Off Duty
Chapter 155
"Hey, look who's back," DK said as Kim walked into the kitchen of the firehouse. "Welcome back," he gave her a hug. "Hey Bosco," he shook the man's hand.
"How ya doing DK?"
"Billy, put me down!" Kim ordered laughing, as Billy Walsh swung her around.
"Good to see you kid," Billy said. "Hey Bosco. You take good care of our girl?"
"My girl, Billy. My girl."
"Talking 'bout my girl," DK started to sing.
Kim giggled and slid her arms around Bosco's waist, "To answer your question Billy, yes, Bosco took very good care of me."
Billy smiled, "Good. Welcome back Kim."
"Thanks Billy."
Billy and DK went into the TV room while Kim and Bosco stood in the kitchen.
"You sure you're ready to be back today?" Bosco asked quietly. "'Cause everyone would understand if you took a few more days."
"Yes, but there is only so much daytime TV a person can watch before she's considered legally brain dead. I stay home much longer and I'll qualify."
"Okay, point taken," Bosco grinned. "Just be careful and call if you want to talk, alright?"
"Alright. Love you."
"Love you too." Bosco kissed her and then headed back down the stairs.
"Hey Bosco," he heard from behind him.
He turned around. "Hey Jimmy. What's up?"
"What are you doing here?"
"Kim's starting back today."
"Oh. How's she doing?"
"What, didn't you ask Joey?"
"You're probably a little better at reading Kim. She doesn't let Joey see everything."
"Not like you, right?"
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"You don't hide things from Joey. He probably knows exactly how you feel about Kim."
"Bosco, what are you talking about?"
"You're still in love with Kim." Bosco had to laugh at Jimmy's expression. "You think I didn't notice that you look at her the same way I do?"
"You're crazy."
"Am I really? 'Cause see, I don't think so. I think every time we have problems you're secretly hoping that this time it'll be over with us."
"I repeat, you're crazy."
"You lost her a long time ago Jimmy."
"Don't you think I know that?" Jimmy snapped. "I know Kim and I are over. I knew it the minute she found out I slept with Melanie."
"Do you?"
"I don't want to have this conversation with you Bosco."
"She's not yours anymore Jimmy."
"Yeah, I know."
"Good," Bosco said before he walked out.
"Hey, what are you still doing here?" Kim asked as she came down and found Jimmy standing in the kitchen holding a box of his stuff from upstairs. "I thought you'd be halfway to the bar by now."
"Just saying good-bye, ya know?"
"Yeah," Kim nodded. "Place isn't gonna be the same without you Jimmy."
"Thanks Kimmy. You coming out with us?"
"Nah. I'm gonna go home and crash. I'm kinda tired. You feeling alright?"
"Yeah, I am." He gave her a long look.
"What?"
"I'm gonna miss you."
"Jimmy, stop acting like you're never gonna see me again. It's kinda hard when we share a son."
"Yeah, but it's different from seeing you here every day." He looked down and then at her, "I felt like I lost something."
"What?"
"The day of your wedding reception we were talking. I was about to tell you something and Brooke interrupted us. I was about to tell you that I felt like I lost something."
"Jimmy."
"No, I need to say this. I watched Bobby fall for you and I didn't worry about it because I knew you'd only ever see him as your best friend. Then you told me you and Bosco were going out and I felt like someone kicked me in the stomach. The next time I felt like that was when you said you didn't want to try again. Then you said you were getting married. I sat in the back of the church with Brooke and I watched Joey and Bobby give you away. I watched you promise to spend the rest of your life with Bosco and all I could think was that we'd promised each other first. I'm the one who screwed that up. I always thought I'd get another shot though. But that's never gonna happen, is it?"
"No," Kim shook her head.
"Yeah." He looked straight into Kim's eyes. "I love you, Kim. Be happy." Jimmy didn't wait for a response. He simply walked away.
Kim didn't say anything. She didn't move and she barely breathed for at least five minutes. Then she nodded her head a little, "See ya Jimmy."
