Chapter 16:

Tuesday 24th January 2012

Junior's Restaurant, Manhattan, NY

1345 Hours

Alexis Castle was having lunch in Junior's, it was her now her favourite restaurant since she had come here with Antonio. She had sat down at a table and was eating a burger with some fries.

She looked up to see Antonio walk in the restaurant as he ordered something, she noticed his NYPD Cadet uniform, she admired the tracksuit on him, it made her blush thinking how it had fitted him.

She saw him walking over as she smiled saying, "Hello darlin'."

"Hello gorgeous, how are you?" Antonio asked. Alexis nodded, "I'm well, got the day off today so I thought I'd grab a little bite to eat."

Antonio smiled, "Burger and fries. I thought you'd be eating a salad." "Had that yesterday." Alexis replied.

"I admit, I like burgers. Perfectly made burger, seeded bun, fresh salad inside. You should see how Nonna and Nonno made 'em for the 4th of July. It was beautiful." Antonio said.

Alexis looked to see his hand as she asked, "How'd the other guy look?"

"Ah… the other guy's okay, got into 2 fistfights in over a day." Antonio said. Alexis nodded, "Ashley told me you beat the hell outta him."

Antonio looked like a scolded child for doing something irresponsible as he said, "I'm sorry, Lexi. But for what it's worth, when I heard he had leaked our relationship to some suino I wanted nothin' more than to rip his head off. It's my overprotective nature that has gotten the better of me in recent times."

"Don't apologise, it's who you are. No matter what, you'll always be protective… I think it's hot." Alexis replied. Antonio then asked, "So you're okay with me beating your ex up for stalking you and doing other unquestionable acts that I will not say?"

"As long as you control yourself." Alexis said giggling. Antonio nodded, "I'm not a miracle worker, but don't say anything when it fails."

"I'll always love you." Alexis whispered closely to Antonio.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

As Antonio ate a fry of his, Alexis then asked, "What you doing tonight?" "Well, I'm going down to a gun range in Queens after the academy with Joe, thought I'd hone my shooting." Antonio explained.

"Don't suppose, I can join you?" Alexis asked.

Antonio looked up from his meal as he said, "Are you sure?" "I want to, I know I've got to be focused on what I'm doing, I've asked my Dad and he agrees with me." Alexis said.

Antonio was surprised, he had then said, "Why me? Why not Kate?" "I trust Kate, but you are better trained. You've known guns since you were 5 years old, you know all about safety."

Antonio smirked as he said, "True, I've been trained in gun safety for 17 years. It's somethin' that never leaves you. But I can't go directly against your father. I'd like to get his official word before I do anything remote."

"I understand your feelings. Why don't you pick me up from mine tonight?" Alexis asked.

Antonio nodded, "That I shall do."

The pair ate their lunch, Antonio had to eat his on the go, as he headed back to the academy. Alexis began to walk back to the loft; she was thrilled to spend another evening with her sweetheart.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

1730 Hours

It was the end of the day for the NYPD Police Cadets. Antonio and Joe had walked out of the academy as they walked to their cars.

Joe was in a causal blue plaid button down shirt, a pair of cargo trousers and his combat boots.

Antonio wore a pair of dark cargo trousers, a military green shirt and his Marine Corps combat boots.

Both Veteran Marines had their weapons on their belts. Joe had said, "I'm gonna go on ahead, I'll see you there."

"I'll join you there. Gotta pick somebody up." Antonio called out to Joe.

Antonio set off driving as he ended up at Alexis Castle's home. He pulled up to the sidewalk as he picked up his denim jacket.

He walked up the stairs to Castle's loft as he approached the door. He knocked three times as he waited patiently.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

The door opened and Castle had said, "Antonio, please come in. Alexis is putting her shoes on."

"Yes sir, thank you sir." Antonio said respectfully.

Castle had watched Antonio carefully noticing how he was nervous and somewhat frightened, he then broke the ice, "I understand Alexis asked you to teach her to shoot a gun."

Antonio nodded, "Yes sir, I was a little curious if she had asked your permission to undertake this."

"Which she did and I gave her my permission." Castle replied.

"May I say somethin', sir?" Antonio asked. Castle nodded as Antonio began, "In my family, all the men were taught to ask a girl's parents for permission to do something, whether it involved shooting a gun, taking her somewhere fun and exciting. We all considered asking permission as a sign of respect, knowing that the girl's parents could trust us."

Antonio gulped for a minute as he said, "I'd like your direct word… for me to teach Alexis how to use a gun, Mr Castle?"

Castle was subsequently surprised by Antonio's behaviour; he would never admit it openly but Antonio was on the top of Alexis's suitors list. He liked how honourable Antonio was, how conscientious Antonio was of giving the best for Alexis. he nodded and then said, "I give you my permission and my direct word for you to teach Alexis how to shoot."

"Thank you, sir." Antonio said as he stood at his best and shook Castle's hand.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Alexis walked into the living room as she said, "Hey, you ready?"

Antonio turned to Alexis and nodded, "Let's go."

"Antonio, have Alexis back by 10:00, her curfew is then." Castle said. Antonio nodded, "I will have her home by then, sir."

The pair walked out of the apartment as they headed for Antonio's car, they drove all the way to Queens as Antonio said, "Guy who owns this place… he's an Army Ranger, 21 years."

"Must be a legend…" Alexis said. Antonio shrugged, "He's just a soldier that did his service for his country."

The car was parked as Antonio and Alexis stepped out and began to walk inside, they checked in at the front counter as Alexis grabbed a pair of headphones and safety glasses.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

The pair went to where Joe was standing, Joe carried a M1911 and a M1 Carbine. He saw Alexis and Antonio walk in and he smiled nodding.

Antonio then said, "Alexis, meet my cousin Joe. Joe, meet Alexis."

"We've met. Alexis, lovely to meet you again." Joe replied.

Alexis smiled, "You too, Joe."

Joe smiled as he said, "Let's get started, shall we?"

Antonio then took out his sidearm and his M9 Beretta as he said, "We'll start off with safety of a weapon."

Joe smirked, "First rule of gun safety is always going on the assumption that every weapon is loaded, rule two, point the weapon in a safe direction."

"Third rule, never point the weapon until you're ready to shoot. Take your finger off the trigger until you're ready to shoot. 5th rule and this is an important one…" Antonio added.

"Be sure of your target and what is beyond." Joe and Antonio said simultaneously. Alexis then asked, "Because if you shoot at a target and you miss, you wind up wounding somebody else, I assume that's what you mean?"

Joe nodded with approval, "Fast learner. Another thing to learn it is that you must always keep a round chambered in the event you're about to get into bad trouble."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Antonio picked up his MEU (SOC) pistol and slid a magazine inside before cocking the weapon and said, "MEU (SOC) 45. Pistol, 45. ACP rounds, firing range is 70m, 7 rounds a magazine. Now a weapon like this, you must hold with 2 hands. Let me show you."

Alexis watched as Antonio instructed, "Strongest hand holding the grip and your trigger finger just feeling it. Your weaker hand goes on the bottom of the handle right where the magazine is. You'll have better stability and faster time to reload."

"Can I try?" Alexis asked. Antonio nodded, "Come on over."

Joe watched as Alexis slipped her strongest hand onto the grip of the gun, he watched Antonio guide her hand to the magazine as he said, "Before you shoot, always check the safety's off."

Alexis tilted the gun to see the safety as she flicked it on as Antonio said, "Red dot says you're ready to fire."

Alexis held her breath before firing the weapon, it had hit the cardboard target in the arm as Antonio said, "Not bad, you hit the target."

Alexis fired the weapon 2 more times that had hit center mass as Joe softly said, "Mother of Mary."

Alexis fire the weapon into the target until she ran out of bullets, Antonio took the headphones off, "That was good… you hit 2 center mass, 1 in the arm, and 3 in the lungs, 1 right in the groin."

Alexis smiled before saying, "Isn't there a side affect known as tinnitus when shooting a gun?"

"Because you got protection, you won't be able to get that ringing. Me and 'Tonio on the other hand, we just dismiss it." Joe said.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"Ready to try again?" Antonio asks.

Alexis nods as she releases the magazine from the gun and picks up a fresh magazine off the table before sliding the chamber back into place, she squeezes the trigger and nothing happens.

Alexis pulls the slide back not so much and sees the round in the chamber.

Antonio walks over and says, "Another teaching point, sometimes the gun can't fire unless you pull the hammer back." "So, pull it back?" Alexis asked.

"Use your thumb to do that." Antonio answered.

Alexis pulled the hammer with her thumb as it was all the way down. Antonio nodded, "1 in the chamber, what are you gonna do?"

Alexis fired the gun as Joe watched her fire 3 shots towards the groin of the cardboard target, 2 head shots at the target and 2 more at the lungs of the target.

Joe was superbly impressed as he said, "I can imagine you picture the target as you know?" "Ashley Linden is surprisingly a good reason for my anger." Alexis replied.

Antonio chuckled quietly as Joe nodded, "Good reason to vent anger." Joe looked to Antonio and asked, "Mind if I step in?"

"All yours, boyo." Antonio replied.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Joe picked up the M9 Beretta as he said, "Try this one for size, it's heavy, but you've got better balance and twice the rounds, 9x19mm rounds."

Alexis nodded taking the Beretta as she said, "Definitely heavy." "Don't you worry, you'll be fine. Just focus on the target, keep the sights levelled on the target." Joe replied.

Alexis nodded as she aimed down the sights, she took the safety off and fired several shots, to the trained eye Antonio and Joe were thoroughly impressed with her aim, she was precise and really good. She did however miss 3 shots on target.

At the end, Antonio had then said, "Not bad, 12 out of 15. Good work." "I missed three though."

"Nobody's perfect, in fact that was some good shooting. You aimed down the sights and remembered everything we taught you." Antonio said. Alexis smiled softly at the praise.

Joe nodded, "You did good with a sidearm. Important thing to remember is that the weapon properly functions. Antonio will go through with you, how to clean and maintain a weapon in his time." "Sounds good." Alexis replied.

Antonio nodded, "Excellent as well."

The three continued to shoot guns in their own time.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

By 1930 hours, Antonio and Alexis had left the gun range. They stopped at a bar and grill in Manhattan just near Central Park, Antonio and Alexis found a booth to eat in, they ordered steak, fries and sweetcorn each with a round of beer too.

After Antonio and Alexis paid half each for their meal, they then walked to Central Park right by the lake. The pair of them found a small canoe that wasn't being used as Antonio held out his hand for Alexis to take.

They rowed near to the bridge as they sat down on the boat and stared up at the stars.

Alexis softly said, "It's beautiful."

"Stars are definitely beautiful, aren't they?" Antonio replied.

They saw a shooting star appear as Alexis said, "Shootin' star, wanna make a wish?" "I don't need to wish for anythin'. I've got you." Antonio replied softly in her ear.

Alexis kissed Antonio as she pushed her red hair behind her ears. Antonio smirked softly into the kiss as he ran a hand along Alexis's thigh as her breath hitched. She smirked back and kissed more passionately before saying, "You're too good looking, you know that?"

"God owed me a favour. Turns out, he makes a good deal." Antonio replied as he ran a hand through Alexis's soft red curls.

Alexis then said, "I love you, my darlin'." "I love you too, mi amore."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

After 2 hours, Alexis and Antonio had gotten back on dry land, Antonio had driven Alexis home and walked her to the door, she then said, "I had a fun night tonight."

"Me too, Lexi. I hope you have a lovely evening, my love." Antonio replied. Alexis nodded, "You have a good evening as well, My Love."

Alexis then kissed Antonio good night as he walked down the stairs out of the building.

Alexis watched Antonio walk away as she smiled to herself saying, "Sleep distant dreams, Captain America."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

English to Italian Translation:

Swine – Suino

My Love – Mi Amore

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

I'm willing to bet that this chapter is making you gush for our beloved characters. Tell me in the comments what you thought of Antonio teaching Alexis to shoot?

Also please like and comment. Hope you are saying safe out there. I will say a prayer for you all.