Challenge

Gunner grins and nods to Bree, accepting the food. As he bit into a slice of garlic bread, he realized that suddenly his appetite had returned. "Oh man, this is good."

"Thank the garlic bread queen," JT comments as he sucks in a noodle. "I make the spaghetti, but Bree does the bread."

Gunner steals a glance in her direction, quirking a grin. "Well, she does a good job."

As the meal progresses, any tension seems to disperse. Gunner's awkwardness dissolves as well, and it seems the strangeness that had developed after that morning just doesn't matter anymore. Chuckling at stories and joining in small talk, the three eventually move to the living room to relax.

A lull in the conversation brings JT's attention to Gunner once again. "Gunner, I, um... had a question." He pauses, not wanting to embarrass the other man. He decides to go at it from a different angle. "I'm working nights for a week or so, starting tomorrow. I never did like leaving the house overnight, especially now that there's been vandals in the area. You wouldn't want to house sit for me, would you?"

Gunner quirks an eyebrow at the suggestion. "Um... well..." He had to admit that there was something appealing about not having to be at his own apartment right now. "Doesn't Bree... I mean..."

"She stays once in a while," JT nods casually. "That's what the spare room down the hall is for." He smiles at Bree before looking back to Gunner. "But that's not every night."

"Well I wouldn't want to impose if... if she were here." Gunner could feel a bit of heat in his face. That hadn't come out right.

JT gives a soft chuckle. "You think this house isn't big enough?" He shakes his head. "The couch is yours if you want."

Gunner looks JT in the eye for a moment, trying to find his true motive. And in a quick moment, no longer than an instant, Gunner understood. And he was filled with such a gratefulness that it was almost overwhelming. JT was trying to help him, not just get a house sitter. But he'd been gracious enough not to say it outright in front of Bree.

Gunner glances down and clears his throat. "Um... I'll think about it."

"Fair enough." JT looks at Bree. "You wouldn't mind, would you?"


Kip laughs at Karla's remark about Rin and stands up to clear his dishes, but she had beat him to it. Following her to the sink, he lets his gaze trace hers to the backyard. "Pretty, isn't it?" He cocks his head. "You... wouldn't let me walk you home, would you?"


Eli walks casually but confidently, nodding to some of the other people around him as he wove in and out of the crowd. His eyes roamed the faces until he found the one he was looking for. Anger flowed hot through his veins, flashing through his gaze. His hands clench and loosen over and over with his tension as he grits his teeth.

Finally he reaches his destination. A dry grin appears on his face, his eyes narrowed slightly as he gives Roth a good once-over, stopping just a few feet in front of him. "So... you're the big bully everyone is talking about. I must say, you're less than what I expected."