Thank you

Gunner begins to wonder about the past of the woman beside him, but he decides that now is not the the time to ask.

Instead, his knee quits bouncing again under her pat,and he cocks his head. His mouth opens to say something, but she;s already moved on to the puzzle again.

A small grin escapes. "Now all we need is to find 'dungeon.'" Leaning with his head close to hers, he looks at the jumbled letters, but then stops for a moment. He turns so his face is right by hers. "True friend, huh? That happened awfully fast, don't you th-"

"Alright, Brent, visiting time is over for today."

The overly sweet voice makes Gunner cringe, also not appreciating being interrupted. "Oh come on. All I'll do in my room is stare at a wall. I thought you guys were into healing th insane, not creating them."

The nurse frowns. "I'm sorry, Brent, you know the rules."

Gunner swings his gaze back to Bree and mouths Brent in annoyance. Finally, he stands, giving up on asking Bree how she could consider him a friend after they really hardly knew each other, let alone, he threatened her uncle. It wasn't worth fighting for more time.

Straightening, the unseen pen slips all the way into his pocket. "Where to, Georgia Sue?"

The nurse smirks. "My name is Marge and you know it. You also know we're headed to your room."

Gunner sighs and picks up the books. "Allowed?" he asks, a bit sarcastically.

"Yes, those are fine. Now come along."

Gunner gives a final glance to Bree. "Thanks for... well... yeah... thanks."

"Brent?"

"Yeah, yeah." A last shrug is all he can offer before heading to the hall.

"Oh, Marge?" The doctor who had been speaking with Hope stops them. "Please make sure all of Brent's things get moved to room thirty.It has a window he might enjoy."

"Yes, Doctor."

Gunner keeps walking, but turns his head to see Hope. Thank you, he silently relays.


Jeff smiles and leaves Rick to slowly join the other table. He gives Katie a gentle hug before sinking down in the chair, obviously exhausted just from the short walk from the bunkhouse. "Hope I'm not interrupting."

Jason shakes his head. "Not at all. As a matter of fact, you just saved us from a terrible argument."

Jeff's eyes widen. "I did?"

"Not hardly," Jade interrupts. "How would you go up against these two? It's impossible."

"Have you considered bowling?"

Jade blinks. "What?"

"You know... roll a ball to knock down pins?" Jeff grins. "They can't cheat at that, team or not." He tosses a wink to Katie, knowing that she and Jason wouldn't cheat anyway.

Jade's eyes sparkle. "Hey, you're right!"She turns and gives Dans arm a whack. "Bowling! You any good at it?"


Eli lies in the bed, his focus on the ceiling tiles, rather than the waves of nausea. The thought or sight of blood didn't bother him, but he could feel his body getting tired as it gave up a portion of its own life source to save another.

He turns his head to see his sister's form. "Hang in there, Speedy," he whispers.


JT rubs a hand over his tired face as he looks in on the room. He glances to Amanda, who held a chart. "How's it going?"

V...A...M...P...I...R...E

"I do understand where your coming from Gunner. I..I've been to many councilors myself, its hard to share yourself with someone. She's good thought I can tell that."

Giving a small half smile to Gunner, and another pat to his leg Bree just wanted him to be calm. He could be himself around her and she didn't care. She could hear a million storys about what he tryed to do and she wouldnt flinch or think differently of him. She'd been there, she'd done that..and she had the scares to prove it.

"I know you hate that I see you like this, but whats a true friend but one who walks through the fire with you. This here...means nothing on who you are. To me, I like seeing the guy in front of me who is nothing but himself. I am happy they stoped you from ending it because it wouldnt be the same being backwards alone. No matter how normal or crazy you are because I am crazy too."

Looking at Gunner her cheeks turn just a little red why she wasnt sure but she didnt try to fight it before looking down at the book again. Gunner wanted to stop talking about himself for now than she wouldnt push it.

"Ohhh...look I found V...A...M...P...I...R...E, Vampire!"

Leaning into Jason a little a smile so wide stays spread across Katie's face. A few days ago Katie had almost lost to people she found so close to her, and through her prayers God had answered them and followed through.

Yes it has been far to long, but I am happy we are here and now having this moment to do it together. I love you J.

Returning the kiss to Jason and than looking across the table at Jade and Dan Katie lets out a giggle again.

"You know just because we can talk to each other without using our voiced dosnt mean we always can. Only when we dont want other to hear what we are saying."

Sticking her toung out at Jade and than laughing again.

Shaking her head Dan sat next to Jade enjoying just watching everyone interact. It was nice to interact with some people who were his own age and even be included in the conversation. He hadn't felt that in a very long time.

"A game plan huh? I think we might be able to come up with one of those."

Dan gives a playful elbow to Jade and than leans in close as if concocting a plan of action with her.

Giving another chuckle the movment at the door catches Katie's attachen as she falls silent for a moment thought the smile on her face growing. Kaite new her dad shouldnt be out of bed yet but she couldn't blame him for wanting to. After being cooped up for so long even the sain would go crazy. She must of inherited that from him.

Looking to the empty chair on the other side of her Katie stands and pulls it away from the table looking at Jeff and than back to the chair.

"I saved you this seat. We dont mind if you sit with us Dad."

I don't know

Gunner traces a mark on the table with his thumbnail, his eyes drifting down as Hope talks. He didn't like being here... he didn't like being put in the same category as some of the other patients here. But... maybe he really did have a problem.

Hearing Hope's offer to talk to someone about another room, his head snaps up. "Um... thanks."

His eyes follow her until Bree breaks into his thoughts. "Nah..." He shakes his head. "Don't be sorry. You said what I was thinking anyway. Hope's a good person... I've seen her help someone who shoulda been put in the loony bin for good and he pulled through. I guess I've had my fill of counselors in my life so I wind up giving her a hard time."

Gunner's knee starts bouncing again without him realizing it. "I don't know why I'm here, Bree. I don't get why I can't do with my own life like I want or why anybody else even cares." He shrugs. "I know I got a few friends or whatever but... I don't know. I wish I could have just ended it all like I wanted to."

Turning to look at her, he purses his lips. "You realize I hate you being in on all this and seeing me in this state. I don't think I've ever felt more humiliated. Not your fault, I just..."

A wry chuckle escapes and he shakes his head again. "I don't even know what I'm saying. Let's finish this puzzle before Hope gets back."


Jade is laughing so hard that she has to cover her mouth so she doesn't spit her food out at the lunch table. Jason is laughing too at something he'd said, and he looks to Katie, his eye twinkling.

Been too long since we had a good laugh together.

Slinging an arm around her shoulders, he gives her a kiss on the cheek.

Jade gasps for breath, and elbows Dan. "Don't look now, they're kissing again."

"It was just a peck on the cheek!" Jason defends.

"Uh-huh. I want to know what you said in between."

"How do you know I said anything?"

Jade giggles. "I guessed?" She looks at Dan again."You realize there's no way to beat those two at anything. I think we need a plan."


As lunch proceeds, the front door slowly opens. Jeff looks cautiously inside, his face pale, and one arm was held around himself, but he'd dragged himself from the bunkhouse.

Rick is eating his soup next to Luke and Angel when he looks up to see Jeff. "My word!" On his feet in an instant, he goes immediately to Jeff's side. "You shouldn't be here! You shouldn't even be out of bed."

"I just wanted some fresh air." Jeff's eyes are tired and sunken in, but there is a small spark. Glancing around the room, he knows that everyone knows now about him and Katie. But he really wasn't all that hesitant... he was more glad the truth was finally out.

His gaze finds Katie, and a small smile forms.

"Well sit down," Rick prompts, "before you fall down. Here." He pulls out a chair.

Jeff shakes his head. "I want to go sit with Katie."

"But-"

Jeff gives him a short glare. "I walked all the way out here, I can walk across the room."