Chapter 4.

A Sibling's Heated Argument

I was in a daze as I walked up the stairs to my apartment that I shared with my brother. This was all new to me and I had never felt like this before. I had never had a boyfriend and I'm twenty-five. With that said and to be honest I have never been kissed by anyone, besides a kiss on the cheek by my parents and brother. Yes, yes, I'm the twenty-five-year-old virgin that hasn't been kissed. I had only ever been on one date in my life, and I wouldn't have gone if the guy hadn't kept asking. That was a close to a year and a half ago though; the guy gave me the creeps, so I didn't give him another chance. He wasn't very happy about it either, but soon left me alone.

Working as a dispatcher I guess, I hear all the bad stuff that could happen: men beating or killing their significant other, a girl going out with the wrong guy, a girl not giving the wrong guy a second look, and the list goes on and one. So, I think all of this has made me hesitant in the guy department. Of course, I haven't always been a dispatcher; I did go to school once, but I was always worried about my studies and getting out of that damn school. I never really had time for guys.

So, yea, that was and is my life now. It just took me by surprise when Jay caught my eye, and there was no way I could stop it. Right now, I'm not sure I want to.

"Will you stop looking like that?" my brother growled, pulling me back into reality.

I shook my head, and looked up at him, as we walked into the apartment. The expression on his face told me he wasn't happy at all, and there was going to be a fight coming my way. I was getting tired of his attitude and rolling my eyes, but I did it anyway,

"You really have to stop this over protective, big brother thing," I told him kicking off my flip-flops. "I'm twenty-five years old. I think I can take care of myself."

"That's the trouble with the 'over protective, big brother thing'," Adam sighed, running a hand through his hair, "I can't stop because I am your big brother. I'm not going to stop worrying about you just because your twenty-five. I don't want you to date someone from the department, or any department for that matter. With the job, I have–"

"I know, I know. With the job, you have I am in danger. Considering our dad is a cop a well, I'm in more danger. I've heard this time and time again."

Even though I've never really like any guy before, my brother made this speech to me every time he thought I was interested in a one. I'm pretty sure this was another reason I never really thought about dating anyone. I do understand why he worries about me going out with someone who does the same thing he and dad does. It's a good reason for a suspect to kidnap a member of a police officer's family; the police department – along with others – will do anything necessary to get them back. Considering I'm the sister and daughter of not just one but two cops, it would be a double whammy. The suspect would more than likely get what he wanted faster then just a regular person. Even if they got what they wanted the suspect would probably kill the victim to get back at the officers who done them wrong, or to just get back at cops in general.

So, like my brother had said – many, many times – I was in a lot of danger if someone found out I was his sister, and our father's daughter. What a life I have, right?

"Then you know why I don't want you going out with someone from my team," my brother stated.

"Who said I was going out with him?" I asked. "All we're doing is going to the shooting range to shoot a few pieces of paper. And you never said I couldn't be friends with someone from your team. You don't have a problem with Al, Hank, Antonio, or Kevin, so what's the big deal with Jay."

"You really want to know?"

"Yes, I do. I want to know what your problem is."

"Okay. Al is my partner and I could trust him with anything, plus he's married. Hank is my boss and I knew he wouldn't trying anything. The two of them are too old for you anyway. Antonio is married with two kids and only sees you as a sister. And Kevin has known you for a long time and if he wanted something more he would have tried it by now."

"Some of those reasons aren't good enough, you know."

"I don't care."

"UGHHHH! You can be so frustrating!"

I turn around and head straight for my room. Times like these I didn't want to be anywhere near my brother. All he did was piss me off and I needed to be a lone, so I could calm myself. Sadly, my brother wasn't going to let me go.

"Where do you think you're going?" he asked, following me.

"To my room what does it look like," I told him.

"You look like a child to me."

"Don't you have somewhere else to be? Isn't Wendy expecting you?"

My brother grabbed my arm and spun me around. The look in his eye told me he wasn't going to back down. I wouldn't either if I had to, but all I wanted to do right now was take this make-up off my face, put on some PJ's on, and go to bed. We both glared at each other with so much anger I don't know how who's held more.

"Let. Me. Go. Now," I said as calmly as I could.

"Not until you say you're not going out with Halstead," he spat.

"Last time I checked you weren't my father, so don't start with 'I can tell you what to do' shit. Now let me go before I step on your foot so hard you'll feel it in your groin."

"You wouldn't do that."

"I've done it before, I'll do it again."

"I don't think you will."

"You really want to test that theory?"

It was silent again as we scowled at each other some more. I know we both had been drinking, me more than him, but I couldn't stop myself. I was glad I had someone looking out for me, but I was an adult and I should be treated as such.

I let my body take over as I lifted my foot in the air, letting the heel of it slam down on my brother's, and twisting it back a forth a few times. He let me go, grabbed his hurt limb, and started jumping up and down in a circle. I leaned against the wall and crossed my arms over my chest watching Adam make a fool of himself. He should have known I'd do what I said.

"What the hell do you do that for?" he exclaimed.

"I told you if you didn't let me go I was going to make it hurt," I shrugged. "You should know I'm a woman of my word."

"You didn't have to do it so hard. I swear it's going to bruise."

"It's your fault, not mine. Plus, you're supposed to be a big bad cop. Why are you jumping up and down like a sad baby?"

"Because it hurts!"

"Oh well."

My brother started hopping towards our couch and I decided to follow him. I sat down across from him in one of the recliners we had and watched him take off his shoes and socks to look at his foot. Sure, enough there was a bruise already starting to show. I bit my lip to hold back a smirk as we both looked at his foot. A long with the bruise it was starting to swell; I was starting to think I broke it. The only thing that doesn't prove my theory is I didn't feel anything break when my foot was on top of his.

"I think you did something really bad to it," Adam voiced.

"Again," I muttered, "it's your fault, not mine."

"You don't have to be so mean."

"And you don't have to be such an asshole."

"I'm just looking out for you Roe."

"I know you are Adam, and I'm very thankful I have you to do that. I just think you go overboard all the time and it gets annoying."

He was quiet, and I watched him massage his foot. I sighed, while running my both hands through my curly hair. This was getting ridiculous, there was no reason for any of the fighting. He was going to have to come to terms with the fact I wasn't his kid sister anymore. I could easily take care of myself; I mean I did have a gun after all, and I did know how to use it. That was the reason he got me the gun in the first place, right? So, I could take care of myself. As my brother winced in pain and groaned, I was starting to feel guilty. Why did out fights always have to lead to pain in one way or another?

"Look Bubba," I told him, "I'm sorry, but you had it coming. You have to understand that no matter how much you worry about me I'm still going to be able to take care of myself. You have to trust me."

"I do trust you sis," he said, "its other men I don't trust. With my job, you see a lot of things that have to do with women going out with the wrong guy."

"Don't you think I know that? I work at dispatch. I get to hear the calls that come in from those women or people that saw what happened first hand. You don't hear the things I hear. I know how dangerous people can be. Why do you think I didn't put up a fight when you told me to carry my gun around? The gun you got me I might add."

Again, he went silent and I could see the wheel turning in his head. He was thinking about all I just said, and there weren't a lot of time he did that. So, instead of badgering about it, I let him work things over and pulled out my phone. There were no messages from anybody, not even Jay. I was hoping he would text me soon; it would be nice to talk to him some more.

I don't know how long we sat like, but soon his phone started going off. Looking up I watched him pull out his phone from his jacket packet. A small smile showed up on his face, before he answered it.

"Hey babe," he marveled.

As the woman on the other line spoke I rolled my eyes and threw myself against the recliner. I did not like Wendy at all and Adam knew that. She was a two-faced bitch who only wanted my brother's attention for herself; just like Nicole did. I wish he could find some who was nice enough to his family when he wasn't around. If looks could kill I would already be dead ten time over from that woman's glare.

"I swear Wendy," my brother muttered. "I'm on my way. All I have to do is put some shoes and socks on and then I'm out the door."

Wendy started talking again, and I could hear it was almost a yell. I really didn't understand how my brother put up with that. If I yelled at him like that in anyway shape or form, I would get the silent treatment for at least a few days. Yet here she is yelling at him and he's willing to go running after her to make her happy. I guess love is blind… and stupid. I'm glad I'm not like that over some guy.

"Yes," Adam continued. "I'll see you soon. I love you… Bye."

When he hung up the phone he looked up to find me staring at him. He gave me one of his confused looks, and I rolled my eyes.

"What?" my brother groaned.

"Oh nothing," I shrugged. "I'm just going to go to bed. Wouldn't want you to keep your lovely girlfriend waiting, now would we?"

"What do you have against her anyway? What has she ever done to you?"

"Now that first question would get me slapped and the second one you wouldn't believe me, so I have nothing to say on this subject. Now get you shoe and sock on so you can leave. I'm going to go to bed.

"Roe come on. Don't be like this."

"Just leave it alone Adam."

I was not in the mood for any of this. I got up and started walking to my bedroom. I could feel my body was drained and the alcohol was almost completely out of my system. All I wanted to do right now was clean my face, put on some comfy PJ's and head to bed. I'd have to wait for Adam to leave to use the only bathroom in this place, but hopefully I wouldn't fall asleep before he left.

Hearing my brother call me from down the hall I didn't bother turning around to hear what he had to say. All it would do was get us into other fight and I was done with that right now. Plus, I told him to leave it alone. If we got a chance we'd talk about it some other time. Hopefully it would be when we hadn't been drinking and maybe we won't get into another big fight.

I closed my door once I got into my room and walked over to my King-sized bed. Jumping into it I looked up at the ceiling and waited for my brother to leave the apartment. The place was quiet for about fifteen minutes; then I heard my brother's footsteps coming down the hall, stopping at my door. After standing there for a couple of minutes my brother knocked.

"Come on Sis," he said, his voice muffled. "We can work this out."

"Not tonight," I sighed.

"Why not?"

"Because we both been drinking and knowing us we'd only get into a bigger fight. We'd say things we didn't mean and do things we shouldn't do. I think it's best we just let this one got for a little while, and maybe come back to it later."

"But–"

"No buts. Just go to Wendy. I would like to be by myself for a little while. We need time a part."

"Wow. I didn't think I would ever hear that from my sister. I only hear that from the girls I've dated."

"There's a first time for everything. Now go."

"Are you sure you're going to be okay here by yourself?"

And here we go again with the protective big brother routine. When was he going to get it through his head that I was going to be fine and I could take care of myself? This was going to be a long road.

"Yes Bubba," I muttered. "I'm going to be fine."

"Okay," Adam agreed.

Hearing my brother turning around and walking to the front door, I decided to at least humor him about something.

"Bubba," I called.

"Yes Roe?" he asked.

"If something were to happen to me and I somehow get a hold of you, you wanna know what I will tell you?"

Adam laughed through the door. I could imagine a smile on his face, and I couldn't help but smile too.

"What would that be?" he questioned.

"I'm at the beach with my boyfriend," I told him.

"And why that sentence?"

"Because you know how much I hate the beach and because you know I don't have a boyfriend."

"Sounds good to me Sis."

"Good. Now get out of here. Wendy will kill you if you're not there when you told her you would be."

"Okay. I love you Roe."

"I love you too Adam. Have a good night."

"You too."

I listened as my brother walked away from my door. His footsteps made their way to the front door and once it closed I couldn't hear him anymore.

Once I knew he was gone I went to the bathroom and scrubbed the make-up off my face. Looking in the mirror I looked like myself which was nice. My hair was getting kind of greasy, so I put that up into a bun. Walking back to my room I took my wallet out of my pocket and put it on dresser along with my phone. I unhooked my gun from my belt, before putting it back into my lockbox. I wasn't going anywhere tomorrow so that was the best place for it. Now it was time to get into some JP's; I stripped and found a pair of boxer-shorts and an oversized t-shirt and called it good.

Getting into bed, I cuddled up under my covers and snuggled with my body pillow. I let out a sigh of contentment before closing my eyes. As I started to drift off to sleep, I couldn't help but think of someone with beautiful blue eyes. That was the best nights sleep I've had in a long time.