At first, Jim was only half listening to Ali, but as the explanation got intense he found himself drawn in.  Emotions washed through him as she related her woes.  First pity, then disgust, amazement and shock all went barreling through his system.  It wasn't until she finished that he realized he wasn't even thinking about the screw-ups he had caused.<br/><br/>As Ali careened to a halt, Jim knew he had to say something, but he didn't for the life of him know what.  "Wow."  Then a dreadfully long pause.  "If this was some cleverly crafted way of showing me that no matter how bad I think it is, it could always be worse, then you have succeeded."  Jim's pathetic attempt at levity didn't even make himself smile.<br/><br/>"This is a lot to get hit with all at once, and I am afraid I don't know what to say.  Have you told all this to Bree, or does she just think you slept with Will?"  Jim paused again to think, he was trying to piece together something comprehensible.<br/><br/>"Well, I'm certainly not going to get all holier than thou on you.  I don't approve of prostitution, but I'm not going to pretend it doesn't exist.  What I don't understand is the waste.  Look at you.  You are unfucking believably beautiful.  Prostitution is for girls who need to put an inch of makeup on to look hot.  You would look hot rolling out of bed in the morning and your hair stuck at crazy angles like Pippi Longstockings.  There had to have been a better choice."<br/><br/>Immediately Jim felt stupid.  Once again he had opened his mouth and inserted his foot.  "I'm sorry.  It's not my life, I don't know the pressures or the choices you had to make.  I wasn't there and I have no business judging you because of it."<br/><br/>Jim looked up at the passing clouds and wondered how the hell he had ended up here.  His gaze dropped back to Ali.  "Look, I think we both need a break.  I don't want to go home to my lonely house right now.  So, would you like to go get a coffee with me?  Just to set the record straight.  I don't hate you and I don't need to avoid you.  I do think you have some work ahead of you with Bree.  But I will give you a helping hint, she really wants you back, she just can't admit it to herself right now, so you're going to have to do something that you haven't before.  You will have to convince Bree that you have changed and I promise you, it won't be easy.  Why don't you start with a cup of coffee with a friend?"  The way Jim intoned friend gave the impression that Jim could be her friend right now, but nothing more.<br/><br/>Jim held out his hand to Ali.