Drake stepped outof the fish factory, not sure where he's going.
Where are we going, Drake?.
"Haven't decided yet, big guy. So, why didn't you want to stay?"
I wanted to Drake, but I couldn't.
"Why not?"
Well, we're stuck together. You would have had to stay too.
"You didn't ask me if I would have been willing to."
I knew what you'd say. "We're here for a reason. This is where we can do the most good, so this is where we belong."
"So, are you OK with it or are you just trying to keep me happy?"
This really is where we belong now. Dragons live a long time Drake. I'll have pleanty of time to get me some dragon tail later.
Drake laughed. "That's one way to look at it." Just then, Drake arrived at a small gas station.
Is this where you were going?
"Yeah, I guess it is. I need to make a phone call. Could you please, uh, not listen?"
Sure, I can use some rest anyway.
"Thanks" Drake took a card out of his pocket and looked at it as he dialed the phone. He waited a moment for the person on the other end of the line to pick up. "Blackburn? This is Marshall." Drake listened for a moment. "Yeah. I'm sorry. Look, I really am sorry about how we...I mean how I left things." Drake listened again. "I'm glad to hear that. So, what's new?" Another pause to listen. "They got into the Final Four? No way! Too bad Kansas clobbered them. Guess I was out of the loop, eh?" Drake paused again. "Glad to hear Kerr is working out. I was sure he had it in him. I, uh, really want you to know. I've been thinking. About what's important. What I want to say is I'm not here because I want to be. I'm here because its where Drax can do the most good. And I know you stayed there for similar reasons. I know, I can be a jerk. I know that I may just upset you when I screw things up again. Hell knows I've screwed up since I left." Drake listened. "Thanks. I...what I want to say is that I don't know how many chances I'll have to say what I need to. And I need to tell you...I still care about you, Jessica. I can't lie to myself about it anymore. Sometimes I wish there wasn't fifty feet of dragon in between us, but that's what we're stuck with." Drake listened yet again. "Yeah, I know. Look, If you need me or Drax, we'll be there." Another pause. "OK. Tell Tommy to kick a bad guy for me. Bye, Jess."
Drake hung up the phone and turned to leave, ad he did his left lg buckled and he fell flat on his face. "Damn." Drake struggled back to his feet, and started walking back to the fish factory.
