JENNA: * They haven't wandered far into the caravans, when there's a sudden squeal, and a small, slim figure launches herself at Jo. Before the thief has time to react, a young girl has latched herself to her waist, causing her to stumble backward, releasing Shane. "Miss Jo!" cries the small entity. "Papa said you wouldn't be here!"

JUSTIN: * Shane nearly stumbles himself, if only from sheer surprise. One hand clamps over his arm to rub where Jo's been holding him, and he whirls to see what has just assaulted the woman. He is surprised to see the child clinging to her, and he squawks quietly when nothing else seems willing to come out of his mouth.

JENNA: * Jo is as stunned as Shane and momentarily shaken from her blankly emotionless state. "N..nana," she says weakly, as if she barely remembers the little girl's name. "Y..you're back here already?" The girl backs away slightly, nodding. "Papa decided to take the airship, because we hadn't ever before, but the pecos got sicky, so we decided not to do it again." She looks as if she isn't entirely pleased with this. "But we got back sooner! Papa said you probably weren't here, but you are! Does that mean you're going to come with us again?" Jo stares at her for a moment, then turns her head to look at Shane.

JUSTIN: * Shane doesn't register the look at first, staring at the girl and wondering how she knows Jo -- by name, no less. When he does notice Jo's gaze on him, he only seems more confused, and his face shows it. He puts both hands on his head, and turns around, thereby solving the problem of having no clue what she expects him to say.

JENNA: * Jo blinks at him, finding this reaction peculiar, then she looks back at Nana, forcing a smile onto her unwilling face. "I ... would be happy to travel with you again, if your father needs the extra help." This sends the girl into spasms of delight. "Wait wait! I'll go get him! He was really happy last time! I bet he'll let you come back!" Then she dashes off between the wagons, leaving the pair alone again. Jo scratches her head, looking at her traveling companion. "It gets us out of town, at least."

JUSTIN: * Shane mumbles a very quiet agreement, his arms folding behind his head as he stares at nothing in particular. He picks at the fabric of his hood distractedly, and after a few moments he finally turns around. However, he doesn't look directly at Jo, instead favoring the ground next to her.

JENNA: * She folds her arms, some of her earlier blankness returning. "Are you all right?" she asks finally, trying to keep tonelessness from her voice. "You weren't injured?" She isn't entirely sure why she's asking, as he probably would have already mentioned it if he was, but something seems to be wrong.

JUSTIN: "I'm fine." Shane says quietly, ignoring the bruises he no doubt has from his rough entrance into the guild hall. So physically speaking, he's at least telling the truth to the degree that he doesn't really feel any pain. He decides that is enough for now. "Just a little shaken up. I'll be all right." He walks past her, half-dazed and suddenly very tired. He doesn't know where he's wandering off to, but he's sure he'll come across a tree to sit under or a rock to lean against before he gets lost.

JENNA: "Wait." Jo catches his arm again before he gets too far. "Nana won't be able to find us again." She pauses, feeling she should at least explain that part of the day's riotous events. "She .. is the daughter of the caravanner I traveled with to Juno." She starts walking to a nearby rock, still well in view of where the girl disappeared.

JUSTIN: * Shane almost pulls out of her grip, having set his mind to wandering, and not wanting to be stopped now. But he stops anyway, because honestly, he doesn't know what the difference is. He turns toward her, fishing around for his hat and not finding it as it is in his pack. "I was just going to go for a walk, but..."

JENNA: * She looks back at him, an unreadable expression flitting across her fingers. She almost releases him, then tightens her grip, turning slowly to seat herself. "Please ... just stay." She pauses, on some level not wanting it to sound as if she thinks he can't take care of himself. "I just ... please."

JUSTIN: * Shane seats himself slowly on the ground where he's standing, not once moving his eyes from the dirt in front of them. He doesn't say anything right away, but the tension in his muscles is surely noticeable to her where she holds his arm. And the look on his face makes it just as obvious that he wants to hide. "All right..." He says finally, needlessly.

JENNA: * Jo looks at him wearily, taking another guess at the source of his tension. "Are you sure .. you're all right? Teague won't break his word. We're safe until tomorrow morning." She looks back through the wagons, releasing him and dropping her hands against her knees. "And we're outside the city walls ... though it would be safer to be well gone."

JUSTIN: "I'm not..." Shane rubs at his face, pulling his knees up to rest his elbows on. He brushes the fingers from both hands through his hair, closing his eyes to help fight back the nausea. "I'm not afraid of that. I could care less if Teague had gutted me right then and there -- I'd have deserved it."

JENNA: * She turns her gaze to him, expression puzzled. A small, nagging part of her wishes she had just let Teague have his way, but the rest of her mind protests this. "Then what?" She turns her gaze away, watching one of the wagons start away. "If you're worried about me .. don't be. I'll figure something out."

JUSTIN: * Shane's eyes open to look over to her, relieved when she isn't looking back. "Aren't you even angry at me?" His voice quivers again, wishing he could just leave it well enough alone. "Don't you want to know why?"

JENNA: * Her expression goes even blanker for a moment, and she turns her gaze silently to him as she attempts to think of a reply. "Angry..?" She is spared from any further response when Nana reappears, dragging her half-willing father along and chattering enthusiastically. Startled, Jo gets to her feet, and on spotting her, the man's expression changes from exasperation to delight.

JUSTIN: * Shane is torn between dismay and relief when they are interrupted yet again, and he stands slowly to his feet. Giving the new arrivals a brief look, he steps back and keeps his head down, letting Jo take the spotlight. He finds some nearby rocks suddenly very interesting, watching them intently.

JENNA: * The caravanner, meanwhile, has trotted forward to give Jo a hug nearly as enthusiastically as did his daughter, repeating his surprise that she arrived so quickly. He also expresses a keen delight that she wishes to guard his caravan again, if his daughter did deliver the message properly. Jo agrees that she did, then pauses, indicating Shane. "He'll be joining me as well, if you have room," she says, and the caravanner turns to look at him. "A friend of yours, is he?"

JUSTIN: * Shane rather wishes attention wouldn't be drawn to him, at least not at the present moment. Normally he would have no problem with introductions, being the friendly and professional type, but he's just so mentally and emotionally wasted right now that he'd rather be left alone. He can't condone rudeness, however, and so he looks up with a put-upon smile, giving a modest wave and a quiet "how do you do".

JENNA: * The caravanner nods, ambling over to extend his hand in greeting. "Well, any friend of Jo's. We'll be happy to have you, too." Nana, meanwhile, is clinging possessively to Jo's hand and attempting to tug her back toward their wagon. Jo shakes her head, however, and clears her throat. "Are you leaving this evening?" The caravanner nods. "Right at sunset -- will you need any extra time?" Jo shakes her head, and the man turns back to Shane. "A pleasure of course --" He hesitates, realizing he doesn't know Shane's name.

JUSTIN: * Shane is reluctant to move at first, but one good turn deserves another. He takes the man's hand in his own and shakes it with a firmness that suggests enthusiasm he doesn't really possess. "Shane." He says, trying not to sound as tired as he feels. "Veribaent. From Juno. It is nice to meet you."

JENNA: "Come on! Come on!" is Nana's impatient call. "Mama's gonna have lunch ready, and she said she won't wait for us!" Jo looks back at Shane, waving her hand for him to follow, and the caravanner chuckles. "All right, we're coming. Name's Graham, by the way. And the little one's Nana. And the wife is Milna, but you haven't met her yet."

JUSTIN: * Shane watches Jo get led off by the eager young girl, following after a moment, but at a more subdued pace. "What's your association with Jocasta, if you don't mind my asking?" He asks quietly of Graham, when he's certain she isn't within range to hear.

JENNA: "Eh?" The man scratches his cheek, peering at him curiously. "Well, Miss Jo helped guard our wagon on the way to Juno for the festival. Did a right fine job, though she wasn't too sociable." He watches fondly as Nana drags Jo away, following them after a moment. "Not sure how Nana got so attached to her, but as you can see!"

JUSTIN: * Shane is all too familiar with that, but unlike Nana, he's having a much harder time coping with the concept. "So I can see, indeed." He smiles thinly, then sighs. He straightens up a bit, not wanting to look depressed. "A guard, you say? Now that's certainly a switch..."

JENNA: * The man glances at him with a faint chuckle. "So she is a thief, then? I wondered. But she never stole a thing of ours, so I thought I might be wrong." He shrugs, guiding Shane through the wagons to where a plump woman is tutting Nana for dragging people around like that and greeting Jo much like the other two, though with less bone-crushing enthusiasm.

JUSTIN: "She's picky, I suppose." Shane rubs the back of his neck, wondering if he should really be defending her thieving at all. Still, he wouldn't want to mar their obvious like of her by giving his more honest opinion. "Likes soap." He says with a small smile, and quickens the pace a little to catch up to where Jo and Nana already are.

JENNA: * Jo looks up at him with some relief, clearly out of her league with all this affection surrounding her. Graham joins them after a moment, seating himself next to the fire his wife's been cooking over. "And you won't have to walk this time, to boot! One of the others picked up a couple of extra birds, so you can ride alongside this time. Nana makes a noise of protest and says something about Jo riding in the wagon with her, but Jo shakes her head, reaching down to ruffle the girl's hair. "I can't guard the wagon from inside it, can I?"

JUSTIN: * Shane stands at the edge of the little camp, folding his arms behind his back, and generally just looking very out of place. He smiles politely, at least for a moment, but keeps quiet in hopes that he's done all the talking he'll be required to.

JENNA: * The plump woman waves for Shane to join them. "Food's almost ready -- won't you have a seat?" Nana, meanwhile, is chatting insistently at Jo, who is nodding occasionally and smiling. "But you'll sleep in the wagon, right?" Graham clears his throat, sighing. "Nana, there's hardly room .. now stop pestering her and sit down."

JUSTIN: * Shane shifts on his feet and makes an inaudible reply to the suggestion, but he ambles over to sit himself apart from the bunch. He takes the opportunity to slide his pack down off of his shoulder, settling it beside him and untying the flap. He digs inside for a moment before pulling out his much beloved hat, settling it on his head in an attempt to feel less naked.

JENNA: * Milna watches him for a moment, concerned, then dishes up his food and takes it over to him, inviting him to come closer to the fire. Jo appears occupied with the chattering Nana, murmuring hurried responses to the girl's chatter between bites of her meal. Graham rolls his eyes heavenward, not even trying to put a stop to it, and settles himself nearer Shane with his own food. "Been on the road long, then?"

JUSTIN: * Shane, for his part, looks fairly lost. He doesn't want to seem ungrateful or antisocial, but it's just not that easy at the moment. He accepts his food with polite thanks, and gives it a sniff. "At least a couple months, I should think." He nods a bit, taking a bite of the food and savoring it before continuing. "It has been an... eventful trip, not without its problems. It's the first time I've gone this far from Juno."

JENNA: "That so! I wondered why you weren't with Jo the last time." Graham turns back to his food -- it's a hearty stew, for reference, generous with the meat and vegetables. "I suppose you two met there, then? Will you be headed back that way?" Jo glances over at the pair, but her gaze returns to Nana shortly, as the little girl is tugging her arm insistently.

JUSTIN: "I... hadn't thought about it, to be honest. I suppose that was the original plan, but... it's been a long time since I've been confident about it." Shane doesn't think elaborating on why would be good for conversation. "Uh, but -- yes, I suppose you could say we met in Juno. More or less." He smiles vaguely, as if not sure whether the memory is pleasant or not, but he hides the expression behind a spoonful of stew.

JENNA: * Milna, meanwhile, has scolded Nana away from Jo and pulled her to the other side of the fire, leaving Jo to scoot closer to Shane and Graham, still eating her food. Graham waves a cheery greeting, which she returns half-heartedly, concentrating on her food, though not terribly much more. "We were just talking about how you met," Graham supplies comfortably. "And where you were planning to go next." Jo glances up again, then looks once more at her food. "Ah," she says.

JUSTIN: * Shane fidgets uncomfortably now that Jo is within earshot, as if he has something to possibly worry about. "Ah -- so, what about you? You were in Juno for the festival, I take it?"

JENNA: * Jo continues to pick at her food, apparently unconcerned by the conversation. Graham, however, nods sagely. "Aye, we go there every year. It was Nana's first time dancing with the troupe, though." The little girl, hearing her name, cheers in agreement, and is promptly hushed. "She did well," Graham says proudly. "Takes after her mama."

JUSTIN: "I'm afraid I miss the festival most years -- work keeps me away. But perhaps I've seen your troupe before." Shane pushes a few spoons of stew into his mouth, reluctantly. Not because he doesn't like the taste, but his appetite is sorely lacking. "She's a spirited little girl, isn't she?" He smiles a bit, eyeing Nana across the fire.

JENNA: * Nana doesn't see him, now arguing with her mother about whose turn it is to do the dishes. Graham nods agreeably, expression doting. "She'll be breaking poor lads' hearts someday. But for now I'm glad to keep her by the fire." Jo smiles faintly at this, but the expression fades almost immediately, and she sets her plate down, finished. "Is the same person in charge of pecos?" she asks, getting to her feet, and Graham nods, surprised into replying. "He'll be a couple wagons down."

JUSTIN: * Shane looks up at her unexpected voice, too, turning his eyes to her and fiddling with the bowl in his hand. "What's that?" He sets his dish down, rubbing at his head and frowning. "Do we have money to rent more birds? After the last ones..."

JENNA: * Graham laughs, reaching over to slap his shoulder bracingly. "No, no. These are our birds -- they ride with the caravan. Most of the time our guards get the use of them, but one of them pulled up lame, so Jo had to walk." Jo nods slightly, then starts silently away. Graham, once his laughter has ceased, frowns slightly. "Seems a bit down, doesn't she? Long day?"

JUSTIN: * Shane sighs, a wobbly sound as he feels his anxiety coiling in his chest again. "I suppose that's one way to put it..." He turns a look to Jo's retreating back, and feels shards of guilt stabbing his gut. "Or a very short day filled with problems."

JENNA: * Graham nods again, finishing his own meal with apparent gusto. "Well, not much to be done for it but move on, right? We should probably start packing the wagon away -- Nana!" He barks suddenly, as the little girl looks to be taking off after Jo. "Remember what your mama said about the dishes!" Nana stops, looking sulky, then walks back over and sits next to Milna, who smiles and pats her head. "Come along now. Got to be ready when it's time to go."

JUSTIN: * Shane gets himself to his feet, picking up his and Jo's dishes and looking ready to find something to take his mind off the day's troubles. "Be happy to help, just tell me what to do." He says with attempted cheer.

JENNA: "Excellent!" Graham says, handing his dishes off to Milna. "We just have to tie everything down and make sure it's all secure -- we didn't really unpack. Morroc's not a major stop, really. Our route usually starts in Comodo." He ambles over to the wagon, still talking, and begins to work at pulling a heavy cover over it to block sun and sand.

JUSTIN: * Shane is only too happy to be of service, letting the work and the chatter distract him from his thoughts. The anxiety begins to die down, though he knows it's only a matter of time. For the moment, at least, he can imagine that nothing is wrong.

JENNA: * It isn't too long before Jo returns with the pecos, tying them down near the wagon and walking over to aid the pair wordlessly. Nana pops up once or twice, chattering as rapidly as ever, but her mother leads her away soon enough, and after some time they have the wagon packed and covered, its requisite pecos harnessed and hitched and Nana and her mother safely ensconced inside it.

JUSTIN: * Shane manages to ignore any Jo-related anxiety for the time being, despite her presence. He's actually a little disappointed when Nana is called off, as any chatter he doesn't actually have to respond to is good for background noise and distraction. Once the work is finished, however, he sinks back from the group in an attempt to once more become inconspicuous.

JENNA: * Unfortunately, the group barely has time to relax before the caravan's leader comes down the train, calling that it's about ten minutes until departure. Jo looks remarkably weary, but she makes her way over to the pecos with a wave at Graham, who swings up to his seat after triple-checking that everything's in place.

JUSTIN: * Shane looks a mix of annoyed and relieved, knowing full well that the annoyed part is completely uncalled for. Before he can start to think more on this, he moves to fetch their pecos from where Jo has tied them, and leads them around the wagon to where she's standing. "I suppose I don't need to ask if you're ready..."

JENNA: * Jo blinks, then nods, taking the reins of one of the birds and swinging herself up behind it. "Still don't like them," she says after a moment, reaching forward to ruffle the animal's head feathers. "They still smell. But it's better than walking." She glances at Shane and smiles briefly.

JUSTIN: * Shane's already turned away, and completely misses the look. He hops up onto his bird and leans over to adjust the harness. "If I had a bottle of perfume, I'd lend it to your bird -- that would be an expensive solution, though." He takes the reigns loosely, turning the peco about and trotting in a brief circle to test the bird's temperament.

JENNA: "Wasted on a bird, anyway." Her peco squawks noisily, and she ruffles its feathers again, trotting up alongside Graham to bob her head briefly. "Thank you for your generosity," she says, and the man blinks, scratching his head. "Of course, miss!" He is apparently so surprised he forgets her name.

JUSTIN: * Shane trots his bird around the other side of the wagon, giving a slow look over the area and a lingering glance at the walls of the city. He can't imagine there's anything that he may have left behind, and if there is, it is likely he wouldn't miss it. He quirks his eyes upwards to see the underside of the brim of his hat, and lifts a hand to fix its position on his head. A sigh escapes as he settles into the saddle and looks very uneasy in spite of everything.

JENNA: * Jo takes up her post as the wagons start rolling, thoughts turned thoroughly inward. She seems immune to Graham's attempts to draw her into conversation, and she only nods politely when Nana pokes her head through the cloth to say something. She passes the bulk of their time traveling in silence, though she remains alert for marauders, as is her job.

JUSTIN: * Shane is just glad that nobody is talking to him, apparently succeeding in being the less interesting of the two. He spends his time telling himself all manner of things, playing both sides of the field and both defending, attacking, scrutinizing, and scoffing at his actions since the day they left Juno. The one thing that he has the hardest time figuring out, however, is the very last incident he had a hand in. It is the one event he has no clear-cut response to, no insight -- real or imagined.

JENNA: * It's a few hours from dawn when the wagons halt for the night, their owners lighting a few fires for light. Graham bids his two guards good night, hopping into the wagon to join his wife and daughter and agreeing to trade shifts with them later, once the sun's up. Jo nods shortly, tying down her peco, and takes a drink from her canteen, tired and sweaty from the ride, and not ready to sit again just yet.

JUSTIN: * Shane tips his hat to Graham before the man heads off to catch some sleep, and he walks his peco lazily around the wagon before sliding out of the saddle. He leans against the bird, which chortles in response, and takes his hat off to swipe back his sweaty hair. He almost doesn't realize Jo, standing not a couple meters away, and when he does all he can do is stare distantly.

JENNA: * When she's worked out her kinks, Jo finally ambles closer to the fire, crouching next to it for a moment before sitting down with a sigh and stretching her legs out in front of her. She appears to have lost much of her earlier moodiness, leaning back on her hands to gaze up at the stars.

JUSTIN: * Shane ties his bird and pats its neck before making his way cautiously to the fire. He feels the anxiety waking from its resting place, and tries hard not to feel dizzy before he can make his way to a seat near Jo. For a long moment he just stares into the fire with a hopeless look, knowing that this can't end well. But he has to get something, because the mystery is driving him insane. "So... you expect any raiders before we leave Morroc territory?" His voice is quiet and doesn't sound particularly interested in his own question.

JENNA: "We didn't get any before." She curls her legs back underneath her, gazing into the fire. "It's a fairly well-known caravan ... though it's not a particularly rich one." She straightens, plucking a scrubby plant from its loose foothold in the sand. "They don't necessarily need the extra security .. but it's a precaution. And in some cases a kindness."

JUSTIN: * Shane stares down at the scraggly plant in her hand, crossing his legs beneath him idly. "I guess the extra company is nice... Gives you someone besides me to talk to, anyway, and that's never a bad thing." He smiles weakly, hoping his joke is received well enough.

JENNA: * She smiles briefly, tossing the plant into the fire. "I suppose. Not that I get to talk much with Nana going on like that." She turns her gaze to him, resting her chin in her hand. "You were quiet today. Nana was worried you didn't like her."

JUSTIN: * Shane looks up in surprise. "What? Well of course that's not true! I think the child is darling." He smiles a little, but it fizzles out as he answers the other half of the comment. "Was I quiet? I guess I hadn't really noticed..." He lies, wondering if it'll be enough.

JENNA: "I'll be sure to let her know," Jo replies drily, stretching her legs out again. "But you were. Milna didn't believe me when I told her you usually talk almost as much as Nana." Her lips curve into a smile, though it's evident her heart isn't really in it.

JUSTIN: "I do /not/..." Shane looks halfway insulted, frowning with a furrow of his brow. "I really don't, do I? You're just joking..." He lifts his knees up and rests his arms across them, settling his chin in the middle. "You've been fairly quiet, yourself. Not that you're usually a chatterbox. Mister Graham took notice."

JENNA: * She looks startled, frowning at him slightly. "Was I ... I suppose I was." Her gaze drifts back to the fire, expression becoming moody again. "Well, it'll pass." She gives a long stretch and shrugs.

JUSTIN: * Shane is doubtful of this, though he doesn't say so outright. Neither does he agree, however. He stares silently at the fire, listening to the beat of his heart frantically pumping away. He looks plenty calm on the outside, but it is hardly the case. "Mmph."

JENNA: * Jo glances at him, only a faint spark of curiosity in her gaze. She almost speaks, then decides against it, looking at the fire again. After a moment, she becomes weary of the silence and, as is her habit, begins to hum very softly, seeking to soothe herself if no one else.

JUSTIN: * Shane settles his forehead into the sleeve of his shirt, closing his eyes and gritting his teeth against the noise. The problem isn't that it's annoying, the problem is that it's comforting -- and exactly the opposite of what he wants right now. It's all too normal. Normal is odd enough between the two of them on any given day, but now? "Why are you doing that?" He asks bluntly, a little started by his own voice.

JENNA: * Jo blinks, spine straightening in surprise, and turns to look at him. ".. Humming ...?" She looks at the fire again, folding her hands in her lap. ".. It comforts me." She looks at him again, expression momentarily uncertain. "Is it bothering you?"

JUSTIN: "No... no, of course not." Shane shifts in his spot, wishing it was that simple, so he could just say 'yes'. He manages to avoid looking at her for another moment. "Are you upset?" He fails to keep it up, however, sliding her a brief glance out the corner of his eyes.

JENNA: * She turns her gaze once more from where it slipped back to the fire, brow wrinkling in thought. "Upset? What about?" Her expression is genuinely puzzled, as she can't think of anything he's done in the past half-hour or so that would make her angry. She shakes her head, looking vacantly at the fire.

JUSTIN: * Shane is beginning to wonder if maybe this is all some sort of game she's playing with him, leading him on until he out and says it himself. "What about?" He gives her a disbelieving look, flicking the brim of his hat to move it out of his face. "Come on, Jo -- you don't have to pretend."

JENNA: * She turns to look at him again, expression still confused, though some annoyance is beginning to creep into it. "What would I pretend --" she begins, then falls silent, suddenly realizing what he's talking about. "Oh." She turns away, expression weary. "It's done."

JUSTIN: * This answer is very far from satisfying Shane. He turns toward her, brow furrowing even though she can't see. "I know it's done, Jo..." He edges a little closer, maybe to get himself within striking distance. "That's all you have to say? Nothing else?" He almost sounds desperate, but he is managing to keep his voice low.

JENNA: "Why do you want to know?!" she demands, turning back to him sharply, voice almost savage. "Do you get some kind of kick out of it? Does it confirm everything you ever thought about how I live?!" Her voice rises slightly, becoming shrill as she attempts to contain what's obviously a deep reservoir of pent-up emotion. "It may not have been the best life -- or even a /good/ life -- but it was MY life!" With this, she swings both fists into the air, bringing them viciously down against the unoffending earth. "And I -- I --" Her voice quivers, and she trails off, remaining half crouched for a moment before pounding her fists against the ground again. Though it's hard to see in the light of the fire, with her hair masking her face, when she lifts her head again, there are tears streaming down her cheeks.

JUSTIN: * Shane lurches back at the sudden change in her demeanor, apparently forgetting that a response along these lines is what he was expecting -- even looking for. His eyes widen and his face sticks in a look of scared uncertainty, a look that matches his thoughts about perfectly. Before he can gain the sense to leave it all be and walk away, he dips forward again in some oddly inspired attempt to save her hands from the unyielding earth beneath. He grabs at her wrists weakly, a pained and guilty expression crossing his face, now two-fold: first for what he did, and now for upsetting her by forcing her to talk about it. "J-Jo, please stop--" He chokes on his own words.

JENNA: * Jo struggles against his hold for a moment, but she ceases long enough to lean forward, still half-shouting at him. "What do you /want/!?" she demands, frustration and pain in her voice. "I just -- wanted -- to --" She trails off again, fists making the same, savage motion toward him that they were making toward the ground. She barely seems aware she's doing it, head bowed and still in tears.

JUSTIN: "Jo, I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" Shane's voice is nearly as frantic as hers, wondering what kind of calamity he's managed to cause. He curses his own stupidity, trying only half-heartedly to keep her fists from slamming into him. He moves his grip from her wrists to her forearms, hoping to slow her efforts. "I didn't mean -- I was only trying to --" He can't think of any way to try defending himself, not now.

JENNA: * Jo is past words by now, making a few more half-hearted attempts to move her fists before going still. Her shoulders jerk, as if she's making some attempt to talk, but she can't manage it, instead slumping forward with a small sob, head almost resting against his chest.

JUSTIN: * Shane looks about hurriedly, as if there might be something beyond the campfire that could help him in this, his time of need. He finally lets go of Jo's arms, setting his hands against her shoulders much more gently and trying to move her to a position where she can see him. "Jo, I -- I want to explain, I assure you it isn't how it looks..." He swallows hard, on the verge of crying now, himself -- if only from sheer panic. "B-but, but you... you're..." His words trail off, and he begins to think he may be long past consoling her. As if he ever had a chance to.

JENNA: * Jo lifts her head slightly, making no particular attempt to clean her face as she meets his gaze. She drops her eyes almost as soon as she does, however, lifting both arms to press the heels of her hands against her eyes. "I .. just ..." She can't seem to finish the statement, however, trailing off into nothing.

JUSTIN: * Shane struggles with a lump in his throat, waiting for her words that never come. This is all wrong, not at all what he had hoped for. "You... you should rest, Jo -- please, I'm sorry I brought this up at all, I shouldn't have." He looks away, shuffling back from her in hopes that the distance will compel her to comply.

JENNA: * Jo droops back, hands falling limply to her lap as her gaze once more meets the ground. She stirs once more, making a final, gallant attempt to speak, then gives up the effort entirely. Tears drip forlornly to her hands and legs, as if she can't muster the energy to wipe them away and can't figure out how to make them stop.

JUSTIN: * Shane sits there, confused and disoriented, and stuck between wanting to say something and failing to do so. Likewise, he seems trapped midway between conflicting movements -- one desiring to pull his body further away, the other desiring to close the distance again -- and he looks at her with an utterly pained, guilty look. He wants to make her feel better, but he's convinced he can only do more harm at this point. So he gets to his feet, slowly and awkwardly, and backs away another step or two.

JENNA: * For a long moment, Jo sits in place, trapped in her own mind somewhere between action and inaction. Part of her wants to start screaming, hitting things, throwing things -- she really doesn't care about her target -- but another part holds her still, drawing her back down into the comfortable, deadened place that doesn't feel any of those things. She finally stirs, turning away from Shane to face the fire again, and resumes what she was doing before the conversation started -- humming softly to herself. She doesn't seem to be aware that tears are still splashing down from her eyes, fixed vacantly ahead.

JUSTIN: * Shane makes one hesitant, uncommitted step toward her, but quickly stops short and turns around. With his back to the fire, his shadow seems to mark a path of escape from whatever madness he's created this night. After a brief moment to find his balance, he walks away slowly on sand that he finds quite uneven -- whether by nature, or due to his emotional state, he doesn't bother to think about. His walk takes him in a generous circle around the wagon, and he finds a place to sit and stare blankly out into the pre-dawn half-light.

JENNA: * Jo, left to her own devices, doesn't stir, even as the sky lightens, lulling herself back to a comfortable apathy. It's a while before her humming stutters to a halt, however, and she droops slightly in sleep. In that sense, she's finally comfortable, lost in dreams that take her far from where she actually is.

JUSTIN: * Shane remains more or less vigilant for hours yet, though it would be hard to tell to watch him. He stares across the horizon as it lightens bit by bit, unmoving from his spot on the ground for some time. Eventually, however, it is all he can do not to leap to his feet. He's restless, frustrated, mad at his own thoughts, and even madder at himself in general. His feet find their way around the side of the wagon, and he peers across the small camp to the fire, and the sleeping woman beside it. A new pang of guilt strikes him, finding himself wondering if he could have handled the situation better. With short, meek steps he starts toward her, curious and trepid at the same time.

JENNA: * Jo is sleeping soundly -- not a good trait for a guard, but a natural one following her outburst -- apparently soothed by the warming air. She doesn't notice his approach in the least, only murmuring a little in her sleep and shifting slightly. The movement puts her slightly off balance, and she looks about to tumble over, still out like a light.

JUSTIN: * Shane is halfway to the ground when he notices Jo's slumber-induced tipping, and he quickly snaps over to stop her before he even thinks about it. Holding her upright again, he stares with a new crease of concern on his forehead, unsure what to do with her. If he leaves her upright, she may tumble again when he isn't looking -- then again, if he lies her down in the sand, she may be uncomfortable and wake. He sighs at the stupid predicament, noting that only he could care so much about something so trivial.

JENNA: * Unfortunately for Shane, Jo offers her own solution to the dilemma without even opening her eyes. With his support, her body seems to feel it's stable, and she slumps drowsily against him. She murmurs again, still unintelligible, and attempts to make herself comfortable.

JUSTIN: * Shane stifles a squeak of surprise, having his thought process interrupted by the sudden weight against his chest. He falls onto his butt, legs stretched out on either side of the sleeping woman, and goes suddenly hot in the face. His hands remain fixed to her shoulders, and in spite of an obvious instinct to seek a way out, he can't find a way to move.

JENNA: * Jo startles a little as he falls, shaking herself from sleep with a dazed mumble. Still getting her bearings, she rests her cheek wearily against him, then blinks as she realizes what she's leaning against has a hammering heartbeat. She jerks upright and pushes away from him, going pale and then red. Her mouth works for a moment, but she seems to be finding words difficult. "Did I .. fall asleep?" she says at last, staring firmly at the ground.

JUSTIN: * Shane is relieved when she wakes, and even more so when she doesn't seem inclined to freak out at his proximity and position. "It would seem to be the case... I don't know how long ago. I only just came to check on you." He tries to rub the blush from his face, then lifts his hat and swipes his opposite hand through his hair before settling it down again. "I -- you were falling over, I tried to catch you --" He hurriedly attempts to explain what must look awfully incriminating.

JENNA: "Ah," she says, folding herself into a sitting position for a moment, voice expressionless again. Then she looks up at the sky, unfolds herself and gets to her feet. "Our shift's up. We should wake Graham." She turns and smiles briefly, the expression seeming mechanical.

JUSTIN: * Shane stares after her for a conspicuously long time before he finally registers he's being spoken to. "Hm? Oh... I didn't even realize... well, never mind." He pushes slowly to his feet, unable to match even a put-upon smile, and he crosses his arms as if hiding himself. "I suppose we should, yeah."

JENNA: * Jo doesn't answer him, already hopping gently into the back of the wagon and weaving her way through the sleepers to reach the caravanner. He appears shortly, yawning and stretching himself awake, and trots over to Shane. "Ahhh, late, isn't it? You didn't have to stay up so long." Jo appears shortly after him, and he turns before Shane can respond. "You can sleep in the wagon, if you like -- the girls won't mind." Jo shakes her head, however, springing down from the back and making to crawl underneath it. Graham shrugs and turns back to Shane. "Well, it's the coolest spot besides, I suppose. Best get yourself some rest." He waves for Shane to follow Jo.

JUSTIN: * Shane nods his head a couple times shortly, smiling with some embarrassment but not bothering to explain that the only reason he's up so late is that he forgot he was on watch -- and he certainly won't disclose that Jo fell asleep at her post. He hesitates at the side of the wagon, but he eventually drops himself to crawl underneath beside the woman in question, giving her a wary look as though she might go berserk at any moment. He bites his lip hard, attempting to chase such foolish thoughts away, and settles down into the sand.

JENNA: * Jo stirs, turned away from him, and stares vacantly across the sands beyond the wagon. "I shouldn't sleep.. I slept through my shift," she says vaguely, then makes as if to crawl out from under the wagon again to join Graham. "I don't want to mess up," she says, seeming unaware she's speaking out loud at all.

JUSTIN: "Hey, hey--" Shane moves to tug gently at her arm. "If you don't sleep now, you're likely to sleep during your next shift, too." He frowns, part of him wondering why he's bothering. "Take it easy, Jo, or you'll wear yourself out again."

JENNA: * She turns to look at him, gaze slightly unfocused, but she stops moving and lies back down without a word, curling up and putting her pack under her head. After several minutes of silence, she lets out a soft sigh, body relaxing. "Sleep well."

JUSTIN: * Shane finds Jo's new behavior to be even more disturbing than anything he can remember from her, and it is causing him a great deal of worry. What's worse is that he knows it's his fault -- just like everything else, apparently. He curls up slowly, letting his hat fall from his head, and settles into his arms to see if he can get his addled brain to sleep.