Apprehension: Part One

THE SCENT OF PAUL SEBASTIAN

Allie sat at the bar in Muldoon's. A familiar scent invaded her senses.

"No, it couldn't be. It's not like he is the only person on earth that wears that cologne. Paul fucking Sebastian," she said under her breath.

Then she heard it.

"Are you a parking ticket? Because you got the word fine written all over you," a deep voice said.

"Shawn Blackwell?" she asked. "Is that you?"

She turned around, and there were those aqua-green eyes.

He opened his arms to present himself.

"The one and only."

"What the fuck are you doing here, Shawn?"

"I heard that you were working in C-town, so I thought I would try to find you. Word around the firehouse is that this beautiful cop hangs out at a place called Muldoon's... or Jake's... But I was told never to go there because it's a cop bar."

"God. What has it been like a decade?" she asked.

"Yeah, somewhere around there."

"So, what are you doing here?"

"I actually am here for a job. You remember Craig Swan?" he asked.

"Hmm, Swan," her face looked like she was trying to recall the name. "I met him at that chili cookoff."

"Something like that," he said.

"And he hit on me. I thought he was extremely attractive."

"That comment was unnecessary."

"In hindsight, I should have taken him up on his offer."

"Again, completely unnecessary," he said.

She smiled in satisfaction. She was not going to be the one to bring up the night at Hook and Ladder. It's better to let sleeping dogs lie even though the dog was barking inside of him.

"So, a job, huh? How does Craig Swan know about CFD vacancies?"

"Well, CFD hired him last year and told me they are looking for a new fire captain in one of the houses. I'm surprised that you have never seen him."

"There are twenty-five stations and approximately 775 employees. So, the chances of me seeing someone I haven't seen in over ten years without them specifically looking for me are slim to none. I wished he had tracked me down."

"Are you being serious right now?"

She smiled from the corner of her mouth.

"Would you like to sit down?" she asked.

"Sure. Thanks. I was hoping you would ask since I have been coming in here for the past couple of weeks, hoping to catch you at some point.

"Stalker much? Can I get you a drink?"

She waved Charlie down and ordered more shots and a couple more beers.

"Still doing tequila and a platinum. I see. Some Things never change."

"And some things do."

"Have you changed?" he asked.

"I don't know. I have never known who I really am. Moving around as a kid, I was always someone else so I could fit in. I became someone who protected people and yelled at people to create the ultimate fighter to someone who has killed people. I've been through 18 months of deployment in four years. I watched four of my brothers die literally in front of me. I saw young girls raped and murdered. I'm sure whoever I am has changed, but I never knew me to begin with."