[b]Katie - Baton Rouge - Bingo Hall[/b] Katie knew her daddy was right. He was always right. But even so, her heart clenched inside of her and her throat felt sore. She looked down at the little ball of fur in her arms. It was looking up at her with it's large grey eyes, like it was looking to her to take care of it. "It hurts Daddy," she said, tears streaming from her eyes. She hugged the small animal tighter to her. "My heart hurts." She had promised to be good and listen. She had promised... "Please," she whispered, pleading with him. "Please Daddy. I don't want any more dying." If she let go of this kitten, it would die. She knew it. It would be like she was killing it herself. Katie had never killed anything before, not even a spider, and she didn't want to ever start. Katie's eyes went towards the two other people, the old man and the strange boy. She shrank away from them all. Reaching up, she held out her arm towards her daddy, wanting him to pick her up and hold her. She always felt better and safer when he was holding her. --- [b]Jessalyn - Bus - Abram, Ben[/b] Jess listened to Abram talk. She really hadn't given him much of a chance and she felt bad about that. When he spoke of his child she found herself smiling. She didn't ask what had happened to his family. She could guess and really didn't want it confirmed. When he moved up to work on getting the bus running she laid a hand on his arm. "Abram? Thank you," she said, knowing he could tell she meant more then just working on the bus. She was thankful to him for everything he had done and was doing for her and Ben and Floyd. Floyd... Her thoughts turned to him as she cuddled her almost sleeping baby. Where was he now? Was he out in this storm? Had he found shelter? She prayed that was so. She missed that man. She missed him so much. He was ornery and short tempered and barely any manners, but she missed him dearly. She had to have him back in her life. She [i]needed[/i] him back in her life. Jessalyn's love for Floyd still burned strong. Her heart wouldn't be complete until she saw him again. Another flash of lightning and clap of thunder disturbed Ben and he started to fuss, working his way up to wailing. His little face turned red and his tiny fists balled up tightly as he prepared to announce his displeasure at the world. Jess cuddled him to her chest so he could hear her heartbeat. She started to hum, then sing gently into his ear. [i]Goodnight my angel, time to close your eyes, and save these questions for another day, I think I know what you've been asking me, I think you know what I've been trying to say, I promise I will never leave you, And you should always know, No matter where you go, no matter where you are, You'll always be a part of me, Goodnight my angel, Now it's time to sleep, And still so many things I want to say, Remember all the songs you sang to me, When we went sailing on an emerald bay, And like a boat out on the ocean, I'm rocking you to sleep, The water's dark and deep inside this lonely heart, You'll always be a part of me, Goodnight my angel, Now it's time to dream, And dream how wonderful your life will be, Someday your child may cry and if you sing this lullaby, Then in your heart there will always be a part, Of me....[/i] It was an old lullaby she had heard as a child and had grown up with. She had always dreamed about one day having a child of her own to sing it to. And even though the way he came was not pleasant, he was here now and he was her little angel. Jessalyn knew from the moment she looked into his eyes that she would give her life for this little life that had come from her. --- [b]Heather - Storm - Floyd, Seth, Hank(?)[/b] Heather whirled around when Seth said that Hank was gone. Gone?! How could they have lost him?! He was just there! Why hadn't she held on to him tighter?! "Hank!" she screamed into the storm. She couldn't lose him. God she couldn't lose that man. Not now. Now ever. Despite the fights and the hard feelings, he was her anchor. The person she counted on to be calm and collected. Floyd ordered them to continue on, saying he would find Hank. Heather only moved because Seth nearly dragged her. [i]Please God,[/i] she begged. [i]Please let that reckless son of a bitch be alive.[/i] And once Floyd brought him back, Heather was going to kick Hank's ass for scaring her to death like this. Then she would probably hug him and maybe even ki- She jerked herself out of that train of thought. That was over for both of them. She doubted he wanted anything to do with her in that way after all of the fights and hard feelings she had put him through. Not that he didn't deserve them, but still... The wind was picking up and the rain was getting stronger. Everyone outside was soon soaked to the bone. Heather's hair was plastered to her head and some of it fell into her face, making it hard to see. They had to find shelter and quickly. Would the others have waited for them? Or had they left?