Standard disclaimers apply.
Second Chance
Gary's peace keeping mission at the pool hadn't gone as planned. He got there in time to stop the kid from getting hurt, but unfortunately, he ended up being pushed into the pool. Now there he was soaking wet walking the streets of Chicago heading back to McGinty's.
Kaitlyn pulled up outside of McGinty's and got out of her Jeep Cherokee. As she entered the front door, she was quite struck at how nice the place was. She walked up to the bar and sat down. The bartender, a man, walked over and said "Hi. What can I get you?"
"I was actually looking for someone. Gary Hobson?"
"I don't think he is here right now. Let me check with Ms. Clark, I mean Mrs. Brown, I can't get used to calling her that, she just got married not to long ago you see, and her last name used to be Clark and now it's Brown." The man was waiving his hands in the air. "My name is Patrick."
Kaitlyn laughed.
"Oh right, you want Mr. H." Patrick said, as if he was trying to clear things up in his head. He went back into what looked like the kitchen. A few minutes later he came out with a woman. She walked over to Kaitlyn and said, "You're looking for Gary."
"Yes."
"He's not here right now. I'm his business partner, Marissa, can I help you with something?"
She seems like a nice woman, Kaitlyn thought. "Well he, um, actually he helped me this morning, and, um I wanted to well I didn't get a chance to thank him.
"Are you the women from the park? Marissa asked.
"Yes, that's me, Kaitlyn Kelly." Kaitlyn raised her hand and smiled.
Marissa smiled. "I'm glad you're here. I know Gary was upset that he didn't get your name this morning."
"He was?" Kaitlyn asked surprised.
Just then the front door to McGinty's opened and in walked Gary, soaking wet. "Mr. H. what happened to you?"
"I got pushed into a swimming pool Patrick, what does it look like happened to me?" Gary said grumpily as he shot Patrick a dirty look.
As Gary spoke he noticed the woman in front of him at the bar talking to Marissa. As she turned around Gary realized it was her. The woman he had saved at the park. He swallowed hard. She was right in front of him. Gary couldn't take his eyes off her. There he was soaking wet. What an idiot he must look like, he thought.
Kaitlyn couldn't help but smile. He was even cute when he was grumpy.
Man she had a nice smile. Gary thought. He stared at her as if he was trying to memorize her face. Her hair was longer than he thought. Blonde, as it hung straight to below her shoulders. She was smaller than he remembered. But that face was exactly as he had remembered. Those eyes, he thought, were the most beautiful he had ever seen.
"Gary. Gary." The sound of Marissa's voice brought him out of his trance. He looked at Marissa. "Gary, this is Kaitlyn Kelly. I believe you two have already met." Marissa smiled.
Kaitlyn extended her hand and Gary took it. He didn't want to let go.
"It's nice to, ah, I mean, to know your name?" Gary stuttered. Kaitlyn smiled.
"Detective Armstrong told me how I could find you. I wanted to thank you for helping me this morning."
"It was nothing really. I'm glad I could help." Gary blushed.
"How is your shoulder?" Kaitlyn asked.
"Oh, it's fine." Gary rubbed the back of his neck. "I just needed a few stitches."
"Oh god, I can't believe I am standing here keeping you. I mean your soaking wet and probably want to change. I just wanted to say thank you and see if you wanted to have dinner, um with me?" Why was she getting so flustered?
Gary smiled. "Do you have a few minutes so that I can go up and change and then we can talk." Gary asked.
"Sure." Kaitlyn smiled. She felt so ridiculous. She couldn't stop smiling.
"I can keep her company." Marissa said. "I'm sure we can find lots of things to talk about.
Gary shot Marissa a look and headed towards the office. "I'll be back in a few minutes."
"Okay." Kaitlyn said.
Gary smiled and as he headed into the office, he heard Marissa ask Kaitlyn if she wanted something to drink. Maybe this day wasn't a complete loss after all, he thought. With a smile on his face, he bounded up the stairs to his loft to change his clothes.