Page 5 of Shelter for Morgan

"Yeah, well. I have some time before that event becomes a possibility, so I'm not worried."

She shook her head knowing he couldn't see her, but then again, she would have done it if he was sitting right there with her. She knew her brother used his shield as a shield. He was always telling her that he was married to the job and that he'd be a great uncle when she decided to settle down and have children.

"I hear you thinking, Morgana."

"Really?"

He sighed. "Morgan-"

"That's right," she cut him off. "Seriously though, I'm just thinking that you should ask that woman out."

"That woman," he paused, "not exactly a good description, Sister."

"I'm a teacher not a police detective. I don't have to describe people to a T." She heard him grumbling under his breath. "But you know who I'm talking about. Goodness knows you talk about her all the time."

"Morgan-"

"You talk about her like she's Catherine Chandler and Wonder Woman all rolled into one."

"Catherine Chandler, Morgan? You've been binge watching old TV shows again, haven't you?"

"They're not old, Jacob! They're classic and I like to listen to them while I'm working. It keeps me focused."

"Focused?" He laughed. "You'll have to explain that to me one day."

"Next time we're in the same place for more than a minute, okay?"

"Okay," Jacob sighed. "I'm glad to know that you're there safe. Give Palmer a call so he knows to expect you."

"Sure. Okay." She would do no such thing. She was already so nervous to see him again, she didn't want him to brace for impact. "I'll talk to you later, brother!"

"Be safe, sister!"

"Will do, if you do."

"Always."

And that's when they ended the call.

Morgan lowered her phone down to the table and looked at the address. She copied and pasted it into the MAPS app and took a drink of water. When it was done mapping out her directions, she looked at it and let out a slow exhale.

She meant it when she said that she didn't think that Palmer would remember her. Even when they were face-to-face, he'd never really paid much attention to her. Of course, she'd been a barely legal high school tag along of her brother's. Palmer was already working for the fire department in Center City and studying to become an EMT even though he was just three years older than she was.

She'd thought that he hung the moon.

It didn't hurt that her brother was raising her and doing the dad thing, being strict and a hard ass.

She'd started watching Chicago Fire when Palmer had moved to San Antonio and her heart had been shattered into a thousand pieces. But that was years ago, and she was in her mid-twenties now. Gone were the layers of padding and her braces, which Jacob's family medical insurance paid for. Her hair had lightened a little bit, too. How? She didn't know. She lived in a city with big ass buildings everywhere. She was surprised that the sun actually got on her skin during the day.

How was Palmer Butler going to recognize her when he probably didn't even remember meeting her before?

Blowing out a breath, she finished her water and went to find a bathroom before she got back on the road.

There was no need to put off the face-to-face meeting with Palmer any longer.

It would be better to see his blank look sooner rather than later.

Her heart had already been broken years ago.

---