Here's part two of the Wild Card drabble file, drabble numbers 19 through 37. Obviously I had a bit of time on my hands, as all but one of these were written in two days lol

As before ... these have been spell-checked and read through, but are unbeta'd. Also: the guessing game is continued, if there's not a name included in the drabble itself (or if only one is within a two-person drabble.) I did it on purpose, so people could A) guess or B) pick the secondary person to be whoever they'd like.

Enjoy!

Drabble # 19

Zoe Busiek stepped off the bus that she had been riding for the past three days and looked around. Although the barebones was a typical bus stop, it was enhanced by things unique to the city she now found herself in. Flyers for casinos and neon lights abounded, even where she found herself.

She collected her bags and began walking, hoping to find some cheap accomodation until she found work. She didn't expect to have a problem; cheap motels had to be everywhere and she had enough experience she should get a job easily.

Las Vegas... here I come.

Drabble # 20

Zoe blinked slightly as the spotlight was turned on, showcasing her figure on the stage. The rest of the room was shadowed, the people barely visible to her and the subtle noises they made were drowned out by the band as it started to play.

She took a deep breath, suddenly feeling unaccountably nervous. It had been years since she'd sung in front of people, although that fact hadn't bothered her until now.

The lighting changed slightly and her eyes zeroed in on her friends. They were there, waiting.

She could do this. It'd be a breeze.

Drabble # 21

The bus moved through the night, its fast speed masked by the darkness even as bright headlights illuminated the road. The driver had the radio playing quietly up front and the music mingled with the soft snores of some of the bandmates. Tony Jenkins was sitting in the back lightly strumming his guitar.

The familiar sights and sounds soothed him, cosseted him. There were no screaming babies or demanding older children. Just the white noise of the road and the solitude of his thoughts.

This was how it was meant to be.

This was the life.

This was his life.

Drabble # 22

She waited for the sheer and utter boredom to set in as she looked through the window with binoculars. Stakeouts. Weren't they one of the reasons she'd quit the force and gone into business for herself? Definitely more of an action girl, the work-enforced waiting had always made her stir-crazy.

Not that owning a private investigation firm was all that demanding, physically. Which explained why she was out here, sitting in the car, looking out the window and having tame flashbacks of similar circumstances throughout her former career.

It was still a nice change of pace.

Drabble # 23

The day was finally here. The preparations that had driven everyone to distraction in the past months had reached the cusp of their culmination. Almost the entire household was chaotic, people running back and forth, checking and rechecking as they made sure everything was perfect.

Upstairs was a single oasis of calm within the storm. A bride sat on the edge of her bed, eyes misting as she stared across the room at the dress she had chosen. Butterflies danced in her stomach but they were excitement, not nerves.

She was ready to take this step, to become a wife.

Drabble # 24

Taylor looked around as she sat in the doctor's office, waiting for a man she'd never met before that day to come and tell her why she was such a screw-up. Or maybe there wasn't a reason -- she just was and always would be one. She was desperate for some distraction. There was none.

"It'll be okay, Taylor."

A quick, defensive glance. "I'm not nervous," she lied as her stomach flopped.

Zoe chuckled and went back to reading the file she'd brought from the office.

Taylor's eyes wandered. Where was the doctor??

Drabble # 25

Cliff affixed the poster to the slanted ceiling and threw himself on his bed to see what kind of a job he'd done. It was perfect.

The poster, depicting a large dark gray dragon with silver highlights surrounded by glinting gold and jewels -- a hoarded treasure if ever there was one -- was just what he'd been looking for. It fit the fantasy theme he'd been building nicely and was sure to inspire dreams of long ago times and far off places.

It was how he'd learned to escape, go on adventures.

He took advantage whenever possible.

Drabble # 26

Taylor gritted her teeth as the needle dug into her skin. Curled hands had nails leaving crescents as they bit into her palm.

Why was she doing this again? Oh, yeah. Independence and growth.

She and Ryder had talked about getting matching tattoos before he'd left. She couldn't let that stop her. Instead of a sign of love ... it would be a sign of growth.

She hadn't asked her aunt -- the answer would be 'no.' But Zoe had a tattoo -- Taylor should be able to have one!

Not that she'd be volunteering the information anytime soon.

Drabble # 27

Hannah glanced over at her current crush, Brady, and caught him staring at her. They both quickly averted their eyes, looking to where the teacher was speaking at the front of the classroom. Her friends, who had alerted Hannah to her admirer, began giggling quietly and Hannah turned, making a face.

"Hannah has a boyfriend..." one of them said under her breath.

"Shut up!" Hannah spoke slightly louder than a whisper, causing the teacher to stop and look at her. "Sorry," she mumbled, face reddening.

The teacher nodded and continued teaching, ignoring the laughter that broke out over the room.

Drabble # 28

Dan let himself into his apartment and walked through the dark rooms, dropping his keys on the counter as he passed. He automatically picked up the remote and turned the TV on to be some form of company as he moved into the bedroom to change out of his suit and into a pair of jeans.

Going back to the main part of the apartment, he unpacked the food he'd bought, grabbed a beer, and sat down on the sofa.

"Well," he muttered to the screen as he made himself comfortable, "looks like it's just you and me."

Drabble # 29

Sophia broke away from Peter, beginning to laugh even as he gathered her closer and pressed a kiss to her neck. "I can't believe I just did that!"

Peter laughed with her, shaking his head. "I can't believe you did it either."

Sophia smiled and pressed another kiss against his lips before pulling back slightly and looking into dark eyes. Swallowing sudden nerves, she licked her lips. "You'll find a good place for us to live, right?"

"Yeah, I will... Wanna know where?"

"Where?"

"Right here in Chicago."

Her eyes widened. "You'll stay?"

"We'll stay."

Drabble # 30

Zoe laughed, spreading her arms wide and spinning in a circle, expressive face uplifted to the overcast sky. "It's wonderful!"

"Zoe! Come under the shelter like a sane person!"

"But I'm not!" she rebuked. "Come on... It's wonderful!" she repeated. "Every drop just makes you feel aware. It's like your skin just comes alive and you didn't even know it was dead!"

"Zoe!"

"Oh, come on!" She danced over and pulled at her friend, the soft but steady rain misting over them. "Live a little! Dare to be crazy!"

"Oh, this is crazy all right."

Drabble # 31

Cliff accepted the good-natured jostling from his friends and fellow teammates as he made his way through the locker room they had been given for the away game.

It had been awesome, almost everyone scoring points, especially Cliff. Tonight had definitely been a night when he was 'on.'

The locker room slowly cleared out as his friends wandered to where their parents were waiting to give rides home. Eventually he was alone and he gathered his belongings before trekking to where the bus was parked and climbing aboard. Almost no one was there -- he had his pick of seats.

Drabble # 32

M shook her head, pouring another measure of alcohol. "Really?"

"Oh, yeah," Zoe enthused. "You'd be surprised."

"Honey," M answered, "nothing surprises my anymore." Her tone was very slightly condescending. "I was a cop, remember?"

"'Course," Zoe agreed. "But trust me, M... You'd definitely be surprised at some of the things that happens out there. Hell," Zoe laughed, "sometimes I'm still surprised. You have the barebones of my working life till recently..." she trailed off, referring to the resume she'd submitted post-hiring.

M nodded, chuckling slightly. Zoe's resume had definitely made for interesting reading.

Drabble # 33

The room was bathed in dim light from the flickering television and the occupants floated gently in the evening post-movie stupor that swept across America.

Zoe glanced over at the other adult in the room, her face softening as she took in the image before her.

Long since abandoned by Cliff and Taylor, only Hannah remained of the younger set and her presence was definitely more of the body than mind. She was currently sprawled against the chest of a decidedly masculine body, secure and sound asleep.

It made Zoe wish she could capture it forever with a camera.

Drabble # 34

Zoe waited until she was safely off the premises and in her car before allowing herself to make a face at the 'uniform' for her undercover job. The entire thing was extremely tight, sexy, and covered the bare minimum of flesh that was required by the health codes.

It was not the most comfortable of work uniforms, but Zoe had had to wear worse.

Besides, she thought with her normal humor, it may not be the outfit of a stripper and Dan may not be able to stuff dollar bills in her ... shoes ... but he'd probably still like it.

Drabble # 35

Dan was having a great time Sunday afternoon. The sun was shining and the temperature was perfect for the weekly game of basketball he played with any of his friends that could make it. The active sport was a welcome change for a man who sat filling out paperwork for long periods during the week. He tried to make it every Sunday that he wasn't undercover or otherwise occupied.

The orange ball was passed to him and he snagged it, taking it up the court.

He shoots ... and he scores!

He pumped his fist in the air in triumph.

Drabble # 36

Hannah looked over at the head of her bed, where Conejo, her stuffed rabbit, had been relegated. She was tempted to grab him and take him with her again -- her arms felt extremely empty without the security blanket she had carried around for so long. Sure just one more day wouldn't hurt...

No. She'd be find without him. She didn't need him to feel safe anymore. Her family and her friends were enough. If she needed help, they'd help her.

But it looked wrong, Conejo sitting there all alone.

"Bye, Conejo," she murmured before she left.

Drabble # 37

Cliff watched with pride and rapt attention as his younger sister performed on the stage before him. She was finally coming out of the shell she had occupied since their mother's death. She'd played at living, at being all right, but he'd known better and continued to worry about her.

But now ... she was coming out of her cocoon.

He could relax now... He didn't have to worry as much or be as protective. He didn't need to be ready to step in at a moment's notice.

At least not until she started dating.

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Conejo is Castillian for 'Rabbit'

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I hope you enjoyed these... Reviews are welcome!

More to come as time permits!