Arguing

It was late in the evening…the tv was droning and Scott was trying to keep himself awake, but it wasn’t working very well. He was alone in the infirmary…Katie had taken Domino home with her to give the poor dog a break, Misty was gone for the night, Rick had left and said he’d be back one more time…otherwise, it was just the night that waited.


Jason looks up quickly, raising his eyebrows at Aerith. It was obvious she wasn’t working tonight…interesting that she’d be here. He forces a weary grin, spreading his hands to show an empty table. “No snack, just…” He shrugs. What was it really? Time away? Time alone? An effort to keep his mind occupied? An effort to salvage some peaceful time while he butchered the rest of his life? “Hanging out,” he finishes lamely.

He cocks his head. “Most people don’t come back to their place of work in their free time…” His memory serves him well. “Or is it more peaceful here than with your grandmother?”


Carson doesn’t hear Misty until she speaks, and he whirls around in surprise. Taking in her comment, his face grows solemn and he holds up a finger, the look on his face conveying the message to stay put and shut up. He continues his conversation on the phone without missing a beat. “No, I swear. I don’t have that information. The Agency screwed up on that one….. Well tell them!” He starts to pace again, his bare feet dragging on the living room carpet. He sighs deeply. “No…I’m not coming back to tell them myself. And I’m not coming to you…that’s…” Carson closes his eyes for a moment, desperately trying not to allow Ashlyn’s words to bring up memories of the past…memories of good times…memories of times before he’d turned around. “Look…” His voice is calmer. “Someone screwed up and now there’s an innocent man’s life on the line. How long are you going to put up with this crap? When will you open your eyes and see that life with the Agency is worthless? Take my warning and get out while you still can.”

He rubs his forehead as a headache starts to form. “Alright…fine…if you don’t believe me, then I can’t do anything about it. Where’s it going down? …Come on, Ashlyn! It’s me you’re talking to! You know dang well that I wouldn’t call just to play games here.” Carson lets a curse slip under his breath as he talks. “What time? …No promises. If you’re double-crossing me, Ashlyn, so help me, I’ll…” His voice trails off as he receives another sly comment. He opens his mouth to retort, but finally ends the call instead, hanging up while Ashlynn is still mid-sentence.

Gripping his phone tightly, he finally lets it go, tossing it through the air and into a corner chair. Folding his arms on his chest, he tries to settle his nerves, and looks to Misty. “You do pick interesting times to show up,” he agrees. “I’ll give you that.”