The Fighter

Chapter 46

"You have no idea how much that bothered him." He nodded after I finished telling him the details. "Probably, worse than it bothers Ky. I'm not very trusting of people at first." I shrugged. "You come off strong, and the more you get to know someone, the more you let them in." "Exactly, it's what happens when you grow up with a drug addict father, a dead mother, a deadbeat older brother, and a way younger sister that you have to take care of." I laughed. "You were delt a pretty tough hand." "Sorta, but we survived it. That's the important part. I've never really felt like I belonged anywhere, until I joined the department." "I get it. Your grandfather is the chief right?" "Yeah, it's weird." I laughed. "It's all good." He laughed too.
"How long are you here for? I doubt your staying for life, like your brother wanted to." "No, not for life. I'm staying for a little over a month." "That's good. Well hopefully you don't get too bored." "Hopefully not. You'll be around right? I want to get to know my should've been sister- in-law." He asked. "Yeah, I'll be around." I smiled. "Good, you have to show me all around this place." " I will. Stick with me, you'll be alright." I smiled.
We headed back about an hour later, I dropped him off to his car and decided to go home and called Ky. "Hey! It's about time I heard from you! Were you at the station this whole time?" He answered. "No, I was washing trucks and PJ came in and helped me. Then, he had some answers for me about Greg, so we went for a ride." I explained. "What else did you do?" "We talked, that was it." "No really? What else." He didn't believe me. "Kyle! He and I talked about Greg! That was it!" "Wait, you're not lying are you?" "No! I'm not!" "So tell me everything!" "I'm getting there, but you were too busy doubting me!" I sighed. "Okay, okay. Well, I believe you now! So, shut up and tell me!" "What? Whatever, okay. I asked him if Greg was here that night that I thought he was, and you all say he wasn't. And, he was." I started telling him. " No shit! You weren't crazy. Tell me more." "Okay! Shut up and listen." I rolled my eyes (even though he couldn't see) and continued telling him everything.
Monday morning, I went to put gas in my truck and pick up somethings for Grandma. When, I was done with that, I headed to the firehouse.
Sure as shit, PJ's car was there as I pulled in. I walked in the office and he was sitting there with Kyle and Jet. "Well look who finally decided to make an appearance today." Jet spoke up when he saw me. "Shut up! I had things to do!" I laughed and sat down with them. "So, what's up for today there bro?" Kyle asked me. "Right now, nothing. But, that can change. Are you two tormenting PJ?" I asked picking up a Fire magazine. "No, if anything he's tormenting us! And, if that's not enough he's corrupting us too."  Jet pouted. "I'm sure there isn't much left to corrupt." I laughed. "They aren't my fault." PJ laughed too. "No, I know. I wish I could say that they're mine, but I'm their fault." I shook my head.
"Who forgot to turn the lights on the tanker off?!" Paul yelled from the truck bay. "Which one of you were screwing with it?" I looked at Jet and Kyle. "He was." They both pointed to each other. "You both better go in there before he comes out and butchers both of you!" I laughed and shook my head. "Fine!" They both got up and dragged their feet back to the truck bay.
"So, what's your plans for today?" PJ asked as I put my feet up on Kyle's former chair. "Nothing now. I already did them, so that means I'm free for the rest of the day. What about you?" I asked as I flipped through the magazine I picked up.  "I came down to help the guys, but they were halfway done when I got here. So nothing." He checked his phone. "Okay, let's go get ice cream." I suggested. "Okay." He smiled and we both got up and got in my truck.
We got ice cream and went and I sat at a table on the back of the ice cream place.
"So, the guys are really cool." He spoke up. "Jet and Kyle? Yeah, they're good guys. They both are in love with me." I put a spoonful of ice cream in my mouth. "What? Seriously?" He asked laughing. "Dead! I dated Jet like a million years ago! And, Kyle is my best friend." I laughed too. "So you've dated Jet, but not Kyle? Did you sleep with both of them?" "No! Only Jet, when we were dating! I've never been with Kyle, and I don't plan to be. I just wish people would stop telling me that they loved me." "You get sick of that? Aren't you supposed to love it, as a girl?" "I don't know, but I hate it! What is so special about me? What does everyone else see that I don't? Can someone please tell me?" I asked. " Well, I can see why Greg loved you so much. You're a girl,but you don't ask for much, you don't give a shit what people think, and you try to just live your life. You're also a female fire fighter, and even though this is the modern world, it's still a big deal. You can bullshit with the guys, but still lay down the law. You work hard and you my not show your sensitive side, but you have a big heart when you do." He smiled. "You've literally seen me a total of three times, and you already know me. How does that happen?" I smiled back. "Honestly? I don't know. Maybe I know what Greg was talking about now. Or, maybe I just saw it all myself." He shrugged. "Damn that kid." I smiled thinking about him. Then my eyes filled with tears. "Come here." He hugged me and I cried. "Sorry." I laughed at myself as I whipped my eyes. "It's okay. I miss him too." He slowly let me go.
We went back to the station a little while later. We walked inside, so he could grab his keys and I could get my calendar for the next month. (June was starting in 2 weeks) We walked back out to the parking lot and John was walking toward the door. "Hey you're John right?" PJ asked. "Yeah, who are you?" John asked back. PJ didn't say another word, he walked right up to John and swung.