"Okay" for Holtz simply meant she was out of there. She had her own little family- it was just her and Pete. The way Holtz liked it- she knew Pete would never lock them in or hurt her. It took her awhile to overcome the pain that Mr James had caused her- but with Pete`s help she managed it. The flat was tiny- it consisted of a bedroom, a bathroom and a tiny makeshift kitchen. There was barely enough room to breathe. However they had the top floor, it didn't take Holtzmann long to work out how to get out onto the roof. She would sit out there at night- she would look up at the stars. Then Pete would bring up pizza.
Holtz stuck in at school. She graduated top of her class. Pete was there in the front row. They knew where this was heading- this was to be their last summer together. Holtz was off to college in the fall and Pete was moving back home. Their father had been deemed fit enough to come home and Pete had agreed to look after him. He had spent nine years in hospital- he had seen neither of his children in this time.
"What was that like?" Erin asked. Holtz pulled a face.
"Awkward...I couldn't really remember what he was like before he went away...and I knew that the man I knew before he went away was sick." Erin turned to Pete.
"He was more of a shell than he was when we went away."
"Over time he's gotten better- we don't see him that often now." Pete added, Holtz nodded.
"Shoot!" Erin yelled, she had happened to glance down at her watch. They were supposed to be back at the fire house over an hour ago. Holtz pushed her lip down on one side and quickly finished her food. They ran. Once there they burst through the doors, to face a rather stern Abby.
"You missed a bust." Abby said, she was frowning.
"Let down again." She sighed, looking at Erin. Erin`s heart fell, she opened her mouth to apologise. Abby`s frown faltered, she broke out in laughter.
"I`m kidding! Gosh! Me and Patty handled it just fine." Erin let out an audible sigh and punched Abby on the arm.
"Oh Holtzy...erm." Abby started.
"You didn't!"
"Sorry." Holtz groaned and went to get Abby`s proton pack- she really had done a number on it.
"Patty!" Holtz yelled. Patty emerged from one of the booths- Holtz pointed to Abby`s proton pack and then went upstairs. Patty lugged the machine up after her and put it down on her desk. Holtz nodded in the sense of thanks.
"You okay baby?" Patty asked as she handed Holtz a wrench. Truth be told Holtz was exhausted- sharing her childhood with Erin had taken it out of her slightly. Patty put an arm around Holtzmann.
"You can go if you want- come back later?" Holtz smiled and shook her head. Patty tucked a stray piece of hair behind her ear and left her too it. After Holtzmann had finished she put the proton pack on her back and took it back downstairs.
"Where's Pete?" she asked.
Erin shrugged her shoulders.
"He left about an hour ago."
Holtzmann walked home later on- there had been no more phone calls that day. She let herself into her apartment to the odd sound of running water.
"Pete?" Pete laughed and shut off the taps.
"Do you know how long I've been waiting for you to come in- I've been hovering over these taps for ages!"
"You fixed it?"
"Well I ran a plumber." Holtz frowned.
"You paid someone to fix my plumbing!"
"Of course I did, I knew you would never." Holtz rolled her eyes and sat down on the sofa.
Pete shook his head and sat beside her.
"You okay after today?" He asked. Holtz sighed, she brought her knees up to her chest and then shook her head. Pete grabbed her and pulled her towards him. She leaned against his torso with her head. She bit her lip.
"You were brave telling her you know." Holtz nodded.
"Hey do you remember that day after you blew the kitchen up?" Holtz scoffed.
"Which time?"
"The one time you blew it up with cooking and not physics." Holtz smiled as the memory flooded into frame.
Pete had been out for most of the day- job hunting. Their funds were running dangerously low. He knew he needed a job as soon as yesterday. He had yet to find one- worry started to eat away at him. He had left Holtz in the care of their neighbour. He was a nice man- he would let Holtz dance on his feet. Pete returned to their flat building. Their front door was open and he could smell smoke. He dropped his bag and ran in, yelling Holtz`s name. The scene that unfolded in the tiny kitchen was crazy. Holtz was hiding behind Mr Hardy, her fists were balled up on the hem of his shirt. Mr Hardy was putting out a fire with a fire extinguisher.
"Sorry...I was trying to make dinner." Holtz said as she pointed to the dish that contained pure burnt pasta. Anyone else in that situation would have yelled, they didn't have the money to fix this. He would curse at Mr Hardy, how could he let a nine year old girl set fire to the kitchen? Not Pete. He smiled and lifted Holtz of her feet into a bear hug. He nuzzled into her neck and set her down again. He thanked Mr Hardy and tried to pay him for his trouble. Mr Hardy was having none of it.
"Something smells delicious." Pete said as he got a fork from the draw.
"Pete you don't need to eat it it's okay." Pete shook his head and began to shovel the gravel like substance into his mouth. Holtz laughed at him.
"I can't believe you ate the whole thing." Holtz giggled as the memory faded.
"Well it was the first meal you ever made. Of course I was going to eat it." Holtz laughed again and leaned her head against his shoulder- she rested her eyes for a second.
"Do you ever think about them? After all this time?" Holtz asked.
"The James`?" Pete questioned. Holtz nodded.
"Of course I do, I try not too, but what he did to you...for so long...it has a habit of creeping into my thoughts. Some days I wish I could just be with you at all times. To protect you, which I know is stupid- you're a grown ass woman and you fight ghosts for a living. I mean come on." Holtz laughed and nodded- she mimicked shooting a ghost with her proton ray.
"He's out you know..." Holtz went silent and looked away.
"He got out early...that's why I came to see you. I had to made sure he wasn't about to do the same thing."
