Tales from the Firehouse

Your Brain Damage is Kicking In

The rest of the day, Lisa wandered the firehouse going through the motions and trying her best to ignore the feeling of walking on air that she'd had since waking up that morning. Every thought ran back towards Jennie, every comment reminded her of something Jennie had said or done the night before. When she wasn't pining for Jennie, she was trying to remember the exact tone of her laugh or the way the skin around her eyes wrinkled when she smiled.

When she wasn't doing that, she was kicking herself for acting like a complete and utter high school kid.

Other than the gas leak, they hadn't had a call the entire shift. When they returned, Jackson reiterated his radio speech, letting them know that there were concerns about the safety of fires, letting everyone know they should be on their toes for the next couple of calls. WonHo had merely grunted and headed upstairs, probably upset that a call had interrupted his workout. Amazingly enough, their normally busy overnight part of their shift was deathly quiet and they spent it in bed undisturbed and rested.

Everyone else was trying to ignore the fact that Hoshi's funeral was set to coincide with their end of their shift at lunchtime. His mother had worked out the schedule with Jackson to be certain that all of her son's new friends could attend. Almost everyone had brought their dress uniforms to work with them that morning, planning to change at the end of shift. The wool uniforms were currently hanging in their lockers to avoid getting wrinkled, identical suits hanging breast-to-back along the wall in the dark locker area.

The only unadorned locker belonged to Rosé. Lisa assumed she was going to skip the service and didn't particularly blame her; she understood that going to the funeral of the man you were replacing would feel a little weird. However, a little past seven in the morning not long after they'd got up, Jackson called Rosé into his office and had a short discussion with her. Afterward, she made some noise about needing to head home sometime before noon to pick up her uniform.

When she had a spare moment, Lisa headed outside with her mobile phone to call Jennie and let her know the funeral details. She leaned against the wall, facing the street as she dialed Jennie's number. Jisoo and Rosé hadn't been giving her a moment's peace and, to keep them from eavesdropping, she'd finally moved it outside. "Jennie? It's Lisa. I didn't wake you, did I?" At dinner, Jennie had mentioned working the night shift at the hospital the next night.

"No, it's all right. I was just napping," Jennie said, contradicting herself. "What's the plan?"

"The funeral starts at 1:30, so I was thinking I would swing by your place around an hour before that."

"That sounds perfect. I'll be ready to go at about 12:30," Jennie said. After a moment, she added, "You know, I saw you on my way home from work yesterday."

"Oh, yeah? Where? You drive by the station or something?"

"No, it was in the city centre. You were working... some kind of gas leak or something...?"

"Oh!" Lisa said. She watched a large expensive Audi pull into the firehouse parking lot as she tried to remember the scene of that afternoon's fire, watching until it moved out of sight before she finally asked, "Where were you?"

"On the bus."

Lisa thought for a second, trying to remember a bus. "Bus... oh, yeah, I saw that. Rosé and I were right by it. Why didn't you try to get my attention? It would've been nice to see you."

"I don't know. I just... I'd never seen you in your uniform and looking all... hot."

Lisa was glad she'd moved outside; she would never have lived down the deep crimson blush she currently had going. "So...you were spying on me?"

"A little," Jennie admitted.

Lisa smiled. "Well, I'll just have to remember that. See about getting some revenge."

"I'll be on the look-out."

They said good-bye and hung up, Lisa heading back into the station. Jisoo intercepted her halfway across the apparatus bay, putting an arm around her shoulder and forcibly steering her back the way she'd come. "Hey, Manoban, what's up, how you doing, fancy a Pepsi, yeah? Me too, let's walk to the store, my treat."

She glanced sideways at her as her feet barely touched the pavement. "Jisoo, your brain damage is starting to kick in."

"Just walk," she said, looking over her shoulder.

"You're freaking me out, Soo."

They were halfway to the big garage doors when she heard someone shout "Lisa!" from the kitchen.

She groaned and stopped as she recognized the voice. She looked at Jisoo, patting her on the arm and whispering, "Bless you for trying my friend." She turned and faced Han So-hee with a fake smile plastered on her lips. "Ms. Han. What a... surprise."

"A pleasant surprise, I would hope," she said, walking towards her.

"It's a surprise," Lisa said, forcing herself to approach her. "What... are you doing here?"

"I simply wished to express my condolences for your fallen brother. If your Mr Martin determines that these fires are indeed aimed at me or my company, I feel it would be my duty to make amends for..."

Lisa held up her hands to stop her. "We're just doing our jobs, Ms Han. There's no need for..."

"Oh, please! I insist! And with the funeral being today..."

"You are NOT coming to the funeral," Lisa said, unable to stop the words before they were out and feeling Jisoo's reassuring presence backing her up to her side. "I mean... i-it's probably just going to be a family affair. The people he worked with, his family, things like that. I don't think his mother wanted a big spectacle..."

"Well, I'm sure one more person..."

"It really wouldn't be right. I'm sorry, Ms. Han, but we have to ask that you not attend."

She appeared crushed, but nodded slowly. "Okay. I understand. Thank you for your candor, Lisa."

"Ms. Manoban."

So-hee pinched a smile and said, "Yes, yes, of course. Well, I should get going. Thank you for your time, Na... Ms. Manoban. Ms. Kim."

Jisoo grinned and said, "Not a problem, Ms. Han."

So-hee slipped between them and headed for the door. When she was gone, Jisoo whistled and draped an arm back over the tall blondes shoulder, "Ooh, boy howdy, that was harsh."

"The woman has been harassing me for close to a year," Lisa said as they walked towards the kitchen. "Maybe now she'll stop requesting me for her inspections. I don't mind doing my share, but..." She froze when she saw the kitchen. "What is all this?"

"Han brought it," Rosé explained as she buttered a crumpet. "She's alright."

"Yeah," Lisa scoffed. "I'll let you take a couple hundred of her inspections, see how much you like her then." She was still a little awed by the spread though. The table was covered with packets of crumpets and muffins, bags of doughnuts, a large bowl of fresh fruit, two tall cartons of orange juice, a carton of milk, bacon, sausage, eggs, bags of bread... the house was set for at least a week's worth of breakfasts. Or two days, depending on how much restraint Jisoo and Lisa were able to display.

Lisa took a seat, picking up a bunch of grapes and plucking one from the stem. "Okay, I've only met her the once. But you gotta admit," Rosé said, motioning with her strawberry jam-drowned piece of toast, "the woman knows how to say thank you. Once, at Kirkby, we pulled this guy out of a smoky apartment. Wasn't breathing, had to perform CPR, I think they even put him in that hyperbole chamber."

"Hyperbaric chamber," Jisoo corrected.

"Right," Rosé nodded. "Anyway, once he was all better, he shows up at the firehouse with a brand-new big screen TV. Just in time for the World Cup finals too. We got to watch Spain win in style."

"Never mention those rat bastards again," Jisoo said, eyes aflame with hatred.

Rosé looked up, eyes wide, and looked to Lisa for help. She smiled and explained, "Jisoo had to give everyone in the firehouse a tenner."

"Because..."

"We're not allowed to say why," Lisa interrupted, winking. "It wasn't the most charitable donation we've ever received."

Jisoo grumbled, "It was a sure thing... they should never have beaten the Dutch and they go and win the day I try to make some dough," and went back to devouring a banana.

"What are you doing after this?" Rosé asked.

"Toilets," Lisa groaned. "When I took the test to become a firefighter, I had no idea the job description included cleaning toilets."

"Or windows," Jisoo said. "Man, maids don't even do the windows anymore."

"Neither do you, Streaky," Lisa said poking her finger in her cheek and smiling as she tried to bite her. "Why d'you ask, Rosé?"

She shook her head. "I need to run back to my apartment and pick up my dress uniform."

"I thought you went already?" Lisa said.

"I did. It was a little wrinkled, so my fiance offered to get it pressed for me."

"Your fiance does your laundry?"

Rosé held her hands out in a 'what-do-you-want-from-me' gesture. "He offered, I needed it done... what's the problem?"

"Man no use iron," Lisa grunted. "Man make fire. Man kill thing, wife barefoot and pregnant."

Jisoo held up his hands. "Whoa, now, whoa... don't make it out to be some sick chauvinist. There are modern, sensitive guys... but it just seems weird that the future Mr. Rosé is standing at home with an apron, hunched over an ironing board while his bride-to-be is out fighting fires. It's topsy-turvy's all."

Lisa was about to say something smart in return when WonHo wandered into the kitchen. He was dripping with sweat, his t-shirt sleeves cut off at the shoulders. He glanced at the food on the table, not saying a word as the three people seated there followed him with their eyes. He opened the fridge, withdrew a jug of fruit punch and chugged half the bottle.

Releasing a healthy belch, he screwed the cap back on and replaced it in the fridge. He wiped his mouth on his forearm and left the kitchen again. Jisoo shook her head and said, "That dude is fucking weird."

"Talking about me behind my back, are ya?"

Lisa jumped. She hadn't even seen the new arrival until his arm was around Jisoo's neck, his free hand flat on top of his captive's scruffy hair. Jisoo froze, eyes wide, lips pressed out as if she was trying to whistle as her hands went to the arm wrapped around her throat. "Holy...!" Jisoo gasped.

Rosé and Lisa were out of their seats, Lisa barely believing her eyes. "Kookie?"

"The one and the same, darling," he said, grinning brightly. He released Jisoo, who gasped and spun around to confirm the owner of the voice. Jungkook reached out and clasped Lisa's hand, chuckling evilly. "How's the No-Boys-Allowed Firehouse doing without me?"

"We're dragging ourselves through each day," Lisa assured him, moving around Jisoo for a hug.

"My trachea is fine, by the way," Jisoo rasped.

"Big baby," Jungkook muttered with a grin. He slapped Jisoo on the back and turned to Rosé. He squinted and pointed a finger at her. "Now, I know you're one of the Parks... so you've got to be..."

"Roseanne, Rosé for short"

Jungkook clapped once and said, "Rosé! We got Rosé in the firehouse!" He shook her hand and said, "Jeon Jungkook. Kookie to those who know me. Pleased to meet you."

Lisa shook her head and examined her friend. He was wearing his dress uniform, every thread precisely where it belonged. His gloves were tucked into the jacket pocket, the fingers sticking out and draping over the edge. His cap was the only thing missing, but it was most likely out in the apparatus bay. The only incongruous parts were the bandages wrapping around his neck and ears. "They let you out of the hospital, huh?"

"Oh, well, special occasion and all," he said, indicating his uniform. "I gave them my puppy dog eyes and a little bit of the bottom lip..." He turned to Rosé, widening his eyes and puffing his bottom lip out to Oliver Twist-levels. "I got a day-pass. They're not letting me come back to work until next week. The bastards. I'm fine now. I'll find an excuse to hang out here, you got my word on that."

"Yeah, but I don't want to be behind you in a fire when that fancy new skin of yours starts flaking off," Lisa said.

Jungkook scoffed. "Women." He sighed and patted Jisoo on the shoulder. "Is Jackson around?"

Lisa nodded. "He should be nearby. C'mon, Rosé, we'll go see if we can round him up."

"Okay," Rosé said, unsure of why she had to go. They headed out into the apparatus bay. Lisa glanced back and saw Jungkook take Rosé' seat, putting an arm around Jisoo's shoulders. He had known how close Jisoo and Hoshi were, knew how the death had to be hitting the woman. Lisa moved on, giving them their privacy.

x-0-x

Jungkook and Jackson sat in the lawn chairs out front and sipped their soft drinks while they talked about the calls the engine had taken in the past few days. From the locker room, Lisa could hear them laughing and joking about WonHo's constant weight-room presence. She and Rosé were in the locker room, the curtained-off space expanded to take up the extra room necessary for a second woman.

Lisa had taken off her t-shirt and was reaching for her dress blouse when Rosé said, "Can I ask you a personal question?" Rosé asked.

Lisa tensed slightly, but said, "Sure."

"Jisoo's little... slip the other day. About you... being..."

"Do you want me to leave until you're dressed?" Lisa asked sincerely. They were both in their bras, but Lisa had her trousers on. Rosé was standing just behind her in a pair of boxer shorts.

Rosé laughed, "No, don't be silly. I was just wondering if it made it easier or harder to be in the department."

Lisa frowned and cocked her head to one side. "What do you mean?"

"Well, for one thing, you probably don't have guys hitting on you all the time. That's gotta be... pleasant."

Lisa laughed. "Oh, please. The fact that I'm not interested doesn't deter some of them one iota. If anything, it makes them more determined. A couple of guys in training thought that I'm only gay because I haven't spread my legs for the right guy yet."

"Right," Rosé said. "Just like Jungkook and Jackson are only straight because they haven't found the right queen to bend them over a chair."

Lisa laughed and said, "Oh, God, do not let them hear you say that!" She pulled her dress shirt out of the closet and shook her head. "Wearing a shirt and tie, cleaning toilets... and here I thought running into burning buildings would be the worst part of my job."

"I'd give anything to be running into a burning building right now," Rosé griped as she worked her hair into a bun. "So it doesn't give you any... I don't know, special camaraderie with the guys?"

"Just because we happen to like sleeping with the same people?" She shrugged. "I didn't get very much respect in the department until I dragged Jungkook through a window. Not only saved his life, but showed the boys I could do all the stuff they could. They warmed to me after that... and after I strung up this sheet so they wouldn't have to sacrifice their entire den."

"Why would they...?"

"The big wigs down at headquarters wanted to give me my own locker room. If the measure passed, they would have changed the den into a women's locker room. So I went out and campaigned against it, making sure the bill didn't get voted in and then I just put this up. It showed them that I was a team player."

"So it's all political, huh?"

"Yeah, pretty much," Lisa sighed. "You just have to roll with the punches."

Rosé nodded. "I know. It just sometimes feels like we're gonna keep taking the punches until the guy hitting us gets a sore shoulder."

Lisa grinned and finished buttoning her blouse. "Very apt."

"So are you seeing anyone?"

Lisa shrugged, a picture of Jennie popping into her mind. "I have someone I'm currently very fond of, yes." She pulled on her trousers, tucked the shirt into the waistband and fastened the belt. Wiggling her toes in the tight black socks, she half-turned and said, "Can you imagine if we got a call right now?"

"Oh, yeah," Rosé laughed. "I can see the headlines now... 'The Dapper Department.' Firefighters responding to a blaze in suits and ties."

"Screw that," Lisa said. "If I have to go into a fire, I'm going in naked before I get this thing dirty." She angled the mirror on her locker door and bent down, trying to watch as she wound the tie around itself. "Damn things... most departments in this day and age have clip-on ties. It's the wave of the future. Keeping these horrific little... tying ties... is like keeping a typewriter when a computer will do."

"Or having laces when Velcro tightens your shoes just as well," Rosé said as she stepped in front of Lisa, slapping the blondes hands away. "Here. You're hopeless... let me get it." She reached up, undoing the sloppy knot Lisa had made and redoing it in a few seconds. She looped and knotted the tie, then pulled the knot tight against Lisa's throat. "Too tight?"

"No, it's good. Thanks."

Rosé stepped back to her locker and pulled her jacket off the hanger. "Does your girlfriend usually tie your tie for you?"

"There's no 'usually' with us... I mean, we just started going out."

"Oh, I see," Rosé said. "Well, you better make sure she can tie a tie before it gets too serious. I've seen relationships crumble for smaller reasons."

Lisa laughed and said, "I'll keep it in mind."

x-0-x

Jennie, unsure of what to wear, went online and searched for fire service funerals. All the images she could find showed scores of firemen in identical black suits and caps, the picture of formality. All the firefighters seemed to be wearing a regulation dress uniform and she didn't see many civilians in any of the photos she found, so she had to decide what to wear based on the dress uniforms. She headed to her wardrobe and summarily disqualified and ruled out almost everything she owned.

After about twenty minutes of debating with her inner fashionista, she withdrew a simple maroon gown and laid it out on the bed. The dress was an appropriate length for a funeral, wide shouldered and not too low-cut. The only markings on the dress were the narrow threads breaking up the smooth expanse from the bottom of her breasts down to her waist and a smattering of violets running along the hem. She shed her robe and slipped into the dress and stood in front of the mirror to refresh her memory of how it looked on her. She reached up to gather her hair, testing it both up and down to see which complimented her better.

She primped and preened for a few minutes, then told herself to stop being silly. Lisa, after all, probably wasn't acting like a giddy high school senior on her way to the prom. She sighed and let the dress fall. She slipped out of her underwear and went to the run the water for her bath.

x-0-x

Jackson stepped out of his office with both arms held out, his wrists turned out as if he expected to be handcuffed. "Would someone give me a damn hand here?" he asked. Lisa walked by with her hand over her eyes. "Manoban,  would you mind..."

"Sorry, Jackson," she said. She kept her hand firmly over her eyes and said, "If I look at you in your dress uniform, I may have to revoke my homosexuality."

"Cause you look so damn fine," Jisoo grinned as she stepped up to fasten Jackson's cuff links for him. Jackson sighed as Jisoo's  fingers managed the small holes with ease.

Rosé walked by, fitting her cap over her bun. "Ooh, does he tie your shoes for you, too, Guv?"

Jackson grumbled, "I'm just not that good manipulating at small things... that's all."

"Then how do you aim in the bathroom?" Jungkook asked.

"Are you still here, Charcoal?" Jackson snapped.

Jungkook held his hands up. "Whoa, whoa, not nice making fun of the nearly fried guy over here. Lucy Meacock on Granada called me a hero."

"Granada also shows Jeremy Kyle and Loose Women," Jackson pointed out. "I'm not exactly holding my breath for their Oscar or whatever the hell award they give TV stations. Now come on, let's get a move on, boys and girls." He pulled his cap on and Lisa glanced back at him. All joking aside, the well built handsome man was born to wear the dress uniform. It was enough to make any woman take a second look.

They spread out to their own cars. Jackson paused to talk with the incoming watch commander before he joined them in the car park. "We gonna convoy to the church?"

"I can't," Lisa said. "I have to pick up Jennie."

He gave her a thumbs-up and said, "Everyone else?"

"Sounds good to me," Jungkook said. "I don't know where the church is."

Jisoo banged the roof of his trunk and said, "Carpool with me, Kookie"

Jungkook hurried to catch up and slid into the passenger seat of Jisoo's truck. The watch pulled out together, lining up behind jackson's truck. When Lisa's Nissan pulled off towards Jennie's apartment, Rosé, Jisoo and Jackson all sounded their horns in farewell. She waved through the window at them, honked her own horn in return and laughed when she saw all the other motorists' looks of confusion.

x-0-x

Jennie was putting the finishing touches on her make-up when there was a knock on the door, she'd already buzzed Lisa into her building. "Perfect timing," she smiled at her reflection. She shut off the lamp and hurried down the dark hallway, her bare feet making shush-shush noises in the carpet. "Just a minute!" she said, pausing in the foyer to slip into her shoes. She smoothed the bodice of the dress, grabbed her bag and opened the door.

"Oh, wow," she gasped, unable to restrain herself.

She'd seen the photos online, but nothing could have prepared her for the sight of Lisa Manoban standing at her door in full dress uniform. The jacket was jet black, save for a white stripe circling each wrist. Brass buttons gleamed on her chest, the black tie perfectly knotted under her chin. She wore a military-like cap that shielded her eyes, her blonde hair feathering out in the back.

When Lisa brought one hand up to fiddle and pull nervously with her collar, Jennie saw that she was wearing fine white gloves with three pleats on the back running from her wrist up to her fingers. She exhaled and finally blinked, taking a step back. "You... look magnificent."

Lisa shifted from one foot to the other, looking down at herself. "I look like the guy in those ads trying to get kids to join the Army." She looked up and said, "You, on the other hand..."

"Is this all right? I-I wasn't sure what was appropriate..."

"This is more than appropriate," Lisa interrupted. "You look gorgeous. Gorgeous." She tilted her head and said, "If I could, just..."

Jennie nodded.

Lisa stepped forward and brought her hands up. Jennie bowed her head as Lisa reached around and cupped the back of her head. Her fingers slipped around for a bit and, when she stepped back, Jennie felt her hair fall loose onto her shoulders. Lisa brushed her fingers through the freed strands and said, "Yeah. Perfect."

"Thank you." She extended her arm and said, "Shall we?"

Lisa took the arm and tucked it against her side as she escorted Jennie to the elevator. Jennie couldn't help smiling; after a lifetime of being the background, being the blood-smeared anonymous face in an emergency room, now she felt wanted, attractive... loved. She covered Lisa's hand with her own and rested her head on the taller woman's shoulder.

x-0-x

She couldn't resist. It was just too sweet. Too perfect.

She sat in the back pew and tried to remain inconspicuous. The family was already here, the mother in tears while the father stood his ground stoic, proud. His son had died a hero. Yeah. Hero. He died trying to save a room filled with ratty furniture. Where's the parade and brass band? Big whoop-de-doo. The daughter, the dead fireman's sister, was a mess. Make-up streaking down her face, sobbing against her mother's shoulder. It was truly a spectacle... someone should've done something about it, but no one did. Stupid people with the boundaries.

The firefighters arrived en masse, sweeping into the room like the Knights of the bastard Round Table. Crisp black suits, hats pulled low to hide their eyes. They looked more like the Mafia, now that she thought about it. Here to bury one of their own, a very closed-off, fraternal organization. Yeah, just like the Mafia.

She supposed that made her a female Eliot Ness. Cleaning up the city, one dirty mobster at a time. She resisted a smile at that and scanned the crowd of firemen for her special project. She panicked when she didn't see her; had she decided not to come? She knew she had been right behind Hoshi when he died. Maybe the guilt had finally gotten to her.

Fuming, she stood and headed for the back of the sanctuary. No one saw her go, which was fortunate; not many people stormed out of a funeral muttering curses. She'd wanted at least a few more fires of playing with Manoban. If she was going to break this easily, she had been sorely mistaken in choosing her for her pet project, regardless of what her partner thought.

She climbed into her car, ready to burn rubber when she spotted a familiar gray jeep slide into an empty space.

Lisa Manoban got out of the driver's side, went around the front of the car and opened the passenger door. She put her arm around an attractive woman with long brunette hair, guiding her to the front of the church. What was this? Hoshi's wife? Or perhaps...

She looked again at how Manoban's hand rested in the small of the other woman's back. It was such a natural gesture, so easy, so...

Intimate.

Her eyes widened and she pressed back against the seat, watching the door of the church long after Manoban and her... her... the other woman... had gone inside. This changed things, she told herself. This changed things dramatically.

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