Jon and Cate spent what little was left of the morning in her office, chatting about what training they would cover for the remainder of the week. She was genuinely touched by his “peace offering,” and she felt her tough façade slip away the more they conversed.
Cate realized that once she put her “instructor hat” aside she actually found Jon very easy to talk to, like a friend she had known all her life. She smiled to herself at the thought. In a way, I guess I HAVE known him forever.
Jon was elated that Cate had reacted as she had to his gift. As she slowly dropped her defenses while they talked, he began to feel something for her other than awe and lust. Somehow she stirred up emotions he hadn’t felt in awhile. Not love – for him that came with time -- but the beginning of a real attachment. He wondered how much that feeling would grow before he had to leave in nine short days. And how hard it would be for him to leave.
When lunchtime came, Jon insisted they go to the Dining Hall with the rest of the FTB instructors, despite the goal of keeping his visit low-profile. He teasingly complained that he wanted the “real-deal cafeteria lunch experience” like the rest of the students, making Cate laugh. She reluctantly agreed, and made a phone call before they left.
When they arrived at the facility, Cate took Jon to the back door and led him through the kitchen and into the cafeteria line. Jon dutifully kept quiet, his baby blues hidden behind dark sunglasses and his hair tucked the best he could manage under his FTB cap.
But there’s just no way to disguise that ass... Cate thought as she watched him walk ahead of her in the line. The Good Lord made Levis just for a man like this…
They moved quickly through the line, selecting their lunch items, then Cate led Jon to the staff dining room off to the side of the student section. They found a large round table in the corner and sat, Jon facing away from the rest of the room and removing his minimal disguise. Soon they were joined by Danny, Troy, Steve, Bobby, and George. They settled into their meals and conversation.
As usual, the instructors blew off a little steam about students, equipment, administrators, etc. Jon watched and listened to it all, an amused grin on his face. Then, the bitching done, the gang talked about anything and everything – sports, cars, guns, TV, kids, and the inevitable funny “there I was…” story or two.
Aside from his “close encounters” with Cate, these interludes with the group had been Jon’s favorite part of the training. He loved feeling like he was part of the gang, one of the insiders in this Cop World. He genuinely liked and respected them all, and he was grateful that they had accepted him without a fuss.
As Cate expected, it was impossible to keep Jon’s presence a complete secret, and several times during lunch he was approached by instructors and staff members for a handshake or an autograph. She watched as he happily obliged each fan, again touched by his sincerity as he thanked each one for the work they do. This was Jon Bon Jovi as she had always imagined him – a humble, sincere, really, really Good Guy.
Jon noticed her smile as he signed an autograph, and gave her a wink. Cate’s heart melted. She glanced across the table at Danny, who was watching her carefully, a self-satisfied little grin on his face. Their eyes met and he nodded slightly. “See, told ya ….” his look said. “Relax, breathe, enjoy.”
After lunch the instructors went their separate ways, back to classes and meetings. Cate, Jon, and Danny made the short walk back to the office together, enjoying the warm sunshine and mild breeze. Once back at FTB Cate found a note on her door from Floyd, asking her to come see him. She excused herself and left Jon and Danny in her office.
In response to Jon’s inquiring look, Danny explained. “We’re about to disenroll a student for FTQ -- failure to qualify. Cate did remedial training with him, so Floyd wants to go over the records with her one last time before he makes the call.” He shrugged. “It happens sometimes. This job isn’t for everybody.”
Jon considered that for a moment, nodding. After what he had seen in just a few days he knew he could never be a cop, of any sort. Never, ever, ever. These men and women were just made of tougher stuff than he.
He thought he had sacrificed in his life, for success, for fortune, for love. But what he had done was nothing compared to what these people put on the line for duty, honor, and country. If he left this experience with nothing else, he would forever hold deep admiration for these cops and all who came before and after them.
After a moment of silent contemplation, Jon realized he had his chance to talk to Danny. Since waking this morning Jon had been trying to figure out how to get Cate to agree to spend some time with him away from the Center. He thought he had a plan, but he needed an accomplice. He hoped Danny would be a willing partner in crime.
“Hey Danny, I need a favor. It’s about Cate,” he said.
“Another one? Danny chuckled. “Jeez, Jon, am I gonna have to keep bailing you out? Aren’t you supposed to be some kind of Rock God who effortlessly bends women to his will?”
Jon grinned. “Why, yes, I am!” he laughed. “Problem is Super Girl here seems to be impervious to my charms. Kryptonite, my ass.”
Danny laughed out loud at Jon’s reference to his metaphor from the day before. "Isn't your ass supposed to be the Kryptonite?" he asked. "At least, that's what the Gals say."
Jon chuckled in reply. Seeing Danny was receptive to his request, Jon quickly outlined his plan. He knew he would get to hang out with Cate tomorrow at “beer and wings night,” but he wanted to take her on a proper date.
Jon was scheduled to fly to Philly early Saturday for a Project HOME event. He had planned to stay the night in Jersey then return to Georgia on Sunday. But, if he could make this work, he wanted to change those plans.
Danny nodded along as he listened to Jon’s scheme, smirking as he thought of Cate’s reaction to the surprise. If this didn’t get her to open up to Jon, he didn’t know what would. And since he and Cate already had weekend plans Danny could pretty much guarantee he would be able to keep the secret until the very last minute.
“And I need a bit of advice.” Jon continued. “You have known her forever, and I know she’s probably talked to you about me and the band, at least a little.” Jon smiled sheepishly as Danny snorted. “Does she have some sort of… well, uh… fantasy, I guess…that I could maybe… make happen?
“Other than tying you up in the dungeon, ya mean?” Danny asked, grinning. Again he was secretly gleeful. Jon was almost squirming with embarrassment at asking what Cate had fantasized about him. Dude, you’re lucky I love her like I do…this is NOT something GUYS discuss! But he knew the answer to Jon’s question, and for Cate he would spill.
Danny sighed dramatically. “Well, more than once when Cate and her She-Cop buddies have had a few margaritas, I’ve been subjected to the most horrific, detailed descriptions of their “Bon Jovi dream dates.” Danny rolled his eyes and raised his voice to a falsetto. “Oh, Jonny is ever so dreamy… I wish he was my boyfriend!!!” he mocked.
His voice returned to normal pitch and he shot Jon a disgusted look. “And you don’t even wanna know what they say about Sambora.”
Jon burst out laughing at Danny’s performance, forgetting his embarrassment. Danny smirked and laughed along. “Okay, okay….so… so what is it?” Jon gasped as his mirth subsided.
“Cate’s Ultimate Jon Bon Jovi Dream Date?” Danny asked flippantly. He paused, taking in Jon’s hopeful expression. “Well, Dude – unfortunately for you it’s nothing kinky. It’s pretty tame. Sadly, she’s more of a romantic than a sex kitten.”
Danny then outlined the scenario Cate had longed to experience for years.
Jon’s eyes widened in surprise, then he broke into a huge grin. He loved what he had just heard. “That, my brother, I can do,” he said confidently. “You get her to the right place at the right time, and I’ll take it from there.”
“You got it.” Danny agreed. Man, is Cate gonna owe me for this one…
Cate realized that once she put her “instructor hat” aside she actually found Jon very easy to talk to, like a friend she had known all her life. She smiled to herself at the thought. In a way, I guess I HAVE known him forever.
Jon was elated that Cate had reacted as she had to his gift. As she slowly dropped her defenses while they talked, he began to feel something for her other than awe and lust. Somehow she stirred up emotions he hadn’t felt in awhile. Not love – for him that came with time -- but the beginning of a real attachment. He wondered how much that feeling would grow before he had to leave in nine short days. And how hard it would be for him to leave.
When lunchtime came, Jon insisted they go to the Dining Hall with the rest of the FTB instructors, despite the goal of keeping his visit low-profile. He teasingly complained that he wanted the “real-deal cafeteria lunch experience” like the rest of the students, making Cate laugh. She reluctantly agreed, and made a phone call before they left.
When they arrived at the facility, Cate took Jon to the back door and led him through the kitchen and into the cafeteria line. Jon dutifully kept quiet, his baby blues hidden behind dark sunglasses and his hair tucked the best he could manage under his FTB cap.
But there’s just no way to disguise that ass... Cate thought as she watched him walk ahead of her in the line. The Good Lord made Levis just for a man like this…
They moved quickly through the line, selecting their lunch items, then Cate led Jon to the staff dining room off to the side of the student section. They found a large round table in the corner and sat, Jon facing away from the rest of the room and removing his minimal disguise. Soon they were joined by Danny, Troy, Steve, Bobby, and George. They settled into their meals and conversation.
As usual, the instructors blew off a little steam about students, equipment, administrators, etc. Jon watched and listened to it all, an amused grin on his face. Then, the bitching done, the gang talked about anything and everything – sports, cars, guns, TV, kids, and the inevitable funny “there I was…” story or two.
Aside from his “close encounters” with Cate, these interludes with the group had been Jon’s favorite part of the training. He loved feeling like he was part of the gang, one of the insiders in this Cop World. He genuinely liked and respected them all, and he was grateful that they had accepted him without a fuss.
As Cate expected, it was impossible to keep Jon’s presence a complete secret, and several times during lunch he was approached by instructors and staff members for a handshake or an autograph. She watched as he happily obliged each fan, again touched by his sincerity as he thanked each one for the work they do. This was Jon Bon Jovi as she had always imagined him – a humble, sincere, really, really Good Guy.
Jon noticed her smile as he signed an autograph, and gave her a wink. Cate’s heart melted. She glanced across the table at Danny, who was watching her carefully, a self-satisfied little grin on his face. Their eyes met and he nodded slightly. “See, told ya ….” his look said. “Relax, breathe, enjoy.”
After lunch the instructors went their separate ways, back to classes and meetings. Cate, Jon, and Danny made the short walk back to the office together, enjoying the warm sunshine and mild breeze. Once back at FTB Cate found a note on her door from Floyd, asking her to come see him. She excused herself and left Jon and Danny in her office.
In response to Jon’s inquiring look, Danny explained. “We’re about to disenroll a student for FTQ -- failure to qualify. Cate did remedial training with him, so Floyd wants to go over the records with her one last time before he makes the call.” He shrugged. “It happens sometimes. This job isn’t for everybody.”
Jon considered that for a moment, nodding. After what he had seen in just a few days he knew he could never be a cop, of any sort. Never, ever, ever. These men and women were just made of tougher stuff than he.
He thought he had sacrificed in his life, for success, for fortune, for love. But what he had done was nothing compared to what these people put on the line for duty, honor, and country. If he left this experience with nothing else, he would forever hold deep admiration for these cops and all who came before and after them.
After a moment of silent contemplation, Jon realized he had his chance to talk to Danny. Since waking this morning Jon had been trying to figure out how to get Cate to agree to spend some time with him away from the Center. He thought he had a plan, but he needed an accomplice. He hoped Danny would be a willing partner in crime.
“Hey Danny, I need a favor. It’s about Cate,” he said.
“Another one? Danny chuckled. “Jeez, Jon, am I gonna have to keep bailing you out? Aren’t you supposed to be some kind of Rock God who effortlessly bends women to his will?”
Jon grinned. “Why, yes, I am!” he laughed. “Problem is Super Girl here seems to be impervious to my charms. Kryptonite, my ass.”
Danny laughed out loud at Jon’s reference to his metaphor from the day before. "Isn't your ass supposed to be the Kryptonite?" he asked. "At least, that's what the Gals say."
Jon chuckled in reply. Seeing Danny was receptive to his request, Jon quickly outlined his plan. He knew he would get to hang out with Cate tomorrow at “beer and wings night,” but he wanted to take her on a proper date.
Jon was scheduled to fly to Philly early Saturday for a Project HOME event. He had planned to stay the night in Jersey then return to Georgia on Sunday. But, if he could make this work, he wanted to change those plans.
Danny nodded along as he listened to Jon’s scheme, smirking as he thought of Cate’s reaction to the surprise. If this didn’t get her to open up to Jon, he didn’t know what would. And since he and Cate already had weekend plans Danny could pretty much guarantee he would be able to keep the secret until the very last minute.
“And I need a bit of advice.” Jon continued. “You have known her forever, and I know she’s probably talked to you about me and the band, at least a little.” Jon smiled sheepishly as Danny snorted. “Does she have some sort of… well, uh… fantasy, I guess…that I could maybe… make happen?
“Other than tying you up in the dungeon, ya mean?” Danny asked, grinning. Again he was secretly gleeful. Jon was almost squirming with embarrassment at asking what Cate had fantasized about him. Dude, you’re lucky I love her like I do…this is NOT something GUYS discuss! But he knew the answer to Jon’s question, and for Cate he would spill.
Danny sighed dramatically. “Well, more than once when Cate and her She-Cop buddies have had a few margaritas, I’ve been subjected to the most horrific, detailed descriptions of their “Bon Jovi dream dates.” Danny rolled his eyes and raised his voice to a falsetto. “Oh, Jonny is ever so dreamy… I wish he was my boyfriend!!!” he mocked.
His voice returned to normal pitch and he shot Jon a disgusted look. “And you don’t even wanna know what they say about Sambora.”
Jon burst out laughing at Danny’s performance, forgetting his embarrassment. Danny smirked and laughed along. “Okay, okay….so… so what is it?” Jon gasped as his mirth subsided.
“Cate’s Ultimate Jon Bon Jovi Dream Date?” Danny asked flippantly. He paused, taking in Jon’s hopeful expression. “Well, Dude – unfortunately for you it’s nothing kinky. It’s pretty tame. Sadly, she’s more of a romantic than a sex kitten.”
Danny then outlined the scenario Cate had longed to experience for years.
Jon’s eyes widened in surprise, then he broke into a huge grin. He loved what he had just heard. “That, my brother, I can do,” he said confidently. “You get her to the right place at the right time, and I’ll take it from there.”
“You got it.” Danny agreed. Man, is Cate gonna owe me for this one…
Uhmmm, Danny...while you have Jon's ear...could you like whisper to him that my dream is to have a....
ReplyDelete“And you don’t even wanna know what they say about Sambora.”
ReplyDeleteThat made me laugh out loud!
Yeah can you pass onto Rich I'll tell him EVERYTHING I'm thinking and more besides.
ReplyDeleteJust catching up and LOVING it!!!
Now I neeeeeed my bed lol.
Leaves me more to later today ;)