SOUNDTRACK: "Layla" - Derek and the Dominoes

"Kate's missing," Ryan repeated. "Well - not missing. I'm pretty sure she's run away."

"How do you know? I mean, have you called the police?" Jared asked. He could feel his heart rate increase slightly.

"Yes," Ryan replied. "They can't put out a missing child report yet, but I think I know where she is."

"Where?"

"I found a bus ticket receipt in her room," he explained. "It was for a ticket to Los Angeles. I think she's coming to see you."

"But I never gave her my address," Jared replied. "I thought Kate was a good kid. She didn't seem like she was planning to run away when I saw her on Thursday."

"We had a fight," Ryan said. "I listed the house for sale earlier today and she got upset. I left t go get a few things from the hardware store and when I came back, she was gone."

Jared forced himself to take several cleansing breaths. "When did this happen?" he asked. His mind was racing with different thoughts and he was having trouble keeping up.

"She was gone when I came back around eleven," Ryan supplied.

Jared glanced at the large watch on his wrist. "And what time did the bus leave?" he asked, formulating the plan in his mind.

"Receipt says it left at twelve-thirty."

"Okay," Jared said. "You got to the bus station and make sure she actually got on the bus here. When you do, call me back."

Ryan agreed and hung up. Jared stared at his dark phone, trying to figure out what he should be feeling at the moment. He daughter was missing and probably on her way to Los Angeles that very moment. Two worlds he was struggling to keep separate were very swiftly hurdling toward one another. He jumped when Ryan called back.

"She definitely got on the bus," he confirmed. "Should I come up to L.A. and get her?"

"No," Jared replied. "It's almost two-thirty. The bus will arrive around three-thirty. I'll meet her there at the station. I'll call you when she gets in and have a plane ready to bring you up. It's faster and easier." Jared ended the call. "SHAYLA!" he shouted through the house.

Several seconds later, Shayla was in his doorway, a worried look on her face. "What's wrong?" she asked.

"Shut the door," he said after motioning for her to come inside. "Kate is on a bus on her way here," he said slowly.

"Wait, what?" she asked.

"She ran away and in on a bus to L.A.," he explained. "It's not due to get in until three-thirty, so I'm going to meet her at the bus station."

"What about Ryan?" she asked.

"I need you to call the airfield there and see if any planes are available for a flight from San Diego," he said. "And then book one for Ryan Emerson for a departing flight to L.A. and add Kate Wexler to the manifest for the return flight."

"It'll cost you this late," she said, writing.

"I don't care," he insisted. "It's not an issue."

She nodded. "Is that it?" she asked.

"Yeah," he replied. "I'm going to drive to the bus station. Cover for me downstairs."

Jared stood and put a jacket on over his short sleeve shirt. He grabbed a beanie from the hat rack in the hallway before picking up his car keys and rushing out to the driveway. As he drove, he hoped Kate would be on the bus when it arrived. He didn't know what he'd do if she wasn't. Technically speaking, he didn't have to do anything; he could have been a total douche and let Ryan figure it out on his own. Kate wasn't legally his responsibility and technically speaking having her in his life would only complicate things more for him. He certainly wouldn't be able to live his life like he normally did with her in it.

But then there was some unexplainable force driving him to ensure her safety. Call it the paternal instinct or whatever you want, but the instant Ryan had told him Kate had run away, Jared's heart was racing. For some reason, he kept seeing images of Kate getting abducted or lost on the side of the road. He had a pretty good idea about why she ran away and as he pulled into the bus station parking lot thirty minutes later, he was struggling with how he would handle everything.

His phone rang and he answered it.

"The only plane available for San Diego after three-thirty it at five," Shayla informed him. "Should I book it?"

"I'll tell you in half an hour," Jared replied.

"Is there anything else I can do?" she asked nervously.

"No," he said. "Just take care of everything else. Oh, and don't tell my mother about Kate."

"Got it," Shayla said.

He hung up and glanced at his watch. A bus pulled in and he looked up to see where it had come from. He saw the San Diego sign in the windshield and got out of his car. When the bus came to a stop, he kept his eyes peeled to see if Kate would appear. He spotted her when she got off; she was the youngest person on the bus, apparently. She had a backpack slung over her shoulder and her hair was in a loose braid down her back. She started walking toward the station building and he had to jog to catch her.

"Kate!" he shouted. The girl stopped and turned in surprise. "It's me," he added, sliding his sunglasses off to reveal his face. She groaned and rolled her eyes before walking fast. "Hey!" he said. "Stop!"

She slowed, but didn't stop. "He called you, didn't he?" she said angrily.

"Ryan? Yeah, he called," Jared said. "You ran away, Kate. Of course he's going to call me." He reached out and stopped her with a hand on her elbow. "Will you stop?" he asked. "Tell me what happened at least."

Kate sighed and turned to face him. "You wouldn't understand," she said.

"Try me," he answered, holding his hands out to either side o his body. He was aware that it must look strange for a middle aged man to be speaking to a teen girl so adamantly to the random passerby. "Look, how about you tell me over coffee?" he suggested.

She nodded and he led her to his car. "Wait," she said, stopping in her tracks. "That's your car?" she asked, pointing to the Ford Bronco with bright orange flames painted on the side.

"Yeah, what about it?" he asked, unlocking to passenger door and holding it open for her.

"It looks like a Hot Wheels car," she remarked, climbing into it.

He rolled his eyes and shut the door before walking around to the driver's side and getting in. The engine roared and he drove them out of the parking lot and onto the road. A minute alter, he stopped in front of a small coffee shop and parked on the street. He got out and waited for her to follow him before heading into the shop. He stopped at the counter and ordered before turning to Kate.

"Want anything?" he asked, pulling his wallet from his pocket.

She ordered a hot chocolate and he paid before sitting at a table in the back of the shop. He slid his sunglasses off and motioned for her to sit across from him.

"Tell me what happened," he said as she slung her backpack into the chair next to hers and sat down.

"We got into an argument," she answered. "He wants to sell the house and get rid of all of Mom's stuff."

Jared nodded and pulled his phone out, sending Shayla a text to book the flight along with Ryan's phone number. "Why were you coming to L.A. though?" he asked Kate.

She shrugged. "I don't know," she admitted. "I guess I just wanted to get away from him."

"What was the plan though, Kate?" he asked. "You don't know anyone in L.A. You don't know where I live. A lot of things could have happened."

She nodded. "I know! But they didn't."

He shook his head. "Because you were lucky!" he insisted. He felt the sudden urge to impart some type of wisdom on her. "You can't just run away because you don't like what Ryan is doing," he said.

"But he's selling all of Mom's stuff!" she said, her voice rising. "It's not fair!"

Jared gave the barista a smile when she dropped their cups off. He saw her do a double take of recognition before returning to the cafe counter. In any other situation, he would have flirted with her, but it didn't seem right to do it in front of her fifteen your old daughter. He took a deep breath before focusing on Kate again.

"It's not your decision if he gets to sell the house," he said. "But, I'll see what I can do about some of your things."

Kate seemed satisfied with that and sipped her hot chocolate. "I don't know why you were worried," she said quietly. "You're not really responsible for me."

"That doesn't mean I don't care," he replied. He sighed. "I know this is a weird situation, but I do care about you." She shifted in her chair. "I want to get to know you, but I'm kind of new at this type of relationship. I need a little help, here."

She nodded. A second later, she spoke. "Is Ryan mad?" she asked, staring down into her drink.

Jared shrugged. "Probably," he replied. "And probably a little scared and worried.:

She blushed in embarrassment. "So are you driving me back down?" she asked.

"I can't," he answered. "I'm too busy preparing for my trip. He's coming up to get you."

"He hates driving for that long," she said sadly. "He's gonna be pissed by the time he gets here."

"I doubt it," Jared said with a slight smile. "I sent a plane to get him and take both of you back home."

Kate's eyes widened. "You have a plane?" she asked in disbelief.

He chuckled. "No. But I can afford a flight for you two. It's faster than driving."

"So Ryan's on his way here, now?" she asked.

Jared looked at his watch. "His plane leaves at five and its only a forty-five minute flight, so it won't be long now." He glanced at her over his coffee cup. "You know, you can text me anytime, right? Like, if you ever want to talk or whatever."

She nodded. "I know, but I don't think Ryan would like the cost of the phone bill."

He shrugged. "I'll cover it," he said. "I'll just have him send me the bill then."

Kate smiled and Jared could see what his mother had meant by her having his smile. "That would be nice," she said.

"Actually, you know what?" he said, downing his coffee. "Finish that and I've got a surprise for you."

She did as she was told and stood up. He gave the barista a smile and wave before leading Kate outside and getting into the Bronco.

***

"Alright, here we are," Jared said, shutting the car off.

They were parked in a private airfield and a small plane was sitting on the tarmac getting refueled. Ryan was standing on the ground, arms crossed. He let out a visible sigh of relief when Kate stepped out of the SUV and Jared followed her.

"There you are! I was worried sick!" he exclaimed, opening his arms to his stepdaughter. He looked at Jared. "Thank you for finding her."

"No big deal," Jared replied.

"Look what Jared got me," Kate said, holding up her new iPhone.

Ryan shot Jared a look. "She runs away and you reward her with a new phone?"

"It's so she can talk to me anytime she wants without worrying about charges," he explained. "It's linked to my credit card, so you don't have to pay a thing."

"We're ready to take off, sir," a crew member said, emerging from the plane.

Ryan nodded. "Come on, Kate," he said, walking to the stairs to get on the plane.

"I'll be there in a second," she said, turning to Jared. "Thank you," she said again, clutching the phone.

"You're welcome," he said. "No running away while I'm gone," he warned her. "Behave." She nodded and put her arms around him. "Text me anytime. I'll respond when I get the chance." He put his arms around her lightly, the same way he did with fans., unaccustomed to such physical contact so early. "You better go," he said after a few seconds. "They're waiting for you."