𝐉𝐢𝐧𝐱.

CHAPTER SEVENTY, I NEED A GOAT. STAT!

a/n : currently hiding away in my work bathroom so I could publish this 🥱

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"Aha!"

Emery lifts her eyes from her phone and looks at Chimney. He shows his phone to everyone. "It is a real thing."

"Of course, it is." Emery buffs. "I knew it. But someone—who got us in this position in the first place, didn't believe me." she glares at Eddie. He rolls his eyes, "You're being ridiculous, Em."

"Okay, so," Chimney looks back at his phone. "we have to move our hands this kind of motion and ring the bells." he moves his hands in an outward circular motion. "Nine times."

"Nine times?" Buck cranes his neck forward. "Nine in total or nine for each of us?"

"It's unclear." Chimney sighs.

Emery rubs her eye. "Okay, well, maybe we could try both options. Just to be safe."

"Well, is it actually a curse?" Hen questions. "I know we called it that. But technically, I think it's a jinx."

Chimney blinks. "What's the difference?"

"Well, I feel like a curse implies that a person out a hex on you, and a jinx is more like a get real angering of the gods." Hen explains.

"All right, I got it. Here we go." Buck starts to read off his phone. "How to appease the gods."

"Okay, wait. So I a hex and a curse the same thing?" Chimney asks.

"Well, technically, yes." Emery shrugs.

"Or by that, you mean both are totally made up and not real?" Eddie speaks. "Yes."

"Oh, the curser has finally decided to speak up." Emery turns to him. "Stop speaking up, Edmundo."

"What more proof do you need, Eddie?" Chimney asks. "We are trapped in a death box! Thousands of volts of electricity coursing through every nook and cranny—any one of us could literally get fried like that." He snaps his fingers.

"Or," Bobby speaks. "we just don't touch any doors or windows until help arrives and nobody gets fried. With or without a curse or jinx—whatever."

"I'm gonna throw you out of this rig." Emery seethes.

Eddie holds his hands up and laughs, "Oh, come on, over this?"

"Yes!"

"Let's not start turning in each other now." Bobby speaks. Emery exhales and leans her back against her seat. She looks at Eddie and shakes her head. "You and Probie are the reasons why I haven't eaten—and gotten coffee!"

"What did I do?" Buck holds his hands up.

Emery looks at him and her eyes soften. "I was talking about Ravi."

Buck slightly opens his mouth. "Oh. Sorry, force of habit." He refocuses on his phone and pulls his brows together. "All I can find is some kind of human or animal sacrifice. I'm not really down with that—"

"Should we use a goat?"

Everyone turns to the girl and she opens and closes her mouth. "I-I mean, I'm not down with that—at all." Emery sinks into her seat. "I love animals."

"But you were just willing to sacrifice a goat." Buck squints his eyes.

Emery softly chuckles, "Obviousky not really. But like if it came down to it...?" She trails off her words and holds her hands up. "You know what? I wouldn't—I wouldn't!"

Eddie throws his head back and laughs. "Do you guys not hear yourselves right now?"

"Do you?" Buck and Emery turn to Eddie.

"It's like the universe is screaming at you and you refuse to listen." Buck adds.

"The universe does not scream."

Emery points at the roof of the engine as the electricity runs more out of control. "Then it threatens to fry you alive." She seethes.

"There are clearly forces at work here forces beyond my control and your control—"

"That's it." Eddie points at Chimney. "That's the difference between you and I. I don't worry about things that I can't control."

"Sure, you can say you don't worry about things you can't control but can you at least acknowledge that something is controlling things that you can't control?" Buck further presses Eddie.

"Like what? Gremlins? Boogeyman?" Eddie grins. "Santa Muerte?"

Emery throws her hands up. "He's mocking us."

"Look, all I'm saying is we've had a crappy day. It happens." Eddie explains. "But it didn't happen because of a curse or a hex or because someone said the word qu—"

Everyone tenses and now Bobby is the one to speak. "Hey! Hey! Don't!"

"Diaz."

Eddie looks at Emery and his body tenses. Her entire face read 'Say it and I will kill you'."

Eddie lets out a laugh that was filled with disbelief. "Come on, Bobby. You really can't believe in all this." He turns to Bobby.

"You know, Cap, you have been pretty silent today about all this jinx stuff." Hen says.

Emery hums and looks at Bobby. She had been so worried about Eddie that she hadn't even realized that Bobby hasn't voiced his concerns.

"Yeah, suspiciously silent."

"Yeah, Cap. Come on. Where do you stand?" Buck asks. "Jinx or no jinx?"

"Yeah, and we expect an answer." Emery urges.

Bobby slightly opens his mouth. "Aren't we all a little superstitious? People don't like to walk under ladders,"

Emery shudders. She remembers when her and Amaya ran under a ladder that was on the sidewalk when they were younger. Their grandma had never grabbed their arms and yelled at them faster. She begged them not to do that ever again. She's never been under a ladder since. Being begged by your grandma to not do something changes a little girl.

"some buildings don't have a 13th floor. We bless people after they sneeze."

"You should always bless someone after they sneeze." Emery holds her pointer up. "It's just being kind."

Bobby nods agreeing with Emery. "Some of us even wear a good-luck charm around our neck."

Emery points at Eddie and obnoxiously laughs. "He's talking about you!"

"Yeah, I got that." Eddie deadpans. "And that's not the same thing."

"To you." Bobby says. "But wearing that medal reminds you of your son, helps you feel better about the day. So if Chimney wants to ring some bells so he can feel better, what's wrong with that?"

"Yeah! And if I want to sacrifice a goat to make myself feel better? Let me sacrifice a—"

"Em, no." Bobby's voice was firm. "No goat sacrifices. No human sacrifices."

Emery pushes her lower lip out.

Chimney nods his head, "Only bell ringing."

"You never actually answered the question, though, Cap." Hen points out.

"Yeah."

Before Bobby could even get close to answering, a honk is heard outside of their engine. They all look out the windows and see another rig pulling up next to them.

"Ah, an help has arrived." Bobby exhales. "Look at that."

Emery holds her hands up, "The cavalry..." she trails off her praise when she notices them stop the engine and walk over to their's. "...is stopping."

"To take pictures of us trapped in our own engine." Bobby adds.

Emery's mouth drops open. She places a hand over her face and sinks into her seat.

"And the jinx continues."

☆

Emery keeps her eyes on her book with her hand dipping into a bowl of olives every 30 seconds. She was sitting in chair next to Buck, her ankles up on one side of the end table and Buck's were on the other side. Every now and then, Buck would tap his boot against hers. And every time she would look at him, Buck would just pretend he was reading his book.

Emery lifts her eyes from her book and at Buck's. Out of curiosity, she reads the cover and quirks a brow. "Why are you reading a book about women?" Her voice was soft so she didn't disturb everyone else's reading.

"Why are you eating olives so late?" Buck retorts.

Emery squints her eyes and Buck laughs. "Look, this was the only book I brought. I still hadn't changed it out after we..." he moves his head from side to side. "...went to the bookstore." He tries to come up with another phrase for "started dating".

Emery frowns, "Okay. Well, just say the word and we could really go to the bookstore."

Buck raises his brows, "Is that a date?"

"Could be." Emery shrugs and looks back at her book.

Buck smiles with his face heating up. He looks back at his book. A comforting silence settles in the dining area while everyone read their books.

Eddie makes his way up the stairs and into the kitchenette.

"I thought you were hitting the bunks." Bobby says.

Eddie sighs, "Couldn't sleep."

Bobby smirks, "Maybe that curse is getting to you too."

Eddie grabs a water from the fridge and looks back at Bobby. "Or maybe I just couldn't sleep."

"Yeah, welcome to the club." Chimney voices with his eyes still on the book.

Eddie turns to everyone spread across the dining room, each of them had their eyes on a book. "Am I interrupting book club?"

Without taking her eyes off her own book, Hen voices. "Medical, babies, women, and mental health."

"Wondering why Buck had a book in his hand, but now it all makes sense." Eddie grins.

Emery snorts which causes Buck to glance at her. He then nudges his toe into her boot.

"Eddie, what would you say Ana's love language is?" Buck asks.

Emery softly snickers. Buck had told her about Eddie's encounter with Ana earlier. But she didn't want to make it obvious, so she kept quiet. But everyone else looks at him with interest.

"Ana who?"

"Traitor." Eddie whispers.

Hen leans forward, "Wait, are you dating someone?"

Chimney sets his book on the table. "Baby's not here yet. Who's Ana?"

Emery frowns, "Mental Health is the most importan thing. But, I get major fomo." She sets her book aside.

"She was Christopher's old teacher last year." Eddie says. "I bumped into at the billboard call this morning, and...hadn't seen her in a while, and I guess she's got a new job."

"Wait, is this the teacher that you yelled at?" Hen asks.

Eddie holds his hands up, "And I apologized for that."

"But still didn't ask her out?"

"She's Christopher's teacher."

Emery frowns, "Not anymore." She sings.

Eddie looks at the girl and she laughs softly. "You said she had a new job."

Eddie tenses and he begins to feel nervous. His hand around the water bottle tightens from everyone's teasing and encouraging expressions. The fire alarm blares through the station which causes the conversation to cut short. Emery hops onto her feet with the huff. She makes her way over to Eddie and grips both his shoulders. "It's your life, Eddie. You better enjoy it." She gives him a soft pat and walks down the stairs.

...

"That's Aaron Harmon right there."

Eddie clicks his tongue, "Definitely not the guy."

Emery keeps her eyes on the picture and a small hum comes from her.

"He said his name was Brian." Eddie says. "You think he was a fake?"

"Could be." Emery says. "I've heard about it happening, just never actually been in the midst of it." She then shivers. "Kind of exciting."

"It happens." Bobby speaks. "Sometimes they're criminals they use it as a ruse to get inside people's homes."

"I don't think that's what this was. He seemed to want to help." Eddie says. "I mean, it's bad, but it's not—"

"It's worse." Bobby adds. "They're not trained. They can wind up doing more harm than help."

"It's like what you witnessed him do earlier. Putting the ice pack on Ana Flores' burn earlier? That couldn't damaged her skin more than it already was."

Eddie sighs and nods his head, taking in their words. "Said all he ever wanted to be was a firefighter."

"Sometimes there are those guys." Bobby nods his head. "Try out for every class, never make it, never give up."

"You gotta admire the perseverance."

"I do, and their dedication. But I also feel sorry for them." Bobby says.

Emery clicks her tongue, "Yeah, sorry, Eddie. I'm more on the feel sorry for them end of the spectrum."

"They're so focused on what they don't have that they miss the chance to have something else. Something real." Bobby explains. "Sometimes, you gotta move on."

Emery bites the inside of her cheek and glances at Eddie. Eddie looks from Emery to Bobby and he inhales. "We're back to Ana Flores."

"Really thought you, of all people—both of you, would understand."

"That's why I'm saying it to you." Bobby says. "Because I know what it's like to be stuck inside the worst moment of your life...to be afraid to hope, to try again."

Eddie's eyes fill with tears and he shakes his head. "I'm still not over it. Over her."

"I...don't think..." Emery clears her throat. "You never will be." She admits. "You'll always miss her."

"And that part of you she took with her?" Bobby adds. "You never get it back. Every day, you heal a little bit more. Then one morning, you wake up and losing her isn't the first thing you think about."

"But you're happy now?" Eddie asks. "I mean, with Athena and the kids?"

"I love the family I have now..." Bobby's voice begins to tremble. "but that doesn't mean I ever stopped missing the one I lost."

Bobby stands up and gives Eddie a pat on the shoulder before walking away. "You two get some sleep."

Emery stays seated across from Eddie. Neither of them saying a word.

"Buck and I are dating."

Eddie keeps his eyes on his hands. He then slowly pulls his brows together and looks at Emery. Her expression was blank, as if she said the most casual thing of her life. "I'm sorry—you and Buck are what? I don't think I heard you right."

"No, I'm sure you did." Emery raises her brows. "Buck and I are dating?"

"You guys are having sex again?" Eddie asks.

Emery rubs her eyes, "Eddie. I'm not repeating myself—"

"I'm just trying to understand what's happening." Eddie holds up his hands in a defensive manner. "When did this happen?"

"After his parents came to visit." Emery answers with a small smile. "So, a week." She pulls her brows together. "Should I get him a week anniversary present?"

"Oh my god." Eddie laughs. "This is real, you're really..." he then rubs his face. "I can't believe this—I mean, it's about damn time. But also, so weird."

Emery's smile grows, "We're taking it slow, right now." She inhales a breath. "Which is fine."

"Just fine?"

Emery deadpans, "We haven't had sex." She shrugs. "We make jokes about it because we have in the past. But, I think—well I know he wants to have sex. I want to have sex. But I also know that there are things about me that have changed."

Eddie pulls his brows together, "Okay...?" What the hell is she getting out?

"Joe, he cut his name into my arm." Emery softly explains. Eddie's eyes soften. "Buck, wouldn't not want you because of that. You know that, right?"

Emery softly hums and rubs her forearm. "I know that." She snorts. "Of course, I do. It's just about if I would be comfortable even showing it. I don't want to give Joe any power."

"And he doesn't." Eddie reaches forward and grabs her hand. "He's in prison on death row. And you're here, alive. Happy."

"You and Buck are happy, right?"

Emery's eyes begin to burn. This was the first time in a long time Emery could admit it with confidence. "Yeah, we're happy."

Eddie clicks his tongue. "Well, all right. It's your life, you better enjoy it."

Emery laughs, "I only said that to you earlier, so you could ask Ana Flores out."

"And I'm sure that's also why you told me that you and Buck are dating." Eddie guesses.

Emery smiles innocently which causes Eddie to laugh. "It's like Bobby said before. You never stop missing the people you lost. I think about Helena everyday." Her voice gets caught in her throat. "But, she's not the first thing I think about when I wake up. And when I do think about her, it's the good memories."

"It's okay to be happy." Emery says. "I took me a long time to figure that out. And I don't want you to end up like me. Please, do not."

Eddie chuckles, "Wasn't planning on it."

Emery then rolls her eyes. "Okay, dick." She takes her hand off of his. "Last time I give you advice."

"You know I appreciate it." Eddie's eyes soften. Emery then smiles softly, "Yeah, I know." She stands up and walks around the table. "Get some sleep, okay? I'm gonna try and—"

The alarm blares through the firehouse and Emery exhales a scoff. She hangs her head low. "This is the worst day ever..."

Eddie groans and stands up, "You can complain about this day on the way out." He guides her to the stairs.

☆

"When did you guys last refill that gas tank?"

"I just topped it off." Buck inhales a deep breath. "He's got, like, four hours, give or take."

"Yeah, unless he crashes it first."

Emery shakes her head, "This is insane." Her mouth was full of cheeseburger. "I mean, we weren't even gone for 15 minutes!"

"Which is amazing, by the way." Chimney says. "And the customer service?—"

"Guys." Hen cuts them off.

Emery and Chimney look at Hen. She shakes her head, "Not the time."

Emery slows her chewing. "Sorry."

All the first responders could do was wait for any response from the LAPD about their chase against the suspect who stole their engine.

Bobby's radio clicks, "All available units, report to 539 North Hill Street. Five-alarm fire."

"I repeat all available units report to 539 North Hill Street. Five-alarm fire."

Emery finishes her fries and huffs. "So, just a fair warning. I finished a hearty dinner, so putting out a fire won't do it for me."

Everyone turns to her and she holds her hands up. "I am totally kidding." She snickers. "But how are we supposed to get there?"

Bobby looks around. His eyes stop on the vehicle, "Everyone in the ambulance, now!"

The firefighters run to the ambulance. As everyone piles in, Emery and Buck hesitate. "Cap, there's no room."

"Just get on the gurney, Buck."

Buck pulls himself into the ambulance and lays on the gurney. Emery climbs into the ambulance. "Okay, how is this going to—"

The door closes behind Emery which hits her back. She stumbles forward and her chest hits Buck's. His hand presses against her upper back, making sure she didn't fall. Emery lifts her face and meets Buck's face. "Oh, you've got to be kidding..." she softly laughs. "Anybody want to switch spots?"

"No."

Buck laughs, "Okay, hang on...sit up for me?"

Emery raises her brows from his low tone. "O-Okay." She sits up and pulls herself off of Buck. Buck then sits up, so they were now sitting side by side. "Better?"

Emery's face was hot and her stomach was in knots. "Yeah, s-so much better—thank you." She gives him a soft punch on the arm. Emery lifts her eyes from Buck and sneers Eddie. Even with his mask on, Emery could tell from the way his eyes crinkled that he was smiling at her. Emery clears her throat and shakes her head. "This is a terrible idea, by the way." She looks at Bobby. "No offense."

"Well, we're already jinxed so we may as well embrace it." Hen says.

"Had to steal the engine. Couldn't have taken the ambulance instead." Buck sighs.

"Whoa." Emery turns to him.

"Yeah, bite your tongue." Hen adds.

Buck looks between both women. "We're en route to a fire without any of our gear."

"It's a five-alarm. Other units are gonna respond and we will assist any way we can." Bobby says.

"Cap, you don't even have your helmets. Without your equipment on scene—"

"Maybe there's a way to get it there." Eddie speaks.

Everyone looks at him. It wasn't long before Eddie spoke into his radio to Brian, the man that stole their engine. Emery didn't know how he was able to do it, but Eddie talked Brian into taking the engine to the five-alarm fire. Once he parked the fire engine, he jumped out and tried to make a run for it but he wasn't fast enough to get away from the police.

Emery would've felt more sympathy for Brian, if she'd had her coffee. And if he hadn't stolen their rig.

Emery just wanted to go home.

So, as soon as the shift ended; she eagerly packed up.

"Never been so glad to get to the end of a shift." Buck sighs.

"And hopefully the end of that jinx." Hen voices. "I mean, that's it, right? Next shift is back to normal?"

"I might call in sick just in case." Chimney says.

Emery snaps her fingers and points at Chimney. "That's smart thinking. I'm gonna have to take that idea."

Bobby walks up to the five with a hand up. "Hey. I know you guys are eager to get the hell out of here,  but I'd like to buy you breakfast."

Emery's brows raise and she hums. "Breakfast you say?"

"You ever get to that point where you haven't eaten in so long you stop being hungry?" Buck asks.

Emery nods her head, "Yes..." she notices everyone looking at Buck weird and she quickly changes her answer. "No, what? You weirdo." She lightly pushes Buck's arm.

"We already heard you say "yes"." Eddie says.

"Dammit." Emery huffs. "Let's just go eat something."

"All right! Let's go!"

They all start to walk toward the door, but Emery turns to see Eddie still standing in place. "You're not coming?"

"Sorry, guys, I already have plans." Eddie sends them a small smile.

Emery quirks a brow and smirks. She sends him a small nod before walking away from him. Emery catches up with the group and made it outside. Everyone got to their own cars. Before Buck could open his door, Emery walks up to him.

"Hey."

Buck looks at Emery and his eyes light up. "Hey."

"You're gonna have to stay calm when I tell you this..." Emery looks at him. "but I got the reservations."

"YOU GOT THE—" Buck slaps his hand over his mouth (with his mask on). He looks around, making sure no one was around. "You got the reservations?"

Emery nods her head with a small 'mhm'. She bunches her shoulders with pride. Buck softly laughs, "How did you manage to do that?"

"I used your idea." Emery shrugs.

"You told them you were a serial killer survivor?" Buck's eyes widen.

Emery shakes her head, "Actually, I told them that I survived the "Firesnatcher" and they immediately went "Hold on, is this Emerson Sharpe?""

"They recognized you by name? That's badass."

"Right?!" Emery grabs his arm. "It's nice not being seen as a victim." She admits. "That was my biggest worry about mentioning anything that had to do with him."

Buck's eyes soften. He cups her face and keeps his eyes on hers for a moment. Buck then leans forward and presses his lips against hers. Emery inhales a soft breath before parting her lips and kissing him back. Her heart begins to flutter and her hands find the jacket at his waist. His thumb runs across her jawline before trailing down to the side of her neck. A chill rushes down Emery's spine and she shivers.

Buck slightly pulls his lips away from Emery's. His eyes flutter open and Emery's eyes were still closed. She takes her time to open them back up and meets his blue eyes.

"Emerson Sharpe, you are anything but a victim." Buck says. Emery's heart warms and she begins to smile again. "Annoying, sure, but victim—"

"Asshole." Emery pinches his side which causes him to jump away from her. They both start to laugh. "Okay, stop—I'm kidding." Buck holds his hand out to her.

Emery squints her eyes, "You're annoying too, y'know?"

"Yeah? Well, you love it." Buck touches her wrist.

Emery rolls her eyes. She touches his chest and lightly pushes herself away from him. "Yeah, yeah..."

"I'll see you at breakfast?"

"Breakfast and I'm not paying? You'll definitely be there." Emery points at him and winks.

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author's note:

next chapter...smut???

Also Bobby, Eddie, and Emery are literally the dead wife club ooh—

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