Disclaimer: I don't own anything
AN: I apologize for the lack of dialogue at the end of this chapter, but I was trying to get it moving so I could have Joey done with school by the next chapter.
Joey was currently sprawled out in an over-stuffed bean bag chair and his dog was curled up next to him. Otto was still young but not really puppy-sized anymore. Jake was sitting on the couch and the two were playing Madden.
"I can't believe you and Jes called it quits," Jake commented.
Joey paused the game and turned to his roommate. "We didn't call it quits – she called it quits." He then reached for his phone. Kara would be out of work soon and he was hoping she might call.
"Well, you wasted no time moving on, that's for sure!" Jake replied.
"I've known Kara my whole life. We dated when I was in high school for a while, but she's older. When she graduated we broke up because she wanted someone closer to her age," Joey responded stoically as his phone buzzed and he answered it.
"Hey! How was work?" Joey asked.
"Ugh! Long!" Kara sighed.
"Tough day?" Joey questioned.
"Oh, just one screaming kid after another," Kara mumbled.
"You didn't get bit, did you?" Joey chuckled.
Kara laughed a little on the other end of the phone. "No, I didn't get bit."
Kara was a dental hygienist and loved her job – most of the time.
"Good! I can't wait to see you, baby," Joey replied
"Well, get your butt down to Long Island then!" Kara replied
Kara, like Joey, had been raised in the city, but she now lived in Northport, Long Island.
"I wish I could, but I have so much to do this semester. It's not easy. I go every day, except Friday, from 8 to 8 and I work three nights a week," Joey replied.
"Well, I'll come up and visit soon! Has Jes tried to call you?" Kara asked
"Call me, no. Talk to me, yes. We have a class together that I'm re-taking and I told her I was done because she broke up with me. Then she said she wanted to talk it out. I told her that I have a girlfriend and, big surprise, she got upset," Joey replied.
Kara let out a long sigh. "Of course she did! She finally sees that she let something great go!"
"The pot calling the kettle black," Joey said, stifling a laugh.
Kara grumbled on the other end of the phone, "Yeah, but you know what?"
"What?" Joey asked, trying not to laugh at Jake who was impatiently waiting for Joey to get off the phone.
"I got you back," Kara said with satisfaction.
"That you did," Joey replied.
"Alright, I have to get going. I'm driving to my dad's for dinner," Kara replied.
"His house or the firehouse," Joey teased.
"The firehouse," Kara chuckled.
"Ha! I figured!" Joey said
Kara laughed a little under her breath. "Bye, Joey. Love you," she said, hanging up the phone.
"Love you too," Joey replied, setting the phone down.
Jake rolled his eyes. "Finally, dude!"
Joey shook his head, "Funny. Very funny."
Jake hit the start button and the two resumed playing Madden until they were interrupted by the oven timer buzzing. Jake paused the game. "Let me check on the cookies," he said, standing up.
Joey nodded, "Smells good in here."
Kyle and Derek were out grocery shopping for a barbeque they were planning with a few friends.
"Thanks! I hope they taste good," Jake replied.
The other two boys showed up ten minutes later.
"So, guess who we saw at the store!" Derek said as he put the grocery bags down.
"Who's that?" Joey asked, his interest suddenly piqued.
"Kelli and Dana – we invited them and their roommates over," Kyle replied.
Joey shook his head. "Really, man! They live with Jes!"
Kyle continued to put stuff in the fridge. "Well sorry," he said, dragging out the word. "I guess we forgot! We didn't think you'd mind a few extra hot chicks."
Joey shook his head, trying to ignore Kyle's not-so-subtle wink. "Today is going to suck."
● ● A Few Hours Later ● ●
Joey was standing outside at the grill when Jeslyn wandered over. "Can we talk?"
He closed the grill and walked away. "Derek, watch the grill!"
Jeslyn followed him. "Is that a yes?"
Joey turned as he walked into his room. "Considering I'm walking away from you, one would normally assume it's a 'no.' In other words – leave me alone. I don't want to talk to you about us, or about anything for that matter! We are over. I moved on. You should too."
Jeslyn took a step back as the door slammed in her face. "Fine!"
A few minutes later Joey was back at the grill finishing up the burgers that he had left with Derek.
"What was that about?" Derek asked.
"Nothing. I told her I didn't want to talk," Joey replied, flipping the burgers. "Foods up!" he yelled, disinterested. Everyone soon began to line up.
● ● 3 weeks later ● ●
"Have fun at home!" Derek said as Joey made his way out the door.
Joey shook his head, "I'm not going home. I'm going to Northport."
Derek raised an eyebrow. "Where?"
"To visit Kara out on Long Island," Joey replied.
"Oh, right. See you Sunday night," Derek mumbled.
"Take care of Otto for me," Joey said, stepping out and shutting the door behind him.
Seven hours later Joey made it to Northport. He hadn't stopped at home on the way to Long Island because all he could think about was getting to Kara's and seeing her face.
"How are you, my love?" Kara said, meeting Joey at her front door.
Joey sighed, dropping his bags. He had driven all day and was just happy to see his girl. "Good, I suppose. I'm just happy to see you. Have you told your dad that we are back together yet?" Joey asked.
"No, but it's not like he'll have a big problem with it. You're family!" Kara replied.
"I know that," Joey whispered as he walked inside.
Kara nodded as Joey set his bags down and took his shoes off, "it's so nice to see you it's been to long"
"I know baby I've missed you like crazy"Joey replied as they settled down on the couch to watch a movie.
"So what'd you get your sister for her birthday"Kara asked.
"a new syracuse sweatshirt"Joey replied.
Kara sunggled into Joey"you going home Sunday"
Joey nodded, "that's the plan"
"where are you gonna go after graduation"Kara asked.
"probably back to Meg's for awhile I want to get my Fire Fighter Promotion and everything this summer and start working fulltime"Joey replied.
"your not gonna move back home"Kara questioned.
"nahh I'm pretty much on my own now,I don't really want to move back home unless I have to but my parents arnt going to change my room it'll still be mine"Joey replied.
"big boy now ehh"Kara asked.
Joey nodded, "you could say that I just felt I like I needed to grow up but not leave my heart belongs in the city"
Kara frowned, "that makes me sad Joe,I thought you'dwant to come out here with me"
Joey shook his head, "Maybe if you lived closer to the city but this is to far away for my liking babe"
Kara knew Joey would say that he was a city boy at heart born in queens raised in Brooklyn,and had strong roots to the FDNY just like her little brother BJ. There was noway she was going to change his mind and she knew if she tried he might run away. She didn't want to lose him again now that she had him back.
"my job is here but lucky for I am willing to go where you go come may"Kara replied.
Joey nodded as he drifted off to sleep.
Febuary
The last 6 months had been a whirlwind for Joey and for Kara he was now in his last semester of college and ready to graduate come was happy that his daughter was happy and couldn't see her with someone else and Kim and Jimmy were happy to see that Joey may have actually settled down with someone.
"So you plan to remember your birthday this year"Jimmy questioned as Joey wandered in the front door.
"yeah of course I plan to remember my birthday,last year was an exception"Joey mumbled.
Jimmy nodded as he thought back to Joey's 21st birthday
Flash back
"where you boys heading"Jimmy asked.
"starting out at Hagertys,I was hoping you would be a friend and not a parent tonight come out with us, Uncle Billy is coming,Uncle Derek said he would and Uncle Joe to,Carlos is going to stop by to and Bosco and Ty and Charlie Yokas may stop"Joey replied.
"alright I'll tag along,Kimmy I'm going out with the boys"Jimmy said as Kim came into the lving room from the kitchen.
"Please be safe all of you and call me if you need to I'll come get you"Kim said.
"could you drop us at Hagerty's"Joey asked.
Kim nodded, "ofcourse I can do that let me find my keys"
5 minutes later Kim returned with the keys to her equinox and the boys meaning Joey,Derek,Jimmy and BJ piled into the car. Jake and Kyle couldn't come down for the weekend so they had gone out with Joey on his actual birthday.
Once they got to Hagertys Kim made them all promise to be saf,have fun and stay out of Bar met up with Dk,Walsh,Joe,Bosco,Ty,Carlos and Charlie there,a couple of Joeys cose friends from High School were meeting them in an about an hour.
4 drinks in
"Joey slow down a little"Jimmy warned.
"I'm totally fine dad"Joey slurred.
"if you say so"Jimmy replied as Joey, BJ and Derek did a shot,the older guys were sticking to beer.
It didn't take long after that for tempers to flare and Joey and Charlie were exchanging words
"you are nothing but a want to be Bucket Fairy"Charlie Spit.
"Yeah well atleast I'm no Donut Dope"Joey spit back
"easy now"Bosco warned.
"yeah well atleast my sister went on to med school and stopped working as a medic she's got a big girl job now"Charlie spit
"Hey now"Carlos retorted.
"your sister is full of herself"Joey realed off downing another drink.
"Easy Joey"Dk warned.
"I'm fine"Joey said as Charlie walked over and hit him catching him off guard, "Seriously"Joey spit standing up.
"Hey now if your going to fight take it outside"The bartender said
"works for me let's go Yokas"Joey growled.
"your on Doherty"Charlie growled back following Joey outside
Jimmy glanced at Carlos, "How much have you had to drink"
"not a lot"Carlos said standing up.
"Good because one of them may need a medic when they finish with each other and I guarantee it wont be my kid"Jimmy said as he steped toward the door, followed by Walsh and DK.
"this oughta be good Joey has wanted to kick Charlies butt for a long time"BJ commented following his father out the door.
Outside.
Before Jimmy and Carlos had even gotten outside Joey had punched Charlie,and Charlie had hit him back,it got ugly pretty quick.
"alright enough is enough"Walsh said stepping in between the two boys,and pushing Charlie in the direction of DK who grabbed him by the collar,Jimmy grabbed Joey and was holding him back.
Joey struggled to get free and was unsuccessful, "let me go" .
Jimmy shook his head at his eldest, "absoloutly not cham,lets go back inside and have another drink Walsh call him a cab after Carlos looks him over,Joey you will have a black eye in the morning"
Back inside
"why didn't you let me finish kicking his butt"Joey slurred
Jimmy shook his head, "because no one needs to end up in the hospital now sit down and drink your beer"Jimmy commented as Joey's friends from highschool,Matt and Dave walked in.
"Happy Birthday man"Dave said Joey hugged his long time friend.
"thanks man it's been awhile"Joey replied.
Dave nodded and Matt gave his old friend a hug.
A couple hours later it was clear that they were not going to make it out of Hagertys ,most of the older men had gone home and now it was just Jimmy,the obys and DK. Joeys cousins Addison and Lil had stopped by but didn't stay long. Joey was in the bathroom with Jimmy throwing up,Derek and and BJ were just trying to stay up right and Matt and Dave were fine,they hadn't had as much as the other two.
Jimmy shook his head as he stood behind his eldest son and watched him get sick, "I warned you"
Joey shook his head, "I didn't listen"
Jimmy didn't often get annoyed but tonight was just one of those nights, "no kidding Joseph"
Joey stood up and grabbed on to Jimmy to Keep his balance, "can we go home now"
Jimmy nodded, "absoloutly"
The next morning
"why does my face hurt"Joey mumbled as he rolled over and found himself in childhood bedroom.
"you might want to check out your face"BJ remarked as he st up from his spot on the floor,Joey crawled out of bed and made his way to the mirror on the wall.
"what the hec happened last night"Joey asked.
"I don't remember"BJ mumbled.
"me neither"Derek commented as Jimmy knocked and walked in.
"you punched Charlie Yokas"Jimmy replied as Joey examined the dark bruise on his face.
"I hope he's hurting worse than me"Joey mumbled as Jimmy began to share the previous night with the boys.
End flash back
"no black eyes this year"Jimmy commented as Joey rolled his eyes and BJ walked in the door causeing jimmy to shake his head, "somethings never change,we have a door bell you know"
BJ nodded, "I know"
Jimmy shook his head, "keep Joey out of trouble and away from Charlie Yokas"
Joey rolled his eyes, "He hit me first".
April
Senior Day for Lacrosse at Carrier Dome –Game vs Vilinova
"we'd like to take this time to honor our Orangeman Seniors Derek,Jake,Kyle,Joey,Mike,Mark,Dan and Tim.
Joey stood on the field tuning out the announcer,he loved his teammates but all he wanted to do was run out to the middle of the field and hug his parents.
"Attackman # 14 Joey Doherty from Brooklyn NY"
Joey ran out to the center of the field and hug his mom and dad as the coach took the mic to read something about him like he did the other seniors.
"Joey's been with us for four years,and has truly been an asset to our program. When he arrived at Syracuse he came in with that tough as nails attitude and had that "I'm the best better than the rest attitude". He quickly learned that doesn't fly around here and since then has grown into an incredible youngman,making captian this year and showing great leadership. I'm sure that this will surprise his parents but He is always the first one in the lockerroom and the last one to leave. I'm going ot share a story about Joey like I did the other seniors. The team get's school issued gear and apparel every year,that includes shafts and heads,well Joey had played with the same type of head on his stick since High school,he would tell me that he couldn't play with anything else it didn't feel the same, I couldn't get him to try anything different for months his freshman year and then the head he'd used for 2 season's in highschool that he he had loved so much broke,and I convinced him to try something new and he did and he hasn't changed what he uses since then,he's pretty stubborn but that's a good thing because we need that,we also need to have great leaders on and off the field and that's what he is,Joey says his Lacrosse Career ends here with us at SU,and He will be pursing his dreams of becoming an FDNY firefighter,we hope to see him at the Alumni game next spring we love you Joe"
As Joey coach finished up Joey wiped a tear or two off his face as much as he thought about qutting many times over the last 4 years he hadn't he had played and now the sport he loved since he picked up a stick at 8 years old was ending. Joey remembered when he could no longer play both Baseball and Lacrosse and had to choose between the two sports when he was in middle school. That was one of the toughest things he had done but he played club baseball for awhile before deciding to completely drop baseball and play Lacrosse year round.
"you alright champ"Jimmy asked when they met up with Joey after the game.
Joey nodded,and then hugged Derek they had just walked out of the dome for the last time after a regular season game. The team had made playoffs so hoprfully they would get to play in the Dome again.
The next month was a complete fly bye the boys made it all the way to the end and won This was Joey Second national championship with the team. They had also won his sohmore year. Frehsman year they lost to Duke,Junior Year they lost to Maryland and this year they beat UNC.
College graduation
At his College graduation
Graduation was in the dome and almost all of Joeys family was there that included those not related to him by blood who he considered family.
They began to read names off and Kim began to try and find Joey, " oh there he is see his Hat".
Jimmy looked where Kim was pointing and was able to pick Joey out because of the top of his hat.
Joey and the boys had all done their caps togather,Joey's read " Look at Me Mom and Dad I kept my promise", "SU LAX 2016 NCAA Champs"
As Kim sat she thought back to the night Joey was born
Flash Back
Febuary 13th and 14th 1993
Jimmy was working a double and it was Kim's due date. She told him to go work and she would be fine and she was alright until just after midnight when she realized she was in labor the first thing she did was call the fire house.
"Eng 55 ladder 100 this is Joe
"Joe it's Kim is Jimmy right there"Kim asked
"he's still upstairs changing we just got back from a fire"Joe replied.
"could you go tell him I'm having the baby"Kim said.
"yeah I'll go tell him,do you want to talk to him"Joe asked.
"no just tell him to come home"Kim replied.
Jimmy made it home 20 minutes later and at 4:55 AM on valentines Day 1993 they welcomed Joseph James Doherty into the world weighing 7lbs 8 oz,he was 21 inches long.
End Flash Back
"you alright"Jimmy asked Kim noticing tht she seemed upset.
Kim nodded, "I'm fine just thinking back to the day he was born"
Jimmy nodded and Watched as Joey and his Friends made there way to the stage "Joseph James Doherty-Suma Cum Lade"
Everyone erupted into cheers as they watched Joey cross the stage followed by Derek,Jake and Kyle.
