Chexton: Wounded Hearts & Battle Scars

Building Something New

*Paul's POV*

[9am I go to work and get dressed whistling everyone else comes in I'm softly whistling Cruz says:]

"What the hell are you whistling for?"

"Nothing. Just in a good mood today."

"Is that ruby red lipstick on your cheek?"

"Guess so. Oh Cruz you're not cooking today. I've got a chef coming in to cook for us."[I put deodorant on and tuck my shirt in we finish getting dressed Hermann  says:]

"Is that bacon?"

"Yes it is."[We go into the common room there's a woman in the kitchen flipping pancakes and scrambling eggs she says:]

"Don't just stand there Raina come give me a hand and get the bacon before it burns please. Good morning guys."

[I go over and take the bacon out of the pan she turns around it's Frankie she looks at the guys her eyes light up when she looks at Paul. She clears her throat and says:]

"Joe you know how much I love you and how much you mean to me so listen to me when I say that YOU ARE NEVER ALLOWED TO COOK FOR THIS SHIFT EVER AGAIN. YOU CANNOT COOK AT ALL. I'm sorry but I'm not trying to hurt your feelings."

"Okay. I won't step in your kitchen."

"It's not my kitchen but okay. Breakfast is almost done and lunch is in the crockpots. GABBY, DON'T EAT LET THEM UNTIL IT'S READY."

"What're you looking at me for?"

"Because the last time I cooked food for the firehouse you and Otis had an eating competition with half cooked chicken risotto and you got food poisoning."

"Well you should've left a note on it."

"I did. Everyone stop. Has anyone seen my bracelet? It's got a heart, moon, sun, five initial charms and a book. I have to find it."

"Are you sure that you wore it today?"

"I always wear it. It's the last gift that Rafi gave me. I've never taken it off."[the garbage disposal starts running it sounds like metal I look at Casey and ask:]"Can you turn it off?"

"It's automatic. It doesn't stop until everything is gone."

"I think I'm gonna be sick. I should go. Breakfast is done. Enjoy guys."

"Frankie."

"Yea."

"I'll do what I can to fix it for you."

"It's ruined by now Paul. It's fine. I hate to cancel."

"No it's okay I get it. Take care of what you need to."[Two weeks later July 3rd Frankie hasn't come back to the firehouse and I haven't seen her since. We're doing a deep clean of the firehouse I'm cleaning the kitchen under the cabinets when I find a bracelet I start laughing everyone comes in Casey says:]

"Is that Frankie's bracelet?"

"Yea. Do you mind if I go over and give it back to her?"

"Yea I do. Do you see how much dust and dirt is on that thing? Have it cleaned up and polished then take it to her after shift."

"She won't see me."

"She's gonna be here at six. I told her that we missed her cooking."

[After work I go home and take a shower I put on a black cocktail dress with my black heels I do my hair and makeup it's 5:30 when I arrive at the firehouse I walk in and see Paul wearing some jeans a nice shirt and a black suit jacket he stops when he sees me I say:]