A/N: Wow, I know that I said that my updates would be sporadic, but believe me when I say that this long between them was not what I had in mind. I just got very caught up in the amount of study I have to do.
Also, if a week goes by without an update on this, please feel free to let me know in a review! Sometimes I need a jump start to get back to things, especially if I'm busy.
Thank you to changingdestiny40, SparkyGirl123 and guest for your reviews!
Guest - Kara does start to seem like that, but I won't have the three of them alone forever! :3 Thanks for the review!
Grant entered the café first, scanning the main room for both Kara and threats. Once he saw her, he led Skye over to the corner booth that Kara had occupied, and waved for the waitress. Skye followed Grant tentatively, nervous at Kara's anger, which had obviously not faded since she left the car. She was sitting slumped over the table, glaring at the menu under her folded arms, and even the waitress seemed uncertain as to whether or not she should approach.
"Kara." Grant said softly, yet firmly, as they walked within earshot.
"Don't Kara me." She snapped back. The waitress, waiting nervously, winced.
"Save that for some other time, Kara." He continued in the same tone. Smiling apologetically at the waitress, whose name tag read SHELLY, he addressed her politely. "Could we have some water, please?"
"Of course." She murmured, casting a suspicious look at Skye as she slid into the booth next to Grant. "It'll only be a minute." She turned and walked through to the kitchen, her posture tense.
"How do you do it?" Kara whispered angrily, still trying to burn a hole in the table top.
"Do what?" Grant replied, leaning forward with a pinched expression.
"Forgive someone for thinking the worst of you." She heard the slow intakes of breath from both of her companions, and knew she'd probably taken it too far, but refused to show it.
"It's a bit hypocritical, isn't it? You expect me to be okay with you treating Skye like she can't see her wrongs herself." He said in a low voice, pulling back at the end as Shelly approached with their drinks. "Thank you." He smiled at her again, but she nodded stiffly this time, her attention mainly on Skye.
"Are you okay?" she asked, her brow furrowed with concern. She seemed to be making a conscious effort to not look at Grant. Skye looked at her, momentarily confused, then she realised that her eyes would still be red-rimmed. Even Kara glanced up at the waitress' words, her own eyes tightening with guilt at the evidence of her spite.
"Oh, yeah, I'm fine." Skye laughed good-naturedly. "Just remembered something, that's all."
"Okay." The woman nodded with a small smile. "Would you like to order now?" she asked the group.
"If we could have a few minutes." Grant suggested. Shelly nodded again and left them. "We have to go. Drink up." He said in the same low tone as before.
"What?" Kara and Skye said at the same time, glancing at each other. "Why?"
"Because she's gone to call the authorities, that's why." He drained his glass in one go, and carefully set it back on the coaster. "She didn't believe you, Skye, and since Kara's angry and I'm the one speaking for us, she thinks that I'm abusive." He hurriedly explained. "Now come on before S.H.I.E.L.D. turns up."
Alarmed, the girls gulped down the water in their own glasses and slid out of the booth as Grant pulled out several notes to cover the cost of the water and tips. He hurried past the pair of them, taking hold of their hands and pulling them towards the exit.