Embarrassed

Whether Eric believed Katie or not didn't seem to be an issue. All Eric heard were the words being spoken against Dana. And all his heart felt was pain and anger. He'd felt insulted back at the ranch, and it was happening here too, and even worse.

Dana continues to tremble, the tears slowing down, but still falling as she clung to Eric, whimpering. "I was just talking, and... and... and they got all upset with me, and.... and I'm sorry but... but it was just the way I saw it, and... and it was them, and me, and then I just got..."

Eric gives her a squeeze to quiet her, his eyes still piercing Katie. Seeing the tears in her eyes tore his heart, but his expression doesn't change, nor does his tone. He didn't know what had been said or who was right or who was wrong, but at this point, he didn't care. "I should have known better than to come here," he growls. "We got a lousy reception at the ranch, and now here too. Maybe I just never realized how conceited this family really is. But I tell you what..." His eyes roam from one person to the next. "Y'all should be ashamed of how you've treated a guest - my fiancé, for crying out loud."

It takes all he can not to raise his voice any more like he wanted to. "I don't know what happened here or who started what, but it looks like at this point it really doesn't matter, because apparently you've all made up your arrogant minds." Grabbing his and Dana's jackets off the back of the couch, he hands them to her, then taking his hat, he slaps it on his head. "You can all just have your nice little evening in your nice little perfect world made up of perfect people. Thanks... thanks for the warm welcome."

Jeff opens his mouth to say something, but Eric holds up his hand to stop him. "Save it for someone who cares. I'm embarrassed to call you my family." Spinning on his heel, he goes for the door, taking Dana with them as she held onto his hand.

Trent felt sick. "Eric, we -" The door closes and he sighs. Setting his hands on his hips, he looks at the floor, then over to Thirteen, then to Katie. Shaking his head slowly, he wanders towards the kitchen for something to drink and to regroup before he lost his temper.

Jeff pats Katie's shoulder, giving it a little squeeze to head off any guilt in case there was any. "He'll cool off." As for himself, his stomach was in knots and he was getting lightheaded. He couldn't handle stress like he used to - Rick had warned him of that, and it was being proven today. He was much more upset than perhaps it appeared, and he knew he needed to settle down. Lowering himself into one of the chairs, he takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly in an attempt to calm his racing heart. "You did what I woulda done," he muses ruefully to his daughter.

Ryder moves to the couch with Thirteen, sitting down and letting her sit next to him, pulling her in close. He felt rotten about this whole thing, but he mostly felt angry for anyone who upset Thirteen like this. He kisses the top of her head and lifts her chin with his finger. "You okay?"


Jason rubs his aching forehead as he paces his office. For the last few minutes, he'd tried talking to Katie, but it was almost like he couldn't get a word in edgewise. He'd felt a pretty big jolt in emotions but whatever was happening was causing a blockage in communication. He didn't know if anything was wrong or not, but it didn't feel right. The only thing he did know was that she was with family and they would have called had something happened. Even so, whatever it was hurt, and was quite uncomfortable.

Katie?
Finally it seemed he could get through to her.
What on earth is going on? You 'bout knocked me to the floor there, babe. What's wrong?


Alec quirks an eyebrow at Ryan, moving his leg a little into her foot as a sly grin emerges. "If I cheered any louder, I might blow the windows out of some of those cars, and that wouldn't be good, now would it?"

He winks at her. "I gotta remind all those folks who my money's on anyway."


Hearing someone enter the bedroom, even though his back was turned, Kip knew it was Karla. She had a light step that was different from anybody else's. Feeling her sit down on the bed, he almost turns, but doesn't. He didn't know what she wanted or why she was here.

But when she lies behind him and puts her arm around him, he can help but hold that arm close, keeping her right up against him. He sighs deeply. "I didn't know if you were gonna come back," he mentions quietly.

His eyes were open, even though all he could stare at was the wall. He knew he was awful company right now, even if he felt like he couldn't help it. "Thought maybe you'd get tired of me after a while."