As I Sit and Wait
by RosalindB
Part 4- Guess who came to brunch? This story is now complete. If Marco talks to me again, maybe there'll be a Lisa/Marco story.
I hadn't seen him in ages, at least that's how it felt. But there he was, still very tall and very thin. His civvies clothes made him look even taller, a bit of gray's starting to edge his hair. His lopsided, country boy grin hadn't changed though.
"Hey Cap! You made it after all!" Chet hopped up from his seat and hustled to shake his hand. As much of a pain in the butt Chet could be, he always respected Cap. Cap knew it too. Heck, he always knew more than he let on. Guess if your a captain, you have to be that way.
"Yes I made it. Sorry I missed the ceremony, had to take my wife to the airport. Congratulations Chet, I knew you'd make it."
Was it me, or did Cap seem to look a little worn out? No, not worn out, sad. That's it, sad.
Cap made the rounds. Roy shook his hand, they slapped each other on the shoulder. Joanne and Cynthia gave him pecks on the cheek. Johnny hopped up and down-well not a full hop, more like fidgeting-waiting his turn to shake Cap's hand. Mike was calm. He and Cap exchanged a few words. I couldn't hear, but Cap looked at both of them funny, then just nodded his head. Lisa gave him a hug. Elmira hugged him too. Elmira's really mellowed out. She's a regular now, so much so we named one of our drinks after her-the Mira Mimosa.
As we made our way to each other, Chief McConnike stepped up and offered his hand.
"Chief McNinny! Great to see you!"
I froze. Johnny, Mike, Roy, Chet and Cynthia's mouths were wide open. Cynthia blurted, "Oh lord."
I'd never thought I'd live to see Henry Stanley put his foot in his mouth. Cap froze too, his hand still in the chief's grip, face red as a pepper.
"Captain Hatter! Good to see you are you taking the chief's exam?" Chief looked over at Cynthia, realizing she must've told the story of how he got that name. Cynthia only shrugged her shoulders.
Then the chief laughed. Everyone else did too. What else could we do?
Dodging the chief, Cap made his way to me.
"Marco this place looks great. You and Lisa really outdid yourselves. You should be proud."
"Thanks Cap. It was a challenge, but well worth it. I love it, and my wife."
Cap flashed that country boy smile.
"I'm really glad for you both. If anyone deserves a new career, it's you. When you got hurt, I worried about what would happen if you couldn't come back. Then when you told me you weren't cleared it was a punch in the gut."
"But Cap, you knew I liked to cook. It just made sense to do this instead."
"Well yeah, sure I noticed you had a passion for it. Hell, how many times did I hear you doing grocery inventory in Spanish?"
We both laughed at that.
"I was cussing at the lack of good stuff Cap."
"So that's what that was!"
Cap took a few bites of his meal. Like most people who tasted our food for the first time, Cap closed his eyes.
"Mmmm. Damn this is good."
Lisa came over and kissed me. I tasted a Mira Mimosa on her.
"Since Mrs. Cap is away, why don't we pack some things for you to take home later?" Lisa, as did Cynthia took to calling Mrs. Stanley, "Mrs. Cap" just like the guys.
"Sounds like a plan to me. Thanks."
Lisa headed back to the kitchen. Cap went serious for a moment.
"Marco, I'm not your captain anymore. You can call me Hank you know."
"I'll try next time. But today, you're still Cap Stanley to me. I learned a lot from you. How to be a good boss, tough but fair. I'll always appreciate it. But I have a question."
I needed to ask him, it was on my mind. He nodded.
"Is everything okay at the station? You look worn out, or just sad."
"Breaking in a new set of twits tires you out," he joked, then got quiet. "I'm okay Marco, just feeling nostalgic. Not sick or anything I promise."
Then we heard the clinking of silverware against glass. Roy stood up and declared,
"Okay, who's gonna do their speech first?"
"Since you're standing pally," Johnny snickered, "You might as well go ahead."
Roy shrugged his shoulders.
"Well, first I think I can speak for everyone when I say congratulations Chet. We all know it wasn't easy, but we're glad you stuck with it." Then Roy quickly sat. He's not a big public speaker.
"I for one am very proud of my nephew-in law," Elmira piped up. "He had a plan and went for it. He's an example of what hard work can do. Now if could just keep his hair cut-"
Good one Elmira!
"You did good Kelly. Made me and my niece here proud," the chief spoke up. "I know you'll keep those recruits in line."
"I love you, and I'm real proud of you. The rest I'll tell you at home," Cynthia teased. Chet went pepper red while we laughed.
Everyone looked at me. I didn't know what to say. Before I could gather a thought, Johnny stood up.
"Um, Chet you and I didn't always see eye to eye. You drove me nuts that first year at 51. For a while I thought you just hated me for some reason. I was used to people hazing me. Then I realized every call we had together, you always had our backs-you and Marco. A couple times you pulled the drug box for us before we could ask. When you'd bring the squad to Rampart, you always asked how the victim was, or how we were. When I got bit by that snake, you were the first one down the hill. Dr. Brackett told me you stayed in the exam room, wouldn't leave.
I've seen the way you bust your butt to improve yourself. I've seen you look at CJ and watch your eyes light up. You're a good guy Chester Kelly. And we're glad to share this with you. Congratulations."
Johnny Gage the pigeon turned into an eagle.
Chet turned to Cynthia, muttering something about dust in his eye. She gently wiped that 'dust' that somehow slid down his cheek.
I guess it was my turn.
"How do I follow that? Amigo, all I can say is we are happy and excited for you. And we are not going to miss the water bombs."
Another round of laughter. Dessert was being brought in. It would soon be time to wrap things up, at least for now. But one other person had to have a chance. We looked at Cap.
He stood up, posture commanding attention.
"Being a captain sometimes resembles being a father. A group of men depend on you for guidance, support, advice, and the occasional kick in the pants. The past six years, I've watched these men grow up. Roy, I knew you'd be a captain and I knew they'd have to drag you kicking and screaming to it because you loved being a paramedic. John, oh John, talk about growing up before one's eyes. You're almost there pal."
We all cracked up at that-even Johnny. Mike smiled at him. There was something about that...
"Mike," Cap continued, "You and your minute details. Arson division is perfect for you. I'm excited you found everything you were hoping for."
Wonder what he meant by that?
"Marco-"
I looked at my former captain.
"You just told me that you learned how to be a good boss from watching me over the years. There is no better honor I could ask for. I also learned from you that it is okay to have a passion that is not necessarily one's job. I mentioned to Chet that I write. And I am going to finish the book I started."
He finally turned to Chet.
"I feel as if the last of my children have graduated and left home. On one hand proud as hell. On the other, sad to see them go. But you deserve that new badge Chet. Just do me a favor, and don't lose it like you lost the other one. Don't make me come up to HQ just to call you a twit."
Cap raised his glass. We all followed.
"Congratulations Chet. Cheers!"