Claire sighed softly at the local Taco Time with a couple burritos in a blue tank top and tattered jeans with her favorite flip flops on. across from her was a middle-aged man in a U.S. Army physical training outfit. Claire sighed and looked into his eyes. "What can I help you with Sergeant Beckett?" She asked lazily. The man sighed, "Would it hurt just once for you to call me DAD?" He asked as he crossed his arms. Claire just sipped her soda and glared at him. "Considering the day you saw my tattoo, you declared me 'No daughter of yours.' why YES I think it just might." She answered simply. Michael Beckett just rubbed his shaved head and sighed. "Look.... Claire... That was a long time ago, after your mom died, I just wanted what's best for you... and I still do! Laser surgery isn't that bad, and I'm even willing to pay for it if you'll just enlist! you can travel and get more inspiration for all those drawings you like to do? get rid of that stupid tattoo shop nonsense and follow in my footsteps!" He said with a bit of hope in his voice. Claire just grunted and looked at her food. "So my Boyfriend has this little brother right? he makes bigger versions of these with fresh ingredients. He calls them PURRITOS! Cute right? But it's not just a cute name, those things are to fucking die for! Wanna know why? Because when someone has a dream, and nobody tells them their dreams are stupid... beauty thrives! But the main point here is that I could be face deep in one of those delicious things by now, Instead I'm forcing myself to pretend this junk is better in an effort to rekindle a relationship with a man who walked out of my life years ago.... only to realize he hasn't really changed." She said with a sad sigh. Michael just frowned. He wasn't sure where his Daughter got THIS much attitude from, or this bizarre idea that life grafting ink onto flesh was better than the time he amassed in the service, but he at least owed it to himself to try to make her see reason. "I Still love you, Claire! When I heard your home and shop burned, I took time off to come back to this country! And what do I find? You shacking up with some loser druggie bum, and his cross-dressing little brother who looks like a hippie! I raised you better than that!" He said sternly. Claire's eyes narrowed at him. "You can insult me, mock my dreams, spit on the way I live my life, and even try to pressure me into a life I don't want... But don't you DARE mock Blake or Branch... when I had nothing, they gave me everything! When some asshole burned my shop down, BLAKE was there to kick his ass! Blake manned up and helped me in every way you have not! In the short time I've known him, he's been a bigger part of my life than you ever have! When you change your attitude, we can try again.... until that time comes, goodbye Sergeant Beckett!" She said as she stormed out of Taco Time. "Claire! Don't you DARE walk away from this conversation!" Called Michael before the door slammed.
Claire's drive home felt like a blur. if there was traffic or anything in her way, she barely noticed or paid attention as she sped home. As she pulled into the driveway, she let out a long sigh before she swallowed it and walked in, sliding out of her clothes in the hallway as she accidentally pushed Branch out of the way and bumped into Lazaros' shoulder. "EXCUSE ME!" he said as he glared at her, only to freeze when he saw no light or life in her eyes. "Everything okay Claire?" Asked Blake as he walked in from his room. Claire barely noticed him as she grabbed her bikini. "Gonna get some extra hours on lifeguard duty." She said robotically while getting dressed. Blake just looked at her carefully. "I take it meeting your dad didn't go well?" He asked while trying to look her in the eye. "Then I'm going to go surfing all night, no need to wait up." Continued Claire as she reached for her board. Blake quickly moved Claire's surfboard out of the way and hugged her tight. Claire just tried to reach for her board frantically. "Blake please let me go..." She begged as she shook while gulping for air. Blake just locked in his grip and squeezed her in closer. Finally, Claire just hugged him back and frantically sobbed into his chest. Branch just sighed and looked to Lazaros, "I Say we give them some space, Claire looks hungry still, A good Purrito and and some of your cupcakes should help her feel better." Lazaros nodded and sighed as he headed with Branch to the kitchen.
A bit of time passed and Claire was digging into her fresh food. "Oh thank GAWD! This is way better than those sad pathetic excuses for burritos Taco Time had! She said happily, Lazaros just scoffed, "I should HOPE so! I Did not spend all that time training in culinary arts just to lose to fast food!" He answered simply. Claire chuckled a bit, she didn't like Lazaros' stuffy attitude much, truth be told he came off as a pompous ass when she first met him, but the man loved Branch, and he had the skills to match his ego. "Thank you... all of you... this could have been one of the worst days of my life if not for you three." She said softly. Blake, Branch, and Lazaros all just smiled back, Branch getting ready to serve the cupcakes, which got Claire all the more eager to dig in. She knew there were more run-ins with her Father to come, and that the food was only a temporary fix. But for the time being, she had everything she could ever want all in one room.
