So little time

Feeling's Cindy's hand on his face Wes brings his own hand put to hers covering it as he leans his head into her hand closing his eyes for a moment, making a memorie of the way her skin felt on his.

Fianlly opening them again We lowers Cindy's hand and just holds it running his thumb over her palm. Cindy had so many worrys, fears and he could almost garnette they were the same ones he was have.

"The middle of next month. Before I go I will have an address so if you want to write, and I will have my phone on me."

Wes would make sure of those two things so at least he had some kind of contact with his family. He only hopped he wouldnt be gone for two long and he would keep everyone safe.

Continuing to look back at Cindy Wes gives a smile he loved his wife so much and the time he had left before he would leave just didnt feel long enough. He had things here he needed to take care of, and make sure Cindy would be set while he was gone, He had other things as well that he needed to set up even if he didnt want to but if the worst did happen, it had to be there. And still all his time he had he wanted to spend with his family. Oh how face it would come, and how slow it would go.

Heading down the so familure hallway once again the sneakers making a light scuff across the floor Bree knocks on Gunner's door giving him a smile as he did his push up.

"You know I didnt think Vampires needed to exercise to look that good?!"

The corners of Bree's mouth turned up in a grin as she came into the room a little farther. Pulling a small bag from her pocket Bree empty is it onto Gunner's bed.

"I figured you might be dieing for some cinnimon guy, and there is a candy bar and some water."

Bree gives a smile she liked doing things for Gunner. It made her feel good, and she liked seeing the sparkle that layed behind his eyes.

Lowering her voice just a little Bree gives Gunner a wink and a heads up.

"I wouldn't eat to much tonight as dinner. I have something for us while we look at the stars again if you like that is."

Missing something

Being drawn into a hug, then brought down into a chair next to Wes, Cindy's worry increases. What was going on? Why was he so serious? What was that look in his eye that scared her?

She holds her breath, prepared for the worst, but as Wes tells her, it's proven that no matter what she had thought could be the worst, she'd have been wrong. Her heart leaps into her throat as her pulse races. She doesn't realize that she's now holding his free hand in a vice grip.

Staring at the letter, she picks it up, her hand trembling slightly as she reads the words... over... and over. Her eyes drift to the sparkling diamond on her finger... the one that signified her bond with Wes... her husband... they were taking her husband away from her.

Cindy swallows and takes a deep breath, remaining composed before she can turn her gaze back to Wes' eyes. Her own are flooded with a million and one emotions. Taking her hand, she reaches out to cradle his face, just enjoying his warmth once more. Their country needed him... and she could not be selfish.

"Then... I will pray that God brings you back quickly." Her voice wavers just a little, her tone quiet as she tries to be brave. She had to be brave... she couldn't break down now... it would only make it harder for Wes.

"When do you have to leave?"


Axel goes with the flow, not knowing what would happen, but trusting Misty. He knew Carson well enough and new of the Elite well enough that he would trust her. It wasn't often he could trust as easily, but right now, he was at anyone's mercy who said the would help.

"I guess I'm a little curious about your research," he admit. "Though probably most of it would be Greek to me."

As she goes to the cabinet, Axel takes off his jacket, knowing she would need blood from his arm. He'd been through that routine numerous times.

Turning his arm, he flexes his good hand, getting a good blood flow. "I do have all the time you need though so... you just tell me what to do."


Gunner paces the floor of his room. He sits down, stands again, paces some more then sits again. He grabs the astronomy book, flips through it, sets it back down, takes the puzzle book and tries to find some words, then is back on his feet again. He was bored. No, it was worse than bored. It was like something was missing. He wanted to talk to someone. But he never wanted to talk to anyone. It was too quiet. But he liked the quiet. He wanted some company. But he never wanted company before. Why all the contradictions all of a sudden? He didn't get it.

Dropping to the floor, he starts to do some pushups to clear his mind. His talk with Hope had gone well. He'd had another session with a different doctor and that had gone alright. Lunch had been... tasteless, but uneventful. So what was his problem?

"Ten... eleven... twelve...."

Was there something in particular he wanted? What was missing?

"Seventeen... eighteen..."

Bree.

"Twenty-four... twenty-five..."

Bree.

He shakes his head, his arm muscles straining. That was silly. He just saw her the night before. Why did his mind want to wander to her?

"Thirty... thirty-one... thirty-two..."

Maybe he just wanted to look at the stars again. It would be dark in a few hours. Would he get to go outside again? There was one more thing he wanted to show Bree in the sky.

"Thirty-five... thirty six..."

Bree.

He collapses on the floor. Fine. So he was Bree he wanted to see. She just livened things up was all, and he.... misses it.

blood

Picking the leafs off of Kaylee and out from under her little hat Wes shakes his head giving a laugh as her looks at his daughter.

"How you got those there, I am not sure I want to know you silly little one."

Continuing to pull the leafs off finally Wes gets the last one off and pucks up his daughter to bring her back inside. Talking Kaylee's jacket off and her hat once more Wes takes her over to the playpen to set her down for now turning on of her kid movies on to watch.

Going back to the kitchen where Cindy was Wes knows by the look on her face she already new something was wrong and it killed him that much more.

Pulling her into a strong for a long moment Wes just wants to sink in the moment, getting lost in the today and hoping tomorrow wont come, but no matter how much he'd wish it didnt work that way.

Sinking down into one of the kitchen chairs He brings Cindy to one next to him. Reacing into his pocket her pulls out the horrible note once more sliding it across the table to her.

"I got this yesterday, its a note I am being called back over seas. I tryed calling everyone I could yesterday and today asking them if there was a way that I could work at a base close to home so I could be with my family."

Letting out a long sigh Wes is quiet for a moment before continuing.

"I am going to be a Sargent of my own special force team. I dont know how long I will be gone yet but I am can only hope a few months."

Giving a nod to Axel Misty straightens again. She couldnt help but be a little excited. She loved researching things and finding cures for others.

"Ok, well all I am going to need from you right now, is to draw some blood and than a little time as I do some research and run a few tests. I have a good foot hold in the door already its just a whole new game when have something to test everything on."

Standing and going to one of the cabnits to get what she needed to draw some of Axel's blood she continues talking. With something like this is was always good to be open so the pashent new at least a little of what was going on.

"If at any time you want to see my notes, research or anything just ask and I will be more than willing to show you."

Leaves

Axel watches Misty as she examines his hand, curious but trying not to hope too much. He chuckles. "I've been through enough pain - what's a little more? Right now, all I got is a checking account that's draining because I can't work like this so I got all the time in the world. You just tell me what to do and when, and I'm game."


Cindy smiles as Wes comes into the house, returning his kiss as her eyes sparkle. "She's really been good this morning." She comes down Kaylee's hair with her fingers. "But she was getting a little rambunctious with her breakfast."

Laughing, she shakes her head. "Go on, you two. Have fun outside." Looking into her husband's eyes though, as he leaves, a strange feeling creeps up on her. Why did he seem... sad? She tries to shake it off, figuring it's her imagination.

The next half hour, Cindy is able to clean up the kitchen to her satisfaction, wiping up after Kaylee's breakfast, then washing dishes and sweeping the floor. It always felt good to have a clean house - to have accomplished a task. She knew Wes liked to keep things neat, and she prided herself in being able to please him that way.

Finally finished, she looks out the window over the sink, smiling at Wes playing with Kaylee. Shaking her head, and still smiling, she goes to the back door to call them in. "Alright, house is clean." She waves to Kaylee who has leaves stuck all over her. "Looks like Daddy needs to brush you off before he brings you back in though."

Waiting for them to come inside, Cindy paces a little, her mind having gone back to wondering what Wes wanted to talk about.

Talk

Opening her eyes as Eli comes back into the room Ryan isnt even sure how long he had been gone. After she'd left she had felt tired and closed her eyes. Eli could of been gone hours and she wouldn't have known it. Giving a smile at her brother Ryan was thankful he was here to keep her chin up.

"Well I wish you guys would make up your minds, no wonder I never dates before."

Letting out a long sigh Ryan tryed to make sure joke out of it but it just didnt help lighten the subject at all.

"I wont give up, just going to give him the space he wanted. Its all I can do right now."

Giving her brother another smile Ryan turns her head to look out the window an almost far away look in her eye. Maybe thinking of what was to come, or thinking of the past.

Listing to Axel Misty takes down to few notes before reaching across her desk and taking his hard. Turning his hand over, and than over again Misty studys it from the outside seeing the damge before even going deeper.

"Well I can tell you I wouldnt charge anything. Like I said before your the one being the guinea pig. As long as you have pashents and dont mind coming here over and over again, waiting, and probley a little pain involved I will be more than willing to help you."

Misty new what she would do first if Axel would agree. It wouldnt be anything on him right away but a little more research maybe even a sample from him.

Leaning quietly in the door way Wes watchs Cindy as she talks to Kaylee not making his presence known. He offten liked watching them staying quiet and just watching. Almost as if making imprints into his own mind to remember.

Entering the room all the way Wes comes up behind Cindy and rests his hands on her shoulders before leaning over and giving her a kiss on the for head.

"Everything I look at you both I think I have a heart attack. My two beautiful girls."

Moving around to the side of Cindy Wes reaches down and pics his little girl up lifting her up high into the air and moving around in little circles making airplane noises.

"How about we get you bundled up and go outside to play so mommy can do somethings inside huh?"

Turning to his wife Wes smiles leaning to give Cindy a gentil kiss on the lips. Just looking deep into her eyes for a long moment all of his own love pored out. How was he going to tell her? He already new it was going to be hard for her and her was going to be so upset.

"Take all the time you need, I'll keep this one busy. But after words I need to talk to you about something."

Giving her another kiss as to say not to worry Wes couldnt help the sadness that he felt that passed through his eyes before turning to get Kaylee bundled up and take her out to play.

Da!

"Hmm... well, I'm sure he won't bother you again." Eli focuses back on the card game, falling quiet for a little while until he eventually get up and stretches. "I'm gonna take a little stroll... I'll be back, alright?"

Ambling down the familiar hall, Eli nods to a few people that he'd seen while spending so much time here. Wandering downstairs, he glances into the cafeteria but decides he's not really hungry, then aims for the front desk. Sure enough, Leo was right on time.

Eli comes up casually beside him, leaning on the counter as Leo was apparently waiting for the nurse to look something up. "You don't strike me as a candy striper."

Leo swings his gaze around in surprise, his eyebrows raised. "Eli, right?"

Eli nods. Other than their heated exchange, they hadn't officially met. "You do have some strange habits, I'll give you that."

"What are you talking about?"

"When a man cares enough to come every day to check up on a girl, but hasn't the guts to see her face, she's better off without him."

Leo straightens, his eyes narrowing. He opens his mouth to retort, but Eli cuts him off.

"Don't blame me - I'm not the one making it obvious by hanging around here every day."

Leo turns and folds his arm over his chest, already ticked off. "Is that all you wanted? To come down here and make me look like a fool?"

Eli shakes his head calmly. "Nope. But you coming here and inquiring at the desk every day doesn't do nothin'. Ryan's fine and will be going home soon. The only complaint she has is the man that walked out of her life, who she misses terribly."

Surprise flashes in Leo's eyes. "Is this some kind of joke? Are you trying to mock me?"

"No. I'm not kidding, Leo. Ryan misses you. I don't know what kind of screwy mess she got herself into with you, but our family has thick skulls. Sometimes we have to take the hard way around just because the other way is too easy. She might have had less than honorable intentions to start out... but I know my sister, and I can tell when she's telling the truth. And right now - she misses you. She fell for you whether you want to see it or not."

Leo grits his teeth, his pulse having quickened. His eyes blaze, angered by Eli's intrusion on his personal life, and fighting to figure out what was really true. "Is that all?"

"No. Where's Roth?"

"Out," Leo scoffs. "They caught him, had him in jail for two days, then all of a sudden, no one could prove anything, so they let him go. I heard he was back at the races and nobody will stand up to him anymore. He's a bigger tough guy than he was before."

"Hmm..." Eli nods. "Alright. Thanks. See you around."

Leo is left standing alone again, staring after Eli. Sighing, he heads back for the door, ignoring the nurse who was about to tell him that Ryan would be going home soon.

Eli comes back into Ryan's room, a smile on his face. "I think they model hospitals after labyrinths." He takes his seat again and sighs. "Nice day out there though."

Quiet for a moment, he cocks his head at his sister. "By the way... don't give up on Leo yet. Sometimes guys just take a little longer than you women to figure things out."


Axel grins and takes the seat Misty offered near the desk. Listening, he nods a little. "Yeah, Carson said he didn't know a whole lot about this particular research, but he was guessing I'd be a guinea pig."

Paying closer attention to what Misty was saying, another little grin surfaces. "I figure the end result can't be any worse than what I got now. See, I would have gone to a hospital or something, but I can't afford it, and my insurance won't cover it. So I'm a mechanic with a lame hand - not a great combination." He shrugs. "Carson thought I might get away with something I could afford, if I'd be willing to be a test subject and... I guess I am."

Bringing his hand up to the desk so Misty could see, he turns it a little. "I got some mobility, but it's all numb, so I wind up dropping everything I pick up and the like. This is where it started." He points to the scar on the top of his hand, and the matching one on his palm. "I had a knife straight through there at one time. I was in prison at the time and they didn't have the greatest medical facility. Healed up alright, but they said there was nerve damage. I started experiencing some pain, and eventually I saw a specialist. They said they could do surgery, but if anything went wrong, I could lose the use of my hand. At that point, it wasn't worth the risk so... I put it off."

Sighing, Axel shakes his head. "Not that long ago, the pain got worse. It would just shoot through my whole hand. The only thing that helped was to massage the area until it calmed down again." He figured he needn't say that Jess was the one with that talent.

"I still put off doing anything 'cause I could still use it most of the time. But then it started getting numb after the pain. Then recently it just didn't go away. Figured if the risk was losing the use of my hand then... I didn't have anything to lose anymore."

He looks at Misty, trying not to be hopeful. "I'm game for whatever you want to try. I know it's been long enough that there's probably a lot of scarring in the way and it might not even be doable this late in the game."


"Da!" Kalyee squeals and throws her hands up, food flying.

Cindy turns from the sink and smirks at her daughter, but she can't help a laugh. "If 'Da' were here, I'd have him clean you up instead of me." Shaking her head she takes a wet cloth to go and clean off Kaylee and the highchair.

Kaylee gurgles and shakes her head. "Ja!"

"No, Jason's not here either, hon. It's just you and me."

"Brmm da!"

Cindy grins. "If you say so. How about we clean this place up so Daddy doesn't have a heart attack when he gets back, hmm? But I think that means the playpen for you because I can't keep up with your shenanigans and clean at the same time."

Kaylee giggles and smiles big as if she were a sheepish angel.