A/N: Thanks for reading! It makes me so happy when I see that people are still reading my story even though I am horribly inconsistent with updating! Oh yeah and Happy New Year!

Chapter 21 I Didn't Care for It

Ellie knew she was going to be late as they sat in traffic. She was supposed to go to dinner with her grandfather and an associate. She cringed as she thought about what her grandfather was going to say. He had asked her to be back in time for this dinner and she had missed it. She had her back pack on and hit the ground running when car stopped in front of the hotel.

The door to their room barely slowed her down. She slid to a stop as she saw her grandfather in his tux talking on the phone. She could see through the door to her room to the dress laid out on the bed. "Oh this is not going to be good." She thought.

Mitchum hung up the phone and looked at his granddaughter the disappointment evident on his face. "So nice of you to take time from your secret excursion to show up, too bad your only three hours late." He said with indifference.

"I'm so sorry grandfather I lost track of time but I can be ready to go I just need to put on the dress and wash my face. Three minutes, I swear." She said moving towards the bedroom.

Mitchum took off his jacket and silenced her with a look of disappointment she had never seen before. At least not directed at her, it was the same look he always got when she asked about her father. "That would be rather pointless dear since Dr. Bass is now on his way to the airport. Regrettably he couldn't afford to waste anymore of his time on a child who couldn't even be bothered to make an appearance. I off course offered your apologies. Apparently, Dr. Owsley had mentioned your exceptional performance this summer and Dr. Bass was looking forward to meeting the young woman who has made such an impression on him. It's too bad really." He said before closing the door to his room.

Ellie slowly sat on the step thinking about what her grandfather had said. 'Dr. Bass the creator of the bone farm had been there to meet her. Dr. Owsley had been pleased with her this summer, she had never been sure if she had worked hard enough, tried hard enough. But she had, she had stood out and he spoke of her to Dr. Bass. And she blew it!'

She stood up and moved to the phone ordering dinner for her and grandfather from room service and she changed into her pajamas since they were obviously staying in. She quietly answered the door for the waiter and helped move plates from the cart to the coffee table. After signing the bill she went to her room grabbed a pillow and blanket. She made a nest of blankets on the couch before searching for the perfect wallow movie.

It was about an hour later when Ellie heard, "What are you watching?"

She looked at her grandfather as he sat at the other end of the couch, "One tree Hill soap net is running a marathon. I caught it at the beginning so this is the first episode"

Mitchum just looked at the tv "Your mother lets you watch this show?"

"Sure. She has a thing for Chad Michael Murray. It's a good show two half brothers having to come to terms with each other after learning the rumors they have heard their whole lives is true they really are brothers. They get put on the same basketball team one was raised rich one poor."

"Which one is Chad Michael Murray?" Mitchum asked grabbing an eggroll off one of the plates and pulling her feet into his lap.

"Lucas that one right there, the blonde one, he is a writer, sensitive and brooding. I think Nate is cuter though. I like him better as the show goes on and he gets nicer. He's soo cute." She said with the obvious signs of a crush.

They watched in silence for a while until Mitchum asked her "so you like bad guys?"

Ellie thought of how best to word it before answering. "I like his looks, tall, dark hair, light eyes. I like that he is honest about who he is, this Nate is a jerk but he meets someone who makes him want to be better. He's like Finn he could be a complete asshole if he wanted he has the power to but chooses not to. I like that. You may not like it but I want to meet a boy like Finn someday."

Mitchum shook his head. "It amazes me the way your mother transformed Finn from a drunk into the man he is. She did the same to my son at one point, I don't know how she does it."

She looked at her grandfather before shifting. She settled in with her feet tucked up under her and her head on her grandfather's chest. "What were they like together? I can't really remember."

Mitchum thought before answering. "It was the two of them against the world. Unfortunately I didn't spend time with them together, but she was good for him. He stopped screwing around, went to class, I didn't have to bail him out of jail as often. He was being more responsible. He wasn't always as good for her though. He may have taught her to break out of her shell but he also taught her to break the rules which wasn't good for her. They loved hard both of them and they fought for it."

"If it hadn't been for me would they have made it?" Ellie asked biting her lip.

"It had nothing to do with you. You, my dear, were a joy from the moment you got here. Don't ever doubt that." Mitchum brushed her hair back watching as a strand curled around his finger.

Ellie snuggled in closer before saying quietly. "I'm sorry about letting you down tonight. I've never done that before, I didn't like it."

Mitchum hugged her close before saying "I didn't care for it either."