John sat down on the box that was laying to the side of the street and pulled out a packet of cigarettes and put one between his lips before offering Gareth one and pulled out matches to light his own before speaking.

"I've heard rumours about my father doing time before I was born. They never spoke of it and I think it's part of the past my father wishes to hide" he took a draw from the cigarette. "From what I hear you've been put out the newspaper because of the fire. And which I may add. Had nothing to do with me. My brother is a fireman. I might be hot headed but id never put his life at risk" another draw was taken before he spoke once more "ill make you a deal. You keep my family away from the papers and I'll give you one hell of a story that's about to happen"

Oh... they were actually having a conversation about this? It was better than getting his ass kicked, but Gareth had kind of hoped after revealing what he knew, he'd be allowed to go and see a doctor. Internal bleeding and all that?

He took the offered cigarette and sat down on a set of steps. "Cheers." This was weird. He held it out for a light.

"You could be a journalist," he said with a wan smile. "They only just sacked me." He listened with his head titled slightly to the side. He took a draw from the cigarette. Then he coughed. "Fucking hell." It had been quite a while since he had tried a cigarette. He felt a sharp pain every time he coughed. "Jesus." At last his lungs ceased to irritate. "Why'd you do that? I'm sacked. Got a score to settle with someone?"

John laughed. "I just settled the score I had. Sore ribs and sore jaw. Last time I checked" he said as he took a draw from his cigarette. "As far as I see it. My beef with you is settled. You and I are on the same wavelength. We have nothing to lose only to gain. If your out the newspaper. What's the chances someone else will take your work and put it on the front pages. Nah Gareth. I help you get your job back by giving you one hell of a story and you keep my family out of the papers. You can use my name. I've already cleared it with the officers but I want the rest of my families stories away from the papers. What ever you have. Make it dissappear. I give you this story. This could put you in the big leagues of journalism"

Oh they were friends now? First name basis? Was this guy looking for a fuck or something? What the hell was this?

He took another, shorter draw from his cigarette He blew out the smoke slowly, thinking. "Very well," he said. "I'll do what I can to keep your family out of the papers. I'll talk to the journalists I know and bait them with something else to distract them. But this is no place to talk. These walls have ears. Would you like to come back to mine?"

John nodded "very well and yes I agree. These walls have ears. You can bet its already round the craggs about this altercation" John finished his cigarette and stubbed it out. "Lead on. We can chat on the way where it's quiet aswell"