Did Someone Say BBQ? (Open to all)

[Mattie Chappel]

“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.”

"Uh huh," Mattie muttered skeptically, "although I suppose you have a point." Of course, it was a huge long-shot, but she would drop it at that, while things were still teasing and friendly...there were topics that were just taboo, and there was nothing to be gained in pursuing them.

“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.”

"No, no it isn't," she chuckled, wondering if he was speaking from first-hand knowledge, and thinking that she wouldn't be surprised if it was.

“Yeah I know what you mean, always better when someone else is around.”

"Especially when you hear the bears outside the tent in the middle of the night...you know, it's good to have someone who runs slower..." She laughed.

“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?”

The question came and went more quickly than Mattie could process it, and then Kev had to the present function. "Well," she mused, then used the one to tie back to the other, "honestly, it was a little...lonely until you got here." Looking up at him, she smiled, silently cursing the blush she knew was burning her cheeks. "And yes, I'd love to see you again, even do something...more golf, fishing, camping..."

Indeed, she was looking forward to doing things with him, getting to know him better, and maybe even courting the idea of, well, courting!

"I know Koda would be happy as long as you bring treats...and come to think of it, so would I!" She laughed.

Kev Allison

[Kev Allison]

Kev shook his head and chuckled. “Nope, no point there I mean sure it’s possible but I’ve never known it so far. Heard it a lot but never known it happen.” Kev said as if he had a dollar for every guy that said that to him he would be fishing in Mexico or probably still working as an ADA but still who was counting.

“Yeah I’m thinking me and golf aren’t the greatest of friends yet but we will be. Practice practice practice.” He said hoping that he could get a little better than first hand knowledge of a cracked window and one angry neighbour. Who knew golf balls could be so hard and fly so far in the wrong direction, it had to be the Chicago wind after all it was the windy city for a reason.

“Oh I’ll have to remember that one... run fast in case of bears.” He replied laughing, “Or just take a jar of honey, it worked for Winnie the Pooh?” He wished all bears could be like that or at least the friendly kind that didnt require any amount of running away from. On the documentaries they sometimes looked so cuddly until they showed their teeth.

Kev just smiled when she said it was a little lonely until he got there, well he was glad to have fixed that for her and at least she hadn’t added him into the annoyance category. He smiled at the blush she had that he could see burning her cheeks, it was very cute he decided. “More golf, fishing and camping sure I’d love that. I mean I’ll have to brush up on my running skills too just in case but might stand more of a chance with golf and fishing.” He said chuckling for a moment.

The idea of getting to know Mattie better was a great one and getting to see her again possibly more often too that was fantastic. “Oh so treats it is all around then, I think I can manage that again. Just tell me what you’d like and it’s yours.” He said smiling.

Tag: Mattie Chappel

[Shani McGuire]

Shani was surprised by the sudden onset of modestly from Madison. Forward in her mind was the way to go and confidence was key in such however it was strange sight from the woman that seemed to have every confidence in every other part of life. Shani simply smiled and nodded to her, it was true in her mind and she trusted her husband’s judgement on the matter entirely. Working in Chicago you heard a lot about a lot and Madison had never had a bad report that she had heard.

The same problem with being as blunt and forward as she was there were those times when she got it wrong. “Oh... I’m sorry. I had no idea.” Shani said feeling awful for what she had said; her mouth sometimes forgot to have the niceties that others had. The careful questioning of a situation but she had just bulldozed in and said what she thought. “Yes they do, I served two years for the IDF as a combat medic so bad... I’ve seen a lot of bad.” She admitted knowing that on a battlefield all the rules changed.

Shani struggled with what to say after that, she was glad when Madison had a sudden energy. “Well then this guy seems like he has taught you a lot and had a lot of sense which is in short supply in the world.” Shani stated as she smiled nodding at Madison. “So there are men then?” Shani decided to stick with that.

“Ohhh is it?” Shani asked as she glanced over her shoulder at the lawyer that Mattie was talking to. Well he had good taste in women and all she could hope was that things turned out well for the two of them. “Shame, he is a looker.” Shani said with a sigh, “It’s the great thing about being married. You can look all you want to and there’s no crime in it.” Well perhaps Jason might not agree with her on that front but still she could window shop not that she would ever do more than appreciate the superficial looks of another.

“So the attached are off the menu then, what else?” Shani asked, “If I know then I can at least send them in your direction and you never know. We could get you fixed up like the lawyer and cop over there.” Shani said as she motioned toward Kev and Mattie, she could tell a cop a mile away as they always had a vibe or a look or simply something about them. Lawyers were different it usually took until they said something lawyerish to let her know.

@zen2

[Deleted]

Madison was already breezing off Shani's sincerity and worry over having said the wrong thing. She wanted to moan inside for bringing Callum up and was annoyed that she had let her whimsy and nostalgia get the better of her. It totally killed the conversation for a good few minutes and she had made Shani feel bad. Not her intended plan, at all.

"God no," she told the woman with a shake of her head, the wave of her hand and a snort through her lips. "Don't feel bad. I just felt a moment of sisterly bonding and let it spill out." She swallowed and smiled. "It was a long time ago-"(four years)"-and I'm not a fragile flower over it anymore. Really, it's okay."

Then Shani moved the conversation on, Madison grew more comfortable - discussing and objectifying the men of the world was a specialty of hers after all.

"Hmm... what would be my requirements...?" She mused allowed. "Well, he would have to have an appreciation for 80s and 90s rock." She shrugged. "I grew up on army barracks - AC/DC was pretty much gospel." She tapped her chin as she pondered. "Let's see, what else... Someone in the services would be good, I reckon. Only people who work with emergencies seem to get the kinds of schedules others of their kind have to work, don't you think?" Shani had to know about this given that her husband was a cop. They surely understood each other and had a certain understanding and leniency when the other couldn't make it to little Susie's violin recital or whatever.

Madison shifted her weight to her other hip as she turned her head and sorted her hair against the breeze.

"I have this really good friend - like, best friend really - who would be perfect really. If he wasn't my best friend or whatever. He works in a hostage rescue team? He's great - same sense of humour, good looking, strong moral code. Only thing is, we've kinda passed the physical attraction stage and gone right into family territory. So the idea of liking him now is just weird. But someone like that, I guess?" She made a face and gave a half shrug, suddenly worried that she didn't sound picky enough. God, did she need to raise her standards? She was making it sound like any guy would do... Oh well.

Shani McGuire ,

[Mattie Chappel]

"We can go see what they have...I'm good with burgers, hot dogs, 'All American' picnic stuff, right?" She smiled as she hopped off the bench, telling Koda, "Stay!"

As they started for the food tables, she observed, "Good practice for camping, stuff that's simple to make and easy to clean up." She glanced at him with a frown. "Hope you're not disappointed, but no lasagne in camping!" Then she nodded as they got to the food tables. "Looks like a nice spread, and with the fire department handling the grille I think we're in good hands!" She chuckled. "Those firefighters sure know how to cook, you know, sitting around the firehouse all day and all. Nothing better to do!"

She laughed, then looked over the choices, opting for a hot dog and potato salad for herself and grabbing a burger patty for Koda.

As they were walking back to the table laden with paper plates of food, she asked, "Wonder where we can go camping? I haven't been in a long time, and not really around here." They'd have to do some research to find a good place, far enough away from town to really feel like camping.

Kev Allison

[Kev Allison]

“Yeah nothing better than a picnic, as long as everything’s cooked.” He joked having been to his fair share of bbq’s where thing had turned out less than peachy the next day. “He’s good, I mean with all this food around, you’d have a job keeping me on a bench let alone Koda.” Kev said though really given what he had seen from the dog already he was far better trained than he was.

Looking at the food tables Kev grinned and nodded, he was all for the easy clean up as he pretended to sigh about the lasagne. “Serious... no lasagne? Thought we would do fine dining three course meals every night.” He teased though sure if that was what Mattie wanted he was more than willing to figure out a way to do that for her. “It looks great and sure firefighters and fire, a match made.” He said as he chuckled. “Yeah don’t figure they get out much, cooking is about as good as it gets for them. Maybe flamed grilled things but i’m sure there will be one with an extinguisher if people have too much fun.”

Kev chose a few different options from the potato salad and burger as they walked back to the table. Honestly it was nice to just be out again with her and spend time with Mattie as he considered her question. “Think we need to do some research, I think there are a few places in the forest for camping but as to where exactly I’ve no idea.” He said as he remembered a few cases that involved camp sites but where they were escaped him. Then again going to an ex crime scene... maybe not such a good idea.

Tag: Mattie Chappel

[Shani McGuire]

Shani for better or worse was used to the feeling of putting her foot in things, the American way was always something she needed to learn about and she had no filter when it came to being direct. If she had anything to say it was said if it needed to be, regardless of feelings or the people around at the time Shani was always direct. Direct usually led to a good portion of her time either working out the correct saying or trying to find a sunny side to a situation that had hit her like a freight train.

“Thank you and you can say anything it goes no further.” Shani stated knowing she held peoples trust in high regard. “No matter how long ago it was and I never assumed you were a fragile flower over it but we never do forget those we lose along the way.” She said quietly, Shani had never forgotten the sister she lost long enough ago for her to have forgotten but then she could never do that. It was the moment her life changed and the moment her life had taken its purpose to bring her as far as she was now.

Shani furrowed her brow at the mention of eighties and nineties rock, having grown up abroad with a strict upbringing there were things that had escaped her understanding. “You had an AC/DC gospel? I have no idea what that is but I will check it out and add that to our list for you.” Shani stated as she listened eagerly to what Madison’s requirements would be. There was no denying Madison logic when it came to someone in the services. It took one to understand the running out at dinner or missing that parent teacher conference or the third dance class that month.

It was what they all had to do and she simply hoped that her children would understand more when they were older. “Yes that would be a bonus, civilians tend to take too much offence or get too clingy when you are on calls. A phone call on shift is okay but a hundred turns into a headache very quickly.” Shani said smiling, her parent were the hundred call types. Anything bad that happened in Chicago and they would be on the phone faster than she could see the news cycle for herself.

Glancing at Madison as she squinted her eyes against the sun slightly. The best friend issue was intriguing as she smiled and nodded. “So your best friend but not your best friend. Services, funny, good looking is a given and a strong moral code. At least you’re not too picky.” Shani said grinning at her for a moment, well there had to be a few options like that in Chicago somewhere. “Well I will put a list together and see what I can do... ooh before I do how about you check out some of these guys.” Shani replied pulling out her phone, she had images of the fire house family, Jason’s cop friends when they came round for dinner and parties. It was a who’s who of McGuire family friends and a few were single though to put them with Madison she would need to do further research.

@zen2,

[Mattie Chappel]

"I'm sure we can find something on line," Mattie suggested. She'd look on her phone now, but honestly thought that, when you were with someone else, texting and surfing were just plain rude. "Has to be dog-friendly, of course, and we'll have Koda, too!"

She laughed at the stupid joke, then continued. I still have some camping gear, tent, stove..." It was pretty antiquated, but it still worked. "I'm pretty sure we can borrow anything else we might need."

Already, she was making lists in her head, eager to actually go camping for the first time in years. It was a good feeling, like shedding an old burden.

Breaking off a bit of burger, she dropped it to Koda, then took a bite of her hot dog. "So, when are we going to do this?"

Kev Allison,

[Kev Allison]

“Sure we can, how outdoors do you want to go?” Kev asked her not sure if she wanted to go full into the woods or near a store or what sort of camping. After all he didnt want to go out to the middle of the woods only to find she didnt want to be there or was uncomfortable. “Of course it has to be, couldnt have Koda left out at all. Besides he’s my free golf pal.” He joked grinning.

“No problem then, we’re all sorted, I think I’ve got a few things lying around so seems like we’re kitted out for this. Koda can scare off the bears too so all good.” He said with a smile, yeah he knew the rule about bears. Be faster than the slowest person which worked for a lot of things but then there was no way he wanted to outrun Mattie if it came to a bear. He hoped a sandwich would fix the situation.

Kev took a bite of the burger he had as he looked forward to their trip. Honestly anytime spent with Mattie was great and out in the woods, away from the city even better he thought. When she asked about when he considered his answer. Tomorrow sounded like he was nuts though all in all he didnt mind that at all.

“Well how about the weekend or better to ask, when do you get time off?” He decided upon given that saying one thing was great as long as schedules agreed. No point in saying weekend then finding one of them had to work but it was better to check and not sound crazy by saying tomorrow.

Tag: Mattie Chappel

[Mattie Chappel]

"How outdoors?" Mattie looked at him with a smile. "All-out, I mean, what's the point os camping if you're going to rent a trailer with TV and Bark-a-loungers?" Laughing, she shook her head. "Nope, gotta be tents and campfires!" That was true camping, and what made it fun.

“No problem then, we’re all sorted, I think I’ve got a few things lying around so seems like we’re kitted out for this. Koda can scare off the bears too so all good.”

"Koda would make friends with Yogi and invite him to dinner," she chuckled, glancing at the dog who perked up when he heard his name. She handed him a piece of bun that he readily gulped down.

“Well how about the weekend or better to ask, when do you get time off?”

"This weekend?" She glanced at him, then laughed and nodded. "Well, I work Saturday, and we still have some planning, but maybe early next week?" She wasn't sure what his schedule was like, or how long he could be away. "I mean, we have to get the stuff we need and plan out food, even figure out where to go."

Her grin widened as she looked at him. "You have a pen? We can start making a list now." She was actually getting excited about the prospect, and looking forward to it. "How long can you take? I mean, all the trouble to pitch a tent, maybe we could do three or four days?"

Kev Allison,

[Kev Allison]

“All out? The trailer and tv and Bark-a-loungers are fantastic. Sit and roast marshmallows from a deck chair I mean home comforts and all.” He teased smiling at the tents and campfires. Oh it was going to be fun he thought though he hadn’t been camping in like forever. “So total survival camping it is then... will need to catch up with Bear Grills for a while to see what we need to do.” He said thoughtfully before grinning again.

“If it’s Yogi for dinner then I can live with that, a welcome dinner guest but anything fiercer than Yogi and nope... no dinner friend.” He said laughing as he glanced at Koda watching as he perked up. Koda could be fierce so hopefully the bears would at least think twice before even attempting to come anywhere near then at all.

Kev listened to her talking about her time off and working Saturday, way to go for sounding too eager he thought. “Yeah you’re right, need to plan this right. Rent the tv and deck chairs, electric heaters and so on.” He joked though yes she was right there needed to be a bit of planning put in for the trip. It wasnt like you just wondered out there, that was how all horror and disaster movies started.

“Course I do, trained lawyer... we write notes everywhere.” He said grinning at her, or more a case of he never had a pen when he needed one so he packed them in everywhere just in case. Kev was enjoying thinking about it all and he was excited to get out there and go. “I’m due a week or so, so yeah three or four days I can do no problem. Like you say no point in pitching a tent to take it down the next day. Unless there are bears for dinner and then we can move.” He said grinning again at her as he pulled a pen from the inside pocket of his jacket.

Mattie Chappel