Annoying Sister

Katie gives a half smile at her Uncle as she slips into the room and slowly makes her way to the bed sitting down at the edge.

"You could only get so lucky. I told you, family sticks together right? I wont leave your side, and will always return when I do."

Moving a little closer to Jeff Katie brings her leg up onto the bed and takes Jeff hand in her own once again. It felt so cold. Standing once more she goes to the small closet and grabs another blanket putting it on Jeff tucking him in gently before running her hand through his hair.

"Uncle Jeff, Dad's here were you feeling good enough to visit with him for a little?"

Still smiling Hope looks at Gunner searching his face for a long moment. He was going to be a hard one, he new his flaws and did nothing about them. Gunner wouldn't change until he was ready to change and what would take that Hope wasn't sure about yet.

"Spending time with someone else even they dont say anything at all is never a wast of time. Just consider me, a friend I guess."

Giving a chuck at her own comment in her head Hope shakes her head.

"Or if that doesn't work I guess I can be the annoying sister that you never had tagging along with you."

Looking at Rick Misty was just as confused as he was. Katie always had said Jay was her father but if it really was Jeff, why? Obviously Katie didn't know, but the whole thing didn't make a bit of sense.

Waiting passionately Misty listens to Ricks conversation waiting for him to get off the phone and come to the verdict.

Is it Jeff?

Gunner just gives a little nod, and settles back against the rock again. He takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly, enjoying the outdoors, but slightly bored. "Alright... so you're not here to fix and you're not here to convince... then what are we doing here?"

He shrugs lamely. "Reese calls you, you come, we talk about nothing, so what? I mean, I'm willing to do whatever but... this is feeling like a waste of time unless we're just playing hooky."


"Oh, good." Rick takes the package, giving Misty a grateful nod. "Thank you... now I can get back to work on this thing."

It takes quite a while for him to run new analysis and form data. But in the meantime, he keeps working, running into dead end after dead end.

Finally, he's able to study the reports again, and his eyes widen slightly. "This can't be..." He looks over to Misty uneasily. "We had the right blood before... but..." He swallows hard. "Surely there's some mistake somewhere... right?"

There's only one way to know for sure. He picks up the phone.


Jay has greeted many of the others, walking with Katie, and staying close to her for a while. They are just walking towards the bunkhouse where Jeff is, when Jay's cell phone rings. He stops, his arm still around Katie's shoulder. "Hello?"

"Hi, Jay?"

"Yes."

"This is Rick, from TJY."

"Oh, yes. What can I do for you?"

"I have some blood samples here and... I have a question for you. I need you to be totally honest with me. Jeff's life may depend on it."

Jay grows a little tense and he gives Katie a sidelong glance. "Okay... what is it?"

"Are you Katie's father?"

The blood drains from Jay's face. "Excuse me?"

"Are you Katie's father?"

Jay blinks and stammers as moment before looking to Katie. "Hey, why don't you go on ahead to see if Jeff's awake? If he is, I'll be there in a minute." Once he's alone, he turns his focus back to the phone. "Where are you going with this, Rick?"

"Just answer me, please," Rick begs. "I won't make anything out of it, and I won't relay this information to anyone you don't wish me to. But if what I'm looking at is true, I may be able to come up with a solution that will work in Jeff's bloodstream the same way it has Katie's. Please... I need to know the truth."

Jay pauses for what seems like an eternity. "The answer to your question is no."

"Is it Jeff?"

"Yes."

"That's all I needed. Thank you."

"Rick please, if this-"

"Don't worry."

Jay wished he didn't have to. "Alright. Thanks, and... let us know if you come up with anything." Ending the call, he lets out a long sigh, running a hand over his face. The battle had just intensified.


Jeff is lying in bed, the bunkhouse quiet. His breathing is raspy, but he seems fairly peaceful for the moment. The drugs Angel has given him have wiped him out, leaving him lethargic. Having been alone for the last couple hours, he'd been in and out of sleep, sometimes talking to no one. Not hardly realizing it, he had fished in his pocket for a small object that was the source of many thoughts that were running through his mind. But as he'd drifted to sleep once or twice, the small diamond ring had fallen to the rug near the bed, unnoticed.

Hearing the door open, Jeff opens his eyes halfway, trying to make out who had entered. The soft footsteps are familiar. "Katie?" He does his best to smile, not moving from his pillow. "Thought maybe you'd... disappeared."

Reconsider

Giving a nod and a small smile Katie looks up at her dad. She new she probley looked like crap right now, but she didnt really mind to much. This was the country and no matter how you tryed to get your hair to stay the wind would blow it every witch way.

"Yeah I am happy you did come. Jeff should be able to see his family a lot right now. I know its what he wants."

Giving a heavy sigh Katie straightens a little as she thinks about Jay's question for a long moment. She didnt want to lie to her dad, but she didnt want to make him worry. But than again eather way he was going to worry and she new from the expression on her own face told the whole story.

"I'm...something. Its not bad, but its not good eather. I think its somewhere in the middle leaning twords bad, but i am trying to hold onto the good."

Katie looks up at Jay again giving a smile and standing she stretches reaching her arms to the sky before putting her hands in the front pocket of her over sized hoody that at one time belonged to Jason.

"I'll be ok though. Some how, some way I will be ok. So dont worry about me alright? Just focus on Jeff for now. He needs it more."

Linking her arm with her dad's arm Katie leads him to the door trying to make the mood a little brighter.

"Lets go let everyone know your here ok?"

Walking with Gunner Hope stays quick with her hands in her light jacket buttoned as she walked. There was starting to get a chill in the air, not enough to say winter was coming but enough to say summer was coming to an end as the sun still shone not ready to give into the winter yet eather.

Following Gunner to the rock Hope takes a seat on the edge not to close to Gunner, but not to far away that she couldn't hear him. Her feet dangling over the edge only coming inches from the water. Leaning back on her own hands Hope takes a deep breath.

As the quiet takes over Hope just listens to all the sounds taking them in and enjoying them all. Each one saying something different, each one taking there turn talking. Hearing Gunner talk again Hope looks at Gunner and gives a small smile. She could tell Gunner had been to others before her just by how he tryed to guess what she wanted or was going to ask. He been though many who thought he was crazy, but he was now meeting someone different. Hope was much different.

"I don't expect to hear anymore from you Gunner, and I wont ask you to beg me for help eather because that's just not your style."

Hope gives a soft understanding smile to Gunner. The words she spoke were only the truth and were from her heart. Not to persuade him, or try to get him to change his mind, just simply her own thoughts on the matter for him to think about.

"As for walking alone, thats only a choose you can make but I would want to reconsider because sometimes its nice to have a friend along. Maybe not for the broken hearts road, but for another reason. Just to get you to smile, or to share a laught. Maybe even to share a freak out. Not every two people are the same as the last you just met, one might not understand while that one person you pass by does."

Looking away for a moment Hope draws silent as her eyes roam the waters herizon watching a group of ducks on the water prattling by. As a small breeze blows Hope looks back to Gunner again as the wind blows her hair across her face.

"I don't think I'd complain ether, its to nice here to pass up the enjoyment."

Reaching for a peace of gum Hope takes one giving a nod and popping it into her mouth.

"Thanks Gunner."

Coming into the infermary Misty quickly throws her jacket on her chair as she holds a small wrapped package. Quickly making her way over to Rick she places the package gentily down on the desk.

"Rick, Angel sent the new sample overnight shipping. I just picked it up from the post, and here it is."

You won't hear

"You can say that again." Gunner stands up, needing no prompting, and waits for Hope to follow him out of the room. Seeing Reese in the hall, he just smiles at him as if everything were perfectly fine. Reese was not amused, but says nothing, seeing that apparently, he and Hope were going somewhere else. He didn't have a problem with that.

Gunner ambles out through the main floor, giving a wave to Nate on his way. He holds the doors open for Hope, and is quiet for the short elevator ride and the walk to the outdoors. It was a nice day. It was warm enough one didn't need a jacket, but a nice breeze brought a relief of fresh air.

Wandering across the lot to the sidewalk, Gunner leads the way with casual confidence, in no hurry, but not dragging his feet either. The park is a few blocks down and they cover it quickly. Once reaching the peaceful setting, it's obvious Gunner has spent time here, as he knows right where his favorite spot is. He doesn't choose the benches like he'd mentioned, but instead, heads for the pond. In one corner are large rocks that protrude out into the shallow water. Warmed in the sun, they just escape the shadows that the large oak trees spread on the ground.

Stepping out onto the flat surface of one rock, Gunner lowers himself down to lean back against another rock, sitting Indian style. "Welcome to my office," he teases wryly.

Digging in his pocket, he fishes out a stick of gum to chew, then looks to Hope, squinting a little in the sun. "Alright, counselor. You got a passion for listening, so... listen."

He cocks his head, just looking her in the eye. The water gurgled around the rocks. A crow called out high in the tree. A squirrel chattered somewhere nearby. A loud truck drove down the nearby street. A dog barked. Ducks in the pond quacked and splashed as they hunted for food. The breeze rustled the trees and shrubbery.

Gunner's voice finally breaks in. "I don't know what more you're expecting to hear. My soul's already been shattered into a million pieces so you won't hear it fall apart now. All you'll hear is the pieces clinking together as I keep trying to glue them back together. You won't hear me cry because the river has already overflowed its banks then receded. You won't hear me beg for help because I've already seen this is a journey I have to walk alone and I'm okay with that. You won't hear me ask for understanding because so far I've found no one who does understand what drives me. And you won't hear me complain..." A faint spark lights his eye. "...because I wouldn't want to miss out on free time away from the office."

He holds out his pack of cinnamon gum, offering her a piece.




Jay gives Katie a big hug in return, kissing the top of her head, then giving her an extra squeeze. "It's good to see you too... I hate being so far apart."

He sighs a little. "Oh, things back home are alright. Hearing about Jeff, I decided I should come."

Cocking his head, he tries to study her face. He knew that she and Jeff were close. "You look tired... you holding up okay?"

Enjoy Myself

Katie eyes held a tired look in them, and were sunken in just a little still holding there gloss from the tears that were held back. Her night had been long, filled with little to no sleep. Most of the time spent at Jeff's side just letting him know she was there only to leave for a drink or a potty break.

Looking up at Jay sits down next to her Katie gives a small smile. It was good to see him and it had been a long time maybe to long from the last. Giving her dad a stong hug and a kiss on the cheek, Katie just holds him for a long moment.

"Hey Dad, its really good to see you. How's everyone back at the house doing?"

Giving a smile as Gunner enters the room Hope gives a nod as well. Though no one could tell she couldnt help but feel a little nervous. Not nervous of Gunner, or that he would harm her, but nervous because this was different. It was out of the box, and out of her norm. She had to get comfortable and use to things a different way all over again.

"Its good to see you again as well Gunner. Oh I don't mind, it gives me something to do with all the free time I have now."

Once Gunner was done talking Hope cant help but give a small laugh. Not at him, but just at the thought that he really didn't know her methods and must have been through the ruteen before.

"Actually, I didn't have any questions to ask you, not ones you would think I did anyways and most of your story I already new from your folder."

Hope lets out a small sigh for a moment as she thinks. She new that things would be different with Gunner. He was to smart for his own good and this was going to be a challenge but maybe it would be good for both of them.

"Well Gunner, first off I am not parcel to playing to many games with I am trying to work so we can cut those out, and as for trying to fix you, well I can say I dont plan on trying I just plan on doing but well I'm not the one who does the fixing, just the one who listens."

Shifting in her seat for a moment Hope contemplates Gunner's question about maybe going to the park to sit. It was a nice day out, and she was uncomfortable in this room that wasn't even close to her own. Maybe outside would be good.

"When I work, I do enjoy myself. Listening is a passion that unfortunately not many people have. Lets take a walk to the park, its a nice day out today and is better than this stuffy room."

Self-diagnosis

Axel's eyes narrow slightly as a grin toys with his mouth. "Ah well, you know... convincing or not, rumors are still rumors." He tosses her a wink. "They're never true anyway, are they?"

Taking a step back, he puts a hand on the door. "Thanks for the food, Ryan. I'll probably be down tomorrow. Tell the guys hi."

While not negative in the least, it was still a dismissal as Axel prepared to be alone for the rest of the day. Jess was busy working tonight, so it would be a long day of quiet. But he didn't mind.


"I'm tired of your sloppy work, Jason."

Jason looks down at the paperwork on Reese's desk that he'd just finished earlier. "What? It's no different than normal!" He'd gotten called back in from lunch for this??

"That's my point."

"Well, you've never complained before!"

"I finally reached my limit!" Reese stands up, his temper flaring as it had frequently as of late. "For the past couple weeks, I just don't know what to do with you! You've been moody, sloppy and you haven't cared for deadlines or policy. You used to be my best agent, Jason! What happened to you?!"

Jason's shoulders drop, too surprised to be angry at the moment. "I don't understand."

"Look at you!" Reese waves at him. "You're late to work, you just don't care anymore, and you pushed out another one of my best agents!" He bites his tongue as soon as the words are out, but it's too late.

Jason's eyes widen. "Say that again."

Reese folds his arms. "I don't need to repeat myself."

"You're blaming me for Katie leaving. Is that it? Is that why you've suddenly lowered the boom on me or what??"

"That's part of it."

"That is none of your business!" Jason's temper that had been held back, now surfaced. "What happens between Katie and myself has nothing to do with the Elite, and you have no right to judge me!"

Reese frowns. "I do if it affects what happens here, and it has. Katie is gone for who knows how long, and you've fallen to pieces."

"I have not!"

"You have! You used to be enthusiastic, Jase! You used to be on top of things! You weren't my best agent for nothing. When you went with Con and Austin to Texas for the first time, you were at your prime. You were confident, you were at the top of your game." Reese shook his head. "I know you had a rough time after that, dealing with a lot of things, but you got your head back on straight, and you were even better. You proved how good you were when you turned down the job of taking over the Elite because you didn't feel ready. I've watched you grow... I've watched you learn. And now, over the course of a couple weeks, you've flushed it all down the toilet!"

Jason blinks, his mouth open, not even knowing what to say. It didn't matter. Reese wasn't finished yet.

"You know good and well how you earned your nickname around here. You were a definite hotshot, but you had the skills to back it up. You might have been cocky, but you were the best. I want to see that confidence back, Jason. I don't want the know-it-all attitude but I want that confidence back. You're getting careless, and you're shoving away the people who have helped you get this far. Your personal life may not be my business... you're right. But in pushing Katie away, it has affected your work, and I can't stand by and just let it happen."

Jason sets his hands on his hips. "Great. So what do you want me to do about it? I'm sorry I wanted to go back to being a normal person! I'll start being on time, for pete's sake! But stop bringing Katie into this!"

"I'm bringing her into it, because she's your life! And if she's not, she should be." Reese's stare is firm. "That woman has done more for you than anyone else and you know it. I could tell you just to get back to your job and try harder at shaping up. But I know as well as you do, that it won't be right until she's back here and back in your life again. She's what balanced you out - or have you been so blinded by selfishness that you haven't seen it?"

"I haven't been selfish!" Jason barks. "I separated for her sake! She's always trying to take care of me, and I could never take care of her. How do you think that made me feel, huh? How would you like to be the man whose woman always rescues him instead of the other way around? How would you like it if nothing you could do would help her, and every time your emotions got the best of you, she hurt? I separated for her!"

Reese shakes his head again, his tone lowering slightly. "Have you ever thought that protecting her didn't mean saving her from pain?" He stares Jason in the eye. "Have you ever thought that protecting her and being the man meant giving her what she needs instead of deciding for yourself what she needs?"

After a pause, he lets his hands drop down to his sides. "Look, I've said all I can. I'm upset because you didn't help things with Katie leaving and we've been short-handed. I'm upset with your attitude towards you and her because it's affecting your work. I'm upset that you've been sloppy lately. And I'm upset with your poor attitude. Get your head on straight, Jase. Or you'll be sitting right alongside Gunner."

Jason grits his teeth. He wants to fight more, but he knows it won't do any good. Spinning on his heel, he stalks back to his office, almost running into Susanne on his way.


A faint smile creases Jeff's lips as his eyes slowly close. "Okay," he whispers. "Okay... we'll... get there."

Finally slipping into a degree of sleep, Jeff's grip loosens around Katie's hand. The day had shown such a drastic change. Just that morning he'd seemed to be doing so well... but the strain had simply been too much, setting him back faster than anticipated.

It's several minutes of quiet before Luke steps forward, placing a hand on Katie's shoulder. "We can let him rest now," he prompts quietly. "Let's let him sleep."


Afternoon. Evening. Dusk. Night. Dawn. Morning. Afternoon. The cycle never ends.


Gunner aims for the interrogation room behind Reese, a look of apathy on his face. He'd hope with Jason gone that Reese might lighten up, but unfortunately, he hadn't. And a session with Hope was still on the schedule.

He ambles into the makeshift office shifting his eyes back as the door is closed behind him. Giving a little sigh, he strolls to the chair at the table and sits down casually. "Good to see you again, Hope." He nods, offering a small smile. "Sorry Reese pulled you in for this. Sounds like he's got me down for five sessions with you and by the looks of it, he won't back down."

Leaning back in his chair, he rocks on it a little, his hands tucked partially in his pockets. "I might as well make this easy for you, so you don't have to go through all the questions you've undoubtedly prepared." A very slight grin tweaks the corner of his mouth. "See... when I was eighteen, I was in a car accident. My parents were killed. To this day, I remember nothing of my life before that point. The police caught a guy they thought was the other driver, but I got proof it wasn't him. No one would listen. So, I made it my goal to find him. I've been hunting him for years."

Gunner's eyes focus on Hope's as he lays out the facts about himself. "You might categorize my drive for justice as obsession. Yes, I recognize that I live in the past. I know that I have not yet completely moved on from my parent's death, and I still have trouble dealing with the fact that I lost my memory. Every once in a while I wonder if the accident was my fault. Sometimes this results in depression. When I was twenty, I almost jumped off a bridge."

Though his expression doesn't change, he blinks once. What was that look in his eye? It was already gone. "My job here keeps me busy, it gives me the action I need to make me feel like I'm needed and doing some good, and it gives me an opportunity to continue my hunt. When needing to deal with what's inside, I work, exercise or write my feelings down, avoiding anything resembling a bridge."

He cocks his head, still very casual. "If you wanna know if I've ever cried over my parents, the answer is yes. Have I visited their graves? Yes. Do I have nightmares that haunt me? Yes. Does my depression ever lead to compulsive behavior? If you count binging on rootbeer floats, then yes. Am I screwed up in the head? Pretty much. But maybe that's because of the metal plate up there."

He pauses as if trying to think if he'd left anything out. "Now, we can sit here and play games for an hour and pretend like we're fixing me, or we can go out somewhere that we can actually enjoy ourselves and you can count it as work time. We got five sessions to get through, and I think you'll find I have very few buttons to push, very few things that will trigger reactions, and even fewer things that will ever be fixed. I'll sit here as long as you want me to and I'll answer any question you got. But this chair is extremely uncomfortable, and the one you're in can't be any better." He nods towards the door. "I hear the benches at the park are much nicer."


Jeff's breathing comes shallow and with a slight rasp. He still sweat, hot with fever, and the night had persisted with fits of coughing. He'd been unable to keep anything down, but had balked at the assistance of an iv. At this point, he just wanted this to be over, torn between fighting and just letting go.

Becky had lent a hand, and now mopped his brow with a cold cloth, giving Angel a break. Her heart ached, seeing Jeff like this, so weak and helpless. It was just like when he'd almost died before... but at least then, they had a course of action. And now... it felt like they were just waiting for him to die.

Outside, the gravel crunches under a pickup's tires as it's parked near the main house. The driver gets out and glances around the ranch yard for a moment before heading slowly towards the barn, looking for familiar faces.

Finally entering the cool building, he's greeted by several horses nickering. He nods to a couple people he knows, but keeps going until he spots the one he's looking for, sitting on a hay bale. Approaching slowly, Jay takes his time, finally easing down to sit next to Katie. "Hey, you."