Out and About -open-

[Desert]

Can You Hear Me?
Can You Feel Me in Your arms?
Holdin My Last Breath...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dawn approached Shady Lane in the usual way. Peaking over the rolling hills of bluegrass. The time? Six in the morning. Dimonte's dark brown eyes opened slowly, aware that another week had rolled by and Monday morning was here. And, like all Mondays', the doctor just wanted to pull the blanket over his head and try to ignore the Monday morning blues.

Then, his alarm went off again. Only a five minute snooze. Tempted to his it again, the doctor sat up in bed and looked around his still empty master bedroom. Taking a moment to remember that his was his son's house. Dimonte was lucky enough to get the last bedroom avaliable. He looked to the spot beside him and heaved a sigh. This was almost the longest time he had been away from his wife.

Still, he was able to listen to her musical voice over the phone. A voice that always made his heart leap up into his throat. Well. He said to himself. You're here for Sawyer, and he's the one who really matters.

Throwing the bed coverings over his body he looked down, seeing that he fell asleep in his clothes...again. He had had another hard day at the hospital, always getting distracted. Worrying about his son's health, with was quickly deteriorating. He asked his blind son if he wanted to come to the hospital with him but of course, the stubborn boy refused.

Standing, he dragged himself to the bathroom and looked at the unholy mass of hair that sat on his head. With a sigh he quickly dropped his clothes and prepared himself for a nice warm shower. Mixing hot and cold to create a nice steam. He washed his Rat's nest over twice and, trying to be as lazy as he could. Took the extra time to shave, rubbing his jaw until he was satisfied with his work.

And, to be even more lazy, he stood under the streaming water for maybe five minutes. Letting the warmth run down his back while he slowly woke up.

Not wanting to waste water, he grabbed a towel and tied it tightly to his waist, double checking to make sure it was on tight, hating it when his towel fell off. He went along with all his other morning bathroom activities. He slipped into a pari of jeans and a around the house t-shirt. Calling the hospital, he told the young lady at the front desk that he wasn't coming in today because he wanted to keep an eye on his son.

He went slow as he desended the long staircase and quietly as he went to the sitting room to see a sleeping lump of Sawyer on the couch. Tip-toeing his way over, he knelt down beside him and gently brushed his part out of his eye. Only when he was sleeping did he look at peace.

Sawyer had fallen ill with the Swine flu, and he was deathly depressed. His body's immune system was still weak and struggling to fight off the virus that terrorized his body.

Sawyer's depression was lovesickness. Loosing his love was harder on him than Dimonte could ever have thought. He felt his son's forehead and sighed. Warm, as always. He put the thermometer in his mouth and waited for the beep. When it sounded, he recorded his temprature and compared it to the same time from the day before. A slight change. Luckily his fever was somewhat burning itself out.

Then, those deep brown eyes opened, quite like his own. Instead, Sawyer's eyes were foggy and lifeless. Shwoing signs of his blindness and depression. But, his son had very keen ears.

"You're staying home today?" the hoarse voice of his son said quietly. Dimonte half smiled, even though Sawyer couldn't see it. "Yes, Sawyer. I am." the doctor said calmly. The youg man's eyes closed once more. "You don't need to stay here. You need to go see the ranch, see your horses. I feel better, I just want to sleep. Please go have somewhat of a good time."

Dimonte pondered on this for a moment and nodded. No matter how much he didn't want to believe it, Sawyer was right. He was either working, or with Sawyer. But, he couldn't just leave his son, maybe he could. His fatherly instinct told him to stay but, he knew he had to trust Sawyer's judgement. Finally, he spoke "Alright Sawyer but, drink a lot of water and PLEASE eat something. You've lost so much weight."

"I'll do my best." was all his son said before drifting off into a light sleep. Dimonte kissed his forehead and ruffled up his hair a bit and smiled "Alright, if you need anything just call." he whispered. Grabbed a random set of keys and headed to the garage.

There sat five very expensive cars and Syra's harley. He hit unlock and the lights for the white BMW M6 blinked. Andre wouldn't mind if his dad borrowed his car! Would he? Oh well, Andre was all the way on the other side of the country. He would never know.

Being the insane driver he was, Dimonte pulled into the ranch in under five minutes. There he grabbed his sweatshirt and pulled it on.

The autum wind blew quietly along, stinking his cheeks until they grew numb. He walked slowly to the large pasture where Sawyer, Evean, Alex, Andre, and Syra kept their horses. Beside the fence stood a very big crossbreed. Having that innocent look on his face.

"What did you do, Moss?" Dimonte laughed. The big horse lifted his head and whickered happily as his rider came to him. Dimonte stroked his cheek and neck. And, as always. Forest Gump needed a good grooming. He clipped on the lead and led him out of the browning pasture.

Making a bridle out of the leadrope and halter, he jumped up onto his horse and moved him into a trot. He was high up, his steed being almost eighteen hands in height. Maybe, just maybe he'd meet someone new.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Safe Inside Myself.
Are All My Thoughts of You.
Sweet Raptured Light, It Ends Here Tonight

Tags ~' Dimonte Contaro
Word Count ~' It's up there.....
Muse ~ It's alright
Music ~' ---
Notes ~ I'll love you forever if you join!
Lyrics ~' My Last Breath- Evanescence

[Anya DeBouc]

Too shy...

Anya slowly drove her tiny, silver Mercedes down a narrow road approaching what she hoped was Shady Lane stables. Kentucky was a strange place for her as was the U.S at large still at this time and Anya found some of the differences between it and England almost unnerving. Moving here after having lived in both England and France for the majority of her life, Anya found the United States both welcoming, and strange at the same time. It was a pleasant place though none the less and this country side in particular was fairly appealing to the young foreigner.

As the road wound on, Anya checked a small slip of paper and nodded to herself before turning onto the property just ahead. A barn came looming into sight accompanied by many of the other facilities associated with horses and riding in general to welcome her as the Mercedes purred softly through the gravel making only a soft crunching sound beneath the tires. Lifting an eyebrow, Anya bit her lip and pulled into a parking space still nervous. Meeting new people and coming to a new place was always hard for the blonde because she was so shy. Some called it silly and others considered her weird and turned to avoidance but Anya didn’t care. She just wanted to get this over with.

Stepping out of the car, she locked it and stuck the keys inside her designer jeans pocket before turning around. Clutching that same small paper in hand, Anya began walking towards the large barn nervously. For being the rider she was and as well known as she was, Anya was a very timid person never one to flaunt or even acknowledge her superior skills in show jumping. Having heard of this stable and been recommended by a friend, Anya decided she’d check out Shady Lane as to not offend the request of that aforementioned friend. She didn’t intend to actually stick around because Anya was currently competing with another local barn and staying in town with a friend of her fathers.

The early morning hour surprised Anya a tad as the girl contemplated her situation. Shady Lane hadn’t been as far as she’d thought resulting in Anya’s arrival to be this untimely. Chewing her lip once again, Anya only hoped there would be someone inside she could talk to before leaving and not be forced to return.

As she approached the barn though, Anya spotted a horse and rider coming towards her and paused to let them pass. Only once did the girl glance at the rider before looking away out of shyness. He was cute but older and far too out of her league to even be considered anything more than a friendly acquaintance. With a small half smile to herself, Anya waited for the horse to pass before beginning on her way back towards the barn.

for her own good.

[Desert]

Can You Hear Me?
Can You Feel Me in Your arms?
Holdin My Last Breath...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The ride to the barn was a short one but, it seemed so long. He thought about his wife while letting his thumb trace over the ring that had been on his finger for twenty-nine years. He thought about his children. Even though a majority of the fourteen were adopted. Such as Evean and Andre. Sawyer, and his twin brother Nathen, were his natural born children.

His family was his life, not knowing where he'd be without them. Then, he thought about home. England, thecountry where he was born. He'd been in America for a little over twenty years but, he still thought of the UK as his true home. He still masked his accent behind an American one, only his close friends knew he still had it. His famly, too.

Moss moved from a trot, back to a walk, his form even and his simple, yet complex animal mind seeing beauty in the world around him. Dimonte's aswell.

The doctor failed to see the small woman walking close. He saw a flash of blond and that's all he thought of it. But, Moss had other ideas. The big horse stopped and turned his head to sniff her and greet her.

The gelding loved people, that's why the family let him stay in their backyard. Watching the family while his head stuck in through the kitchen window. He was a big spoiled horse but, he knew what he was and how to do horsey things.

Dimomte tapped his heels against Moss's lean chestnut barrel. Being stubborn, Forest Gump didn't move. Doctor Contaro gave the younger woman an apologetic look. "I'm sorry." he smiled and almost laughed. Moss was a sweetie, wouldn't hurt a fly. He dismounted and took apart his make-shift bridle and pulled on him to follow to the cross-ties.

Moss liked to be somewhat messy! He was the only horse the Contaro family had that could really get away with it. He lifted up his head and whinnied in protest. Threatening to pull back. Dr. Contaro sighed and gave him some space, loosening his grip slightly. Moos whinnied again and there were a few in response.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Safe Inside Myself.
Are All My Thoughts of You.
Sweet Raptured Light, It Ends Here Tonight

Tags ~' Dimonte, Anya
Word Count ~' Won't tell
Muse ~ It's alright
Music ~' ---
Notes ~ -sighs- Just like the real Forest Gump
Lyrics ~' My Last Breath- Evanescence

[Anya DeBouc]

Aw, wonderful horse but...

Anya smiled as a big beautiful horse began to pass then suddenly stopped and came at her. A small laugh escaped the woman’s lips and she automatically lifted a hand to cup the muzzle of the horse before rubbing her index and middles fingers along that muzzle in greeting.

“Why hello there,” she murmured in amusement. After a pause, Anya dropped her hand and waited as the owner tried to move the chestnut, still smiling. The horse refused to move though and Anya bit back a laugh thinking it would be rude. Then as she was spoken to, a blush crept upon the pale girl’s face.

“It’s alright,” she replied to the man not making eye contact and her voice very soft. She took a step back hoping to become invisible as the man worked with his horse and tried to move him onward. With a small nod to herself as the horse responded, Anya waited and glanced towards the barn.

She wondered if this man might know what was going on around the stable. Figuring he must, Anya opened her mouth to speak but shut it quickly. What did she even want to know anyways? Finally the thought dawned on her that, Anya didn’t really know why she was here. Yes she had agreed to check out the barn and…she had glanced at it. Heart leaping at the sudden opening, Anya realized she could just as easily turn around right now and say she had checked it out. Then her heart sank; what would she say when asked about the horses?

Biting her lip, Anya brought a finger to her chin and hesitated in calling the attention of the man who owned the friendly chestnut. Deciding she’d check out the place on her own, Anya dropped her hand and began walking towards the beautiful barn once more.

can I leave, now?