Those of us sitting on the fence…

Autumn, 1996

"Hear ye, hear ye... hear ye all!! I call this meeting of the fence-sitting neighbors into order!!" An eighteen-year-old girl thwacked the fence post she was perched upon. She was wearing a brown leather suede coat the matched her long braided hair – both flipped in the wind, giving the look of flight. Her skin is light with a multitude of freckles and her eyes blue with a silver-ish tint. Her lips a dusty rose and she is of average height and build. She is the lady leader.

"Why is it again, that she gets to start all these meetings?" A boy leaning against the old tree asked. His hair was dark, long, and curly and was wearing a hooded sweatshirt to fight the strong wind running through the field. He is about inch shorter then the lady leader. His eyes are brown and his frame thin and lanky. He is pale in skin tone, but doesn't care (at least that's what he tells the girls). He is one of the shared named hippies.

"Because we voted that she and Aaron could, Mike," The straight haired twin girl said. She was wearing denim jeans and matching jean jacket.

"And Aaron won't so Lydia must," the curly haired twin girl said. She wore a long leather skirt and a heavy sweater. The sat together on the same length of fence that separated their families land from another's -- they sit side by side, facing opposite directions. They are identical except for their hair and their personalities (though those are similar). Of the seven who are gathered, these two are the only two of color – not that it mattered to anyone. They have bright brown eyes and full lips.

"When did I get drawn into this?" Aaron asked the two. His is the oldest by far and mimics the leading lady by sitting on another fence post. He also the tallest with a strong athletic build (comes in handy during football season and the occasional rodeo); he has on his letterman jacket and cowboy boots. His hair is cropped short and his eyes are a sparkling, green that glittered charmingly at the twins.

"Well Beth?" he asked to the curly hair one and when just smiled he turned to her sister (who was already smiling), "Any answer, Bridget?" When none was for, the entire group chuckled together. Aaron's younger brother looked up at him from his seat at the base of the tree – directly below the one who shares his name.

"So, before we were further inflating, my dear bro's ego…"

"Hey now, Scout!" (That's what they call him to distinguish the Mikes apart.)

"…For what reason are we gathered, Lydia?" Scout asked. Lydia smiled at the younger teen, but then shrugged in response.

"I didn't call this meeting," she shifted her weight slightly and pointed to the last remaining teen there. She is smaller then the rest, her petite frame making her the unofficial "baby" of the group – even though she is the same age as the twins and the two "Mikes" are a year younger. Her hair is brown with red highlights and her eyes are a milk chocolate brown. She currently has a heavy, zip up, sweater and a pair of much worn jeans on. She is sitting on the ground – farthest from the group. She was curled into a ball and now she felt comforted in this uncomfortable situation as the focus in this little group.

She glances up at them and sighs, unsure if she really wants to share this burden with them. She can hear the sound of clothing shifting and the creak of the fence as someone moves. She glances over as Aaron joins her on the ground to her right.

His eyes and façade all portray the role he had accepted as the group had grown – the older brother and strong shoulder. She looked at him and then swallowed the lump in her throat and felt the tears start to flow. While sitting there, she told of them all of the events of her household from the week before.

As she spoke of the details that have filled her nightmares and haunted her waking hours, her friends lowered themselves to surround her – lending her their ears, strength, and general support as the listened to their girl's lost innocence revealed.

When she was done, no one said anything and no one was dry eyed. The boys all had misty eyes, while the girls openly sobbed. After twenty minuets, Lydia cleared her throat and stood, her body had grown restless and she needed to move to think. She began to pace. She paced from the old oak the length between fence posts – arms crossing and uncrossing to swing at her sides and then back again.

She continued to walk for minuets on end and -- though crying had stopped – she still walked and no one said anything.

Stopping abruptly, Lydia turned and faced the group. Aaron nodded at her and stood, gently passing the weeping wounded girl to Beth and Bridget and both Mikes leaned in and began gripping her hands and rubbing her back. The leaders looked at each other and then down again at the support group. Aaron kneeled before the group, with Lydia at his side. The two of them took one hand apiece.

Looking into her eyes, Lydia spoke first.

"What do you want us to do?" The girl looked into her leaders eyes. She knew anything said in this group at the foot of this tree would remain the only place it would be spoken about, but it travel in the hearts of this family that has accepted her as her own and it would grow their relationships – she hoped…

"Don't leave me," Lindsay pleaded.

Summer, 2005

They gathered together as they often did, but this time two more were added to the group.

Aaron had married, two years ago, a lovely red head named Rebecca, a second grade teacher, and the two of them have produced the next generation of those who will sit on the fences that surround the old oak tree – a little girl named Lily, about eight months old.

Now, these two joined the original seven and they are all seated on the ground enjoying the BBQ picnic laid out before them.

The Mikes talked of the work they were doing in L.A. They had gone into filming and were doing very well for themselves working for Warner Bros. and Universal.

Beth smiled as they babbled on about west coast ladies and the dates they "enjoyed." Beth had joined the medical world as OB/GYN, helping to bring Lily as well as others into the world. Bridget had done the opposite and the same. She worked in death, literally, and was on the fast track to being the Bozeman PD chief M.E. It was now their occupations, as well as their hair, the ID-ed them – they still remained identical.

Lydia was working in London for the British Historical Society -- specifically in the discovering, archiving, and display of the remnants of ancient Israel and Palestine. Aaron had joined the Marines right out of high school and after finishing his term had taken a job as a local recruiter. He was happy and healthy.

They all were – even Lindsay.

She had worked to being one of the top ten in her class and went on to become a leading CSI in Bozeman. She smiled at the baby, sitting in front of her and grinned at the infant's pure innocence – her own long gone.

"Hear ye, hear ye… alright listen up!" Lydia announced. The others started to crack up and Lydia joined them with a shake of her head. She raised her hands and motioned for them to quiet down. When they did, she again made a motion – this time towards her long time partner, Aaron.

The young Marine grinned and cleared his throat…

"This meeting was called at the request of many," he said with an eye roll, "mostly the ladies…but in specifically for one of us with a special announcement to make." The group looked at the leaders and then at one another, then Lindsay sat up and cleared her throat. The others began to grow nervous – memories of the last time Lindsay had requested a gathering, surfaced – but Lindsay gave them all a warm smile.

"I'm leaving my job in Bozeman crime lab," there was intake of breath and shifting eyes, "and I'm leaving Montana."

That was the announcement that released the tongues. The questions started to fly – two fast and so mixed and repeated that it was hard to tell what was being said. Lindsay raised her hands and waited for silence to once again descend the field. Once accomplished, she smiled at her lifelong friends – a true smile that reached her eyes and gave them a glow.

"I've been offered a job out of state at one of the top labs in the country and the chance to work under a legend in the field – I've already accepted. I leave in a week for the city…"

"Which one Linds," Scout asked. His partner spoke up, also wanting to know. They all chimed in with interest – even Lydia and Aaron didn't know the location. Lindsay's grin grew and she started to laugh. Smiling fully, she laughed once and then shouted heavenward – in total glee…

"I'm moving to NEW YORK!"

Her excitement spread to everyone around her and she was encouraged be well wishing and a variety of "well done"'s. Soon after this announcement, the group settled down for a homemade chocolate cake desert and a very awake baby's antics. They laughed and enjoyed one another's company as this would most likely be one of the last few times they would meet at the tree where the fences met for a very long time.

While gathering the remnants of their meal together Rebecca turned to Lindsay with Lily on her hip.

"Lindsay," Rebecca asked arousing everyone's attention, "is there any thing you need? What can we do to help?" Everyone stopped and no one moved, all were still, while Lindsay pondered the answer. Looking up to look everyone in the eye, Lindsay smiled a softer smile and asked only one thing:

"Don't forget about me."

Autumn, 2006

"If there's anything you need, let me know alright?" Danny's words chased her through the days after. She wanted to tell him, but she feared his reaction. She wanted him to understand and to have his strong shoulder support her as the past's ghost started up an aggravated haunting of her current life; the call to her cell in the cab on the way to lunch… the beginning of something that could destroy everything that she had worked to protect and loved so dearly.

Picking up her cell phone, Lindsay scrolled through the numbers until her eyes met the group that she had truly called family for the past years. The list was simple titled "The Fence" and right now she needed to talk to "those who sit on the fence."

"Those who sit on the fence" knew nothing of timing problems.

"Call at any time," was a motto of the group – and though Lindsay had never really acted upon the motto, she was surely tempted. She heaved a sigh and sat back into her couch, she needed to talk to some one – but no one was in her time zone.

Those in Montana were two hours behind her and being that it was 1:45am, on a Tuesday morning – now would not be a great time to call Aaron, Rebecca, Bridget, or Beth. The first two had a four year old and a 7 month old that needed sleep, plus their own health was to be taken into account. The twins may very well be still awake, but if that was the case, neither was in the position to talk.

The Mikes were in L.A. still and that was another hour behind Montana – three behind Lindsay – and if they were still up (a very good guess); they may not appreciate a call at this hour. And Lydia was 5 hours ahead of her and just not someone that you wanted to wake up with out a great reason.

Lindsay sighed again and rested her head on the back of her seat. This was a good reason she argued with herself – a very good reason – but she didn't hit that button. She argued that she could take care of this herself and she didn't see that reason why to involve these people in her problems again.

When this mess had started, she had gone to the people that were the closest to siblings she had ever had and now as this started again, she felt reason to call on them again. Like superheroes they would come to her aid and help, but unlike superheroes they weren't invincible – and this was liable to get ugly.

She looked to her door when there was a knock at it. Her actions and movements tentative and cautious, she hadn't buzzed anyone up and the hour made her even more wary. Standing slowly, Lindsay clipped her phone to the hem of her black yoga pants and approached the door. Stopping at the small table by the door, Lindsay removed her issued weapon and flicked off the safety.

She finally reached the door on the third set of three nocks. Whoever this is was persistent and wasn't leaving anytime soon, for a wrong door. That ruled out senile neighbors and the drunken college boys from two floors up. Reaching the door, she pressed her left hand on the door and steadied herself as she leaned upward and looked through the peephole.

'What the hell?!' she thought as she flinched violently backwards.

She shook her head and rubbed her eyes, before checking her cell phone's battery and signal strength. Assured that her connection to the rest of the world was working at full capacity, Lindsay released the chain on her door and undid the deadbolt.