Chapter 33

As Joe drove home, Taylor thought back on the evening and the visit to the hospital. After Dr. Steele left, Mrs. Pagano, who insisted that Taylor and Joe call her Pearl, was able to visit her son. Before she went upstairs to visit, she ordered Taylor and Joe home to sleep, stating Taylor could visit in the morning. She was torn between visiting and not visiting. If she did, Pagano might take it as hope that they could date. If she didn't, everyone would misconstrue it as her being the cold hearted bitch she had the reputation of being. It wasn't that she didn't care; she did. She just didn't want to give Pagano any false hope that there was a chance for the two of them.

"You okay?" Joe asked quietly.

"I'm okay. Hell of a night, huh?"

"Could have been better," he agreed.

"Thanks for coming with me. I really needed your support."

"No problem. You'd do the same for me."

"You know it."

"For the record, I am never listening to Severide's advice again."

"Thank God for that."

"He always has a new girlfriend," Joe reminded.

"Of course he does. He's a player. Doesn't know how to make a commitment."

"He says it is because women fall in love with him too quickly."

Taylor snorted. Joe looked over at her. "Eyes on the road, please," she reminded gently. "I really don't want to have to go back to the ER tonight."

"What was that sound? I've never heard you make that before."

"Let's just say I'm not believing Severide's bullshit line. He just says that to make himself look better."

"Got him all figured out do you?"

"Been around his type for years. Usually they wear blues and have shoulder boards. Or flight suits."

Joe laughed. "Or turnout gear."

"Or turnouts," she agreed. "Please don't get me wrong. I like Kelly. I just don't like his reputation. He really needs a good woman to turn him around."

"He might have one."

"Really?"

Joe nodded. "Erin Lindsey. She's a cop down at the 2-1."

"The one down the street from you?"

"That would be the one."

"Interesting."

"Why's that?"

"The old cliché…. Firefighters marry cops and nurses. And vice versa."

Joe thought for a minute. "You don't think that's true do you?"

"Joe… what's your job?"

"Firefighter."

"And mine?"

"Nurse. But that's different. We should have been married before you were a nurse and I was a firefighter."

"Yes, we should have been. But someone named Taylor was stupid."

"No. I was stupid. I should have asked you to marry me and given you a promise ring till I had the other one paid off."

"Water under the bridge. I'm wearing it now."

"Yeah. Thank God. There was a time when I thought I would never give it to you."

"I'm glad you did."

"Me too."