Fan Fiction |
by Jenny Tran
One Month Later
Erin sat in the room that she and Brad shared at one time. It seemed so long ago but yet it was just like yesterday. Most of the belongings were put into boxes and many of Brad’s old things have been put into a storage box where she would keep in her newly bought home. She didn’t know how long she wanted to keep his things, but she knew at the moment that she could not let go just yet. Ted was awfully understanding and very helpful in her state of mind. He insisted that she keep them until she was ready to let them go.
She let out a sigh as she went through Brad’s memoirs “Erin?” Mia stood at the door watching her friend tear up with each picture that slipped from her hands and into a box marked ‘Brad’s’.
She looked up with a hasty smile “Hey…are you back for another box?”
Mia nodded as she walked over to the bed “You okay?” she asked while stroking Erin’s now long hair “The guys have moved all the heavy stuff.” Erin’s head bobbed up and down but Mia knew better “Brad would want you to move on. You couldn’t live in this apartment by yourself.”
“I know.” Erin smiled showing she was okay “I guess it was a matter of time I would have to leave. Ted has been so patient with me.” She put the stack of photos into the box and sealed it up with the thick plastic tape.
“He’s great.” Mia agreed.
Erin stopped to smile contently at the thought of Ted “He is.” She snapped out of the daze when remembering Mia “How’s the married life? I’ve heard of horror stories of new husbands finally showing their evil side after the wedding day.” She was trying to scare her friend.
Mia laughed “Of course not! He’s just as perfect as I imagined.”
“Any thoughts of a family yet?” Erin asked curiously “I want to be an aunt.”
“With the P.R.A. work? I don’t think I’m ready to have a family yet.” Mia shook her head with a small smile. Indeed she’s thought of it, plenty of times but they were not at a point to start a little family.
Since the team went public and Joe’s announcement to the entire Hong Kong media a week ago, they had enormous amounts of missions and calls. Joe had to eventually move the headquarters to a bigger location where their operation would be secured and it would take an army to get inside. It was a prestigious honor for the Team when the Mayor gave them an award naming them ‘Heroes of 2003’. Joe had a few suggestions from the local Police Lieutenants and Sergeants to expand the team. But he had no such plans yet, plus the team was happy where they were.
“You don’t think we’ll be doing this for the rest of our lives do you?” Erin asked her friend reasonably “I mean, we’re not getting any younger. One day, we’ll be handing down our code names to the youngsters. If you ask me, I can’t wait to retire. The last few missions really took it out of me. Anyways, Reina and I are at peace, she’ll be out in 10 years…there’s nothing for me to do next.”
“How about marriage?” Mia knew Erin was right but she wasn’t ready to leave the team just yet.
She smiled “Eventually…”
*************
Ted adjusted the small wooden vanity desk of Erin’s into the moving van. He wiped the sweat off his forehead as he took a seat at the edge of the van. He could see Darren running towards him with two cold drinks in hand “Are the girls down?” he asked while handing Ted a soda.
He shook his head “Not yet.”
Darren placed the drink on the van’s floor as he pushed himself using both arms up into a sitting position across from Ted “Still talking?” he opened his drink and took a long gulp.
“Yeah.” Ted sighed, “I don’t know if she’s doing okay, man. I ask her from time to time but her answer is always nonchalant. I wonder sometimes if she is just trying to make me feel better by saying she’s okay. I know his death still bothers her.”
Darren nodded understandingly “Just give her more time to adjust. It hasn’t even been a year yet.”
“I’ll give her all the time in the world…but it won’t make a difference if she can’t move on.” Ted lowered her eyes to the drink in his hand “I worry about her.”
“I can tell…look at all the white hairs growing out at your temple.” He nodded at Ted.
Ted let out a laugh, it was actually just one strand “I’m getting old. I could tell, the other day I was chasing after a thief and it took me 3 blocks, it used to just be 1 block.”
“I don’t think I can run anymore.” Darren chimed in with a laugh “Obvious sign of aging, my friend…” he sighed sadly.
“And laziness.” Mia added as she and Erin came out with two boxes. Darren quickly jumped off the van and gave his new wife a hand “We’re up there dying and you guys are having sodas.” She wagged her finger at him teasingly.
Darren grinned at her with adoration “You said soda makes you bloated. I’ll get you some tea.” He quickly rushed off before she had a chance to stop him.
Erin tilted her head at Mia “How does it feel to have your own personal slave?”
“It’s the life.” Mia sighed, looking high.
She laughed at her friend, but one look at Ted and she was reminded “Are you ready?”
“Shouldn’t I be asking you?” Ted stepped up closer to her as he wrapped an arm around her waist.
Erin knew what he meant, her head nodded slowly “Yeah…I am.” She reached her arms around his neck and gave him a hug “Thank you for understanding.”
He smiled into the nape of her neck “Don’t thank me, it’s my job.”
She pulled away “A job that you get underpaid for.”
“I guess I better be getting a raise from my boss then.” He teased openly.
Erin smiled “Definitely.”
“Fresh tea is here!” Darren announced as he handed it to Mia’s ready hand.
“Coolio!” Mia chuckled as she opened her drink.
“Sweetie, you need to stop saying that word.” Darren wrinkled his nose in disagreement.
“Sorry, force of habit.” She shrugged while turning to Erin and Ted “Ready?” the two nodded after a short glance at each other “We’ll follow you to the house. You think Becca and Doug are melting outside?”
“Crap!” Ted cursed “I forgot about them.” He quickly rushed Erin into the van while Mia and Darren took their own car.
When they got there, the four found Becca and Doug sitting outside on the front lawn, the sun beating on them like a hammer. They sat on the new couch that was ordered to the new home Erin bought with the inheritance money. Doug was holding an open umbrella that covered most of Becca, but his arm was burning in more ways than one “Nice of you to join us.” Becca said sarcastically.
Erin smiled at her long time friend “Sorry, we got carried away.”
“It’s okay.” Doug replied, “We were just enjoying the afternoon sunlight! I didn’t know a person could get a heatstroke after being outside in the sun for just one hour.”
Mia rolled her eyes “Please, you sweat when you’re in an air-conditioned room with a window where the sun is shining into!”
Doug knew he was beaten “I think I liked you better when you had amnesia. Now you’re like a leech on human skin. Try to forget some things, it’s better for your brain.” He said in a mocking tone while getting up to help the guys.
She kicked him in the butt when he passed by her “Go join the men, boy!” she laughed when he threw her an evil glare. Becca patted the seat next to her as Mia bounced her way over “Sorry, Erin and I were talking too much.”
Becca shook her head “No problem. How is she?”
“Okay, I guess.” Mia shrugged “Time will heal all pain.”
“I hope so.” Becca sighed. She too grew worried for her friend, it wasn’t like Erin to be emotionally weak. For a long time, she admired her friend for being so strong in almost anything. It was scary to see her break down when Brad passed away.
Erin was directing the guys with each box “That one goes into my bedroom.” She pointed to the box Darren was picking up. She waved for Doug to pick up another one “That goes into the storage room.”
He nodded as he bent over to lift the box only to realize how heavy it really was “I better be getting paid for doing this.” He groaned in pain.
“Yes, you get a free dinner tonight.” Erin laughed while she watched him walk like a cowboy with spread out legs.
Ted pulled out another box “Where does this go?” he noticed it wasn’t labeled and it was one of the lighter boxes.
Erin turned to him “That goes in my bathroom.”
His eyes widened “Say no more.” He smiled when Erin blushed slightly.
“Hey…” he paused when she stopped him “You don’t mind do you?” she was afraid he was bothered.
Ted shook his head with a warm smile “Of course not. You need your own space right now. I’m just happy you asked me to move in, I don’t expect us to share a bedroom so fast. Don’t worry about me. I’m fine with it as long as you are.” He gave her a slight wink before taking the last of the box into their new home.
She smiled contently after his figure. Erin was grateful to have found Ted, she knew with his help the following days would only bring more happiness. Closing the van door, she prepared to walk in when her eyes did a double take on a male figure across the street. The residential neighborhood she chose was quiet and not to mention in the upper end of the city. She barely saw people around but this person had caught her eye. He was a complete replica of Brad. Even from a distance, she could make out the similar features. A cold chill ran down her spine as she stared at the stranger. He didn’t seem to notice the stare as he continued on his way, a suitcase in hand as he walked to the parked car in the driveway.
Erin had a crazy urge to approach him but Ted had returned to her “Erin, they want to have steak tonight…actually Doug wanted Sushi but Becca—” he stopped when he noticed the pale expression on her face “Erin?” he shook her shoulder lightly.
“What?” she turned to him blankly.
“What’s wrong? You look like you just saw a ghost.” Ted frowned worriedly.
The blood quickly trailed back into her face as she shook her head lightly “No, nothing. I think it’s too much sunlight. But steak sounds good.” She smiled while taking his hand. He continued talking about the conversation he had with Doug and Becca while her head gave a quick glance behind her back. The car had long ago pulled out of the street but she couldn’t help the lingering feeling she had at the person who looked identical to Brad. Or maybe she had missed him so much that she imagined the male figure looking like him? Afterall, he was across the street, maybe he just looked a little like Brad? She eventually convinced herself to not let it bother her. Ted was the man in her life, she needed to dedicate her heart to him and not let the past haunt her again. She promised herself she would not be a victim any longer.