Can't Touch It

"Oh yeah..." Aaron's lips curled in a faint grin. He had bet Sam she'd grow tired of him, hadn't he? "Forgot about that."

He turned his head to look at her as she talked. Freedom. What did that even really mean? He'd never considered himself a prisoner until he'd come here but... if the Agency really did want him dead... and he couldn't go back, then... what else did he have? Had he really just been a prisoner of sorts at the Agency all these years? That was Garret's perspective, but Aaron wasn't about to trust him. So... where did that really leave him?

His thoughts were broken as Sam changed the subject, and he turned his gaze back to the sky. "Ah, yep..." He let his eyes roam the stars and he gestured at another constellation. "Orion's always been my favorite. I guess 'cause I see him as big and strong... with a cool sword." A light laugh slipped out. "Swords make everything cooler." He sat up and grabbed a coke and opened it to take a swig, then laid back down and sighed. 

"When I was a kid... I used to think I could eventually count the stars. Not all in one setting. But I'd lay out in the back yard for hours counting. Never really learned much about astronomy or anything - just the basics in school. But... I dunno... it's so big up there... endless." His voice had grown quieter, almost soft in a way. "There's no chaos. It's all a system of gasses and heat and gravity and... people can't touch it to destroy it. Maybe that's why I always liked it... My world was crap, but that world up there... It was always there no matter what. The only stable thing I had."


As Kyle listened to Karla, he nodded slowly. He was glad she seemed happy now. They really could use her in the band, and they all missed her but he wouldn't pressure her. If she had found a new path, he was glad. She deserved to be happy.

"I'm glad you like your new job." He gave her a smile. "We miss you, but as long as you're happy, we won't pressure you."

Theo picked at a napkin. Russ fiddled with a fork. Kyle pulled out his phone to text Alice and see if she'd still meet them here. Finally Russ couldn't take it. "Have you... heard from Kip at all?" He jumped at the sudden pain to his shin, and threw Theo a wide-eyed look.

Theo frowned at him before giving Karla an apologetic look. They weren't going to ask her about it. "We just... didn't know where he was now or anything."


Miles put his hands up but not before the rag caught him in the face. Grabbing it, he still grinned at Ryan anyway. "I'm not a slacker... I've been here the last hour slaving away."

"You mean looking at your racing magazine." Leo pointed to a pickup. "You. Now."

Axel grinned a little at the guys but just kept working. Catching Ryan's eye, he returned her nod. He wasn't sure how she and Hunter had really wound up together, but if he made her happy...It was a step in the right direction. 

Needing another tool, he wandered past, but not before pausing over her shoulder. "Good to have you back," he commented quietly. It was more than just having her back after a week... it was having her old spark back.