A/N: Thanks again for the reviews! They are much appreciated. It means so much that some of you all have been around for the duration. That's just freakin' awesome. :) I'm hoping to keep up a more frequent posting pattern...life just jumps in the way sometimes. Fortunately, things are farely calm right now so we'll roll with it.
Disclaimer: I don't claim to own SoN, the characters, or Tom Lynch...just the idea below. . .and hopefully a new motorcycle in the next few weeks. Gas prices are OUTRAGEOUS...and filling up the SUV doesn't come cheap anymore. Boo!
Before Ashley could catch up with her feisty sister and talk her out of whatever nonsense she was planning, Spencer came charging out the main doors of the facility, running into Kyla and nearly knocking her down.
Ashley stopped in her tracks, looking around in a panic for somewhere to go. She didn't want to be present for her sister's conversation, at all, so she spun on her heels and headed back in the direction she had just come, picking up her pace of retreat.
Spencer grasped onto Kyla's arms, trying to keep them both on their feet, "Oh my God, Kyla. I am so sorry. Are you okay?"
Steadying herself with Spencer's help, Kyla regained her composure and took a breath to calm her nerves after the almost-disastrous run-in.
"That could have been a disaster," Kyla retorted, letting go of Spencer and brushing down her clothes as if to swipe away her edginess.
"I wasn't paying attention when I came out of the building, I'm truly sorry," Spencer apologized once more.
Kyla waved her off, "Well obviously you weren't paying attention…duh…but, no harm, no foul," she said. "Are you in a rush to get somewhere Dr. Carlin?"
Spencer began looking around the courtyard, realizing she was talking with Ashley's sister, but there was no Ashley in sight.
"Umm, actually, I was just trying to get outside for some fresh air," Spencer responded, never making eye contact with Kyla as she answered. "Umm, is Ash with you?"
Kyla looked around, mimicking Spencer's actions before responding, "Nope, it doesn't look like it…which is actually good for the both of us."
Spencer tilted her head and looked at Kyla quizzically, "The both of us? Like, you and me kind of both of us, or you and her?"
Kyla rolled her eyes, "Both. We, as in you and I, need to talk, and I don't really feel like censoring our conversation, so it works out that she's retreated to some place other than this spot."
Spencer wasn't sure how to respond, but she couldn't help but continue her glances around the property, hoping to catch a glimpse of Ashley.
"So can we go somewhere Dr. Carlin, preferably NOT inside that building, seeing as I will be spending this evening and night in there."
"Oh, umm yeah, sure. How about we go over to the gardens? It's usually pretty quiet over there during this time of day," Spencer suggested.
Kyla nodded in agreement, "That sounds good. You lead the way."
The two girls entered the gardens area of the grounds and Kyla looked around in awe. There were blooming flowers, small fountains, benches scattered everywhere, and a gravel path that forked in all different directions.
"Wow. This place is gorgeous. It's so peaceful and colorful," Kyla stated.
Spencer nodded, agreeing with Kyla. "It is beautiful. We wanted the residents to have a peaceful setting they could go to when they wanted to just relax and think."
Kyla scoffed, "You'd think they'd do that for the rooms since that's where most people spend the majority of their time."
Spencer smiled, "I couldn't agree with you more. It shouldn't look like a hotel room; it should be warm and calming in the rooms."
Kyla just nodded, taking in the scenery around them.
"I can't imagine you wanted to talk to me about the decorating scheme around here Kyla, so what's really going on? Is Ashley okay?"
Sitting on the bench nearest to them, Kyla turned her body to face Spencer, taking in her look and demeanor.
"Dr. Carlin…"
"Please, Kyla, call me Spencer."
"Okay. Well, Spencer, my sister is a bit of dumbass."
Spencer's eyebrows rose in amusement as she couldn't stifle the giggle that made its way out of her mouth.
"Not that her being a dumbass comes as a surprise to you, I'm sure…but Ashley is hedging a lot of things in her life on guarantees right now. Now, before you say anything, I know there are no guarantees in life…but Ashley…she used to believe in them, and I know she is searching for some now."
Spencer nodded, not sure where Kyla was going with this conversation.
"I'm just gonna be blunt here, Spencer, because…well…I don't know how to be anything else."
Spencer laughed a little at Kyla's honesty, "Okay, be blunt."
"Are you just fucking with my sister?"
Spencer gasped in shock and nearly choked at the question presented to her.
"No. My God, why would you even ask me that?"
"Are you planning on leaving her again?" Kyla asked, completely ignoring Spencer's question. "I mean, I don't care if you two are together, not together, just friends, doing the dirty, or whatever else…I just want to know if you plan on walking away."
Spencer lowered her shaking head and stared at the ground before them.
"Your demeanor right now is screaming YES, you plan on walking away, so if that's not the case, Spencer, please speak up now," Kyla spoke sternly.
"We were kids then, Kyla. I didn't have a choice when my family left all those years ago. I have a choice now, and I don't plan on leaving Ashley. I mean, she made it clear to me the other day that there was no 'us,' but I don't want to lose her. I haven't felt so connected to someone since the younger Ashley that was once my best friend."
"So what the hell is the problem then? Ashley told me about this Dean guy that seems to be trying to stir shit up, and about your job offer, but something doesn't completely click with everything. What else is going on Spencer?"
Spencer stood from the bench, clenching her fists at her sides, before turning back to Kyla with tears in her eyes.
"Dr. Dean claims he knows there is an inappropriate relationship happening and that if I don't make a sound decision he will be making one for me," Spencer admitted.
"That is a blatant misuse of power, Spencer. He can't threaten you like that," Kyla responded, obviously becoming irritated.
"I know, Kyla, but the reality of the situation is that there is, or at least was, an inappropriate encounter with me and your sister. Regardless of what proof he has, if the board members here caught wind of it they would have my licenses revoked and black-list me from every facility in Southern California."
Kyla stood up, matching Spencer's firm stance and crossed her arms firmly across her chest.
"So you are going to take your dad's offer so you can leave the facility, leave Ashley, and maintain your licensing? That's not the only reason you're leaving, is it Spencer?"
"No, it's not the only reason…"
"Oh for the love of God and all that is holy! Are you seeing someone else and don't want to break Ashley by telling her?" Kyla voiced, cutting Spencer off before she could even finish.
"WHAT?! No, Kyla! God, whatever negative thoughts you have about me, they're totally unjustified. Jesus, do you really think I'm just gonna tuck my tail, save my ass, and run?"
"Well, that's what I'm trying to figure out. I refuse to watch Ashley heal, only to have her life crumble at the hands of unrequited love."
Spencer sighed, shaking her head at the girl in front of her. She never realized how much the sisters actually did resemble one another until this moment.
"Kyla…I love Ashley. That's the bottom line with that. As for leaving, I see no other choice. Not only is it about me, but even more, Dr. Dean threatened to have Ash kicked out of the program based on the inappropriate nature of our relationship and it's affect on her treatment and those around her. I REFUSE to allow that to happen, especially after she has come so far."
Kyla stared straight ahead as she listened to the explanation she was being given. Her face softened as she reached over and placed a hand on Spencer's arm.
"You really do care about her, don't you?"
"Of course I do. I mean, she's been a little sketchy with me concerning her feelings…being so up and down…but that's to be expected right now. I mean, I understand more because I know she's going through so much change that it's only natural to want some guarantees."
Kyla pulled Spencer over and hugged her.
"Thanks for being honest with me, Spencer," Kyla sighed out.
"Well, you're scary, Kyla."
Kyla laughed at Spencer's response.
"But, if I'm being totally honest, then I need to tell you the last piece to all of this."
Kyla pulled back and sat back down on the bench. "Lay it on me."
"I'm not going to be able to visit Ashley after I leave here. It will be too obvious if I leave and continue to come back to see her…Dean will definitely go after my credentials if I show him his thoughts were even remotely true," Spencer admitted.
"Have you told Ash yet?"
"No. We haven't spoken since we had a bit of a misunderstanding the other day," Spencer stated, dropping her gaze back to the ground.
Kyla sat and thought for a minute before looking up at Spencer.
"Will you be at the family session tonight?" Kyla inquired.
Spencer nodded, "Yeah, I'll be there. Why?"
"Listen, just don't make any plans for after the session, and I'll meet you in your office about 10 minutes after we all leave the group, okay?"
"What are you up to, Kyla?"
Kyla looked past Spencer to see Ashley walking toward the building with her hands in her pockets, looking as though someone just kicked her puppy. Kyla looked at Spencer and grinned mischievously.
"Don't worry about that right now…I'll fill you in after the group session."
With that being said, Kyla winked at Spencer and pushed past her, settling into a quick jog, hoping to catch up with her sister.