Flames of Courage Stand alone book

CH1 The Move

Badge of Honor; Flames of Courage

Masen:
As children we are often asked what we want to be when we grow up, and as children often do, they say things then change their minds. Well I didn't. Ever since I can remember, my dream has been to become a firefighter. Most kids who answer this say that because they want to be heroes. My reason, because it's the family business and I wanted to be just like the men who raised me.

Yes I said the MEN who raised me. You see, I was adopted by the New York City Fire Department. I know it sounds weird right? Well it's true. Who ever my birth mother was, left me in an old laundry basket wrapped in towels just inside bay 3. My Pops Giddeon is the one who found me. He called for my dad Mark, who was the chief at the time, and they called in the police. Well after staying in the care of the hospital for two weeks I was returned to the fire station. The rest as they say is history.

I grew up a happy child in a loving home. I always knew I was adopted and I never wanted to find my birth parents. The way I saw it was, if they had wanted me they could have found me. My fathers raised me in both the station house and our two story town house. Growing up in the station house was really fun and it taught me everything I needed to know about being a firefighter. By the time I was old enough to drive I was a fully certified First Responder. By my senior year of high school I was a trained EMT and volunteer firefighter.

Two weeks ago, I graduated from the very prestigious fire academy. My father Mark is still the fire Captain at my firehouse, Giddeon is now the District Chief for two other companies including the one I for.

So basically my dad Mark is my boss but my pops Giddeon is all our bosses and gets to tell dad what to do and he sometimes listens. It can be rather hilarious when dad tries to bribe pops to get his way but it usually never works. Dad has been wanting a new fire truck for years now and pops denies his request every time I think it's some kinky game they get off playing with each other ewww.

Anyways back to today my excitement is not due for my own graduation as it was merely a technicality. I have had a place at the station house I was found at for the past five years. No my excitement is for my best friend and super secret crush, Blake O'Neil. He just got promoted to detective! He finished police academy while I was going through my paramedics course, and now is the youngest detective on the force. So tonight our families are getting together at my childhood home for a celebratory barbeque.

I have known Blake since elementary school. The way we met is pretty funny actually. We both attended a Catholic school, and were bullied the very first day. Why you may ask? Everyone thought Blake was a girl and that I was a freaky giant. I saw Blake on the playground one day after lunch and this group of older kids were hitting him while another kid held him down. Now my parents taught me never to start fights but if I ever saw someone in trouble I had to step in. So that's what I did. I jumped right in and started beating up the other kids.

Now, you would think that since I saved his ass he would thank me and we'd be friends right? Nope. He punched me square in the gut.

"I'm not some weak girl you monster! I could have handled those guys easily!!" He yelled before running off. After that we became enemies all throughout grade school. It wasn't until we got into high school that we became friends.

It was after we came back from summer vacation between sophomore and junior year that my feelings toward Blake had changed. He had attended some kind of boot camp over the break and had apparently hit some kind of growth spurt. He left for the break 4 inches shorter than me and lanky. He came back at least 5 inches taller and outweighing me by a good 30 lbs in muscle. I couldn't take my eyes off him for nothing. He was still the rough and tumble guy he had always been, but he held a soft spot for me.