Chapter 17: Unexpected…

Spinelli looked at the doorway that TJ had gone out and then at the couple. Vince and Gretchen were discussing what to get without spending too much. It was a good thing that TJ did, giving his friends money when they needed it but Spinelli was sure Gretchen and Vince weren't going to go all out even though TJ had told them to.

Gretchen sat on Vince's lap and was thinking over what had just happened. It was true that a baby would cost a lot to bring up and for once she hadn't even thought of the consequences. She had been too caught up in the moment of finally being with Vince that she had been careless. And now she would have to drop out but she was determined to make Vince graduate and get a good job so that they could get off of TJ's kind charity.

Vince gently rocked Gretchen in his arms. He was going to be a father. That thought had never occurred to him before. And the responsibilities and expenses, could he handle it? It was fortunate that TJ was such a good friend though. Truthfully Vince had to admit it would be very hard to manage without help. His parents wouldn't have helped out much, neither would Gretchen's parents. They both were still in school and they weren't married. Vince didn't like the idea of raise a kid whose parents weren't married but he had serious doubts Gretchen would want to get married to him. He had wrecked her life, her dreams despite what she said. Vince knew he would have to talk to her about this but now was not the time. If worse came to worse he would move out and send her money to help raise the kid.

'They look so cute together.' Spinelli thought. 'But TJ was right. I don't think anyone had thought of the costs.' It was a good thing TJ was so kind to his friends.

Across town TJ wasn't feeling too benevolent at the moment. He had just had another angry conversation with that woman. What he had ever seen in her back then was beyond him now. Curse the unbreakable ties that bond them. What set him into an even fouler mood was the fact that he had missed the young lady he wanted to see. Apart from that his day was going as planned. He had gone out and bought things he needed, clothes, building supplies, a humvee for getting around and he had ordered some furniture. Now all he had to do was fix up Fort Tender into a livable place.

The next few weeks passed almost without incident. Spinelli had found out a few things about TJ that she never knew and kind of enjoyed. Nowadays TJ had a habit of doing some 500 push-ups and 500 sit-ups before bed and Spinelli would just watch TJ for the half hour it took him to do his evening exercises. It always fascinated her to watch his scars and muscles ripple as he did his exercises. However two events had worried Spinelli greatly.

Flashback

The group had been going to church. Everyone was dressed up as per normal; all the men wore casual smart clothes, mostly a nice pair of pants and an accompanying shirt. Spinelli and Gretchen had on simple red dresses. TJ wore a green version of his officer's uniform. All seemed to be going fine until they reached the gate of the church. TJ just stopped and refused to take a step closer to the church. So TJ spent the sermon outside the church. He would stand there for the entire sermon, rooted the same place, just outside the gate.

On another occasion they were all at home watching some movie. TJ had been in the kitchen fixing himself a snack and was returning when a shot was fired in the movie. A loud shattering of glass filled the air followed by a heavy thud. TJ had dropped his glass and thrown himself to the ground, pulling the couch and four very surprised friends to the ground with him. TJ had his Desert Eagle out and was muttering about "blasted intel" and "damn extremists." It took the gang a whole 15 minutes to calm TJ down enough to put the gun away.

End of Flashback

Spinelli wasn't sure but she was pretty sure in both incidents that TJ's eyes had changed. They weren't the soft brown she normally saw, they were the hard, cold, piercing eyes she had seen that one morning. Spinelli could understand that the gunshot in the movie could have made TJ think that something had happened. That could have triggered TJ's combat instincts and that was understandable. Gretchen had told the gang early on that some soldiers never full get it out of their system and can't reintegrate with society as a whole. Gretchen pointed out WWI and Vietnam as major examples. This made Spinelli worry about TJ a bit but TJ kept blowing her off along with rest of the gang. Added to the fact that everyone else had to get ready for school or being a parent while TJ kept disappearing daily.

Also some crime lord named Jet was causing pre-school rumors even at the college level. Hustler Kid was the man who knew about such things and he was very nervous about this Jet person. And when Hustler Kid was worried, it normally meant that this person was someone to be feared. Hustler Kid had all the connections in town and still could get you anything you wanted for a price.

TJ put down his hammer. The ground room was finally built along with the sheltered staircase up to the now remodeled Fort Tender. Pretty soon TJ could live in his new home comfortably.

It was a hot day and TJ was clad just in his plain green pants. He could tell he was being watched. His…early profession had come in useful during his time in Iraq and in instances such as now. He could tell when someone was tailing him but his skills now were far more advanced then when he had started duty. The army and the harsh urban fighting he had done had a way of developing skills.

TJ laughed to himself. If anything his old life and his new army life had made him more fit to do what he had always wanted to do but life seemed to have other ideas. He used to spend the hours watching all those wrestling matches with Spinelli. That was his regular Saturday mornings before things started to change. Before he met her.

The rider was watching. She knew he knew that she was watching. Despite the argument that they had had she couldn't help but see him again. She had to admit, TJ's body had gotten every year he came back and she hadn't been with a man in a while. Maybe if he was as good as he normally was she would let him see the person he really wanted to see.

She had had enough. She knew where to find him and she was going to go to him. She had over heard where he was staying now from that poor excuse of a guardian. She knew her guardian didn't like him but she didn't care. She was packing up her things and going to live with him whether her guardian liked it or not. Besides she knew that he was dying to see her. And who in their right mind would mess around with the mysterious Jet?

Another chapter done. Who is this "She" person and how does she know this other Jet person? And what about her guardian? What's up with TJ and his little trip down memory lane and those episodes he's had? Well that's all for now folks. Review!