Missing

Dyaln's eyes don't move from Ashlee's face as she talks. He wondered if "a little trouble" meant she knew all the details or not. He figured not. Otherwise, he doubted she'd be sitting here talking to him. She seemed the type to be turned off by a guy doing drugs and having girls, not intrigued by it. It was just as well that she didn't know everything. Not that she appeared too naive to handle it, but Dylan was tired of his life being displayed to the world.

Her question brings an answer, but it was several moments in between. "Yeah... it was the Agency." He wasn't sure he could call it a "run in" it was more like him being manipulated and abused without even realizing who it was. Those feelings cause his gaze to drop for the first time and he leans back, gathering his school books. "Hopefully your mom's job will be a boring one with no one around here to cause trouble. Then maybe one day I can actually have a normal life."

He stands up, books under his arm, and turns to leave, but stops. Looking back over his shoulder, he gives Ashlee a look of question. It was dark out now. "You know the way back to your house alright?"


Tal moves his head around to see Ryan, while he remained on the floor. She was inviting him to stay? With just her? A little smile curls his lips. "Something other than a tv dinner or fast food sounds great."

Eli grunts as he gets himself up and brushes off his jeans. "You can use whatever you want, Speedy, I don't care." He wanders to the hallway. "I'm gonna shower then take off. You two have fun."

Tal's eyes follow Eli before he manages to sit up too, heaving a sigh. "Well... I think that went quite well." He throws Ryan a look, followed by a grin. "Pulling one over on Eli is the best entertainment I've had in a long time."

...It wasn't too much longer before Eli was cleaned up and gone to meet Scarlet, and the aroma of supper was wafting from the kitchen. Tal leans back against the counter and chews on a raw carrot that was leftover from making the lettuce salad. He watches Ryan fixing their meal and cocks his head. "I'm always impressed with people who can cook. Eli's right - all I do is make burnt crispies, so I usually wind up with fast food for my meals." A new smiles surfaces... one that said perhaps while he was trying to be a friend, receiving friendship in return was something he'd been missing. "Thanks for letting me stay."


Rick smiles warmly and helps Katie eat and drink a little, glad to see a little bit of color returning to her face. "Jason's okay... he's just sleeping." He reaches out to feel Katie's forehead. "I think you're gonna be okay too."

Sitting back a little, he sighs wearily, but still manages to keep a soft expression on his face. "I... wanted to talk to you, Katie. I've already spoken to Reese, and he's agreed to take Jason off work for a while. I think it's best that Jason not have that stress - antidote or not - and Reese agrees. But... I worry about leaving him alone, too."

Cocking his head, he studies Katie's face. He was pretty sure he knew what her response would be, but discussing it anyway was a must. "If you'd be willing, I'd feel best if you could stay with Jason at night for a while."

If it had been anybody else, Rick would have thought his suggestion inappropriate. But he knew these two too well to worry about anything like that. As far as he was concerned, if anybody thought it looked wrong, it was their problem - Jason's health was at stake, and Rick wouldn't suggest this for any other reason.

"I don't want you taking off work completely... you worrying about Jason twenty-four/seven wouldn't do either of you any good. But if he's got you there at night at least to make sure he's doing alright, that would ease my mind, keep him from going too stir crazy while not working, and if anything happened, you'd be there. I'd make him stay here, but I know he wouldn't go for that and I'm tired of upsetting him."

Rick looks down a moment, contemplating what else he wanted to say. "If this goes like last time, I'd give him a week or so to recover, then after that, we can reevaluate what needs to happen. If the antidote helps, I might let him come back to work, but... I don't think it's wise for you guys to go back off of it again until we have a permanent solution."

He pats her arm gently. "What do you think? Would you be willing to stay with him for a little while?"