Disclaimer: I don't own anything here (except for Al) and am just doing this for fun and to pass the long months until Season 4.

The next day, Tim was on the road before noon, Billy's advice ringing in his ears. He wanted to go home, more than anything, even though he wasn't sure what he would find when he finally got there. He had his Ipod on shuffle as miles of dusty landscape slipped past. George sat in the passenger seat with his head out the window, ears flapping in the breeze and a big doggy grin on his face.

Just north of San Antonio, Tim realized that he still had no idea what he was going to say to Al. He knew he needed to figure it out, to come up with some kind of a plan. Billy was never the guy you'd go to for a plan. He was strictly a fly-by-the-seat-of-his-pants kind of guy. Plus, words had always come a lot easier for him. When Billy put his mind to it, he could come over all charming and sweet-talk anyone.

Six was the man for a plan. Maybe he was always wired that way or maybe years of being a quarterback had made him that way. It didn't matter – when it came to planning, no one was better than him. Tim flipped on his hands-free phone kit and pressed the quick dial that Al had set up for Six.

The phone rang about eight times before Jay answered. Tim could hear splashing and shouting in the background.

"Six?"

"Timmy? You had better be telling me that you're on your way home."

"I am, Six. Half-way there, just passed San Antonio. Where are you?"

"Noah's swimming lesson. Hold on a second, I can move to some place at least a little quieter."

As Tim waited, he heard the pool noises receding and then a clunking sound as Six picked the phone back up.

"You wait a whole week before calling anyone? What the hell is wrong with you?"

"I don't know, Six." Tim sighed and ran his hand through his hair, then rested his elbow on the car door.

"What were you doing?"

"Nothing."

"Is that actually nothing or is that you're-not-going-to-talk-about-it-nothing?" Jason's voice was crisp, his words harsh.

Tim cringed, but knew that he deserved all this anger and probably more. "It's nothing. I drank....a lot....and mostly stayed in my room, watching movies and trying not to think about anything."

"Yeah? And how did that work out for you?"

"Shit, Six. I know you're mad but I'm calling because I need help and I can't ask for it if you're going to be like that."

Jason took a deep breath and then sighed. "Okay, okay. What do you need?"

"I don't know what to say to Al when I get home. Sorry doesn't seem enough. And I don't even know if she's going to let me come home."

"Why'd you leave?"

"What? I don't know." Tim drummed his fingers on the steering wheel and tried not to become impatient.

"Well you'd best use the rest of your time on the road to figure it out. You have to explain to her what you were thinking, why you did the things you did, why you didn't call. Why, when you finally called, you called your brother instead of her."

"Really, Six? I need to tell her all of that?"

"Timmy, listen to me. Al called me on Sunday night to see if you'd come up here. She wasn't mad at you for leaving, she was upset at you for shutting her out."

"So it all comes back down to talkin'?"

"Yeah, Tim, relationships usually do."

The words were edged with sarcasm and Tim could picture Six rolling his eyes. "Six? I'm sorry I didn't call you sooner."

"Yeah, I know you are. I'm beginning to think May is National Run-Away from Home month or something."

"What do you mean?"

"Erin. She left. Said she couldn't do this anymore, any of this, and took off for some kind of yoga commune in Montana or something. Said she got a job there and that she needed to be on her own, to clear her mind and focus on her chakras or chi or some woo-woo bullshit like that."

"For real?"

"Yeah. She's been gone two weeks already."

Tim was quiet for a moment, considering the implications of Erin's leaving. "Well....Isn't this kind of what you wanted? For her to make up her mind what she wanted?"

"Yeah, but the problem is, she didn't just leave me. She left Noah too."

"Shit. Is he....I don't know....okay?"

"So far. I don't think he really understands what's going on. I've gone on a few business trips, so maybe he just thinks that's where Erin is and that she'll be back soon."

Tim nodded but didn't know what else to say. He hated talking on the phone. He didn't know if this was an awkward pause or a comfortable silence. In the end, Six changed the subject.

"I got a date for your wedding, Timmy."

He could hear the smile in his friend's voice. "Oh yeah? Who's that?"

"Lyla. And she called and asked me."

"Good. Glad to hear it."

"You didn't have a talk with her when she was back in Dillon, did you?"

"Who, me?" Tim feigned innocence but knew it wouldn't pass Six's bullshit detector.

Jason chuckled. "I see your hand in this, Timmy. So, thanks."

"No problem." Tim smiled and felt something he couldn't quite describe. Relief and a lightness. Like he'd finally, after all these years, been able to do something to fix what he'd broken when he'd cheated with Lyla.

"Well, you got some thinking to do and I need to see the end of swim class. They're jumping off the diving board today for the first time."

"OK. Thanks, Six."

Tim ended the call and sighed. He had maybe four hours before he'd be home, trying to explain things to Al. The fear of it was nearly overwhelming and the thought of pulling off the road was tempting, but he knew he still had one more thing to fix.