A/N: Thanks for all the reviews, peops. Now that Wade is home, it's time for him to adjust to his life without memories of what it used to be!
(For disclaimer, etc. - see chapter 1)

Chapter 5

It was late in the afternoon when Wade was finally left alone in the place he apparently called home. The gatehouse was small, but big enough for a guy on his own, Wade supposed. He just wished any part of it seemed familiar at all. It honestly didn't.

Sitting down on the end of his bed, he ran both hands over his face and hair, before letting his eyes wander over every surface of his home. Not one single item leapt out at him as significant or notable. The clothes, the CDs, the notebooks and knick-knacks, they might just as well have belonged to a stranger. That was not a fun feeling at all.

"Somethin' I gotta get used to, I guess," Wade muttered to himself, trying not to feel too defeated.

Getting up again, he started to wander a bit. Surely, something had to be familiar, spark some vague memory somewhere in his brain. The doctor at the hospital told him it could happen that way. Any tiny thing could trigger a whole stream of memories to come flooding back, or he might just wake up one morning and be back to normal. On the other hand, this could be it for Wade, forever. Just starting over from this point, building a new life and having to let go of all that went before.

"I guess you don't miss what you can't recall," he said to himself, picking up a bottle and reading the label before replacing it on the shelf. "'Course, I keep talking to myself, people are gonna think I'm crazy more'n anythin'."

There was a jar of nickels on the nightstand, a couple of books under the lamp that looked like they had barely been read at all, and a half-open drawer with two random socks and one partly-tied tie sticking out of it. On another shelf, there was a snowglobe, a couple of take-out menus, and a pile of CDs.

There was a stereo nearby and Wade decided, on a whim, to just put on some music. Maybe that would be familiar somehow. Putting the first disc into the machine, he hit play and waited to hear whatever came out of it. Some song about Alabama, apparently, which made sense since that was where he lived. Wade almost thought he recognised it, and yet, not entirely.

His eyes landed on a guitar leaning up against the wall in the corner then and he grabbed at it without thinking, settling it into his hands in some vague position by which he might play it. Closing his eyes, he took a breath, listened to the music from the stereo and let anything that was going to happen just happen. The horrible sound that came from the guitar made him wince terribly. Apparently, he didn't remember how to do that either.

Heaving a sigh, Wade put the guitar back where he found it and flipped the stereo off for good measure. He actually felt like he was going a little crazy, which he supposed wasn't so strange in the circumstances. Maybe he was better off amongst people, even if they couldn't or wouldn't tell him much about his life. He supposed he would find out tomorrow when he finally went to work again.

Lemon had said their place was called the Rammer Jammer, Wade recalled. It was a bar and restaurant from what she had said, which was fine, because even Wade knew what it was to take orders and serve food and drinks.

Walking around his home one more time, he spotted a notebook sticking out from under the bed and reached for it. Flipping the pages, Wade wasn't overly surprised to find plans for a bar, though it wasn't called the Rammer Jammer. This one was named Wade's Place. It made him wonder how old the book was, if he had been making these plans before going into business with Lemon or since. Was he planning to split on her and set up on his own or just push her out? Either way, Wade wasn't sure he liked himself much for it.

Closing the notebook again, he tossed it aimlessly and it landed on the bed, some loose page or bookmark flying out a little further. Wade reached to grab it, wondering if it might be significant. His eyes went a little wide when he saw it was actually a photograph. Wasn't some random picture of himself or a family member either.

"Zoe?" he said to himself, staring at the beautiful woman smiling back at him from the photograph.

Now, what the hell did that mean?

As she exited the practice the next morning, Zoe Hart had a spring in her step. The sun was shining, she was back in the crazy little town that she loved, and honestly, she was feeling pretty good about life... until she turned the corner and ran headlong into a person coming the other way.

"I am so sorry. I was... George?" she checked, as she looked up and met his gaze. "Oh, wow. Um, I didn't know you were back. Last I heard, you were on tour with Lily Anne Lonergan."

"Yes, I did go do that," he said, nodding his head and looking everywhere but at Zoe by now. "But then I got to hear about what happened to Wade and I came right back. Tour was pretty much done for me anyway and, well, a friend in need."

"Right." Zoe nodded. "Well, that's why I'm here too. Lavon called me, after Wade's accident, and here I am," she said, grinning too much and she knew it.

This was one of the most awkward conversations she'd had since returning to Bluebell, Zoe realised, and that was really saying something, given how tough things were with amnesiac Wade right now. Of course, it helped a little that her ex-boyfriend didn't recall how badly they had treated each other at times. George remembered exactly what Zoe had done to hurt him and she hated that.

"Look, George, I just wanted to apologise - again - for what happened with Tansy-"

"Zoe, please, just don't," he told her fast, hand making a cutting motion through the air between them. "Now, I'm not saying you shouldn't be sorry for what you caused, because you should," he said definitely, "but at the same time, well, I guess if what Tansy and I had was as strong as I thought, it would've survived in spite of you and your... up-and-down feelings," he said eventually, clearly having trouble finding the right words to describe it.

Zoe was willing to admit, she couldn't have chosen a much better phrase, in the circumstances.

"Well, I'm still sorry that things happened the way they did," she repeated sincerely. "I just hope that we can be friends going forward. I mean, when you look at what's happened to Wade, it's a stark reminder of how fragile life can be and-"

"Oh, my God. You are unbelievable!" George gasped, shaking his head but laughing all the same. "You're using Wade's condition to patch up our friendship?"

"No!" Zoe denied it hotly, but the look on his face was too much. "Okay, yes, maybe a little," she admitted then. "I just don't want any bad feeling between us, George. You are such a good friend and sometimes I run kind of short on those. Besides, we all have to be supportive for Wade, and how are we going to do that if we're busy sniping at each other?"

George stared at her a moment and then heaved a sigh. "Fine," he said. "I guess since you did apologise, and with this bein' a small town and all. Plus, like you said, supporting Wade comes first. I guess I can forgive you, this time."

"Thank you." Zoe sighed with relief. "Between that good news and agreeing with Brick that I'm starting back at work this afternoon, things are definitely looking up," she told him with a smile.

"Yeah, well, I only hope Wade is feeling so positive about life," George considered. "I can't even imagine what he is going through right now."

"He said he wanted to get back to work as soon as possible, so I guess he's at the Rammer Jammer by now, getting the tour of his own bar from Lemon," said Zoe, making a face at the very idea. "Poor Wade."

George laughed. "Hey, Lemon actually likes Wade, so I'm sure they're getting along just fine."

Zoe's disgusted expression remained. "Yeah, that still seems unnatural to me."

"The bar is usually your domain. Obviously, we all pitch in on serving drinks and keeping the customers happy, but you've been running things back here since long before we actually bought the place."

Wade followed Lemon behind the bar and took a look around as she continued to go on and on about what a great bartender he was. Didn't hurt for him to hear he was good at something, but as his eyes scanned over the labelled bottles and rows of glasses, not a single thing looked at all familiar. He wondered if he even knew how to tend bar anymore. He had to hope it'd just come naturally when he actually tried. Bothered him just a little that wasn't going to happen though.

"Wade?" Lemon prompted, clearly noticing she lost his attention somewhere. "Oh, I'm sorry. Is this too much for you to take in all at one time? My daddy did say you might be sufferin' still with your head."

"I'm doin' fine," he promised her, even as he rubbed at his forehead some. "My head's not so bad. Kinda empty, I guess, but aside from that..." he said, shrugging his shoulders.

"Oh, Wade." Lemon sighed, her hand on his arm. "I am so sorry this happened to you. Of all the people in the world, it doesn't seem fair. I mean, we were doin' so well here, with the Rammer Jammer and everything. You were really making something of your life, something to be proud of."

Wade swallowed hard and looked away. Having her be so nice to him made him feel bad, just thinking of those plans he found for opening his own bar without her. Lemon couldn't have any idea about any of that and he sure as heck didn't want to tell her. He figured he may never have to. After all, he didn't remember anything about what he had planned before his accident. Going forward, he could always change his mind, or let it be changed for him, whatever.

"Uh, so, there's you and me works here," he said then, shaking himself out of deep thought. "We got staff too, right?"

"Of course," Lemon agreed, moving past him to grab a chart from the wall. "Now, I added some pictures to the staff rosta, just until you get used to who everybody is again. I don't want some smarty-pants taking advantage of the fact you don't know Wanda from Shanetta right now."

Wade paid attention as Lemon showed him the names and pictures of their staff, filling him in on who was who and what their duties were around the place. He doubted he would remember it all, but anything that did stick would be worth the hearing he supposed. They all looked like friendly folk in their pictures and Wade couldn't think he and Lemon would employ anyone who didn't do a good job. For now, he was just going to have to trust that was true.

Seemed to Wade he had to trust a lot of people and what they told him right now, since he had no way to actually know what was true and what was not. Instinct was all he had to go on and he hoped his were good. Lemon seemed like a decent sort of person. Probably a might scary if you got on the wrong side of her, he reckoned, but he didn't plan on doing that at all.

"You think you're gonna be okay with all of this?" she asked him then, eyes searching his face for something, but Wade had no idea what. "I mean, you've only been out of hospital for one day-"

"Will you quit fussin', woman?" he urged her, snatchin the staff rosta from her hand and taking a closer look.

When he glanced up at Lemon again, she had a face on her like a landed bass, though Wade wasn't sure how exactly he knew that was what she looked like. He had found a fishing rod in his place...

"What's up with you?" he asked her then.

Lemon shook her head. "Not a thing," she promised. "It's just... what you just said to me was so... Wade Kinsella," she said, laughing a little at how dumb she must know that sounded. "I'm so sorry. I mean, of course you're still you, you're just... It's awful strange having somebody you've known your whole life look at you like a stranger."

"Yeah, well, I'm sorry too," Wade assured her. "Not much fun bein' the guy lookin' at everybody he knows like that either."

The sweet moment between dedicated friends was broken by a phone ringing loudly somewhere. Lemon excused herself to go answer it and Wade continued looking at the staff rosta and then all around at the establishment he half-owned and had no idea how to run.

"Gonna be learning curve, I guess," he said to himself, leaning on the bar and sighing heavily.

"Wade! There you are!" a voice yelled then, as a short blonde came barrelling into the place.

Before Wade could hardly blink, she was up beside him behind the bar, throwing her arms around him and hugging him tight. He hugged her back, thinking he probably should, then jumped a little when she suddenly pulled back and started talking too fast.

"I'm so sorry that I didn't come see you in the hospital. I guess I just couldn't bear to see you that way, but now you're here and I plan on makin' it up to you, if you'll let me. I have missed you, lover."

When she leaned up as if she planned on kissing him or something, Wade reeled back. Something about her was weirdly familiar, which seemed strange when nothing else really was these days. Also, she was more than a little scary, and kind of young-looking to be offering herself up to him like that, he thought.

"Magnolia Breeland!" Lemon's voice boomed then as she stormed back into the bar. "What on God's green and verdant earth do you think you are doin'?"

Wade backed up another couple of steps as the two girls began wailing at each other. It soon became clear that Magnolia was Lemon's little sister, all of sixteen years old at best, and deciding to use Wade's own amnesia to make some kind of move on him. Wasn't that just all kinds of disturbing?

Turning around, Wade grabbed himself a glass and poured out a shot of something that looked like powerful liquor, downing it in one. It burned his throat and made him feel kind of sick, truth be told, but it helped with his jangling nerves and the multitude of shocks he seemed to be suffering from today.

Life sure seemed like it was going to be interesting for a while yet.

To Be Continued...