Chapter 10
While Buffy was showering, Welch made his way back to the common room. All eyes looked to him. He knew they were expecting him to say she washed. He shook his head as he made his way to the coffee pot and poured a cup. The guys looked at him again.
"What the hell happened?" Edwards asked.
"Dunno, Man. I ran her ass up and down those steps for 2 fucking hours. She never didn't say a word other than 'Yes, Sir.' Had to cut her loose and let her shower just in case we got a call and she can't do the job."
"Want me to turn down the hot water tank?" Edwards asked.
"No. Orders from the Chief are no more hazing the candidate this shift."
Welch looked them over. He knew they were all itching to get their jabs in, but it wouldn't be today. It would have to wait 46 hours. "Look guys, I know how you feel, but this comes from higher up. Dammit."
Under the hot water, Buffy felt her tight muscles loosening up. She planned on four Advil as soon as she was out of the shower and dressed. She knew she should hurry up and get out, especially since she was already washed, but the hot water felt so good. She felt guilty and turned off the water. She dried off and dressed, and tossed her hair back into a pony tail. Reaching inside her locker, she took out her purse and shook out four Advil from its container. She tossed them in her mouth and slugged down half of a bottle of water. She was thirsty, but she didn't want to drink more because she didn't want to be running to the bathroom every ten minutes.
She entered the common room, and scouted out a place to sit. She knew she wasn't welcome in the house, so she selected a seat on the fringes of the common room. She didn't want to get to close because they would think she was trying to fit in. As a candidate, she wouldn't fit in until her 9 month probationary period was over. At this house, however, she would never fit in and she knew it. She would transfer as soon as she was able, but for the present, she was making the best of a very bad situation.
"So, Candidate, how was your first run with the stairs?" someone asked.
"Just fine," she said as she took another sip of her water. "It was fun, actually."
She didn't know if he was expecting her to whine, bitch, or burst into tears, but she wasn't doing any of it. She was going to play the happy to be here role until it killed her. One way or another, the firefighters at Austin were not winning. She had an advantage. She knew how stubborn she could be. They didn't. There was no way in Hell she was ever going to let them win. She would die first.