Keep an eye

Looking up at Jay again Katie gives a small nod and a little smile as the tears still glisson in her eye. Slowing moving pass Jay Katie enters farther into the bunkhouse and to Jeff's side. He was getting worse by the minute and Katie could see it in his face. Sitting down on the bed Katie gentily runs her hand up and down Jeff's back and arm gently rubbing.

"You can't leave me yet, not after I just found out your my dad."

Tears rolled freely from Katie's eye not holding them back this time. Her hand shook a little but she didnt take it off of Jeff. She was there, and she wanted him to continue to feel her and know she was close bye.

"I always felt so close to you. Like I could tell you anything in the world and it would be ok. Sometimes I ever felt like you ran a close second to how close I felt to Jason."

Stopping for a moment Katie choked on her own words. The emotions churned inside of her, everything was happening so fast there was very little time to work through it all and process it.

"You could always make me smile and your camp fire story's kept me entertained for hours even if it didn't seem like it. I think I almost got every one memorized."

Katie gives a smile to Jeff trying to make him feel better and as comfortable as she could.

"I'll always remember the good times. I love you Dad!"

Katie gives a small chuckle and shakes her head whipping some of the tears from her face.

"It sounds strange calling you that, but I'll get use to it quick. I think I like how it sounds."

Opening the car door Hope stops for a moment and turns back to Gunner.

"Be safe ok?"

Getting out Hope closed the door behind her and makes her way inside starting to head down the levels. Making a quick stop to see Scott and set up a dinner date Hope was on her way once again to Reese office.

Giving a smile and a nod of hello to Susanne Hope knocks on the office door. Hearing Reese's answer to come in Hope slips into the room quietly and makes her way to his desk.

"Hey Reese, I just wanted to let you know that today is my last session with Gunner. I cant help someone who doesn't want it. It just does not work that way."

Hope it quiet for a moment as she collects her own thoughts and than speaks again.

"But that dosnt mean I wont be keeping an eye on him. He'll be back to see me sooner or later when he is ready. I could see it in his eyes the truth is gonna his him hard. We just need to give this time ok?"

Floats

Gunner lifts his eyebrows, a little surprised, but he doesn't argue. Putting the car in gear, he pulls away from the curb, takes a U-turn and heads back to TJY. Really, he'd just won a battle. But for some reason, he didn't feel like celebrating.

Once at TJY, he lets Hope off at the door. "See you later then," was as much as he'd said since leaving the scene. Instead of parking and coming inside too though, he leaves once again, not bothering to inform anyone where he was going.

At first he heads to the outskirts of town, the rolling cemetery in sight. But he changes his mind and leads left instead.

The little shop isn't very busy. It was just as well. Ordering a large rootbeer float, Gunner sits in the booth alone, his feet propped up on the other side. He had no paperwork today. No laptop today.

He fiddles with the straw and takes a long drink of the cold treat, almost giving himself a brain freeze.

"You're chasing ghosts, Gunner."

He takes his spoon and dishes out some ice cream to suck on.

"You've become the bad guy."

He orders a second float.


Jay doesn't hesitate to wrap his arms around Katie, holding her close. His own tears fall. "Oh, Katie..." Her words meant more to him than she would ever know. "I love you so much... and I'm sorry."

Kissing the top of her head, he keeps holding her, not wanting to ever have to let her go. But he knew he had to.

Taking a deep breath, he pulls back just a little, reaching up to wipe away some of her tears, while his own remained. "And you'll always be my daughter too," he whispers. "That will never, ever change."

There was a lot more to be said... a lot more to be explained... but for now... for now this would do. Jay points Katie towards Jeff. "I have to go get Angel... You need to say what you want before..." He lets his sentence trail off, unfinished. "I'll be right back."

Though almost completely out of it, Jeff had seen the embrace, and he felt at peace. Something told him that it would all be okay now.

Talk

Giving a shake of her head Hope looking out the window again as her heart sank just a little. She could feel the had taken a step back now and it would only be that much longer till Gunner could find his peace.

"We are going back, and there will be no session tomorrow, or the day after. I am telling Reese this was the last session."

Hope continues to look out the window blinking her eyes every once and a while as she let out a small sigh.

"There is no point in wasting your time for anymore sessions when you dont think you need them."

Hope falls silent but her brain was still saying so much. Thinking of ways to help Gunner, thinking of reasons. No matter if she tryed to stop or not her brain tryed to form a plan.

Making her way back across the grass Katie drags her feet. Words from someone she really never talked to lingered as she headed to the bunk house.

"So your mad at them both?"

"No I dont think I am, I think its more confustion than anger."

"So why did you walk away?"

"Because I was hurt, and I am trying to be strong through this whole thing. Jeff dosnt need to see me sad. I cant cry, I have to be strong."

Katie looked over her shoulder at Dan to who leaning on the fence next to her. He's seen her upset and followed her. She didn't mind to much for his company, after all she really didnt know him all that well and sometimes its easyer to talk with a stranger.

Dan's heart went out to Katie and he couldnt even imagen how she must feel. His life was far from perfect, but he wondered if knowing the man you called father all your life turned out not to be hurt more than his own problems.

"It's ok to cry you know, in front of Jeff, in front of everyone. Its not going to make them feel bad, but going to show them that you have feelings going on inside of you too that need to be let out."

"But what if I can't stop the tears once they start to come?'

Dan gave a small smile.

"Your a strong woman Katie Pent. Once they start, when your ready they will stop too."

Katie gave a short laugh.

"How do you know I am strong? You only just met me."

"Because since you came here, I've watched from a distance. Your Aunt and Uncle talk highly of you too. Your an Agenct in the Elite that has to take some kind of strangth too."

Katie smiled at Dan. What he said made her feel good. Its was a soft worm glowing feeling she had inside and Dan's words made a little scence.

"So what do I call them now? Dad and Uncle just some seem right anymore."

"Call them both Dad, or just call them by there first name till your comfortable. I am sure they would understand."

"I just..."

Stepping a little closer to Katie Dan lays a hand on her shoulder and bends a little to look her in the eye.

"There is no just Katie. You have always been close to Jeff and really this changed nothing but making your guys closer. He's dieing Katie and you know it. There is no time for second thoughts. And if he was to go tomorrow would you really want him to think you were mad?"

Katie looked up at Dan into his blue eyes.

"No, I wouldn't. Thanks Dan."

Realizing she had stopped at the porch Katie takes a deep breath opening the door. Stepping inside she almost runs into Jay. Looking up at him no words come for a moment as she just looks at him.

Finally though she moves as she wraps her arms around him. The tears that had been filling her eyes for day finally made there way out and down her cheek staining Jays shirt.

"I just...want you to know, You'll always be my dad too."

done?

Gunner's eyes stay focused ahead, and he gives a short laugh. "You're good... you're very good. For a moment, I almost trusted you."

He shakes his head. "You're right though. I'm the one that asked for the doctor to come out, so here you are."

He puts the key in the ignition, giving a sigh as every wall securely moves back up in place. "Alright, Dr. Garrison, are we heading back to headquarters to be done with today's session? Or are you going to make me sit and think about what we talked about today?"


"Yeah... I told her." Jeff lies on his side, curled up, his eyes barely open as he talks with Jay.

Jay sits in the chair, his shoulders drooping. "And?"

"She walked away." Jeff swallows hard. The tears were dry, but the emotions lingered. "She just... walked away."

"Was she upset?"

"I don't know... I think so..." Jeff's voice starts to trail off as his eyes fall completely shut.

Jay sighs. Apparently there was no more than that to be said anyway. "I'll let you sleep a while." Standing up, he receives no response. A bit of worry hits him. "Jeff?" Nothing. He gently shakes his brother's shoulder. "Jeff?"

Jeff manages to open one eye lethargically. "I'm cold."

Jay grits his teeth as he gets another blanket to spread on top of Jeff. "Don't go anywhere.... not yet." Turning, he heads from the bunk to go get Angel. Even he could see that his brother was going downhill fast.

Dr. inside of me

Looking back to Gunner Hope can tell her had just hit a nerve and for a moment Hope can't help but feel a little bad. She didnt want to hurt Gunner, and she wanted him to trust her, but she also had to see deep inside.

Following Gunner back to the car Hope slides into the passanger side and is silent for a long moment. Being cautious of what she said next.

"I am different Gunner, not many would let you out of there office to walk, or drive. Most would make you sit and talk about your problems. Outside the box, I look outside the box all day Gunner, with every person I meet. But when there are to many holes sometimes you cant go ferther and the past is best to be left in the past."

Drawing silent again for a second Hope looks out the window at the scene were Gunner had described everything. Giving a shake of her head she looks back to Gunner for a moment.

"I wanted to understand Gunner, I do but its my job to question everything, look around everything and put the peaces together. You wanted the Dr. inside of me and well...thats what I do."

Everybody else

Gunner's shoulders drop a little and he tilts his head at Hope, blinking once. He might have been made out of iron, but he words still stung on a certain level.

"You're just like everybody else." He shakes his head. "You told me you were different, but this just proves you can't see any further out of the box than anyone else."

He steps up on the curb and shrugs lamely. "If I'm the bad guy, then I deserve to be the one in jail while a murderer walks free. Is that what you're saying? Or no..." A light laugh surfaces. "You don't believe there's a murderer at all."

He throws up his hands in surrender. "Alright... let's go back to your 'office' and sit and stare at each other until this thing is over. I thought you might understand, but I guess not."

Moving towards his car, Gunner slides in behind the steering wheel, keys in-hand, and just waits for Hope.