Blow Out

Being pulled up into Ryder's arms Thirteen just burys her face into his chest letting the silent tears come slowly. It felt good to be shelter by Ryder but the initial words still left there sharp sting along with the other words that were to come.

Seeing Ryder comfort Thirteen Katie was thankful for that. At least she had someone she could lean on and could comfort her in a way that was different from family. As the other step in and Dana continues to try and defend herself it just makes Katie even more upset and she focuses on Dana and her uneasiness and fear even more playing with the feelings and bending them to her will.

" You know enough about us? Well I am guess you don't know enough. We respect those we call family, but it would seem you know nothing about that."

Maybe for a moment because of her anger Katie forgot what she was doing Katie might not have even realized her powers were being used against Dana, but the more her anger grew the more she was pulling and playing with the woman's own emotions.

"Thirteen deserves all the protections and defending I can offer as does any other member of my family. She had done nothing wrong to deserve your attitude and accusations. I don't know who you think you are but you can't not talk to anyone in this house that way."

Giving another chuckle and getting into her car Ryan waits to see Alec get onto his bike and was ready. It didn't take long to get to the Chinese place, order and than get to the park finding a nice little table and spreading there food out.

It was a little chilly this evening but nothing to unbearable. It was light jacket weather Ryan's favorite for racing. Taking a bit of her food and looking across the table she chews it thoughtfully before looking down again.

"So I heard through the grapevine today what you did for Gage a little bit ago. That was really sweet of you. I am sure he's going to love that job a whole lot more than his other."

Looking up slowly at Alec Ryan's lips turn into a smile again. She really did think it was sweet what Alec had done for Gage. She'd get a little more mushy over it if she didn't think so many people might be watching. Bringing her foot to Alec under the table she gives it a few taps.

Listing to Carson and just being able to hear the hurt and pain his hid voice made Misty's heart melt. She hated to her husband in so much pain and so confused. Continuing to run her hand through Carson's hair and over his skin lightly Misty lets out a tiny sigh and looks down at Carson with love in her eyes.

"I hope you do see her again. I think it would be good for you both to get to know each other. Your a lot different now, you married, and your head is on good. I think you'd be ok getting to know your daughter now."

Leaning her head against the couch but still looking at Carson with a small smile on her face she new this was hard on Carson. It was a big step and even if she thought he was ready that didn't mean he thought he was ready and that was important.

"But no matter what I am with you. I'll be there to help you through anything. This will be another mountain we get over together."

Letting out a sigh Karla leans back on her bed. The house was quiet today. Everyone else was out doing something or other but she had deiced to stay home. She didn't feel like going out much with out Kip it just didn't seem as much fun!

"Ok, I'll be over in a little bit. I just need to clean up a bit. I think Alice made some homemade spaghetti I'll bring some of that with me to see if Kip wants any. Thanks Gran I guess we all need a pep talk now and than."

Stupid

As Katie stands up, so does Jeff, not wanting to see a fight, but just as willing to stand up for their family. Thirteen was their family, and as far as he was concerned, Ryder was now too. Jeff might not want a shouting match, but he wasn't going to tell his daughter to stop.

Seeing Katie rebuke Dana, Ryder glances down, only now seeing how withdrawn Thirteen had become, along with her tears. That angered him more than any insult flung at himself - to insult her... it was unfair and uncalled for. Bending down, Ryder pulls Thirteen up to stand and puts an arm around her shoulders, holding her close. Whether Dana knew it or not, Ryder knew that the words said had been very hurtful to Thirteen.

Dan's jaw drops as Katie starts in. She stands now as well and blinks, appearing shocked by the outburst. "Well, I am... you have... I..." She stammers, as her hand start to shake, her heart racing. Giving a little gasp, her eyes widen slightly. She'd been a bit uneasy coming here in the first place, but suddenly that uneasiness seemed to increase. Her eyes narrow at Katie. "I just call it as I see it, honey," she hisses. "I wouldn't threaten me if I were you."

"Hey, no one is threatening anyone," Jeff intervenes.

"Sure sounds like it to me," Dana argues. "I knew you were a close-knit bunch, but I didn't expect y'all to defend moral discrepancies."

"Moral discrepancies?"

Jeff looks quickly to Trent, surprised his brother had stepped in verbally.

Trent's eyes roam to Thirteen, seeing her so upset, then back to Dana. His face was red and he steps up beside Katie, his shoulders square. "You accuse this family of moral discrepancies, at the same time you waltz in here and have the nerve to be so rude?"

"I was invited," Dana defends. She shifts her weight uncomfortably as she wrings her hands without even realizing it. "You go around blaming me for being a bad guest and you'll upset Eric. You want that to happen?"

"I don't care what he thinks!" Trent raises his voice.

"Well if this is the way you people treat guests then-"

"Stop right there." Ryder points a finger at her, his tone firm. "I don't care if Eric brought you here or not." His grip around Thirteen tightens slightly. "You are no guest if you're going to talk to us like this."

Dana's eyes widen even more. "Excuse me for being honest. Apparently this family likes to tell each other lies to cover up all their little secrets. Oh yes, I know plenty about everyone here."

"Then apparently you don't know enough," Trent defends. "Because otherwise, you'd know a little bit more about our love and respect for each other. Or are you just that stupid and blind that you don't see it?"

"Stupid?!" Dana finds herself backing up and around to the other side of the couch as her slight tinge of fear seems to increase all on its own. "I am hardly stupid. If I were, I would have thought that this entire situation was innocent. I'll have to talk to Eric about this one." Her eyes snap back to Katie. "You like to defend your little cousin - bravo. But you might try defending someone who deserves it for once."


Alec's eyebrows rise and he gives a little jump to the light whack on his bottom. He grins as Ryan walks away and cocks his head just watching her for a few feet. "I don't know, but I think that luck runs both ways. Mmmm."

Still grinning, he finally heads to his bike. "You lead," he calls.


"You could say that." Carson gives Misty a wry grin. Closing his eyes for a moment, he just lets himself enjoy her fingers running through his hair. She always knew how to get him to relax after a hard day.

"Saw my daughter, met her adopted father, told my daughter goodbye." He sighs, his eyes still closed. "Yeah... yeah, it was a long day."

He takes her free hand to bring it to his lips and kiss it lightly. "I'm glad I got at least one stable thing in my life. You're always my rock."

Just remaining right where he was, he tells Misty the full story of the day, including his confusion about his feelings for Mackenzie and Herb rescuing him from doing anything stupid. "So... that's that. Again." He shifts his head in her lap and looks up at her. "Half of me hopes it was the last time, and half of me hopes it wasn't."


Gram answers the phone in the living room, surprised to hear Karla's voice. She leans back in the couch, her tone soft and kind. "Oh, Karla... I know this is hard on you. It's never easy watching those we love go through something like this."

She sighs. "Kip's doing okay. He talked to me a little bit earlier and told me some more. I... I know you feel like he doesn't want you here but... but if you can, come see him. He may not respond well, but it's just gonna take some time. He needs all the love he can get right now, even if he's not willing to say so."

She looks to the hallway, her eyes filled with worry. "He also needs to take care of himself and there's only so much I can do. If you could get him to eat some supper, that would help a lot."

Helpless

Katie can't help the look of surprise on her face again hearing about how short of a time Dana and Eric had been together. She'd never though of him as one to just jump right into something this just felt out of character. Throwing a look to her father Katie just shakes her head as she turns and heads back into the living room where they could all sit comfortably.

As the conversation continues and than comes around in a circle to Ryder Katie can't help but own laugh that flashed in her eyes. Having her dad laugh Katie could feel her own growing and does what she can to keep it under wrap. There was something odd about Dana, she seemed like a blond, but it was almost like an imitation of a blond.

Leaning against Ryder Thirteen was comfortable just being close to him. She been mostly quiet the whole evening with the new person in the mist. Every once and a while though leaning in closer to him to say something.

As the conversation is turned to them once Eric was gone Thirteen looks to Dana her eyes roman the woman's face as she talked. Something about the way she talked and the words she said sent a chill down her spine and she didn't like it. Was she was insinuating her and Ryder had a secret about? Continuing to just listen Thirteen can feel her face start to get red as she understood what Dana was saying. Her own eyes grew a little bigger not knowing what to say or do.

Hearing Dana's words Katie's head snaps back to look at her. Who was this woman to be invited into there apartment and start accusing people of things? Sure she'd be family soon but that gave her no right to say the things she was. Thirteen and Ryder had a wonderful relationship and it never crossed anyone mind about how pure it was.

Wanting to say something herself Katie is silent as Ryder continues. But the more Dana says the more it upsets Katie that someone could even think something like that let a long say it. Thirteen did have a hard time with things but she was learning quickly and she was far from a child. She'd been found, but now was forming her own life, and living it as if she had always been like this.

Still sitting in the ground Thirteen could continue to feel her cheeks getting redder and redder. She didn't understand why Dana was saying this stuff. It was personal, and for someone to call her out like that, and than on top of it call her a child it put a knot in her stomach that didn't feel good at all. Thirteen could feel the tears start to well in her eyes as she just letting her head hang almost in defeat to what was being said. She felt lower than low and feeling she hadn't felt since being taken away from the Agency.

Looking over to Thirteen for a moment and seeing the look in her eyes Katie's anger grows even more. How could this woman say something so thoughtlessly. Standing Katie can't sit by any longer. The thought comes to her about making Dana feel what Thirteen might be feeling now, scared, hurt, and in that split second for the sake of protecting her cousin Katie couldn't help but stir the emotions around her and pull on Dana's own uneasiness.

"How dare you come into our house and start accusing people of such things on top of insulting my cousin. You don't know her or us for jack and what you think might being happening you are way of base. Thirteen is a smart WOMAN who can think for herself and I even dare to say might be a little smarter than some other people I know. So you better just treed lightly on what you accuse my family of."

Katie lets her own voice sound a little rough but it was a warning to Dana not to mess with this family. How could Eric love this woman? She was nothing like Katie would expect him to be with or even tolerate.

Heading outside with Alec Ryan could feel her stomach growl. She hadn't been that hungry all day but now just thinking about food she could tell skipping lunch was a bad idea.

"I think Chinese is perfect, and the park even better. How did I get so lucky to get someone so smart."

Leaning in and giving a kiss Ryan grins before giving Alec a tap on the bottom and turning to make her way to her car. She couldn't help the chuckle that escaped her lips.

As Carson comes into the living and lays down in her lap Misty smiles grows bigger. The little tired glint in her eye seemed to be chased away for now. Bring her hand to his hair Misty ran her fingers through it slowly.

"I'll always wait for you, even if it took days."

Leaning down and giving Carson another kiss on the lips and letting it linger for a moment Misty finally pulls away searching his eyes. She gathered enough from there short conversation to know what was going on, but it was only the surface. No matter what though she did feel bad for him.

"Long day huh babe?"

Dialing a not to familiar phone number Karla just waits till she hears Gram's voice on the other line. Giving a small smile Karla tried to find her words. She wasn't sure what she wanted to say.

"Hey Gram. I was just wondering how Kip was today? Last few days I've been there her just...hasnt seemed like he wanted me to be and I feel so helpless. But I still care so I wanted to see how he was."

In a way Karla felt bad not coming to see Kip but at the same time she felt like she was being a bother to him too and she didn't want to be. Everything seemed so confusing and she felt so helpless.