Scott shrugs and reaches for a french fry if only to try and get something in his stomach. He hadn't been eating much again lately, and he knew Rick was unhappy with his lack of weight gain, but with everything going on, he just hadn't been hungry.
"Not really," he responds to Hope's question. He really didn't feel like talking about all that had happened. It was bad enough what he'd gone through without having to rehash it. And he'd get some questions answered later. But still...
His eyes rise to meet Hope's. "Alone time isn't the reason I wanted to change Christmas plans," he admits quietly. "Sapphire and I had it out today and... I think it would just be better if we didn't put ourselves within close proximity of each other for a while."
Hurt showed in his gaze. Hurt and anger. "I'm the bad guy now so... I guess from now on I get to just stay out of her way." There was so much more to it than that. There was anger and hate towards Gage, and the feeling of being totally out of control. But how could he admit all that? It just made him sound like he was in the wrong and needed to shape up. When really, he didn't know how. It went a whole lot deeper than selfish emotions, even if it came across that way. He was having trouble dealing with anyone connected to the Agency, plain and simple. But admitting that was admitting that he still hadn't gotten over his capture, even after all this time. And maybe that was one thing he was afraid of voicing.
Jason trots along behind BJ, letting the boy pull him to their table. Smiling at Wes, he accepts the hearty handshake and nods. "Nah, I wouldn't change my mind. Can't seem to stay away from this place."
Kaylee bounces around in her daddy's arms, her own hands flailing. "Ja! Ja!" She giggles, her free hands without much control and accidentally smacking Wes upside the head. She giggles some more and yanks on his shirt collar, a big of drool dribbling from her chin.
Jason laughs, his eyes shining as he sees how his little sister was glad to see him. "Nice to see you too, Kaylee. Staying out of trouble?"
A bit of babble is her response and she reaches out to Jason, wanting more attention. He gives Wes a wry grin and accepts his sister, holding her on his side. "What? Daddy not good enough?"
Kaylee squeals and flails her arms again as she scrunches her nose and smiles as if telling Jason he was being silly. Jason can't help laughing. "You're being a real quirker tonight, aren't you?"
"Not as bad as you when you were her age," Cindy comments from the table.
Jason turns around, grinning. "Aw, but see how calm I turned out to be?"
Cindy quirks a skeptical eyebrow. "If you call running after bad guys calm, sure."
Jason passes Kaylee back to Wes so he can give his mom a hug, then move some chairs so he and Katie could sit together. He gestures to Ryder and Thirteen too, not wanting them to be left out. "Come on, guys. Have a seat."
Ryder looks down at Thirteen for a moment and gives her a wink. "They won't bite," he promises. Still holding her hand, he moves towards the table, glad they'd been invited. Yeah, it was a little awkward, but it was still nice to be among people. Not so long ago, Jason wouldn't have wanted him along, but lately they'd been getting along well and Ryder was glad. He could be stubborn, but he only had a small handful of friends, and those he had, he wanted to keep.
Pulling out a chair for Thirteen across from Wes and Cindy, Ryder sits down next to her, taking off his hat to hang on the back of his chair. He nods and smiles to Cindy. "G'day."
Cindy smiles back. "Hello. You must be the one from Australia."
Ryder chuckles. "Dang accent."
"Aw. No, it's lovely."
Ryder feels a little heat to the back of his neck. "Well thank you. Yours is lovely too."
Cindy laughs, not having thought of it that way before. "We're glad to have more people here for Christmas... the more the merrier." She turns her gaze to Thirteen, not being able to help but study her for a moment. The last she knew, this young woman still didn't know who her father was, so Cindy was a little confused at her presence, but didn't want to say anything.
Ryder follows her gaze and can read the look in her eyes. "Yeah, we were just gonna be alone for the holidays, so Jason and Katie were kind enough to invite us here. Figured it would be good to get out and get some fresh country air."
"Well that we have." Cindy nods, her smile returning to Thirteen. Apparently that's all this trip was really about. "I'm glad you came. It's nice to meet people that Jason tells me about."
Ryder squeezes Thirteen's hand to continue reassuring her. This place was safe. These people were good.
Back in the corner, Trent watches. It didn't appear that Jasmine knew any more than she did before - otherwise she would have responded differently to seeing them. But whose idea had this been? Katie's? She'd hinted before about pointing Jasmine in this direction - had this been a plan? And what about Ryder? Did he not think this was a bad idea? It looked like they were just coming here to enjoy Christmas and no more, but it was downright uncomfortable.
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