I don't think it's that Myles hasn't learned anything...but it's more of a case of two steps forward and one step back. Aren't we always trying to take control of our lives back from God - sometimes intentionally, sometimes not - but we think we can deal with some things within our own power when that isn't what He wants....

I think something or someone will get Myles' attention - if it's something as simple as a flat tire or his car dying.....whatever....but God will get him back to Carolyn and then he will learn a bit more...and file it away and hopefully the next time God speaks to him, he'll listen a bit more closely.

Kav, my heart can't take much more for Carolyn. I want to reach through the screen and give her a warm, dry bed, a big meal, and then get her the help - physically and emomtionally and every other way she needs.....but I'm trusting you.

Again, amazing!

“I’m not leaving until he comes back,” Sue said firmly.

Jack sighed and settled back down at his desk. He recognized the all too stubborn set to the jaw, the challenging glint in her eye.

“There’s nothing I like to do better on a Wednesday night then stay late and watch you stew,” he assured her gallantly. “I’ll keep you company.”

Sue couldn’t muster a smile. “I’m worried about him Jack. He stayed away all afternoon. That’s not like Myles. And he was coming along so well.”

“He just wanted to help and I blew him off,” Lucy said glumly joining them back in the bullpen. “I could have been nicer about it. We could have reached some sort of compromise. I’ve become so used to knee-jerk reacting with him it’s just second nature. I never stopped to think about how much he’s changed over the years. I’ve always seen him as the man who cheated on me.”

“Lucy – it’s going to be okay,” Sue exclaimed, enveloping her friend in loving embrace. “This is not your fault.”

“Why don’t I just go down and get us some coffee and leave you two to…talk,” Jack offered awkwardly, beating a hasty retreat out the door.

“It is too my fault. I know just the right buttons to push. And half the time I do it deliberately. This morning when I read that we were to pray for our enemies, I didn’t know who to pray for. I mean what’s not to like about me?” Lucy rolled her eyes at her own attempt to joke and continued. “And then I thought about Myles…he’s not my enemy actually but he did hurt me and so I’ve been praying and you know what I discovered? I’ve been hanging on to something that happened three years ago and I’ve been subtly encouraging the rest of you to do the same. If I’d just learned to forgive and forget the way my Grams taught me in Sunday School when I was three we probably wouldn’t be standing here wondering where Myles is and if he’s okay.”

“Well you don’t have to wonder anymore,” Myles sardonic voice carried across the bullpen and Lucy whirled in surprise.

Sue followed his gaze and seeing his drenched figure she flew into his arms, heedless of the cold wetness that penetrated through, chilling her to the bone.

“You’re soaking wet,” Sue scolded, “don’t you know enough to come in out of the rain?”

Myles looked at her numbly as she dragged off his sopping overcoat and slid her hands beneath his suit jacket sliding that off as well. “Even your shirt is wet,” she complained, reaching for his tie and yanking it open and over his head. Myles had to steady himself on something, choosing Sue as his anchor just as Jack walked back into the bullpen with Tara, Bobby and D in tow.

“Myles, you let her take that shirt off you and you’re a dead man,” Jack said evenly.

Myles hastily caught Sue’s hands, dragging them away from unbuttoning his shirt. She’d gotten half way down and he looked at her in alarm. “Just how did you become so adept at unbuttoning a man’s shirt?” he asked, clearly scandalized. “Jack, I think you have some explaining to do.”

“Jack?” Sue turned in surprise to see her avid audience.

“Can’t leave you unattended for a second, can I sweetheart?” He winked.

“He’s soaked right through,” Sue fussed defiantly returning to her task. The shirt followed the way of Myles’ coat and jacket.

“Uh, Sue, my trousers are soaked right up to my knees. I stepped in a lot of puddles,” Myles said mournfully.

Caught up again!!

Jack and Sue - wow!

Carolyn being sick and then getting wet and having a bad day

Cassie letting slip about Sue's neck

Poor Myles not really understanding what he has done wrong, can't wait to find out why he is so wet....

Soph

Wow... I woke up to TWO posts!!!

Jack's response to the scene when he returned - priceless!!! But Myles' retort about had me in stitches! Kav, I am loving, loving, loving this.

About Carolyn...

Great story.

Sitting on the edge of my seat to find out if it works out okay for Carolyn and Cassie

and thanks for the lovely warm there with Jack and Sue

I go away for two days, and I come home to have a Kav marathon! Quite fun actually!!


I will just resign myself to dittoing eveyone else's comments!

Since I just woke up and can't think too coherantly yet, gonna take the easy way out. to what Janet just said, since she pretty much said what I was thinking anyway!

ditto webgoof! lol!

oh jack!!!


jack i think you should get wet and then maybe sue can take care of you !! !!



can't wait for more!!!

Oh Kav! How i adore your writing. I don't know how you did it but you actually have me sitting here blushing for Sue, despite how innocent the situation actually is! Sue is such a mother hen but i'm still blushing!

Can I tell you how much I love this story Kav?


8 posts in one day...wow you spoil us

...and are you sure the wires in your pc didn't melt when you wrote Jack and Sue under the street lamp... :wipe glasses:

I couldnt believe no one interrupted them!

Even though it occurred to me that DCPD might have arrested them for

Smiler you said it- mother hen indeed....

Myles went into the men's washroom to change into his gym clothes. It felt good to be dry and warm again…inside and out. He studied his reflection in the mirror, looking past the arrogant facade that he so often kept in place. It was painful to see, difficult to recognize and he struggled as he saw himself with startling clarity for the first time. Bleak eyes peered into his soul and he didn’t much like what he was seeing there.

“I’m my own worst enemy, aren’t I?” He uttered the supplication heavenward and once started the prayer rolled easily from his lips. Some how these words needed to be said out loud this time. “So today, when I thought I didn't have anyone to pray for, I really should have been praying for me." He sighed, frustrated with himself. "I’m sorry. I bet You thought I was an easy mark, eh? That I'd fall into Your plans quite willingly. First You had Sue praying for me over the last three years and then You had Reverend Brambles praying that I’d keep coming back to church and I bet You even wangled all the pews to be filled last Sunday so I had no where else to sit but right next to Cassie.” Myles welcomed the warmth that permeated his entire being. “Yes, well, I have to assume that it was all for a purpose, but I’m afraid that I’m hindering Your efforts not helping them. I’ve wasted a lot of time – a whole life’s worth. Do You think You could see your way clear to helping me make up for lost time?” He paused for a second and then relief flooded his face as lines of worry melted away. “Yes, I think Sue Thomas was a very good choice too.”

Jack paused in the alcove to the men’s washroom, holding the door ajar. He was about to call out to Myles, but thankfully heard this emotional outburst instead. He backed out quietly, easing the door gently and retraced his footsteps back to the bullpen where he made a beeline for Sue, wrapping his arms around her from behind and pulling her flush against his body as he buried his face in the crook of his neck. Amazing. You. He signed without any further explanation.

* * *

“Where’th my mother?”

Miss Yancy’s forced cheerfulness of the last hour was turning brittle as she brightly tried to find yet another task for Cassie Stevenson to do.

“I’m sure she’s on her way right this very minute. Traffic’s always slower in the rain,” she said cheerfully. “Here, why don’t we clean out the paint centre while we’re waiting? My but we’re getting a lot accomplished today, aren’t we? There’s nothing like spring cleaning!”

“Miss Yancy,” Mr. Bennett beckoned from the doorway. “I can’t wait any longer. We are not babysitters and the mother can’t be reached nor did she leave any emergency contact numbers. I’ve called Social Services. They’re on their way.”

I keep reminding myself that it's always darkest right before the dawn...and that it's got to be dawn for Carolyn soon!

And the post before this one - the one with Sue stripping a soaking wet Myles???? Well, all I've got to say is I bet Jack plays in the next rain storm and then heads straight for Sue!!!

Oh, no!!! Not Social Services! Myles...anyone...someone... PLEASE HURRY!

Not social services again

Myles is his own worst enemy (aren't we all?)

And this What a beautiful, surprising little flutter of fuzziness. Absolutely without a doubt my favourite Jack and Sue moment in this story.

I'm desperately searching for a more eloquent way to put this, but basically Kav, YOU ROCK!!

Those last few posts you had me going through a rainbow of emotions

I like how Myles is coming along, despite the detour he keeps taking


But did you really have to finish with Social Services ???

Social Services- NOOOOOOOOOOOO

My thoughts exactly!

oh, shoot. this is bad. this is very, very bad.

I sure hope Myles or Carolyn, or somebody shows up! I'm afraid to think of where Carolyn is right now, especially with Myles having passed her by... maybe she made it to his house??

Gosh, I hope she's safe!!

“So it’s a deal?” Myles stretched out his hand and Lucy clasped it without any hesitation. They shook vigorously.

“Deal,” Lucy grinned. You get to do the bedrooms, we’ll take care of the rest of the apartment.”

“And I can do anything I want?” Myles pushed.

“With in…” Lucy began cautiously about to warn him it had to be within reason, but she’d learned a lesson today, one that she had no intention of forgetting any time soon. “With my blessing,” she amended instead.

“This is going to be so much fun!” Tara high-fived all around. “It’s like Extreme Makeover – home edition. And Myles is Ty doing his own surprise thing!”

“You know, I hadn’t thought of it that way, but that does put a fun spin on things,” Sue smiled as she looked Jack speculatively up and down with an assessing eye. “You’ll do,” she told him saucily.

“I’ll do for what?” He only had eyes for her.

“Well those shows always have these handsome, brawny types to do all the grunt work. And I think you fill the bill pretty nicely, though I’ll have to see you in a tool belt first before I make a final decision.”

A dull red flushed Jack’s cheeks as he gaped at this new Sue, openly flirting with him. Bobby wolf-whistled and slapped Jack on the back.

“You’ve created a monster, mate!” he quipped and the team laughed, delighted to share the spontaneity and warmth of their friendship.

“Shall we go?” Jack asked motioning for the ladies to go first. “It sounds like we have a lot of work ahead of us if the Easter Bunny wants to pull this off.”

The strident ringing of Myles’ phone caught their attention. He hesitated before turning away from his desk. “If it’s important they’ll ring my cell,” he decided.

“Well, you’ve been popular today, Myles. You’re phone has been ringing off the hook,” Lucy informed him.

Myles looked back at the flashing red light indicating that he had new messages. Listen. A prickling of fear penetrated the warm haze of this perfect ending to a not so perfect day. Listen. “I’ll catch up,” he called over his shoulder as he returned to his desk and lifted the receiver. “Agent Myles Leland…yes, that’s right. Miss Yancy?” Holding his hand over the mouthpiece he called out to his teammates who turned and with one accord retraced their steps. “Carolyn didn’t pick Cassie up from school? But she would never be late. What? No, don’t do that. I’m on my way. Damn it, that child better be there when I arrive or heads will roll.” He slammed down the receiver and rifled through the files on his desk, looking for a blank piece of paper. Finding one he waved it underneath Tara’s nose. “Forge me a letter from Carolyn giving me permission to pick up her child.” Tara stared at him in confusion. “Do it! They’re not going to know the difference and if you don’t, Cassia’s going to be in the custody of social services.”

“What’s going on Myles?” D asked with concern.

“I’ve called our place, there’s no answer,” Lucy said worriedly.

“Something’s happened to Carolyn, she’d never abandon Cassie like that,” Myles dropped into his chair as his legs gave out as the flutter of fear turning into a full-scale panic.

“Did Carolyn say anything unusual to you today? Seem off in any way…” Jack began only to be cut off when Myles flew at him.

“If you’re suggesting that Carolyn just abandoned her daughter now that she found someone to take them in I’ll…” Myles growled.

“Take it easy Myles. The question has to be asked,” D reminded him quietly as he pulled his hand away from Jack’s shirtfront.

Sue looked worriedly between the two men. “She was going to pick up her first check from the agency this morning before work. She was anxious about getting it.” She looked into Jack’s sober eyes and shook her head. “No Jack, she wouldn’t have cashed that check and taken off, not now, when she’s finally found the help she needed.”

“Look, put Sue in Carolyn’s place. Would anything on this earth prompt her to desert her child regardless of the circumstances?”

“Of course not!” Jack replied hotly indignant.

“Well, you don’t know her very well, but Carolyn – Carolyn is like Sue, Jack. She’s that caliber of person. There is absolutely no way she would ever abandon her child,” Myles spoke the convictions of his heart and with every word a calming certainty settled over him.

“The secretary with the agency said that Carolyn picked up her check, but she sent her home – cancelled her house cleaning for the day. She said Carolyn was too ill to be out and soaked to the skin. She barely had any voice,” Lucy told the worried group as she hung up her phone.

“Didn’t you notice anything this morning, Sue?”

Sue shook her head, looking at Jack apologetically. “I was distracted this morning. I woke up early, took Levi for a walk and when I came it was all I could do to keep track of what Cassie was saying and I obviously couldn’t hear her voice.”

“And she left before I was up and awake enough to follow a coherent conversation,” Lucy added. “But why wouldn’t she have gone back to our place?”

“That’s it!” D said, relief evident in his voice. “She probably did and fell asleep.”

Lucy shook her head. “I’ve left the phone ringing non-stop on the other line. She hasn’t picked up.”

“Maybe she doesn’t feel comfortable answering because it isn’t her home,” Sue suggested hopefully.

“Sue, you and Lucy get home and see if she’s there. Tara, I need that letter…now. I’m going to pick up Cassie. Jack,” Myles paused in mid-run, self-consciously smoothing the crease in Jack’s shirt, “I could use you as back up. I’m not certain I’ll be able to keep my cool through all of this.”

Jack grinned. “You sure you didn’t have any alternative motive for your proposal for Carolyn’s sleeping arrangements?”

“Ha! Ha! Very funny,” Myles intoned as they hit the elevators at a run.

“You have to learn to take it, Leland if you’re going to dish it out,” Jack sagely advised.

Yeah...Myles to the rescue!

And Tara a woman of many talents including forgery...but for all the right reasons.

Sue..behave yourself......Jack wont know where to look!

Hmmm...Jack in a toolbelt....I kinda like that image!

And everyone...HURRY!

I think I'll go run around my kitchen, in a frenzy so I'll feel like I'm helping...and then I'll be back to frantically read your next post...and the next...and the next....

Well that post had a bit of everything didn't it.

It was funny and sad and where is Carolyn? and Sue is flirting with Jack and Myles just might be headed in a similar direction with Carolyn and Myles- reasonable Myles- is coming to the rescue and...and...and...and

It's all happening here! And well past my bedtime.

This is such a great story, I'll be a little sorry to see it end (though I have no doubt you will handle that beautifully as well)

Super Myles to the rescue *humming the superman theme song- very annoying when mixed in with BNL *

wasn't Clark Kent a bit slow ont he uptake as well..... just a thought....

Go, team, go!!

I still think they should be checking Myles' place. I mean, if you couldn't find her key to the girls' apartment, where else would she go?... unless she's passed out somewhere on the sidewalk.

Oh, sheesh, I'm freaking myself out even more!!

FIND HER!!!

KAV!!!!!

less than 4 hours to go here.... ooppsss are going on your time...

I hope their deduction is right and that Carolyn is at Sue and Lucy's.

Oh, c'mon, team....hurry and find Carolyn! And as for Myles, I certainly hope that Tara's forgery works so he can pick up Cassie so she doesn't have to go with that Social Services lady.

I'm with jellybean ... that post had everything in it !!!


Let's get moving, team !!!! Time is of the essence here.

another rollercoaster of emotions here, the thought of jack in a tool belt wow!!!

myles is so true to most of us i think trying to listen but trying to help God out and tell him what we ought to be doing
loved the line where he suggested he should have prayed for himself as his own worst enemy

cath

Don't give me a heart attack Aileen -- I've got way more than four hours by my time....try 8 -- yikes even that doesn't sound like enough....

Barely conscious, Carolyn huddled in an uncomfortable shivering heap. So wet, so cold, so hot. Her limbs were too heavy to move and it would take too much effort to open her eyes and check her watch. Soon. Soon she would have to go and collect Cassie from school, but not yet. Just fifteen more minutes she thought sleepily.

* * *

They were a formidable pair -- the federal agents who strode purposefully into the school office at 4:15 p.m. The secretary’s desk was deserted and Jack hovered over it a minute while Myles rushed to scoop Cassie up in a hug. She buried her face in his shoulder, crying piteously, her tiny body trembling with fear.

“Do you make it your business to terrify little children?” Myles began without preamble – a direct hit that left the principal squirming. There was something to be said for carrying a badge and a gun, Myles thought smugly. “Don’t you think you were acting a bit preemptive to call in the National Guard again?” he indicated the sour-faced Mrs. Wringer.

“Child abandonment is not a joking matter, Agent Leland,” the social worker rebuked sharply.

“Is that what you’re calling this?” Myles asked in surprise. “I call it a misunderstanding. I was away from my desk all afternoon and just picked up my messages after Miss Yancy called. Carolyn phoned earlier and told me she was unavoidably detained and asked me to pick Cassie up. So here I am.”

“We can’t release the child without the proper authorization,” Mr. Bennett insisted.

“Which you have,” Myles quickly pointed out.

The principal held up a red folder in his hand. “I’m afraid that there is nothing much in here of any use to either of us, Agent Leland. The address is a fake and the phone number has been disconnected. There are no emergency numbers to call. In short, no information that would be helpful at all.”

“Then the letter requesting me to be added as someone authorized to pick Cassie up after school isn’t in there?” Myles feigned surprise.

“No,” Mr. Bennett leafed through the documents in the folder one more time.

“He just brought it in today,” Jack offered helpfully. “Maybe it didn’t get filed yet.”

“Our secretary was ill – there’s a nasty virus going around the school and we had a supply in…” Mr. Bennett sifted through the piles of paper on the secretary’s desk. “…frankly, the woman seemed a bit overwhelmed…wait a minute, what’s this?” He held up the letter Tara had forged and scanned it quickly, groaning out loud when he had finished. “It appears an apology is in order, gentlemen,” he admitted. “If I had this bit of information I would have been able to call you myself when Mrs. Stevenson was delayed…”

“That’s right,” Myles pounced, “Delayed, not abandoned. Now, if you’ll excuse us, this has been a long day and Cassie seems done in. I’m sorry for the mix-up – I guess I’ll just have to learn to be more diligent about picking up my messages from now on.”

“You handled that well, Leland,” Jack complimented when they were standing outside the school.

“Thank you Hudson. You weren’t too bad yourself. Nice slight of hand, by the way, Bobby would be proud.”

Jack grinned and patted Cassie’s back. “Let’s get her in out of the rain,” he suggested just as he felt his phone vibrate.

“Hudson,” Jack answered quickly

“Jack, are you still with Myles?” Tara’s voice was high and thready with anxiety. “Yeah, we’re here. What’s going on, Tara?”

Myles pulled himself out from the backseat where he had been fastening Cassie into her seatbelt and quickly slid into the front, looking at Jack anxiously. Jack leaned sideways, cranking the sound level so Myles could listen in.

“I checked Myles' messages. Three left no message…at least that’s what I thought at first. I cleaned it up as best I could and caught snatches of words. It was Carolyn, with barely any voice at all. She must really have tried to project her voice in the last one because it cleaned up better. I didn’t get it all, but enough to know that she was calling for help. She said something about her last quarter and an intersection. Lyon at Fifth. That’s all I could make out.”

“Lyon and Fifth isn’t far,” Myles said hopefully. “Maybe she went home, what ever that might have been.” He turned to Cassie in the back seat. “Cassie, listen to me. We need to go and pick up Mummy now, but I forgot where she told me to meet her. Can you show me where you lived? Was it around here?”

Cassie nodded hesitantly, popping her thumb into her mouth uncertainly. “I’m not thupothed to tell,” she mumbled cautiously.

“That’s right, Carolyn said you were a good girl about not telling. But it’s okay to tell us because we’re your friends and you’re living with Sue and Lucy now, right? So it really doesn’t matter if anyone else knows,” Myles said smoothly with his best good cop demeanor.

Cassie eyed him warily.

“I think your mom just wanted to pick up the rest of your stuff,” he added.

“From the car?” she seemed interested.

“That’s right. From the car. But I don’t know where it’s parked.”

“Ith thhe going to bring my Muffy Bunny back? Mummy promithed.” The thumb popped out of her mouth and she looked around interestedly. “You’re going the wrong way Myleth – I thought you thaid FBI agentth were good at finding people.” She added reproachfully.

“We are Cassie, we are and we’re especially good at finding Muffy bunnies. Just you wait and see.”

I'm so proud of my boys and girls! What a wonderful team!!

Okay, I'm in mommy mode, and I don't even know anything about that stuff! haha

Keep it up!

Myles and Jack are on the hunt. I feel hopeful that they will find Muffy Bunny, not to mention Carolyn.

Coming home to three wonderful posts was a lovely Easter treat, Kav! I am so worried for Carolyn right now, but am hoping that help is close at hand...

Phew....all caught up now...What an amazing set of posts....You are amazing Kav...We won't tell anyone if you miss the deadline...Plus, I could give you 4 extra hours since I am on Alaska Standard Time...It is only 12:20 pm...looks to me like you have just under 12 hours...does that help????

I'm really worried about Carolyn - and I hope she is found quickly.

And I love Cassie's observations - first, a while back, when Myles told her he was the Tooth Fairy's helper and Cassie pointed out he wasn't too good at finding people..and then now, that he's going the wrong way.

And my heart already hurts for Myles (and that's probably the first time I've ever said it about the man - ) when he figures out that he passed Carolyn by earlier in the day when he turned a 'deaf' ear to the Lord.

I just love the way you write Cassie with her lisp and muffy bunny...shes so cute.

I was really worried about Cassie and Social Services, but Myles and Jack worked wonderfully together to bring this to a good ending. Tara has worked her magic again! I'm glad they know where Carolyn is. She seems very sick, though....find her soon please!!!

Myles and Jack were perfect going up against the Principal!!! Now they need to find Carolyn!!!! Go, guys, go!!! (Go, Kav, go!!! )

Glad Myles and Jack got Cassie I hope they find Carolyn soon she needs medical attention at the very least a warm home, a clean bed and some TLC and over the counter remedies maybe more.

Oh, man, I'm really worried about Carolyn now....she's sicker than I thought. I sure hope that Jack and Myles find her quickly!

Nice job, boys!!!

Cassie ... I hope you have a good sense of direction.

At first glance he thought it was only a bundle of rags. He almost wanted it to be. Oh Father, no! he groaned as he waited impatiently for Bobby to jimmy the lock of the car door. A miniscule rusted out Honda – fifteen years old and stripped of nearly everything inside and out, that’s where they had been living. The contrast to his own lifestyle wasn’t lost on him and he felt sickened when he thought of the excess he took for granted. Please Father, don’t let that be in your plans, he prayed fervently as the door popped open. Jack held him back.

“Maybe you should let me, Myles,” he suggested carefully.

Myles shrugged away his friend’s restraining arm and reached inside, fearing the worst when his hand made contact with icy cold skin. Her white face and blue lips seemed to want to confirm that his nightmare was just about to start and he sobbed when he felt the steady pulse at her throat. He sank down onto his knees, uncaring of the dirt and grime of the muddy street and gave thanks even as he drew her out and into his arms, hurrying her over to Jack’s car.

“I’ll collect the rest of their stuff and bring it to Sue’s,” Bobby offered gruffly, grateful that Tara had taken Cassie home in her bureau issued car, sirens blaring and lights flashing for Cassie’s amusement.

* * *

“Muffy Bunny!” Cassie squealed delightedly when Bobby brought in the small bag of clothing and a few toys. A bedraggled stuffed sock sat at the top. Bobby couldn’t quite see the resemblance to a rabbit and made the mistake of saying so much to the wrath of Muffy’s momma. Tara threw him a quelling look.

“It’s a stuffed sock with two buttons sewed on the heel,” Bobby said defensively.

Muffy had lost her ears to a neighbourhood puppy and her tail to an unfortunate incident on an escalator. Her nose and mouth had been kissed off and one arm amputated after a nasty gash proved impossible to reconstruct. But Cassie cuddled the scrap of fabric as if it were the most precious thing in the world and Sue silently got out her sewing basket while Lucy fetched an array of mismatched socks. They had to do something while they waited.

* * *

“She’s resting comfortably now,” the doctor the anxious sandy-haired man who had imperiously flashed his badge at anyone who got in his way.

“What exactly does that mean?” Jack asked before Myles could formulate a sarcastically phrased question of his own.

“She’s dehydrated, malnourished and fighting a volatile virus. Strep throat and pneumonia in the left lung. We’re giving her an IV to help her fluid intake and an intravenous vitamin cocktail to give her a kick start, but she needs plenty of rest and three square meals a day.”

“That we can do,” Myles said in relief. “Can I see her now?”

“She’s sleeping, which is probably the best thing for her. I’d like to keep her over night to make sure we have the fever in check. She’ll be going up to a ward as soon as the paperwork is complete.”

“I want her in a private room,” Myles demanded firmly.

“She doesn’t have any insurance…” the doctor protested.

“I’ll pay.”

He looked at the determined man standing before him and nodded his head in agreement. “That will take some more paperwork, I’m afraid.”

“I’ll do it, Myles. You go in and see Carolyn,” Jack offered, relieved to have something constructive to do.

Myles nodded his thanks and stepped behind the hospital curtain. His heart lurched at the sight of her. Her paleness made her fade into the stark white sheets of the hospital bed. His eyes rested on the tubes threaded into her arm; the blue veins a garish contrast to her white skin. Her wrist bones protruded, jutting out through almost transparent skin. He had realized she was thin – but not this emaciated. The evidence had been hidden beneath baggy clothes – clothing which probably had fit her perfectly at one time.

He looked at the pile of clothes that had been discarded on the floor in the corner. They weren’t worth keeping and he bent to carefully go through the pockets of her jeans and her jacket for anything personal. He found the crumpled check – why hadn’t she cashed it ?– his business card and a worn wallet with absolutely no ID and exactly $2.57: all that she had of value in the world.

She has Cassie. That still small voice soothed his shattered nerves. She has you. Sue. Lucy. Jack. Tara. Bobby. D. Miss Yancy. Reverend Brambles. He wondered if she realized how blessed she was in friends. He would have to find a way to show her, convince her that the way to bless them in return was to allow them to help her. But that would come later. Now she needed to rest and he needed to get back to Cassie. He kissed her forehead gently, relieved to feel some warmth against his lips and he whispered in her ear, just in case she could somehow hear. “Don’t worry about Cassie, I’ll take care of her for you.” He squeezed her hand and one more lingering glance he turned from the bed, a flash of colour catching his eye.

He would tell the staff they could discard the pile of rags…and suddenly a flash of something familiar flared for an instant in his memory. He turned to examine it more closely, dreading the connection he was making in his mind.

He noticed a pathetic scrap of humanity standing on the side of the road, frantically searching through a bag in the middle of the rain. He snorted derisively as he waited impatiently for the light to change. “Doesn’t even know enough to come in out of the rain.” Go and help. He hadn’t heard that voice all day, the strident call making him even more uncomfortable than he already was. Luckily the light changed and he flowed with the traffic leaving the temptation to follow behind in the rain.

Dear God, what have I done? He moaned in despair.

You've got me crying now, Kav. I can feel Myles' despair and my heart is just aching for Carolyn...but, even though she has hit rock bottom, she is far from alone. There is so much hope in this story!

Well, I'm in tears... and that's about all I can say right now... back later...

Glad to hear that Carolyn is in the right place, the hospital, just hpoing now that everything will work out fine

Since I'm practially bawling at this point, all I can do is ditto Tina. But I'm glad to see that Myles has made the connection to the woman trying to find a bag in the rain to Carolyn being sick. I wonder what Myles is going to do with that connection from here.

Wow.

Reality hurts sometimes, Myles.

I hope he doesn't blame himself for too long. With Carolyn and Cassie to think about, he doesn't have time for it. And, now that he's pairing up with God, I think that forgiveness may come in more quickly.

I sure hope Carolyn gets better soon!

I sure think Myles will have a very different future ahead of him, and I can't wait to find out how that goes!!

And to think... this all started with a lost tooth and a rare visit to church. lol

Myles is the one who will need help to accept what happened