Disclaimer: Not mine.

A/N: This is what I picture Holston to look like Alexis Bledel: http : // / frominsidethebox / 2007 / 05 / (except without all of the spaces)

Oh, and I changed the rating. I realized that it was only the language in the first chapter that made it slightly M. So, now its T. Hope you like this update!

Chapter 14: Heroes, Heroines and Their Great Reunion

Warren was frustrated. He was sitting. Doing nothing. Taking deep breaths as the paramedics had instructed. Annoying paramedics.

Of course none of them knew that he was a super so they thought the ten minutes or so that he had spent in the burning school had nearly killed him.

Which it hadn't.

He'd already felt the recovery. His powers allowed him to heal more quickly. So, the once smoked lungs were clear. They were damaged permanently, sure. But even super lungs with healing ad flame throwing capabilities can't stand that much. There has got to be some limit to reach where scars are left.

The paramedic instructed Warren to, "Keep breathing for 10 minutes. I'll be back to check up on you then." Then the guy left.

His mistake.

As soon as the nurse's back was turned, Warren hopped off the gurney, slid the mask off and searched around.

Both of the kids sat on gurneys nearby with masks similar to the one he had just discarded. Unfortunately for the paramedics, both of the kids were protesting.

They wanted to go home.

They wanted to take off the masks.

Where was Ms. Holston?

Could they go into the front of the nearby ambulances?

What about the fire trucks?

Or the fire station?

Did they have dalmatians?

Could they redo Danielle's hair? Her hair was no longer in a pony tail and her bow wasn't on straight.

Warren chuckled.

The paramedics turned around. "Hey Peace."

He nodded in response.

The paramedic faced the kids again. "This is the fireman who carried you out of the fire."

Mark looked at him in awe. His eyes roved up and down Warren's arm which were now uncovered. The black wife beater was dirty, frayed and holed in some placed. He still wore the yellow uniform pants. "Woah! You're like spiderman! Or Batman! Or even Superman!"

Warren raised any eyebrow. He personally thought he was more like Superman even if his favorite of the three was Batman.

True, Spidy had powers, but really?

And Superman, yeah, he saved the day, but he had powers, like him.

But Batman, he had no powers, just amazing skill and ability and he still kicked ass.

The girl, Danielle, ducked her head. Quietly, and sounding as ashamed as any six year old could, she said, "I'm sorry."

His eyebrows lowered.

He took a step closer and knelt in front of her gurney.

"Why?"

"Because you went into the fire. I didn't like the fire. It was soooo hoootttt and I...and I...and I couldn't breeeeeathe. That man," she pointed to the paramedic, "said I went uncon..uncon..."

"Unconscious?" He looked to the paramedic. The guy was talking to another paramedic.

"Yeah. So you went unconscious, right? You went into the fire too?"

"I didn't go unconscious. I just got tired."

"Yeah!" Mark interjected, "Because he's like Superman!"

Warren laughed.

"So is Ms. Holston!" Danielle stated.

"No! She's not a man!" Mark argued.

Danielle, shook her head and reasoned, "But she shot water at the fire! Remember?"

"But she said she couldn't fly!"

"But the fire disappears into her hands!" Danielle was more avid now, sure in her argument.

"So?"

"That's a power too!"

But Mark was sure too. With the certainty of a ten year old, he finished, "But she's not a guy! Only the guys have powers."

Then he listed names, "Superman, Batman, Spiderman." And that was was that.

Danielle frowned. She saw her brother's point and accepted it. Still, she began to kick her legs back and forth, a sign that she was annoyed at being shot down.

Warren, amused by the argument, said, "Well, what about Superwoman? Catwoman? Storm, Phoenix, Invisible Girl..."

As he listed off some more heroines, Holston walked up from behind him.

She smiled. Apparently the fireman who had saved them was a comic junkie.

As Warren listed a few more, Mark looked a little disgruntled and Danielle was beaming.

"See!" Danielle exclaimed to Mark, "Girls can be heroes too! Like Ms. Holston!" She pointed to the woman behind Warren.

Warren rose from his kneeling position. Even with black smeared on her face and clothes and her hair in disarray, Warren had to admit that the woman was pretty.

"So, you've got powers huh?" He asked.

She nodded warily.

"Why weren't they working in there?" He motioned with his head towards the remnants of the school.

"I absorb stuff. I kept trying to absorb the flames, lessen them, but I was overheating and it was beginning to burn me. There was too much. I guess I do have a limit. That's why by the time you got to us, I was pretty much dead weight. I was dehydrated and my body had filled its capacity with already too many molecules."

He nodded his head. She still looked flushed and her hair that had fallen from her pony tail was plastered onto her face by sweat.

"You probably already know my name, but I'm Jenny Holston. Aren't you Warren Peace?"

"No! He's Superman!"

Jenny smiled, amused with Marks the comic antics involving the assumed Peace. She motioned with her head if he'd like to join her on a walk, away from the kids and medics.

"Yeah" he responded. "How'd you know?" Then, recalling the first time he had heard her name when getting the report about the fire, he asked, "I thought it was Jean?"

She shrugged. "The principal calls me Jean. He thinks it sounds more professional than Jenny and he thought Jennifer was too long. And I more or less guessed who you were, what with you touching the burning stuff. Doors, walls, metals. And you were never hurt. You just kept going.

"Then I remembered when I woke up just now that there was a junior at Sky High when I was a senior who was the son of Baron Battle. Warren Peace. Flame thrower, leather wearing, brooding, reading, silent and hottie extraordinaire of Sky High."

She paused, reminiscent of her high school days. "You were the resident bad boy even from your freshman year."

She giggled as Warren rolled his eyes.

"Some girls in my class had crushes on you...but yeah, I just remembered and added one and one to two."

She motioned to Warren. "Young looking, college age - my age - fire tolerant guy with the red streak in his hair." She motioned towards the streaked strands of hair.

"Didn't you start hanging with Stronghold in your junior year?"

He nodded. "Yeah, he's still at school."

They fell silent after that. Continuing to walk together, they eventually ended up with the Captain of the squad.

Warren checked in with the captain, saying his equipment had been destroyed in the fire and that only his boots and pants remained.

The captain accepted this and said that the squad was leaving in about ten minutes back to the station. Most things had been dealt with at the site and they were given the go ahead to return by the feds.

Warren said he'd be back then. The captain saw Holston though and raised his eyebrows.

"Shouldn't you be checking up with the medics ma'am?"

Jenny shrugged. "They said I was fine."

The captain nodded and turned back to Warren. "Just be on the truck in ten."

Not waiting for a response, he walked off, leaving the two on their own.

Jenny gathered some guts though and said to Warren, "I just wanted to thank you. I don't think we would have lasted much longer. Plus, I think you were pretty much our last chance. No citizen could have gotten us by then. So...thanks." She gave him a small smile and squeezed his bigger hand in her petite one.

She walked away.

Warren had to admit that she still looked pretty despite the grime and sweat of the fire. And her blue eyes did really stand out. He called out to her, "Hey, wait!"

She didn't turn around.

"Hey! Jenny!" he called out again.

This time she did turn around. Looking surprised, she responded, "Yeah?"

Warren had already walked up to her already. Closer, he asked, "Would you, umm, want to hang out sometime?"

Her face lit up. "Yeah! That'd be great."

"Cool...um" he reached into his pocket but already, he knew he wouldn't have his phone because he was wearing the yellow uniform pants.

She chuckled. "I don't have my phone either. I think it burned with everything else in the classroom. Do you want to just meet somewhere?"

"Sure."

"Well, I'll need to do some stuff to set things right after this," she motioned towards the burnt building.

"Does sometime this weekend sound good?" Warren asked.

"Yeah."

"You like Chinese?"

"Sure."

"I know this great Chinese restaurant, The Paper Lantern." He looked to see if she recognized it but she had no reaction so he assumed not.

"It's a great place and I know some of the people there personally. Sound good for a lunch or dinner?"

"Yeah, that's cool. What time? I'm thinking dinner?"

Warren remembered that he was off duty at five that on Saturday so, he asked, "Seven on Saturday?"

"Great! So...see you then?" Cue the awkward good byes.

"I guess."

"'Kay...well bye?"

"Uh...yeah"

This time she walked away without interruption.

-!-!-!-!--!-!-!-!-!-!-! -!-!-!-!--!-!-!-!-!-!-! -!-!-!-!--!-!-!-!-!-!-! -!-!-!-!--!-!-!-!-!-!-! -!-!-!-!--!-!-!-!-!-!-! -!-!-!-!--!-!-!-!-!-!-! -!-!-!-!--!-!-!-!-!-!-! -!-!-!-!--!-!-!-!-!-!-! -!-!-!-!--!-!-!-!-!-!-! -!-!-!-!--!-!-!-!-!-!-! -!-!-!-!--!-!-!-!-!-!-!

Freshly showered and home for the weekend from his duties, Warren walked into the Paper Lantern at exactly 6:58. He looked around the restaurant and saw Jenny.

He walked towards the table she sat at. She saw him as she sipped her water, smiling.

"Hi" she greeted him.

He nodded in return as he sat.

"A waiter just came by but he said he would come back when my date arrived so he'll probably come around again soon.

In the mean time, they sat there, silent. Warren, usually not so talkative, was aware that even this silence was awkward.

Just as Jenny began to speak, a waiter came.

"Good evening. I'm John. I'll be serving you today. Is there anything I can get you to drink?"

"I'll have a diet coke" Jenny replied.

She looked to Warren, but John had already noticed him. "Hey man! So...how's life? Haven't seen you in a while!"

Warren raised his eyebrows.

"Oh yeah. Right. Sorry. You're on that no talking policy. Well, its cool that you still come back to your roots. Anything I can get you?"

"Ms. Wu's tea."

"Sure sure! I'll tell her you're here. She always tells us about the quiet but great Warren. Apparently we can't ever compete with you. Be right back." He walked off.

Jenny looked surprised and said, "I guess you really do know the people here personally."

"Yeah. Used to work here. High school job. Still come here to visit and all. Never knew Ms. Wu thought I was that good. She scolded me more than she ordered me around."

Jenny chuckled.

-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!--!-!-!-!--!-!-!-!-!-!-! -!-!-!-!--!-!-!-!-!-!-! -!-!-!-!--!-!-!-!-!-!-! -!-!-!-!--!-!-!-!-!-!-! -!-!-!-!--!-!-!-!-!-!-! -!-!-!-!--!-!-!-!-!-!-! -!-!-!-!--!-!-!-!-!-!-! -!-!-!-!--!-!-!-!-!-!-! -!-!-!-!--!-!-!-!-!-!-! -!-!-!-!--!-!-!-!-!-!-! -!-!-!-!--!-!-!-!-!-!-! -!-!-!-!--!-!-!-!-!-!-!

Meanwhile, in the kitchen, John was trying to catch Ms. Wu's attention. He unsuccessful though because she was speaking to the new girl, Deja. She had just started working this week and this was her first Saturday, the busiest day of the week, hence the extra instruction by Ms. Wu. Finally, he decided to just interrupt. Warren, her prodigy, was here and therefore, he deemed it very important info.

"Hey, Ms Wu?"

"What John? Can you not see that I am speaking to Deja? She is working her first Saturday and she cannot, as you say, mess up!"

"I know Ms. Wu, but Warren's here?"

"Warren! Warren is here?"

"Yeah, he has a date."

Turning to Deja, who's face, John thought, looked petrified. Ms. Wu exclaimed, "Oh, Deja! You must meet Warren. He is a good worker and still comes to see Ms. Wu! A very good boy."

Then, returning to her bossy self, Ms. Wu told John, "You are good enough. You will introduce Deja to Warren and then she will follow you tonight to see how we work here. Okay?"

"Sure Ms. Wu. Come on Deja." He motioned for Deja to follow.

"Good good. Tell Warren I will be out there to see him." Then, as she walked further into the kitchen, she cheered to herself and told the rest of the staff, "My Warren came back!"

Deja walked quickly to catch up with John. Before she reached him, she asked him, "You know, you really don't have to introduce me to him. I can work fine."

"Well, I'm bussing his table and since you're following me, you'll meet eventually. Plus, the Wooster loves him and what she says, goes. I don't want to get fired. I'm working to save up for college and I plan to stay here for the rest of the summer and my senior year. So, you coming?"

They had paused by the fountain drink machine. "Come on," he said, "don't let Ms. Wu fire me. I'll make it up to you."

Deja gave in. "Fine. What did they order?"

"Oh, I just got their drinks order. The lady wanted the diet coke." He lifted the glass in his hand. "He wanted Ms. Wu's tea which is..." he got out a bag of herbs from the cupboard, "right here." He poured some into the strained in the silver teapot. Handing her the diet coke while he sported the teapot, he said, "Let's go." He smiled at her at an attempt to comfort her.

Deja took a breathe. Maybe this wasn't her Warren. Maybe some other Warren had worked here. Maybe...but not likely.

John walked with his back through the double doors and waited for Deja to pass before he let them sway back. Seconds later, Deja saw where they were heading. And it was her Warren.

"Alright," John greeted. "Here's your tea and the diet coke for the lady." Deja set down the glass by the woman whom she could only assume to be the date John had mentioned earlier.

Jenny thanked Deja. Deja merely nodded back.

"So, Warren man! The Wooster said she'd come by to see you."

Warren nodded in return and looked up to do so. When he did, he saw Deja who was purposely looking at the glass she had just set down.

John kept talking though. "You guys ready to order?"

Jenny asked for the wonton soup and the mixed vegetables. Warren said, "The usual."

He still wondered if this really was his Deja though. He'd only heard her message a few days ago. What if she had changed? What if she no longer felt the same? When did she get here?

There were so many questions and what if's.

Then, to confirm that this was really his Deja, John said, "All right. Deja and I will be back with your orders shortly."

Deja followed John, never looking at Warren.

While Warren waited for the food and for Deja to return, Jenny tried to make conversation. Warren tried to respond but his mind drifted a few too many times to Deja, especially when he saw her attend to surrounding tables. When was she coming back to his table?

Meanwhile, Deja made a point to never look at Warren. She brought food out, took orders and did as John told her to.

Luckily, because things were getting too busy, Deja could no longer just follow John and had to work by herself. She was cool with that. It meant she wouldn't have to see to Warren's table since it was John's.

So, when it came for Warren's food to be delivered, Warren felt a little disappointed. Only John came by. Sans Deja.

When the food on their plates had vanished and conversation was scarce, Warren asked John for the check.

He concluded that as pretty and nice as Jenny was, he just couldn't see anything with her right now.

As for Jenny, she realized that as hot and brave as this guy was, he was too distracted, namely by that one girl, the waitress. What was her name...oh yeah, Deja.

So, after Warren received the check, they walked to the cashier. Warren paid, ever the gentleman. They walked together and departed at the door. They never did exchange numbers.

After Warren had seen Jenny drive off in her Prius, he made for the back door of the restaurant.

Deja though, had released a breathe of relief. Warren had finally left.

Ms. Wu had gotten upset though. Her Warren had left without saying hello. She scolded herself. She should have gone to see him while he was still here. Silly her.

Yet, Ms. Wu was not to be disappointed for Warren walked right into the kitchen having entered from the back entrance.

"Hey Ms. Wu" Warren greeted in his low voice.

"Ah! Warren. I thought you had left!"

"Had to say hi to my favorite boss."

"Of course you did!"

"So, who did you get to replace me?" Warren asked. He really didn't care about the employees though. He was actually trying to see if Ms. Wu would mention Deja.

"Well, I had to get two new people. One boy named Charles. He has been working okay for a couple of weeks. We just got another girl. I think she is your age. Very pretty but odd name she has. Deja Vurano. She started a couple of days ago. She is like you. She is quiet but works well. I think she will do fine. John is teaching her."

"Yeah, I know her."

"Oh, you do! Well, she never said she did! I shall go get her. You should say hi to her."

She then bustled off, calling for Deja.

Seconds later, there she came.

Trying to put on a brave front, Deja stated, "I thought you left."

"I came back."

"Obviously" she snorted.

"Why are you not pleased to see each other?" Ms. Wu asked.

"Excuse me. I need to return to work" Deja answered. She walked away, her pony tail swinging behind her.

"Well, that was not very nice" Ms. Wu stated. "I will talk to her about manners with guests."

Warren shrugged. "It's fine."

"Well, she will need to shape up as you say."

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

"I should go" Warren stated.

"Oh, well come back soon Warren. You are welcome here any time!"

He smiled then turned to leave out of the back door.

So much for the great reunion.