Disclaimer : I don't own anything,except whatever characters I created outside of the ones created by the writers of third watch and NBC.
Sweet Summer
It was finally the end of the semester,Jenna and Joey were still together and were going on 6 months now. This was the longest Joey had kept a girlfriend,another thing that showed Kim he was just like Jimmy. Before he had met Jenna Joey had been a major player and had a bunch of different girlfriends he had even dated Kara Walsh on and off for a while but Kara's 2 years older and she wanted to to be with someone her own age,that and Joey cheated on her a couple times.
"So you excited to live off campus next year" Derek asked as he packed his side of the room up.
Joey looked up briefly and shook his head, "I guess so but we'll see I may not even come back I may just start working full time"
Derek rolled his eyes, " man finish what you started your already graduating early anyway"
Joey nodded in agreement knowing Derek was right, he had managed to get enough credit's from taking summer classes to graduate in 3 years but that didn't mean he didn't want to start working full time. As it was Jenna was transferring to the community college back home to major in Fashion Design.
Derek began to throw clothes into a duffle bag, when he hurled a shirt in Joey's direction "I think this is yours"
Joey caught the shirt and held it up, it was an FDNY HS basketball tee-shirt, "how did it end up in your draw"
Derek shook his head, "beats me"
Joey nodded and then went to grab the picture frames off his desk. In one frame was a picture of Kim and Jimmy in their dress blues, it had been taken after the Thanksgiving Day parade when Joey was little. The next picture was more current and was of the whole family at the rescue 2 summer barbeque. The next picture was of Joey with his God Parents his Aunt Mel and his dad's best friend Joe Lombardo. There is also a picture of the Doherty family at the last reunion, and of Joey with his parents at his high school graduation. The last picture frame was a gift from Jenna for their 5 month anniversary.
"Come on Joey, let's go I'd like to get home at a decent hour" Kim said as walked in the room to take stuff down to the car. Jimmy had gotten stuck working a double and no one else could come up so Kim had come by herself leaving Lexie and Kevin at home with Lilly who had come home from college a week ago.
Joey turned to Kim and gave her a look that reminded her of Jimmy when he was angry, "come on Mama Give me a little bit of time"
Kim shook her head, "sorry bud but I really want to get home"
Joey just grumbled in response and finished packing up the box he had been filling with his picture frames.
Kim shook her head at him "you are such your fathers boy it's scary"
Joey nodded in response, "you know often I hear that from you and Aunt D"
Kim picked up a box and headed for the door, "Gee Joey I wonder why, you are so much like him it scares me half to death sometimes, you are practically his mini me"
Summer Time
Joey pulled his car up at the 55 and quickly grabbed his bag out of the backseat. He was running late because he had been at Jenna's the night before meeting her family, "your late" Carlos Barked as Joey ran past him.
"Sorry I had to drive from Long Island" Joey mumbled as he ran up the stairs.
Carlos shook his head "change and get down here, your riding with Kelli today"
Joey stopped dead in his tracks and gave Carlos his trademark grin.
"You have a girlfriend" Carlos retorted
"Opps" Joey said as he backed down the stairs noticing a new female paramedic.
"You could have stayed" the new girl chirped walking by.
" I have a girlfriend" Joey mumbled as he went to change.
As Joey threw his uniform on his radio crackled, "Boyd 55-3 take an unknown medical 806 Grand Street apt 8G"
Joey grabbed his radio and responded "Boyd-55-3 unknown medical 806 Grand apt 8G" ,running down the stairs toward the kitchen Joey turned to where Kelli was sitting in the living room, "let's go"
Kelli followed Joey down the stairs to the bus, "who's driving"
"Me" Joey grumbled as he got in the bus.
At the call
"Did you call 911 mam" Joey asked.
"Yeah I'm worried about my neighbor I haven't seen him in a few days, I'm worried he's sick" an old lady replied
Joey nodded and knocked on the door, he then turned to Kelli. "Smell that I think we ought to call PD" Kelli nodded and radioed for assistance.
A couple minutes later 55-David responded, "You called for us" Charlie Yokas asked.
"yeah we got an unknown medical but it smells like well you know" Joey mumbled as Charlie nodded and then knocked on the door himself not getting a response he and his Training Officer kicked the door in only to be greeted by what Joey feared was on the other side of the door a stinker.
"Oh eww I'm going to be sick" Kelli mumbled taking off down the stairs.
Charlie shot Joey a look, "and she's a paramedic"
Joey shook his head at Charlie, "don't even, looks like we're done here enjoy your stinker Yokas"Joey then trotted down the stairs after his partner.
"We gotta another call" Kelli mumbled as she went to the bus.
Joey got in the driver's seat and rolled his eyes, "it's great to be back on the street's I've really missed this".
Kelli nodded, "have you made a decision about School"
Joey shook his head no, "I haven't but my mom wants me to finish at SU and I don't want to, I think I'm gonna quit playing Lacrosse to, I think I out grew it"
Kelli nodded in understanding as Joey drove to their next call which was a fire, "Understandable, what'd your dad say"
Joey pulled the bus up to the curb as they reached their destination, "he told me to do whatever's in my heart do what I want to do"
Kelli nodded and got out of the bus, "then that's what you should do how's Jen"
Joey shook his head, "I'm over her, it's been 7 months and I'm just done I don't know how to walk away from her though"
Kelli rolled her eyes, "7 months is 2 long for you"
Joey nodded as they waited to see if they were needed, "yeah I think I just grew up a little and I'm just not that into her anymore, it sucks because I like her but I just I need to move on"
Kelli nodded in response, "so you going to take the fireman's test"
Joey shook his head, "not yet"
"Medic" a fire fighter shouted and Joey and Kelli ran over to help them, "found her under her bed, she seems okay but probably got smoke"
Joey and Kelli quickly began to check the little girl over, "Kelsie" a women said running over.
"Mama" the little girl said.
"Is she alright" the women asked.
"She is just fine" Joey said as they finished up.
"Medic" another fire fighter called out, "this one's not so good" Damon said
"DOA" Kelli mumbled as the fire fighter hung his head, "it happens Damon but you got him out here"
After the fire everyone headed back to the firehouse, in hopes for a quiet night. Joey really just wanted to sit down with DK and get some advice on what do about his relationship.
Joey took a breath and knocked on DK's office door "Uncle Derek".
DK looked up from his paper work, "what's up Joey"
Joey hung his head as he sat in the chair on the other side of the desk "I need advice"
DK nodded, "what's up"
"Jenna, she told me she loved me and I couldn't say it back,7 months and I couldn't tell her the same thing I just kind of left her house without saying anything and came to work" Joey mumbled.
"Ouch" DK replied.
"You're telling me,I didn't know what to do" Joey replied
"so you want to break up with her and she told you she love you, sounds like you and your girlfriend are on two different pages of a book" Dk replied.
Joey shook his head "more like in different chapter"
Dk nodded, "talk to her Joe, that's all you really can do"
Joey hung his head in response; he really wasn't looking forward to having this conversation with Jenna. They were close and really good together but he just wasn't feeling things anymore. It was great at first to have someone at school and have a special someone but Jenna wasn't coming back to Syracuse and Joey didn't think he wanted to do the long distance thing.
Finally Joey looked up at his uncle with a face full of confusion, "your right I guess I just have to talk to her"
DK nodded, "she'll understand Joey"
"It's just that she's the first girl since Kara who I've cared about" Joey replied.
"and you will find another, trust me on that I thought Meg's mom was it then she left me and Meg,and I found your Aunt D and no one can replace her" DK replied
"I just don't want to do someone what my dad did to my mom, everyone say's I'm just like him in everyway possible and I don't want to be like that" Joey mumbled.
"Joey you are very much like your father in so many ways, but I don't see what happened with your parents happening with you and a women that's where you and your dad are very different, your dad really used to like to be with the ladies but then he realized your mom was his soulmate" DK replied.
"I know Uncle Derek I lived through all that, and it wasn't any fun" Joey replied.
"Alright bud you feel better" DK asked.
"Much, I think I'm gonna go get some sleep maybe call Jenna" Joey replied.
"don't break up with her over the phone" DK warned.
"I won't I just I need to let her know I'm driving back down there in the morning so we can talk"Joey replied.
"You just going to end it" DK asked.
"I think I have to, I don't think I can just let go on" Joey replied.
The next morning Joey drove back to Long island to see Jenna. He wanted to go home first but decided he needed to talk to her. He wanted to end things on good terms and just get it over with.
"Hey you" Jenna said when she let joey in the front door.
"Hey" Joey replied.
"You seem off, and you seemed off on the phone last night what's wrong" Jenna asked.
Joey put his head down and stared at his shoes, "we need to talk"
Jenna nodded, "I was afraid you would say that after what I told you yesterday"
Joey didn't respond as the two made their way to her room so they could talk.
"Don't freeze me out Joey, just talk to me" Jenna said as they sat down on her bed.
Joey looked up at her with hurt in his Brown eyes, "I can't do this anymore Jen"
Jenna looked at him confused, "what do you mean"
Joey took a deep breath, "us Jen I can't do us anymore"
Jenna's face fell and her eyes filled up with tears, "what I told you I loved you"
Joey nodded "I know what you said,and I'm saying I can't do this because I can't say it back,I don't know why but I just can't say it back"
Jenna nodded taking in Joey's word's "so your ending it because you can't say I love you"
Joey shook his head, "no I'm ending it because it's the right thing to do,we're on two different pages of life right now,I'm going back to school in a month and your staying here I don't think I can do the long distance thing"
Jenna nodded, "alright then I guess yesterday was a waste of time everyone loved you by the way"
Joey hung his head, "I loved everyone to they are all real nice but I can't do this Jen it's just not a good idea I don't trust myself"
Jenna pointed to the door, "you can let yourself out Joey, don't be a stranger and call me if your back in the city and you want to hang out"
Joey nodded and started to leave, "keep in touch Jenna-Blenna I've enjoyed the last 7 months"
That night
"You alright kiddo"Kim asked as she spotted her eldest curled up in his father's chair watching car cartoons with his little sister.
"I Broke up with Jen this morning"Joey mumbled.
"Oh no"Kim replied.
"Oh yeah,she told me she loved me and I couldn't say it back so I relized last night at work that things ust needed to end because I couldn't be with her and not feel the same way"Joey replied.
Kim nodded, "that's understandable bud,and there are other fish in the sea"
Joey rolled his eyes, "when I was kid everyone told you that and you never listend"
Kim shook her head, "and if I had you wouldn't have a brother and a sister"
Joey looked at her Puzzled, "you wouldn't have wanted kid's with anyone else"
Kim sat down on the arm of the recliner and gently stroked Lexi's hair, "no because I knew if I wanted you to have siblings I wanted you to have biological siblings"
Joey nodded as Jimmy walked in the door looking exhausted, "you 2 have 20 minutes to finish your cartoons and get your butts out of my chair,where's Kev"?
Kim smiled and turned toward Jimmy, "long shift,Kevin's at Dani'sspending time with Addison"
Jimmy nodded as he pulled his shoes off,"you have no idea,we must have been out almost all night and all day today and yesterday"
"Go get some sleep let the kid's enjoy there cartoons"Kim replied.
"Alright"Jimmy replied heading up the stairs.
Joey spent the rest of the summer working Part time, got his paramedic certification and had plans to get a promotion to fire fighter as soon as he finished college. He decided to stop playing Lacrosse for his last year so he could focus on school. As it was he was going to graduate a year early. Heand Jenna hadn't talked since they Broke up.
