Sister Act

[Deleted]

@melinda

Even on his day off, Kyle could not escape some form of work. He had gotten off work at about 6:00 the night before and after a small dinner...all meals were small when you were single, he had gone to bed and slept the sleep of the utterly exhausted, waking up at nearly 6:00 this morning. He was normally not a heavy sleeper, but he had been going almost non stop for about three days straight, and his body was about to turn on him. 

Now, he was feeling somewhat better and looking over a few reports at a small table, sipping on a chai tea latte..his favorite. As it often happened during times like this, his mind started to wander. It wasn't that he did not care about his work, or but forth the max effort, he did, but sometimes his brain needed a break, and this was one of those times. He started thinking about home, and for the first time in a long time, he started to get homesick. He loved Chicago, and loved his job. He had a small circle of friends and while he was not in a relationship, there was some hope that would change soon. Still, he missed the open wheat fields, the closeness of his family, small towns...all of it. He had not spoken to anyone in his family for about two weeks now, and he knew that had to change, and being busy was no excuse. His last call home had been vague at best, a ten minute communication with no real information exchanged. Supping his drink, he smiled and resolved to call home as soon as he could, later today in fact.

These thoughts were still in his head when he turned his head slightly and watched as a familiar looking blond woman entered the cafe. In fact, she looked VERY familiar. No, there was no way. There was no way that his sister was here in Chicago. The city was too damn big and besides, she was supposed to be back at the farm in Kansas milking the cows. Still, the resemblance was too strong to be any kind of coincidence. He had to check this out. Standing up, he walked over to the woman who was now standing in line waiting to order.

"Mel?" He asked with questioning tone.

[Deleted]

Hearing her name Melinda flinched and quickly turned searching to see who it was that knew her. She'd only been in town a couple days and had gone out of her way not to interact with anyone unless it was absolutely necessary. She had interviewed with CFD and gotten a job as a paramedic, and was going to contact her brother once she was settled. Wanting to prove that she was capable of handling things on her own and never again being totally dependent on a man to support her.

She sighed in relief when she realized it was her brother. "Hey Kyle. I... urm... well I... I'm here. It's good to see you. I've really been missing you lately." And she had, because she knew if Kyle had still been in Kansas she wouldn't be in the position she was in. He would have handled it from the start if she'd only been smart enough to tell him. "So... I kinda need a place to stay for a bit... until I've saved up enough to get my own place. Do you have a sofa I can crash on?" So much for not being dependent on a man to take care of her.

Realizing it was her turn to order, she quickly ordered a Chia Latte and turned back to Kyle. "So where are you sitting?"

@kyle

[Deleted]

She was here. His younger sister, the one who he had teased and tormented for years was here standing right in front of him in a cafe in Chicago. The odds of that happening...well he did not know. There was a reason he was a social worker and not a mathematician. He also thought it more than a coincidence that she happened to show up just when he was thinking about his family. But that was all it was, he told himself, just a coincidence.

It took her asking for a place to crash and where he was sitting for him to get over his initial shock. Before he responded to either question, he grabbed his sister in a bone crushing hug, breathing in her familiar scent and thanking whatever god was listening that she was here with him. After a few moments, he released her so she could breath again. It was only then that his brain caught up to the situation.

"Do you even have to ask Mellie"? He said, using the childhood nickname he knew she hated. "Of course you can stay as long as you need, and you don't need the couch. I have an empty spare bedroom, and it is all yours". In reality, he was going to try and talk her into staying longer, but she did not know that, and that was a conversation for another day. There was a reason for her sudden appearance in the city, and he was going to figure it out, Smiling, he guided her over to his table and motioned for her to sit. "So, do mom and day know you are here". He gave her a smirk as he asked. If they didn't know, he would sure as hell tell them.

@melinda

[Deleted]

When Kyle hugged her, she flinched a bit before willing herself to relax and hug him back. He was her brother after all and if she wasn't safe with him, then she wasn't safe with anyone. When she could finally breathe again she took a deep breath, and grinned at Kyle. "So I guess it's safe to say you missed me too."

When he called her Mellie she just rolled her eyes, "Ugh... hated it when I was five, don't like it any better now." She returned the favor by pulling out a few of Kyle's least favorite nicknames, "Well KyBear... I did have to ask, because some people might not want their baby sister sleeping on their sofa, and the spare bedroom sounds amazing. I'm paying half the rent and utilities though KyKy, I have a new job and I insist."

As she followed Kyle to his table she noticed the stack of papers, "Are you working? I didn't mean to interrupt you." When he questioned whether or not their parents knew she was here, she frowned in silence for a minute and debated whether or not she should tell him the truth. She sighed, "No. They don't know. I just knew that would be the first place he would look for me, and it made it easier on them if they didn't know where I was. I probably at least need to let them know that I'm here, and that I'm ok, and with you."

Taking a sip of her latte, she tried to change the subject before Kyle had a chance to ask any more questions. "So, how are you liking the new job? Chicago been treating you right? Any women that I need to scare away?" After she asked the last question she stuck her tongue out at him and quickly took another sip of the latte.

@kyle

[Deleted]

There was something off here. Melinda loved their parents and usually told them, at least her mother everything. So the fact that she was holding something back, bothered him more than a little bit. Still, she was his sister and he loved her, so he was not going to push her. Besides, he knew he could get it out her eventually, he always did. He grimaced as she pulled out those old childhood nicknames. He had deserved it of course when he had started it but still, this was going to be a fun, especially when she agreed to live with him. He sighed in relief. This way he knew he could keep an eye out on her. He knew she could take care of herself, but he was still the stereotypical big brother, and he wanted to protect her, especially in a dangerous city like Chicago. 

As they sat sipping their drinks (he had dismissed her concern over his work), something else came to his mind. Something she had said when he had asked if their parents knew where she was "I just knew that would be the first place he would look for me"  He really did not want to think about what that meant, but he had a pretty good idea. He had never really liked Mel's husband, but went along with the relationship because she had seemed happy. He had seen the signs years ago that he may not be what he showed her to be, and when he started practicing social work, those signs became even more clear. The fact she had suddenly and without telling anyone that she was suddenly picking up and moving to a new city that her older brother just HAPPENED to be living in was a tell tale sign. He could also see the subtle signs of stress on her. Little worry lines under her eyes and a general anxious demeanor. Those signs may not be seen by many people, but social worker Kyle knew his sister well. He would entertain thoughts about kicking his brother in law's ass later, but for now, he would concentrate on taking care of his sister. 

He was broken out of his reverie by her questioning voice and laughed at her barrage of questions. "OK sis, calm down! OK, yes I love my job. I am helping people and that is what I love doing. Chicago is treating me right, and I will be sure it treats you right as well". He paused at this last question, thinking about a certain redhead he had recently met at the bar. He wasn't sure what to think about her, but for now, he could honestly say..."Not yet sis, but I will be sure to let you know as soon as there is". Yes, this was going to be fun. She needed taken care of, and Kyle was the kind of person that loved taking care of people.

@melinda