Bare minimum

Getting off the phone with Rebecca, Justin realizes he'd missed a separate call. Seeing it was Beth, he wonders for a moment if anything was wrong. Listening to her message though, he understands.

Flipping his phone shut, he leans his head back and thinks for several moments. Dinner and a movie... and she was making his favorite pie. While he was thrilled that she was busying herself with an activity and actually trying to do something different, it felt an awful lot like a date. Going fishing was one thing... but dinner and a movie? Was that such a good idea? He didn't want to hold her back... didn't want to make her feel like he didn't care... but he didn't want to give the wrong impression either. He could go and just be casual though, right? If he assumed there was nothing more here than the usual, and he acted as such, then there should be no misunderstandings, right? And if anything else came up, he'd just have to be honest. But he could at least go ahead and see what would happen.

Figuring she'd answer since she just called, Justin dials her back. "Hey, Beth - I was on another call, sorry. I'm actually here - just in a different wing today."

He pauses, still hesitant, but he forces his tone not to show it. "Tonight sounds just fine. All I'll need are directions to your place."


Having Dalton try to take the part of the cheerleader sends Scott further into his fit of laughter, winding up making him cough and need a glass of water, but he didn't care.

Once finally under control again, his head sinks back in his pillow once more, his eyes watering from laughing. It had been a very long time since he'd laughed that much, and it did feel good.

"Thank you." He grins. "I really wish I would have had a camera though."

Still curled on his side, he calms down, the classical music still playing softly. Taking a deep breath, he lets it out slowly, feeling very tired, but trying stay alert.

"Hey, Dalton..." His eyes drift downward as he fingers his blanket again. "How's... how's things at TJY?"


"Yeah... yeah, I do." Justin grins. "Trooper's a big brute, but he's a good dog. Had him on duty for a while, but he got in trouble with the boss." He chuckles.

"I thought if you were ok with dogs, I might have Wyatt bring him over and introduce you. Having him around makes it even easier to get out and about too since his ears and nose are better than electronic radar any day."


"Mmm..." Alec shakes his head and gives Ryan a wry grin to her question about Reese. "Long story. It's been an interesting last couple days though."

His grin widens. "Pizza and wings sound great... you may want to bring a pillow to sit on or something though... we're talking the bare minimum here right now. But I gotta walk to the store anyway, so I'll pick up a few things too and we should be set."

Giving her hands another squeeze, he knew she needed to go. "Call me before you come."

Backing away, he turns to go, then stops. "Aw, why not."

Spinning back around, he grabs Ryan and pulls her into a rough, passionate kiss before pulling away, his eyes twinkling. "I just wanted to make sure it would last you until later."

Pointing her back to the garage, he gives her bottom a swift but light kick to send her on her way before he turns too, to amble across the parking lot and back towards the street.