teeth about going on vacation to Australia.

Jason's mind wanders, trying to find somewhere to land. He wanted to find something to talk about, other than the case right now. Then he remembers what he had yet to ask Carson about.

"Hey, Carson..."


...Carson lets out a low whistle as the information about Axel hits his ears. He and Jason had been speaking quietly for several minutes now, undisturbed and unheard by anyone else but Katie. “No… no he never told me about that.”

Jason gives a little cringe. “I thought maybe he had. I didn’t want to go spread this around or anything I just…”

“You just don’t want anybody getting hurt.” Carson nods. He understood, but while he himself knew that one couldn’t be judged by a stained past, not everybody would look at this that way. “I know. But now what?”

“That’s the hard part.” Jason sighs. “I know Cryptic doesn’t know about it, because Rocky has said that they never have known about Axel’s past. I don’t want to stir up trouble, but I do think people ought to know, especially when he’s around people like Taylor all the time. If I were her, even if I trusted Axel completely, I’d want to know about this.”

“Yeah…” Carson takes a sip of coke that the stewardess had brought him, grimacing a little as the carbonation goes down with difficulty. “Axel and I are pretty good friends, but even I don’t know how I’d talk to him about this.”

“Well… I guess I could do something more if you think I should.”


“No.” Carson shakes his head. “Let me take it from here. I know Axel better than you do, and I see the others all the time, too. I’ll… think of something.”

“Thanks.”

“No problem.”

Jason starts to turn back around in his seat, but then stops and looks back to Carson again. “Can I ask you something?”

“Yeah, sure.”

“What’s different about you?”

A grin spreads on Carson’s face. “I’ve been accepted and saved despite every despicable thing I’ve ever done. I’m loved despite my faults and despite my human nature. That’s enough to change a man, don’t you think?”

Jason furrows his brow a little, trying to figure out the angle.

Carson just looks him in the eye, holding his grin. “I may be a rebel and ruffian, but even I have a purpose, and even God can make something out of someone like me. Finding the purpose in my own passions and my own personality has impacted me more than anything else, Jason.”

“God, huh.” Jason is a bit skeptical, even though he’d been trying to figure it out himself for a while now. “And what’s the purpose in all that?”

“To be used not in spite of, but together with the personality I’ve been given. I’ve got a place somewhere. Maybe I haven’t quite found it yet, but I know now that I don’t have to change into something I’m not just to find it. I have a new heart. I have new intentions and a new perspective that keeps me from doing some stupid things I used to do. But I’m still me… and I can be me… somewhere.”

Jason gives a little laugh. “That’s not the Carson we brought down and held at TJY.”

Carson chuckles. “No, it’s not. My outlook has changed. And even that, God had to change for me… I couldn’t do it myself.”

Jason’s confusion persists, but he pushes it aside for now, unable to help a short quip. “Is that why we’re suddenly getting along?”

Carson’s laugh is genuine. “Takes two to get along, Jase.” He stretches out as far as the space between seats would allow, and stifles a yawn. “Guess maybe I’m not the only one rethinking things, eh?”

Jason is quiet, then finally ends the conversation by turning back around, his mind churning several directions. Interesting. Very… interesting.

A glow comes through the window, proving that the sun was rising, even this far from home. The ocean below became to shimmer, radiance sparkling off the water. It was a beautiful sight.

Reaching beside him, Jason curls his fingers around Katie's hand.

Good morning.


Laura slips into TJY and heads straight for her cubicle. She wasn't quite as put together this morning as usual. Having woken up at Con and Jamie's, it had been a rush to get home, then to work, and she was a few minutes late. Looked like she'd have to work a little more tonight to make up her time.

As she arrives at her desk, she keeps her eyes from wandering across the room over to where Nate's space was. The night hadn't solved anything, and the fear, confusion and hurt from the evening before still lingered. She wouldn't know what to say to Nate even if she were to speak with him.

Sitting down at her desk, Laura tries to start work for the day.

Ready

Heading down the hall and glancing into the living room Jamie spots Laura with Con. Giving him a knowing nod she heads for the bedroom. They had always said Laura could come anytime she wanted or needed someone and she would never change her mind about that. When Con was done he would be up.

Leaning back in his chair Nate stairs at the tv. Not really paying attachen enough to know what was playing but enough to keep his mind busy. Hearing his cell ring for a moment Nate hesitates to answer it. He really didnt feel like talking to anyone right now. But thinking better of it and that it might be an emergncy he pick it up.

"Hello?"

Hearing Con's voice on the other end Nate gives a sigh. The memories of the nights events coming back to him like they only happend moments ago.

"Hey Con its good to hear from ya....Yeah I dont plane on giving up not yet, just is hard is all. I know its 10x harder on Laura so I am gonna be as pashent as I can be."

Almost going to hang up the phone Nate stops knowing Con was still on the other end.

"Hey Con? Have a good night and Thanks!"

Hanging up the phone Nate lets out a sigh and goes for his jacket that way handing up. Taking the tiny ring box out of the pocket he just told it before turning and heading upstairs. Going into his room and to his dresser Nate opens the tiny jewlery case the was on the top and places the ring inside closing it and heading to bed. Tomarrow had to be a better day right? Checking on his sister one last time he places a soft kiss on her head before heading back into his own room and crawling into bed ready to leave this whole day behind him.