Story 04 – Part 4 – Done Before Sunrise

“So, do we get hazard pay?” Jordan asked Nero.

“I’d say,” Nero agreed. “I’ll make sure Bosere understands that.”

“Nero, dear,” Wilanna said. “I really preferred it when you just consulted. Though I’m not surprised that you’ve been doing more. Do you really have to get everyone involved though?”

“Wilanna,” Jordan said, “I worked on bomb squads, among other things. Trust me, that was no big deal.”

“And Carmine doesn’t really panic,” Vire added. “So don’t worry about him.”

“Where’d he and Tech go?” Jordan asked as Nero and Wilanna left the lobby.

“Well, a few months ago I mentioned that I wished Tech would get outside more often,” Vire explained. “Carmine decided to arrange some sort of backpacking, extreme road trip. He got Tech excited about it and has convinced Tech that he needs to practice hiking and rock climbing.”

Jordan nodded and found himself smiling. Carmine really was a good uncle. It had taken nearly all evening to finish dealing with the fallout of the gang fight. Jordan finally had a chance to really talk with Carmine and found the young man to be great company. Though, Jordan had decided to never play a round of poker with him.

“Out of curiosity,” Jordan asked, “why doesn’t your brother live here? He’s here at least once a week already.”

“Oh, I think he just likes traveling,” Vire guessed. “And I’m going to explain this now because I know it’s going to cause confusion. He’s actually my brother-in-law, but for all intents and purposes he is just my brother.”

Jordan blinked at Vire a few times. “Yeah, I’m confused. I thought Morgan was your maiden name.”

“It is,” Vire laughed. “This is where the confusion comes from. Carmine came from a family that took the woman’s last name.”

“Oh.” Jordan said.

“Before you ask,” Vire added, “my sister died almost two years ago. His parents died before he met my family and so we unofficially adopted him.”

“Well, that explains why you two really don’t look too much alike.”

Vire laughed and Jordan appreciated that she liked the joke. Carmine did have a slightly exotic look around him while Vire looked like a mechanic. Not like Jordan had anything wrong with mechanics. Especially since Vire had some nice weapons that she was willing to let Jordan buy. The Morgans really were easy going people.

“Hey.” Jordan grinned as he thought of an idea. “Do you think Tech would like to try out the obstacle course at a boot camp? Just so Carmine can have a break if he wants.”

“That’s a great idea,” Vire said. “I think Tech would really have a lot of fun.”

“Would you like to come as well?” Jordan asked. “You don’t have to if you don’t want to. I just thought that it would, well, since I don’t know sign language, it might be nice to have someone who did come along. I mean, it would probably take awhile for me to arrange it also.”

“A little boot camp doesn’t scare me. I’ll come,” Vire said. Her phone started ringing an old time song and she quickly pulled it out. “Will you excuse me?”

“Good job,” Nero whispered from behind as Vire left the room. “I think that’s the first time you’ve asked a girl on a date in years.”

“What?” Jordan asked. “I did not. What are you? A teenage girl?”

“Well I did raise two of them.”