It had been a week of the same things I would sit at home for part of the day then go surfing and hang out on a beach then come home and relax. The nightmares were still just as bad and G was starting to suspect something else had happened when I was taken. I was laying in bed staring at the ceiling when I heard the radio turn on letting me know it was ten. It had gotten old about three day into relaxing. I wanted something to happen. Anything.
I got up and walked over to the closet. I flipped through clothes looking for something to wear. I grabbed a pair of black flair jeans and a red tee shirt that said Pessimists say the glass is half empty I say REFILL Please. I was about to walk into the living room when I heard the radio say the date. I sighed grabbing my black jacket knowing I had somewhere to go.
I drove across town and into one of the rich neighborhoods. I continued to drive until I reached a cul de sac I knew well. I parked my car and sat there for a minute gathering my thoughts. I got out and walked across the street toward the only lot that didn't have a massive house sitting on it. I walked over to the driveway leading up to a pile of ashes and burned wood. I kneeled down on the driveway and ran my hands over the three sets of hand prints on in the cement. I paused on the names carved into the driveway Jonathan, Brittney, and Christel. I felt a single tear escape falling down and landing on Jonathan's name.
I got up then walking up the driveway and stopping at the edge of where the garage had burned down. I wandered around the wreckage and into the backyard looking at the swing set still standing there alone. I walked over and sat down on one of the swings staring back at where the house used to stand. I still knew where every room would be if it was still standing. I knew exactly where the fire started and where all of my family had been. I could see the house in my memory and I could see my brother and sister chasing me through the house. I could see my dog tackling me preventing me from getting to my dad and safety. I smiled sadly remembering how my sister had tackled me tickling me until I was crying from laughing so hard.
I got up and walked into where my room had been. I kicked a chunk of wood across the expanse watching where it landed. I looked down at my feet noticing the edge of a picture frame. I knelt down and pulled it out quickly. I wiped the glass off on my jeans quickly and looked at it again. It was a picture of my mother and father holding me and my brother, my sister was standing in front of them holding our dog when it was a little puppy. I gasped slightly touching the glass which was cracked in a few places. I slid the picture frame into my bag and continued to walk. I had always found something new every time I came back but I never found a picture.
Walking down what was supposed to be the hall I walked into our old living room. This was the last place the fire hit so it was still partially in tact. I walked over to where we used to keep our toys and our dog toys. I moved some of the pieces of wood away until I found part of the basket we used for storing toys. I sighed pulling it out of the rubble revealing a mostly in tact stuffed bear.
I picked the bear up hugging it and remembering when I used to throw it at my brother while he was doing homework. Mom used to take it away and put it on the counter until after he was done with all the schoolwork. I walked out and onto the field in front of the house sitting down on the grass and staring up at the sky. I thought about all the times we would lay here and stare at the clouds. It had been 23 years since I had seen my family alive.
I got up a couple hours later and walked back to my car. I had been rewarded this year by a picture of my family. It was the only picture I had and I needed to get it cleaned up. I also had a stuffed bear, a necklace and a plate my siblings and I had made for mother's day. I started my car and drove toward the photo shop. I walked in heading straight for the counter.
"Hello maam how may I help you today" a cashier said smiling at me.
"I need a picture cleaned and fixed if that's possible" I said pulling it out of my bag. The cashier took a look at it checking everything.
"I might be able to save the picture but I don't know about anything else" he said looking up at me.
"That's fine I'd like the frame back but if you can't save it I understand." He set it on a table just as a man dressed in black walked in. I turned to leave when I saw the man start to pull out a gun.
"Get on the floor now" he said in a menacing voice pointing the gun at my chest. I put my hands up slowly and even more slowly knelt down on the ground. He walked past me throwing me down onto the floor. He walked behind the desk grabbing the cashier and turning him around so he was facing the back of the store. I slid my hand into my pocket and grabbed my phone pulling it out and sliding it under me just as the guy checked on me. When he turned back around I dialed office number and slid the phone across the floor so it was under the desk. I heard Erik answer and I looked over at the guy with the gun.
"Sir please let me go" I said timidly looking at the floor.
"Don't move or I'll blow your brains out" he said pointing the gun at me. I heard Erik say something then I heard G's voice very faintly.
"Why are you robbing a photo shop" I said looking up at him again. He walked over to me and pointed the gun in my face. I could have taken it from him easily but I wasn't about to risk the cashiers life if I messed up. I lay there until I heard the guy cock the gun. My head shot up and I stared at him as he pointed the gun at me.
"What are you doing" I said a little worried. He turned away and I grabbed my gun pointing it at his back. When he turned back I cocked my gun and slowly got up trying not to flinch when my leg started to hurt. He was staring at me like I was crazy when I heard the shot ring out. I turned and saw Deeks standing there with a freshly discharged gun. The guy behind the counter slumped over and I ran toward him. I grabbed his arm checking for a bullet wound but finding nothing.
"Are you okay" said staring at him.
"I almost died" he said stammering. I shook my head and got up slowly which still caused the backs of my legs to burn. I sighed and walked over to where my phone was picking it up and putting it in my pocket. I looked around and motioned for Deeks pointing at the guy sitting behind the counter. I walked past him and out the door. G and Sam pulled up to the curb. G got out walking over and pulling me into a hug.
"Thank god you're okay" he said whispering in my ear.
"I'm fine it happens all the time in this part of town" I said pushing him away softly. He smiled and walked in to survey the damage. I sighed and waited out by Sam until G and Deeks came out talking.
"Go ahead and call LAPD they should handle this, we have no jurisdiction" G said walking past Deeks. Deeks mumbled something then went back inside to make the call. Sam sighed and got in the car just as G pulled me back into his arms. I hugged him quickly before ducking under his arm and grabbing my keys out of my pocket.
"I gotta go one more place today then I will meet you at home" I said smiling half heartedly at him.
"Why can't you do it tomorrow" he said a little worried.
"G I will be fine, stop babying me. I'm going the cemetery then to the store then home relaxes" I said smiling sadly.
"I'm so sorry I completely forgot that was today, do you want me to come with" he said taking a few steps toward me.
"No I'm a big kid and I face this every year I don't need anyone to hold my hand, I haven't needed anyone since I was ten" I said a lot harsher then I intended. G looked hurt and I walked over to where he was standing. I could read him so well. It was easier to know what he was feeling than to know what anyone else in the world was feeling.
"Babe I'm sorry I just hate being treated different than everyone else" I said wrapping my arms around his waist and hugging him. I sighed and let go making sure Deeks was still on the phone before going up on tiptoe and kissing him on the cheek.
"Bye, see you tonight" I said walking over and getting in the car. I drove to the other side of town to the cemetery my family was buried in. I sighed and grabbed the five bouquets of flowers I had gotten from a man on the street corner. I walked up the hill wandering toward the graves I knew all to well.
When I got there I took the old dead flowers out and put the new ones in. I sat down on the grass and leaned against one of the bigger headstones.
"Hey mom it's me" I said quietly feeling a tear roll down my cheek.
"So I know it's been quite a few years and I'm so sorry about that, work has kept me crazy busy. I'm back now though and I am living in L.A. so there's something. Who knows how long I will get to stay though, the navy wants me to go over to the Middle East to train units. I don't want to leave my friends and family here though. Ohh I have a new boy friend now, his names G. I know that's not a real name but he doesn't know what it is so everyone calls him G. I live with him too. He is the most amazing guy I have ever met. I think I actually love him if that's possible anymore. God I miss you and dad and my sister and brother ohh and our puppy typhoon. I wish I had you all back even just for a day."
I sat there for what must have been an hour before getting up slowly and wandering over to my sibling's graves. I sat down between them and looked up at the sky. I watched clouds pass and I watched as the sun went down behind the palm trees. I got up and started back toward my car slowly. I got to my car and sighed unlocking the door before getting in I took one last look up the hill toward where my family lay.
"I love you" I whispered before getting in and driving away. I pulled up in front of the house noticing G's car was already there. I sighed and got out locking the doors before wandering up to the front door. I opened the door and was greeted be the smell of food. I walked into the kitchen and saw G cooking some sort of Italian concoction. He looked up and smiled coming over with a plate of food.
"You have amazing timing" he said pulling me into a quick kiss before setting the plate on the table and going back for everything else. I was still standing in shock when he walked over to me again and pulled me toward the table. I laughed and smiled as G told me what everything was.
We ate in a peaceful silence occasionally smiling at one another across the table. I finished eating and grabbed the plates putting them in the sink and turning to the fridge to grab a beer. I glanced over and saw G sitting on the couch watching a football game. I smiled and turned toward the back door. I wandered out into the yard and sat down in the swinging chair. I must have been there for more than an hour but it felt like minutes. I heard the seat next to me creak and I felt a blanket fall around my shoulders. I turned not looking and curled into G's warm chest. I glanced at him before looking back at the stars in the sky.
He picked me up minutes later and carried me inside. I laughed as we walked through the kitchen and living room. As we were about to head to our room I heard a knock on the door. I slid out of G's arms and pulled him against my body just as I opened the door. I gasped slightly as Deeks was standing there on the porch with a six pack and his goofy grin. He stared for a moment as G hugged me tighter into his strong chest before looking up.