Chapter Nine (Chances)

Previously, on "Heat":
Ch. 8 (And Then You)
-After returning from Appaloosa Plains, Luke spent time with Nate and Jake at the park.
-Nate accidentally hit Luke in the balls with a football.
-Jake mustered up the courage to call Jamie.
-She pretended she didn't know him, but he got the upper hand by claiming he rocked her world at his place.
-To Luke's surprise, the whole family knows about Lyn and Brad.
-Joseph found accelerant-soaked foam at a burnt warehouse.
-In the three months of preliminary investigation, he and Marley finally have the first evidence of arson.
-Luke and Lyn's phone conversation veered on the sexy side.

*Strong Language, Sexual References*


Location: Bridgeport Community Fire Department
Date: Wednesday, 11/2/11
Time: 10:05 a.m.

"Chances are 

When said and done

Who will be the lucky ones?

Who make it all the way?

Though you say

I could be your answer

Nothing lasts forever

No matter how it feels today"

A soft yawn escapes Luke's lips as he eases back on the wooden chair, hoping this would activate the caffeine that's been surging through his body since he woke up this morning.  What originally was supposed to be a quick call with Lyn turned into an all-nighter that kept him up until nearly three a.m.  Although he can barely recall what they talked about, which was everything, the sweet sound of her voice beckoned to him like a ship following the north star.  Her vulnerability slowly leaked through the open cracks of her heart, letting him in, causing this fierce need to protect her in every way he can.  He needed to hear her voice.  He needed to hear the rhythmic sound of her breathing, as if that was the only way he could absorb every molecule coming from her body.

Luke smiles, knowing they must have said goodbye about a dozen times, only to find themselves asking for ten more minutes, despite their faltering ability to stay awake.  He knew he had to get up in a few hours, but he just couldn't bear to hang up the phone.  There was so much more to say, but at the same time, he was just as happy listening to her.  He could listen to her for hours.  Even if she failed to say a single word, her mere presence on the other line was very comforting.

"Good morning, everyone.  I know we usually don't have our meetings until the end of the week, but this is urgent." Joseph's voice cuts through Luke's thoughts.

 Hearing the word "urgent" snaps Luke out of his daydream as he shakes his head in an attempt to mentally revive.  As soon as he steps inside the firestation with his uniform, he knows he needs to get into "game-time" mode.  At any moment, the alarm can sound, sending him to his next emergency.  He must stay focused at all times.


As Joseph scans the room full of his staff, a sense of pride washes over him as his eyes rest on his strapping sons.  Never in his life did he imagine that his boys would follow in his footsteps.  Sure, they loved visiting the firestation growing up, riding the firetruck, wearing their junior firemen suits, exploring the equipment, sliding down the poles and even watching their father break a door open with an ax.  In fact, plenty of kids want to be firefighters when they grow up, but only a very few actually pursue that career.  Life happens, dreams change, and sometimes, people become what they need to be...instead of what they want to be.

"Marley and I found some similarities between the apartment unit on 73 Embarcadero Drive and the empty warehouse on 2256 Edgewood Road.  All the indoor and outdoor outlets checked out, as well as the wiring.      The fire in the apartment originated in the lobby, which is unusual since we could not find a typical source.  The fire in the warehouse also originated in the front office but with multiple burn sources located in other areas of the building."

"Joe, are you saying these fires could be related?" James Ambrosia, a ten-year veteran with salt and pepper hair and cornflower blue eyes, asks.

"Yes.  We have reason to believe that  foul play may be involved." Joseph sweeps a hand over his dark beard as he meets the gaze of each one of his beloved crew.  He's been dreading this meeting since yesterday.  He hates being the bearer of bad news.  At the same time, it is his responsibility to inform his staff of any new developments, especially potentially dangerous information.  It is not just his crew's livelihoods at stake but now his sons as well.  He must make sure that he does not put anyone's safety in jeopardy due to lack of preparation.


"What's going on, dad?" Nate briefly looks at his father in concern, then towards his brothers, before making his voice known.  He hasn't even been here two weeks, and they are already suspecting arson.

"We found foam soaked in accelerant inside and outside the warehouse.  The char patterns follow a similar map as the apartment lobby." Feeling the moisture disappear from his throat, Joseph takes another sip of his coffee, which  he likes black.

"Foam...I take it we're not dealing with amateurs." Luke mutters quietly, but loud enough for his father to hear as he nods in agreement.  It's one thing to deal with fire...but one deliberately set up? Shit...

"We're still in the preliminary stage of investigation.  And this is our first evidence.  But we still have a long way to go before we can really track the perpetrators.  But I thought I'd fill you guys in.  From now on, all future dispatches must be observed carefully.  Look for signs of suspicious behavior and possible leads.  We just have to be extra careful.  We haven't dealt with arson like this since I've been in this district." Joseph's face relaxes into a smile as he glances over at Nate and the man in shoulder-length dreads sitting next to him. "On a happy note, I would like to introduce our newest crew members. Austin Morgan and my son Nate.  They both just started their second week."

"Way to go, bro!" Jake stands up as he gives Nate a hand, a sheepish grin escaping his face.  Luke gives him a pat on the back before he welcomes Austin with a nod.


"It's good to have you on board, Austin.  Welcome.  Consider us your new family, son."  With his hand extended, Joseph flashes his new crew member a warm smile.  Austin is about the same age as his boys, although he can also see people mistaking him for Marley's son.  They took to each other immediately during the endless demands of training.

"Thank you, sir.  I'm honored to be here." Austin's pale greyish-blue eyes light up, creating a striking contrast against his caramel skin, as he firmly shakes the captain's hand, the man that is the glue that holds the fire department together.


Location: Little Corsican Bistro
Time: 12:36 p.m.

"I can't believe Hannah Pruit is going to be our new roommate!" Jessica beams in excitement as her eyes relish the presence of the redhead next to her.  She has been following Real World, Sunset Valley since it premiered nearly a year ago.

She still remembers Hannah's first day on the show: a shy, overweight blonde girl in glasses who looked like she didn't want to be there.  But Hannah had a crush on Jason Ambrosia, the muscular jock with blonde hair, cornflower blue eyes and a killer smile. This motivated her to get in shape and get a make-over.  The only problem was, Brooke was also on the show.  And even though Hannah went on a date with Jason, she caught him and Brooke kissing in a hot tub at P.U.RE.  It was a mess.  Hannah called Jason a lying, cheating dog, then accused Brooke of being a snob who thinks she can have any man she wants.  But Brooke went for the jugular: she told Hannah that she shouldn't have opened her legs on the first date.

"This is so exciting! First we get Brooke, now Hannah!" Jamie takes a sip of her ice-cold water as she savors the idea of knowing two famous people.  Even though she has been best friends with Brooke since college, she still can't believe she watched her on t.v.


"Jessica, you have this glow about you.  Hot date?" Hannah asks, remembering that night that she and Jason spent  at P.U.R.E.  The way he looked in his blue dress-shirt, emphasizing the intense color of his eyes.  The way he pulled her close, the scent of his cologne making her knees weak.  Their first kiss...something she never dreamed would happen.  Hot guys like Jason are usually seen with girls like Brooke: stunningly gorgeous with a killer figure.  But that night, he looked at her the way he looked at Brooke, as if he noticed her for the first time. And for once, she felt like she finally had a chance.

"Oh...my...god...Nate..." Jessica's pale hazel eyes get lost in thought for a moment, somewhere between fluffy white clouds and flashbacks of sheer ecstasy. "I swear...that man did things to me that even I wouldn't bring to confession. And I'm Catholic!"


"Oh yeah? Like what, Jess? Be VERY specific." Brooke wiggles her eyebrows, her Caribbean blue eyes trying to coerce this blonde bombshell to spill.  It's been a while since she had any action of her own.  She almost went all the way with Matt Dallas, the doctor she was seeing during the show.  If it wasn't for his pager going off just as he was about to pull her panties down, she would have looked like a complete hypocrite.  She always prided herself in making a guy wait and never giving in on the first date, but there was something about Matt.  They shared a connection since that night they met at the beach.  The problem was, it was Jason and Hannah that led her to the beach: after she found them hugging in their underwear.  They slept together. Despite what happened, she and Hannah made amends, and slowly developed a friendship.

"He was like an animal.  I don't know what came over him but fuck...he made me come three times. And he got me speaking Spanish! And I don't even know Spanish!" A giggle escapes Jessica's lips as crimson slowly takes over her cheeks.

"Holy crap, girl! Didn't you say Nate is a fireman too?  I remember meeting this fireman a couple of years ago at Lyn and Brad's party.  His name was...Luke, I think.  God, he was hot.  Come to think of it, there was a fire that night at the balcony. And he saved our lives. I will never forget that." Brooke ponders quietly for a moment, shuddering at the possible outcome if that brave fireman wasn't there.


"Oh yeah...I remember that night.  That was crazy.  That was the last time I saw Lyn and Brad.  I've been trying to get a hold of that girl but she disconnected her number.  It's like she disappeared since she got accepted to med school." Jamie stares off into the water, her eyes overcome with sadness at the thought of her other best friend, the girl she has known since Biology class at Bridgeport University. "I miss her so much.  I hope she's okay."

"I miss her too.  I've had no luck either." Brooke places her hand over Jamie's in an attempt to comfort her, letting her know that she is not alone.  "But isn't J.C. Brad's brother? Maybe he knows what's going on."

"Oh that's right, I completely forgot about that! Speaking of brothers, I remember Lyn telling me that Luke has two brothers who are also firemen.  Nate is one, I know that.  And...Jake!!" The mere thought of Jake sends butterflies to the pit of Jamie's stomach, making her almost forget how to breathe. "Now that I think about it, they do kind of resemble each other in some way.  Could they be THE brothers??"

"I sure as hell hope so! Mmm...firemen brothers...that's hot." Hannah starts to wonder if the other two Rossi boys are single.

"Wait til you meet them, Hannah." Jamie nods her head as a coy smile crosses her lips before she grabs the lunch specials. "Okay ladies, I'm starving.  Let's order!"


Location: Bridgeport Community Fire Department
Time: 7:16 p.m.

"I know my wife will probably kill me, but you make the best spaghetti, Sarah." Marley chuckles as he twirls the luscious strands of homemade noodles around his fork, making sure they soak up every last drop of chunky ragu sauce.  He can still taste the fresh chopped basil and flat-leafed parsley in his mouth.

Going on his third year as the lead investigator, he would not have made it this far without Joseph's guidance.  It wasn't even his plan to become a member of the crew.  He was just the maintenance guy who, seven years ago, was responsible for mundane repairs on the structural wiring of the firestation, appliances, plumbing and making sure tools were up to date.  When Joseph became captain five years ago, he made the decision to restructure the existing staff.  He kept the ones who gave 100% to the job, and got rid of those that contributed nothing but problems.  He saw this same dedication in Marley, who developed a passion for firetruck engines under his supervision.  Now Marley is the go-to guy when it comes to teaching new crew-members how to operate and maintain a firetruck.

"Oh Marley, stop.  You are too sweet, sugar." Sarah gives Marley a playful wink before taking a forkful of pasta in her mouth.

"Marley, quit giving away my secret." Joe pats the side of his mouth with linen as he looks at the man who has become his close and trusted friend over the years.

"And what is that, honey?" Sarah turns to her beloved husband.

"Compliments for food."


"Mom!! You made spaghetti!" Jake savors the warmth of the plate on his hand as his eyes light up at the sight of his mother.  The whole kitchen becomes drenched with the smell of her food whenever she visits, the essence of garlic, butter, herbs and spices traveling throughout the whole first floor.  It brings such a comforting feeling to him, his brothers and his dad. It's as if she brought "home" into the firestation.  Even other staff members start to appear out of nowhere, leading them into the kitchen, bringing everyone together to just relax and talk about the day over a home-cooked meal.

"I know it's your favorite. Have a seat, babe." Sarah points at the empty chair by Marley. "Where's Luke?"

"He's coming." Jake reassures her as he prepares to sit down, take his time and enjoy one of the things in this world he loves the most: being with his family and his mom's food.


"It's so nice to have everyone back.  How did the meeting go?" Sarah comments as she secretly watches Luke gather his noodles with a fork.  He's been unusually quiet tonight.

"It went well.  We may be looking at a possible arson case with the last two fires. But we're keeping our eyes open.  I also introduced Nate and Austin as the newest members of the crew." Joseph ponders if he should have seconds as he eyes the leftover spaghetti.  Then he remembers that he needs to keep an eye on his blood pressure, which tends to soar when he eats too much of Sarah's cooking.  Or can it also be the demands of the job?

"Arson? Oh, no! That's horrible!" Sarah's eyes widen in concern, and for a minute, she wishes the men in her life were not in this profession.  She can't even imagine what she would do if something happened to them.

"It's okay, Mom.  Dad and Marley are on top of it and we'll make sure we catch these guys." Jake flashes her a reassuring smile as he scopes the last serving of spaghetti.  Marley is reading a book, so he's done.  Sarah hardly ever goes for seconds, so she's safe.  Nate seems to be lost in la-la land.  Jake caught his dad staring at the leftovers earlier but seemed to pull back for some reason.  Luke is still eating but he's known for having a big appetite. Not taking any chances, Jake goes for it. "I got dibs on seconds!"

"Go crazy, bro." Nate laughs as he watches his younger brother greedily grab the plate.  He knows better than to mess with Jake and his spaghetti.


"So how was your trip, sweetheart?" Sarah asks nonchalantly, trying desperately not to pry into her son's personal business, but unable to ignore her nagging concerns as a mother.  He went to see this Lyn girl, who happens to be Brad's ex, who happened to sleep with her sister.  What good could come out of this situation?  And why would Luke care enough to take three days off, only to come back a day early? Did something happen? Did Brad show up? Brad's track record of skanky girls has been nothing but trouble, especially for Luke.

It amazes Sarah that her oldest son is even still friends with the boy that he has known since elementary school.  Maybe Luke took after his own father, who is a man of integrity, who has this ability to overlook people's mistakes.  Yet how can he forgive Brad for what he did, but never speak to Natalie again?


"It was good." Luke throws his mother a brief glance before looking down at the table.  He's always been able to tell Sarah anything, no matter what the situation was.  His parents always encouraged the boys to tell the truth, no matter what was troubling them.  They listened, kept an open mind and helped if it was their place to do so.  But this time, he hesitates to say anything about Lyn, especially now that they know what happened.  He's afraid that his mother will never understand, and will categorize the woman of his dreams as bad news.  He vowed to protect her from getting hurt again, even if it meant shielding her privacy from the most important woman in his life: his own mother.

"Your father told me you were going to be gone for three days, but you came back early." Sarah's ocean blue eyes carefully examine Luke face, and she senses the wall he's putting up, especially with the way he's avoiding eye contact.  "Everything okay?"

"Don't get me wrong
I'd never say never
Cause though love
Can change the weather
No act of God
Can pull me away from you"

*Copyright 2013 Lyn C.S.*
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Author's Note:  Wow, I can't believe it's been almost a year since I updated this story.  Feeling a bit rusty but just glad to be back on track again.  January 4 was the story's anniversary, so woot! Thank you for still reading, and for your continued support in Memoirs and Heat :-)

"Chances" by Five For Fighting
Video by: Suzanne Warshell