At night

At night, near a bustling food truck, Lucy, Jackson, Wesley, and John gathered around a table, studying and enjoying their meal.

John glanced at his notes and asked, "What's a 314?"

Jackson, munching on fries, replied, "Indecent exposure."

Wesley grinned. "Nice. How about 273g?"

Lucy, without missing a beat, answered, "Being intoxicated in the presence of a child."

Wesley nodded approvingly. "Well done."

John chuckled and said, "This reminds me of a funny story."

Lucy raised an eyebrow, "Oh, do tell."

John grinned, "Later. For now, what's a 237?"

Lucy replied, "False imprisonment."

Wesley gave her a thumbs-up. "Nicely done."

John's eyes sparkled with mischief. "Ooh, and a personal favorite—597h."

In perfect unison, Jackson and Lucy said, "Unlawfully attaching a propeller to an animal so that dogs may chase it."

John clapped, "Well done. That's 500 penal codes down, 1,000 to go. Curly fries?"

Jackson said, "Yes, please."

Wesley and Lucy chimed in together, "Definitely."

As John got up to order, he noticed two men pulling out guns.

"211—armed robbery," John said, his voice steady.

Wesley, Jackson, and Lucy immediately grabbed their off-duty weapons and stood up, ready for action.

John added, "488—petty theft."

One of the armed men, nervously glancing around, asked, "You a cop?"

John responded firmly, "Yes, I am. And so are they."

The four officers aimed their weapons at the suspects. Wesley commanded, "Hands in the air. Drop your guns."

Lucy and Jackson shouted in unison, "Turn around."

John observed, "This looks to me like a criminal conspiracy."

Jackson and Lucy started patting down the suspects. Jackson said, "You mean a 182. Also a 12-0-20."

Lucy, pulling a knife from one suspect's pocket, added, "Oh, and illegal possession of a firearm."

The would-be robber smirked and said, "Actually, it's a 417. The guns are fake."

Wesley picked up one of the dropped guns, examined it, and chuckled, "Ha! He's right!"

Lucy pulled out the knife and said, "Yep, but this knife's real. That's a violation of..."

The group said in unison, "21510(b)."

Lucy turned to the man she was searching for and said, "Turn around."

John and Wesley kept their guns trained on the suspects, ready for any sudden movements. The teamwork and quick thinking of the group turned a routine night into a successful operation.

The next day

At Wesley's Apartment

The next morning, in Wesley and Lucy's apartment, the sun was just starting to peek through the curtains. Wesley and Lucy were getting dressed, preparing for another day of work.

Wesley, pulling on his uniform shirt, glanced over at Lucy, who was rummaging through her closet for her gear. "You know, you're trouble, Boot."

Lucy smirked, turning to face him. "Oh, really? What kind of trouble are we talking about?"

Wesley chuckled as he buttoned his shirt. "The kind that makes every day interesting. And maybe a little dangerous."

Lucy raised an eyebrow playfully. "Dangerous, huh? I'd say I keep things exciting."

Wesley grinned and adjusted his belt. "Exciting is one way to put it. More like you've got me on my toes, constantly wondering what's next."

Lucy stepped closer, slipping into her uniform pants with a wink. "Well, you wouldn't want it any other way. I'm sure you'd be bored without me keeping you on edge."

Wesley's smile widened as he picked up his badge. "True. I guess I'll just have to get used to the chaos you bring. It's not every day you get a partner who can handle both high-speed chases and unpredictable moments."

Lucy finished tying her boots and moved to stand next to Wesley. "And it's not every day I get to work with someone who knows how to keep me on my toes. I'd say we're a pretty good match."

Wesley reached out and gently tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "Good match, indeed. Just don't forget, trouble or not, I've got your back."

Lucy leaned in, her voice low and teasing. "And I've got yours. Now, how about we get to work before the day gets any more interesting?"

Wesley's eyes sparkled with affection as he pulled her into a brief, warm embrace. "Deal. Let's go show the world what a little trouble can do."

They shared a quick, playful kiss before heading out the door, ready to face whatever the day had in store.

Later

As Wesley and Lucy drove to work, the cityscape began to come alive with the morning rush. Wesley was behind the wheel, while Lucy sat beside him, her focus shifting between the passing scenery and Wesley.

Lucy glanced over, a mischievous smile playing on her lips. "You know, you clean up well, Officer Wick."

Wesley chuckled, glancing at her with a grin. "Oh, is that so? I guess it's easier to look good when I have a partner who keeps me in line."

Lucy playfully nudged him with her elbow. "And here I thought you were just naturally charming."

Wesley raised an eyebrow, keeping his eyes on the road. "Charming, huh? I'm flattered. I guess I'll have to work extra hard to keep up with your standards."

Lucy leaned in slightly, her voice low and teasing. "Oh, you're doing just fine. I think you're making the city look good."

Wesley smirked, glancing over at her. "And I suppose you're the one who makes the patrol car look even better?"

Lucy laughed softly. "Well, I do my best. But let's be honest, it's the combination of us that makes everything work."

Wesley nodded, his smile widening. "I'll give you that. It's like we're a dynamic duo, saving the day and causing a little trouble along the way."

Lucy tilted her head, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "And speaking of trouble, do you think we'll find any today? Or are you planning to keep all the excitement to yourself?"

Wesley shot her a playful look. "I wouldn't dream of it. I'm sure you'll be the first to find any excitement that comes our way. And I'll be right there to make sure we handle it together."

Lucy's smile softened, and she reached over to squeeze his hand briefly. "I wouldn't want it any other way. We make a great team, after all."

Wesley gave her hand a gentle squeeze in return, his eyes filled with warmth. "Agreed. And I'm glad I get to spend every day with you. No matter what comes our way."

They shared a tender glance as Wesley navigated through the bustling streets, the bond between them evident in their smiles and playful banter. The rest of the drive was filled with light-hearted teasing and shared laughter, setting a positive tone for the day ahead.

At the station

In the briefing room

Wesley, Tim, and Lopez were gathered together at the station when Lopez turned to Jackson, saying, "80 might be the passing grade, Boot, but if you don't score at least a 90, you might as well turn in your badge on principle."

Wesley chimed in with a grin, "Officer Chen, I'd take it as a personal insult if you score anything less than a 93."

Lucy smiled at the challenge. "Yes, sir. Have you thought about how you'll spend all your new free time? Might I suggest a book club?"

Wesley looked puzzled. "What are you talking about?"

Lucy explained, "Well, once I pass, there won't be any more daily evaluations for you to write."

Wesley responded with a smirk, "Whether I evaluate you daily or weekly, I'll still judge you every minute. Got it?"

Lucy's smile widened. "Yes, sir."

Tim chuckled, about to join in the conversation when Grey walked in.

"So, big day ahead," Grey announced. "Rookies will be on patrol for the first six hours of their shift, then they'll return for the written test. Try not to wear them out this morning. Stick to the easy calls, alright?"

Wesley shook his head, "I don't do easy."

Grey stepped closer and raised an eyebrow. "But you do follow direct orders, don't you, Officer Wick?"

Wesley replied, "Not always, sir."

Grey smirked and replied, "Ah, so you're a free spirit on the force. I see. Well, as much as you enjoy bending the rules, today you'll be bending them my way."

Wesley raised an eyebrow. "And what if I choose not to?"

Grey leaned in with a wry smile. "Then I guess you'll find yourself very familiar with paperwork and desk duty."

Wesley chuckled. "Sounds like a threat."

Grey shrugged. "Consider it a friendly suggestion. I'd hate to see you get bored. Besides, we wouldn't want you to miss out on all the fun."

Tim chuckled at the back-and-forth. "Guess we're all in for a day of 'easy calls,' huh?"

Wesley smirked and nodded. "Looks like it. But don't think I'll go easy on the rookies, Grey."

Grey's grin widened. "I wouldn't have it any other way. Just remember, all eyes are on you today."

Grey turned to the T.O.s with a smirk and said, "I also wanted to share some news. I've got Officer Wick's rookie test results right here—he scored a 98. So let's give him a round of applause. He'll need every bit of that support when he tackles the sergeant's exam in a few months."

The room erupted in applause, with a few of the T.O.s giving Wesley appreciative nods. Wesley, slightly embarrassed but pleased, gave a modest wave.

Tim leaned over and whispered to Wesley, "Looks like you're going to need all that applause to keep your ego in check."

Wesley grinned and replied, "It's just practice. The real challenge is still ahead."

Lucy joined the conversation, nudging Wesley playfully. "Just remember, I'll be right there with you, keeping you grounded."

Grey raised an eyebrow and said, "Alright, let's keep it moving."

Grey walked to the three rookies at the front and said, "After the written exam, you'll head to the Chief's office for the oral exam. Remember, he's got a reputation for being tough. He can fail you for any number of reasons. Officer Nolan, remind me again—how does the Chief feel about you?"

John replied with a hint of sarcasm, "Oh, he's a big fan, sir."

The officers chuckled, knowing full well that the Chief wasn't exactly John's biggest supporter.

Grey smirked and said, "Right. Well, don't let that intimidate you. Just stay sharp and do your best."

He glanced around, making sure everyone was clear on the plan. "All right, you three, see you back here in six hours. And remember, this is just one step in a long journey. Let's get to it."

With that, the officers began to file out of the briefing room, each one preparing for the day ahead.

Later

On patrol

Lucy and Wesley pulled up to the shop as Dispatch crackled over the radio: "7-Adam-100, silent hold-up alarm activated at Madame Megan's Psychic Shop. 2417 Vine. Code 3."

The pair swiftly exited their patrol car and approached the shop. As they entered, they heard a man shouting, "Tell me! Tell me right now! How the hell did you know?! Answer me!"

Wesley and Lucy made their way inside, with Wesley aiming his gun at the man and commanding, "Police. Drop the snow globe."

The woman, who Wesley presumed was Megan, shouted, "That's a $900 crystal ball! Can you just ask him to put it down gently?"

Wesley smirked and replied, "You heard her. Gently."

The man carefully placed the crystal ball back on the table. Lucy instructed, "Up against the wall. Turn around."

Wesley approached Megan and asked, "Ma'am, you okay?"

Megan sighed, "Yeah, I'm fine. I was just giving this guy a reading, and he flipped out."

The man interjected, "Don't say another word. We have psychi-client confidentiality."

Megan shot back, "That's not a real thing, asshat."

Wesley asked, "What were you telling him when he lost it?"

Megan explained, "We were discussing his love life. I mentioned seeing an image of him with a beautiful woman surrounded by trees, and then he just freaked out."

Lucy turned to the man and inquired, "Why's that, sir? Did the image strike a nerve? Been in the woods with a woman recently?"

The man responded, "No, it was just a misunderstanding."

Wesley grabbed his radio and said, "Control, run a name for me. Last name Fisher, first name Randy L. Suspected in a domestic."

Wesley then remarked, "I hope this is a fake ID because Randy L. Fisher sounds like a fake name."

Megan and Lucy chuckled, but the mood shifted when Dispatch replied, "7-Adam-100, be advised suspect's wife was reported missing six weeks ago."

Lucy said, "Hands behind your back."

Megan gasped, "Holy crap. I was just making that up."

Randy asked, "You were?"

Megan retorted, "You think if I were psychic, I'd be working out of this moldy storefront in Hollywood?"

As Lucy handcuffed Randy, Wesley glanced at Megan and saw her giving him a flirtatious look. She said, "Although, I can see us making the most of my bedroom later."

Wesley hesitated, then looked at Lucy, who gave him a knowing look that seemed to say, "Better let her know you're taken."

Wesley replied, "I'm sorry, ma'am. I'm dating someone."

Megan's smile faltered, and she gave Wesley a sympathetic nod. "Ah, well, can't blame a girl for trying."

Lucy smirked and gave Wesley a playful nudge. "Looks like my partner here has a soft spot for me."

Wesley chuckled, then turned back to Megan. "Thanks for your cooperation. We'll take it from here."

As Lucy and Wesley led Randy outside, he shuffled along in handcuffs, his earlier bravado gone. Wesley glanced over at Lucy, still feeling the sting of Megan's flirtatious offer.

Lucy caught Wesley's gaze and said, "Don't worry, you're stuck with me. I'm not going anywhere."

Wesley smiled, feeling a bit reassured. "Glad to hear that."

They secured Randy in the patrol car and then headed back to their vehicle. Wesley climbed in the driver's seat, and Lucy took the passenger side. As they drove away from the scene, the tension began to ease.

Lucy glanced at Wesley and said, "So, what's next on our agenda? Hopefully something a little less... crystal ball drama."

Wesley laughed. "Definitely. Let's see what else the city has in store for us today."

Lucy grinned. "I'm ready for whatever comes our way. Just as long as you're by my side."

Wesley reached over and gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. "Same here. Let's go make this a great shift."

With that, they drove off into the city, ready to face whatever challenges their patrol might bring.

Later

In the briefing room

All patrol officers were called back into the station and directed to the briefing room.

Wesley noticed Jessica back at the front, accompanied by another woman standing next to her and Grey.

Jessica began, "Okay, here's the situation. At 10:00 last night, Corey Valance boarded a bus from Phoenix to LA. He was accompanied by another individual. We don't have ID on the second person yet, but we know they're affiliated with a fringe nationalist group that believes Los Angeles embodies everything wrong with America."

Grey added, "The two arrived here at 5:00 this morning. We suspect Corey's partner killed him in the bus station bathroom shortly after."

Wesley asked, "Do you think Corey might have had second thoughts?"

Jessica replied, "It's a possibility, especially considering they were carrying a highly dangerous virus."

John remarked, "So that's why we had the Silkwood shower."

Dr. Morgan, the woman next to Jessica, clarified, "That was purely a precaution. There's no evidence that the biological agent has been released."

Jessica continued, "However, we have every reason to believe an attack might be imminent."

Lucy inquired, "What type of virus are we dealing with?"

Dr. Morgan explained, "It's a weaponized strain of hemorrhagic fever. It causes uncontrollable bleeding and spreads through contact with bodily fluids. It has an extremely short incubation period and a grim pathology. Without treatment, it has a 90% fatality rate."

John asked, "And if treated quickly?"

Dr. Morgan said, "That drops to around 60%. But the real issue is--"

Wesley interjected, "That's not the real issue?"

Dr. Morgan continued, "No. The real issue is that there's only an experimental vaccine. We're having it flown in from Atlanta, but we only have a few hundred doses—nowhere near enough to handle a potential outbreak."

Grey said, "So, the rookie exam will be postponed. The Feds have requested our assistance while they establish a command center here. Our first task is to identify Corey's partner and possible accomplices. You'll need to conduct field interviews with the bus passengers."

Bishop asked, "Do we think Corey's killer is working alone now?"

Wesley replied, "Absolutely not. People intent on causing harm usually have multiple partners."

Jessica added, "Officer Wick is correct. We believe there's one more person involved—a local who picked up Corey at the bus station."

Grey concluded, "This is highly sensitive. We cannot risk the information leaking and causing a panic. You can warn your immediate families to stay away from crowded places, but no further details. Understood? Now, let's get to work."

Wesley quickly approached Lucy, and they both said in unison, "The twins."

Wesley called Melissa, and when she answered, he said, "Hey, Melissa. I need you to stay away from crowded places, especially with the twins. Head to my apartment and stay there until I say otherwise. Promise me."

Melissa responded, "I promise. We'll be safe."

Melissa's voice was tinged with concern. "Wesley, what's going on? Why do we need to stay away from crowded places?"

Wesley hesitated for a moment before responding. "Melissa, I can't go into details right now. I'm sorry if I'm making you worry. There's a situation I'm dealing with, and it's important for your safety and the twins' safety that you stay out of harm's way."

Melissa's voice softened. "I understand, Wesley. I'll do what you ask. Just promise me you'll be careful, too."

Wesley sighed with relief. "I promise. I'll keep you updated as soon as I can. Thanks for understanding."

Melissa said, "Okay. We'll be waiting for you at your place. Stay safe out there."

Wesley ended the call and took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the situation pressing down on him. Lucy, standing nearby, placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder.

Lucy said, "We'll get through this. You've got a team that's got your back."

Wesley nodded, appreciating her support. "Let's get to work. We've got a job to do."

Together, they headed out to tackle the urgent task at hand, knowing that every second counted.

Lucy said, "I'm going to call my parents. I'll be back soon."

She stepped outside to make the call, her voice growing serious as she spoke to her mother. "Mom, I need you and Dad to stay away from crowded places for a while. This is just between us—don't tell anyone else, okay?"

Meanwhile, Wesley walked out of the briefing room and spotted Lopez. He approached her with a sense of urgency. "Hey, are you going to call Brian?"

Lopez nodded. "Yes, I'll make sure to reach him. Don't worry."

Wesley sighed with relief. "Thank you. I haven't been in touch with him since we visited Cross."

Lopez gave him a reassuring look. "I've got it covered. You focus on what you need to do."

Wesley nodded, appreciating her support, and turned to head back to his duties.

Later

At a location

Wesley and Lucy parked near the house they were assigned to investigate.

Lucy remarked, "I thought the test was going to be the most stressful part of my day."

Wesley replied, "Well, hopefully, that'll be a problem for tomorrow. And don't worry, I'd have helped you de-stress at home."

Lucy blushed and said, "And worst case? Never mind—don't answer that. And stop making me blush while we're on duty."

Wesley grinned. "But I love seeing you blush. It means my charm is still working."

Lucy chuckled, "I love you. And I tell you you're charming almost every day."

Wesley countered, "Not quite. I flirt with you to remind myself that I still have it."

Lucy laughed as Wesley knocked on the door.

"Police," Wesley announced.

The man opened the door, looking frustrated. "Took you long enough. The bag's in here."

Wesley said, "Sir, we're here about the bus you took from Phoenix."

The man replied, "Yeah, I figured. I called about the bag."

Lucy closed the door behind them as Wesley asked, "And what bag is that?"

The man explained, "I thought it was mine. I picked it up by mistake."

Wesley entered the room, observing the man reaching for the bag. "I noticed it was the wrong bag as soon as I got home. I called right away. Still took you guys six hours to get here."

Wesley clarified, "Actually, we're not here about a bag."

The man asked, "So you don't have mine?"

Wesley shook his head. "No."

The man swore, "Damn it. My computer's in there. I went through this one looking for an address and found some weird science equipment."

Wesley glanced at Lucy, who was standing by, and then looked back as she spoke into her radio. "Control, this is 7-Adam-100. Patch me into the task force, please."

Wesley asked the man, "Did you touch anything in the bag?" as he pulled out gloves.

The man replied, "Yeah, I cut my finger on a broken vial. It won't stop bleeding."

Wesley's concern grew, but he kept his composure. Lucy asked from outside, "Everything okay in there?"

Wesley responded, "Yeah. Just stay out there."

The man started to cough, and Wesley watched as blood splattered from the man's mouth. Lucy noticed and called out, "Wes."

Wesley quickly spun around, kicking the door shut and locking it.

The man panicked, "What's happening?"

Wesley said, "It's okay. There's a flu outbreak we were warned about. Nothing to panic over."

The man questioned, "Then why did you lock the door?"

Wesley removed his jacket and said, "Standard procedure. Look, was anyone else in the house today?"

The man replied, "No, my kid's with my ex."

Wesley started to remove his flannel shirt and asked, "Do you have any cold medicine?"

The man answered, "I think so."

Wesley instructed, "Take it. I'm just following the treatment advice we received. My partner is calling for an ambulance; they'll be here soon."

The man coughed again, and Wesley urged, "Go on."

The man headed to the bathroom, and Wesley wiped down his neck and face. "Everything all right out there, Lucy?"

Lucy's voice came through the door, "Yeah, the CDC's on their way. You need to come out of there."

Wesley responded, "Not yet. We need to keep this contained."

Lucy said through the door, "Wes—"

Wesley reassured her, "It's going to be fine, Boot. Keep focused. We'll handle this." He continued wiping himself down, trying to stay calm.

Wesley stood next to the door, trying to keep his voice steady. "It's going to be okay. I promise. Tell me you love me."

Lucy's voice came through, tinged with concern. "I love you, sir."

Wesley replied softly, "I love you too. Just stay calm for me, all right?"

Lucy responded, "Okay."

Later

Wesley stood by the door, hearing the commotion from the next room. As Lucy finished her call, a voice approached the door.

A woman's voice said, "Officer Wick, this is Dr. Morgan from the CDC."

Wesley responded, "Hey, Doc."

Dr. Morgan asked through the door, "How are you holding up?"

Wesley replied, "I'm fine, but Mr. Langston's in rough shape."

Dr. Morgan inquired, "Can you describe his condition?"

Wesley said, "He started coughing up blood about 20 minutes ago and now he's got a severe nosebleed."

Langston's voice came from inside, panicked. "Why aren't they coming in? Where's my ambulance?"

Wesley reassured him, "It'll be here soon. Just stay put and conserve your energy."

Dr. Morgan then asked through the door, "Officer Wick, would you mind helping us while we wait?"

Wesley asked, "You need to know what's in the bag?"

Dr. Morgan replied, "Yes, please."

Wesley responded, "Copy that," letting out a sharp exhale.

He added, "Boot, I'm going to turn on my body cam. You can monitor it from out there."

Lucy's voice came through the door, "Okay. Please be careful."

Wesley put his gloves back on and attached his body cam to his bulletproof vest. He activated it and said, "All right. Here we go."

He approached the bed where the bag lay and extended his baton to hold one side of the bag down while he used his other hand to pull the opposite side open.

Dr. Morgan's voice came through the door, "Wait, wait. What's that bottle?"

Wesley used his baton to lift the bottle and said, "It looks like a delivery device—specifically, a misting fan."

Dr. Morgan replied, "I think you're right. It appears to contain a growth medium. They'd mix the virus with it and use the fan to disperse it. The droplets would land on people's faces, infecting them through their mouths and noses. It's a low-tech but effective method."

Wesley stared at the fan, taking in the gravity of the situation.

Wesley scanned the contents of the bag and said, "No sign of any ID or target information."

Suddenly, Lucy's voice came through the door in a panicked shout, "Wes! Wes, look out!"

Wesley spun around just in time to see Langston brandishing a chair. Before he could react, Langston swung it, striking Wesley hard over the head.

Later

Wesley lay on the ground, barely conscious, but he could hear Lucy's frantic voice calling out, "Wes? Wes!"

He blinked his eyes open, noticing a pool of blood beside him, and panicked, thinking it was his.

Langston, his voice trembling with panic, muttered, "I gotta get outta here. Gotta get outta here."

With great effort, Wesley crawled away from Langston, drew his taser, and fired it. The electric shock sent Langston collapsing to the floor.

Lucy's voice, now filled with even more concern, shouted through the door, "Wes! Wes, are you okay?"

Wesley managed to pull himself up and staggered over to cuff Langston. As he secured the cuffs to the bed, he groaned in pain.

Lucy, still anxious, yelled, "Hey, answer me! Or when this is over, I'm gonna be so mad at you when we get home."

Wesley, trying to reassure her, shouted back, "It's okay! I'm okay!" as he crawled backward toward the door.

Breathing heavily, he added with a weak chuckle, "Well, that was fun."

Lucy, her worry palpable, asked, "Are you sure you're okay?"

Wesley chuckled again and said, "Kind of depends on your definition of 'okay,' honey."

Hearing the urgency in Lucy's voice, she said, "You need to get that vaccine here right now."

Later

Wesley stared blankly at the wall, his thoughts racing.

Langston's weak, gasping cry broke the silence. "Help!"

Wesley didn't turn his head, but Langston's voice grew more desperate. "Help! Please!"

Langston began to groan, his voice fading as the blood loss took its toll. Wesley finally looked over, seeing the severity of Langston's injuries.

Langston's movements slowed and then ceased altogether.

Later

At night

Wesley covered Langston with a blanket, not wanting to see him in such a state. He leaned against the door, trying to steady himself.

Through the door, Lucy's voice was filled with concern. "Hey, I just checked with Dr. Morgan. The vaccine's only minutes away."

Wesley said, "You know, you're good at a lot of things, but lying isn't one of them. I can tell when you're happy. Comes with the territory of sleeping with you."

Lucy chuckled softly. "Oh, really? Can I get that in writing?"

Wesley managed a small smile. "How are you doing? Any symptoms yet?"

Wesley responded, "I'm sweating like a pig, but that's probably because it's about 100 degrees in this room."

Lucy reassured him, "It's going to be okay. I believe that."

Wesley said, "I'm sure you do. But if it isn't—"

Lucy cut him off, "Don't think like that. It's—"

Wesley continued, "If it isn't, I'm not going out like my man Pete here. I'm gonna go out on my terms. I need you to take care of the twins if that happens. Can you promise me that?"

Lucy's voice broke as she cried, "Wes, don't say that. Please, I love you."

Wesley replied softly, "I love you too. I love you so fucking much."

He looked down at his hands, gripping his gun with both hands, ready for whatever might come.

Later

With Lucy

Lucy paced anxiously in the living room, her eyes darting to the door every few seconds. When she heard the door open, she turned to see Dr. Morgan walking in with a serious expression.

Lucy immediately asked, "Please tell me that's the vaccine."

Dr. Morgan nodded. "It is."

As Dr. Morgan began to take down the tarp, she added, "Hold on. Step back. You're not wearing protective gear."

Lucy hesitated but then agreed, "Yeah, okay," as she moved away.

Dr. Morgan approached the bedroom door and called out, "Officer Wick, it's time to let me in."

Wesley unlocked the door, revealing Dr. Morgan and Lucy standing outside.

Dr. Morgan greeted him, "Hey."

Wesley replied, "Hey, Doc."

Dr. Morgan entered the room and quickly assessed the situation. She noticed Langston's body and turned to Wesley, asking, "How are you feeling?"

Wesley responded, "Not bad, all things considered."

Dr. Morgan replied, "That's good. You're right on the edge of the incubation window, so the fact that you're not showing any symptoms is a good sign. But we're going to administer this vaccine just to be safe."

Wesley raised an eyebrow. "It's experimental, right?"

Dr. Morgan prepared the injection. "Yes, it is. So we'll just have to wait and see what happens. It could be nothing—or you might grow horns."

Wesley joked, "I'd love that. I could terrorize the kids with my horns."

Dr. Morgan chuckled. "For now, let's just say you might've dodged a bullet."

Wesley glanced at Lucy, noticing the deep worry etched on her face.

Later

In the morning

Lucy stepped outside the house, greeted by the early morning sun. She took a deep breath of fresh air, her flannel buttoned up against the chill.

She spotted Bishop, Lopez, Jackson, and John nearby and walked over to them.

"Hey," Lucy said, "I heard you guys saved the day."

Jackson shrugged modestly. "It was a team effort."

John added, "Glad you're okay."

Lucy smiled, her words slightly stammering, "Me too. I mean, I'm glad you're okay, too."

Lopez asked, "How's Wes?"

Lucy nodded. "I think he's going to be all right."

John let out a sigh of relief. "That's good news. I was worried I'd lose a brother."

Jackson inquired, "What's next?"

Lucy replied, "He'll be under 24-hour observation at the CDC."

Lopez and Bishop turned to see Wesley emerging from the house, surrounded by people in hazmat suits.

Lopez grinned and said, "I'd bet my pension he just told the doctors he's not riding out of here in a wheelchair."

Bishop chuckled and mimicked Wesley's voice, "The only way I'm leaving is on my own two feet."

Wesley, looking pained, shot back, "Don't you guys have paperwork to finish?"

Lucy beamed at the group. "He's back."

Lopez said, "Yeah, he is. So stubborn."

Suddenly, Wesley staggered, looking dizzy, and collapsed backward.

"Officer Wick!" Dr. Morgan shouted.

"Wes!" Lucy screamed in panic.

The officers rushed over, but two men in hazmat suits intervened. Dr. Morgan called urgently, "We need an ambulance! Wes, what happened? What's wrong?"

A hazmat-suited man announced, "Everyone, stay back."

Lucy shouted, "Wes! Somebody call for help!"

To be continued...