Celebrating alone

Hearing Nate speak, Con takes a deep breath, letting it out slowly and quietly. He hadn't quite caught everything Nate said, but he'd heard enough. Part of him blamed Nate as well. Con had known that Laura didn't feel ready for this, and he also knew that Nate had been more than enthusiastic to start a family. It was none of Con's business - he knew that the whole thing was between the married couple. But he was still Laura's big brother and always would be. At the same time though, he was Nate's friend and couldn't imagine being in his shoes either.

Reaching over, he lays a hand on Nate's shoulder, giving it a firm pat, trying to offer some sort of encouragement. He could easily agree with Nate that it was his fault, but he refrains. Now wasn't the time.

"Laura's a fighter, Nate... she'll pull through. And this little one... he's a combination of the both of you... which means he's a fighter, too."

Withdrawing his hand, he folds his arms again, not knowing what else he could say. There really wasn't a whole lot he could say, come to think of it.

"I'm going to get a cup of coffee... want one?"


Jason keeps an eye on the clock, though he does wind up dozing once or twice. Eventually though, as darkness descends, his stomach starts to growl.
Which reminds me... would you make sure you or Wyatt go feed Trooper tonight? I don't think I'm going anywhere for a few days at least.

Getting up from the couch, he wanders to the kitchen to check out the refrigerator. Eventually though, he finds himself down the hall, tapping lightly on Destiny's door. He knew she was upset, but he still needed to make sure she was okay.

"Destiny? It's Jason... I'm gonna stay here with you a while. You doing alright? Want any supper?"

I'm so bad at this. I don't even know what to say to her.


Alec can't help a little laugh too as he flops back down in the chair. What would he do tonight?

"Well, I originally thought I'd have my girl over once I got my own place but looks like I'll be on my own for celebrating. Maybe I'll just sprawl out on the floor and enjoy a space bigger than that cell downstairs."

He stares into nothingness for a moment, wondering at his own feelings. It didn't seem quite as much fun without dragging Ryan along to be happy with him. But in reality, he was thrilled. He knew there would be rules and he knew that it wasn't necessarily going to be easy on his own without anything to give him a start. But - it was definitely better than staying here and maybe... maybe it really was a small slice of that freedom he was so fond of chasing.

Looking back to Dalton, another grin emerges. "I guess I owe you a thanks too for letting me help out - otherwise Reese might still think I was their mystery man."


Catching Ryan's eye, Leo's gaze was just a little bit sheepish. But how else could he have managed to buy Ryan's pizza as a sign of their truce without giving anyone the wrong impression?

"Wooee - nobody sit in Ryan's chair," Jed warns. "Apparently she takes it personally."

Miles whacks him on the head. "And that is no way to get on her good side."

Shuffling around at the table for a moment or two, Axel winds up next to Ryan with Leo across from her, and the other guys circling the end of the table as they admired Ron's new cell phone.

It was a fun lunch... the group didn't often do this, and generally speaking, they didn't hang out as a group much either, unless a few of them wound up at the races - though Axel never went. The group was just a little loud and just a little obnoxious, but not enough to get them into trouble, and the pizzas were devoured quite quickly

Too soon, it's time to head back to work, though several complained it was time for a nap instead. But knowing they needed to finish out the work day, they all head back to the shop again.

Wandering out to his car, Leo watches as the other guys take off first, while he takes his time, walking slowly. Unlocking the car door, the reflection in the window was of Ryan going to her car too. Life was funny sometimes.