Stake House - Sunday Night

[davidishotter]

Who: Rachel, Eddie, David, Grace, Faith, Alex, Gwen
Where: Stake House
When: Sunday Night

Faith really needed a steak roughly the size of her face. To that end, she walked into the Stake House and got a table.

Eddie was there, studying a PDA and looking less than cheerful.

Rachel walked in to the Stake house, and headed directly for Eddie's table. "Good evening," she said. "I hope I'm not late."

Alex was working that evening, and making his way around the tables doing bus-work.


Faith dug into her steak, not paying much attention to the others in the room.

"Not really, no. How is business?" Eddie inquired.

"As well as can be expected," Rachel said, but she looked rather tired. "How about with you?"

"Getting worse," Eddie replied. "But not so bad."

David headed in, looking a ittle tired, and a little contemplative.

Faith was still paying attention to her steak.

Grace was with David, dressed for a nice date.

David was very nice, and pulled out a chair for Grace, so she could sit down

"It seems like there's always so much to do," Rachel said. "Like we're just barely keeping ahead of the game."

"Thank you, hon," Grace said, and settled into the chair with a smile.

"Sorry about last night." said David, taking a seat "But this is a nice place... so we should have a good time

Faith looked up, and had a slight coughing fit. She managed to swallow and drink half of what was left of her soda, and shook her head. That just figured ...

"It's alright- I understand that you had to work," Grace said. "It happens."

"Heh. You don't know the half of it." Eddie shook his head. "Just when we fixed one problem, a much worse problem ended up in our laps - probably won't survive long."

"Yeah." David said "That jobs not going to well right now... but, I'm supposed to be having a good time with you, so... how are you?"

"Why- what happened?" Rachel asked.

"I'm fine," Grace said. "Been doing a lot of school work, and I've got a part time job working in the Rocket Cafe on campus.

"Do you like it?" asked David

Eddie leaned in to talk quietly -- even though this was ostensibly a work restarant, non-OSI types tended to wander in every now and then. "Do you remember the curious case of the mad scientist, Dr. Browning?"

Faith looked down at her steak. If it didn't taste so good ... She shrugged and had another bite.

"It's okay," Grace said. "Tips aren't too good, but that's because most college students are broke."

Rachel nodded. "I do."

"Well, there was a particular person who was an extensive test subject of his, to the point where she was suffering long-term effects as a result of the compounds tested on her. We recently worked out how to fix that, and she's currently undergoing treatments to hopefully remove it before it can cause further damage. Good, yes?" Eddie quietly continued.

"I'll stop by sometime." said David "When I have time."

Rachel nodded. "Yes, that is good news..."

Grace smiled, and reached across the table to pat his hand. "I'd like that. So what's got you so busy with work, anyhow?"

David smiled at the hand patting. "The girl that I mentor... she got really angry at me, and now she's in big trouble... and she's still angry, and it's kinda a big deal to my bosses. So, I blew it."

Faith frowned. Well, it served him right.

"Why is she angry with you?" Grace asked, frowning.

"She had a crush on me, or something." David shrugged "I don't get why it's such a big deal. She could just meet some guy at school or something, right?"

"Well, she's a teenager, right? And you're her mentor - so wrong on several levels. I mean.. she should know you're not going to do something sleazy. That's hardly your fault," Grace said.

"Except that it turns out a similar case came in last night. Apparently a girl was pushed out of the back of a van outside of the Bronze, and began attacking people. She was eventually taken down by the combined effort of four individuals, and is exhibiting advanced phases of internal deterioration, in addition to having sustained severe physical damage beforehand," Eddie explained.

Like this girl had the slightest idea what "sleazy" actually meant, Faith thought.

"I'd never do anything sleazy." said David "I just want the best for her, and I think this whole situation is going to end up badly. She's been hanging around an even older guy. I should probaly just.. I dunno, cut my losses."

Rachel frowned. "Is she going to die? Do they know where she came from?"

"What- David, no, you can't do that - that poor girl," Grace said. "What if this older guy takes advantage of her?"

"She's been comatose since she arrived, and was literally sweating blood on arrival," Eddie said, frowning. "Not pleasant, and not a good sign."

"What should I do?" asked David "She won't listen to me... she'll barely talk to me."

Rachel frowned. "Are the doctors trying to help her?"

"I don't know... but you have to try. It'd be terrible if she got hurt - young girls don't know about older men and how dangerous they can be," Grace said. "Have you tried telling her that you really care about her- just not in that way- and that you don't want to see her getting hurt? Also, if you know who the guy is - you can always file a complaint - it's a criminal offense to corrupt a minor in the state of California."

"Well, of course," Eddie said, "but we are still waiting on the results."

Faith rolled her eyes.

"Let me know what you find out - and if there's anything I can do," Rachel said.

"I'll try that." said David "Thanks, Grace. You're pretty wonderful."

Faith made a gagging face and tried not to laugh.

Grace smiled, and reached for David's hand to give it a little squeeze. "You're pretty wonderful yourself, David. Don't let this get you down.. I think you're a great mentor. Look at all the nice things you do for your brother."

"Juice deserves it. He's a good kid, and he's been through a lot." David smiled a little "And the mayor likes that I mentor, so when he gives raises, maybe he'll make mine a little better."

Rachel ordred a steak and salad when the waitress came over.

"That's always helpful," Grace said. "Hm... what do you think we should get? Everything looks good here.." Grace perused her menu.

"The Surf and Turf looks great." David said

"Well, from a medical standpoint, there's not much to be done except by the pros," Eddie said. "Fun, huh."

"It does- awful expensive though," Grace said. She didn't want to put a serious dent in David's wallet.

Faith finished her steak and started on her lobster tail.

"You're worth it." said David "It's not like we eat like this every night, right?"

"I guess not," Rachel said. She sighed, and rubbed her head. "You ever just feel like nothing is going right?"

Grace smiled. "Well, thank you. Alright then, I'll take that."

"Most of the time," Eddie admitted.

"My personal life is a wreck, and my professional life..." Rachel sighed and rubbed her forehead.

"Why, is anyone planning your murder?" Eddie asked.

"Not that I'm aware of," Rachel said. "Just things aren't working out with Martin and I, and my daughter wants to go away for college..."

"Oh, well, that's a relief. I think the cadaver doc wants my job," Eddie commented, amused.

David happened to look over, and see Faith. "That's her..." he said, to Grace, as they waited for food.

Grace looked over thataway.

"Oh, ew," Rachel said. "He gives me the creeps."

"She looks lonely," Grace said. "Do you want to ask her to come sit with us?"

"Yeah, he's distinctly creepy," Eddie agreed. "And I'm pretty sure he wants my job."

"I suppose so." said David "Faith!" he called, hoping she'd come over

Faith winced. "Yeah? Oh, wow, Hi David," she said. "Hi, Grace."

"Hey." David said "Want to come over here?"

"That's okay, you two crazy kids go on enjoying your romantic dinner," Faith said. "But thanks."

Grace smiled. "We don't mind- please, come join us. I'd like to get to talk to you- David's told me so many nice things about you."

"I'm sure you they wouldn't let him have it," Rachel said.

"Well, the biological aspect keeps cropping up," Eddie commented, "whereas shiny gadgets are always treated with a certain sense of fear. So you never know."

"The man is to be a prick that is fucking, though," Eddie added.

"Well, just watch your back," Rachel said. "I don't trust that guy at all."

Faith looked genuinely puzzled. "Really. Sure, what the hell." She grabbed her plate and glass and went to the Grace and David table.

"Me either," Eddie agreed.

"I'm Grace," she said by way of introduction, and offered a hand to Faith.

"Faith," she said, after a moment, and shook the offered hand.

"Nice to meet you, Faith," Grace said.

Rachel started eating when her food arrived, hming in thought. "Maybe you should get him before he can get you."

"Thanks. So, David, haven't seen you since breakfast. Good day?" Faith said.

"So... How are you?" asked David, to Faith.

"It's been okay." David said

"Full," Faith said.

"You had... The surf n turf." David said "That's what Grace and I are getting."

"It does look good," Grace said.

"Yeah. So David said nice things about me?" Faith asked.

Grace nodded. "He's told me that you're very talented at what you do."

Faith looked at David, then at Grace again. "Yeah, I kick ass," she said. "You're at the college, right? What are you studying?"

Right now, David was hoping this would work out. Maybe if Faith and Grace got along... she'd stop hanging out with evil lawyers.

"Computer forensics," Grace said.

"Compu who?" Faith asked.

"It's sort of a criminal justice track involving computers," Grace said. "It's pretty interesting... there's been a lot of advancements in technology that're used in criminology these days."

"Huh. That's pretty cool." Faith sipped her drink.

"She's good at what she does." David said

Grace smiled. "Thanks!"

"That's good," Faith said.

When the food arrived, Grace took her plate, and nudged David's foot under the table.

David looked towards Grace, and smiled at her.

Faith went back to picking the last of the lobster out of its shell.

Grace smiled,and then inclined her head slightly in the talk-to-her gesture towards Faith.

"So... Faith. How's your day been?" David asked, completly forgetting he was supposed to be talking to her

"Not bad, the part of it when I was awake," Faith said. "This is basically breakfast."

David frowned. "You slept all day? I've been worried about you."

" ... I was awake until shortly after breakfast, of course I slept all day," Faith said, looking a little annoyed.

Grace ate her food quietly, not interupting their talk.

"I'm worried about you." David said, again "Because you mean a lot to me... you know, like a sister, or best friend."

Faith blinked, one of those long, slow blinks that means, "Oh, shit, this is not going to end well."

"Great," she said.

"And I don't want to see you getting hurt." David added "Because if something happened to you, I don't know what I'd do... and your new guy worries me."

"Does he?" Faith asked.

David nodded. "I don't know anything about him, so, of course I'm worried."

"He's very good at what he does," Faith said. "Seems like that's all anyone needs to know."

"Trust me, dating older men isn't good for you," Grace said quietly. "I had a bad experience with that myself, once."

"That was you," Faith said. "I can handle it. If I couldn't, I'd be doing something else." She turned to David. "Don

t worry about me."

"Guys can be jerks." David said "So, I'm going to worry"

"I thought I could handle it too," Grace said. "I know you're a tough girl- but please, be careful. These sort of things don't end well at all."

"I'm careful," Faith said. "If I weren't careful, I'd have been a midnight snack by now. But thanks."

Grace sighed. The girl was very stubborn. She could see that David had his hands full.

Eddie finished what he was doing with his PDA, and commented, "Unfortunately, I actually need him, and more pertinently, a replacement I am not having."

Faith flagged down her waitress and handed her a credit card.

"He might not want you to be a snack." asid David "What if he wants to keep you in the basement, or something?"

Faith burst out laughing. "Then he'd have tried that by now. I've been seeing him for like two months. It's not like I just met him in a bar last night, or something."

"Well,that is a problem then," Rachel said.

"Did he give you the credit card?" asked David

"Yeah," Faith said.

"But such is the life of the bureaucratic institutionalized," Eddie commented, cheerfully.

David frowned. "You know, money isn't everything."

"No, but it's better than the alternative," Faith said drily.

"Not always," Grace said.

Rachel laughed. "Such it is indeed."

"No, but most of the time." Faith was looking annoyed again.

"There's always getting a job," Grace suggested.

"I had one in high school." David said

"I have a job," Faith said, taking back her credit card from the server. "And asDavid pointed out, I'm very good at it. Have a great night." She headed for the door.

"Wow, I can see why you have problems with her," Grace said.

Faith heard that, paused, but kept going out the door.

Gwen strolled into The Stake House, thankful to have some money to buy a nice dinner. Wesley had kind of shoved the money in her hand and sent her on her merry way, which more than likely meant he and Laili were fighting or getting ready to have sex. Gwen wasn't sure which option she found more revolting.

"I'll be right back." said David, rushing after Faith.

Gwen walked over to a nearby table, and sat down to peruse the menu as she watched David flitter by.

Faith was walking fast, toward one of the cemeteries.

"And my personal projects are going well, so I am happy," Eddie continued, "despite the chaos."

"Faith!" David called "Come back for a few."

"I'm done," Faith said. "See you back at the house, bro'."

"Are you coming back tonight?" asked David

"Yeah," she said.

"Call Hunter and let him know." David said "Training tomorrow, okay?"

Faith waved, which could have indicated almost anything.

David sighed, and headed back in. He was so failing at his job.

"I'm sorry," Grace said, looking over at David, "But that girl has some serious problems."

Gwen muttered to herself. "Who ya gotta blow to get a burger in this joint?"

"Yeah." David sighed "She's been with Hunter for a couple of years... but she never had a good homelife." David said

Grace frowned. "Has he ever taken her for a psychiatric evaluation? I've only taken a few classes in psychology, but I'd say she's got some definite antisocial behavior."

A waiter headed over to take Gwen's order, tsking slightly.

"She does." David said "And... well, she's not playing with knives anymore, so that's somewhat better."

Gwen gave a sheepish grin to the waiter and shrugged. "So. A bacon cheeseburger, then?"

Grace tsked.

"Very well, ma'am. And to drink?" the waiter inquired.

"..Yeah. She's got issues, but she's come a long way. I hope she doesn't do anything stupid."

"From the looks of it, she's already doing something stupid," Grace said. "It's obvious she's not listening though- I'd say your best bet is to go after the guy and make him leave her alone."

Considering the owners of the place, she knew this was a losing battle, but she had to try. "Whiskey?"

"Sorry, miss, we don't serve whiskey here," the waiter replied.

"Yeah." David said, thinking of what Hunter told him about the guy. "That sounds about right."

"Shit." Gwen almost pouted. "Anything with alcohol?"

"Sorry- I didn't mean to ruin our date-night with stuff about your work," Grace said.

"It's fine." David said, smiling a bit "It's my job, and you haven't run off yet, or anything"

"Our wine list is on the insert, ma'am. Can I see your idenitification?" the waiter asked politely.

"I wouldn't run off," Grace promised.

"I have to get going- I don't like leaving the girls alone too long at night," Rachel said. "But this was nice. Let's do it again soon, okay?"

Without batting an eyelash, Gwen waved her hand in front of the man's face, her voice never wavering. "You don't need to see my identification..."

"I'll get you your drink," the waiter answered, and headed off.

Gwen just blinked, and then grinned brightly. "Fuckin' A... The Force is stronnnnng with this one, y'all!"

The waiter returned with a bacon cheeseburger (with fries and pickle, as per the menu), and a tall glass of a black liquid. He nodded politely, and left the table.

"Whoa, Jimmy." Gwen waved her hand in front of him again. "You will bring me a glass of wine."

The waiter simply smiled as he walked away. Gwen would likely discover that she had indeed been billed for a glass of wine... in part, to make up for the fact that this customer probably wouldn't leave a tip.

Alex cleaned up a nearby table and watched Gwen try to use the force. "Can't use that here," he commented quietly.

Gwen scowled, and if this were an anime? You'd see the little squiggle above her head. "God dammit... Obi-Wan never had this shit happen."

"Obi-Wan is fictional," Alex said. "And not in a magic-proofed room."

"Still, dude. I risk my life all the time, and I can't even get my drink on?"

"Laws are funny that way," Alex said.

"Do underage girls always want to break the law?" David asked, being nosy

"I think it comes with the territory- I know I got into a bit of trouble when I was that age," Grace said. "What were you like in high school?"

"I got in a little trouble." David said "But after that, I stuck to the rules. Things were just easier that way..."

"Yeah, well... laws kinda suck." Gwen grinned and bit into her burger. "Good food though, I'll say that."

Alex nodded. "The food is great here."

"I learned that too," Grace said, agreeing with David.

David nodded, his mind on things that he tried to forget.

"You want dessert?" David asked, a moment later

"Anyhow, I should be going," Eddie said, finishing his drink with a gulp. "I need to check and make sure that nothing bad is going on with the treatment of that girl, after all."

"Have a good evening," Rachel said, and headed for the door as well. "Let's do this again sometime."

"I wouldn't say no to a little ice cream," Grace said, smiling.

David ordered ice cream, and smiled a little.

"Sounds like a plan," Eddie agreed, and paid for his check before departing.

"I hope things look up for you," Grace said. "I'm sorry you've had such a rough week."

"Thanks." David smiled "If you want to come over later this week, I'll let you know how it's going."

"I'd like that," Grace said. "Maybe we can have a movie night."

"That'll be great." David said, cheering up a bit "I've got a blockbuster card, so we can rent whatver you want."

"Do you think your brother and his boyfriend would want to watch with us?" Grace asked. She thought she should get to know David's family.

"I'll ask them" David said "I could order a few pizzas too."

"That'd be nice," Grace said.

"What night is good for you?" David asked

"How about Friday?" Grace asked

"Friday would be great." David said "I should be going soon though.. even though I don't want to."

"Me too-I have an early class tomorrow..." Grace said, getting up from the table reluctantly.

David got up, and kissed Grace on the cheek. "See you Friday?"

"Friday," Grace said, and kissed him gently on the lips before heading out.

David paid the bill, making sure to leave a nice tip. At least he had a good date