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Rescue Squad 3
Firefighter has 404 posts
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Post by Stephanie Taylor on Nov 28, 2016 16:05:12 GMT
[attr="class","tomhov"]  TAG@james NOTESWearing work shirt/jacket Still in her work shirt with the squad logo emblazoned on the front of her shoulder. Her jacket was laying on the back of the chair, it read Chicago Fire Dpt. across the back. Stephanie had come here straight after shift. She took her drink from Hermann. "You alright kid? I never seen you drink before". Stephanie was back at work but things weren't the same. She'd been through the ringer and back. Though she was more worried about her brother, who wasn't back yet.
Stephanie was spinning her badge on the table. It was something to play with. Stephanie took a sip of her beer and set it down, the one hand still playing with her badge. She knew that Peter would be dead if it wasn't for her, and maybe Grace too. But the price that came with it? Was it really worth it? All of the pain it had caused. Stephanie should be elated but she wasn't sure how to react to everything she now knew.
How much was she willing to risk for her family? It was the cause of the fights with Ben. Staring at the bracelet on her wrist that Ben had given her when she made squad was her reminder that he wanted her to keep going; they had this discussion so many times. Except there came a point where the conflicting thoughts of everything came to a head. Stephanie didn't know where to turn.
Sure, she could have called her siblings or her parents; but this was her issue not theirs. She downed another sip of her beer. Stephanie didn't take long to finish it off. Since she didn't drink she was on beer number three when she decided to reach out to James. She texted 'qhey i am at mol.y'sl cann we talk?'she set her phone on the table as she laid her head down. The alcohol was numbing her. Stephanie didn't drink because she usually got violent when she did. She'd broken herself of the habit of drinking and smoking back in her early 20's but tonight was one of those nights. She really wanted a cigarette; but knew that was the worst idea to start that habit up. Drinking she could put down for the night. Smoking she knew would be a whole other beast. She still had her will power; but she just wanted all of the bad to wash away right now.
STEPHANIE HARRIS
HEY NUTCASE! STOP BITING THE COMMAND STAFF [newclass=.tomhov]font-family:calibri;font-size:11px;color:#666666;text-align:center;vertical-align: middle;width:400px;height:250px;overflow:auto;position: absolute;margin-left: -50px;background-color:#040404;opacity:0;-webkit-transition: all 0.5s linear;-moz-transition: all 0.5s linear;-o-transition: all 0.5s linear;-ms-transition: all 0.5s linear;-o-transition: all 0.5s linear;transition: all 0.5s linear;[/newclass] [newclass=.tomhov:hover]margin-left:0px;opacity:1;-webkit-transition: all 0.5s linear;-moz-transition: all 0.5s linear;-o-transition: all 0.5s linear;-ms-transition: all 0.5s linear;-o-transition: all 0.5s linear;transition: all 0.5s linear;[/newclass] |
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Nov 24, 2024 14:13:44 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Nov 28, 2016 16:33:37 GMT
James Reagan 8am and James was just leaving his house to run some errands, really he had the morning off as he had some meetings to attend and paperwork to sign and so on, the fun part of moving back to the city, he had to finalise everything. He was just walking to his car that his cellphone buzzed - frowning he tucked the folder under his arm and fished it out as he paused beside his car, using his other hand to fish out his keys from his other pocket.
'qhey i am at mol.y'sl cann we talk?'
It didn't take a genius for James to know it wasn't a 'I'm sober' text, he sighed - this was Steph, he couldn't just not go see if she was okay. he'd seen her at the hospital but she'd been too drugged up to talk and well - it hadn't gone anywhere.
Plus, she wasn't a drinker - she wasn't supposed to be, knowing that she was drinking didn't give him a good feeling.
Sighing James weighed his options, well this was Steph who had dropped everything to help him, so he still owed her - he pocketed his phone again, he'd decided. Going to the drivers side he slid in, opening the glove compartment he slipped the paperwork folder in then closing it he slammed the door shut, inserting the keys into the ignition he started it up and sent the car out of the driveway.
Arriving he parked up and for a moment stared up at the bar "here we go" he mumbled before shaking his head and sliding out of the car, he yanked the keys out as he did so and slamming the car door shut he locked the car and pocketed his keys. Checking his cellphone once again he noted the time and exhaling he steeled himself, and taking a deep breath he stalked inside.
He gazed around, as his eyes adjusted and he composed himself - fighting against the smells he finally saw her, well she looked different but - wait, was she a FireFighter?! James rose a brow and sighed - he strolled over, hands deep into his pockets.
"I distinctly remember someone telling me the drink doesn't help" he said as he slid himself down onto the bar stool, placing his elbows on the top of the bar he waved away the bartender as he crossed his arms over each other. notes |
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Rescue Squad 3
Firefighter has 404 posts
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Post by Stephanie Taylor on Dec 1, 2016 1:05:30 GMT
Stephanie was only partially finished with her beer. Taking a sip as she heard that voice. “No. It doesn’t.” Her speech was already beginning to slur. Stephanie wasn’t a drinker so she was a lightweight when it came to alcohol, it didn’t take her much until she was intoxicated. “Nothing does” she felt confused. She was playing with the bracelet charm in her hand. Stephanie was so confused, with conflicting messages coming at her. “Have you ever had someone who believed in you but doing your job scared them?” She couldn’t really explain. Drunk Stephanie was two things when she wasn’t angry: talkative and loud. Taking another sip of her beer she stopped fidgeting. Sighing she leaned her head on the bar and just kind of peered at him. “I’ve gotten this far and now all I want to do is walk away” She unclipped her badge and was now playing with it. Ben had talked her out of quitting before. Stephanie wasn’t going to admit she was scared of letting go, but to her everything had been the same for years. It was always the same, the fights over her job, over her career, what she should have done in hindsight. That’s why it was called hindsight. Most of their fights didn’t stick with her like this one had, maybe because she’d had heightened emotions running over false news of Peter’s death. Maybe because her and Ben fought all the time. Then there had been the fight with Peter before that fighting with Ben over what was the right thing to do for Stephanie. For a woman who pushed people away, she was sick of everyone thinking they knew what was best for her. She was her own person. Another sip of the beer and she drained the bottle setting it on the bar indicating she wanted another. Too many emotions, that was not Stephanie. She was hurt and confused and more than anything needed somewhere to turn who wasn’t a family member or boyfriend. STEPHANIE HARRIS
HEY NUTCASE! STOP BITING THE COMMAND STAFF [newclass=.tomhov]font-family:calibri;font-size:11px;color:#666666;text-align:center;vertical-align: middle;width:400px;height:250px;overflow:auto;position: absolute;margin-left: -50px;background-color:#040404;opacity:0;-webkit-transition: all 0.5s linear;-moz-transition: all 0.5s linear;-o-transition: all 0.5s linear;-ms-transition: all 0.5s linear;-o-transition: all 0.5s linear;transition: all 0.5s linear;[/newclass] [newclass=.tomhov:hover]margin-left:0px;opacity:1;-webkit-transition: all 0.5s linear;-moz-transition: all 0.5s linear;-o-transition: all 0.5s linear;-ms-transition: all 0.5s linear;-o-transition: all 0.5s linear;transition: all 0.5s linear;[/newclass] |
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Nov 24, 2024 14:13:44 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Dec 1, 2016 9:13:53 GMT
James Reagan He watched her a moment, glancing slightly at the beer, not letting his gaze linger too long, he looked back at her - anyone else would have probably physically TRIED to take the beer glass straight away or told her outright to stop or something, but not James, James regarded her - he knew better than to get into her personal space, intoxicated or not and besides, she had to choose to put the glass down.
“No. It doesn’t.”
But he was concerned, it wasn't like her to do this, at least she agreed it doesn't help - that was a start, besides she'd been the one to tell him that in the first place, it was only right to repeat the words back.
“Nothing does”
He watched her play with the charm in her hand, by that alone he could tell she was thinking - she had a way about her when she was thinking too much for her own good.
“Have you ever had someone who believed in you but doing your job scared them?”
As she asked that two things happened 1. Thoughts began to throw themselves at him and 2. the bartender approached - James glanced at him and again shook his head before seeing Steph lay her head down and look up at him - he looked down at her "Yeah" he replied "Kinda"
“I’ve gotten this far and now all I want to do is walk away”
Watching her unclip her badge and play with it he - studied her quietly, as she indicated the bartender over James let her order her drink but declined one for himself, not even a soda.
He was here as a friend - a neutral one that was for sure considering he didn't know her present situation "You remember back in the day? when we had that incident? Afterwards you wanted to quit and I said four words to you?" though it was probably an event she wouldn't really want to remember it was a turning point for them and he'd hoped maybe it would help to remember what he'd said to her 'only quitters walk away' he knew she wasn't the quitting type really, she could be a hothead but she wasn't really the one to walk away - well not when he knew her when she worked with him.
"The job we do Steph, it's hard on those who love us, they love us but hate the things we do cause it's another day wondering if we'll come home"
"It scares them more that they'll loose us even if they do the same kind of work we do" James reached over and closed a hand over her hands stopping her motion "Talk" he said gently - attempting to meet her eyes with his own.
Maybe she'd talk maybe she wouldn't but he owed her that much to listen - she was his friend after all, more than that - colleague, partner ... if he couldn't help her dig through all the stuff in her head what kind of friend was he? No, if he could try and help he would. notes: thanks for the preview  |
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Rescue Squad 3
Firefighter has 404 posts
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Post by Stephanie Taylor on Dec 7, 2016 21:11:58 GMT
[attr="class","tomhov"] TAG@james NOTES Stephanie was not really sure how to feel at the moment. She was playing with the beer bottle in her hand as much as she was her bracelet. When she was really really thinking on something she either paced or fidgeted. Pacing didn’t exactly work here. Part of her came here because she knew Ben probably wouldn’t think to look for her here. That and if she was going to drink.. She didn’t really want him to know. Then again Hermann might spill the beans anyway once they got back to the station.
Taking a sip of the new beer she set it on the counter and turned towards James. Great now he was throwing her own words back at her still. Stephanie didn’t respond to the question she just simply shook her head. “Things aren’t that straightforward anymore” she mused out. Back then she just had Zach to think about, and now she had a whole family and she fought with her fiance like cats and dogs. Usually over some mistake in judgment she made.
It was a constant battle of ‘dont’ do it that way you will get hurt’ and ‘that isn’t how you learned it’ with a healthy dose of ‘pay attention before something happens to you’ maybe not in those words, but anyone who heard them so much would get the gist of them.
James stopped her before she could get up and taking off out the door, intoxicated and running from things would have mixed so well. The only person who knew half of what she was going to say would have been Steven. That’s because at the time she couldn’t contain her excitement and had to tell one of the few medics she trusted the great news.
Only now the news was… scary to her. “I’m engaged to this guy in my squad. I question almost everything I do now. Wonder what wrong step I’m taking. What’s going to start the next argument because of some mistake I made or something different I should have done” Stephanie wasn’t a rookie but she was still a young firefighter. Ben had quite a bit more years on the job than she did. It wasn’t that she didn’t trust his advice just wrong steps came with consequences, fights, miserable nights wishing she hadn’t started this.
“I made squad the year I got out of my candidacy. I’m not perfect, I do the best I can. I make mistakes” that’s what scared her, “what if I make the wrong mistake. What if…” she didn’t finish that sentence. Stephanie knew he knew about the fire. She knew that if she didn’t come home it was going to shatter not only Ben’s world but Grace and Zach’s as well. This had never been about her. Taking the job with the fire dept had never been about her, it had been about working so she could support her child. This is just where life took the team over the years, different paths. Stephanie far from had all the answers and she never pretended to have them all.
STEPHANIE HARRIS
HEY NUTCASE! STOP BITING THE COMMAND STAFF [newclass=.tomhov]font-family:calibri;font-size:11px;color:#666666;text-align:center;vertical-align: middle;width:400px;height:250px;overflow:auto;position: absolute;margin-left: -50px;background-color:#040404;opacity:0;-webkit-transition: all 0.5s linear;-moz-transition: all 0.5s linear;-o-transition: all 0.5s linear;-ms-transition: all 0.5s linear;-o-transition: all 0.5s linear;transition: all 0.5s linear;[/newclass] [newclass=.tomhov:hover]margin-left:0px;opacity:1;-webkit-transition: all 0.5s linear;-moz-transition: all 0.5s linear;-o-transition: all 0.5s linear;-ms-transition: all 0.5s linear;-o-transition: all 0.5s linear;transition: all 0.5s linear;[/newclass] |
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Nov 24, 2024 14:13:44 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Dec 7, 2016 22:25:20 GMT
James Reagan
“Things aren’t that straightforward anymore”
James gave a simple nod in agreement.
“I’m engaged to this guy in my squad. I question almost everything I do now. Wonder what wrong step I’m taking. What’s going to start the next argument because of some mistake I made or something different I should have done”
Quietly James listened, he knew what she was talking about - Though Mya was a cop herself, the work James did put him further on the front line than it did Mya, it upset her no end when James was away more than a few days, it ate him up when she died - blaming his inability to stay close to her. But arguments were far and few between between him and Mya, more just lots of talking, but Steph was a different person to James, but he knew that didn’t make her a bad person nor did it make her any less human.
“I made squad the year I got out of my candidacy. I’m not perfect, I do the best I can. I make mistakes” “what if I make the wrong mistake. What if…”
James lifted a hand and placed it gently on her arm “Stop, Stop right there” he said gently, he removed his hand - he only needed to do it once and he knew that, to keep it there was over the line in his eyes “Don’t do that, what ifs don’t help”
He took a breath “You know when we were out there, we counted on you to be ‘on the ball’ you did that, without question, we all make mistakes and learn from it” he held up a hand “If you make the wrong mistake then what? You’re afraid that the wrong mistake will be fatal?” a beat and James sighed “It’s tough when both of you are working on the same job, it affects us in some way or other, how we deal with it is important, but sitting here avoiding him isn’t the answer” James regarded her, he couldn’t fault her though for doing it “Clearly he has a strong personality” he added with a wry smirk “And he cares - cares enough clearly to get you thinking” he marked a pause.
“What scares you more Steph? That you’ll loose them?” he asked trying to get to the root of it, he knew secretly that some of what was going on was the stuff haunting her - but he’d deal with that later.
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Rescue Squad 3
Firefighter has 404 posts
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Post by Stephanie Taylor on Dec 11, 2016 16:24:19 GMT
[attr="class","tomhov"] TAG@james NOTES Steph and Ben fought because it was like mixing oil and water some days. They had different views and could not be more like night and day. There was some of Stephanie being scared to get too close. There were few people who understood her for her, one of them being a brother. Then there was James who may as well be a brother. Her son sometimes understood her, and Ben was starting to figure her out.
James had always knew how to diffuse her when she was angry. Sometimes she wondered if Ben should take a leaf from James’ book. He was right the ‘What if’s’ didn’t help anyone. They only started alternate theories.
She hated it when he talked in truths sometimes. Stephanie ALWAYS tried her hardest, even if she was brash and sarcastic. Fatal mistakes when they were in the Army would mean missing the target and hitting someone else. Stephanie was so detached she could pull the trigger and not think twice. Orders were orders. Most of the time.
James saying that Ben had a strong personality made her laugh some. “Strong is one way to put it” there was a smile peeking out. Benjamin could make a point about anything until the cows came home. Stephanie knew what James was getting at, yes Ben was a bit protective at times.
“I’ve lost people. James. I’m used to it. I’m scared of my children losing their parents.” She’d been through that, she knew it was like. Her adoptive family loved her unconditionally, but she also knew what it was like to have her whole life swept out from underneath her. “What if I don’t come home? Then what? How does anyone explain that to Zach or to Grace.” Stephanie also knew it couldn’t be explained to Ben. Ben couldn’t lose anyone else either. “I’ve seen what it does to families James. I’ve watched it, I’ve been a part of it. I don’t want to do that to them.” She was still spinning her badge on the table.
Hermann kept his distance but his look showed he understood. Hermann was the father figure of the father house at times. Though he could tell that James had it handled but his look showed concern for Steph. He then walked over and flipped a cup upside down in front of her and set a glass of water down. She’d had enough to drink. Stephanie drained the rest of her beer and set it down. Her gaze set on James.
STEPHANIE HARRIS
HEY NUTCASE! STOP BITING THE COMMAND STAFF [newclass=.tomhov]font-family:calibri;font-size:11px;color:#666666;text-align:center;vertical-align: middle;width:400px;height:250px;overflow:auto;position: absolute;margin-left: -50px;background-color:#040404;opacity:0;-webkit-transition: all 0.5s linear;-moz-transition: all 0.5s linear;-o-transition: all 0.5s linear;-ms-transition: all 0.5s linear;-o-transition: all 0.5s linear;transition: all 0.5s linear;[/newclass] [newclass=.tomhov:hover]margin-left:0px;opacity:1;-webkit-transition: all 0.5s linear;-moz-transition: all 0.5s linear;-o-transition: all 0.5s linear;-ms-transition: all 0.5s linear;-o-transition: all 0.5s linear;transition: all 0.5s linear;[/newclass] |
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Nov 24, 2024 14:13:44 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Dec 13, 2016 11:22:40 GMT
James Reagan “Strong is one way to put it”
When he saw her smile he chuckled, but he knew he’d made his point.
“I’ve lost people. James. I’m used to it. I’m scared of my children losing their parents.” “What if I don’t come home? Then what? How does anyone explain that to Zach or to Grace.” “I’ve seen what it does to families James. I’ve watched it, I’ve been a part of it. I don’t want to do that to them.”
James regarded her, for one thing - no one ever got used to it, you just learned to deal, it was still real and that would never change, the other thing was it was a decision she needed to make with them, but he knew Steph, she was avoiding it and she was scared, not that she’d confess it - but he knew her well enough.
When the bartender approached and set a glass down in front of her he watched Steph finish the beer and sighed as he now contemplated his reply - with no beer for the moment he had a chance to get in.
“Steph” he started “When you started, why did you want to be a firefighter?” he allowed her a moment to think that over, always go back to the beginning of WHY you do what you do, why you chose to do that job.
“You gained a family, and it’s normal and human to come to the kind of thoughts and feelings you're having now - It just means you're being honest" he gently touched her arm "Hey look at me" a beat
"Your kids, if you talk to them about it - it'll help you, and them too. The more honest with them you are the more they'll understand. And Ben? You gotta trust him to trust you, Talk to him. You might argue and fight a while but if he really truly cares for you, which I am guessing he does, then he'll still have your back whatever you decide to do."
Quietly he moved his hand over to rub her shoulder gently in a reassuring manner - indicating the bartender over he indicated Steph "Can I get a soda for me and Steph please" he said softly - oh yeah, the hard stuff.
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Rescue Squad 3
Firefighter has 404 posts
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Post by Stephanie Taylor on Dec 15, 2016 4:51:56 GMT
[attr="class","tomhov"] TAG@james NOTESSorry it got away from me... and apparently when she's drunk she just keeps blabbering.
Stephanie committing? If it wasn’t her job… it scared her. She was loyal, to a fault but that whole commitment thing, Ben knew there was issues there. They could sometimes talk, but not until one or both of them were so frustrated that stuff just spilled out in anger. It wasn’t until Ben realize what he was poke at that the arguments would stop.
“I never wanted to be a cop. The military kind of drilled it into me. I HAD to do it. Some of our calls. I still don’t sleep at night.” She wouldn’t say it but the ones that James couldn’t reach sometimes they haunted her. Mainly because she knew they had given it their best shot and if she had to do her job, she felt like she’d somehow failed. Maybe because the team always took it hard.
"When I got out. I didn’t want that. I’d had enough. I still wanted to help. So I started running into fires. My first day at the academy I had to show everyone I wanted to be there. I had to try that much harder than everyone else. For a while, I just put all my effort into it. Distraction from things I guess. My first real fire I threw up. I was so nauseated from the fumes and the memories of…” she cut off. It had linked back to the explosion.
“Eventually those memories stopped surfacing, Then I met Ben. We got a call. Grace was in trouble. He didn’t have his head. He told me to stay out of the building. He wasn’t my lieutenant. I did my job and I came back out with Grace.” She didn’t mention the part where she had taken off her equipment so Grace could breathe. “Grace is his only child. Single Dad and I wasn’t going to let anything happen to her.” She sighed a moment. She knew James would understand that when it came to kids Stephanie did the unthinkable. It was never about her.
“We argued for days. Why I shouldn’t have done what I did. Every excuse as to why I should have not gone in that building. We fought so much that night in the back of the ambulance I tried to quit. I contemplated it the whole week. I tried and the chief wouldn’t let me.” She paused a moment, mostly to separate what she was going to say.
“After that I almost slipped off the ladder after one of our own hit his head on the ledge. I wasn’t focused. I was distracted.” She’d been distracted by Ben telling her to be careful. “Then when the fire happened and the building collapsed. I was just doing my job when I fell. Again we argued non stop until I was so tired of fighting I just gave up.” She’d been tired, angry, frustrated, running on no sleep, and had someone mistakenly tell her that her brother died. It was a fantastic combination. Stephanie took a sip of the soda in front of her.
“Something happened. I don’t know what; but you know how you always told use to trust our intuition. I just have this feeling that at some point he got so scared of losing someone. It’s always the same argument. You sound like me trying to talk to him. Fire is a funny thing. You can have all the trust in the world in your team; but the fire makes all of that a wild card. Like giving a sniper a shot gun. No one trusts the fire, much less with someone they care about.” Taking a sip of her soda she played with the glass. “I’m asking him to trust my life to something no one trusts. That’s hard for anyone.”
Feeling his hand on her shoulder she settled some but she was drunk and just talking. Stephanie had to be drunk to talk like she was where she didn’t shut up. “It’s not fair to ask them to do that. It’s not fair to ask that one anyone.” She knew that Ben knew the dangers when he enrolled in academy too. Stephanie started spinning her ring around her finger. The two heart stones were like yin and yang. One red and one white. Such a contrast in her personality to Ben’s, which is exactly why it had been picked out. “We don’t always fight, but when we do it’s about work. It’s not just about me anymore.” Stephanie was the type that would throw away everything to take care of those she cared about. She’d risked going to jail for James by keeping his kids safe, what made him think that keeping her own wasn’t worth risking the same or more.
STEPHANIE HARRIS
HEY NUTCASE! STOP BITING THE COMMAND STAFF [newclass=.tomhov]font-family:calibri;font-size:11px;color:#666666;text-align:center;vertical-align: middle;width:400px;height:250px;overflow:auto;position: absolute;margin-left: -50px;background-color:#040404;opacity:0;-webkit-transition: all 0.5s linear;-moz-transition: all 0.5s linear;-o-transition: all 0.5s linear;-ms-transition: all 0.5s linear;-o-transition: all 0.5s linear;transition: all 0.5s linear;[/newclass] [newclass=.tomhov:hover]margin-left:0px;opacity:1;-webkit-transition: all 0.5s linear;-moz-transition: all 0.5s linear;-o-transition: all 0.5s linear;-ms-transition: all 0.5s linear;-o-transition: all 0.5s linear;transition: all 0.5s linear;[/newclass] |
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Nov 24, 2024 14:13:44 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Dec 15, 2016 17:01:36 GMT
James Reagan “I never wanted to be a cop. The military kind of drilled it into me. I HAD to do it. Some of our calls. I still don’t sleep at night.”
James watched her quietly, there were always calls that stayed with you - always, James didn’t always dig, sometimes he would but he wouldn’t right now, it wasn’t what she needed.
"When I got out. I didn’t want that. I’d had enough. I still wanted to help. So I started running into fires. My first day at the academy I had to show everyone I wanted to be there. I had to try that much harder than everyone else. For a while, I just put all my effort into it. Distraction from things I guess. My first real fire I threw up. I was so nauseated from the fumes and the memories of…”
James knew what she’d nearly spoken of, he didn’t call her out on it, he wouldn’t and he couldn’t - it wasn’t the right time.
“Eventually those memories stopped surfacing, Then I met Ben. We got a call. Grace was in trouble. He didn’t have his head. He told me to stay out of the building. He wasn’t my lieutenant. I did my job and I came back out with Grace.” “Grace is his only child. Single Dad and I wasn’t going to let anything happen to her.”
James nodded softly, his hand had remained on her shoulder and now he gently squeezed before removing his hand and crossing his arms as he watched her still, he’d let her speak. he knew what she was like when it came to kids, she’d not miss a beat.
“We argued for days. Why I shouldn’t have done what I did. Every excuse as to why I should have not gone in that building. We fought so much that night in the back of the ambulance I tried to quit. I contemplated it the whole week. I tried and the chief wouldn’t let me.” “After that I almost slipped off the ladder after one of our own hit his head on the ledge. I wasn’t focused. I was distracted.” “Then when the fire happened and the building collapsed. I was just doing my job when I fell. Again we argued non stop until I was so tired of fighting I just gave up.” “Something happened. I don’t know what; but you know how you always told use to trust our intuition. I just have this feeling that at some point he got so scared of losing someone. It’s always the same argument. You sound like me trying to talk to him. Fire is a funny thing. You can have all the trust in the world in your team; but the fire makes all of that a wild card. Like giving a sniper a shot gun. No one trusts the fire, much less with someone they care about.” “I’m asking him to trust my life to something no one trusts. That’s hard for anyone.” “It’s not fair to ask them to do that. It’s not fair to ask that one anyone.” “We don’t always fight, but when we do it’s about work. It’s not just about me anymore.”
James was quiet a moment, he remembered how much Steph risked to help James and protect his kids - he knew what she was willing to do to protect those she loved and cared about - it was who she was
He reached over and closed a hand on hers again - to gain her focus "Steph, lets say you quit. Then you either got to find a new job, or stay at home? Would you be happy to do that? For Ben, he'd probably be happy, But you will then be worrying about him day in and out, and I know you, you'll still go put your life at risk if he were to get in some form of trouble"
A beat and James studied her "We will always worry about those we love when they go put their own lives on the line for someone else - especially when it comes to Fire" There was beat and the hand that James had on her hand moved to her shoulder "Maybe there's something else, from what you've told me, cause sometimes there's more to it than what we think" sometimes the things people said and did spoke more than what they really were saying, James knew Steph was a fine example of that, and maybe Ben was just as bad. notes |
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Rescue Squad 3
Firefighter has 404 posts
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Post by Stephanie Taylor on Dec 15, 2016 22:16:24 GMT
[attr="class","tomhov"] TAG@james NOTES James had a point; Steph being out of the line of duty was NOT Steph out of doing stupid things. “He knows I wouldn’t be happy. He won’t let me quit.” She spun her bracelet. Ben really did encourage her because she was happy. The reality of everything was setting in. Ben kept her close at calls but she didn't mind. It meant she could keep an eye out on him herself.
Stephanie shook her head. “I’ve watched fires destroy families. I can’t let it destroy mine.” She knew that leaving wouldn’t solve it. Sighing she leaned on the counter her weight on her elbow taking a sip. Stephanie was a lot calmer than normal. She was also trying for a subject change. Desperately. Anything to avoid facing the something else question. It was something she already knew.
Now was as good of time as any to ask. “You’re going to be at the wedding.” She made it as a statement. It was hard to explain how she wasn’t doing things the traditional way. Stephanie took a breathe. “I was wondering if you would be my man of honor” Yeah well Maid of Honor was just going to sound funny and Best Man was the title usually reserved for the groom's right hand.
STEPHANIE HARRIS
HEY NUTCASE! STOP BITING THE COMMAND STAFF [newclass=.tomhov]font-family:calibri;font-size:11px;color:#666666;text-align:center;vertical-align: middle;width:400px;height:250px;overflow:auto;position: absolute;margin-left: -50px;background-color:#040404;opacity:0;-webkit-transition: all 0.5s linear;-moz-transition: all 0.5s linear;-o-transition: all 0.5s linear;-ms-transition: all 0.5s linear;-o-transition: all 0.5s linear;transition: all 0.5s linear;[/newclass] [newclass=.tomhov:hover]margin-left:0px;opacity:1;-webkit-transition: all 0.5s linear;-moz-transition: all 0.5s linear;-o-transition: all 0.5s linear;-ms-transition: all 0.5s linear;-o-transition: all 0.5s linear;transition: all 0.5s linear;[/newclass] |
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Nov 24, 2024 14:13:44 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Dec 15, 2016 22:38:50 GMT
James Reagan
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“He knows I wouldn’t be happy. He won’t let me quit.”
James nodded, at least she’d gotten somewhere with that question.
“I’ve watched fires destroy families. I can’t let it destroy mine.”
“All you can do is be the best you can be and do the best you can” James replied, he knew there was something else but he didn’t push it.
“You’re going to be at the wedding.”
James had to laugh at how directly she threw that at him, he grinned broadly.
“I was wondering if you would be my man of honor”
James’ face broke out into a grin bigger than the previous grin “It would be my absolute honour” He replied “Thank you” he added.
Now his face grew serious "What do you say we get outta here Steph?, walk, get some coffee?" he knew the air and coffee would do her some good, besides, what would Ben think if she came home completely drunk? No he had to somehow get her to sober up a little more.
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Rescue Squad 3
Firefighter has 404 posts
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Post by Stephanie Taylor on Dec 28, 2016 18:53:48 GMT
[attr="class","tomhov"] TAG@james NOTES
Stephanie smiled when he agreed. Good. She wasn't as close to anyone who wasn't a sibling. There were way too many of them. Though James should know by now that she was direct when she wanted something.
Coffee? James had to be joking. Stephanie would drink coffee but she had always been more of a tea drinker than tea. But if she had been sober she would have realized that coffee was a better idea. "Why does this seem familiar?" she was definitely drunk. Had he pulled her out of bars before? No it had been the other way around? Stephanie felt confused, either way the two of them leaving a bar together for coffee felt familiar to her.
Stephanie put her jacket on over her work polo and realized the sun was coming up. She had kind of sort of told Ben she was going back to the house she shared with her brother this morning. Depending on how shift went depended on whether or not Ben would let her go home by herself for the next 24 hours while Peter was on shift or in this case he was still in the hospital. Either way Steph had argued for time to herself and won.
Glancing down at her phone to make sure she wasn't being checked up on she pocketed it back as they walked down the street to one of the coffee shops. No sooner did she pocket the phone that it went off. Though it was some random telemarketer call. She breathed a sign of relief. If Ben caught her drunk. She didn't want to know the result of that.
Stephanie looked over towards James as they walked. Stephanie was mostly silent, she hated mornings and the sun was bouncing out of her eyes. She was drunk and she was grouchy. Then there was her incredulous headache from drinking. The hang over later in the day was going to be bite harder though..
STEPHANIE HARRIS
HEY NUTCASE! STOP BITING THE COMMAND STAFF [newclass=.tomhov]font-family:calibri;font-size:11px;color:#666666;text-align:center;vertical-align: middle;width:400px;height:250px;overflow:auto;position: absolute;margin-left: -50px;background-color:#040404;opacity:0;-webkit-transition: all 0.5s linear;-moz-transition: all 0.5s linear;-o-transition: all 0.5s linear;-ms-transition: all 0.5s linear;-o-transition: all 0.5s linear;transition: all 0.5s linear;[/newclass] [newclass=.tomhov:hover]margin-left:0px;opacity:1;-webkit-transition: all 0.5s linear;-moz-transition: all 0.5s linear;-o-transition: all 0.5s linear;-ms-transition: all 0.5s linear;-o-transition: all 0.5s linear;transition: all 0.5s linear;[/newclass] |
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Nov 24, 2024 14:13:44 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Dec 28, 2016 20:03:57 GMT
James Reagan James was glad when she agreed with him to leave "Why does this seem familiar?" James shook his head shooting her a glance “You want an answer?” he smirked “You dragged me out of one too many” he shrugged leading the way out once she had her jacket on. Outside James glanced at her in time to see her glance at her phone, then again - the look on her face and sigh of what looked like relief had him curious. Once they arrived at the cafe James led the way to a dark back corner where it wasn’t too intrusive, he took the side seat allowing her to have what he knew would be her favourite vantage point whilst he had his back to the wall, he still had his own quirks. A waitress came over and he smiled “Two black coffees please” he said simply “And can we have a plate of fries too please” the waitress trotted off and James leaned forward on the table upon his elbows clasping his hands together as he looked sideways at her "Who you avoiding?" he asked simply "I'm guessing fiancee, considering you're getting married" It was easy to tell she was avoiding someone, and it would obviously be the fiancee or whoever else she allowed close enough to cause her to be seemingly avoiding them.
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Rescue Squad 3
Firefighter has 404 posts
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Post by Stephanie Taylor on Jan 4, 2017 18:24:37 GMT
[attr="class","tomhov"] TAG@james NOTES
Stephanie could only shake her head. "You don't drink Reagan" she pointed out as he mentioned coming out of one too many. "That much I know about you" she reminded him lightly. Well she knew more but in her intoxicated state, she was prone to pointing out the obvious.
Sitting down at tables Stephanie always preferred the corners, with her face to the door. Bad habits died hard. Stephanie ordered a glass of water to go with her coffee and some raw vegetable platter. Cue him to bring up her cell. "I'm not avoiding him. He's just worried about me and I don't need to give him anymore reasons to worry" she shrugged as she sipped on her water.
"I don't recognize the number that called" she shrugged again. Not that Stephanie was avoiding Ben but she didn't always like being kept tabs on. "Though to be fair... Ben thinks I am at home. I didn't tell him I was out" she knew if Ben found out about her in the bar... no she didn't want to think what would happen if he found out about the whole being in the bar thing. That would be an argument waiting to happen.
STEPHANIE HARRIS
HEY NUTCASE! STOP BITING THE COMMAND STAFF [newclass=.tomhov]font-family:calibri;font-size:11px;color:#666666;text-align:center;vertical-align: middle;width:400px;height:250px;overflow:auto;position: absolute;margin-left: -50px;background-color:#040404;opacity:0;-webkit-transition: all 0.5s linear;-moz-transition: all 0.5s linear;-o-transition: all 0.5s linear;-ms-transition: all 0.5s linear;-o-transition: all 0.5s linear;transition: all 0.5s linear;[/newclass] [newclass=.tomhov:hover]margin-left:0px;opacity:1;-webkit-transition: all 0.5s linear;-moz-transition: all 0.5s linear;-o-transition: all 0.5s linear;-ms-transition: all 0.5s linear;-o-transition: all 0.5s linear;transition: all 0.5s linear;[/newclass] |
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