The Tales of HTFC - Chris- Coming Home
This Story is disjointed from the others (That might just be how this whole series will turn out) it takes place about 12 years after "Medic 4908 - Adam" does.
Ten Years, hard to believe.
Rolling over where was the face of my little Fox.
"Todays the day Jay."
"Yeah, I know."
It was our son Chris' birthday, his 10th birthday, and it was time to make good on an old promise.
Eleven years ago, Adam and I had been married, no longer being a bacholer, we decided it would be smart to leave the Hightown area, to get out of the sticks and to somewhere where Adam could actually use his illustration degree and I could earn a better wage for my work as a medic.
At the same time, Hightown Fire and EMS company lost two members, one right after the other, CJ and Nicole. We lost CJ to a house fire, he was inside checking for trapped victims when the roof collapsed on him, killing him instantly. Nicole was 9 months pregnant at the time. The stress of losing CJ was too much for her, forcing her into labor, without the capacity to deliver. We didn't find out immediatly, news doesn't always travel fast, but the following day I got the call, Brian, her brother in law, Nicole had died during child birth, and had left a request. She wanted her son to have a better life, with more opportunities than Hightown could provide, she wanted him in a loving stable home where he wouldnt have to worry. She wanted Adam and I to take him.
As you could imagine, there was more than a little fuss with the company, both Nicole and CJ had family in the company who would have wanted to care for the child. But she had made herself clear, and before we knew it, Adam and I had our son, Chris.
There had been one stipulation though, all through his early life, we were to raise Chris as our own, never tell him his own story, or the story of his parents, until he turned ten. On his tenth birthday, we were to explain it all to him, and he was to return to HTFC, and meet teh family he never knew.
And today was that day.
Walking down the stairs, Chris was already bouncing around, happy as could be, it was his birthday after all, and he knew that something big was going to happen today.
"Hi Dad!!!"
"Happy Birthday Little Man, its your very special day"
"So whats my big surprise Daddy?"
"Were going on a little trip"
"Where are we going? DISNEY!?!?"
"Not Disney, no, but were going to go meet some people who are very excited to meet you."
He just looked confused at that one.
"Go on and get dressed and then we'll be on our way"
He bounded off up the stairs.
Adam and I had settled down three states over from Hightown, and today's trip was going to be a plane ride, Adam was staying home to take care of the place, that and we had decided it would be better if it was just the two of us going back.
Chris bounded down the stairs, beaming as evr and made a B line for the door. Opening it we steped out into the crisp monring air. Looking around I saw the home we had made, the home we loved so much. It was an old farm house perched ontop of a hill, looking ahead the rolling pastures gave way to a forest, to the left was the old barns, now a guest house, to the right was my hangar, inside was my small plane, far too small for a trip like this one, as well as my workshop and a couple cars.
Turning I got in my car, a Smartcar, it was a 45 minute drive to the airport form here and there was no need to take anything bigger. Chris climbed into the passanger seat, beaming. The smart was his favorite of our cars, feeling more like a golfcart than a car to him.
AS we pulled out of the drive and onto the road I could already see the questions brewing in his mind, knowing Chris, he;d pile hem up for a while before unleashing them all, in a tidalwave of inqiries.
Surprisingly by the time we arrived at the airport, he was still silent. I parked the car in the lot and took out our suitcases, it was going to be an overnight visit, and we headed towards the terminal.
The airport was fairly empty this morning, no real traffic early on a Thursday, and we got through the hurdles of security in surprisingly little time. It wasn't until we were waiting at the gate that the questions began.
Reading his ticket Chris looked up at me,
"Dad, wheres Middletown?
"About a two and a half hour flight, not too bad."
Middletown was the nearest major airport to Hightown and only an hour drive from the airport to the Station.
"Oh, why are we going there?"
"Because thats where the party is going to be"
He looked up beaming, apparently satisfied for the moment before the loudspeaker announced that our flight was beinging to board.
As we arrived at our seats, I couldn't help but feel a little nervous, in the past ten years I had only returned to the Station once. I had been emailing pictures and stories of Chris' life back to the company the entire time, with each being read time and time again by everyone at the company, but now it was differnt. Now it was time to meet him.
The flight passed uneventfully, Chris watched the animated in flight movie, leaving me to my thoughts. Before I knew it, we were touching down in Middletown.
Once we got into the airport, Chris began getting excited. The question faucet once again springing a leak.
"So where is the party? How far is it? How are we getting there? Will there be cake?"
"Cool your jets there big guy, I'll explain evreything on the way."
As we walked towards the parking garage I started looking for the car they had left me, walking through the garage we finally found it, a black Ford Expedition, with a light bar and company plates.
"Whats HTFC daddy?
Getting into the car I took a deep breath, for 10 years Chris hadn't known his own story, now it was time for all the truth to come out. Before I could even begin to explain though, Chris had climbed into the pagganger seat, only to find a box of candy with a note attached. Reading it aloud:
"To our new little friend, from the friends you've yet to meet, Happy Birthday. Who are the friends I've yet to meet?"
"Thats where were going buddy."
Apparently satisfied with that he got to work munching on the candy.
As we drove out of the airport complex, he stared in awe around him. The area we lived in had no real cities, and in comparison, Middletown was a metropolis. He remained mesmirized by the world around him for a good 45 minutes before turning to me and asking the question all kids love to ask.
"Are we there yet?"
"Almost buddy, another fifteen minutes or so."
"Oh. Daddy? Who's driving the car just like yours behind us?"
Looking back I noticed he was right, we were being followed by a nearly identical car, realizing this I looked around us, each of the cars around us were similar, Black on Black with lightbars. Looking over, I recognized the face smiling back. It was Brian, CJ's brother, Chris' uncle.
"These are the friends you haven't met yet."
Almost as if on cue, all of the vehicles around us turned on their emergency lights, the road around us suddenly awash with red and blue.
Looking nervous Chris wimpered. "Daddy, why are our friends pulling us over?"
"They're not buddy, they're welcoming us"
As we left the highway the platoon around us began to disperse.
By the time we finally pulled up to the station it had started to get dark, as we entered the lot Chris read the sign.
"Hightown Fire and EMS Company. Welcome Home Chris! Daddy, why are they expecting me?"
"They've been waiting a long time to meet you, there are some things that its time that you learned."
We got out of the car and walked towards the front door.
"When I was just out of college, I worked and lived here"
I opened the front door.
"While I was living here I became very good friends with many of the members"
I stopped as we walked down the hall, hanging on the wall was a picture of CJ and Nicole.
"Inlcuding these two, CJ and Nicole"
"Daddy, why are you showing these people to me?"
"Because these two are very important to you. You know that to have a kid, you need a mommy and Daddy, right?"
"Yeah"
"And you have two daddies"
"And I'm adopted!"
"Yes, Chris, these two are your parents, your biological parents."
He looked between Myself and the Picture.
"CJ died before you were born, and Nicole died shortly after. They asked Dad and myself to raise you, which we did. Now its time to meet the rest of your old friends, and your family too"
We continued down the hall, opening the door we were assaulted with a wave of "Happy Birthday"s followed by numerous mutterings of how much he looks like his parents.
"Hey There Fella, I'm your Uncle Brian, its nice to finally meet you"
Chris just smiled and shook his hand. Slowly everyone filed through and introduced themselves, most were friends of his parents, a handful were family with a spattering of folks who joined after Chris was born.
As the night wore on cake was eaten, gifts were opened, songs were sung and games were played. Eventually people began filtering out, those who lived in the barracks wandered up to their rooms, those who had houses drove home and Chris fell asleep on the old couch in the living room.
With the main festivities over, I sat with a few of the old farts, John, my EMT from way back when, Mike, the now chief, and Brian the EMS Capitan.
"He's just like CJ, in so many ways."
"Yeah, I know Bri, hes like her in a lot of ways too though"
"Does he know about the house?"
"Nah, I'll tell him that one when hes older."
"I have something for him, that I didn't want to give him at the party."
He pulled a small wooden box out of his pocket.
"Bri, do you really think that this is the right time?"
"I don't see why not"
Walking over, Brian gently shook my son awake.
"Whats the matter Brian?"
"I have one more gift for you" Reaching out the box Chris took it cautiously.
Opening the simple box he lifted out two little metal tabs. Reading them:
"Christopher James Thomas, HTFC, Attack Line 2 Engine 5"
Pausing for a moment:
"And Nicole Rose Thomas, HTFC, Exterior Support, Engine 5"
"Do you know what these are Chris?"
He nodded slowly, lifting the chain they were on.
"These are my parents"
As he put the Chain around his neck.
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