4th Shot [video]

[tryit]

Alien planet or not, there's no way I'm spending another Thanksgiving alone. I know I'm not the only American trapped in this place. And I can't be the only person here with a thing or two to be thankful for.

[It had been one of her favorite holidays as a child. Her mother had reminded her every year just how much she had to be thankful for growing up in the Bishop family, never needing to want for anything. They'd spend the day in one of the soup kitchens her mother helped to run and serve meals to those in need. She never complained, even as a little girl.

By the time they came home at the end of the afternoon, it seemed like Christmas had come early. Food would be spread out on the dining room table and her father would actually be home from the office in time to spend a meal with the rest of them. Eleanor would insist they all eat dinner together, It hadn't been just the Bishop family that night, but their cook and nanny and housekeeper. Everyone together, one big family.

It had been one of the first traditions to go after her mother died. Thanksgiving had become a day to slave away in the soup kitchens, nothing more.

Kate takes a deep breath, looking pointedly at the camera. If a flicker of sadness and longing crosses her face, it's in your imagination. There's no regrets here. Not one whatsoever. Life is too short to let those emotions keep dictating your every action.]

So, guys, what do you say? I've never exactly prepared my own meal but it can't be that hard. Thursday, 5 pm, my place. Bring whatever you want. I'll provide the bird.

Comments

[dickmoves]

[ Ugh. That's a topic he doesn't want to really touch... There's no nice way to say "I've been avoiding the hell out of everyone and everything for a variety of reasons, part of it being having an awesome family that never existed, another part of it being your best friend went home to be dead and I'm a gianormous tool for not being there to talk to you, and a final part being This place bores me to tears". ]

Fine. I'm housesitting for the dweebs while they go have their honeymoon. [ Anniversary, Tommy. ] You?

[tryit]

Anniversary, Tommy. [Said with a bit of an eyeroll. Seriously, get it right.

Besides, it's a little easier than being honest. And she should probably be honest with him, shouldn't she? He is her teammate. And her friend. And he's going to find out eventually, especially if he shows up to Thanksgiving. That's if Billy hasn't mentioned it already.

God, she hates this stuff.]

I've been good. Really good. Um. I'm seeing someone.

[dickmoves]

Oh. [ Oh.

He has no right to feel disappointed about it. He was the one who was avoiding her, right? Tommy scrubs a hand through his hair. ] ... Cool. Good for you.

[tryit]

[Maybe it's for the best that they've been avoiding each other. Because she's happy, really happy with how things have developed with Simon. He's not like Eli at all. He doesn't try too hard. He knows how to make her laugh. And he's patient.

She's really needs patient.

But none of that stops her from feeling guilty. It's not like they were really together. Ever.]

Yeah. [Pause. Long pause.] I... I really like Simon. Like, a lot.

[Oh god, can you sound any more spaztic, Bishop?]

[dickmoves]

... Yeah. That's good. [ He's not even really upset.

Kate deserves to be happy. And they'd been friends - they were friends. He counted her as his best friend. He was over pining over her. Right? Right. She needed someone who could be good for her, and...

And he really didn't want to start something when the other person could vanish. ]

If he turns out to be a jerk I'll mess him up for you. [ Wow, could you sound like any more of a sociopath Shepherd? ]

[tryit]

[The response gets an eyeroll. But, really? It's a good response. Nice to know that he cares in his own, strange kind of way.]

He's not a jerk. [Wait a sec. Okay, maybe sometimes he can be. But let's face it. Simon would be boring if he was all goody-goody.] And no messing him up without my permission.

I've- I've never done this before, Speed. [She takes a deep breath. It's not easy, admitting to things that make you vulnerable.] Had a boyfriend. I'd kinda like to see if it works out.

[dickmoves]

[ He wants to say "what about Eli" but that's prying and he doesn't really want to know. ]

I'll leave him alone, but if he messes with you? He brought it on himself. [ Yep. He has had experience, though - sort of. Dating in Juvie is a hell of a lot simpler than it is on the outside. ] Just have fun. That's the important thing. [ ... ] And don't plan any dates that involve dubiously safe activities. That's a pretty bad move.

[tryit]

[Eli's just a complicated mess that Kate never really took the time to figure out. Maybe it was the wrong place at the wrong time. It worked for Billy and Teddy, becoming teammates and becoming a couple. It worked for Cassie and Jonas. Somehow, it never seemed to work out for her and Eli. Maybe they were too different. Or too much alike.

But Tommy's advice makes her grin. It's nice to know she has her friends' blessings. Even if, for a second, it makes her miss Cassie a whole hell of a lot.]

Noted. Though I'm not exactly sure that there's a lot you'd consider dubious.

[dickmoves]

Throwing things at the bald guard with a temper and having a point system based around how red he got was probably not my smartest date idea. [ Lisa wasn't complaining, though. ] Long story short, crime dates are a bad idea. Follow my words of wisdom.

[tryit]

[It's sad how well she can easily imagine that. Oh, Tommy.]

Then it's probably good that there's not much to do here in the way of crime.

[dickmoves]

There is if you get creative.

[tryit]

...I don't even want to know.

[dickmoves]

You really don't.

Anyway, I'll be there.

[tryit]

[She smiles, looking pleased. Thanksgiving just wouldn't be the same without him.]

Don't be late!