Chapter 10: Time After Time

Hunter paced the apartment. He was alone and he was trying to figure out how to tell his feelings for Tori. After that small interaction with Van and her, he so wanted to be part of that family. He looked out the window and noticed the clouds starting to come from the distant. Everyone started to flood into the room and Tori smiled happily at him. Cam closed the door behind and sat down next to Blake.

Dustin continued running he had lost track of time. Of sense. Of pretty much everything. The sun had faded away and rain had began to pour. Dustin Brooks ran as hard as he could through the park. After finally losing energy, he slowed down and stood in the middle of the field. The rain ran down his face and he ran his hands through his hair to get the excess water out. He stood there and looked down at the journal. Tears formed in his eyes, joining with the rest of the raindrops that were falling down his cheek.

Lying in my bed I hear the clock tick,

And think of you

Caught up in circles confusion

Is nothing new

Shane bursted through the Bradley's apartment, completely soaked. He started to explain everything that just happened and Tori shot up. She looked over at everyone who had grave looks on their faces. They each stood up and everyone bolted out of the room. They exited outside and into the rain, cars passed left and right. Tori closed her eyes and looked over to the distant. At the park.

flashback to warm nights

Almost left behind

Suitcase of memories,

Time after -

Dustin continued to flip through the pages. Memories begin to flood back as he realized everything he had forgotten. It all started to make sense. He stopped every so often to look up at the sky. At the god's that were punishing him with this life. He flipped the pages and a picture fell to the ground. He bent down, clearing his hair away from his eyes. It was a picture of Tori, Shane and him together. Tori ran down the pathways, her shoes covered in mud. Her hair frizzled from the rain. She turned her body and stopped to see Dustin standing there. Her heart felt a bit at ease as she slowly walked over.

Sometimes you picture me

I'm walking too far ahead

You're calling to me, I can't hear

What you've said

Dustin could hear her calling out. He turned his body, his face full of the same familiar sadness. She slowly got closer and forced a smile. He backed down at the picture and closed his eyes. He fell into her and the two held each other tightly. Shane and the others raced into the park and stopped from a distant to see them. Hunter pushed back at the others and stopped, looking at them. He was breathing heavily, clearing the water from his face. He turned away, patting Shane on the back and walking off. The red ranger gave a confused look before glancing back at Tori.

Then you say, go slow

I fall behind -

The second hand unwinds

If you're lost you can look and you will find me

Time after time

If you fall I will catch you, I'll be waiting

Time after time

Dustin let go and dropped the book. He took a few steps back and started to walk away. Tori wiped her tears away as she picked up the book and read a page. She looked up to see him still standing there at the edge. He started to walk away but no one went after him. They remain silent as he continued to walk till he disappeared.

After my picture fades and darkness has

Turned to gray

Watching through windows you're wondering

If I'm O.K.

It was the next day and the sun was shining brightly then ever. Tori made some coffee and sat at her kitchen table. She drifted away in her thoughts and every so often took a sip of her coffee. She cleared her bangs and remained as strong as she could. Holding back the tears she wanted to shed so bad. She rested her head on the table and just closed her eyes. Reopening them, she looked over at all the pictures hanging from the wall. Standing up, she walked over to them and starred at each one of them. Pulling one off, she threw it across the room and let it shatter. Taking another one, she smashed it on the ground. Screaming and throwing everything. Another frame hit the coffee cup and it went soaring onto the floor with a huge shatter.

Secrets, stolen

from deep inside

The drum beats out of time -

If you're lost you can look - and you will find me

Time after time

If you fall I will catch you - I'll be waiting

Time after time.

Shane appeared at the graveyard, holding tightly onto 4 roses. He walked past a few graves and stopped at his parents. The sun shined onto his back as he bent down and placed the flowers down. Closing his eyes, he rubbed his arms and remain looking down. After his long paused, he stood up and looked around at the forest surrounding him. He shoved his hands into his pocket and started to walk off.

If you're lost you can look - and you will find me

Time after time

If you fall I will catch you - I'll be waiting

Time after time

Cam had return back east where he entered his home. Amber was waiting, she came from the kitchen with concern on his face. Cam closed his eyes and she walked over to him and gave him a hug. She held him tightly as Ricky appeared in the room with a newspaper. Ricky got a hint on what had happened. That Dustin had disappeared once more.

You say - go slow -

I fall behind -

The second hand unwinds

If you're lost you can look - and you will find me

Time after time

If you fall I will catch you - I'll be waiting

Time after time

Hunter sat there at the park, fiddling with his fingers. He looked up every so often to see people pass him by. He sat back on the bench and reached into his pocket. Feeling something a bit blocky, he pulled it out and inspected it. It was a small black box. He opened it up and the engagement ring that he had bought for Tori so long ago was still sparkling. He pulled it out of the case and stood up. Walking across the field, letting the wind blow against him, he stood at the edge of Blue Bay Cliff. He tossed the ring as hard as he could into the air and watched it soar. The sparkling ring fell into the ocean and slowly sunk to the bottom. Blake came up behind him and patted him on the back. He pulled his older brother to go.

Tori laid on the couch and watched her son play. She hugged the couch tightly to find any warmth from it. She heard a soft knocking at the door and remain there. The knocking appeared once more and she finally moved. Standing on her feet, she walked over to open the door. She paused for a second and just smiled. Dustin was standing there. She let him in and he hugged her tightly, burying her face into his shoulder.

If you're lost you can look - and you will find me

Time after time

If you fall I will catch you - I'll be waiting

Dustin walked further in and stopped to see Van crawling into the room. Tori just smiled and walked over to him. She lifted him up and brought him over to Dustin. He slowly reached out his hand to hold little Van's. His son smiled, confused and unaware of what was really going on. Dustin chuckled a bit as she let him hold him. He knew it was his son just the look in the baby's eye said it all. He held it tightly and reached his hand out to Tori's. She grabbed it and the two slowly walked into the kitchen. The brunette brushed past a table which knocked Dustin's journal to the floor. They ignored it and walked till they were gone around the corner. The journal was open up to the last page of the book with the picture next to a small note.

"Even after everything that has happened. Even after all the horrible things I have written in this notebook I know and understand one thing in my life. That my friends have remain constant throughout it all and are people who I should never doubt to go too. They may make things more complicated and more confusing but they still manage to get it so simple. So incase I ever forget. Incase I lose all memory of a past that will forever hunt me. This is a journal to remind me that I can never forget. No matter how painful it is."

Time after time...

\End Chapter. Not the Finale! Had you going! lol..Read and Review.