Doug's POV:
When the alarm went off at six, all I wanted to do was turn it off, roll over and go back to bed. Unfortunately that was a luxury I couldn't afford. If I didn't show up, Dad would first call and then he would be on my front porch knocking.
With a sigh, I threw back the blankets, turned off the alarm and headed for the bathroom to get ready for work. After changing, I went into the kitchen, made a quick sandwich and headed out to my patrol car.
I walked into the station five minutes before seven.
"Hey look who's back," Ed White called out. "Daddy's golden boy just can't say no."
"Your Dad suckered you into coming in tonight huh," my friend Ted Hipkins said from his desk.
"Isn't it obvious," I replied ignoring White's. "How late is he on tonight?" I asked nodding toward White. Part of me was hoping that I wouldn't have to deal with him the entire night.
"Your Dad keeping us all tonight. The storm has been really causing havoc and he wants to make sure there is enough man power on to handle everything."
"Sounds like its going to be a fun night," I commented sarcastically. "I guess I better go let him know I'm here and find out my assignment. He in his office?"
"Yeah."
I walked toward my Dad's office. I haven't had a chance to get a weather report all day but it doesn't sound as if this is going to be a quick storm. It could be a long night.
"Come in," my Dad replies in response to my knock. Opening the door, I walk inside. Dad's sitting at his desk watching the small television that is sitting on his desk.
"What's the weather report?" I ask knowing instinctively that is what he was watching. The only time he ever had that tv on was to keep track of news stories that could possibly affect us.
"The storm's already killed six people and has shut down the major airports from Pittsburgh northward. Power outages are widespread. They expect the out skirts of the storm to hit us starting anytime. Looks like we're in for a long night."
"What do you want me to do?"
"I need you out on patrol Doug. Even though the news is warning people to wait the storm out at their homes you know that isn't going to happen. I need as many people out there as possible. Make sure you do a radio check every twenty minutes. I want to keep track of everyone out there tonight. I don't want to add any officers to the casualty list of storm."
"Got it," I told him turning and heading back toward the office door. As I reached out for the door knob my Dad spoke up again.
"Be careful out there son."
"I always am," I replied.
Ted was busy on the phone when I walked out of the my Dad's office and Ed was thankfully nowhere to be seen. I headed back out to my car. First thing I planned on doing was stopping by Leery's Fresh Fish and talking to Pacey. I wanted to let him know that I wasn't going to be home tonight and also see how late he had to work.
Stepping outside I noticed the a few snowflakes falling. Evidently the storm had already started.
Pacey's POV:
"Looks like things are slowing down," Gale said coming into the kitchen. "I think the storm is making people decide to stay home."
"Any chance I could leave early?" Abigail, who usually closed up with me, asked from her spot beside me. Abigail was a single mom. Her mother watched her three year old daughter while she worked but I'm sure she would still rather be home with her daughter during the storm.
"If things stay slow, I'm sure that will be fine," Gail told her. "We'll see how things go."
Abigail nodded. I could tell she was disappointed with that answer though.
Gale turned to leave the kitchen and almost walked right into my brother who was standing just outside the kitchen doors.
"Sorry Mrs. Leery," Doug told her stepping to the side and holding the door open for her. "I just need to talk to Pacey for a few minutes."
"Not a problem," Gale replied. "I guess its snowing already," she commented noticing the melting snowflakes on Doug's uniform jacket. I was trying to figure out what he was doing in uniform. He was suppose to be off tonight.
"Yeah it just started. Suppose to get pretty bad out there tonight. You might want to consider closing early tonight."
Gale looked from Doug back to Abigail.
"Go ahead and clock out," Gale told her.
"Thank-you Mrs. Leery," Abigail said gratefully.
Even though that left us a cook short, I was glad that she was getting to go home to her daughter. I still had the other cook Frank to help me out and none of us had actually done anything in the last twenty minutes anyway.
"I need to go see how things are going at the bar," Gale said excusing herself. She left and Doug stepped far enough into the kitchen to let the door closed behind him.
"I thought you were off?" I commented.
"Yeah, well there was a call off and with the storm Dad didn't want to be short tonight."
"And of course the dutiful son that you are, you gladly agreed to work."
"Don't start Pacey. I'm not in the mood. I just wanted to let you know I wouldn't be home tonight."
"Okay," I reply a little surprised at how quickly I annoyed him. It usually took more than that. Must have been the lack of sleep.
"This storm isn't anything to mess with either Pacey. If it gets too bad you might want to consider spending the night here."
"I'm not a kid Doug and your definitely not my Mom so don't think you can tell me what to do."
As soon as I said the words I regretted them. I knew my brother was only offering me advice because he cared about me. Still I hated anyone trying to tell me what I should do. I usually even went and did the exact opposite of whatever they said just for spite. I usually ended up in trouble because of it too. My relationship with Joey was a perfect example of that.
Doug had told me to be up front with Dawson about my feelings for Joey. I hadn't done that. Hell, Joey and I had snuck around having grope session with each other for weeks before we told anyone. We told ourselves we were trying to protect Dawson. Truth was we were just avoiding telling him because neither of us had the courage to tell him. In the end he had found out on his own and hadn't taken it well. Had felt betrayed by his two best friends. I often wonder if things would have turned out better if I had just followed Doug's advice. If I had been up front with Dawson from the beginning, yes he probably would have still felt hurt, but maybe not betrayed. He might have been able to handle it better.
"Excuse me for caring," Doug said. "I better get back out on patrol," he told me, turning and walking out of the kitchen.
Part of me wanted to call out after him. To apologize. I just couldn't bring myself to do it. I figured it would blow over like things usually did between Doug and me. By tomorrow night it would be like this conversation had never taken place.
"Smooth move, Witter," Frank said from his spot on the counter.
I held my tongue and didn't make the smart aleck remark that was on the tip of it. The last thing I needed to do was alienate my co-worker tonight too.
"The two of you can start cleaning up," Gale told us sticking her head through the doors to the kitchen. "I'm going to go ahead and close the restaurant. As soon as our current customers are done with their meals I'll go ahead and lock up."
"You got it boss," Frank replied hoping down off the counter.
Gale left the kitchen and Frank and I started cleaning up the kitchen in silence. Having been there since before the restaurant opened at twelve I was more than happy to be getting done early.