Monday had dragged on forever. Brenna couldn't remember a day she had struggled so much to focus since the incident. The three missed calls and messages from Detective Brewster had brought the day down even further.

She couldn't quite pinpoint exactly what was the problem. Part of her was filled with anticipation for the next day both for the case and for her personally since she'd be spending the whole day with him.

She spent a sleepless night tossing and turning after he'd left. Somewhere around dawn, after the ever recurring nightmare she'd finally trudged off to the shower where she'd been plagued with fantasies of what could have happened had he stayed.

She surmised that lack of sleep contributed greatly to her sour mood but it didn't account for it all. A yearning, sense of dissatisfaction plagued her followed closely by guilt. If she were honest with herself she had thoroughly enjoyed their kisses. She'd wanted his hands to continue and wanted to feel every inch of his body. Deep down she knew this was natural, that she was an adult woman with needs and desires and Mac was damn sure worthy of that desire but she struggled with the nagging feeling that she was somehow being disloyal to Greg's memory.

No one else expected her to sit and wallow in her grief for the rest of her life, forsaking all chances at happiness, so why did she?

Mac had been right in the words he'd spoken in the library. Greg had been the warmest, most loving man on the planet. There was no scenario in which she could imagine him looking down on her and wanting her to remain alone and hurt. She knew that if she could talk to him; ask him, he'd tell her he wanted her to be happy. So why did she do this to herself?

Unable to answer the ongoing question she pinwheeled to the next issure plaguing her mind.

The first call from Mark she'd honestly missed as she'd been up getting herself a cup of coffee. After listening to the voicemail he'd left her she'd simply ignored the next two calls.

"Hey Brenna. I just ran into Isabelle at the sandwich shop on 4th. So you didn't mention that Mac and you were some sort of thing. It's good to hear that you are moving on and open to the idea of a new relationship. I support this step for you. Hey, listen, I'm sure we are both going to be going to Madison's birthday party on Saturday and I thought we could save some gas, reduce our carbon footprint and all that by riding together. Get back to me ok."

Brenna had groaned loudly into the empty office, she could just hear the eagerness in his voice. It seemed, despite her clear and concise rejection of his advances he'd simply chosen to believe he could wait her out.

Brenna could all but guarantee Isabelle had imparted her valued information in hopes of angering Mark and securing herself in the position of sympathetic friend. Although she didn't give a damn if Isabelle had secured Marks attentions, in fact it would make Brenna's life easier if she did, she did have a small chuckle in the fact that Isabelle's plans had gone askew once again.

In the exact opposite reaction that Isabelle had intended Mark had decided that Brenna was now healed and ready and he would start his pursuit in earnest. She dreaded having another talk with him and trying, once again, to make him understand that at no time were they going to be more than what they were.

She hadn't listened to either of his subsequent messages and cringed when she saw the red light blinking at her from her phone.

She'd finally decided to head to the gym during her lunch break to try to bang out some of her frustrations. An hour later, she was sweaty, tired and still bound up inside. She was trying her hardest to concentrate on a city building inspectors report when Brad and Lana arrived with a handcart full of boxes en-tow.

"Hey there grumpy monkey. You look like hell." He mused as he dropped the cart by the door and walked to his desk. "Lana, Captain Edgars and I are headed out to Windham Elementary to discuss fire safety with first graders. Want to come? Nothing like small, squirming, loud children to turn that frown upside down."

His comment earned him a small rueful smile. "No thanks. I'm about to throw in the towel. I have a headache and this day just isn't working out for me."

"I have some Aleve in my desk if you need some?" Lana bustled over in her motherly fashion. "Do you think you are coming down with something?"

"No, I think it's just a headache. I slept pretty crappy. I'll be fine." She waved off Lana's hands as she tried to check Brenna's forehead for her temperature.

"Ok honey; well call me if you need me. I'm going to run to the ladies room Brad. I'll meet you at the truck." She disappeared down the hall way with the clicking of her heals.

Brad stood leaning against his desk staring at Brenna. "You sure you're gonna be ok kiddo?"

"Positive." she reassured him.

"Ok, well in that case I'm going to bother you with weird questions." He crossed his arms and stared down as his feet. "I'm thinking of asking Lana out on a date. Give me your honest opinion of this idea please."

Brenna was completely taken off guard both by the question and the immediate sense of pride and humility that yhe knowledge her opinion mattered to him brought.

"Wow Brad! Honestly, I think it's great. You guys are about the same age right? You get along really well. I could see it working out." She honestly could. "If you think you're ready, I'd say go for it. I'm sure Rita would approve."

"Thanks kiddo. I'm going to do it." He left the desk and crossed the room to give her shoulder a squeeze of thanks before heading out down the hall. A moment later he was leaning back through the open doorway.

"Kiddo, you got about 45 seconds to run. Lana has Detective Brewster pinned in the lobby but he's edging around her. He's got flowers; I don't think this is a professional call."

Brenna jumped to her feet. She mouthed a thank you at Brad as she grabbed her purse and quickly locked her computer. She was edging out the opposite door to the office that they never used in less than a minute. She knew it was gutless but she simply didn't have the energy reserves to deal with Mark in a kind and diplomatic manner at this point in time.

After forty five minutes of conversation with the duty crew next door she finally felt it was safe to make her way to her car. Her old crew's humor and obvious pleasure at her visit had improved her spirits as well. She had to admit she missed the adrenaline rush and the comaraderie of the fire line on days like this.

******************

Back in the relative safety of her home she drew a hot bath and made herself a cup of tea. Sunk to her chin in hot water she contemplated the events of her day. More than anything she thought of Brad's question.

The man had been married to Rita for 33 years when she passed. Brenna remembered attending Christmas parties at their home. He'd been devoted to the small blonde woman with her bawdy laugh. After her death he'd be devastated and depressed. So much so that Brenna had truly worried for his safety but today he'd seemed like a nervous teenager.

She searched her feelings and found no accusation for the man she considered her mentor. In fact she found only relief and happiness. It would be good to know that he was happy and taken care of again. Perhaps Lana could curb his eating habits and improve his health a little so Brenna could worry less about his impending heart attack.

She wondered at her absolute ease with Brad's moving on in comparison to her harsh appraisal of herself. No one who had known them could ever doubt Brad's loyalty to Rita, nor his right to future happiness so why couldn't she cut herself the same deal?

Mac's face swam into her mind, the dark blue eyes and angular, masculine features. The last time she'd seen him they'd been dusted with a five o'clock shadow that had only increased his appeal for her. She remembered how he'd looked on the beach, shirtless in swim trunks and the definition of his muscles under his smooth tattooed skin.

His hands had definitely conveyed his need the other night but had remained gentle with her none the less. He'd been the one to stop the kiss and get himself under control. He'd been the one concerned about their pace, about them taking it slow and easy.

The man looked like a demon but inside he was kind, intelligent and infuriatingly patient.

The water was tepid and she was pruning up nicely by the time she drug herself from the tub. Not bothering with clothes she threw herself on the bed and surrendered to the uncomplicated peace of sleep, praying as her consciousness drifted that the dream would not bother her that night.

**************

A light tap on the shoulder had resulted in Mac turning to see the last person he actually wanted to see staring up at him with a flirtatious smile.

"Oh hey Isabelle. How are you?" his smile felt strained even to him.

"I'm great, just grabbing coffee for the gals in the office. It's been weeks, how have you been?" She behaved as if she hadn't had a total melt down and told everyone off the last time they'd seen each other.

"I've been good." He answered awkwardly.

The line stretched out in front of him and he suddenly wished he'd picked a small obscure coffee stand instead of the large, popular Starbucks.

"It's crazy, I just ran into Mark at the sandwich place next door yesterday and now I see you here. Must be fate!"

"Uh, crazy coincidence I guess." The name Mark rang a bell but failed to really mean anything to him.

"So Tammi said you and Brenna are kind of together now? That's cute." She flipped her long dark hair over her shoulder. She was dressed perfectly appropriately but still seemed to have an air of desperation about her. "Mark hadn't seemed to know anything about it so Brenna must not have told him."

The light bulb went off in Mac's head and he suddenly remembered her heated words about Brenna stringing some guy along, or at least that had been Isabelle's assessment.

"Well, we are still figuring out what is between us and I'm sure she's under no obligation to explain herself to anyone." Isabelle seemed disappointed she'd been shut down so completely. Just in the knick of time Mac reached the front of the line and had to focus on the barista before him.

"Excuse me." He offered with as much politeness as possible before turning to order his drinks. He got Brenna a salted caramel mocha which the barista has assured him was very good and himself a tall black coffee.

Lucky for him, Isabelle's order seemed to be long and complicated. His order was ready and in hand before she moved past the cash register. He simply nodded her direction at her attempt to make eye contact as he slipped from the building.

This Mark guy irritated him. He was positive that he was nothing to Brenna. She'd never mentioned his name and had never made him feel like there was anyone in her life romantically prior to him. However, it seemed that whoever Mark was, he definitely had a thing for Brenna and seemed to think he was entitled to know things about her.

Using his hands free system he punched through the contacts list to Pete. His friend picked up on the second ring.

"Hey Mac Mac Pattywack what's up?"

"Seriously? That was the worst you've ever come up with." He chuckled at his friends continued attempts to slaughter his name and prove his coolness.

"Ya, well, whatever. So, how is it going my friend?" Mac could hear the sounds of gunfire in the background and surmised it must be range day for his friend.

"Just on the way to Brenna's office to take a drive up to Brown County with her. So, who is Mark?"

"Mark Brewster? Why?"

"I don't know his last name. I ran into Isabelle at Starbucks and she was being all catty as usual by dropping all this stuff about how she told Mark Brenna and I had something going. He seemed to not be pleased with the idea. So who is he and why does he care?"

"Mark Brewster is a detective with the department. He started working with Brenna on some buildings that got burned up downtown. He kinda got infatuated. It was pretty soon after Greg. She shut him down. They've had to work together a few more times since then. Hey just a minute." Pete yelled something unintelligible to someone. "Sorry bout that. He's definitely got a thing for her, I think he thinks he's just got to wait until she's ready to move on but Becca said Brenna is absolutely not interested."

"Got it. So should I tell him to bug off or just let him squirm?"

"Honestly, I think he's a worm. I've never liked the guy. He's one of those pastel shirt and tie, working his way up the ladder, butt kisser types. He moved to detectives at the first opportunity because he didn't like the dirt involved with being on the street." A volley of shots drowned out anything else for a moment.

"Ok, I stepped inside, sorry." It was quieter in the background now. "Becca thinks it started as a political thing for him. Date the widow/hero and all, but after she shot him down it became a pride and ego thing. He simply can't see why she wouldn't be attracted to him. As far as he's concerned he's God's gift to the world."

"Alright, well I'll just let him dangle for a while then. Doesn't sound like he is a threat but I'll watch him to make sure he doesn't end up being a bother to her. Thanks brother."

Pete chuckled. "Good luck brother. Have a good day."

They disconnected as Mac pulled into the parking lot of the fire administration building. He pulled both paper cups from their cup holders and turned to kick the pickup door closed behind him. Balancing both cups in one hand he opened the rear door and let Reego jump free. He wasn't looking up as he stepped onto the main walkway and subsequently ran directly into another man travelling toward the doors of the building.

Mac managed to keep his coffee from sloshing over the rim but the other guy wasn't so lucky and now sported a large dark coffee stain on his pale purple shirt. Half of the content of the cups in his hands was now on the sidewalk. Reego sniffed at it curiously.

"Sorry man" Mac apologized. The other man threw him a venomous look and stalked off into the building. Mac couldn't help chuckling quietly. The other man had looked like a pissed off peacock, Reego looked up at him in confusion as well.

"I don't know buddy. It's not like I meant to." He shrugged and continued on his way.

Inside he nodded to Lana who was on the phone as he passed and made his way to Brenna's office. He took a minute to relish the sight before him. Today she wore boots, jeans and a red v-neck polo shirt with the department emblem embroidered on the left breast. Her dark hair was pulled back in a loose pony tail and she had a pair of sunglasses tucked into the v of her shirt.

"Hey there!" He greeted her and handed her the cup in his left hand. Reego advanced into the room for his greeting as well.

Brenna took a sip. "Mmmm...This is good. Two thumbs up Deputy Tullman." She reached down to pat Reego. "Ready to go? We're taking a department vehicle so they can pay for the gas. It's got a big ol' back seat for you buddy."

"Ready when you are." Mac announced and leaned in to place a light kiss across her lips. She smiled at him before her eyes ranged left and settled on the doorway area. Her smile faded and a look of annoyance took it's place.

Mac turned to find out what had ruined her sunny disposition so quickly and locked eyes on the coffee stained angry peacock.