Chapter Four:
James woke up the next morning. He yawned brushing his dark blonde hair back. He quickly got changed into his uniform. He was about to pass the living room when he saw his brother sleeping on the couch still. He was dressed in his uniform still. His legs were dangling off the edge of the couch. James carefully helped his brother move up on the couch. He put a blanket across the back of his brother's back. Hoshi stirred once before going to sleep. Today Hoshi worked in Newtown as a waiter. He had about two hours before his shift. James turned to go downstairs. "James?" came Hoshi's voice tiredly. "that you I hear creeping around?" James paused. "yeah. You were sleeping off the edge of the couch again." Hoshi laughed silently. "now why doesn't that surprise me?" Hoshi sat up on the couch. He rubbed his eyes, yawning. "I better go sleep in my bed. I only have two hours before I have to go to work." Hoshi stalked off to his bedroom which had been built right next to their mom's room. James felt bad for his brother. Hoshi was working so hard to provide for the family. He took care of all the bills in the house never catching a break. Hoshi didn't like to complain and James could pick up on that. James trotted downstairs. He quickly made himself something to eat. He grabbed his keys off the counter. "James?" James looked up to see his mother at the bottom of the stairs. She had on her light pink gown. "good morning mom." He whispered. "off in a hurry?" He nodded. He gave her a hug. "I'll be careful. I promise." Bronwyn held him tightly.
James arrived at the fire station. There really wasn't anyone there a part from him and his Uncle who was in the office working on paperwork. James turned on the TV putting it on mute. He leaned back on the couch watching the news broadcast about yesterday's fire. James groaned quietly. "great just what we need, the media." He put his face into his hands. "Good Morning James." Greeted Sam. James jumped hearing his Uncle's voice. "morning Station Officer Sam." James turned around to face him. "have you heard anything about Penny yet?" questioned James. Sam shook his head. "no but your more than welcomed to call the hospital." James pulled out his cell phone. He rapid-dialed the number for the hospital. "good morning I'm Doctor Hernández of Newtown Hospital how may I help you?" she asked. "Hi I'm James Jones I'm calling about Penny Morris. She was checked into the hospital for shock." Doctor Hernández smiled. "she's doing just fine. She is just about to be discharged. You may want to send someone down to come and get her." James nodded. "I'll swing by and get her." James hung up the phone. "Sam, can I have the keys to Venus please? Penny is going to need a ride from the hospital." Same smiled. He handed him the keys. "be careful."
Penny had changed into her civical clothes. Her doctor had not given her the all clear to start work yet. She had on a button-down shirt with workout shorts. James knocked on her door. "you ready to go?" She nodded. James took her bag. He helped her get into Venus. She smiled kindly at him. "you don't need to do this you know?" he got in on the driver's side. "it's no problem really Penny. I didn't want you to be stranded." He started Venus up. "so, where am I taking you?" Penny buckled down in her seat. "the doctor says I'm going to be stuck at home for the next few days. I still need to swing by the station and let Sam know." James looked at her. "I'll tell him for you." Penny nodded. "alright." The both of them sat in silence for a while. "you look nice." James muttered after a while. "thanks." Penny brushed some of her hair back behind her ear. It had gotten streaked lightly with grey. James eyed her from the corner of his eye. Penny looked at herself again. She had problems adjusting to how she looked. "you still look lovely." Penny sighed. "I wished I believe that. I'm not as young as I used to be." He reaches for her hand. "If I may?" She looked at him. She laid her hand in his gently. He gave it a comforting squeeze. Penny relaxed in his grip. James pulled up outside of her house. He helped her inside. Penny lived by herself mostly. Her house had changed some over the years. "I haven't been here since I was a lad." He mused. Penny patted his shoulder. "it's changed a lot since the last time you've visited me." She put her bag down on the couch. She sat down by it. Her eyes had that distant look in them. She was remembering past memories. James sat down next to her. She took his hand in hers again. They sat there for a while. "you better head back to the station. No doubt you have a lot to do." James got up. "I'll come back later." He promised.
James drove Venus back to the station. He walked upstairs to find Arnold and Ellie in the lounge. "there's our local hero." James blushed madly. "I'm no hero. I was just doing my job." He sat down on the couch. "I have a brilliant idea on how we can help the museum get enough funds to replace the artifacts that were lost in the fire. We can hold a fund raiser." Arnold put his cup down. "what kind of fund raiser?" he asked. Ellie shrugged. "I didn't get that far with the planning." Arnold rolled his eyes. "it's a good concept but you really need to come up with a plan of execution." Ellie leaned backwards in her stool. "I know! How about a car wash?" Arnold shook his head. "okay, bake sale?" Arnold coiled his jaws in disgust. "have you seen Elvis try to cook?" he retorted. "How about we do a fundraiser that has something to do with the Museum?" suggested James. He then snapped his fingers. "a Cobweb Chase!" The both of them blinked at him. "you search out a historical building or homes in the area and then map it out. You take a bus load of people there but you must get the person there to tell you the history there. We can sell things like tea and lunch." Ellie nodded. "that could work. I'll talk to Aria about it."
The alarm bell suddenly rang. "Trevor's bus broke down near the cliff." Came Sam's voice over the PDA. James slid down the poll after his workmates. Sam ran out to meet them. "James, you and Elvis are going out on this one. You'll need to take Phoenix." He tossed the keys to Phoenix over to Elvis. "be careful you two. His bus is dangling dangerously close to the edge." Elvis clipped his helmet on. "we'd better hurry." James and Elvis got into Phoenix. They pulled away from the fire station. James flicked on the siren and lights. Trevor tried his best to keep Dilys and Bronwyn calm. "don't worry ladies. Help will soon be here." He comforted. The bus rocked backwards a bit. The girls gasped. James and Elvis soon arrived at the scene. "hook the line up to the front of bus, James." Ordered Elvis. "I'll go and get the passengers out of the bus." James grabbed Venus' tow hook and quickly clipped it to the front axle of the bus. He gave Elvis a thumbs up to let him know that bus was safely secured. Elvis opened the passenger door to the bus. He gasped seeing Dilys and Bronwyn aboard. He offered his hand to Dilys first. Dilys took his hand and scrambled to get off the bus. Elvis pulled her out carefully. The bus buckled again. This threw Elvis off balance. Elvis gripped the railing. He had to get Bronwyn out of there. He reached for Bronwyn. "your turn Bronwyn." Whispered Elvis. Bronwyn reached for his hand. She gripped it tightly. Elvis helped her out. James felt his heart miss crucial beats seeing the amount of danger his mother was in. He threw Venus into reverse. Venus groaned with the effort of trying to pull the bus back onto the path. It took a while but he managed to pull the bus onto the path. James wiped the sweat from his brow.