Stay - Chicago Fire [1]

Chapter 2 - Fine Be That Way

[ORIGINAL CHAPTER]

I walked out of the fire academy that day hoping to see my mother because she was supposed to pick me up, but instead I saw my father standing in front of the car, looking confused because he wasn't supposed to be there. "Get in the car," Dad said angrily, so I walked over to the car and got in. "We'll talk about it when we get home," Dad said before driving us home, implying that he was angry with me. "Dad," I shouted, attempting to get him to talk to me as he got out of the car, slamming it behind me. "INSIDE," Dad snarled, pointing to the door.

I was huffing my way to the door because I wanted my father to listen to me, but he was unhappy with me. As soon as I went through the door, Dad slammed it shut behind him and began to yell at me, "how could you know how I feel about any of my kids being fire fighters and you go behind my back and apply to the fire academy," Dad shouted, causing my mother to appear.

"What's going on?" my mother asked as she entered the living room. "Our daughter applied to the fire academy," Dad yelled angrily as he glanced at my mother, who stood there with a guilty expression on her face. "I found out this morning but" Mom said before being interrupted by my father "and you didn't tell me" Dad said "lower your voice Christopher" mom said looking uncomfortable "I've seen so many people die, kids for god's sake I will be calling in favours" dad said which made me angry because all I've ever wanted to be since I was a kid was a firefighter.

I became upset and angry because I understood how he felt, but I still expected him to support me, which he didn't. "It's my life, dad, and I want to be a firefighter, so you can throw curveballs at me all you want, but I'm not going to give up, so be that way," I yelled angrily as I stormed out of the living room. "I'm not done yet" Dad exclaimed as I turned back, "Well, I am," i said "but as you know, you've always been my hero." My eyes welled up with tears as I explained that my father was my hero, but I felt alone. I went to the gym early the next morning before anybody else woke up to avoid meeting my father because I couldn't bear another argument. I also needed to work on my fitness every day since, even though we shouldn't have to, women do have to work more to be considered as even half equal to males.

Working hard at the gym helped me to focus on something other than my father. If I wasn't a firefighter, I wasn't sure what else I wanted to do or if there was anything else I could do, plus I had to work hard to prove my father wrong. I knew something was up when I saw Jack on the opposite side of the gym with a smirk on his face before he walked over.

"Well, I went by your place to see you and your mom said you'd be here and you might need someone to talk to," Jack said as he sat down next to me on the rowing machine. "I'm guessing she told you about the argument last night," I added, causing an odd smile to come on his lips. "Dad doesn't realise that all I want to be is a firefighter," I said as I continued to ride the bike, "he just doesn't want you to be a danger," Jack said, causing me to come to a halt and turn to face him.

"I'm going to be in danger all the time." i said  "Your still his daughter though he wants to protect you in that sense you're lucky in that sense"  jack replied, which elicited a look on his face. "I'm more likely to get shot than perish in a fire" I remarked, which elicited a look on his face. When Jack was a few weeks old, his father abandoned him and his mother. As Jack grew older, he was left to care for himself, so he spent a lot of time at my parents' house, where Mom and Dad treat him like their sixth child. "I suppose, but he has to accept the reality that this is what I want to do, and nothing will stop me." i said as we looked at each other.

Later that evening, I went home as late as possible so that my father wouldn't argue with me. As I walked through the door, I noticed that the downstairs was empty, indicating that everyone was in bed, but as I walked into the living room, I noticed that the television was on and that my father was sat on the couch, so I tried to sneak past him upstairs but he saw me. "Kiera wait," Dad said as he looked up at me, "I'm not in the mood for another argument dad I'm tired and just want to go to bed" i said hoping he would just let me go upstairs.

"Please sit down for a minute" Dad said before i walked over to the couch sitting down next to him before he passed me a beer "I'm not 21" i said because the drinking age in Chicago "Ahh" Dad said with a grin on his face so i accepted the beer and took a sip "I'm sorry for reacting the way i did" Dad said which made me smile "but i wish you had spoken to me first" Dad said but i wanted to speak to him but i was worried about exactly what happened "I knew how you would react" I said as I took a sip of my beer but looked in the other direction "Dad your my hero I wanted to be like you" I said as I looked at him which made him smile "really?" Dad asked "of course and if I'm even a third of the firefighter you are I'd be happy" I said before he hugged me.

"Well if you insist on being a firefighter we're going to get you fighting fit, you need to impress your instructor if you want to pass as well as impress the brass at the CFD" Dad said with a proud look on his face "but from what I've been told your starting to do that already" Dad said with a grin on his face "thanks dad" i said finally beginning to feel happy because now my dad was on my side.
End Of Chapter 2