Chapter 5

Patrolling the Depths of the Mind

Silver Hills

It was a slow day for the Silver Guardians. There had been a lot of days like these in the past few years. Sure, there was the occasional bank robbery and even the odd hostage situation, but Wes Collins felt like there was just so little action these days that the only things he had to do were listening to the patrol radio and bugging his best friend and partner, Eric Myers. He was particularly good at the latter, and Eric would tell him so many times. Eric was serious in nature, but knew how to have fun when he wanted and would do all he could to help anyone; while Wes was more carefree, but could get serious when the time came and would do anything for those he loved. They were yin and yang, but that was made them such good partners and good friends.

On this day, Wes and Eric had just returned from patrol. Eric was typing up an e-mail to the rank and file of the Silver Guardians about an upcoming inspection. Wes was sitting back, eyes locked an old photo. (Well,) Wes thought, (there's a reason I've got a partner. Time to bug Eric again.)

"Hey, Eric, I gotta ask you something," said Wes, though his eyes were still on the photo.

"Yeah?"

"How do you do it?"

"Do what?"

"Not let things effect you?"

"I don't follow you, Wes..."

"How do you keep going on with daily life and not let it bother you that your whole soul is missing?"

Eric turned towards Wes and noticed where Wes's gaze was fixed.

"I gotta be honest with you," Eric said shaking his head. "You can't."

"Thanks for the reassurance there, pal," Wes deadpanned.

"I'm serious, Wes. Something like you guys have, it literally only happens in books or sappy chick flicks. You two are like that one movie times a hundred. It's freaky."

"Since when do you understand chick flicks?"

"I don't. I don't understand women, either. Chick flicks are only to be watched by men in order to understand women or if on a date with a woman. And it doesn't help much."

"I'm pretty sure they feel the same way about us, Eric. But Jen isn't the chick flick kind of girl. She'd be up all night watching Frankie Chang flicks." That earned a chuckle from Eric. Then, a grin crept across Wes's face. "Come to think of it, your girl isn't much of the chick flick type either."

"What? What are you talking about, Wes?"

"You know, the Air Force pilot; what was her name again? Tina? Tanner?" Wes's voice was dripping with sarcasm at this point.

"Taylor."

"Oh, yeah. Duh. I mean, she was a Ranger, you think I'd remember," Wes said voice now soaking with sarcasm.

"Yeah, what's your point?"

"Haven't you talked to her?"

"Not for a few years."

"What? Man, you had a good thing going there. What happened?"

"I dunno. Something happened that made us have a falling out and I'm not sure what to think now."

"What do you think happened?

Eric sighed and shook his head.

"I think I messed up. I just felt like she wasn't going to be happy."

Wes's eyebrows rose. "Why not?"

Eric squeezed his temples. "I was scared, Wes. I thought she deserved someone who can make her stronger, someone who can actually help." Eric's shame was evident at this point.

"Someone better than me."

Wes squeezed Eric's shoulder. "Buddy, I gotta be honest. I think Taylor thinks the same thing, that's she's not good enough for you."

"Wes..."

"I'm serious. If she didn't think that, she would've told you off if you broke up with her like it seems like you did."

"Well, she did tell me off..."

"But you didn't get kicked in the groin or punched in the gut, did you?"

"No."

"Then there you go." Wes smiled and patted Eric on the back. "You both know that you two are what the other wants. You just have to both believe that you are good enough for each other."

Eric had a wry smile on his face. "How do you understand women like that?"

Wes shrugged. "Experience with women from the future tends to help."

"I can't even understand women from the present."

"Well then, maybe there's some required viewing in order."

"Don't push it, Wes," Eric laughed as he went to the mini-fridge between their desks, grabbed a pair of sports drink bottles out of it and tossed one to Wes.

"To women." Eric stated making a mock toast. "Can't live with 'em, don't wanna live without 'em."

"You got that right."