Alone

Feeling Katie's weak communication and a brief moment of her panic, fear was reignited in Jason. Forcing his eyes open and trying with all his might to get his mind to function, he saw Katie slumped on the ground before him. "Aw no... no, no no... Katie..." 

Sliding down to her, he checked her pulse, still trying to shake the mental fog. "Katie... come on... don't do this to me..." He could barely feel her heartbeat or hear her breath, which made his fear even worse. Tears sprang into his eyes and rolled down his cheeks. 

Katie? Please... please come back to me... please wake up...

Still drenched in sweat and weak himself, he brushed her cheek with his hand. He could just feel a slow stream of emotions, so gentle, so small. She was there... but the strain had been too much, just as they had all feared. Jason choked on a sob and moved so her head was in his lap, and he straightened her damp strands of hair. Curling over, he kissed her lips, but nothing was returned. 

"What have I done?" Anguish laced his whisper. Wrapping his arms around her, he just held her close, crying into her. How could something that had healed him have caused her own body to have failed? It wasn't fair. It wasn't fair, and it was all his fault for going through with this. 

Eventually composed enough to stand, he got to his feet, picking Katie up in his arms as he did. Though his legs felt shaky, he walked with determination back towards the ranch yard where he could see Rick waiting in the distance. He was still drenched, and his eyes were bloodshot, but he continued walking. 

Seeing Jason coming with Katie in his arms, Rick's heart sank. "Oh no..." Meeting them beyond the fence, he looked to Jason with more than concern. He was afraid. The worst had happened. 

Jason stopped his route and just stared at him, his gaze alone proving how torn in two he felt. 

Rick swallowed hard. "Is she...?"

Jason shook his head. "She's alive," he managed. He final words ran though his mind, causing the tears to surface again. "But I can't wake her." 

Rick reached for her. "Here, let me help you-"

Jason's hold tightened and he started forward again without help. "No. I'll carry her myself." All the way back to the house, his walk was slow and labored. But he refused to let Rick help. When Jeff saw them and ran to them, Rick had to hold him back so he wouldn't interfere. When they arrived at the house and Cindy came out and wanted to know what had happened, Rick had to keep her away too, just giving Jason the space he needed... 

It was several hours later. Katie had been made comfortable in Jason's own bed, and Jason sat in a chair next to her, refusing to leave. Bent forward with his arms resting on the mattress, he kept her hand in his, unwilling to let go, even as his tears eventually dried, leaving him too exhausted to even keep his head up... 

"He needs to eat and rest," Cindy whispered hoarsely to Rick in the hallway. "Or he's not going to survive either." 

"Leave him be," Rick ordered calmly. "Separating him now will be what finishes him off."

Cindy shook heir head. "I can't lose him, Rick... I can't."

"You won't." He set a hand on her shoulder. "I'll tell you exactly what I told Jeff earlier - I think Katie's body just needs time to recover. She's stable, and her body is simply sleeping."

"But for how long?" 

"That... I don't know."

"Well we can't just let Jason-"

Rick cut her off. "We can for now." He motioned to the kitchen. "Just let him be alone with her." 


Jeff sat on the steps of his own bunkhouse, staring at nothing in particular as he leaned back against the railing. Rick had kicked him out of the house - all he'd wanted was to be near his daughter, but Rick had insisted on letting Jason be the only one by her side right now, and it hurt. The whole thing hurt. Mentally, emotionally, and even physically. He rubbed his chest, feeling the pressure he knew came from the stress, and he knew he needed to relax or he'd be the one in the hospital. At least Rick had told him he could come back this evening when things had settled down, and if anything changed, someone would let him know. But still... it was hard. 


Zan chuckled at Destiny and held up his hands. "I won't even try to compete with pepper spray." He slid out of the pickup with her, and waved to Jett. "Meet you there in a few minutes."

"You got it." Jett pulled forward again, aiming for the road. 

Walking with Destiny to her car, Zan was quiet until they'd gotten settled and she was driving. "Okay, hang a right, and go about mile, then we'll turn back into town and it's not too far after that." He squinted at the road. "I don't even see Jett's taillights anymore - typical." He rolled his eyes. "I'd say he'd make a good competitor if he actually drove as well as he did fast but... he doesn't." 

It didn't take long to get to the Hangout. It was a fun little place with televisions up on the walls, and the smell of good old fried food. Their menu above the counter proved they offered a variety of things though, from steaks to chiken to salad to what looked like an enormous portion of onion rings. By the time Zan and Destiny walked in, Jett was already at the counter, nearly drooling over the thought of his chili fries. 

"Ooh..." He motioned Destiny over and pointed to a little sign that listed what anybody could put on their fries. "You like chili? Tell me you like chili. 'Cause then you can get cheese, sour cream, bacon... mmm!" 

Zan smirked and whacked him upside the head. "Now you're gonna give her heartburn too."

Cringing, Jett put a hand to the back of his sore head. "Dude, take it easy." 

"Hey yeah, what happened to you anyway?"

"Nothing." 

Zan nodded to the girl behind the counter. "Give us just a sec to decide what we want." He glanced back to Jett. "Come on, something happened."

"I told you, it's nothing." Jett turned to his main focus again - the chili fries and Destiny. "So how adventurous are you?"