Smile Again

Reese stops his pacing, hooking his thumbs in his pocket and sighing. "I don't know... It's none of my business, but I've never gotten the impression that Misty couldn't keep Carson satisfied, no matter what his needs were. And I know there's a whole lot more to Carson that just a need for a woman... at least I thought there was. Now I'm not so sure."

Leaning against Angelica's desk, he just pauses in thought for a few moments. "I really respected him, ya know? I didn't like him at first... didn't think he was good enough for my niece but... after a while, he proved that he was a real man, deserving of respect. I saw him work hard, get his feet under himself, and I thought for sure if I'd ever seen a man in love, it was him." He shakes his head. "Then this. I don't know if that means I was wrong about him all along, or if he just snapped."

He shrugs lamely. "I've needed him on a few cases lately but haven't wanted to call him in. I suppose that's my personal feelings getting in the way, and I've used the suspicion of the Agency be my excuse. I can't fire him for leaving my niece, though I'd like to." 

Thinking another few moments, he finally straightens and shakes his head again. "I guess I'll just have Pete keep on tailing him for a little while longer and if we still suspect something, bring him in for that friendly conversation you were talking about." 

Nodding his head decisively, he knows he needed to focus on some other work and if he didn't get moving, he'd never get it done. "Thanks for your help..." 

Wandering to the door, he exits just to stop and poke his head back in again. "Did I ask you over to my place for dinner? 'Cause if I did, I can't remember, but if I didn't, then I meant to."

Flinching and rubbing his arm, Jason smirks at Misty, though humor danced in his eyes. Finishing up the last part of his sandwich and hearing about ice cream, he grins. "Sounds good to me."

He knew that having Alec there meant far less cuddle time, but he was enjoying time spent with Misty no matter what they did. Whether it was eating lunch, making out on his couch or just sitting and watching a movie together. He liked it all, and it would be hard to choose any one thing to be his favorite. Besides all that, as far as tonight went, he also knew that Alec did need friendship, and even if he never would have dreamed it possible, he was starting to like Alec's company too. Come to think of it... he was enjoying a lot of things lately. Ever day he had less trouble deciphering his emotions, and every day it was easier to know what he was feeling - both negative and positive.

"I'm grabbing supper with Rusty and Will, so dessert and movie at your place would be perfect. What time?"

Jeff chuckles and lets Rosetta give him support on the short walk to the dining hall. Even if he was frustrated with his weakness, he appreciated her willingness to help, and... maybe as they walked slowly side by side, he realized just how little time he really spent with his sister anymore. Though they both lived here and saw each other every day, interaction had somehow... dwindled. These quiet moments were perhaps savored more than they used to be.

Getting to the dining hall and setting in across from the little family, Jeff does his best to remain alert and interact for a while. He could always sleep more later. 

"Only thing I know about Hunter is what Angel told me before I took my nap. Dislocated knee, mild concussion and some bumps and bruises."

Mick nods. He'd spoken to Angel as well, after he'd heard about the accident. "Yeah, she said he'd have to stay off his leg for a couple weeks at least, then might need some therapy to get his strength back since he did a number on the cartilage and tendons. Otherwise, though, seems he's going to be just fine."

Jeff chews his hamburger slowly, although he really wasn't all that hungry. His eyes drift down to his plate. "Good." 

Mick cocks his head, glancing to Rosetta then back to Jeff. It was pretty obvious that his brother-in-law was feeling badly about the whole thing - maybe even guilty. "Sounded like it was a pretty freak thing that happened..." 

When there's a pause, Jeff realizes he's still being spoken to and finally looks up again. "Hmm? Oh. Yeah... yeah, it was. Happened so fast... everything that could go wrong did go wrong. Bonzai doesn't usually spook, but he did. Hunter shouldn't have lost his stirrups, but he did. After he fell, he held on by the reins and they shouldn't have broke, but both of them did. He should have been able to stop his momentum down the bank but he couldn't. And the undertow of the river shouldn't have been that strong...but it was. It was like that water was just waiting for him." 

"Naw - you know better than that." 

"I know. It was just... strange. I thought for sure we'd lost him for as long as he'd been under. I think Katie did too." It had certainly been frightening, to say the least.

Mick nods slowly and takes another bite of his hamburger. "Well, I guess God was stronger than the river then, huh?" 

Jeff finally grins a little. "Yeah, I guess so. I'm just glad Katie was there - I'm not sure I could have acted as fast as she did." 

"Mm... adrenaline will do that to ya. No use in thinking about what it could have been like or how it could have been avoided though. It happened... and now we have something to be thankful for."

"What's that?" 

"That all three of you are okay. It could have been you or Katie who took that fall, too." 

Jeff hadn't thought of that, but he supposed Mick was right. What if it had been him? Or Katie? Seemed it was just a morning of being at the wrong place at the wrong time. "Yeah... I guess you're right." 

"Who knows... maybe there will be good come out of this yet anyway." 

Jeff scoffs. "I'm sure not from Hunter's point of view. I don't know how long he was planning to stay, but it's been about two weeks now and I'm guessing that's about as long as he wanted to be away from Nevada. He's not gonna be able to ride that bike of his - safely at least - until he can at least walk on his knee."

"Mm-hmm." Mick hands a napkin to BJ so he can wipe some ketchup off his cheek before turning back to Jeff. "I figure that means he'll have to be here another three weeks, and that's if he heals up well." 

"I guess we could offer to take him back. Trailer his motorcycle." 

"I... think maybe I'll hold off on that offer for a little while." Mick exchanges a quick glance with his wife. He hadn't talked to her about this yet, so he hoped it was alright with her. "If he asks, one of us can get him back to Nevada. But... I have a feeling he won't, and I'd just as soon keep him here as long as he needs." 

Jeff thinks he understands and nods. "Yeah, I kinda got the idea maybe he needed this place more than he let on." 

"...And maybe somebody else needs him to be here too." 

A little smile forms on Jeff's lips and he concentrates on his food once more. "She's awfully happy around him. It's good to see her smile again." 

"Sure is." Mick finishes his burger and looks to BJ's plate before pointing at it. "Finish up those last few bites, and you can have a brownie for dessert."

Leaning his head back too, Hunter quietly chews his food. He always got a nice warm feeling when Katie talked like that... about how she liked spending time with him. He wasn't sure he'd ever figure out why she had such an affect on him. She just... did. She was different from other women he knew - he'd known that from the start. She... accepted him for who he was, faults and all, while at the same time not compromising her own moral standards. That took a strong character, and maybe that's what he found most attractive about her. It was a quiet, beautiful strength, even if sometimes it was hidden under trial and uncertainty.

Taking another bite of his hamburger, Hunter had to admit it was good. He wasn't sure who had done the actual grilling, but whoever it was knew what they were doing. Glancing down at his plate, he studies the food... how good everything was. His eyes roam this room... where everything was nice and clean and offered freely. His clothes washed without question or complaint. Food - good food - given as if to their own family member. Even medical care, offered without hesitation or demand of payment.

And quite suddenly a lump in Hunter's throat makes it impossible for him to swallow another bite. He quietly takes a sip of lemonade instead, trying to keep these sudden emotions under control. 

Resting his head to the side, it leans gently against Katie's, thinking about the day and everything that had happened. "I didn't have a nightmare when I slept this afternoon," he comments quietly. Though they hadn't spoken of it, he knew that surely she had seen the similarity with today's accident and his explanation of the nightmares. "Maybe... since it really happened... the nightmares are finally over."