Saved By The Firefighter
Chapter 84

Ben's Point of View.

I have always thought of myself as a kind, sensitive lover and probably classed as being very vanilla in the bedroom.

For me, s*x is always about emotion, rather than chasing pure l**t. However, when I thought of Lucy calling me daddy, my d**k went as hard as steal, my pulse beating wildly, and I felt like I was about to make a schoolboy error and come in my pants. I was that turned on.

My predicament was made harder, (pun intended) by the flush on Lucy's cheeks, and the dilation of her eyes, indicating she was definitely liking the idea. The thoughts have literally plagued me ever since, and I cannot believe I like this idea as much as I am. I think I need a crash course on what all this s**t means. Maybe I should read some of the mother's romance s**t she reads, find out what the hell it is all about.

Cal and the kids are not moving out until probably Monday, when I am back off shift, so I have a few days of research to get through. If this is what Lucy wants, you can bet your last penny that is what I will give her.

Pulling into the station, I park the car, as it is Saturday, I do not need to drop Lucy off at work, plus the mother doesn't work weekends, so I do not have the embarrassment of my work mates catching her and whip-me as she still calls him, snogging in the office. Today should be an easy day. We are joining our colleagues from around the city at the air show. On standby should anything happen, along with the lifeguards, given most of the display is done in the skies over the edge of the North Sea.

The Sunderland International Air show is one of the highlights of what this city has to offer. The largest free air show in the country, it is always packed with people from all over the place, coming to see the many aircraft as they do death defying aerobatics in the skies above. Although we are on duty, it does give us a chance to engage with the wider community, and we will allow the kids to sit in the engine and talk to them about fire safety. However, if we get a shout, we have to get them out of the engine and away in double quick time, so we must have a plan, one that the boss will go through before we set off.

I walk in, and see Davey sitting in his usual spot, nose burried into the Sunderland Echo.

"Morning." I greeted him, and he returned his normal grunt in response.

Josie is pulling out some of the display equipment for the air show, and, as usual, nobody is helping her.

"Hey, let me help." I shout over to her, annoyed at my fellow co-workers.

"Thanks Ben. I am glad one of you have manners." She shouts, over in the direction of Headache and Twinkle, who are busy fighting over the fact Jam is called Jam not Jelly, as Wayne called it in his fake American accent.

"Sorry Josie, I am just helping Headache make the snack lunch whilst you are busy." Wayne defends himself.

"f*****g PACKED LUNCH not Snack Lunch.... Seriously!" Headache shouts.

"f*****g hell Headache, stop shouting, you will give yourself a f*****g headache, and the rest of us." Davey growls out, shaking his head.

Twinkle walks into the station, although he is not late for his shift, he is later than normal. His eyes have dark circles around them, and his face looks seriously pissed off.

"You okay Twinkle?" Josie asks him with concern.

"Yeah. The 'Mrs' has her sister staying over, and well, let's just say. I am persona non grata or however you say it, again. I swear, other than the ballroom dancing, I am sure she hates everything about me. I am not refined enough, or posh enough. My job is not good enough. Why do I not want to make something of my life? I had it on f*****g stereo from the pair of them all night." He sighs, heading to the kitchen, and pouring himself a strong cup of coffee, clearly to wake himself up.

I refrain from making a comment, but I honestly do not know why he stays with that woman. He would be far better off on his own, but for all their fighting, I think he must still love her, else why would he put up with all her s**t? The thought that Lucy and I ever end up like those two makes me feel sick to the stomach, but I know deep down we won't. Lucy is the kindest, most loving, beautiful woman I have ever met. She supports me, as much as I support her, and has no false airs and graces, so I doubt she would turn into Mrs Twinkle.

"Is your new daddy in his office? I need to check if there is an update on when I can go part-time." Twinkle asks me.

I feel the low growl in my chest, as I glare at him, and refuse to acknowledge his question.

I may have a new acceptance of the boss and my mother, especially seeing how he will do anything for her, but I am in no way wanting to call him f*****g Daddy.

Daddy.

s**t.

Yep, that has my d**k half chub again as my mind instantly returns to the thoughts of Lucy saying it to me. I wonder if there is something wrong with me, fantasising about this s**t.

Turning my back on Twinkle and his crap, I take out the large recruitment pull-up, and place it beside the rest of the kit Josie had got out of the cupboard. I know we will not be taking most of this stuff, as we are still on duty, but no doubt Josie wants it all out just in "Hey, do you know where the cookies are? There are none in the cupboard." Twinkle asks with a frown.

case.

"Biscuits, not cookies." Headache hisses out, as Wayne flips the bird in his direction, obviously fed up with him critiquing his accent.

The boss walks into the common room, clearing his throat, just as the yellow watch all make their way off shift. Since some of their guys were in a road traffic accident and we rescued them, they have been rather quiet on the banter front. "Okay, red watch, listen in." he shouts, and everyone stops what they are doing, and turns towards him.

"Headache, I want you to do the oil checks on the engine this morning, as hopefully it will be sat on the side of the road most of the day. Secondly, we can take two items with us for fire safety public information, so make your choice Josie. Thirdly, although today and tomorrow are fun shifts at the beach watching the aeroplanes, please remember, even though we will be engaging with the public, and some of you have your families arriving with kids who will want to sit in the engine, we are still working. Two other stations are going to cover any city-wide shouts. We are to back up Marley Potts station, staying at the air show should anything happen. Joanne has printed out each of you an emergency number sheet, for the likes of lost children, and the main St Johns Ambulance co- ordinator, for first aid enquiries. The public will no doubt ask us for help with some of these issues but we cannot leave our post for. They are on the table, so each of you grab a sheet." He begins.

"I will be joining you at the beach. However, we must have three members of the crew in the engine at all times. That means two of you create a queue and hand the kids to Headache as he shows them how to set the sirens off and pops a hat on them. One of you will be with me, talking about fire safety to the crowds where possible. We will do it in shifts, so you all get a chance to interact with the public. Yes, Davey, before you ask, that includes you." The boss states, with a glare at Davey, who is not known for wanting to play nice with 'Joe public', although since meeting Kathline and Andy, he has mellowed somewhat.

"Yes, our families will be there, and that is great, but remember, this is not a jolly outing, there is work to do." The boss finished as we all nodded our heads in agreement.

"Ben, can I see you in my office?" The boss asks.

I nod my head, wondering what he wants, hoping it is not something to do with my mother, as I am kind of enjoying having a break from all the guys taking the piss out of me like yesterday, never more so after my strange reaction to the word Daddy now. I walk into his office, and he indicates with his hand for me to take a seat. Normally we just stand, so now I am wondering what the hell this is about, but I sit down in the chair opposite his desk.

"I have your review to complete, indicating you are still okay with working." The boss tells me with a small smile.

I let out a sigh. Yes, I know they would be checking on me, but it seems to have come round quicker than I would like.

"I have to ask, but how are you feeling since returning to work?" He asks me.

"Yeah, I am good" I answer his first question.

"What about your nightmares?" he asks.

"To be honest, they are a lot fewer than before, especially after meeting Lucy. Obviously, I had one after the Cooper Rose fire, but I think everyone would have one after that. Other than that, I am back to normal." I told him. I will not lie and say I have not had any. The boss nods his head in understanding, checking off his form.

"Is this review not a little early?" I ask him, now wondering if it is more for my mother's sake than the brigades.

"Yes, and no, it is not for your mother, before you ask." The boss chuckles.

I look at him, wondering why he had brought it forward. Is there something in my work that doesn't seem quite right to him?

"I am just doing this to get it over with. As you already know, Station Officer Morris is retiring. I have been asked to make my recommendations. You were the lead firefighter before your accident, and you did an outstanding job. Davey took over when you went on sick leave, and is also doing a great job. Therefore, I want to recommend you both for the promotion. I need this side of things sorted though, before I can put the paperwork in." He smiles at me.

I am slightly taken-a-back, promotion, I thought I would never achieve that after my mental health issues. I honestly hope he is not doing this as a way to impress my mother. I go to open my mouth when he holds his hand up, interrupting me before I start. "Before you ask. No, this has nothing to do with my relationship with Joanne. You work hard, Ben, and you are bloody good at your job. I have seen nothing to cause me concern since your return, and you have earned this chance. Davey has turned out to be a good lead firefighter as well. I would not have recommended him, because of his people skills, or should I say lack of people skills. However, since he has met Kathline and Andy, he has improved a lot, and I am more confident that he will do a good job. Hence, why I am recommending both of you. Of course, you will have others to compete against from the different stations and watches but I have no qualms about recommending you and Davey." He tells me.

I simply nod in response. For all the Marley Potts station is closer to home, I would miss this place and my team if I got the job. However, there is something I want to know.

"Will this affect Cal's part-time application?"

"Not at all. Twinkle is still pushing for part-time hours, so it is of no consequence. If either you or Davey are successful, I will have to bring on a full-time firefighter along with Cal, but other than that, it doesn't affect anything." He smiles. "What about Josie?" I ask, hell she is bloody good at her job, and deserves to be a lead firefighter at least.

"Yes, if one of you goes, the other will remain as lead. However, I am going to have her shadow you both at the moment, because she deserves a chance to work her way up the ranks as well. But first things first, I need to get this report up to HQ, and let Davey know he is being recommended as well. So, if you can send him in for me please?" The boss states, effectively ending the conversation, leaving me in a little bit of shock.