Chapter Two

It was still summer but Brianna's school was already arranged. Her school in Texas had a campus in Burlington and her dads were lucky enough to get her enrolled there for September. With the curriculum being identical that would at least would be easier for the teenager being she would re-enrolled in the same school upon the family's return to San Antonio just in time for midterm exams. The landlord agreed to allow the couple to put up a privacy fence around the large front yard because there were children and dog living there, but it was a their own expense. The men were fine with that; they were the ones who wanted swingset and sandbox for their daughters, particularly their youngest. It was great to have those things at the grandparents but Cori should be able to enjoy the same at home too, where she was still more comfortable.

Unfortunately their driveway was smaller than their Texas home. So Brianna had to shot hoops at her grandparents' house five houses down and across the street. She was welcome to any time; she didn't have to call and ask. There was a huge park around the block from where the family now resided, a very huge park. One that not only had a great playground, but a skate park and basketball hoops. Bri really enjoyed coming here either with her new friends or if her family tagged along. Cori was still undecided; the park was so big and filled with noisy kids of all ages. She had started to play with other kids, with much encouragement, if they happened to be at the park when she was. But she wasn't even close to wanting to ask any of these kids to come back to her house for a play date. Her parents were proud of her for making the step forward that she had. It was brave for a child who was so shy with children her own age. Cori's therapist told her parents that this shyness around large groups of kids caused her anxiety because it took her mind back to life in the group homes. Maybe deferring kindergarten, with therapy, socialization and encouragement the girl would have cleared this hurdle by the time she started school. Cori would be meeting her new (and temporary) therapist, at home, next week.

After that, she would have appointments at the woman's office.


TC Callahan and Drew's friendship was not over completely the two were not as close as they once were. Putting maturity aside, the men were at two different points in life. TC flew down to Vermont to surprise his friend for the weekend, on behalf of the night shift ER staff. How Drew and Rick were able to make a home for their daughters and settle them back into a routine in a different state so quick impressed him. TC's instincts had been right; maybe he shouldn't be a dad anytime soon. Life wasn't about you then, it was about the children, he wasn't ready for that. Still TC was glad that Cori wasn't as standoffish with him as she had been in Texas. He may not have been ready for fatherhood but he liked children, especially Drew's. His friend was off Saturday and Sunday. It a good thing this week because Drew had it with one of his recruits; during one of simulated war-zone exercises the guy told Drew it was "overly dramatic" and "ridiculous." Who did Drew think he was? Stephen Spielberg? Where was his director's hat?"

After Drew ripped into him for disrespect, telling wanna-be medic "if you think this is dramatic, you wouldn't last five seconds with the real thing' and made him do fifty push-ups he ordered to see his superior. Drew was late leaving work because he had to write the recruit up and see said superior with the recruit about the situation. It wasn't up to Drew but it was likely this guy's military career was over before it started.

Both TC and Rick could see how Drew handled that situation. They wouldn't have wanted to be on the other ending. Whether in the hospital or the army, you didn't challenge the person training you like that.

"You only made him do fifty?" TC said. "I would have doubled that."

"I thought 'bout it," Drew said. "But he was safer out of my face."

TC was left alone with Cori while Rick started dinner and Drew took a shower. It was only twenty minutes later, he had her in a cape (an Avengers bath towel) and destroying a lego city of villains.

Who knew Thomas Charles Callahan had such an imagination?