Quite a guy

Carson listens to Herb’s words, a strange pang hitting his heart… again. Looking to his older friend, he wondered… did he know? He shouldn’t be surprised… Herb had a way about him… an insight that not everybody had. He saw things most people wouldn’t. And Carson knew that he’d read him more times than he’d like to think. Was this another one of those times?

He looks down at his work again, swallowing hard.

Misty…Misty… Why couldn’t he get her out of his mind? He’d thought he was getting over her. He was doing so well. But then seeing her again… talking to her again… every time, it put him right back where he’d been.

“...You can’t give up Carson…”

He lifts his head at the tone in Herb’s voice. What was he referring to? The case about the dog? Or…something else? Something harder?

Tomorrow… Carson shakes his head and tries to concentrate, looking up to see another order come in. Today… tomorrow… it would never be the right time for what he really wanted… And it wasn’t just a won case about a dog that he wanted.

A portion of Carson wanted to turn right around, head out the back and go right back to TJY. But glancing out onto the floor, he sees Jess again. And again, he stops his thoughts from going anywhere else.

“Maybe I’ll call Nate about the dog,” he muses aloud. “Maybe he can tell me if it’s worth talking to Angelica or not. And if it isn’t, I’ll go to the police station or something instead and at least try to report the guy.”

Suddenly Carson groans. "And I have to go see Dani too. There's another mess I made."


Kyle listens to Misty for several moments, just letting her talk and remaining silent. He swallows his mouthful of food and studies her eyes, looking from one to the other.

Finally his gaze drops and he twirls his fork in his food, pushing a piece of pork from one end of his plate to the other. His mind runs through scenarios faster than he'd like. Images of the past come to mind. Seeing Misty's tear-streaked face... seeing Carson and his so-called friends... seeing the anger in Carson's eyes again, and feeling his own anger for what had been done to a woman like Misty.

Kyle's jaw tightens slightly and he looks back up, searching her eyes once more. Question fills his gaze. She still had feelings for Carson? A man that had lied to her? A man that had hurt her? Had cheated on her?

Had Kyle done something wrong? Was there something he hadn't done? He'd thought...

His eyes drop once more and he shakes his head just slightly, a sorry grin forming at the corner of his mouth. "He must've been quite a guy, huh?" He stabs a slice of meet, sliding it through his rice before finally setting his utensil down and folding his hands, his elbows resting on the table.

It wasn't often he got serious... he liked having fun, and liked laughing too much. There were certain times he knew he needed to be serious though... but he hadn't wanted this to be one of those times.

Kyle just looks at Misty... her eyes so deep... so mysterious. Her face so soft... so pretty. "So..." He clears his throat, searching for the right words. "Feelings for Carson." He pauses again. "I appreciate you telling me."

He gives her a little nod. "But, um... I don't know what this means exactly." He tries to hide it, but his eyes cannot lie. Her words had stung. And he didn't understand.

"What..." He hesitates. "What does...or where does this put us then? I mean..." He swallows hard. "Are you...saying you don't want this? Or... that you want to go back to Carson or...?"

Kyle can't help his questions. He didn't want to ask them, and he didn't want to jump to any conclusions, but though Misty's admittance might have come fairly casually, it didn't feel that casual to him.

His eyes linger on hers, glistening with a fearful hope.

Honest

*Herb just stands cooking and listing to Carson for a long while. Taking in what he said about about happend and the dog. Understanding a few new things about Carson. As Carson starts to talk about going to TJY and there being a snag Herb turns around to look at him. He didnt need to say anything, or name any names and Herb new who he was talking about. Studying Carson for a long moment Herb turns again before speaking.*

"Maybe you should go back again. I know its probley hard to be there, and to look into the eyes of the people there but its something you have to do ya know. You can't give up Carson...."

*Herb continues to talk about the dog and going to Angelica but would he catch onto the hiddin meaning Herb was getting at. He though Jess and Carson were cute but Carson's eyes betrayed him. Herb could tell there was no love there and his heart still rested with one person and one person alone.*

"...Your trying to right the wrongs and though they are hard and they hurt. You can't give up. Tomarrow, don't wait for tomarrow with what could be done today because you never know when tomarrow could be to late...Aerith your order is up."

*Herb continues to cook and call out the ordes as they came in.*

*Seeing Kyle Misty's lips spread into a smile. It was always nice to see Kyle, no matter what he could make her smile. Wrapping her arm around him Misty follows him inside.

Before long lunch is served. Stairing down at her food Misty trys to keep smiling and laugh at Kyle but she knows as well she he does its not working to well. Receving Kyle's question Misty pokes at her food for a moment her apitite disapearing.*

"I....I had a run in with Carson today. Well...its wasnt really a run in he...I dont know why he was there but he ended up coming to see Scott...and I was going to leave because it was hard being in the room with him."

*Misty lets out a sigh as she remembers what happend that day about the way Carson had looked at her.*

"He ended up stoping me and asking if we could be friends. I told him I couldnt be."

*Misty looks up at Kyle. She didnt want to hurt him but she had to let him know how she felt. She couldnt hide this form him.*

"I have to many feelings and emotions twords him still to be his friend. I just don't think it would be good. I'd never want to do anything to hurt you Kyle I care for you way to much. I think thats why I wanted to tell you all this."

*Misty holds her gaze with Kyle not even sure if she made sence.*

Tough chick

Scott sighs, but doesn’t try talking to Misty anymore. It’s obvious that she’s hurting, and though he wanted to help, it was also obvious that nothing he could say would do justice. Things like this just wouldn’t go away with a simple kind word or pat to the shoulder. They went deeper than that.

“Well, look who’s up!” Rick enters the infirmary, not meaning to make Scott jump. “Sorry.” He grins down at his patient. “How’s that appetite of yours?”

Scott gives a little grimace. “I’m not very hungry.”

“Hmm…well…” Rick hangs up his jacket and starts settling in for the day’s work. “Let’s at least get a little bit in your stomach, okay?”


Bret grins as he hangs up the phone. Jamie was a neat woman, and he respected her. Not to mention, he and Charlotte always had a blast with Con and Jamie both. The prospect of going to the caves with them was appealing, even if the weather was a bit chilly.

Turning around, he looks at the mess he made and groans. If he didn’t get it cleaned up though, he’d have to pay once Charlotte came home for lunch. And he had… He looks up to the clock… Exactly an hour and a half.


Carson looks out from the kitchen onto the main floor, his eyes widening in surprise as he sees Jess. “She…” He looks back to Herb, confused and just a little annoyed. Jess was working it off for him… She shouldn’t feel like she had to, and he wanted to go out there and tell her so. But… He looks back out to where she was working. He knew her well enough to realize that she was doing it because she wanted to, not because she felt she had to.

He sighs and shakes his head. “Tell you about that brawl in a minute. Be right back.”

Slipping out of the kitchen, Carson waits by the hall before Jess passes, then takes her by the arm out of sight of the public. Turning her around, he studies her for a moment, searching her eyes for the motives. They sparkled as always with the life that had returned to her.

Carson hangs his arms over her shoulders and bends down to rest his forehead against hers. “You are one tough chick, you know that?”

Giving another little sigh, he pulls her into a hug, kissing the top of her head lightly. “Thank you,” he says quietly.

Withdrawing, he lets her go, nodding back to the kitchen. "I gotta get to work...I guess I'll be seeing you then." A grin curls the edge of his mouth while his eyes linger on her face. Few might notice his subdued actions this morning. His own gaze held a strange stare this morning as his mind battles with itself deep down, preventing him from both backing off or giving himself away. And in his heart of hearts, he didn't know which side would win.

Tossing Jess a haphazard wink, Carson finally turns back around to slip into the kitchen again, met with the strong smells of the food Herb was preparing.

"It was my fault." He starts to answer Herb's question, while repeating what he'd said in his note. "I'm in a bit of a sticky spot with a guy who was abusing a dog and... I probably did the wrong thing, but at the time it seemed right, and now I'm paying for it."

He glances up at a new order, then heads to the refrigerator, talking over his shoulder. "Thought it would be a good idea to talk to that lawyer over at TJY about it, but..."

His statement trails off and he pauses by the fridge, the image of Misty flashing through his mind. Her eyes... her stare... those tears... the way her face had felt under his hand...

Carson swallows hard and tries to stay on track. "But I hit a bump, so I came back here instead. So..." He approaches Herb, a look in his eye almost like a scared little boy. "I guess I'm sorry and... I'm trying to make it right."


Kyle steps down from his pickup and spies Misty just exiting her car as well. The smells from the Chinese restaurant wafted through the air, making anyone's mouth water.

A smile spreads on Kyle's face and he holds up his arms. "Miss T! Long time no see!" In truth, he'd seen her the day before, but that never hindered his enthusiasm.

Coming close enough he can throw an arm around her shoulder, he leads them to the front door, opening it for her first. "I don't know about you, but I am totally starved. Phil ate the rest of the cereal, finished off the milk, we ran out of oatmeal, there was no pancake mix and the fruit was gone."

He throws Misty a smirk. "Needless to say, I went without breakfast this morning. Just don't tell my mother." His teasing tone precedes his laugh as the enter the restaurant and are seated.

It doesn't take long for them to order and start their food, but the table is just a little quieter than normal.

Fooling with chopsticks, but failing at getting too much of a laugh out of Misty, Kyle finally quits trying, and looks at her with his head cocked. "I'm getting a vibe that you're not quite into this today... what's up?"

Payments

*Misty just watchs Carson leave her heart breaking all over again. She wanted to say more, she missed Carson...she wanted to stop him but she couldnt. It hurt so much inside to see him live all over again.

For a long moment Misty just stairs at the empty doorway so many thoughts running through her head and heart. Memories, good and bad laying themself in from of her. Ones that made her miss Carson even more. Finally Misty looks to Scott and trys to smile just a little though the lack of anything sort of real smile being there.*

"Because Scott, it hurts to much to love him, and it hurts just as much not to love him."

*Misty lets out a heavy sigh as she turns and heads back to her desk.*

"Maybe part of me is scaired to love him, maybe part of me is....something"

*Ploping down in her chair Misty trys her best to consintrate on anything something but what was on her mind now.*

*Jamie can't help the laugh that escapes her lips as she hears Bret. Giving a small shake of her head as she walks into work. She was late today due to car trouble but she was there non the less.*

"Well it sounds like your having some problems over there."

*Jamie can't help but cringe at the sound of something alse in the background drops and she trys to hold in a laugh. Since Bret and Charlottte had gotten married they had spend more time together as couples and it had been fun.*

"Well..I don't see a problem with that I'll just have to talk it over with Con and see if he dosnt mind and than I can see if I can round up some people from around here to go. It might be fun. Kind of like an end of the summer thing or something. I will deffintly get back to you on that Bret."

*Picking up some files from her mail box Jamie cradles the phone between her ear and her shoulder.*

"...yeah thank you for the offer. Ok...I'll let you know Bret. Ok...thanks Bye."

*Haning up the phone Jamie can't help but shake her head again as she sits down at her desk joting down a note to call Con later.*

*As Carson enters the kitchen Herb gives him a friendly smile and turns back to what he was doing.*

"Having a new window is good. Thank you Carson for that as for payments I think we have that covered. I've already payed for it, and well....someone alse is working off the payments."

*Herb nods out to the dinning room where Jess was in an aprin and some black slacks taking orders at the tables. Herb can't help the smile the surfecs a little more.*

"She told me not to tell you, but I told her sooner or later your going to notice because you DO work here, She a good person who wanted to help you out because she knows you have alot on your plate. Don't be to hard on her eh?"

*Herb continues to move around the kitchen getting everything ready while doing up orders as well.*

"So now, tell me about this fight, what happend?"

As so once again the minutes go by, time slowly slips away and the past events to some still linger. Words, emotions still hang one even after a few hours. Sometimes its just not that easy to say goodbye to them.

*Misty throws her pen down on her desk leting out a frestrated sigh. It had been 3 hours since Carson was here last and yet his presence still lingered. Misty could still hear his voice, smell him all over again and she could get her mind on nothing alse. Scott's words echoing in her ears, was she being fair, to herself to Kyle. Kyle.....He'd been so nice to her and helped her through so much. Misty had to addmit she feel for him he was great but was Misty being fair. Carson....Carson....DARN HIM her mind just wouldnt let go.
Opening her desk draw Misty pulls a small envilope out. Opening it Misty retreaves shinny trinket. Pulling out the steel bracelet Misty runs her finger over the name plate. She did miss Carson, everything about him. Even after everything how Misty missed him. Puting the braclet back into the draw Misty picks up the phone and dials Kyle's number.*

"Hey Hey...hows your day going?...good good...yeah Scott is doing good. Hey listen I was wondering if in maybe an hour we can have lunch? Ok...ok..see ya than. Bye."

*Hanging up the phone Misty leans back in her desk chair and just runs a hand over her face in a low whisper she talks to herself forgetting anyone alse was in the room with her.*

"What am I doing?"