I know it's been a while, but here it goes...

Lana sat across the table from Jason. He was chewing silently and apparently devoid of emotion. When he said he could cook, he wasn't lying. He had whipped up a breakfast so quickly all Lana could do to help was hand him various ingredients and pans. It was delicious. His response to her compliment had been a nonchalant grunt. Clearly conversation wasn't his strong point.

She ate in equal silence. When she had nearly finished, she paused to watch her guest. Sensing her attention, he peered up at her through his dark hair. When she did not immediately break eye contact, he raised one eyebrow curiously.

Lana cleared her throat. "Um, so did you have any plans today?" When Jason stared back blankly, she continued. "Did you need to go anywhere, like job hunting, or apartment hunting..."Comprehension dawned on Jason's face.

"Um, well, not really, I figured this isn't really a town for me, so I was going to keep traveling."

"To where?"

"What's the next town to the West?"

"You mean, you have no definite plan?" Jason just shrugged.

"It's been a while sense I have had a plan."

"You can't just wander forever you know. Eventually you are going to have to stop."

"Got nowhere to stop. No family, no friends, no where in particular to go. Might as well keep on going."

Lana stared at him in shock. He was completely resigned to living a goal free life. She felt a wave of emotions, a sick feeling of pity mixed with an odd desire to smack some sense in him. He was just going to give up?

"You have to stop somewhere. You cannot do this your entire life. You deserve better. Who are other people to deny you the right to settle down? Who are you to deny yourself the right to be happy?"

Jason stared at her in shock. His face betrayed no emotion, but the gears in his head were racing. No one, not even his drill sergeant, had ever spoken to him with such brutal honesty.

Lana continued on. "You already know me, why not stop here. No town is going to be better. At least here someone cares about you. You can find a job, get a place. I'll help you. But running from your demons has got to stop."

Jason looked intently at her for a moment. His eyes searched her face before finally locking on hers. After an uncomfortable moment, he spoke.

"You care about me?"

Lana was taken aback. She had been almost cruelly honest with a man she hardly knew, and that was the only thing he took away from it. Wow, he was in worse shape then she thought. She took a deep breath, holding their eye contact.

"Yes I do. You can stay here until you are ready to leave but only on the condition that you try out life here. At least for 3 months. "

A small smirk pulled at the corner of his mouth. "Are you giving me an ultimatum?"


Squaring her shoulders, but also smirking, Lana replied. "Yes, yes I am."

Jason slowly extended his hand across the table. Lana did likewise.

"First things first," Lana's smirk grew into a smile. "You need a haircut."