But please...

Taken aback by Chuck's own shocked look, then coming to the realization of how wrong she had been, Susanne sucks in her breath and puts a hand over her mouth. She couldn't remember a time she'd given someone such an insult, unintentional or not.

Remaining in stunned silence as Chuck continues, Susanne can't believe he's still standing here asking her to go out. Any man with a brain would have tucked tail and run by now, after all she'd done.

A strange sound comes from her throat, almost as if she were choking. Turning her back on Chuck, she buries her face in her hands as the silent laughter causes her shoulders to shake. Drawing in her breath and attempting to compose herself, she turns back around, her face completely red all over again. Her eyes glimmer with moisture from her laughter and she shakes her head. "You, sir, are a unique individual, deserving far more than what I've given you today."

She sighs deeply and closes her eyes for a moment, speaking to herself. "I can't believe I'm doing this."

Looking at Chuck once more, she takes a deep breath and finally reaches out to take his hand. It was such a warm hand... one that made her own hand seem so small, but so protected at the same time. And she couldn't help but wonder if she could see the invisible, what that touch would really look like.

Her eyes lock with his and she nods decisively. If she didn't take a few risks once in a while, what was the point? "I'll ride with you," she agrees, despite the fear behind her gaze. "On your motorcycle," she reemphasizes, biting her lip to keep from laughing again. "But please... don't tell my boss. Let's just go before someone else walks in and I have to explain this whole thing."


Alec listens to Misty's answer, perhaps not having expected there to be no malice in her tone. The whole thing seemed a little foreign to him. If he cheated on Ryan, he knew that would be it right there. But then... he would have thought the same thing about Misty, too.

Turning around and leaning back against the counter, he continues to play with the long kitchen knife, testing its sharpness with his thumb turning it in his palm. "When people are meant to be, huh?" Were he and Ryan meant to be? He wondered.

Seeing that supper was almost ready, he sets down the knife and sighs, not having retrieved what he'd wanted from that conversation. It wasn't as bothersome as he'd thought though. Not gaining the upper hand didn't seem so bad right now. He's about to say more when his stomach growls loudly. Giving Misty a sheepish grin, he shrugs. "My tastebuds might not work right but my nose does. I guess maybe I'm hungrier than I thought." He often ignored his hunger, not bothering to eat some meals that he should, but tonight, he really was hungry.

Watching Misty closely as she finishes preparing supper, he wonders if her and Carson being religious people had anything to do with the strange sense of peace in this house. It wasn't something he felt at Ryan and Eli's, and he hadn't felt it anywhere else before either. It was... calm... warm. The whole atmosphere was unlike what he'd expected.

Finally sitting down to wait just a few more minutes, he plays with a napkin, keeping his hands busy. "How come you give me a chance when Carson and Dani won't?" he finally asks. He's asked Dalton basically the same question earlier, but he wanted to see what Misty would say too.


Gage's eyes snap to Sapphire's as she rebukes his depressed statement. It was more of a look of awe that passed through his eyes this time. For how someone could love him really was beyond his understanding. He swallows as his look turns to one of apology again.

His fingers crawl over to her hand to hold it weakly, his strength not having returned yet. "I don't know if I'll ever know why you picked me," he responds softly. "The world is foreign to me. I make mistakes. The only skill I have is one that shouldn't be used. And yet... yet you won't let me go."

Though having little strength, he pulls Sapphire closer, forcing her to bed enough that his hand can reach to the back of her head and draw her face nearer his. Kissing her lips gently, his fingers run through her short hair. "I love you too," he whispers.


Reese sinks down in his chair, mirroring what his heart was doing on the inside. Putting his forehead in his free hand, all this work that needed to get done just didn't seem important anymore.

"I understand... thank you, and the prayers will keep coming."

He hated to ask, but he needed to. "If people ask... how much time do you think Hope has left? I know some might want to see her one last time, even if she can't respond." He was thinking mainly of Scott, whom he would see to it that he would make it back to the hospital if he wanted to.