Chapter Fourteen: The Fight
When Emily awoke the next morning and checked in with the McMurdough staff in the main building, she learned that Jerry was up and practically tearing the place apart to find someone who would take him back for his dogs. She prowled around, looking for him and Katie, whom she hadn't heard leaved that morning. She finally heard their voices in the wing of dorms on the west end of the building.
"No," Jerry's voice said, thick with anger and accusation, "Sometimes you just have to lower your expectations of other people."
Silence greeted his statement as Emily moved closer, aware that it would be unwise to barge in on their conversation. Finally Katie responded in a voice tart with hurt, "You know what, Jerry? I'm sorry, I really am, but there's nothing I can do." Her footsteps echoed swiftly as she stormed out of the room and ran right into Emily. "He expects me to find some way to go back there," she growled in a low voice as she tossed her hair in annoyance. "It's not like I haven't done everything I could. He's blaming me for this, Em!" she said in frustration, still keeping her voice down so Jerry wouldn't hear. Then she threw her hands up and shook her head. "You go see if you reason with him, Emily, because nothing I'm saying is getting through. I can't deal with him accusing me anymore."
Heaving a sigh as her friend marched away, Emily slowly entered the room, tapping lightly on the door to announce her presence. He looked up, his blue eyes flickering with an unreadable emotion, and shoved another folded set of pants in his bag with heavily bandaged hands. She leaned against the doorframe, eyeing him for a moment before saying quietly, "You shouldn't speak to Katie like that, Jer, not after everything she's already done for you."
"You're defending her, then?" Jerry asked angrily.
Emily's green eyes narrowed a little. "Of course. That's what friends do. You know I'd do the same for you."
"You're doing one heck of a job right now," he muttered.
She straightened suddenly, her eyes flashing. "I'm doing as much as I can, Jerry. Bryan Rice had to drag me away from the planes to keep me from going, and Captain Mitchell set someone to keep tabs on Katie to keep her from attempting the same thing. And I'm here, aren't I? Trying to offer what comfort I can."
"Yeah, well, it's not helping," Jerry observed coldly.
"What do you want me to do! I'm sorry that I didn't tear this place to shreds trying to get back. I'm sorry that I care enough about my career to exercise some restraint. You once said that you didn't expect Katie to give up her career for you, and I assumed you meant the same for me. Do you realize that's what you're asking us to do, Jerry?" She stopped speaking to take a deep breath and clamp down on her temper. If she allowed herself to continue, she might end up saying something she'd regret. Jerry stared up at her from his seat on the floor with his mouth open in surprise – he obviously had not expected this outburst on her part. "Now," she continued, forcing her voice down, "if you want to be ungrateful for everything that has been done to recover the team, that's your problem. But don't take it out on the rest of us." With that, she turned and strode out the door, leaving Jerry staring in shock at the spot where she'd stood.
Author's Note: Sorry it's a short chapter, but the next one will skip ahead to a few months after they all go home to the States, so it didn't really fit anywhere but on it's own. And don't worry, reconciliation is inevitable. :) REVEIW PLEASE! I LOVE IT WHEN YOU DO!