THE WALKER RANCH

Steven turn to face Robert the look on his face saying all he needed , not when but if he ever found some one else that he felt the same as when he as with janet, that was something he didn't want to ever think about again. He hoped work would sort that out giving him somthing else to think about. "that sort of thing for me is finished" he said moving to pick up a dumbell and lift it back into the rack.

"You are an impatient man, Steven Walker. You just lost your wife and already you want someone new. Steven, as your friend, I can only urge you to take your time and let your grief heal. This desperation you have to find someone is part of the grief process. You really should continue to work on the grief process. You're doing well, but you need to keep working on it before it gets out of hand for you."

steven looked at him and shook his head " maybe I should make myself clear , I am not looking for any one any more , why should I " he said turning to walk out the room "I am and always will be a widower with two boys to think of first, its not worth the heart ache " his last words were quiet ones "If anything goes wrong tomorrrow you'll be the first to know " those words were spoke harsh and cold to Robert.

Brian was busy working again to tomorrow's plan, when Robert apparated back into the office. "He's in a mood," Robert said, "Just leave him alone. He'll work it out. How are you? Are you ready for tomorrow night?"

"I keep going over it, feeling like there is something I missed," Brian sighed.

"Let me look it over with you. We can't afford mistakes," Robert said. He sat down with Brian and they talked through the plan together once more. "You're fine, Brian. You're just antsy. Nerves. You really do have to get some sleep. It's going to be a long day tomorrow. Lock it up for tonight and get some rest. You really do work too hard."

Steven felt Robert go and nodded to himself then headed back down into teh main house . he could hear voices but he wanted to grab a quick last cup of coffee before he fell asleep. He stepped into the kitchen but headed straight for the coffee pot. Poring out the last of the coffee witch bearly gave him half a cup he sat down facing way from both brian and Robert not really wqanting to talk to any one , well thats the impreshion he gave but intise all he wanted to do was talk to figure out why things had gone the way they had and why he had felt and still did feel things towards Khaat.

Brian noticed the coffee had gone dry. He waved his hand to start the coffee to make another pot. He had seen that Steven had gotten the dregs of the pot. "Sorry, Steven. We do try not to let it go dry like that," Brian said. "Look, if you're going to be my partner, I need us to be able to trust each other. So how about starting by telling us what's on your mind."

Steven pored the half cup away and pored himself a fresh full cup looking At Brian as he spoke to him. Steve drank his coffee then turned to face both Robert and Brian " I am not use to having another partner, my last one died , she was my wife" he said his eyes looked at Robert looking for him to understand now why it had taken so much out of him he didn't just lose a wife he lost a partner too.

"I know that," Robert said quietly. "But if you're not up to this, if you can't do this with children, not yet, that's alright. You just say the word, and you can attend the next mission. I know the hurt you went through. I know her relationship with you. But I need you to be able to focus on the next 36 hours. If you can't do that yet, its completely understandable. I just don't want to have to tell your boys you're not coming home. We really do have to do this right. I know that might make you angry, but I have to look out for every man under my employment. "

He stood to face both Robert and Brian "I can do my job Robert , It what I trained for most of my life " he said sharply "Brian if you need me I'll be at my bunk probably not asleep" he said placing his cup ito the sink and walking away from them and to his bunk . Laying down he did not close his eyes for long his mind race with what he needed to do he rolled to his side

Brian refused to chase after any man who was having personal issues. He left Steven alone. He was having second thoughts about bringing him along for this mission. Steven was acting like a loose cannon. It worried him. His skills did not worry Brian. But he did not like his attitude. He left him alone. He finished his business with Robert instead so Robert could get back to Khaat.

He did sleep a bit, but was the last one to bed and the first one up. He had been up practicing for hours before he had his first cup of coffee. He was showered, changed, and had already been down to the bike grounds scouting them out.

He returned smelling the crew cooking breakfast. He wasn't hungry. He had lives at stake today. He was quiet. All business. They lost more lives on this night than any other night of the year.