Hi, how are you doing?
I am sorry for the delay. I have been really busy during this week. At the beginning of this week, I went to my University for seeing what was going to happen with my dissertation (Like some of you will already know, I did it last year while I was in England. But, the problem was that my university did not want to recognize it as my official dissertation. And even worse, now that I have pass all my subject and I am graduate in Biology, they wanted that I did again my dissertation the next year which mean that I would have to lose one year) Luckily, the last Thursday the nightmare came to the end =) and it is official. I am a graduate in Biology =). Now, I am waiting for start a Master in September.
Besides, I had some problems with this new chapter. It looked like if my inspiration disappeared and my mind went blank. I mean, I had some ideas for this chapter but, I could not write then. So, I am not sure if you are going to like this new chapter or not.
Before you start reading this waiting chapter, I want to say thanks to everyone who read the previous chapter, specially to: ramsfan086, texterlover, JustNevine, Gaellicious89, LaJoyMechell, Justicerocks, Sarrabr4, Camila and the three guests who let me a review. Thanks for your amazing reviews, it encourage me to continue. And of course, I can not forget to say thanks to my wonderful beta reader.
I hope that you like this new chapter and let me some reviews with your opinion.
Have a nice day
Namine Redfield
Chapter 20: Babysitter double date
After ending the phone call, Jones decided to return to the common room and see if her Lieutenant had some chores for her, like cleaning the showers or cooking breakfast for everyone in the firehouse. She noticed that the situation had returned to normality. Suddenly, Pouch came running from her spot on the couch to her to greet her. Rebecca smiled and knelt down in front of the dog and Pouch took the opportunity to lick her face.
"Hi! Who are you? Who is this?" she said smiling as she petted the dog.
"Oh, that's Pouch" Mouch said from his usual spot on the couch
"Well, hello" she greeted the dog. Pouch continued linking her hands a few seconds more while Rebecca was petting her on her stomach.
"Hey! You know what, that's the official 51 seal of approval, right there," Dawson said getting closer to Jones. She had heard what the boys said about her. She knew that it could be hard to start in a firehouse, especially if you were a woman and your father was the Deputy District Chief so, she wanted to let her know that she was there for her in case that she needed to speak with somebody.
"I am honored" Rebecca said smiling
"Welcome on board, Jones" Shay said patting her shoulder.
"Thanks" she said glad that at least the other two women of the firehouse were glad of her presence.
"Jones" Casey called her from the hallway "Chief Boden wants to see us in his office"
"Yes sir" she stopped petting the dog and made her way to Boden's office.
In his office, Chief Boden was sitting behind his desk looking at some documents that McLeod gave him.
"Ms. Jones" Boden greeted her as soon as she gave a footstep inside of his office.
"Chief Boden" she greeted him" Lt. Casey told me that you wanted to speak with me"
"Yeah. I just wanted to have a friendly talk with you and your Lieutenant" Matt entered the office and closed the door behind him "Like you already know, you are a candidate in this firehouse and you're here to learn. That means keep your eyes and ears open and your mouth shut" it was what he said to every new candidate that walked through that door of the firehouse. After all, it was his responsibility if something would happen to her during her candidacy. A lot of young and inexperienced firefighters die in their first year because they think that they know everything about the job already, which was not true.
"We're gonna spend some time today drilling various tools, show you where things are stored," Casey said. Despite of the wound on his left side, he convinced Chief Boden on letting him be in the firehouse and help Jones on her first day "When we go to an incident, I want you glued to my hip. When I stop walking; I want you bumping into my ass"
"Yes, Lieutenant" she said laughing softly at his comment
"Ms. Jones, I know I speak for the entire house when I say that 51 is proud to welcome a female firefighter" she doubted that everyone in the firehouse was glad of having her there "I will seek to it that you are treated with the dignity and respect that you deserve" he said with a serious tone of voice. With McLeod watching the firehouse closely, an accusation by Jones saying that she was not treat with dignity would be what McLeod needed to shut down 51. Besides, even if McLeod were not keeping an eye on the firehouse, he would still make sure that everyone treated her with respect.
"Thank you, Chief"
"In return, you will treat this job with the dignity and respect that it deserves"
"Absolutely" she did not need to be told that she should treat the job with respect. She has been doing it since she was young and saw his father, and later her brothers, battling against the flames.
"You impressed a lot of people at the academy, Ms. Jones. But out there, that's real life. It is not a training exercise. It is not a pop quiz. There are no shortcuts here"
"I know,"
"Alright, that is all" Boden said and gave her a smile "The door of my office is always open"
"Thanks"
"Let's go to do some drills, Candidate" Matt said opening the office's door
When Casey and Jones were out of office the alarm blaring on the firehouse calling them to a call "Ambulance 61, Truck 81, Squad 3, Battalion 25. Structure fire" the voice of the female dispatcher said
"Let's move" Casey ran to the truck and Jones followed him feeling like hundred of butterflies were flying in her stomach. She was finally going to enter a burning building, something that she had been waiting to do for a long time.
/
The next morning, everyone was walking out of the firehouse ready to go back home. Matt was writing a text to Gabby at the time that he was walking to where his truck was parked when Herrmann called his attention by clearing his throat behind him. Matt turned around and saw that Hermann, Cruz and Otis were staring him like they wanted to tell him something.
"Can I help you guys?" he placed his phone in the pocket of his jeans
"It's about Jones," Herrmann said
"What about her?" Casey asked shocked. He saw her during the two calls that they had during the shift and he could say that she was agile. And he did notice any problems that she could have caused to any of them; she was never in the middle and she had followed the orders.
"She is not a good fit, Casey" Herrmann answered
"She's cocky," Cruz said
"And entitled," Otis added "A foxy gal, I'll grant you that"
"She breaks balls with her superiors, and she thinks she's untouchable because of who her dad is" Mouch saying joining to the conversation
"We just wanted to let you know if you decide you want to do something, we got your back" Herrmann said and patted him on his shoulder
"Guys. It was her first day" Casey could not believe what he was hearing. They had only met for twenty-four hours and were already judging her.
"Longest day of my career" Mouch said joking and Casey gave him a angry look, "She's a handful"
"She's just trying to hold her own in an all boys' club. Give her a chance," He said annoyed with them and walking away from them. He had more important things to do than being there listening to their complaints about their new candidate.
When he was near to his car, his phone started to buzz inside of the pocket of his jeans. He took it and smiled when he recognized the ID caller. Gabby was calling him.
"You guys holding' a book club meeting out there?" her voice said on the other side of the line. He could hear her laugh.
"The boys are a little resentful of Jones," he said as he placed his duffle bag on the passenger seat. He looked around the firehouse parking and saw her car parked on the other side of the parking lot. She was sitting behind the driver seat and he could say that she was smiling at him "I told them they needed to give her a fair shake" He wished to be alone in the parking lot so he could walk to her car and kiss her.
"I agree," She was glad that he was going to give her a chance to prove herself to them. He was always fair and loyal to his principles. He did what was right in each moment like when Voight's son caused the car accident that left one teenager paralytic.
"You know, I was going to send you a text asking you if you have any plans for this evening. Maybe we can catch some sleep, have lunch, watch a movie or go out for a walk along the pier," he suggested.
"I can't. I have to look after Diego and Eva. My brother had sent me a text saying that he was busy with a case and Laura is out of town. I am sorry, I am leaving right now for my parents' house to help them with the kids. Also, my mom got sick," She said sad because she couldn't be with him "I am sorry, I really wanted to spend the evening cuddling with you on the couch"
"It is okay. It does not matter," He said trying not to sound too disappointed that they had to change their plans
"I will call you later, alright?"
"Sure. I hope your mother gets better"
"Thanks. Have a nice day"
"You too"
Sadly, he ended the call. In the last couple of weeks, he had been attached to her in a way that he would have never imagined before. He liked to wake up finding her cuddling to him in the morning or being on the couch watching a movie while they are eating popcorn. However, it looked like that he will have to spend another day completely alone in her house.
/
"What are we doing here, Uncle Matt?" Violet asked looking at her uncle, who was looking to the main doors of the cinemas every time somebody opened them.
"I told you, kiddo. We are gonna watch a movie"
While Matt was driving to Gabby's place, his sister sent him a text asking him if he wanted to come over to her house to have lunch. It had been a long time since he had visited his sister and he was glad that she asked him to come over because he did not want to be alone at Gabby's place with nothing to do. After taking a quick shower and catching some sleep, he went to his sister house. It was nice to spend some time with his sister and niece; he did not remember when the last time was that he had such as great time with them. During lunch, Christine asked him if he could look after of Violet for a few hours that evening since she had to solve some problems in her job.
Suddenly, a great idea came to his mind. Maybe, there was a way of being with Gabby that evening. So he had the idea of taking Violet to the cinema; maybe Gabby could bring her brother's kids as well that way they could all spend a nice evening together. Without losing a second, he sent her a text telling her his idea but she never replied to his text. He was not hundred percent sure if Gabby would show up in the cinema but, he decided that it was worth a shot to go there and wait her.
"Which one?" she asked taking him out of his thoughts
"I don't know," he said with a shrug. He checked his watch and saw that Gabby still had time to show up at the cinema in time, in the case she wanted that the five of them watched a film together.
"Are we waiting on someone?" Violet asked suspicious of his behavior. He had been staring the main door of the cinema and his watch the last ten minutes.
"Eh, no" Matt lied rolling his eyes
It was obviously that he was nervous of seeing Gabby again. It has been less than eight hours since he last saw her; right before she went to her parents' house. He could not understand why but there was something in her that made him to feel great and relax.
"Come on guys, let's choose which movie we are gonna watch" He heard Gabby's voice not so far from where they were.
Casey turned around and saw her in the distance. She had her arm protectively encircled around the shoulder of a young boy that could be as older as Violet. Next to her, there was a teenage girl who was checking her phone.
"Gabby?" He said trying to sound like as if he were surprised of finding her there, which in was clearly not true.
"Matt" she said walking to him. He was giving her a wide smile and all that he wanted to do was to push his lips against hers and kiss her "what are you doing here?" she said trying to sound casual. Her heart was bumping inside of her chest.
"I decided to take my niece the movies" he made a nod to Violet and she approached to her uncle "This is my niece Violet. Violet, this is Gabby one of my partners. She is an EMT"
"Nice to meet you" the girl said politely
"Nice to meet you too. They are Eva and Diego, my brother's kids. Guys, this is Lieutenant Casey" and Matt and Violet greeted them "Which movie are you going to watch, guys?"
"Ah-Ah-. I don't know" Matt looked to his niece hoping that she could help him "Which one do you want to watch, kiddo?"
"Can we watch Planes: Fire and Rescue?" she asked him with puppy's eyes after looking what their options were.
He looked at his niece knowing that he could not say no to her "Do you want to watch it with us, guys?" Matt asked to them with the hope that they did not mind to watch a kid's movie.
"Yeah" Diego said since he did not want to watch any romantic or drama films that his sister and aunt loved "It could be funny"
"What about you Eva?" Gabby said looking to the teenager.
"Yeah. Why not?" She had the feeling that they had not met the blonde Lieutenant by chance. He and her aunty were exchanging tender glances and even more, Gabby was biting her lower lip, something that she used to do when she was nervous or blush "But I need to go to the toilet first. Come on Diego, let's go to the toilet"
"I don't need to go to the toilet," Diego said and his sister stared him as she did a sign to him to follow her to the toilets "Oh, yeah. I need to go too, Aunty Gabby"
"Can I go too, Uncle Matt?" Violet had also caught the sign that Eva did to Diego. Even that she was still young she knew that there was something strange in that casual meeting.
"She can come with us if you want," Eva said quickly with an innocent smile on her lips. Gabby looked to her niece having the feeling that the teenager was up to something.
"Yeah sure. We are gonna buy the tickets in the meantime. Wait for us right here when you are done, alright?" Matt said glad he was going to have some time to be alone with Gabby.
They saw the kids walking straight to the toilets and as soon as they disappeared of their visions, Matt encircled his arms around her waist and got her body closer to him "God, I have missed you so badly in the last couple of hours," he whispered in her ear before crushing his lips against hers.
"I am sorry, my phone died after you send me the text," she was cut off by him when he pressed his lips against hers. Her hands were on his neck caressing his soft skin while he was still holding her waist.
/
Inside of the cinema, Matt was going to take a seat on one of the outer seats of the row; but Eva said that it was all right if he wanted to sit near to her aunt. He gave the teenager a grateful smile and sat next to Gabby whereas Eva, Diego and Violet decided last minute to take a seat in the front row so both adults could keep an eye on them and have some intimacy at the same time.
"I think Eva knows about us," Matt whispered in her ear when the lights were switched off and the room was dark.
She blushed and covered her face with her hands as she tried to avoid a nervous smile "I hope that she doesn't tell my brother"
"Are you afraid that your brother find out about us?" He asked worried about her reaction
"No. Absolutely not" she cupped his face and looked into his eyes " I am not afraid of him knowing about us" she said softly "it just that my brother usually freaks out every time I bring one of my boyfriends to my parents' house to meet my family" and she pressed her lips against his
"They are kissing" Violet whispered as she turned on her seat seeing her uncle and his friend sharing a sweet kiss.
"I told you," Eva said smiling too watching the two adults sharing a tender kiss
"Dad is gonna freak out," Diego pointed out
"We can't tell anyone about it," Eva said to them "we have to keep their secret. They are the ones who have to tell everyone that they are together"
"You are right" Violet turned to watch the screen since the movie was going to start "I am glad that my uncle is with your aunt. He looks really happy"
/
An hour later, the film was just half way through. Dusty and Blade were walking outside of the cave in which they were during the night to protect themselves of the fire. As soon as Violet saw the burns that Blade had suffered when he tried to block the entrance of the cave in order to protect Dusty, she started to cry. Her mother had told her a few days ago, that her uncle got hurt during a call and had suffered some burns on one of his legs and because of that she could not run up to him and hug him when she saw him that morning.
"Violet, you okay? Eva asked worried placing one of her arms around Violet's shoulders. Violet did not say anything; she just got up of her seat and ran out of the room "Aunty Gabby"
Matt got up from his seat and ran after his niece without wasting a second "What happened?" Gabby asked to Eva and Diego
"I don't know. She suddenly started to cry"
"Alright, keep an eye on Diego"
She walked out of the room too and tried to find Matt. He was in the hallway with a crying Violet in his arms. One of his hands was in the back of the girl while the other one was brushing her long blonde hair.
"Is she okay?" She asked and placing her hand on Violet's shoulder
"I don't know" he had a worried expression since Violet had not said a word since he hugged her "Sweetheart, what it's wrong?"
"Mom told me last night that you got injured during a call" Violet moved away from his embrace; her eyes were red "it means that you got burned like Blade, right?"
"Sweetheart" Matt brushed her long hair
"I don't want to lose you again, uncle Matt"
He cupped her face and said, "Don't worry about me. I am fine. Nothing happened" he lifted the leg of his jeans and showed her his unwounded leg. The last thing that he wanted to do was to get her even more worried about losing him "See?"
"But how? Mom said that you were in the hospital" she was young but smart for her age
Matt looked to Gabby not knowing what to say
"Violet" Gabby places her hands on her shoulder and knelt to being the same eye level "I'll take care of him, alright? I am an EMT and I promise you that I will make sure that your uncle stays alive and safe on every call"
"You promise?"
"Pinky promise" Violet smiled and hugged Gabby relieved by her words
"Come on kiddo" Matt lifted her "Lets watch the end of the film"
"Okay" Violet wiped away her tears and they walked back to the cinema room to continue watching the movie "Can I sit with you, uncle Matt?"
"Sure kiddo"
Gabby sat on her seat with Matt next to her and Violet sat on his lap and together, they watched the end of them movie
/
At the end of the movie, Matt decided to take all of them to a pizzeria to have dinner. They were having a great time all together and Violet was better and smiling again.
After dinner, they went to the pier, the kids were walking in front of them talking while the two adults were behind walking really close to each other.
"Did you have fun this evening?" Matt asked
"Yeah" she said smiling
"Aunty Gabby" Diego said facing his aunt "Can we have ice cream?"
"I-" she begun
"Sure" Matt said, "Come on guys. Let's go eat ice cream"
"Matt, you do not have to pay for everything," Gabby said annoyed when he paid for the ice creams of everyone "You already paid for the pizza and the movie tickets. Let me at least pay for the ice creams"
"Gabby, I want to do it," Matt said smiling "Eva and Diego are really nice. I think that we could repeat it again other day"
"Yeah" Gabby agreed and ate a little bit of her ice cream.
"You have something on your lips," Matt said. She tried to clean her lips with a napkin but the chocolate spot did not disappeared. He bit his lower lip and said "Let me try" he pressed his lips against hers and rubbed his hot tongue over her lips "Much better" he said after breaking the kiss
"The kids are gonna see us" Gabby said when they broke the kiss; their faces still really close to each other
"They are distracted talking," he said looking to the kids that were sat on a bench talking and laughing about something that Violet was telling to Eva and Diego.
"Aunty Gabby, can we all take a picture together?" Eva asked
"Yeah, sure why not?"
Gabby walked to them and took her phone to take a selfie of all of them. Matt was left behind and took the opportunity to make a phone call. He took his phone and called Shay, he needed to ask her something.
"Shay, it is me Casey" he said when the blonde answered the call
"How are you Casey?"
"Fine. Can you help me with something?"
"Yeah. Whatever?"
"Perfect" he said smiling
"What is the matter" she asked wanting to know how could she help him
"I am planning to surprise Gabby"
"Count me in"
"Great. Tonight I will send you a text with the details of what I need" he said glad that he could count on Shay since she was Gabby's best friend and it meant that she knows what Gabby likes better than him
"Come on Uncle Matt" Violet yelled "Let's take a picture"
"I am coming" He placed his phone in his jeans and walked over to them with a wide smile on his lips
"Why are you smiling?" Gabby asked suspicious
"I am happy" he said with a shrug.
I hope that you like this new chapter and let me some reviews. In the next chapter Matt is going to give Gabby a surprise. What could it be?
Right now I am working on the next chapter of "Remember me", I will try to have it as soon as I can. Then, I will update "Let her go"
Have a nice day
Namine Redfield