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𝐁𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐓𝐨 𝐍𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐥

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Season Two : Episode Fourteen, Broken

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April, 2019

Five Hours Earlier...

The sun streams through the windows, casting a warm glow over the cozy living room. Becca sits on the couch, her leg propped up on a pillow, a book in her lap. She sighs heavily, glancing at the clock on the wall. It's been three weeks since she was discharged from the hospital, and the days have started to blur together.

Becca begins muttering to herself, "If I have to read one more page of this book, I might scream."

Save by the bell as her phone suddenly rings, and she sees it's a FaceTime call from her best friend, Violet. She quickly answers, and Violet's smiling face appears on the screen.

"Hey, Vi." Becca Said

"Hey, Becca How are you holding up?" Violet Asked

"I'm fine, just bored out of my mind." Becca Said, as
Violet laughs, shaking her head.

"Where are the three amigos? It's never a dull moment whenever they're around." Violet Mentioned

"School Justin came to pick them up, and after school he's taking them to a game." Becca Said

"A game? What kind of game?" Violet Asked

"Some of his friends from work got tickets to a Dodger's game, and being that the kids love baseball he's taking them." Becca Said

"Oh wow, that sounds fun." Violet Said

"Yeah, tell me about it. But no, I'm stuck in the house with nothing to do. All of my friends are at work, while I'm in on this beautiful Friday morning." Becca Said, letting out a sigh.

"Hm, maybe you should go on a walk or something. That can help clear your mind." Violet Suggested

"Eh, I don't know if I'm in the mood for a walk." Becca Said

"Lazy." Violet rolls her eyes playfully, as Becca chuckles, shaking her head.

"Hey, I'm not lazy... just tired, that's all." Becca Said, in defense.

"Mhm." Violet glances at her watch, "Oh, my shift starts in 30 minutes. I should get ready and hit the road. I want to make it just in time for the annual Fire Safety seminar."

"Oh yeah, that's right. I love doing those. Last year, we spoke to my kid's school. It was so much fun to see them so excited to hang with their mom at work for a few hours." Becca Said

"Well, this year we're talking to Athena's son Harry's school. This should be fun." Violet Said

"That sounds great. Well, I'll let you go on. Talk to you later?" Becca Said

"Sure. Bye, bye, Becks." Violet Said

"Bye, Vi." Becca Said

They blow kisses to each other and hang up. Becca sets her phone down, feeling a bit more cheerful after the call. Suddenly her mother, Joyce, bustles in from the kitchen, carrying a tray with a cup of tea and some soup.

"Here you go, sweetie. Some tea and your favorite soup, Gazpacho. You need to keep your strength up." Joyce Said

Becca sat up while forcing a smile, "Thanks, Mom."

When Violet had told Joyce and Danny what happened to Becca, they booked the quickest flight they could get from El Paso to Los Angeles. Now Becca appreciated her parents helping her out and staying around the first week after her surgery, and soon they had to go back home as Becca assured to them she'll be fine.

On Monday early in morning while Becca was on a face time call with her sisters Everly, Lydia and Yelena, as she was feeling okay and sort of better Becca attempted to make breakfast for the kids.
And as was reaching to get some ingredients from the top of the cabinet, she would accidentally re-open her stitches near her stomach.

Now it was painful reopening the wound again as it was still slowly healing, but when word got out that she had injured herself again like the paranoid mother she is, Joyce made her way back to Los Angeles. She sets the tray down on the coffee table and sits next to Becca, fussing over her blanket.

"Are you sure you're comfortable? Do you need another pillow?" Joyce Asked

"I'm fine, Mom. Really." Becca Said

Joyce looks around the room, clearly searching for something else to do. Becca watches her, feeling a mix of gratitude and frustration.

"Mom, you don't have to keep hovering. I'm okay. I promise." Becca Assured

"I just want to make sure you're taken care of. You've been through so much." Joyce Said

"I know, and I appreciate you coming out here, again on such short notice. But I need to start doing things on my own again, I can't stay cooped up in this house forever."

Joyce looks at her daughter, concern etched on her face. "I just worry about you, Becca. What if something happens? Or you re injure yourself, hm?"

Becca smiled gently, "I'll be careful..I will."

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The apartment was filled with the faint sound playing softly from Chimney's Tv as Becca sat on the couch, her legs stretched out and a pillow tucked under her side for support. Chimney was next to her , folding his laundry with intense focus, while Hen leaned against the fireplace with a mug of tea in hand, watching the two with a smirk.

"I got stabbed, and it totally sucked," Chimney said, breaking the silence. "But then I remembered something a wise man once said: 'Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.'"

"Ah, wise men of history: Aristotle, Solomon, Dr. King, Bueller, Bueller," Hen chimed in, her tone dripping with sarcasm.

"Ferris Bueller," Becca added, shaking her head. "Mmm, what a great philosopher."

"Don't mock me. I'm convalescing," Chimney replied dramatically, tossing a folded shirt into the basket. "Anyways, Ferris Bueller only had one day off. I have weeks of free time, and I'm determined to make the most of it."

"By folding clothes?" Becca asked, pointing to the overflowing laundry basket.

"Yes, but I'm folding them in a system—by color this time."

"Ooh, sounds fun," Becca teased, earning a narrowed glare from Chimney.

"Anyways, the last time I almost died, I didn't get to have any fun at all," Chimney said, holding up a shirt to inspect it.

"Is that why you're turning all your clothes into index cards?" Hen quipped.

"Not all of them, and stop teasing me about how I fold my laundry," Chimney grumbled, sniffing the shirt before folding it. Becca and Hen exchanged raised brows at the gesture.

"What are you doing?" Hen Asked

"I'm trying to determine if this shirt sparks joy, and I did, and it doesn't. And now I thank the shirt. Thank you." Chimney Said, as tosses the shirt down.

"You need therapy, Chim." Becca Joked

"Anyways Becks, how's the stitches coming along since reopening them?" Hen asked, shifting the conversation.

"Ugh, it's coming along slow, but thankfully, the doctor said the incision should be healed within another two weeks," Becca replied, shifting slightly to adjust her position. "Which means I'll be back to work soon."

"Wait—you're ready to go back to work?" Chimney asked, raising a brow. "You should enjoy the time you have, Becca. It'll all be over soon."

"He's right. I should really catch up on Shark Tank," Becca joked with a small smile.

Hen turned to Chimney, her tone curious. "What about you, Chim? How's things going with Maddie?"

"Well, if you must know, things are going well. She and I are actually going out tonight," Chimney said, his tone light but excited.

"Wait, you guys are redoing your first date?" Becca asked, leaning forward slightly in interest.

"Yup."

"Chim, are you sure about this?" Hen asked, raising a skeptical brow. "I mean, you both just almost died—Becca as well. Now you're just gonna prance over to her place and pick her up for dinner like it never happened?"

"No. Maddie is coming over here to pick me up," Chimney said, holding up a finger. "Because she is a modern woman. And also, I'm pretty sure they couldn't get the bloodstains off that brick."

Becca chuckled at his explanation, leaning back against the couch. "So, I guess Maddie still sparks joy?"

"Always," Chimney said with a proud grin, carefully folding another shirt.

Hen and Becca shared an amused look before Becca finally said, "You're lucky, Chim. But don't get too comfortable—you're still part of the 'almost died' club."

Chimney raised his mug in mock toast. "To the almost-died club. May we never have to renew our memberships."

Becca and Hen laughed, grateful for the lighthearted moment. Healing wasn't easy, but at least Becca and Chim had each other.

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The firehouse buzzed with excitement as kids from the elementary school filed into the bay, their voices filling the space with energy. Today was the annual fire safety seminar, and this year it was Harry Grant's school, Athena's son, in attendance.

Bobby stood at the front, commanding attention. "Don't panic because panic can be more dangerous than flames, toxic fumes, or a sucking chest wound. Guys?"

He looked toward Eddie and Buck, who were wheeling in the TV for the next part of the presentation.

"Cap's a little intense, huh?" Eddie said under his breath.

"Oh, he takes these talks very seriously," Buck replied as they positioned the TV in place.

Bobby continued, "And all you need are three numbers. Can anyone tell me what they are?"

"911!" the kids shouted in unison.

"Yes. Now, does anybody know what happens when you dial those numbers?" Bobby asked, scanning the crowd.

Harry raised his hand eagerly. "Harry Grant," Bobby called on him.

"They call a fire truck!" Harry said confidently.

Nearby, Athena stood with Michael, watching their son from the back of the room.

"Hmm. So much for playing it cool," Athena said, smirking.

Michael chuckled. "Well, who's doing that?"

"Our son. He didn't want the other kids thinking he had the inside track just 'cause he knows the captain," Athena explained.

"Oh, well, that went out the window as soon as he walked through the door," Michael said, and the two shared a quiet laugh.

Bobby pressed on, engaging the kids. "And now, what if I told you that a big computer brain helps you when you dial 911? It is called CAD, Computer-Aided Dispatch. Let's say you, Harry, call in an emergency. Can you name one?"

Harry thought for a moment before replying, "The library sets on fire, and all our homework assignments are burned up."

The kids erupted in laughter as Bobby smiled. "Okay, there you go. All right, so when you dial 911, the dispatcher types in your address into the computer, and then CAD automatically finds your school."

Eddie demonstrated this on the computer, as Bobby pointed to the TV. "Then it finds the nearest station, and..."

Suddenly, the fire alarm went off. Above, Hen and Violet looked down at the kids. Violet slid down the fire pole gracefully, showcasing their readiness.

Hen spoke into a megaphone. "Station 118, Station 118, please dispatch a fire engine and an ambulance to the Meadowbrook School Library immediately. Harry Grant didn't do his homework."

The kids burst into laughter as Violet grinned.

Bobby clapped his hands. "All right, guys, who wants to check out the trucks?"

"Me!" the kids shouted, hands flying into the air.

"Follow Buck, Violet, and Eddie," Bobby instructed.

"All right, kids, let's go," Violet said, clapping her hands once and leading the way toward the fire trucks.

As Buck and Eddie guided the remaining kids to the other truck, the firehouse buzzed with activity. The kids' laughter and excitement filled the space, making it a memorable day for everyone involved.

"Great performance, sir. I enjoyed every nuance." Michael Said, as Bobby approached him.

"Oh, well, thank you, I guess I'm a method actor." Bobby Said

"Yeah." He chuckled the approached Athena, "Hey, what are you, on your lunch break, or you just love TED Talks for ten-year-olds?" Bobby Said

"Are you kidding me? These tickets are harder to get
than Hamilton. Will I see you later?" Athena Said

"Absolutely, you will." Bobby Said

"Ooh." Athena Smiled

"All right, baby." Bobby Said, as they shared a quick kiss.

Meanwhile, Violet crouched beside a group of kids, explaining the equipment stored in the side compartments. "This here is the Jaws of Life. It's what we use when someone's trapped inside a car, like after an accident."

"Whoa," one of the kids gasped.

Eddie stood by another group near the ambulance, pointing out some of the life-saving equipment. "And over here, we've got our medical kits. These help us take care of people who are hurt before they get to the hospital."

Buck was entertaining another group by pretending to pull on his oxygen mask dramatically. "And when we go into a smoky building, this makes us look like spacemen, but it keeps us breathing nice and clear. Cool, huh?"

The kids erupted into laughter as Buck exaggeratedly walked like an astronaut. Harry and a few of his classmates followed Violet into the cab of the fire engine, their eyes wide as they marveled at all the buttons and switches.

"Okay, but what does this one do?" Harry asked, pointing at a lever on the console.

"Ah, that one raises the ladder," Violet explained. "But don't worry, we've locked it so you can't accidentally send us into the ceiling."

"Aw, man," Harry muttered playfully, earning a laugh from Violet.

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Back at Chim's apartment Becca who's still there as they want to keep each other company, closes the door after tipping the delivery guy for their lunch. She walks back to the couch where Chimney sits, surrounded by a neatly folded pile of clothes. He's engrossed in sorting them by color.

"Foods here." Becca Said

"Ahh, yes I'm starving." Chimney Said

Becca scoffed with a smile, "Yeah cause you need a distraction, Chim. Color-coding your socks can wait."

"What did I say about mocking me?" Chimney Said, pointing his finger at her which she slapped away.

"Whatever, look let's pick a movie or watch a soap opera or something." Becca Said

Chimney looks up, raising an eyebrow at her, feigning annoyance.

"I'm staying productive. What's your excuse? Didn't you come here to escape your mom, not heckle me?" Chimney Said

Becca smirks, plopping down on the couch next to him. "Touché. But seriously, we're watching a movie. You're driving yourself crazy with this laundry obsession."

Chimney opens his mouth to respond, but suddenly the television catches both of their attention as the news anchor speaks.

"Oh come on." Chimney Said

"Saved by the bell." Becca Snickered

"Good morning, everybody. We're learning that Metro L.A.'s 911 system has been hit with a system-wide outage..."

She leans forward, intrigued, as the news continues.

"...alternate numbers will be posted on-screen and on our website. Officials say only 30% of emergency calls are currently getting through."

Becca exchanges a surprised glance with Chimney.
"Whoa. I've read about these kinds of outages. Never thought we'd actually go through one."

"Same. I wasn't expecting this today." Chimney Said

"Don't think anyone was either Chim." Becca Replied

"Please only call 911 for life-threatening emergencies and use social media with the hashtag "911-L.A."

Becca leans back into the couch, "So...still up for a movie?

Chimney shakes his head, "Nope. I think this is a much better show."

They both settle in, watching the news unfold with a mix of curiosity and unease. At the fire house Bobby gathers the team near the fire engine, his tone calm but authoritative as he briefs them. Around them, firefighters from other nearby stations prepare to head out into the district, loading up trucks and ambulances.

"Okay, everybody, we are now in Tactical Emergency Mode. That means we won't be at the station today. We'll be driving all around the district, making sure we're ready for anything that comes our way." Bobby Said

Hen raises an eyebrow as she climbs into the engine, her expression skeptical.

"Cap, you do realize we work here, right? We're trained professionals, not fifth-graders." She Said

Buck smirks, leaning against the side of the engine, clearly enjoying Hen's quip.

"Yeah, right?" Buck chuckles, "No need for the fire safety seminar tone."

Bobby looks at them with mock exasperation, shaking his head.

"Sorry." He Said

"Don't encourage him. You know he'll just come up with more drills next time." Eddie Said, looking to Buck.

Violet grinned, "Honestly, if he starts quizzing us on fire safety tips again, I might fail on purpose just to see what happens."

"And that is exactly why we review these things." Bobby Chimed in

The team chuckles as they finish loading up the truck. Bobby looks around at them, his face growing more serious.

The team climbs into the fire engine, with Bobby and taking the front as Eddie, Buck, Violet and Hen settle into the back with Buck, looking energized as usual.

The engine starts to pull out of the station. Around them, other fire trucks and ambulances do the same, a fleet of first responders preparing for a long day of uncertainty.

As The 118 team sits in the fire engine as it cruises through the streets, tension and quiet anticipation hanging in the air. Buck leans forward in his seat, looking toward Bobby.

"Hey, Cap. You ever seen a breakdown like this before?" Buck Asked

"Once. Back in St. Paul. Blizzard knocked out the power grid at the call center and the backup generator. Took hours to get things running again." Bobby Said

Hen, sitting in the back, shakes her head with a knowing smirk.

"I've been through, like, three of these. Honestly, I'm surprised they don't happen more often, the way this city funds us. The department's practically held together by chewing gum and spit." She Said

Violet chuckles at that, leaning against the window.
"Chewing gum and spit? Now that's a vote of confidence."

"Hey, come on. I like these old trucks." Buck Said

"Uh-huh. I like them when they run." Eddie Said

Hen and Violet laugh as Buck rolls his eyes. Bobby's radio crackles to life, silencing the banter.

"118 Engine and Rescue, please report your location." Dispatch came in

"We're on Granville, approaching Miracle Mile District from the west." Bobby Said, into his radio.

"Please proceed to 9590 Hillcrest. Cross street is Meadows. Vehicle collided with a 58-year-old cyclist, male."

"Copy. 118, Battalion Seven en route." Bobby Said

Bobby flips the siren on, and the fire engine picks up speed as they head toward the scene.

The team exchanges quick smiles before settling into a focused silence, the sound of the sirens filling the cab as they close in on their destination.

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The 118 fire engine pulls up to the scene, sirens wailing. As they park, the team quickly realizes the 122 has already arrived. Bobby steps out of the engine to survey the scene. Across the intersection, Athena, dressed in her LAPD uniform, is directing traffic, her commanding presence evident.

"Get these cars routed around the scene and shut down these two lanes." Athena Said

She glances up and notices Bobby approaching. She lifts a hand to signal they've got it under control. Bobby nods, stopping in his tracks.

"Dispatch, this is 118. 122 is already on the scene." Bobby Said into his radio

"Copy that. Maintain Emergency Protocol."

"Copy that. 118 on the move." Bobby Said

Bobby jogs back to the engine, climbing inside as the team exchanges curious glances.

"What's the play, Cap?" Buck Asked

"We keep moving. Let's stay ready." Bobby Said

The engine roars back to life, pulling away from the scene. Moments later, Dispatch comes through again over the radio.

"Engine 118, Rescue 118, report to 550 San Vicente. Woman in labor, geriatric pregnancy, contractions very close."

"Copy that. 118 en route to 550 San Vicente." Bobby Said

The fire engine arrives at the reported address, but instead of a bustling building, they're greeted by an empty lot surrounded by fencing. Bobby steps out, frowning as he surveys the area.

"Dispatch, this is 118. There is nothing here." Bobby Said, into radio.

"No pregnant woman?"

"No building. It's an empty lot." Bobby Replied

There's a pause on the radio. The rest of the team leans forward, trying to catch any new developments as they sit in the engine.

"Stand by, 118."

A tense moment passes. Bobby looks back at the engine, where Hen, Buck, Eddie, and Violet exchange puzzled looks. Finally, Dispatch returns.

"118, you're gonna need to proceed to San Vicente, east of the Miracle Mile District. Nearest cross street is Sixth."

"Copy that." Bobby Said

Bobby hops back into the engine. The team is ready to roll again, the atmosphere charged with focused anticipation.

"False alarms and mixed signals. Just another day." Eddie Said

"Hmm like a bad relationship." Violet Joked, as Eddie shook his head smiling.

"Let's hope the next stop's the real deal." Hen Said

Bobby nods, his expression serious as he grips the radio, giving the signal to move out. The sirens wail as the fire engine speeds off toward the corrected location.

At the scene of the incident inside the woman in labor, is laying on the floor propped up on two pillows as her husband is next to her.

"He's ready." She Said

"I know, honey, I know." He Said

"He wants out!" She Said

"It's okay. It's gonna be okay." He Said, holding her hand.

Soon the doors opened to the hotel and in came the 118.

"Where the hell have you guys been?" He Asked looking at them

"We are fighting a system outage, sir. We apologize for the delay. Hen and Violet, you're up. Eddie, start fluids." Bobby Said

"We can't just have the baby here in the lobby.
That's not how this is supposed to happen." He Said

"Roger, this is pretty much the way it's happened throughout human his...tory." She Said, as she felt a contraction.

"Hi. I'm Hen, and this is Violet what's your name?" She Asked

"Sonia. 39 weeks pregnant. 38 years old, which makes me a geriatric pregnancy. God, I hate that word." Sonia Said

"Word doesn't matter you're still gonna get a baby out of it." Bobby Said

"I can't believe I'm finally gonna meet him. Here.
In the lobby." Sonia Said

"That's all right. You're doing great, okay? Now, on this next contraction, we're gonna push, okay, Sonia?" Hen Said

Hen looked at her and saw Sonia's face fall with worry.

"Sonia? Sonia?" Hen Said

"There's something wrong with the baby." Sonia Said

"No, no, no, no, no, no. Your baby's fine. You'll-you'll be able to see for yourself in just a minute." Violet Said

"No! No, this was a mistake. All of it. Roger was right to panic. Look, we can't do this. I can't... I can't do this. I shouldn't have this child." Sonia Said

"No, no, no. No, no, no, no. Sonia, look at me.
Sonia, look at me, look at me, look at me.
Look at me, look at me. All you got to do is push. All you need to do, push. Push." Hen Said

Sonia took a breath and nodded then started to push, while screaming just a bit.

"Good. Good, good, good. Keep pushing! Keep pushing! Keep pushing! Sonia!" Violet Said

"He's coming! He's coming!" Hen Said

One last big push the sound of a baby's cries is heard, and there you know it their baby was here. Hen and Violet checked on the baby, as Roger was getting emotional seeing his son for the first time and there was a round of applause from nearby people in the hotel lobby.

"He's here!" Violet Said

"Yeah. Yes." Hen Said, wrapping the baby in a blanket.

"Baby's got a set of pipes." Eddie Said

"We're gonna take you to the warmest place
in this lobby, okay? Which is gonna be right here..." Hen Said

She stopped when she saw Sonia's eyes rolling back, and she became unresponsive as Violet noticed as well.

"Hen. Hen, I got the baby." Buck Said, as she handed the baby to him.

"Sonia. Sonia?" Roger Said

"Buck, get him." Violet Said, as she and Hen quickly started to assist Sonia.

"What's happening? What's happening?" Roger Asked

"It's okay. Roger, Roger." Buck Said, pulling him back.

"What's happening? What?" Roger Asked

"Roger, Roger. Hey, hey, hey. Listen, she is in good hands. Okay? Right now, he needs yours." Buck Said, gently placing their son in his hands.

"Blood pressure went off a cliff." Violet Said, checking it.

"Sonia, can you hear me?" She then looked to her captain, "Cyanosis." Hen Said

"Can someone please tell me what's happening here?" Roger Asked

"Your wife has gone into shock." Buck Informed

Eddie checks Sonia's neck, "I lost her pulse."

"She's in cardiac arrest..I'm starting compressions." Hen Said

"Okay, let's get her transported to L.A. General now." Bobby Said

"Hey, Cap, we're gonna need another ambulance for the baby." Buck Said

Bobby picked up his radio, "Dispatch, this is Engine 118."

"Stand by, 118."

"No more standing by. Guys, let's get her on the gurney. Let's go." Bobby Said

Moments later they left the scene as they were rushing Sonia and her baby to the hospital. In the engine it was Buck and Eddie with Roger and the baby. While in the ambulance Hen was with Violet and Bobby, still doing chest compressions.

"Hen, it's been 12 minutes. Let's switch." Bobby Said, looking at the monitor.

"I got it." Hen snaps out of breath

"Hen, then let me take over." Violet Said

"No, No, I got it Vi..she's not dying
because somebody blew a fuse.." Hen Said

"Hen..please, let's switch let's save her together." Violet Said

She looks at her then nods and quickly let's her take over.

"Come on, Sonia. I know you're a fighter." Hen Said

"She is. She was. She was fine when we got there, and then..sudden despair and fear and anxiety." Violet Said, doing chest compressions.

"Birth was going like clockwork, even for a geriatric pregnancy. Then rapid loss of BP." Bobby Said

Hen and Violet both quickly thought and spoke at the same time.

"Amniotic embolism." They Said in unison

"Cap, she's hemorrhaging the hospital needs to prep for this." Violet Said

"She's right, t's a massive transfusion protocol." Hen Added, as Violet nodded.

"Well, we can't radio, but we can still call." He takes out his phone and dials the hospital, "L.A. General. Operator. This is Fire Captain Bobby Nash. I need the ER charge nurse on call.
We've got a patient coming your way.
Rapid transfusion on standby." Bobby Said

As they were soon approaching the hospital in a few minutes, Violet looked to Hen.

"Hen, you ready." Violet Said

"Mhm, ready..switch." Hen Said, as they quickly switched positions and Hen went back to chest compressions.

They suddenly arrived and the doors opened as a couple ER nurses and a doctor came out, as the 118 arrived.

"Come on, Sonia." Hen Said

Bobby exited the ambulance to speak with the Doctor.

"How long has she been down?" She Asked

"Uh, 14... no, 15 minutes." Bobby Said

"Okay. Call it." She Said

"Come on, Sonia." Hen Said, pleading breathfully.

"Hen." Bobby Said

Hen ignored and continued to try and save this woman, "Come on, Sonia."

"Hen." Bobby Said

"Come on." Hen Said

Then the monitor flatlined and Violet held her hand on Hen's, stopping her from doing the compressions.

"Hen..it's time." Violet Said

Hen got off Sonia and started to feel all the emotions, and try her best not to cry while on a call. Soon two firefighters from the 118 wheeled Sonia out the ambulance, as Roger was approaching carrying their son with Buck and Eddie behind him.

"How is she?" Roger Asked

"Guys." Bobby held up a hand for them to stop for a moment, then looked to Roger.

"What's wrong?" Roger Asked

"I am so sorry." Bobby Said

Roger started getting emotional and looked down at his wife, crying and caresses her cheek.

"You were right. He's perfect. I wish you could see him. I know I was scared and worried that
we weren't ready for this, and I am damn sure
not ready to do this without you, but I will. I'm gonna figure it out." Roger Said

He gently placed their baby on Sonia's chest, so they can have skin to skin contact. Roger then kissed her forehead and hugged her, while on the ambulance truck Hen couldn't hold back tears at this moment and was crying while Violet stayed by her side.

Then all of sudden a beep was heard and everyone stopped, Eddie looked at her monitor and saw movement on her monitor.

"She's got a pulse." Eddie Said

"Go, go! Get her inside!" The doctor ordered, "Let's go. Watch the left. Hallway's good."

Roger followed behind the doctors as they wheeled his wife in the hospital, and stopped to look back at them.

"Thank you." Roger Said, carrying his son.

As he went inside and the doors closed Hen finally caught her breath, and took a moment to sit and finally deal with this. As her team stood by her to calm her down.

"That was amazing.." Eddie Said

"That was a miracle." Buck Said

"It's okay Hen, we saved her." Violet Said

"Thank god." Hen Said, leaning her head on Violet's shoulder.

The engine had just rolled into the fire house, the weight of the call still heavy in the air. The team filed in, weary but relieved.

"Okay, let's refuel. We're back out there in five minutes. Hen, Violet can you guys check the ambulance and top off anything that needs resupply?" Bobby Said

"Copy that, Cap." They Said

"Alright." Bobby Said

Hen and Violet, having shared the most intense moments of the day, lingered in the back of the ambulance truck, both silently processing the life-and-death battle they'd just fought together.

Hen set down near Violet, wiping her brow. Violet, equally spent, leaned against the wall, her face still showing signs of exhaustion. Hen broke the silence first, her voice soft but sincere.

"Hey, Violet..." she began, turning to face her. "Back there... I just wanted to say thank you. For everything."

Violet straightened up, looking a bit caught off guard by the sudden appreciation. "Of course, Hen. It's what we do. You don't have to thank me."

Hen shook her head, taking a step closer. "No, I do. You were right there with me the whole time, pushing through it. You kept me grounded when I was losing focus. I don't know how I would've done it without you."

Violet looked down for a moment, her cheeks coloring slightly. "I... I just did what I thought was right in that moment. I knew you needed someone there with you. It wasn't easy to watch you fight like that, and I'm sure it wasn't easy for you either. I know I'm not Chim...but I hope I did a good job."

Hen smiled softly, a look of genuine gratitude in her eyes. "You did, Violet. You did great. Honestly, since Chimney's been out... working with you, it's made all the difference." Hen paused, her voice growing a little quieter. "I've missed him, sure. But I think you've made up for it more than you know."

Violet blinked, her eyes softening as Hen's words sunk in. "I've got your back, Hen. Always."

Hen's expression was full of warmth as she reached out, giving Violet a brief but meaningful pat on the shoulder. "I know. And that means everything."

Violet nodded, smiling faintly. The weight of the call was still there, but in this moment, standing together, they both felt a little lighter. They'd been through something powerful today—not just saving a life, but deepening a bond that had been quietly growing over the past few months.

As they shared a quiet moment of understanding, the rest of the team made their way into the kitchen, calling for a celebratory drink. Hen and Violet exchanged a glance, and without a word, both knew they'd continue to have each other's backs.

▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬

Five Hours Later...

The dim lighting of Chimney's apartment flickered over the TV screen as Commando blared from the speakers. The classic 80s action flick with Arnold Schwarzenegger was playing, and Becca couldn't help but roll her eyes at the over-the-top stunts. Chimney, sitting comfortably on the couch with a bowl of popcorn between them, grinned like he was about to win a prize for picking the movie.

"Seriously, this guy can do what?" Becca scoffed, eyes wide as Arnold's character, John Matrix, effortlessly lifted a car over his head.

Chimney grinned and raised a finger to his lips, "Shh...watch the movie. Just enjoy the ridiculousness."

Becca chuckled, trying to focus back on the screen, but couldn't help herself. "How is he not dead after that? Like, I don't know... a car that heavy? He just threw it like it was a paperweight."

"Because it's Arnold," Chimney said, as if it explained everything, but Becca was having none of it.

"Yeah, but... how does that even make sense? Is he superhuman?" she quipped.

Chimney shook his head, still amused. "No, he's just Arnold. They let him do whatever he wants."

The action on the screen intensified, and Becca was getting more into it despite her sarcastic commentary. Suddenly, a particularly wild scene occurred where Arnold managed to kill a guy by launching a large pipe at him.

"Wait, how does that even work?" Becca asked incredulously. "Can you kill someone by throwing a metal pipe like that?"

Chimney paused the movie, turning to her with a wry grin. "No. It's ridiculous. But again, it's Arnold."

Becca raised an eyebrow. "Seriously? You're pausing the movie?"

"Yeah, because you talk too much," Chimney teased, then quickly switched the TV to the news. "I want to check in on the news."

"Why? We're watching a movie!" Becca protested, not fully understanding his urgency.

But Chimney was already focused on the breaking news on the screen.

"This is a live picture from Newscopter Eight. We're over Doheny Park, and it's been hit by multiple explosions. Now, we're not sure what's causing these explosions, and we're still waiting for the first responders to arrive at the scene."

Becca leaned forward, squinting at the image of smoke rising from the neighborhood, a mix of confusion and concern in her expression. "Wait,
why isn't anyone there?"

The newscaster continued, "We are getting reports from bystanders, though, that some residents were at home..."

Chimney's eyes narrowed, his attention snapping to the TV. He could feel a pit forming in his stomach. "This is bad. No units yet? That's not good."

Becca immediately reached for her phone, her fingers moving quickly as she began scrolling through her contacts. Chimney shot her a look.

"What are you doing?" he asked, his tone laced with concern.

"Calling for backup," Becca replied without looking up, her eyes trained on the screen. She quickly found Buck's contact and dialed.

The phone rang once before Buck picked up, his voice echoing through the speaker. "Hey, Becca."

"Yeah, Buck. Where are you guys?" Becca asked, keeping her voice steady but tense as she spoke into the phone. Chimney could hear the engine roaring in the background, a familiar sound of the 118 on the move.

"Uh, we are crossing Robertson for the 320th time," Buck replied with a hint of sarcasm.

"You guys need to get over to Doheny Park, now," Becca said urgently, her voice a little louder now.

"Doheny Park—" Buck began, confusion clear in his voice.

"The whole damn neighborhood's on fire, looks like it's a gas main break," Chimney interjected, his voice sharp.

"Wait, you guys heard it on the scanner?" Buck asked, his tone shifting as he processed the situation.

"No," Becca answered quickly. "Chim and I are watching it on the news right now. Nobody's over there, Buck. Not a single unit."

Buck looked to Bobby, who was near the front of the engine, and raised an eyebrow. "Hey, Cap! Uh, Doheny Park is going up in flames! Chim and Becca think it's a gas main break. We're close, right?"

Bobby immediately shifted his focus, grabbing the radio. "Close enough. Let's do it." He gave Buck a sharp nod, signaling the team to move out.

"Get there fast, Buck," Becca said into the phone.

"I got it. We're on it," Buck replied with determination in his voice, the sound of the engine picking up speed as he passed the information to the rest of the crew.

Becca ended the call and stood up, her mind racing.
As they both left Chimney's apartment, the weight of the call ahead hung heavily in the air. They had no idea how bad it would be, but all they could do was wait and see.

"This is bad." Becca Said

"I know it's stressing me out badly." Chimney Said, pacing back and forth.

"No kidding..I think I'm starting to get nervous sweats." Becca Said, picking up a tissue wiping her pits.

"Okay, okay. Uh... there's no water..they got no backup." He stops pacing, "Backup, hold on." Chimney Said, pulling out his phone.

"Who are you calling Chim?" Becca Asked

"Some more backup." He starts dialing a number,
"Hey Tommy, yeah it's me Howie are you still with the 226?" Chimney Said

"Yeah, man what's up."

"That's great cause I could use a favor like right now." Chimney Said

Scene: Doheny Park - The 118's Arrival

The 118's engine rumbled through the thick, suffocating smoke, the faint outlines of houses barely visible through the haze. The neighborhood was in chaos—cars had crashed into each other, scattered across the street, and a fire hydrant nearby sprayed water into the air, adding to the confusion. The sound of distant sirens and crackling flames filled the air. The situation was dire, and every second counted.

As they came to a stop, Bobby quickly grabbed the radio, his voice calm but urgent. "Dispatch, this is Captain 118. We're at Doheny Park. Multiple residential structure fires. Send everything you can."

"Copy that, 118," the dispatcher replied, her voice tinny over the radio. "I'm trying to find additional resources for you, but you might be on your own for the next 15, maybe 20 minutes."

"Copy that," Bobby acknowledged, not wasting time. The team sprang into action as they piled out of the engine, their boots hitting the pavement with purpose.

Before they could even fully assess the scene, a frantic man and his young daughter dashed toward them, their faces panicked.

"Help! Help! You got to help! My son! He's trapped upstairs!" the man shouted, pointing frantically to a house at the end of the street. His daughter clung to his side, tears streaming down her face.

Bobby immediately locked eyes with him, his voice steady but firm. "Do you know where? Which room?"

The father shook his head, frantic. "No, no, I haven't seen him!"

Eddie, who was scanning the area, spotted a young boy frantically banging on the upstairs window of the house, his face pressed against the glass. "Cap, I see him! Upstairs window!" Eddie called out, his voice laced with urgency.

Just as Eddie shouted, the house suddenly erupted in flames, the fire shooting out of the windows with terrifying speed. The father and daughter, desperate, ran toward the house, but Eddie was already moving, his instincts kicking in.

"Sir! Sir! Wait!" Eddie shouted as he rushed toward them, stopping the father in his tracks. He had to make sure they didn't run into the inferno without a plan.

Violet was right behind Eddie, her calming presence immediately working to soothe the father. "It's okay, sir. We're going to get him out. Just let us do our job."

The man, now panicked to the brink of hysteria, shook his head. "You have to save him! Please!"

"We will save him. Just let us work," Violet reassured him, placing a hand on his arm.

"Please don't let him die," the sister begged, her voice trembling as she clung to her father.

Bobby, seeing the urgency in the father's eyes, looked at Buck. "Get the ladder up to the house. Go."

"Okay," Buck replied, his expression grim but focused as he sprinted toward the truck.

"I'll check the driver, Cap!" Hen called, already running toward the car accident nearby.

"Louis," Bobby called into his radio, keeping his eyes on the situation. "Go for Louis. Jones, go door to door. Everyone gets evacuated. Hen is doing triage."

The team nodded, splitting off to carry out the orders. Violet kept her hand firmly on the father's shoulder. "We're going to get him, okay? But you have to let us do our work."

"Okay," the father said, his voice breaking. He finally allowed himself to step back, watching in sheer helplessness as Bobby barked orders, the weight of the situation hitting everyone around them.

Violet moved back toward Bobby just as Eddie returned, his face set in frustration. "Cap!" Eddie called out as he approached.

"Yeah?" Bobby said, not taking his eyes off the raging flames.

"Hydrant's gone," Eddie said, shaking his head. "The only water we've got is in the truck. It's not even enough to put out one house."

Bobby's face hardened at the news, but he didn't hesitate. "Okay. Keep trying dispatch, Gas company needs to shut down Doheny Park. I want a two-mile radius around Lambourne Place. Two miles."

"Copy that," Eddie replied, taking off again to relay the orders.

Bobby turned back to Violet, his expression focused. "Violet, I need you in triage with Hen. Check to see if there's anyone else that's injured."

Violet nodded without a word, but her eyes narrowed with determination. "Got it, Cap."

She and Hen quickly moved into action, heading toward the chaotic scene, with Hen tending to the injured, while Violet assessed anyone else who needed immediate attention.

As they moved through the smoke-filled street, the reality of the situation was setting in. Scene: Doheny Park – Rescue Operation

Buck's hands gripped the ladder tightly as the flames roared higher, swallowing the house whole. He could hear Alex's desperate cries above the crackling fire, his voice laced with fear.

"Dad! I'm over here! Help! Dad!" Alex screamed, his face barely visible through the thick smoke and shattered glass of the upstairs window.

"We got you, big guy," Buck shouted back, trying to sound reassuring despite the chaos.

"Help!" Alex cried again, his voice breaking.

Buck was close now, the ladder reaching just beneath the window where Alex was trapped. His heart raced, and he could feel the weight of every second that ticked by. "I just need you to hold on, okay? I'm coming for you," Buck called out, his words barely audible over the crackle of flames.

He motioned for the ladder to move faster, his voice rising in urgency. "Go, go, go! Almost there. I told you, everything's gonna be fine!"

Alex reached out, his hand trembling as he stretched it toward Buck. Just as Buck's fingers were nearly within reach, the ladder gave an alarming lurch. It started to wobble under the strain, the metal groaning as the weight shifted.

"No, no, no!" Buck shouted, panic creeping into his voice.

"Buck!" Bobby's voice cut through the noise, but Buck didn't have time to respond.

The ladder snapped, and Buck was sent tumbling, his grip slipping. In that split second, his world turned upside down, and for a moment, everything went black as he felt himself falling. He hit the ground hard but somehow managed to stay on his feet, adrenaline kicking in as he landed with a heavy thud.

"Are you all right?" Bobby shouted as he ran toward him.

"Yeah," Buck gasped, shaking off the impact as he quickly got to his feet. But Violet was already there, her hands gently but urgently checking him over.

"You sure?" Violet asked, her voice full of concern as she moved to assess him.

"Yeah, I'm good. Come on." Buck waved her off, standing tall and looking back up at the house, his heart still racing for Alex.

As they moved away from the house to regroup, their eyes followed Eddie, who was scaling the side of the house using the drainpipe.

"Oh, hey, uh, Eddie," Buck called, raising an eyebrow.

"Eddie, what are you doing?" Violet asked, incredulity in her voice.

Eddie didn't answer, his focus entirely on reaching the roof. Bobby, Violet, and Buck stood together, watching him go.

"I feel like, if I ever did that, you would yell at me," Buck said, his voice teasing as he glanced over at Bobby, who didn't crack a smile.

Eddie reached the roof and carefully navigated across the shingles, making his way to the window where Alex was still trapped. He quickly tied a rope around the chimney, securing it tightly before he leaped off the roof, crashing through the window in one swift motion.

"Alex! Alex! Alex, where are you, buddy?" Eddie called out, his voice cutting through the smoke-filled room.

He moved quickly, feeling his way through the thick haze, until he found Alex lying on the bathroom floor, unconscious and near the toilet. Eddie knelt beside him, placing two fingers on Alex's neck to check for a pulse.

"Uh, Cap, I got him. Alive but unconscious. I'm prepping for evac," Eddie reported into his radio, his voice steady despite the chaos surrounding him.

Outside, Hen was rushing over to the others, her eyes scanning the area for updates. "Cap, gas guys just showed up. They're shutting it down. All neighbors are present and accounted for. Two more engines are rolling in, but it makes no sense if there's no water pressure."

Suddenly, a loud boom echoed through the air as another explosion of fire ripped through the house. The sound of cracking wood and collapsing ceilings filled the air as Eddie ducked, using his body to shield Alex from the debris that rained down around them. He quickly pushed some rubble off of him and spoke into his radio.

"Cap! Negative on evac. Pinned down, south side of the house."

Back outside, Bobby's face tightened with worry as he listened to Eddie's report.

"I'm gonna take an extinguisher! If I can make that jump, I can help Eddie!" Buck said, determined.

Bobby's hand shot up, silencing him. "No, wait."

Everyone squinted toward the sky as a roar grew louder, the sound of an incoming aircraft. Violet and Hen moved closer to Bobby, eyes narrowing as they tried to make out what was coming.

"Wait, is that...?" Hen asked, her voice rising with disbelief.

"Yup," Violet confirmed, her eyes fixed on the plane.

"Incoming! Everybody, take cover! Under the trucks now! Now! Go, go! Hunker down. 217 is inbound," Bobby barked, his voice urgent.

"Seriously?" Eddie's voice crackled through the radio as he adjusted his position, holding Alex securely in the midst of the chaos.

"Get under the trucks! Under the trucks! Now!" Bobby shouted again, but Eddie was already huddling over Alex, using his turncoat to shield him from the incoming danger.

Outside, everyone scrambled for cover, diving beneath the trucks for protection. Buck and Violet huddled under the fire engine, Bobby and Hen taking shelter beneath the ambulance.

Seconds later, the air tanker appeared, a massive shadow looming overhead. It opened its doors, releasing gallons of water in a powerful surge that doused the entire neighborhood. The force of the water smashed through windows, pounded against the trucks, and even hit the house, where Eddie and Alex were. The roof caved in, and the flames finally began to subside.

As the water began to clear, the smoke lifted, and the flames died down. Buck, still crouching under the truck with Violet, stood up and helped her to her feet.

"Eddie, do you copy?" Bobby asked, his voice anxious as he reached for the radio.

A few tense moments passed before the response came. "Cap, look." Hen's voice was filled with relief.

Bobby followed Hen's gaze, his eyes lighting up as the front door of the house creaked open. Eddie emerged, holding Alex carefully in his arms. The two rushed over, and Eddie gently laid the boy on the ground.

"Alex?" The father rushed forward, his voice trembling with emotion as he reached for his son.

Hen and Violet quickly got to work, checking Alex's vitals. Moments later, the young boy's chest rose with a deep breath. He coughed, then gasped for air, his eyes fluttering open.

"Oh! Oh! Oh, thank God. Oh, you're... Hey, buddy." The father's voice broke with relief as he took his son's hand, his tears mixing with the smoke still hanging in the air.

Buck, still shaken by the events, nudged Eddie with a grin. "What's up with the Spider-Man routine?"

Eddie looked at him with a shrug. "I don't know. I just did it. And prayed a lot."

"Nice job, Eddie... crazily brave but nice job," Violet said, her tone filled with admiration.

"Yeah, it looks like someone was listening," Bobby added with a smile, looking at Eddie, then back at the boy they had saved.

Back with Chimney and Becca they were cheering happily by the Tv, as they watched the whole scene unfold.

"Yes! You are welcome. You are welcome." Chimney said.

"See, even when we're not there, we still save the day." Becca said, grinning.

"What would they do without us?" Chimney said.

"Crash and burn." Becca said, as the two of them laughed.

They high-fived each other, then winced in pain as their surgery incisions stung, still healing. They both laughed it off and sat back down.

"Ow. Ow." Chimney said.

"Ow, okay, that's enough." Becca said.

▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬

Later that day, Becca returned home to find the house lively as ever. The kids—Bryan, Aryana, and Dylan—were all in the living room with her mom, Joyce. Justin had just dropped them off after taking them to a baseball game, and the excitement was still buzzing in the air.

"Mom! Mom!" Bryan called out as she walked through the door. "You won't believe it, the game was amazing! Dylan even caught a foul ball—"

"And I got ice cream twice!" Aryana chimed in excitedly, her grin wide.

"Wait, wait, let me tell her about the double play I saw!" Dylan added, waving his hands to get her attention.

"Okay, okay," Becca said, laughing as she set her bag down, overwhelmed by the flurry of voices.

"Hey, hey, hold on," Joyce interrupted, her voice cutting through the chaos gently but firmly. "Don't you all want to ask how your mom's been all day first?"

The kids paused, exchanging sheepish glances. Bryan looked up at Becca. "Sorry, Mom. Uh... how was your day?"

Becca smiled warmly and walked over to join them on the couch. "Oh, it was nice," she said, keeping it light. "I spent some time with Chim, we watched a movie, cheered on the 118 for saving the day... nothing too crazy."

The kids looked intrigued but didn't press further. Aryana tilted her head. "Cheered on the 118? Like on TV?"

"Yep," Becca said, nodding. "Let's just say your mom still knows how to be productive even when she's off-duty."

"Well, that sounds like a good day," Joyce said with a knowing smile.

Becca gave her a playful smirk. "Oh, Mom, you have no idea."

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