A/N: I'm always so nervous to publish a new story but this one is different - nervous doesn't even come close to how I feel about this fic. I love the theme and the dynamics and I hope you do too. So please let me know what you think. Again this whole story is not edited and I'm sorry for any and all mistakes.

XXXXXX

The moon is still hanging in the sky as he walks into the corral. He can feel the nip in the air that night brought and he can see his breath in the early morning sky. It's quiet on the ranch at this hour and that's what he likes – it's what he prefers. The only noises come from the crickets and the two of them standing in the round pen. The mustang gallops matching the steady beat of his heart as they fall into the same routine as the last few weeks. He runs him until he sees the ranch come to life as the sun starts to peak over the mountains in the distance and the sprinklers start up. The other wranglers and cowboys come out of the bunk house. Some of the men moving to start their morning tasks while the other few saunter over to check on the ranch's newest horse and the progress he's made.

He rolls up the rope in his hand and adjusts the black cowboy hat on his head, deciding to let the horse rest after seeing the sweat dripping down his grey coat and black mane.

"He's looking good." The gravelly voice of his boss compliments as he walks over to the corral, crossing his arms over the top wooden post of the fence.

He gives his boss a nod before looking at the horse again. The large animal's breathing is labored and he's nickering more than usual – he's tired and a little agitated.

"Go wash him up, we're going to drive the cattle in early." Hank adds just as Jay puts a lead on the horse and clicks his tongue to get him to follow behind him to the stables.

This is his second favorite part of the day, taking in the sights and sounds as they – his coworkers – his friends and the men he considers to be the closest he has to family travel by horseback through the valley. The wind blowing through the grass and trees, a stark contrast to the mountains standing tall and still on each side of them.

The six of them spread out as they see the cattle up ahead. He whistles to the dogs running at his side – signaling for them to start their job.

The cows rush towards the ranch with the dogs nipping at their heels and he watches – whistling here and there to keep the dogs from being too rough while also giving them direction.

When he gets closer to the herd he can see at least half of them are missing. He pulls back on the reigns getting his horse to slow down.

"You see the rest of them?" He calls out to no one in particular as he looks around – straining his eyes to see if he can catch a glimpse of the missing livestock.

"You two take the herd back down the valley." His boss yells at the youngest two cowboys, Adam and Kevin. They both nod their heads at their boss' demand and move out. "The rest of you spread out and find my cattle."

It doesn't take them long to find them. Their tracks leading them through an area in the fence that's obviously been tampered with. The post is half down and the barbed wire cut. And across the gravel road is a reserve where their cattle are currently grazing. There's two men with rifles on their laps as they sit on chairs just to side of the road.

"Is this what it's come to?" His boss' voice echoes through the valley, bouncing off the mountains as he bellows at the men.

"I'd say we're even now." One of the men says.

"Yeah, how so?" Voight questions causing the strangers to chuckle.

"You have something that belongs to our people and now we have something of yours." The man with salt and pepper colored braids exclaims.

"I won't give up my land – land that's been in my family for over a hundred years, so you take my cattle?"

"We didn't take anything. They moved over here on their own." It's the younger mans turns to answer.

Voight bites his cheek at that – thinking of how to proceed.

It's been eighteen years since Jay started working on the ranch – yet he's still surprised at how angry his boss can get. When Hank Voight is angry there's almost nothing that can calm him. And as the livestock commissioner for the state it's as if he thinks he has a free pass to bend the rules and break the law, most times turning to violence to make things right in his eyes again.

"Jay call the agency, tell them I need them here now." Voight starts, his voice lower now but he's sure the two men across the way can still hear. Jay's pretty sure he saw one of them gulp at the mention of the livestock agency. His boss continues to bark out orders as Kevin and Adam rejoin them.

Jay just hopes, as the phone rings that his boss didn't get them into something too dangerous.

XXXXXX

She stretches out in her bed – her arms falling onto the pillows surrounding her and her right hand hits her boyfriend's chest. Her eyes go wide as she takes him in – hoping that she didn't wake him, since this is his day off. She fights the urge to gently comb her fingers through his unruly blonde hair when he emits a light snore letting her know that she didn't disturb him. But she can't resist leaning in to press a kiss to his cheek before getting out of bed.

The red numbers on her alarm clock let her know that she needs to hurry and leave for the office in order make it to her meeting on time.

With the help of a little waterless shampoo and some coffee she's out the door within fifteen minutes and she's soon met with the hustle and bustle of the city she's called home for the last twelve years. Some days are easier than others. Days where she manages to blend in and appear as if she's always been here and has always been a city girl. And then there are days where she misses the solitude, the fresh air and calmness of her life before she moved. It's two completely different worlds – city compared to country and she has a good list of pros and cons for both.

She takes a deep breath as she gets to the firm, wanting to clear her mind of the thoughts from her commute here and trying to prepare herself for what is sure to be another exhausting day.

The meeting goes on without a hitch and soon enough she's in her office. It's a small space – another downfall to city life. With so many people packed into one place she's honestly surprised the offices, stores and living quarters aren't even smaller than they already are.

She feels the exhaustion set in almost instantly as she takes in the mountainous stack of manila folders sitting on the edge of her desk. It never ends, she feels like she finishes one case and comes in the next day to get another three in it's place. She's usually in her office Monday through Friday and most weeks she even comes in on Saturday to catch up on any extra paperwork and then she takes home her new cases to brief herself on Sunday. Most of the time she has to remind herself that this what she wanted. This is what she has worked so hard for, for the last twelve years. It's the life she left home to pursue. But sometimes she does find herself regretting it and wondering if her life would have been easier or better if she had stayed home.

She turns on her country playlist to help calm her anxiety as she reaches for one of the many files on her large white desk. Her hand goes to pick up her coffee when her eyes catch the picture in the shiny silver frame next to her computer. It's of her, Justin and their parents – each of them on their own horse in the middle of the valley. She hasn't been back since she left for college – instead flying her dad out for the holidays every year. But looking at the picture she finds herself almost yearning to go back. A new song comes through the speaker of her phone. It's a song that reminds her of her mom and brother, it has her remembering the reason why she's stayed away – placing the frame face down so she can focus on her work.

It's almost sun down when she looks up again – having a rare day with limited interruptions, allowing for her to get through most of her caseload.

She decides to call it a night and heads back to her apartment. The smell of lasagna wafts her nostrils as she walks through the threshold of her place.

"It smells so good in here." She almost moans as the smell of their dinner intensifies the closer she gets to the kitchen.

Her boyfriend gives her a smile and leans in to catch her lips in a searing kiss. "Dinner is almost done but I think you'll have time take a shower if you'd like."

She nods and pecks his lips once more before turning on her heel and making her way to her room. She doesn't have the energy to stay in the shower for long – wanting to just wash the day off of her before getting out and drying off.

Once she puts on her pajamas she goes back out to the kitchen where he's plating their food. She moves to pour herself a glass of wine, seeing that he already has a bottle of beer on the table for himself. His arms wrap around her waist, his hands settling on her stomach as he peppers kisses along her neck. Words of how he missed her get murmured into her skin just as her phone rings. She shrugs her shoulders and holds up a hand in attempt to get him to stop his ministrations when she sees who's calling.

"Jay?" Her brows furrow in confusion and worry, seeing as how her best friend usually only calls her on Sundays every week.

"Erin."

Her worry grows and she can hear the man on the other end of the phone sigh. "Jay what's going on?"

"You need to come home. Your dad…." The connection cuts out briefly but just long enough for her to miss the rest of the sentence.

"What about my dad?" She tries to keep herself as calm as possible but she's starting to panic.

"He's in the hospital."

She's confused, shaking her head with his words. She tries to work up the courage to ask why her dad is in the hospital but she can't do it. So she doesn't ask anymore questions – letting Jay know that she'll be on the next flight out before she hangs up.

And it's not until she's boarded the plane, that it dawns on her that she's really going home for the first time in years.