Did Someone Say BBQ? (Open to all)

[Chicago Nights]

Welcome to the annual Fourth Of July Chicago Emergency Services BBQ.

The location is Montrose beach, a beautiful sandy beach set up with picnic tables, BBQs, bar and games.

There might even be a King Of The Grill competiton and please bring your own food dish to this event photo included if you like.

Everyone is welcome to join in on this thread. There is no posting order so feel free to post below (no need to wait until Tuesday).

Tag: Everyone

[Mattie Chappel]

Days off were good, and it was even better when the day was a holiday, so Mattie was more than happy for a chance to get out and mingle with co-workers. Not only that, but Koda was always excited to be around people and activity, and he trotted beside his 'Mom' as they first headed for the food table, where she set down the big bowl of potato salad that she had made for the occasion.

At least the weather was good, a nice breeze that carried the deductible aromas of the cooking meat, and it wasn't too hot, so she might even consider playing baseball or whatever, if someone organized it.

After grabbing a bottle of cold water, she found a table where she could sit for a moment and look things over, see who was there...see if Kev had made it, hoping he had, looking forward to seeing him again.

Kev Allison

[Shani McGuire]

For an unknown reason life that day had conspired against her or at least left her a day to herself. She felt like a spare wheel most of the morning after tidying up after the children, making sure dinner was made for Jason and the house was clean. All done in a morning, the children were at their grandparents for a few days and Jason had been working all hours recently which meant there were a few days when they were nothing more than passing ships.

She had time to herself though that never usually went well as she decided to attend the BBQ that the house had been talking about for a few weeks. The Fourth of July was a new thing to her, relatively given one side of the family was Israeli and the other Irish-American so she thought it could be an experience given she rarely attended in previous years.

She brought her family recipe salad, nothing too complicated. Cucumber, onions, tomatoes, mint, lemon zest and olive oil. Shani went over to place the dish along with the others on the table before she glanced around to see if she recognised anyone there before she took a seat in the sand. She wore a casual pale blue denim shirt with white jeans and pale blue converse shoes. She kicked off her shoes as she enjoyed the feel of the sand beneath her toes and gazed out at the water.

[Kev Allison]

Kev had finally managed to break away from work for the BBQ, it was one of the good days he thought as he had raced home to collect his food dish that had taken him an hour that morning to arrange. Mostly because he had no idea and a bacon sandwich would have taken just as long but still the effort was there. He would have kept it at work though he wasnt sure there would be any left for the BBQ so he was running late as usual.

Once he collected the watermelon fruit surprise, well just a watermelon hollowed out with grapes, pineapple, melon, apple and strawberries put in it he made his way to the event. He had shrugged off his suit in favour of jeans and a green checked shirt, it wasnt exactly matching but it was comfortable as he approached the gathering of people. He placed his dish on the table trying to figure out if he was way out with what he had brought or if it fitted in. Kev took one of the soda’s and glanced around though the minute he spotted Mattie and Koda he about forgot the dish and went over to them.

“Hey, fancy seeing you guys here.” He said grinning at them both. He had been looking forward to seeing Mattie again and Koda of course. “So how are you both?” He asked as he reached out a hand to pet Koda as he grinned glad that Mattie was there.

Tag: Mattie Chappel

[Mattie Chappel]

She wasn't exactly looking, but Mattie brightened when she spotted Kev headed their way, although she stayed where she was as Koda trotted over to meet him, his tail wagging happily.

“Hey, fancy seeing you guys here.”

"Hi!" Smiling, Mattie stood and walked over to him, a little startled at herself at how eager she was to see him here. It was an unfamiliar sensation for her, at least since Daniel had been murdered, and she found that she welcomed it.

“So how are you both?”

"We're doing great! Come on, have a seat." She gestured to the table then sat on a bench. "Koda made a catch the other day." Grinning, she patted the dog's head. "Good boy, aren't you? Catch the bad guy!"

Then she looked at Kev and shrugged. "Sorry, 'suspect'...what about you? You been practicing your freestyle golf?"

Kev Allison,

[Deleted]

"Jesus, it's hot!" Madison heard someone say as she got out of her Jeep and jumped down to the sandy ground. She grinned to herself.

You think this is hot, buddy? She thought. Try carting twice your body weight around in cargo in Afghanistani climate. Then you know what hot is. For her, today was moderately cool. Her outfit wasn't exactly beach wear and she hadn't bothered with the sun lotion (she tanned rather than burned anyway) but she was aware that others who had normal internal temperature monitors would be hot. Hence her gift to the BBQ.

Ice!

Okay, not the most edible of dishes. But anyone who had tried Madison's cooking would know that you didn't want her to prepare anything. Madison and the kitchen was a very, very bad combination. As such,
she had brought with her two huge bags of ice - the one ingredient to a great party that everyone seemed to forget and a ice crusher with a whole load of different syrups and juices. Ice slushies, anyone?

She had only been in Chicago three years and, having arrived just after the first one, then being with her dad for the last 4th of July, this would be her first time celebrating Independence with her work colleagues. Hence why she had no intention of poisoning anyone with her cooking.

Hefting the bags of ice under each arm - she shivered - and then carrying the crusher in one hand and the cardboard box of syrups in the other, she headed down onto the sand.

She was pleased to see, from the relieved look on the faces of those in charge of the food stands that they had indeed forgotten ice so Madison basked in the glory of being the hero for a few seconds and then plonked the box containing the ice crusher on the table.

"Only just bought it." She admitted "So I have no idea how it works." She grinned and then escaped.

Having deposited her shoes and socks back at the car she embraced the feeling of sand between her toes,
the warmth seeping in through her feet and headed out to mingle. She knew just about everyone there by face and most by name, but there was one friendly face she knew best of all. She winked and made a funny face at Koda the dog who lolled out his tongue in greeting.

Madison loved dogs - ever since she'd been responsible for the bomb dog, Lancelot - in her unit, and she had met several of the sniffer dogs at the force over the last few years. Koda was one of her favourites.
Such a good dog, and wonderfully devoted to Mattie. Madison could see, however, that the dog's momma was currently engaged in conversation with a hunky guy - one of the few people on the beach that Madison only knew the face or and had never met - so she left them to it, not wanting to interrupt.

Instead she mingled and meandered around the groups until she spotted Shani McGuire. The woman was part of the ambulance division and Madison and her and met a few times on crime scenes - especially when she worked back in violent crimes. They hadn't met so much in the work sense since she had been assigned to the MPU but she had always liked her. As the woman was currently standing alone, Madison headed right on over.

"Hey Shani." She greeted with a friendly smile. "No kids, today?"

She knew that the woman had a few kids with her hubby but knew little else about them. Her husband, Madison knew far better as he was a police officer with the K-9 unit.

Shani McGuire,

[Kev Allison]

Kev grinned as he saw Koda trot over to him as he patted his head lightly. He couldnt deny he was happy to see them both there and it was his one main reason for turning up in the first place. The thought that they would be there too. Was he nuts, maybe but Mattie made him smile and that counted for a lot.

“Hi.” Kev said back smiling as Mattie approached, he nodded as he walked over to the table and took a seat on a bench. The day was now a lot better that she was there he thought as he listened to her talk about Koda’s catch of the day. “Ooh, good boy Koda you get those bad guys.” He said grinning as he shook his head.

“I prefer bad guys for the term... only work we’re not allowed to say it. The whole innocent until proven guilty thing but I’m ninety nine percent sure it will be a bad guy.” Kev wasnt exactly stupid when he knew that justice system didnt always work but then to have a cop looking at you there had to be something at least he had to believe in that.

“Been practicing, I can’t say my neighbours are pleased or the office but so far I’ve hit two coffee pots, a mug and I’ve lost a few ornament from home but I’m working on it.” He said grinning, “How about you, any more free style golf or camping?”

Tag: Mattie Chappel

[Shani McGuire]

It was nice to sit and just catch her breath for a while or at least that was what she had told herself until she had become bored and wondered to the BBQ. She could mix with people she knew and let her hair down a little at the same time though Shani had never been great with that side of things, the Israeli in her was far more dominant than the American. It had lead to all kinds of work issues, arguments when she was a little too passionate about things and kicking a guys butt which often was taken as an insult.

The gathering was friendly at least and devoid of any emergencies so far, no people to bandage up and transport. No major incident to attend and hope for the best and no hospital to hand around in while they restocked for the next rocket run. Just the sun, sea and sand two of the three she was overly familiar with as she gazed out at the scene that met her. It was nice to see that people were having fun and socialising, she could see a cop with a dog talking to a guy who she had never seen before. The cop was familiar as Shani was sure she had seen her at a scene or two.

It was the funny thing, she knew a few cops through work and her husband. More fire-fighters than she cared to admit through work and paramedics they were practically a second family in Chicago. Everyone had their own thing but in the end they were all there to help and could descend on a place within minutes. Was it ironic that she would want to socialise outside of work hours, yes and no because the people there were the only ones who knew what it was like to do the jobs they did.

This was the furthest thing from work but given her lack of a husband to be present with or children she felt at a loss of what to do. Running around after the three of them was her thing, balancing work and home but when she had time to herself it was a foreign concept to her. Sitting there as she contemplated how long to stay she looked up as she saw Madison heading on over.

“Hey Madison. How are you?” Shani said smiling, “No, no kids today. I managed to escape and leave them with the grandparents for a few days so I thought I’d come down and see what this 4th of July BBQ was like.” It was true though it was more a case of the grandparents had taken the children off her hands to give her ‘time for herself’ but what to do with the time was the major struggle. Shani knew little about the detective, missing persons and violent crimes which meant Shani had met her under some pretty awful circumstances at times.

It was likely that Madison knew her husband better than herself, cops with cops and medics with medics but it was nice to see a familiar face as she had struggled to find anyone she knew there. Funny in a city full of people and departments she had struggled to find that familiar face but at least Madison was there. A familiar face she knew enough to talk to.

“So you get the day off huh?” She asked, “No plans for being out or any guy on the scene lately?” So sure Shani was as direct as ever, there was no sugar coating or wondering around things she said what she thought and occasionally that had landed her in some hot water. However she was at least guaranteed to be direct and truthful to a fault, if something was going to hurt she would tell you it was just the way she was.

@zen2,

[Deleted]

Madison laughed as Shani described being free of the kids for a few days and, instead of spending those days luxuriating in a bath or reading an old novel, she'd come down to be busy with all the people she and her husband worked with.

"You're like me." Madison chuckled. "You always need more time and then on the random and bizarre occasion that you actually get some, you have no idea what to do with yourself, right?"

She looked around at all the people mingling and squinted against the sun. She removed a pair of aviators from her jacket pocket - no case (she was hardcore like that) - and set them on the bridge of her nose. She tucked some loose hair behind her ear and watched as people gassed and laughed, the sound of the surf underlying the conversations around her. God, it was a nice day.

When Shani asked her about her love life, flat out, Madison grinned hard. She knew the woman was direct - always had been on the crime scenes they had both been a part of. But that had been at work - where time was of the essence and directness was a way of saving lives. She was glad, however, to see that Shani was pointed when she was being social as well. Madison was naturally nosey and curious and liked being direct so of course she respected anyone else who was too. Especially women. Some members of the fairer gender were a little wussy for her liking.

She nodded to the first part of Shani's question - "I'm not on rotation today so thought I'd come down and see what's going on - I missed the last one." - and shook her head to the second. "Nah, I'm not really a daytime dater." She said with a cheeky grin. "Guys are just too much trouble to train. I haven't found one yet that was worth the effort long term."

Except maybe David... Oh shut up! She yelled at her brain.

"You seem to have found a good one though. So please don't let my cynicism rub off on you." She joked, holding her hands up innocently.

Shani McGuire

[Mattie Chappel]

“Ooh, good boy Koda you get those bad guys.” He said grinning as he shook his head.

The dog madly wagged his tail, not only enjoying the pets, but knowing the words 'bad guy' as a fun thing!

“I prefer bad guys for the term... only work we’re not allowed to say it. The whole innocent until proven guilty thing but I’m ninety nine percent sure it will be a bad guy.”

"Yeah, got to be kind to that small percent that really might be innocent, but when it's in-your-face obvious..." She shrugged. Caught on camera, seen by multiple witnesses, 'motives' or sanity didn't much factor into it as far as she was concerned.

Been practicing, I can’t say my neighbours are pleased or the office but so far I’ve hit two coffee pots, a mug and I’ve lost a few ornament from home but I’m working on it.” He said grinning, “How about you, any more free style golf or camping?”

"Oh, man, I'd better watch out!" Mattie laughed. "Sounds like you're getting to be a regular Arnold Palmer!" Then she shrugged. "Kind of feeling like it's not as much fun alone, you know?" Yeah, she was finding that, as opposed to 'BK' -- 'before Kev' -- she was content to do things alone, but now, she really kind of wanted to share the fun.

Kev Allison

[Shani McGuire]

Shani laughed and nodded to what Madison had said, yes it was true the minute she had time for herself she had no idea what to do with it. She had never been the wine, candles and a bath sort and reading yes she loved to but then it required and with two children and a husband that was seriously lacking most days. It meant that starting a book she was lucky to finish it within the year.

“Exactly, I mean who needs time to yourself when you can just be here?” She said jokingly, yes there were days when she would give her right arm for an hour to think but then she would never have swapped anything for her family.

The summer was finally there, Chicago had taken some getting used to and the simple fact was she had come from a hot country to a place where the winter was bitter. Yes the nights could be cold in her country but Chicago took the biscuit on it. Shani watched as Madison put on the aviators as she closed her eyes and looked toward the sky. The feel of the hot sun on her skin was the best feeling as she was glad she had come out for the BBQ.

It was only when she opened her eyes to see Madison grinning hard about her question on her love life. Shani was direct and to some it was abrasive and others preferred it, she was of the opinion that if everyone was just honest there would be no need to have to over think everything. Direct and to the point it saved time not only in life but also when a patient flat out lied, it would likely save their life too given that the usual lie was no I have taken nothing or it was only two beers when they could barely stand up straight. Honesty was truly the best policy.

“Well you have one up on me then because I’ve never been to any of them, I usually work or have the kids or you know the general life thing happens.” She said as she watched the woman smiling at her. “Really, I thought you would have them trained in daylight or the dark but I know what you mean. It took Jason long enough too realised that the washing goes in the basket not around it.” She joked, it was the one thing she had lucked out on was her husband he did a lot of things and worked some mad hours but at the end of the day even the little things rarely irked her.

“Oh trust me I know I have a good one, far too good for me but I won’t let any cynicism rub off.” Shani said with a smirk, “But surely there must be a guy? One that’s worth training, after all a girl like you I’m sure you’re beating them away with a stick.” So yes she was trying to pry for information, the one thing the CPD was great at was gossip and yes she was married to a cop so they talked and being a cops wife. Information tended to be a way of life, finding, ask question and practically try not to interrogate people before dinner was her general rule although today. It was girl thing, you had to know who was with who and where and how and all of the above.

@zen2,

[Deleted]

Madison nodded as Shani described her time and how, despite wanting it, it immediately disappeared because she could come to events like this. She knew the feeling of needing something to do, oh so well. Luckily, she was sociable and active so, on the rare occasions she wasn't being a workaholic and spending every hour she could at the station, there was always going out with the girls from the precinct or going to the gym. She could generally always find something to do. It looked like Shani was just as resourceful. Though, in fairness Madison would put her resourcefulness down to finding the time at all, rather than finding ways to spend it. With two kids and a husband needing looking after, plus her own career? Madison couldn't even imagine.

"I don't know how you do it." She said with a soft shake of her head. "I barely seem able to look after myself, let alone other people."

She'd looked after her brother for a few months after their mum had died but as soon as The Colonel had come back from overseas, Doug had been shipped off to boarding school, so she had never really even had to play mum, let alone be one herself.

She laughed again as Shani pushed for gossip on the love front. She genuinely wished she had more to give the woman, who was clearly starving for outside-the-home information. But she could only shake her head.

"Nope, sorry to disappoint." She said on a laugh. "Honestly, I don't do relationships - haven't for a long time. I go trawling for a willing man when I feel the need and otherwise I keep my life very me-centric."

There were, of course, those unrequited and unaccepted (by herself, not by him) feelings for her partner but there were multiple reasons why that was not going to go anywhere and therefore was not something she was willing to share - with anyone. Firstly, she intended to get rid of the feelings as soon as she damn well could - a very vague plan that was going nowhere fast. Secondly, she knew that he had absolutely no similar feelings on the subject and had a girlfriend to boot. And thirdly, even if he did get the thumpy heart and sweaty palms when she was near, and she was about to tell him she had girly feelings for him, they would never be getting together anyway. She had tried a work place romance only once before and it had ended tres badly. So, it was a complete lost cause all round, really.

But she now felt bad, because Shani was being lovely, openly honest and trying to bond and she was keeping her little girly crush inside where no-one could see. So now she felt he need to share something with the woman as an apology for her pathetic gossip content.

"I was in a fairly serious relationships a few years back before I joined the police but it didn't exactly end well, so I tend to keep my emotions to myself now." She said with a twist of her lips and a shrug of her shoulders. "Then again..." she added with a cheekier grin. "If you find any hot, single guys I'd be willing to give it a go. Even if they think the washing goes around the basket." She added with a laugh. Maybe getting out and meeting more guys was a possible first step in the getting-over-the-David-thing plan...?

Shani McGuire

[Kev Allison]

Kev chuckled it was a really small percent, he was used to the words ‘I didnt do it’ or ‘It wasnt mine’ and innocent took on a whole new meaning in court. There was what you could prove, what you knew had happened and the truth after that and they didnt always line up the way he wanted them to.

“Sure I mean you never know the guy caught on camera might have an evil twin that is doing all the bad stuff and the guy we catch is innocent.” He said with a sigh before he grinned, yeah he had heard a lot of tales in his time but sometimes he just couldnt understand how they managed to say anything about it at times.

“Oh sure I am, if it’s breakable then I can break it is what i’ve learned and golf isn’t an indoor sport.” He stated grinning, “Yeah I know what you mean, always better when someone else is around.” Before Mattie he would have been happy to work, eat and sleep and start all over again. The same routine, the same thing and fun yes what was that word.

Now he had met Mattie he couldnt keep the smile from his face and most things he thought about were along the lines of, wonder what she would think or wonder if she would like that. “So without pushing my luck here, what would you think if I said I’d like to see you again after today?” He asked deciding that if he didnt then it was a wasted opportunity in life. “And what do you think to the BBQ so far?” He asked as he glanced around seeing a couple of women talking further away.

Tag: Mattie Chappel

[Shani McGuire]

Shani had always loved to be busy, she could juggle life as it came at her and had she found the right balance between work and home? Never, she could leave screaming children in the late or early hours of a morning for a shift or come home late enough to simply watch them sleeping. With Jason it was easier, there was no screaming or ‘Mummy has work’ conversations it was an understood issue. The simple disapproving look now and again when she ran out on dinner or missed that vital recital she had promised to attend. It was simply her life so time to enjoy herself and meet others was few and far between so she tried to make the most of every single second of it.

“You do a pretty good job of looking after yourself. Jason’s said how good you are at what you do.” Shani stated, the one thing about being married was that work always came home. Either gossip or honey how was your day the names that flew around the house usually related to work. “It’s all a huge learning curve and I’m still on mine trust me. Just when you think you’ve got it covered there is always that new thing that happens.” Shani added smiling.

She remembered when they had made Phoebe’s room into a castle because really what was better than wanting to be a knight? Finally they had finished painting and decorating only to find that she had changed her mind and princess and Disney was the theme of the hour which was a headache to start all over again. Then again her sister had taught her a lot about starting over, that one day where everything changed and Shani had taken her eyes of her for just one minute. Looking after people was a job she took serious because in her mind failing anyone else like she had her sister and not being able to help was something she struggled with.

“I guess no relationship has its good points too. Me-centric also sounds like a lot of fun.” Shani said chuckling trying to think of what she could do if her life was like that. Work and play sure she would manage it but then she had always considered herself lucky that Jason had looked her way given the fact that truth telling was habit of hers. Blunt as a brick which usually never went down well with the opposite sex when the question of ‘do you think I’m hot?’ came up and she was her usual brutally honest self.

“I’m sorry to hear it didn’t work out.” Shani said feeling for the woman, pushing for information and now she had it there was a pang of guilt attached to it. “So who do I need to beat up or drive real slow in the ambulance for?” She asked knowing that no one ever messed with her partner on the ambulance and also no one really messed with anyone if she had anything to do with it. She had no issue in kicking a guys backside across country because she could and would.

Shani chucked when she saw the cheekier grin. “Oh trust me I’ll get you the low down on every bachelor in the city if you want. Heard there are a few good options at CPD, even a lawyer who’s supposed to be ‘phew’.” She said fanning herself lightly though this guy she had never seen. “So any specifications for this hot single guy?” Shani asked curiously.

@zen2,

[Deleted]

“You do a pretty good job of looking after yourself. Jason’s said how good you are at what you do.”

Madison dipped her head in modesty. Bizarre how she was brazen in every other element of her life - he skills with a gun, her badass reputation in the military... even her sex life - but the second someone complimented her on her job performance? Hello blush... Probably something to do with the fact that acceptance and praise was the one thing she had always desired - from one man in particular - and had never frickin' got. But she brushed it away with a simple nod of thanks as Shani went on.

“So who do I need to beat up or drive real slow in the ambulance for?”

Madison laughed - genuinely at Shani's joke but also a little hollowly as emotion crept in.

"Yeah, it was more a case of the ambulance wasn't fast enough." She explained with the rise and fall of a shoulder. "It was back in the military. And when things go bad there... they go real bad."

She swallowed and looked away, shrinking behind her aviators. Callum was an incredibly sensitive piece of her past and she suddenly regretted bringing him up.

"But!" She said with sudden energy and the raise of a finger. "He would not want me to wallow in woes-me-grief. Instead he would want me to go out and live life. And!" She raised her finger again. "He would appreciate my good taste in men." She added with a laugh.

When Shani asked her for her preference in men, she pursed her lips and made an exaggerated thinking pose.

"I'd say Miss Chappel has got herself a nice one over there - I assume that's the yummy lawyer you've heard about." She nodded towards Kev Allison and Mattie Chappel. "Unfortunately, their body language looks a little prohibitive so I'm gonna say he's off the market."

One line that Madison never, ever crossed was going after someone else's man. She wasn't sure why, given that she hadn't been raised ultra-religious or believed in the mortal sin of adultery, but she had a really strong issue with affairs and wouldn't enter into one if her life depended on it. But she had always taken that as a good quality to have and never analysed it too closely.

Shani McGuire