The Fighter

Chapter 38

"I can't do this. I just can't Greg!" I tried to pull away again. "Why? Tell me why Mickie!" he wouldn't let me go. "They're not going to let you near me. I told them I was done with you. I told them that I didn't want you! That I didn't want you near me!" "You told who?" "Kyle, Jet, and John. They said they'd do anything to keep you away from me." "Then don't tell them. You don't have to say anything about me, about us. We can hide it." "Hide it? Are you serious?" "Dead serious." "Why would you want to do that?" I asked. I was exhausted. "Because it's the only chance that we have to be together. And if there's a chance that we can be together, then that's a chance I'll take." "Greg, you really want this?" "Yes. I really want you." "Then why'd you leave?" "Because I had to. I was hurting you and I couldn't stand to see it. I thought that if I left, that you'd be happier. I couldn't say goodbye, because that would make it worse. But, the longer that I was away from you, the more I was going crazy. I couldn't be away from you anymore." "And that's why you came back." I cut him off. "Yes. I came back for you. And I'm not leaving. And if I do, I'm not going anywhere without you." He sighed and I just nodded. I didn't know what else to say, not yet at least.

I didn't know what to do. "Mickie, please say something." "I don't know what to say." "What are you thinking?" "I want to, I really do. But, it's not a matter of if the guys find out, it's a matter of when. They may not know everything, but they sure find everything out." "Then they'll have to respect your decisions. It's your life." "You'd think that it would be that easy. Listen, these guys are my brothers, and I'm the baby sister that they're overly protective over me." "Yeah, but if they're your brothers than they'll be mad, but then they'll get over it because they love you. I know they love you and you know that they love you." "I really hate to say this, but you're right." I sighed. "So, what do you say?" "I say that we can try it." "Good, that's what I hoping you'd say." He smiled and kissed me.

I went home and took a nap. "Mickie!" Kyle came in my room and jumped on me. "How the hell did you get in my house?" I asked groaning. I turned around and put the blankets over my head. "Chief gave me a key! A long time ago actually." He was still jumping on me. "I'm about to give you a bloody nose! Get off of me!" "Are you going to get up?" "Yes. I'll get up, if you get the hell off of me!" I threw the covers back and got up after he jumped off. "So, tell me again why you're here." "Because, I have huge news for you! Good and bad. The good news is, we might have new "kids" to mentor and we're starting up a youth group!" "What kind of "kids" are we mentoring? Like actually children or new recruits. And, if you did mean actually children wouldn't that fall in the same category as the new youth program?" I asked being smart. "Yes, it would, but they don't in this case. Which, is why I did not associate them together in the same category there smart ass."

"So, new recruits eh? Are they going to be interior or are they junior firefighters?" "There are three of them. One works with Pete, he's older than we are. One is Harry's nephew who just turned the magical age of sixteen, and last but not least is another young one who is twenty-one years old." "Oh, those kind of kids. Let's have some fun with them. I'm sure they're itching to get their hands dirty. I know that I was when I first joined." "So was I." Ky laughed thinking back to the old days.

"So, what is the bad news exactly?" I asked moving on and making him come out of his flash backs. "Speaking of Pete.... Greg is on his way back." He broke it to me gently. "Okay." I answered. "Now before you freak out, I know that you don't want him anywhere near you, and I have come up with a plan. Just trust me. You see... wait did you say okay?" he stopped once he realized that I wasn't freaking out. "Yeah, what else can I really say? You expect me to freak? We all knew that he was coming back, it was only a matter of time. It's not like it was a huge shock." "Well, you're right." "I know that I'm right. I'm always right." "I know. I thought that it was weird that you didn't freak out at first." "I've already freaked out, you know that. You were right there when I freaked out remember? Yesterday in the fire house?" "Oh yeah! You had just told me how John told you he was coming back." "See!" I made my point. It was so hard not to tell him the truth. He's my best friend and hiding this from him is killing me. But we both promised that we'd keep it a secret and I'm not breaking my end.

"Hide it? Are you serious?" "Dead serious." "Why would you want to do that?" I asked. I was exhausted. "Because it's the only chance that we have to be together. And if there's a chance that we can be together, then that's a chance I'll take."

I thought about what Greg had said and I really zoned out. "Mickie! Hello?! Earth to Mickie! Mickie can you hear me?" Ky got my attention again. "Yes? Sorry, I zoned out." "What is wrong with you?" "I haven't slept in days! I'm over exhausted." "Well come on, let's go do something." He smiled. The pager went off and our tones rang. "Hale County to Clarksville. MVA with injuries." The pager spoke. I looked at Ky. "We could go do that?" I laughed and we ran for our gear.