"You can be both" James chuckled "I don't believe for a moment the cowboy in you ever left." as Stephanie ran her hand over his knee he allowed the grin to linger for a moment at the thoughts that suddenly appeared in his mind, of himself as a kid running around after his brothers and dad dressed as a cowboy, yeah that was some good memories "Just maybe a little confused." James snorted shooting her a look chuckling wryly "It's funny what we see as kids. Where we wanted to be, where we are." James nodded his agreement with that "You still want a pet dragon?" he asked teasingly "Could always buy you an Iguana" his eyes clearly said he was playing and only semi serious. He was enjoying just chilling and chatting, that's all he ever wanted sometimes, and especially if the chatter was with Steph who other people couldn't get much out of. 

Stephanie rose a brow at him. "What is wrong with an iguana or a komodo dragon?" she was being serious. Well technically Komodo dragons were huge. "Or even a moniter lizard?" Oh Stephanie could go on all day. Though she had a feeling her husband was not the biggest fan of reptiles. She grabbed her water bottle again popping the top open. Taking a sip the repeating sound of her closing it with her teeth soon followed. Tucking it in the seat behind her, she stole a glance upwards.

Then her phone rang again. Picking it up she recognized the area code as it being Madison's but Stephanie hadn't entered her into the phone yet. She didn't get a chance to say anything before a voice picked up. "I need to make a gas stop." Stephanie could tell by the tone in the girl's voice that something wasn't right. Stephanie sat up so she could hear better.

"Yeah. Is everything alright?" concern laced into her tones.

"Fine. Just need gas" lying to Stephanie was probably not Madison's smartest move.

"We can stop at the next exit" Stephanie replied before hanging up on the phone.

Tag: reagan

"What is wrong with an iguana or a komodo dragon?" James shot her a sideways look, smirking slightly "Or even a moniter lizard?" "Tell you what, you want them you take care of them" he said grinning focusing on the road again - as he heard the sucking sound from her water bottle he smirked.

Hearing her phone ring James glanced at her, course he could only hear Steph's side of the conversation "Yeah. Is everything alright?" from Steph's tone he could surmise something might be up but he couldn't get anything more of course "We can stop at the next exit" James glanced at Steph as she hung up the phone "Everything okay?" he asked as they reached the next exit and headed for their designated 'pit stop'

Well, it was a chance anyway to stretch legs and get some air maybe.

Stephanie gave him one of those looks. "I'm not two Reagan" she reverted to calling him by his last name. Something she did when he was really pushing her buttons and needed to watch what he said. "What do you have against reptiles, Anchor boy?" One thing Stephanie really disliked was being treated like a child. Though she knew it was him just teasing her she had reacted without thinking. Something was eating her now.

It was the tone of voice Madison had. "Madison said she needed gas but something gives. Her tone of voice something isn't right." Her cop instincts could tell when someone was being genuine and when they were hiding something.

"I'm probably just reading too much into things." She confirmed as she started pushing her thumb into the back of her neck. She was trying to work a knot out. The knots were painful. Stephanie did little more than make a face. When she knotted up she always knotted up painfully so. As they headed for the exit she shifted around on the seat trying to get into a position that didn't hurt. Her neck and shoulder just did that on occasion, there was no point in complaining about it.

Tag: reagan

"I'm not two Reagan" James caught her look "What do you have against reptiles, Anchor boy?" something was eating at her clearly, judging by the sudden change - he didn't have anything against reptiles, just wasn't a collector of them, however, if someone wanted to buy a reptile he wouldn't stop them. He glanced sideways at her, choosing not to bite back "Madison said she needed gas but something gives. Her tone of voice something isn't right." James let her speak as he glanced in the rearview mirror "I'm probably just reading too much into things." James gently rested a free hand on her shoulder, gently playing with the strands of hair that lay across her shoulder "Let's see when we get there, okay?" he suggested softly. There was no use him telling her anything, she was usually right about things she had a feeling about - so he just settled for the middle, he knew supporting her was better than trying to talk her out of whatever she was thinking - they'd find out sooner or later anyway. 

Pretty soon their stop came into view.

Him finding out what was going on, that was never up for debate. If James was going to poke his nose in, then he was going to do just that and Stephanie dang well knew it. This whole talking about everything was for the birds. Stephanie just nodded and became complacent as his hand played with her hair. Her thumb ran back and forth where it rested on his leg. She'd slept last night through the night so she was wide awake. Stephanie was worried but right now stressing out was impossible when she was like this. Today, even given the circumstances she was relaxed and much calmer than usual.

Stephanie didn't sit up until they were at their destination and she stretched across the open space of the truck. Lightly squeezing his neck with her fingers there was a small smile of sorts. She'd come a long way when it came to dealing with things. "I'm going to head inside, you want anything?" She stated, grabbing her bag off the floor she fussed through it to find her wallet.

Tag: reagan

Pulling into a parking spot, killing the engine James chuckled as she squeezed his neck before turning towards her as he unbelted "I'm going to head inside, you want anything?" Watching her he pondered "Sure, soda, anything" he didn't mind, he was not fussy. But he liked to nibble on things especially when he was thinking "How about some chips" he added. Seeing Madison's car pull into the spot beside them James let his belt slide off him then opened his car door to let in the air as he reclined a moment.

Stephanie jumped out of the truck. For someone who had just recovered from broken ribs, she had a bold streak still. Stephanie would always be a kid at heart. She grabbed her wallet shoving it in her back pocket and went inside. She didn't see Madison approaching James' side of the vehicle.

The teenager practically tossed her phone on James' lap. "Who is he?" The message read something about wanting to see her. Claiming that Stephanie was keeping her from him. "How did he get my number?" she had a slew questions and they came firing out. Hands were on her hips. The sixteen year old looked far less than pleased. Though she is much calmer than Stephanie would have been.

Tag: reagan

Grinning as he watched Steph jump out he shook his head, watching her walk away before closing his eyes a moment, however something landing on his lap jolted him awake and he sat bolt upright his head jerking to the side until he saw it was Madison "Who is he?" a ‘wha?’ was mouthed as he looked down at what had landed on his lap - her cellphone - picking it up he rose a brow as he read the message "How did he get my number?" the twins by now had walked into the store too, they had their own cash and didn’t need James’ permission anymore for that kind of thing, they were wised up enough to be trusted. Turning James climbed out as he reread the message once more - they had to be from the idiot who had called Steph earlier “Madison” he started quietly as he held out the phone to her to take back. He honestly had no answers that he could give without upsetting Steph and Madison both in the process. Once she had the phone he pocketed his hands and shot a look in the direction of the shop that Steph had gone into then gritted his teeth as he looked back at the teenager before him.

“Honestly? I don’t know” Well that was a truth, he didn’t quite know, all he knew was that the guy was an idiot and was meant to be Steph’s uncle, making all this a lot more complicated. He knew that was probably not gonna be what the kid wanted to hear but he wanted to protect both of them, Madison didn’t need to know. But the fact that the man had somehow gotten Madison’s number infuriated him and would likely send Steph into angry mother mode - which wasn’t pretty.

Madison took her phone back looking towards James. Well, that was a completely waste of time. She shrugged and grumbled something about him lying to her as she went to go fill her car up with gas. She leaned on the car and fired off a response message asking the person what he wanted. If no one was going to give her the answer, she would do it herself. 'It's complicated Madison.' was the only response she replied. 'The next person who tells me it is complicated is getting their head bashed in with a brick' Pocketing her phone she would find out who it was sooner or later. She just needed time.

Stephanie came out of the gas station and started filling the tank up. She was watching Madison and decided to go intervene. Making sure the tank was still filling she walked over and put the nozzle away as it finished. "Madi..." she took her by the arm. Madison didn't seem to balk at it. "I know things are confusing right now. For everyone. At your age, I let people go in one ear and out the other too." She sighed, and at the risk of sounding like James she spoke. "You can talk to me." Madison shook her head and took her phone out deleting the messages she handed the phone to Stephanie.

"Who is he?" She wanted the truth.

"Someone who wants to use you to get to me. It's a long story. If he tries to contact you again, let me know. I'll take care of it." Stephanie's face read as something genuine. Madison reached out and hugged Stephanie. Stephanie returned the gesture a bit uncertainty. There was a lot that needed to be said but there was also a lot that shouldn't be said.

"Mom.." the word hit Stephanie like a ton of bricks. She'd always been Steph to the twins, even if she took on the role of a parent.

"I promise I will tell you everything when we get to where we are going."

"Where are we going?"

"You'll have to ask James. He's not told me."

"He's lying to me. He said he didn't know who..."

"It's been a long day for everyone. He probably didn't process whose number that belonged to." Stephanie knew James wouldn't lie so now she wanted to get to the bottom of it.

Tag: reagan