[Dirk takes a while to answer. Blake feels a pang of envy for somebody with so few incriminating secrets that it takes a while to think of one. Either that or he's picking something to lie about.]

[His expression changes as Dirk talks. It's not the sort of thing he was expecting. But if Dirk was going to make something up, it'd be some kind of wild bullshit, not everyday family trouble. He hadn't really believed he was a parent at first. It's easier to see here and now, when he's not acting like a 14-year-old skipping school so he can go out and get on people's nerves. Right now, he looks a lot more like a grown man who's seen some shit.]

[Carter runs his finger along the edge of his glass.] I don't know the first thing about raising kids. But here, he could takeoff and never even speak to you if he wanted. It'd be easy. If he hasn't done that, and he's making it okay on his own, you musta done something right.

I was looking for more like "I shot a man in Reno," but that'll work.

[He tilts his head to the side, then nods.] I'll go with the underage clown one.

[He holds his hand up.] But don't tell me any more. I don't wanna know.

[His eyes go up to the light with the green shade hanging over the table, and he shrugs.]

I guess you are physically fuckin' capable of taking something seriously.

[It's clear in his voice that that comes as a surprise.]

[Respect, that's everything. There's nothing Blake hates like being laughed at. All it takes is one person to wreck everything you've built.]