I simply cannot believe this. Well I lost track of the date, and it turns out I was due to go and watch my grandmother this weekend—she can't be left alone or she's liable to injure herself. You know how it is as they get older. Anyways, after a somewhat stressful weekend, I'm back! I've been thinking a lot about how I want this chapter to go. Jamie's still fighting me a bit, but he's coming around on his own. I think the quality of my work's been slipping lately. Hopefully, I'll get back on track.

Also, this chapter will be long. I know most of my readers seem to not like long chapters, but I feel you guys have been waiting too long for this part for it to be short. I'm not sure why I named this chapter what I did, but I feel like it fits the mood, somehow. I try to keep it original.

So far, Summer 2nd is turning out to be a horrible day. After a stuffy, crowded ride in the back of Hank's truck, the group arrives at Montgomery General Hospital. Jamie mistakenly thinks they're going to walk straight up and go right to Tina's room—not that he's eager to or anything, though. It's only because these fools are all her best friends. Wouldn't they want to see her as soon as possible? Instead, Ann excitedly steers the party into a small gift shop almost as soon as they walk through the sliding glass doors, claiming that they have to bring her at least some flowers and a "Get Well Soon" card. As the girls jabber over what exact card to get her, because they "can't pick up just anything!" according to Nina, Jamie broods by the door near Kurt.

Said woodsman rolls his eyes with a sigh and speaks up, much to Jamie's surprise. "We're gonna be here for an hour at the rate they're going." In spite of himself, Jamie snorts in agreement. "Sounds about right." Neither knows what to say, so they stand quietly. Jamie always appreciated that about Kurt; though he doesn't like him, Jamie has to admit that being around Kurt at least doesn't give him a headache. A few more seconds pass, and Kurt suddenly lurches forward toward a display of glass trinkets.

"Joe, put that down or you'll break it."

"It's fine!" Joe gripes. "Geez, you always treat me like a kid. Look, I've got it right here, see? It's not like it's gonna just jump out of my hands or something if I move it arou—"

Crash!

"…Just take it out of my paycheck."

A call to the custodian and a wait through the check-out line later (during which Nina all but forced him to sign the card along with the rest of them), Jamie and company are trying to fit in one elevator. They receive stares from the people around them. Compared to those who live in the city, they are dressed quite strangely. The bright pink of Nina's hair and Jamie's purple locks certainly don't help them blend in. Thankfully, the party doesn't even realize the lingering gazes filled with curiosity, and focuses on getting to room 394.

In the elevator, it is mostly silent save for the soft whoosh of machinery cranking to life. As it glides up and up, past the third and fourth floors, Ann lets out an anxious sigh. She hopes her best friend can come home soon, and be her strong, bubbly self again. The night before when Ann stood vigilant at her side Tina was knocked out the entire time, looking haggard and sick. Having to see her like that for just one night was too much; on this, the entire group of friends agrees.

Meanwhile, Jamie finds himself fiddling with the tassels on his poncho, and tries to convince himself he's just bored. He's not nervous about how she'll react when she sees him again— that maybe she'll remember what he said and not forgive him for it. He's not scared that she'll be covered in bruises, her hair still halfway undone. It's not like he can't get that image out of his mind or anything.

And his heart is most definitely not starting to pound more and more with each floor they get closer to her. Far too soon but long overdue, the elevator hisses to a stop and bounces just a little as it stops on the 5th floor. The door opens and the group steps out with Maria, who remembers exactly where Tina's room is, at the lead. As she walks, her dark hair swishes ever so slightly to the sides. Not one strand is out of place, and combined with her straight shoulders and serious expression, Maria is instantly recognizable to the staff. Though they had only seen the mayor's quiet daughter the night before, she has certainly left an impression of professionalism and maturity. The bluenette stops at the 5th floor desk, and spends a few minutes with the nurses asking questions about release times and how her friend has been doing. The nurse hands her a manila folder, and informs Maria that Tina is doing much better, and is scheduled to be released at noon.

The shy librarian bows gracefully. "Thank you very much."

"Oh you're welcome, honey! You can go right back and see her now, if you like," the nurse replies cheerfully.

"Yes, we'll do just that. Have a nice day," she smiles softly. "You too!" she nods, and resumes work on the computer in front of her as Maria turns to the group. Ecstatic at the knowledge that their friend is coming home soon, the party brightens and starts making plans. Ellen pipes up with the idea that they should spend a day having fun in the city, which the rest of the girls love. Blue, Joe, and Kurt are more preoccupied with trying to decide where they'll at eat lunch, and Jamie is wrapped up in his own thoughts.

372, 374, 376…

'Why the hell am I doing this?' Jamie groaned to himself. 'Why, oh why, didn't I just stay home and wait for her to come back like the rest of the village? Ugh, what have I gotten myself into? Stupid idiot girl, she just had to go and—and…' His breath catches in his throat.

Suddenly, he slaps his palm to his face, grimacing, and Joe wonders if he's quite right in the head. 'This is pathetic! I can't even friggin' think about it! Damnit, this is ridiculous. She drowned, you hear?!' Despite knowing that she's perfectly fine and just down the hallway, he feels his stomach twist with dread. He shakes his head, cursing himself for getting carried away over the naïve beginner rancher.

'For Goddess' sake, get over it…' Joe, still watching, thinks to ask the curt man what's on his mind, but decides against it. Try as they might, nobody could ever really make sense of Jamie.

380, 382, 384…

But if there's one thing Jamie really doesn't want to think about, it's the apology that he knows he owes her.

'Why don't you go home before you drown?'

Will she even remember that strangely prophetic comment? Would she turn a cold shoulder, and bitterly ask him if he was happy to get what he wanted? Maybe, just maybe, she wouldn't remember it. But knowing his luck, Jamie surmises that she definitely will, and it's not going to end well.

'Shit! I can't apologize to her, I suck at things like this! Maybe flowers wouldn't have been such a bad idea after all—but no, she'll get the wrong idea —damn it all, why can't this be simple?!'

"Here we are, room 394!" chirps Nina happily, but for Jamie it's like a death toll. Jamie freezes, his stomach knotting and he swears he's starting to sweat. Nervously, he clenches his fists and tries to concentrate on keeping a cold scowl on his face.

'Don't let her pick up on your fear,' he lectures himself, ever the cynic. 'You can't leave yourself vulnerable! She'll rip you apart if you don't intimidate her out of trying it!'

Knock, knock. "Tina, are you awake? We came to see you!" Ann calls hopefully.

Almost immediately, the door swings open to reveal none other than the rancher herself. She's wearing what looks to be like her clothes from the other day, or most of them. The jacket, shoes, and bandanna are gone, leaving her in an untucked white shirt and jeans with socks. For the most part, she doesn't even look like she could be a hospital patient, save for the I.V. stuck in her arm and a deeply bruised right knee.

He's not sure about any of the others, but Jamie is utterly shocked. He expected her to at least be sitting in the bed in a hospital gown, but there she is, walking around like she's in her house! The bruised knee, while a bit disturbing, seems to be causing her no discomfort whatsoever. A mixture of surprise, anger (though whether at himself or her he's not sure), and oddly, amusement flood him. He doesn't say a word though, and Tina, ever oblivious, doesn't even notice him and instead opts to tackle Ann. Ignoring the fact that he is standing at the very back and likely obscured, Jamie fumes over his rival not being alert enough to not see him standing literally in front of her (sort of). Really, it was insulting!

As soon as Tina is done squeezing Ann, the red-head asks, "Oh my Goddess Tina, what's wrong with your leg?!" looking horrified.

"Oh that?" Tina replies, glancing wide eyed to her knee. She shakes her head and smiles. "No, it's fine! It just got a little messed up when I was being pulled around in the water. The doctor says it'll be healed in a day or two."

"What a relief! It really does look quite painful," Maria said.

"Almost looks like Joe's leg did that time he broke it when he was ten…" Kurt mutters, and then the group begins exchanging stories on all of the crazy injuries they acquired during childhood.

Just like that, Tina is back to her usual self, and Jamie notes that her pigtails are finally fixed correctly. Somehow, it gives him a weird feeling of relief. Waving her arms around like the day he first saw her, Tina captivates her friends with some tale of a softball game that lead to a broken arm.

"And so then, it's not like anyone could do anything, and I just fell, BAM! Really hard right on the middle of my forearm—" Chocolate orbs pierce through his mental defenses as Tina finally notices Jamie standing in the doorway, now the only one left there as the rest of the group has migrated around Tina near the window.

His heart jumps to his throat, and he's almost getting used to that dreadful knot that keeps twisting his gut tighter and tighter. Bracing himself for the worst, he scowls as menacingly as possible.

Time seems to slow as Jamie can focus on nothing but her face; her eyes, as they widen and sparkle with amber and copper flecks from the sunlight, and her pale pink lips as they form into a delicate 'oh' shape.

Expression full of pure happiness, her gaze softens into nothing short of a breathtaking smile, her gaze shining with gratitude only for him. The sheer warmth swimming in her eyes is too much, and Jamie's stony gaze shatters. For a split second, a rare look of confusion and most importantly a raw, vulnerable sensitivity flashes in his eyes that almost shakes Tina to the core. Almost.

"Jamie!" she gasps, euphoric. "You came to visit me!" Like rushing waters, time floods back to normal speed. Tina flings herself at him, arms twisted tightly around his neck with no intention of letting go soon. Jamie's arms fling forward in a half-baked attempt to push her away, but he's too slow and searches desperately for a solution. It's possibly the most awkward situation he's ever been in with her; not only is she holding him like some sort of long-lost lover, there's a group of seven people with their eyes glued to him.

He snaps his head back down to the earth-toned fluff below his chin. He opens his mouth to spit out some nasty insult, or shove her away from him, but once again she cuts him off.

"I'm so glad you came…" she says softly, and he picks up on a faint, but still present rasp in her voice. It's from all that salty water in the ocean, he notes dimly, but he's more concerned with the strange tone she's using. It reminds him of the smile she just dazzled him with, and that look sparkling in the depth of her eyes. It confuses him. It annoys him. …It makes him blush? But it does, he realizes, right up to the tops of his ears, and he sees what she was getting at all along since she'd seen him walk in the door.

Of course! How could he have been so blind to her intentions? He was absolutely sure of it now.

She'd gotten him in a vulnerable state and taken advantage of it, just like he thought she would. Any pity he felt for her bruised leg or inflamed throat evaporated in an instant with a bitter feeling that he couldn't quite put a finger on.

"You on some weird medication or something? Geez, back off!" he barks, but she doesn't move. She stays right there, on the tips of her toes. Is he crazy, or does he feel her smiling again into his shoulder?

"I missed you too, Jamie," she chuckles.

He sputters, choking on acid words he was about to say. "Wh- what?! Damn crazy girl! I—I…"

"Um, we'll… Give you two some privacy, alright?" Maria suggests, blushing herself at the spectacle. She walks past Jamie through the door, glancing meaningfully at the rest of the group.

"Just when it was getting good…" Katie mutters, pouting.

"W-wait!" Jamie begs, close to desperate. "Uh, don't— I mean—"

Unfortunately his pleas fall on deaf ears as the doors click shut.

Hmm… I'd better stop here. It's late, and I don't want it to be too long. Besides, more suspense is always a good seasoning in a story, right? Don't worry, I'm not leading you on; you'll get to the good parts soon enough. :D I don't want to jinx myself, but honestly unless an emergency happens I'm staying home tomorrow. I think. I hope. ...Pray for me, I don't care what religion you are. X_X

Also! For any of you that haven't already, be sure to check out Evolution by Adamante. It's not finished yet, but I think it's a great story! Also, a well-known YouTuber that I've been a fan of for years, RayofHope, has a tumblr account for Jamie! Just google "Jamie ranch tumblr" and it should be the first thing that pops up. (I can't navigate tumblr well, so that's the only way I know to find it. :P) Seriously, she's got him spot on, much better than me! Believe me, it's more than worth checking out.