CHAPTER FOUR || START OF AN ERA

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"You're such a dumbass oh my" Harley scoffed as she threw her keys on the table by the front door of her shared apartment with her brother as they returned from Molly's the buzz of alcohol rushing through all their veins. Both Jay and Isaac stumbling in behind her quickly making their way toward the couch, the recent case they'd worked having had a mental effect on the both of them. and a few beers was always the best stress relief.

"You got any more beer Flores?" Jay huffed as he sat on the couch ready to continue said stress relief, The question directed toward Isaac yet Harley answered; "not for you"

"Har, I'm not even drunk" The man chuckled his hand open as if negotiating despite the fact he knew better he still wanted to try, and much to his dismay Harley only chuckled shaking her head as she shrugged off her Jacket revealing her Lacey strap top that laid beneath.

"I know but I don't feel like looking after you and Mr. Talk a lot over there all night" Harley smiled a soft chuckle escaping her lips as she shook her head watching as Isaac walked into the kitchen. before sitting down on the couch beside Jay. Sighing she let her body fall into the comfort the couch provided.

"so how was it? 51? And don't lie to me this time?" Jay asked, his head turned toward her as he waited for an answer he wanted, and all he wanted was honesty. The buzz of alcohol running through his mind almost blurring his thoughts, but not enough to change the fact he wanted to be there for her. he remembered how hard it was, getting back into civilian life.

"I didn't lie to you. it was fine" Harley shrugged brushing off his concern, She'd fought so hard to pass the tests to be a firefighter yet she wasn't sure she even wanted to be one.

"you miss the army, I know you do. I did." Jay sighed, his soft blue eyes glued to her gorgeous deep brown eyes as he waited for a suitable answer. yet Harley just remained silent for a moment, letting her mind wander as she tried to figure out what to say.

"of course I do. I'm a soldier I'm not a firefighter" Harley sighed looking over at Jay, Noticing the look in his eyes change. his eyes softened as he subtly shook his head. he knew the feeling. he felt the same about becoming a cop, Yet as he went to speak Isaac returned two beers in hand.

"oi go back. get me one" Harley scoffed as her brother handed one beer to Jay leaving her without one, A chuckle erupted from Isaac as he rolled his eyes. at to him, his bossy sister.

"yes ma'am" He shook his head having thought his sister didn't want to drink anymore. Returning to the kitchen again leaving Jay and Harley alone in the silence of the apartment. Harley shook her head at her brother as she sighed.

"You may be a soldier, But that's not all you have to be" Jay shrugged his alcohol-laced words ringing in Harley's mind as her brother returned with another beer bottle. the word lingering in her mind, maybe he was right. but was a firefighter really the right job for her?

"Your Highness" Isaac rolled his eyes handing his sister the bottle before flopping down on the couch opposite Jay and Harley, letting the soft couch pillows almost swallow him, hoping the mix of comfort and beer would wash away the sights he'd seen while working in intelligence.

"my little sister back in Chicago wasn't sure I'd ever see the day" Isaac chuckled as he sipped his beer, Reaching for the TV remote that laid on the table in need of checking the sports channels.

"me neither" Jay chuckled, His eyes flickering between Isaac and Harley before he raised his beer bottle to his lips, The cold liquid flooding his tastebuds.

Isaac huffed letting his head fall back against the couch, The exhaustion of working in intelligence catching up with him, as jay chuckled; "you alright bud?"

"Yeah, long day man how aren't you tired?" Isaac sighed lifting his head to take a sip from his beer, Harley doing the same eager to feel the same relief the two men were seeking.

"I've been on the job longer" Jay chuckled pretending he was used to the extensive physical toll police work had not only on his body but on his mind.

"Yeah yeah whatever" Isaac chuckled before downing the rest of his beer and leaning forward to place it on the coffee table before yawning deeply.

"I'm going to bed, Jay you know where the door is" Isaac smiled at his best friend before his eyes met his sisters, Sending her a subtle nod reminding her to let him out.

"you sure? we got more beer" Harley questioned, Her mind racing with more than just alcohol as she looked up at her brother who only cocked a brow.

"yes i'm sure i wanna get some shut eye. I'll see you both tomorrow" Isaac smiled as he ventured further into the apartment, making his way down the corridor leading to his bedroom.

Harley sighed, alone again, With Jay. The man beside her readjusting himself before lifting his beer bottle to his lips finishing off what was left in the bottle.

"jay? would you want to go out soon, without him?" Harley sighed nodding in the direction her brother had went, jays brows knitting together as he looked over at the woman he'd known for years.

"Harley, we've tried this before" He reminded her of the past they shared, A past they'd agreed should stay as just that, yet harley shook her head. that's not what she meant, She had too much going on for that.

"just as friends jay" She sighed standing up, friends. That's what she needed, Not a therapist, Not her brother, Not colleagues. She needed a friend. A friend who knew what she was going through she needed Jay.

"there's a diner a few blocks from your firehouse, I could meet you there when you finish next shift. Breakfast on me?" Jay chuckled as he went to stand up, Taking Isaacs empty Beer bottle from the table. Standing up A smile tugged at harley's lips.

"Sounds perfect." She nodded running a hand through her thick Curly hair, Just the thought of another shift making her stomach Churn. Jay nodded, A smirk displayed across his face as he returned to the kitchen to discard Both his and Isaacs empty beer bottles.

***

"Harley! You're gonna be late! Get up!" And the next working day had come all too quickly as Harley heard her brother's fist collide with her bedroom door. The man's way of waking her up. Groaning Harley rolled over reaching for her phone that laid on the cabinet beside her bed. Wiping the sleep from her eyes she caught a glimpse of the time: 7:15.

"Shit." She muttered pulling herself from the comfort and warmth her bed provided, She'd overslept. First time since she'd left the military she'd over slept. And in a strange way, Guilt rolled in. The final straw, the final realisation that she truly was losing the military way.

"Harley!" Isaac called out frustration clear in his voice as the detective tried to avoid being late to his own shift. Yet just the sound of her brothers voice caused a pool of annoyance to grow in her stomach.

"i'm up!" Harley yelled as she pulled herself up on to her feet. Rushing toward her closet she pushed the feelings, The thoughts back into the deepest parts of her soul hoping to keep them as far away from her conscious mind as possible.

Harley rushed getting ready, Almost tripping over her own feet as she pulled the clothes on her body. Shoving everything she needed in the gym bag she'd now labelled her work back. She wanted to do drills. As many drills she could possibly fit in one shift. She knew if she at least wanted to try and making firefighting work she'd have to try. She had to learn. And who better to learn from than her Lieutenant Matt Casey?

******

A/N- hi guys!
I hope you're enjoying so far, and are excited for the next few firehouse interactions! i'm gonna try and make this book a slow burn but they aren't my strongest points

I've also realised for some reason, My TWD fic is clearly my best writing every time i compare any of my other fics to my twd one i just humble myself 😭