<div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote">Quote</div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote">Rachel didn't have Bridget's knack for sarcasm, and even if she had, Bridget was expressing plenty for both of them.  She paled at how close they'd come to possibly being in danger, or worse, suddenly not in a mood for drinking.  Best to be able to think clearly.  "I think you're right, we better go," she answered Bridget, more frightened than truly angry, yet somehow sad at the same time.  Were all vampires like these two?  She hoped not, but her first impression of them wasn't flattering.<br/></blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div><br/>"That settles that then." Bridget said as she reached for her purse. A long enough pause that allowed Karl the chance to speak. Bridget was tempted, sorely tempted to just get up in walk away in the middle of his speech. But the law student in her wouldn't let her. No, the law student in her told her that she had to let him plead his case. Innocent until proven guilty, and all that. The whole American justice system was built on that concept.<br/><br/>There were only a few things he could have said that would honestly, truly change her mind.  But boy oh boy, did he manage to find one of those. His talk about his work, his service to the country, it all hit a little close to home for Bridget, and pushed one of her major sympathy buttons. Karl couldn't know that Bridget had an older brother in the army, currently deployed. Was he any different than her brother and his fellow soldiers? Should he be judged differently for doing the same things American soldiers did every day?<br/><br/>She was quiet for a few long moments as she debated these and a myriad of other questions bouncing around in her head. Weighed all the evidence carefully.<br/><br/>"I'm willing to concede that perhaps you do have a point." she started. "And that I, we, perhaps we rushed into judgement. After all, you are correct, you have done nothing to harm us this evening." she said. "You do have to understand our desire for self preservation, though. We don't know you from Adam, so how do we know what your intentions are?" she asked.<br/><br/>"What I do know is that you are prohibited by law from committing certain crimes against humans. And the punishment is fairly severe, I believe." she said. "So maybe...just maybe, you do deserve a second chance." she said. "Rachel? What do you think? Should we give him a chance? Another chance, that is." she asked.<br/>