Weak

Hearing that Jason had been found kissing another woman, Hunter finds himself not being surprised. After everything Katie had told him about what had been going on, this came as no shock. It did, however, make him somewhat irritated... no, maybe it was even angry. Katie was a great woman - kind, funny, considerate, smart, passionate. Jason was a fool for playing that game with her. 

Seeing Katie take several more swigs of beer, Hunter could tell now that this whole thing - her coming here tonight - was an act of desperation. He knew that look in her eye all too well from seeing it in the mirror too many times. It was when he wanted so bad just to numb the pain with whatever he could. It had gotten him in trouble more than once.

Leaning his elbows on the bar, Hunter purses his lips grimly and nods. "I'm sorry... Jason's a jerk for doing that to you. Nobody like you deserves something like that." 

Picking at the label on his beer bottle, he really isn't sure what else to say. "What did you do when you saw him?

Hearing Victoria's voice, Garret looks up and gives her a small smile... it was all he dared, and all he could muster. 

Continuing to study the roses, he listens, finding it difficult not to feel the small stabs to his heart. Victoria did love her mother... in spite of everything she'd had to deal with her whole life, she did still love her mother. Cassandra was the only stable thing around here... and it was soon to be over. 

"She's a strong woman," he confirms. "Perhaps in a place like this, death is more welcomed than dreaded." 

Taking a few steps forward, he leans in to smell the sweet scent of some taller roses. It was all he could do not to walk around and take Victoria in his arms. Hold her. Comfort her. He could see how much torture she was enduring. To others it wouldn't be seen, but to him it was obvious. And to make matters worse, he had a job to do. 

Straightening and finally looking over at her, he squares his shoulders. "It's going to happen tomorrow," he informs quietly. "No one is supposed to know. She's going to be taken to a different location so no one here will rebel against Medridge's decision." 

Swallowing hard, Garret isn't sure if he can voice the rest of it or not. It was a strange feeling. He could usually wipe away all feelings in order to do his job. But today, in front of Victoria, it was more difficult than he'd even imagined, and it made him feel weak. 

Caressing another rose, he jerks his hand back to find a drop of blood on his fingertip. No one was invincible. 

Eventually he looks up again. She had a right to know. "He chose me for the job."