#firefighter oc

Chapter 01.

Even before the alarm dared to think about ringing, Phiona was already awake. Green eyes flicked open in the dark as if an inner switch had been thrown; sharp, alert, and ready. For a moment, the room held a military kind of silence, taut, and still… Until the faintest, slow rhythm of a child’s breathing filled the space beside her. It was soft, deep, and untroubled by the world. Reynna. The little girl was curled like a kitten beneath the heavy blanket, one cheek mashed into her mother’s arm, a single sock sliding halfway off her big toe. Phiona let her gaze linger, her expression quiet but fierce, in the silent kind of vow you do not speak aloud because it is stitched into your bones.

She slipped from the bed without a sound, gathering her nearly wavy hair into a high bun as she padded down the hallway. The apartment smelled faintly of lavender detergent and last night’s chamomile tea. In the kitchen, the click of the light switch was followed by the hiss and rich aroma of coffee brewing, dark, strong, a command to her senses.

By the time the mug warmed her hand, she was already in the bathroom, steam curling over the mirror. The shower was quick, efficient, and when she stepped out, she was already mentally assembling the day ahead. The uniform, laid out: navy sweatshirt, black pants, and boots waiting by the doorframe. She pulled her hair tighter into a regulation bun. Makeup followed, not as vanity, but as ritual. The soft sweep of blush, two precise coats of mascara, and a brick-nude lipstick to push the pallor of dawn from her skin. It was not about how it looked; it was about control, about starting the day on her own terms.

When she returned to the bedroom, Phiona carried a bottle of chocolate milk in one hand, and a neatly folded miniature uniform in the other.

“Rise and shine, ladybug!” her voice was warm, murmured with a touch of mock-heroic flair.

“Five more minutes, Momma…" Rey mumbled, not even cracking an eyelid, one arm flung over her face like a Shakespearean damsel.

Phiona’s mouth twitched toward a laugh, but she held it in, a smile softening instead.

“Today’s mission will not wait.” she countered, peeling back the blanket with practiced gentleness, folding it with care before laying it at the foot of the bed.

Rey, her hair a shade lighter than her mother’s, rose reluctantly, clutching the chocolate milk like a canteen. Phiona helped her into the tiny firefighter uniform. It was the last week before summer break, and Rey was transitioning to a new school. On orders from the Captain, she spent mornings with him when her mother was on duty. It made sense; he was her godfather.

Independent as she had been raised to be, Rey was ready in ten minutes flat: pigtails neat, teeth brushed, and a backpack full of art supplies slung over her shoulders. A small red bracelet rested on the little girl’s wrist, a “bravery band” Captain Forester had given her on their last shift together.

At 6:40 AM sharp, Phiona scooped her daughter up, not because she had to, but because it was their thing. Rey’s arms looped easily around her neck, her head finding the familiar curve of her shoulder. Phiona shut the apartment door with her elbow.

The city was already stirring, sirens somewhere far off, the clatter of a delivery truck, the hiss of bus brakes. Somewhere down the street, a bakery’s first batch of bread was hitting the ovens. “Ah, the sweet symphony of the city!” she murmured under her breath.

Nothing was as certain as grounding, as the moment they pushed through the wide bay doors of Station 14.

“Good morning, Little Recruit!” Marissa’s voice carried from the upstairs kitchen at the far end of the hall, warm and teasing in equal measure.

“Morning, Auntie Mars!” Reynna squealed as she wriggled down from her mother’s arms before Phiona had even reached the stairs. The lieutenant followed at a steady pace while the girl darted ahead, all elbows and excitement, straight toward her godfather.

Forester sat sunk into the couch against the wall, a stack of reports balanced on one knee, eyes narrowed in the way of someone who had already survived three shifts before 7 AM.

“Captain Pops!” Rey’s voice cut through the quiet like a fire bell. Dennis’s face split into a wide grin, the kind that made the deep lines around his eyes look like they had been carved there by years of laughter rather than strain.

He tossed the papers aside, spread his arms wide, and scooped her up with the effortless strength of someone who clearly had been doing it since she was just a red-faced bundle of cries in Phiona’s arms. “My favorite officer has arrived! Night mission debrief, please.”

Rey leaned in close, cupping her small hand around his ear like she was about to pass state secrets. “I dreamed Momma saved a cat who turned into a dragon… Then it turned into a backpack!”

Dennis nodded, taking notes on buying a cat or dragon backpack for his goddaughter, he paid attention, carefully, to all that girl ever said or have done over the years, “Copy that, little lady. Biohazard classified as a wearable creature. Filing it under ‘potential allies’ just in case!”

From the kitchen, Ozwald’s voice rumbled through the air.

“Careful with that coffee, Phi. It’s stronger than my last existential meltdown.” he slid a piece of toast with jam toward her like a peace offering. Phiona grabbed a mug, filled it with what was almost certainly the bitterest brew in Philadelphia, and leaned against the counter, the jam did some justice softening the strong flavor of black coffee.

She let her eyes sweep over the room. Her daughter tucked safely in her godfather’s arms. Oz at the stove, cooking scrambled eggs that no one would admit to liking, but everyone ate anyway. Mars pretended she was not eavesdropping the fellow colleagues off the other squad. Zayon snapped a photo of the bulletin board because he would forget the daily schedule... Again. Emmett, steady in the corner, quiet but anchoring the space all the same.

Station 14 woke up like it always did: with rough edges, loud voices, and the kind of affection that did not need to be dressed up. In that little world where pain and bravery walked side by side, Phiona breathed in deep.

The world outside was still harsh.

There, at least, she was not alone.

Another almost-ordinary morning started at Abbott Elementary. In the teachers’ lounge, Janine was locked in a battle with the printer for the third time that week, stabbing the “print” button like persistence alone might scare it into compliance. Gregory was arranging potted plants on a makeshift shelf, searching for a scrap of serenity before the day began. Jacob, pacing lightly, rehearsed a poem about solidarity to open class with, his hands moving almost as much as his mouth.

Melissa was already in the principal’s corner office, mid-argument about a delayed delivery of first-aid kits. The redhead did not just sense trouble; she could smell it three days ahead, like a storm blowing in off the Jersey coast. It was not a sixth sense, more like survival instinct honed by years of staff meetings and Sunday dinners with her Sicilian relatives. She was mid-sentence, Ava leaning back with that “I am bored but I am winning” expression, when Melissa’s brow furrowed. Something was off. A faint, acrid tang in the air. “Ava, you smell that? Or did your incompetence finally develop legs?”

Ava’s lips parted for a signature comeback, and then the fire alarm screamed to life. A sharp chirp. Then a full, ear rattling wail. Within seconds, smoke began curling from the hallway vent. It moved like it owned the place. Melissa did not hesitate. She yanked the wheeled fire extinguisher, the same one she had patched with duct tape last week, and was in the hallway before anyone could say “evacuate.”

“Jacob, get the kids out of the art room! Janine, third graders! Gregory! Forget the plants, for crying out loud!” the smoke thickened. Fast.

“Everyone outside! Now!” Ava’s voice boomed, firm, urgent, and for once without the cushioning of sarcasm. Small children cried. Some shouted for siblings. Others scanned the chaos for an adult to make it better. Veteran teacher Barbara Howard guided them through the main doors with a calm that could move mountains.

Janine gripped three small hands, repeating like a mantra, “One, two, three. One, two, three.” Gregory stayed upstairs, shoving windows open to vent the smoke, his jaw tight and eyes sharp. Jacob crouched low to reassure the little ones, his voice steady despite the tremor underneath. Schemmenti shoved a classroom door open with her shoulder, a young boy’s hand locked in hers with the kind of grip that saves you and scolds you in the same breath.

“You good? Breathing? Got all ten fingers?” the boy nodded. “…Good. Now run.” that’s when she heard it: sirens closing in, a sharp crack from somewhere above the ceiling, and the burnt, greasy stench rolling thick from the cafeteria. “Shit.” she hauled the extinguisher forward, cursing budget cuts and the school’s ventilation system under her breath. The nozzle spat white foam into the smoke-clogged hallway, carving a narrow, breathable path.

One fire at a time.

The sound of Station 14’s engines tore through the air like a promise. Ruthless, roaring, charging through the streets like a knight in steel and chrome. When the firetruck screeched to a halt in front of Abbott Elementary, chaos had already taken root. The restless shuffle of dozens of feet. The hiss of smoke escaping somewhere it should not. Over it all, the unsettling groan of a building straining under its own weight.

First to step down was a tall woman whose presence hit before her boots even touched the ground. Striking green eyes cut through the haze, visible even behind the black seal of her mask. Her spine was straight as a steel beam; voice sliced through the noise with the precision of someone who had been here too many times and refused to lose. She read the unfolding disaster like an open blueprint. Lieutenant D’Arc did not just arrive. She erupted. Turning the chaos into her playground.

The teachers, their faces sweaty and streaked with ash, did not back away out of fear, but out of trust. They knew someone was in charge now. Completely. Melissa Schemmenti took in the sight. That first firefighter hit the ground like she owned it, fearless, on heavy steps of someone who had stared down hell and bargained her way out. A leader. Unshaken. Her voice carried a fury that was tightly leashed but undeniably alive. It was like watching a parallel-universe version of herself, only with a fire hose instead of a coffee mug, and an oxygen tank instead of a sarcastic remark.

“That woman knows exactly what she is doing.” Melissa muttered. Half to herself, half to the universe, before shoving the last kid toward safety. Then she spotted Ava in the middle of the courtyard, phone raised, live streaming to her followers. “If you are going to die, Coleman, at least die doing something useful, like counting the damn kids!”

“There are still kids in the cafeteria!” Gregory’s calm voice finally cracked, urgency flooding in.

“Has anyone seen Sophie and Max?” Janine’s voice was thin, high, threaded with panic.

Phiona did not even glance up. She signaled with two fingers, a command, practiced gesture, Mars and Zayon fell in behind her without hesitation. The unspoken order was clear: search and rescue.

Then, in a flash of determination and expertise, she disappeared into the smoke.

Inside of the building was a choking maze. The air hung thick with smoke, bitter and burning, clawing down the throat. Every groan from the ceiling felt like a countdown. Glass popped in the heat, each sharp crack ricocheting down the hall like gunfire. In the cafeteria, overturned tables cast monstrous, twitching shadows across the walls. Phiona stayed low, scanning fast, until her eyes caught on a small backpack near the counter, then on two kids curled behind it. Tears streaked their darkened faces, soot covering both head to toe. Sophie’s coughs rattled her tiny frame; Max just clung to his knees, wide eyed and frozen.

“Hey,” Phiona said, her tone steady but warm, a lifeline wrapped in authority. “I am Lieutenant D’Arc. I am here to get you both out. Ready to evacuate the danger zone?” Max shook his head, sobbing. Sophie nodded, reaching for her like she was the only solid thing in the room. Phiona gathered them both into her arms without hesitation, the weight familiar, an automatic instinct, like she had done this a thousand times in a thousand nightmares.

In the kitchen, Marissa and Zayon were dragging an unconscious teacher toward the door while Emmett laid down a curtain of water, quenching the flames’ reach. Somewhere in the west wing, Oz’s voice was barking directions, corralling students into daylight. Every movement was precise. Purposeful. A choreography born from trust. And in under fifteen minutes, they had done the impossible.

When the last student crossed the threshold into fresh air, the world seemed to exhale. No fatalities. No critical injuries. Just wide eyes and pounding hearts trying to keep up with what had happened. It was a blur, children shepherded into waiting arms, a limp body passed to paramedics, a younger male teacher caught mid-hallway, frozen, while someone screamed at him with the ferocity of an Italian mother refusing to lose her own. Then Phiona appeared through the haze. Two scared children in her arms, her stride heavy but unbroken, lungs dragging in the burn, her gaze locked forward. She looked past through hell and made sure no one else followed.

“Somebody write this down,” Ava muttered, still dazed. “We’re putting this on the school flyer: We survived 2020 and a fire. Try us.”

Janine’s blouse was clinging to her from sweat and heat, looking at the fire crew with wide, reverent eyes, whispering thanks to whoever was listening. Jacob held himself and sobbed openly, the sound shaking more than the smoke. Melissa’s red curls were damp against her temples, a paper cup trembling in her hand. Her mind was working, scanning faces, counting the living. Her gaze landed on Gregory. He was not looking at the wreckage. Or the smoke. He was watching the commander firefighter.

From the moment she had pulled off her helmet, gasping for clean air, Phiona’s face streaked with ash and dried blood, something in him had shifted. Recognition. Not just of her face, of the way she looked at the children. Like every single one belonged to her, too. Melissa noticed. She tilted her head, remembering Ava’s comment just moments ago: “Gregory!” she said under her breath, a low voice for only him to hear. “You keep staring at firelady like that, and we are going to add a romance novel cover to the school flyer too.” Gregory blinked, startled, not looking away.

“If that woman does not get a medal and a homecooked Italian dinner from me,” Melissa added more loudly, “This world is a lost cause.” she straightened her shirt, swallowed her fear, and fell back into the role she always played, steady hands hiding the quake inside.

A few feet away, Janine, small in stature, big in heart, followed Gregory’s fixed gaze.

“W–What is it?” she asked softly.

His voice was barely a breath. “She looks…” as if the past had just stepped through the fire, still burning, and staring right back at him. “Familiar.”

MASTERLIST.

                               THIRD POV                          20 Minutes Earlier

It was ten at night when Eddie finally got Christopher to sleep after visiting his grandmother in the hospital, and he was glad to see that she was doing better. He was enjoying Carla's presence and he was quick to find out how nice she was and how well she got on with Christopher. He also found out that it wasn't just Buck's idea for her to help him, but it was Kasey's too, and she would have told him if she didn't need to go back home to look after Bear, but she highly recommends her as she met her quite a few times. So, if two of his closest friends recommended her she must be good. Or he should at least give her chance. And even if it's just been a day, she has really proved herself within that day.

It was five minutes passed ten when Eddie cleaned the few dishes that was in the sink, so he didn't have to worry about them in the morning. As he scrubbed the dishes clean he could feel the small water wrinkles appear onto his fingertips, which reminded him to buy some rubber gloves so he could use that when he cleans. He turned off the hot tap and flicked his fingers up and down five times to get the water off from his hands. He then grabbed the tea towel that was hanging off the cupboard next to him to dry the dishes and put them away.

It was ten minutes passed ten when Eddie's phone began to ring. He just put the towel back and glanced at his phone. It showed up the number of the phone that was ringing him, meaning he didn't know this number. He didn't know many people, and the people he did know he had saved to his phone, like: he had his family members number's saved, the schools, the Diaz's doctors and dentist, some local takeaways, the members of the 118 and now Carla's. He picked up the phone and placed it by his ear, thinking it was the hospital about his abuela.

But it wasn't.

It was some strange woman's voice that he's never heard before. He bit his lip in thought when he heard a gruffy British voice say "Hello." He didn't realise he hasn't answered when it barked at him again. "Hello?" He leaned back on the countertops and cleared his voice before he started to speak.

"Hello?"

"Is this Mr Diaz?" The woman asked.

"It is. Is this the hospital?"

"It certainly isn't."

He was confused to say the least. Who else would be ringing him if it wasn't the hospital? Who had his number that he didn't save into his phone? Why did they know his name, but he couldn't recall ever hearing their voice before?

"I'm Ms Matthews. Kasey's neighbour. Evan gave me your number in case something happened to Kasey as he never trusted the place she lived in."

Buck gave Kasey's neighbour his phone number without him even knowing? He doesn't mind as long as it for something important, and if Buck thinks the area Kasey lives in is untrustworthy then it was for an important reason. But he kind of wished Buck told him just so he would be aware if she ever did call him.

Eddie has also heard stories where Ms Matthews has called Buck to see if Kasey has eaten or looked after herself good enough, after saying she doesn't care, she never believed Kasey when she reassured her that she was fine. Ms Matthews always asked Buck on these phone calls if he and the other first responders was looking after themselves too, after saying she doesn't care, which Buck also told her they were good. He also knew Ms Matthews was one of the reasons why the apartment block allowed Kasey to keep Bear in her apartment, after saying she doesn't care, she argued that it be good for the girl after the things she will see being after of the fire crew, she said that she needs to come home to some comfort, after saying she doesn't care.

"Is Kasey okay?" Eddie asked with a voice of concern, he nibbled on his bottom lip waiting for Ms Matthews to speak. He wasn't too worried though as he thought this be one of her check-up calls, and she called him because Buck probably was asleep and not picking up his phone so alas she called him.

He heard a deep thump and a cry of pain.

"Ms Matthews?"

"Oh, Mr Diaz-"

"Please call me Eddie." He pleaded her, hearing her call him that made him feel kind of old, and if this was going to be a regular thing he defiantly didn't want her to keep on calling him that if she doesn't do the same for Kasey or Buck, but mind you she defiantly doesn't use their nicknames, so she must be a quite formal lady.

Eddie flinched again when he heard another cry of pain, it sounded so close to him. He then heard a loud bark.

"Is that you yelling Ms Mathews?"

"A neighbour knocked on my door for a noise complaint for number 12, Kasey's apartment, but I thought I should call Evan or you as I think something is wrong."

"Is that Kasey crying? You said Bear was barking? Have you knocked? Have you-"

"I'm too afraid too Eddie, the cops are coming but I thought it be best if you came too."

"Is Kasey okay?" He asked slowly.

"I-I..."

"Is Kasey okay?" He asked louder and more firmly. He noticed Christopher looking through the gap of his bedroom door, but he didn't care, he just needed to know if Kasey was okay. "You know what? I'm coming down to her place, I know where it is after I dropped her off once. Number 12, you said?"

"Yes, second floor. Eddie, hurry." Ms Matthews couldn't even tell him that she didn't care, she was too shaken with fear to even mutter it to him - even if she would tell you that mumbling is rude - she couldn't do anything, she just wanted to make sure Kasey was okay, she couldn't even knock on the door of the neighbour she didn't care about because she was too frightened too.

And Eddie hanged up and quickly placed his phone in the pockets of his tracksuit bottoms. He hurriedly around the apartment, putting his shoes on as he moved. "Christopher grabbed your crutches we need to go."

"Is Kasey okay?"

"Christopher, quickly please." Eddie asked desperately.

And Christopher grabbed them from where they stood leaning against his chest of drawers. Eddie picked up some shoes for him before picking Christopher up and moved to open his door.

It was fifteen minutes passed ten when Eddie drove quickly through the streets. Kasey only lived five minutes away from him. He didn't even notice if he drove through any red lights. His mind was on one thing and one thing only: Kasey.

If it was Bear barking it must've been Kasey crying. But what was that thump he heard? Did Kasey fall? But why would Bear have been barking for so long if Kasey would've been back no longer than half an hour?

The streetlights glowed down on the roads of LA. It almost seemed peaceful if it wasn't for the rain that was now falling from the skies. It wasn't predicted to rain; it wasn't predicated for at least a week. But here he was with his windows wipers on, pushing all the fallen rain off from his windshield. Christopher looked at his dad in bewilderment ever few seconds before looking out from his window, watching everything go pass quickly. He didn't want to speak, in case it made his dad break down, he saw how worried and scared he was on the phone about Kasey, and poor Christopher didn't know what was going on.

Everything was going pass so quickly until it all stopped.

Red light.

Eddie's fingers drummed against his steering wheel nervously, he bit his lip once again, the car engine was roaring, ready to go once the light turns green.

"No school tomorrow." Eddie said to Christopher.

"Why?"

"I'll say you're sick."

"Why?"

"Because we'll probably be out late, and you'll be tired."

Before Christopher could ask why again, the lights turned green, and Eddie drove off again. He turned left and parked into the carpark opposite the block of flats.

"Christopher stay in the car." He instructed as he climbed out the car.

"But dad-"

"Christopher, stay." And with that he closed the door before he remembered what Ms Matthews said about Buck not trusting this area, "Christopher, you're coming with." He told him when he opened the passenger door. He picked Christopher up along with his crutches and shoes before closing and locking the door behind him.

It was twenty minutes passed ten when Eddie heard no noise coming from the apartment block. No reason for Kasey to get noise complaint. There was no barking...

...Until five seconds after that thought he heard barking again. Crazy, loud barking.

Christopher had to cover his ears because it grew louder when they opened the apartment block. Eddie pressed the elevator button multiple times before he rushed away from it because it was taking too long. But he turned back around when he heard the ding. He rushed through the doors that was still opening and repeatedly pressed floor two. It felt like it was all going so slow. He moved passed apartment 12 and to number 14 hoping that this was Ms Matthews door, it was either this one or number 10 as the side Kasey lived on went up in even numbers.

He knocked. He knocked. He knocked again until the door opened.

"Yes?" The lady asked. "If you're here for noise complaint the cops are on their way and-"

"Are you Ms Matthews?"

"Yes, who's asking?" She asked in a thin voice.

"Eddie Diaz."

"Oh, Eddie, I told you Kasey lives-"

"Next door, I know." He spoke quickly and louder so he could be heard over Bear's barks. "I wouldn't usually do this, but can you look after my son please?"

"Certainly." She nodded, opening the door wider for Eddie to walk through and place Christopher on the coach.

"Okay, daddy be back soon okay, cover your ears if it gets too loud."

Christopher nodded.

"Evan's on his way."

"Who's Evan?" Christopher asked.

"Buck." Eddie answered before rushing out of the door.

"She has a spare key under that loose piece of carpet." Ms Matthews informed him as she stood by the door.

Eddie pulled the cream-stained carpet by her front door back and saw nothing.

"Oh." Ms Matthews said before closing the door to head back to Christopher.

Eddie was left with no other choice.

He heard sirens coming.

And he thought that it was the cops heading here for the noise complaint.

He kicked the door down.

"KASEY!" He called out desperately and Bear came running to him, barking madly before he stopped when he caught sight of Eddie.

The tanned colour round Bear's mouth was stained red.

Did Bear attack Kasey?

That wouldn't explain why he has been barking for ages.

Something else must've happened especially by how sad Bear looked. Bear ran behind Eddie, nudging him with his nose at the back of Eddie's leg, guiding him quickly to where Kasey was.

On the way Eddie saw blood splutters across the floor and wall, nail marks on the floorboards and...

...And the unconscious body laying across the stained white carpet and the floorboards.

"KASEY!" He slid across the floor on his knees, not caring that his grey bottoms was getting bloody. He pushed her onto her back and saw the massive bruises, cuts, blood...

...there was so much damage...

...there was so much blood...

He looked next to him and saw a baseball bat covered in blood, not a speck of wood to be seen.

It was twenty-three minutes passed ten when someone else came.

"Hello?" A voice called as they pushed open the already open front door.

Bear rushed to the sound and guided them the same way they did with Eddie, but Eddie didn't look for he was to worried with the sight in front of him. Her clothes was stained red so was her skin. And if there wasn't any blood covering a part of her skin all he could see was dark bruises.

There was so much blood.

"Bear...Bear...what are you – Eddie?" Eddie head snapped to face the person who gasped at the sight in front of them.

It was Athena.

Kasey laying there covered in blood and bruises. Not an ounce of skin to be seen.

Eddie tear filled eyes before he moved to face Kasey, ripping her top off to see more of the horrible sight. His hands touched her unresponsive hands, they were so cold. Her eyes was closed, but he could see bruises round them through the dripping blood coming from somewhere. She was just laying in her own pool of blood weakly. She wasn't moving...why won't she move? Eddie shook his head, getting rid of questions that won't be answered for a while. He just needs Kasey to be okay.

"This is Athena Grant." She spoke into her radio. "I need a 10-52 to the 12th room of the second floor. I repeat I need a 10-52 to the 12th room of the second floor urgently. Firefighter Kasey Strand is down, contact her team now."

"10-4." A voice spoke over her radio. "Captain Bobby Nash and Firefighter's Henrietta Wilson, Howard Han, Evan Buckley and Eddie Diaz is being contacted now."

"No need to contact Eddie Diaz."

"Or Buck." Eddie's weak voice told her as he stared at Kasey in shock. His fingers pressed to her neck and wrist as he desperately tried to find a pulse.

"Or Firefighter Evan Buckley." She took a look at Kasey again. "Firefighter Kasey Strand is down." She repeated desperately as she kneeled down to sit next to Eddie who was still trying to find a pulse.

"Dispatch is on-"

"KASEY STRAND IS DOWN!" She yelled into her radio. "Suspect is missing, and Kasey Strand is dying." And with that she let go of her radio, not caring that she's handling this unprofessional. Kasey was like a daughter to her, and she wasn't going to let her die.

Now that her shirt was ripped open they could still only see blood.

There was so much blood.

"No pulse." Eddie muttered. He placed his hands over one another and pressed them firmly on her chest as he gave her CPR. "You do mouth to mouth after 30." He instructed Athena.

It was twenty-five minutes passed ten when two other people came pass.

"Evan! Over here! And you Ms!" The voice of Ms Matthews called and when Buck and Maddie ran past Kasey's apartment, they caught a quick glimpse of the blood in the hallways before they was pulled into Ms Matthews apartment where Christopher was.

Buck tried to get back to the apartment. He needed to know if Kasey was okay.

Maddie nearly screamed at the sight, but her scream got trapped in her throat when an arm tugged her away.

Buck was going to yell at Ms Matthews for dragging him away until he caught sight of Christopher.

"Eddie is in there Evan." Ms Matthews told him. "So is a cop."

But Buck still wanted to go in there, even if the sight he will see will haunt him forever.

There was so much blood.

"C'mon Kasey." Eddie muttered. Athena did two mouth-to-mouth restrictions before Eddie continued.

"Eddie we need to try to slow down the bleeding."

Eddie didn't even think of that he just wanted her to breath again, for him to feel her pulse again. Eddie pulled of his top and placed it on her stomach, his knee coming up to add pressure onto her stomach.

"Her head is bleeding too." Athena pointed out before taking of her jacket and assisting to the head injury.

"There's so much blood." His hands shook as he looked at the blood covering them. "There's so much blood." He cried louder, pressing his hands back onto her chest, knee firmly on her stomach. Bear was whining next to them, nudging Kasey's foot every few seconds in hopes she would wake up. Tears was streaming down both of the first responders faces. "Youhave to come back to us. We all need you...I need you to come back to me." Eddiecroaked out, his voice getting dryer and dryer due to the burning tears

Kasey Strand was down, and she wasn't getting back up.

Sirens was heard.

And the two could only pray that it was coming here.

"Wake up!" Eddie yelled, tears burning his hazel eyes. "Kasey, wake up!" He tapped the side of her pale cheek. Her skin was so white, and her lips was becoming bluey-grey. "P-please wake up..." His voice was quieter this time, just weakly begging her to wake up. "God damn it Kasey! Wake up!" He yelled again.

Athena and Eddie's clothing was covered in blood.

There was so much blood.

Tires screeching from outside was heard, doors slamming shot and loads of lights was flashing for the whole world to see.

Loud footsteps ran up the stairs.

"Hello?" A voice called.

"We're in here!" Yelled Athena. "Kasey, honey, you are not dying on us today, that is an order." She told Kasey, placing her lips back onto her cold ones. "You hear me, that is an order Kasey."

Kasey still didn't make any movement.

"That is an order Firefighter Strand!"

Nothing.

"Kasey! Open your eyes!" Eddie begged, his hands pressing against her chest. All he wanted was one sign that she was going to be okay. He just needed Kasey to be okay.

"Help is here honey, help is coming." Athena whispered to her, keeping firm hold of her bloody jacket against Kasey's head. "You're going to be okay. Everything is going to be fine." Athena stroked Kasey's cheek.

It was twenty-six minutes passed ten when a huge amount of people filled the room but the two didn't move until they felt hands grab them and pull them off from Kasey.

"No! No! No! No!" Eddie begged frantically trying to reach for Kasey as she wasn't breathing and there was no pressure on her wounds.

But through his blurred vision he saw paramedics sorting her out with things like the c-collar, bandages, injections to slow down the bleeding, breathing masks...just everything.

Eddie went limp in the paramedics arms as he cried hard in the arms of a stranger.

She couldn't die.

"We've got it from her, sir."

But Eddie didn't believe them. He fought one again against the paramedic that was holding him by the arms, dragging him further away from Kasey. Bear was barking when he saw them starting to take her away.

"You did everything you could, sir. We've got her now."

Everything fell silent to Eddie as he tried to fight to get back to Kasey.

He needed to make sure she was going to be okay.

But all hearing came back when he heard the officers near him.

"A violent dog is at the scene, may need to be put down."

"No! No!" Eddie screamed. "He's a police dog! He didn't do anything!"

The officer nodded at the one holding Bear, and he let go of the dog that ran into Eddie's now opened arms after the paramedic let go of him.

Ms Matthews, Buck, Maddie, and Christopher was by the front door, but Christopher's face was turned away so he couldn't see anything.

He was too young to see something like this.

"We're too late." Hen gasped as she and the rest of the 118 saw Kasey on the stretcher being carried to the ambulance outside. She was becoming paler and paler by the second, her lips become more bluey-grey, her skin was drying up, no longer sweating from the time she was breathing, the blood wouldn't stop rushing out...

...There was so much blood...

Eddie throat was dry from all the yelling. He was still crying...everyone who knows her was crying at the sight of her. Athena was holding the weapon with a gloved hand as she just stared into nothing. Eddie's eyes never left Kasey's unconscious body and when she went out of view he followed. He followed until the ambulance doors was closing and the last thing he heard was:

"Still no pulse."

They say when you die your life flashes before your eyes. Which is true as your mind still has 7 minutes of brain activity after you take you last breath. And its within those 7 minutes that your mind plays back memories of your life like a dream sequence. It shows you all the good and bad. It shows you the first time you rode a bike to the first time you got your heartbroken. It shows you everything within those 7 minutes.

Kasey never wanted her life to flash before her eyes as most of it was things she never wanted to see again.

But alas it did.

She saw every happiness, every rage, every joy, every heartbreak, every pain...there was a lot of pain...she saw it all. She saw the ones she cared about the most and she saw the ones she hated the most. She saw everything.

Yet, the dream sequence was done in a blink of an eye, it was like it never happened.

It was like she was here all along.

Gentle waves rolled onto the shore, leaving little bubbly foam chasing your feet. It was clear. You would have never seen the sea so clear as it was now. Various of different fishes swam round, and the seaweed and coral waved with the waves. Everything seemed so happy. The never-ending golden sands stretches out as far as the eye could see, waiting for people to walk across it. But no one was around expect the girl in a white sundress sitting on the sand, watching the sun disappear behind the waves. She always preferred sunsets to sunrises. The clouds always seem fluffier and more gorgeous than ever at this time of day. The sky has never looked as pretty as it does right now. Warm colours of yellow, pink, orange, blue and purples filled the sky, and the girl could only stare at it in awe.

There was no sound except the sound of the waves, the seagulls swooping round the sky, and the gentle breeze of the sea pushing through the brown strands of hair that belonged to the only one that sat on the clean grains of sand.

There was a cliff in the near distance to the right. A lighthouse stood proudly on it, red and white strips wrapping round it like ribbon. The light was starting to flicker on to guide the incoming ships home. To guide them away from the death-traps that the sea held. To guide them to safety. The light from the tall building was the symbol of hope and safety. That if you keep an eye on the light and where it was pointing it will take you to safety. But the woman didn't look there, her eyes stayed on the fading sun.

Waiting for the darkness to steal the sun like it did to her.

                                2018

"Where's the rookie?" Kasey questioned as she strolled into the firehouse. Bobby glanced up at her as she wore a gentle smile as she fiddled with her keys in her hand, throwing it back and forth.

"I fired him."

"Oh."

"Caught him with another women, again."

"Oh."

Bobby dropped the clipboard onto the front seat of the fire engine, he slammed the door closed and leaned against the truck with his hands on his hips.

"You're standing how a Bobby Nash normally stands...but angrily." Kasey pointed out as she looked at her Captain. He sighed, shaking his head.

"He just so frustrating." Bobby huffed. "He's taking advantage of this job to impress women. He hasn't proved to me once that he is willing to do this job and – what? Why are you looking at me like that?"

Kasey had an eyebrow raised and looked unimpressed at Bobby. Her keys was now in both hands where her fingers just fiddled with the singular keyring that is attached to her car key and house key. She breathed in deeply before she started to speak her mind.

"I just think you made the wrong call." Kasey shrugged, pursing her lips to the side as she continued to think.

"He's acting like a teenage boy; he doesn't know what he wants." Bobby exclaimed. "He doesn't fight for this job like all of us...he doesn't fight for it like you do."

"I'm different."

"I know..."

Silence.

"You want me to go grocery shopping for the team?"

Kasey didn't know why she asked but she did. She didn't know why she drove to the one that wasn't the closest one to the firehouse. She drove to a different one, in uniform, with information paper to prove that she was a firefighter to get a discount. She didn't even know he was going to be there, but she was glad that he was there.

She never really spoke to him much, always just busy with her job. She also knew Bobby wasn't the biggest fan of the man, so Kasey never bothered in trying to get to know him if she thought he wouldn't be there for long. And she was right. But boy did she hate being right for this.

"Hey! Fire-truck stealer!" He turned around to see the familiar smiling girl who works at the 118 with a trolley full of food.

"Oh, hi, Kasey." Her face scrunched up at the sad tone of his voice as he walked towards her. He didn't know why she was speaking to him, it's not like they were close or anything.

"Bobby just told me, I'm sorry." Kasey sympathised. "But for what it's worth I think he made the wrong call."

"He's right though."

"I know he is, Mr Self-Diagnosed-Sex-Addict." She smirked, arms folding across her chest. "But you could've been a good firefighter if you tried."

Buck frowned at the use of name.

"You're not a sex addict." She admitted softly.

"I'm pretty sure I am."

"You're not. Not yet at least. Your not addicted to it just yet."

"What are you a sex-addiction expect?" He scoffed.

"Nah, but I know a lot about addictions. I can tell that your not one yet from your behaviour. Yes, you enjoy sex and everything, but you've been able to control yourself when you work with the 118, because you're getting the attention you want, you're distracted from everything. It's after it that you go towards sex because you don't have anything else to do. Sex is your only way to get the attention your lack."

"You don't know shit about me, you never spoke to me before only if you needed to, so why now?" He threw his arms up frantically.

"I'm observant. I've picked up on things. And I'm here to put you," she jabbed a finger into his chest, "back in your place." Her voice was harsher matching the man in front of her. Shoppers around them stared at them but Kasey didn't care, but Buck did.

"Can we do this somewhere else please?" He asked quietly, looking at the many eyes on the two.

"Don't look at them, look at me." She ordered him. His eyes moves to the girl in front of him, gulping slightly at her angry expression. "First of all, you are not a sex addict, not yet at least, you just enjoy the attention these girls give you because you never had enough attention in your life before. That's why you use this uniform for your own pleasure."

"I was fired for being a sex addict."

"God! How many times do I have to tell you? You are not a sex addict!" She clapped after each word of that sentence to get her point across. "You was fired because you didn't take this job seriously, you never proved yourself to the team."

"What?"

"I go against orders every day, but I always prove to the team that it's worth it...you just steal fire trucks to get attention. You have not once proved to us that your willing to fight for this team. For this family. Do you really want to be a firefighter and save lives? Is risking your own life worth it to save countless of overs? Is it worth it to you?"

"Yes." He stared at her wide eyed.

"Then prove it. You go out there and you prove to us, to the team, to the family, that you worth being a member on the team. Prove to me that I wasn't wrong in telling Bobby that he made the wrong call. Prove to Bobby and everyone else that they were wrong about you. Because I know for defiant that they were. I know you can do it, but it all up to you if you're willing to fight for this life."

He nodded.

"Is being a firefighter what you want to do?!" She raised her voice when she heard nothing coming from him.

"Yes!" He said loudly.

"Then fight for it."

                        2019 - Hospital

"I just got off the phone with Kasey's dad and brother, their getting the next plane out." Bobby told everyone who was waiting in the waiting room. Hen and her family was there, Athena, who was still in her bloody uniform, and her family was there, The Buckley's, Chimney, and the Diaz's. Eddie was still wearing his bloody clothes whilst Christopher slept on Carla's lap, who was also there. Bear was there too, sleeping at Eddie's feet.

"Athena, Eddie, maybe you should go to the bathroom to scrub some of the blood off if you're not going home." Bobby instructed kindly. They both nodded before heading to the female and male toilets.

Eddie looked himself in the glass mirror, his hair was messy, strands pointing in every direction, but so was the other's who was sitting outside. His eyes were red and watery, but so was everyone else who was outside. But it was only him and Athena covered in Kasey's blood.

There was so much blood.

It was eleven at night when Eddie started to scrub frantically at his hands, watching the blood slowly fall from his hands and into the sink that the water was spiralling in.

"Eddie." A voice called as they knocked on the closed door.

It was Carla.

"I grabbed some clothes for you on the way down here, it's outside the door if you want them. Michael did the same for Athena."

Eddie didn't respond.

"We'll be right outside."

It was silent again expect from the noise of the running tap. His hands was holding the side of the sink as he looked down at the bloody water.

Eddie never minded silence; he just was never familiar with it with the life he has. But silence was something that came when he fell asleep, and it was a sound he was so used to falling asleep to. It was a time he could just lie down and think.

But he didn't want to think now, not when his mind just replays the scene of finding Kasey and trying to save her. The door opened and he felt a small tug at his tracksuit bottoms. He looked down and saw Bear looking sadly up at him, rubbing his head against Eddie's leg for comfort. He bent down and started to pat Bear.

"She's going to be okay." He reassured himself and Bear. "She's going to be okay." But this time the words got caught in his throat, and a sob took over his words. He buried his face into Bear's fur and cried. Bear tucked his head into Eddie's shoulder, trying to comfort him in anyway he could, his head moving up and down slowly as if it was a human hand stroking him. A great tremor overtook Eddie as tears raced one another down his cheeks. His breathing quickened at every gut-wrenching sob that fell out from him. It was like he could still feel Kasey's cold body on his warm one, he could still remember how she looked, how death-like she looked. He still remembers all the blood.

There was so much blood.

And just by those thoughts he shook and cried harder, soft whines left Bear as well, knowing that Eddie wasn't going to calm down anytime soon. The tears burned against his red, swollen eyes; rashes started to climb across his face from the hot tears.

The only sound that filled the empty bathroom was the sound of suffering.

Kasey did ballet once for 7 months and 10 days. She never wanted to do it, but her mum dragged her into doing so. She was 10 at the time, and her mum forced her into doing ballet a week after the psychologist diagnosed her with depression.

She remembers her dance teacher screaming in her face on the 195th day of ballet because she chose to go to her Young Cadets instead of dance recital. She remembers the teacher spitting in her face at the disgusting behaviour of the young girl, saying the army was for the men and the arts was for the ladies. Kasey remembers saying "Fuck you," to the dance teacher before storming out of the hall, and she never came back. The only time she heard from the dance teacher was an hour later when she came home, she was yelling over the phone to her mum, saying what a spiteful little child she has, and the child deserves more than a slap on the wrist. Kasey didn't cry at those words, she instead grinned at the fact that she got out of ballet. But her mum and Enzo both yelled at her for her never learning how to behave. She remembers her dad yelling at her too when he finally came to see them, she remembers him telling her, "Why can't you listen to your mother for once? Why can't you do this one thing for her? Why do you have to make it so hard for us to be your parents!"

She remembers her mum asking TK what clubs he wanted to join. She was sat on the staircase with her head against the wall, listening intensively to the conversation, "TK can do whatever he wants to do", she said to Enzo. Kasey remembers that she had to fight to be able to join clubs that revolved around the army, it was only by the help of her dad and TK that her mum finally agreed to it after her dad said it might set the kid straight, she may stop behaving if she leant it the hard way. She remembers TK starting to argue with their mum, saying how unfair that was for Kasey if he could choose what he wanted to do. And Kasey remembers her response as clear as day; "Kasey is too sick in the head to know what she wants."

She silently cried at those words.

Kasey knows that she was always the misbehaviour, the rebel, the child who never got on with her parents because they saw her as nothing less but as a troublemaker. Kasey knows that TK was the golden boy of the family, the glue that was keeping things from fallen apart. TK was loved by both parents; her dad normally came back for TK and TK would never come with unless Kasey was coming too. She remembers just walking round the firehouse aimlessly, whilst her dad showed TK everything, she remembers learning more about being a firefighter than anyone else did when she walked around on her own. She remembers sneaking into the fire-engine when the bell rang, hiding from all the eyes. TK walked round the firehouse with the person Owen left him with, and he couldn't find her at all. Kasey remembers seeing the orange lights of the roaring fire for the first time. She remembers just staring at it with all the wonders of the world. And she remembers how happy everyone was when they was saved, and the fire was safely put out. That's when Kasey knew that this was what she wanted to do. She wanted to save lives and do something meaningfulness. And she wasn't going to do it for her family, she didn't need to make them proud, she didn't care for that. She was going to do this for herself and everyone else. Kasey remembers 22nd of September of the year of 2005 at the 18th hour was the time she knew she wanted to save lives and be a firefighter.

And then she remembers the next day she was screamed at. Her mum didn't want her to be a firefighter like Owen. She remembers TK piping into the screaming session and said that he wanted to be a firefighter too. Kasey thought that this was TK's way of getting their mum to stop yelling at her. But her mum turned to TK and said the words Kasey will always remember, "TK has what it takes to be a firefighter."

Her dad said the same thing the next time she and TK saw him, they were sitting in his car, and Kasey told him proudly that she was going to be a firefighter and save lives. Owen glanced at her through the mirror and shook his head before telling her, "no." She frowned, and TK noticed. He then told their dad that he wanted to be a firefighter too just like him. Owen smiled and said the words Kasey will always remember, "TK has what it takes to be a firefighter. You don't Kasey."

Kasey remembers it all.

Kasey remembers getting her first job, sort of. The leader of the Young Cadets she went to allowed her to help him clean up and he gave her money for it. But she got her real first job at the age of 13. And all the money she was given or found she saved. She saved them until she reached the age of 22. She saved it so she could escape New York and start a life of her own. She didn't know where she was going to go but young Kasey knew that anywhere that was far away from her family was good enough. TK knew Kasey wanted to leave when their 11th birthday rolled in, he remembers her crying in his arms, he remembers how she spoke to him, so weak and desperate to leave, it was like her heart was already shattered into millions of pieces and there was no chance of them being repaired. TK remembers her asking him why she wasn't good enough. Why their parents barley looked at her as if she wasn't their daughter. He remembers her asking him to take all the pain away. And TK remembers how confused he was because he didn't know how to do that.

But Kasey found a way when she was 13. It was May and the sun was shining through the bathroom window. She remembers the lines on her arms and thighs as she bled into the cold water of the bathtub. She remembers TK finding her just in time and she remembers waking up in the hospital room. She remembers her mum saying she had no reason to kill herself. And she remembers the doctors telling her that she has to go onto medications and get therapy. She remembers begging them no, but no one listened, she remembers telling them she'll be good that it was just a mistake, but they didn't listen. She was in different therapies for about three years, and she barely spoke to them. She remembers cops, doctors, psychologist, social services and all the others always dropping by to see how she was doing as all the therapists always told them that she barley spoke. But whenever they came by she was never in. She remembers when she was in one of the places she hated the most (the hospital) TK begged her to never leave him.

But Kasey remembers that a week after their 15th birthday TK overdosed. She remembers kicking down the bathroom door, the same bathroom that she was once in but forgot to lock. Maybe TK leant from her mistake. She remembers searching for a pulse, she remembers putting her head against his chest to her a heartbeat. And she heard it all. She called 9-1-1 and begged them to hurry. She remembers sitting against the cold bathroom wall, him between her legs as he limply laid against her back, she remembers putting her fingers into his mouth to get him to breath again. She cried into his neck whilst TK told her how sorry he was. She knows he overdosed on her prescriptive pills. The paramedics came along with their parents four minutes after she called 9-1-1. TK begged her not to leave him, so she was the one who climbed into the back of the ambulance and held his hand. She told him it was all going to be alright. TK told the doctors that he's an addict to drugs after a party he and Kasey went to 2 months before their 15th birthday. Kasey remembers blaming herself as she recalls her dragging him to that party. But she recalled incorrectly as it was the other way round, but yet she still blamed herself. Her parents blamed her too, but she didn't care, she just needed TK to be better.

He did, he got better after doing drugs for 2 more months. Kasey was the one who took him to rehab, she forged her parents signature to get him into the rehab centre 2 months after his overdose, she noticed no one was else was going to help TK legally so she took it up to do it herself. Kasey was the one who went to all of TK's appointments and whenever anyone asked she would show them a letter that she forged saying that their parents was too busy, and his sister will go with him. They rang once and that was when their parents found out TK was going through rehab. They was over the moon with that fact, but they weren't happy that Kasey helped illegally forging an agreement form to get TK into rehab. She yelled at them that she couldn't sit around, and watch TK destroy himself whilst his parents was too busy with their careers. She left that night for a whole week on her motorbike, she raced and raced until she got into an accident.

She remembers how her life just fell more from there, she didn't think that was possible, but clearly she was wrong.

Kasey remembers it all.

2018 - 1 Month After Buck Comes Back To The 118

House fires were usual.

It was probably one of the most common things they get called in for.

But Kasey watched the sight in front of her, the fire was soon going to become uncontrollable, there was fire everywhere, and yet there was people inside who still needed saving.

"I'll go in there Cap." Buck nodded towards the burning house, Bobby nodded, and Buck ran to get proper gear on.

"I'll go with." Kasey said and Buck froze slightly. Kasey hasn't spoken to him since she confronted him at the shops. He wanted to thank her for making him see more clearly of what he was losing, thanking her for actually helping him found who's he meant to be. He wanted to be her friend, but she just never gave him the time of the day. Did he not prove himself to her that this was what he wanted? He knew Kasey was the type to do reckless shit like him, but she was more reckless than him, constantly going against orders or just simply telling Bobby what she was going to do. It took a lot to tell Kasey don't do something reckless. Her mind was always on one thing and that was saving lives. He never seen anyone willing to risk everything for people they didn't know. He never seen a fighter like Kasey. She was different to the rest.

It was like the fire roared right in front of them when it heard firefighters was coming in. It was like a dragon, puffing out smoke from its nostrils. And when Buck and Kasey entered the house the dragon roared louder.

Outside the firefighters fought against the beast like knights.

Kasey and Buck was able to save the family of four that was trapped inside, but before Buck and Kasey could leave the house, the wooden beam from the ceiling came fallen down, causing more of the house to collapse.

Ashes fell around the firefighters as everyone stared in shock of what happened before an erupt of yells filled the streets. The dragon laughed as it watched the chaos around it. It blow out another puff of flames, hoping to find something else to catch on fire for it to eat, but disappointment filled it's guts when it found nothing but cold air.

"Two members of my team is still inside."

"They'll probably good as dead by now Captain Nash."

"We're not leaving until they come out alive."

A beam was on Buck's arm whilst Kasey's foot was trapped in the weak floorboards. She struggled against the boards that was trying to swallow her up whilst her ears was filling with sounds of Buck's cries of pain as the fire tickled his arm and the spraying noise of the water that was trying to kill the dragon.

"Buck! Buck! Buckaroo are you okay!" She yelled desperately.

"My a-arm!"

Her hands grabbed onto her leg as she pulled with all her might. She tumbled backwards when she was free, rolling to the side due to her back not being level due to the oxygen tank. She hurriedly crawled towards Buck as more wood fell around them. She heaved the beam, but it wouldn't move.

"Kasey, just go!"" Buck desperately yelled at her.

"I'm not leaving without you!"

"I saved those people and I need you to be safe then I know it was all worth it."

"I need to save you, or nothing is worth it. I need you on this team Buck and you are not leaving me."

"Why do you care? Why you talking to me again after a month of silence?"

"Because I didn't want you to follow my footsteps of being reckless."

"Too late for that." Buck laughed. She tried to move the beam again, but it still didn't move. "Kasey you don't need to save me, I'm not worth it." His voice was tired from the pressure of the beam.

"I would save you in a heartbeat."

And with that she pulled the beam up with all her strength and Buck quickly moved his arm with a scream, Kasey dropped the heavy wood and it banged onto the floor. She patted down his jacket sleeve to put out the small flickers of fire on it.

"You shouldn't be burnt to badly." She told him.

"Thank you." He coughed.

"Hey, I've got your back."

"And I've got yours, Kasey."

"Just Kas...you're family now so you can call me Kas."

"Kas." He spoke as Kasey pulled him up. It didn't feel foreign on his tongue, and he grinned. "You know, I think this is the beginning  of a beautiful friendship."

"You don't need to quote Casablanca." She giggled; Buck arm was thrown over her shoulder as they both helped each other to escape.

"I don't even know what that is."

"Well it's a good thing me and you are friends now."

They escaped a second before the whole house fell and paramedics rushed towards the two selfless firefighters and checked them out. It took another hour before the fire went out and the dragon was no more. It took two more minutes for the rest of the 118 to come and find Buck and Kasey who was sitting next to each other, covered up with bandages to heal any minor burns, they were laughing together, and Bobby knew he was going to regret saying yes to Buck asking for him to be partnered up with Kasey in the future. He shook his head at everything the duo did in the future, as two best friends. He couldn't believe that two people who was so similar found each other and they were both on his team. But he knew that the two was happy as they found each other, and they made the 118 a happier place.

"Why do you have 10 of the same grey shirts?" Kasey asked as she watched Buck, upside down on his bed, as he hanged up his laundry. The two was always at one another's apartment, Buck preferring Kasey to be at his more as it meant she was out of her own in the area he didn't trust. They both had spare keys to one another places and Bear become familiar with Buck along with their neighbours knowing who the other one was.

"They are not the same colour." Buck said in a-matter-of-fact tone. "This one is light grey, this is grey, this is dark grey, this one is a slate grey this one is a darker version of this one. And oh, this one is-" He turned around sheepishly to look at Kasey's amused expression.

"So, you're telling me you know different shades of grey, but you didn't know who Steven Spielberg was?"

"I know him now!"

"And now I know different shades of grey!"

The two always was there for one another and when Buck's landlord kicked him out, Kasey's door was wide open for him; literally. He moaned at the fact that anyone could walk in, and Kasey told him she was just opening the door to take the rubbish out. He told her about his shitty landlord and Kasey offered him her spare room until he found another place to live, and that place being Abby's.

And they always stayed with one another and saved each other in a heartbeat.

                           2019 - Hospital

It was fifteen minutes passed three in the morning when a doctor dressed in surgical clothing walked out, hands held slightly up as he spoke to Bobby, the room went silent, not like many was even talking to begin with, no one knew what to say. But Bobby and the surgeon muttered quietly amongst each other, and no one could even hear them in the silent room.

Eddie and Athena was in clean clothing, blood was off as best as they could from the soap and tap water, but they weren't going to leave anytime soon to shower and properly get rid of it.

They watched how the doctor shook his head at Bobby before walking back.

Bobby watched the door he left through, swinging back and forth, Buck rushed up and ran towards the door, but Bobby stopped him.

"Kasey!"

"Buck...Buck...stopped." Bobby ushered to him, but Buck kept on fighting against Bobby's arms that was wrapped around him, Michael stood up to help Bobby hold Buck back. Bear also jumped from his seat by Eddie's feet and ran towards Buck, trying to give him as much comfort as he could.

"We shouldn't be in a hospital; Kasey doesn't like hospitals...Kasey hates the hospitals." Buck cried.

"They're trying to save her life."

"S-She h-hates t-them, t-they a-always bring h-her bad news." His knee gave in, and he fell down, his shaky hands covering up his red face. "I-I didn't s-save h-her...I-I prom-promised her I-I would s-save h-her in a h-heart...in a heartbeat." He chocked out, crying in Bobby's arm like a young child, clinging onto him for dear life. "S-She-" He started to mumble incoherent things through his hands.

Bear tucked himself in the small gap between Buck's slightly opened thighs as he sat on the floor.

"She's a fighter Buck. It's going to be okay." Bobby reassured the young firefighter whilst everyone just watched Buck release all the emotions everyone was feeling.

"I can't stop seeing the blood." Athena voice was quiet as May and Harry hugged into her; her eyes was looking behind the two hugging men as Michael wondered back towards Athena. Eddie nodded weakly, his hand unconsciously stoked Christopher's hair as he now laid on his lap.

"She's going to be okay." Eddie muttered to reassure everyone's nerves, but he didn't know if he even believed his own words. It didn't help that he Michael muttered to Chimney what the doctor told Bobby.

The surgery isn't going well.

Her heart keeps on stopping.

There's too much blood.

They're struggling to find another pulse.

She'll be lucky to survive with the amount of blood she lost.

Eddie gulped as another singular tear rolled down his cheek. He has only just stopped crying and now here he was, crying again.

Karen was rubbing circles onto Hen's hand whilst Denny slept on Hen, hugging her tightly so she didn't feel any numbness. "I remember when Kasey first came to the 118." Hen laughed slightly at the memory. "Bobby literally dragged her in when we found her on one of our calls, saving people, she told us she was a firefighter but was new to the area. She warned us that if she wants her we have to know that she isn't easy to deal with. Bobby didn't care. He never saw anyone run into fire without any gear on without a second thought. And then Bobby told her that she has an offer to work with the 118 after getting off of the phone with the chief. And Kasey's only response was 'Which would you prefer to have as your room-mate? A cow or a pig?'"

The group chuckled lightly at the anecdote.

"That sounds like our Kasey." Buck sniffled.

"I remember that I arrested Kasey once for not leaving a pet shop." Athena added with a small smile.

"I remember Kasey scooping out all my peanut butter and put pop up snakes in them. So when I came to unscrewed the lid a green snake hit my in the face." Chimney smirked.

"Oh, yeah, you screamed like a little baby." Hen teased.

"I did not."

"You defiantly did." Bobby chuckled.

"I remember trying to teach her to cook once, she nearly burnt door the firehouse and she turned to me and said, 'It's a good thing we're firefighter or we would have been screwed.'"

It was all silent as everyone just thought about Kasey and all the good memories spent with her.

"Kasey was the first one to make me realise that Christopher and I have finally found the place we've been looking for." Eddie muttered. "I know I had the team, but she was the first one who made me feel like I could open up to you all."

"Kasey was the only one who believed in me when no one else did." Buck croaked out through small sniffles. "She's the only one who trusted me the most and helped me to get better. She changed me for the better, she made me realise that this, this was what I wanted to do, and I was gonna fight for it." Buck nodded to himself, still in Bobby's arms, not looking at anything but Bear. "Even when I had nothing I still had Kas." He hiccupped before he continued. "I-I don't know how to live without her, man." And with that Maddie rushed to Buck and took Bobby's space and comforted her little brother.

"I don't really know Kasey well, only spoke to her a few times as Buck has never got around to introducing me to her." She smiled shortly as she stroked Buck's hair, she could feel everyone's eyes on her, but she didn't care, her mind was to busy viewing the memory. "But I know that she's brave and selfless and will do anything to get back to the ones she loves. I know that she's a fighter from the second I saw her swinging on the rope that was keeping her and the lady she saved attached to the building. I remember watching how she never gave up trying to get back up into that building. She didn't think for a second that falling out that window could kill her, she just knew she had to save that lady. She's the least selfish person I've ever heard to speak, she wanted to make sure I was okay and asked me to contact Eddie's son school to see if he's fine too. She worried about everyone else before she took care of herself. And if that isn't a fighter then I don't know what is."

"Kasey's going to come back home to us." Chimney told everyone. "She's going to come home."

It was forty-four minutes passed three when Owen and TK came rushing into the hospital, TK pointing the group out as he met them before. Bobby told them the run-down whilst everyone just stared into an abyss of nothingness in their seats.

"I was so angry with her the last time I saw her." Owen muttered. "I told her she was never there for this family, and she called me out on my bullshit like always."

"She'll forgive you." Hen told him. "She's always talking about you two saying how proud she is of you two starting up the 126 again."

"When I came out to everyone at the age of 16 some guys was giving me shit for it at school." TK began after a few moments of silence. "So, that day, bear in mind she's straight, she yelled at all these guys saying love is love then she kissed one of my friends who she knew was a lesbian to prove to the jerks that it was okay to kiss the same gender. They punched her in the face for that, but she fought against these big football players. The teachers took them away and the group got suspended including Kasey. But she came back the next day, standing on the table of the rainbow-coloured cafeteria saying that you can't help who you love and it's okay. You can be whoever you want to be and don't let anyone tell you differently. She said this whole speech before the teachers took her home. In that week about twenty more people came out because of Kasey's speech."

"I remember that the school wouldn't stop calling me about her."

"That's Kasey being Kasey once again." Buck chuckled.

"I never couldn't have asked for a better sister." TK admitted sadly as he looked down at his fingers. "She promised me that she wouldn't leave me...s-she's not going to break that promise."

Flowers started to bloom through the sand, but the girl's eyes never left the setting sun, waiting in anticipation for the darkness to steal it away. Red poppies took over the golden sands in memory of the fallen.

"Wounds covered up, but she's still not responding."

The petals of the poppies started to fall slowly, disappearing into the sand, they was dying alone with everything on this beach. The sea become choppier it was no longer a sea of peace and clearness. The sky or clouds were no longer pretty to look at as it became darker. The lighthouse was frantically turning round and round in search for the one's who are lost, guiding them home.

But what was a home to someone who never had one before? What is a home for someone who only lived in a building made of bricks? What is a home if the place they've lived at was full of nothing but torturous yells? What was a home for someone who never had one before?

"The family isn't going to take the news well."

But a home isn't just a place.

"No family does."

It's also a person, or in this case a large amount of people. By definition a home is a place where your surrounded with those who love you, it's a place or feeling of belonging. Home is a place where you feel safe and where you can be yourself without feeling embarrassed. Home is found within people and not within a building. It's like when you feel homesick, you don't feel homesick for the building, you feel homesick for those you're away from.

And the girl on the beach was feeling quite homesick for those she misses.

"Try once more."

Thunder shook the ground, but the girl didn't move a muscle.

Home is full of laughter, love, and security. Home is where a family is found. And family doesn't just have to be the people you share DNA with...

"Again."

Thunder roared once more.

...Family are the people we choose to love, and they love back. It's the people who choose you over and over again, who wants you in their life; the ones who accept us for who we are. The ones who would do anything to make us happy and respects us. Family is the one who loves us no matter what we do. Family is the ones we fight to get back home too.

"Nothing."

It all went silent. And the girl didn't like the silence.

"We lost her."

All the petals fell, and the sun was showing it last beam of light. There was a long beeping noise somewhere in the distance, but the girl didn't turn to look. Her eyes stayed on the last life of the sun. The silence welcomed it first and now the darkness needs to. But it fought with all its strength to stay up for the girl, so she didn't forget this moment.

The lighthouse turned and the light shone into her face, begging her to look at it so it could guide her home...

The petals started to rise from the ground, spinning round in the small gentle breeze as the it reattached themselves to the steams. The red faded into a white.

The colour of safety...

The colour of surrendering...

The colour of peace...

The colour of hope...

And after all the begging, the girl finally looked at the lighthouse and the sound of a gentle beep after beep was heard.