Chapter 6: Just Another Day
The sun's rays castcaded over the couple still sound asleep on the living room floor, that is until they were awoken by the sound of a phone ringing.
Lee scrambled to answer it, as Roxy moved out of his way rather tired and still sleepy. She glanced at Lee's watch that was entangled in his clothes, it read seven right on the dot. 'Who'd be calling at this hour?' she wondered.
"Hello." Lee barked into his phone once he found it.
"Lee, where are you?" Barney demanded immediately.
"Roxy's house, I stayed the night after the storm blew out the power and trees blocked off the roads. What's going on?" he replied and went into the kitchen for more privacy.
"The storm did a number on the hanger, can you come give me a hand? The other guys are fixing up their own places or helping Tool at his place." Barney explained.
Lee sighed, he didn't want to leave Roxy right now but his leader needed him and he had to check on his place as well for damage and the like.
"I'll be there soon, just need to swing by the house first." he told him.
"Good." Barney said and hung up.
Lee returned to the living room where Roxy was already dressed and folding up the blankets.
"Anything wrong?" She asked as he got dressed.
"No, a friend just needs some help at his place. The storm did a lot of damage." he replied.
Roxy nodded, "Would you like some coffee or something to eat before you go?" she offered.
"No thanks, I'll be fine." he told her as he grabbed his coat.
Roxy played with her fingers not sure what else to say or do, she didn't want him to leave but she couldn't force him to stay.
"Thanks for everything, I'll see you." Lee told her with a smile before going out the door.
"Bye!" she called after him just before the door closed again.
Going upstairs she found the power was back as the lights were on in the hall and her room, she flicked them off.
Opening the curtins letting the sun shine onto her bed as she picked out her clothes for the day and then took a hot shower.
She felt frustrated, last night was really good and they'd both been happy, then this morning Lee treats her like nothing happened at all; am I not good enough for him? she pondered as she scrubbed her skin clean.
As she dried her hair another thought ocurred to her, 'What if he has another woman and he's toying with me?' Roxy took a deep breath and let it out.
"Get a grip, you don't know anything for sure." she said scolding herself for letting her thoughts get away from her.
She decided to worry about Lee later and grab some breakfast after that she'd see if her neighbors needed any help.
Lee found his house was luckily untouched by the storm, he was grateful for that. Hurrying inside he grabbed a really quick shower and changed clothes before going to meet Barney.
'I hope Roxy's not too upset about this, as soon as I'm finished I'll call her.' he thought as he drove along, and soon reached his destination.
"About time Christmas!" Barney called as he lugged a tree across the runway to a pile forming on the grass.
"I had to at least say goodbye." Lee said defensively as he started pulling a tree from the opening of the hanger.
Barney didn't say anything to this as the two men worked hard clearing everything away, and checking the interior and the plane for any more damage.
After that they went to Barney's place for coffee and a bite to eat, besides Barney wanted to talk to his second in command and make sure Roxy didn't know anything that she shouldn't.
"What does she know?" Barney asked as they sat in the kitchen.
"Nothing, I told her I'm a sales man and that's it." Lee replied sharply, he knew the rule of getting involved with someone. Don't tell them anything that can get them hurt or targeted for information.
"Good, keep it that way." Barney told him, he nodded.
"I have to go, call if you need me." Lee said getting up and heading out.
"Sure." Barney muttered to himself knowing Lee was going straight back to see Roxy again.
Lee knocked on Roxy's door a short while later but there was no answer, he went over to the neighbor's house to see if they knew where she was.
"Hey, you're the guy from last night; Roxy's mystery man." Kristy said from the front porch as Lee came up.
"Hi, my name is Lee and you're Kristy." he stated remembering her name.
She nodded, "You're looking for Roxy, she's down at Ruby's giving her a hand with the garden. House number 5, just go right on back." Kristy told him.
"Thanks." he said and headed off down the street.
Roxy knelt in the grass and leaned forward over the flower bed pulling the weeds as Ruby went behind her planting the flowers.
"You're a natural weed puller." Ruby said happily as she noticed how careful Roxy was to get every one of them.
She smiled, "It's easy, and I'm glad to help."
"After this we just need to see about hooking up that water fountain of mine and we'll be done." Ruby informed her.
Roxy nodded, this was just what she needed something to do and keep her attention on something other than Lee.
Soon all the weeds were pulled and she carried the container to the natural waste bag sitting at the end of the drive dumping it in before going back again.
"That goes in the shed in the front corner, while you're in there grab the hose and another pair of gloves." Ruby instructed and she did so.
"Hello there, can I help you?" Ruby's voice carried over to the open shed as Roxy looked for the gloves, the hose was already leaning against the door.
"Hi, is Roxy here? Kristy said she was helping you." Lee said not seeing her.
Roxy was so startled to hear Lee's voice she tripped over a bucket making it fall over with a clang and she grabbed the edge of the shelf to keep on her feet.
"Roxy, are you alright?!" Ruby called in concern.
"Yeah, I'm fine!" she called back as she located the gloves hanging out a box, grabbing them and the hose she went out into the yard.
"Hi Roxy, I was hoping we could talk." Lee told her.
"Hey Lee, I need to finish here first and then maybe we can." Roxy said not bothering to hide her irritation with him.
"Alright, maybe I can help." Lee offered.
"Yes, it'll save Roxy and I the heavy lifting." Ruby jumped in before Roxy could, so she just nodded and followed them to the fountain.
Lee tilted it towards him and held it in place while I screwed the hose on underneath and Ruby connected the other end to the side of the house.
Once everything was ready, Ruby turned on the water but it didn't come out the top, she turned it off again and we checked the fountain.
Wet leaves clogged up the opening, Roxy's arm and her hand were small enough to fit in and she cleaned it all out.
"Try again!" she called to Ruby, and soon water sprung up from the three tier fountain filling the different levels.
"We did it!" Ruby cheered as she joined us to watch the fountain.
"Thank you both for all your help, I'll repay the favor someday I promise." Ruby told us smiling.
"You're welcome, goodbye." Roxy said for both of them and they headed off together back to her house.
"Roxy, I'm sorry for running out on you this morning without talking about last night." Lee told her as they walked.
She nodded, listening to him as he went on.
"Last night was great, and I'd like to take you to a party tomorrow. What do you say?"
'Last night was just great, not wonderful or amazing just great? A party, he probably just wants to show how second best I am.' Roxy thought, crushed by his words.
"No, clearly I'm not good enough for you if last night was just great. Leave me alone, you probably already have another girl who's better than me and just waiting for you." She replied and hurried her pace to get away from Lee.
Lee moved slower upon hearing this, he couldn't believe it.
'She thinks I'm toying with her? I'm going to straighten this out right now.' he thought and ran after her catching up to her at the house.
"Roxy, lets go inside and we can talk about this properly." he said gently in the driveway.
"Fine." she mumbled trying to keep herself together as they went inside.