Reese looks up from his cluttered desk as Misty enters his office. Though he was tired and just a little bit cranky after recent events, he does manage a smile for his niece.
Hearing her question, he furrows his brow and leans back in his chair. "No... No, as a matter of fact, I called him a couple days ago, wanting him on a case and he turned me down. Said he had too much other stuff on his plate - and that it wasn't a good time." He shrugs. "We managed, but we coulda used his help, too. I figured he had his reasons, though." It really had been very unusual for Carson not to jump on the chance to get away from the restaurant for a couple days. But Reese hadn't questioned him and had simply found someone else.
"As far as him acting strangely..." A little grin creeps across his lips and he winks at Misty. "I'm not sure that's a very big oddity."
"No apology or thanks necessary." Tal smiles as he drives. "Besides, seeing Leo off to the side with a wrench in his hand, ready to pounce, tends to make a guy a little braver." There was no doubt that if Tal had been all by himself, he would have done the exact same thing. But he didn't like taking credit for anything.
"We may want to, um... postpone... telling Eli any of this though. Otherwise, we might find him in jail for murder."
Zach wanders into the bar and looks around for a moment, letting his eyes adjust to the smokey dim light. He was rather familiar with the place by now. He'd been in here maybe four or five times since that first stop when he'd had a flat tire and needed to ask directions to the nearest auto shop - Briarville wasn't a huge town but it was taking him a while to get his bearings. He wasn't in the habit of visiting bars, but this one seemed to have something rather special. He also wasn't in the habit of actually pursuing such "special" things, but for some reason, he just hadn't been able to let this one go.
Ambling up to the bar he finds a stool and casually glances around at the signs, stacks of glasses and others who were scattered around at tables. His eyes drift to the woman who was tending bar tonight, presently busy with another customer. Jackpot. He'd finally figured out which days she normally worked so he'd know on which nights to stop. Looked like he had it right. She was the one who had given him directions that first time he'd stopped. He'd expected someone gruff who didn't care, and instead, she'd been soft-spoken and very sweet. Not to mention, she was downright pretty.
It wasn't like him to go chasing after a girl, but then, there weren't many times he was quite as desperate for the company of friends as he was now either. His mother would warn him against finding friends in a bar, but Zach saw something in the girl that night - and he saw it now too. While she seemed at ease with her job, there was something about her that didn't fit in this atmosphere. Maybe that's what intrigued him so.
Seeing her glance his way, he gives a little wave. He'd order a cherry coke like usual - he was a creature of habit, after all. Tonight though, maybe he'd have enough guts to break his habit of silence and actually talk to her. Find out her name at least.
2/10/12
Top Secret
Leaving to clock out quick Ryan gives a little wave to the others guys. She didn't didn't know just how ready they were to stepping in but she new they would have if need be and it made her feel safe. This was more than friends here, this was a family...
...Slipping her finger in with Tal's to lock them together Ryan can't help but smile again. She didn't want him to be in the middle of this hole Alec thing but today she was happy he was. Who new what Alec would of done after she hit him.
"It was one of my best. Though I probable shouldn't have let my anger get the best of me like that. Sorry you had to deal with that but thank you for stepping in."
Looking over at Tal Ryan's smile grows just a little more. Tal really had come out of no where and she really was glad for that. There was something about him that was special, peaceful and it made Ryan relax. No matter if she was rough around the edges or not with Tal around they felt smooth.
Being pulled into Carson Misty doesn't resist though it is a lot different than normal. She had a strange feeling something was going on or better yet something was wrong that she didn't know about. It was just abnormal for Carson to be so soft and gentile. In a way it worried her no matter how much she told herself not too.
"I love you too Carson!"
About to ask what was going on with him the moment is passed by, by another kiss to her head and the promise of seeing her tonight after dinner. She's have to ask him than what was going on and if everything was ok once more. She trusted Carson but something just didn't seem right.
"I'll be waiting for you with dinner ready. Just call if your going to be late so I know to hold off cooking so it doesn't get to cold."
Giving a smile Misty turns and leaves the restront heading for her car. Getting back to work she doesn't head for the intermarry first but for Reese office. Giving a know on the door she had to ask. Maybe it was her own imagination or maybe not.
"Hey, you don't have Carson working on any top secret cases do you? He was acting strangely today but I was the only one who seemed to notice."
...Slipping her finger in with Tal's to lock them together Ryan can't help but smile again. She didn't want him to be in the middle of this hole Alec thing but today she was happy he was. Who new what Alec would of done after she hit him.
"It was one of my best. Though I probable shouldn't have let my anger get the best of me like that. Sorry you had to deal with that but thank you for stepping in."
Looking over at Tal Ryan's smile grows just a little more. Tal really had come out of no where and she really was glad for that. There was something about him that was special, peaceful and it made Ryan relax. No matter if she was rough around the edges or not with Tal around they felt smooth.
Being pulled into Carson Misty doesn't resist though it is a lot different than normal. She had a strange feeling something was going on or better yet something was wrong that she didn't know about. It was just abnormal for Carson to be so soft and gentile. In a way it worried her no matter how much she told herself not too.
"I love you too Carson!"
About to ask what was going on with him the moment is passed by, by another kiss to her head and the promise of seeing her tonight after dinner. She's have to ask him than what was going on and if everything was ok once more. She trusted Carson but something just didn't seem right.
"I'll be waiting for you with dinner ready. Just call if your going to be late so I know to hold off cooking so it doesn't get to cold."
Giving a smile Misty turns and leaves the restront heading for her car. Getting back to work she doesn't head for the intermarry first but for Reese office. Giving a know on the door she had to ask. Maybe it was her own imagination or maybe not.
"Hey, you don't have Carson working on any top secret cases do you? He was acting strangely today but I was the only one who seemed to notice."
Caged Tiger
Tal wraps his arms around Ryan, holding her close. His eyes roam the shop, an he gives a little nod of thanks. He'd seen the men ready to step in if need be and he was grateful. Leo gives him a little salute with his wrench before getting back to work.
Returning the light kiss after Ryan's backed away, Tal nods. "That's why I came early - to take you out instead of meeting you. That way I get your company for a little bit longer." He cups her face with his hand for just a moment, his thumb caressing her cheek. "Go ahead and clock out. I'll go wait in the car."
It wasn't long before they were in Tal's car, heading across town to grab a sandwich. Tal gives Ryan a sidelong glance before giving her his hand to hold. "I forgot to tell you to remind me never to make you mad... You've got a mean right hook."
"Hey, Carson?" Dani pokes her head in the kitchen. "It's slowed down out here... mind if I take my lunch break? Hate to break up your little party here."
Carson is just getting up from the table and nods. "Yeah. Give me two minutes."
"Got it." Dani retreats to the front counter again, preparing to leave while finishing up a few odd tasks.
Carson sighs and takes the dirty dishes to the sink before returning to say goodbye to Misty for the rest of the day. Pausing with her at the kitchen door, he suddenly becomes very quiet. Slipping his arms around her, he draws her close, but not as roughly as he normally would. His kiss is more tender than usual too - though lingering, there's a lack of playfulness today. Pulling her into a hug her, he whispers in her ear. "I love you... with all my heart."
Drawing back, he gives her a last kiss to the forehead. "I'll see you after work."
Alec paces his living room like a caged tiger. Anger was almost visibly seeping off of him. A hole in the drywall near the bathroom proved he'd been allowing his frustrations to vent in the wrong direction.
It wasn't fair. It just wasn't fair! Why couldn't Ryan take him back? Why?! She didn't bring up him helping kill people or siding with the enemy or stealing cars or anything! Why did she have to dwell on his indiscretions with another woman?? When they met, he'd been with other women! She didn't seem to mind then. Granted, this time he was cheating on her, but still! Why couldn't she just forget about it and move on? Why couldn't he have her back??
Stopping at the window, Alec glares out at the world. He knew he shouldn't have acted like he had today - bullying Ryan didn't feel good, nor was it getting results. But he didn't know what else to do. He wanted her back in his life so badly he could taste it. He was lonely. Bored. And he had a hole in his heart so big he wasn't sure there was any heart left at all.
So she had another man in her life. He hadn't wanted to believe it, but it was pretty obvious now. Alec had been replaced. He'd never felt such an intense gnawing at his insides before, and had trouble recognizing what it was. Maybe if he would stop and let himself think about it, he'd realize that it was hurt and regret.
He had to get her back. His glare wanders up and down the outside street. He'd like to bomb this whole place if only to forget it ever existed. So he'd made a mistake. He'd done it to save people. And what did he get for it? Hard labor and a girl who wanted nothing to do with him anymore. So what was the point? Why couldn't he have just taken pride in what he'd done and get thrown into prison? At least he'd be too far away to think about all of this.
Flopping down in the corner of the living room, his anger is turned down to a slow boil. Leaning back against the wall, he stares into what really was his prison. There was a part of him deep down that wanted to just curl up and cry. But he kept it safely tucked away, not allowing it to surface. He was a man. He was in control. He wanted to gain back what he'd lost and had absolutely no idea how. The only thing he could think of was getting rid of the competition. Maybe then, Ryan would get lonely and want him back.
Returning the light kiss after Ryan's backed away, Tal nods. "That's why I came early - to take you out instead of meeting you. That way I get your company for a little bit longer." He cups her face with his hand for just a moment, his thumb caressing her cheek. "Go ahead and clock out. I'll go wait in the car."
It wasn't long before they were in Tal's car, heading across town to grab a sandwich. Tal gives Ryan a sidelong glance before giving her his hand to hold. "I forgot to tell you to remind me never to make you mad... You've got a mean right hook."
"Hey, Carson?" Dani pokes her head in the kitchen. "It's slowed down out here... mind if I take my lunch break? Hate to break up your little party here."
Carson is just getting up from the table and nods. "Yeah. Give me two minutes."
"Got it." Dani retreats to the front counter again, preparing to leave while finishing up a few odd tasks.
Carson sighs and takes the dirty dishes to the sink before returning to say goodbye to Misty for the rest of the day. Pausing with her at the kitchen door, he suddenly becomes very quiet. Slipping his arms around her, he draws her close, but not as roughly as he normally would. His kiss is more tender than usual too - though lingering, there's a lack of playfulness today. Pulling her into a hug her, he whispers in her ear. "I love you... with all my heart."
Drawing back, he gives her a last kiss to the forehead. "I'll see you after work."
Alec paces his living room like a caged tiger. Anger was almost visibly seeping off of him. A hole in the drywall near the bathroom proved he'd been allowing his frustrations to vent in the wrong direction.
It wasn't fair. It just wasn't fair! Why couldn't Ryan take him back? Why?! She didn't bring up him helping kill people or siding with the enemy or stealing cars or anything! Why did she have to dwell on his indiscretions with another woman?? When they met, he'd been with other women! She didn't seem to mind then. Granted, this time he was cheating on her, but still! Why couldn't she just forget about it and move on? Why couldn't he have her back??
Stopping at the window, Alec glares out at the world. He knew he shouldn't have acted like he had today - bullying Ryan didn't feel good, nor was it getting results. But he didn't know what else to do. He wanted her back in his life so badly he could taste it. He was lonely. Bored. And he had a hole in his heart so big he wasn't sure there was any heart left at all.
So she had another man in her life. He hadn't wanted to believe it, but it was pretty obvious now. Alec had been replaced. He'd never felt such an intense gnawing at his insides before, and had trouble recognizing what it was. Maybe if he would stop and let himself think about it, he'd realize that it was hurt and regret.
He had to get her back. His glare wanders up and down the outside street. He'd like to bomb this whole place if only to forget it ever existed. So he'd made a mistake. He'd done it to save people. And what did he get for it? Hard labor and a girl who wanted nothing to do with him anymore. So what was the point? Why couldn't he have just taken pride in what he'd done and get thrown into prison? At least he'd be too far away to think about all of this.
Flopping down in the corner of the living room, his anger is turned down to a slow boil. Leaning back against the wall, he stares into what really was his prison. There was a part of him deep down that wanted to just curl up and cry. But he kept it safely tucked away, not allowing it to surface. He was a man. He was in control. He wanted to gain back what he'd lost and had absolutely no idea how. The only thing he could think of was getting rid of the competition. Maybe then, Ryan would get lonely and want him back.