Chapter One Hundred and Ten: Arrest Record

Freedom! Freedom!

I can't move

Freedom, cut me loose!

Freedom! Freedom! Where are you?

Beyonce - Freedom

The canteen of Firehouse 51 was almost empty for this time in the morning and Kayla couldn't help but feel relieved as she stood in front of the coffee machine, changing the disposable filter. Despite the fact they had agreed to keep what had happened last night between themselves Kayla couldn't help but feel that news of her encounter was a topic of conversation around the firehouse. She could sense it in the way her Firehouse Family closed ranks around her, it had been the same when she'd come back to work after what had happened with John. They would do everything to protect her, she knew that, she just hated being treated as if she was made of glass.

She wondered what Sean would make of all this and she knew in a few hours she would be seeing his reaction in real time when she broke the news of what Sorenson had done to her. Keeping it a secret had never been an option for her, their relationship was built on a foundation of honesty and Sean knew her better than anyone. He would know something was wrong the very moment he laid his eyes on her. The only reason he wasn't aware of the situation was due to the fact he had been working security last night for one of the guys that had called in sick. Her shift had started at six am and he'd been due to finish at eight. She glanced at the silver watch on her wrist whilst she waited for the coffee machine to chug and fill the pot.

10:45am

He'd be asleep right now.

The thought of Sean spread out, half naked in their sheets sent a tiny thrill through her. She wished she was at home right now, cuddled up into his arms. There was a safety with him she had never felt with anybody else and she'd needed that last , she needed it now.

Sorenson's antics had left her feeling vulnerable and unnerved, she hadn't been able to stop shaking despite the fact that Kelly had taken up residence on their couch. She had appreciated that gesture more than she cared to admit. Logically there was no way that Sorenson would or could get into her home but the mention of John had sent her anxiety soaring and one of the symptoms of that was hyper vigilance. Kelly knew that, she had confessed it to him almost over a year ago when she'd been terrified to sleep in her own bed because of the nightmares that plagued her. He'd seen the signs in her again last night and had taken it upon himself to make sure that there was someone between her and the door if something did happen.

"Hey kid, there enough in there for me?" Herrmann asked Kayla, waving the red coffee cup in her general direction as he took up residence beside her.

Kayla busied herself folding the top of the coffee packet before using a clothes peg to seal the bag before responding.

"There should be plenty." she informed him, grasping the handle of the coffee pot to remove it from the hot plate. Carefully she poured the steaming hot liquid into Herrmann's mug before replacing it back on the hotplate. She added creamer to her own coffee and a lump of sugar as Herrmann raised his to his lips taking a large swig. His entire face creased into a grimace before he spat the coffee back into the mug, raising his head as he spluttered.

"Jesus, there's enough coffee in there to wake the dead." he told her, wiping at his lips with the back of his hand. "How much did you put in?"

Kayla sipped from her own mug with a small smile before pointing at the half empty packet resting beside the coffee machine.

"An entire half?" Herrmann erupted in disbelief. "Are you trying to give me a caffeine overdose?"

Kayla shrugged her shoulders in response, wrapping her right hand around her mug as she clasped it to her chest.

"I needed a strong coffee so I made strong coffee." she told him simply.

Herrmann's demeanor changed when he heard those words and Kayla hated it more than she could ever say. She enjoyed being one of the boys in that respect and it rankled her to think of the rest of the Firehouse tiptoeing around her.

"I'm guessing you didn't get much sleep last night?" Herrmann said, his tone serious as he carried the contents of his coffee cup down the steel sink. Kayla glanced down into the depths of her coffee cup before shaking her head.

"Have you spoke to Roman?" Herrmann persisted, glancing at her over his shoulder as he rinsed out his own mug.

Kayla exhaled deeply, forcing her shoulders to relax as her fingertips lightly tapped upon the porcelain service of her mug.

"I've not had the chance." she told him honestly. "He got in after I left. He's picking me up after shift, so we can talk then."

"I'd get ahead of it." Herrmann advised sagely, before nodding his head at something behind Kayla. "If he finds out from them, I think I'll be helping him nail the coffin he put Sorenson in shut."

Kayla's dark eyebrows furrowed in confusion as she followed Herrmann's gaze to see two patrol officers walking slowly down the corridor towards her. There was flicker of recognition in her brain, a spark of a memory from last night when Sorenson had been sitting at that table with his friends, all cackling over his lies about Maggie. These two had been there, she distinctly remembered that and the knowledge terrified her. Dread swirled around the pit of her stomach, churning in her gut as the realization of what was about to happen finally dawned on her.

"Herrmann." Kayla said quietly, drawing the older man's attention to her as she put the coffee mug down on the work surface. "I need to you to stay calm."

Herrmann's expression was full of confusion as the thud of police issue boots echoed in the hall behind her. Each one vibrated through Kayla like the swing of an executioner's axe, her blood was pumping wildly in her veins as she released a long, deep breath in order to calm her jangling nerves as she turned to face the two officers.

"Kayla Sharpe." The taller of the two greeted her, he towered over her by almost a foot, his shoulders were wide set matching the rest of him.

Already he was in her personal space, swallowing up her oxygen as those forest green eyes of his bore down on her, glittering like emeralds. There was a sneer on those clean shaven features of his, it cut across his face in a thin line as he looked down at her. The whole thing was meant to intimidate her, she knew that and she refused to give him the satisfaction. Kayla dug her heels into the tiled below her boots, tipping her chin up to meet his gaze as she rose to her full height.

"You are under arrest for the assault of a police officer..." He began, his left hand reaching for the handcuffs on his belt before he snapped them open.

"Are you kidding me?!" Herrmann exploded, slinking between Kayla and the patrol officer, his finger jabbing into the larger man's chest. "Sorenson lays his hands on her and she's the bad guy for defending herself?"

"...and resisting arrest." he continued with a smirk, stepping around Herrmann in an attempt to reach Kayla. Herrmann darted in front of the other man, his arms spread our protectively as those furious blue eyes of his fixed the patrol officer with a piercing stare.

"I don't think so." he snapped at them, his entire body quivering with indignant rage as he balled up his fist and punched the hulking patrol officer straight in the face.

Hey guys. Thank you so much for your support! It has been such a busy week for me in terms of time, I ended up at a wrestling match on Thursday and it was amazing.

Lauren: I wanted to show Antonio's perspective on the whole situation and how much he still loved her despite what happened. They are defo making a step forward in terms of their relationship.

CPD: I'm glad you love it, it is so great to write.

Anime: LMAO you are very goopy esp in regard to this chapter. They are both defo not ready for anything more than cuddling at the moment. It's about growing the emotional intimacy and then considering the physical intimacy. On the last line, I just had it in my mind that that would be something he was struggling to reconcile with and that was his view on the situation.

Throne: Hey. Nice to see you! Lurking is ok so please don't worry about that. I think everyone is hoping that we will get to see Sorenson get his comeuppance. I can not wait for the concert but it's so far away (March)

Nat: They are defo walking that road. It's too late on the Antonio inspiration front. I accidentally saw a pic on Instagram that made me divert my entire attention back to writing the two of them. I also write a blog so it's complicated trying to write too many things.

Soccer: Thanks for your support with this story. I wish Maggie was in the show sometimes.