On his way home he thought long and hard about what she'd said and decided after much soul-searching she was right, and he felt like an even bigger ass because of it. He went inside and laid down, but couldn't sleep. He looked over at Zac and wondered how he could, but then Zac had looked longer and harder than he and Ike had, which only served to prove Jenny's theory right. When Zac woke up, he was bound and determined to find Emma, regardless of what Jenny had said, so Taylor stayed with him, driving up and down the coast all day long. Ike and Kim promised to call Tay's cell if they heard anything to keep Zac's free, in case Emma decided to call. When it came time for them to be in the studio working, Taylor had to all but drag Zac in, or he would have driven up and down the coast all night too. "Come on, Zac." Tay urged gently. "Jenny's known her almost all her life. You know she's probably right. And knowing Emma, if we haven't found her yet she is fine and is not ready to be found. Give her some time. Her head was messed up when she took off, the last thing she saw was you ready to take a swing at me. Ask Jen." he said and gripped his brother's shoulder tightly. "And I am SORRY, Zac. I should have told you. I honestly believed she would, and I think she tried. We'll stop at Jen's when we're finished at the studio, just to see if Emma tried to get in touch with her." Zac nodded and followed Taylor into the studio, but the only stuff they worked on was stuff that Zac could pound his frustrations out to. 'Oh hell.' Tay thought to himself. "This is where he met her' he groaned out loud and asked everyone to give Zac a few minutes alone. Tay stood outside and listened to Zac beat hard and heavy on his drums, then groaned again as he heard him playing what he'd played for Emma the night they'd met Jen. He heard a loud growl come from there and stuck his head in just in time to see Zac throw his drumsticks at the wall.

"Zac..come on, man." Tay urged gently as he went into the room. Zac's head was down and he was still breathing heavily, from the exertion he was putting forth. Taylor couldn't see the tears that stung behind Zac's eyelids, through the mass of hair that hung in his face. "I gotta get outta here.." Zac stated and jumped from the stool, grabbing his jacket and keys. He made it to the truck before Tay could insist on going with him. Even if he didn't find Em, he needed to be alone with his thoughts. He started the truck and put it in gear, "I'll be home later.." he hollered at Tay without looking up, then sped off to cruise the beaches some more, just knowing in his heart that she was on a BEACH somewhere. He wiped his eyes and tried to think of where else she would be. After Taylor and Ike finished what they were working on, Taylor stopped by Jenny's to see if she'd heard from Emma. "No, Tay. It's a little bit soon for that." she sighed as he sat down and Hannah tugged at his hand until he picked her up. "It'll be tommorow night or even the next day, at LEAST." she told him, smiling as Hannah tugged on his chokers. Taylor gently removed her little hands and tickled her tummy. "You tryin' to choke me, too?" he teased and she giggled, not understanding a word he said. "Zac's still pissed at you?" Jen asked gently. "I think so, even though he's trying hard not to be." he sighed. "He took off to look for Emma, I'm sure." "It'll turn out alright, Tay. Don't worry." she said and sat down on the floor in front of him and Hannah, to play with her daughter. They both got a kick out of making the baby laugh, then Taylor helped Jenny get her ready for bed. He sang to the baby softly, making her mother smile, as the little one yawned and gave him a heart melting smile. "Jeez Hanson.." Jen teased him as she shut the door to Hannah's room, "you're a natural." He chuckled and followed her into the kitchen. "I have enough practice. All those younger siblings." he explained. She smiled up at him and then couldn't stifle a yawn, "Sorry. We were up kinda early." she told him. "I'm gonna get home anyway." he said and hugged her. "Sleep well. I'll talk to you tomorrow." "Nite, Tay. Thanks for the help." she tiptoed up and kissed his cheek. "Anytime.." he grinned down and brushed her hair out of her eyes. "See you.." he said softly and closed the door, only stepping away when he heard the lock turn over. Zac searched the beaches for hours, still unable to find Emma, and wondering where his thinking was wrong. He gave up for another night, feeling lost and helpless and needing to know that Emma was alright. He pulled into the driveway behind Taylor and went into the house with him. "Where ya been?" Zac asked, not really caring what the answer was. "Jen's..she hasn't heard." Tay answered. "She says it could be another day or two before Emma decides she needs new ID and a job, but as soon as.." Taylor began. "Yeah..I KNOW she'll call." Zac finished his sentence. "Try to sleep, Zac. So you can think straight when you do see her." Taylor told him and they both went to bed, Taylor trying to push his thoughts of Jenny being more than a friend and a way to find Emma for Zac out of his head. He didn't deserve to have her be so sweet when he was partially to blame for this whole situation. The brothers both turned on their sides. mulling their own thoughts silently over in their heads.

Emma woke when the wind picked up and the clouds began to roll in. The way it was blowing in, made the sand that grazed across her face feel like someone was scrubbing her with sandpaper. She wrapped her small, still queasy body in the blanket and brushed the sand from her face, then looked out over the dark, angry looking sea. She shook her hair out in the wind and dug in her pocket for her key, then let herself into her car. She slid the seat back, let the back rest down and locked herself and her blankets in the car with the rest of her life. She watched the darkening sky through the windshield and the tears began to pour again, painfully, as the sand that still clung to her skin made tiny abrasions when she tried to wipe her tears away. She turned on her side and tried to sleep some more, silently willing the sick feeling in her stomach and the pounding in her head to go away.

Back Home Next