When the Heat is On
Chapter 4
"Is my daddy gonna come home soon?"
The noise broke through the veil of sleep first, slowly separating into voices, into sentences and a conversation. Closing her eyes tighter shut, Kim buried her face into the pillow below her head. She was too exhausted, her mind craving sleep too much for her to get out of bed. Bed? No, her couch. The last thing she remembered was her kitchen, a cup of coffee cradled between her palms while Bobby gave Cap the latest news over the phone.
"I don't know. We gotta make sure we stay quiet OK Joey, your mom needs to get some sleep and we need to her that breakfast."
Bobby's voice, far quieter than Joey's had been, no surprise there. She doubted there'd be too much more sleep now. Kim lifted a hand to swipe a clump of hair away from her eyes. Her eyelids fluttered open, her living room, full of early morning light, swam into focus. Holding Joey's smaller hand, Bobby was heading into the kitchen. His clothes were rumpled, his hair still tussled from sleep. He'd stayed the night. "Too late," Jim said, punctuating her words with a yawn. "Mommy's already awake."
"Bobby said you were tired so we shouldn't wake you up." With his hand released, Joey rushed across the room and flopped onto the couch by his mother's waist.
"He was half right." Smiling wryly, Kim sat up. The blanket covering her fell to her waist as she pulled Joey closer for a hug. "I thought Gams was taking care of you for me today."
Tucking his hands into the pockets of his shorts, Bobby reclined against the doorframe. He'd thought to get her a pillow, a blanket to cover her legs as she slept, forever the carer. "They called your mom into work this morning. I told her I could take care of Joey till the babysitter could pick him up at nine. We'd planned on making some breakfast before Joey got to wake you up."
A cheeky grin lit up Joey's face as pulled away from his mom. "Bobby said we could make blueberry pancakes."
"Figured you'd need more than a slice of toast before you headed over to the hospital," Bobby said softly. He stepped back into the kitchen and began to make good on his promise, reaching into a cupboard for the dry ingredients.
Kim settled back on the couch and bit her lip. Being hurt on the job was something fire fighters expected to happen at some point in their career but telling Joey that his dad had been injured was always tough. She slipped an arm around Joey and drew him back against her. "Joey, did Gams tell you what happened to your dad at work last night?"
Joey shrugged, his dark, innocent eyes focusing on his mom's face. "He got ill and he had to go to the hospital so that doctors could make him feel better. Is he coming home today?"
"I don't think so," Kim whispered. Jimmy'd been fairly lucky in the accident but it would take more than a day, heck probably more than a month to get back on his feet again. "There was an accident when your daddy was putting out a fire last night. Some stairs broke and your daddy and his friend Sweet fell down." Fear widened Joey's eyes, Kim hugged him quickly, trying to find some way to soothe the anxiety she'd just caused. "They're going to be OK though. The doctors took care of your daddy and he'll have to stay in the hospital until he feels better but he's OK Joey, he's OK." Tears brimmed over her lashes as Kim held Joey close. Sometimes it was impossible to keep loved ones safe.
She still had Joey cradled tight against her chest when Bobby stuck his head around the door twenty minutes later. The wonderful scent of cooked pancakes had Joey pulling away and scrambling to his feet. By the time Kim'd stood up and ran a hand through her mussed hair, he'd made it to the kitchen, barrelling past Bobby.
"Pancakes and coffee are on the table," Bobby murmured. He cast a quick glance over his shoulder before dropping his tone even further. "How'd he take it? He was asking about Jimmy the instant your mom dropped him off."
Smoothing down her rumpled t-shirt Kim moved towards the door and Bobby. "Better than I did. As long as he knew Jimmy had doctors taking care of him he thinks everything'll be fine." They both knew that in an ideal world that'd be the truth but there were far too many things that doctors still couldn't fix.
A strong arm settled around Kim's shoulders, remaining there until she'd reached the table. The scent rising from the warmed blueberries had Kim's mouth watering. These were definitely more appealing than the sandwich she'd picked at the night before. "Looks great," she said, chuckling softly. "Good huh Joey?"
Her question was greeted with an enthusiastic nod. "Gams' pancakes never taste like this."
Bobby settled a napkin over his lap and grabbed his fork. "Thanks. I'll take that as a compliment." In what seemed like an all too domestic scene, they dug into breakfast, easy conversation emerging between mouthfuls.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The hospital was quiet when they arrived. Its hallways were almost empty, the few staff in view going about their duties without fuss. Later in the day the place would be bustling, visitors adding to the hectic pace of life at Mercy, for now though it was almost silent. Their journey to the right floor was fast and for once they didn't run into half a dozen familiar people.
Kim reached for Bobby's hand as they turned into the hallway that led to Jimmy's room. Today there'd be more details available, both about the health of the fire fighters and exactly what had happened at the fire that'd injured them. The myriad of possibilities about what they'd learn had a swarm of butterflies taking flight in her stomach.
A raised voice cut through the peace, its harsh tone making Kim frown. Two figures were backing out of Jimmy's room, a nurse driving a stranger in a baseball cap and battered leather jacket out into the hall. The stranger was doing all the barking, her hands moving animatedly, gesturing back at the room. "I don't care what you're doing to him, I need to talk to Doherty now."
The nurse's brows rose, her arms coming up to cross over her narrow chest as she took up a guard position at the door. "Visitors aren't allowed in the rooms while dressings are being changed. Treatment is private."
"What?" the woman asked in disbelief. "He afraid of showing a little flesh? Look lady, you're really pissing me off and you're screwing up my day. Get outta my way."
"Hey!" Releasing Bobby's hand Kim rushed forward. "What the hell do you think you're doing?" Bobby moved after her but Kim had reached the pair first. She shrugged off his touch as he reached for her shoulder.
The stranger turned, eyes narrowing beneath the brim of a battered Yankees cap. "Not that it's anything to do with you, I'm trying to question the guy in that room."
Concern flooded Kim's stomach, her frown now one of worry rather than anger. There were only a few reasons why Jimmy was being interviewed and the most worrying was the he was under suspicion of doing something wrong during the fire. "I'm his ex-wife," she said softly. "Are you with the police?"
A wry smile curved the woman's lips as she reached into the pocket of her worn jeans and retrieved a leather case. She flipped it open revealing a New York Fire Department badge. "No way. I'm a fire investigator. Amelia MacNab. I've been assigned the investigation into last night's fire. I think Mr Doherty can help me clear up a few points."
Chapter 4
"Is my daddy gonna come home soon?"
The noise broke through the veil of sleep first, slowly separating into voices, into sentences and a conversation. Closing her eyes tighter shut, Kim buried her face into the pillow below her head. She was too exhausted, her mind craving sleep too much for her to get out of bed. Bed? No, her couch. The last thing she remembered was her kitchen, a cup of coffee cradled between her palms while Bobby gave Cap the latest news over the phone.
"I don't know. We gotta make sure we stay quiet OK Joey, your mom needs to get some sleep and we need to her that breakfast."
Bobby's voice, far quieter than Joey's had been, no surprise there. She doubted there'd be too much more sleep now. Kim lifted a hand to swipe a clump of hair away from her eyes. Her eyelids fluttered open, her living room, full of early morning light, swam into focus. Holding Joey's smaller hand, Bobby was heading into the kitchen. His clothes were rumpled, his hair still tussled from sleep. He'd stayed the night. "Too late," Jim said, punctuating her words with a yawn. "Mommy's already awake."
"Bobby said you were tired so we shouldn't wake you up." With his hand released, Joey rushed across the room and flopped onto the couch by his mother's waist.
"He was half right." Smiling wryly, Kim sat up. The blanket covering her fell to her waist as she pulled Joey closer for a hug. "I thought Gams was taking care of you for me today."
Tucking his hands into the pockets of his shorts, Bobby reclined against the doorframe. He'd thought to get her a pillow, a blanket to cover her legs as she slept, forever the carer. "They called your mom into work this morning. I told her I could take care of Joey till the babysitter could pick him up at nine. We'd planned on making some breakfast before Joey got to wake you up."
A cheeky grin lit up Joey's face as pulled away from his mom. "Bobby said we could make blueberry pancakes."
"Figured you'd need more than a slice of toast before you headed over to the hospital," Bobby said softly. He stepped back into the kitchen and began to make good on his promise, reaching into a cupboard for the dry ingredients.
Kim settled back on the couch and bit her lip. Being hurt on the job was something fire fighters expected to happen at some point in their career but telling Joey that his dad had been injured was always tough. She slipped an arm around Joey and drew him back against her. "Joey, did Gams tell you what happened to your dad at work last night?"
Joey shrugged, his dark, innocent eyes focusing on his mom's face. "He got ill and he had to go to the hospital so that doctors could make him feel better. Is he coming home today?"
"I don't think so," Kim whispered. Jimmy'd been fairly lucky in the accident but it would take more than a day, heck probably more than a month to get back on his feet again. "There was an accident when your daddy was putting out a fire last night. Some stairs broke and your daddy and his friend Sweet fell down." Fear widened Joey's eyes, Kim hugged him quickly, trying to find some way to soothe the anxiety she'd just caused. "They're going to be OK though. The doctors took care of your daddy and he'll have to stay in the hospital until he feels better but he's OK Joey, he's OK." Tears brimmed over her lashes as Kim held Joey close. Sometimes it was impossible to keep loved ones safe.
She still had Joey cradled tight against her chest when Bobby stuck his head around the door twenty minutes later. The wonderful scent of cooked pancakes had Joey pulling away and scrambling to his feet. By the time Kim'd stood up and ran a hand through her mussed hair, he'd made it to the kitchen, barrelling past Bobby.
"Pancakes and coffee are on the table," Bobby murmured. He cast a quick glance over his shoulder before dropping his tone even further. "How'd he take it? He was asking about Jimmy the instant your mom dropped him off."
Smoothing down her rumpled t-shirt Kim moved towards the door and Bobby. "Better than I did. As long as he knew Jimmy had doctors taking care of him he thinks everything'll be fine." They both knew that in an ideal world that'd be the truth but there were far too many things that doctors still couldn't fix.
A strong arm settled around Kim's shoulders, remaining there until she'd reached the table. The scent rising from the warmed blueberries had Kim's mouth watering. These were definitely more appealing than the sandwich she'd picked at the night before. "Looks great," she said, chuckling softly. "Good huh Joey?"
Her question was greeted with an enthusiastic nod. "Gams' pancakes never taste like this."
Bobby settled a napkin over his lap and grabbed his fork. "Thanks. I'll take that as a compliment." In what seemed like an all too domestic scene, they dug into breakfast, easy conversation emerging between mouthfuls.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The hospital was quiet when they arrived. Its hallways were almost empty, the few staff in view going about their duties without fuss. Later in the day the place would be bustling, visitors adding to the hectic pace of life at Mercy, for now though it was almost silent. Their journey to the right floor was fast and for once they didn't run into half a dozen familiar people.
Kim reached for Bobby's hand as they turned into the hallway that led to Jimmy's room. Today there'd be more details available, both about the health of the fire fighters and exactly what had happened at the fire that'd injured them. The myriad of possibilities about what they'd learn had a swarm of butterflies taking flight in her stomach.
A raised voice cut through the peace, its harsh tone making Kim frown. Two figures were backing out of Jimmy's room, a nurse driving a stranger in a baseball cap and battered leather jacket out into the hall. The stranger was doing all the barking, her hands moving animatedly, gesturing back at the room. "I don't care what you're doing to him, I need to talk to Doherty now."
The nurse's brows rose, her arms coming up to cross over her narrow chest as she took up a guard position at the door. "Visitors aren't allowed in the rooms while dressings are being changed. Treatment is private."
"What?" the woman asked in disbelief. "He afraid of showing a little flesh? Look lady, you're really pissing me off and you're screwing up my day. Get outta my way."
"Hey!" Releasing Bobby's hand Kim rushed forward. "What the hell do you think you're doing?" Bobby moved after her but Kim had reached the pair first. She shrugged off his touch as he reached for her shoulder.
The stranger turned, eyes narrowing beneath the brim of a battered Yankees cap. "Not that it's anything to do with you, I'm trying to question the guy in that room."
Concern flooded Kim's stomach, her frown now one of worry rather than anger. There were only a few reasons why Jimmy was being interviewed and the most worrying was the he was under suspicion of doing something wrong during the fire. "I'm his ex-wife," she said softly. "Are you with the police?"
A wry smile curved the woman's lips as she reached into the pocket of her worn jeans and retrieved a leather case. She flipped it open revealing a New York Fire Department badge. "No way. I'm a fire investigator. Amelia MacNab. I've been assigned the investigation into last night's fire. I think Mr Doherty can help me clear up a few points."