PART ONE
CHAPTER TWO
Hunk a trunk

Sophia had tried hard over the last few days since she had met her roommates TO to try and convince the shorter woman to give her more information regarding him. She wasn't sure exactly what it was that got her attention. Sure she had thrown a few comments around whenever she had seen him at scenes prior, usually because she found it funny to see him so incredibly annoyed by it all. But when she had met him again, this time as Tim Bradford her best friends annoying TO something in her this time seemed to click differently. Maybe it was because she finally had a chance to drink him in a little bit more, perhaps it was because Lucy was at the scene. That this time around she was focused more on putting aside some of the bad prejudices she had against police officers, and how they totally were the big headed not good first responders because her best friend was one. Or maybe because she actually saw him getting something other than annoyed, a little bit flustered if her brain wasn't making it up that was. 

But Lucy hadn't given anything more, just sang a little song about Bradford being married. Telling her that she didn't want to be a home wrecker. True things yes, but also Sophia was living in a fantasy land, the least her best friend could do was play into it even just a little bit. It was rude not to. 

"Hey Soph still bummed about your roommate not hooking you up?" An arm was wrapped around Sophia's shoulders and she turned to the voice. 

"But Hen he was so broody and tall and hot." Sophia sighed as she got a chuckle in response. It wasn't uncommon for the team to see Sophia in a state of fawning, as a well established hopeless romantic it didn't take much for the youngest woman on the team to quickly 'fall' for someone. But usually it wouldn't last more than a few weeks before she picked up and moved her attention on. The whole wearing your heart on your sleeve was something Sophia practised enough for it to be something her team would often bet upon. 

"But we're about a week away from submissions being due for the Hot Days, Smouldering Nights: Men of the LAFD wall calendar, and I'm already at my goal weight, so it seems like my head is clearly working perfectly." Sophia finally arrived to the rest of her crew to hear the end of Buck's rant. She rolled her eyes, this was something she could recall being a topic of conversation every year since she had joined the LAFD a few years ago. And every year she would roll her eyes at the pictures chosen for each month. This year she had a desire however, something she intended to bring to her fellow female firefighter but she needed no prying ears for that one. 

"Do you really need to use that whole title." Hen responded pausing before her continuation as the men around them looked at the two women in confusion. "Why don't you just say 'that idiotic, reductive, sexist calendar that insults the dignity of this organisation and furthers the myth that all firefighters are male'." Hen finished only to get a majority of blank looks back at her. Sophia gave the woman a small squeeze she could understand the frustration of Hen, considering they had never chosen a female firefighter to represent the LAFD in the calendar, not that the title ever convinced any female firefighters to apply. 

"Yeah that's not any less words." Buck shrugged making a point to look at Sophia who was usually the least bothered by the whole calendar thing, but when he met another blank look he quickly diverted his attention. 

"Hen come on, it's for charity." Bobby finally joined in the conversation and Sophia found her attention drawn straight to her captain. She was unsure what was getting into the man but she was sure it was some sort of mid life crisis. 

"No Bobby, you too?" Sophia whined watching as the man looked back at her. "Papa Nash really?" She added.

"They say a man is at his sexiest when he reaches 50." Bobby shrugged and Sophia looked to the others around her for help but didn't see much. 

"Okay you're both wrong. Alright? You see, I think sorority houses all across this great nation are ready for a new Asian sex symbol. It's our time." Chimney finally added his contribution and Sophia wanted to feel the same annoyance at the man like she had for Buck and Bobby but she found it difficult. For deep down, she knew exactly what the man was hinting at and in all fairness if there was one of them she thought deserved to get the spot it was surely Chimney. 

"I think it's great. You know? I like that you're both going up for it." 

"Oh because you don't think we have a chance?" Chimney shot back at Buck watching as the youngest member of the firehouse squirmed a bit at the negative attention. 

"Whoa, did I say that? I mean, sure let's be real. They are only picking one candidate from each station." Buck tried to say it nonchalantly but Sophia knew that it wasn't coming across the way the young man wanted it to. But she had no desire to step in and try and help him. 

But before they could continue with their current conversation Sophia noted that Chimney's attention had suddenly moved on from what they had currently been discussing. He was no longer prioritising trying to make Buck stutter and stumble. 

"Okay. That is a beautiful man." At his words Sophia turned to see just who had caught his attention. She was sure if this was a comic her eyes would have bulged from her head taking on a pick love heart look. 

"Holy shit." She muttered. Sophia took a moment to stop and stare at the new recruit to the station. This new man, he must have been chisled by a great roman artist. Like davinchi or some shit. Because wow, that was an incredibly beautiful man. 

"Who the hell is that?" Buck relented enough to draw Sophia's attention away from the new recruit and back to her established team, though she wouldn't put it past herself to sneak another couple of looks here and there. Just to be sure he wasn't a figure of her imagination. 

"It's Eddie Diaz. New recruit. Graduated top of his class just this week. The guys over at station 6 were dying to have him but I convinced him to join us." Sophia nodded to her captains words, it had after all been a short while since the team had taken on anyone new, especially a fresh out of the academy firefighter. The last one Sophia could recall was indeed Buck and that was nearly two years ago. Not even the B shift had taken on a new recruit. She supposed it was time they did so, it would also even out their team numbers. 

"What do we need him for?" Buck grumbled and Sophia turned to look at the younger man in confusion, he was clearly jealous of something but she wasn't sure what. But it was clear this was going to be some sort of macho man competition she did not want any part of. 

"He served multiple tours in Afghanistan as an army medic. Guy's got a silver star." Bobby continued to explain hoping he was getting reasons for the desire to fight for the new recruit across to his team members. 

"A military man, oh count me in Papa Nash. You know I love the ones with tags." Sophia excitedly replied before getting a jokingly harsh glare from her captain. 

"Soph, no." Bobby reprimanded in good faith knowing that the female firefighter would never actually attempt to romance a colleague, plus this was all part of her overly flirty persona she often put on. 

"Come on Cap' look at the man." Sophia whined as she blindly followed her captain as he walked the rest of A squad over to their new recruit. 

"Hi." Hen was the first to greet the new recruit nudging Sophia with her elbow to get the younger woman to greet him too, not just stare.

"Hey." Eddie replied.

"Eddie this is Hen. Hen, Eddie." Captain Nash introduced them formally. 

"Hey good looking, wanna take the engine out for an educational spin." Sophia turned on the charm and sleaze awaiting his response. When a small red blush started to take over his face she knew she had won. But a hit to the back of her head soon stopped her in her tracks from saying something else.

"Don't make me discipline you Booth. Eddie this flirt is our Soph." Bobby rolled his eyes as he introduced the pair. 

"You would never, I'm clearly the favourite child here." Sophia rolled her eyes in response to Bobby's own eye roll ensuring that he knew she wasn't serious about her previous comment. "Plus my heart has been taken by Officer Bradford." Sophia clutched her chest dramatically as she winked at the new recruit hoping that she hadn't crossed any boundaries. Knowing she quite possibly had. 

"In your dreams girl." Hen chided and before the group could say much more the bell rang out behind them. 

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It would be later that evening that Sophia would bring the new member of the 118 up to her roommate. She was stood over the oven, attempting to cook the pair of them dinner for the night. Initially, when the two woman had met whilst at college Sophia could barely do anything for herself, there was no need. Back when she lived at her parents, there had been people to do everything for her, from making her bed to ensuring she ate. Therefore, she had been wholly unprepared for college life. And it had taken years for Lucy to teach her uneducated best friend enough so that she could survive. 

"Why are you cooking? What did you do?" Lucy was questioning the moment she stepped foot into the apartment the two shared. 

"Why did I have to do something bad? You're making it out that I only cook when I've done something." Sophia turned her attention away from the hob to look at Lucy. 

"Because you wouldn't cook normally after a shift, it's always 'let's order something Luce'. So what did you do?"

"The audacity, the gall and the gumption." Sophia tutted turning her attention back to her cooking before she had to use the extinguisher they kept in the kitchen on her own cooking. 

"Come on Soph out with it." 

"Well I was gonna sweeten you up for my hot gossip but now you're getting nothing." Sophia waved her wooden spoon in the air before stirring some more. The food was nearly finished and she cared little for the response her last sentence was going to illicit considering the fact that she was going to share regardless. After all, following just spending one shift with the new recruit, Sophia was desperate to set him and her best friend up. 

Eating dinner would come with a heavy silence. Sophia refused to give into Lucy and share the new information she had. Lucy was desperate to hear whatever Sophia had tucked away and therefore would spend the meal staring at her best friend with purposeful puppy dog eyes to get her way. At least hoping for a reaction she wanted. Yet when Sophia was able to clean up the food without spilling Lucy became disappointed. 

"Please don't leave me hanging. What's it going to take for you to give me the tea?"

"Stop seeing John."

"I'm not... okay so maybe I am still seeing John but what's that got to do with this?"

"He's like 13 years your senior, has a kid who's like nearly 20, and I dunno you could do better?" Sophia shrugged, she liked John Nolan as a friend who she could use for handiwork at a cheap price. But she didn't like him as Lucy's boyfriend, it just seemed too weird to be good. Plus he took Lucy away from her way too much, Sophia was Lucy's best friend first that should come with some sort of time ownership. 

"I'll think about it, now spill Soph." Lucy inched closer to her friend hoping to get an answer quickly. 

"The new recruit at work is so hot." Sophia finally broke, she would have to live with Lucy's promise to think about her relationship with the other rookie. It would do for now but Sophia knew they would not be together much longer, something was telling her so. 

"Hotter than my TO?"

"Never, nobody will ever be that level of attractive." 

"Jesus Soph you're whipped and you know next to nothing about him." Lucy laughed part of her hoping that this was just some strange obsession her best friend was starting on but also wanting to see where this would all go. Hopefully nowhere but Sophia Booth always got what she wanted eventually, and Lucy supposed Tim Bradford might just be on that list. 

"I know he's your TO, he's married and he could hit me with his taser any day and I'd be thankful."

"Well do you have a picture of this new recruit."

"Oh yes, with and without a top." Sophia slid her phone over to Lucy 

"Oh wow LAFD really knows how to pick 'em." Lucy sighed out in response to the photos. Wondering just why her best friend's entire team were so attractive. Not a single 70s firefighter moustache anywhere in sight.