You could be my little dream

 "What has gotten into you?"

Just what Carson needed to hear at the moment. Nothing seemed real anymore. He started at the emergency room but soon found work at the fire station. He was just a paremedic but with his firefighting well he got on quickly. Now if only he could live at the firestation instead of here, and maybe he did. 

He didn't want to listen to his brother Gage. After all, he had a moment of peace. It felt these days he was going and going. Usually, the Friday night Dad because Brit didn't want them. He'd heard from his oldest that Mom had been seeing some guy from the hospital. He said he was a sleeze. 

Naturally, it didn't sit too well with Carson. Finally, he looked up at Gage as he stretch out across the old couch in the basement. "Maybe..maybe I was just trying to get back at Brit." He knew one of the kids would tell her. 

"I'll say," Gage practically rolled his eyes at him and went to get him a beer from the garage. They were alone now. He guessed Gage wanted to have a brotherly moment, but Carson wasn't so sure he could stay awake for it. He could sleep soundly with the lights on with his busy schedule.

He popped the can of beer and said to Gage, "Nothing happened."

"Oh..but..could it?"

"I don't think so," he laughed. "I threw her into the lion's den, didn't you see how she was with all of them?" Carson chuckled as he sipped off the foam from the lid. "I doubt she'll ever want kids now."

"Is that any way to treat someone who you saved from a burning building?" 

Gage plopped down next to him with a sigh as he nursed his beer.

"I don't know why I do some of the things I do," Carson squinted. "I've been messed up from the get go." Carson shook his head as he leaned forward with his elbows on his thighs, holding his beer. "Mom was no help, you know."

"I know," Gage gave him a brotherly slap. "You grew up so fast, you never thought for yourself. But you're a good dad, remember that."

Carson nursed his bottom lip. He didn't think that was true. "I just can't be there for everything. And..and maybe I didn't say the things Brit wanted to hear." He shook his head. "I love my kids."

He felt the hot tears surface. "If there was a way, I'd get full custody and I'd have my own house with them." Still he knew that was a pipedream. "But I guess I should take Tyra on a real date."

"I think it's best to leave this one alone. I have a feeling it would be Brit all over again..and it might be worse," Gage yawned.

Carson looked at him seriously. He nodded. Yes, he guessed he should ask him if Nora knew someone he could date.

"I think right now is not the right time. You need to save your money and let the dust settle."

Gage glared at him as if he needed to listen. Still Carson wasn't sure he could make the effort.