Good to see you or not

Starring up at the ceiling Katie gives a tiny roll in her only to feel her pad of paper and pencil next to her. Just starring at the wall for a long moment it takes Katie a second to relies where she was. Soon, the smell of the bunk house, and the faint memory of arriving yesterday enters her mind Katie relies where she was and sits up.

Swinging her feet out of bed Katie sits on the edge for a long moment as a whole new wave of feels come to her. But they were not anyone else's but her own this time. The thought was great, yet horrifying all at the same time. The feeling of being away from Jason was still one Katie didn't like.

Katie stomach starts to churn as memories start to surface. Yesterday she had skipped out on having any episodes but today she would not be so lucky. Standing Katie makes her way to the bathroom just in time as she stomach revolts against her and she loses what little she had in her stomach already.

Sitting at her desk Hope taps her pencil on her desk. Dialing Scott's number and getting his voicemail Her heart sunk a little. Today was the day of her hearing and though she hadnt told anyone not even Angelica she was scared. Even if she herself acted confidant. She didnt know what was going to happen and this could very well be life changing though she would never change a thing she did.

She had a few hours before her hearing and she was hoping to have lunch with Scott or at least talk to him to calm down a little bit.

"Hey Scott its Hope. I was hoping we could grab something to eat. Court is not for about two hours so if you get this before than just give me a call back. Thanks."

Hanging up the phone Hope stands and walks over to the window that many times in the past Scott himself had looked out. Finding comfort in the nice view Hope let out a small sigh trying to calm herself down.

Giving a snicker from behind Gunner Bree shakes her head. Taking a spoonful of whip-cream.

"I think that waitress is going to have a bad day today if she is already getting stressed out this morning. I tell ya though I need to start a petition to put un-sundays on the menu, or at least do something so everyone knows what they are."

Giving a half smile to Gunner the rest of Bree's face stays emotionless as the glimmer of humor in her eyes proceed.

"Morning Gunner, I haven't deiced if its good to see you or not yet, no offense of course. Just weighing the options of your here by chance, or we are stalking each-other!"

Rootbeer breakfast

A quiet city. A quiet countryside. A quiet ranch. God sends His peace, despite the turmoil in the hearts and minds of His children. Night envelopes all, before a new dawn comes. Perhaps the dawn brings newness. Perhaps it brings opportunities not presented until now. Perhaps it brings chances to grow and learn that yesterday didn't hold.

"Jason!"

Jason lifts his head under his pillow, blinking in the dim light of his bedroom. The voice came again.

"Jason, I know you're there! Pick up!"

His answering machine... it was Reese. Jason groans and flops back down again. Reese had probably already tried his cell phone, which he'd turned off several hours earlier when he'd finally gotten to sleep.

"Jason!" Reese's growl comes over the machine. "Look, Hotshot, I'm tired of you coming in late. I want you here within half an hour, do you understand me? I want you out on the street with Con and I want you to do it on time. The department isn't revolving around you, Jase. Now come on - get your hind end out of bed and get in here!"

The click almost seemed to shake the room. Jason grimaces and finally sits up in bed, putting a hand to his head. He had a headache... but otherwise his body felt alright. No traumatic events... just... quietness. Feeling the string around his neck, Jason fingers the ring that dangled, hidden beneath his t-shirt. He'd tried to sleep off all his bad feelings, but the confusion was still here this morning. Katie had left without actually telling him goodbye, she'd cut herself off from him, and left him a token to remember her. What did that mean? He was afraid to ask. Part of him wanted to call... wanted to email... but if Katie really wanted to be away from him, then he should probably just leave her alone. He didn't understand... and it hurt just a little bit. But... it was obviously what she wanted.

The phone rang again. "Coming!" Jason shouts to no one. He trips over Trooper and yells at the dog to get out of his way, scrounging for a clean pair of jeans.


Gage sits in the quiet, dark room, hearing the sounds of a new day, out in the hall. He heard Rick walk by - he recognized the steps. He heard Dalton... or was it Con? Both men had long strides. The clicking of heels was Susanne. And there was the softer sound of Ty's tennis shoes.

This morning though, Gage doesn't get up off the bed. Last night, he'd had a lot of time to think, and what he had come up with, wasn't pleasant. He'd thought a lot about Katie, putting the pieces together until he figured he knew what was happening. She must have left to mentally recuperate. The hard part was knowing that Gage was one of the reasons this had happened to her. He'd helped torture her... he'd helped hold her against her will and had helped separate her from her lifeline, Jason. And she wasn't the first. He'd helped inject fear into others.

At the time, he really hadn't thought much of it. He'd thought there was a bigger purpose behind it all. But now... now he knew the truth... and the guilt was overwhelming.


Scott curls up on his bed, his hand stroking Domino's head. Yesterday had been a whole lot tougher than he'd thought it would be, especially seeing Gage walking around. Seeing someone constantly, who was apart of the data his mind held wasn't a feeling he wanted to repeat. He didn't know yet how to control these things, and it was a little frightening.

He was more tired than he thought he'd be too. Though working alongside Dalton hadn't been all that hard, it had been mentally stressful, trying to get back in the groove of things again.

And this morning... this morning, he wasn't sure he was ready to go back. Nothing traumatic had happened, but he just felt... alone. He had his sister at work... he had Dalton... he had everyone else who were his friends... but no one really understood what he was going through, mentally. He didn't know how to tell them, and he didn't like jumping at the little things, or cringing when a random piece of information surfaced that made him remember the Agency. Couldn't he just stay in bed today?


"A rootbeer float... for breakfast?"

Gunner lifts an eyebrow at the waitress by his table. "Got a problem with that?"

The waitress sighs and shakes her head. "No... whatever happened to eggs and toast?"

"Do I look like an ordinary man to you?"

"No, I can definitely say, you don't." The waitress rolls her eyes and heads back into the kitchen. "Your float will be right out."

Gunner only grins when she's gone, then opens up his laptop. He'd told Reese he'd be in late today, and it was for a good reason. He'd just gotten some new files from Billy and he was itching to find out what was in them. One day he'd find the right one. One day.

Poem

Seeing Gage's concern for Katie Misty was just a little surprised. First that Gage had noticed Katie wasnt around today, and two that he would even care to see how she was.

"Katie is going to be ok, she just needs some time to heal emotionally. That was very nice of you to ask about Katie."

Giving a tiny nod to Gage Misty gives a smile. She wasn't sure how things would go with Gage, but she hoped things would go well and he would get that chance he should have.

Thinking for a long moment Dan though about some of the other things Rosetta wanted him to do tomorrow. He should have time to go with Mick and than be back in time for his other chores.

"Sure, I'd love to go and help with you. I should have time anyways. What time will we be heading out?"

Finishing up with her shower Katie throws her hair up on the top of her head before heading over to the bed and pulling the covers back. Hoping in she pulls out a pad of paper and starts to write a few things down. Words flowed from her hand as her poem started to form, keeping her mind busy from the memories that wanted to come.

Writing

Gage looks at Misty, a little surprised. He didn't talk much with anyone around here except Sapphire. "Um... no... no. Um, thank you..." He shrugs lamely. "I'm just... heading to bed I guess."

He starts to continue his route, then stops and turns to her again. "Um... I didn't see that girl today... Katie? Is she okay?"


Ryder stops a moment, seeming to be confused, then a smile spreads on his face. She hadn't understood that he questioned whether she was comfortable staying alone in a house with him, not whether she was scared to be by herself. He decides not to try and explain. Instead, he chuckles.

"I can stay out here on the couch, that's no problem. If you need anything, you can come and get me."


Mick glances up from handling the foal, letting her return to her mother in the large stall. Nodding to Dan, he takes off his gloves, exiting into the aisle. "I think we should be good for the night. Tomorrow I want to go out and check the back fenceline. Might take a few hours. Thought I'd go on horseback if you want to tag along."


Jason fishes in the junk drawer of his kitchen until he finally finds the thin black cord he's looking for. Holding it up, he eyeballs the length and is satisfied. Heading back to the couch, he sinks back down into the cushions, tired, but feeling too much stress to sleep at the moment.

After fooling with the string for a few minutes, he picks up his notepad and pencil to write. He didn't want to think about him and Katie right now... he didn't want to think about that area of his life right now. He just wanted to be able to concentrate on something else.

The words to songs flows through his mind as easily as water flows through a river, and he writes.

New Faces

Leaving the infirmary Misty was ready to go her jacket in hand. Carson had called to let her know tonight he was tired after a long day at work and would be heading right home but tomorrow they would hand out. Now it was her turn to leave after checking on Jeff before heading out.

Hearing a noise at the end of the hall Misty turns to look squinting in the dim light. Seeing Gage's form at the end of the hall Misty turns and starts to head down that way. Trying not to sneak up on him she gives a small cough to let him know she was there before getting to him. Giving a small smile she inquires.

"Hey Gage, I saw you down here and I just wanted to make sure everything was ok or if you needed anything before I headed out?"

Keeping his arm wrapped around Laura firmly yet gently Nate leans his head on top of hers continuing to watch the movie.

It had been a good night full of laughter, and fun with his sister and wife. Though he felt completely exhausted Nate didn't want to move. He was to comfortable here and the movie wasn't close to being over. He'd rise the rest of the movie out, and once it was done he would carry Laura up to bed with him, but for now this was perfect.

Parking her car next to the bunk house Rosetta had said was empty and would be hers Katie pulls out her suit case and takes it inside. She had been here for about an hour now and had gotten her hello's out of the way. Now as the medicine kicked in Katie could feel the small throb as a headache formed, a few memories trying to creep out she new that her emotions where cut off from Jason.

Throwing her suit case onto the bed she starts to unpack a few things placing them in the order of where they would go and making sure there was fresh towels in the bathroom. Maybe a quick shower would help her feel better tonight before she headed to sleep.

Tomorrow would be another busy day filled with seeing everyone and even going to see Clint, Wendy and Chase. Though she wasn't sure what to say she hoped they would be happy to see her. Maybe she would even go see Wes, Cindy and Kaylee tomorrow too.

Only one thing Katie really wasn't looking forward to was explaining to people why she was here, and staying for a while. With any luck maybe no one would ask for they would just assume she was here to visit for a little while.

Grabbing a fresh pare of pjs and her bath soap and shampoo Katie headed into the bathroom turning on the water to fill the tub. A bath would help her relax and even ease her mind. After the long ride, and the stress she new would come this is what she needed.

Leaning back on the couch and looking up at Ryder, Thirteen gives a little smile as she thinks. It was going to be strange without Katie there now, not to mention even a little scary.

"Maybe just for tonight you could sleep on the couch and I will sleep in my new room? Than tomorrow I can sleep alone down here?"

Thirteen wanted to be able to be alone and it to be ok, but she had hardly gotten use to the noises in the house let alone sleep in her new room. The walls where still bare and there went curtains on the windows. The room needed some work to become hers but sleeping in it would be the first step.

"Hey Mick?"

A tall blond haired gentleman steps out from one of the stalls looking down the isle for Mick. His blue eyes shone bright from under his stetson even in the dim light of the barn.

Taking his tan work gloves off Dan heals down looking into each stall till he finds Mick in with the foal.

Dan had been working at the ranch for about two weeks now. He'd just recintly moved into town and heard many people talk about this ranch. He wanted to get back into horses and if this place was as good as people talked about he might as well get a job here.

Though at the time the ranch wasn't looking for worked Dan got Rosetta to take him on at least part time till as the long winter months were coming up fast. After that if they liked his work and needed someone for the busy summer he would stay. He promised to work hard and prove he new what he was doing around horses. Though his past he didn't talk to much about his future was bright and it made him even more excited when he found out that ranch was a Christian one on top of it.

Pushing his Stetson back a little bit Dan leaned on the railing just watching Mick with the foal for a moment. Finally though Dan straightens just a little before speaking.

"Mick, I got all the feedings gone, and new bedding laid down. I made sure Thunder had his special feed as well. Was there anything else you needed me to do before I headed to wash up?"