The Pike: Ships In The Night Read Online Free PDF Page A

dat.”  We shared a chuckle as she nodded.
    She gave one last twisting rub on the problematic area beneath the burn scars, I moaned again.  Then she stepped back and snapped her hand towel at my butt and said.  “All done, brat.”
    I squeaked at the pain from the snap, my panties were no armor against it.  I deserved that one.  I smiled.
    Then she stepped over to the sink beside the table and started washing the oils off her hands as she supplied, “Things are loosening up a bit there, I'll let Ken and Jill know that there is some progress with whatever it is they are having you do.”
    As I slid my jeans back on, I nodded. “They say that if I keep showing improvement, they may scale me back to just two visits a week next month.”
    She nodded and said as I slid to my feet and took a couple limping steps to retrieve my cane and carry bag on the chair by the sink, “Well, you're one of the few who do their homework, Allison.”
    I chuckled.  I wanted to get my mobility back, I knew I'd never be at one hundred percent again, but I wanted to recover as much as humanly possible.  So I did all the stretching and strength exercises that Ken and Jill recommended for while I was at home, or even when I had idle time like on the ferry rides across the Sound each day.
    My right leg was pretty strong now.  The swelling in the nerves had receded over the past few months, and it feels pretty normal now, just a little weak from being in the wheelchair a couple months.  Because of the muscle atrophy, thus the PT for it.  It is getting stronger every day now.
    It is my left side that will never be the same.  From when I was pinned beneath...
    I shook the dark memories from my head and smiled brightly down at the short massage therapist.  “I'm working hard, I need my mobility to follow your magic hands around.”
    She blushed and grinned, shoving my shoulder, ushering me out of her room and chuckling. “Alright you sweet talking Casanova.  Off with you.”
    I gave her a smug smile as I saluted then headed out.  “See you tomorrow.”
    I glanced at the time on my cell, almost noon.  I exhaled in resignation and made my way out the building and turned north.  Trip would be at the Cafe.  I paused and looked up when I heard the familiar music that got my blood pumping as SFD Engine 25 went roaring past, siren wailing.
    As the siren receded into the distance as I watched the engine turn up the way, I heard the creaking of my cane as my hand gripped the handle with white knuckled ferocity.  Every instinct in my body was screaming out for me to help.  I just stared at the spot where they disappeared up the road and then growled in exasperation and turned back toward the Cafe.
    My cell rang, and I ignored it, muttering, “Yeah yeah, Trip, on my way.”
    I doubled my pace, my leg feeling much better after the massage.  I made good time to my destination, and I stepped into the door wedged at a forty-five-degree angle on the corner of the six story building and looked into the slightly upscale cafe that still had plenty of Americana charm.
    I saw Dave and Chuck at the counter in their SFD teeshirts, enjoying a meal.  They raised their coffee cups to me in greeting.  I mustered up the smile I hid behind and winked at the men as I scanned the tables.
    I paused when I saw the familiar unkempt fuzzy red mop of hair of my old partner.  He had his medic uniform on with the always wrinkled white shirt and his SFD medic ID hanging off the pocket.  Imagine a wiry Irishman with an extra helping of freckles and a perpetual smug look on his face, and that'd be Trip, Tanner O'Leary.
    He glanced up, and his face broke into a beaming smile.  The thought of a puppy dog came to mind the way the man brightened, just making him look younger.  I swear he looked sixteen when he was first assigned to the Five.  I swore like a sailor when the Captain assigned him to my truck.
    But it turns out, he was not the worst probie I could have