CrossroadsofCourage

云柔兰

) o; [/ K% Y8 g1 x( [, [Serve... first, peril, quiet, rubble, you're other's arms.

ð¨Preludeð¨ television, a level, a hum. I recliner, lifted. year, soul.
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9 b3 j, M7 k, \5 F, q$ p, @7 P/ XI a wine, wouldn't I coming.

' G* K' t3 U, [8 r2 K; ?" Q! |; DI Terrence, book, a he'd weeks, breathing. safe, problem, stagnant.

' B4 i) b  e  J( Y" Y  b, J7 S"Terry," I softly. stirred, a smile. "Hey. You're home. shift?" close,

"We talk," I said. faded, tone. I I a a doorstep, I him.

$ [* P/ A+ Q) Z- I% e1 @; e"Is 'click' again, Nic?" asked, book. voice, a realization.
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+ j) O$ t' e' E"It's clicking," I admitted, a chest. "You're incredible, Terry. You're a light. we're just... paths. aren't, I admit, I anymore." lap, me. A small, lips. "I know. I I've Christmas. I didn't loud." eyes. "You right, I'm pretending." exhaled. "You fun, a Nicole. a time, resentment, respect. a chapter, we'd together.

"Give apartment?"

"Yeah, course." o'clock, a minutes. room, I desk, book. Boyle's altitudes. out. I hadn't test. I lesson. I patients.
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4 k+ I# X# S, D* g: _& T3 H0 U"Steve, a minutes, okay."

"Sure LT, thanks." I I important. I highlighter, brightness.
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"Station Nine, Nine, reported, Michael's interchange, 2152."
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I finished. I time, slow, listening, I truck.
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"Dispatch, scene, Michael's, injuries." I I route.
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/ [: X0 W8 \; W1 z! I"Dave, now?" I Firefighter/EMT Donald, be.
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"I'm Steve. Let's go!"
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I needed, shouldn't much, night.

I chaotic. assistance. clear. 'The Anchor' I shifting, I there. I storm. this, it, I steady, anchored.
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" f$ W) ?$ p7 @* {1 nI didn't who, didn't tonight, needed, I familiar, chest. were, I them.
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ð¨Chapter Oneð¨
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I a table, ballroom. didn't I do. a wasn't I off. again, ago. wasn't all. Association.

! j% y  D/ n- fI a wine, not? I a rideshare, I emcee.
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+ K! Q$ j: J8 J' K6 r, P  M' s+ W"This a recognized." a crowd, continued, "Would Barrett, forward."

I I name. room. I I stood. I tall.

Yes, I shock, tall. I a stage. I Mayor, Chief, attire. began. protects, distinction. a crisis, communication hostage. (NABLEO) Barrett, day. a a community. a I a Mayor, Chief, Officers. I officers. I I I I afternoon. night, I condo. I me. jacket, I sidearm, I I go, belongs, table. access, now. house, that's now. bed, Goldilocks, she's favorite, a 19.

I drycleaners. I didn't soon. I mirror, I I I academy. that's a lie, I a pounds. I a professor. I Terry.

Now, I fit, issues, yes, I change. I it.

5 @1 s  C. L9 |5 ?I set. I mumbled, "Maybe day, I'll a again."
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& I6 G" L7 k4 ?5 a4 G, l( D7 {$ W& CI shower. I needed. lips.
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2 `2 i6 \$ j" `"Nikki, don't empty..." I head, I laid.

I bed, naked. I point.

ð¨
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"Hey Cross?" me, hallway.
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I around. slightly. "Yes Chief?" I tall. shoulder. "Walk kid." administrative building. "Wall Legends" paused. "These quit."
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2 `) ]; ?; T( t' F+ y5 e* Z; Y( K! ~I taller, now"Look isn't related, now, that, you."

" D8 ~7 G0 N( i% |& ^"Yes Chief."

$ h0 s" l0 B/ U9 X% F"Look him," a wall. "He doesn't he?" shoulder.

I a face. "No Paul, I up."

"That's Steve, wouldn't mother. No, brother, father, okay?"

"Yes Chief." I face. "I'm yesterday."

"I kid." a longer. "Okay I you. I'll weekend."

I hand, "Yes Chief." I a moment. I picture. I him. "I Dad."

ð¨ I gym. I a happened. Paul, soon. me.
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I gym, room. I I room.

+ ?  @  `* m+ \* ]4 x6 r* p/ u- h% tI a stretch. I I minute, I pace. I mile, I I minutes.

I a I sweat. I finished, I treadmill, points.
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I room. I turned, I a woman, collided, back. We'd autopilot, worlds, attention.

/ V' t4 n. U% C/ h, }"Forgive me, I'm sorry." I I doing. wall, I me, "Hey! it!" I resolve, apologies. "Hey I I wasn't again, you." I room.

( b8 N* T/ L( u% }+ {1 EThat's I reply, "Thanks, I'll mine."

I room. I biceps, today. I I minutes, I men's a shower. a shower, I up, center. I don't I that's I I hallway. reason, I I I I bag, a a tone. "Pardon Officer?" a face. I a posture.

0 ^2 v9 W  P/ B, E" ]"I again, a day." response, I center.
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2 r8 [' x1 o; v3 a- ~: Cð¨ morning, I station. I needed.

I I briefly. I Captain's office, a seat. asked, manner. "Well? role?"

I well, a didn't a recruiting.
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"Cap, LT, I'm good, I it, I didn't time, it's a thing, I worried. I grind. It'll come."
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I don't with. I do. I them, me.
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I room, I we're I a catastrophe. enforcement, firefighter, brewing. speakers.
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"Station Nine, Bridge, entrapment, bridge, 1525. again, Nine, entrapment, Bridge. inside. 1525. fast, fast. "I going, don't GPS" truck, 9 first. me, "Steve, that's serious..."

"I this." I siren, silent. I siren, 9.
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2 ~4 u) r7 t8 y: [* j8 u" PI a distance, yards, I soon. I mic, "Station 8 801"

- D: b# ^; j! K"801"
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801, I'm entrapment, Bridge, it. road. trapped. driver's door, side."
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"Copy 801, enroute." I myself, "Well, hurry."
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  |3 L. ?- c+ i9 B8 D7 h/ U' Q/ dI happening, I her, driver, woman, unconscious, airbags. I crying... cries. "Ohh damn." I murmured, I mic, "8, EMS?."
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I couldn't a apart. "801 out."
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8 z3 W+ m8 F! y0 Y' y5 VDamnnit. I babies, seats, in. I "Hey it's okay, don't I you."
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I passenger's open, wasn't locked. I passenger's window. faster, I seats, driver's unconscious. I I shouldn't I inside. I I driver, wasn't moving, "Damn!"
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"Barrett stop!" I shout, "You wait, soon!" I shoulder, Sergeant, car.

I acted, I I babies. I possible.

- w( G: E6 B* A1 q$ p& E8 o; @/ CI screamed. "Hurry something." again, "Get Barrett!"

8 o* u4 A( M1 D& j& C; k! i/ `5 B: O0 uI didn't listen, I seat. I girl.

3 H/ T. X( x! Z! u- S"Hey one, I Nikki's you." I restraints. I seat, I seat. louder. I shift. shifted.
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/ f8 m0 q1 x7 ?& }( F5 aI out. I baby. Thankfully, a there, there's I sirens.

/ E5 `' f. e* U5 j* B"Here her, hurry." I driver, again. I I did, I balance. I forward, seat.
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I I orders, I car. I child's seat.
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I back, seat, I screamed. "Take him! him!"

I him, man, gym. fuck? there, baby. a locked. child, in, arms. I it, I 9 car, axle. I voice, Sergeant.
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% e  r; Z# @2 g% M3 u1 @! J* m"What Barrett!" me.

; G: ], J6 f& v7 Y- dI body. control, I breathe, I lightheaded.

1 i5 M. O, O7 X0 |  u) w  h! u; J1 TA door. EMT's car. I driver's side, a backboard. CPR, a stretcher, ambulances.
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- P+ b- ]4 C1 d. K+ R6 g0 pI standing.

* a* F8 D/ u# C"You Nicole." a continued. "I don't thinking!" me.

; d/ H' E4 C5 I/ h$ v/ a7 \"Do was?" tone, me. I body, spinning. I focus. buckled. me, I name, that's I eyes, I to. I a me, dark.
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ð¨Chapter Twoð¨

I I scream.
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"Medic! Medic!"

$ e/ t" K- v% ^3 l! WI car, a me, frantically.
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"Medic!" again. I a again. in, I officer. I close, I a concrete. I screamed, "Dave O2."

I sergeant. "What doing? say? bleeding?" "No, no, no, talking, I collapsed." I assessment, unconscious. weren't shallow. clammy. I pulse, dilated. I capsule, response.
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I a rub, a vest, a a stimulus.
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"Dave O2." I Sergeant, "Go a stretcher. move!"
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5 c& H' A2 \. t1 \) m/ }: AI hand, I I truck. arrived. "Sergeant, weapon, I responsibility."
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I flow. I Dave, "Okay, let's stretcher." a ground, stretcher, truck. back, I vest. I monitor.
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"Dave, General." I Barnett's readings, I a I exhaustion. stable, rhythm, stimuli. safely. entrance, I Barrett's staff.
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I a breath. ritual. situation, done. Dave's assistance, truck, room, "trip report".
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& i# H. I9 v/ C. S2 F/ g6 H' E0 n/ T/ @I finished, agreed, I send. done, truck, station.
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$ n8 b9 B& W+ C5 k' E) W% k0 rI truck, Dave, I'll back.

I was. I name, "Officer Barrett?" I aside. snarled.
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"What want?"

I tracks. "Nothing Officer, a thing." I turned, ER,

ð¨
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I change, station. I days. I I a days, I time. later, a session, I a run. I towel, I treadmill. father's playlist, "Songs 70's", roll. I turned. stood, her, a top. me, I walking. I room, her. I didn't a scene, I her. Alabama, I name, I walking. I a a sauna. a a a sauna. great.

Yeah, was.

7 A9 K1 q/ m6 G3 A/ F5 m  ~I off, dried, dressed, center. I I leave. dressed, well.
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"Pardon Mr. Cross?" I walking. I face, great. I on, I again.
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+ y/ o5 E  R  C! N  w/ T7 i"Mr. Cross! Please!"
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, D& s' U; A0 `# j( v- m! q2 z& s" \I her, on, I forehead. "What want, Barrett?" I her.
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7 O" S) l) A" O+ x, @I wasn't I am. Yes! I her? unprofessionally did, pfft, I don't care.
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3 T5 f7 a* L' v9 e  ]6 t  @"Please talk?"
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( \# y. K. \6 `3 n  p6 ~; _2 K- X"I'm interested." I hand, eyes.

" p( L- z  ?% H7 I, Z7 ]4 F"Steven, I'm I rude. a day."
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; F( X# u/ S9 u+ w$ m: r"Yeah? it's us. a day." I me.

"Come Steven, words." I her.
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6 _; W4 o8 q0 {"Look it's cool, accepted, there's now. a Officer."

8 H- s( Y1 v) i% Z$ `6 h"Damn didn't this, I me."
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1 h6 Z: W+ o4 f8 V& k2 N& TI feet. "Snooping huh? Nicole?" hesitated. "Come Nicole, I ice. what...go drinks? Coffee? buddies? Yeah, I'll pass."
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I lot,

) O  v9 D& S- ^! eð¨
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I a / I hadn't a mistake. reason, I again. , I shift. I come.
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I a in. "Hey Cross, are. a dinner."
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I crazy. "LT, about? dinner?" chuckled, "Don't woman!" kitchen. "Cross, her?"
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8 h# R, `6 _6 C6 J3 a: o- Z/ ["Captain, about?" other. "Cross," started. "That day. you."
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& k! l* q+ t8 h$ r" bI I ask, "Did Cross?"
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"Captain, a something!" head. laughing. I there. laughing. I a probie. room, "Why Precinct, dumbass." I off... 1984 a injured, injuries. 0725.

/ }6 M! |) c4 v) d# s4 h# F: ^I moving, truck, I GPS, "Dispatch, 1984 child, scene." went. scene, cars, a grass. up, I still, time. I kit, case.

1 p0 v+ D, h$ z$ eI gathered, it's luck, boy.
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' S- K0 n$ u) \; l3 N. \3 N9 b- r"Hey guy, doing?" I asked. I a what's on. course, a a question, answer. I chuckling..
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$ z$ a* W! _& z7 I$ U% b# PI a fine. wrung. I quietly, Nicole's ear.
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"Hey I a fool, I you?" me. examined, worked. a transport. I child.

I a child's provider, I a room. I free, truck. I out.
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+ Q7 O5 ~) U" V7 t"Nicole, I apologize, I a so..." lips, me. I a I shift. touch. I station.
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8 z, B- H! h' j* Mð¨Chapter Threeð¨
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: S! j+ s* F. o! x+ w3 }' EI excited, I there, menu, a time. I a early, 8 o'clock breakfast. tomorrow, a Sunday. a dating, I it. I a a fireman, a family, it.
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: _0 [2 W' G# {$ k4 j3 mMaureen, waitress, coffee. I at.

( @0 a6 N7 m, z"This isn't love, it's son's now. I'm I don't old."

"Regardless, it's a I here."
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- d7 @- S8 [  x$ B4 U  L) H$ J/ }I did. wasn't a city, a beings. beings, I jingle. a I in.
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I stood, I was, I date.

. A( N$ d2 C8 N8 T. kI me. A I wore. weren't tight, beautifully. a body, places. I smiled, too. perfect. skin. light. I on. a date, I forget. didn't a living, a officer. me, barrier, I mine. I I time.
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I ear, "This I cheek?"
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6 R( i. _2 F0 T& d* [2 yI I nonverbal, response. first. moment, booth. I eyes.
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; {3 n, W2 h' D, HI her. "You up. I would've date." I her.
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"Just wait, check, I a them." chuckled. I that's I I her. a breakfast. A eggs, you'd taste. a I syrup.
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2 E4 v; O9 W, j6 J& k- F) |2 iI me. "You Steven, couldn't a jerk, idiot, lot..." paused, mine, slightly. "All over." a I I could.

% N, n, J* @5 s- Z  V1 P"Nicole, I I you. I am."

"Apology accepted, Steven," whispered, softening. life, a paramedic, a scheduling. it, a schedules, smiled. I I schedule.

"This I shift." I cautiously. head. I chuckled, "No silly, a bridge, again." mine. "Thank I a bridge." again, I shivered, I I smitten.

ð¨ app, easier, wasn't. other, matters. in. ritual. there, Mimi. I a flowers. couldn't herself. ever. I I blind. me, "Now Steven, black? time. I Mississippi." her, "Now Mimi, secrets." asked, "Which one, you're white?" again. a a leave. I I passenger's Nicole, me. wasn't lover's different.
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. ]* a* }  ?9 x! I- H. Ta ear. "That you, me. coming, Steven." didn't other, did, moment. I a so, scheduling. lives. months, "stolen moments." game, a turn, enforcement, station. dating, a text. I day, I didn't. I replied,
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$ H4 N- P/ \  T# w3 I  u0 H$ Z'Just you.'

'I Steven. me?' I response. simple,

' z, |+ ?% @/ M- `'Of Nicole, I'd them.'
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. a; C% j7 J" n'Great I'll place.' place. I passenger's side. I a flowers. I it. 43, hers. "Steven, isn't think." I Cemetery. side. a car.
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"I I'll you. accident." a firmer. "This I them."
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- o: n  t/ e4 X9 _0 wI hand, I cheek. "I'm me." a moment. silent. headstone. spoke, "Daddy, Mom, I Steven, he's a guy, him." me, I eyes.

3 p2 `8 y! q8 I; f; Y"I'm him, I know." a cheek, herself, "Guys, I well. ear." a minutes. I a ear, "I'm well." I said, "Mr Mrs. Barrett, I'd daughter.". a giggled, "Well weren't I me." car. Tuesday, I a Street, courthouse. I a cruiser. I window. me.

7 a* P: Z* h  _, p) M"Hey beautiful, here." I joked.
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: B1 ?0 w) V2 G+ q: {% P5 ~4 II perfect. out. a allowed. me.

"Hey sexy, safe, you." car.

% o9 C& @4 M- Y0 k( Dð¨ a year. working. I rotation. shift. I don't a relationship, other. I a arrest. a store. I a was. her. "Hey gorgeous! you?" I asked, upbeat, her.
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5 j2 O( E$ b& J* H; I" c) Y9 p7 ["Worn out, I bed." Street, a disturbance. a seconds, I her, I briefly. go?

I I'd I hospital. machines. I drinks, a latte. I substation. later, I a hot, latte. report's room, I door, report. I I sleep. a truck, kind. I girlfriend, a evening. a break, a scheduled. relax, music, a TV. I countered, I a dinner. other.
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So, a Mimi's I another. dinner, place, time, together.
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A speakers. room. I softly, back. right, a soft, kiss. I away. dark, thrive. heart, soul, forever. perfect. perfect...

3 s* G4 \& Z# M. s6 l" Nð¨Chapter Fourð¨ year, normal. weren't long, that's summer.

- g! q' T! s6 S8 N$ W  S' ~However, I walks, colder. I year. Nine, be, physically, emotionally. I in, I uncle, Chief.

) y1 e' H$ l% NNo, wasn't a communicating a paper. private. a moment, I I could. I a position. I away. I calendar, Nicole's schedule.

5 {, k9 b: u, h' n( s8 v$ k$ I0 ]I a I could, news. I a a a caption,

; G8 y) A3 B. w3 G+ e'Keeping bearable! Anchor.'
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I replied,
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( V' t  k# q8 i  J! l5 l* J'Love happy!' "The Anchor" Anchor. us.

  a& r5 \$ N4 E8 ~2 E( i# l'Keep love, this!' got, a other. I a coffee. I him. me, partnership, went.

$ s, w' i5 ?6 _"Come Anchor, backwards. a breath. brother!" I respond. station.
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: ]& I0 b2 I- F. `% M( n4 E& }! i"All 79 62. a injuries. involved, notified, 0840." doing, over. alert. "All 79 62. a injuries. involved, notified. 0840." I protocol, 9.
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"Ohh gawd, treacherous." slick, a oil. I there.
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+ O2 u3 c1 t  x9 _"Steven, dangerous."
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" _9 A2 e+ p: c8 C9 O1 y3 T"You brother." I coming. me, " interstate. That's a nightmare." heavy, in. a facing. yards. pocket. I out, a a prior.
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( v9 v6 z0 ?; [, ]'Heading a southbound. there, Steven, I life. bad.' a strange, flip. call.
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'Already route,'

I quickly, screen.
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'Be careful, love! I'll well.'
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I pocket, ribs. wasn't us, a entirely. unpredictable, fast, unforgiving.
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ð¨ 61. a a movie. distance, gloom. traffic, I right, I 412. Nicole's car. scene. a ahead. A distance, down.

- I9 W: V+ m& t9 L0 y5 T9 q2 e"Jesus Christ," whispered, truck, could. ahead, a lanes. cargo, pallets, interstate. semi, a crushed.

"Focus, Dave!" I mic. "Dispatch, scene. lead?"

"Medic Nine, command, lead." highway. I Dave, I gear. I out, I ran.
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I passengers, trapped. driver, me, forearms. roof, I wasn't passenger.
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I mic. "Engine Nine, passengers. I can't occupant, ASAP."
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; z3 y$ [% w$ |" o"Cross, out!" channel, Nicole's voice, panic. a second, air. a SUV, lanes, median. medium, over, lanes, semi, sedan, me. crawl. I motion. silent.

I spinning, metal. body. I me, right, semi. a steel, metal. SUV, sideways, semi. action, I position, helmet, I pants. second, I vehicle, side, seen.

I truck. I about, I them. must've
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I I wasn't go. I I couldn't sedan. I couldn't I I couldn't backwards.

I something, place. I a breath, ribs. smell. odor, asphalt, gear.
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* N9 O9 Q6 T7 w"Dave!" I out, trailer, throat. "Dave, copy? I'm trailer! axle!" silent. dive.

Panic, sharp, throat. I couldn't sky. I couldn't truck. steam, I Nicole's crash. coming. me.
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"Nikki!" I darkness, debris, free. "Nikki!" a overload. I down, I anchor. I a I could.

I darkness, I head, I it. I wreckage. voice, voice, Captain.

"We've sparks!" I Captain's bark, undercarriage me.

"Lay a now! a standby, SUV's sparking!"

# ~% `7 e, z3 |+ n"Cross!" Dave's chaos, frantic. I that. terrified.
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"Captain! sedan! Cross! Steven!"
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% E7 r' x8 F5 q: m- I, hI coat, I could. "Dave! here! trailer!" engine's pump, foam, SUV, muted. a cold. loud, authoritative radio, I I uncle, Chief, waves.
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+ L" d( B  ]$ _) `- K9 d  Z! t+ X"Command Dispatch, a for. I a immediately, 79 southbound, 62. a a vehicle. immediately!" for. a knell. me? mean... silence, a moment.
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"Cross!" barked. "Where you?"

I I could. "I'm truck!" a orders, semi! semi!"

Suddenly, a thick, semi's axle. helmet.

# |$ p9 g+ {! w: C"I've him! I've a Cross!" a screamed. "He's alive! He's trailer!" seconds, Dave's narrow, sedan's semi's tires. wide, soot.
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"Don't move, brother, don't move," out, coat. "We're out, Steven. on."
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; b! q' J/ c5 [, K+ O8 f"Dave... Nicole," I gasped, a us. "Where she? radio. Dave, Nicole?!"
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# r: @& N3 G" i1 L# RDave's a smile, "She's brother, safe, she's safe! now." said, steady. spinning. gasoline, smoke, relaxed, me. ago, parents' me... chaos. alright.

ð¨ could've I tell. coordinated, me. time, me. stopped, eased, I out, "Structures stable! loose!" I I a shoulder. a me. I David's voice. "Cross, board, it."

"Got Dave!" I screamed. a time, I saved. I a I a away, I freed. a slow, movement, I backboard, I Dave, "I'm go!" did! asphalt, wreckage. free, I up, face. a mouth. I a I violently, lungs.

7 z" H- }+ N  _* @5 _' x/ ~* TI breath, lungs. I Dave's orders. three. I stretcher. ambulance. I voice, "Stop no! yet!" A out, wasn't a firefighter, Nicole. eyesight, eyes, focus. beside. beautiful, eyes, haircut, hat, couldn't moved.

/ j9 |' T  A$ o: T  C+ NI cheeks. me.

"Steven," whispered, face, skin. "Oh God, Steven."

"Officer, go."
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"Nicole?" I I could. I her. "I'll there."
$ _8 B% }2 w0 N* s) |9 [, T7 f" y. S  D
& }# d0 {" c  i' {3 [6 |) g"You be, life!" I breathed, tight.
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% u2 r- M6 R) A7 ~6 Y$ F+ i; G5 D"Cross, man!"

I work.The shut, a me.
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I I go.
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ð¨Chapter Fiveð¨
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& b8 c  G% P( eI away, weren't morning, distance, I away. I that's I Sergeant.

"What here? Barrett, firefighter, hurry, ambulance!" laughing, loud. "I that!" I

$ b, A3 z% k4 }; M3 _$ c"followed ambulance."
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- Y7 m4 u8 K: z/ QI ambulance, I General. I carefully, way, ER. I winked. I him. a in. a face. winked. I a relaxed. a woman's out. me, me. a tone.
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"Officer, we'll a now, a him." winked, bay. I I side, still. I his.

"Hey!" opened. I forehead. "How you?" I softly.

! e2 D7 \' s" K0 o""I'm great, again." mask.

4 }& y& d1 D+ e9 O% NI I again. a wall. "Cross?" A him. I away. Chief. smiled. I back, bay.

% R* E% T' f! {* I"Hey kid, outside, her?"

3 ]! P  S* F% d0 E# d+ H$ [" [I ear. "I'll out." head, "No, stay!" again, "Uncle Paul, in." eyes.
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Mrs. I doing. I head. radiology. out, clear, monitoring.

. b2 Z9 X* {" H! eð¨ concerns. lungs. issues, immediately. paperwork. existed. hours. me. I me. "If do, I a hand, work, Officer." a face. I wasn't concerns. "Nicole, Mrs. Cross, Nicole, I'll schedule." I hard, tighter.

' c& z5 K4 S/ ?' f! d6 N"Rose, Nicole, Mrs. Cross, Rose."

( T; D7 [7 m& `# `, P  K6 h( yDon't a cheeks. "Of Rose, you." alone, charge, bed. a home. I officer's Reconstruction team.

$ K& b/ d7 n: f/ ^9 O3 X7 V6 AI me, me. I I next. in. stood, "Officer Barrett, I morning. toll."

I tall, "Yes sir, I..." shoulder, wasn't finished. "In that, don't Time. It's understanding monitoring?" winked.
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4 ~7 i- o# ~( u# ^* ^- I7 c"Yes sir, sir?" nodded. "Sir, isn't a firefighter, a / paramedic, sir." smiled. "Well let's quickly, I job. That's Nicole."
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; \# Z9 e+ I3 }5 v0 p" G, N7 P! [I I Steven's couch, time, bed. didn't wreck. didn't to. selected. suddenly, Prince, MJ, things, "Jersey Boys". I a playlist. I wasn't complaining.

ð¨

Saturday, a later, together. a treadmill, enough. I him. hadn't I later. dressed. I keys. I cheek, "Would Mimi?" I wasn't I a eyes. a sign. room. Steven. him. whispered, "How feeling, crash?" back. I I a him.

$ i7 m6 x0 S5 c( t6 j( O"So Steven, me, a a interstate?" him, "Walk me, today." chair. sat, sit.
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I immediately. a past. yawned. winked. "Okay I do, me." a face. "Hey, don't road? It's a traffic."

I him, confused. added, "Oh, what, I I Mimi, bag. a restroom?"
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I car. I a I wasn't sure. alert.

.
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I room. I Mimi, "I a but..."
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9 f! P3 |. J$ q"Yes!" wide, "Yes man."

"But Mimi, ask." nodded.
# R0 x0 y4 \3 z  E7 f# m; \
4 a, A6 B1 K, f: x"Mimi, isn't I much. I a now. I'm I granddaughter marriage." face. I a tissue. I her. "Mimi, I her, I it."

( e. Q9 O( c5 s' j) g. @# ^" E. s"I boy" shoulder. "And yes, yes, I can't her. Now, us.

0 b% r& e( T0 C# pI me, I a story. place.

+ z8 X6 c  J" V" D* c, l" t"What Steven?" I voice.
' D1 {( u3 W1 \
1 M) t, C( ^- J6 OI shoulder. "I gifts, that's all" shifted, I I woods, a policewoman, knows.

7 }2 ?5 l' i1 g8 R# F" Rð¨ a stressors, triumphs. Paul, well, I interview.

Dave's word, 'crushed', mine. I I I it. I a arrived. I a 1st. neighbors, I'd earned. arrived, a city, a strain.
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& k5 t: i$ Y  w9 q( z7 Yð¨ I Christmas, us. I morning, I changed. I church. us. days. a children. back. stone. coming. a be. mother's. comfortable, I a break. I Nicole. easy, biscuits, a eggs, favorite. a day. room, a a touch. finished, I chatting. I wanted. a I mom's. unwrapped, cherished, first.
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5 X- ^3 D( D7 _# q"Well, I that's everything," smiled, a ear.
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8 _0 P1 G7 S% n% w5 B" v/ K) E, P"Not quite," I murmured."If you'll grandstanding moment, there's gift" spine. I Mimi, smiling. I tree, I a ago. I tree, Nicole.

: Y, M0 I+ E/ K; l! ?I stand. I shiver. I I do. I I her.

"Nicole," I said, emotion, room. "We've together, we've us."

, {$ b' C, Z8 }7 d' X4 PI sniffle, "You sanctuary, I anchor."
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I cheeks.

! F7 J& t  m. C; Q" C. e"I don't side. me?" a broken, sob, cheeks. didn't ring"Yes," fiercely, neck, a deep, forever. "Yes, Steven. A times, yes." shoulder, I mom, a well.
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, X! L+ C  b0 {2 V" Y1 E* fI Nicole's finger. I arms. hug, ring. I life, complete.

2 u; ]; {2 ~' d4 O! @8 [; @# Z6 TI story. so, comments.
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