Chapter 2.
Raylan was relieved to finally be able to make it to lunch break. The long day was almost over and the idea of an ice cold beer and Chinese take-out sounded so amazing, the thought practically begged for him to just skip the rest of the day and play sick. But no, he was stuck here waiting for Winona to finish getting ready that he knew he'd never get the opportunity. Clapping his hands and standing up, forcing a smile as Winona walked out of her office. Closing and locking the door behind her as she went. Dropping her keys into her purse, she smiled and gave him a brief hug before following close behind as they walked out of the court building.
They shielded their eyes to the harsh bright light of the sun as they headed to their vehicles. "Do you wanna just take one vehicle or two?" Raylan stops, not paying much attention and not feeling in the mood to listen to Winona complain about her husband, well soon to be ex-husband the entire way there, "How bout we just each take a vehicle." He stops when he sees the quisitive look on her face. "In case something comes up on the case I'm working on." She nods with a fake smile and walks over to her own silver little car. Sighing and knowing she really didn't buy his lie, but for some reason he just really didn't care too much to deal with her hurt feelings at the moment.
Pulling out his keys and unlocking the door, he slides in and stops when his phone goes off. Sighing and pulling it out while simultaneously putting his keys in the ignition he hears Winona's voice on the other end. "Where are we going exactly? I asked on the way out but apparently you didn't hear me." His brows furrow up and tries to think back to if Winona said anything throughout their short trip to the parking lot but he couldn't remember. And for that he did actually kind of feel bad. Sighing and rubbing his forehead. "Yeah, my mind has been on other things lately. Work and all..." he pauses with a thought before continuing. "How about that tiny little restaurant you like? I'll make it up to you for not listening a little while ago, I'll pay." He can practically hear her smile at him. "That sounds wonderful Raylan. And of course, you really think I'd actually pay?" He laughs at that, the tension from earlier sliding away slowly. He hangs up and pulls out of the spot. He follows her down the road into the deeper part of town. Hoping with every fiber of his being that the day won't be as bad as yesterday. Having some confidence that with the way things are going now. It might just be a good enough day to where the rest of it won't be horrible.
'Off at five.' He repeats in his head, his eyes trained on Winona's car as she pulls into the little restaurant parking lot. But for now he'll get to deal with Winona and everything that's going wrong in her life. And try to be a good friend.
All the while looking forward to going back to his place and spending a good relaxing night with Tim. The thought making the day totally worth it in the end.
But, if only he knew.
He couldn't really make out where he was, but the feeling in his head indicated that whatever happened it wasn't good. His eyes felt heavy, like ten thousand pound weights were sitting on them, and the taste of copper on his tongue made him want to gag. His head pounded with every heart beat and breath he took. The sound of rushing water like a river after a terrible rainstorm rang through his ears. Somehow making the pain increase.
He felt soft vinyl under his cheek and was almost half tempted to just lay there and let the dull roar of the engine and tires lull him back to the blissful unconscious state that he was in before the bumps of the road brought him to whatever god for saken place he was in. But he realized and with all the determination he could muster that wherever he was, wasn't a good place.
Searching through his mind was like taking a relaxing dip in a big pool of tar as he tried to drag up the events of the day, leading to how he got in this strange vehicle. He remembered last night with Raylan, the shower and call from Rachel, losing to Solitaire on his phone, getting coffee and food.
That's when it hit him. Like a punch to the solar plexus it all came rushing back to him, his eyes snapping open like a rocket.
The attack on them. The attack on Rachel! The fog from before disappearing as quickly as it came from waking up. Eyes searching franticly as he tried to assess the situation that he got into.
He could feel the zip ties rubbing rather tightly against his wrists and feeling the raw skin. The same thing has been done to his ankles as he tried to move his feet into a better position. But he was more thankful for the fact that he wasn't blindfolded, he hated the idea of not seeing. Although, he knew it was worse for his situation in general. Which meant that his capturer didn't care if he saw their face. Which Tim knew meant he wasn't meant to live through this longer than they needed him to.
Struggling at that thought. He can hear the man up front move, turning slightly in the seat to look at Tim as he drove.
"Awe, well if Sleeping Beauty isn't finally awake." He chuckles as he turns back to the road ahead. "Where am I?" He all but growls out, making the pounding in his head worse with the movement he's making.
"Well, genius, you're in a car. Heading to a place I'm not going to go into the basics of where you're going. A need to know priority." He laughs deeply and loudly before going on. As Tim tries not to grimace at the loud noise that feels like a jack hammer in his brain. "Don't worry your pretty little head though. Soon, you'll be exactly where you need to be."
The confusion is apparent on Tim's face as he tries to hold his brain together long enough from the thickening of the returning fog and tar to get to his thoughts. "Why?" Not actually really caring to know the answer but going on anyways. "What do you have planned?"
The guy turns back to him again, suddenly feeling very vulnerable. Especially tied up the way he was and the guy leering at him like a piece of meat, the smile of his not helping the situation. "Oh, not me. My boss, well, more like associates. They're gonna ride your ass until there is nothing left. Believe me, you'll be begging for death soon enough." The creepy smile adding to the effect of the threat, the guys pearly white teeth gleaming at Tim.
Finding only one really good retort. Well, more like stupid being all tied up, but he wasn't going to let some sick freak talk to him like that. Glaring up at the man who kept his glances between him and the road. When the guy glances back to Tim with that smile still implanted on his face. Tim does the one thing that comes through his fog and tar covered mind. He spits right in the creepy guys face.
The guy pulls back, surprise all over his face. Nearly swerving off the road in doing so. He turns around quickly and pulls the car back under control, wiping the bloody spit off his face. Anger seeping up from him in waves as he glances to the young man in the back seat. "God!" He yells. Tim holds back his wince, not wanting his capturer to see or get any happiness at causing him even the slightest amount of pain. "I will enjoy watching them destroy you. You little shit."
Tim smiles and glares back at the man from the rearview mirror. "They won't do shit. I'll no sooner see you die before they can ever take me down."
The bravery dissipates at the evil look and smile on the captures face, but he keeps his features as neutral as he can. The pounding in his head worsens but he doesn't show it. "You don't know what they have planned for you there pretty boy." The man almost losing control of his car again but gains it back quickly as he turns to face Tim again. "Now, SHUT UP!" He feels more than sees the back of the man's hand as he hits him. His head jerking sharply to the side at the impact and forcefulness of the attack.
Blackness completely takes over his senses as he falls back into the seat of the car. Not even bothering to fight the tight hold that unconsciousness had slipped its tight fingers into Tim's brain. The pain melting away as he crawls back into the corners of his mind to await the impending storm that he knows will be awaiting him when he wakes up again.
The lunch wasn't that bad. Well, not as bad as he thought it would be. There really were no awkward moments or uncomfortable silences between them. Winona got right on the subject of how much they were giving each other the cold freeze out after everything that happened. She told him how much she had wanted to fix things between them. The subject of her divorce hadn't even gotten to the table. Too much time spent enjoying the talking of about anything and everything that wasn't about work or divorce. She talked about her new favorite hobby of learning to paint calligraphy to get her mind off the bad times. Raylan is talking to her about Tim and how he has been thinking about maybe getting a place with him.
"So," she has to think about how to start the conversation before continuing on. "What are your plans with him?"
Raylan takes a big bite of his hamburger, chewing slowly while trying to think of the right answer. His eyes plastered to the spot just over her shoulder. They are glued directly to the lopsided lonely little blue flower in the vase just behind her. Once he swallows the big bite, he sighs slowly and sits back. Finally pulling his attention back to Winona he studies her for a moment.
"Oh come on!" She sips her drink before looking back at him. "You didn't take this long to decide that you wanted to get more serious with me. And I know Tim is probably all male and macho as you are, and being just as stubborn as you. Now, I might not know the boy very well. But he at least has one thing right though."
He smiles, "What's that?" "He has good taste in men."
His smile widens at that. A serious look suddenly taking over as he watches her. "We haven't ever really talked about it at all. But," he watches Winona sit up straighter. A small smile still tugging at her lips. "We've been together for two years now. Seems like such a short time, but I've thought about doing this for a long time."
Winona's eyes get all big and a shock look spread across her face. "Are you really going to do what I think you are?" Raylan nods and leans in closer. Winona unconsciously following his movements so no one else can over hear this very secret moment being shared between the two renewed friends.
"I love him. More than I thought possible. Hell, he can put up with my bullshit more than half the people I know. He can drive me crazy, straight up a wall. Between his constant sarcasm and his need to keep a maxim magazine in his drawer by the nightstand. Never looks at it, just sits there." He stops to smile. An actually real, all teeth smile. Something Winona hasn't seen beam from him in such a long time, that it almost makes her heart beat with jealousy. Wondering where this kind of love used to be with her. Knowing truly well know, that they just were never meant to be. Her heart broke a little though, but she didn't show it. Because she was honestly truly more than happy that he was finally in true love. She shakes her head and smiles as she listens to Raylan. "I'm actually rambling. I don't ramble." He smiles again.
"Then say what you need to say Raylan."
"I want to ask Tim to marry me." He breathes in deeply waiting for Winona to reply. Not sure if she'll be angry, jealous, sad or happy. Her expression stays neutral for the longest time until he feels the very sudden need to just ask what she thought when her face breaks out into a huge smile.
"See, it wasn't that hard." He laughs with relief evident in his voice. "I'm so glad you're happy. Tim is a lucky young man. He's just as stubborn and hard headed as you, you fit perfectly." She stops when a sudden thought enters her mind. "What did Art say?"
Raylan sighs and runs his fingers through his hair. "He knows that we're dating. But I never told him I planned on purposing. Don't need to make anything worse at the moment. So it'll remain a secret 'til I do it. And when Tim feels we should." He sighs a sudden thought running through his head making him a little sad. Sipping his hot coffee.
Winona reaches forward and places her hand gently on his. "What is it? Art isn't going to make you break up. He knows you'll do whatever you want anyway. Hell, if anybody tried. I think I'd see you quitting before leaving Tim. Am I right?"
He laughs and squeezes her hand. "Yeah. Never thought I'd say that. Hell, I live and breathe my job. But I'd quit for Tim, I'd die for him. What makes me sad," stopping to breathe deeply. "Is that Helen was the first person I ever told about Tim. Arlo sure as hell doesn't know. Finding out his only son is gay; he'd never talk to me again. Not that that'd be such a horrible thing. But," he shakes his head. "She wanted to be there. To be at the wedding, to meet Tim. Said that even though I may be gay that she would love me no matter what I did. She wished me a happy life. I miss that woman. I really do."
"She would be so proud of you Raylan. I know she's looking at you know with a big 'ol smile on her face. Knowing that everything will turn out alright for you."
He grabs his hat and puts it back on. "God I hope so." They laugh to each other, each both honest to god hoping that things will turn our right for both of them for once.
Raylan felt his cell vibrate in his pocket and sighed knowing it was probably Art telling him he needed to get back to work. That the files weren't just going to file themselves and if they could there would never be any need to go to work at all. He ignores the first call just wanting to enjoy the good time he's having before going back to finish his long day.
But by the third call he sighs and finally pulls it out and answers. "Yes Art. I'll be back in a few. Just let me..." He's cut off by the sound of Art's voice. Immediately knowing something bad happened. He sits up straighter, already ready for the bad news that he'll be hearing. Pulling his hat down instinctively over his face.
"What happened Art?" His mind going to that a deputy died or there was a prison break out. What he receives instead makes his heart stop. His breathe is completely taken away like some big guy punched him in the gut. His mind running the word 'no' over in over in his head that it's practically screaming. The blood in his ears drowning out what the rest of what Art says, barely hearing him ramble off that he was heading to Panera where the attack happened.
He slams the phone shut before barely uttering the phrase. "I'll be right there." The cold fingers gripped his heart so tight and wouldn't let go. It left ice coating over his heart in thick layers. Taking the warm feeling that used to be there and replacing it with fear and horrible heart ache.
The worried and concerned look on Winona's face and hearing her repeat his name as he jumped up from the table.
"Raylan, what the hell happened?" She practically yelled drawing the attention of the other couple customers in the restaurant and the employees. He turns to look at her long enough as he quickly puts on his jacket.
"Tim and Rachel were attacked. Someone took Tim. I gotta go; I'll talk to you later." He's out of the door and peeling out of the driveway faster than anyone could ever have the chance to stop and process what the hell just happened.
The jumbled words coated with fear and the southern drawl made it almost completely hard to understand what he said. Sitting still for a few minutes and running the sentence over and over in her head. When it finally dawned on her what Raylan said. It made her heart sink into her stomach. 'Someone took Tim.' that played in her head as she stared at the empty seat that at one time, the happiest man in the world sat. The one who had everything going right in his life for once.
Know all she saw was an empty seat where that once happy man sat, is now just a reminder to her that that one man is now dealing with one of the worst things in the world.
Someone just took his whole life. And started to crumble it with their fingers.
The seat making her too sad to look at and not even caring that she ended up being the one paying for the lunch. Dropping the money on the table and leaving as fast as she can. Knowing she would never come back to this place again. If anything bad happened to Tim, she wouldn't be able to even look at it without thinking of the look on Raylan's face.
He arrived there in record time considering how he was close to thirty minutes away and got there in about ten minutes. He pulled up outside the restaurant where he could already see an ambulance, a bunch of cop cars and a huge crowd already waiting. Pretty much jumping out of his car, barely closing it behind him. He spots Art standing next to the ambulance and runs over to meet him.
His heart pounds hard and fast in his chest, still hoping that Tim will be there standing casually. A smug smirk on his face, laughing with Art and waiting for him. Where he can flip at Art for scaring the hell out of him like that. Where he can go back to their hotel room, make love, curl up and watch Disney movies.
But that's not what he sees when he gets closer to the ambulance. He sees no Tim smiling and leaning against the vehicle. His heart hurts knowing he won't be with Tim tonight, no making love or watching movies. Just the cold hurt that someone took his boyfriend and he doesn't even fucking know who or why.
Art's by the ambulance talking to Rachel who's getting examined by a fairly tall, brown haired and green eyed young man. She squirms as he shines a light in her eyes. "Damn boy, how would you like it if I shoved that light stick thing up your..." She's cut off by Art. "Rachel, just let the poor man do his job." He sighs and runs his hand over his head. The events of today already doubling his already growing head ache.
The day just got even worse. And dealing with Rachel's bad attitude over getting checked out after someone played baseball with her head wasn't helping. He knew he was also going to have to deal with Raylan when he shows up. Not really looking forward to trying to keep the young man calm and not start a stand-alone search to find Tim. Rubbing his eyes and not looking forward to the bad news he'd be giving Raylan about all that happened. 'The man will be fucking stubborn enough to see the video tape. No faces shown. And he'll probably end up shooting someone by the end of it.' Really wishing he could switch positions with someone else. He looks up and sees Raylan running over to him.
He can already see the look on Art's face when he stares back at him. He shakes his head to Raylan when he looks to see only Rachel but no Tim. He feels his stomach lurch and the taste of vomit in the back of his throat makes the need to turn and run to the closest bathroom seem so much more like a better idea. But he held his own and turned his run into a walk. He strides forward; keeping his feet in line and his head down. Keeping it covered by his hat he makes his way up to Art and Rachel.
Swallowing the horrid taste of vomit he looks to Rachel in front of him. He winces at seeing the blood caked in her hair and the sudden image of Tim lying somewhere looking just as worse for wear as Rachel makes the vomit taste return to the back of his throat. He manages to keep it down with pure will power as he gives her the best smile he can muster. "How you doing Rachel?" He can hear the strain in his own voice and wrinkles his nose knowing Rachel heard it, too. But she takes no mention of it and neither does Art.
Who in turn pats his shoulder, Raylan already knowing exactly what he's thinking but doesn't dare start that conversation now. Especially with Rachel hurt like this.
"I'm doing fine, Raylan. Just a bruise and bump." His brows furrow at that statement and knows that it really isn't that bad. He can't help the smile though, knowing she's just being exactly the stubborn Rachel she is. No complaints or whining. She's a strong girl, sometimes Raylan almost swears the woman has more balls than half the guys he knows in Lexington.
Art snorts, "Yeah, she's so fine. She needs to just admit to being hurt so this nice young fellow can take her to the hospital to get her checked out."
She growls when said young man touches her head again and jerks away quickly. Although regretting it when her vision swims in and out, gaining control quickly enough and feels Raylan hold onto her shoulder to support her. She points a finger at the young man. "Touch my head again, you and that light stick will become new close and personal friends." She glares at him one more time before turning back to Raylan and Art.
"No! I need to get back to work. Tim is missing. I need to..."
"Rachel. You need to get your head examined." She glares up at Art and Raylan can't help but smile though. "I meant I know you're concerned about Tim, I am too. But you will not be of much help when every time you move your head you nearly pass out from the pain. Rachel you're an amazing Marshal but you are not Super Girl. There is only so much you can do when you're hurt to this extent. Besides with Raylan, he has enough anger to make up for all of us"
Raylan nods his head in agreement to Art's statement, "Thanks Chief." But Raylan can see the acceptance in Rachel's eyes as she sighs and rubs her temples before looking to the young paramedic and nodding her head. Who in turns helps her up and towards the gurney. She turns back to the boys though before she lies down. "Tell me the second you find anything on Tim. I need to know. I... I'm so sorry Raylan, I tried to stop the guy. But my head..."
She's cut off when Raylan raises his hand to stop her and shakes his head. "Just take it easy Rachel. I know you did everything you could to help. I know you would have fought tooth and nail to save Tim. And I am so glad you had his back as long as you could. Don't worry; you'll know the second we do. I promise I won't ever leave you out of this."
She nods her head and smiles. "The second I get better I'm coming right back. I'll help you catch this son of a bitch. I guarantee, I wanna see the look on that bustard's face when we take him down."
The ambulance doors are closed and they watch as it pulls away heading to the hospital. Which leaves Raylan and Art in an awkward silence. Awkward and uncomfortable silences had never really bothered Raylan, but the look Art was giving him made the hairs on his arms stand up. Raylan sighed and turned to stare around at everything else. The local cops are questioning some witnesses while others are standing there either on the sidewalk or far away from Rachel's SUV and the crime scene tape.
The crime scene specialists have already come and gone by now and Raylan feels his feet drag him over to the vehicle. His mind screaming for him to go in another direction, to go somewhere else. 'Why the hell am I going over here?' But still it's like his feet are on auto-pilot and before he knows it he's by the SUV and showing his badge to the local cop who had tried to stop him.
He looks at the ground not even knowing what he's doing but he walks to the passenger side. Figuring since it's Rachel's SUV that Tim would be in the passenger seat. There's a little blood on the ground by the driver's side which makes his blood rise at the thought that someone hurt his friend. He breathed as he stepped to the passenger side, and the vomit taste came back with full force, he really almost puked all over the crime scene. Barely managing to hold onto it, he looks to what's in front of him.
There's more blood here then there is on the other side of the vehicle and the anger from before caused his blood to boil over. He feels the need to want to hit the closest thing next to him. Breathing in deeply and gripping his nails into his palm before he walks to the front of the SUV where Art stands waiting for him. His arms crossed and acting like he's looking over the crime scene. Raylan could have sworn that Art was avoiding looking at the crime scene. Raylan can't blame him though; the image can't leave his head now.
The other images it causes makes his head want to explode and his heart stop beating. But holding onto the thought that he knows that Tim is the toughest son of a bitch he's ever known. He may not look it, but he can take down anybody. He smiles knowing that Tim will never let just anybody take him down. Something that makes Raylan so much more proud of Tim for. Confidence takes ahold of his heart for a few seconds at the thought that Tim could be taking down his capturer at that very moment.
The video room in the restaurant is small, as to be expected coming from the fact that it's a tiny little place. It has two TV's in black and white and no sound; one camera is hidden in the front of the front of the restaurant. The other is situated behind the counter to get a good look at the cash register. The person watching the video with them is some kid who was considered the "manager". It's in quotes because honestly Raylan couldn't see this kid managing anything. He was slow and half the time his sentences had either 'umm' or 'uh' after every other word. By the end of his long sentence Raylan really felt such a need to toss him out a window.
Even Art was getting feed up with the kid. "Alright, why don't you let us handle this from here on out. I think the people out there might need you anyway."
The kid looks at him unsure of what to say to this. "Are, uh... you sure I can umm... leave you guys alone with the uh..." Raylan's just about had enough of this guy. Any other day he would have just ignored the annoying kid and focused on the video but everything the kid did didn't help the situation. And with Tim's life on the line, he wanted to punch the kid more and more for how slow he was.
"Look, just do us a favor and leave! We're U.S. Marshal's, I'm pretty sure we can do this ourselves. Now go!" The kids' eyes go wide for a few seconds before he scrambles out the door and as far away from them as possible. Art would try to be surprised by Raylan's actions, but he knows that right now time is important and they need it on their side and not the bad guys.
Art sits down in the chair in front of the TV, them both watching and waiting as Rachel's SUV pulls up in the parking lot right in front of the hidden camera. He can see Raylan out of his peripheral as he slides closer to get a better view. They watch as both Rachel and Tim walk in the restaurant and out of view. They watch when a mysterious black car pulls up in the space next to Rachel's SUV but unfortunately do to the black tint of the windows they can't make out who's driving.
'Don't walk out, don't walk out.' Raylan repeats it in his head, almost willing Tim to somehow change his mind and not walk out. But his stomach still drops like a lead weight when he sees Tim and Rachel walk out to the SUV, both looking so happy.
He stares straight ahead at the screen, watching when the man walks up behind Rachel and hits her in the back of the head with the baseball bat he's holding. He can make out the surprise in Tim's stance. He begs for Tim to turn and run, but even he knows Tim would never leave a fallen comrade behind. He'd do anything it takes to help them, even if it cost his life. Something he was always so proud of him for, until today.
He watches as Tim does a good job with fighting the guy taking him down with a blow to the stomach and smiles. 'That a boy.' He cheers in his head until he sees the man grab Tim's leg and yank it out from under him. He grips the back of the chair to keep steady and stop from hitting the screen when he watches Tim go down, unmistakably hitting his head on the pavement.
'Get up, get up. Come on Tim. You gotta do something babe.' The guy has zip ties and his brain runs through so many things that he would like to do to this guy if he touches Tim with those things. He knows what's going to happen though, and still hates watching it as well. The scene in his head wasn't half as bad as what's playing on the tape but it doesn't help anything. He knows he'll have nightmares about this in his sleep, if he even actually will be able to get to sleep.
He smiles when he watches Tim strike out his foot and knock the man off his feet. He hears Art chuckle and he can hear exactly what Art is thinking about. Knowing he has the exact same thoughts. He hears himself whisper them out loud, "Never under estimate an ex-Ranger." His smile fades and so does Art's when he watches the guy grab his bat and swing at Tim. Knowing Tim doesn't have much time to move away from the swing he watches as the bat connects harshly with Tim's skull.
Raylan looks away; his head dips to his chest for just a second to be able to collect his thoughts. The images already imbedded in his brain. He looks back up to see the said mysterious guy who's been amazingly avoiding the camera, wrap the zip ties around Tim's limp wrists and ankles. He grabs his legs and drags Tim around the SUV, and to his car. He stops after throwing Tim in his back seat and Raylan almost expects the guy to attack Rachel again but he doesn't. Raylan reaches and shuts off the tape. Already knowing what happens after that and not caring to watch the rest of it.
He steps back away from Art, which is somehow close to unmanageable in the small ass camera room. He leans against the wall and rubs his eyes as hard as he can, hoping that maybe it'll make the images from the video leave his brain.
Art sighs, claps his hands on his legs and stands up. "The bastard knew that camera was there. We have no idea who this guy is, what he looks like. He hid his car out of view enough to not see his license plate." Raylan bangs the back of his head on the wall a couple times.
He looks over to Art to see concern written on his face. He waves his hand, "I'm fine. I want to scratch my brain hard enough to possibly erase the video out of my mind."
Sighing and feeling Art clap his shoulder with sympathy, "I knew it wasn't going to be a video you wanted to see. But you insisted. Best we know at least some of the details." He walks out of the office with Raylan close behind. "From the fighting skills, he took down Tim way easier than I would ever like. So he's definitely got some military training under his belt. He's got to have a good reason for taking just Tim and not Rachel as well."
They walk outside; the cool air of the late evening makes Raylan zip up his coat to keep warm. "You think maybe he's an old army friend, well, more like enemy?" Art shrugs at the question and shakes his head. Looking around as if he'll magically somehow find the answers in the scenery outside.
By now Rachel's vehicle is gone but there is still crime scene tape around the area. The blood still that's still on the pavement makes Raylan turn, because he knows exactly which one belongs to who. And it makes his stomach ache in protest. The images returning, he forces them to subside for now so he can focus long enough. "I don't know Art, but let's go back to the office. Check and see if we can dig up anything on Tim's ranger pals or anybody with military background that could possibly have a grudge against Tim."
"You don't know any of Tim's pals? After dating so long I figured he'd have a least mentioned any enemies." Raylan looks to Art with a cynical look on his face. "He doesn't say anything about his army days. Occasionally, I can drag a small story out of him about something. Either one mission or another, but never anything that could possibly be helpful to this." He stops to place his hat back on his head. Fixing it enough to keep the setting sun from beaming in his eyes. "He doesn't talk to me about people." He keeps the nightmares that Tim still occasionally has to himself. Because that is something that is best kept private. Besides it has nothing pertaining to this case that could be helpful.
He thinks about Tim's last nightmare. He had it two weeks ago and involved a mission where he was in the deepest part of a desert with his spotter. He didn't tell Raylan much about what happened in the dream. But he knew it had to be bad enough to scare Tim to that extent. Even now wishing he could hold Tim the way he did that night. Not just to comfort Tim but to be able to give himself some reassurance and a peace of mind.
But no peace of mind will be coming to him until he can find Tim again.
Hope you enjoyed this second chapter. Sorry it took so long to update it on, but been super busy lately. I hope it shouldn't take as long to update the second one.
Reviews make me want to send you all cookies. They will be brought to you by Tim in a tank top and pants with smexy bed head hair ;)
