[just] Home Is Where the Heart Is - The Sounds
"You're pushing thirty, Fitzgerald."
Harvey means it as a compliment as what follows is basically a discussion on his future as a police officer. Captain Kara Harvey showing a special interest in a single officer? "Everyone's equal" Harvey? No, that doesn't happen. Except, in his case it does. He doesn't get it. What about being Flint Fitzgerald means, 'You deserve it' or 'You can do it.' People have just always believed in the guy.
Find where you belong, start to take control, show a little soul
He's adopted out of his mother's stomach. That's his adopted mother's funny way of telling their miracle story. He's the miracle baby. What does that even mean? It's weird to have adoptive parents who are this open, he thinks. His buddy Lincoln is also adopted. It's not a welcome discovery in that household and he's tasked with finding his AWOL friend.
Why anyone would want an unborn baby they haven't met yet, he can't understand. Not at an early age. But, as he grows up he sees it. The potential. That final product. That is what's worth it.
Flint Fitzgerald graduating with his parents standing up and clapping. Happily. Tears streaming down their faces.
They aren't the only ones who believe in him, of course. There was Becker, the science teacher. "I know you know this. You're just second guessing yourself. Just go with your gut." Who knew, 'go with your gut' would end up being his life's mantra?
It takes a midnight mugging to get his head on straight. It's not that he's doing the wrong thing or making any wrong decisions. Cooking school. Guys do that. But, what about the people who elbow those guys, knock them out and take their money? His parents are extra protective and convince him to defer. He can always go back next year. For now, he should stay home - earn a real living. Gain experience washing dishes.
At least this way he's safe. Off the streets.
Except, it's Los Angeles, he thinks. The threat doesn't just go away. A house down the block is robbed. He's tired of not feeling in control. It's one thing to have some believe in you, it's another to have your parents hold you back for fear of safety. It's like Becker said.
Freshman year biology. Kathy Reichen is making eyes at him across the classroom. He's not interested but not one to break the gaze. It's flirting and flirting is harmless.
"And what happens after a bird matures in its mother's eyes?"
Kathy waves. He rolls his eyes, ignores a glare from Lincoln and waves back.
"Flint," Becker says, eyes on him. All eyes on him. He can't exactly say Kathy waved so he waved. This guy believes in him.
"They're thrown out," he says. And the teacher smiles - and clarifies. They're let out of the nest.
He needs to be let out of the nest.
Lincoln has already made his plans to enter the academy. His father did it, it's the logical choice for him. Flint has to convince his parents. His mother. To his surprise they're encouraging, just worried. They love him.
"Is that right, Mr. Well-adjusted." Lincoln says. "My mother about had a coronary." Lincoln likes to use medical terms he learns on T.V. to sound intelligent. Flint likes to do crosswords. To each his own.
Then you feel who you are
Now, he's twenty-seven, pushing thirty, apparently, and in a serious conversation with his superior. Her mouth moves in slow motion.
Swat.
There the universe goes again. Flint is special. Except, this time he's special with weapons and tactics. He's tactical. He's tactically special.
"I want to recommend you," Harvey says, her hands folded at her desk. She points at him for emphasis. "Of course, I just nominate. You'll have to pass all the tests. You interested?"
Nine years on the job and his parents are as proud of him as ever. Worried as hell night and day but proud nonetheless. The secretary and the elementary school teacher. Proud of their son. Their adopted, loving...and nothing.
"Swat?," his mother, Queenie notes. "That's nice. Congratulations, honey."
"You would think there could be a little more reaction," Flint laments in the locker room the next day.
"You complain when they care too much. You complain when they don't care enough. You're loved. Get over it," Lincoln says.
He should. He really should. But maybe being adopted gives him a perpetual worry that they'll just want to give him back. Maybe, they'll just want to rewind back to the day they took him right out of his mother's stomach - and leave him there. They'll leave him there and he'll sit in the womb. After a while, he'd knock. Hello? Hello? Anyone out there?
It's only polite.
But then I went for a walk; when I came back I was so much taller.
"It's not that we weren't proud," his father says, the next time he's home. Dishes is their bonding activity tonight and both men are wrist deap in soap and water.
"Mom said, 'Congratulations, honey.'" His father laughs, nodding. "And you smiled. And then we played Scrabble."
"When you told us you were interested in the Police Academy we were scared. And we showed it. We had spent weeks keeping you safe, right under our roof -- and you shock us with this life-changing, life-threatening decision."
Flint moves to interrupt but his father brings his own hand up, pointer finger pointed...at him. And yes, a bit of soap was just flung at his face. He grabs a clean towel from the counter and dabs at his face.
"We showed you we were scared, then. We didn't want to show you that, this time."
They're scared. Scared their special son is doing something else that will get him killed. They care. Lincoln scoffs. Becker is probably back there at the same high school, proud as ever. He wouldn't be surprised if his parents still keep in touch with the guy. (Thankfully they don't.) It's an easy answer. His regular duties wouldn't change. It isn't every day that SWAT is called. But, now he would be extra special - again.
As tired as he is of that distinction, he's interested.
"You interested?" Kara Harvey asks.
He's knocked on her doorframe despite the door being open. It's polite. He doesn't hesitate. He nods. She smiles. Special strikes again. Everyone believes something. Captain Harvey believes he's swat material. He's beginning to believe that, maybe, people believe in him for a reason. He says yes. He believes in himself. He just hopes it doesn't bite him in the ass.
But that's how you learn, who you really are.
1099 Words
Harvey means it as a compliment as what follows is basically a discussion on his future as a police officer. Captain Kara Harvey showing a special interest in a single officer? "Everyone's equal" Harvey? No, that doesn't happen. Except, in his case it does. He doesn't get it. What about being Flint Fitzgerald means, 'You deserve it' or 'You can do it.' People have just always believed in the guy.
Find where you belong, start to take control, show a little soul
He's adopted out of his mother's stomach. That's his adopted mother's funny way of telling their miracle story. He's the miracle baby. What does that even mean? It's weird to have adoptive parents who are this open, he thinks. His buddy Lincoln is also adopted. It's not a welcome discovery in that household and he's tasked with finding his AWOL friend.
Why anyone would want an unborn baby they haven't met yet, he can't understand. Not at an early age. But, as he grows up he sees it. The potential. That final product. That is what's worth it.
Flint Fitzgerald graduating with his parents standing up and clapping. Happily. Tears streaming down their faces.
They aren't the only ones who believe in him, of course. There was Becker, the science teacher. "I know you know this. You're just second guessing yourself. Just go with your gut." Who knew, 'go with your gut' would end up being his life's mantra?
It takes a midnight mugging to get his head on straight. It's not that he's doing the wrong thing or making any wrong decisions. Cooking school. Guys do that. But, what about the people who elbow those guys, knock them out and take their money? His parents are extra protective and convince him to defer. He can always go back next year. For now, he should stay home - earn a real living. Gain experience washing dishes.
At least this way he's safe. Off the streets.
Except, it's Los Angeles, he thinks. The threat doesn't just go away. A house down the block is robbed. He's tired of not feeling in control. It's one thing to have some believe in you, it's another to have your parents hold you back for fear of safety. It's like Becker said.
Freshman year biology. Kathy Reichen is making eyes at him across the classroom. He's not interested but not one to break the gaze. It's flirting and flirting is harmless.
"And what happens after a bird matures in its mother's eyes?"
Kathy waves. He rolls his eyes, ignores a glare from Lincoln and waves back.
"Flint," Becker says, eyes on him. All eyes on him. He can't exactly say Kathy waved so he waved. This guy believes in him.
"They're thrown out," he says. And the teacher smiles - and clarifies. They're let out of the nest.
He needs to be let out of the nest.
Lincoln has already made his plans to enter the academy. His father did it, it's the logical choice for him. Flint has to convince his parents. His mother. To his surprise they're encouraging, just worried. They love him.
"Is that right, Mr. Well-adjusted." Lincoln says. "My mother about had a coronary." Lincoln likes to use medical terms he learns on T.V. to sound intelligent. Flint likes to do crosswords. To each his own.
Then you feel who you are
Now, he's twenty-seven, pushing thirty, apparently, and in a serious conversation with his superior. Her mouth moves in slow motion.
Swat.
There the universe goes again. Flint is special. Except, this time he's special with weapons and tactics. He's tactical. He's tactically special.
"I want to recommend you," Harvey says, her hands folded at her desk. She points at him for emphasis. "Of course, I just nominate. You'll have to pass all the tests. You interested?"
Nine years on the job and his parents are as proud of him as ever. Worried as hell night and day but proud nonetheless. The secretary and the elementary school teacher. Proud of their son. Their adopted, loving...and nothing.
"Swat?," his mother, Queenie notes. "That's nice. Congratulations, honey."
"You would think there could be a little more reaction," Flint laments in the locker room the next day.
"You complain when they care too much. You complain when they don't care enough. You're loved. Get over it," Lincoln says.
He should. He really should. But maybe being adopted gives him a perpetual worry that they'll just want to give him back. Maybe, they'll just want to rewind back to the day they took him right out of his mother's stomach - and leave him there. They'll leave him there and he'll sit in the womb. After a while, he'd knock. Hello? Hello? Anyone out there?
It's only polite.
But then I went for a walk; when I came back I was so much taller.
"It's not that we weren't proud," his father says, the next time he's home. Dishes is their bonding activity tonight and both men are wrist deap in soap and water.
"Mom said, 'Congratulations, honey.'" His father laughs, nodding. "And you smiled. And then we played Scrabble."
"When you told us you were interested in the Police Academy we were scared. And we showed it. We had spent weeks keeping you safe, right under our roof -- and you shock us with this life-changing, life-threatening decision."
Flint moves to interrupt but his father brings his own hand up, pointer finger pointed...at him. And yes, a bit of soap was just flung at his face. He grabs a clean towel from the counter and dabs at his face.
"We showed you we were scared, then. We didn't want to show you that, this time."
They're scared. Scared their special son is doing something else that will get him killed. They care. Lincoln scoffs. Becker is probably back there at the same high school, proud as ever. He wouldn't be surprised if his parents still keep in touch with the guy. (Thankfully they don't.) It's an easy answer. His regular duties wouldn't change. It isn't every day that SWAT is called. But, now he would be extra special - again.
As tired as he is of that distinction, he's interested.
"You interested?" Kara Harvey asks.
He's knocked on her doorframe despite the door being open. It's polite. He doesn't hesitate. He nods. She smiles. Special strikes again. Everyone believes something. Captain Harvey believes he's swat material. He's beginning to believe that, maybe, people believe in him for a reason. He says yes. He believes in himself. He just hopes it doesn't bite him in the ass.
But that's how you learn, who you really are.
1099 Words