Trial By Fire - Bouncing Back, Book 1

Three

Walking into the hospital, Memphis made his way to the elevator. A woman and her infant were waiting for the lift as the numbers changed slowly. Something fell to the floor, and he turned his attention to the baby only to realize that they had thrown their stuffed bear out of the stroller.

"Well, hello there," he murmured. Crouching down, he grabbed the toy from the floor and showed it to the baby. The infant stared at him with wide grey eyes before giggling loudly.

Putting her device into her handbag, the mother turned to the teen with a small frown. "That's strange. She's not usually so friendly with strangers.”

He shrugged, “Rumour has it that animals and children know who they can trust.”

Laughing, she shook her head, "I’ve heard that one before. Are you visiting someone?"

Nodding, he told her the cover story the team was ordered to give. "It should have been me, but she left the store first."

"Please don't talk like that," the woman begged. “I mean, how many people would be this concerned over you if the tables were turned? Just look at how much racist bullshit is going on in the world today. If more people showed half the empathy you do, the world would be a better place."

The elevator dinged, the silver doors sliding open as a few doctors and nurses walked out. Memphis' eyes burned with tears as he struggled to accept her words. Stepping to the side, he let the woman, and her daughter get into the elevator first before following her on.

Before he could move to do the same, he was grabbed roughly from behind. ‘Don’t do it. Don’t react. Don’t say anything. Don’t do anything.’

"What do you think you’re doing?" The woman seethed.

"Ma'am, he's been reported for suspicious behaviour by a few nurses and patients," the guard replied. "Please, just go about your day."

"Go about my day? Not on my watch,” the woman scoffed. Looking over to the reception desk, she called out to have a supervisor come talk to them. The nurse nodded before disappearing into the back room.

Memphis laughed as he pulled himself from the guard's grasp. "Better yet, call Doctor Hansson."

The guard sneered. "You don't have that kind of gumption."

"Don't I?" Memphis challenged. "Take a look around you. Do you see how many people got their phones out recording this? How long do you think it’ll be before your ass is all over the internet?"

Behind him, the woman whispered: "My husband is coming."

Memphis looked around to see an officer in uniform walking over to them. His eyes wide, he willed his heart to stop racing as the heavily built white man approached. Fear gripped him as he recalled the latest news cast a few days ago about killer cops. Yet, this man didn’t seem threatening, nor did he have his hands near his holstered weapon.

Confusion flitted across the officer’s face as he took note of the situation. "What’s going on here?"

Sobbing, she pointed to the security guard and said, "He just pulled this teenager off the elevator for no reason. I'm so sorry, sweetheart, what was your name?"

"Memphis Slade," he answered automatically.

The officer paled, turning a glare to the guard. "You can leave now.”

Memphis watched the other man back off before turning and walking away. "Thank you."

“I know your dad, and my daughter, Holly, speaks highly of you and your friends. Especially after you were the one that carried her out of gym class last week when she collapsed.” Shaking his head, the officer offered his hand, "I’m Sergeant Kyle Brooks. This is my wife, Linda, and our daughter, Erica. Holly’s here for an appendix operation."

Memphis breathed a sigh of relief. "When an emergency hits, you gotta learn to think on your feet. How do you know my father?"

"He’s not just a teacher at school. He works with the OPP doing fitness checks. He’s brutal, but it works out in our favour," Kyle replied.

A few minutes later, he waved goodbye to the family and went in search of Kennedy's hospital room. Pushing open the door, he saw Kennedy sitting by the window in a wheelchair.

"Hey, b***h," he grunted out as the door shut behind him.

"I missed seeing your ugly face when I woke up," she returned with a grin. Seeing his pained expression, she frowned, "What happened?"

Grabbing a chair from the bedside, he sat down in front of her. "Dad's been on me about school again. I mean, I've been trying, but I just can't understand half the s**t I'm reading. When I do, it takes me twice as long to get the freaking work done.”

"Have you tried telling him about the possibility of dyslexia?" Kennedy questioned.

Running a hand through his hair, he groaned again, "Yes, but I don't think he believed me. He thought you were the one holding me back, but I told him that I wouldn't be where I am if it wasn't for you."

Her eyes opened wide at his words. She was finding it hard to believe he actually felt that way, but, as she searched his eyes, she knew he was being sincere. Tucking a strand of her long red hair behind her ear, she turned her attention to the Math work Markus dropped off the evening before. Finishing the page, she turned her eyes back to Memphis. “How far have you fallen behind?”

“Um, my overall dropped from ninety-seven to seventy-five,” he answered reluctantly.

“There’s still time if you want to buddy-up like we always do. I can get you back into the high eighties before midterms at least. Then you will get all the credits you need to pass.”

"Kenni, I, uh, I need to confess something," he started. "The day we found you in that warehouse, the day you got shot, I was terrified that we'd lost you, Ken. I’ve honestly been wrestling with this for the longest time, but I finally made a decision."

"Memphis, what are you talking about? What decision?" She asked, confused by his behaviour.

He took a steadying breath before getting out of his chair to lean over her. Sinking a hand into the loose strands of her hair, he tilted her face upward. Lowering his head, he took the risk and kissed her.

Kennedy's mind raced as his lips touched hers in a gentle kiss. Without thinking, she reached up, burying her hands in his braided hair.

"I'm sorry," he whispered when they broke apart.

She shook her head, "You have no idea how long I've been waiting for that to happen. You have no idea how often I had to walk away before I let it slip that I liked you as more than a friend."

He gasped out. "You... you like me?"

Staying silent, she shook her head.

"Now you’re the confusing one," he muttered as he dropped back to his chair.

"I don't like you anymore, Memphis," Kennedy murmured. "I figured out while Anderson had me in his clutches that I… I’m in love. With you. I think I’ve been there for a while, but I didn’t want to ruin our friendship."

Memphis kissed her again. Pulling away, he held her to his chest, "I love you, too, Kenni. So, no more hiding in the shadows."

"Seriously," she asked. "But I'm not a girlie-girl. I don't wear dresses, I can't do my hair or nails and detest shopping. I'm bossy, bitchy, and I'm always challenging you over the smallest things. What could you possibly see in me?"

He breathed a laugh, "For one, I’d rather a girl that likes to hit the firing range over one that spends hours getting lost in a mall. Two, there's nothing wrong with your hair or the fact that you don't wear girlie stuff. A girly-girl can’t keep up with me the way you can. Three, who else is strong enough to handle you? No one. I got you, babe."

He stopped, swiping a stray tear that leaked from her eyes. Kneeling on the floor in front of her, Memphis took her hands in his. "Four, when you challenge me, I like it. It encourages me to do better. You encourage me to do better, Kenni. "

"I didn't know you knew me so well," she replied with a hiccup.

He grinned at her, "I want to take you out on a date, if you'll let me."

"Diablo's my guardian, so you'll have to talk to him," she said with a smirk.

Shrugging, Memphis rose to his feet and kissed her forehead, "If I gotta face the Blue Devil, then I guess that's what's gonna happen."

"You're not serious? Memphis, no! I was joking! Jesus, do you have a death wish?"

Laughing, he smiled as he said, "I really missed you, Ken. So listen to the doctors to get outta here soon, okay?"

She stared at his retreating back as he left the room. Her fingers traced her lips. His kisses were electric, and she enjoyed them far more than she should have. After all, he’d just stolen her first kiss.

"When I get out of here, I want to see either the scariest or the goriest movie you can find and pig out on whatever junk food we can wrangle up."

"I can do that. I’ll be back again after school," he replied before the door shut behind him.

She bit her lip, “Well, that’s one good thing about having my ass handed to me. I just hope he’s for real.”