Ready and waiting

As the moment comes to an end, Carson lets Misty draw back, and looks her in the eye again, seemingly ignoring her suggestion to eat. Without even cracking a smile, he turns her around, keeping her in a firm grip around her waist to drag her along with him as he takes a couple steps the counter to retrieve her own plate, then back to the table.

He sits down in the chair and sets Misty on his knee, shoving her plate in front of her. “You sure know how to ruin a moment, don’t you,” he grumbles. “But I suppose if it’s gotta be ruined, it might as well be done as such with one of your grilled cheese sandwiches.” He takes a bite of his and contemplates it for a moment. “Hmm…I don’t know which is better…your kisses or your cooking.”


Jason sits back in his chair as Lockheart puts an arm around him. He wanted to remain strong on his own…to stay tough through this… but she reminded him of his own mother, creating a feeling of melancholy. The wedding…it was coming up fast. If only they could win this…

He shakes his head slowly. “I don’t understand this…if the Agency wanted to torture me, why would they allow things to move this quickly? I don’t get it…”

The guard taps on the door. “Five more minutes, Lockheart.”


Laura shakes Nate's cubicle wall, a smirk on her face. "Hey. Snake tamer. It's late. Are we going to Jamie's or what, and who's driving?"


The mess hall is a bit noisy with chatter as the gang gathers together at the wish of Jamie. Damien has come, and most everyone else is present.

Luke pulls out a chair in the corner and eases down slowly, trying not to wince. He felt like crap, in pain, and struggling without the meds he was on. But he’d given what was left to Angel, and was forced to go without.

Mick offers Jamie a seat near the front where everyone can see her, and scoots his own chair in close, sensing that this was something he was going to need to hear.

Austin hangs back a little, knowing some of what was coming, though interested to hear it from Jamie herself.


“Can I have the peas?”

“Mashed potatoes please!”

The lunch table was alive with chatter. Dan and Paula direct the younger children, while the older ones help out passing the food, Con somewhere in the middle of it all.

“Unca Con…” Mindy looks up from his left side, trying to get his attention. “Unca Con..” She finally tugs on his sleeve.

Con turns to see her, giving her a smile as he realizes by the look on her face that she’s been trying for several moments. “Sorry, kiddo.” He taps his ear. “Uncle Con can’t hear from this side anymore.” He leans down closer, cocking his head. “Whatcha need?”

Mindy points to the chicken on her plate. “I can’t cut it myself.”

Con chuckles and reaches over to pick up her fork and knife. “No problem. Here we go.” Within a minute, Mindy has her chicken cut up into pieces just her size.

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” Con ruffles her hair with a hand before turning back to his own plate.

Paula smiles at him from across the table. “Thanks.”

Con shakes his head, not needing an ounce of thanks. He glances down to sixteen-year-old Eric. “So did you ever get that catfish you wanted last year?”

Eric laughs, taking a sip of his water. “Almost. I had that sucker out of the water halfway up the bank and my line snapped.”

Con cringes. “Ooh, bummer.”

“Yeah, and Lydia still doesn’t believe me.” He elbows his sister who was a year younger.

She smirks at him, turning to Con. “I say he got a snag and broke his own line.”

Con laughs. “Well, Eric, maybe you and I will just have to go down to that pond and try again while I’m here.”