Tears and Lectures? Tagged

[Benjamin Taylor]

“Fine it was an accident but you are still hurt, you could have died. Did you even see the tree that was in your side because I damn well did.” She said through almost gritted teeth. Accidents happened and on the job those accidents were usually worse than most but this time, this time they were in the hospital again and Ben was scared to death of losing the woman he loved for a second time in life. Did people just not like him enough to stick around he wondered though he was glad Stephanie was alive and arguing.

Ben held Stephanie close when she reached for him, if it was the only thing he could do he would do it for her to try and make things a little easier for her. If there was one thing he could relate to more than others it was losing a brother. Ben did his best to listen to the nurse as he held Stephanie tightly. Ben sighed as he knew half the fire house if not everyone would be in the waiting room as he glanced to the nurse. “Before you tell the rest of the paramedics and fire house...” Ben could hardly bring himself to say it as he kissed the top of Stephanie’s head.

“Make sure you take care of him and that he’s not alone, he should have one of us with him. He died trying to save others, it’s the least we can do.” Ben said hoping the nurse would understand though how could anyone understand when they were not doing the job they did day in and day out.

[Stephanie Taylor]

Stephanie Harris

when fire meets gasoline

Stephanie sighed, she was tired she was exhausted and she didn’t really want to fight; but here they were fighting again. “Yes I am hurt, but I’m here to argue with you over it! What do you want Ben? You don’t want me to turn in my badge but you don’t want me to do my job. Dammit I know it’s dangerous. I honestly was just doing my job Ben. I didn’t know it was Peter. I swear I didn’t but that doesn’t matter now. He’s gone and I’m here” she reasoned. Now she felt like the whole thing was pointless.

Nothing hurt like losing someone you were trying to save, and well when that one person was your brother. Stephanie shook her head no at Ben. Right now she couldn’t bring herself to go see Peter. The two hadn’t really talked since she blew up on him at the firehouse. Stephanie leaned into the kiss in her head. She felt anger and blankness.

When the nurse agreed Stephanie just looked towards him. She understood why Ben worried, but Peter wasn’t supposed to be inside that building. Stephanie just laid on Ben’s shoulder. No words were coming at all. She felt every muscle in her body tense up. This was a nightmare. “Tell me this is a nightmare Benjamin. Tell me I am going to wake up and this is all going to be alright” she mumbled.

Benjamin Taylor

MEL @ ADOX

[Benjamin Taylor]

“I don’t know what I want Steph, your hurt and that hurts me. You’re the first woman in a long time to turn my life upside down and make me crazy.” Ben was angry and relived all at the same time, angry she had done what she did, angry that the rope had snapped and relieved that despite the loss of Peter that she was there to argue with him. That mattered though he wished he could have swapped placed with Peter, if it had been him instead then maybe it would never have hurt her as much. “I’m just glad you’re here.” He said defeated as he had lost his point in arguing.

He could argue that a tomato was purple but this time arguing was getting them nowhere. The fire house incident had been a disaster and the fact that Stephanie had failed to see Peter in the time between he knew that would hurt too. Losing a family member was never easy no matter how mad you were at them, the anger or annoyance was never worth losing them but now even Ben was unable to make amends for what he had said to him.

When she spoke Ben simply moved a hand over her back carefully. He could feel her tense in the silence where nothing was spoke about. “It’s a nightmare and you are going to be alright Stephanie, I’ll do everything I can to make it that way.” He said wishing he could change the outcome but even wishes could never bring people back.

[Stephanie Taylor]

Stephanie Harris

when fire meets gasoline

Stephanie was equally stubborn and trying to tell her to do anything was pointless. “Ive said it before and I will say it again, you’ve gotta trust me to do my job.” She knew she could but worrying about him worrying about her doing her job distracted her. Stephanie wasn’t used to that. She had Zach and Grace to think about. There was a long sigh as she just laid in his arms. They could argue with her buried in his chest.

Stephanie felt her body giving out on her. She was weak and now she was tired. She was falling asleep on his shoulder. It was safe here. Safe from things stabbing at her, safe from everything, everything except all the memories that haunted her mind. Stephanie cried herself to sleep for some awkward reason taking comfort in the lie that maybe she would wake up and this would all be gone. It was easier to accept the lie as a nightmare than it was to face her brother’s death.

The nightmares came as she slept but the only signs were the occasional twitching and tensing up as she slept through them. Too tired to open her eyes but not really getting restful sleep like she needed. Though eventually she just slept, not wanting to face the reality of what she thought was real.

End Thread

MEL @ ADOX