Lunch with Dad

[agirllost]

It's their first time out in public together in years - and standing outside the hot dog stand she can't help but worry.

She has things to tell him that he has to hear and she couldn't say any of them over a phone.

A few moments later, she spots him walking toward her.

Comments

[agirllost]

She glances away, not wanting to think about him being drugged or unconscious.

"No, it would involve lifting you and carrying you with flows of air."

[action-antihero.livejournal.com]

"You do realize I'd be kicking and screaming the entire way, right?"

[agirllost]

"Wouldn't bother me, I'd wear an iPod," she tries to say without showing how much the thought of his reaction actually gets to her.

"I could always have Chris keep an eye on you."

[action-antihero.livejournal.com]

"If anything was going on in L.A. I think she'd be kind of busy, sweetheart."

[agirllost]

"Yeah, but she's the only person I can think of who might actually succeed at keeping you from offering to help."

[action-antihero.livejournal.com]

"Kind of hard for her to do that when she's preoccupied with issues of national security. Besides she's my significant other, not my babysitter."

[agirllost]

"Well, hopefully, there will never be a reason to put that plan into action." She says calmly but although it shouldn't be hearing Chris referred to as his significant other is a little weird.

"Are you guys still coming to dinner on Saturday?"

[action-antihero.livejournal.com]

"As far as I know at this point, yeah," he says, nodding. "Of course with CTU you never know, but we intend to be there."

[agirllost]

"So that's a tentative barring a national emergency yes?"

[action-antihero.livejournal.com]

He gives her a wry smile. "Yes. And only in this family would we have that kind of caveat with family get-togethers."

[agirllost]

She grins at that, because yes, they can have family get-togethers and they don't have to hide anymore and she doesn't have to lie to everyone.

"Of course, you wouldn't be able to use that excuse."

[action-antihero.livejournal.com]

"No, now it's your turn," his smile perhaps just a little forced. "How's Angie?" He'd been incredibly relieved when he'd come for the visit a few weeks earlier and she'd remembered him after two years of not seeing him.

[agirllost]

She notices but lets him have that moment.

"She's great. We've been going on walks and she's been helping in the garden," she smiles. "She also keeps asking when you're going to come back."

[action-antihero.livejournal.com]

"Well this time you can tell her that it's only going to be a few days."

[agirllost]

She picks up a fry and drops it when she realizes it's too cold to eat.

"Dad, you know...you can come over any time."

[action-antihero.livejournal.com]

"Well with both of you working, I'll try and arrange things at least a little in advance, but yeah, I know."

[agirllost]

She reaches forward and holds his hand for a moment.

Then, turns to look at the beach. "I'm in the mood for a walk. Feel like protecting me from loud teenagers and frisbee catching dogs?"

[action-antihero.livejournal.com]

"I thought you were the one that didn't need protecting from anyone?" he asks, though he gets to his feet.

[agirllost]

She stands to join him and smiles gently.

"Dogs aren't anyone, they're dogs."

[action-antihero.livejournal.com]

"Or anything, then." He dumps his garbage in the nearby garbage can and waits for her to extricate herself from the picnic table.

[agirllost]

She manages not to fall while holding her trash and moving backward. "You're just lucky this isn't a race," she throws out the garbage and walks over to him.

[action-antihero.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, you'd probably beat me, which would be pretty sad," he says, starting to walk toward the beach. "Plus, you have extra abilities to cheat."

[agirllost]

She smiles up at him, "I'd never cheat, but it's not unheard of for a wall of sand to suddenly appear."

[action-antihero.livejournal.com]

"Mmm-hmm. A conveniently placed wall of sand."

[agirllost]

"I'm just lucky that way," she says, slipping off her shoes to walk barefoot. "And now I'm at a disadvantage."