Forever

Going to the bed and sitting down next to Jeff Katie gives a smile as the small bag layed in her lap. Taking Jeff's hand in her own Katie smiles down at him before looking up again and watching Jay leave. Turning back to Jeff Katie gives a half smile feeling the tension that had built in the room. Opening the bag Katie pulls out one of the cookies and hands it to Jeff giving a smile.

"Is...is everything ok Uncle Jeff? It just seemed a little awkward there for a second with Dad."

Scooting back a little Katie wrests her back against the wall. She felt tired and wrestless. Something was going to change again. Some how something would change again forever, and more tears would be shed.

Looking up and seeing Gunner enter Hope gives a smile. She was happy she didnt have to ask Reese if he new anything and get Gunner in anymore trouble than he already was. Working with Gunner, and trying to make him feel comfortable was what she wanted to do.

"Its ok, I was only going over some paperwork to pass the time."

Closing the folders Hope places them in a nice pile and folds her arms on the table looking across at Gunner for a long moment. Just studying him.

"Please just call me Hope. After all you told me you didnt need me to help you so that means you dont need a Dr. Just a friend."

Leaning back a little in her chair Hope looks to the small window that was way at the top of the wall and to the left side. It was very small and hardly let in any light but it was big enough to see the dark sky outside. Rain was on the way.

"Well, the weather doesn't look to promising so I thought maybe we could stay inside today and play a game, bored, card, darts, you name it. We dont even have to talk while we are doing it eather if you don't like."

Time waster

"No, no." Jay is on his feet, looking to Katie, trying to compose himself. "You're fine... just... yes... come in."

Jeff looks up at his brother with question, but receives no direction. Pasting on a pleasant look, he glances to Katie. "I think I could stand a cookie," he mentions quietly.

Jay automatically moves out of the way, offering Katie his spot by the bed. "I'm... just gonna take a walk for a few minutes, alright?" He pats Katie's shoulder as he walks by, seeming to linger for a strange moment before heading out.

Jeff watches him, a look of confusion in his eye as to what he was to do now. But he tries to hide it.


Gunner ambles down the hallway, not too slowly, but in no hurry either. Reaching the make-shift office, he lets himself in, finding Hope waiting. "Sorry I'm late," he apologizes. "Traffic got me on the way back over here."

He sighs and sinks down into the empty chair, slouching a little lazily, but not disrespectfully. Propping his sunglasses up on his head, he stares across the table expectantly. "Well, Dr. Garrison, what sort of time waster are we looking at today?"

Confustion

Continuing to work through the night and into the day Misty only left Rick's side to eat, use the bathroom and call Carson to see how he was. There was little time to wast and Misty new they needed all the could get.

"We are close Rick I can feel it, we are close."

Leaning in a little closer Misty flips through the paper work as she jots down different notes. Her research skills kicking in once again digging in deeper as she liked to.

Carrying the bag that held three peanut butter sandwiches, chips, some fresh baked cookies and milk Katie makes her way back to the bunkhouse. It had been a long night that turned to morning and than went into the afternoon. Though it was long Katie never complained, she didn't mind being there for her Uncle it was the least she could do. Making him smile, reliving old memories was always nice for her.

Giving a smile and walking up onto the pourch Katie gives a small smile. It was a bad reason for her whole family to come together but it felt nice to have everyone in one place. Opening the door Katie enters.

"Rosetta made fresh cookies for you Uncle Jeff. She new...."

Stoping what she was saying Katie looks from her dad to Jeff, than her dad and Jeff again. It was obvious she was interrupting something from the look on both men faces along with the last few words she had heard.

"If...I'm interrupting something I can go and come back?"

Katie's face held a look of confusion as she looked between both men.

Sitting in the interrogation room that had become her office Hope shifts trough some files and papers she had layed out. Today was another session with Gunner and so far he was 15 minutes late. Maybe she had scared him away or maybe he just wasnt going to come.

Letting out a small sigh Hope felt uncomfortable in this room, but its were Gunner new to find her and its all Rick had given her for now so it had to do.

Looking at her watch Hope counts. She would give Gunner 15 more minutes and if he didn't show up she would see if Reese might know where he was.

Five minutes

Jeff leans his head closer to Katie, bringing one arm up over her. Only if one looked closely, would they perhaps notice a tear escape and trickle into the pillow.

The door opens quietly enough that no one is roused. Jay stands alone and silent, watching. His heart was breaking for more than one reason. Yet there was peace here. He could only hope and pray that the peace continued after the truth was finally exposed.


"Um... yeah." Rick nods and tries to regroup. "There's a slim chance that whatever Jeff has, could be a relative of the drugs that created Katie an Jason's problem, and if that's the case... there might be a connection in the formula for a cure." He throws up his hands. "I don't have a clue, but it's the only starting point we have."


Time moves too quickly when you're trying to find a cure. But it never slows. It never lends a hand. Yesterday had seemed long. Today seemed even longer. Yet it still moved too fast. Time has no mercy.


People had been in and out of the bunkhouse all morning. Jay had been in to see Jeff multiple times, but only when the two men are left alone, does Jay sit closer, more serious.
"What do you want to do?" This was the first chance they'd had to have this discussion, and no intro was needed. Both brothers knew what they were talking about.

Jeff's eyes are half-open as he looks over to his brother. His voice comes out slow and weak. "You can't tell her... you'll lose her."

Jay grits his teeth, fighting the tears behind his eyes. He had to get Jeff to agree before Katie came back. She'd only left to bring back some light lunch for Jeff if he felt like eating. "I can't let you go without letting you have this one thing... you've lived with that sacrifice for over twenty-two years."

Jeff shakes his head stubbornly. "If she knows... you'll lose so... so much."

"I've had her all her life." A tear rolls down Jay's face. "That's more than I ever could have asked for. You deserve this."

"No..." Jeff coughs and takes a deep breath, trying to stay on top of the pain. "It will just... just confuse and... and she's got her fam... family." His fingernails dig into the mattress, his eyes glazing over slightly. "You can't... you can't give that up."

"I don't want to," Jay admits. "She'll always be my little girl, even though we had a rough time for a while. I was messed up, she was messed up, and I know we lost something in there but... I've looked after her as my own ever since I held her for the first time. I told you I would always look out for her and I won't stop. But... the truth, Jeff... I can't tell her when you're gone. I want you to have this... it's the only thing I can give you while there's still time. Let me give you this gift."

Jeff sucks in his breath and shifts his gaze to the ceiling. "You already risked... so much. With the... the Agency. No one knew..."

"I didn't want you to have to go. I knew it was your blood sample they wanted but I couldn't do that to you. And it wasn't worth the strife of the truth coming out right then."

Jeff thinks for a long while, and one might think he'd fallen asleep, were it not for his eyes still being open. "I just... I can't do it."

"Then we do it together." Jay takes his brother's hand in a firm grip. "Like we always have."

No one had ever known the strong bond between brothers... no one had ever guessed there was more between them than miles and a loose relationship. They had hidden the truth well. And they had looked out for one another much more viciously than anyone ever had known.

Jay lets another tear escape. "You and Katie have always had that bond.... I may have raised her, but I've always seen the connection between you and... I've always been jealous of it. I know when she knows the truth that she and I might drift even further apart... I hope not, but for you... I can't just let it go this time. Goodness knows I don't want to give Katie up. She doesn't realize how much I love her and how much I worry about her. But... but it's time for the truth."

Jeff swallows hard. "We both could lose her."

Jay knew there was the possibility that Katie could hate them both for their secrets. "I know. But she has a right to know. And I can't do that to her after you're gone. If you die before the secret is told, the truth will be buried with you. But sooner or later, she'll have to know... it's time, Jeff... it's time."


Gunner crouches on the sidewalk, looking out across the intersection. The streetlight changed from green to yellow to red, even though there wasn't much traffic. It was a fairly quiet intersection - not many accidents happened. But one had. And it was that one that brought Gunner back again.

Squatting near the curb, his fingers play with a blade of dried grass. His eyes see bits of litter, a piece of glass, and an occasional car. But his mind sees a scene of horror... the scene that plagues his mind at night. The sounds of crushing metal and a scream run through his mind as he watches... again. Every week. And no week was different. Never had a visit to this site resulted in clues. But one day... one day there would be. If he could just wait a little while longer... look a little harder.

His watch beeps. He needed to get back to TJY. He had another appointment with Hope in five minutes. But he doesn't move. One more minute...