Part 2: The Charmer
"Bernard… welcome back our dear friend."
Maru and Bernard shared and embrace, laughing a bit as they pulled apart. After showing him to his hangar, Bernard found himself back at Maru's shop, catching up with him.
"It is good to be back Monsieur Maru. I'm glad to see the Peak is still beautiful as ever."
"Yeah, still has some scars from a previous fire but we're coming back strong."
"BERNARD!"
Bernard smiled, seeing the Smokejumpers barreling their way over with Windlifter and Cabbie right behind them.
"Bonjour everyone! You're all still here!"
"Heck yeah we are!" Drip shouted, giving Bernard a slap on the back, the other Smokejumpers following suit.
"How was Canada?" Cabbie asked.
"It was nice to be home and being able to help in other places but nothing beats here… This is home."
"We're glad to have you in our ranks again." Windlifter nodded. "You have been missed."
Bernard smiled. "Thank you all, it's so good to see you all again. I look forward to fighting alongside all of you."
They all nodded. "Well… we better get back to just our regular duties. See you around."
Everyone dispersed, heading their separate ways, leaving Bernard to his own devices. He decided to wander around the base. He smiled, seeing the place was in a lot better shape than it was before he left.
Though still plenty of duct tape from the looks of it… Ah Maru… Never change.
"EEE! HAILEY! GUESS WHAT?!"
Hm?
Bernard looked to the side to see a young woman running up to a much younger girl, an excited look in her eyes as she and the girl met up.
"What is it?" The girl asked grinning, she knew it was a big day for the rest of the team… But she was excited about the new arrivals.
"I just got off the radio with Dusty. He and Ishani are having a baby!"
She squealed. "OH MY GOSH THAT'S GREAT!" She hugged the young woman. "A little Dusty! Aunt Dipper this is awesome!"
"I know right?!" Dipper squealed. "I'm so happy for them, they're really excited."
Hailey smiled. "That's wonderful.." She then smirked. "Now if Uncle Maru would just ask Dottie that question too. Then we'd have a bunch of little ones running around."
"Indeed. Oh! Have the new members arrived yet? I think I heard Blade doing his roll call and stuff."
"Um… Lessee…" She looked around, spotting Bernard. "OH! I think he's one of them!"
Bernard chuckled, walking over.
"Bonjour, I am Bernard. I don't believe we've met."
Dipper smiled offering him a hand. "I'm Dipper, I just got back so I missed some things… Nice to meet you."
"And I'm Hailey! Hailey Ranger to be exact." Hailey grinned.
Benard shook Dipper's hand.
"It's nice to meet you both." Bernard looked at both them. "Both beautiful young ladies, it's an honor to be in your presence."
They both went a little red. "Ah thank you very much." Dipper giggled, grinning sheepishly. "Means a lot."
"Y-Yeah!" Hailey nodded.
"I look forward to getting to know both of you… I'll let you get on with your business." He gave a wave, walking off.
"Wow…" Dipper whispered.
"Seriously." Hailey whispered back. "What a gent!"
Dipper nodded. "And that accent…"
"French I believe… How do we get that lucky?"
"He's an old friend of ours ladies."
The two looked to see Maru not too far from them, smirking.
"He used to be a member here."
"What!?" Dipper blinked. "How long ago? I've never seen him."
"Yeah!" Hailey crossed her arms. "Care to tell us that story?"
"Sure. Bernard was a member about hm… 9 years ago. It was before you came into the picture Little Spitfire… heck, even before Dipper was part of the picture."
Dipper's jaw dropped a little. "So… he left a year before I came in?"
"Eh… Left wouldn't be the right term here. More like kicked out."
Hailey frowned. "Let me guess…. Cad?"
"When the budget cut hit Blade had to let members go… Bernard being one of them. Cad found having two large planes flying around too much when it came to paychecks since those aircraft shells do need a lot of tending to. Bernard took the hit and took it in stride and went back to Canada to continue firefighting. Though with so many members let go Cad had at least some decency to allow us to have one more member." He looked to Dipper. "And that was you Missy."
"Goodness…" Dipper looked to where Bernard had walked off to. "And now he's back… One of the veterans."
"Well… Glad we got more firefighters…" Hailey smiled. "More to our family."
"That's right, three new members to be exact."
"... Alright this is gonna be awesome."
Maru smirked. "Oh you know it will be."
"It's… really weird to not have all of us rushing out there." Dipper commented as she saw some of the trainees follow Blade and Cabbie out. "I'm not saying they're bad but… ya know."
"You're used to getting in on the adrenaline rush." Maru replied from where he was, organizing his tools. "You're used to running right into danger head first with the rest of 'em."
"True… Well, glad to see the new trainees taking to the workload even if they aren't on 24/7."
"Well, too many out there and Blade would go crazy, so best to keep it small doses for each one." Maru looked around before speaking again. "I hear one of them is giving Blade a hard time. Thrust… apparently has an attitude."
Dipper cringed. "Geeze… " She crossed her arms. "Hope Blade can knock some sense into him…"
"Here is hoping… Though he seems pretty prideful… and he's our youngest trainee. 19 years old to be exact."
"Geeze…" Dipper hummed in thought. "Guess it's also probably an age thing… Younger, cockier… Doesn't wanna take orders from "old men"."
"Probably… I just know that's gonna land him in Blade's school of hard knocks. Attitudes like that are not fit for a firefighter."
"Oh knowing Blade he's gonna be giving him a hard time for sure… And if he keeps giving Blade a hard time you know a certain youngster of ours is going to join in on the schooling."
"Yeah, one thing to have to deal with Blade. It's another to have deal with him and his daughter."
She shuddered. "Oh that combined glare… He taught her a little too well."
"Taught who?"
"EEP!" Dipper looked behind her to see Hailey, the teen having an eyebrow raised. "Oh nothing."
"Ahuh suuuure… You know… Bernard isn't out there with them…"
Dipper blinked. "Oh… Okay."
The girl grinned. "And he probably is bored…"
Maru smirked. "Yeah… You should go talk to him."
"Erm… You sure?"
"Oh come on, he's not gonna wanna talk to the chief's kid, he'll wanna talk to someone closer to his age." Hailey nudged her. "Go on! Socialize! Have fun!"
Why is she being so pushy? Well… guess it wouldn't hurt since he is staying.
Dipper wandered off, looking around the base still she found Bernard's hangar. To her surprise the man was outside and close to his hangar… and was dancing to some music he had playing on a small radio. It was slow music, but he moved with grace, eyes shut… lost in his own world.
Wow…. She thought keeping quiet as she watched him. He has some skill… He looks so content...
The music soon ended, Bernard striking an end pose. He sighed happily stretching a little.
"Ah that felt nice…"
"That was amazing."
Bernard looked over to Dipper surprised before giving a modest smile.
"Thank you Dipper… Didn't see you there."
She gave a warm smile of her own. "You're welcome, heard you were by yourself so… Wanted to see how you were doing…" And my niece was rather insistent… Now I know why….
"I'm doing alright, just trying to unwind a bit. Yesterday was a bit stressful with firefighting but just our life."
"Yeah, especially with Blade in the lead. Great leader but tough too…"
"And I'm fine with that." Bernard smiled. "He was the one who certified me in the first place after all."
Dipper smiled. "Same here, he doesn't let anyone down. The best we could've hoped for… Adjusting okay to being here again?"
"Yep, glad to be with my friends. Though I still want to get to know my new comrades." He smile softened as he looked her over. "I don't know you that well mademoiselle."
She gave a sheepish look. "Well… I don't know you that well either… How about we fix that?"
"I'd like that." Bernard sat down. "Got plenty of time after all."
Dipper sat down beside him, bringing her knees to her chest. "So what made you wanna become a firefighter in the first place?"
"Well… Before I was in firefighting I used to go into actual combat with my aircraft shell. After a few battles I was finished with battling. I wanted to continue to help people but it was hard finding a job my aircraft could do. Then… I found myself here and found myself in good company with another mechanid who was similar in situation. Cabbie was a good support when I first came here. Felt less alone knowing there was another ex combat fighter besides me."
"Cabbie's one of the good ones. We're all like a family here…" Dipper chuckled. "Even sometimes jokingly call Blade the team dad… Though goodness knows we're doomed if he ever finds out."
Bernard nodded. "Agreed… And yourself, Dipper? What brought you here to the Peak?"
"Worked for a cargo business that fell through. Found myself here since I thought it would be a job I could handle and wanted to help folks. It was a rough start but I got used to it."
"Good to hear… You must've come in right after I was kicked out. I'm glad the team was able to get some size back to it after Cad basically tore it to shreds." Bernard's eyes narrowed. "Nice to see karma finally bit him."
Dipper's gaze went to the ground. "Yeah…. But it came with us nearly losing one of our temp trainees… Dusty… He was the catalyst since he was so severely injured and we were all low on retardant and water… Cad saw it fit to save his lodge… Didn't care who got hurt… Or who could've died…"
Bernard brought an arm around her, giving her shoulder a squeeze.
"I'm sorry that happened… Maru told me that story. Dusty sounds like a very brave young man. I've actually heard of him over the television. He's a racer, yes?"
"Yep. Used to just dust crops but he proved he could race… Now he does both. Racing and firefighting. Keeps him busy but lucky for him he has a wife who lives in the fast lane too… We're all so proud of him… Heh, even got on Blade's good side… And when he got here as Maru probably told you, he was on Blade's "drag him kicking and screaming to the school of hard knocks" list."
"Oh, I heard. I wanted to know everything that had happened after returning. I'm glad to see not too much has changed. And the changes that have happened have been all for the better. New team members, new park superintendent… It's better than how it was when I was first here… and I'm glad I get to see it." Bernard laid back, stretching a little. "Though it seems Maru is set in his duct tape ways… but that's the Duct Tape King. Live by the duct tape and die by it."
Dipper chuckled shaking her head. "That's just how he rolls. Even if he can get all the equipment he wants now, he just rolls his eyes because if he can make it better than new then heck yes he'll do it… And if heaven forbid something happens to him, his picture will be framed by duct tape to The Wall."
Bernard laughed. "He would want that… Ah… classic Maru…"
She smirked. "He's got a girlfriend now."
"I heard, I hope it works out for him. He deserves to be happy."
"I get the feeling it's down the good road. She's the perfect match for him… Both are mechanics, she's actually Dusty's personal mechanic and runs her own shop in Propwash Junction… They met at the Corn Festival down there and hehe…. It was history. She took his heart and refuses to give it back."
"Ah found the chink in his duct tape armor… Lucky him."
"Yep… We're all happy for him… Now if he'd just pop the question… But Maru wants to take it slow… Doesn't wanna scare 'er off." She leaned back, closing her eyes. "Just how it is around here… Enjoy what we got because you never know when the fire might try to take it…"
"Indeed." Bernard sat up, looking at his radio as another song started to play. It was faster than the one he was dancing to earlier, but it was a rhythm he could get into. It was a piano and cello cover of a song. He grinned, getting up, offering a hand to her. "Since we're both off duty… care to join me for a dance?"
Dipper smiled, taking his hand. "I'd be honored." She stood up, getting into position with him. "Lead the way good sir."
"Of course, mademoiselle."
Bernard guided her out into the open. They stood still for a few moments before Bernard started guiding her across the ground, basically gliding as they moved to the rhythm. It was simple to start before Bernard was pulling her into loops and spinning with her. Even at one point lifting her into the air, causing a laugh to escape from both of them. As the song reached its end, Bernard ended it with dipping her to the ground and striking a pose with her.
"You dance beautifully Dipper." He smiled.
She smiled blushing a bit. "T-Thank you… I don't get to dance often but… It's nice to when I'm able… You're very skilled yourself. Graceful."
"Thank you."
CLICK!
They both blinked before realizing that Maru and Hailey were not too far off… and Maru had his camera. He took the photo out, waving it a little.
"Boy, this looks rather fine." He chuckled, smirking. "Wonder where I should put it?"
"NOWHERE!" Dipper squeaked.
"Oh, I think this should go in the main hangar." Hailey grinned. "Right next to that one of Mom and Dad at Christmas last year."
Bernard was turning slightly red.
"M-Maru!"
"Oh don't even start you suave." Maru let out a cackle before taking off with Hailey. "COME SPITFIRE, WE HAVE TEASING TO SUMMON UPON HIM!"
"Coming!" She laughed hurrying off with him.
Dipper groaned putting her face in her hands. "Oh this is gonna hurt."
Bernard frowned, rubbing the back of his neck.
"My apologies Dipper… I didn't mean to make it awkward for you… honest."
"Don't be. Just how it works around here."
Bernard nodded. "Right…." He sighed a little. "But I really did enjoy dancing with you… and you're very kind too Dipper…"
She blushed smiling a bit. "I try… And I enjoyed dancing with you too…"
"Maybe… we could do it again sometime… If you want. I generally don't get to have a partner."
"I'd really like that… I'd be honored."
"Then it shall be done… and I'll be looking forward to it."
Dipper smiled giving a bow. "As will I."
