Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Tyler’s gallant streak was further proven a week later when the first major thunderstorm rolled through the Las Vegas desert. They were both getting ready to go out on Friday night when the first bolt of lightning streaked through the sky. The subsequent crack of thunder had Shenin letting out a yelp from the other room.

“Shen?” Tyler queried from the bathroom, as she tried to tame her curls long enough to pull them up out of her face. “What’s up?” she asked.

When she got no reply, she walked out of the bathroom into their room. “Is it another spider? ’Cause if it is, I’m not gonna put it out in this rain… storm,” she said, her voice trailing off as she saw that Shenin was sitting on her bunk shaking from head to toe.

“What the…” Tyler began, just as another bolt of lightning lit up the dorm room window and she saw Shenin jump in reaction.

Tyler strode over to her roommate, dropping to a knee in front of her, and reaching up to take Shenin’s hand in hers. She noted they were like ice.

“You don’t like thunderstorms?” Tyler surmised.

“Is that what they’re supposed to be? They don’t usually sound like that in Sacramento,” Shenin said.

“Well, that’s what we call them here,” Tyler said, grinning, making Shenin grin too. She then moved to sit on the bed next to Shenin and hugged the girl to her side. “They don’t usually last long around here,” she assured the smaller girl.

Shenin didn’t say anything, she just buried her head in Tyler’s curls, shuddering as another crack of thunder fired off.

“It’s okay,” Tyler soothed, not sure what else to do.

They stayed that way for ten more minutes, while the thunderstorm blew itself out. During that time, Shenin’s hands once again found their way to the waist of Tyler’s shirt, gripping it by two handfuls. The thought that it felt really good to her, pricked the back of Tyler’s consciousness, but she refused to look at it too closely.

“So,” Tyler said, trying to break the tension. “You come here often?” she said, grinning again.

Shenin grinned, but just shook her head, her forehead still pressed against Tyler’s shoulder. Tyler gave Shenin a little squeeze, just to remind her she was there.

When the storm finally seemed to have passed, Shenin sat back, letting go of Tyler’s shirt. The momentary disappointment Tyler felt also got filed away in the back of her mind.

“You okay?” Tyler asked, looking down into Shenin’s eyes.

“Yes,” Shenin said, nodding. “Thank you,” she said, looking apologetic.

“Just backing my partner’s play,” Tyler replied, mimicking the words Shenin had used back in Maryland after the Jason incident, her way of pointing out the huge difference in the two situations.

Shenin smiled. “Smart ass,” she muttered.

“You know that,” Tyler replied.

With that, they got up and continued to get ready to go out. Later that night at the club Tyler found herself watching Shenin, it surprised her that the little powerhouse had a small weakness. What amazed her more was that Shenin had allowed her to see that and was open enough to let her help. It warmed Tyler’s heart even more toward the petite little redhead.

The rains that summer caused a lot of flooding in Clark County. The US Air Force at Nellis was asked to help in any way they could. The security force was asked to help protect flooded homes from looters, and watch for people trying to get back into their homes, when the situation was dangerous. Tyler, Shenin and two other members of the team, Sheila and Jean, were all assigned to an area. Sheila and Jean were two of Tyler’s best friends in the Air Force. Sheila, an outspoken and sometimes outrageous brunette, was forever putting Tyler in some kind of crazy situation she’d have to talk her way out of, but she was a good friend. Jean was a much quieter and unassuming person. Also a brunette with short hair, Jean more represented the “butch” lesbian stereotype, she was also a good friend, fortunately less troublesome than Sheila.

After a full day of rescuing people from their flooded homes, and ensuring the safe passage of others trying to evacuate, the team was tired. They were in two different Humvees, Tyler was driving in the lead vehicle, with Shenin riding in the passenger seat, an M-16 held across her chest, her eyes looking around them watching for any trouble. Sheila drove the second vehicle, with Jean riding shotgun.

“Got movement up on the right,” came Sheila’s voice over the radio.

Tyler reached up and activated the mic on her shoulder. “Got it,” she said. Then to Shenin she said, “You see anything?”

Shenin looked through the scope of her rifle, using the night vision. “Yep, got ’em, at two o’clock.”

Tyler turned the vehicle in that direction, even as she spoke into the mic again.

“Looks like we’re gonna get wet,” she said, to Sheila. “Maintain cover.”

“Ten-four,” came the instant reply.

Pulling the vehicle to a stop Tyler glanced over at Shenin, catching her eye and nodding. They got out of the vehicle on either side, Tyler drawing her sidearm as she did. As Tyler came around the vehicle, a shot rang out and she was sure her heart stopped.

“Shenin?” she yelled, as she crouched in front of the vehicle. When there was no answer at first, her pulse kicked into overdrive. “Devereaux answer up!” she ordered.

“Yeah,” came Shenin’s voice, sounding weak. “I’m here; it came out of the house on the left there!”

“Are you hit?” Tyler called.

“I’m fine,” was the immediate reply.

“Unit 2,” Tyler spoke in the mic, “move in, we’re taking fire!”

“Already here, boss!” came the reply as a shot rang out from behind them. Tyler was relieved to hear the report of an M-16 rifle.

Cautiously she moved from her position to get around the vehicle. She was stunned when the first thing she saw was the scarlet stain against the blue camo fatigues Shenin wore. “I’m fine,” Shenin reported, weakly.

“Son of a bitch!” Tyler growled as another shot fired off from the house. She immediately lunged forward putting herself between the direction the shots were coming from, and Shenin who was leaning heavily against the Humvee. She began firing as she strode toward the house. She heard and felt, rather than saw, that Sheila was doing the same with the M-16. Glancing behind her, Tyler saw that Jean was moving to get Shenin behind the Humvee.

Within a minute, Tyler had kicked in the door to the house, and with Sheila’s help, moved through it to a back bedroom. Tyler ran headlong into it, weapon at the ready. The man at the window wheeled on her, but Tyler was so mad she literally slapped the weapon out of the man’s hand.

“This is my house!” he yelled, even as he threw his hands up in the air. “I was protecting my house!”

“You shot a United States Airman you fucking idiot! We’re the good guys!” Tyler screamed at him.

“Oh!” the man exclaimed, obviously shocked.

“I got this,” Sheila said from behind Tyler, moving to intercede before Tyler wrung the man’s neck. “Go check on Dev.”

It took Tyler a moment to control the urge to beat the shit out of the man, but then she nodded, and turned to leave. She made her way through the house, her boots sloshing in the foot of water on the floor.

Tyler got back to the Humvee, her focus solely on Shenin who still sat leaning against the vehicle while Jean assessed her condition.

“She was hit in the shoulder,” she said, then canted her head to the side. “Looks like you took one too, Hancock,” she said.

Tyler started to disagree, but when she looked down at her sleeve, she saw blood on her forearm. She suddenly realized that it did indeed hurt; the adrenaline was keeping the major part of the pain at bay, apparently.

“I’m fine,” Tyler said, her tone sharp. “I’ll get her back to base. You go help Sheila,” she ordered.

“You got it,” Jean responded instantly, sensing that this wasn’t the time to argue with Tyler about driving while she was injured. She liked her head where it was.

Tyler bent down to help Jean get Shenin in the vehicle. Shenin was now out cold. Gritting her teeth against the panic that kept wanting to climb up her throat, Tyler got into the driver’s seat and brought the engine to life with a roar, throwing it into gear and speeding off toward the base.

Tyler really wanted to believe it was the blood she’d lost that made her want to pass out when the doctors at the Air Force hospital approached with news on Shenin. She really did. It would be so much easier if that had been the problem. Lack of proper blood pressure is a perfectly acceptable reason for a hardened security force airman to pass out. However, passing out because you were terrified that the doctors were about to tell you that your best friend was dead, was not. Definitely not in what would be considered a combat situation. She’d never make sergeant at that rate.

“Airman Hancock?” the doctor queried.

“Sir,” Tyler said, nodding to the doctor.

As the doctor started to speak, Tyler couldn’t do anything but watch his lips move.

This is not happening,

her mind screamed,

I can’t lose her. Fuck.

“I’m sorry, sir,” Tyler said, holding up her hand. “Can you repeat that?”

“I said that Airman Devereaux lost a lot of blood, but she is resting comfortably. Fortunately, the bullet was a 22 caliber, so it didn’t do too much damage. With some rest and rehabilitation, she’ll be just fine.”

“Thank you, sir,” Tyler managed. The doctor nodded then walked away. Tyler found herself needing to lean against the nearest wall to catch her breath as the relief flooded her veins

. She’s fine, she’s fine,

she kept repeating to herself. “Damnit,” she muttered to herself as she realized she’d forgotten to ask when she could see Shenin.

Walking over to the nurses’ station, she quickly surveyed the women seated there. Smiling warmly at the younger woman sitting at the desk, she said, reading the girl’s name tag, “Hi, Janet, I was wondering if you could tell me when I can see the airman from my team that was brought in wounded.”

When Janet looked up, into Tyler’s bright blue eyes, Tyler immediately recognized another gay soldier. Janet smiled, holding the eye contact for a moment longer than necessary, then she looked at her screen.

“Of course,” she said, tapping the keys on the keyboard, “what’s the airman’s name?”

“Shenin Devereaux,” Tyler replied.

Janet nodded, typing the name into the computer. “It looks like Airman Devereaux is still in recovery, so it’s going to be a couple of hours before you can see her.”

Tyler nodded, trying to decide how much she wanted to push it, but her need to see Shenin in person to know that she was really okay, overrode her usual caution about fraternizing while in uniform.

“I understand,” she said, leaning on the counter between them, her smile displaying the dimples that tended to make women a little more amenable to anything she’d suggest. “Is that a full two hours,” she asked, turning up the charm a little more. “Or are we talking about an hour and forty-five minutes? Maybe an hour and a half…” she said, letting her voice trail off hopefully. As she leaned forward putting more of her weight on the counter she was quickly reminded that the bullet wound in her forearm was still present, wincing as a pain shot through her arm.

“Oh, you’re hurt too,” Janet said, standing up and taking Tyler’s arm gently.

“I’m fine,” Tyler said, “it’s just a scratch.”

“Yeah, a scratch made by a 22 caliber bullet,” came Sheila’s voice from behind her. “How’s Dev?” she asked Tyler, winking at Janet as she did.

“The doctor said she’s okay,” Tyler said, catching Sheila’s look, “though Janet here was just telling me that we can’t see her for another couple of hours.”

Sheila considered the situation for a moment, then looked at Janet. “We really have to wait that long?” she asked. “You know, she was shot by a citizen that was a victim of the floods, right? Hell, she and Tyler here were being heroes, trying to protect that man’s property, and he shot them, can you imagine?”

Janet looked between the two women. “Uh, no, I didn’t realize that,” she said, her look at Tyler chiding. “You didn’t tell me you were a hero,” she said, her smile bright.

“Well, that’s Ty,” Sheila said, waving dismissively, “she’s not one to brag.”

Tyler hid her grin behind her hand, knowing what Sheila was doing, and loving the girl for it.

“Well, I suppose it would be okay, if you just slipped in to see Airman Devereaux for a minute…” Janet said.

“That would be really great, Janet,” Tyler said, seizing on the woman’s momentary weakness. “I’d really appreciate it.”

“She’d probably even take you to dinner to show her appreciation,” Sheila added, slyly.

Tyler glanced at Sheila, thinking that now she wanted to smack the girl.

Thanks for the set-up, Sheila!

“Oh, that wouldn’t be necessary,” Janet said, her tone completely unconvincing, even as a hopeful look lit her eyes.

“Of course it is,” Sheila said, giving Tyler a look from behind Janet.

Tyler caught the look, narrowing her eyes slightly at Sheila, even as she smiled warmly at Janet. “Airman Welch is right, Janet, I know you’d be taking a chance letting me go back, so it’s absolutely necessary for me to thank you properly.” The intense smile was back, and Janet did everything but swoon at seeing it.

A couple of minutes later, Tyler was walking into the recovery room. Machines beside the bed were beeping; it was the only sound in the quiet room. An IV hung on a pole beside the bed, dripping constantly. Looking down at her best friend, Tyler could see that Shenin’s shoulder was bandaged, and there was a bruise on her cheek, likely where she’d struck the side of the Humvee when the bullet had hit her. Tyler had to immediately tamp down on the sick feeling that picture conjured up in her head; she closed her eyes for a minute waiting for it to pass. When she opened her eyes, she saw Shenin’s gold colored eyes staring back at her.

“You okay?” Shenin asked, her voice weak, her look concerned.

“Who’s lying in a hospital bed here,” Tyler asked, grinning, “me or you?”

“Good point,” Shenin said, blinking slowly. It was obvious she was still groggy from the anesthesia.

Tyler moved to sit in the chair next to the bed, her eyes scanning Shenin’s face as if checking every inch of it visually would ensure that her friend was okay. She grimaced as her eyes came back to the bruise on Shenin’s face.

“Shen…” she said, reaching out to touch the bruise gently.

It’s what they talked about in books and movies, almost as if she’d just touched a live wire, the jolt went through her.

You fucking idiot,

her head screamed at her,

you just fell in love with your best friend! Your STRAIGHT best friend!!

It was something she’d suspected for a while now, but she hadn’t wanted to face it, or deal with it, and she definitely didn’t want to do that now. So she shoved it down and did her best to keep the realization off her face. But it was too late, Shenin had caught the sudden look of sheer self-exasperation on Tyler’s face before she managed to hide it.

“What?” Shenin asked, not one to ignore a look like that, but having literally no idea what the look was about.

“What?” Tyler replied, pretending that Shenin had imagined it would work in her weakened state.

No such luck.

“What was that look, Ty?” Shenin asked, her voice growing stronger again.

“There was no look, Dev,” Tyler said, purposely using the nickname the unit had for Shenin, rather than the nickname Tyler usually used for her.

Shenin narrowed her eyes at the use of the alternate nickname, but decided she was fighting a losing battle with no real energy to fight it at this point, so she let it go. She knew that when Tyler didn’t want to tell her something, there was usually a good reason. Normally she wanted to know what that good reason was, but tonight she didn’t have the energy to drag it out of her friend. Rather than admit defeat, Shenin simply closed her eyes again, letting herself slip back into slumber.

Tyler watched her friend go back to sleep, her lips twitching in agitation. She didn’t feel good about shutting Shenin down like that, but she also knew she was nowhere near ready to tell Shenin what was happening in her head. She wasn’t sure she’d ever want to tell Shenin the truth.

A week after being shot, Shenin began physical therapy to ensure that her shoulder muscles would continue to do what she needed them to, in order to do her job. The session was grueling, but Shenin was determined. She’d been amazed by the support she’d received from her unit. There were six women on the team: Sheila, Jean, Tyler, Tina, Camilla, and her. All five of the other women were encouraging her to get back into action. She’d even been given a commendation from the Air Force, for her actions in the field. Sheila, Jean, and Tyler had received one as well. The owner of the home had received probation and an order to get into rehabilitation for his drinking problem. As it turned out, there had been trouble at the house earlier in the day, and the men had threatened to return. The owner of the house had thought the Air Force squadron was that man and his friends. The homeowner had come to the hospital and apologized to Shenin profusely. She’d known it would be impossible for her to press charges against a man who’d just lost almost everything he owned in the floods.

Shenin had noted that Tyler hadn’t been around much during the last week. Tyler claimed that she was working extra shifts to continue to help with the flood clean up. Shenin was fairly certain she was volunteering so she could avoid seeing her. Another development from her temporary fame, was that a member of the Thunderbirds, the Air Force’s aerial demonstration squad, had asked her out. He was an almost impossibly handsome pilot in a squad of incredibly impressive pilots. It was definitely an interesting proposition, one Shenin hadn’t been foolish enough to say no to.

Shenin was lying on her bunk dressed in her Air Force sweat pants and tank top when Tyler came in later in the evening, one arm thrown up over her eyes. Tyler felt an instant twinge of guilt, when she remembered that Shenin had been to her first physical therapy session that day. Tyler knew she’d been avoiding Shenin and that it wasn’t fair. It was through no fault of Shenin’s that Tyler was now terrified that Shenin would figure out that she was crushing on her.

“Hey,” Tyler said. “How’d it go?”

Shenin lifted her arm off one eye. “Exhausting.”

Tyler nodded. “Are you really sore?”

Shenin moved to sit up, rolling her shoulder as she did, and wincing. “You could say that,” she said, grinning.

Tyler walked over to sit next to her on the bunk, taking Shenin’s shoulders and turning her so that Shenin’s bad shoulder was closer to her. Tyler proceeded to gently massage Shenin’s injured shoulder, carefully avoiding the surgical incision, but working to smooth the bunched muscles around the spot. Slowly, but surely Shenin could feel her muscles start to ease. She closed her eyes and the warmth of Tyler’s hands soothed the soreness away.

“Oh my god, you are good at this…” Shenin said, her tone trancelike.

Tyler grinned. “That’s what I’ve heard,” she said, her tone light.

“So, what’s on your agenda tonight?” Shenin asked, her eyes still closed, as Tyler continued to rub her shoulder.

“Got a date,” Tyler said, “with a nurse from the Air Force hospital.”

“Oh,” Shenin said, grinning now. “I’m in ICU and you’re making dates.”

Tyler laughed. “Actually, I ended up having to take her out, so I could come back and see you in recovery.”

“So, it’s my fault,” Shenin surmised.

“Technically, it is,” Tyler said, smiling.

“Uh-huh,” Shenin said, her tone sarcastic, “I’m sure it’s gonna break your heart to take this girl out.”

“Not really, she’s pretty cute,” Tyler said.

“Then I’d say, you can

thank

me now,” Shenin said.

“Yeah, you got shot so I could get a date?”

“That’s just how good of a friend I am,” Shenin said, breezily.

“Yeah, uh-huh,” Tyler said, laughing now. Shenin laughed too. “So, what’s on your agenda for tonight?” Tyler asked.

“Shower, Motrin, and sleep,” Shenin said. “In that order.”

“Big night,” Tyler said.

“Yeah, I’m a party animal.”

“Party hamster, is more like it,” Tyler corrected.

Shenin laughed.

“Is this better?” Tyler asked, gently squeezing her shoulder.

“Yes, thank you,” Shenin said, nodding. “Now a hot shower should finish the job. But you go first, since you have a date.”

“Okay,” Tyler said, moving to get up.

Three hours later, Shenin was showered, medicated, and happily sleeping when the thunderstorm started. She woke with a start at the first huge crack of thunder. Pulling her pillow over her head, she made the mistake of bringing up her injured arm to cover her head, letting out a yelp of pain, and felt tears sting her eyes immediately.

Across town, Tyler was having dinner with Janet, when the first flash of lightning caught her eye. She winced, knowing that Shenin was alone; everyone else from the unit was either on duty or out for the night since it was a Friday. Not that anyone else in the unit knew about Shenin’s phobia about thunderstorms, but she would at least be able to talk to someone to distract herself if there were others around. Tyler knew there was no hope of saving this date. She made her apologies to Janet and headed back to the barracks as fast as she could.

As she expected, Shenin was buried under her pillow and shuddered every time thunder fired off. Taking off her jacket and kicking off her boots, Tyler knelt down next to Shenin’s bunk, touching her on the arm. Shenin jumped but pulled the pillow up to see Tyler kneeling there.

“What happened to your date?” she asked.

“Something came up,” Tyler answered honestly.

Shenin narrowed her eyes at Tyler. “Like your chicken shit roommate being afraid of thunderstorms?” she asked.

“Maybe,” Tyler said, moving to lie down next to the smaller girl and taking her gently in her arms.

“It’s not your job to save me all the time, you know,” Shenin said, as she snuggled against Tyler, welcoming the distraction from the storm, and the security that Tyler’s arms always seemed to provide.

“I know,” Tyler said, glancing down, and shivering slightly as, once again, Shenin’s hand clasped the shirt at her waist. “But you don’t have your date with the manly Thunderbird till next week,” she said, hoping that her tone didn’t sound as jealous as she felt.

Shenin didn’t say anything, she thought she heard jealousy in Tyler’s tone, but wasn’t willing to ask her about it. She was enjoying feeling close to her friend again and didn’t want to spoil it. Her wonderfully gallant friend had left a date with a hot nurse, to be there for her so she wasn’t going to complain.

“Technically, can you go out with him?” Tyler asked, grinning. “With the

thunder

and all?”

“You mean, in the squad name?” Shenin laughed.

“Yeah,” Tyler grinned.

“I think I’ll worry more about the fraternization thing.”

“Ah, yeah, that’s probably smart,” Tyler agreed. “So, that brings up another question,” Tyler then said.

“What’s that?” Shenin asked.

“What if you two hit it off?”

“It’s not like that’s never happened,” Shenin pointed out.

“Yeah, and one of them had to leave the military,” Tyler said. “I doubt you’re done with your career just yet, are you?”

“Tyler, it’s one date!” Shenin said. “Not true love, sheesh.”

Tyler shrugged. “Still against regs,” she said, knowing she was being petty, and that it had nothing to do with the idea that officers and enlisted weren’t allowed to fraternize.

“Well, it won’t be soon,” Shenin shot back, feeling defensive.

“What does that mean?” Tyler asked.

Shenin pressed her lips together, she hadn’t meant to tell Tyler this way, but it was too late now.

“I got accepted to OTS,” Shenin said.

“You what?” Tyler responded, floored. Shenin was telling her that she’d been accepted to Officer Training School. It meant she could get stationed somewhere else, once she received her commission.

“I finished my bachelor’s degree at Beale and had applied for OTS right before I came here. It took a while for my application and stuff to follow me.”

Tyler stared back at her, shocked. “And when do you report?”

“Well, this injury put it off, but I have less than three months till I go.”

Tyler blinked, trying to tamp down on the feeling of betrayal that slid through her.

“So, you already did your AFOQT and everything?” Tyler asked. Shenin nodded. “Your MEPS?”

“Yes, Tyler, yes, I’ve already been accepted by the selection board too. I’m going to be an officer.”

Tyler nodded, accepting what she was being told. Part of her wondered if somehow this had happened for a reason, and that it was better this way. It was the way she had to accept what was happening.

They were both silent for a while as the storm raged outside.

“I’m sorry, Ty,” Shenin said, finally. “This isn’t how I wanted to tell you.”

Tyler sighed. “It’s okay,” she said. “I guess I was just busy being a bitch.”

“You weren’t being a bitch, Ty, you were trying to warn me.”

“You sure about that?” Tyler asked, being honest for a moment.

Shenin looked up at her in the semi darkness of the room, trying to gauge her friend’s mood. Instead of answering, she reached up and laid her hand on Tyler’s cheek. She then laid her head against Tyler’s shoulder again. It was her way of forgiving her but also helping them move on. Once again, Tyler found herself grateful for Shenin’s way of handling things at times. They were both quiet for a while, Shenin shaking slightly every time the thunder cracked, Tyler gently hugging her close when she did.

“So, how cute is she?” Shenin asked.

“Who?” Tyler asked, her mind having been miles away, thinking about how much she’d miss this kind of thing when Shenin was an officer and probably stationed somewhere else.

“The nurse from the hospital,” Shenin said.

“Oh,” Tyler said, grinning, “yeah, she’s pretty cute.”

“Gonna reschedule your date with her?”

Tyler looked down at her, her look measured, was she imagining the slight tinge of concern there? Of course she was, what was she thinking?

“Probably,” she said, shrugging. “It’s been a while.”

Shenin’s eyes widened. “Do you do that?”

“Do what?” Tyler asked.

“You know, go out with women just to get…”

“Laid?” Tyler supplied.

“Yeah,” Shenin said.

Tyler thought about it for a minute. “Not a lot, no,” she said honestly, “but, sometimes that’s what it is. “

“And this nurse would be okay with that?”

“Uhhh… Well, that’s not like the first question I ask, usually,” Tyler said, grinning at the way Shenin was looking at her. “What?”

“You’re a tramp!” Shenin said, laughing.

“I have my moments…” Tyler said.

“Uh-huh,” Shenin said, nodding, “and how does that go?”

“Like how do I get a girl to sleep with me?” Tyler asked, highly amused that Shenin was asking all of this.

“Yeah,” Shenin said, curious in spite of herself.

Tyler looked back at her for a long moment, but decided it wouldn’t hurt to try and answer her friend’s question.

“Well, it isn’t like I have a specific line or anything,” she said. “But most women want the same thing.”

“And what’s that?”

“Women want to be heard, they want to know that someone is interested in what they think, what they feel, what they want.”

Shenin considered that answer and had to agree with her friend.

“And they usually want you, don’t they?” she heard herself asking.

Tyler narrowed her eyes slightly. “Not always,” she said, “but you need to know that I’m not only ever looking to score.”

“No, you wouldn’t be,” Shenin said, her tone confident.

Tyler grinned, canting her head. “What does that mean?”

“It means, that someone like you wouldn’t only ever be trying to get into a woman’s pants,” Shenin said, her eyes staring up at Tyler in the semi-darkness.

“Okay… where is this coming from?” Tyler asked, trying to follow Shenin’s logic.

“You’re way too gallant to be like that,” Shenin replied.

“Gallant?” Tyler repeated, finding the term odd.

“Yeah, that’s what you are, Ty, you’re gallant.”

“Uhhh,” Tyler stammered, “okay?”

Shenin sighed. “Look at this, right here,” she said, gesturing between them. “You’re here because you know I’m afraid of a thunderstorm, who does stuff like that?”

“Uhh…” Tyler stammered again, not sure what to say in this instance.

“Not many people, Tyler, but you do. You carry my bags, you open doors for me, you run into gunfire to keep me safe.”

Tyler looked shocked at that last statement.

“Didn’t know I knew that, did you?” Shenin asked, knowing the answer.

“Uh, well, no, not really… no,” Tyler said.

“Yeah, I figured as much,” Shenin said. “You have no idea what an awesome person you are, Tyler, do you? Any woman would be lucky to have you in her life. So, I’d say if the nurse is smart, she’ll sleep with you, if you want her to.”

Tyler laughed out loud at that statement. “Really now?”

“Yep,” Shenin replied, “sure as shit.”

“Sure as shit?” Tyler replied, chuckling.

“Yep,” Shenin replied.

“I see,” Tyler said, shaking her head.

“What do you see?”

“That you’re nuts,” Tyler replied, laughing again.

“Maybe, but you watch, I’m right.”