TITLE: Third Watch, the Next Generation; Tyrone 2
AUTHOR: trista groulx
DISCLAIMER: kim, jimmy, alex (taylor), faith, bosco, carlos, holly, doc, ty, sully, emily, kylie, joey, charlie and anyone else who pops up from the TV series are not mine, they belong to NBC, their creator, and the actors and actresses who portray them. the idea for third watch is so not mine, but anyone who i've created for this story are mine so ask if you want to use them.
RATING: PG-13 for language
SUMMARY: Tyrone again, here to tell you about what happened after Alex fell through the staircase.
AUTHORS NOTES: all right sorry about the fluff i was doing so well, but it's the very good kind of fluff, i promise... please remeber that this was written b4 the series finale, and most of s6 didn't happen, this is the before last piece, last 1st person POV next is the epilogue which'll be 3rd person you'll know why at the end of the fic... go on read then review so you can read the epilouge!
I had heard that someone on the squad had been hurt on the job that day, and didn't think anything of it. I was surprised when I saw Carter sitting waiting for me in the lobby. I looked at him, confused, and then realized, that it was Alex who had been hurt.
"It's Alex, isn't it?" I asked.
"Yeah," he replied.
"She's at Mercy?"
"She is, give this to her, when you see her." He handed me a picture that looked like it had been drawn by a kid.
I wanted to know the story behind it, but I had to get to Alex. I was still in my uniform, but I didn't care. He yelled something after me, but I didn't hear it. I got into my car and raced off to Mercy to make sure Alex was all right.
She didn't take many fire shifts, but every time she did I feared the worst. She promised me as soon as she took the job that she would stop when we decided to start a family. I understood her reasons for doing it, but I still didn't like the idea. For the exact reasons I was rushing to the hospital.
I didn't want to see her hurt, ever, and she was much more likely to hurt herself on the new job. I probably broke more then a few laws getting to the hospital, and was probably even more lucky I got there in one piece.
I realized that I had not asked Carter any questions about how badly she was hurt. All I had cared about was getting to her, and seeing her for myself. Even if he had told me she just had a bruise, I wouldn't have believe it until I saw for myself. I actually went through the main entrance instead of the emergency.
It had been a long while since I had gone through the main entrance to be hospital. Usually I'd recognize a couple of nurses in the ER, but there I didn't know anyone.
"How can I help you?" asked a volunteer, working the reception desk.
"I'm looking for a firefighter who was brought in tonight, Alex Doherty," I explained.
"Just a sec, I'm just a volunteer, I'll ask someone to help me." I saw her turn around, and talk to a nurse. "The Officer is looking for the firefighter who was admitted earlier."
I heard a laugh from one of the nurses, when she looked at my name tag. "He's her boyfriend, send him right up to her room." She came back, and directed me toward the room where she had been admitted.
I heard volunteer say, I assumed to a nurse, "some girls have all the luck don't they? Get to work with those hot firefighters all day, then get to go home to sexy cop."
I heard another laugh. "Yeah, some girls have all the luck."
I made myself walk to the elevator then to her room. As I left a man and his son were leaving her room. I wondered if she had a roommate. She alone, and wondered who the two people who had left were.
"Carter and I helped them out, of the building today," she explained, as if she had read my mind. "The little boy is Jake, he thinks I'm pretty."
"Everyone thinks you're pretty, Alex." I looked at the piece of paper in his hand. "This must be his artwork." I handed it to her.
"This is really good. I was wondering when it would make its way to me. Now, don't you look all spiffy in your uniform." I went over to the bed, and hugged her, never wanting to let go. "You're all right?"
"I only broke my leg, and dislocated my shoulder," she assured me. "Oh! And I bumped my head and they think I've got a very mild concussion, which is why they want to keep on eye on me tonight."
"Only?"
She kissed me. "I seem to remember someone telling me it was only a bullet."
I smiled at her. "So what happened?"
"There was a child on the upper floor, I heard her screaming. I thought the staircase was safe. Apparently, it wasn't, cause I fell through. You'd have to ask Carter the real details."
As if on cue, the door opened, and Cater appeared. He smiled at me, he then walked over to Alex and kissed her on the cheek.
"How are you feeling?" he asked.
"I'm doing all right. This cast is gonna get some itchy though."
He laughed. "I don't miss being in a cast at all."
"Oh!" he exclaimed, sounding flustered. "Did I interrupt a moment?"
She shook her head. "No, actually he wants to know what happened. I was kind of out of it, so you can field those questions."
He laughed. "The fire was pretty much out. The first family we got out told us about a child possibly in the upper apartment, so we went to see if it was alive. Alex heard a child on the upper floor, and went to use the stairs. They weren't sturdy enough for her weight. They were damaged from the fire, but didn't seem it because the design. Anyone would have thought they were fine by looking at them. When we lost radio contact, I went to the staircase. I found her, unconscious, and carried her out."
"See I was good, it wasn't my fault."
"Well, expect for your helmet being next to you."
She smiled innocently. "Life father like daughter."
He shook his head. "There was a child on the second floor, we used the ladder to get her out. She's got some bad burns on her feet, hands, and knees, and smoke inhalation but she is expected to make a full recovery."
She smiled. "I guess I do have some motherly instincts in me after all. Helping two kids today and all."
"No one ever claimed you didn't," I reminded her.
"I was just checking in, to report back to the guys on your condition. The nurse said you might have some memory, loss, but you don't seem to, so I'll leave you two lovebirds alone."
"Thank you," we both said at the same time.
"I love it when you two that!"
So she had saved a life, but almost lost her in the process, I knew it was her job, but I preferred not to think about it. I was glad she didn't do it full time or I'd be racked with worry all the time, and wouldn't be able to function normally. I took her hand, and caressed it, she smiled at me, her eyes half lidded.
"You could have died," I whispered.
"I can die any day, but I didn't today," she assured me. "I remember how I felt when you were in the hospital, and I'll say the same things you told me to reassure me. Firstly, I'm sorry. Secondly, if I could have avoided the fall, I would have, for you."
I knew those words would come back and bite me in the ass one day. She could have easily avoided the fall, she could have avoided the staircase. But it was the same as when I had been hit. I could have avoided the danger, but had no way of knowing that a bullet was going to hit me. I kissed her lightly, just glad that I had some more time with her.
"I understand, really, I just worry," I explained.
"And so do I, it's just something we'll both have to deal with if we want any kind of future together. We can understand each other's position on danger better then anyone, else, though. That helps, right?"
"It helps a lot."
I realized that she had a very valid point. Only someone in emergency services could start to comprehend why you'd put yourself in such danger. I had a leg up on my father and mother, cause she never could understand why my dad liked being on the field, even when he was supposed to be at a desk.
But I knew why we both did it, we knew someone had to help protect, and save people, and we could handle doing it. If I could handle myself in those situations, then I should be able to handle her being in the same kind of predicaments. Helping to get people out of a fire, was not fundamentally different from helping someone in any number of dangerous situations I dealt with. It was just two different extremes of putting yourself in danger to help others.
That was when I realized just how much she meant to me. I had almost lost her, twice, and both times I was paralyzed with fear at the thought of losing her. I had known when I was shot that I was more then just in love with Alex. But now I knew for one-hundred percent sure, that I wanted her in my life for the rest of it.
I brushed her hair out of her face. "Alex, I love you," I told her.
"I love you too, Tyrone," she whispered, staring at me.
"I love you more then I thought I'd ever love anyone, ever. You are my world, Alex –"
The door opened, and we both looked to see who was there. It was her father I was about propose to my girlfriend, and her father shows up in the middle of it. Could he have worse timing?
"Daddy!" she exclaimed. "Did you fly here?"
"I think I may have broken many speeding laws," he explained.
"I'll leave you two alone, there's something I need to do," I said.
"But, I want you to stay," she pouted. She actually made a pouty face, I couldn't believe it.
"I'll be back later, I promise, and we'll finish what we just started, okay?"
She nodded. "Fine."
I knew she was annoyed with me, but I also knew she wouldn't be for very long after I returned. I went back to the station house, and got changed into my regular clothes. It was probably better that I got interrupted, this way she wouldn't have tell everyone that he had popped the question in hospital room, wearing his cop uniform, with no ring.
I had to get to my parent's place. My dad had my grandmother's ring. My grandmother had wanted my mother to have it, but she liked the ring my father had already given her. Since my grandmother seemed to want it passed on through the family I promised her that I'd give to the woman I decided to marry one day. She was thrilled with the idea, and my parents had been holding on to it until the day came where I needed it. That day had come, I finally found someone I wanted to give the ring to.
It was beautiful, from what I remember of it. I just knew it would look great on Alex. I hoped it wouldn't have to be sized too drastically for it to fit her. I couldn't wait to present to her, and then tell her the story behind it.
As much as I wanted to just get back, and propose to her, I took my time driving over to my parents. I rang the doorbell, and it took my dad a while to answer. I had forgotten to check the time, and it was a little on the late side. He answered the door in a robe.
"Is there a problem?" he asked.
"No, nothing like that, Dad," I assured him.
"It's pretty late."
"I know, and I'm sorry."
"What's going on?"
"Alex fell through a staircase today," I explained.
He woke up completely after that. "Is she all right?"
"Yeah, she's going to be fine. She has mild concussion, a broken leg, and dislocated her shoulder."
"What happened, exactly?"
"She was working fire today, and she heard a child on an upper floor. When she went to go upstairs the staircase gave out under her weight, and the damage that was done in the fire, I guess. Anyway, she fell through it, I'm not sure what stair, or anything. But she's awake, and she's going to be okay." I knew my adrenaline was pumping, and I was talking faster the usual.
"You need to calm down, Tyrone. I'm going to make you some tea. You're going at a thousand words a minute. Please, be quiet, your mother's asleep."
"Were you?"
"No, I was reading a book."
I nodded. I followed him into the kitchen, and he boiled some water, and made me a cup of tea. It did calm me down considerably.
"Now I'm sure you didn't come all the way here in the middle of the night to tell me that your girlfriend fell through a staircase, but is all right."
I nodded. "I need Grandma's ring." He looked up, almost shocked. "I'm gonna ask her to marry me."
"When?"
"Tonight."
"Of course, or you wouldn't be here right now."
"I was going to ask her earlier, but her father walked in the room just as I was about to ask. When I thought a minute, I decided that I wanted to wait a little while, till I had the ring."
Dad smiled. "That's usually a good thing."
"I mean, she'd have gotten it, but it'll be nice to give it to her right away."
"I'll go get it."
Dad went into his room. When he returned, my mother was in toe, also in her robe. I guess she wanted to know why dad was rooting through her jewelry box in the middle of the night.
"Tyrone, what is the world is going on?" she asked.
I smiled. "Good morning to you, too."
"Tyrone, you don't come here in the middle of the night for no reason."
I nodded. "Alex fell through a staircase today."
"Oh my god! Is she all right?"
"Yeah, she's going to be fine, just a few injuries, nothing the doctors couldn't fix up. I realized just how much I loved her when I was rushing to the hospital. So I decided I wanted to propose, I just needed Grandma's ring."
She flew across the room and hugged me. "Really!"
"Yes, I was going to ask earlier but her father walked in the room."
She was grinning ear. "I'm so happy for both of you."
It was nice how neither even seemed to be thinking that she could say no. Everyone knew that it was just going to be a matter of time before I asked her. I couldn't deny that Alex was my world. She was the only person I wanted as soon as I saw her, that first day as a FDNY medic.
Dad gave me the ring. It was just how I remembered it. A white gold piece, with a solitaire setting, the diamond was a good size, but not something over bearing. The band was rather thin, but the gold was of good quality. I knew it would be prefect for her. White gold had been less popular when my grandfather had given the piece to my grandmother. I was glad he had chosen it, so I could give it to her, without fear of her saying she didn't like it. I knew she preferred white gold, and sliver to yellow gold.
Even in the dim kitchen light, I could see that diamond was sparkling, and freshly cleaned. I wondered if Mom and her intuition had played a part in it's cleanliness.
"It's going to look beautiful on her," Mom whispered, I could tell she was holding back tears. "My only baby's getting married."
I smiled at her. "Hard to believe?"
"Yeah," they both said.
"How about you let me propose to her before you break out the champagne?"
"Like she'd say no," my dad assured me.
I smiled, knowing he was right. "I hate to cut this short, but I really would like to get back to her."
We said our quick goodbyes, and before I knew it I was back at the hospital. I had slipped the ring into my pocket. I wished I had an old jewelry box of some sort to present the ring to her properly.
When I got back to the room, her brother was there too. I sighed, before going in. I just wanted to be alone with her for a few seconds, that's all I needed.
"Hi!" they all greeted me.
"Hi," I replied.
"Would you mind if Daddy and Joey stayed at our place tonight?" she asked me.
"I wouldn't mind at all."
"Daddy, how about you and Joey get a quick bite from downstairs?"
It was as if she read my mind, that I wanted to be alone with her. The two men left the room, I went over and kissed her. She let the kiss linger, and I pulled away, not wanting to get carried away.
"I love you," she whispered, brushing her hand through my hair.
"I love you too," I whispered back, kissing her again.
She pulled way. "I think my dad ruined a moment when he came in."
"Just postponed it." I took her hand. "Alex, I love you more then anything else in this world. I've known it for a very long time, and now I want everyone to know. This may not be the best place, but it will have to do. Alex Doherty, will you marry me?" I reached into my pocket, and pulled out the ring.
She stared at me, then the ring for a long moment. "Yes," she whispered, hardly audible.
"Let's see if this fits." I whispered, putting it on her finger, I was surprised when it did. "It would seem you have the same size finger as my grandmother."
She looked at me, grinning. "This was your grandmother's?"
I nodded. "Yeah, she wanted my mother to have it, but she liked the ring she already had. So I promised her I'd give to it the woman I decided to fall in love with one day."
"I was wondering how you got a ring so late."
I smiled. "A trip to my parents."
"This was not what I thought had been interrupted."
"Good, I'm glad I took you by surprise."
We both looked at the ring, for a long moment. She then pulled me toward her, into another, deep, long kiss. She wrapped her good around my neck. I had one hand on her cheek, and the other was running through her hair. I wanted to break the kiss, but she would not let go. The door opened, and we pulled away, quickly.
Her father and brother were standing in the doorway, with shocked expressions on their faces, and coffees in their hands. At least if they decided they needed to beat the shit out of me I'd be close to the emergency room.
It was my turn to blush, though I'm sure no one else noticed. She took my hand, I felt like I had been caught making out in high school. Her dad looked pissed, and her brother looked like he just may kill me with his bare hands.
"Don't be like that," she told them, her voice calm. "We were just celebrating."
They both looked puzzled, and asked, "what?" at the same time.
"Come see." They came closer to the bed, and saw the ring, as she held out her hand.
"Is that?" her father asked.
"Yes, Daddy, Tyrone and I are engaged!" I had never heard her sound so giddy before.
They didn't really say much, and I was a little worried. She took my hand, to try and calm me, but nothing would, until her father either punched me, or he accepted what she had just said. He wasn't doing anything, and that really worried me.
"Congratulations, Baby Sister," her brother said.
Her father still said nothing. You could cut the tension in the room with a knife. A nurse came in.
"I'm sorry, Fellas," she said, with a thick southern accent. "Miss Alex needs her rest, so please say your goodbyes."
I was first, "Love you, good night," I whispered in her ear.
"Love you back, good night," she whispered back, kissing me on the cheek.
Her bother and father each gave her a hug, then followed me out to the car. Could things be any more awkward? Her father had said nothing, even when I suggested they follow me back to the apartment. He just nodded, and followed me out of the parking lot.
I wasn't sure there'd be parking for everyone, but figured we'd cross that bridge when we came to it. Luckily there were two visitors spaces, and our regular spot. Still, he said nothing, as we walked up to the apartment.
"How's Alex gonna get up these?" Joey asked.
"I'll carry her up, if I have to," I offered.
Her father glared at me. We went into the apartment. I got some blankets, and pillows. It was a little messy, but nothing to be embarrassed about. I threw the pillows and blankets on each of the couches.
"Mr. Doherty, would you like the bed?" I offered.
"Fine," he said breaking his silence.
I handed Joey a pillow, and a blanket, and he fell asleep almost immediately, though I figured that it was mostly because he didn't want to deal with the tension in the room. I couldn't even be sure if he was really sleeping or not.
"Mr. Doherty are you mad at me?" I asked.
"No, if you ever have a daughter, you'll understand," he explained.
I nodded. "Should I have asked you first?"
He laughed. "No one does that, anymore. When I saw her in that bed, I saw my little girl. Everyone says she's so much like her mother, so I try and see her as a little girl. When she showed me the ring, I just thought, where did the time go?"
I nodded. "I guess we grow up too fast."
"I'm happy for you both, really, it's just a lot to handle. First she gets hurt on the job, now she's going to be getting married. It's a lot to deal with on one day."
"I just couldn't wait. I knew you were here, for her to tell in person. I thought it was great timing."
"Maybe it would have been better to hear it over the phone."
"It wouldn't have been fair for my parents to hear face to face, and for you to hear it over a telephone line. I love her too much to be so rude to her."
He smiled. "You're a good man, Tyrone, like your father."
"I try, Sir."
"Don't call me Sir. It makes me feel old." He chuckled. "I'm beat, goodnight."
"Goodnight," I said, before getting comfortable on the couch.
It was so strange sleeping alone, there had been very few times since Alex and I started living together where we were not in the same bed. It wasn't that the couch was uncomfortable, it was just I was not used to sleeping alone. I was glad she was only in the hospital overnight, as I wasn't sure how many nights I could sleep without her next to me.
--
I was glad when Alex got home. It had been really stressful at the apartment with her father and brother. Being her usual stubborn self she managed to hobble up the stairs all by herself. She did have crutches but she was in a fair bit of pain using them, and going up the stairs was worse. When we got inside her brother and father were very glad to see her home too. She went right to the couch, plopping down on it, happy to be sitting.
"This sucks!" she informed us all.
"So what did you do exactly, Alex?" her father asked.
"There was a child on the upper floor. I knew the fire had been not far from the staircase, so I looked to see if I could see any reason why I couldn't use it, and it looked fine. I got part way up, and it started to fall. I hurt my shoulder angling myself so that I wouldn't fall on back, onto my tank, and I somehow managed to break my leg too."
"And your head? Why wasn't your helmet on properly?"
"Trust me, I've learned my lesson on that. No one wears them properly, Daddy. I know you didn't. I've seen pictures of you coming out of burning buildings without the chin strap done up."
"She's got you there Dad," Joey chimed in.
"I'm not gonna make the mistake again. Concussions are no fun. I couldn't get any sleep last night. I'd finally be falling asleep and a nurse would poke her head and ask if I was awake. I understand why they do it, but it's still annoying when I couldn't even fall asleep."
Jimmy laughed. "I always hated being in the hospital overnight."
"Alex, are you hungry?" I asked her.
"Real food?" she asked.
I laughed. "Anything you want."
She thought for a moment. "Those omelets you always make, they're so good."
"Does anyone else want one?"
"That'd be great," her father replied.
"Yeah, that sounds really good," Joey said.
"Thank you, baby," Alex told me.
I smiled at her, and went into the kitchen to start breakfast for them. Everyone once in a while I'd hear laughter coming from the other room. When I finished I gave Alex and her father theirs first, then brought my own and her brother's out. I decided to sit next to Alex. She kissed me lightly on the cheek.
"Thank you, this is really good," she said.
"This is really good," he father agreed.
"See Daddy, he takes care of me just fine."
He laughed. "I never said he didn't."
"Then why don't you like him?"
"It's a father thing, I can't explain it."
"You're a pretty good cook," Joey commented.
"You could learn a thing or two from him," Alex laughed.
When I noticed everyone was finished eat, I collected the plates, and went into the kitchen, and loaded the dishwasher. I cleaned the frying pan, then joined them in the living room. Alex looked happy to have them there, even if the circumstances were bad. I knew that she missed her family living in New York. I knew she was especially happy that she had gotten to tell them face to face about the engagement.
"As much as I love visiting with you, Alex, I think you need to get your rest," her father said.
"I'm fine," she tried to assure him.
"No, we should really be heading back home."
She nodded. "All right."
The two of them packed the few things they had brought. We all stood up to wish our goodbyes.
"You take care of her," Joey told me.
"Always," I assured him.
"See you next time." He shook my hand.
"See you later, Tyrone," her father said, also shaking my hand.
They each gave Alex a hug, and kiss on the cheek.
"Take it easy, and do what the doctor's said," he father told her.
"I will Daddy, and if I try not to, Tyrone will set me straight."
He laughed. "I love you Alex, take care."
"I love you too Daddy."
"See you, Sis," said Joey. "Love 'ya!"
"Love 'ya back, big brother. See you soon."
The two of them left, and we were alone in our apartment. She hobbled over to me, and kissing me lightly on the lips.
"Now I get to tell everyone the good news," she told me.
"How about we hold off for a little while, and have some alone time?" I offered.
"I'd like that."
I carefully scooped her into my arms, and carried her to our room, and placed her on the bed. I returned to the living room to get her crutches, and set them by her side table. She had gotten comfortable in the bed.
"Can I join you?" I asked her.
"Always," she whispered.
I crawled into the bed next to her, she carefully maneuvered so her head was on my chest. I sighed, glad to have her near me. I had missed her so much the night before, it was unbelievable.
"This is really nice," I whispered.
"Yeah, it was so strange not having you next to me last night," she explained.
"I know, I hardly got a wink of sleep either. I gave your father the bed, and that just made things worse."
She laughed. "At least you didn't have someone who's job it was to wake you every two hours. I think she may have been jealous that I had so good looking emergency workers checking on me."
I laughed. "As long as this one's the one you like the best."
"Of course you are, or I wouldn't have said yes."
"True enough, do you know who you want in the wedding party?"
"I can't think of a bunch of just girls. Maybe we could just kind of play around with titles for people?"
"That could work. I like that idea."
"The only problem we might have is Emily and Dylan."
"Yeah, I'm sure they'd be able to behave themselves for our wedding. I mean they have been getting along a lot better since Angela's gotten out of the hospital."
She nodded. "I guess you're right. Angela should be our flower girl!"
"That would be so cute, with one of her cousin's as the ring barer." I had to think for a moment. "Luke is about her age."
"That's Charlie's youngest son, right?"
"Yeah. How are Emily and Charlie getting along these days?"
"Wow she's just full of conflict isn't she?" She laughed. "She's been a lot better with her father and brother since Angela got sick. You're not close with her father are you?"
"No, I'm much closer to her mother and step father."
"We're going to get married!" she squealed.
"I know." I kissed her.
"Emily's been wondering when we'd get around to doing it." She laughed. "So why did you ask me last night?"
"I've wanted to for a while now, but I wanted everything to be prefect. When I found out that you had been hurt, I realized that if I waited too long I may never get my chance. I was going to ask you before your father showed up. I guess it was good that he did, that way I was able to get the ring."
"It's so pretty. I can't believe that your grandmother actually had a white gold engagement ring."
"I was surprised too, so it made it even more perfect." I looked at it, on her finger, it looked like it belonged there. "I love you."
"I love you back." She kissed me. "I can't wait to show it off at work."
"Hopefully Dixon backs off when he sees it."
"Here's hoping."
"If we weren't together would you have gone out with him?"
"Hell no, I hate guys like that!" She assured me.
"So he's not getting an invitation?"
"Not likely. He'd probably tell us we can't get married cause he's in love with me."
I couldn't help but laugh. Part of me wanted to find him and rub the fact she was with me in his face. It wasn't like she wasn't into it, anytime I picked her up and he was there she'd play it up. She'd kiss me harder, and touch me more. I didn't want her to know, but I really liked the extra attention. I loved to see his face when he realized that her eyes were only on me.
I was playing with her hair, absently, just glad to have her close. I never wanted to feel as I did the day before when Carter told me she had been hurt. I knew it was a possibility that I could lose her, but I didn't want to think about that. I going to vow to spend the rest of my life with her, and if god was willing that would be until we were both old and grey.
"Mmm," she purred, when I started brushing her hair behind her ear.
I was starting to get a little drowsy, but I wanted to stay away and just enjoy laying with her. I realized only moments later that her breath had slowed, and she was asleep. I kissed her temple. I must have fallen asleep because the next thing I remember was the phone ringing excessively as someone tried to be buzzed up.
I found the phone, and let them in, then went into the living room to let them in. I was not at all surprised to see Emily at the door. I let her in, knowing she didn't want to see me.
"Where's Alex?" she asked.
"She's having a nap right now," I told her.
"Is she all right?"
"She will be, her shoulder's still tender, and she's in a cast."
"I was hoping to see her."
"Here I am," she said, startling us both.
Emily went over to her, and gave her a hug. "How are you feeling?"
"I've been better, but I'll surive."
Emily laughed, then she noticed it. "Is that?"
"Oh this?" Alex asked, innocently holding out her left hand.
"Congratulations! When did that happen?"
"He asked me last night. It was his grandmother's ring."
"That's so sweet. How did he ask?"
"You know he's in the room right?" I asked, they didn't even seem to hear me.
"He just said he loved me more then anything the world, and then he asked me. Right there in the hospital room while my father and brother were out of the room."
"That's so sweet!"
Alex was grinning ear to ear. I was happy to see her so happy.
"So do you want to be my maid of honour?" Alex asked.
"Yes!"
"And would it be all right if your adorable little girl be the flower girl?"
"Of course she can. I know she's gonna love it, getting all dressed in a pretty dress, and being the centre of attention for a little while."
"Already?" I asked.
"She's an attention hog, you know that, Tyrone. Especially since the operation. She tells anyone who will listen about how she only has one kidney that her daddy gave her."
"That's adorable," Alex said.
"So when are the two of you going to get to work on making her a new friend to play with?" I just laughed.
"Not for a while yet, Em," she assured her friend.
She laughed. "I can't stay too much longer. I just popped up to make sure you were all right, and that Tyrone here is taking care of you?"
"He's taking very good care of me."
"I can see that."
"Get better soon, so you can so you can wave the ring under Dixon's nose."
Alex laughed. "I can't wait."
"He keeps asking about you."
She shook her head. "Tell I'm having red hot monkey sex with my man."
Emily started laughing. "Anything else?"
"And remind him once you go black you never go back."
"Emily, I'm going to ask your brother to be in the wedding party, you don't have a problem with that?" I asked her.
"Not at all, Charlie and me are starting to get along again. Which of the two boys are you going to ask to be the ring barer?"
"Luke, he's the closest to Angela's age, I think it would be adorable."
She smiled. "It will be. I should really get back."
"Don't tell anyone at the station all right?" Alex warned.
"I promise I won't." She hugged her friend again. "See you later."
"Yeah, later."
Emily left. I then went up behind her, wrapping my arms around her waist. She relaxed into the grip. I took her ear in my mouth for a moment. She moaned.
"Red hot monkey sex?" I whispered in her ear.
"We could try," she replied.
"I like that idea."
It had been a month since Alex's accident. Her shoulder had healed, but she was told she had to be careful because it would be easier to dislocate it again. She was still wearing the cast, and wasn't able to go back to work. She was going crazy, and hated being home all day. I hoped that the injury would be healed when they removed the cast two weeks later.
Everyone at both houses knew about our engagement, and almost everyone was happy for us. Dylan had agreed to be my best man, but that didn't stop him from reminding me on a daily basis how dangerous it could be to be with the same woman the rest of your life. I liked my partner, and he was a good friend, but he could be really strange sometimes.
It was starting out to be an average day at work. The two of us driving around, seeing what we could see, and waiting for call.
"I'm not gonna embarrass you, you know?" he asked.
"When?"
"At your wedding, they tell me I gotta make a speech."
I laughed. "Yeah, you do. I was hoping it wouldn't be too embarrassing."
"As much as I bug you, Alex is a really great girl."
I know a stupid smile had spread across my face. "I wouldn't have agreed to the monogamy thing if she wasn't."
"I want that with Emily."
"Marriage?"
"No, that stupid look you get on your face when you talk about Alex. I want to have one of those for Emily."
"Are you two together again?"
"God no! Emily doesn't seem to want to have anything to do with me expect as Angela's dad. She says she's afraid I'll stop seeing her again."
"It's a valid fear."
"I know I don't have a good track record. But I really do care about her."
"Is it only because of Angela?"
He shrugged. "I don't think so."
"You have to know for sure, then the grin and the look just comes on it's own. It's not something I can control."
The radio crackled and we were called to the scene of a fire for crowd control. It was one of my least favourite things to do. Usually I'd be somewhat happy because I'd have a chance to see Alex in action, but since she wasn't working I just hated it.
"When Alex is working do you ever feel strange that you're pushing people back, while she's running in there?" he asked me.
"Not really," I replied, honestly. "We've both got our jobs to do, and sometimes hers is a little bit more exciting."
We pulled up to the scene, and began to ask people to stand far back. It always amazed me to see just how many people would come to watch fires. It was a very strange, and almost morbid fascination people had.
"So do you two have a date set yet?" Dylan asked me, when the crowd was far enough back.
"Almost got it pinned down where she wants it," I replied.
He laughed. "There's no backing out once you reserve the location."
"I don't want to back out."
"So if there are girls and guys on both sides of the wedding party, how do strippers work?"
I laughed. "I think that it's a matter of preference. We're having a stag and doe party."
"So she's cool with it though?"
"She didn't hate the idea. Besides she'll have her big brother as a spy."
"That's gotta hurt."
I shook my head. "It's be a small group, just four of us."
"I thought it was even guys and girls."
"Carter."
"Right, I keep forgetting."
A man was trying to get closer to the fire.
"Hey! Get back!" Dylan hollered, he didn't seem to listen. "You hard of hearing? Get back with the rest of them!"
The man looked at Dylan, but kept walking.
"Hey! You can't go over there!" Dylan yelled, getting frustrated.
"But my daughter lives here," he explained.
"Then she's in the crowd behind us, or she's at the hospital."
"Can't you check?"
"Sir," I said. "No one here can keep track of everyone that's around. If she had to go to the hospital the people that worked on her are gone now. If you haven't seen her in the crowd, go to Angel of Mercy hospital and they should be able to help you there."
He nodded, sadly, then left. I found out later that his daughter had been taken to the hospital, but was not seriously hurt. I always hated when people asked us about someone who could be in a burning building. I had no way of knowing who got out alive.
I heard a crunching sound, and looked behind me, what was left of the three story building fell in on itself. For a moment my mind was racing, then I remembered that Alex was safe at home. I just hoped that all of her co-workers had made it out.
That was one of the things I liked about her being at home, injured. I didn't have to worry abut her getting hut. I didn't have to worry that that day could be the day I was told she hadn't made it out.
I had hoped tat her getting hurt would make her want to stop, but it hadn't. In fact it seemed to have the opposite effect on her, she wanted to be on the squad even more when she got back. She promised me she'd take mostly medic shifts, but she wanted to pick up to regular fire shifts on the schedule.
"How do you do it man?" Dylan asked me.
"What?" I asked.
"When she's there, how do you stay here and not go running to see if she's all right?"
"Cause when she is in there, when things calm down she always comes to check see if I'm here."
"I don't think I could keep sane."
"I can't tell her she can't do it. She loves it, and from what I understand she's good at it. She has to worry about me too. She also has to worry that she might be the one who'll get the call if I'm hurt out here."
"She's already prove she can handle it."
I nodded. "Just because she's cool under pressure doesn't mean it doesn't effect her."
"I guess you're right."
I noticed Emily running toward us. I wondered what she wanted. She got to where we were, slightly out of breath.
"What's up?" I asked her.
"Just wanted to tell you that building was cleared before it fell, there was no one inside," she explained.
"Really?"
"Yeah. I know you sometimes go see Alex at lunch. I'm sure if she sees this on the news she'll want to know what happened. So tell her that amazingly everyone was out, and the injuries from the whole fire were minimal."
"I'll tell her."
"Dylan, you're off tomorrow right?" she asked.
"Yeah, why?"
"I forgot that Angela has a doctor's appointment, can you take her?"
"Of course I can."
"Thank you, I owe you one. I gotta get back though, later."
She ran back toward the bus. The crowd had started to leave, and we knew that our job would soon be done there.
"I'm impressed, Mathews," I laughed.
"What?" he asked.
"Since when do you take Angela when Emily's not around?"
"It's a new thing we're trying. I can't believe she actually asked me to take her to the appointment."
"Maybe you're finally being responsible."
"Responsible? What's that?" he laughed.
A detective came over to us. "We can take it from here, officers," he said.
"All right," we both said.
We headed back to our car, then cleared ourselves for lunch. We drove over to my apartment. I invited Dylan up, but he said he'd just eat somewhere nearby. He never liked going up, there was still some tension between he and Alex. She knew that he was trying to change, and hadn't snapped at him since Angela got sick, but Dylan was still nervous around her.
When I got up to our apartment, I was not surprised to see Alex in the kitchen making something. She had been cooking a lot since she had been off. I carefully creeped up behind her and wrapped my arms around her waist. She didn't seem startled, so she must have heard me.
"I love you," I whispered in her ear.
"I love you too," she replied.
"What's for lunch?"
"Just spaghetti. How was your day so far?"
"Just got back from the scene of a fire."
"Was it bad?"
"There was so much damage to the building it collapsed."
"Oh my god!"
"Emily told me that no one was seriously hurt, and the building was clear before it feel."
"That's amazing."
"Yeah, I thought to so too. How much longer till that's ready?"
"A few minutes."
"Then can I get my desert first?"
She giggled. "Not today."
"Later?"
She kissed me, harder. "I think that'll be better."
The phone rang, someone wanted to be let up. I let them up, and was surprised when Dylan came inside.
"Hi!" Alex said, cheerfully.
"Hi, Alex," he replied. "Do you mind if I crash lunch?"
"No at all."
"Why'd you change your mind?" I asked.
"Nothing around here looked interesting today. You always tell me how well Alex cooks, so I thought I'd find out for myself."
"It's just spaghetti today," Alex told him.
"That's sound good to me."
We all ate lunch together, I had a funny feeling that there was another reason for Dylan taking me up on a lunch offer. It was not long before we had to get back out. I kissed Alex goodbye, and then we got back to work.
"So what's the real reason you came up for lunch?" I asked.
"Ex girlfriend, working at the deli on the corner," he replied.
"And the problem is?"
"I never called her back. I haven't been calling anyone back of late."
"Dylan, I thought you were trying to improve yourself.'
"I haven't been with anyone since the surgery, actually."
I was very surprised to hear that. "You're full of it!"
"No, I swear it. I haven't been with anyone. I'm trying to avoid people I used to be with so that I'm not pulled back into my old tricks."
"Does Emily know what you're up to?"
"I haven't told her. She wouldn't believe me anyway."
I shook my head. "Why are you suddenly so interested in making things right with Emily?"
"She's my daughter's mother, I should try to do something right for her for once. She's been dealing with my bullshit for so long, I don't want her to anymore."
"I never thought I'd see the day."
He laughed. "I know. I don't think she wants me like that though."
"You can't always get what you want."
"I know. I was horrible to her, I'm lucky she gives me the time of day."
"She has to so that her daughter has a father."
A call came through the radio, and we raced toward it. It was a possible robbery at an apartment complex not too far away. We got there relatively quickly. We went up to the apartment there was a young woman standing outside.
"Oh! Thank goodness you're here!" she exclaimed. "I'm afraid to go inside."
We carefully entered the apartment, and checked to see if anyone was inside, and we didn't find anyone. We went back into the hallway to tell her.
"It's all clear," Dylan assured her.
"Oh, good, I got here and the door was opened, and I got worried cause I know I closed it," she explained.
"All right, it's going to be hard to catch whoever did this, since you didn't see him. We'll write out a report, and then some detectives will contact you in a few days."
"All right."
"So what's your name?" he asked.
"Aimee A-I-M-E-E, Lafleche, L-A-F-L-E-C-H-E."
"Do you live here alone?"
"Yeah, I do. Do you think I should be worried to be here alone?"
"Here's my number, if you ever get nervous just call me."
She smiled. "Thank you."
Just when I thought that he had actually changed for the better he went and pulled something like that. It had been a while since I had seen him give anyone his number. She wasn't horrible looking, and I knew as soon as I saw her that she was Dylan's type. She had long blonde curly hair, and blue eyes.
Dylan then went on with the rest of the standard questions like normal. She couldn't think of anyone who might want to break in to scare her. He told her that once we left that she should go through the apartment and see if anything was actually missing.
"So don't forget, Aimee, if you feel uncomfortable, feel free to call me, and I'll try and come right over," he told her, smiling.
"Thank you, officer," she said smiling back at him.
"Please all me Dylan." We then started down the hall.
"I'll call you!" she hollered after us.
"I'm looking forward to it."
We got out to the car, and I shook my head. Only a few minutes ago he was telling me about how he hadn't been with anyone since Angela got sick, and there he was back to his old tricks.
"I gotta get back in the saddle sometime," he said, as we pulled away.
"So what about Emily?" I asked.
He shrugged. "She's not interested in going down that road again. I may as well see if I can move forward.
"Fine."
"Don't get mad at me. When was the last time you saw me give a caller my number?"
"That's not the point."
"I'm not with Emily now, and if I was I wouldn't have done it, but I'm not. If she really doesn't want me, I should move on right?"
"It's your life."
The shift had not even ended and she had called his cell phone. I heard him her he'd meet her at a nearby coffee shop. I knew that it was his choice, but I also knew it wasn't right to string on another girl when he knew he wanted someone else. I was glad when the shift was over cause I didn't have to hear about her, until the next morning anyway.
When I got home Alex was asleep on the couch. I found her asleep there most nights when I got home. I asked her why she didn't just go to bed, and she said she liked to wait up for me, she just never succeeded.
I went over to the couch, and kissed her lightly. I felt her deepen the kiss, and I knew she was awake. She sat up, and I sat down. She then laid her head in my lap. I kissed her again.
"What's up?" she asked me.
"Dylan just got to me today," I replied.
"Wanna talk about it?"
I shrugged. "It's nothing really, just Dylan being Dylan. He gave me the impression that he wanted to get back with Emily today, and then on a call he gave someone his number."
"You know what, if he's not ready there's no forcing him, right? At least he's there for Angela now."
"I know I should be happy about that. It's just odd."
"Not everyone is going to turn out like my mom and dad. I'd be happy if they did but neither of them are really ready for that."
"I guess you're right."
"It's better for them to get everything they need to out of the way now, right?"
"Yeah. Since when did you like Dylan?"
"The only reason I didn't like him was that he wasn't there for his daughter, he is now so I've given up the grudge."
I smiled at her. "Good, cause he said you were a nice girl today."
She laughed. "I'm surprised."
"So was I. I can hardly keep my eyes open."
She stood up, and grabbed her crutches. "I can't wait until this thing is off."
"Me either."
We got changed for bed, then curled up together. I liked to hold her when I was falling asleep, but the cast made that hard for us. It was only supposed to be on a few more weeks, and I couldn't wait for it to be gone.
As much as Dylan bugged me about marrying her, I was glad I had finally asked. I couldn't wait until we got the date set, and started really getting the plans underway. I fell asleep thinking about how great it would be to have her as my wife.
end
end notes: so my wonderful and amazing epilouge is gonna be about tyrone and alex's wedding, that was always my plan since i started this fic, so i really hope i'll to it justice cause there's a butt load of characters to keep straight, wish me luck, hope you liked this part... so one more and we're done with this fic tear it's gonna be strange not writting it, this is gonna be my longest (words wise) fic to date... stay tuned!