Silent Heartbeats: The Kids're All Right
By Maureen
Disclaimers: this fic is mine. Any unrecognizable characters are mine (aka only Jamie's mom who has only been mentioned!) everyone else is not mine. Deal. I'm in college and have no money so screw you!
A/N: once again, thanks go out to my wonderful beta readers Mad Cow and Be-A-TL, I'm only going to thank you every couple chapters instead of every chapter because I'm an ungrateful wretch and because everyone doesn't want to read this all the time.
Note II: I've read many fics in many different genres where fans hurt their fave characters (there are entire lists dedicated to this!) and while I have hurt him a little (not much compared with other EF writers) I wanted to see what would happen if I did something permanent which is rarely done in these fics. So this is why I am not going to have some miracle cure in case anyone was wondering.
Remember all "Hail to the Maureen, Baby!!!!!!!!"
***
Jamie shifted feet nervously with Alex outside the headmistresses' office of the Bradford Academy for the Deaf. He felt odd dressed in his uniform trousers, white dress shirt, his standard leather jacket and shiny doc martens. The school had a strict uniform policy and he would have to buy the regulation blazer and tie and sweater once he was officially admitted.
Alex and Jamie had gone out the day before to buy the uniform basics and had only managed to find two pairs of trousers, which was why Jamie was forced to wear the ones from his uniform. Instead of an undershirt, Jamie had insisted on wearing one of his t-shirts with the ¾ sleeves. Alex had maintained that it was inappropriate for the school, but Jamie had persevered once Alex had relented. Alex figured that the headmistress would do something concerning the undershirt.
"Ah, welcome, Jamie," Mrs. Gilberson said emerging from the inner sanctum that was her office; she slowly spoke while she signed. "For the remainder of this semester as well as over the summer, you will be involved in an intensive sign language emersion program. Next autumn you will begin again as a sophomore, where we hope you will study hard and graduate at the top of your class."
Mrs. Gilberson was a petite woman, barely 5 feet tall, whereas Jamie was nearly 6 feet. However, she had an energy about her that commanded attention. She began to walk and talk and Jamie fell in step next to her so he could follow what her hands were saying. They stopped beside a nondescript brown door labeled 'uniforms'. She opened it and handed a pullover and jacket to Jamie.
When he just stood there, Alex nudged him, earning a dirty look. Rolling his eyes Jamie traded jackets. Surprisingly enough, the jacket fit. Shortly after she handed him a blue tie with a gray pinstripe on it. "No way am I wearing a tie," Jamie proclaimed.
"It works like this young man: you may either wear the blazer and tie or the pullover. It's your choice." Although he could not hear her voice, he felt her icy gaze pierce him. Obediently he traded the school blazer for the pullover. Alex took the blazer and tie, handing Jamie his leather jacket back.
Alex had driven his car while Jamie had followed on his motorcycle and he would need the warm jacket for when he left school and headed to the station. Alex had him working every other weekday from 4:00-8:00 and on Saturdays from 9:00-5:00. *Have fun, Jamie, see you later.* Alex signed, walking away. He had an EMS station to run..
***
Mrs. Gilbertson deposited Jamie at the room that would be his classroom for the next several months after making sure he understood all the rules and what would be happening. He'd be in an intensive sign language program with other teens and adults that were deaf, immersed in it. He'd be learning mostly elementary level academics as he was not trying to master the concepts being taught, but the vocabulary.
His teacher was Ms. Adams and she worked with Mike, Jenny and Kiesha as her aides. Since everyone was at different levels they would break up into groups to learn their lessons. Jamie was placed with Jenny and about five other students that were approximately his age or a perhaps slightly older. *Hello,* Jenny signed as the teacher introduced him. *Why don't you tell a little about yourself? Whatever you can sign.*
*My name's Jamie and I'm 16. I am an EMT* he signed, hoping it would be enough. He did not know how to say much about himself.
*EMT?* someone else signed, a blonde haired girl that appeared a couple years older than he.
*Emergency Medical Technician* Jenny answered, spelling the words out quickly. *How can you do this and be deaf?*
*I can't now, but I still work at the station and am considered an EMT because I am qualified.* Jamie replied, although he was forced to finger spell most of the words.
*Nice to meet you, Jamie,* Jenny replied at his explanation, *Now, lets have a seat. Right now, we're learning the animals,* as she signed she would also speak, enunciating her words. She had a series of large flash cards on a stand that everyone could see and would sign the name of the animal and everyone in the group would repeat her. They worked like this for an hour until Jamie was sure he would know how to say every possible animal imaginable in his sleep.
When the hour was up they rotated to a different station where a different aide was teaching something else. The second aide that Jamie met was Kiesha who was teaching them shopping terms such as 'how much is this' and different articles of clothing. By the time lunch came around Jamie felt like he was bursting with new signs, but had no use for any of them yet. He figured that at this rate he'd be fluent in only a few short weeks.
*Hey,* a guy signed walking up to where Jamie had sat down. *I'm Jeremy. You must be new.*
*Hi. I'm Jamie, I started class today.* Jamie replied. Jeremy had neatly cropped blonde hair and looked as if he was born to wear the school uniform. He had two large hearing aides resting on the bridge of his ears, trying ineffectually to blend in with his skin.
*Where are you from?* Jeremy signed, sitting down with Jamie. He signed quickly and fluidly, unlike the choppy signs Jamie made.
*Kingsport.*
*The why're you just now staring here?*
*I became deaf recently. I used to go to Kingsport High School.*
*Oh. Can you hear at all?* before he could continue, the lights flashed signaling the end of lunch. Instead of using a traditional bell system to mark the beginning and end of each class period, Bradford used lights. Regular lights flashing for a few seconds meant class changes and red lights flashing intermittently meant the fire alarm was going off.
***
The end of the first day of school came quickly and Jamie grabbed the motorcycle saddlebag from his locker and headed towards the restrooms. He quickly changed into his EMT uniform and leather jacket. Reviewing his homework in his head he was surprised at how little there was. He simply had to practice his animal signs for a quiz the following day.
He saw Jeremy in the parking lot hanging out with some other guys in front of a blue mustang. He headed over there as his motorcycle was parked a few spaces down. *Hey* Jamie said.
*Hey.* Jeremy replied. *What's with the clothes?*
*Uniform. I'm on my way to work..*
*Really? 'Kingsport EMT', you're a doctor?*
*No, an EMT. You know, ambulances? Anyways, I'll see you tomorrow, I'm about to be late.* the guys that Jeremy was with were grinning at him mockingly. Despite them not laughing, Jamie felt his cheeks burn; their facial expressions were the silent equivalent.
***
Jamie was taking inventory in the front closet when Catie arrived at the station. Not only was this his first day of school but his first day back at work.
She quickly tapped his shoulder to get his attention and signed *So? How was school?*
"Same shit, different day." He replied, smiling. So far she was the best part of his day. "But you make it all better."
"Of course!" Catie replied with a flourish. Even though he couldn't hear her, he understood the general message. She motioned that she was going to go see Val for a minute and then come help him.
While she was gone, Jamie reflected on her while he worked. He had to admit, she was a great thing to think about when bored. Her hair, her eyes, her smile, all uniquely Catie.
She came back a few minutes later and handed him a piece of paper /They left on a call./
"Damnit" Jamie yelled, finally confronted with the reality that he was not with them. Being an EMT is a hard, thankless job, but he loved it and he loved working with his friends. Now they had gone out on a call without him, while he stayed back like some old matron, incapable of participating. "This sucks hardcore!"
Jamie knocked some empty boxes over, trying to vent his anger. Immediately Catie was there, engulfing him in a hug. They melded together on the floor, Catie cradling her best friend. She stroked his hair, the small dark spikes that was his trademark unable to stay up against her. He melted down, trying vainly to maintain his 'tough guy' demeanor.
Catie murmured softly, as he buried his face in her neck, after only a few seconds she felt hot, salty tears on her neck as Jamie's body was wracked with sobs. "Why?" he questioned over and over, "why me?"
Catie felt so helpless to comfort him. She continued to rub his back and just hold him, unable to soothe him any more. Finally he had cried himself out of tears and they sat on the cold cement floor together, Jamie feeding off of Catie's energy and enthusiasm.
"Want to come over tonight?" Jamie asked her, from where he leaned on her chest. On a side note he marveled at how soft her skin was and how she made such a good pillow.
*I can't," she replied mournfully, /I'm going to visit my Grandmother later and spend the weekend. It is very difficult to write with you here/
"Yup. My goal, to prevent you from writing notes." Jamie replied after he had decoded the barely legible scrawl. He sat up, and wiped his still red eyes. "Um, look, I just want to say, thanks. And I'll deny this happened if you say anything."
*No problem* she signed, making a kings x over her heart and holding up her pinkie finger. Jamie responded by linking his pinkie with hers, sealing the promise.
"Thanks, Catie. Um,have fun at your Grandmothers."
Instead of responding with words she stuck her tongue out and pretended to collapse on the floor. Not fun was the gist of the message.
By Maureen
Disclaimers: this fic is mine. Any unrecognizable characters are mine (aka only Jamie's mom who has only been mentioned!) everyone else is not mine. Deal. I'm in college and have no money so screw you!
A/N: once again, thanks go out to my wonderful beta readers Mad Cow and Be-A-TL, I'm only going to thank you every couple chapters instead of every chapter because I'm an ungrateful wretch and because everyone doesn't want to read this all the time.
Note II: I've read many fics in many different genres where fans hurt their fave characters (there are entire lists dedicated to this!) and while I have hurt him a little (not much compared with other EF writers) I wanted to see what would happen if I did something permanent which is rarely done in these fics. So this is why I am not going to have some miracle cure in case anyone was wondering.
Remember all "Hail to the Maureen, Baby!!!!!!!!"
***
Jamie shifted feet nervously with Alex outside the headmistresses' office of the Bradford Academy for the Deaf. He felt odd dressed in his uniform trousers, white dress shirt, his standard leather jacket and shiny doc martens. The school had a strict uniform policy and he would have to buy the regulation blazer and tie and sweater once he was officially admitted.
Alex and Jamie had gone out the day before to buy the uniform basics and had only managed to find two pairs of trousers, which was why Jamie was forced to wear the ones from his uniform. Instead of an undershirt, Jamie had insisted on wearing one of his t-shirts with the ¾ sleeves. Alex had maintained that it was inappropriate for the school, but Jamie had persevered once Alex had relented. Alex figured that the headmistress would do something concerning the undershirt.
"Ah, welcome, Jamie," Mrs. Gilberson said emerging from the inner sanctum that was her office; she slowly spoke while she signed. "For the remainder of this semester as well as over the summer, you will be involved in an intensive sign language emersion program. Next autumn you will begin again as a sophomore, where we hope you will study hard and graduate at the top of your class."
Mrs. Gilberson was a petite woman, barely 5 feet tall, whereas Jamie was nearly 6 feet. However, she had an energy about her that commanded attention. She began to walk and talk and Jamie fell in step next to her so he could follow what her hands were saying. They stopped beside a nondescript brown door labeled 'uniforms'. She opened it and handed a pullover and jacket to Jamie.
When he just stood there, Alex nudged him, earning a dirty look. Rolling his eyes Jamie traded jackets. Surprisingly enough, the jacket fit. Shortly after she handed him a blue tie with a gray pinstripe on it. "No way am I wearing a tie," Jamie proclaimed.
"It works like this young man: you may either wear the blazer and tie or the pullover. It's your choice." Although he could not hear her voice, he felt her icy gaze pierce him. Obediently he traded the school blazer for the pullover. Alex took the blazer and tie, handing Jamie his leather jacket back.
Alex had driven his car while Jamie had followed on his motorcycle and he would need the warm jacket for when he left school and headed to the station. Alex had him working every other weekday from 4:00-8:00 and on Saturdays from 9:00-5:00. *Have fun, Jamie, see you later.* Alex signed, walking away. He had an EMS station to run..
***
Mrs. Gilbertson deposited Jamie at the room that would be his classroom for the next several months after making sure he understood all the rules and what would be happening. He'd be in an intensive sign language program with other teens and adults that were deaf, immersed in it. He'd be learning mostly elementary level academics as he was not trying to master the concepts being taught, but the vocabulary.
His teacher was Ms. Adams and she worked with Mike, Jenny and Kiesha as her aides. Since everyone was at different levels they would break up into groups to learn their lessons. Jamie was placed with Jenny and about five other students that were approximately his age or a perhaps slightly older. *Hello,* Jenny signed as the teacher introduced him. *Why don't you tell a little about yourself? Whatever you can sign.*
*My name's Jamie and I'm 16. I am an EMT* he signed, hoping it would be enough. He did not know how to say much about himself.
*EMT?* someone else signed, a blonde haired girl that appeared a couple years older than he.
*Emergency Medical Technician* Jenny answered, spelling the words out quickly. *How can you do this and be deaf?*
*I can't now, but I still work at the station and am considered an EMT because I am qualified.* Jamie replied, although he was forced to finger spell most of the words.
*Nice to meet you, Jamie,* Jenny replied at his explanation, *Now, lets have a seat. Right now, we're learning the animals,* as she signed she would also speak, enunciating her words. She had a series of large flash cards on a stand that everyone could see and would sign the name of the animal and everyone in the group would repeat her. They worked like this for an hour until Jamie was sure he would know how to say every possible animal imaginable in his sleep.
When the hour was up they rotated to a different station where a different aide was teaching something else. The second aide that Jamie met was Kiesha who was teaching them shopping terms such as 'how much is this' and different articles of clothing. By the time lunch came around Jamie felt like he was bursting with new signs, but had no use for any of them yet. He figured that at this rate he'd be fluent in only a few short weeks.
*Hey,* a guy signed walking up to where Jamie had sat down. *I'm Jeremy. You must be new.*
*Hi. I'm Jamie, I started class today.* Jamie replied. Jeremy had neatly cropped blonde hair and looked as if he was born to wear the school uniform. He had two large hearing aides resting on the bridge of his ears, trying ineffectually to blend in with his skin.
*Where are you from?* Jeremy signed, sitting down with Jamie. He signed quickly and fluidly, unlike the choppy signs Jamie made.
*Kingsport.*
*The why're you just now staring here?*
*I became deaf recently. I used to go to Kingsport High School.*
*Oh. Can you hear at all?* before he could continue, the lights flashed signaling the end of lunch. Instead of using a traditional bell system to mark the beginning and end of each class period, Bradford used lights. Regular lights flashing for a few seconds meant class changes and red lights flashing intermittently meant the fire alarm was going off.
***
The end of the first day of school came quickly and Jamie grabbed the motorcycle saddlebag from his locker and headed towards the restrooms. He quickly changed into his EMT uniform and leather jacket. Reviewing his homework in his head he was surprised at how little there was. He simply had to practice his animal signs for a quiz the following day.
He saw Jeremy in the parking lot hanging out with some other guys in front of a blue mustang. He headed over there as his motorcycle was parked a few spaces down. *Hey* Jamie said.
*Hey.* Jeremy replied. *What's with the clothes?*
*Uniform. I'm on my way to work..*
*Really? 'Kingsport EMT', you're a doctor?*
*No, an EMT. You know, ambulances? Anyways, I'll see you tomorrow, I'm about to be late.* the guys that Jeremy was with were grinning at him mockingly. Despite them not laughing, Jamie felt his cheeks burn; their facial expressions were the silent equivalent.
***
Jamie was taking inventory in the front closet when Catie arrived at the station. Not only was this his first day of school but his first day back at work.
She quickly tapped his shoulder to get his attention and signed *So? How was school?*
"Same shit, different day." He replied, smiling. So far she was the best part of his day. "But you make it all better."
"Of course!" Catie replied with a flourish. Even though he couldn't hear her, he understood the general message. She motioned that she was going to go see Val for a minute and then come help him.
While she was gone, Jamie reflected on her while he worked. He had to admit, she was a great thing to think about when bored. Her hair, her eyes, her smile, all uniquely Catie.
She came back a few minutes later and handed him a piece of paper /They left on a call./
"Damnit" Jamie yelled, finally confronted with the reality that he was not with them. Being an EMT is a hard, thankless job, but he loved it and he loved working with his friends. Now they had gone out on a call without him, while he stayed back like some old matron, incapable of participating. "This sucks hardcore!"
Jamie knocked some empty boxes over, trying to vent his anger. Immediately Catie was there, engulfing him in a hug. They melded together on the floor, Catie cradling her best friend. She stroked his hair, the small dark spikes that was his trademark unable to stay up against her. He melted down, trying vainly to maintain his 'tough guy' demeanor.
Catie murmured softly, as he buried his face in her neck, after only a few seconds she felt hot, salty tears on her neck as Jamie's body was wracked with sobs. "Why?" he questioned over and over, "why me?"
Catie felt so helpless to comfort him. She continued to rub his back and just hold him, unable to soothe him any more. Finally he had cried himself out of tears and they sat on the cold cement floor together, Jamie feeding off of Catie's energy and enthusiasm.
"Want to come over tonight?" Jamie asked her, from where he leaned on her chest. On a side note he marveled at how soft her skin was and how she made such a good pillow.
*I can't," she replied mournfully, /I'm going to visit my Grandmother later and spend the weekend. It is very difficult to write with you here/
"Yup. My goal, to prevent you from writing notes." Jamie replied after he had decoded the barely legible scrawl. He sat up, and wiped his still red eyes. "Um, look, I just want to say, thanks. And I'll deny this happened if you say anything."
*No problem* she signed, making a kings x over her heart and holding up her pinkie finger. Jamie responded by linking his pinkie with hers, sealing the promise.
"Thanks, Catie. Um,have fun at your Grandmothers."
Instead of responding with words she stuck her tongue out and pretended to collapse on the floor. Not fun was the gist of the message.