I woke up to find Patric cuddling with me in bed. I freaked out for a second because it felt like Gerrin but it wasn't him. He looks like a little baby when he sleeps, it's

adorable. I slipped through his arms and headed to the bathroom to brush my teeth and my hair. I walked out and Patric was stretching his arms out wide while yawning. He

looked at me with sleepy eyes. "Well I see that the couch was not to your liking." He wiped is eyes. "I couldn't get comfy so I thought that you wouldn't mind me staying in

your bed, plus I was worried." All I could do is smile at him. "So, do you want to get some breakfast and head to the hospital?" I nodded my head okay and headed to my

closet. I picked out my short light jean shorts, Gerrin's USMC work out shirt, and my black reef flip flops that I have had forever. I straightened my hair and threw on some

make up while Patric was taking a shower. I washed his stuff last night so he would have everything clean. His white t-shirt is all white again and his jeans aren't covered in

smoke anymore. He came out the bathroom with a towel wrapped around his waist. I blushed super quickly and turned around. "Your stuff is on the bed and I have an extra

tooth brush out for you too. I'll be in the living room." I ran around and slammed the door shut before he could say anything to me. I am blushing bright ass red. I don't

know why I am doing this I have never done this in my life. I shook it off and grabbed one of my monsters from the fridge. He walked out with his hair still wet, carrying his

boots and hat. For some reason, he looks super hot right now. He looked up and I turned around so he wouldn't see my face. I felt hands on my shoulders. "It's okay, I have

that affect on every girl." What the fuck! Ugh! He makes me so mad! He took my monster and drunk like half of it. "Did you want your own?" I opened the fridge and his eyes

light up. "It's like Christmas." I started laughing my ass off. I gave him mine to finish and I grabbed another one. We walked out and he was amazed by how many vehicles

we have. "We are going to take the truck, if that's okay." It's a silver Ford F-250 all blacked out with tinted windows. His eyes got wide. "Never expected the truck to be

yours." I started laughing. "The Rabbit, Jeep and truck are mine. The mustang is Gerrin's. Kate has the charger and her boyfriend has an explorer. We like our vehicles, if you

couldn't tell." He laughed at me and I started driving, thinking about a good place to have breakfast. Nothing really came to my mind, which is sad because I am always

ready to eat. I looked at my phone and I remembered about the diner. We headed down there and he could not believe the menu. "They serve all of this all the time?" I

nodded my head and his jaw just dropped. "I don't know what to choose to be honest, there's so much shit to choose from!" I ordered us some coffee and cream chip beef

over biscuits and damn if he didn't order the same thing because he didn't know what to choose. I keep on looking down at my phone at the picture of Gerrin and I from the

ball. I felt Patric grab my hand. "He will be okay, trust me." All I could do is sigh at the thought of everything that is going on, but then our food came and I shut up.

Patric insisted on driving, which is fine because I'm still a little bit tired and I can't deal with traffic right now. He kept on playing cheery country songs that made me happy

and I sing along with. He made the car ride more bearable until we got there. My heart started to skip beats when we got to the entrance. I showed them my badge and

Patric got a visitors pass. They guided us up to the fifth floor and when I finally found his room, I almost balled my eyes out. I turned around and Patric gave me the okay to

go in there. I stood in the door way and Gerrin's eyes lit up. "I am so happy to see you." I walked over and sat down on the edge of the bed. "You need to start talking to me

about what happened over there because if you don't, you will go crazy and have another episode like you did last night." He grabbed my hand and kissed it. "I love you so

much and so much has happened since I came back but I think I needed to take time for me you know. They are going to run some tests and see what they say, but I think

that I will be in here for a while and I know that you have to go across the bridge for a while but I will keep you informed with everything that's going on. I love you so much

and I will see you soon." I gave him the longest lingering kiss because I know that I will not be back for a while. I walked outside and Patric was already there to catch me as

I cried and we didn't even make it out to the parking lot! He picked me up and put me on his back for a piggy back ride to the truck. He put the tailgate down and I sat on it

while I cried some more. "It hurts so badly, and all you have done is seen the worse of me and I am so sorry that I have wasted your time watching me cry like a baby." He

put his hand up to my face and wiped my tears. "You are not wasting my time and I want to be here to help you, that's what I do. Now, I know that both of us have to go to

the shore so do you want to go back to your place to pack up some stuff and then we go?" I nodded my head okay and he sat me in the passenger seat and all I could do is

lay my head on the middle arm rest while he drove. I feel nothing right now, and it absolutely sucks. We got back and I packed up some of my stuff and left Kate a note

explaining everything, even though I have a feeling that she will be making a trip down to see me anyway.

The drive felt like forever and when we made it to Kent Island, I was starving and I could tell that Patric needed a break from driving. We settled on the Jetty, which I have

never been to, even though I lived over here for like 4 years. But I sure do need a drink. We sat at the tiki bar and I got my captain and Patric got a beer. There was live

music playing and it was just a good vibe, which put me in a better mood. Patric ordered us some shots and man am I in trouble now, shots are my weakness. We did about

2 of them and I had another drink with some food and I am feeling pretty good. They started doing line dancing songs and I am horrible at them, but Patric insisted on doing

at least one. I kept on trying to follow his lead and messing up, but then I finally got it and it was awesome. I kept on smiling and laughing the whole time, it was great. A

slow song came on and I started to walk away, but then he grabbed my waist. "I want to dance with you." I looked up into his eyes and I placed my left hand on his shoulder

and joined hands with the other. We danced slowly, swaying to the music. It felt so different dancing with him, like it comes naturally to me. I kept on looking into his eyes

the whole time we were dancing. He swung me around a couple times and did a dip in the end and it made me smile. I couldn't stop smiling. He grabbed my hand and walked

me over to the bar so we could pay. I pulled out my card but he beat me to it. "You can get me next time." I smiled and wrapped my arms around him for a hug because I

seriously need one right now. He opened the door for me and when I got in, I was knocked out cold.

When I came to, I was in a bed. I turned over to my right and Patric was sound asleep. He must of brought me in, but that means I'm at his house! I freaked out waking him

up in the process. "Are you okay? Did you have a nightmare?" I looked at him with this weird look. "Where am I?" He grabbed me and threw me back down on the bed. "You

fell asleep in the truck and I didn't want to wake you up so I brought you here." I looked down and I'm wearing pajama pants and a baggy white shirt that must be his. "And

you changed me? You weren't afraid?" He started laughing at me. "I'm an EMT sweetie. I have seen a whole lot worse than your beautiful body so don't worry." That made

me smile once again. He got up and threw me a shirt that said SMFD on it. "Come on, let's get ready to go to the firehouse. Go ahead and take a shower and I will make us

something to eat." Just what I wanted to do today, sit at a firehouse all day. I hopped in the shower and got dressed. He must have washed my clothes last night because

everything smells fresh. I put my shorts back on, the shirt he gave me, I braided my hair into a loose fish tail braid and I put on a little bit of make up to cover my breakouts.

I walked down stairs and he had pancakes and bacon and coffee on the table for me. Now I really like this dude. "Eat up, we have a long day ahead of us." I really don't want

to know what we are doing but I have to really go to my aunt and uncle's house and take care of things. But damn, he is a real good cook. I ate everything, which I usually

don't do. He kept on smiling as I ate, it was kind of cute to see. We hopped into my truck and headed to the station and when we got there, all of the doors were open and

people were standing outside with coffee, just talking. I feel so out of place here, but Patric grabbed my hand and lead the way. He guided me inside to the EMS office, where

this Indian looking guy was sitting there with two other guys, one was black and older and one was white and bald. "Hey guys, this is Amanda. Her aunt and uncle were the

ones who were in the fire, but she's going to be hanging out for the day." said Patric. I blushed and introduced myself to everyone. The Indian is named Shaunt, the black

guy is Keith and the white one is Phil. Shaunt is the EMS captain and Phil is the Fire Chief. Keith is safety officer. Shaunt and Patric were talking about some stuff and it

sounded serious, so I walked out to the bay and was looking at all the different trucks. Phil came up to me and started telling me all of the different trucks and what they are

for. They are all so big compared to me, I feel like an ant. He showed me the newest truck, which is the ladder truck and man, is it big. The next thing I know, all of the

trucks were being started up. Phil pulled me over to the rack of everyone's uniform and he went to the empty locker and handed me the pants and boots. "Put these on real

quick and put on the suspenders." When I put it on, it's heavy as shit. He handed me the jacket and helmet. "Take these with you and get on the ladder truck next to Patric."

Patric had his pants on already and he still looks hot as hell. Shaunt got in the ambulance with another girl and Keith got in the truck with us, along with another bigger guy

whose driving, another big guy, and a skinny guy in the passenger seat. The guy in the back with us introduced himself as Billy, the driver is Kevin, and the other guy is

called Watts. We rolled the windows down and the guys were making jokes at each other the whole time. Kevin started calling me daisy dukes, which made me mad but I

went along with it. We were playing country music all the way there and it was so much fun. When I realized it, we were in Easton. We stopped in this field that was full of

old, busted up cars. There were so many fire trucks that I couldn't keep track. There was our company, Tilghman, Easton, Cordova, Trappe and Cambridge all here. All of the

chiefs went up to the front of the crowd and started talking about what was going to happen today, and apparently cars are going to be cut up and set on fire. No wonder

they wanted me to wear this. I stood next to Patric, not sure what was going to happen next. He leaned on my shoulders. "Phil will tell you what to do, don't worry. Sit over

next to the ladies for now until we need you, okay?" I nodded my head okay and went over to the table where all of the ladies were with water and Gatorade. They were all

so nice to me and made me feel comfortable, making me miss my grandmother a lot. Phil started to set the cars on fire and it was awesome to watch. Patric started cutting

up cars with Billy. He looks so into it. Phil waved me over to Patric and handed me the hose. Patric stood behind me, helping me hold the hose. When the water turned on, it

almost knocked my ass over! But Patric helped me stand and we started to spray the cars out, it was so much fun! I wasn't allowed to cut up the cars, but I got to watch and

it was cool to see. I got tired out real quick and sweaty. Keith wrapped his arms around my shoulders and I could tell that Patric was a little jealous. By the time we finished

everything, it was dinner time and I am starving. Everyone decided to stop at Chili's on the way home and all of the staff there didn't know what to do with us because we

took up the whole entire restaurant almost except for the bar, it was funny as shit. We sat by the stations, and I sat in a booth with Patric, Billy and Keith. All four of us

should not be at the same table, yet the same room together. We were messing with the waitress and I felt so bad for her, since I used to work in the restaurant business.

Patric kept on wrapping his arm around me and the guys kept on making jokes about it. Even though Patric knows that I'm with Gerrin, he still flirts with me, which I'm used

to. By the time we got back to the station, it was after midnight and I am exhausted. I literally sit down at the table and was knocked out cold. When I came to, I felt Patric

carrying me in his arms, he felt so warm. I snuggled my head up onto his chest a little more and closed my eyes. I was in the middle of a nightmare, I could feel it. My aunt

and uncle were on fire and Gerrin was in handcuffs, being pushed down, and then the floor disappeared from under me. I was falling into a black hole when I woke up

screaming and covered in sweat. I woke Patric right out of sleep. He grabbed me and was hushing me, saying that it was okay while I was trying to catch my breath. That's

the first time I've had a nightmare since mom died. I started to cry, as usual and held me, as usual. He didn't say anything this time, he just let me cry it out till I fell asleep

once again.