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Guilt burned through his gut Vernon was right "I’ll be out there soon Promise" And he would It was an asshole , after all they’d done for hio That’s what I want to hear"

"So how’s everything going?" Coop asked He looked over at Noah to apologize with his eyes that he had to take a call, and Noah nodded his understanding

"Good, good They got a couple new officers at the station A bunch of Nancy’s according to Ji like hell Noah didn’t hear hih the phone How many times had Vernon talked like that when Coop was a kid, and he never thought twice about it? He had no doubt the new cops weren’t really gay, and he also knew Vernon atory way possible

"Aren’t you supposed to be retired? Why are you still worried about what’s going on at the station?"

"Once a cop, always a cop You should feel like that about your job too, if you take it seriously"

That coood fire to Cooper There were certain things he owed his aunt and uncle, and he figured being a good fire fighter, was soument

It was only a minute or two later that Vernon ended the call

"Sounds like he hasn’t changed much," Noah said Coop didn’t reply because he didn’t need to They both knehat his friend said was true It was this odd relationship with all of them Even as kids, Noah had liked Cooper’s uncle too He’d loved when Vernon took the, and Noah had stayed at his house any night he could, but then Noah always got pissed when Vernon and Cooper got into it

"Don’t let him ood at what you do and there’s never been anything wrong with the way you grieved your parents," Noah added

Smoke That’s all he could see was smoke all around him And it was so hot So, so hot it felt like his skin was o, Cooper"

"No!" He shook his head "Not without you"

Mo her down Fire was all around him, smoke so thick it was difficult to see her clearly There was a pop, and a hiss fro else around theo Run as fast as you can Do what I say, Cooper, now!"

Another pop A wall on the other side of the rooht now!"

And he did Cooper ran, screarabbed a hold of his ar"