Us Against All Odds (En)

the interview

We all have a destiny, but we don't always decide to follow it, I had the chance to do so...

Nicholas Sparks

-----

Tuesday had arrived rather quickly. Maya was afraid she wouldn't be ready. She had put on her outfit for special occasions.

Today McCallister was going to come in to do a checkup of the barracks. He was going to take the opportunity to do Captain Bishop's annual maintenance.

On Monday, the entire barracks had been requisitioned to do a major cleanup, Maya didn't want to leave anything to chance. She even stormed Sullivan's office in the barracks and set up the espresso machine for McCallister to use if needed.

The firefighters had all put on their formal wear. In the morning Maya had been obliged to leave her outfit on a hanger and to get dressed in her office, because it had been two days since she came back from the dry cleaner and Carina was drooling too much by looking at her, just hung on the door of the room, to risk to pass in front of her, dressed like that. She had even surprised the brunette to caress the fabric several times.

- "You okay Cap'?" Travis said as Maya came out of her office finally dressed, somewhat tense.

- "it will be better tonight"

-"Don't worry, you're an excellent captain. He knows that."

- "Am I? Like really?!"

-"Maya... You are an excellent captain and I am not saying this to please you. You know my opinion about captains, do I have to remind you that because of one of them I ended up a widower... So when I tell you that you are a good captain, it's because it's the truth" he answered her, putting his hands on her shoulders.

- "thank you Travis"

- "you're welcome Bishop"

The team had gone to line up in the hangar, just before McCallister arrived. He had arrived, head held high as always, and had moved into the bay between the two rows of firefighters.

- "19! Hello!"

- "Hello Chief" had militarily answered the firefighters in unison.

-"Your barracks looks clean. You've dressed up for the occasion. I appreciate the effort. You... Give me a tour," he said, pointing his finger at Jack.

-"But sir..." Maya began

- "I'll see you after Captain Bishop."

The two men had left after Gibson looked at his exe, with a look of desolation.

-"The white man is bound to visit," said Vic, leaning towards Maya.

The latter had then gone to her office, while the other firefighters had gone to the rest room.
They had all changed except Maya.

- "putting on an outfit for five minutes for fifteen minutes drives me crazy," Dean said as he walked through the door of Bishop's office.

- "Hmm?" Maya said as she turned to him, her eyes lost to the window.

- "no nothing, are you okay?"

-"It's okay... I don't understand why he ... Why Jack..."

- "him white man"

- "yes but..."

- "he man, you woman"

- "I have to try not to explode with rage when he gets his sexism in my teeth..."

- "Tell yourself that this is just a bad time to spend... By tonight he'll be gone and we'll be back together."

After an hour, Maya was walking in circles in her office. But what could Jack be doing with McCallister?
Thinking about him, she saw the young man appear in his classic outfit, passing in front of her desk.