Flames & Firehoses (Arsonist X Firefighter)

Chapter 16

Going back to L.A. meant I couldn't go back to my apartment, my workplace or anywhere else I frequently went...except Henry and Mike's old place.

Since the firefighter had transported most of his belongings to the house in Ashland, the brothers' enormous, shared apartment looked horribly bare! There were strange spots of space in every room, as if items that were previously there had simply vanished! Among the leftovers were piles of assembled boxes with only the letter "M" written on them. Upon taking a quick peek inside one, as I passed through the living room to the kitchen behind Henry, while we searched for the brother, whose mark was all over the remaining contents of the apartment, I noticed that they were already filled with smaller necessities. Mike was planning to move quicker than I'd hoped! I couldn't stay with the Connors brothers long - at either of their residences!

"Hey, Mike! You here?" Henry yelled, then waited for a reply.

I stayed silent, as well. Perhaps, I wouldn't have to deal with the pompous asshole the firefighter was calling, after all!

"Yep!" a loud chirp shattered my chances of wish fulfillment.

"Marco!" Henry yelled with a grin and remained standing where he was.

"Polo!" Mike laughed, his voice sounding slightly closer than earlier.

Within half of a minute, my secondary nemesis found us.

"Oh! Hey!" the soon-to-be paramedic took a step backwards in shock, when he saw me.

"Hi!" I politely, but somewhat coldly, greeted.

"Hey, Mike!" Henry warmly smiled at his younger brother, taking the time to properly say hello to him, before starting the unpleasant conversation, which he and I had just driven over three-hundred miles to have with the guy, whom I was almost as afraid of as the one we'd escaped.

"Is something wrong?" Mike immediately picked up on the tension in the air and frowned. "...Other than what I already know, of course," he smirked, attempting to lighten the mood.

"Uh...yeah. You could say that!" Henry snorted, without losing his smile. "Danny followed one of us out to Ashland and harrassed me at the house," he reported. "I had to stow Caitlyn away in the trunk of my car, so that he would think she's still there!" he laughed, clapping his hand on his knee.

"Very funny!" I grimly commented on the ordeal. "I should have known you'd be bragging about that to everyone you can!"

"For as long as you're around!" Henry grinned; but, his joy faded shortly after, as if from the simultaneous realization between us that long was a deceptive term to use.

"O-kay," Mike slowly processed the new information with confusion. "What's the plan, then?"

"I don't know. I'm exhausted from the drive to Ashland and back!" Henry admitted. "Taking it one night at a time, I suppose!" he chuckled, as he glanced outside the kitchen window at the darkening sky.