Peaceful

Jason's body remained motionless, though his mind continued to try and break through the fog. He could feel Katie, but it was hard understanding the feelings he felt pushed his way. The pain made him recoil emotionally, shutting down completely for a just a second before opening up again the impossible torrent with nowhere to go.

Rick remained kneeling near them both, and looked to Katie with gentle concern. "Just hang in there, Katie..." He reached over to feel her forehead, then left his palm resting on her cheek. "It is getting worse... and it's going to get even more so until it gets better. But it will get better. You have to believe that." 

"Rick?" 

Rick jumped at Jason's voice and glanced down to see his eyes open. "Jase?" 

Jason blinked and moved, wincing. "What happened?" he mumbled. "I feel like I got run over by a truck." 

"Not surprising. You had a pretty bad seizure." Rick stopped him from getting up. "Not yet. Just rest a minute."

Jason groaned and put a hand to his head. "Katie?"

"She's here," Rick assured. "You're gonna be okay." The words he did not utter were, "for now." He was confident when speaking to Katie, but in reality... he really had no idea what was going to happen.

Jason closed his eyes and laid back on the floor, reaching his hand up to find Katie's touch. "It came outta nowhere," he whispered. "I just felt so... so sick."

"Mm-hmm." Rick sighed and closed his bag. After a few minutes of letting Jason recover, he helped him to his feet and back onto the couch. "How many fingers am I holding up?" 

Jason squinted. "Um. Three."

"When's your birthday?"

"May twelfth." 

"Ten plus thirteen?" 

"Uh... twenty-three." 

"Who ya gonna marry?"

"Ka-" Jason's eyes widened. "What?" 

Rick grinned and took advantage of the moment to shine a light in his eyes, checking his pupils. "Just wondering." He motioned for Katie to sit next to Jason, and then started checking her over as well. "You two stay put. I'll be right back." 

When he'd left the room, Jason leaned over to rest his head on Katie's shoulder, his hand finding hers. 
When you were talking to me I... I was in a strange place... I just... when I let go... it was peaceful...
He swallowed hard and tried to ignore the pain he was in. "Are you really okay?"


Cindy looked up expectantly as Rick came into the kitchen. "Is he okay? What happened?"

"He's alright. Or will be." Seeing they'd made some hot tea, he grabbed two cups and looked to her with question.

She nodded. "Is this... ever going to end?"

"No." Rick poured the two cups. "But it will get better. We'll figure it out."

As he left again, Cindy glanced at Wes. She didn't believe Rick. Not after all she'd seen in the past when Jason had almost died, and now all this. The tears sprang into her eyes again. "I don't know what to do," she whispered. "I can't lose him..." 


Back in the living room, Rick came close and handed Jason and Katie each a cup of tea. "Drink... it'll do you good. Then go to bed and try to get some sleep."

Jason frowned, a little confused. "That's it?" 

"Yep." Rick smiled. "That way I can stay out here on the couch in case anything else happens." 

Jason took a sip of tea, enjoying the hot liquid. "Why was it different this time? I... I don't feel like I got rid of all the buildup." 

Rick shook his head. "Don't know. But tomorrow is a new day. So just focus on that, okay?" 

Jason nodded and leaned back into the couch again, his fingers still intertwined with Katie's.


Hunter smirked at Ryan, glad for her silly distraction, and got his mind back on task. "Right, right. Basically sugar and water. Sounds good to me." He took off again, only after she'd gotten back on the end of the cart - he didn't care if they caused a scene or not.

Passing by the fruit, he spotted the watermelons and leaned down real low before thumping it. His eyes widened. "I hear something," he whispered, and motioned her over. "Come listen." When she had leaned down close, he stole a kiss, giving her a crooked grin. Straightening, he grabbed the melon and set it in the cart. "Now what? Oh yeah. Donuts. I still want my donuts," he insisted.

They finally made it to the bakery where they picked out several donuts - he said they both needed two - and eventually they were headed back up to the front of the store. Only after grabbing a bottle of pop and a package of chocolate candy, did they check out though.

Back at the apartment, Hunter set the sacks on the counter and surveyed their bounty. "Hmm... I think we did good, don't you?"