Accusation

Jason shakes his head at Misty's questioning. "I don't know. He said that Car..." He hesitates, but knows that whether Misty still had bad feelings or not, he couldn't keep walking on eggshells. He keeps on walking, skimming over it. "...Carson found him out back of the Pizza Box. That's all I know."

Thinking about that, Jason's mind fills with reasons why any of this would have happened. One theory sticks out as the prominent one, and it makes his blood boil. But for Misty's sake, he keeps quiet about it...for now.


Kyle turns his head, and seeing Nate, he smiles a little. Glancing at Carson, he's a little more leery, but doesn't react. He lifts his left hand to give a tired wave. He was still a little foggy on all that had happened, but by now his mind was clearing things up enough that at least he now knew a little bit about what had gone on, and was realizing that it was by now, late evening.

He looks to Nate, then to Carson, then back to Nate with question in his eyes.

Carson recognizes the look and glances down for a minute, hesitant to approach the bed, but seeing that Kyle doesn't have any fear on his face, he goes ahead. "Glad you're alright, mate. You're lucky your attackers weren't too careful about making noise. Otherwise I wouldn't have seen you."

Kyle quirks an eyebrow. Carson had been the one to find him? That was interesting. He looks up into Carson's eyes, studying them for a moment. He still remembered the day at Mom and Pop's. He still remembered the rough people that had been there. He still remembered Carson's threats. But tonight...there was more confusion and sorrow in those eyes than malice. And if Carson really had found him and gotten help, then Kyle owed him a thanks, no matter his personal feelings.

Knowing it was right, Kyle raises his left hand as a gesture of truce.

Carson can't help his surprise. He could still feel Kyle's foot smacking his face, and now wondered if this were a true act or if it was just to make it look good. Carson didn't know Kyle very well at all - only through Jason. But he'd never heard "dishonest" and "Kyle" in the same sentence before.

Though hesitant, he closes the gap, reaching down to shake Kyle's hand.

Kyle gives a little nod and releases his grip.

Carson hooks his thumbs in his pockets and sighs. He'd heard about Kyle losing his voice, and now this. "So what's up? Any idea why the Agency would be after you?"

Kyle swallows hard, his thoughts a bit garbled. He knew a few things about the Agency - stuff that Jason and Katie had told him. But what would they want with him? Was Carson right that it was the Agency? It appeared that way. He opens his mouth to try and respond, but suddenly a nurse comes in, interrupting them.

Kyle's eyes widen. It was the nurse from the third floor from the nurse's station.

The nurse sidles in past Nate and Carson and stands at the foot of Kyle's bed, setting her hands on her hips. "I thought I was done seeing you."

Kyle can't help his quirky grin, and he shrugs, throwing her a wink.

The nurse just shakes her head, unable to stop a chuckle. "Doc said you can't talk too well, so you just stay there and let me check you over." She goes about her tasks, trying to make Kyle as comfortable as possible.

At one point, Kyle stops her, forcing himself to speak in a raspy whisper. "So what's the verdict?"

"Honey, you'll be just fine." The nurse pats is shoulder. "You got a nice bump to your head and a few battle scars on your face, but nothing that won't heal proper as long as you behave yourself."

Kyle glances down to his right hand.

The nurse gives him an encouraging smile. "Don't worry. Your hand has been broken. Looks like someone dropped a cinderblock on it and several bones were broken, along with two fingers. But the doctor went in and put everything back where it belongs, so all it needs is a little time to heal. We'll just keep you here overnight to make sure everything is okay."

Kyle can feel his heart sink as low as it can go. This nurse had no idea what he did, and how important his hand was. Sure, it would heal...but broken bones didn't just heal overnight. He forces a weak smile to the surface and mouths a silent, "Thank you."

She keeps her smile. "You just rest now. I want to see you bouncing down these halls again before you leave."

After she's left the room, Kyle turns his attention back to Nate and Carson. He'd lost his voice. He'd lost his hand. Both may or may not have been permanent. Considering who he was, considering what had happened, the answer to Carson's question is as clear as day in his mind. Maybe not to the others...but only because they didn't know quiet everything. Though he wasn't going to tell them. Not now. No one else need feel any more pain or guilt. Especially Misty. "No," he manages. "They're just thugs."

Carson shakes his head. "They're more than that, Kyle. There's always a reason. Have you run into them before?"

Kyle shakes his head too. He hadn't.

Carson looks to Nate. It felt like another dead end. But if this didn't stop, Kyle could wind up more than just roughed up.


Jason heads with Misty down the hall after having asked where Kyle was, and getting his room number. The male nurse had also informed them of Kyle's condition. Jason had immediately realized what this meant, but tried to be positive about it.

As he walks with one crutch, his anger grows for this situation. His hurt for Kyle heightens. His irritation for whoever had done this increases. His emotions rising, he doesn't stop them, but uses them instead to form a more important thought that is propelled into the open and cast into oblivion. It's Kyle. Hurt but okay. Hospital. Call me.

Reaching Kyle's room, he enters, letting Misty in with him. Seeing Carson with Nate, he stops in his tracks. Nate had said Carson had found Kyle, but Jason hadn't expected him here. Not after the confrontation between him and Kyle before. The thought that had come to mind earlier came again, and his fists tighten. "What are you doing here?"

Carson whirls around, and stops dead. He doesn't like Jason's tone. But even stronger was the unidentifiable feeling that hits him as his eyes move from Jason to Misty. He hadn't seen her since the day at the restaurant and that had been less than good. But he isn't given a chance to say anything. Jason's on top of him again.

"What do you know about this, Carson? Did you just find Kyle, or did you tell them where he was? Maybe help them out on the beating?"

Carson's eyes widen, then narrow as he receives the accusation. He looks to Nate, his stare implying how unhappy he was with this before shifts his gaze again. "Watch what you say, Jason," he hisses. "I might take it the wrong way."

"Good. At least the truth might come out."

Kyle looks to Jason to Carson, to Nate, to Misty, to Carson, then to Misty again. He lifts his hand, not wanting to see this argument, but the two men pay no attention to him.

Carson glares at Jason. "What is it about me that you hate so much, huh?"

"Everything?"

"Jason..." Kyle's voice is too hoarse and quiet for them to hear, even though he tries. "Stop..." No good, the argument continues, and his frustration grows.

Carson takes a step closer to Jason, looking up at him. "So what are you going to do? Interrogate me? Arrest me? Put me in that holding cell you're so fond of?"

"If I had any sense at all, I ought to..." Jason's words are cut off as he's suddenly hit in the shoulder with a flying tv remote. "What the..." Glaring, he shoots his gaze in Kyle's direction. "What do you think you're doing?!"

Kyle is propped on his elbow, looking at him sternly after having thrown the remote. He shakes his head slowly, displeased with Jason's accusations against Carson. He didn't like Carson all that much either, but he'd seen the faces of his attackers and Carson hadn't been one of them. As for the remote, it was rare for him to show irritation like that...but he'd had his fill, he was hurting, he was upset, and he was tired of this stress. "You're wrong, Jase," he whispers. "Cut it out."

Jason grits his teeth and shoulders past Carson, respecting Kyle's wishes. He stands to the side, leaning up against the wall out of the way.

Carson watches him go and takes a deep breath. Daring a glance to Misty, then to Nate, he shrugs. "I guess that's my cue to leave." He wants to say more...so much more. He wants to defend himself, he wants to straighten this out with Jason, and he'd like to talk to Misty. But apparently he wasn't welcome, and therefore this was not the time or place. "I'll walk back to Mom and Pop's now."