Mangled

Garret takes a step back as Victoria withdraws to sit on the swing. He felt terrible, but there was nothing he could do. No matter how they wanted to react, this was business.

"Why would Hans lie? If they spared him and found out your mother was innocent, he'd still die." Garret shakes his head. "I'm sorry... If you want to question your mother, you need to do it quickly and quietly. I don't know when they'll be done with Hans but surely they will move on to your mother immediately after." That could be a week from now. Or it could be an hour.

Setting his hands on his hips, Garret sighs. He felt helpless. Despite their job and the way their lives had to be, he knew that Victoria had managed to maintain a heart. Most people here lost their hearts after their first case. But she had love... warmth... underneath it all, she was human. And she loved her mother.

Approaching her, Garret leans down and gives her forehead a kiss. "I have to go or I'm gonna be missed. I'll try to see you tomorrow." A pat on her shoulder was all he could give before he was gone.

Jason takes another bite of his sub then cocks his head, just studying Katie. It felt like so much more needed to be said. But what and how seemed to be very far out of reach. 

"Yeah... yeah we could do a movie." He'd already called Sandy and told her he couldn't go to the lake with the gang tonight. "There's that new action movie that might be kinda fun." 

He flicks a piece of lettuce teasingly in her direction. "And a big tub of popcorn so we can accidentally hold hands." 

"...There we go..." Eli holds open the door and stands ready to help if need be.

Tal slowly makes his way into his apartment, leaning heavily on one crutch while his other arm remained in a brace and sling, and his leg was in a boot up to his knee, which, per doctor's orders, was not to touch the ground for at least another three weeks. Hobbling around on one crutch wasn't very easy, but Tal was determined to do it, and succeeded in making it all the way to the couch. Easing down slowly, he lets out a long sigh. "Okay, I'm tired," he announces. Fiddling with his neck brace, he grimaces. "I feel like I'm a mummy wrapped up in all this."

Eli chuckles and shakes his head. "You look like one too. Well... maybe a little worse."

Tal throws him a withering look. "Thanks a lot." Feeling something cold and wet on his bare leg since he was wearing shorts, he jumps before realizing it's Holly. Grinning, he gives her his one working hand. "Hey there, you. Did ya miss me?"

Holly licks his hand and wriggles her stumpy tail, giving a little whine.

"Mmm... yeah. They took good care of you huh? And the kids?" He glances to the kitchen to see the pups behind the gate. They'd grown a lot in the last few weeks. "You mean uncle Eli didn't throw any of you out?"

"Hey now." Eli sets his hands on hi ships. "Ryan and I have bent over backwards just trying not to kill anything."

Tal chuckles. "And I'm forever in your debt. Now you won't have to worry about it anymore."

"Will you listen to him?" Eli looks at Ryan and shake his head. "He thinks he's gonna be able to handle all this on his own now. What part of 'take it easy' from the doctor did he not understand?"

"I'll take it easy," Tal argues. "I can't not. Besides, you don't expect me to lie in bed all day do you? I've been doing that for four weeks."

Eli points Ryan in the direction of the couch. "Go remind him that we're going to be helping him, will you? And remind him he was the one that didn't want to stay at our place instead."

Grinning up at Ryan, Tal then glances over to Eli. "You might wanna turn around. I want to kiss your sister, but it's not a pretty sight when I'm all mangled like this."

"Oh good heavens." Eli covers his eyes. "Tell me when it's over."