Hello again! I was feeling inspired and thus we have another chapter. Here we will be following Jo as she attends the special ceremony at Brick's military academy with maybe more than what she was expecting. Enjoy! ;)

(Jo's POV)

I got out of my dad's truck in the insanely full parking lot at Brick's Academy for his G.I. Show parade or whatever this thing is.

Seriously, every other time I came here, the parking situation is usually a total ghost town.

But, guess I shouldn't be too surprised since I'm showing up to what's basically a 'graduation ceremony', right?

Honestly, I was actually kinda… impressed.

There were a lot of people here and the entire way, the officers were keeping things moving and organized with keeping this 'mass of humanity' walking toward the academy. Well, probably shouldn't be surprised about anything 'military-related' being organized that you don't know whether to be impressed or weirded out by it.

But, at least for now, I'll admit it… I'm impressed.

Finally, we got to the gate and we all got split up into lines to check in by the cadet's last name.

So, once I got in the 'L-M' line, and got checked in on the guest list, I finally walked into the gate and was about to text Brick and ask about where the hell I was supposed to go, until I heard, "Hey, Jo!"

I almost gave myself whiplash as I looked over and saw Brick jogging over and… I felt my eyes go wide immediately.

Brick was in the same uniform he wore to my prom, but it somehow looked even more dressed up somehow.

He still had the medals and belt around the waist of the jacket, but he was also wearing a red sash across his torso and had a military style beret on his head.

And not that I'd admit it out loud but, he looked… good.

Then I felt like every muscle in my body tensed up when he hugged me as soon as he got close enough, feeling my face pretty much burning as I smelled the light menthol smell from the shaving cream and aftershave I always remembered him smelling like since day one of meeting him on the Island.

Ugh, stop being weird and get over it!

I quickly stomped down the blush as he let go and all I saw was his usual smile spread across his face as he said, "I'm so glad you could make it!"

I didn't really know how to respond since all I've been thinking about since he invited me to this thing was that it 'would mean alot to him if I showed up'... and I still don't know what to think or feeling about that.

Like, it's not 'bad' or whatever, but… ugh, I don't frickin' know about any of this crap going on right now.

Seriously, who the hell even AM I anymore?!

But, I internally shook it off as I smirked and crossed my arms before responding, messing with him a little, "Nice 'getup', Sergeant Slacks. Go through all this trouble just because I was showing up?"

But, he just smirked back as he stood at attention and winked before responding, "Negatory, ma'am. Always gotta look sharp regardless before going on parade."

But, right when I was about to say something, Brick smiled and motioned behind him with his thumb as he said, "Hey, I gotta start getting in formation with my unit for the ceremony, but I'll show you where to sit. We have bleachers set up for spectators. Come on, I'll show you!"

Before I could react, he grabbed my hand and started guiding me through the mass of humanity. I was about to open my mouth to say something until I looked down at his hand holding mine, feeling his hand holding my hand.

I shook my head and just kept following him until we stopped as he said, "Actually, you got here pretty early. Even my mom and my grandpa aren't here yet. Then again, my grandpa moves a little slower now than he used to."

Almost instinctively, I reacted in shock out loud, "Wait, your mom and grandpa?"

Okay, I know this is a ceremony for the cadets, officers, and their families, but… What?! I DIDN'T SIGN UP FOR THIS!

Now I gotta sit here for who the hell knows how long with his mom?!

But, he just smiled and shrugged before saying, "Oh yeah! They always come to academy events like this for me. That and they're both alumni, so they also like to be here to support anyway even if I wasn't here. Hey, I'll see you later, okay?"

Then my face felt like it combusted in flames as I continued to descend into confused and frustrated dread about meeting his family, that I DIDN'T know was gonna be happening today, as he gave me a quick kiss on the cheek and a salute with a smile before jogging off.

I just stood there for a second as I tried to put my brain back together for I don't even know how long until I let out a frustrated sigh.

Well… crap.

But, since I'm not a quitter or a wuss and I came all the way up here on a Sunday on my own instead of doing extra strength training… and I wasn't about to back out of this no matter what and show that I can't handle something stupid like meeting his family.

Yeah, sure, they're a military family, but… I mean, c'mon, look at Brick.

How bad can his family possibly be?

Eventually I just rolled my eyes and sat down while pulling out my phone to re-read my guidelines for the Olympics until I heard what sounded like a crotchety old man off to the side complain, "Connie, I'm not some feeble, old yutz… well, at least not the feeble part. I can walk by myself just fine."

Then I just heard what sounded like a female voice responding, sounding a little annoyed but also like she was used to the commentary, "I'll be the judge of that. You almost tripped yesterday coming into the shop after you refused to come in using your cane again. You already have a bad knee and you sure as hell don't need a broken hip too if you fall on me here. Now, will you atleast hold on to me while we're walking across the grass?"

Wow, this lady really knows how to put people in their place.

It was quiet again until I heard what sounded like a frustrated sigh before I heard the old man say, "Fine… Thanks, Connie." It was quiet for a second until I heard her respond in a tone I couldn't quite figure out, "Anytime, dad."

Heh! Sounds like a preview of me dealing with my dad when he's old and probably going to be ten times more stubborn than he is now.

I kept looking at my phone until I heard the same old man say, sounding like he was right next to me, "Oh, hi there, miss. You're Brick's lady friend. Jo, right?"

I gave myself whiplash for the second time today as I looked over and saw two people standing next to and looking right at me. Like I was hearing before, it looked like a tall, older man in his late seventies in a "Canadian Army Veteran" baseball cap with a button down shirt, slacks, and tie.

His shirt had various medals pinned to it and even though he was old and walking with a cane, there was something sturdy about him. And his face looked very familiar in some ways that I couldn't put my finger on.

He had his arm linked with a much shorter early middle-aged woman who was standing with him. And even though she was probably only 5'2" and 120 pounds soaking wet… she looked strong.

Honestly, her arms alone were making me feel like I had no muscle definition… which I do. She had long jet black hair pulled back into a ponytail and these focused light blue eyes that looked like they were weirdly almost… scanning me or something.

She was also wearing a women's cut button-down shirt version of what the old man wearing and was also pinned up with medals like no other. Also, and I had no idea why, but my eyes kept getting drawn to what I seeing under one of her sleeves on her left arm.

Tattoos.

I couldn't tell what they were, but to me it looked like she probably had a full arm sleeve tattoo under her sleeve.

Either way, and again I wouldn't admit it, she looked pretty… intense.

And that's coming from me.

Then it was like it all finally clicked in my 'moment of stupidity' when I looked at the old man's face again before looking down at a nameplate-looking pin on his shirt:

C. McArthur.

These people were Brick's mom and grandpa.

Wait… no, THESE people are related to Brick?

You gotta be kidding, right?

These people look like they could eat someone like Brick with his personality alive!

But, then again, looks-wise… there is a family resemblance. Not in a 'hitting you over the head way', but… I can see it.

Mostly with his grandpa between the gray eyes, strong jaw, and the canyon-sized cleft in the chin definitely screamed 'Brick'.

But, his mom… I don't see too much other than they have the same hair color.

Almost on reflex (and also because I didn't want to look like an idiot), I stood up and said, holding out my hand to try and take charge of the situation, "Uh, yeah, Jo Lynch."

Almost immediately, the old man shook my hand (also giving me a strong grip) as he responded with a slight smile, "Chuck McArthur, nice finally meeting you. Brick never shuts up about you in his letters."

What?

I didn't have any time to react to 'that' as his grandpa gripped my hand a little tighter as he complimented, "Hey! That's a strong handshake you got there, young lady! You can tell a lot about someone from their handshake."

Even though I had no idea what the hell the last thing he said was supposed to mean about 'what he thinks he knows about me', I decided to just take the compliment about having a 'strong handshake' as I commented with a shrug (still feeling unsure), "Can't be an Olympic level shotputter with a weak grip."

His grandpa smirked again before saying, "Oh, yeah, Brick's told us about you making the Olympic Team. Good on you for representing our country! We like strong women here. That's why I've liked this kid over here since my son brought her home back in their academy days." He smiled slightly and playfully nudged Brick's mom on the shoulder.

But… she still kept just looking at me in a way that I still couldn't figure out.

What? Do I have bats flying out of my years right now or something?

What's her deal anyway?!

Eventually, she just reached her hand out to me and said, very short and to the point, "Connie McArthur."

We both shook hands as we gave eachother a nod, but as we shook hands… I couldn't help but notice something.

Like Brick, she was wearing her dog tags right out in the open, but… I saw something else on the chain with her dog tags. It looked like a plain gold wedding-looking ring.

I mean, I know Brick said his dad died and I would've thought it was her ring if it didn't look too big to fit any of her fingers. That and… I also noticed something on her left hand on the arm that was now hanging at her side.

She still had what looked like a smaller variation of the ring on her dog tag chain on her ring finger. But, I noticed I wasn't the only one looking things over as I looked up and still saw his mom doing the same thing with me.

Seriously, what the hell is she staring at?!

Right then, we heard a bugle sound off before someone said over the loudspeaker system, "Before we begin, will everyone please rise for our national anthem?"

Like most athletes hearing that before any game, I almost instinctively found the largest Canadian Flag in the vicinity and got myself set.

Brick's grandpa took off his hat before saluting the flag and his mom also followed in line like most others around me, but not before she gave me one last look up and down before facing the flag and saluting to it herself.

Again… WHAT?! What's her problem?!

Looks like Jo is in a bit of an 'unsure place' when it comes to Brick's mom, but… more on that later. ;) Anyway, I hope you liked this introduction to Brick's family I made for him here. When I was coming up with what sort of family Brick would have from what the show gave us about them, we as the fandom weren't given much. The only thing we know about him (while we still know more about him than Jo) is that he has a mother and seems to have a good relationship with her if him always winning the 'letters home to mom medal' is anything to go by. But, that still didn't give us any information about the kind of person Brick's mom was. Actually, based on what Fresh TV has given us, we literally know NOTHING about Brick's mom. So, this is where I decided to take some creative liberties with creating Brick's family in this fic. I won't give too much away right now, but Brick's mom has been a widow and single mom since Brick's dad got buried alive in that avalanche incident. So, after Lance (Brick's dad) died, Charles "aka Chuck" (Brick's paternal grandfather) came down to live closer to them to help Brick's mom in whatever way he could, especially by helping her raise Brick as a now single working mother with her own small business and a lot on her plate for all those reasons. And as you saw, Brick's mom and grandpa almost seem to have a relationship that's closer to a 'father-daughter one' rather than just being in-laws. But, yet again, more on all this later. Also, as expected, Brick was raised in a through-and-through military family and is regimented as such as we've seen in the show with his work ethic and principles of honor and loyalty. But… this still leaves a lot to be discovered. Especially since we still at this point in the story don't know much about Brick's father yet other than Brick heavily favors him. For now though, let's specifically look at what we do know about Brick's mom, Connie McArthur. Again, she and Brick's dad met at the same military academy Brick now attends as teenagers and eventually got married and had Brick later down the line together. But, despite seeming to be a bit of a 'hardened character', Connie is also a very talented and successful local florist and takes a lot of pride in both her work and her family as a retired veteran. But, otherwise… Connie is a bit of a mystery and her 'critical yet intrigued eye' on Jo also seems to be equally as mysterious. Either way, there's a lot to unpack later on, so stay tuned! ;) Well, again, thank you all so much again for reading constructive feedback is also very much appreciated.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Dexter1995