Sliding into the driver side Ryan buckles up. As Alec starts out of the Ryan takes note to him watching in the rear view mirror more than a normal person would. Finding it odd, it only makes her wonder more if he unannounced suspension was really true.
Once Alec guns it Ryan holds onto the door, not out of fear but just leverage. It felt odd being in the passenger seat and not the driver. Thought it still seemed to hold a sudden rush too it. Nothing saying anything Ryan enjoys the ride, keeping an eye out for any cops as well. The last things she need was her car to be spotted and turned in from street racing in town.
Spotting the same alleyway Alec did Ryan hopped he would use it and sure enough he did. Waiting silently seeing the car go by Ryan gives a shake of her head. She couldn't believe they actually followed them.
Turning her head to look at Alec Ryan gives a small sake. She had a feeling they might fallow, but hadn't taken note to anyone.
"I had no idea they were going to fallow. I can see why these people can get irritating fast."
Letting out a long sigh and smelling the rubber Ryan new she was going to have to some new tires. These roads were much differnt when racing on tires than out in the dessert, She didn't have the right protection on them. At least they were tired and nothing else.
"How about we hit up Burger King or McDonald before we go back. If you like you can keep driving. I kind of was enjoying the ride."
2/27/10
Tailed
Seeing the keys being held up in front of him, a grin creasing his lips. Snatching them from her hand like a cat going after a mouse, he straightens, bringing Ryan up with him, his one arm around her waist. "I'll be careful," he promises.
Heading to the driver's side, he slides in behind the wheel, starting the engine and taking just a quick moment to get his bearings. Backing from the parking space, he stops at the street, watching for traffic, but he seems to be watching longer than necessary.
Without warning, he revs the engine and peels onto the street, squealing the tires as he cuts the corner. He seems to be lost in his own little world, keeping an eye on the mirrors while accelerating far beyond the speed limit. Totally ignoring Ryan, he seems bent on concentrating on the rearview mirror especially.
Approaching an intersection, he takes it in in an instant. The light was red and there was too much traffic to run it. Slamming on the breaks, he whips the steering wheel around, using the hand break to skid, cutting a U-turn. Stepping on the gas again, he steers the car to the next nearest side road, barely making it around the curb. His eyes go to the mirror again and a curse slips out.
Speeding up, he takes another turn, then spots an alley. Screeching to a halt, the smell of burning rubber fills the air. Throwing the car in reverse, he whips it backward into the alley and out of the street, and out of sight. His fingers tap the wheel, waiting. And sure enough, the blue car speeds by, unaware of the hiding place.
Alec puts the car in park again and finally looks at Ryan. "They'd been tailing us since TJY," he informs. "Thought they might get tired after getting a clear view of the show, but apparently they wanted to make sure I didn't run off or something."
His eyes narrow slightly, showing his displeasure at the fact they'd been followed. "But now the fast food choice is up to you... and you can drive again."
Heading to the driver's side, he slides in behind the wheel, starting the engine and taking just a quick moment to get his bearings. Backing from the parking space, he stops at the street, watching for traffic, but he seems to be watching longer than necessary.
Without warning, he revs the engine and peels onto the street, squealing the tires as he cuts the corner. He seems to be lost in his own little world, keeping an eye on the mirrors while accelerating far beyond the speed limit. Totally ignoring Ryan, he seems bent on concentrating on the rearview mirror especially.
Approaching an intersection, he takes it in in an instant. The light was red and there was too much traffic to run it. Slamming on the breaks, he whips the steering wheel around, using the hand break to skid, cutting a U-turn. Stepping on the gas again, he steers the car to the next nearest side road, barely making it around the curb. His eyes go to the mirror again and a curse slips out.
Speeding up, he takes another turn, then spots an alley. Screeching to a halt, the smell of burning rubber fills the air. Throwing the car in reverse, he whips it backward into the alley and out of the street, and out of sight. His fingers tap the wheel, waiting. And sure enough, the blue car speeds by, unaware of the hiding place.
Alec puts the car in park again and finally looks at Ryan. "They'd been tailing us since TJY," he informs. "Thought they might get tired after getting a clear view of the show, but apparently they wanted to make sure I didn't run off or something."
His eyes narrow slightly, showing his displeasure at the fact they'd been followed. "But now the fast food choice is up to you... and you can drive again."
Baby
Hearing someones voice Ryan lets out a groan at the interruption of a perfectly good moment. Sitting herself up on her elbows just a little bit she grins the the restraint employee. Humoring, danced in her eyes, the flame still there, but just pushed back for the time being.
Letting out a snicker at Alec's threat to the younger boy Ryan couldn't help but like his rough nature. A grin formed on her lips as she cocked her head and looked back at Alec once again.
"Yes, I believe we have, but it was worth it."
Returning the last kiss to Alec Ryan thinks for a moment. It wasn't just anyone she'd let drive her car. This was her baby and if anything happened to it, she'd have nothing to race. but in the pit of her stomach Ryan trusted Alec, and for the first time ever she would agree to letting someone else drive her car.
"Ok, you can drive her, but you have to be gentile with her."
Moving just a little to get the keys from her pocket Ryan holds them up for Alec to take.
"I would suggest stopping at a fast food place on the way back. We don't really have much time for anything else."
Letting out a snicker at Alec's threat to the younger boy Ryan couldn't help but like his rough nature. A grin formed on her lips as she cocked her head and looked back at Alec once again.
"Yes, I believe we have, but it was worth it."
Returning the last kiss to Alec Ryan thinks for a moment. It wasn't just anyone she'd let drive her car. This was her baby and if anything happened to it, she'd have nothing to race. but in the pit of her stomach Ryan trusted Alec, and for the first time ever she would agree to letting someone else drive her car.
"Ok, you can drive her, but you have to be gentile with her."
Moving just a little to get the keys from her pocket Ryan holds them up for Alec to take.
"I would suggest stopping at a fast food place on the way back. We don't really have much time for anything else."
Caught
Alec buries his head in deeper next to Ryan's, feeling almost dizzy from the overwhelming feelings that rose up within him. It was more than just having a woman in his arms. Ryan was special, even if he didn't yet know why.
Feeling all of her returns of affection, he murmurs in her neck before moving back up to her lips again, his hold on her tightening.
"Hey! Hey, you!" The sound of someone approaching broke the moment.
Alec withdraws only slightly from Ryan, turning his head with distaste at the interruption. It was an employee of the restaurant, red-faced and flustered. "What?" Alec asks coolly.
"This... this is our parking lot and you either need to... to come in and eat or leave."
Alec straightens his arms, his palms still on the hood of Ryan's car as he stares at the young man. "Unless you want all your fingers on your right hand dislocated, I suggest you go back inside."
The employee's eyes widen, his jaw dropping. "I... I... you can't..."
Alec's eyes narrow. "Git," he hisses. Seeing the young man head for the door, he turns back to Ryan, still hovering over her. "I think we've worn out our welcome." A new look was in his eye for just a moment... humor.
Leaning down to place a last kiss on Ryan's lips, he draws away again. "How 'bout letting me drive?"
Feeling all of her returns of affection, he murmurs in her neck before moving back up to her lips again, his hold on her tightening.
"Hey! Hey, you!" The sound of someone approaching broke the moment.
Alec withdraws only slightly from Ryan, turning his head with distaste at the interruption. It was an employee of the restaurant, red-faced and flustered. "What?" Alec asks coolly.
"This... this is our parking lot and you either need to... to come in and eat or leave."
Alec straightens his arms, his palms still on the hood of Ryan's car as he stares at the young man. "Unless you want all your fingers on your right hand dislocated, I suggest you go back inside."
The employee's eyes widen, his jaw dropping. "I... I... you can't..."
Alec's eyes narrow. "Git," he hisses. Seeing the young man head for the door, he turns back to Ryan, still hovering over her. "I think we've worn out our welcome." A new look was in his eye for just a moment... humor.
Leaning down to place a last kiss on Ryan's lips, he draws away again. "How 'bout letting me drive?"
Nibble
Feeling Alec deeping the kiss, Ryan returns it with just a little bit of force as a challenging kiss back. His hands on her face, running through her hair and back to her face send the warmth surging through Ryan's body. Not caring they were in public all seemed lost once again as it had before.
Time didnt matter, nothing but just them, in this moment, together was what could be focused on. Ryan's other arm finding Alec's back as her hand kept racking through Alec's hair roughly.
As He pulls away Ryan can feel the pounding in her ears, and the blood that flowed so fast through her body as her heart just pounded harder and hard Alec's presence, being so close invoking these feelings, and these reaction Ryan craved more.
Trying to catch her breath for the moment it seems to be all sucked away once again as Alec starts to kiss her neck. Chills moved up and down Ryan's spine with every kiss that was places. A low growl came from Ryan's throat a symbol that what Alec was doing, was driving her crazy in a good way and she liked it. As he continued Ryan's hand grasp Alec's back keeping him close to her.
Turning her head a little as Alec continued to kiss her neck Ryan gives Alec's eat a light kiss her woulds coming out heavy.
"I think I could get use to being fair."
Moving away from Alec a little Ryan only returns once again giving Alec's ear a light nibble. Her arms still tightly around him keeping him close to her.
Time didnt matter, nothing but just them, in this moment, together was what could be focused on. Ryan's other arm finding Alec's back as her hand kept racking through Alec's hair roughly.
As He pulls away Ryan can feel the pounding in her ears, and the blood that flowed so fast through her body as her heart just pounded harder and hard Alec's presence, being so close invoking these feelings, and these reaction Ryan craved more.
Trying to catch her breath for the moment it seems to be all sucked away once again as Alec starts to kiss her neck. Chills moved up and down Ryan's spine with every kiss that was places. A low growl came from Ryan's throat a symbol that what Alec was doing, was driving her crazy in a good way and she liked it. As he continued Ryan's hand grasp Alec's back keeping him close to her.
Turning her head a little as Alec continued to kiss her neck Ryan gives Alec's eat a light kiss her woulds coming out heavy.
"I think I could get use to being fair."
Moving away from Alec a little Ryan only returns once again giving Alec's ear a light nibble. Her arms still tightly around him keeping him close to her.
Fair
Bending his arms, Alec lets Ryan pull him down closer, his eyes closing as her hand makes its way back to his hair. Feeling her lips on his again, he welcomes them without hesitance, returning the kiss slowly at first.
Leaning on her a little more, he pushes her until she's lying back on the hood. Propped on his forearms, one hand pinning her shoulder down, while the other moves between raking her hair or cradling the side of her face.
Not caring where they were, Alec deepens the kiss, keeping Ryan roughly under his grasp. Drawing back once, he feels his pulse racing, his breath catching in his throat. "You should be fair more often. I think I like it better than cruelty."
Cocking his head the other way, he sends kisses down her neck, still not letting her go.
Leaning on her a little more, he pushes her until she's lying back on the hood. Propped on his forearms, one hand pinning her shoulder down, while the other moves between raking her hair or cradling the side of her face.
Not caring where they were, Alec deepens the kiss, keeping Ryan roughly under his grasp. Drawing back once, he feels his pulse racing, his breath catching in his throat. "You should be fair more often. I think I like it better than cruelty."
Cocking his head the other way, he sends kisses down her neck, still not letting her go.
Oh boy!
Hearing the car door, and the gravel beneath Alec's feet Ryan turns her head just a little to one side her eyes following him as he came back to in front of her. As his head comes close to her, his arms on ether side, it forces Ryan back just a little more.
Looking into his eyes, and seeing the glint had returned it sends Ryan's heart pounding again. Every time it sounded louder than the last for sure thinking one of these times Alec would hear it himself.
Hearing his words but not replying to them right away, Ryan takes in Alec's gaze, memorizing his eyes, his look. Her own fire still blazing right. Lifting herself up just a little Ryan brings her lips to Alec's for a moment before retreating again. Her head still very close to his.
"I guess it's only fair."
Leaning back on just one of her arms Ryan brings the other to the side of Alec's face her thumb just maping his cheek bone for a moment. Finally though she slips her hand behind his head. Intertwining her fingers with his hair.
Pulling him forward closer to her, Ryan's lips meet his one more. The passion that seemed to have built up from this brief moment of holding it back, let go all at once. Pulling away and turning her head the other way Ryan brought her lips back to his once again, not giving to much time in between.
Looking into his eyes, and seeing the glint had returned it sends Ryan's heart pounding again. Every time it sounded louder than the last for sure thinking one of these times Alec would hear it himself.
Hearing his words but not replying to them right away, Ryan takes in Alec's gaze, memorizing his eyes, his look. Her own fire still blazing right. Lifting herself up just a little Ryan brings her lips to Alec's for a moment before retreating again. Her head still very close to his.
"I guess it's only fair."
Leaning back on just one of her arms Ryan brings the other to the side of Alec's face her thumb just maping his cheek bone for a moment. Finally though she slips her hand behind his head. Intertwining her fingers with his hair.
Pulling him forward closer to her, Ryan's lips meet his one more. The passion that seemed to have built up from this brief moment of holding it back, let go all at once. Pulling away and turning her head the other way Ryan brought her lips back to his once again, not giving to much time in between.
Time...
Alec's eyes don't move from Ryan, even after she's settled down on the hood of the car. He watches her, studying her, memorizing her. Her long hair flowed down over her shoulders as she leaned back on the car, falling around the jacket on her arms.
Watching her for several moments, Alec lets the silence rule, letting her be his interest for the moment. He knew he only had a short amount of time today, and there were more restrictions than they'd been informed of. Otherwise, he would have many more choices than he did. But under these conditions, he forced himself to remain content in the strange quiet. He'd never been more relieved to be outside, let alone with company.
Eventually though, he slides his feet back off the dashboard and reaches down to open the car door. Shutting it lightly, he walks around to the front of the car, his shoes crunching on loose gravel. Moving around to the bumper, he steps over Ryan's ankles with one foot, creating a bridge over her legs, then leans forward to almost meet her forehead with his, his hands resting on the hood on either side of her.
Staring into her eyes at close range, his glint had returned. "You were just cruel," he hisses. "Time to make up for it."
Watching her for several moments, Alec lets the silence rule, letting her be his interest for the moment. He knew he only had a short amount of time today, and there were more restrictions than they'd been informed of. Otherwise, he would have many more choices than he did. But under these conditions, he forced himself to remain content in the strange quiet. He'd never been more relieved to be outside, let alone with company.
Eventually though, he slides his feet back off the dashboard and reaches down to open the car door. Shutting it lightly, he walks around to the front of the car, his shoes crunching on loose gravel. Moving around to the bumper, he steps over Ryan's ankles with one foot, creating a bridge over her legs, then leans forward to almost meet her forehead with his, his hands resting on the hood on either side of her.
Staring into her eyes at close range, his glint had returned. "You were just cruel," he hisses. "Time to make up for it."
Sky
Waiting a few moment but not having Alec join her Ryan turns a little to look back in the windshield at him. The corners of her own mouth still turned up in a grin as she gives a little shake of her head. Everything wanted to go back to him, but to win this challenge she had to be strong. She had done it before when she walked away giving his food to Trooper, she could go it again.
Moving a few steps back Ryan sits down on the hood of the car. Leaning backwards she looks up at the sky as the clouds pass by. Every muscle in her body screaming for her to go back to Alec, and retrieve the kiss she so badly desired. But she sat leaning backwards looking at the sky.
Moving a few steps back Ryan sits down on the hood of the car. Leaning backwards she looks up at the sky as the clouds pass by. Every muscle in her body screaming for her to go back to Alec, and retrieve the kiss she so badly desired. But she sat leaning backwards looking at the sky.
Unspoken Dare
Feeling Ryan move closer to him, Alec turns his head, meeting her gaze head-on. His mouth is unmoved, but a sly grin lies behind his eyes.
Her fingers running through his hair sends a chill down his spine. Her breath on his face forces his eyes closed, his lips feeling hers brush against them, tempting him. But his hand that moves towards her shoulder is left wanting as she moves away, retreating from the car.
Staring after her, his gaze follows her around the car until he's looking out at her through the windshield. But instead of joining her, he leans back in the seat, putting both feet up on the dashboard and his hands behind his head. He quirks an eyebrow, the very corner of his mouth turning up ever so slightly.
Her fingers running through his hair sends a chill down his spine. Her breath on his face forces his eyes closed, his lips feeling hers brush against them, tempting him. But his hand that moves towards her shoulder is left wanting as she moves away, retreating from the car.
Staring after her, his gaze follows her around the car until he's looking out at her through the windshield. But instead of joining her, he leans back in the seat, putting both feet up on the dashboard and his hands behind his head. He quirks an eyebrow, the very corner of his mouth turning up ever so slightly.
Here we go again! O.O
Giving a shake of her head Ryan keeps Alec's words tucked into the back of her mind for now. Not saying anything else on them....for now.
Another snicker slips from her lips as she breaks and Alec goes forward a little. How could he have for gotten how she driver? She thought for sure it would live in his mind forever.
"Seat belts with me is probably a good thing. I like you better there, than a hood ornament."
Pulling into the parking lot of TGI Friday it was pretty easy to find a parking place. This time of day, and being the day after Christmas it was pretty deserted.
Parking Ryan takes the key out of the ignition and slips them into the pocket of her leather jacket. Just sitting in the car for a moment a grin forms on her lips at Alec's question. What drove her to do what she did next was something else she didn't know why.
Shifting a little Ryan's hand finds Alec's as her finger tips creep from his hand up his arm. Leaning over twords Alec Ryan can feel her heart thumping in her chest like it had any other time Alec came close to her.
Bringing her face extreaming close to his, her hand continues up his arm and than her fingers moves to run over his neck until she slip around to the back of of his head. Her fingers spreading apart through his hair, closing them around the soft strands. Her face not extremely close to his she could feel his breath on her skin.
Looking deep into Alec's eyes once more, Ryan's own reflected a burning fire behind them, but it was a much different than one of anger. This was was life and passion mixed with her rough nature. It was a look that perhaps she herself didn't even know she had. Ryan's lips so close to his they brush over them lightly. Her voice almost a whisper.
"Actually, I am very hungry. I hope you are too."
Pulling away and retreating her hand Ryan bows her head as the sassy, grin remains on her face. Getting out of the car Ryan takes a few steps twords the restront before stoping to wait for Alec.
Another snicker slips from her lips as she breaks and Alec goes forward a little. How could he have for gotten how she driver? She thought for sure it would live in his mind forever.
"Seat belts with me is probably a good thing. I like you better there, than a hood ornament."
Pulling into the parking lot of TGI Friday it was pretty easy to find a parking place. This time of day, and being the day after Christmas it was pretty deserted.
Parking Ryan takes the key out of the ignition and slips them into the pocket of her leather jacket. Just sitting in the car for a moment a grin forms on her lips at Alec's question. What drove her to do what she did next was something else she didn't know why.
Shifting a little Ryan's hand finds Alec's as her finger tips creep from his hand up his arm. Leaning over twords Alec Ryan can feel her heart thumping in her chest like it had any other time Alec came close to her.
Bringing her face extreaming close to his, her hand continues up his arm and than her fingers moves to run over his neck until she slip around to the back of of his head. Her fingers spreading apart through his hair, closing them around the soft strands. Her face not extremely close to his she could feel his breath on her skin.
Looking deep into Alec's eyes once more, Ryan's own reflected a burning fire behind them, but it was a much different than one of anger. This was was life and passion mixed with her rough nature. It was a look that perhaps she herself didn't even know she had. Ryan's lips so close to his they brush over them lightly. Her voice almost a whisper.
"Actually, I am very hungry. I hope you are too."
Pulling away and retreating her hand Ryan bows her head as the sassy, grin remains on her face. Getting out of the car Ryan takes a few steps twords the restront before stoping to wait for Alec.
Oops again
Alec listens to Ryan while letting his eyes shift between the window, mirrors and her face. Her comments bring an actual grin to his face and he turns a little in his seat. "Mmm... maybe you ought to be cruel a little more to make sure I understand completely how you make up for it."
Not paying attention, he hadn't noticed a stop sign coming up, and as the car brakes, his hand flies to the dashboard, keeping him from falling into the windshield. Quirking an eyebrow, he sits back, going for his seatbelt that he'd neglected to buckle earlier. "I forgot how you drive," he muse dryly, recalling the night she'd picked him up and he'd barely made it from her car to hurl on the side of the road.
Looking in the mirrors again, he watches the passing scenery, taking it all in. It felt like he'd been barricaded half his life... the outdoors looked different now. It was a different season. It was colder. Quieter.
TGI Fridays isn't that far away, so it's only a few minutes before they're parked in the parking lot again and Alec is removing his seatbelt. "Hungry?"
Not paying attention, he hadn't noticed a stop sign coming up, and as the car brakes, his hand flies to the dashboard, keeping him from falling into the windshield. Quirking an eyebrow, he sits back, going for his seatbelt that he'd neglected to buckle earlier. "I forgot how you drive," he muse dryly, recalling the night she'd picked him up and he'd barely made it from her car to hurl on the side of the road.
Looking in the mirrors again, he watches the passing scenery, taking it all in. It felt like he'd been barricaded half his life... the outdoors looked different now. It was a different season. It was colder. Quieter.
TGI Fridays isn't that far away, so it's only a few minutes before they're parked in the parking lot again and Alec is removing his seatbelt. "Hungry?"
Some way, or another.
Continuing out to her car Ryan doesn't stop again till she is there. Opening the door and leaning on it for a moment while she watched Alec a smile formed on her lips. It was nice to already see Alec was enjoying himself, just seeing the sun on his face as he soaked it in. He had really had needed this.
Finally getting the rest of the way into the car Ryan puts the keys in the ignition and starts the car. Hearing the nickname Alec had giving her Ryan can't help the corners of her mouth lifting. She always hated when people called her Ry, like she was a kind of bread, but when Alec said it...it was completely different and she liked it.
Not taking to much time to think about Alec's question Ryan gives a little chuckle as she pulls out of the driveway.
"Maybe I do have mysterious powers..."
Ryan takes her hands off the wheel for a moment and waves her fingers in the air before replacing her hands down once again. Giving Alec a side long glace she was hoping to make him smile again. Shaking her head Ryan's grin remains.
"...but I highly doubt it. Sometimes its easiest to just ask for something you want, and I happened to want to take you out to lunch."
Looking back to the road Ryan continues to drive. Thinking for a moment so many of her own emotions seemed to float around inside her. Her biggest one was why did she felt like this around Alec. It was welcomed for sure, but she still didn't seem to understand it. He was good looking, and his eyes so deep she could get lost. The way he let the corners of his mouth upturn, and his touch it just sent chills through.
Trying to clear her head while she drives Ryan did what she could to push her questions away for now. At the moment, just having Alec by her side, seemed to invoke more feelings to bubble up, that were strange yet felt warm, and good.
"The world is cold and cruel, but not even one in it is. At least I don't think I am. Maybe cruel sometimes, but I always seem to make up for it some way...or another."
Ryan's grin widens as her eyes give a small twinkle.
Not really getting the answer she wanted Thirteen lets out a small sigh. Maybe in her mind she had hoped now that Trent new she new who he was he'd be all ready to have a relationship. But truth be told that would just make life to easy.
Feeling a little bit a disappointment Thirteen did her best to keep it hidden well, easy to be done as Ryder moved his arms around her shoulder his warmth comforting her, and providing a shelter.
Finally though sitting a little straighter in the booth Thirteen picks up her fork just a habit to keep her hands busy. Looking up Thirteen looks Trent head on, with strength in her gaze.
"No matter what, I still love you, and I am proud to have you as my father. Thank you for at least giving me this time with you."
Giving a smile to Trent Thirteen continues to try and remain strong. She new who her father was, and when people asked she didn't have to say she didn't know anymore that was as great a gift as anything. Trent had also given her a small bit of his time, and thought it wasn't long, at least it was something.
Finally getting the rest of the way into the car Ryan puts the keys in the ignition and starts the car. Hearing the nickname Alec had giving her Ryan can't help the corners of her mouth lifting. She always hated when people called her Ry, like she was a kind of bread, but when Alec said it...it was completely different and she liked it.
Not taking to much time to think about Alec's question Ryan gives a little chuckle as she pulls out of the driveway.
"Maybe I do have mysterious powers..."
Ryan takes her hands off the wheel for a moment and waves her fingers in the air before replacing her hands down once again. Giving Alec a side long glace she was hoping to make him smile again. Shaking her head Ryan's grin remains.
"...but I highly doubt it. Sometimes its easiest to just ask for something you want, and I happened to want to take you out to lunch."
Looking back to the road Ryan continues to drive. Thinking for a moment so many of her own emotions seemed to float around inside her. Her biggest one was why did she felt like this around Alec. It was welcomed for sure, but she still didn't seem to understand it. He was good looking, and his eyes so deep she could get lost. The way he let the corners of his mouth upturn, and his touch it just sent chills through.
Trying to clear her head while she drives Ryan did what she could to push her questions away for now. At the moment, just having Alec by her side, seemed to invoke more feelings to bubble up, that were strange yet felt warm, and good.
"The world is cold and cruel, but not even one in it is. At least I don't think I am. Maybe cruel sometimes, but I always seem to make up for it some way...or another."
Ryan's grin widens as her eyes give a small twinkle.
Not really getting the answer she wanted Thirteen lets out a small sigh. Maybe in her mind she had hoped now that Trent new she new who he was he'd be all ready to have a relationship. But truth be told that would just make life to easy.
Feeling a little bit a disappointment Thirteen did her best to keep it hidden well, easy to be done as Ryder moved his arms around her shoulder his warmth comforting her, and providing a shelter.
Finally though sitting a little straighter in the booth Thirteen picks up her fork just a habit to keep her hands busy. Looking up Thirteen looks Trent head on, with strength in her gaze.
"No matter what, I still love you, and I am proud to have you as my father. Thank you for at least giving me this time with you."
Giving a smile to Trent Thirteen continues to try and remain strong. She new who her father was, and when people asked she didn't have to say she didn't know anymore that was as great a gift as anything. Trent had also given her a small bit of his time, and thought it wasn't long, at least it was something.
Mysterious power
Looking at Ryan as she heads for the door, questions begin to invade Alec's mind. What was he doing? What was he thinking? This was nuts. He didn't care about anybody but himself. He was to only look out for number one. His relationships with women - they were all the same and all based on one thing. Ryan would quicker turn him over to an enemy than anybody with those blazing eyes. So she'd brought him food, so what? So she'd given him gifts, so what? Nobody could be trusted - nobody. Feelings for someone like this - they simply weren't real.
Who was he kidding?
Alec hesitates to follow her out the door. She had done something to him. She had unlocked a door deep down in his soul that had been bolted shut and buried years ago, never to be opened again. Yet no matter how rusty the lock or how corroded the hinges... somehow, she had opened it. It was a far cry from love - that door hadn't seen the light of day for over half his life. But this one... its own opening proved more than physical attraction. Its opening spoke more than physical desires. Oh, they were there, but the light that was shining through this now-open door sent a feeling through him that was hard to recognize, it had been so long. But he knew that if someone were to come to harm Ryan, he would defend her. He cared. Her gifts had been more than food - more than a gold chain. And they had evoked the feelings that now wouldn't easily go away.
Finally shaking his head, Alec grabs his denim jacket and throws it on, following Ryan out. Down the hall and up the stairs, Alec had been this way plenty of times before - usually at night when hardly anyone was here so he wouldn't be accused of harassing or trying to escape.
Walking with Ryan, he received strange looks as they passed Elite officers. He was a prisoner, let free for an hour - it was strange to them too. But the look he gave back to them was a cold, icy gaze that made them look away first.
Out the door, up the elevator and finally into the outdoors. Just standing in the parking lot, Alec closes his eyes and takes a deep breath of the air he'd been lacking for so long now. Opening his eyes again, he squints, the sunlight almost too much. But he couldn't deny it felt good. Even the iciest of hearts needed the sunshine once in a while.
Continuing to walk behind Ryan, be recognizes her car from the night she'd picked him up. So long ago. He'd been so stupid. He should have headed straight out of town that night instead of trying to track her down. Things would be so different now. He thinks wryly that yes, he might be dead.
Slipping into the passenger side, Alec waits for Ryan, looking over at her with too many things running through his eyes to decipher. "So how did you do it, Ry? How did you convince the big boss to let me out? I feel like some ol' Andy Griffith show where he let the prisoners out for Christmas as long as they promised to come back. But that doesn't happen in the real world. Or do you have some mysterious power you're wielding on all of us?"
Trent falls quiet as he thinks, exchanging a quick glance with Ryder. "I... don't know. I guess we'll have to play it by ear."
He let his eyes roam back to Thirteen, the pain he felt greater than he had in a long time. He knew he was handling this situation well today, but that didn't mean it didn't hurt. And if he had his druthers, he'd leave now and go hibernate in a corner for a while like he normally did. But this time he didn't have a choice but to face all of this through to the end.
"We still live quite a ways apart," he reminds her. "But... visits can always happen."
Ryder slips his hand from Thirteens in order to move his arm and wrap it around her shoulders. It was obvious that Trent didn't want to make any promises right now, and Ryder knew that logical or not, it might still be a bit of a disappointment.
Who was he kidding?
Alec hesitates to follow her out the door. She had done something to him. She had unlocked a door deep down in his soul that had been bolted shut and buried years ago, never to be opened again. Yet no matter how rusty the lock or how corroded the hinges... somehow, she had opened it. It was a far cry from love - that door hadn't seen the light of day for over half his life. But this one... its own opening proved more than physical attraction. Its opening spoke more than physical desires. Oh, they were there, but the light that was shining through this now-open door sent a feeling through him that was hard to recognize, it had been so long. But he knew that if someone were to come to harm Ryan, he would defend her. He cared. Her gifts had been more than food - more than a gold chain. And they had evoked the feelings that now wouldn't easily go away.
Finally shaking his head, Alec grabs his denim jacket and throws it on, following Ryan out. Down the hall and up the stairs, Alec had been this way plenty of times before - usually at night when hardly anyone was here so he wouldn't be accused of harassing or trying to escape.
Walking with Ryan, he received strange looks as they passed Elite officers. He was a prisoner, let free for an hour - it was strange to them too. But the look he gave back to them was a cold, icy gaze that made them look away first.
Out the door, up the elevator and finally into the outdoors. Just standing in the parking lot, Alec closes his eyes and takes a deep breath of the air he'd been lacking for so long now. Opening his eyes again, he squints, the sunlight almost too much. But he couldn't deny it felt good. Even the iciest of hearts needed the sunshine once in a while.
Continuing to walk behind Ryan, be recognizes her car from the night she'd picked him up. So long ago. He'd been so stupid. He should have headed straight out of town that night instead of trying to track her down. Things would be so different now. He thinks wryly that yes, he might be dead.
Slipping into the passenger side, Alec waits for Ryan, looking over at her with too many things running through his eyes to decipher. "So how did you do it, Ry? How did you convince the big boss to let me out? I feel like some ol' Andy Griffith show where he let the prisoners out for Christmas as long as they promised to come back. But that doesn't happen in the real world. Or do you have some mysterious power you're wielding on all of us?"
Trent falls quiet as he thinks, exchanging a quick glance with Ryder. "I... don't know. I guess we'll have to play it by ear."
He let his eyes roam back to Thirteen, the pain he felt greater than he had in a long time. He knew he was handling this situation well today, but that didn't mean it didn't hurt. And if he had his druthers, he'd leave now and go hibernate in a corner for a while like he normally did. But this time he didn't have a choice but to face all of this through to the end.
"We still live quite a ways apart," he reminds her. "But... visits can always happen."
Ryder slips his hand from Thirteens in order to move his arm and wrap it around her shoulders. It was obvious that Trent didn't want to make any promises right now, and Ryder knew that logical or not, it might still be a bit of a disappointment.
Yes...lunch.
Continuing the kiss Ryan felt like she was floating on the cloud. Lost in the waves at sea but safe in Alec's arms. These off feelings, she had never felt before, there were different, they were warm.
Looking into Alec's eyes as leaned his head against her Ryan searches there depths. The fire seemed to burn even brighter. Feelings thought no longer existed now pounded in his chest. Her own heart seemed to echo as it pounded so fast.
"I guess...it would be bad if Hal saw us like this."
Being let down to the ground Ryan has to hold Alec's arm for a moment as everything spins. But in minutes she is ok, and though her heart still pounded she could see straight again. Feeling his hand on her face she leans into it for just a moment, making a low humming sound. Though his hand was rough it still felt so nice on her skin.
"Lunch...yes..that sounds good."
Letting her hand slide from Alec's arm slowly Ryan turns for the door, glancing over her shoulder to make sure Alec was with her, the grin, and glint in her eye still remained.
Looking into Alec's eyes as leaned his head against her Ryan searches there depths. The fire seemed to burn even brighter. Feelings thought no longer existed now pounded in his chest. Her own heart seemed to echo as it pounded so fast.
"I guess...it would be bad if Hal saw us like this."
Being let down to the ground Ryan has to hold Alec's arm for a moment as everything spins. But in minutes she is ok, and though her heart still pounded she could see straight again. Feeling his hand on her face she leans into it for just a moment, making a low humming sound. Though his hand was rough it still felt so nice on her skin.
"Lunch...yes..that sounds good."
Letting her hand slide from Alec's arm slowly Ryan turns for the door, glancing over her shoulder to make sure Alec was with her, the grin, and glint in her eye still remained.
Lunch
Completely overtaken the moment of heated passion, Alec persists with the exchange, feeling as though all sense has left him. But there was just something about Ryan. She had cared... she was beautiful... she was warm... she believed in him... she had convinced Reese to let him out for a while... she felt oh so good tucked in his arms.
It felt like a slice of eternity, when in reality it had been less than two full minutes when Alec straightens his head, catching breaths of air in between several last kisses. Leaning his forehead against Ryan's as he still held her, his heart pounded in his chest and heat flowed up his neck and into his face.
"I'd make you stay," he whispers, "but Hal's due for his rounds in three minutes."
Giving her nose another kiss, he searches her bright eyes, wondering how they had entranced him so. He'd had other women, but there was something different about this. He had the desires, but... Ryan had something that held him at bay... something that warned him not to step too far over the line, less he lose something he wanted. Deep, deep down a question lay in wait... could this really happen?
Finally letting Ryan slide back down to the floor, he reaches to her face, combing her hair behind her ear, then running his rough palm down her cheek. "Now that we've had dessert... maybe it's time for lunch."
It felt like a slice of eternity, when in reality it had been less than two full minutes when Alec straightens his head, catching breaths of air in between several last kisses. Leaning his forehead against Ryan's as he still held her, his heart pounded in his chest and heat flowed up his neck and into his face.
"I'd make you stay," he whispers, "but Hal's due for his rounds in three minutes."
Giving her nose another kiss, he searches her bright eyes, wondering how they had entranced him so. He'd had other women, but there was something different about this. He had the desires, but... Ryan had something that held him at bay... something that warned him not to step too far over the line, less he lose something he wanted. Deep, deep down a question lay in wait... could this really happen?
Finally letting Ryan slide back down to the floor, he reaches to her face, combing her hair behind her ear, then running his rough palm down her cheek. "Now that we've had dessert... maybe it's time for lunch."
Challange
As Alec's words hit Ryan's ears about her being his freedom it send chill down her spin. No one had ever said that to her before, and coming from Alec they felt as thought they had more power behind them sending another set of chills up her spin.
Feeling Alec lift her off the ground instincts kick in and Ryan wraps her legs around his wast. Her hands staying in the same position. The one now running up and down his back while the other was still playing with his hair. Oh soft it felt between her fingers, she just couldn't help it. Everything else seemed so far away, almost like her mind blacked out about where they were, and why.
Feeling Alec's lips move to her neck Ryan lets out a low noise in her throat as a suggestion that she liked that very much. Alec's words and breath drifting across her skin so soft. Finding her lips again Ryan continue to kiss Alec pretty back with force as if challenging him with her kiss.
Feeling Alec lift her off the ground instincts kick in and Ryan wraps her legs around his wast. Her hands staying in the same position. The one now running up and down his back while the other was still playing with his hair. Oh soft it felt between her fingers, she just couldn't help it. Everything else seemed so far away, almost like her mind blacked out about where they were, and why.
Feeling Alec's lips move to her neck Ryan lets out a low noise in her throat as a suggestion that she liked that very much. Alec's words and breath drifting across her skin so soft. Finding her lips again Ryan continue to kiss Alec pretty back with force as if challenging him with her kiss.
*facedesk*
Alec pauses to catch his breath as Ryan draws back for just a moment. "This is my freedom," he whispers back. Holding her a little tighter, a low growl escapes his throat as her hands move roughly through his hair.
Deepening the kiss, his hands move down to lift her up, pressing her between himself and the wall so she's the same height as he, one arm wrapped around her torso, the other on her leg.
Cocking his head, he kisses her neck lightly. "I disabled the camera," he informs coyly. Returning to her lips, he opens his eyes to find hers, the glint still there. "Lunch can wait two minutes. If we're late back... they can call me a prisoner."
Kissing her lips again, he doesn't make a move to exit he room.
Deepening the kiss, his hands move down to lift her up, pressing her between himself and the wall so she's the same height as he, one arm wrapped around her torso, the other on her leg.
Cocking his head, he kisses her neck lightly. "I disabled the camera," he informs coyly. Returning to her lips, he opens his eyes to find hers, the glint still there. "Lunch can wait two minutes. If we're late back... they can call me a prisoner."
Kissing her lips again, he doesn't make a move to exit he room.
O....M....G....!!!!!!!!!!!!
Feeling Alec' arm slip around her wast and than the light kiss over her face till they stop at her lips Ryan feels once again everything she had yesterday. Seeming to get lost once again all was forgotten. Why did Alec alone make her feel this way.
Feeling weak in the knees like she might fall Ryan brings her one arm around Alec to his back holding onto him, and the other hand finds the back of his head her fingers combing through his hair lightly as she returned her his kiss with her own passion.
All else seemed for gotten.
Pulling away slightly Ryan turns her head the other way a small whisper leaving her lips...
"Your losing your hour of freedom you know."
Bringing her lips back to his once again Ryan continues the kiss. Moving her one hand that was on the back of his head to the side to draw circles around his ear and than back to his head once again raking her fingers through it a little rougher this time.
Feeling weak in the knees like she might fall Ryan brings her one arm around Alec to his back holding onto him, and the other hand finds the back of his head her fingers combing through his hair lightly as she returned her his kiss with her own passion.
All else seemed for gotten.
Pulling away slightly Ryan turns her head the other way a small whisper leaving her lips...
"Your losing your hour of freedom you know."
Bringing her lips back to his once again Ryan continues the kiss. Moving her one hand that was on the back of his head to the side to draw circles around his ear and than back to his head once again raking her fingers through it a little rougher this time.
Crap
Receiving Ryan's kiss, Alec starts to return it, only to have her draw away again. Squinting a little, just the corner of his mouth starts to curl. "It will be huh? And that's all you have to show for it?"
He'd been thinking about yesterday ever since she'd left, so having here now, it all came back - the strange feelings she evoked. The warmth. That look in her eye that dared him closer.
Moving his hands from the wall to her waist, he brings her all the way to him, cocking his head to send light kisses from her forehead, over her eyes, nose, then finally to her lips again where he remains, unwilling to go that quickly. Freedom could wait another minute... or two.
He'd been thinking about yesterday ever since she'd left, so having here now, it all came back - the strange feelings she evoked. The warmth. That look in her eye that dared him closer.
Moving his hands from the wall to her waist, he brings her all the way to him, cocking his head to send light kisses from her forehead, over her eyes, nose, then finally to her lips again where he remains, unwilling to go that quickly. Freedom could wait another minute... or two.
Five Minutes
Not being able to help the chuckle again that escaped her lips Ryan just thought it was a bit humorous how skeptical he was at first, and than his comment about five minutes.
"Its only going to be five minutes if you don't hurry up."
Seeing Alec was ready Ryan is moves away from the wall a little but it pushed back against it was Alec steps in front of her pinning her against the wall. The look in his eye was the same one she saw yesterday before she had left. It was different than before, and it was the one that drew Ryan in, almost like a summon that just took over.
Pushing back against Alec just a little Ryan press her lips to his for a moment as her heart races once again sending her into a total loop.
"Don't worry, it will be!"
"Its only going to be five minutes if you don't hurry up."
Seeing Alec was ready Ryan is moves away from the wall a little but it pushed back against it was Alec steps in front of her pinning her against the wall. The look in his eye was the same one she saw yesterday before she had left. It was different than before, and it was the one that drew Ryan in, almost like a summon that just took over.
Pushing back against Alec just a little Ryan press her lips to his for a moment as her heart races once again sending her into a total loop.
"Don't worry, it will be!"
2/26/10
Uh...
Still baffled, Alec decides to trust Ryan. She didn't look like she was trying to trick him into anything, and with the security around here, they wouldn't be able to get out if Reese hadn't approved.
Glancing down at his shoes, he shrugs lamely and slips them on. "Alright, you win. I don't care if it's only five minutes if I can get out of here, even if it is bizarre."
Finished tying his shoes, he stands up, wandering the couple steps in front of Ryan, just looking down into her eyes, his facial expression solemn. There was something in his eye though... something that had been ignited the day before.
Putting a hand on either side of her against the wall, he traps her in between his arms. "We better make the hour worth it."
Glancing down at his shoes, he shrugs lamely and slips them on. "Alright, you win. I don't care if it's only five minutes if I can get out of here, even if it is bizarre."
Finished tying his shoes, he stands up, wandering the couple steps in front of Ryan, just looking down into her eyes, his facial expression solemn. There was something in his eye though... something that had been ignited the day before.
Putting a hand on either side of her against the wall, he traps her in between his arms. "We better make the hour worth it."
No joke
Not being able to help the small chuckle that escaped her lips Ryan folds her arms across her chest looking down at Alec.
"Give a little, get a little I guess. There is no joke, this is the start to you being free. We come back in an hour after lunch and who knows maybe next time it will be two hours."
Shaking her head Ryan bends down and picks up Alec's tennis shows throwing them gently at him. Backing up to lean against the wall Ryan just grins at Alec.
"So are you gonna spend you hour of freedom just sitting there or are we going to go out and have some lunch?"
"Give a little, get a little I guess. There is no joke, this is the start to you being free. We come back in an hour after lunch and who knows maybe next time it will be two hours."
Shaking her head Ryan bends down and picks up Alec's tennis shows throwing them gently at him. Backing up to lean against the wall Ryan just grins at Alec.
"So are you gonna spend you hour of freedom just sitting there or are we going to go out and have some lunch?"
Disbelief
Alec's expression turns to one of total confusion. "What?"
He sits up, sliding his feet over the edge of the cot and furrowing his brow at Ryan as he looks up at her. "The boss' okay? You've got to be kidding me. They let me out, they could have this place shut down for letting a prisoner out."
He eyes Ryan skeptically, not believing her. "What's the joke?"
He sits up, sliding his feet over the edge of the cot and furrowing his brow at Ryan as he looks up at her. "The boss' okay? You've got to be kidding me. They let me out, they could have this place shut down for letting a prisoner out."
He eyes Ryan skeptically, not believing her. "What's the joke?"
Sassy
Ryan can't help the one side of her mouth turns up into a half smile. He'd always been good at keeping a strangle face, what was the problem now.
"I have a problem with not catching on the first fifty times. However, I haven't forgotten my promise on food. And since your letting me pick I am saying we are going to TGI Friday since I wasn't able to make anything before coming here. So I would suggest you put your shoes on. Its kind of cold out there today."
Not being able to help it any longer the other side of her mouth turns up into a devilish smile and a sassy glint lay behind her eye.
"Don't worry I got the boss ok. We have one hour so unless you wanna spend most of it in here...I would hurry."
"I have a problem with not catching on the first fifty times. However, I haven't forgotten my promise on food. And since your letting me pick I am saying we are going to TGI Friday since I wasn't able to make anything before coming here. So I would suggest you put your shoes on. Its kind of cold out there today."
Not being able to help it any longer the other side of her mouth turns up into a devilish smile and a sassy glint lay behind her eye.
"Don't worry I got the boss ok. We have one hour so unless you wanna spend most of it in here...I would hurry."
Answer
Alec's eyes fly open as he hears Ryan's voice, startled by her presence. He hadn't thought she'd be back quite so soon. She'd been grilled? That was interesting. He got the shrink, she got the questions - he shouldn't be surprised at Reese's paranoia.
Propping himself up on an elbow, he stretches his legs out and looks up at Ryan, a smile hidden beneath the surface. "You make it sound like I told him something by accident." He quirks an eyebrow, his eyes narrowing slightly in a rather sly look. "I don't do anything by accident."
Shifting his weight a little, he remains on the cot. "I'm miserable," he answers her question. "Haven't you learned not to ask that yet?"
Propping himself up on an elbow, he stretches his legs out and looks up at Ryan, a smile hidden beneath the surface. "You make it sound like I told him something by accident." He quirks an eyebrow, his eyes narrowing slightly in a rather sly look. "I don't do anything by accident."
Shifting his weight a little, he remains on the cot. "I'm miserable," he answers her question. "Haven't you learned not to ask that yet?"
Spill Beans
Looking back at Reese Ryan's expression finally changes to one of pure surprise. She hadnt really expected Reese to agree to her taking Alec out to lunch. Just standing there and blinking for a moment Ryan's face finally turns up into a smile.
"One hour...got it."
Turning again Ryan hurrys out the door. She couldn't wait to tell Alec he could go to lunch with her. She new he was going to love the fresh air. Good down to the door she new all to well Ryan stops for a moment
Finally entering and seeing Alec laying on the bed Ryan cocks her head to one side, before finally making her presence known.
"I can't see why you don't like that guy. I was just grilled for goodness knows how long because he thought I was in cahoots with you and we were planning some big scheme."
Ryan rolls her eyes as she enters a little more into the room. Finally giving a little grin her eyes tried not to give away her secret. After telling her whole life store to Reese and feeling that pain again she needed something fun to keep her mind busy.
"How ya holding up today? I was told you spilled the beans to the boss and thats why he brought me in."
Giving a thoughtful nod about her mother Thirteen can't help the smile that forms on her face being told her looked like her mom and had her smile. At least she new, she carried a part of her inside.
For one of the first times a tear forms in Thirteen's eye. There was a slight pain in her heart. She wished she could remember her mom. But to try and think that far back really hurt. It was hard getting past everything from the Agency.
"I wish I could have met her."
Sucking in a breath Thirteen uses her free hand to whip her tears away giving a small smile. She new it was imposable so she shouldn't dwell on it to much even though it hurt.
"Will we be able to see each other more now?"
"One hour...got it."
Turning again Ryan hurrys out the door. She couldn't wait to tell Alec he could go to lunch with her. She new he was going to love the fresh air. Good down to the door she new all to well Ryan stops for a moment
Finally entering and seeing Alec laying on the bed Ryan cocks her head to one side, before finally making her presence known.
"I can't see why you don't like that guy. I was just grilled for goodness knows how long because he thought I was in cahoots with you and we were planning some big scheme."
Ryan rolls her eyes as she enters a little more into the room. Finally giving a little grin her eyes tried not to give away her secret. After telling her whole life store to Reese and feeling that pain again she needed something fun to keep her mind busy.
"How ya holding up today? I was told you spilled the beans to the boss and thats why he brought me in."
Giving a thoughtful nod about her mother Thirteen can't help the smile that forms on her face being told her looked like her mom and had her smile. At least she new, she carried a part of her inside.
For one of the first times a tear forms in Thirteen's eye. There was a slight pain in her heart. She wished she could remember her mom. But to try and think that far back really hurt. It was hard getting past everything from the Agency.
"I wish I could have met her."
Sucking in a breath Thirteen uses her free hand to whip her tears away giving a small smile. She new it was imposable so she shouldn't dwell on it to much even though it hurt.
"Will we be able to see each other more now?"
1 hour
Reese is ready to look back down at his work when Ryan's words surprise him. He glances up at her with a raised eyebrow. Lunch? With Alec? Away from TJY? If he hadn't just trusted his instincts about Ryan ten seconds ago, he would have thought now this really was a ploy. But apparently she was serious.
He thinks a moment, contemplating. "It's not your promises that I'm worried about. I trust you - it's Alec I don't trust. You can promise me all day long that you'll bring him back, but if he slips your grasp, then who would you be bringing back? Not to mention, if he got away, the Elite would have to answer for it and that wouldn't be pleasurable."
Cocking his head, he studies Ryan for another few seconds. "But I'd hate for you to be a liar. Take him out. You have one hour. And I mean - one hour."
Watching Thirteen's reactions, Ryder keeps a close eye on her, making sure nothing was too great a shock or burden for this day's little meeting. Hearing her tone as she discovered he had known about her, he gives a little sigh, but returns the squeeze to her hand. He would explain later the promise he had made. It was obvious that she wasn't upset, but he wanted to give her a reason for his silence.
Receiving her next question, Trent smiles just a little. "She was pretty... just like you. Dark hair and eyes... you have her smile. She loved life... took chances - maybe one too many, but she never held regrets. This happened but she'd always face her problems head-on without asking why. I guess maybe the one chance she shouldn't have taken was with me. We both had our heads somewhere else when we should have been paying attention. She loved you though."
Trent gives a slight nod. "She was scared, but like me, when she finally saw you for the first time... it was love at first sight. She would have been a good mother."
He thinks a moment, contemplating. "It's not your promises that I'm worried about. I trust you - it's Alec I don't trust. You can promise me all day long that you'll bring him back, but if he slips your grasp, then who would you be bringing back? Not to mention, if he got away, the Elite would have to answer for it and that wouldn't be pleasurable."
Cocking his head, he studies Ryan for another few seconds. "But I'd hate for you to be a liar. Take him out. You have one hour. And I mean - one hour."
Watching Thirteen's reactions, Ryder keeps a close eye on her, making sure nothing was too great a shock or burden for this day's little meeting. Hearing her tone as she discovered he had known about her, he gives a little sigh, but returns the squeeze to her hand. He would explain later the promise he had made. It was obvious that she wasn't upset, but he wanted to give her a reason for his silence.
Receiving her next question, Trent smiles just a little. "She was pretty... just like you. Dark hair and eyes... you have her smile. She loved life... took chances - maybe one too many, but she never held regrets. This happened but she'd always face her problems head-on without asking why. I guess maybe the one chance she shouldn't have taken was with me. We both had our heads somewhere else when we should have been paying attention. She loved you though."
Trent gives a slight nod. "She was scared, but like me, when she finally saw you for the first time... it was love at first sight. She would have been a good mother."
Can he?
Looking back at Reese Ryan held her head high it was the only thing she could do to keep from crying. She hated cops, she still hated cops and Reese just confirmed why. She was hurt, and felt broken in a way something she hadn't felt in a very long time.
Standing and giving a nod to Reese Ryan makes her way to the door not saying much of anything else. Though Ryan was surprised about what Alec had done there was nothing else to say, or tell. Getting to the door Ryan stops and turns to Reese again. It was a long shot but why not ask anyways right.
"Do you think I could take Alec out to lunch...I promise to bring him back. I promised him lunch today when I came back and I didn't bring lunch. I'd hate to start lieing now."
Giving a smile and a nod Libby packs up a few of the things they had, and throws away the garbage before leading the way out to the truck. Once inside and on there was Libby takes a few back roads till they are on the outskirts of town. Knowing the short cuts made it real easy to get from one place to the next.
Pulling into the drive way of a small red farm house Libby dosnt bother pulling the truck into the shed. Shutting off the engine she waits in the care for a long moment as if listening for something. Not hearing anything she new no one was home and it was safe.
Getting out of the truck and leading Ty inside it was a normal little house, semi clean. Empty beer bottles and cans layed by one of the easy chairs one could guess that was her moms. Giving a quick tour and seeing if he wanted anything to drink Libby shows Ty to her own room. Shutting the door behind them just in case anyone came home.
Flopping down on one of the bean bag chairs Libby pulls the other one out in front of the tv. On one side of the room the wall lined with DvD's and on the other side it was lined with video games. A stereo and tv sat on the wall in the middle. To the left was a dresser and closet with a rather large looking Katana above the door and next to that was a bed, and a bookshelf along with a small desk. On the walls were postered of fairies, horses, movie stars, flowers.
"Ok your the guest so you can pick a video game or a movie. You name something you like and I can tell you if I have it or not. More than likely I do."
Spending most the time in her own room Libby's collection of items to keep her busy had really grown over the years. Not having much else to spend her money on.
Listing to Trent careful one could tell Thirteen didn't want to miss anything. Taking everything in Thirteen's expression didn't change with the understanding of what happened, and what was going on. Looking at Ryder for a moment hearing that he new about Trent her look was a bit confused for a moment.
"You new?"
Looking down at the table she just was quiet for a long second. So many things ran through her head, and so much information was being processed, but she had wanted to know and now she did. Her father didn't hate her, or disown her he didn't even know she was alive, and when he did he thought he was unworthy.
"No matter what happend in the past...I...I still love you Dad."
Thirteen really did mean it. It might take some getting use to, and it was different but there was no doubt in her mind that she did indeed love the one she had been looking for, for so long.
Giving a gentil squeeze to Ryder's hand she lets him know she wasn't angry with him for not telling her. He had his reasons and though she didnt know they they had to be good. Taking a sip of her half coffee and her half hot coco A small smile comes to Thirteen's face. She new what her next question was.
"What was my mother like?"
Standing and giving a nod to Reese Ryan makes her way to the door not saying much of anything else. Though Ryan was surprised about what Alec had done there was nothing else to say, or tell. Getting to the door Ryan stops and turns to Reese again. It was a long shot but why not ask anyways right.
"Do you think I could take Alec out to lunch...I promise to bring him back. I promised him lunch today when I came back and I didn't bring lunch. I'd hate to start lieing now."
Giving a smile and a nod Libby packs up a few of the things they had, and throws away the garbage before leading the way out to the truck. Once inside and on there was Libby takes a few back roads till they are on the outskirts of town. Knowing the short cuts made it real easy to get from one place to the next.
Pulling into the drive way of a small red farm house Libby dosnt bother pulling the truck into the shed. Shutting off the engine she waits in the care for a long moment as if listening for something. Not hearing anything she new no one was home and it was safe.
Getting out of the truck and leading Ty inside it was a normal little house, semi clean. Empty beer bottles and cans layed by one of the easy chairs one could guess that was her moms. Giving a quick tour and seeing if he wanted anything to drink Libby shows Ty to her own room. Shutting the door behind them just in case anyone came home.
Flopping down on one of the bean bag chairs Libby pulls the other one out in front of the tv. On one side of the room the wall lined with DvD's and on the other side it was lined with video games. A stereo and tv sat on the wall in the middle. To the left was a dresser and closet with a rather large looking Katana above the door and next to that was a bed, and a bookshelf along with a small desk. On the walls were postered of fairies, horses, movie stars, flowers.
"Ok your the guest so you can pick a video game or a movie. You name something you like and I can tell you if I have it or not. More than likely I do."
Spending most the time in her own room Libby's collection of items to keep her busy had really grown over the years. Not having much else to spend her money on.
Listing to Trent careful one could tell Thirteen didn't want to miss anything. Taking everything in Thirteen's expression didn't change with the understanding of what happened, and what was going on. Looking at Ryder for a moment hearing that he new about Trent her look was a bit confused for a moment.
"You new?"
Looking down at the table she just was quiet for a long second. So many things ran through her head, and so much information was being processed, but she had wanted to know and now she did. Her father didn't hate her, or disown her he didn't even know she was alive, and when he did he thought he was unworthy.
"No matter what happend in the past...I...I still love you Dad."
Thirteen really did mean it. It might take some getting use to, and it was different but there was no doubt in her mind that she did indeed love the one she had been looking for, for so long.
Giving a gentil squeeze to Ryder's hand she lets him know she wasn't angry with him for not telling her. He had his reasons and though she didnt know they they had to be good. Taking a sip of her half coffee and her half hot coco A small smile comes to Thirteen's face. She new what her next question was.
"What was my mother like?"
Free to visit
Reese had reason to suspect a shady past, or even a connection to the Agency, seeing how Ryan had interacted with Alec. So when Ryan begins to opening tell of her family's history, he sits back a little, listening intently.
There were emotions in her eyes... real emotions - not the fake kind put on an act. Her story... her feelings... they weren't those of someone who was covering for the Agency. Before Ryan was even finished, Reese had his answer that she was clean, but he doesn't interrupt. He wanted to know the rest now - he still wanted to know why she had befriended Alec in the first place, especially now if he saw she wasn't involved on the wrong side of the law.
Continuing to listen, the harshness fades from Reese's eyes, replaced with a compassion similar to what he might feel towards a daughter if he had one. Ryan was one tough cookie, but it took that just to have made it this far but the sounds of it. A part of him felt badly for assuming the worst, even though he knew they had needed to find out if she was a security risk.
Coming to an understanding of just why Ryan had come, Reese finds it an honorable motive. He couldn't say he quite grasped the footage or Ryan's inability to explain it, but as long as she was clean, he supposed it really wasn't any of his business.
He cocks his head and looks at Ryan a long moment after she's finished. "No one can act that well." His voice was a little gentler this time before he leans forward on his desk, folding his hands. "Thank you for explaining. I believe you. I'm sorry for your losses and I apologize for making you come here but we had to know if you were a security risk or not. You didn't need to tell me all that, but I appreciate it." He pauses, thinking for a moment.
"Alec had a sudden change in behavior and we needed to make sure it wasn't some tactic, brought on by outside help. He's... given me information regarding the place where he came from and it was so unusual that I had to be sure it wasn't a trick. I still can't explain why he changed his mind but I'm glad he did. I didn't want to see him go to prison and I'm sure you didn't either."
Picking up some papers, Reese straightens them out then nods to Ryan. "You're free to go, Miss McKade." He catches her eye, not afraid to look into her strong gaze. "If you or your brother ever need legal help, please come here first. And... feel free to visit Alec before you go. His door should be unlocked."
Alec says no more and just watches Hope leave. Something worth hanging on to... yeah... The wry thought crosses his mind that it could apply literally as well, and he shakes his head.
Sighing, he lets himself lie down on his side, curling up a little bit. He usually didn't lie in this defensive position, but today, for some reason, he felt like it. He could feel the chain beneath his shirt as his head sinks into his pillow. Something to hold on to... even if he wanted to, it was kind of hard when he was a prisoner.
Ty is glad that Libby will let him quit for now, but he feels badly. When they'd met earlier, he'd been enthusiastic about trying again, but now he was just frustrated all over again. He'd thought he could stay excited this time... but it never got better.
"I'm sorry," he apologizes. "I really do want to try. I just... my brain seems to shut down completely and I can't think straight. Nothing looks right anymore." He nods though and stacks up the books. "I'll keep working on it. If I got questions, I can always ask Wyatt - the guy I live with."
Trying to move on without too much embarrassment, he starts to smile a little again. "Video games sound fun. I don't have to be to work until seven tonight so I got all day. I wouldn't mind hanging out some more."
His grin shows it was more than him just not minding - he'd rather like it. It was nice having a new friend to hang out with and Libby was a lot of fun to be around. "You got the truck, so I'm at your mercy. Lead away."
Trent's eyes drift down to study the table's napkin holder. He knew there would be tough questions, but did it have to start with the toughest? He sighs.
"I don't know." His hands rotate his coffee cup a few more times, his gaze still aimed downward. "It happened because..." He pauses. "No... it wasn't the Agency's fault... it was mine."
Finally he looks back up at Thirteen, sadness in his eyes for a past long gone yet part of today. "It happened because your mother and I made a mistake. You weren't a mistake," he emphasizes clearly. "But we weren't careful, so the mistake was ours. And this all happened because my family and I were tagged from birth, targeted by the Agency. And you were born into the mess at no fault of your own."
Looking back down again, he stares into his coffee, the light steam curling into the air. "I remember holding you when you were born," he mentions softly. "You were so tiny... but you gave your mom quite a time. No one else knew... I was scared to death... disappointed in myself... but seeing you for the first time... I suddenly knew what it was like to love something so much you'd die for it."
Trent's eyes are filled with emotions as he lifts them to find Thirteen's. "Your mother and I hadn't been that serious about each other... we had a pretty shallow relationship going. But when you were born... we thought maybe we'd have a go at something better. I know I wanted to. Before I could even tell my family though, there was a car accident. Grace was killed and you were taken by the Agency."
He shrugs lamely. "They said I had to work for them or else they'd kill you too. So I obeyed... I even betrayed my own family in ways that still haunt me."
Needing a break, he takes a shaky sip of his coffee.
Ryder looks across at Trent, proud of this man for sharing the story and not just skimming over Thirteen's questions. It took someone strong to admit what had happened. His hand gives Thirteen's fingers as squeeze to let her know he was still there.
Trent sighs deeply, keeping himself composed. "I did a lot of things wrong, fighting to find you and get you out. My family didn't know because I was in too deep by then and I was too dumb to rely on them or admit my past mistakes. I wound up in jail. Then when you would have been about twelve, I got word that you'd gotten sick and died."
Starting to get choked up, his eyes roam the room, his jaw muscles working out the tension he felt. "If I would have known you were alive, I would have come for you, I swear." He looks back to her, his eyes begging her to believe him. "When I found out that you really were alive... that you were in Nevada... I just... I couldn't bring myself to tell you everything. It had been so long... I felt so guilty for everything... I just... I didn't want you to know all the bad. So I thought... I thought I could take care of you from a distance... through Ryder."
He swallows hard and clears his throat, shifting in his seat. "So that's why."
There were emotions in her eyes... real emotions - not the fake kind put on an act. Her story... her feelings... they weren't those of someone who was covering for the Agency. Before Ryan was even finished, Reese had his answer that she was clean, but he doesn't interrupt. He wanted to know the rest now - he still wanted to know why she had befriended Alec in the first place, especially now if he saw she wasn't involved on the wrong side of the law.
Continuing to listen, the harshness fades from Reese's eyes, replaced with a compassion similar to what he might feel towards a daughter if he had one. Ryan was one tough cookie, but it took that just to have made it this far but the sounds of it. A part of him felt badly for assuming the worst, even though he knew they had needed to find out if she was a security risk.
Coming to an understanding of just why Ryan had come, Reese finds it an honorable motive. He couldn't say he quite grasped the footage or Ryan's inability to explain it, but as long as she was clean, he supposed it really wasn't any of his business.
He cocks his head and looks at Ryan a long moment after she's finished. "No one can act that well." His voice was a little gentler this time before he leans forward on his desk, folding his hands. "Thank you for explaining. I believe you. I'm sorry for your losses and I apologize for making you come here but we had to know if you were a security risk or not. You didn't need to tell me all that, but I appreciate it." He pauses, thinking for a moment.
"Alec had a sudden change in behavior and we needed to make sure it wasn't some tactic, brought on by outside help. He's... given me information regarding the place where he came from and it was so unusual that I had to be sure it wasn't a trick. I still can't explain why he changed his mind but I'm glad he did. I didn't want to see him go to prison and I'm sure you didn't either."
Picking up some papers, Reese straightens them out then nods to Ryan. "You're free to go, Miss McKade." He catches her eye, not afraid to look into her strong gaze. "If you or your brother ever need legal help, please come here first. And... feel free to visit Alec before you go. His door should be unlocked."
Alec says no more and just watches Hope leave. Something worth hanging on to... yeah... The wry thought crosses his mind that it could apply literally as well, and he shakes his head.
Sighing, he lets himself lie down on his side, curling up a little bit. He usually didn't lie in this defensive position, but today, for some reason, he felt like it. He could feel the chain beneath his shirt as his head sinks into his pillow. Something to hold on to... even if he wanted to, it was kind of hard when he was a prisoner.
Ty is glad that Libby will let him quit for now, but he feels badly. When they'd met earlier, he'd been enthusiastic about trying again, but now he was just frustrated all over again. He'd thought he could stay excited this time... but it never got better.
"I'm sorry," he apologizes. "I really do want to try. I just... my brain seems to shut down completely and I can't think straight. Nothing looks right anymore." He nods though and stacks up the books. "I'll keep working on it. If I got questions, I can always ask Wyatt - the guy I live with."
Trying to move on without too much embarrassment, he starts to smile a little again. "Video games sound fun. I don't have to be to work until seven tonight so I got all day. I wouldn't mind hanging out some more."
His grin shows it was more than him just not minding - he'd rather like it. It was nice having a new friend to hang out with and Libby was a lot of fun to be around. "You got the truck, so I'm at your mercy. Lead away."
Trent's eyes drift down to study the table's napkin holder. He knew there would be tough questions, but did it have to start with the toughest? He sighs.
"I don't know." His hands rotate his coffee cup a few more times, his gaze still aimed downward. "It happened because..." He pauses. "No... it wasn't the Agency's fault... it was mine."
Finally he looks back up at Thirteen, sadness in his eyes for a past long gone yet part of today. "It happened because your mother and I made a mistake. You weren't a mistake," he emphasizes clearly. "But we weren't careful, so the mistake was ours. And this all happened because my family and I were tagged from birth, targeted by the Agency. And you were born into the mess at no fault of your own."
Looking back down again, he stares into his coffee, the light steam curling into the air. "I remember holding you when you were born," he mentions softly. "You were so tiny... but you gave your mom quite a time. No one else knew... I was scared to death... disappointed in myself... but seeing you for the first time... I suddenly knew what it was like to love something so much you'd die for it."
Trent's eyes are filled with emotions as he lifts them to find Thirteen's. "Your mother and I hadn't been that serious about each other... we had a pretty shallow relationship going. But when you were born... we thought maybe we'd have a go at something better. I know I wanted to. Before I could even tell my family though, there was a car accident. Grace was killed and you were taken by the Agency."
He shrugs lamely. "They said I had to work for them or else they'd kill you too. So I obeyed... I even betrayed my own family in ways that still haunt me."
Needing a break, he takes a shaky sip of his coffee.
Ryder looks across at Trent, proud of this man for sharing the story and not just skimming over Thirteen's questions. It took someone strong to admit what had happened. His hand gives Thirteen's fingers as squeeze to let her know he was still there.
Trent sighs deeply, keeping himself composed. "I did a lot of things wrong, fighting to find you and get you out. My family didn't know because I was in too deep by then and I was too dumb to rely on them or admit my past mistakes. I wound up in jail. Then when you would have been about twelve, I got word that you'd gotten sick and died."
Starting to get choked up, his eyes roam the room, his jaw muscles working out the tension he felt. "If I would have known you were alive, I would have come for you, I swear." He looks back to her, his eyes begging her to believe him. "When I found out that you really were alive... that you were in Nevada... I just... I couldn't bring myself to tell you everything. It had been so long... I felt so guilty for everything... I just... I didn't want you to know all the bad. So I thought... I thought I could take care of you from a distance... through Ryder."
He swallows hard and clears his throat, shifting in his seat. "So that's why."
Lite Fire
Looking up at her father Thirteen holds Ryder's hand next to her on the little booth seat. She was scaired, not of Trent, but for the first time she got to sit across from her father and was able to ask any question she wanted.
Weeks, even months ago she'd had a whole speech prepared for the day when she found her dad, and than attached to that she had questions. But now the time came, and he was sitting in front of her, and what she had written down just didn't seem to mater anymore. Now, she seemed to only have one question to ask.
"Why?"
It could mean anything, or say she wanted to know anything but it was the only question she had now.
"Why did this happen? Why didn't you want me to know who you were? Why did you let them take me there for so long?"
Thirteen continues to look at her father from the other side of the table. Her eyes held no anger twords Trent just wonder, maybe a little pain, but this was something she had to do and stuff she needed to know so she could stop wondering. Once these questions were answered about the past, she could move on with getting to know her father.
Wrapping her arm around Ty's shoulder Libby new this was hard for him. For anyone his age, it was harder to learn than it was as a child. Living for so many years doing something one way, it was so hard to get out of the groove and form a new one. Almost like a bad habit that needed to be broken.
"Ok, we don't have to do anymore for now. But I'd like you to take this home with you so you can keep practicing. Giving up so soon your only going to be stuck like you are now. You just need to train your brain, and keep at it. Starting and stopping, than starting again after so long is only making you frustrated. Its like learning to play a piano, you have to keep at it, keep looking at it. Because if you do one lesson, and than go a month or two your going to forget everything you know because your not giving you mind the time it needs."
Giving his back a gentile rub she reaches for her cup and takes a long sip of it. Pushing the books way for new she new Ty had enough and the last thing she wanted to do was to keep pushing him into doing something he didn't want.
"All work and no play makes...for a dull and boring day..?"
Libby's mouth moves into a silly smile as she shakes her head at herself. Sometimes she amazed herself with the stupidest things she said.
"I want to come over to my place and watch a movie or play some video games? I think everyone it off to work at the moment, and I have everything set up in my room so we wouldn't have to worry about being bothered...I don't think."
It wasn't every day and Libby didn't know if it was even a good idea to invite Ty over but she wanted to spend some more time with him just having a little fun.
Continuing to just watch Reese Ryan still had no idea what any of this was about. Obveusly it was about Alec, but it ended there...was he heart, did he escape, what was really going on here. About to ask Reese what this was really all about knowing her right she stops seeing the footage come up on the monitor.
Feeling the color come to her face all Ryan can do is sit and watch the words seeming to be caught in her throat. She felt so embarrassed right now, she didn't even know what to do or think. As the footage is turned off Ryan looks down into her lap unable to look back at Reese. She didnt even have all the answers herself, how was she going to tell him.
"You can do a background check on me Mr. Reese all you want, but you will come up empty handed each time you look."
Letting out a sigh Ryan continues to look down at her hands. She new how the system worked, and if she was going to get Reese off her back, she was going to have to start at the beginning. Looking up at Reese Ryan starts.
"I am the youngest in my family, I have a brother John, and than the oldest is Eli. My mother died shortly after I was born and the only think I remember of her, is her smile. My brother John had her smile and I never forgot it."
Bringing these memories up, and pulling forward the thing she hated to the most, the memories it made her sick. But she had started, now she had to finish.
"My father raised us the best her could, and for being a single father with three kids he did a pretty darn good job. He owned his own auto shop, and worked day and night to put food on our table. All three of us help him, I mostly sat on my little blanket over by the office wall playing with my toy trucks and little tool box. Knowing better than to move off that blanket. I guess you could say thats where my love for working on cars came from. The smell of Oil, getting dirty, it all reminds me of my father."
Drawing in a shaky breath Ryan could feel her emotions to the breaking point through she remained in control, it was hard.
"Life wasn't as good for us as some peoples but to us we loved it and wouldn't have changed it for the world. Than one day there was an accident at the auto shop. On of the jacks that was holding the car he was working on gave way and..."
Ryan stops for a moment swallowing hard, and closes her eyes.
"...he was dead before the paramedics could even get there. After that Eli tryed to raise John and I, but things were never the same. With out Pop around...our family was falling apart. John always blamed himself for what happened since he was the one who had jacked the car up for Pop. As the time went on, none of use could deal. John got into some trouble and ended up robbing a convenient store with a gun. I always said he wanted to get caught and thats why he did it, because he thought it was what he deserved for what happened to Pop. For Eli and I that had been the last straw and we went our separate ways for a very long time. Now I work in an auto shop and on the side for extra money I street race on the outskirts of town. I like how going fast feels, the rush when you take off."
Opening her eyes again a small tear seemed to be locked in Ryan's eye but was not aloud to come out, she kept it tucked away, even though it tried to its hardest to break free.
"...It's been a very long time since I had seen both my brothers. Than a near close death that involved me needed blood brought my brother Eli back to me. Now he lives with me. But still John I have not seen in a long time. I tried to contact the prison where he was at because I wanted to see them but he was transported and for some reason they wouldn't tell me where."
Rolling her eyes Ryan knows she was being long winded and this was a lot more than Reese wanted so she better cute to the point.
"..Anyways I wasn't lieing to you, it was only a few months ago when I first met Alec in a bar. He looked like someone who could use help, and I guess I have more of my dad in me than I ever saw. He reminded me of John in a way. Very angry at the world because he was angry at himself. Trying to run from his problems. That ended bad, with me dropping him off some where like I said. Than I found out he was here, and he reminded me of John even more. I never could help my brother and I wish I could have. So Alec being here I though maybe I could get my second chance to help someone."
Shaking her head and letting out another sigh Ryan points to the monitor than looks back at Reese.
"As for that...I don't even know what that was. I started coming here because of my brother, and than I kept coming back because of Alec. There is just something about him...and I don't even know what it is. So there you go Mr. Reese you have helped me dig open old scars, and know my life story. If you still feel the need to do a background check on me feel free because all you'll find is a few speeding tickets all payed for on time."
Giving a thoughtful nod to Alec Hope listens watching his eyes and his body movements. He was much difference from when she first had seen him. His cocky air was there, and he still had the steel cold eyes, but there was now something behind them, a small light had been formed, and burned in his soul.
"Well, lets hope you get out of here. That is what I am rooting for. Thank you Alec for taking the time to talk to me."
Standing Hope goes to the door but stops before going out. Turning around she looks at Alec again for a long moment.
"Somethings different about you Alec than from the first time I met you. You seem...like someone has relite that fire behind your eyes. Who ever it was, has to be someone worth holding on to."
Turning again Hope leaves the room and heads abck to her own to write up a report for Reese.
Weeks, even months ago she'd had a whole speech prepared for the day when she found her dad, and than attached to that she had questions. But now the time came, and he was sitting in front of her, and what she had written down just didn't seem to mater anymore. Now, she seemed to only have one question to ask.
"Why?"
It could mean anything, or say she wanted to know anything but it was the only question she had now.
"Why did this happen? Why didn't you want me to know who you were? Why did you let them take me there for so long?"
Thirteen continues to look at her father from the other side of the table. Her eyes held no anger twords Trent just wonder, maybe a little pain, but this was something she had to do and stuff she needed to know so she could stop wondering. Once these questions were answered about the past, she could move on with getting to know her father.
Wrapping her arm around Ty's shoulder Libby new this was hard for him. For anyone his age, it was harder to learn than it was as a child. Living for so many years doing something one way, it was so hard to get out of the groove and form a new one. Almost like a bad habit that needed to be broken.
"Ok, we don't have to do anymore for now. But I'd like you to take this home with you so you can keep practicing. Giving up so soon your only going to be stuck like you are now. You just need to train your brain, and keep at it. Starting and stopping, than starting again after so long is only making you frustrated. Its like learning to play a piano, you have to keep at it, keep looking at it. Because if you do one lesson, and than go a month or two your going to forget everything you know because your not giving you mind the time it needs."
Giving his back a gentile rub she reaches for her cup and takes a long sip of it. Pushing the books way for new she new Ty had enough and the last thing she wanted to do was to keep pushing him into doing something he didn't want.
"All work and no play makes...for a dull and boring day..?"
Libby's mouth moves into a silly smile as she shakes her head at herself. Sometimes she amazed herself with the stupidest things she said.
"I want to come over to my place and watch a movie or play some video games? I think everyone it off to work at the moment, and I have everything set up in my room so we wouldn't have to worry about being bothered...I don't think."
It wasn't every day and Libby didn't know if it was even a good idea to invite Ty over but she wanted to spend some more time with him just having a little fun.
Continuing to just watch Reese Ryan still had no idea what any of this was about. Obveusly it was about Alec, but it ended there...was he heart, did he escape, what was really going on here. About to ask Reese what this was really all about knowing her right she stops seeing the footage come up on the monitor.
Feeling the color come to her face all Ryan can do is sit and watch the words seeming to be caught in her throat. She felt so embarrassed right now, she didn't even know what to do or think. As the footage is turned off Ryan looks down into her lap unable to look back at Reese. She didnt even have all the answers herself, how was she going to tell him.
"You can do a background check on me Mr. Reese all you want, but you will come up empty handed each time you look."
Letting out a sigh Ryan continues to look down at her hands. She new how the system worked, and if she was going to get Reese off her back, she was going to have to start at the beginning. Looking up at Reese Ryan starts.
"I am the youngest in my family, I have a brother John, and than the oldest is Eli. My mother died shortly after I was born and the only think I remember of her, is her smile. My brother John had her smile and I never forgot it."
Bringing these memories up, and pulling forward the thing she hated to the most, the memories it made her sick. But she had started, now she had to finish.
"My father raised us the best her could, and for being a single father with three kids he did a pretty darn good job. He owned his own auto shop, and worked day and night to put food on our table. All three of us help him, I mostly sat on my little blanket over by the office wall playing with my toy trucks and little tool box. Knowing better than to move off that blanket. I guess you could say thats where my love for working on cars came from. The smell of Oil, getting dirty, it all reminds me of my father."
Drawing in a shaky breath Ryan could feel her emotions to the breaking point through she remained in control, it was hard.
"Life wasn't as good for us as some peoples but to us we loved it and wouldn't have changed it for the world. Than one day there was an accident at the auto shop. On of the jacks that was holding the car he was working on gave way and..."
Ryan stops for a moment swallowing hard, and closes her eyes.
"...he was dead before the paramedics could even get there. After that Eli tryed to raise John and I, but things were never the same. With out Pop around...our family was falling apart. John always blamed himself for what happened since he was the one who had jacked the car up for Pop. As the time went on, none of use could deal. John got into some trouble and ended up robbing a convenient store with a gun. I always said he wanted to get caught and thats why he did it, because he thought it was what he deserved for what happened to Pop. For Eli and I that had been the last straw and we went our separate ways for a very long time. Now I work in an auto shop and on the side for extra money I street race on the outskirts of town. I like how going fast feels, the rush when you take off."
Opening her eyes again a small tear seemed to be locked in Ryan's eye but was not aloud to come out, she kept it tucked away, even though it tried to its hardest to break free.
"...It's been a very long time since I had seen both my brothers. Than a near close death that involved me needed blood brought my brother Eli back to me. Now he lives with me. But still John I have not seen in a long time. I tried to contact the prison where he was at because I wanted to see them but he was transported and for some reason they wouldn't tell me where."
Rolling her eyes Ryan knows she was being long winded and this was a lot more than Reese wanted so she better cute to the point.
"..Anyways I wasn't lieing to you, it was only a few months ago when I first met Alec in a bar. He looked like someone who could use help, and I guess I have more of my dad in me than I ever saw. He reminded me of John in a way. Very angry at the world because he was angry at himself. Trying to run from his problems. That ended bad, with me dropping him off some where like I said. Than I found out he was here, and he reminded me of John even more. I never could help my brother and I wish I could have. So Alec being here I though maybe I could get my second chance to help someone."
Shaking her head and letting out another sigh Ryan points to the monitor than looks back at Reese.
"As for that...I don't even know what that was. I started coming here because of my brother, and than I kept coming back because of Alec. There is just something about him...and I don't even know what it is. So there you go Mr. Reese you have helped me dig open old scars, and know my life story. If you still feel the need to do a background check on me feel free because all you'll find is a few speeding tickets all payed for on time."
Giving a thoughtful nod to Alec Hope listens watching his eyes and his body movements. He was much difference from when she first had seen him. His cocky air was there, and he still had the steel cold eyes, but there was now something behind them, a small light had been formed, and burned in his soul.
"Well, lets hope you get out of here. That is what I am rooting for. Thank you Alec for taking the time to talk to me."
Standing Hope goes to the door but stops before going out. Turning around she looks at Alec again for a long moment.
"Somethings different about you Alec than from the first time I met you. You seem...like someone has relite that fire behind your eyes. Who ever it was, has to be someone worth holding on to."
Turning again Hope leaves the room and heads abck to her own to write up a report for Reese.
Can't
"I see." Reese nods thoughtfully, analyzing Ryan's responses. "Well, I'd hardly say 'just friends' about two people like this."
Swiveling in his chair, he hits the remote for a small monitor that Ryan could see as well. Playing was footage from the security monitor in Alec's room without sound. From the camera angle, it just caught Ryan and Alec kissing quite passionately, up against the wall.
Reese stops the tape and looks back to Ryan, tossing the remote on his desk. "I've seen previous footage as well, Miss McKade. Some of the sound is missing because Alec tampered with the camera's microphone, however, from day one, it appeared you knew him better than you say." He cocks his head. "Food... games... even a little spat."
Pausing again, he searches Ryan's eyes. "I can find out about you - we have connections and it wouldn't be too hard to find out where you've been or what you've been up to the last few years. However, I thought it would be easier just to ask you if there was anything else I needed to know about."
"I don't see how giving information is a change of heart," Alec responds dryly. "Just a change of mind. I lost my heart a long time ago. As far as the information goes though, I figure Reese hasn't tried to blow my head off or assimilate me - that's a plus on the Elite side so now they're ahead of the Agency as far as tally marks go."
He shrugs again, his eyes showing a lack of interest, though not quite as cold as they had been the last time he'd seen Hope. "Maybe I am crazy. But maybe being away from the Agency..."
He was going to admit aloud that maybe being away from them was starting to open up his eyes. But he wasn't quite ready to say that yet. "Well why wouldn't someone want out of here? And by the looks of things, I won't get out until the Elite gets something from me so... I gave it. Now I gotta wait and see if I get the electric chair, the prison, or the free ride like Gage."
Ty shakes his head, feeling the strain of trying to learn something he just couldn't grasp. "I just don't understand how this is easy for everybody else." He looks to Libby, then back down at the paper. "I can't ever remember what letters are what, let alone try to put sounds with them. First it's an "a" then I think it's maybe an "o" then I'm told really it's an "e." But it doesn't look like it did the last time I tried to read it and it all just gets..."
He stops and takes a deep breath, rubbing his eyes again. "I know the sounds.... I know what the letters sound like... but then when I can't make any sense out of the words, I give up... then its' so long before I try again that I have to relearn the sounds too. But the letters all look different again."
Groaning in frustration, he doesn't look back at the page again. "I can't do another hour... my head hurts too much."
Trent turns his coffee cup in a small circle on the table, his eyes down until he glances up at Thirteen and Ryder who sat across from him. The three had taken a pickup and gone into town for breakfast this morning... away from roaming eyes and listening ears. Once there though, Trent had felt the awkwardness and lapsed into more quiet than planned.
Glancing at Thirteen, he gives a little shrug. They hadn't interacted much since the day before. "I... I don't know what to tell you... unless you have specific questions." He was giving her permission to bombard him, and he didn't know if she would or not. But the silence was a killer.
Swiveling in his chair, he hits the remote for a small monitor that Ryan could see as well. Playing was footage from the security monitor in Alec's room without sound. From the camera angle, it just caught Ryan and Alec kissing quite passionately, up against the wall.
Reese stops the tape and looks back to Ryan, tossing the remote on his desk. "I've seen previous footage as well, Miss McKade. Some of the sound is missing because Alec tampered with the camera's microphone, however, from day one, it appeared you knew him better than you say." He cocks his head. "Food... games... even a little spat."
Pausing again, he searches Ryan's eyes. "I can find out about you - we have connections and it wouldn't be too hard to find out where you've been or what you've been up to the last few years. However, I thought it would be easier just to ask you if there was anything else I needed to know about."
"I don't see how giving information is a change of heart," Alec responds dryly. "Just a change of mind. I lost my heart a long time ago. As far as the information goes though, I figure Reese hasn't tried to blow my head off or assimilate me - that's a plus on the Elite side so now they're ahead of the Agency as far as tally marks go."
He shrugs again, his eyes showing a lack of interest, though not quite as cold as they had been the last time he'd seen Hope. "Maybe I am crazy. But maybe being away from the Agency..."
He was going to admit aloud that maybe being away from them was starting to open up his eyes. But he wasn't quite ready to say that yet. "Well why wouldn't someone want out of here? And by the looks of things, I won't get out until the Elite gets something from me so... I gave it. Now I gotta wait and see if I get the electric chair, the prison, or the free ride like Gage."
Ty shakes his head, feeling the strain of trying to learn something he just couldn't grasp. "I just don't understand how this is easy for everybody else." He looks to Libby, then back down at the paper. "I can't ever remember what letters are what, let alone try to put sounds with them. First it's an "a" then I think it's maybe an "o" then I'm told really it's an "e." But it doesn't look like it did the last time I tried to read it and it all just gets..."
He stops and takes a deep breath, rubbing his eyes again. "I know the sounds.... I know what the letters sound like... but then when I can't make any sense out of the words, I give up... then its' so long before I try again that I have to relearn the sounds too. But the letters all look different again."
Groaning in frustration, he doesn't look back at the page again. "I can't do another hour... my head hurts too much."
Trent turns his coffee cup in a small circle on the table, his eyes down until he glances up at Thirteen and Ryder who sat across from him. The three had taken a pickup and gone into town for breakfast this morning... away from roaming eyes and listening ears. Once there though, Trent had felt the awkwardness and lapsed into more quiet than planned.
Glancing at Thirteen, he gives a little shrug. They hadn't interacted much since the day before. "I... I don't know what to tell you... unless you have specific questions." He was giving her permission to bombard him, and he didn't know if she would or not. But the silence was a killer.
2/25/10
One more hour
Taking one of the seats that was at the small table Hope gives an interesting sigh as Alec fills her in a little on what had happened. Giving a surprised look herself that she couldn't help when finding out Alec had given information to Reese.
"How come you had a change of heart Alec? Was it because you wanted out, or do you really see that maybe the Agency wasn't that great after all?"
Hope really was interesting now in the reasoning behind Alec's actions. After so many weeks of not being able to do anything she herself didn't think it would do much good in changing his mind. But maybe something else down the road had.
"I am sorry you have to stay in here and you feel so caged. Maybe now with the information Reese had, you'll be able to leave and start a new life. This could be what he needed to speed things up."
Laughing and Giggling as Mick picks him up BJ's toys seemed long forgotten and now, the though of wanting to get to know Dylan more too. When with his Daddy everything seemed ok.
"Mmmm...I fink I smell french toast cooking. My favorite."
Reaching his little hand up BJ takes it as they head back to the dinning room table where Rosetta had already set out plates for them all. Even getting one ready for Dylan too.
Continuing to help Ty Libby nods when he does good, and help break up the words when he is not sure. Not once did a shout or and a word of discouragement come from her lips. She was bound and determined to help Ty.
"You wont be able to do it, if you keep thinking you can't. It takes time Ty and a lot of practice. This is only the first day you need to give it more time than that because no one can learn everything in only a few hours. Your doing good for your first day, and thats the truth."
Giving Ty's back a gentil rub Libby smiles at him. Leaning her head down just a little bit so she could see into his eyes.
"We can stop for a little bit if you want to rest your noggin. But I'd like to at least get in another hour. We just have to train your brain and keep at it. Than in no time it will come to you. Just...don't give up on me yet ok?"
Libby's eyes were soft and full of understanding knowing this was hard for Ty. She'd had her own problems in school with Math and science. It could be a pretty frustrating thing when you couldn't understand but one big key was not giving up to soon.
Giving a smile thought she was nervous Ryan returns her hand to Reese giving it a shake. She always was nervous around cops, seeing as what her side hobbies was. Though the Elite was a different branch they still were cops to her.
Taking a seat in once of the chairs Ryan holds her hands in her lap and looks across the desk at Reese. Studying his face for a long moment trying to understand what was going on and maybe his intentions. Hearing his questions though Ryan find them a bit odd, but would have no problem meeting them.
"The first time I met Alec was at a bar I often go to. He was drunker than a skunk and I figured he's need a ride home or something. I have a soft spot, and nothing better to do that day so I figured I'd help him out. He'd been babbling about people trying to kill him, and a few other things I didn't understand. Some how I ended up offending him that same day, and we went out separate ways."
Looking away from Reese for a moment and around the large office Ryan took note to the plaques on the wall, and than scans all the books he had. Just taking in her surroundings it was something she often did in places she didn't know. But finally her eyes come back to Reese as she continues.
"I'm friends with Axel, who is friends with Carson and I guess you could say threw the grape vine I found out he was here. As far as our relationship goes, He's only a friend."
"How come you had a change of heart Alec? Was it because you wanted out, or do you really see that maybe the Agency wasn't that great after all?"
Hope really was interesting now in the reasoning behind Alec's actions. After so many weeks of not being able to do anything she herself didn't think it would do much good in changing his mind. But maybe something else down the road had.
"I am sorry you have to stay in here and you feel so caged. Maybe now with the information Reese had, you'll be able to leave and start a new life. This could be what he needed to speed things up."
Laughing and Giggling as Mick picks him up BJ's toys seemed long forgotten and now, the though of wanting to get to know Dylan more too. When with his Daddy everything seemed ok.
"Mmmm...I fink I smell french toast cooking. My favorite."
Reaching his little hand up BJ takes it as they head back to the dinning room table where Rosetta had already set out plates for them all. Even getting one ready for Dylan too.
Continuing to help Ty Libby nods when he does good, and help break up the words when he is not sure. Not once did a shout or and a word of discouragement come from her lips. She was bound and determined to help Ty.
"You wont be able to do it, if you keep thinking you can't. It takes time Ty and a lot of practice. This is only the first day you need to give it more time than that because no one can learn everything in only a few hours. Your doing good for your first day, and thats the truth."
Giving Ty's back a gentil rub Libby smiles at him. Leaning her head down just a little bit so she could see into his eyes.
"We can stop for a little bit if you want to rest your noggin. But I'd like to at least get in another hour. We just have to train your brain and keep at it. Than in no time it will come to you. Just...don't give up on me yet ok?"
Libby's eyes were soft and full of understanding knowing this was hard for Ty. She'd had her own problems in school with Math and science. It could be a pretty frustrating thing when you couldn't understand but one big key was not giving up to soon.
Giving a smile thought she was nervous Ryan returns her hand to Reese giving it a shake. She always was nervous around cops, seeing as what her side hobbies was. Though the Elite was a different branch they still were cops to her.
Taking a seat in once of the chairs Ryan holds her hands in her lap and looks across the desk at Reese. Studying his face for a long moment trying to understand what was going on and maybe his intentions. Hearing his questions though Ryan find them a bit odd, but would have no problem meeting them.
"The first time I met Alec was at a bar I often go to. He was drunker than a skunk and I figured he's need a ride home or something. I have a soft spot, and nothing better to do that day so I figured I'd help him out. He'd been babbling about people trying to kill him, and a few other things I didn't understand. Some how I ended up offending him that same day, and we went out separate ways."
Looking away from Reese for a moment and around the large office Ryan took note to the plaques on the wall, and than scans all the books he had. Just taking in her surroundings it was something she often did in places she didn't know. But finally her eyes come back to Reese as she continues.
"I'm friends with Axel, who is friends with Carson and I guess you could say threw the grape vine I found out he was here. As far as our relationship goes, He's only a friend."
Stupid
Mick chuckles and nods to BJ, knowing that it would take a few more years before the boy understood everything. And that was okay.
"Might be easier to have a big sister," he reasons. "When Jade gets back, you can hang out with her, okay? For now though..."
He gives a little groan as he picks himself up off the floor, grabbing BJ and swinging him around before setting him down by the door. "...we need some breakfast."
"Ah. Dr. Garrison." Alec is sitting on his cot, one leg dangling over the edge, the other drawn up for his arm to rest on his knee. "I should have known they'd send you - top dog thinks I'm crazy." He twirls a finger around his ear.
Sighing, he shakes his head. "How have I been feeling? Trapped. I want out of here just as bad as the first time you talked to me. I really don't know what the benefit was to you even coming down here, unless Reese just wanted you to present some miraculous proof that I wasn't leading him on."
Seeing no understanding in Hope's face, Alec quirks an eyebrow. "Ahh... so he didn't even tell you. Interesting. Letting you come in here clueless?" He tsks the idea. "Dangerous way for him to play."
Leaning back against the wall, he shrugs. "I gave Reese some information on the Agency. Now he's thinking I got a cog loose. Write up whatever you want, I don't care. I just want out of here."
Trying so hard, only halfway into Libby's teaching, Ty gets a headache. He'd been told these very same things how many time? And they made just as little sense to him today as they had then. He tries though, he really does, but it just seems to hit a brick wall in his brain.
Leaning over the book, the rest of his lunch is forgotten as he tries to read with Libby's help. "...h...h...he.... w......." He scrunches his nose. "W...e...ee...ent... went....he went... to... t..... ha, no... the... the... went to the..... pe...pi.....pr..... no... I don't know."
He sighs. It was a R. He thought it was. I looked like a R... maybe. The sound, the sound.... how did it fit together with a P and an A? And there was a K at the end. They'd been sitting here for quite a while now, and he was beginning to feel stupid again. It was a four letter word... only four letters. Surely he could figure this one out.
Looking at it again, he tries once more. "He went to the p....a.... pa.... rrrr.....k." He grimaces. "Paherrk." That wasn't a word that he'd ever heard before. "Oh." Duh. Now he felt stupid again. "Park. He went to the park."
Leaning his elbows on the table, he rests his face in his hands, his palm rubbing his eyes. "It hurts my brain," he mumbles. "I can't do this."
"Ryan, hi." Reese moves forward from around his desk, extending his hand. "Please, have a seat." He gestures to a couple empty chairs before he sits back down behind his desk.
"I hope I'm not disrupting your day too much, I just had a few questions for you."
Leaning forward on his desk, he folds his hands, studying Ryan for several moments, but doesn't offer any information at all as to why she'd been called here or what was going on. "How did you meet Alec, Ryan? What's your relationship with him?"
"Might be easier to have a big sister," he reasons. "When Jade gets back, you can hang out with her, okay? For now though..."
He gives a little groan as he picks himself up off the floor, grabbing BJ and swinging him around before setting him down by the door. "...we need some breakfast."
"Ah. Dr. Garrison." Alec is sitting on his cot, one leg dangling over the edge, the other drawn up for his arm to rest on his knee. "I should have known they'd send you - top dog thinks I'm crazy." He twirls a finger around his ear.
Sighing, he shakes his head. "How have I been feeling? Trapped. I want out of here just as bad as the first time you talked to me. I really don't know what the benefit was to you even coming down here, unless Reese just wanted you to present some miraculous proof that I wasn't leading him on."
Seeing no understanding in Hope's face, Alec quirks an eyebrow. "Ahh... so he didn't even tell you. Interesting. Letting you come in here clueless?" He tsks the idea. "Dangerous way for him to play."
Leaning back against the wall, he shrugs. "I gave Reese some information on the Agency. Now he's thinking I got a cog loose. Write up whatever you want, I don't care. I just want out of here."
Trying so hard, only halfway into Libby's teaching, Ty gets a headache. He'd been told these very same things how many time? And they made just as little sense to him today as they had then. He tries though, he really does, but it just seems to hit a brick wall in his brain.
Leaning over the book, the rest of his lunch is forgotten as he tries to read with Libby's help. "...h...h...he.... w......." He scrunches his nose. "W...e...ee...ent... went....he went... to... t..... ha, no... the... the... went to the..... pe...pi.....pr..... no... I don't know."
He sighs. It was a R. He thought it was. I looked like a R... maybe. The sound, the sound.... how did it fit together with a P and an A? And there was a K at the end. They'd been sitting here for quite a while now, and he was beginning to feel stupid again. It was a four letter word... only four letters. Surely he could figure this one out.
Looking at it again, he tries once more. "He went to the p....a.... pa.... rrrr.....k." He grimaces. "Paherrk." That wasn't a word that he'd ever heard before. "Oh." Duh. Now he felt stupid again. "Park. He went to the park."
Leaning his elbows on the table, he rests his face in his hands, his palm rubbing his eyes. "It hurts my brain," he mumbles. "I can't do this."
"Ryan, hi." Reese moves forward from around his desk, extending his hand. "Please, have a seat." He gestures to a couple empty chairs before he sits back down behind his desk.
"I hope I'm not disrupting your day too much, I just had a few questions for you."
Leaning forward on his desk, he folds his hands, studying Ryan for several moments, but doesn't offer any information at all as to why she'd been called here or what was going on. "How did you meet Alec, Ryan? What's your relationship with him?"
Something Came Up
A bit surprised by who it was on the other end of the phone Ryan can feel her heart thump. Now thinking maybe something happened with Alec she cant help but worry a little more. Everything seemed good yesterday, and his mood had really changed. Maybe it had all been a show? Had Ryan really got that involved she let her guard down? Obviously she had just from a simple kiss at there last meet...was there really nothing more than pulling the wool over her eyes involved?
Hearing Reese voice again it seemed to snap Ryan out of the trance she had been in as her mind wondered. Sitting up a little straghter again Ryan new Darrel wouldn't mind, as long as she came back before close to finish her work.
"Yeah I can come in no problem. No, No Darrel should have no problem. He's pretty good like that, I'll be in asap."
Hanging up the phone Ryan lets out another sigh before moving away from her bench and standing giving a stretch. Going to the office Ryan gives a knock before poking her head in.
"Hey Darrel, I have to step out for a little bit. I'm really sorry. I'll be back as soon as I can to finish work."
Ryan's face held an apologetic look to Darrel but this was important and she had to go. Leaving the office Ryan goes and grabs her jacket. Throwing Leo a smile and wink Ryan wonders over as she puts her jacket on.
"Hey there...Reese from over at the Elite needs to ask me a few questions. I'll be back in a little bit, make sure you keep these slackers in line ok?"
Leaning down and giving him a quick kiss Ryan heads out of the auto shop and jumps into her car turning on some loud music and heading down to TJY.
It takes no time to TJY, and Ryan new how to get to the lower level already. Not sure what office was Reese though asking someone they point here. Giving a knock on the door Ryan waits thought she had to addmit she was a bit nervous.
Giving a little laugh Libby shakes her head and moves around to the same side of the booth as Ty. Giving a small laugh at his humor Libby was happy he could at least could find a joke in it knowing he was nervouse.
"Ok, we are going to start small. If we just jump into the big stuff we wont get anywhere. So I have some books here we can start with."
Pulling out some of the book they were for about 1 or second grade. Small for most people but if they were going to do this they might as well do it right so she could give the help Ty needed though he might always have a hard time she new he could do it.
"Ok, so most words can be sound out...."
Going though all the small stuff with Ty Libby covers sounding out words, what some different letter sound like when they are together, some spelling rules. Taking him from to back and forth through things Libby did her best to explain.
"...once you get use to putting the letters and sounds together it can be pretty easy. Unless you come across those big long words, and than even I cant figure them out."
Libby gives a small chuckle hoping it help Ty feel a little better. Pulling out another peace of paper it was filled with some easy words to read making a small story.
"Ok, We are going to read this together. You start and I will help you in figuring out the words ok?"
She'd help all she could with pronouncing the words giving him encouragement. She new he could do this with just a little time, and patients.
Continuing to look up at Mick BJ trys to process Micks words. It was hard trying to understand what he was saying at such a young age, and most things that had happened in the past were long forgotten. He remembered Sam but...He'd never known she was his real mom. And all this stuff though he tryed to understand it still left him confused.
"He's my cousin and my brother...? I...I think I understand."
Looking down again BJ looks at the blocks Mick had set up on the ground running his little fingers over them for a moment.
"Ok, I'll try to leave him alone today. I always wanted a brother though."
Making her way down to where Alec was help Hope gives a small knock on the door before she enters the room. Giving a small smile and a nod to Alec as she entered Hope wasnt sure what she was expecting to find.
"Hey Alec. How have you been feeling?"
Reese hadn't said anything to her about what was going on other than there was a change and he wanted her to talk to him. Anything else she didnt know and was going in blind.
Hearing Reese voice again it seemed to snap Ryan out of the trance she had been in as her mind wondered. Sitting up a little straghter again Ryan new Darrel wouldn't mind, as long as she came back before close to finish her work.
"Yeah I can come in no problem. No, No Darrel should have no problem. He's pretty good like that, I'll be in asap."
Hanging up the phone Ryan lets out another sigh before moving away from her bench and standing giving a stretch. Going to the office Ryan gives a knock before poking her head in.
"Hey Darrel, I have to step out for a little bit. I'm really sorry. I'll be back as soon as I can to finish work."
Ryan's face held an apologetic look to Darrel but this was important and she had to go. Leaving the office Ryan goes and grabs her jacket. Throwing Leo a smile and wink Ryan wonders over as she puts her jacket on.
"Hey there...Reese from over at the Elite needs to ask me a few questions. I'll be back in a little bit, make sure you keep these slackers in line ok?"
Leaning down and giving him a quick kiss Ryan heads out of the auto shop and jumps into her car turning on some loud music and heading down to TJY.
It takes no time to TJY, and Ryan new how to get to the lower level already. Not sure what office was Reese though asking someone they point here. Giving a knock on the door Ryan waits thought she had to addmit she was a bit nervous.
Giving a little laugh Libby shakes her head and moves around to the same side of the booth as Ty. Giving a small laugh at his humor Libby was happy he could at least could find a joke in it knowing he was nervouse.
"Ok, we are going to start small. If we just jump into the big stuff we wont get anywhere. So I have some books here we can start with."
Pulling out some of the book they were for about 1 or second grade. Small for most people but if they were going to do this they might as well do it right so she could give the help Ty needed though he might always have a hard time she new he could do it.
"Ok, so most words can be sound out...."
Going though all the small stuff with Ty Libby covers sounding out words, what some different letter sound like when they are together, some spelling rules. Taking him from to back and forth through things Libby did her best to explain.
"...once you get use to putting the letters and sounds together it can be pretty easy. Unless you come across those big long words, and than even I cant figure them out."
Libby gives a small chuckle hoping it help Ty feel a little better. Pulling out another peace of paper it was filled with some easy words to read making a small story.
"Ok, We are going to read this together. You start and I will help you in figuring out the words ok?"
She'd help all she could with pronouncing the words giving him encouragement. She new he could do this with just a little time, and patients.
Continuing to look up at Mick BJ trys to process Micks words. It was hard trying to understand what he was saying at such a young age, and most things that had happened in the past were long forgotten. He remembered Sam but...He'd never known she was his real mom. And all this stuff though he tryed to understand it still left him confused.
"He's my cousin and my brother...? I...I think I understand."
Looking down again BJ looks at the blocks Mick had set up on the ground running his little fingers over them for a moment.
"Ok, I'll try to leave him alone today. I always wanted a brother though."
Making her way down to where Alec was help Hope gives a small knock on the door before she enters the room. Giving a small smile and a nod to Alec as she entered Hope wasnt sure what she was expecting to find.
"Hey Alec. How have you been feeling?"
Reese hadn't said anything to her about what was going on other than there was a change and he wanted her to talk to him. Anything else she didnt know and was going in blind.
Cousins and brothers
"Hello, Ryan, this is Chief of the Elite, Mike Reese. I understand that you've been visiting our prisoner, for lack of better terms, Alec Banks."
Reese leans back in his chair, tapping a pencil on his leg. "Something has come up, and I'd like it very much if you could come in to TJY and speak with me... as soon as possible. I have a few questions for you. I know you're at work, but if your employer has a problem with you taking the time off, I can speak to him and explain this is a legal matter."
Ty smiles as Libby joins him and he nods. "Sure. Food's always good. Can't work on an empty stomach."
Standing up, he waits for Libby to go first and soon, they're both back at the table with some food. Chewing on a french fry, Ty flips open the diver's manual and shakes his head at all the big words. "Ya know... the alphabet song just doesn't help a thing."
He smirks, a humorous glint in his eye. Scanning the words, he continues to eat, furrowing his brow. "For all I know, this could say it's legal to run a red light as long as you blow your horn."
Chuckling, it's obvious that he's trying to be silly to cover up the awkwardness he felt. Wiping a hand on his pantleg, he rolls his eyes and scoots over, patting the empty space on the booth next to him. "Get your butt over here unless we're going to do this upside down."
Hearing what Dylan had said, Mick's jaw tightens. He remains squatted in the doorway, his brow furrowing. "Dylan isn't very happy," he tries to explain, controlling the anger he had for whatever his older son had said.
"I won't ever lie to you and that's a promise." He cocks his head at the innocent little boy, feeling an ache in his heart as he sees the small tear. "You and Dylan... you're brothers... and you're cousins too. That's what makes you special."
Moving a little closer, Mick rocks back to sit on the floor, pulling BJ down into his lap. "A long time ago, when Dylan was born, he lived with me and Jade and his mom. When you were born, you had a different mom who loved you very much... she was my sister... and then you came here, remember? That's when me and mom adopted you. So now you're our son."
He gives BJ a squeeze, showing that his adoption had been a good thing. Reaching down, he moves some duplo blocks around on the floor, representing the people he was talking about. One represented Sam, two for Mick and Rosetta, two more for Dylan and Jade, and one for BJ. Moving them around, he shows first him and Dylan and Jade, then moving to Rosetta, then BJ joining the mix.
"So see... you and Dylan... you were just cousins but now you're brothers too and that makes it even more special."
Mick had always known he would never hide the truth or past from BJ - he was adopted and it would be a fact that was not hidden. But he would always do his best to make up for the subject with as much love as he could give, so BJ would never question where he belonged.
"But Dylan..." He moves the blocks around back to their starting points. "He still sees you as a cousin. So someday, he'll see this like you do - and he will call you his brother too. But we have to be patient with him. He's unhappy and he needs time to... learn we love him."
Petting BJ's head, Mick braces himself with one hand on the floor. "For now though... you just need to leave him alone for a while, okay?" He would talk with Dylan himself later. "He wants to be alone right now so we'll respect that, alright?"
Reese leans back in his chair, tapping a pencil on his leg. "Something has come up, and I'd like it very much if you could come in to TJY and speak with me... as soon as possible. I have a few questions for you. I know you're at work, but if your employer has a problem with you taking the time off, I can speak to him and explain this is a legal matter."
Ty smiles as Libby joins him and he nods. "Sure. Food's always good. Can't work on an empty stomach."
Standing up, he waits for Libby to go first and soon, they're both back at the table with some food. Chewing on a french fry, Ty flips open the diver's manual and shakes his head at all the big words. "Ya know... the alphabet song just doesn't help a thing."
He smirks, a humorous glint in his eye. Scanning the words, he continues to eat, furrowing his brow. "For all I know, this could say it's legal to run a red light as long as you blow your horn."
Chuckling, it's obvious that he's trying to be silly to cover up the awkwardness he felt. Wiping a hand on his pantleg, he rolls his eyes and scoots over, patting the empty space on the booth next to him. "Get your butt over here unless we're going to do this upside down."
Hearing what Dylan had said, Mick's jaw tightens. He remains squatted in the doorway, his brow furrowing. "Dylan isn't very happy," he tries to explain, controlling the anger he had for whatever his older son had said.
"I won't ever lie to you and that's a promise." He cocks his head at the innocent little boy, feeling an ache in his heart as he sees the small tear. "You and Dylan... you're brothers... and you're cousins too. That's what makes you special."
Moving a little closer, Mick rocks back to sit on the floor, pulling BJ down into his lap. "A long time ago, when Dylan was born, he lived with me and Jade and his mom. When you were born, you had a different mom who loved you very much... she was my sister... and then you came here, remember? That's when me and mom adopted you. So now you're our son."
He gives BJ a squeeze, showing that his adoption had been a good thing. Reaching down, he moves some duplo blocks around on the floor, representing the people he was talking about. One represented Sam, two for Mick and Rosetta, two more for Dylan and Jade, and one for BJ. Moving them around, he shows first him and Dylan and Jade, then moving to Rosetta, then BJ joining the mix.
"So see... you and Dylan... you were just cousins but now you're brothers too and that makes it even more special."
Mick had always known he would never hide the truth or past from BJ - he was adopted and it would be a fact that was not hidden. But he would always do his best to make up for the subject with as much love as he could give, so BJ would never question where he belonged.
"But Dylan..." He moves the blocks around back to their starting points. "He still sees you as a cousin. So someday, he'll see this like you do - and he will call you his brother too. But we have to be patient with him. He's unhappy and he needs time to... learn we love him."
Petting BJ's head, Mick braces himself with one hand on the floor. "For now though... you just need to leave him alone for a while, okay?" He would talk with Dylan himself later. "He wants to be alone right now so we'll respect that, alright?"
Problem?
Hearing Darrel call her name Ryan pushes herself out from under the truck she was working on. Sitting up and looks around the auto shop for a moment feeling a bit confused, before a sence of panic takes over her. Was something wrong? Was someone hurt? If it had been Eli he would of called her cell, and Leo was here so it wouldn't be him.
"I'll be right there."
Going back under the truck for a moment Ryan caps off the oil tank she had just finished emptying whipping everything up so when she came back she could continue with what she was doing. Sliding back out from under the truck again and standing Ryan whips her hands on a rag.
Going over to her own work bench Ryan throws the rag down. Picking up the phone Ryan yells back to Darrel.
"I got it Darrel thanks."
Bringing the phone to her ear again Ryan prepars herself for the worst letting out a long sigh.
"This is Ryan McKade.."
Entering the dinnar Libby new she was a little late but hoped Ty had stuck it out waiting for her. Things before leaving her house hadnt been the greatest so she was just hibernating. Listing to the screaming and yell outside her room, had put her into some kind of trance and she lost all track of time. But she was here now..some books she picked up along they way.
Scanning the room and seeing Ty a smile forms on Libby's face. Making her way over to him she slides into the booth opposite the side Ty was on. She would of sat next to him, it would be point things out but for now she didn't want to crowd him right off the bat.
"Hey there. Sorry I am late! Did you want to grab anything to eat or drink before we start?"
Returning the hug to Mick BJ gives him a small kiss on the cheek to before retreating and going back to the dump truck he was playing with. Hearing Mick's question BJ looks up at him as he holds the truck picking at the sticker that was on top.
"Dylan said He wasn't my my brother, and you lie."
BJ continues to pick at the stick on the truck. He didn't understand why Dylan said that or what the reason behind it but it had hurt the little boys heart. A tear formed in his eye as he looks up at Mick again.
"But I told him you dont, and he was my brother because we your my dad and his dad, and Mom is our mom too."
"I'll be right there."
Going back under the truck for a moment Ryan caps off the oil tank she had just finished emptying whipping everything up so when she came back she could continue with what she was doing. Sliding back out from under the truck again and standing Ryan whips her hands on a rag.
Going over to her own work bench Ryan throws the rag down. Picking up the phone Ryan yells back to Darrel.
"I got it Darrel thanks."
Bringing the phone to her ear again Ryan prepars herself for the worst letting out a long sigh.
"This is Ryan McKade.."
Entering the dinnar Libby new she was a little late but hoped Ty had stuck it out waiting for her. Things before leaving her house hadnt been the greatest so she was just hibernating. Listing to the screaming and yell outside her room, had put her into some kind of trance and she lost all track of time. But she was here now..some books she picked up along they way.
Scanning the room and seeing Ty a smile forms on Libby's face. Making her way over to him she slides into the booth opposite the side Ty was on. She would of sat next to him, it would be point things out but for now she didn't want to crowd him right off the bat.
"Hey there. Sorry I am late! Did you want to grab anything to eat or drink before we start?"
Returning the hug to Mick BJ gives him a small kiss on the cheek to before retreating and going back to the dump truck he was playing with. Hearing Mick's question BJ looks up at him as he holds the truck picking at the sticker that was on top.
"Dylan said He wasn't my my brother, and you lie."
BJ continues to pick at the stick on the truck. He didn't understand why Dylan said that or what the reason behind it but it had hurt the little boys heart. A tear formed in his eye as he looks up at Mick again.
"But I told him you dont, and he was my brother because we your my dad and his dad, and Mom is our mom too."
Phone call
Mick nods absentmindedly as he ponders too many things at once. "Alright... thanks."
Hearing BJ's voice raised, he looks over to the other end of the room, his eyebrows lifting. He hadn't even realized that BJ had gone to Dylan at all, let alone started talking to him. Seeing the little boy head off to the toy room, Mick rises from the table, determined to head off any problems before they even started.
"I'll be right back to get some breakfast," he informs Rosetta. Wandering to the other room, he leans on the doorway, a grin on his face as he watches BJ play. "Hey, Bud." He squats down to give BJ a morning hug. "What were you and Dylan talking about?"
Leo returns Ryan's kiss, grinning as she walked away. But once he turns back to his engine, his expression becomes a more pensive one. Had Ryan just seemed... Nah. He shakes his head. It was an imagined vibe, he was sure.
Scott hangs up with Dalton and just lies in bed for at least half an hour before he finally gets up. Showering and getting dressed, he gets ready to leave, stops, then decides to take Domino with him.
Leaving the house, his mind is so far away that his cell phone is forgotten on the kitchen table, along with his lunch plans with Hope. Right now, only one thing was on his mind...
"...it doesn't work that way." Carson wanders into the living room from the kitchen, a glass of water for Scott and a beer for himself. Scott had come looking for him after finding out that Mom and Pop's would be closed for two weeks. Finding out about Scott's nightmare bothered him, but he tried to reassure Scott anyway.
"What the Agency put in your mind... you control, not them." He sits down in his chair again, looking at Scott, who sat on the couch. "You see?"
"Kind of." Scott takes the glass of water and fiddles with it before drinking several sips. Domino sat at his feet, leery about being in this strange apartment, but behaving. "But it was so real. I-"
"It wasn't real, Scott," Carson emphasizes. "It was a dream, brought on by one of your biggest fears - betraying your friends. But it won't happen. Right now, you're struggling to control the information that comes to mind, but you still make your own choices and actions. Take me for example."
He gestures with his arms. "What do you see?"
"Your full name... rank... ID number... scrolling case files... names... pictures...."
"Okay, stop." Carson shows his palm. "You hate me?"
"I... I don't know. I don't want to... I try not to..."
"You can say yes if you want."
"Okay... a part of me does."
"You gonna come slug me?"
"No."
"What's stopping you?"
"I know it's... it's wrong. I know I shouldn't hate you, let alone slug you. That's... that's not who I want to be."
Carson cocks his head. "See? You're in control, mate, not the Agency. You've got all that information floating around in your head but you get to decide what to do with it, not them." He nods. "I have total confidence that one day you'll be able to ignore all of it until you want the information. And when you do, you can use it against the Agency. Sure, some of the data you have in your brain will become outdated. But some won't. If you work at it, when you see me, you'll just see me... Carson Banks... not a file full of data."
Reese stares at the spiral notepad in his hand, reading the names, locations, dates and more. "You're serious?"
Alec nods. He stood in his room, arms crossed, looking to Reese who had finally seen him after he'd yelled at Hal through the cameras for another half an hour. "I would have shown you earlier but your watchdog thought I was gonna blow the place up or something." He rolls his eyes. "Take the notepad. It's yours."
Reese is still baffled and looks up to Alec, trying to figure him out. "Forgive me for looking a gift horse in the mouth, but why the change of heart?"
Alec shrugs. "Nobody here tried to blow my head off 'cept your tech guy the night we got into his house."
"So?"
He shrugs again. "The Agency did."
Reese is still skeptical. "And it took you this long to figure that out?"
"Look, do you want it or not?" Alec frowns. "They'll hunt me down for this - you might as well be grateful."
"How do I know it's not a trap? How do I know what you wrote down is the truth and not some ploy to have my men walk into an ambush? You say you're selling out the Agency, but how do I know that?"
"Beats me. I guess that's where your own brain comes in. Send a scout. I don't care. But I gave you what you wanted."
Reese just can't believe it. Things Alec had written in this notepad would help immensely in their war with the Agency, if they were true. "I just don't get it." This young man before him was the same, yet different. He still had a look of bold defiance in his eye. His stance was still defensive and he was still ready for a fight. Yet something was... different.
"Then don't." Alec searches Reese's face, not surprised by the lack of trust. But he had made this decision yesterday, and it would stand. He didn't fit on either side, but right now, this was his only chance of survival. This was his only chance at escaping prison. People like Ryan didn't exist behind bars. Ryan didn't exist there. And he knew now that he wanted freedom. He'd never really wanted to go to prison but at one point it had seemed better than living on the right side of the street or being hunted by the Agency. Now though, he was searching for something better. Something worth it. And all he knew at this point was that helping the Elite could help him.
Reese shakes his head and tucks the notepad under his arm. "Okay. I will review what you've given me." He turns to leave, but Alec stops him.
"Gonna lock the door again?"
Reese hesitates, his hand already on the knob. But he releases it without looking back and heads upstairs. Pausing in Hope's door, he knocks. "Hope... there's been a change with Alec. I'd like you to take the time to talk to him again. It's a long shot but... I want to know what you think." It had been quite a while now since the last time he'd had Hope try to talk to the young man, but it seemed time to try it again.
Continuing on his way, Reese stops in the control room to talk to Hal, gains some footage, calls Jason, and finally winds up with the right number. Dialing, he waits, while thumbing through the notepad pages. "Yeah, hi, this is Chief of the Elite, Mike Reese. I'm looking for Ryan McKade."
Darrel's eyes widen just a little. This sounded official. "Hold for a moment and I'll see if she's available." Setting the phone aside, he leaves the office and sticks his head into the garage. "Hey, Ryan!" he calls. "Telephone!"
Ty wanders into the cafe scanning the room for Libby. Not seeing her yet, he finds an empty booth near the window and tosses the driving regulation book on the table. It was way over his head at this point, but all he wanted now was to pass his stupid permit test, and if Libby could help him get that far, maybe it was worth finally swallowing his pride.
Hearing BJ's voice raised, he looks over to the other end of the room, his eyebrows lifting. He hadn't even realized that BJ had gone to Dylan at all, let alone started talking to him. Seeing the little boy head off to the toy room, Mick rises from the table, determined to head off any problems before they even started.
"I'll be right back to get some breakfast," he informs Rosetta. Wandering to the other room, he leans on the doorway, a grin on his face as he watches BJ play. "Hey, Bud." He squats down to give BJ a morning hug. "What were you and Dylan talking about?"
Leo returns Ryan's kiss, grinning as she walked away. But once he turns back to his engine, his expression becomes a more pensive one. Had Ryan just seemed... Nah. He shakes his head. It was an imagined vibe, he was sure.
Scott hangs up with Dalton and just lies in bed for at least half an hour before he finally gets up. Showering and getting dressed, he gets ready to leave, stops, then decides to take Domino with him.
Leaving the house, his mind is so far away that his cell phone is forgotten on the kitchen table, along with his lunch plans with Hope. Right now, only one thing was on his mind...
"...it doesn't work that way." Carson wanders into the living room from the kitchen, a glass of water for Scott and a beer for himself. Scott had come looking for him after finding out that Mom and Pop's would be closed for two weeks. Finding out about Scott's nightmare bothered him, but he tried to reassure Scott anyway.
"What the Agency put in your mind... you control, not them." He sits down in his chair again, looking at Scott, who sat on the couch. "You see?"
"Kind of." Scott takes the glass of water and fiddles with it before drinking several sips. Domino sat at his feet, leery about being in this strange apartment, but behaving. "But it was so real. I-"
"It wasn't real, Scott," Carson emphasizes. "It was a dream, brought on by one of your biggest fears - betraying your friends. But it won't happen. Right now, you're struggling to control the information that comes to mind, but you still make your own choices and actions. Take me for example."
He gestures with his arms. "What do you see?"
"Your full name... rank... ID number... scrolling case files... names... pictures...."
"Okay, stop." Carson shows his palm. "You hate me?"
"I... I don't know. I don't want to... I try not to..."
"You can say yes if you want."
"Okay... a part of me does."
"You gonna come slug me?"
"No."
"What's stopping you?"
"I know it's... it's wrong. I know I shouldn't hate you, let alone slug you. That's... that's not who I want to be."
Carson cocks his head. "See? You're in control, mate, not the Agency. You've got all that information floating around in your head but you get to decide what to do with it, not them." He nods. "I have total confidence that one day you'll be able to ignore all of it until you want the information. And when you do, you can use it against the Agency. Sure, some of the data you have in your brain will become outdated. But some won't. If you work at it, when you see me, you'll just see me... Carson Banks... not a file full of data."
Reese stares at the spiral notepad in his hand, reading the names, locations, dates and more. "You're serious?"
Alec nods. He stood in his room, arms crossed, looking to Reese who had finally seen him after he'd yelled at Hal through the cameras for another half an hour. "I would have shown you earlier but your watchdog thought I was gonna blow the place up or something." He rolls his eyes. "Take the notepad. It's yours."
Reese is still baffled and looks up to Alec, trying to figure him out. "Forgive me for looking a gift horse in the mouth, but why the change of heart?"
Alec shrugs. "Nobody here tried to blow my head off 'cept your tech guy the night we got into his house."
"So?"
He shrugs again. "The Agency did."
Reese is still skeptical. "And it took you this long to figure that out?"
"Look, do you want it or not?" Alec frowns. "They'll hunt me down for this - you might as well be grateful."
"How do I know it's not a trap? How do I know what you wrote down is the truth and not some ploy to have my men walk into an ambush? You say you're selling out the Agency, but how do I know that?"
"Beats me. I guess that's where your own brain comes in. Send a scout. I don't care. But I gave you what you wanted."
Reese just can't believe it. Things Alec had written in this notepad would help immensely in their war with the Agency, if they were true. "I just don't get it." This young man before him was the same, yet different. He still had a look of bold defiance in his eye. His stance was still defensive and he was still ready for a fight. Yet something was... different.
"Then don't." Alec searches Reese's face, not surprised by the lack of trust. But he had made this decision yesterday, and it would stand. He didn't fit on either side, but right now, this was his only chance of survival. This was his only chance at escaping prison. People like Ryan didn't exist behind bars. Ryan didn't exist there. And he knew now that he wanted freedom. He'd never really wanted to go to prison but at one point it had seemed better than living on the right side of the street or being hunted by the Agency. Now though, he was searching for something better. Something worth it. And all he knew at this point was that helping the Elite could help him.
Reese shakes his head and tucks the notepad under his arm. "Okay. I will review what you've given me." He turns to leave, but Alec stops him.
"Gonna lock the door again?"
Reese hesitates, his hand already on the knob. But he releases it without looking back and heads upstairs. Pausing in Hope's door, he knocks. "Hope... there's been a change with Alec. I'd like you to take the time to talk to him again. It's a long shot but... I want to know what you think." It had been quite a while now since the last time he'd had Hope try to talk to the young man, but it seemed time to try it again.
Continuing on his way, Reese stops in the control room to talk to Hal, gains some footage, calls Jason, and finally winds up with the right number. Dialing, he waits, while thumbing through the notepad pages. "Yeah, hi, this is Chief of the Elite, Mike Reese. I'm looking for Ryan McKade."
Darrel's eyes widen just a little. This sounded official. "Hold for a moment and I'll see if she's available." Setting the phone aside, he leaves the office and sticks his head into the garage. "Hey, Ryan!" he calls. "Telephone!"
Ty wanders into the cafe scanning the room for Libby. Not seeing her yet, he finds an empty booth near the window and tosses the driving regulation book on the table. It was way over his head at this point, but all he wanted now was to pass his stupid permit test, and if Libby could help him get that far, maybe it was worth finally swallowing his pride.
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