Chapter 16 is up, we pick up from where we left off. Let's go. Episode 5, 6 are the ones involved.

Chapter 16:

"I will, actually the girl has brown hair, blue eyes dark like a sky."

Kyle raises an eyebrow as he finishes the whiskey as Johnny says, "I took a bullet to save her life." Kyle looks wide-eyed before saying, "You've a crush on my sister?!" "Yeah, I do, the reason why I came down here, was because I wanted to ask you face-to-face, man to man and ask you for yours and Louise's blessings to date your sister."

Kyle looked shocked, he didn't even clearly know what to say.

Kyle nodded he then said, "Better drink up, because you and I are going to have a little talk." "Alright." Johnny said as Kyle exited the bar, Louise watched saying, "You're either dead or going to lose your manhood." "I'm already nervous about this." "Don't worry, Kath did tell me to have your back, she knew he was going to have an old-school talk with you, you'll be fine." "I'd rather put my life in the hands of my Lieutenant." "You'll be fine, just relax, he'll have a cool head." Johnny rolled his eyes.

"Kyle having a cool head? The day that happens is the day hell freezes over." Johnny said sarcastically.

Kyle was outside, he sat up against the car, he couldn't believe what he had heard, his pseudo-brother wanted to ask him for his blessing to date Kathleen. The age difference between her and Johnny was only 5 years.

He had known Johnny since he was 10 years old, the two became fast friends, but what surprised him was the fact they had grown very close. They were brothers that loved their city and would do anything to protect it. The fact Johnny was willing to ask Kyle for his blessing was interesting, Kyle always knew Johnny was a man of old-faith, he believed in respect and honour, Kyle admired that of him, he knew by hell that Johnny was the only man, Kyle would trust his sister with, but the fact they were partners on the job was a rule that would be frowned upon. Ever since, Kyle was young, his father and veteran officers at the 12th were moulding him to be the best cop, which meant reciting the patrol guide from front to back, despite the fact he was wanting to be the cop that was willing to go above and beyond to put criminals away even if it meant to break the rules.

Soon, Johnny and Louise joined him as they headed off for the cliff-side overlooking the beach as Johnny said, "Guess this is it." "Your right it is." "Heed in mind, we're going to listen and we'll make a verdict." Louise said.

Kyle just stayed silent as he said, "Why do you want to date my sister? You know clearly the patrol book states that partners can't date but I know you two are different than other cops." "We are different." Johnny says. As he continues, "The reason why I want to date your sister is because she's a smart, talented and a wise person on the job, I've kinda had a crush on her since I laid eyes on her at 9/11, you guys believe in soulmates, right?"

Both Kyle and Louise's look spoke enough to say they did believe in soulmates, both cousins shared a look as they turned around talking to themselves as Louise said, "While it's against the regulations, you can't deny the attraction between them, plus to hell with the regs." "I've known him for 7 years, he's had my back more times than I can count. He'll take a bullet for his friends and his family if he was asked to do so." "He proved that with Kathleen." Louise said sarcastically.

Kyle chuckled as he said, "He did, I'm more than willing to let him date Kath, how 'bout you?" "Hell yeah, I like him, he's a man of honour and respect." "He's perfect, Kath is the cowgirl with a wild streak of defying orders with tendency to get violent. He's the cool-headed other half with the passion for being a cop, he's honourable and a patriotic Marine." "Their experiences of war give them the perfect balance in who they are." "Alright, we in?" "All the way." Kyle says.

They turn back towards Johnny as Kyle says, "As long as you make Kathleen happy, and you return home to her every night, for her sake and yours, watch her back, from Hell to back, promise us." "I give you my word, guys." Johnny promises.

Kyle and Louise smile as they say, "You have our blessing, treat her right for us?" "You have my word, I'll be the gentleman." "I hear otherwise, just know, I'll cut your manhood off." "I will." "That's good enough for me, my friend." Kyle shakes Johnny's hand as the three head home.

Meanwhile, in Tree Hill, Brooke stands outside the McFadden's door as she knocks, soon Mouth opens up as he says, "Brooke, how can I help?" "Could I talk to you?" "Yeah, let's talk out here." Mouth takes the key and closes the door as he says, "What's up?" "When we spoke to Kyle's friend Johnny, why did you say you were joining the Army?" "I've had the thought on my mind for a while, I spoke to Kyle about it and he gave me a leaflet, it's had some pretty interesting information." "So you're looking to serve this country?" "I look at the sacrifices our soldiers have made, they give us freedom, they do right for us, I want to do that."

Brooke nods as she runs a hand through her red-brown hair saying, "Are you at all afraid of what might happen?" "I'm scared of what could happen, but I'm more than ready for the risks." "You're so brave." Mouth smiles as Brooke feels her stomach turning into goo at the smile as she smiles back at him before kissing him passionately, the two smile at each other.

Whilst in the distance Nathan and Haley watching the scene in front of them as Haley says, "Aww, they look perfect."

Nathan nods saying, "I never expected it to happen, but I see something perfect between them." "Thought you'd be backing Lucas with Brooke." "To be honest it was perfect but these two have something else, I can't really figure it out." Nathan says.

They continue to walk along.

The next day at high school everyone is at their lockers as Kyle heads towards his seeing a letter inside it as he says, "You guys get the same?" "Yeah." Everyone answers. As Felix walks by everyone with a grin on his face, Kyle scowls thinking to himself, "Another mind-game, he's playing."

Later on, everyone is gathered around at a table as Felix even Johnny Ramirez as Felix explains the game, "Called Dare Night. One night, two teams, multiple dares." Felix pulls out a gold envelope saying, "Each envelope contains a 2-part dare, part 1 is on the front, part 2 is on the back."

Kyle and Johnny look at each other in worry as Felix continues to explain the rules of Dare Night. By the end Felix explains the benefits as Kyle butts in saying, "You win an excuse to blackmail us, is that right?" "That is right, want to back out now or do you want to play?" Felix says in a mocking tone directed towards Kyle and Johnny, both have anger in their expressions which is frightening as Johnny says, "We'll play." As they put their envelopes in the pile as many others do so.

Felix then gets an evil grin on his face as he pulls out a key handing it over to Lucas as he says, "That is your dare, my friend, hope you like it." "What did you do?" Johnny asks. Felix chuckles a little.

At the locker, Lucas opens it as Kyle says, "This is bull, what is he hoping to do?" "If he's smart, try to humiliate us." "I'll beat his ass, if this involves us doing something stupid."

Lucas gets the locker open as he picks up a series of envelopes, he hands one of to Johnny and Kyle as they look the letter directing them to the bridge near the river court as Kyle says, "Alright says here, we have to hold a sign that says…" Kyle then looks mad as he says, "That two-faced bastard, I'm gonna kill him." "What?" "You ain't gonna like this." Johnny takes a look at the dare getting angry as he says, "I will kill him." "Me first, then you can have what's left." Kyle snarls.

They do the dare with humiliating results as they finish the dare. With Johnny and Kyle angry enough to kill someone, Johnny looked at the last dare that said, "Alright, this one, we have to climb the entire structure of this bridge and yell North Carolina sucks." "Is that son of a bitch crazy or is he asking to be thrown off a bridge?" "I think he wants to be buried alive by the time we finish this." "You know I'm thinking I put him in the river and with enough weight to pull him down to the bottom hoping he never resurfaces." "Glad you and I are on the same page." "Let's do this and get the hell out of here." "Who's first?" "I'll go." "Hey, just so you know, I'm thinking about applying for active duty in the Marines." "I didn't know, hey, as long as you come home to her, it's all good, right brother?" "Right you are, little brother." Johnny said smiling.

The pair climbed the bridge at the same time heading straight to the top but the pair didn't shout anything. Instead they headed back to the café as Johnny said to Felix, "We did your dares, it weren't even funny, just know I ought let my brother here beat the hell out of you." "Did you like the first one?" Felix said laughing.

Kyle walks over to him grabbing him by the shirt before saying, "That's precisely why I ought to beat you to death, I didn't do it because, it was hurtful and it was disgusting."

Felix didn't look like he was done as he said, "Sergeant Sanchez always was one you couldn't save!" Felix taunted Kyle's old friend laughing about it.

"Give me a reason not to break every bone in your body!" Kyle says, his voice was cold and murderous, his blood reached the height of a volcano threatening to explode.

Everyone watched in shock at Kyle's outburst as Felix taunted him more saying, "505 people and one you was too late to save!" Kyle knees Felix in the groin hard before walking out of the café in hatred and pain. At the end, Nathan stopped and said, "Johnny, what was that about concerning 505 people?" "It's not my story to tell, but in confession, Kyle saved 505 people on 9/11, only one that died and that was his friend Sgt Frank Sanchez, he was Kyle's good friend out of his old man's precinct."

Everyone stood in shock as Lucas asked, "He stayed to help people instead of retreating, why did he?" "Being a cop, is in his blood, every day he sends a prayer to Saint Michael, thanking him for the heroes of our cities and our country that we live in peace at night and day. That day, he did what was right, everyone, saw him as a hero."

Brooke then asks, "Why doesn't he see himself as a hero?" "You'll have to ask him that, it's not my story to tell, but, don't be hard on him, he's a good kid." Johnny said as he walked away back to the house.

The morning after Dare Night, Kyle woke up, put on a red shirt, trousers, his boots and got his bag together he began walking to school and avoided everyone the whole day, he stayed to watch the seminar on the meteor shower and afterwards headed to church, he walked in and sat in one of the booths as he said, "Hello Father, if you're wondering I have no sins to confess, merely asking for some advice." "What advice?" "How many times have people come to you and called you a hero?" "When I got back from 'Nam, a lot of people called me a hero, sometimes others called me a baby killer and all sorts of vile slurs, why?" "Where were you on 9/11?" "Here in this church, where were you?" The priest asked.

Kyle then explained, "I was born in New York, I came from a family of cops, I was in Catholic School when the first tower came down, by the time the second came down, I pulled a family out of the street and a friend, but he was like a brother to me." Kyle explained.

"This friend, is he still around or…?" "No, he died 2 days later after the attack, for 3 years I kept his badge to remind me of who he is and who the real heroes are." "How many people did you save?" "505 people." "Kyle O'Malley, hero of New York." "Father, don't call me a hero." "I'm sorry, my son." "That's okay." "Who knows?" "Nobody in this town knew until last night, only my high school friends knew and one other guy, who I despise." "How do you know him?" "New York, me and him use to go to the same catholic school, now he's the jerk that taunted me, after 9/11 and the following months after that, I just didn't retreat, I pushed forward, I got knocked down but I got back up and pushed hard." "That's all you can do in life." "You push, you push until you make a difference. You may not be a hero, my son, you're a man who did what was right." "Thank you, father." Kyle said as he got up and headed out of the church.

He soon saw a yard-sale on the front lawn of Brooke's house as Brooke and Mouth were together and walking around smiling at each other whilst Brooke was helping others with the price and the arranging of items. He soon saw Brooke and Mouth share a kiss as he smiled looking around at all the items as Brooke came up to him and said, "Johnny told us about who you were on that day." "You must have a lot of questions, why I did it? Why I never told anyone?" "I get that telling people is never a good thing, you always felt guilt for Frank's death?"

Kyle nodded, "Yeah, I was 4 years old, he was my Dad's old rookie, when I met him, we got on like a house on fire, ever since then I always came to him because he was my brother." "That's really sweet." "He said he owed me one, gave me his badge when I saved his life." "How long was it till he…?" "2 days later. Stayed by his side, saying goodbye to him, was the hardest thing I ever had to do in my life, going to every cop and firefighter funeral, hurt like a brick thrown in a window, saying farewell to a man who was like a brother to me, he left behind a mother, a father and a little sister."

Nathan, Brooke, Mouth and Haley stood misty-eyed and sad smiles as Nathan said, "I can't understand what you went through, but you're a hero, no matter if you aren't one, you did what had to be done, nobody can fault you for that."

"You're a good man, Kyle, you did what no other person could do and you're a brave man for doing what you did." Haley said. Everyone else nodded as they all embraced Kyle and comforting him, he was lucky to have everyone standing by him and accepting him for who he was.

By the night, Kyle and Johnny were walking down by the beach as they looked up at the sky watching the meteor shower as Johnny said, "See the group of stars on the right there?" "Yeah." "What do you think they make?" "Looks like the Statue of Liberty." "Fair guess, for me it'd be the USMC Emblem." Kyle chuckles as he says, "Nice one." The two continue to talk into the night about the stars.

Haley and Nathan's apartment

At the apartment, Nathan is looking up at the stars as he thinks to himself about his future, he had recently turned down the Highflyer's opportunity as Haley joined him and said, "You okay?" "Yeah, just thinking." "About?" "My future, while it's with you, I'll stand by you through the thick and thin of it all, I want you by my side, Hales." "I do as well, you thinking about what Kyle said earlier?" "Somewhat, I keep thinking about the choice he made, he wanted to be a soldier and a cop since he was young enough to know the uniforms, you get the chance to do a lot for your country, I mean, a lot of people my age, I don't know what they think, but when I read up on some sports players that turned down contracts to serve, I don't know, what do you think?" "Most recent one was Pat Tillman, didn't he die?" "April 2004, he served in the invasion of Iraq, he was a hero, fighting for what he believed, that takes courage and guts."

Haley nodded, before saying, "If you were thinking about the Army, would you go through with it?" "To do what was right, yeah, but at the same time, my brain is fighting with me." "Just know, I'll stand by you as you've always done for me." "I love you." "I love you too." Haley said.

The next morning, Brooke opens her front door and finds Mouth standing there as she said, "Mouth!" Brooke questioningly says as Mouth replies, "I um…I knew this meant a lot to you. So, I got the address off the woman's cheque and…I bought it back."

Brooke moves closer as Mouth steps aside to reveal her dollhouse. Brooke stands there, touched and then walks to Mouth and kisses him passionately before saying, "I'm touched, Mouth, you're the best reason, why you're my friend." "I am glad to be with you, beautiful." Mouth says before kissing Brooke again as they walk up to the house and walk inside. In the distance, Felix watches on in despair.

In the meantime, Nathan goes over to Kyle's apartment as he sees Johnny and says, "Hey Johnny, is Kyle around?" "Lucas's Mom, needed him for something, so I offered to watch over things." "Yeah, I was going to ask him something but is it okay if I ask you, though?" "Sure, what's it about?" "What made you join the Marines, I'm simply asking out of pure curiosity?"

Johnny then leant on the worktop as he answered, "When I joined, it was because I was wanting to make things right to serve my country, thing is, my Dad, he was a Marine served in 'Nam from '68 to '73 afterwards he joined the force. Died in '86, got caught in an ambush, left behind me and 2 sisters." "Sorry, man." "Don't be, truth is, I love being a cop and a Marine, there's nothing like it, why'd you ask?" "I don't know, I never really had that, I mean seeing everyday what soldiers do, like Kathleen, you, all of Kyle's family I don't know anybody like that." "Now you do, obviously, you knew the Hogan's?"

Nathan nodded saying, "They were good people, more like the best, I idolised Lieutenant Henry, he was a great man and a great officer." "He was, both departments said a lot about him, they brought him home to New York, that had been his first love." "Still remember the first time we met, he came to my school and I asked him a lot of questions, about being a cop, it made me wonder, you know…?" "You know I was at a cross-roads at your age."

Nathan looked up and signalled for him to continue as Johnny explained, "I was high-school sports star, full-ride to college, maybe try-outs with the NY Jets and full contract." "What made you choose?" "I weighed both options, then it was clear to me, "We don't get to choose how we start in this life. Real 'greatness' is what you do with the hand you're dealt." "Who said that?" "Lieutenant O'Malley, when I first joined his precinct, gone through my record when I was nominated for a commendation. It was then that I met his own kid and from there, he became the brother that I never had."

Nathan smiled saying, "Hell of a story." "Yeah, it is." "I was actually thinking about it last night, going off to serve my country, not many sports stars do that." "No they don't, I think… Kyle still had a pamphlet here…" Johnny headed for the drawer as he found a pamphlet handing it over to Nathan and said, "That, will have all the answers you need to figure out what you want." "Thanks Johnny." "No problem." "How long are you here for?" Nathan asked.

Johnny then said, "Got to go back tonight, doctor here checked me out, so I'll be back on duty." "Sense something else." "I'm also gonna ask Kath out on an official date." "That the reason you came up here?" "I had to ask Kyle for his blessing." "I didn't think that was still, you know the asking permission thing." "Well, in Kyle's family it was important and, it's how I was raised. You show a man respect, then you earn his trust." "Which you already had." "Exactly, but in all, it turned out to be a great mini-vacation."

Nathan nodded saying, "It was nice meeting you, anyway." "Yeah, it was, thanks for keeping an eye on my brother." "He does the same for all of us." "Just make sure, he doesn't kill anybody." "Especially Felix." "Yeah, especially him." "You got it. He's lucky to have a great family in New York." "We're lucky to have him in our lives." Johnny said as he shook Nathan's hand firmly as Nathan walked out of the building.

Soon Kyle came back as he said, "All ready, bro?" "Ready, when you are." "Let's go, I'll eat when I come back." "So what did Lucas's mom want to see you about?" Johnny said as they got in the car and began to drive off for the airport.

Kyle then said, "Well, Miss Roe asked me to watch over a new club she's opening tomorrow asked me to be the security at the event." "She asked you?" "More like, she asked me, but I said no." "How come?" "I didn't feel like being a moonlighting person, but that still ain't going to stop me from acting covertly though." "Good luck there, kid."

Kyle then asked, "You figured out where to take Kathleen, yet?" "No, though I was thinking Junior's was a good place." Kyle smiled saying, "Ah, Junior's, that place hasn't lost the magic." "You bet your ass it hasn't." Johnny laughed saying, "Still remember your 14th birthday at Junior's." "Oh, that was a great day." Kyle said smiling at his appreciation for Junior's, it had been a while since he was there and he held a deep love for its famous cheesecake.

The drive to the airport was very quick as they passed the time sharing some stories.

As Kyle got out and so did Johnny they made it to the airport terminal for New York as Johnny then said, "Thank you for such a great mini-vacation." "Could've been better without Taggaro, right?" "Maybe, hey, kid, you okay?" "Still thinking about him and her." "Kid, Frankie's death weren't your fault, he cared about you like a brother, hell he loved you like you were his own." "I still think her death was my fault, like I should've been there to do more." "Kid, don't blame yourself, Kath wouldn't want you to." "I'm sorry." "Hey, don't be, Kid, it weren't your fault."

"Your attention please, flight 13 from Tree Hill Airport to New York now boarding." The Tannoy had said.

Kyle looked up and heard as he said, "As a favour, I'll make a call to Junior's for you, go on in and ask for Luigi, he'll know who sent him." "Thanks Kid." "No problem."

Johnny looked and said, "I got to go kid." "Hey, treat Kath right for me?" "I will." "You know being her partner, spending all hours in a patrol car with her learning everything, it is an unofficial way to date someone." "You think?" "Yeah, you might be the lucky one." "Thanks kid." Johnny said as he walked towards the plane before turning and waved goodbye to his old friend.

Kyle had done the same as he stayed before watching the plane depart the airport.

He began to walk back to the car as he drove away, throughout the drive he had one hand on the steering wheel and another resting on his head as he pulled into a parking zone as he stepped out and looked at the building that said, 'Gun Range' he had gotten out and gone inside the building clutching a bag as he walked up to the counter and said, "Would like a shooting zone please?" "Sure, just need some identification?" "Yeah." Kyle pulled out his gun license and said, "Here you are."

The owner looked at the license and said, "All in order, head on through." "Thank you." Kyle says nodding as he picks up the bag.

Once he finds a quiet spot, he hangs one sheet up and presses the button until it is back up against the wall as he takes out the M1911 and raises it firing one shot up against it before firing the rest of the clip against the target before pulling it back, he takes it off and laughs saying, "Still got it."

Kyle then takes another target and hangs it up, he opens the bag and unzips it bringing out an M21 SWS as he leans into the stock hearing the wise words of his grandfather telling him, "Gentle on the trigger, don't pull, just squeeze."

He fires off an entire clip straight into the head of the paper target as he smirks while one guy says, "Where in the Sam hell did you learn how to shoot?" Kyle says nothing as a familiar voice says, "New York shooting contest in 1996, target was 3000 yards away, nobody in the world could make the target but you did." Kyle then sees Louise as he smiles saying, "I heard 2 shooters came out of Tree Hill, one was a former Airborne soldier and the other well known around here, finest shooters in the state, that right?"

Louise smirks saying, "True on that count, little cousin."

Kyle laughs saying, "No Hogan or O'Malley, ever missed a shot, even if we had to compensate." "Still see you got it." "What was it we were taught?" "Gentle on the trigger, don't pull, just squeeze." Both family members said at the same time.

Kyle looks out over the range as he says, "Hear you signed up to work security at the new club?" "Yeah, how'd you know?" "Unofficially, I'm working there." "Kyle O'Malley, are you crazy?" "Nope, but it's better having more sets of eyes at the front and back than only in one place." "True, why unofficially though?" "Having 2 sets of official eyes, is a recipe for disaster, but one of each and it works out." "Classic, alright, I'll take the back, you work the front?" "Always hated big crowds." "You'll be fine, cousin, plus, it's good experience." "True."

Louise hands him an earpiece as she says, "Communication for the pair of us, need a callsign." "Hank is mine and you can be Hershey." "Smart ass." Kyle chuckles as the pair share a hug as they continue to fire weapons at paper targets.

The Next Morning

Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, New York City

It is a cool spring day in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. In Harbor View Terrace, Kathleen O'Malley is in her NYPD patrol uniform and is sitting at the kitchen table eating breakfast as she reads the paper over the latest news to come out from Iraq and Afghanistan. She looks over at the photo frame on the wall of her decorations as she walks towards it looking over the decorations. Signalling her bravery for her country. Soon, she hears a knock at the door as she says, "Just a second."

Kathleen puts the photo frame down as she walks to the door opening it and sees Johnny standing there as she says, "What are you doing here?" "I wanted to ask you before we head into work, so here goes… Kathleen, would you like to go out to dinner with me tonight not as partners but on a date?"

Kathleen looks shocked until Johnny says, "I asked Kyle for his blessing and he said yes, both Kyle and your cousin said yes." "Then yes, Johnny Ramirez, I will go out on a date with you." "Thank you." "When and where?" "Tonight, at Junior's." "You know how to make a girl feel special." "Of course I do." Kathleen smiled and kissed Johnny who looked stunned at first until he kissed back, more passionately as they rested their foreheads on each other as Kathleen said, "Don't want to be late for work, do we?" "No, we don't." "I best go, but I'll see you tonight, handsome."

Johnny smiled as he walked away heading for his car that was parked down the street.

Kathleen walked to her car carrying her off-duty stuff as she jumped in her '68 Dark Highland Green Mustang as she headed to defend her city, but for another reason she was smiling like a fool.

There we go, another chapter of this glorious book finished. Now, I'm thinking about a new chapter instead of it being focused on Kyle, how'd you like to see Kathleen O'Malley's view as she begins her newfound relationship with Johnny Ramirez? Let me know in the comments section below, please?

Also, please like and review? I love all of you, my fantastic readers.