One week later
Kat's pov:
I was finally out of the hospital and on my way to Rachel's place. She told me she lived on the first floor, which was great news. She had a red '64 Chevy according to her dad, in the spot next to hers. She explained her parents had driven the car over here for me to use once I got my casts off. "Let me show you to the room you'll be staying in," She said. She helped me inside on the crutches I'd be using for a week and showed me a nice sized room that will be perfect for staying in while I'm here.
The walls were papered in a floral print, and the bedding was white with little embroidered flowers. It also had a small table next to the bed with a lamp perfect for late night reading. I had heard back from the bookstore, the receptionist saying they'd love to give me an interview and I accepted. The library called back too and I got an interview as well. Both are in a few days, and I was excited. I passed the time by helping Rachel wherever I could, with cleaning and the like.
A few days later were my interviews, and I was offered both jobs. I chose to work in the bookshop, since it was a little closer to Rachel's home and I could even walk if I wanted to. I chose to walk for a little while at least since my leg was still in its cast, as well as my arm. I wouldn't be doing much for a little longer because of my injuries, so I mainly just helped customers find books and cleaned up where I was able to, and fixed books if they were put back wrong. My first day went really well, and it was four o'clock before I knew it. I headed home afterwards, walking back to the apartment.
I decided to head over to the fire station where John and Roy work once I sat down for a few minutes, to inquire more about a vacant apartment in the building where he lives. I wanted to say hi as well, since they are a few people I know, besides Rachel of course, and two girls who work with me at the bookshop named Molly and Sarah. "Hey Rachel." I greeted, and went to rest for a few minutes. I had thought more about apartments during my break at work today, and decided I should try and ask about that. I splashed a little cold water on my face, and fixed my hair a little since it was somewhat windswept from the walk back from my job.
"How was work?" Rachel inquired when she came out from the kitchen, apple in hand.
"It went pretty well, just a bit slow today. I didn't mind though, it's nice to have some quiet days. I'm heading out again in a minute though. I'm going to the fire station to go see that paramedic who helped me out when I was in the accident. I wanted to ask him more about a vacant apartment that's for rent." Rachel gave a nod and smiled at me, and then told me where the station was.
"Are you sure that's all you want to go over there for? There's no little crush I should be worried about, right?"
My cheeks flushed in embarrassment. "No, Rach. I promise. I barely know the guy." She just shrugged, and sat on the couch. "Well, I better get going. Do you want me to pick up some takeout on the way back?" I asked as I stood up slowly and grabbed my purse that I bought with my new credit card which was relatively easier to get in this time than in my own. I also had to get a temporary license and a state ID today as well, I would study for the test and then take it once I got my casts off soon. Rachel would drive in the evenings if we were going somewhere together so I wouldn't be hindering my leg healing.
"Yes please! Get some pizza from the little pizzeria a few blocks away from here, it's my favorite!" I waved, shouted out a "Will do!" and exited the apartment with my crutches, then started walking as fast as I could with my crutches. It took me 15 minutes to get there by walking, and once the firehouse came into view I trekked up the street to the entrance. I made it to the door and rang the doorbell, and heard footsteps coming closer.
The door opened, and a man stood there. He looked to be a few years older than me. He had curly dark hair, a moustache, he was a little shorter than me, and had joking eyes.
"May I help you?"
"Yes, I'm looking for John Gage?"
He told me to follow him, so I stepped through the door. We walked through to where the fire engine and the squad were.
John POV:
"Yes, I'm looking for John Gage?"
My head lifted up a little and brought me out of the daze I was stuck in while Roy and I were organizing the supplies by the squad. My mind was still on the unfortunate event. What's Katerina doing here? I heard footsteps and the noise of crutches coming closer.
"Hi. I thought I'd come by and ask about that vacant apartment in your building?" She asked, and I looked up.
''Well, hi yourself. How are you doing?"
"I'm alright. I get my casts off soon so that's something to celebrate." She laughed a little and gestured down to her leg and arm with her good arm. "How are you?" She asked me.
"Oh, Fine." I replied, zoning out again a little.
"Well, I just wanted to stop by and say hi. I also came over to ask about a vacant apartment in your building?" She repeated.
"Oh, yeah! There's a few for rent so you'll have a few to choose from. Here's the address to the building, so come by whenever you've got a chance." I gave her the address and she also mentioned that she would be looking at a few others she had her eye on from the newspaper ads as well.
She nodded in thanks, and then turned over to face Roy, who said hello to her as well.
"How are you?" She asked.
"Fine." He replied. I turned back to the supplies again after Katerina was introduced to everyone else, because they were curious as to who she was and came over to where we were standing. "This is Katerina. She was the one who was in the accident a few weeks ago. She came by to ask me about a vacant apartment in my building."
Of course, there was some teasing from Chet.
"Don't you already have a girlfriend, Johnny? What number does this make her?" He said, laughing and causing Katerina' face to go even more red with embarrassment. "I swear you've asked out half the women in the city by now! Why don't you leave some women for the rest of us to ask out?" I just shook my head as he finished teasing me. Kat wasn't my girlfriend, the woman who I went on a date with recently was. Although, I was still a little confused about that.
"Shut up." I shot back with a glare in his direction, thinking about my date recently and looking at Kat, seeing she was very embarrassed - especially since I could see both Chet and Marco staring at her. I didn't want to say anything back because I was still thinking about what happened and how Barbara thought I said something I didn't say. Women are a mystery to me sometimes.
"Don't you two have something else to do? Sorry about that Katerina. It's good to see you though." Roy apologized, and glanced over at the both of them, who turned away quickly and went back to work.
Kat was less embarrassed now after the fact and she greeted everyone kindly when I introduced her to each of them, except Roy of course since he already met her. Everyone else went their separate ways, except for Kat who stayed where she was and made some small talk with Roy while she was leaning against the squad on her good leg. When listening to their conversation, I found out a little more about her life in North Carolina, where she's staying now for the time being, and how she likes the city so far.
That reminds me, maybe I should talk to Roy about what she told me in the hospital before she was discharged. About her being from the future? There is just no way that's possible. But the subject changed as Roy and I started organizing the supplies. I was trying to listen, but I just couldn't stop thinking about what happened with my date.
"So on our way back, Joanne's in the front seat with me, the kids are in the back.. Are you listening to me?"
I looked up and wondered why the conversation stopped, when I realized that Roy was looking at me.
"Huh?"
"What is with you today?"
"I don't know, it's.. It's just that, it's... its dumb… man, I don't want to talk about it!"
"Why don't you go ahead and tell me, you will anyway."
"I don't know man, some days they just don't go right, it's incredible, it's lack of communication, it's.. It's… misunderstanding, it's confusion, it's.. Incredible, it's the whole bag! Sorry, I.. alright, I've got it."
Kat just lapsed into silence during this conversation, and she seemed like she didn't want to pry so she moved away a few steps from us as we finished fixing the supplies.
"Well, if I'm following you, and I'm not really sure I am, the english translation is that a young lady has once again rejected you, right?" We put the supplies away in the squad, and after the doors were closed, I leant against the side and let out a sigh.
"Roy-"
All of a sudden, the klaxons went off and we all rushed to the engine and the squad as the call address came in through the intercom from the dispatcher.
"Station 51, engine 36, truck 116 small aircraft in trouble. Informant reports that it may crash near essex highway and welton road. Time out 9:50."
Katerina rushed to get out of the way as fast as possible and hobbled to the wall, trying not to get trampled or tripped because of her leg and arm still being in a cast. She grabbed her crutches from where she leant them against the wall, and waited till we were out of the way before she left the station to head back to the apartment she was staying in for the time being.
Katerina's POV:
After they were called out on a run, I took my leave and walked back toward Rachel's, stopping at the little family run pizzeria on the corner a few blocks from her apartment. I asked if they could deliver it once it was ready, and they obliged. Giving the address, I used my crutches to help me move the last few blocks to the apartment and entered, sitting on the couch.
"How'd it go?" Rachel asked, looking up at me when I entered.
"Oh, it went well. I was introduced to the other firemen there, but it was a bit of a short introduction since they got called out a little bit after that." I also informed her that the pizza would be delivered.
"Hey, would you want to go to the park with me sometime soon? My boyfriend invited me and as well as another friend of ours, Pam, out for a picnic. It'd be great for you to meet more people here. We can go right after you get your casts off, if you like." She suggested, and waited to hear my answer.
"Yeah, that would be great." I said after thinking about it a little, and stood up to fill a glass of water from the tap in the kitchen. I heard noise from the tv just then, so I went back to the living room and sat on the couch again. I was focused on the tv which was playing an old show- well, old to me - but I looked up at the door when the doorbell rang. Rachel stood up and crossed to the door, opening it and going to get change to pay the delivery man. Once we took the pizza to the coffee table and started eating, she turned towards me. "What would you like to do tonight? We could go see if there are any good movies playing, since I bet you don't want to stay cooped up here once you get home from work every day." She suggested, and got up off the couch and went to the kitchen to clean her dishes.
"Sure, that sounds like fun. Plus, it'll give me a chance to see more of the city." We went out to the movies, and it was great. I haven't really had time to go to the movies with a friend in a while and just let all my worries drift away. We walked around for a little while afterwards, just enjoying the evening.
"So, where are you originally from?" Rachel questioned, turning to me as we got off a crosswalk and back on a sidewalk on the way back to her car. "I'm originally from North Carolina, from a small town near the state line of Tennessee." I replied as we kept walking along the sidewalk.
"What about your family? What happened to them? I had to stop for a second since that caught me off guard a little, but I stuck to the fake story since the whole time travel thing was not to be discussed, and gave her the explanation that there was a house fire when all of my immediate family was home for a few weeks, but I was at a friend's house for the night and I didn't hear anything until the next morning when my friend's mom woke me up before my friend and asked to see me and told me the news. She just nodded in sympathy after I 'explained', and we were silent for a few moments. I hate telling people this fake story about what happened, but there was really nothing else I could do about it. She expressed her sympathy for me and we changed topics, bringing it back to a lighter mood. We drove down the street to find a place to get some ice cream before heading back to the apartment.
(Well, after my spring semester and being on radio silence for this story, I'm finally back with a new chapter! I did use an episode for this and the next chapter so obviously I don't own the show or any of it's characters, just my OC's. I'm hoping to write something a little more original soon so that way I don't have to use episode plots the entire time. I also tweaked some things too to make it work better. I'm sorry it took me so long to update, school was busy and I wanted to make sure that I wrote a chapter that you all would enjoy.)