Ache

Carson sits a little straighter, sensing that Herb had something important to tell him. He couldn't imagine what, but he respected Herb more than most anybody, so he was all ears.

As the words sink in though, Carson's eyes start to widen, his jaw dropping. He blinks, completely dumbfounded. He'd known that there was the possibility that Herb wouldn't be able to do as much... and he'd even thought about the extra hours he might have to put in. But... ownership?

This was more than just an offer... it was a privilege... an honor. This was an offer that belonged to family... Mom and Pop's was a part of the Franklin family...

But as Carson looks at Herb, he suddenly realizes that whether he was blood family or not, he had earned this place of honor. This offer should have been going to the son that Herb and Mabel never had. And that thought alone caused the emotions to surface in Carson's eyes. Herb had become his mentor... his guide... and in a way, he'd been a father to him. They had never spoken of it... but it was there, and this proved it.

"Herb, I..." Carson stops, swallowing hard. Was he really capable of this? And where did this put Reese's own offer to him? Was it now down to one or the other? And if he chose one, was that the point of no return?

He lets out the long breath he'd been holding, and leans back in the chair, still in shock. "I don't know what to say," he finally admits. "Ownership? It's... wow." He could barely even process the thought.

Letting his eyes drift downward, he thinks for a moment before looking back up at Herb. He knew how important the restaurant was to him. And Carson knew good and well that if he said no, there would be no one else. Closing Mom and Pop's would surely age Herb more than anything, more than likely harming his health even more. Not to mention, it would also hurt their income.

Reese's offer lingers in the back of Carson's mind. He could almost taste the action he wanted. The missions... the adventure... doing what he was best at.

He looks back to Herb, searching his eyes. An ache settled in his heart. But he saw the answer clearly.

"I accept."


Ryder grimaces, still holding his stomach, and even now feeling even worse, learning that apparently his tongue had been loosened without him even knowing it. Who knows what he'd told Katie.

"Yeah, yeah... no trouble." He waves her off. "And Reese has me back on the payroll, so I've got money, don't worry about it."

He thinks for a moment, contemplating the day ahead. "If you have anything I could do at TJY later... call me or something. I could..." He suddenly stops, his eyes squinting a little. "...or maybe not." Spinning around, he aims for the bathroom, where the consequences of yesterday's binge would catch up to him.


Reese is ready to leave the infirmary, but stops as Angel questions him. He slowly shakes his head. "I'm sorry... no, I can't give you any more information. You would have been able to say goodbye to him, but as I said, he's not even here."

He purses his lips grimly. "You can tell people back in Texas that he had a job to do. That's all I can say."