Dinner

Scott studies Katie's eyes for a moment, a strange foreboding sense coming over him. A lurch to his stomach follows. Something wasn't right. In the back of his mind, a fear rested...one that had risen not forty-eight hours earlier. He pushed it further back. Denied it. It was nothing.

Returning Katie's smile, he gives her hand a squeeze. "Okay. Nothing fancy." He shrugs. "I'm alright today. As well as can..."

"Scott!" Susanne's desperate voice rings out.

Scott can't help his wry grin spreading. "...be expected," he finishes his statement. "I'll catch you later after I've rescued the damsel in distress over there." Spinning around, he jogs for Susanne's office. "I'm coming... Help is on the way!"


Carson grins at Mabel as she hands him the paperwork. "I should be an expert by now," he comments wryly. After all the jobs he'd had lately, this was familiar stuff. He gives a wave to the back. "Hey, Herb."

Things were looking a little more positive today. He still wasn't convinced that he could do a good job here or that Herb would really still want him around after a week of screwing things up, but...it was the best he had right now. There were far worse places to work. And it had made Misty happy too, knowing that he'd gotten a job again.

Finishing out the paperwork takes a while longer than he thought it would, so when he's finished, lunch is starting to be served. Not waiting for a cue from Herb, Carson goes right to the back and throws on an apron. "Alright...where we at?"

It's another hectic lunch hour. Mom and Pop's had always been popular with a handful of people, but it was gaining popularity, and if anyone wanted a good table for lunch, they had to arrive early.

Carson does his best and ends up only dropping a plate once, and burned only one meal. He finds it a little easier to keep up today, but still feels awkward. He just seems to be all thumbs, and constantly has to ask Herb what to do or where things are. Needed out at the tables once, taking an order takes twice as long as it should have, so by the time he's back in the kitchen, he's even more ill at ease.

Soon though, the rush is over, and he's given a short break until preparations needed to be made for the evening meals.

Sitting on a stool at the counter, he folds his arms and rests his head on them. What was he really cut out for? Now that he no longer was who he used to be...involved in the things he used to do... he was left...empty. What was out there for him now? If he could ever get the swing of things here, it was okay, but was he just supposed to work in a kitchen the rest of his life?

The bell over the door catches his attention and he raises his head to look back. Seeing Con, he lifts his eyebrows.

Con enters Mom and Pop's, ducking under the bell, and is followed by Bret and a couple other guys from the Titan site. All looked like they'd been working hard all day and were covered in dirt and sweat.

Con approaches the counter and gives a nod to Carson. "Well, hi there."

"Hey, how ya doing?"

"Not bad....hungry." Con grins and looks into the back at Mabel. "Hey, future mother-in-law of mine - you got any grub for five hungry men?"

"Four men and one tank!" Bret yells back.

Con gives him a whack upside the head. "Be nice."

"It was a compliment!"

"Sure it was." Con smirks and stets himself down on a stool next to Carson. "So what's up?"

"Not much." Carson nods to the kitchen. "They got me working here now."

"Oh yeah? That's cool. They'll take good care of ya here." He throws a wink in Aerith's direction. "I bet you can testify to that."

Carson gives a small chuckle. "Yeah...I know they will."

Con cocks his head. "But...?"

"But what?"

"There's a but in your statement. You don't sound too sure."

"Oh, I don't know. Carson shrugs. "Guess I'm just wondering if this is what I'll be doing from here on out. Doesn't feel like it has much of a purpose to me."

Con knew the feeling. He knew it all too well. "I guess I've thought the same thing about myself sometimes."

"You? You've got a good job, don't you?"

"Oh sure, it's alright." Con nods. "But it's not TJY."

"But you walked away from it."

"I did." Con nods. "But that doesn't mean I don't miss it." He looks down at the counter for a moment, then back up at Carson. "Not a day goes by that I don't think about working there again...when I was there I felt like I had purpose...every day I was helping do help other people. Then going out on a mission or being a body guard was what I was really good at. It was my passion."

"So...what happened?"

Con lifts an eyebrow and looks at Carson, a bit of humor showing in his eyes. His look said it all.

Carson glances down. "Oh." It had been after Jamie had been taken...Carson was partly to blame for that chain of events. Con hadn't been able to stand things anymore after that.

"Yeah, well...things happen." Con shrugs.

Carson looks back up at him. "Do you wished you hadn't left?"

"Sometimes. But..." Con taps his deaf ear. "I couldn't do what I used to do anyway. Reese would put me in an office and I don't know if I could handle that. Being around the action but never in it...it would be hard."

"But at least you'd be back helping people."

"True."

Bret can't help but overhear their conversation, and interrupts, speaking to Con. "Brandon's family sure seemed to think you had purpose at Titan."

Con purses his lips and nods slowly. "Yes...yes, I've seen purpose in my job with Titan." He looks at Carson again. "You can find purpose anywhere at any job as long as your heart's in the right place."

"And where is that?"

"With God."

The statement is so matter-of-fact that it almost surprises Carson. He remembers Herb's reference to God the day before. He was hearing a lot about that lately. It was something he'd never put much stock in, but the people around here seemed to really believe in that stuff. His eyes rove to Bret who is concentrating on a menu. It was obvious that he didn't quite share the same sentiments. But...for the first time, Carson considered this subject food for thought.

Seeing the men placing orders, Carson takes the initiative to go help Herb again, even though he might not be needed. Keeping busy was a plus at this point in the game.


Jason sits in his office, staring at his computer as he types.

"Hey, Mom. Glad you finally got set up with email at the house. Easier than writing letters and cheaper than phone calls.
Yeah, I'm doing great. No worries. Everything is going smoothly. My knee is great - almost as good as new. Camryn and I are doing well, too. She's talking wedding plans now. She and I want to come visit soon.
Yep, the camping trip was great. Back earlier than planned, but we had a fun time. Kyle and Phil are always a riot.
Not a whole not more going on.
Talk to ya soon.
Love, Jase"

Jason frowns at his email, feeling deceitful. But he doesn't change it, and instead, clicks "Send." Leaning back in his chair, he looks at his clock. It was late...he should be going home. But Camryn was coming by and they were going to go out together so he was just going to wait for her here. She hadn't sounded too thrilled on the phone when Jason had asked her...he hoped she was just having a bad day but something warned him that it was more than that, and he avoided thinking too much about it. It was probably nothing.


Scott chews on a french fry and looks across the little diner table at Katie as they eat their supper. Things had been quiet tonight. Scott knew that Katie wasn't feeling the greatest after everything that had been happening lately, but tried his best to cheer her up. "So Domino is looking forward to our ice cream run on Friday. The weather is supposed to be good, so I told her if she behaved we'd take her for a stroll on the beach." He grins. "I think all she understood was "go" because she went to the door all set to leave, but I told her anyway."