Chapter Text
“Structure fire, 467 Rowan Street, two stations responding. Station 48 and 76,” they hear over the loudspeaker from their dispatch coordinator.
“Let’s move,” Battalion Chief Julie Higgins calls out, circling her fingers in the air.
“A two alarm fire? That means…” Ted states, words dying on his tongue, as Beard steps into his bunker boots, pulling his turnout pants up his legs, suspenders flying to his shoulders.
Beard nods.
“Just keep your cool, Buddy.”
“Welton just drives me crazy,” Ted replies, as he steps into his boots, pants flying up his legs, suspenders flung onto his shoulders.
“Why do you and Welton hate each other so much,” Jamie asks.
“It’s complicated,” Ted answers.
“It actually isn’t,” Beard replies.
“Probie, move your ass," Zoreaux yells at Jamie.
“I’m coming, yeah,” Jamie replies.
*****
As Bumbercatch pulls up to the structure, Ted, Beard, Zoreaux, and Jamie jump out. Ted checks his comms, glancing around, seeing 76 preparing themselves. He sees Rebecca Welton checking her own comms, hood over her face, as she places her breathing apparatus over her mouth and nose. She places her helmet over her head, strapping it to her chin. And he shudders, desiring to roll his eyes, but he looks away instead. The fire rages before him, as Beard places his breathing apparatus over his face, setting his helmet on his head, while Ted pulls his oxygen tank over his shoulders.
“76 here. We’ve been told that there may be a vagrant in the building,” Battalion Chief Isaac McAdoo says.
“Search and rescue teams, let’s move,” Chief Higgins calls out. “Beard, you’re alpha, Ted, beta.”
“Kent, you’re charlie, and Welton, you’re delta,” Chief McAdoo yells out.
Ted and Beard move toward the structure, and Roy and Rebecca follow.
“Tartt,” Chief Higgins says. “You remember about alpha, beta, charlie, and delta?”
“Alpha is the front of the building, beta is the left side, charlie is the back, and delta is the right side,” he replies, smugly.
Chief Higgins nods, as she places her comms into her ear, and she immediately hears, Ted, saying, “fire Department, call out.”
Roy and Rebecca move around the structure.
Beard uses an axe and smashes into the door, and it breaks open, fire shooting forward. Beard and Ted move back to let the fire jump, as it was energized by the new oxygen. As soon as it settles, they enter.
“Welton, report,” Chief McAdoo requests.
“Back door, already open. Entering now,” Rebecca replies.
When she enters, she see thick, black smoke, heavy in the air, small flames rising up the walls.
“Lasso, report,” Ted hears from his battalion chief.
“Smoky, flames present, low and traveling upward. Now moving to beta,” Ted replies.
“Fire department, call out,” Roy yells.
Rebecca moves around to the area assigned to her, inspecting, taking a look at every nook and cranny.
“Delta clear,” Rebecca reports.
Beard hears a noise, unrelated to the crackling and burning wood around him.
“Charlie clear,” Roy reports.
“Noise in alpha, but no visual,” Beard communicates.
“Welton, the ceiling above you is unstable,” Ted states.
“Affirmative,” Rebecca responds with an eye roll that no one else can see.
Ted moves around, looking for a source of the fire, waiting on Beard to confirm a possible victim.
“Beta clear,” Ted shares.
Suddenly, an explosion rings out.
“Lasso, report,” Chief Higgins requests.
Ted, experiencing ringing in his ears from the noise, notices his immediate disorientation.
Gathering himself, he states, “explosion, possibly in alpha.”
“Beard, report,” she requests.
There is no response.
“Welton, report,” Chief McAdoo asks,
“Explosion noted, possibly alpha, but felt below. Moving to alpha.”
Ted listens to Rebecca’s description, as the ceiling above him cracks.
“Structure unstable in beta,” Ted states. “Moving to alpha.”
He takes a few steps.
“Beard, report,” Ted asks.
He moves toward alpha, but the ceiling collapses right onto him, pushing him to the floor, as he lands on his chest.
“Lasso, report,” Kent requests.
“Trapped by debris,” Ted communicates.
“Alpha has a hole in the floor. There’s additional structuring below. Cannot see much, but can hear his PASS alarm,” Rebecca shares. “Doesn’t look injured, but need to get closer for any other confirmation.”
Roy finds Ted and pulls a wood panel from his upper back.
“Can you stand,” Roy asks.
“Yes,” Ted replies, as Roy helps him up.
“I gotta get to Beard,” Ted states, breathlessly.
“She’s got him.”
Rebecca looks around, seeking a way to get down to this hidden structure. She hears a low moan amidst the noise. It sounds like it came from behind the wall. She moves toward it, banging on it.
“Fire department, call out,” she yells.
And then she hears another louder moan.
“I found someone here,” Rebecca reports over comms.
“Repeat,” Chief McAdoo requests.
“Possible victim behind a wall, alpha. Ceiling and surrounding area stable, floor is not though.”
“Situation is deteriorating,” Chief Higgins says.
“No shit,” Rebecca says to herself, as she pulls out an axe, taking a swing at the wall. It cracks open, as she takes a couple of more swings, enough to split the drywall open, causing some light, but not enough, to flood into the area. She removes a flashlight from her belt, shining it into the space, and she sees a man leaning, barely breathing.
“Found victim,” Rebecca reports over comms. “Male vic.”
“Lasso, report.”
“Kent and I are moving toward alpha to find Beard,” he communicates, struggling to breathe.
“Need ladder unit,” Rebecca adds. “I believe Beard might be semi-conscious or unconscious.”
Chief McAdoo, requests Sam and Colin to support their colleagues’ rescue, and they run to the truck.
“Welton, what ladder is requested,” Sam requests over comms.
“Four to six feet,” she answers.
Rebecca swings into the drywall a couple more times so she can fit inside to pull the man out.
“Welton, I’m behind you,” Roy tells her.
“Be careful. Floor is unstable,” she states, moving herself through the wall.
She bends down, tossing the axe to the side.
“Sir, can you hear me,” she asks the man.
He coughs, nodding lightly.
She observes that he’s pale, which means that she needs to get him out of this smoke and quickly.
“Can you move,” she then asks.
He shakes his head.
She looks for any obvious injuries. She finds none, but she does see that he’s trapped by debris that cover his right leg and foot.
“Welton, report.”
“Vic is trapped by fallen debris, but it’s movable.”
“Ladder coming your way,” Chief McAdoo says.
“Lasso, report,” Chief Higgins requests.
“Beard,” he pauses, his breath caught in his chest, “is lying flat on his back on the lower structure.”
“Hurry. Structure is deteriorating rapidly,” Chief Higgins adds.
“Coming to you,” Sam reports.
“Use the back entrance,” Rebecca notes over comms, as she lifts the paneling and other debris from the man’s extremity.
“Beard,” Ted calls out.
Ted then hears Sam and Colin running toward them. They set the ladder up, into the hole of the floor, as he immediately descends, scanning for any additional debris. Roy watches initially, then descends immediately after him.
Rebecca gets all the debris removed from around the man.
“Can you move your leg?”
He moves it for her.
“Can you stand? I can help you.”
He nods slowly, as she helps him, getting him to his feet. She then squats down, lifting the man to her shoulder, and his torso falls over it.
“I have the vic, exiting from rear.”
She kicks at the drywalled area that she removed, giving herself more space to move through. She spots the ladder team supporting the ladder, as she sees Roy’s head disappear into the hole.
“Kent, we’re here with multiple rigs for immediate evacuation,” Barbara, an emergency medical professional, reports over comms.
“Copy,” he replies.
Rebecca moves cautiously through the fire, utilizing the path that it has afforded her. When she reaches the back door, she moves through it, and she’s greeted by emergency personnel. She moves to the stretcher, as they help to get the man from her shoulder to it.
“Vic transferred to emergency personnel. Heading back into structure.”
“Welton, no. They can handle it,” her chief replies.
“My partner is still inside, and I am not leaving him,” she states over her comms, as she moves back through the door, having to follow a new path through the fire.
It’s immensely smoky, but she’s determined to get her partner out.
“Kent, report,” Rebecca requests.
“I’ve got Beard. semi-conscious, maybe even slipping into unconsciousness. Need immediate transport as we get him above ground.”
“Transport on standby,” Chief Higgins responds immediately.
“We’re ready for you,” Sassy, emergency medical professional, reports.
“What tools you need,” Rebecca asks.
“Nothing. I’m climbing up with him on my back.”
“Lasso, report,” Chief Higgins requests.
He doesn’t answer.
“Lasso, report.”
Roy looks down and sees Ted clutching his chest, struggling to breathe.
“Welton, come to me,” Roy requests.
She makes her way through the flames, keeping her body low.
“Why, what’s going on,” Rebecca asks.
“It’s Lasso,” Roy reports.
“Copy,” she replies.
She moves quicker, arriving as soon as Roy breaks the plane of the floor. Sam and Colin help him up and away from the ladder.
“Coming out with Beard,” Roy reports.
“Lasso,” Rebecca calls out.
No response.
“Welton, report.”
“Going down into the lower structure to rescue Lasso.”
“Copy. We got blueprints for this building. There should be stairs right next to you on the left side.”
“Copy,” she replies.
She moves quickly down the ladder.
“Lasso, call out.”
No response.
“Lasso, you mother fucker, call out. You’re putting us both in danger. Again.”
She finds him sitting in the middle of the floor, clutching at his chest. She squats down, arms moving under his arms, as she pulls him across the floor and toward the ladder. She lets go, leaning his body against it. She moves to the side searching for the stairs. She hears creaking above her, and she knows that the entire structure is about to fail at any minute. She finds a dilapidated door, feeling for any hot surfaces. Once she determines safety, she opens it, immediately seeing what looks like an exploded incendiary device.
“This is on purpose,” she wonders aloud.
“Chief, found an incendiary device at the base of the stairs,” she tells him.
“This fire is arson,” he asks, incredulously.
“Looks like it,” she replies, turning back toward Lasso, who seems to struggle to breathe, completely dissociated.
“Water unit and Rojas prepare. Let’s go,” Chief Higgins calls out.
Dani moves into action, preparing the apparatus.
“Welton, report,” Roy requests.
“Moving back to the ladder and Lasso.”
“Coming to you,” Roy states. “We need to get you both out now.”
She squats down, pulling Ted over her back, holding both of his arms around her neck, as he grips himself to her jacket, while she maneuvers them up the ladder. Once she reaches the top, both Sam and Colin help her off of it. She then hears Roy guiding her toward him, now a different path, as the fire is raging further. She keeps low, her own lungs burning. Behind her, Sam and Colin gather the ladder, then follow. As soon as Colin exits the back door, the ceiling completely collapses behind them.
“Fuck,” Rebecca yells out, as emergency personnel surround her, pulling Ted off of her back, and she drops to her knees, completely exhausted.
“Nice work, team,” she hears over her comms, but she can’t reply.
Sassy and Barbara rip Ted’s equipment from his face and body so they can assess for any injuries and determine subsequent treatment.
“My chest,” Ted tells them.
“It’s ok, Ted,” Sassy says. “I got you.”
Sassy puts the stethoscope over his heart and then his lungs.
“It’s a collapsed lung, sounds partially collapsed,” Sassy says.
Rebecca overhears and jumps to her feet, pulling off her oxygen mask and tank from her back.
“You got injured and still went down to help your partner? If you were injured, you should have never gone down to help,” she exclaims. “You put my partner at risk, and me at risk, once again” -
Ted drops his head, struggling to breathe, anger rising.
He takes a pause, gathering up all his energy to say, “yeah, like you’ve never risked your own life for your partner? If I may remind you, you did it less than five minutes ago.”
Rebecca ignores his comment, as she raises her voice loudly, saying, “you are the most irresponsible person, you” -
“Welton,” Chief McAdoo exclaims, walking toward her.
“You need to get checked out. And we need to debrief immediately.”
“I’m fine,” she says. “I don’t need” -
“Barbara, assess Rebecca and find me when you’re done,” her chief says.
She sighs, desiring to fight, then realizing she has no more fight left in her.
Sassy continues to work on Ted, providing him with oxygen, as well as an IV, as Barbara assesses Rebecca, who checks in with Roy, watching him nod at her.
“We need to transport Ted, Barbara…whenever you’re ready,” Sassy states.
Ted’s fingers twitch at his sides, as a tear slides down his cheek.
“Oh, Ted, don’t worry, I’m going to take great care of you, Sassy says, with a flirtatious tone. “I can even come stay with you and nurse you back to health.”
Ted doesn’t reply, as Barbara finishes with Rebecca.
“You’re clear,” she tells Rebecca, who nods, lips together in a thin line.
She looks over to Ted, noticing the tears, feeling her own emotion coming up, immediately tamping it down. She walks away, as Roy follows her, but not before he squeezes Ted’s hand.
When they get out of ear shot, Roy stops Rebecca with a hand on her shoulder.
“You need to let go of your anger toward Ted.”
“Not this again, Roy.”
“Yes, this again,” Roy says, growl in his voice.
“He put both of our lives at risk in there,” she yells, pushing at Roy’s chest. “Why are you not more angry?”
“Because we would do the same exact thing for each other,” he yells back at her. “Fuck, Rebecca, you know I love you. And I know everything that happened to you and Ted a few months ago. It was a tragedy for all of you involved. But you have got to let it go. Forgive him and forgive yourself. You’re being a right cunt.”
“Kent, Welton, you can argue later. We got bigger fish to fry,” Chief McAdoo says.
Rebecca sucks her mouth into her teeth, seething. There’s a part of her who knows her friend is right. And there’s another part that just wants to punch him in the face.
“To be continued,” Roy states.
“Not if I can help it,” Rebecca adds quietly, as Roy walks away.
Notes:
Thank you for reading!
If you want sneak peeks, you’re welcome to follow me on Bluesky: @jenzzyxx.bsky.social
Chapter 2: 2
Notes:
It goes without saying that I am not a medical professional, firefighter, etc. This is all from my creative brain (and google) - lol, always google 🤣
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
As the doors swing open, Ted finds the bright lights inside the hospital blinding.
“Where’s Beard,” he calls out.
Sassy places her hand on Ted’s forearm.
“Ted, it’s ok, I’ll stay with you until we find Beard. I know he’s your best friend.”
Barbara scoffs, knowing Sassy can’t promise that.
“Ted,” he hears, as he cranes his neck to the side, seeing his ex-wife walking toward him.
“You alright,” Michelle asks.
“Yes. But Beard?”
“Beard is having a cat scan and other imaging done,” she replies.
“He wasn’t fully conscious inside,” Ted says, voice full of panic.
“He is conscious, Ted. He’s ok.”
Ted tries to take a deep breath, but stops immediately due to the discomfort in his chest.
“Clearly, you’re not alright,” Michelle says.
“I’m fine. Is Henry ok,” he asks.
“Of course Henry is ok. He’s with your mother.”
Michelle looks up at Sassy, who is stroking along Ted’s forearm.
“Are you going to give me a rundown,” Michelle asks.
“Pneumothorax, left side, partial collapse,” Barbara interrupts, needing this entire interaction to end. “Started IV and oxygen.”
“Thank you, Barbara, I’ll take it from here,” Michelle replies.
She calls over an orderly to help her situate Ted’s gurney into a room, as Sassy lets go of Ted’s arm reluctantly. She leans down and whispers into Ted’s ear, and his face flushes, as Barbara rolls her eyes.
“Another injury,” a voice asks.
“Dr. Zava, pneumothorax, left side, partial collapse, assessed at the scene,” Michelle reports. “IV fluids and oxygen administered.”
“Lasso, my good man, you ok?”
“I’m fine. How’s Beard?”
“We’re running some scans, but he’s doing well.”
He runs his hands along Ted’s chest, thumping each rib, adding less pressure to areas that look red and swollen.
“How’s Welton?”
Ted grimaces. He’s not sure if it’s hearing her name or the pain under the doctor’s touch that has him wanting to punch the hell out of him.
“Oh, that’s a tender spot,” he replies.
“Yeah,” Ted states, in practical agony.
“So, Welton?”
“I think she’s fine. The emergency medical personnel cleared her at the scene, so…”
“Is she single? I keep asking her out, and she keeps rebuffing me.”
“Alright, Doctor,” Michelle states, astonished.
“Dr. Zava,” they hear, as Dr. Sharon Fieldstone enters their space, holding a patient file. “Good afternoon.”
“What’s up, Doc,” he asks, with a glint in his eye.
Sharon’s lips turn up briefly, as Ted tries to laugh and fails.
“Ted, good to see you,” she comments.
“Always a pleasure,” Ted answers, as Dr. Fieldstone moves into the room next to Ted’s.
“Well, it’s a partially collapsed lung. We need to do some tests to determine treatment.”
“Ok. But when can I see Beard?”
Michelle pats Ted’s shoulder, as Dr. Zava continues talking to him, and she leaves the room. She rounds the corner, as she hears familiar voices.
“Gentleman,” she calls out to the crew of station 48.
“How are they,” Zoreaux asks, as he stands.
“They are both stable and ok. We’re running a lot of tests to determine course of treatment for both.”
“Can we see them,” Bumbercatch asks.
“Not yet. But when you can, I’ll let you all know,” Michelle answers.
She walks away, as Jamie asks, “who’s she?”
“Ted’s ex-wife.”
Jamie shakes his head, processing that information.
*****
Isaac sits in Julie’s office, as they listen to Rebecca explain what she saw. He watches Julie wring her hands, and he feels the stress radiating off of her. As he watches Rebecca though, he sees nothing but her steely resolve, which is why she is here in the first place.
When they both made the decision to bring Rebecca Welton, fire inspector, into their stations, they agreed that she would work out of station 76 as a member of their search and rescue team. In addition, she would also serve both stations as their functioning fire inspector. She is the only investigator in their area regarding any cases of arson or other criminal activity involving fire. She actively works with them both, as well as the police department.
“Wait, wait,” Isaac hears Julie say. “So you’re saying that the device looked homemade,” she asks Rebecca.
“Yes. The device looked amateur, but at the same time, was clearly functional. Someone took the time to build the device. Of course, I won’t know more until I look at it further.”
“Of course,” Julie says.
“Do we have an idea of when that might be,” Rebecca asks.
Julie shakes her head.
“Isaac,” Rebecca asks.
“I would imagine tomorrow,” he replies.
“Since this is our last shift before our replacements relieve us, do you want us both there with you, Rebecca,” Julie asks.
“You’re both welcome to come, but I don’t need you to, as I can report my findings within a few hours. And of course I’ll work with Jan and O’Brien, if it’s what I suspect.”
“I have already briefed Jan and Tom. Both detectives will be waiting on your call as soon we get the all clear,” Julie replies.
“Thank you. I’ll get to the bottom of this,” Rebecca says.
“We know you will,” Isaac replies.
“One last thing,” Julie says, as she looks over to Isaac.
“You and Lasso…”
Rebecca sighs.
“We’re glad that you were able to rescue him,” Julie says.
“Of course. I’m not a monster. I would never leave a colleague behind.”
“Please, try to sit down and talk to each other,” Isaac replies.
“We don’t know what is going on with this device, but what we both know is that we cannot have our personnel having personal issues with one another where it’s affecting our jobs,” Julie states.
“It’s not affecting the way I do mine,” Rebecca retorts.
“Maybe not,” Julie says.
“Regardless,” Isaac adds, “it was a terrible situation for everyone involved. Truly. Are you still having nightmares?”
Rebecca takes a deep breath, and then lets it out.
Julie takes that as confirmation.
“So is he, Rebecca.”
“Can I be dismissed,” she asks.
“Please consider having a conversation with him,” Isaac replies, nodding at Rebecca, who gets up. “I’ll be right out, and we’ll head back to the station.” She leaves Julie’s office.
“I swear those two…”
“I know.”
*****
“Have the test results come back yet,” Dr. Zava asks, as Michelle walks up to him holding a file.
“For Beard, yes.”
He takes the file from her, opening it, and skimming the writing.
“Mild traumatic brain injury…Beard is quite lucky. Let’s go tell him the good news.”
Michelle follows him down the hallway, as he knocks on the door, opening it slowly. They find Beard resting on the bed, with Ted sitting next to him, oxygen mask over his mouth.
“Damnit, Ted,” Michelle says, and Ted has the wherewithal to look sheepish.
“Well, since you’re both here, I got some updates.”
“Lay it on me, Doc,” Beard says, albeit with a croak in his voice.
“It’s a traumatic brain injury, and it appears to be mild. But we’re going to keep you in the hospital over the next couple of days to monitor you and continue to scan.”
Beard nods.
“So he’s going to be alright,” Ted asks.
“Yes, unlike you, if your ex-wife has anything to say about it,” Dr. Zava says, chuckling.
“Ted, you need to be lying down and resting,” Michelle says.
“I told him,” Beard replies.
“Hey, I got my oxygen on,” Ted says.
“Which one of the nurses gave you this,” she asks, referring to the moveable oxygen setup he has.
“I would never out her.”
Michelle shakes her head.
“Come on, back to your room. You see that Beard is ok. You need to rest.”
“And we’re still waiting on your scan results. Once we have a better idea of what we’re looking at, I’ll give you permission to come back, ok, Ted?”
He nods, as Beard claps Ted’s shoulder.
*****
When they get back to station 76, all their colleagues are gathered around talking to the relief team, who are beginning their shifts. Rebecca steps around Roy, who squeezes her shoulder as she walks by, in a gesture of truce. She walks to her room, and gathers her things so she can take s shower. A knock has her looking up.
“Crown and Anchor,” Sam asks.
“God, yes,” she replies. “Give me twenty.”
*****
“Ok, Ted,” Dr. Zava states, as he walks into his room. “Great work staying in your room this time.”
Ted chuckles.
“I’m pretty sure Michelle would have had my hide if I went back to Beard’s room.”
“Speak of the devil,” Dr. Zava says, as Michelle and Ted lock eyes, and Ted smiles, as Michelle rolls her eyes.
“You do have a partially collapsed lung, but it’s small. It doesn’t need any aspiration or other intervention. You do have bruising and swelling, so I’m going to encourage a lot of rest, ice, medication for pain, and antibiotics to reduce the chances of infection. You’re not to work until a doctor clears you for active duty. Got it?”
“Yes, Doc.”
“Keep the oxygen on a little bit longer and stay here and rest.”
Ted makes a face.
“Stay here and rest with the oxygen, and Michelle will continue to check on you. We’ll give you your first dosage of pain medication, as well as antibiotics. If you tolerate both well, then you can go and hang out with Beard.”
“Deal,” Ted replies, with boyish grin on his face.
“I’ll be right with you, ok,” Michelle says, as she eyes Ted.
“Take your time,” Dr. Zava replies.
He exits the room.
“Roy texted me checking in on you and Beard.”
He nods.
“We should call Henry.”
“No, Michelle, I don’t want to scare him.”
“I think it’s a good idea to let him know what happened.”
“I don’t want him to…you know.”
“I know. But you should just call him and tell him. I’ll give you some space so you can do that.”
“You don’t have to…I’d rather have you here.”
“Ok,” she replies.
“I don’t even have my phone.”
“Here’s mine,” she says, as she presses Dottie’s phone number.
“Michelle, I thought you were working,” Dottie says.
“Mama, it’s me.”
“Ted, why are you calling me from your ex-wife’s phone?”
“Mama, don’t panic, but there was a minor incident, and I’m in the hospital.”
“Oh my God, I’ll get everything together and Henry, and we’ll be right there,” she says, panic palpable.
“No. Mama, it’s ok. I am fine. I just wanted to let you know that some debris fell on me. I’m just getting some medication and rest,” he says, as Michelle’s lips purse.
“You have me so worried, Teddy. This job of yours…”
“I’m ok, Mama. I promise. How’s Henry.”
“Oh, he’s just fine.”
“He didn’t hear all of that, did he?”
“No, he’s outside kicking the ball around.”
“Call him inside. I want to tell him.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. Will you call him please?”
He hears her blow out a breath, before she calls for Henry.
“It’s your Dad,” Dottie says.
“Hi, Dad,” he exclaims.
“Hello, Henry. You having fun with Grandma?”
“Yes! I was outside, and Grandma was watching and cheering.”
“That’s great, Son.” He pauses. “I’m calling because there was an accident at a fire today, and I’m in the hospital. But I’m ok. I promise.”
“Is Mom there with you?”
“I am, Buddy,” Michelle answers. “Your Dad had some debris fall onto him, which affected his chest and his breathing.”
“But you’re gonna be ok, Dad,” Henry asks.
“I’m going to be ok, Son.”
“Ok. I don’t want to come visit.”
“That’s ok, Henry,” Michelle answers.
“I want you to stay with Grandma. Don’t worry about me, ok?”
“Will you be able to pick me up tomorrow morning, Dad?”
“We’ll figure it out, ok?”
“Ok. Love you,” Henry says.
“We love you too,” Ted and Michelle reply together.
Ted hangs up.
“Thanks for making me call.”
“It was the right thing to do.”
Ted nods.
“Get some rest. Don’t make me find you in Beard’s room.”
Ted nods.
*****
“Mae,” Sam exclaims.
“Gentlemen! I heard you all saved some lives today,” Mae says.
“Just another Tuesday,” Colin states, matter of fact.
“Some beers please, Mae,” Sam requests.
Roy walks in with Rebecca behind him.
“Mae,” Roy says, giving her a salute.
“Gin and tonic for this one,” tossing a finger Rebecca’s way, “and a beer for me. Keeley will join us in a little bit.”
“You got it.”
Mae begins pouring drinks.
The bar is lively for a late Tuesday afternoon. But it tends to be, especially when they get off their shifts.
Mae places Rebecca’s drink in front of her.
“Rebecca, you alright?”
She nods.
“Thank you, Mae, for the drink.”
Mae nods, as she goes over to the keg. She lines up glass by glass, pouring beer into them. She places each one down in front of the men.
“Cheers,” she says, as she walks over to another customer.
*****
“Guys, you can come back and see Ted now and then Beard, alright? But we’re going to keep it short, as they both need their rest.”
Jamie, Bumbercatch, and Zoreaux follow Michelle, as well as other crew members.
“I assume Julie is on her way,” Michelle asks.
“Yes,” Zoreaux answers, as they stop in front of a door.
“When she arrives, I’ll send her back.”
Michelle knocks and opens the door.
“Ted, your guys are here.”
“Hey man,” Zoreaux says, touching Ted’s shin.
“Looking swoll, brother,” Bumbercatch says.
“You look like shit, yeah,” Jamie adds.
Zoreaux and Bumbercatch look over at Jamie, who shrugs.
The other crew members greet Ted as well.
“Thanks guys for coming. You heard about Beard?”
“Yeah, we get to visit him next,” Zoreaux says.
Ted looks over to Michelle.
“You need to stay here, Ted.”
“Yeah, dude, because you look” -
“Bro, we need to work on your bedside manner,” Bumbercatch says.
A knock on the door interrupts them, and Julie walks in.
“Ted, you alright?”
“I am, Chief, thank you.”
“I’m so glad. And I’ve heard that Beard dodged serious injury.”
“Yes, they both did,” Michelle answers.
“I anticipate you’ll be here overnight, Ted,” Julie asks.
“God, I hope not.”
“I imagine so. It’s precautionary,” Michelle answers.
Ted wants to argue, but he shuts himself up.
“I brought your things, Ted,” Julie says, as she produces his personal items.
“Thanks Julie, I appreciate you.”
“Keep resting, Ted. We’re going to need you and Beard back out in the field soon.”
“You got it.”
“Alright, guys, let’s go see Beard.” She pauses, as she squeezes Ted’s bicep. “Don’t hesitate to reach out if you need anything. And I mean that.”
“I know you do,” he replies.
*****
After seeing Beard, and joking about his cool new ‘headband,’ Bumbercatch, Zoreaux, Jamie, and the crew decide to go to the bar to get some drinks and blow off some steam. Julie bids them good bye, as they leave the hospital.
“So what happened between Welton and Lasso,” Jamie asks, from the backseat.
“I have not had enough drinks to tell that story,” Zoreaux laments.
“Come on, Bumbercatch. Tell me, yeah,” Jamie requests.
“No, man. It’s already been a long day,” he answers.
Jamie pouts in the backseat, as Zoreaux pulls up to the Crown and Anchor.
“So this is the local bar,” Jamie asks.
“Yes. We usually come here for drinks when shift ends,” Bumbercatch answers.
“I think I’m going to really enjoy having four days on shift and three days off,” Jamie says.
As they make their way into the bar, they see members from 76 hanging out, as well as the local town’s folk.
“Let’s get some drinks,” Zoreaux says.
“Mae,” Bumbercatch exclaims.
“Gentlemen! Our town life-savers,” Mae says, joy in her voice. “The usual?”
“Yes, Ma’am,” Zoreaux says. “And whatever Probie wants.”
“Oh so you’re the new guy. What’s your name, young fella?”
“Jamie, Ma’am.”
“Nice to meet you Jamie, I’m Mae. What can I get you?”
“A beer please.”
“All drinks coming right up,” she says.
“Hey guys,” Zoreaux says, as he greets 76. “You guys doing ok?”
“Better now that there’s alcohol involved,” Sam says.
“I’ll drink to that,” Bumbercatch answers.
“Here you go,” Mae says, as they grab their drinks and move over toward where their counterparts sit.
“I see you got the guns out, Welton,” Jamie comments, acknowledging her arm strength.
She nods.
“What’s your workout routine? I think the ladies will definitely want to ride this pole if I have arms like yours.”
“They won’t if you use those stupid fucking lines on them,” Rebecca replies.
Sam, Colin, and Dani laugh at Jamie’s expense. Bumbercatch and Zoreaux make a face, but because he’s part of their team, they school their features so they appear neutral.
“Go fuck off,” Roy says to Jamie.
“Alright, Grandpa.”
Jamie walks away from the group.
“What a twat,” Rebecca says.
Roy grunts.
“Just wanted to say thank you to both of you for rescuing our guys,” Bumbercatch says.
“Are they ok,” Roy asks.
“Yes. Beard has a traumatic brain injury, which sounds awful, but apparently it’s mild, so he was lucky. And Ted is good. He has a collapsed lung, but it’s really minor. They’ll both need some time away to rest and heal, but they’ll be good as new very soon.”
“Glad they’re ok.”
“Me too,” Rebecca adds. “Thanks for letting us know.”
“Babe,” they hear, as Keeley, Roy’s girlfriend, throws her arms around him.
She kisses his cheek, as he turns his face toward her, and kisses her lips.
“I missed you,” she says.
He grunts.
“Roy speak for I miss you too. I love it.” She pauses. "Hey, Babes, I heard you were a floppy cock today,”
“Oh my God, Keeley,” Rebecca exclaims.
“What? Roy told me.”
Rebecca glares at Roy, who glares back.
“Right. I need a drink,” Keeley says, as she moves toward the bar.
“Keeley!”
“Hi, Luca.”
“How are you?”
“I’m good. How about you?”
“About to start my shift. Feeling good.” He glances over at Rebecca. “I’m feeling quite lucky tonight.”
Keeley nods.
“Your usual,” he asks.
“Absolutely, Luca, thank you.”
She watches Roy and Rebecca together, as her heart swells with pride and affection for the two people she loves most.
“Here you go, Keeley.”
“Thanks, Luca.”
Keeley takes her drink over to the table.
“Babes, your side piece is here.”
“Keeley!”
“What? Roy knows.”
“Yeah, but I don’t want everyone to know.”
“It’s a small town, Babes, everyone knows. And Luca is hot. I mean sure he’s a little young, but get yours, you sexy minx.”
They hear a loud, uproarious laugh.
“Oh Liam,” Keeley says. “His laughter is just so infectious.”
Rebecca nods, and Keeley senses her discomfort, shifting the conversation elsewhere.
“So, you rescued Ted.”
Rebecca sighs.
“I will always do my job.”
“Why don’t you just” -
“I’m going to get another drink.”
Rebecca gets up, as Keeley looks to Roy, who shrugs.
Luca watches Rebecca as she walks toward him.
“Luca,” she says.
“Another,” he asks.
She nods.
He eyes her as he makes her drink.
“Bathroom during my break,” he asks, hopeful.
“Maybe. Or maybe you should come over.”
“My place is closer. Why should we have to wait longer to fuck,” he asks.
She smirks, but shows little emotion, as he places her drink down before her.
“See you later, Luca.”
She turns, as she hears, “Nate,” being yelled.
Sam pats Nate’s back, as he makes his way to the bar, maneuvering himself with a cane.
“Always good to see you, man,” Sam says.
“Sam, just because I got injured on the job doesn’t mean I’m not still around.”
“Hi Nate,” Rebecca says, greeting him warmly.
“Rebecca,” he replies, nodding his head.
“It’s good to see you. I might need you to consult with me soon.”
“Oh. Everything alright?”
“I’m not sure yet.”
“Well, I’m only a phone call away.” He pauses, saying, “whiskey, Luca, please.”
“Enjoy your night,” Rebecca says.
“You too.”
She walks back over to Roy and Keeley.
“I saw you flirting with your man over there.”
“Keeley, he’s not my man.”
“I know. You could be with a really lovely man.”
“Oh yeah, and who would that be?”
Liam’s jovial laughs breaks through their conversation, as they look over toward him. He’s talking and listening to Mae. Liam makes eye contact with Roy and Keeley first, smiling, then with Rebecca. His smile hardens temporarily, as his focus shifts back to Mae.
*****
“Ted, how are you feeling,” Dr. Zava asks.
“So much better. The pain is more tolerable, and I can breathe better.”
“I’m glad. You’re welcome to go hang out with Beard now if you want. I do want to keep you overnight for observation though.”
“Is that necessary, Doc? I want to get out of here.”
“I think it’s necessary, Ted. But of course, you’re always welcome to leave against medical advice. You just have to sign the forms. Michelle isn’t going to be happy about that, though.”
“That’s not your concern.”
“You’re right, it’s not.”
“I want to leave. I have all the medication. I’ll take it easy and rest.”
“Ok, I’ll let Michelle know, and have her get started on your discharge paperwork.” He pauses. “Oh, and will you give Rebecca my regards? Tell her to call me.”
Ted nods, even though he will be doing none of that.
Dr. Zava leaves the room, as Ted gets up slowly, reaching for his IV, as Michelle walks in.
“Are you really leaving against medical advice, Ted? You’ve done some stupid things before, but come on.”
“Michelle, I’m alright. I just want to go home.”
“I get that, Ted, but you know I care about you. You’re the father of my child. I just” -
“I promise, Michelle. If I experience anything, I’ll come right back here.”
“You’re not going to get Henry tonight, are you?”
“I’ll pick him up in the morning. Is that ok?”
“It’s fine. But only if you’re ok. If not, call me, and I’ll pick him up.”
“Sounds good.”
Michelle sighs.
“I’ll start the discharge paperwork, but I want you to know that I’m disappointed.”
“Par for the course, I guess. I don’t want to fight, I just want to go home.”
“Alright, Ted. I’ll find you in Beard’s room, won’t I?”
*****
She has a buzz, and it feels glorious. She leans into Keeley’s side, as Keeley wraps her arm around her.
“Ted,” they hear, as some members of 48 get up to greet their friend.
“We just saw you in the hospital looking like shit, man,” Jamie says.
“I’m surprised they released you tonight,” Bumbercatch adds.
“Glad to see you,” Zoreaux says. “Beard is ok?”
“Beard is good. He’s resting. I spent some time with him before he made me leave.” Ted pauses. “I just wanted to drop by and see you all before I head home.”
“Can you stay,” Bumbercatch asks.
“I’ll stay for a glass of water, how about that?”
Members of 76 get up to chat with Ted, as Roy, Keeley, and Rebecca stay seated.
Sam gets Ted a glass of water, as they situate themselves at a nearby table.
“Nate the great,” Ted calls out.
“Hey, Ted. Doing alright,” Nate asks.
“Yeah, just some debris fell on me, but I got checked out by the doc, and I’m all good.”
Liam laughs in the distance, and Ted looks over at him.
“Hey, Liam.”
Liam lifts his arm to wave, smiling, with a smile that doesn’t quite reach his eyes.
“His ‘I’m a good boy thing’ he’s got going on is so bloody annoying,” Rebecca says.
“I think it’s charming. I always have,” Keeley responds.
“There’s no way that the doctors let him go tonight. He’s such a stubborn, reckless arsehole.”
“I can think of another person like that,” Keeley responds.
“I am not that reckless.”
Roy grunts.
“Roy agrees with me.”
Rebecca rolls her eyes. She gets up and walks to the bar. It’s getting late, and she knows that Luca should be done within the next hour or so. She just wants to escape into orgasmic bliss so she can sleep through the night.
Ted’s eyes follow her. He knows he should thank her for rescuing him. But he doesn’t want an audience for a conversation or worse, a fight.
He watches as Rebecca runs her fingers down Luca’s arm. He’s heard about their relationship, but it isn’t any of his business. He tunes back into the conversation around him, but excuses himself moments later to chat with Roy and Keeley.
He walks gingerly over to their table.
“Roy, thank you for rescuing Beard,” he says. He pauses, taking a moment, allowing himself to feel the gratitude that he has for his fellow colleague. “And for texting Michelle earlier. I appreciate you checking in.”
“You’re welcome,” Roy answers.
“I’m just glad that you and Beard are ok,” Keeley adds.
“Thanks, Keels, me too.”
“Lasso,” he hears.
“Welton,” he replies. “Thank you for rescuing me.”
She nods, as she sits.
“I’m surprised that you’re already out of the hospital,” she says.
Ted reaches up to scratch at his neck, his face giving him away.
“You left against medical advice. It figures. You only care about yourself.”
“I only care about myself,” he asks, voice raised, as others in the bar look over at them.
“Break it up you two,” Roy says.
“Or just,” -
“Keeley, don’t even finish your sentence,” Rebecca says, voice laced with exasperation.
“I’ll go,” Ted says. “Thanks again to the both of you.”
He walks back over to the other table.
“Rebecca, what the fuck,” Keeley says.
“What?”
“I love you, Babes, but you need to talk to him without all of this anger and animosity.”
“I agree,” Roy adds.
“I’m going to leave,” Rebecca announces.
“Babe, don’t go.”
“It’s been a long day. I need to get some rest.”
“Call us if you need anything, Babes. I mean that.”
Roy nods.
“I know you do.”
Rebecca gets up and walks back over to the bar.
“Luca, give me your keys. I’ll be naked and waiting.”
He fumbles for his keys in his pocket.
“Good man,” she says.
She turns away from him, as she waves at Nate, her colleagues, and members of 48, as she exits.
*****
Rebecca is sprawled out on Luca’s mattress, sheen of sweat lining her brow. Her breasts heave, with her breath.
“Fuck, Luca.”
Luca rises from between her thighs.
“There’s more where that came from.”
“Thank you. This is exactly what I needed.”
Luca rests his face against her thigh.
“I heard it was a tough day.”
“You don’t know the half of it.”
He waits her out.
“The fire today was intentionally set.”
“Like arson,” he asks.
“Yes,” she answers. “There was an incendiary device, and it exploded.”
“A what,” Luca asks.
“A bomb.”
“A bomb,” he repeats, shocked.
“Yes.”
“Wow.”
She sighs. Even as she recounts what she saw, she feels all the happy chemicals flooding every cell of her body. Perhaps she shouldn’t be telling him all of this, but she’s so content, she doesn’t care.
Luca turns his face toward her thigh, kissing the skin there.
“You tell me what you need from me. Let me take care of you tonight.”
She reaches for his hair, and pulls his face back to her core.
*****
Ted steers Henry through the grocery aisle.
“What else do you want, Hen,’ Ted asks.
Just as Henry is about to answer, his eyes light up, and he screams out, “Rebecca!”
“Jesus Christ,” she whispers to herself.
She hasn’t made it home yet, and she knows that she absolutely looks like a sight. The first giveaway is that she’s wearing the same clothes that she was wearing last night.
“Henry,” she calls back, and he takes off toward her.
“Hen, be careful,” Ted calls.
Henry collides with Rebecca’s legs, as he wraps his arms around her hips. She pats his back, with a smile on her face.
“How are you, Henry,” she asks, as she squats down to look him directly in the face.
She sees the scarring at the juncture of his jaw and neck and then further down, disappearing under his clothing.
“I’m good! Dad is getting some ingredients so we can make something sweet later on today. I’m so excited!”
“That’s wonderful, Henry.”
“Dad,” Henry says, as he turns back toward his father, who is now walking toward him and Rebecca.
“Can we invite Rebecca to come over some time?”
“I’m not sure that’s a good idea,” Ted replies, as he reaches them, placing his hand on Henry’s back.
Rebecca catches Ted’s eye, as she then looks back at Henry.
“It’s so good to see you, Henry, but unfortunately, I need to go.”
“Ok,” he says, pout on his face, as he throws his arms around her shoulders.
“Be good for your Dad, ok?”
“I will,” he says, as he lets go of her neck.
Rebecca stands back up, and she pushes Henry’s hair from his forehead.
“Bye, Henry,” she says, as she moves around him, deliberately missing Ted’s eyes.
Notes:
Leave it to me to write a story with so many characters and story 🤣
Ty for reading
Chapter 3: 3
Notes:
Unlike some professional writers, everything I'm writing is absolutely intentional
Enjoy!
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
“Welton,” she hears, as she surveys the dilapidated structure before her.
She turns toward their voices, watching as Jan Mass and Tom O’Brien walk toward her. She’s wearing a dark navy blue jumpsuit, emblazoned with her fire station’s number and logo.
“Detectives,” she says in greeting.
“Good to see you, Rebecca,” Tom replies.
“We don’t actually like seeing you,” Jan adds.
“Luckily, I know you well enough now to not take offense,” Rebecca says.
Jan nods.
“You were right. It’s definitely an incendiary device. We had crews move debris away from it, so you can inspect it further,” Tom says.
“Appreciate you both.” She pauses. “This has been a significant delay from the moment this fire started until now.”
“The fire smoldered for at least 36 hours,” Tom says.
“Which indicates an accelerant,” Rebecca replies, as Jan nods.
They hear a clearing of a throat behind them.
“Incendiary device,” Trent Crimm, writer and reporter at the Independent, their local newspaper, asks. “That’s significant.”
“For fucks sake, you all can’t be arsed to block off the scene,” she asks the surrounding police officers.
Jan turns toward the officers, giving them a clear signal to lock down the area.
“Rebecca Welton, would you like to provide a statement,” Trent asks.
“No, I would not. And I would encourage you to keep this to yourself to not arouse suspicion.”
“You know I am a reporter.”
“Yes, so go report on anything else. There is nothing for you here.”
“A possible bomb isn’t nothing.”
“Alright, Trent, time to go,” Tom says, placing his hand on his shoulder.
“If there’s a story here, I’ll find it,” Trent says, as Rebecca waves him off.
She pulls a flashlight from her belt, clicking it on, as she walks toward what’s left of the structure.
“Rebecca.”
She turns, seeing Nate standing near Trent, who is being pushed away by Tom.
“Hi, Nate,” she replies.
Jan and Tom clap Nate on his back, as Trent turns away from them and leaves the premises.
“Do you all need some help,” Nate asks.
“You heard about it on the police scanner didn’t you,” Tom queries.
“Guilty,” Nate replies.
“Stay up here,” Rebecca says. “I’m going to take the first look.”
She sees that her counterparts on shift have placed a ladder for her to get down into the underground section of the burnt out area. She climbs down, feeling her body tense, finding the smell familiar. Her foot hits the concrete flooring, as she rights herself, then moves toward the area where she found the device initially, placing latex gloves over her hands. Tom and Jan climb down after her.
She walks to where the device exploded, observing burn marks everywhere. She takes out a small device, a poker, as she moves the contents inside the device around. She allows Tom to hold her flashlight.
“There’s no initiator, switch, main charge, or power source…just a container. This device does not have additional materials or enhancements, such as nails, glass, or metal fragments. It looks like this device had only two explosive materials,” Rebecca says. “Or wait…this is only one…urea nitrate used as an accelerant.”
“The nitrogen in plant fertilizer,” she hears, as she turns, looking up at Nate, who stands next to the ladder, smiling sheepishly at her.
“Exactly,” she replies. “No wonder why it took 36 hours for the embers to stop burning.”
Tom nods.
“Any other accelerants? How did the fire start,” Jan questions. “Not that you’re not right, Rebecca.”
She waves him off, as she’s well-aware. She moves the device, looking at the bottom, finding nothing of note. There are burn marks all around the device, but they are all similar looking. She looks up to the walls, looking for a difference in pattern. She finds it on the wall opposite her. She sees the wood burned in a marbled pattern. She then smells the burnt drywall.
“Gasoline was poured on this wall. That’s the other accelerant.”
“Definitely arson,” Tom states.
“Someone knew what they were doing, but this is very amateur,” Rebecca replies.
“Exactly,” Jan says, in agreement.
“How sure are you that the fire originated there,” Nate asks.
“Oh I’m very sure. I was here the day the device exploded.”
“I meant how do you know that there isn’t gasoline on other areas of the structure.”
“When it comes to this device, I conclude that this area and this device was the central location of origin, but we still need to search the premises.”
“Well, excellent work, Rebecca. I see why they brought you on with a full salary and benefits. It was only ever volunteer for me,” Nate replies.
“And we thank you for your service to us, always,” Tom says.
Rebecca nods.
“Alright, let’s search the rest of the structure. Stay up there, Nate. I don’t want you to hurt yourself.”
“Report any findings to me, and I can help you make any conclusions,” Nate replies, as he shifts his cane to relieve the pressure in his leg.
“We’ll see. I have to wrap this up soon because I am about to go back on shift.”
Nate nods.
Rebecca, Tom, Jan, and some other firefighters sift through the rubble. As they search, they realize that the wood on the outsides of the structure were all burnt worse than the interior wood. Perhaps Nate was right, Rebecca thinks to herself. Interesting that Alpha, Beta, Charlie, and Delta potentially had gasoline on the outsides of the structure. Is this person targeting firefighters, she wonders. She keeps this information to herself, as she moves her flashlight from one hand to the other.
*****
“Knock-a-doodle-doo,” he says, as he enters the room.
“Hey Buddy,” Beard replies. “That was quick.”
“I’m a quick kind of man.”
Beard chuckles.
“Here are some clothes and your laptop. I can’t stay any longer. The guys want me to pick up some coffees before shift.”
“The guys and their fancy espresso drinks.”
Ted chuckles.
“You ready to go back to work,” Beard asks.
“No. I’ll be stuck on comms or desk duty,” Ted laments.
“Well you gotta heal up, just like me,” Beard replies.
“True. Alright, I have to go. I’ll check in on you.”
“Have a good shift. Tell the boys I said hello.”
Ted hugs Beard before leaving the room. Beard reaches over to the bag that Ted brought him. He unzips it, looking for his laptop. He pulls it out, opens it immediately, and connects to the hospital wifi. His web browser is already up from his last internet search. He glances at it, trying to remember why he was last looking at this item. His head hurts. Plant fertilizer…why was he looking at plant fertilizer, he wonders to himself.
*****
She pulls her aviator sunglasses from her face, as she walks into the local coffee shop.
“Rebecca,” Liam exclaims, bright smile and warm expression reaching his eyes.
“Hello, Liam.”
“Good to see you.” He pauses. “Look, I owe you an apology,” he says.
She places her sunglasses into the vee of her jumpsuit.
“You do?”
“You know I’m going through a lot…”
“Liam,” -
“Let me finish, Rebecca. I just want you to know that I’m sorry.”
“I appreciate your apology, Liam, sincerely, but it’s really not necessary. You didn’t even do anything wrong.”
“I just” -
“I know.”
“Alright, I can tell that you don’t want to talk about this further.”
“Can I get jovial, happy Liam back,” Rebecca requests.
“Of course,” he says, chuckling, with a big smile on his face. “What can I get for you?”
Rebecca shares a list of all the coffee drinks her colleagues texted her.
“I got you,” he says. “Go take a seat.”
“Thanks, Liam.”
Rebecca sits at a small table while she waits. The bell above the door rings, causing her to look over, as it opens fully, revealing Ted.
“Welton,” he says in greeting.
“Lasso,” she replies.
“Ted,” Liam exclaims.
“Hey, good to see you, Liam.”
“You doing alright, Ted? I heard you got injured…again.”
Rebecca scoffs, and Ted glances over toward her, then back to Liam.
“I am. Just gonna be on desk duty for the next couple of days until I can get the ‘all clear’ to get back out into the field.”
“Well, take your time. You are needed, of course you are, but not at the expense of your own health.”
“Wise words, good Sir,” Ted replies.
“Do you have a full order like Rebecca,” Liam asks.
“I do,” Ted answers.
“Write them down, and I’ll start them as soon as I finish hers.”
“Thanks, Liam.”
When he’s finished with the order, he pushes the paper further up the counter. He turns away, trying to decide if he should talk to her. She must feel his eyes on her, because she shifts in her seat, and then her eyes meet his.
“Thank you for being so kind to Henry,” he says.
“Of course, I’m not a monster.”
“I wasn’t implying you were…I don’t want to fight…just thank you.”
She nods.
“Can I sit?”
She gestures with her arm. He pulls the chair out from under the table and sits gingerly.
“How is Henry,” she asks, making an attempt.
“He’s doing as well as he can given…everything.”
“I can imagine,” she says, as she pulls her arm sleeves up to her elbows.
He notices some black soot marks on her forearm, where her skin is scarred. He decides in the moment to wipe the smudges away. She looks down at his fingers on her skin, eyes lifting to his.
“I’m sorry,” he says. “I should have asked before touching you.”
Her face softens briefly, the mask falling, before steeling herself.
“Yes, you should have,” she replies, scowl on her face, as Ted removes his fingers from her skin, while she pulls the clothing back down to her wrists.
“Rebecca, I have all your drinks ready,” Liam announces.
She gets up and walks to the counter where Liam waits.
“Thank you so much, Liam.”
“My pleasure. As always, thank you for supporting my business.”
She nods, giving him a smile, before she turns away. She avoids Ted’s eyes before she walks out of the door.
“That was progress,” Liam says.
“Something like that,” Ted replies.
“Give me a few more minutes, and I’ll have you on your way.”
“Take your time, Liam. No rush.”
*****
“Hey, listen up. Welton is here to debrief us on the structure fire during the last shift, which we now know is arson,” Julie calls out to her squad, as Isaac whistles to his own.
“Welton,” Isaac says.
Rebecca gets up and walks to the front of the room. She glances at all her colleagues, before raising her voice, to speak what she knows with conviction.
“In the structure fire, there was an incendiary device, which you all already know. I searched the scene for additional information, with the help of our crew members and detectives. Here’s what I found: the device did not have an initiator, switch, main charge, or power source. It was literally a bomb created in a plastic container. The device had no additional materials, such as nails, glass, or metal fragments. There was only one explosive material in the container: urea nitrate, which was used as an accelerant.”
“The nitrogen in plant fertilizer,” Jamie says.
Rebecca looks at him, surprised that he would know that. Jamie sees the look on her face.
“What? I had some chemistry sets when I was a youngin’…I used to want to build bombs.”
“Maybe he should be a suspect,” Zoreaux says, pointing to Jamie.
“Get off it, yeah. I was a young kid,” Jamie replies.
“Anyway,” Rebecca says, wanting to get them back on track. “We found gasoline poured on the wall adjacent to the device. We also found gasoline on the outside of the structure in all four quadrants. I suspect that is how the fire started initially. Of course, the nitrogen was the accelerator, which is what caused the explosion that injured Beard, and sent him falling into the lower structure. With the location of the device placed at the bottom of the stairs, it seems that whoever set this up wanted this structure to collapse completely. Detectives are planning to speak with the vagrant that I rescued, who was at the top of the stairs. I didn’t realize the actual layout until the search of what was left of the structure.”
“So we’re dealing with an arsonist,” Ted asks.
“Yes. It’s a quite amateur one, but of course, very dangerous.” She pauses. “Any other questions.”
No one responds.
“Thank you, Welton,” Isaac says.
Rebecca takes a seat with her station mates.
“Alright, we did not have any reports from our shift colleagues regarding any similar fires or devices. But we must remain vigilant.” Julie pauses, then says, “46, let’s head over to our station.”
As the meeting ends, Rebecca shakes hands with Julie, as Isaac nods at her, and she leaves the conference room. She climbs the stairs to the room that she shares with Roy, while they are on shift. She lies back on the bed, staring up at the ceiling, needing a moment to herself. It’s been a long day already, and the shift is only just beginning. She pulls up her arm sleeve, touching the scarred skin that he had touched. She pulls the sleeve back down, disgust written on her face.
“Welton,” Roy says, as he walks into their room, carrying his personal items.
“Kent.”
“You good,” he asks her.
“Yes.”
“Heard you and Ted had a brief conversation.”
“For fucks sake this small town…”
“Well…”
“Leave it,” she answers.
*****
“Lasso, why are you up moving around, man, we’re supposed to be taking care of you,” Bumbercatch says, as he moves around Ted to throw spaghetti noodles into boiling water.
“I’m fine.”
“Lasso, sit down. Bumbercatch and Tartt are on dinner duty tonight,” Zoreaux says.
Ted wipes his hands on a dish towel.
“Anyone worried this arsonist is going to strike again,” Zoreaux asks.
“Worried? No. But this person doesn’t know what I’m going to do to them because they hurt my best friend,” Ted replies.
Ted’s phone rings.
“Oh, it’s Henry. I’ll be back.”
He walks up the stairs to the room that he shares with Beard. He answers Henry’s call.
“Hi, Buddy.”
“Hi, Dad.”
“How was school?”
“It was ok.”
“Just ok?”
“Some boy was talking about my scars.”
“Oh, Son,” Ted says, voice overcome with emotion.
“My teacher told them to stop it and sent them to the principal.”
“Well, I’m glad. Are you ok?”
“I’m sad.”
“Well, that’s ok, Henry. It’s ok to be sad. We can sit here and be sad together and talk more about it.”
Henry sighs.
“I know it’s a lot.”
“I wish it never happened,” Henry says.
“Me too, Buddy.”
“I’m still having scary nightmares.”
“I am too, Henry.”
“Daddy, will they ever go away?”
Ted feels a lump in his throat that is so deep, he almost chokes. Watching his son’s vulnerable facial features make him want to leave, go to him. and hold him close.
“Yes, they will, my sweet boy, I promise.” He pauses, noticing the sense of helplessness seeping into his bones. “Do you need me to come?”
“No, you have to do your job and continue saving people. Mom is here with me. She’s in her bedroom.”
“Will you go get your mom, and tell her everything that you’re telling me?”
“Of course, Dad.”
“I love you, Henry…so much.”
“I love you too, Dad.”
“We’ll talk tomorrow, ok?”
“Ok.”
“Bye, Son.”
Henry ends the call, and Ted sits on the edge of his bed, with tears in his eyes. He feels his hands start to shake. He flashes back briefly:
The fire dances along Henry’s tattered green shirt, burning it, as his eyes look up at Ted’s, full of fear.
He shakes his head, putting both his feet on the ground, attempting to ground himself back in the present.
“He is ok. You are ok.”
He repeats this over and over again, until he notices the panic beginning to subside.
“Lasso, dinner,” Bumbercatch calls out.
He takes some deep breaths, ok with the physical discomfort, just willing himself to be ok enough to pretend, to play the part of firefighter, who saves lives and does it without fear.
*****
The text comes through right as Rebecca is washing the last of their dishes.
‘Hey Babe, what are you wearing,’ followed by a picture of his cock.
She picks up her phone, opening the message from Luca, not experiencing feelings one way or another.
“Fuckkkkkk,” Roy exclaims, catching the image over her shoulder.
“That’s what you get for being a nosy arsehole,” she replies, chuckling.
They hear dispatch over the loudspeakers.
“MVA, fire with possible entrapment, highway 57, mile marker 2. All units prepare for departure.”
Rebecca leaves her phone on the counter, as both she and Roy run toward the rig. They both step into their turnout pants, feet sliding immediately into their boots, conversations heard between others as they prepare. Rebecca throws her suspenders over her shoulders, grabbing her jacket, and hat, as she runs, with Roy following behind her. They jump into the rig, as Dani pulls out of the garage.
Several moments later, they pull up to the accident, and the ambulance pulls up behind them. Their comms system is activated, and they can hear Isaac giving them all the details.
“It’s a single motor vehicle accident, the front smashed against a tree, with a fire blazing from the back of the vehicle.”
Roy and Rebecca jump out immediately, and they run to the car. Roy recognizes the car immediately and goes to the driver side, as Rebecca runs to the passenger side.
“Fire Department…Liam, can you hear me,” Roy yells out.
Liam doesn’t respond. Rebecca uses her elbow to break the glass of the window. She surveys the scene.
“We need to get him out immediately,” she yells.
“Welton, call out,” Isaac requests.
“One vic, unconscious, I believe, need JOL immediately,” she reports.
“Spreader, cutter, or combo?” Dani asks over comms.
Roy replies, “combo, over.”
“JOL coming to you,” Dani replies.
“We’re here and ready to transport,” Barbara reports.
Seconds pass, as Dani runs up to Roy, who grabs the device from him immediately. Roy pushes the sharp clamps into the medal, pulling at the mechanisms, as the device spreads, allowing the door to pop open.
“Welton, move toward me, so we can extricate,” Roy requests over comms.
She moves around the vehicle, watching the fire grow. Fuck they need to hurry, she thinks. She takes the hydraulic tool from Roy, tossing it aggressively into Dani’s hands, as both Roy and Rebecca pull Liam from the vehicle. They move him away, placing him on the ground gently.
“Water unit, now,” Isaac requests.
“Liam,” Rebecca says to him. “Can you hear us,”
Emotion is present in her voice, as Roy touches her arm.
Colin and Sam move in with hoses, as they target the back of the vehicle with a stream of water. The fire begins to die down slowly, as Sassy and Barbara bring the gurney toward Roy, Rebecca, and Liam, who appears to be breathing, according to a quick visual assessment by Roy.
As the fire dies down, and the danger seems to have passed, focus shifts to Liam and his injuries.
“Welton, Kent report back to me,” Isaac requests.
“But Chief,” Roy laments through comms.
“Now,” Isaac adds.
Rebecca places her hand on Liam’s chest, as Roy places his on her arm. He nods to her.
“He’s been through so fucking much,” she says to Roy, who nods again.
“I know. He’s in good hands now. Come on.”
They get up, leaving Liam to be assessed by Sassy and Barbara.
They make their way back to the rig, as Rebecca pulls her hat off her head, face still covered by the fire-resistant hood. There are tears in her eyes, and she wipes them away fiercely.
“You alright,” Roy asks her.
She nods. But no, she’s not alright. She’s nowhere near alright.
Notes:
.......bracing myself for all your theories, screams, etc......lol
Chapter 4: 4
Notes:
Please note canon typical language of emotional abuse. Take care of yourselves while reading 🫶🏼
Peep the time jump.......
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
“Fuck, shit,” she says, finally looking up to the figure she ran into.
He stands, stoic as ever before her, almost like a statue.
“Are you alright,” he asks.
“Yeah. Thanks, Beard.”
She’s shocked to see that he is up and moving around…granted he is still attached to an IV pole, but even still, he looks like he’s healing well.
“You here to see Liam?”
“Yes,” she replies.
“Well, I won’t keep you,” he says, saluting her, as he walks away, hospital gown opening up, revealing his naked ass.
She shakes her head at that sight, finding it funny that all the medical personnel moving around him don’t even bother to tell him to cover himself.
A chill moves up her spine. Everything about this place makes her skin crawl. She feels her heart palpitating in her chest. Her phone vibrates in her pocket, bringing her back into the present, back into the white pristine that is the hospital setting. She pulls her phone out, glances at who’s calling, and answers quickly.
“O’Brien,” she says. “What do you have for me?”
“Rebecca, hello. Not much.”
“Did you speak with him…the man I rescued,” she asks.
“Yes. All he mentioned was there was a figure that he saw. It was dark inside and quite shadowy, so he wasn’t able to give us much description.”
“That’s disappointing.”
“Yeah, it is,” he says, with a sigh. “But we’ll go back out, see if we can’t place any shoe markings or anything else.”
“Ok. Keep me posted,” she says.
"Of course. Talk soon.”
He hangs up, as Rebecca hears the dial tone before dropping her arm to her side, phone clutched in her palm. She clenches her jaw and tries to take a deep breath. This environment has entirely too many memories, and she’s overwhelmed.
In that moment, she hears a voice in her head, ‘you’re ok, you’re safe. I got you. I promise.’
She shakes her head, as her body vibrates with her movement. She then shudders.
“Rebecca.”
She recognizes the voice immediately. It’s hard not to, as this town is so small that every person knows one another…even her, and she is still fairly new to it.
“Michelle,” she says, while turning toward her voice.
“Are you alright,” she asks. “You look a little pale. Do you want me to call a doctor?”
“Oh, no Michelle, I’m fine.”
“Are you sure? You look pale and a little dehydrated. Come with me, let’s sit down for a second.”
“Michelle, no, I’m fine.”
“Rebecca, I’m sure you are, but just sit with me for a moment.”
Rebecca doesn’t want to argue, so she lets herself be led to a nearby waiting area with chairs. She sits, as Michelle follows her. She pulls at the stethoscope, that’s hanging around her neck, placing one end into her ear then the other. Rebecca watches her.
“May I,” Michelle asks, and Rebecca nods.
Michelle listens to her heart, hears how fast it’s beating, as she then counts an approximation of the beats in an estimated minute. After she gets the number, she mentally notes it. This could be related to dehydration, exhaustion, or anxiety, Michelle thinks. She then pinches at the skin on Rebecca’s hand.
“Rebecca, you’re quite dehydrated. Let me set you up with an IV.”
“No, no, no, I don’t want to do that. Just give me a bottle of water.”
“You need more than water, Rebecca. When is the last time you ate or drank anything,” Michelle asks, fingertips moving to the scarred skin on her forearm, touching gently, full of nurture.
That’s a question, Rebecca thinks. Since rescuing Liam almost three full days prior, she really hasn’t been able to stomach much.
“The fact that you’re not answering me gives me my answer.”
Rebecca sighs.
“Are you here visiting someone?”
She nods.
“Liam,” Michelle asks.
Rebecca nods again.
“I know you feel awful about everything he’s going through. We all do. But he’s going to be ok. He’s under observation and should be able to leave by tomorrow.” Michelle pauses, taking in the expression on Rebecca’s face. “How about this, I’ll meet you up in his room, get you set up with an IV and food, and you can visit with him. When you’ve gotten all the fluids, you can go.”
Rebecca glances over, seeing the kindness on Michelle’s face. She knows why she’s doing this. There’s no sense fighting it.
“Ok, Michelle. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” Michelle says. “I’ll see you up in his room. Do you know the number?”
“Yes.”
“Great. I’ll be up in less than ten minutes.”
“Ok,” Rebecca says, as she gets up, steadies herself on her feet, and walks away toward the elevators, too tired to consider using the stairs.
*****
Liam wakes up as Rebecca is halfway through a sandwich. He blinks his eyes open, a slight groan escaping his lips.
“Liam,” she says, quietly, as not to startle him.
He turns toward her.
“Hey, Rebecca.”
She puts the sandwich down and reaches for his hand.
“How are you feeling?”
“Like I got hit by a tree.”
She chuckles, saying, “well, yeah.”
“I’m doing well though. I have a concussion, and they’ve been monitoring me.”
“I’m glad.”
He notices the IV attached to the back of her hand.
“What happened to you?”
“I must have looked terrible because a nurse took one look at me and encouraged me to have some fluids and food.”
“Michelle is very observant,” he says, a smile on his face.
“That she is,” she replies.
“I hate being back here,” he says.
She nods. She does too.
“I lost her here,” he says.
“I know. And I’m so sorry.”
He waves her off.
“Thank you, but it’s ok, really.”
She nods.
“Just trying to let my brain and body heal enough so I can go home.”
She nods again.
“Did you hear that sweet Keeley took over my business for me while I’m here?”
“I know she did. It’s a good thing you have directions in those binders that you hid under the counter.”
He chuckles.
“Yeah, she used to always make fun of the way I organized our business. I miss her.”
“I know you do.”
There’s a lull in conversation, as Rebecca lets go of his hand.
“I never got to know your wife before she passed away from her illness, but all of your stories, your love together is so beautiful.”
“Everyone should have that kind of love,” he replies.
She nods, face falling. She thought she had that with Rupert. She truly did. But when it all fell apart, she blamed herself, instead of him because it was easier that way. If she could have just…
“Rebecca, where did you go?”
“Oh, sorry, Liam.”
“Have you ever been in love before,” he asks.
“I thought I had been…before.”
“When it’s real love, you just know.”
“Well, I guess I’ll have to take your word for it.”
“What happened anyway,” he asks.
She snorts, with a low chuckle.
“I’m not sure that you want that story.”
“I’m confined to this room, Rebecca. What else do I have to do? If you feel comfortable, I’d love to listen.”
She sighs.
“I was married to a man, who was charming and treated me well, at least initially. Sometimes I look back and wonder how I fell into the relationship and marriage.” She pauses. “I used to work in a pub back in England. He would come in and flatter me, pay attention to me for six weeks straight. And I rebuffed him because I saw his wedding ring. But he was so charming, and he made me feel special. I’m embarrassed to admit now that it’s all I have ever wanted, to be special, doted on, loved…”
Liam reaches for her hand.
“I started a relationship with him knowing that he was married. And when they got divorced, I had him all to myself.”
Liam continues to listen to her.
“He changed, or maybe he was always this way…but he would monitor my behavior, telling me to eat this not that, telling me exactly what to wear, who I should spend time with. And I just…I listened. I kept up appearances. I thought that it was what I deserved.”
“Rebecca.”
“And then he cheated on me.”
Tears slip slightly from her eye line, and she wipes at them profusely.
“That was never love, Rebecca. That was abuse.”
She straightens up, wiping away the tears.
“I know that now.” She pauses. “I got up the courage to ask for a divorce. Well, I didn’t ask so much as I left and sent him all the paperwork.” She pauses again, as the tears slip. “He got that woman pregnant. I have always wanted to be a mother. And I begged him. He just” - she says, voice trailing off, thick with unshed tears.
“I’m so sorry,” Liam says.
“Thank you,” she replies, wiping away her tears.
“How did you get here,” Liam asks.
“I knew it was time to really start over. To allow myself to determine what I truly wanted to do with my life. I’ve always been interested in firefighting since I was a little girl. I started lifting weights to get all my anger out. One day, I met some firefighters as they were training at a nearby park. I started talking to them about their work, and the more I learned, the more I was ready to begin the next phase of my life. And I went through all the education and training and became one of them. I moved here because I wanted a fresh start, away from the people and place that I’ve always known.”
“Kansas,” Liam says, chuckling.
“Kansas,” she replies.
“Thank you for sharing that with me. I hope you find the person who completes every cell of your DNA, loves you without a single condition, and makes you feel like you’re their world.” He pauses, as he catches her eye. “And I hope that you become a mother.”
The mask slips again, the hurt and pain rising, as she rights herself.
“Thank you,” she replies.
They sit in the silence together.
“I’m sorry that you’re going through all of this,” she says, referencing the loss of his wife and the accident.
“Thank you. Now, finish your sandwich. I’m with Michelle. We’ve got to take care of you.”
She smiles and nods.
*****
Barbara follows Sassy down the hall, as she pushes an empty gurney. She rolls her eyes at Sassy, who consistently stops to talk to every man she sees. Every time she does so, Barbara ‘accidentally’ rams the gurney into the back of her legs. And if anyone asks, the gurneys are heavy and hard to control, she thinks.
She’s in her head, when the gurney she’s pushing, stops suddenly, and she’s brought back to the present, with Sassy giving her an annoyed look. She identifies the reason they’re stopped again. She pauses her movement, knowing that this might be a while.
“Dr. Zava, wonderful to see you,” Sassy says.
“Sassy, my favorite emergency medical personnel,” he replies. Then to Barbara, “No offense, Barbara…always lovely to see you too.”
She nods, not giving a flying fuck. She just wants to get this gurney back to the ambulance, so they can go to the station, and she can go home and be unbothered for the next three days.
Sassy reaches out to touch his bicep.
“How are you,” she asks.
“I’m doing very well,” he replies.
There’s a flirtatiousness in the air, and Barbara feels like she’s going to be sick.
“Sassy, I’m heading to the ambo. You got ten minutes before I’m leaving,” she says.
Sassy acknowledges her by moving away from the gurney. Barbara continues pushing the gurney down the hallway, grateful to be away from that conversation.
“Why won’t you ask me out,” she asks, putting it out there, with absolutely no shame.
“Because you’re too hung up on him. And you know I’m into her.”
“I’m not too into Ted,” she replies.
“Sassy, you’ve been into him since high school, or so I’ve heard.”
“You don’t know that. You’ve only been here a few years.”
“You’re right, I don’t know that. But I see it now.”
“I can be into more than one person,” she says, fingers squeezing his bicep.
“So can I, but you know I’m into Rebecca now. I keep trying to ask her out, but she keeps rebuffing and ignoring me.”
“I don’t even know what you see in her. She’s not that pretty.”
He scoffs.
“Sounds like you’re jealous.”
She lets go of his bicep, hand landing on his chest.
“I wouldn’t say no or ignore you.”
He pushes back from her.
“Why are you pushing away from me? Are you worried that someone will see us together like this and tell her?”
“I want her. She’s gorgeous and perfect. She just hasn’t given me a chance yet, but she will.”
“Your loss,” she says, pausing. “You’re right. I’m really into Ted. He’s sexy and perfect for me. He’ll come to realize that he should be with me.”
“Well, good luck with that, Sassy.”
She nods.
“Your loss,” she repeats, as she begins to walk away.
After a quick jog, she catches up with Barbara, right as she reaches the rig. She helps her push the gurney into the back, as they close both of the doors. They move around to the front, getting into the seats, as Sassy reaches for the clipboard to document the day.
“You know, I saw this article the other week that was about this woman who intentionally set fires to meet firefighters and flirt with them.”
Barbara looks over to her, horrified. She’s well-aware of Sassy’s love (infatuation) with Ted. Sassy looks up from the clipboard.
“Oh, don’t give me that look. I would never do that,” she exclaims.
Barbara lets out a sigh, as she turns the key in the ignition.
*****
Rebecca runs right into another person. Where is her head today, she wonders, as she looks up, finding his brown eyes immediately, feeling his hand steady on her hip.
“Ted, you forgot your paperwork,” she hears.
Dr. Sharon Fieldstone walks toward Ted, as Rebecca pushes herself away from him, while Ted’s hand falls from her hip.
“Thanks, Doc,” he replies, as he takes the papers from her.
“Hi, Rebecca,” she says, noticing the bandage over her hand. “You alright?”
“Hi, Dr. Fieldstone. Yes, I’m fine.”
Sharon nods, as she glances over at Ted, nodding again. She walks back into her office.
“Sorry,” Rebecca mutters.
Ted also observes the bandage on her hand.
“It’s ok. I walked into you, as much as you walked into me.”
She nods, attempting to move around him.
“Hey,” he says, and she turns.
“Are you really alright?”
“What do you care,” she asks, and as soon as those words leave her mouth, she immediately regrets it.
He holds his hands up in surrender.
“Fine. You’re right. I don’t care,” he replies, anger in his voice.
“Sorry,” she mutters.
“I don’t want your apologies,” he says. “Fuck off, Rebecca,” he exclaims, moving around her.
“Fuck,” she says to herself, as she begins moving again, needing to leave this place immediately.
*****
She’s awakened by a knock on her door. And fuck, she really doesn’t want to be bothered. Between the vulnerability she displayed with Liam to her lashing out at Ted for no reason, she’s just done and wants to be left alone. She hears the knock again. She sighs, as she gets up slowly. She pads to the door, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. She opens her door to a bright, bubbly presence, who starts chatting at her immediately. Her head spins, as she can’t for the life of her keep up.
“Rebecca,” Keeley says, observing that she’s not fully herself.
She starts crying immediately.
“Oh, Babe, what’s wrong?”
“I don’t…I don’t know…so much,” she gets out, as Keeley consoles her, moving her toward her couch to sit down.
Once they finally reach it, Keeley helps her sit, as she sits next her, arms wrapped around her. She lets her cry and feel whatever it is that she’s feeling. She didn’t expect this tonight. Rebecca must have forgotten about their plans, but it’s no matter. She’s needed, and she runs her hands along her spine in her best attempts to comfort her friend.
Keeley hears her speak after the longest time.
“I’m not fine.”
“I know.”
“There’s so much, Keeley.”
She strokes her back, as Rebecca sobs into her neck.
“You don’t have to say anything more, Babe. I’m here. Cry it all out.”
*****
He turns, thrashing. Sweat pours from his brow, as his arms flail. His face scrunches up, as a cry falls from his mouth.
“Dad,” Henry screams out. “Dad, wake up.”
Ted’s eyes fly open, and the fire rages around them. He looks up from his crouched position, and he can see the panic in his son’s eyes. Breathe, he tells himself. Breathe. He takes a quick breath, trying to soothe the panic. He needs to function. He needs to do his job.
“I’m here,” he says, trying to be as loud as possible so Henry can hear him through all his breathing apparatuses.
“Lasso, report,” Isaac requests.
“It’s Henry,” he says into comms.
“Is he ok,” Beard asks.
“Yes,” Ted answers over comms.
“Coming to you,” Beard states.
“Have you searched charlie and delta, Beard,” Isaac asks.
“First glance, didn’t see anything. It can wait…Henry,” Beard reports.
“Vic, female, smoke inhalation, maybe additional injuries. Need transport,” Ted reports over comms. “I need support.”
Ted’s breath is stuck in his throat. He gets up from the floor, looks down at Henry, and at the blonde hair that drapes over Henry’s feet. She’s holding clothing over her mouth, and she’s breathing, but she’s lethargic and is having trouble moving. Her other hand lands on Henry’s leg.
He wakes, as his hand clutches at his chest. He can’t breathe. He starts counting to a slow rhythm.
“Fuck,” he says out loud, trying to breathe through the panic. “You’re ok. You’re safe. He’s ok. He’s safe.”
He takes some long, full, and deep breaths, willing himself to calm down. Then he hears Henry cry out. He pushes off the mattress, as he runs from his bedroom to Henry’s.
“Henry,” he calls out, racing to be by his side. “Wake up.”
Henry opens his eyes.
“Daddy,” he says, tears streaming down his face, as Ted wraps his little body around his own.
He ignores everything that is raging through his own body to attune to his son’s needs in the moment.
“It’s alright, Henry. I’m here. You’re safe.”
*****
She moves, beginning to thrash in her sleep. She feels her body being constricted by something. The memories flood into her brain, and she feels like she’s drowning. Her breath catches in her throat, as her arms flail, but don’t go far.
“Rebecca, wake up.”
She thrashes more, this time being able to move her body.
“Rebecca? Rebecca!”
She hears her name, and she opens her eyes, breath caught in her lungs.
“It’s ok,” Keeley says, worry and concern etched along her face.
“Fuck,” Rebecca replies, rubbing her eyes, trying to breathe, but failing.
“Breathe, Rebecca. Follow me,” Keeley says, as she places their hands over her own heart.
“Fuck,” Rebecca says again, as tears stream down her face.
“Come on, Babe, breathe. You’re ok.”
“Keeley,” she asks, in a small voice.
“Yeah, it’s me. We’re in your apartment on your couch. You fell asleep, and I did too. Breathe for me, come on.”
She nods, as she follows Keeley’s breaths.
*****
“You’re back on shift this evening,” Luca asks, face covered with her arousal.
She nods, breathing out, allowing herself to feel the hormonal release throughout every cell in her body.
“Yes.”
“What ever happened with that whole bomb thing,” he asks.
“Nothing. I mean, nothing has been set intentionally ever since. It’s been six weeks. Police are still investigating, and we’re still having conversations. We think it’s just a one-time scenario,” she answers, as she sighs.
“That’s good,” he replies.
He looks up at her, finding her eyes between her breasts.
“Feel better,” he asks.
She pulls on his hair, needing more.
“Marginally,” she says.
“Well, that’s unacceptable,” he replies, with a grin on his face.
*****
“This appears to be a calm shift this week,” Beard states, as Ted turns over on his side to look at his best friend.
“So far. We still have the rest of the day today.”
Beard nods.
“Two alarm fire, John Madison High School,” blares out over the loudspeaker.
“You spoke too soon, Beard-o.”
“I bet Henry’s school is now on lockdown since it’s in such a close proximity to John Madison.”
Ted sighs, and he knows that it’s probably going to scare Henry. But he can’t worry about that now.
They both jump out of their beds, running to the center of their station, as Ted reaches the pole first, and slides down, Beard on his heels. They run toward their turnout gear, stepping into their boots, suspenders flying over shoulders, jackets tossed around arms, grabbing all the gear they need, as they jump onto the rig.
*****
“Welton, have you seen my book,” Roy asks, as he walks into the gym area.
“Why do you keep asking me,” Rebecca asks, in between sets. “I swear, you’d lose your head if it wasn’t attached to your body.”
She pushes the bar up, breathing in, bringing her arms down, the bar close to her chest, and she breaths out, pushing the weight up.
“Two alarm fire, John Madison High School,” they hear over the intercom.
“So much for an easy last day,” Roy says, as they both run out of the room to gear up.
Once their comms systems are activated, as they jump into the rig, they hear Isaac.
“Getting reports that it’s a big fire and getting bigger. Students have been evacuated, and we’re getting information from each teacher to determine if anyone is still inside.”
*****
As each rig pulls up to the school, everyone jumps out, prepared for whatever the incident brings.
“Welton, alpha, Kent, beta, Beard charlie, and Ted delta. Let’s move,” they hear over comms.
Rebecca and Roy make their way to the front of the school doors, and Rebecca kicks into it, as the door gives way. The oxygen causes the fire to jump toward them, as they both contort their bodies away from it. Once the flames retreat, they enter.
Ted and Beard follow a path toward the back of the school, and Beard kicks in the door, as it opens, fire spewing out.
“We’ve got reports that there are three kids missing,” Julie shares.
“Welton, report,” Isaac requests.
“Heading to alpha now.”
“Lasso, report,” Julie requests.
“Big fire, lots of flames, including along the walls, moving toward delta.”
“Beard, report.”
“Moving toward charlie.”
“Kent report.”
“In beta already, searching,” he states.
“The kids missing should be in alpha, charlie, and delta. Three total, as per the principal.”
“Medics on scene,” Barbara reports over comms.
Rebecca walks along the hallway, fire burning all around her. She reaches a classroom door, which is closed. She reaches for the handle, realizing immediately that it’s locked. She pulls her ax from her belt, swinging it at the door, until she can finally get into the room.
“Fire department, call out,” she yells.
She searches every nook and cranny, finding no one present. She runs out of the room, moving back down the hallway until she reaches the next room.
“Found one vic,” Ted reports over comms.
“Injuries,” Barbara asks.
“Possible smoke inhalation,” Ted answers.
Rebecca attempts to open the door, finding it also locked, so she swings at it.
“Beta, clear,” Roy reports.
Rebecca finally gets into the classroom.
“Fire department, call out,” she says.
She searches everywhere, seeing no one.
“Beard, report,” Julie requests.
“Searching in charlie, no signs of life,” Beard answers.
“Welton, report.”
“Searching in alpha, no signs of life either,” Rebecca reports.
“Coming out with vic in the back,” Ted states over comms. “Oh, wait, found another vic.”
”Any injuries,” Barbara asks.
”Possible smoke inhalation likely,” he replies.
“Meet you in the back,” Sassy replies.
Ted throws both kids over his shoulders, as he makes his way down the hallway, dodging the flames, ensuring that both of them are safe. He gets them through the door and runs right into Sassy.
”Transport of vics complete,” Ted announces over comms.
Rebecca makes her way out of the classroom to the next one. This door is unlocked. She pushes it open.
“Fire department, call out,” she says.
She hears a voice calling to her. She searches and finds a kid hiding in a closet area.
“Found vic,” she reports.
“Injuries,” Sassy asks.
“Are you hurt,” Rebecca asks.
The kid shakes his head.
“Can you breathe ok?”
He nods, scared.
“Ok, take off this shirt,” she says, pointing. “Cover your face with it. I’m going to pick you up.”
She squats down and lifts him onto her shoulder.
“Vic is ok, coming out the front,” she reports.
It’s then that she hears it. She turns, searching.
“Kent, are you close to alpha,” she asks over comms.
“Yes,” he replies.
“Come here, third room on the right. Transport this vic outside. I hear ticking,” she reports.
“Copy,” Roy replies.
“Charlie, clear,” Beard reports. “I can move to alpha as well.”
“No, exit the back,” Julie requests. “All kids are accounted for, minus the one in alpha, and we’re working on full extraction.”
“Welton, report,” Isaac requests.
There’s no answer.
“Welton, report,” Roy requests, as he moves through the charred hallways toward the room she said she was in.
“Welton, report,” Isaac requests again.
Ted and Beard can hear the concern in their voices, as they wait on Rebecca to report.
Roy starts running down the hallway, dodging the fire. He reaches the third door, the one that she described as her location. It’s closed and also locked. How is that even possible, he wonders. He pulls out an ax when he hears her.
“Fuck,” Rebecca says over comms.
“Welton, report,” Isaac says.
“Bomb stashed inside cabinet, on a timer, three minutes left. Evacuate entire area now,” she reports. “Someone closed and locked the door to the room I’m in, and I can’t get out with vic,” she adds.
“What the fuck,” Beard states over comms, as he starts moving around the perimeter of the school, as Ted follows, looking for anyone suspicious.
“I’m right outside of the door, Welton. Move back,” Roy requests over comms.
“Ok,” Rebecca states, the sound of fear permeating her voice.
Roy swings his ax into the door, pulling it back out, as he continues swinging until he feels it give way. He kicks the door open fully, finding Rebecca, with a teenager wrapped over her shoulder.
“Visual of Welton, no injuries, kid rescued. Moving toward front,” Roy reports.
“We’re moving all students, faculty, staff, and rescue personnel back,” Julie reports over comms.
Roy reaches for Rebecca immediately, pulling her out of the door. The kid wraps his arms around her waist. They run together, jumping over areas where the flames shoot toward them. They run out of the front door of the school, watching as the crowds are being backed up.
“Lasso, report,” Julie requests.
“Beard and I are coming from the side,” he answers.
“Get away from the structure immediately,” Julie yells over comms.
Beard and Ted, running, reach the front of the school, as Roy and Rebecca run away from the front door. They start sprinting faster, as fast as they can while holding all the weight from their equipment on their backs.
“Get back, get back,” Rebecca yells, using her arms as best as she can with a teenager over her shoulder.
And then, deafening silence.
Notes:
RIP my comments? lol
Chapter 5: 5
Notes:
Your comments and theories are so fun for me…thank you for that 💜
Enjoy!
Chapter Text
“Welton report.”
The words are distant in her ear. Did she dream them? Silence. Her ears are ringing.
“Welton report.”
She groans, maybe moves her arm. Maybe? Everything moves slowly. She feels like she’s underwater.
“Kent report.”
“Fuckkkkkk,” Roy replies over comms.
She feels heavy, as if there’s this weight bearing down on her. Is she breathing? Everything hurts.
“Rebecca,” she hears.
And her head swims.
“Kent report. We can’t see from here,” Isaac says.
“Alive,” he replies. “Rebecca too. She’s not verbally responding, but I can feel her moving under me.”
“Lasso report,” Julie says over comms.
They hear a groan.
“Rebecca,” Roy says, as he attempts to move off of her, but fails immediately.
“Beard report.”
“Head hurts,” he reports over comms.
“Once we get a visual, we’re coming to you,” Barbara comments.
“Fuck,” Roy says over comms. “I need help. Immediately.”
“We’ll be right there,” Sassy states.
Roy slides off of Rebecca, groaning, pain present in his voice, as he reaches up to shake at her arm. He can see the student she rescued in front of them, but the smoke makes it too hard to determine whether or not he’s moving.
She feels his touches and wills herself to open her eyes. It’s dark. Her ears are ringing from the noise of the explosion. She whimpers.
“Rebecca,” he says.
“Roy,” she responds.
“You ok,” he asks.
She groans, and he hears her.
“Same,” he says, pausing. “Who does this to a school?”
“Barbara, you’re on Kent, Welton, and the vic, and Sassy you’re on Beard and Lasso,” Julie reports. “We’ll move as soon as we get visuals.”
“Affirmative,” Barbara says, interrupting Sassy’s “affirmative.”
“Buddy, you alright,” Beard asks.
Ted making a despairing noise.
“Gonna feel that in the morning,” Ted replies.
Beard nods.
“You alright,” Ted asks.
“I’m in one piece,” he replies.
“There’s so much smoke,” Ted says. “That was quite the explosion.”
“Yeah,” Beard says. “Can you move?”
“Yes,” Ted answers. “You?”
“Probably,” he replies.
They hear a crackle over the comms system.
“Welton, report,” Isaac requests.
“Am ok,” she says, hoarsely.
“Could you see if the bomb was electrical or solvent-based.”
“Don’t use water,” she says.
“Electrical. Copy,” Isaac says. “Prepare the teams.”
*****
“We have visual, EMS, go,” Isaac reports over comms.
As Barbara runs toward Roy, Rebecca, and the student, Sassy takes off toward Beard and Ted. Sam and Colin, as well as Bumbercatch and Zoreaux, pull their hoses from the rig, running.
“Probie, move your ass,” Zoreaux yells at Jamie, who is staring at the scene with great interest.
They immediately begin spraying the fire with a chemical foam, as Jamie untangles the hoses when they move.
Barbara squats down assessing the situation. She checks the student first, bringing two fingers to the side of his neck checking for a pulse. She feels it, steady beneath her fingertips. She observes that he is unconscious, but breathing in a controlled manner.
“Immediate transport for vic, unconscious, but breathing,” she reports over comms.
She moves toward Roy and Rebecca, who are sprawled out on their bellies in the grass.
“Kent, your foot,” Barbara says.
“I can’t feel it,” he says, agony laced in his voice.
She assesses his foot, tapping along his ankle, noting if there is the possibility of nerve damage.
“It’s ok, Roy. It seems to be broken. Can you feel when I touch you here,” she asks.
“I feel something, but it’s faint.”
“Ok,” she says.
“I need transport for Kent, broken foot, some nerve damage present,” she reports over comms.
She helps him sit up and removes his jacket. She assesses further, noting no other major injuries, barring scratches and the clear beginnings of bruising.
“Stay here,” she says.
Barbara moves over to Rebecca.
“You alright,” she asks her.
“I think so, but I need help to turn onto my back.”
“Ok, let’s get this tank off you first.”
Once they get that removed, as well as her jacket and apparatuses, Barbara helps Rebecca onto her back. She assesses her fully, noting no major injuries, minus tender ribs, scratches, and clear bruising formations.
“Welton is ok,” she reports over comms.
“Beard has a concussion, but alert. Need transport,” Sassy reports.
From a distance, Julie and Isaac listen to Sassy over comms, and they look at each other.
“That’s a problem,” Isaac says.
Julie nods.
“Additional rigs for transport are three minutes out,” Julie reports.
“Ted, are you alright,” Sassy asks.
“Yeah,” he chokes out.
She helps him remove his gear, pulling a pair of scissors from her bag. She does a thorough assessment on him, making sure her touch lingers longer than is truly necessary.
“Lasso is ok,” Sassy reports over comms.
“Rebecca, can you sit up for me,” Barbara asks.
She nods, moving slowly, the stiffness and soreness permeating her muscles and joints. She looks over at Roy, noticing his foot for the first time.
“Jesus Christ, Roy, you look awful…your foot is the wrong way.”
“You look like shit too,” he replies.
She gives him the middle finger.
“Fuck, that hurt,” she says.
“Serves you right,” he replies.
“Thank you for taking the brunt of that explosion,” she says.
“You’re welcome,” Roy responds.
Barbara’s colleagues come running toward her, working immediately on the student that Rebecca rescued, and they watch them put an oxygen mask over his face and start an IV via his hand.
“I hope he’s ok,” Rebecca says.
Barbara nods.
As they get him strapped to the gurney, they lift him, and carry him to the nearby ambulance.
“Alright, Roy, your turn,” Barbara says.
“Can’t you just give me a cane or whatever,” he asks.
“Nope,” Barbara says.
“Fuckkkkkkkk,” he replies.
Rebecca begins to stand up, and while she’s in some discomfort, she’s ok enough to walk. As they get Roy onto the gurney, they sit him up, and they roll him through the grass. Rebecca walks slowly next to him, with her hand on his shoulder.
When they arrive at the rig, Rebecca stands at the back, waiting. Her wet, white t-shirt clings to her curves, as one of her suspenders slips slightly off her shoulder. Her turnout pants hang low on her hips. She watches as Barbara and a colleague push Roy's gurney into the back of the ambulance.
“I’ll be there soon,” Rebecca tells him.
He nods.
They close the back doors.
“I’m sure Chief McAdoo is going to send you to the hospital for a full evaluation,” Barbara tells her.
“He can try, but I’ll tell him that I’m fine.”
“No,” Isaac says, walking up to her. “I’m sending both you and Lasso to the hospital together. We need to make sure you’re both ok to go back on shift in three days. And you have a job to do,” referencing the bomb.
“Chief,” Rebecca starts, but she is cut off immediately.
“This is not up for discussion, Rebecca,” he says, as he walks away.
“Told you,” Barbara says, mirth in her voice.
They hear Ted saying goodbye to Beard, but neither Barbara or Rebecca can see him.
“Lasso,” Julie calls.
Ted makes his way over to her.
“You’re going to the hospital with Welton. I need to ensure that you are cleared medically.”
Ted looks like he wants to argue, but stuffs it down immediately, nodding.
“Well, as you hear, it looks like the good news is out in the open,” Barbara says to Rebecca. “Let’s get ready to go.”
“Welton,” Rebecca hears.
She recognizes the voice, and she’s already fucking annoyed.
“Trent,” she says, turning toward him.
“Ready to make a statement now,” he asks.
She turns away, following Barbara toward the rig. She then catches Nate’s eye, as he watches with other townsfolk from behind a roped off section, clearly partitioned off by police. He waves to her, as if waving her over, but she looks away. She notices Liam, Mae, and Luca standing in the crowd. She then notices O’Brien and Jan talking to other people standing nearby. As she turns away from the attention, she sees a shirtless Ted Lasso walking slowly toward her.
“Welton,” he says.
His suspenders are slung over his muscular shoulders, turnout pants slipping down, held up by his hips. She eyes him. From the chiseled muscle of his pecs, down his ribs to his defined abs, leading to the vee of his torso into his turnout pants…she snaps out of it immediately.
“Why are you without a shirt,” she asks, annoyance in her voice.
“Sassy cut it off of me during the assessment,” he replies.
“Of course she did,” Barbara says, rolling her eyes. “You two can ride in the back.”
“Can I ride in the front,” Rebecca asks.
“No, I have another person with me,” Barbara responds, as she opens the back doors of the rig.
Rebecca sighs. Ted climbs into the back, and he turns to offer a hand to her, but she rebuffs him.
“Relax, Welton. I was just trying to help,” he says.
She pulls herself up by the door handle, as Ted drops his hand.
“This is gonna be a fun ride,” Barbara says to herself, as she closes both doors.
Rebecca sits in one of the two available seats, as Ted sits in the other. They’re facing each other. He watches her, as she sighs, clutching her chest.
“Are you alright,” he asks.
She nods, but doesn’t speak.
“I’m alright, thanks for asking,” he says.
She looks up at him, green eyes piercing his. Sarcasm doesn’t look good on him, and she’s at a loss for words. She takes a moment and then looks away.
“I’m sorry,” she says, trying to convey a sincerity that she truly means, but it’s almost too vulnerable.
He waves her off.
“It’s fine. You’ve made it abundantly clear, over and over again.”
“What have I made clear?”
“That you’re ‘sorry,’ Rebecca.”
She looks at him, catching his eye immediately.
“Henry, do you know her name,” Ted asks, watching as her hand lifts up to Henry’s shin.
“Rebecca,” Henry answers him.
He doesn’t know a Rebecca. She must be new or a visitor or something, he thinks. But she also looks familiar…maybe they’ve met before.
“Rebecca,” he says, as he reaches down to touch her.
She grips onto Henry’s jeans, eyes opening, finding Ted’s through his breathing apparatuses.
“You’re ok, you’re safe. I got you. I promise.”
She grimaces in the moment, feeling the heat from the fire around them.
“Rebecca,” Ted calls out, loudly, trying to bring her back into the present.
“Don’t yell at me,” she says, raising her voice.
“Hey, if you two murder one another, I’m gonna have a fuckton of paperwork to do, and I won’t be happy about it,” Barbara yells from the front seat.
Rebecca sighs, and Ted looks down at the soot embedded in his fingernails. She watches him, as he studies his fingers, abs rippling every time he moves. She looks away. There’s an energy present, the tension palpable.
“Are you ok,” she asks.
He looks up at her, and catches her as she looks back at his face.
“I’m alright.”
She nods.
“That’s better,” Barbara calls out.
*****
The hospital is busy when Barbara pulls up. She and her colleague open the doors, and Rebecca and Ted both step out. Two orderlies greet them with wheelchairs, and Rebecca subtly rolls her eyes at Barbara, who shrugs at her. She sits down in one, as Ted sits in the other. Barbara waves at them both, as she closes the back doors.
“Thanks,” Ted says to Barbara, as Rebecca waves at her.
It’s even busier inside, as the orderlies push Ted and Rebecca into a room, where they are immediately greeted by Michelle.
“Ted, this whole thing is awful. Are you alright,” Michelle asks.
“Yeah, I’m fine. Is Henry ok?”
“He’s alright. Your mom was able to pick him up.”
He nods.
“Rebecca, are you alright,” Michelle asks.
“I think so. Lots of discomfort.”
“Before transport, Barbara reported her assessments to us.” She pauses, opening a cabinet, pulling out two gowns. “Please take off your remaining clothing, and put these gowns on so we can assess further. Ted, you can come change out in the hallway bathroom to give Rebecca some privacy.”
He nods as he gets up from the bed, taking the gown from his ex-wife, before he leaves the room.
“I’ll knock before I come in, ok,” Michelle says.
“Ok,” Rebecca responds.
Outside the room, Ted stops Michelle.
“Is Beard alright,” he asks.
“Yes. Although this new head injury is compounded by the previous brain injury.”
“Is that bad?”
“It just might take a longer period of time for Beard to recover.”
“When can I see him,” he asks.
“As soon as I can let you, Ted, I will…you know I will.”
*****
A couple of minutes later, Michelle knocks, and she and Ted enter the room, as Ted then lies down.
After examining both of them, Michelle determines that there is no real major medical intervention needed, but she’ll wait for Dr. Zava to determine what he’d like to do.
“You two try to get along,” Michelle says, as she exits the room.
There’s a long pause.
“I hate being back here,” Rebecca says.
He looks over to her. He knows the feeling all too well.
“Me too,” he replies.
There’s a long silence. The air is thick and heavy with anxiety.
“I’m glad Henry is ok,” she says.
She’s trying, she thinks to herself.
He nods.
A knock on the door sounds, as it opens, revealing Dr. Zava.
“If it isn’t my two favorite firefighters,” he says.
Ted hears a whoosh of breath from Rebecca, and he looks over at her, noticing her tensing, fear present, just as Dr. Zava closes the door behind him.
“Rebecca, good to see you again,” he says.
Ted notices the subtle grimace that shows on her face. The door then opens and Michelle walks inside, closing the door.
“Michelle says that everything on first assessment looks good. That was also reported from Barbara. So let’s take a look. I’ll start with you, Ted.”
He assesses Ted, asking about pain levels, touching, and listening until he determines that there is likely some rib damage.
“I’m going to order an x-ray to rule out any fractured ribs,” he tells Ted.
Ted nods, as Dr. Zava pats his shoulder.
“Thank you for being out there, Ted. I know those kids needed you. Who targets a school,” he wonders aloud.
He moves around the side toward Rebecca. She gives Michelle a look of helplessness. Michelle notices it immediately, and she moves to stand next to her.
“Rebecca, let’s see what’s going on.”
He puts his hands on her, assessing, touching, fingertips spending a little too much time on her skin. He listens to her heart and lungs through his stethoscope. He then wraps his fingers around her wrist, adding a little pressure.
“Rebecca, why haven’t you answered my calls,” he asks.
“Dr. Zava, I hardly think that’s appropriate for this setting,” Michelle replies. “And I’m pretty sure you already have an answer anyway.”
“Michelle, I kindly ask that you stay out of it.”
“I will not,” she replies.
He lets go of Rebecca’s wrist.
“Please go and order the test for Ted,” he requests.
Michelle shakes her head.
“I’ll order the tests together.”
“Do it now,” he commands.
“Don’t talk to her like that,” Ted says, in Michelle’s defense.
“You’re right. I’m sorry, Ted. But I would like to get the test ordered now.”
“Well, it’s going to have to wait. You know that I am not allowed to leave a female patient alone with a male doctor during a physical assessment.”
She can tell that he doesn’t like that response, but he’s trying hard to tamp down his emotions.
“Let’s get back to the exam,” Dr. Zava says.
He continues with his assessment, being much more professional, but not without the tension that he created in the first place.
“Rebecca, what is your pain level like, on a scale of one to ten,” he asks.
“I’m at a four,” she answers.
“Where does it hurt most?”
She points at her chest and her ribs. He taps at each rib, noting which ones she reacts to with a grimace. He places his palm low on her abdomen.
“I just want to know why, Rebecca. I’m a doctor. I could take care of you.”
“This is inappropriate. Please stop,” Rebecca says, and Michelle makes a noise of agreement.
Dr. Zava puts his hands up in the air, as Ted watches on, shocked by his behavior.
“We can be something special, Rebecca. You’ll see,” he says.
“I want a different doctor,” she says to him.
“I’m the only one here,” he answers.
“Bullshit,” Michelle says. “Your work is done here. Tell me what tests need to be ordered, so you can be taken off their care,” she says.
“Chest x-ray and scans for the rib area, both of them,” he replies.
“Thank you.” She pauses. “You’ve shown yourself to be highly unprofessional, bordering on multiple ethics violations. If I were you, I’d take this loss and leave immediately,” Michelle says.
Dr. Zava opens his mouth to respond, but he bites his tongue, as he leaves the room. Rebecca breathes out loudly, anxiety permeating her chest.
“It’s ok, he can’t hurt you,” Michelle says.
“I want to report this,” Rebecca tells her.
“Ok,” she says. “I will absolutely help. I can provide my own written and verbal testimony.”
“Are you ok, Rebecca,” Ted asks.
“Shaken up,” she responds.
Michelle tries to soothe her for a couple of moments, eyes watching her, seeing an array of emotions on her face. Her eyes land on the scarring of her forearm. Rebecca notices immediately, attempting to hide it.
“Hey, it’s ok, Rebecca,” Michelle says.
*****
While Rebecca is away from the room having scans done, Michelle calls another doctor in temporarily, and steers clear of Dr. Zava, concerned about any blowback on her or her job.
Ted finds himself thinking as he waits. He remembers the look of fear on Rebecca’s face when Dr. Zava entered their room. He wonders where it came from…what her history is like.
The door opens, as an orderly pushes Rebecca through.
“How’d it go,” Ted asks.
“Fine,” she answers. “The usual.”
“Ok, Ted, your turn.”
He salutes the orderly, as he gets into the chair that Rebecca vacated. The orderly pulls him from the room. As the door closes, she finds herself missing the company. The isolation and loneliness penetrates her heart, but she doesn’t allow herself to stay in that discomfort. She gets up and walks toward the door, wondering if she can sneak out to see Roy, but she’s worried about running into Dr. Zava. Before she makes a decision, the door opens, and Michelle gives her a look.
“You were looking to make an escape I see…were you trying to see Roy,” she asks.
Rebecca nods.
“I swear you and Ted are so alike…loyal to no end.”
“Is Roy alright?”
“He is. But he needs to undergo surgery to prevent permanent nerve damage. We’re trying to line up a surgeon to perform the procedure.”
“Does Keeley know yet?”
“I called her.”
“Is she here?”
“Not yet.”
Rebecca fidgets.
“Come on, sit down. I promise I’ll keep you updated, and as soon as I can let you visit with him, I will.”
There’s a long silence.
“Why are you being so kind to me,” Rebecca asks. “I’m the one who got him hurt.”
“Rebecca,” she says, as she sits down, putting an arm around her.
“Look, you helped save him. Yes, there were a lot of things that went wrong that day. I don’t even know all of it. But I also know that there are so many things that have been misunderstood between the two of you. I know you’re both angry at one another for what transpired, but talk to each other.”
Rebecca looks down.
“That wasn’t a criticism, Rebecca. Lord knows I’ve been telling Ted the same thing.”
Rebecca looks up, catching her eye, observing a smirk on her face.
“Both of you are so stubborn,” Michelle says.
A knock on the door stops their conversation, as the door opens.
“Michelle, you’re needed in room six,” an orderly says.
“Be right there,” she replies.
There’s a pause.
“Will you be alright for a few moments?”
Rebecca nods.
“If he comes in here, and you feel uncomfortable, press this button, ok,” Michelle says, pointing.
Rebecca nods again.
“Thank you.”
“Of course. I’ll come check on you as soon as I can.”
*****
Ted is wheeled into the room, and she makes eye contact with him.
“All good,” she asks.
“All good,” he answers.
He gets up from the wheelchair, making his way to the bed.
“Did I miss anything,” he asks.
“No,” she says.
It’s quiet between them. After several moments, the quietness ends, as there’s a loud crash outside the door.
“Where is he,” they hear.
“Keeley,” Rebecca says.
“She sounds upset,” Ted comments.
Rebecca gets up, holding the gown close to her body, as she goes to the door, and opens it, seeing Keeley storming down the hallway.
“Keeley,” she calls, and as Keeley hears her, she turns, and tears slip down her face.
“Rebecca,” she yells, as she runs to her.
“Hold on, I’m hurt,” she says, as Keeley slows immediately.
“Roy…is Roy ok,” she asks.
“Yes, he’s ok. Sounds like he needs to have surgery.”
Keeley nods, fear present in her eyes.
“And you’re ok,” she asks.
“Yes, I’m ok. I promise. Just some discomfort,” she says, pausing. “What was that loud noise?”
“Oh, my bag hit that thing and it fell,” Keeley says, pointing.
“Hey Keels,” Ted says, now standing at the door.
“Ted,” she exclaims, and she runs toward him, before realizing that he’s probably hurt as well.
He chuckles seeing the restraint in her movements.
“I’m ok, Keeley.”
She nods.
“Maybe we can find Michelle so you can see Roy,” Rebecca says.
Keeley nods, tears welling up again. Rebecca wraps her arm around her, gently bringing her into her side.
“He’s going to be ok.”
“Keeley, I heard you were here,” Michelle says, as she walks around the corner. “Come with me.”
“Tell Roy I love his hairy arse,” Rebecca says.
Keeley chuckles through her tears, nodding. Rebecca watches as Michelle places her arm around Keeley. She turns back toward Ted, who moves, giving her space to walk into the room. She sits gingerly down, lying back. He does the same thing.
Again, silence. Both of their minds are churning.
“Roy will be ok,” Ted offers.
“I know,” she whispers. “I’m sure Beard will be too.”
“Thank you,” he replies.
*****
The television blares throughout the dark room.
“Breaking news. Explosion at John Madison High School,” the news anchor announces.
Their fingers stop fiddling with the wires to listen to the broadcast.
“All students were rescued, but four firefighters were sent to the local hospital with injuries.”
Their fingers begin pulling wires apart, moving them into the trigger chamber.
*****
They hear them outside their door before a knock even sounds.
“Oh boy,” Ted says.
The door opens, and their colleagues file in, minus Jamie.
“How are you both doing,” Colin asks.
“Achy, tired, some discomfort,” Rebecca says.
They nod.
“We’re both fine. Definitely achy and tired though,” Ted says. “We’re only here out of precaution.”
“I’m just glad you’re both alright,” Bumbercatch says. “That was a hell of an explosion.”
“Where’s Tartt,” Ted asks.
“He said he wasn’t feeling well,” Zoreaux responds.
Ted nods.
“We heard about Roy,” Dani says.
“Sucks about his ankle, but glad he jumped on you to keep you safe,” Sam says to Rebecca.
Rebecca nods, solemnly.
“We haven’t gotten to see Beard or Roy,” Colin says. “Don’t know if we’ll be able to…”
Michelle walks in.
“Hey, it’s a party,” she says, then, “ok, gentlemen, I ask that you all go to the waiting room, as we just got test results back.”
They say goodbye. Once they leave, Michelle informs them that their new doctor has reviewed the scan results, and everything has come back clear for them both. She gives them pain medications for inflammation and pain, prescribed by him.
“Michelle, can we go. Do we have to wait for the doctor,” Ted asks.
“No, he said that he doesn’t need to see either of you, since you’ve already been seen. You’re both free to go.”
“Where is Beard,” Ted asks.
Beard has been transferred upstairs for continued observation. I can give you his information.” She pauses, then says, “Rebecca, Roy is still down here.”
Rebecca nods, saying, “thank you so much, Michelle for all of your help.”
“I can go change outside so you can have the room,” Ted says to Rebecca.
“Thank you.”
Ted and Michelle leave, and Rebecca puts on her turnout pants and soiled t-shirt, suspenders slipping over her shoulders, as she puts her feet into her boots. She opens the door, finding Julie and Isaac waiting for her.
“Rebecca, you alright,” Isaac asks.
“Yes, I’ve been cleared, and I’m going to see Roy…then I’m going home.”
“Ok. Glad you’re both alright.”
He places her personal items in her hands.
“The fire is out completely, so we’re anticipating that the scene will be cleared enough by tomorrow afternoon,” he says.
“And we’re coming with you,” Julie adds.
“Ok,” Rebecca replies.
“This is a big undertaking, and we don’t expect you to do it alone,” Isaac says.
Ted, in his turnout pants, boots, and a scrub top that Michelle must have given him, walks up to them, with Michelle following.
“Hey Julie, Isaac,” Michelle says.
They nod to Michelle.
“Chiefs,” Ted says.
“Ted, here are your personal items.”
“Thanks, Julie.”
“You ok,” she asks.
“Yes, just got the all-clear.”
“We heard,” Isaac says, then, “come back into this room really quick.”
Rebecca gives him a look of confusion.
“Come on,” he says.
“Come on, Ted,” Julie adds.
They walk back into the room.
“Sit down.”
They both do, seemingly unsure of what it’s all about.
“You are aware that both stations sustained significant injuries today,” Isaac says.
They nod.
“In light of that, we have to make some changes,” Julie adds.
“What kind of changes,” Rebecca asks.
“Ted, you will moving over to station 76 and partnering with Rebecca.”
Rebecca’s jaw drops, and Ted moves to interrupt.
“No,” Isaac says. “We have to do this so we have at least one search and rescue team to do the work.”
“You both get to have feelings about this. That’s fine,” Julie replies. “But it’s a done deal. You’ll be together on shift in three days.”
Ted nods.
There’s a long pause.
Rebecca nods.
“Alright,” Isaac says. “Rebecca, I’ll be in touch about tomorrow.”
She nods again, as they leave the room.
Once Julie closes the door behind her, they step away, pausing.
“This is about to be the best thing or the worst thing, with no in between,” Julie says.
“Let’s hope they don’t kill each other,” Isaac responds.
Chapter 6: 6
Chapter Text
The chiming noises wake Rebecca from her slumber, as she blindly reaches for her phone to either answer it or throw it into the wall, she’s not sure. She grumbles into her pillow, hands flailing, finally grasping her phone, opening her eyes slightly to see who is bothering her at this ungodly hour. No caller ID listed. She silences it and tosses it onto the mattress.
“Ow,” she hears him say.
Her phone rings again.
“Fuck,” she says, as he tosses her phone back at her.
“Someone’s calling you,” Luca says, as he turns over onto his side.
She rolls her eyes, as she answers the call, voice filled with annoyance.
“Hi, Rebecca, it’s Michelle.”
“Oh,” she says.
“I’m sorry to call you so early, but I’m still creeped out by Dr. Zava’s behavior yesterday, and I want to encourage you to file a restraining order. I’m completing a report with our HR department at the hospital, and I may consider filing something with police.”
Rebecca wipes at her eyes. She’s bleary and in significant discomfort.
“Rebecca, are you there,” Michelle asks.
“Yeah, sorry.”
“Are you ok,” she asks.
There’s a pause.
“I’ll consider it,” Rebecca says.
“Ok,” Michelle responds. “You sure you’re alright?”
“I am. I’m just a little disoriented from yesterday.”
“I imagine that you are. If you need any help with filing a report or need a hand to hold…whatever you need, please let me know, and I’ll be there.”
“Thank you,” Rebecca says.
“I’ll text you my personal phone number since I’m calling you from the hospital.”
“Ok. You really didn’t have to call,” she says, voice trailing off.
“I know, but I wanted to,” she replies.
“Thank you. Really.” Rebecca responds.
“Alright, I hope you get to rest a little bit today. Take care, Rebecca.”
“Thanks, Michelle, you too.”
She ends the call and drops her phone onto the end table. Luca turns toward her.
“Now that we’re both awake earlier than we thought, do you wanna fuck?”
She turns away, mind swirling.
*****
She steps out of her car, perching her sunglasses on the top of her head. She’s dressed in her usual jumpsuit, cup of coffee in her hand, fingernails digging into the styrofoam.
“Welton,” Tom greets. “Glad to see that you’re ok. That was some explosion.”
She nods, saying, “I’m quite sore today, but I’m ok.”
“You looked like shit afterwards,” Jan says.
“Good to see you too, Jan,” she replies, chuckle in her voice.
He pats her shoulder.
They hear a car door close, and Julie and Isaac make their way toward them.
“Welton, how are you feeling,” Isaac asks.
“Sore, but fine for the most part.”
“Glad you’re ok,” Julie says.
“So, we have everything blocked off. Crews haven’t moved too much debris from where the bomb was located. I didn’t want any contamination. The rest of the school that was not affected by the explosion is damaged, but structurally intact,” Tom reports.
Rebecca nods.
“Alright, let’s get to work,” Isaac says, placing a safety helmet on his head, as Julie does the same.
They walk away toward the school.
“What’s with the hats,” Jan asks.
“I have not had enough coffee for any of this,” Rebecca mutters.
“Better down that cup,” Tom says.
She sighs, throwing it back, thanking the universe that it’s lukewarm. She follows Isaac and Julie.
*****
This device was complex, she notes. The trigger chamber was well-created, along with numerous wires that connect from the power sources to the timer that is attached. Jan and Tom stand nearby, surveying what little is left of that room.
“Feels like someone heard me say that the other device was created in an amateur way. This is anything but amateur,” Rebecca says.
“There were a couple of people with us, who heard you say that,” Jan states.
“That could be a list of possible suspects,” Tom adds.
Rebecca nods, saying, “I also reported that to both stations.”
“We’ll add them to the list,” Tom says.
Rebecca continues her inspection of the device, noting the way it exploded and its blast radius.
“This is nothing like the first device. I’m not even sure they’re linked.”
“How could they not be,” Tom asks.
“They’re only linked by the fact that they’re devices, that’s it,” Jan adds.
Rebecca nods.
“Could it be more than one person,” Tom asks.
“Maybe. But maybe that’s just to throw us off.”
“Perhaps,” Tom adds.
After a moment, Jan speaks.
“I bet you offended them with your observation.”
Rebecca looks over at him.
“So they made their next device bigger and more explosive,” Tom wonders aloud.
“Perhaps,” Rebecca replies.
“Welton,” Isaac calls.
“Excuse me,” she says to Tom and Jan.
She walks over to where Julie and Isaac stand.
“Chief,” she says.
“Same burn patterns on the walls here as the last structure,” Isaac says.
“Gasoline as well,” Rebecca asks.
“The burns marks indicate it,” Julie answers.
“How did no one notice or identify the smell,” Rebecca asks, “unless it was something similar to gasoline but odorless.”
“Sounds about right. Let’s take some of this wood for testing to determine the agent used,” Isaac states.
Rebecca nods.
“How does the device look, Rebecca,” Julie asks.
“Very professionally done. I’ve never seen anything like it, outside of my training,” she replies. “I’m planning to take the device to study it further, barring pending police investigation as well. But as you know, we’re working together.”
Julie and Isaac nod, as Tom walks up to them.
“I have a list of everyone who overheard you say that the prior device was amateur. Can you fill in who was at the fire station that day when you gave your reports,” Tom asks.
“Of course,” Rebecca replies.
“What’s this about,” Isaac asks.
“When I was looking at the prior device, I had stated that the device seemed quite amateur in the way it was made. We’re comprising a list of all the people who heard me use that language,” Rebecca says.
“List of suspects,” Julie asks.
“Exactly,” Tom adds.
“Well, ok,” Isaac replies. “Eyes open, ears open. Let’s do some additional sweeps to determine if there’s anything we’re missing.”
*****
Tom and Jan sit across from Rebecca, and Tom presses buttons on his audio recorder. Rebecca takes a sip of the coffee in front of her.
“Ok, Rebecca, give us an overview of what happened.”
“I was assigned to alpha, and I made my way down the hallway. I came to the first room, and the door was locked. I used my ax to get inside. I searched the room, found no vics, and I left that room to continue down the hall. I made it to the next room, same thing, door locked, got in, searched, found nothing. I left that room and moved to the next. The door was closed, but was it unlocked. So I opened it, searched the room, and found a vic, a male student hiding. As I was getting ready to evacuate with him, I heard ticking. I searched in the cabinets, and found the device. As you all have seen, it was built into a small piece of luggage, like for toiletries, hard shell, very complicated looking, wires, and a timer counting down from three minutes. I reported this all over comms, grabbed the student, tossed him over my shoulder, and made my way toward the door, then realized the door was closed and somehow locked from the outside. I reported this over comms as well. And Roy was able to get to me and rescue us.”
“So someone knew you’d be in that room, and locked you inside,” Tom asks.
“Yes. Apparently, as if they were trying to trap me,” Rebecca says, as a chill runs up her spine.
“Interesting,” he replies.
“Are you sure the door was unlocked,” Jan asks.
Tom gives him a look, as Jan puts his hands up in the air.
“Do you have anyone in mind who would want to target you, potentially,” Tom asks.
“No,” she replies, then pauses.
“What,” Tom asks.
“There might be someone, but I don’t believe it’s related.”
“It doesn’t matter,” he says. “Tell us more.”
Rebecca gives them some brief details, like how she met Dr. Zava, (local bar), how he got her phone number (he asked around), and how often he contacts her (multiple times per day, even though she has indicated that she’s not interested). She then tells them about the incident at the hospital, the bizarre, erratic behavior displayed, and what he said at the end of their conversation before Michelle fully intervened to get him to leave the room.
“He said, ‘we can be something special, Rebecca. You’ll see,’” Tom asks.
“Yes.”
“That’s threatening. We can help file a restraining order, Rebecca.”
“And he’s now our prime suspect,” Jan adds.
*****
“I just don’t know how this is gonna go, Beardo,” Ted says, looking over at the heart monitor, seeing Beard’s rhythm displayed.
“I know, Buddy.”
“If she wasn’t such a pain in my butt…”
“Maybe this will force you both to actually talk to one another.”
“Beard, don’t start,” Ted says.
“Hey, I’m just sayin’.”
“Sorry, I’m just complainin’, meanwhile you’re all cooped up in this bed.”
“It’s ok,” Beard replies.
“It’s not,” Ted says. “Any other tests come back?”
“Everything looks good. This is all precautionary, since I recently had the brain injury.”
“I know. It’s just a lot…seeing you in this place…again.”
Beard nods. There’s a long pause.
“She just drives me crazy, Beard, and I don’t know what to do with that.”
He hums.
“Maybe you can put some of that energy elsewhere.”
“How you figure?”
Beard shrugs.
“Don’t go shruggin’ on me, Beardo, tell me.”
He mimes zipping his lips.
Ted sighs, and Beard gives in, changing the subject.
“Maybe do something nice for her? Maybe that’ll smooth over any possible awkwardness.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Ted replies. “She did have a difficult time with Dr. Zava in the ER last night.”
“Oh,” Beard asks.
“Yeah, he was so weird, Buddy. It was really scary how he talked to Rebecca and Michelle.”
Beard studies his body language.
“But yeah, that’s good advice. Maybe I’ll do just that,” Ted says.
Beard nods.
*****
“Please tell me they fixed your fucked up foot,” Rebecca says, as she enters the room.
“Fuckkkkkk you,” Roy replies, as Rebecca laughs, reaching his bed, taking a hold of his hand.
“Babe, do you need me to fluff your pillow,” Keeley asks from behind her, as she wraps her arms around Rebecca.
He shakes his head.
“She’s going to be walking around your flat with a nurse’s costume on for the next couple of weeks,” Rebecca tells him.
He raises an eyebrow at her, as Keeley laughs, letting go of Rebecca.
“She’s right,” Keeley replies.
“So, there was a benefit to me blowing out my ankle,” he asks.
“I’m sure you didn’t need to do that for Keeley to play dress up for you,” Rebecca replies.
“It’s true,” she answers, immediately.
He grunts.
“My man of few words,” Keeley says, as she reaches the other side of the bed, hand landing on his cheek, as she kisses him gently.
Rebecca watches them in the intimacy of the moment, before looking away.
“So I hear that the stations are merging search and rescue,” Roy says.
“You heard right,” she replies.
He grunts.
“Please don’t murder him in my bed. I’ve heard blood is very hard to wash out.”
“Jesus fuck, Roy,” Rebecca replies.
He shrugs, as Keeley laughs.
“I keep telling you…” Keeley says.
“Talk to him, yeah I know.”
She shrugs.
“I’ll give you both some time to chat,” Keeley says.
“You don’t have to leave,” Rebecca interjects.
“I know, but I want to get some fresh air,” she says. “Will you be ok, Babe?”
He grunts.
“I’ll be back soon,” she says.
*****
“Ted,” Keeley exclaims, seeing him walking down the hallway.
He turns toward her.
“Keels, hey,” he replies, as he walks toward her, opening his arms.
She hugs him.
“How’s Roy?”
“He’s good. Surgery went well, and he has all his nerve functioning intact. Normal grumpy, you know, the usual.”
He chuckles.
“I was so glad to hear that the surgery was successful,” he replies. “And how are you holding up?”
“I’m as best as I can be. I’m being strong for him.”
“I’ve always admired you both and your relationship,” he says.
“Thanks, Ted.”
“Are you doing ok,” Keeley asks.
“Yeah, I’m definitely sore and uncomfortable today. Grateful for the pain medication they gave me.”
“Rebecca said the same.”
“Oh,” he says.
“I’ve heard that you’re going to be working together.”
“Yeah.”
There’s a pause, as Keeley considers her next words.
“You know, I saw the way you looked at her that night, before any of us met her.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“You do. You don’t have to admit it to me, but I saw it.”
She pauses.
“I wonder what would have happened between you both if it never happened."
“Keeley,” he says.
“I’m done. I promise.” She pauses. “I’m glad you’re ok.”
He allows himself to take the out she’s given him.
“Thanks, Keeley.”
“Good to see you, Ted. Take care of yourself.”
“You too.”
*****
Rebecca enters the room that she now shares with him, placing her bag onto the bed. She notices a pink box on her desk. Curiosity gets the best of her, as she walks toward it, picking up the box. She opens it, finding shortbread staring back at her. She lifts it to her face, smelling the aroma, noting that it smells familiar, like home.
“Hey,” Ted says, from the doorway.
She lowers the box from her face and turns toward his voice. She takes in his face, soft eyes, the twitch of his mustache. She opens her mouth to speak, but is immediately interrupted.
“Welton, Lasso, training simulation, now,” Isaac yells.
She places the box back down on the desk, tucking the flap inside.
“No rest for the weary,” Ted says.
“Apparently not,” she replies.
He moves aside to make space for her to go first, but she stops and gestures. He sighs. He makes his way out of the door, and she takes a deep breath and then follows. They make their way down the stairs, finding Isaac immediately.
“Welcome back,” Isaac says. “Suit up.”
Rebecca steps into her turnout pants, feet slipping into her boots. Ted does the same, as he reaches for his jacket hanging on the wall hook. Rebecca places the suspender straps up her arms, letting them fall onto her broad shoulders. She reaches for her jacket, as Ted finishes fastening his.
When they’re both fully geared up, including their comms system, they follow Isaac, who leads them to their training site behind their station.
“Alright, since you two have never worked together, I thought it would be helpful to complete a training simulation,” he says, over comms.
“Copy,” Ted says.
“Confirmed,” Rebecca adds.
“For this exercise, we’ve gotten word that there are two vics. Welton, alpha, Lasso, beta. Give me one moment as I begin the fire simulation.”
There’s a pause. The simulation begins, and they’re standing in front of a structure, computer generated images of fire, as well as heat that flows through the space.
“Begin,” Isaac says.
Ted and Rebecca make their way to the front door.
“Fire department, call out,” she yells.
She signals to Ted, who moves back, giving her space, as she kicks into the door, and it gives, opening, simulation of fire and heat moving toward her. He moves around her pushing it open.
“Fire department, call out,” Ted yells.
“Welton, report,” Isaac requests over comms.
“Fire on all walls, smoke, moving toward alpha,” she reports.
“Lasso, report.”
“Moving toward beta.”
Rebecca moves through the room, staying low, as the imagined fire rages above her.
“Debris down,” Ted reports over comms.
“Lasso, do you need my assistance,” she asks over comms.
“No,” he reports.
Rebecca continues to search around the room, finding a dummy victim. He’s lying face up. She does a brief assessment.
“Found vic, unconscious. Need transport,” she reports.
“Transport is available,” Isaac states. “Lasso, report.”
“Debris down, blocking access into beta.”
“So you do need my help,” Rebecca says over comms.
Ted doesn’t answer her. She ignores him and gets to work on rescuing the vic. She lies next to him, as best as she can with the oxygen tank on her back. She places her left leg between his. She reaches around to his left leg, pulling it over her own, then using her right leg to secure his leg between hers. She reaches for his left arm, and she turns them, so the vic is wrapped over her back, as she pushes up into a squat position.
As she lifts them completely, she reports, “vic secured, coming out,” over comms.
“Lasso, report,” Isaac says.
There’s no response.
“Lasso, report.”
Rebecca exits the simulation with the dummy vic wrapped around her back. She squats down, placing him gently on the ground.
“Lasso, you mother fucker, report,” she growls angrily over comms.
“Welton, report,” Isaac requests.
“Vic transported to emergency services,” she says. “Going back in for Lasso.”
She re-enters the simulated structure, making her way through alpha, moving toward beta. She sees him immediately. He is crouched down in front of a computer simulated blockage of debris.
“Lasso,” she says, over comms.
He doesn’t answer her.
“Not again, for fuck’s sake. Lasso,” she yells over comms.
“Welton, report.”
“It’s Lasso, he’s not moving.”
She assesses him quickly, noting the quick breaths and gripped hands.
“Panic attack,” she reports over comms.
“Shut the simulation down,” Isaac yells out.
Everything goes dark, and then the lights come up. Rebecca pulls her helmet, face shield, breathing apparatuses, and other protective gear off her face.
“Lasso,” she says, taking his helmet off his head, removing his breathing apparatuses from his face.
Isaac comes running into the area.
“You alright, Rebecca,” he asks.
“Yes, but how the fuck am I supposed to do my job,” -
“Stop,” he tells her.
She huffs.
“Ted,” Isaac says. “You’re alright. Can you hear me?”
No response.
Rebecca unzips her jacket, reaching for Ted’s hand, pulling his glove off, and places it over her chest, as Isaac watches.
“Ted,” she says, gently. “Breathe to the rhythm of my breath.”
She exaggerates her breathing, hoping that it helps him slow down to bring him out of the panic. She feels him grip onto her shirt. She smoothes her palm over his closed fist, gently pressing down into her chest, allowing his hand to flatten out, tension releasing.
“You’re ok. You’re safe. I got you. I promise,” she tells him.
“Rebecca,” he says, opening his eyes.
“Breathe, Ted. Breathe with me. It’s ok.”
He follows her movements slowly. He becomes more acutely aware of the surroundings.
“Shoot,” he says, and he starts to fidget.
“Don’t move, Ted. Breathe. It’s alright,” Isaac says.
“Rebecca,” he says, as his eyes reach hers. “I’m so sorry.”
She shrugs it off.
“Just breathe,” Isaac says. “We need you to breathe.”
Ted follows their orders, closing his eyes, as he breathes to the rhythm that he feels under his hand. Several moments pass. When he feels the panic subsiding, he opens his eyes again, green eyes shining back at him. He’s mesmerized. The spell is broken when Isaac speaks.
“Let’s help you up,” he says.
Rebecca pulls their hands away from her chest, as she begins to lift herself, as Isaac helps Ted get to his feet.
“I think it’s best that we go back into the station,” Isaac says.
“Can I go up to the room? I need a few minutes alone,” Ted says.
Isaac nods, and Rebecca does as well. Ted moves away from them, and Rebecca lets go of his hand. No more words are spoken, as they watch him leave the room with his head hanging and hands in his pockets.
*****
“Chief, come on.”
“No, Rebecca. He is your partner. You both need to learn to work together. You need to learn what both of your triggers are, and how to help each other through them during searches and rescues.” He pauses momentarily. “You’ve done it with Roy,” he says.
“Roy’s triggers are when someone doesn’t yell fuck loud enough,” she replies.
“It’s one of his many great qualities,” Isaac says, a chuckle in his voice. “You need to talk to Ted and get to know him. He needs to get to know you. That’s what makes a great search and rescue team. You know that.”
She sighs. She does know that.
“I just…”
“No excuses. You both need to make this work. Our town is counting on you both to figure it out.”
*****
Rebecca sets her and Ted’s equipment back up, so everything is prepared for the next call. She stands next to the truck, reaching out to touch it, as if needing a sense of grounding. She exhales loudly, dropping her head. She wonders if it has been enough time before she goes back up to the room she now shares with him. She sighs, feeling the cold metal under her fingertips, grounding her in the present. She feels her emotions bubbling up, but she tamps them down, lines on her face present, wobble of her chin visible. She shakes her head, as if she’s shaking the emotions away from her body. One last press of her fingers into the red metal has her pushing away. She turns, making her way up the stairs.
The door is mostly closed, with a slight gap. She decides to knock and then pushes it open. He looks up at her with a bright smile on his face. It’s quite the contrast from how she saw him previously.
“Hey, Rebecca,” he says, smile still plastered on his face.
“Lasso,” she replies, annoyed at the whiplash of behavior.
“I got some biscuits for you earlier,” he says, pointing at her desk. “I hope you enjoy them.”
She nods.
He continues, “Henry has always loved them, and so I figured that you might like them too. If you don’t, I can bring you something else.”
“What is wrong with you,” she barks out.
She didn’t mean for it to come out in that way, but she’s frustrated with whatever this is.
“Nothing,” he says, defensively. “I tried to do something nice for you, and you’re ripping my head off.”
“You just had a literal fucking panic attack not more than thirty minutes ago, and now you’re standing in front of me like it never even happened. Excuse me for not wanting to engage in whatever this bullshit is.”
“It’s not bullshit,” he says, eyes wild, full of frustration.
“It’s not bullshit,” she questions. “I was coming up here to check on you, to make sure you were alright, and talk about whatever happened for you so we can do our jobs together. Then all the sudden, you’re just like all happy go lucky, that ‘I’m a good boy’ thing you do…you’re a fucking wanker.”
He sighs, saying, “I’m trying.”
“No, the fuck you’re not,” she exclaims. “I’m the one trying. I’m trying to meet you halfway, and here you are acting like a knob head.”
“What does that even mean,” he asks.
His hands rise to his hair, brushing through it, face visibly angry. He then grips onto his hair, pulling, and as he lets go, his hair stands up, wild, mimicking the tension in the room.
“You’re being an absolute dickhead,” she yells, her body moving toward his.
“No, you’re being an absolute dickhead,” he yells back at her, as his body moves toward hers.
There’s a pause, and they’re both looking at each other, chests heaving, anger palpable in the room.
“Fuck you,” Rebecca yells.
“Fuck me? No, fuck you,” Ted yells back.
Then there’s a shift. It’s so quick that neither of them knows what happened, but Rebecca’s back hits the wall, as Ted’s body meets hers. His hand lands on the wall next to her head.
“Any time, any place, Sweetheart,” he says.
His phone rings, and she breaks out of the trance that she’s in, pushing him away. He stumbles back away from her.
“In your fucking dreams,” she exclaims, voice laced with something that he doesn’t understand, as she turns to leave their room.
Notes:
.......lol?
Chapter 7: 7
Notes:
Hi Everyone! I'm back! Normally I don't take such a long hiatus from my stories, but between the election, work, the holidays, and the recent fires in Southern California...it's been a rough go. BUT I'm back, these sexy firefighters are back, and there's so much in this chapter....
Trigger warning here for some traumatic images (specifically around fire and the body)
I hope you enjoy!
Please excuse any mistakes on my end
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
Her mind races as she moves quickly, opting for the pole, sliding down, allowing the friction to alleviate the arousal she feels. This is unacceptable, she thinks, wanting to condemn her body in the moment. As her feet hit the floor, she hears everyone in the living room.
“Mom and Dad are fighting.” Also, “I don’t know if I want to hear them fight or fuck.” Then Isaac: “what’s the over-under on the bet?” And then laughter.
Her feet carry her, mind reeling, the sensations between the apex of her thighs betraying her. She reaches the weight training room, and she slides down the wall until she lands on the floor in a heap.
What the fuck was that, she asks herself, out loud.
She takes a deep breath trying to ascertain what happened or is happening…she doesn’t know. And then dispatch breaks through her spiraling.
“MVA, two vehicles, fire.”
“Fuck,” she says out loud, as she attempts to push herself to her feet, but all of her blood is clearly in an area where she doesn’t need it to be, and she’s dizzy.
She shakes it off, as she hears her colleagues moving. Once she’s finally back on her feet, she moves toward the rigs. She runs right into the front of Ted, who has just slid down the pole, and he looks and feels…affected. She wants to focus on the why, but Isaac’s voice booms through her internal spiraling.
“Welton, Lasso, let’s go,” he yells.
She pushes away from Ted, as he moves back, knowing how it must seem because he’s got a raging hard on and now an emergency to navigate.
“Rebecca,” he says, gently, wanting to apologize.
“Lasso,” she replies, anger in her voice, as she turns away from him, reaching for her turnout pants.
Then it’s a whirlwind. Once fully geared up, they sit across from each other, comms system activated, listening to Isaac describe the scene.
“Two vehicles involved in an MVA. Both cars are on fire. Getting word that we need rescue and extraction from both vehicles. Single occupants only, no other vics.”
After acknowledging Isaac, Ted makes sure to catch Rebecca’s eyes.
“You ok,” he asks.
She doesn’t react. Instead, she looks away. She should answer him, but she just can’t bring herself to…she’s too angry at how wet she is between her legs.
“Welton, Lasso, get over it,” Isaac says over comms. “You both have a job to do, and you have to work together.”
They acknowledge him immediately.
*****
When the rig pulls up to the vehicles on fire, they see that station 48 has already arrived, and are prepping to spray the blaze with a chemical agent.
“Zoreaux, we need an additional hose,” Julie requests over comms.
Rebecca hops out, and Ted follows. She turns back to him briefly, giving him a stern look, one that is not helping his raging erection.
“I can do this with you. We can work together,” he tells her over comms.
She nods. She hopes they can too, even though right now all she wants to do is either kill him or fuck him. No scratch that…she wants to kill him. But they have to work together. There is no other option.
They run to the scene, Rebecca splitting off from Ted, as she arrives to the first car. She observes the fire pattern, the location, and the vic. She uses her flashlight because even with the glow of the fire, it’s really dark. She finds that the vic is clearly unconscious.
“Welton, report,” Isaac requests.
“One vic, unconscious. Need JOL.”
She hears the next question, which comes immediately.
“Combo, I think,” she answers over comms.
“Lasso, report.”
“Also need JOL,” Ted states. “Vic is semi-conscious, but will need medical transport.”
“Here and ready for you both,” Barbara states over comms.
As soon as Rebecca gets the device, she pushes it into the metal of the door.
“We need to hurry,” Ted reports. “Fire pattern is moving toward the back.”
She wants to say, ‘no fucking shit,’ but she bites her tongue, as the device pops the door from its hinges. She removes the woman’s seat belt, as she squats down, maneuvering her arms under her, so that she can lift her fully.
When she lifts the vic, she hears, “vic extracted, moving away, about to blow,” over comms.
She turns away from the mangled metal, pushing off the ground with her boot, the vic’s body bouncing as she runs. Then the fire explodes. Luckily, she got far enough away that she isn’t knocked to the ground. She meets Barbara, as soon as Ted does, who has his vic over his shoulder.
Barbara gives them instructions on where to place each person.
“No Sassy today,” Ted asks over comms.
“Day off,” Barbara replies.
Immediately, they all hear, “house fire, 670 Boysen Falls Road.”
“Search and rescue, let’s go,” Isaac yells over comms, as they hear Julie giving instructions for 48.
As soon as Rebecca lays her vic onto the gurney, she runs to the rig, meeting up with it, as it moves forward. She jumps, planting one foot on the paneled ledge, hand reaching for anything so that she can pull herself inside. Ted grabs her hand immediately. She fumbles, but manages to get herself seated.
“Significant fire,” Isaac reports over comms. “Welton, you’re alpha, which will be the front of the house, and Lasso you’re beta, which will be the back. You need to work together on this. 48 is staying with the MVA to get the fires out before coming to us.”
“Over,” Rebecca says.
“Over,” Ted replies.
She realizes that she’s breathing rapidly. She’s currently working on adrenaline, cortisol, and caffeine…perhaps even anxiety. She looks over to Ted, briefly, observing that he’s breathing rapidly too. She wonders if he’s thinking what she’s thinking: is this the arsonist again? Before she has the time, energy, or capacity to ask over comms, they arrive on the scene.
“We don’t know about vics,” Isaac says over comms.
When the rig stops, Ted is jumping out, adjusting his equipment. Rebecca follows, doing the same. They both run toward the structure, as Ted veers off, around the side of the house. When Rebecca stops in front of the door, she pauses. Something feels very off to her. She pulls her axe off her body, where it was strapped into a belt, and swings. It cracks the wood. She swings again, ensuring that she twists her hips in her followthrough. The fire jumps toward her, and she moves back, as far as she can.
“Back door wide open,” Ted reports over comms.
“Fire department, call out,” he yells, which they all pick up over comms.
That immediately confirms her suspicions.
“Eyes open, Lasso. This might be the work of the arsonist.”
“Copy,” he replies.
“Welton, report,” Isaac requests.
She swings again, making contact, as the wood splinters further. She then kicks at it, causing it to break fully open. She enters the structure, the flames encompassing the outsides of the walls.
“Just inside structure. Flames appear to be more located along the walls, no interior fire noted, but a lot of smoke,” she reports.
“Lasso, report,” Isaac requests.
“Same situation back here,” Ted responds.
“Moving to front room, left side,” she reports.
“Moving to the back room, right side,” Ted reports.
“Fires out at MVA,” Julie shares over comms. “Clean up crews have arrived. Heading to you, 76.”
Rebecca makes her way into the room. There’s nothing out of the ordinary. It looks to be a bedroom, lived in, but no one appears to be there.
“Fire department, call out.”
No response. She begins to search, as the fire continues to move up the walls.
“Welton,” she hears over her ear piece.
“Lasso,” she questions.
There’s no response.
“Lasso,” she questions again.
And then she hears the door slam behind her. She turns immediately.
“Someone just closed the door to the room I’m in,” she reports over comms. “Lasso,” she questions again.
“I’m here, I’m here,” he reports, frantically. “Someone closed the door of the room I’m in as well. There’s also a bomb with nails on top.”
“Fuck,” she replies, moving to the door.
She reaches out to tap at the knob, and it’s not hot, so she attempts to twist it, but it doesn’t move.
“I’m locked in,” she reports.
She pulls at her axe, and immediately takes a swing at the door. She notices a shadow beneath it, which moves quickly.
“Chief, there’s someone in here,” Rebecca reports over comms. “I can see the shadow of their feet under the door.”
“I’m sending in Rojas and Obisanya,” Isaac replies.
The shadow moves immediately, but she feels heat, and she knows immediately that they just set the door on fire.
“They’re on the move. They just set the door on fire,” she reports. “Lasso, report.”
“Someone stole my axe that was on the ground near the door. It’s now closed and locked,” he says over comms.
He then notices a shadow.
“I see a shadow too,” he says. “Hey, hey,” he screams out, banging on the door.
“Lasso, they’re going to light the door,” she yells, as she takes another swing. Each crack in the wood causes the oxygen to ignite the fire further.
“There are no windows, I can’t get out if I can’t leave through this door,” he replies, anxiety present in his voice.
“On our way,” Obisanya reports.
“I’m coming around the back,” Rojas adds.
She swings one more time at the door, cracking it open fully, taking a boot to push the door back. She jumps out and through the fire.
“I’m out of the room. Coming for you, Lasso,” she reports, as she runs through the house, toward the back room, where she knows he’s trapped.
“Obisanya and Rojas, keep an eye on any people around the structure and get Welton and Lasso out.”
“Copy,” Rojas says.
“Roger,” Obisanya replies.
“Hurry, the bomb is starting to make some kind of noise,” Ted reports over comms. “It sounds like metal scraping together.”
“Move away from the device. If it explodes, turn your body away from it. Move back from the door,” she requests, as she takes a quick swing, the fire licking up the door.
She swings again, the axe gets stuck, as she pulls to get it to release.
“Welton,” he cries out over comms.
“Hang on,” she replies, swinging again, putting all her energy into it.
It finally cracks. She moves the axe around, attempting to make the hole in the door as big as she can. But it barely moves.
“I’m gonna kick at it. Stay back,” she requests over comms.
She lifts her leg, kicking into the crack with the heel of her boot. It gives slightly. She kicks into it again, and it gives, a hole forming in the wood. She uses her axe to open the base of the hole further. She stops when she sees Ted running to the door. She helps him through it, wrapping her arm around him, as they run toward the back door, where they practically plow into Dani, who guides them outside.
“I’ve got Lasso and Welton,” he reports.
“Obisanya, retreat through the front,” Isaac yells over comms.
As Ted, Rebecca, and Dani run away from the structure, Sam moves out the front door, running, as an explosion rings out.
As dust and debris settle, even though visibility is terrible, Isaac’s voice rings out in their comms system.
“Welton, report.”
“Am ok. With Lasso and Rojas.”
“Injuries,” he asks.
“No,” she replies.
“Negative,” Ted replies.
“No,” Dani answers.
“Obisanya, report.”
No response.
“Can we see Obisanya,” Isaac asks over comms.
He hears a lot of ‘no’s’ and ‘negatives.’
“Obisanya, report.”
“Reporting,” he answers. “Wind caused a fall where I hit my head.”
“Medical assistance for Obisanya,” Isaac requests.
Rebecca, who is sprawled out on the ground, twists herself to her side, pushing her oxygen tank off her shoulder. Once it’s pulled from her shoulder, she moves to the other side to get it completely off her back. She falls back to the ground, head hitting with a thud.
“Fuck,” she says, out loud.
Ted follows her moves, getting his oxygen tank off his back, as he lands back against the grass. Dani does too.
“Everyone ok,” Dani asks them.
“Someone is targeting us,” Rebecca responds.
“I heard that over comms,” Dani replies.
“Did you see anyone around the structure when you were coming to help us,” Rebecca asks.
“No, I didn’t see anyone,” he replies. “It’s so dark everywhere here.”
She nods, at no one in particular, looking up at the stars in the sky.
“Lasso,” she says. “Are you ok?”
He doesn’t respond, so she turns her head to look at him. His eyes are closed.
“Lasso,” she says, shaking him with her hand.
“I’m alright,” he replies. “Just need a moment.”
He pauses, as he opens his eyes, taking hers in…”someone is trying to hurt us,” he says.
She nods, and he nods back. The admission feels painful, almost soul crushing.
“Rojas, did you see anyone as you were making your way to the back,” Isaac asks over comms.
“Negative,” he responds.
“What took you so long to reach the back door,” Isaac asks.
“I don’t feel like I took that long to get to the back,” he answers over comms.
“Ok,” Isaac replies. “Police are moving toward you to search the area. We need to debrief further. Meet us up front. Station 48 will put the fire out.”
Ted responds for all of them in the affirmative.
“Fuck,” Rebecca says, as she lifts her body, watching Dani sit up.
“You alright, Rojas,” she asks.
“I should have gotten to you both sooner.”
“Don’t let Isaac make you feel like you did anything wrong. All of our emotions are high,” she says to him.
“Yeah, you’re right,” he says. “Thanks, Rebecca.”
“Of course,” she responds, as she gets herself to her feet.
“Lasso, do you need help?”
He shakes his head, as he sits up. Rebecca grabs her oxygen tank, and starts making her way around the burning structure.
“You good, Ted?”
“No, Dani, I’m not. I’m scared.”
“I am too,” he replies. “It feels kind of hopeless.”
“There’s always hope,” Ted says, as he lifts his hands, allowing Dani to help him up. “It just feels hopeless right now.”
They move together, taking the same route that Rebecca had taken.
*****
Back at the station, Isaac sits everyone down to debrief. He has each person go through what they saw and experienced.
As Rebecca recounts her experience, including her realization that someone was present in the house with both her and Ted, a chill slips through her body. Ted observes it, fear palpable.
“Do you think it’s possible that there was more than one person in the house,” Isaac asks.
“No,” she responds.
Isaac raises his eyebrows.
“The time it took for me to see the shadows disappear to when Lasso mentioned seeing them…it was a reasonable amount of time where they could have moved from the door in the front to the door in the back.”
“I believe that to be true,” Ted adds. “Whoever it was took my axe, then closed and locked the door of the room I was searching. I think they then moved to the front, and closed and locked the door of the room that Welton was searching.”
“Honestly, now that I think about it, that feels right, specifically with the way you were both reporting everything to all of us,” Isaac says.
“This is a lot,” Sam states.
“It is,” Isaac replies. “We’ll obviously meet with O’Brien and Jan tomorrow morning.”
“Welton, anything to add?”
“The nails on the incendiary device is a new strategy. They wanted to trap and physically hurt whomever was going to be assigned to that room. It’s like they knew the structuring of how we search.”
“I agree. It’s like this person is familiar with our techniques,” Ted adds.
“It’s not like they couldn’t learn about this on the internet,” Dani replies.
“True,” Isaac says, “but this should still be noted for the investigation. Get some rest, everyone. This was a challenging night. Oh and Welton and Lasso…good work.”
*****
She enters their room, fingers combing through her wet hair. She finds him in bed, back against the wall, and he’s on FaceTime with Henry.
“Oh, hey, bud, I need to skedaddle,” he says, as he makes eye contact with her, eyes following as she walks to her own bed.
“Did Rebecca just come into the room? Can I say hi,” Henry asks.
Rebecca hears him, and she smiles to herself, then presses her lips together, so they form a straight line.
“She did, bud, but we had a tough evening, and I don’t think she’ll want to talk right now.”
“I’d love to talk to you, Henry,” she says, out loud, surprising even herself.
Ted’s eyes rise to her. She lifts her eyebrows, as if answering him. He gets up.
“Hold on, Henry,” he says, as his son makes his giddy noises. “Here, I’ll give you my phone, Rebecca.”
“No,” Henry says. “I want to see you both!”
Ted sighs.
“Can I sit,” he asks Rebecca, who nods.
He sits next to her, getting situated, allowing himself to move his phone so they can both be in the frame. As he moves, his thigh touches hers. He doesn’t move away and neither does she.
“Hi, Henry,” Rebecca says.
“Rebecca,” he exclaims. “I miss you. It’s so good to see you.”
“You too, Henry. How are you?”
“I’m doing good.”
“I’m so glad. How’s school?”
“School has been fine. I miss hanging out with you though.”
She smiles into the camera. Ted observes the smile. It doesn’t reach her eyes, and he completely understands why.
“How’s your newest Lego set?”
“How did you know I got a new set? Did Dad tell you?”
“I didn’t, bud.”
“I just guessed, Henry. We put together so many sets, remember,” Rebecca asks.
“That was fun,” he replies.
“It was fun,” she answers, even though there was no question posed.
“Dad said you guys had two big calls tonight.”
“Yes, we did. But we rescued the people that we needed to rescue.”
“That’s good.”
“Yeah.”
“Alright, buddy. It’s time for you to get ready for bed.”
“Daaaaaaaaaaad.”
“No, Sir, don’t Daaaaaaaaaad me.”
“But I want to talk to Rebecca more.”
“Well, tomorrow is a new day. Maybe you can talk to her then.”
“Can we, Rebecca?”
“Happy to, Henry.”
“Ok, bye Rebecca! Love you, Dad.”
“Love you too, Henry.”
Henry disappears from his phone.
“Sorry about that,” Ted says, as he lifts up from her bed, thighs brushing one last time.
“It’s fine. I always want to know how he’s doing,” she says.
Ted retreats back to his bed.
“We should talk,” he says.
“I’m too tired,” she replies.
“I owe you an apology.”
“Yes, you do.”
There’s a pause.
“Well, go on then,” she says.
“I’m sorry.”
“Ok. What are you even sorry for,” she asks.
“Everything.”
“That’s…broad. Want to narrow it down a little bit?”
“Now you’re criticizing my apology,” he asks.
“Do you even know what you’re apologizing for?”
“Can I ever win with you? You make me feel like I can’t do anything right.”
“Oh, so now everything is my fault,” she asks.
“I didn’t say that.”
“You didn’t have to,” she says.
“I don’t want to fight.”
“You say that, and yet…”
“You started it.”
“Again, you’re criticizing me. I swear,” she exclaims.
“You ever think that you’re criticizing me too?”
“No, because I’m not.”
“Says who? You?”
“Yes, me.”
“Because you’re always right, huh?”
“I never said that.”
“You didn’t have to.”
She sighs.
“I refuse to talk anymore.”
“You’re welcome for that apology,” he says.
“Why would I thank you for an apology that feels worthless?”
“You know what, I’ll just never apologize again.”
They hear a bang on their door.
“For fuck’s sake, just fuck each other’s brains out already, Jesus Christ,” Colin yells.
“Fuck off, Hughes,” Rebecca yells back, as she hears him laughing, while he moves on past their door. “And fuck you too,” she says to Ted.
“Real mature,” he replies.
She shrugs.
“You’re closer to the door, turn off the light.”
“You were just up,” he exclaims.
“You’re closer.”
“You’re infuriating and insufferable.”
“Oh, so that’s why you pushed me up against the wall earlier,” she asks.
That was quite the retort, she thinks to herself. She watches him as he watches her. She’s rendered him speechless…until:
“Fuck you!”
“In your fucking dreams, Sweetheart,” she replies.
She turns away from him immediately. He sighs loudly, angrily, as he gets up and turns out the light. She thinks about how affected she was earlier when he pushed her against the wall, and how her body betrayed her by going willingly…? She also thinks about the erection that she clearly felt. And, yes, did she feel it. The man is certainly not lacking. Stop, Rebecca, stop, she says to herself internally, while observing the dampness between her legs, blaming it on her recent shower.
*****
Deep breaths in, deep breaths out, as each foot hits the pavement. It’s like she’s attempting to calm herself with each step, each stride. The bass rattles in her ears, through her headphones. She’s focused, breath in and out. She then notices smoke from a white two-story house up ahead. And it’s automatic. She speeds up, lifting her sweatshirt over her head, headphones falling to the pavement. As she gets closer to the structure, she hears a tiny voice.
“Help! Help!”
Fuck, she thinks to herself. She has no equipment with her, but it should be easy to get in and out. She approaches the side of the house, near a window. She wraps her sweatshirt around her elbow and arm. She then throws her elbow into the window, and it cracks. She does so again, crack widening. She realizes that she needs to use more force. She maneuvers herself the best way she can so she can kick into the window. She kicks, and the crack opens more, causing the glass to rattle then fall. She uses her clothed elbow to move the glass out of the way so it’s big enough for her to climb through.
Once she’s through, she puts her shirt around her mouth to shield her lungs. It’s smoky and hazy inside. Fire climbs the walls.
“Help!”
She hears the voice again, and it sounds like it’s coming from up the stairs. It’s a good thing that this house has an open floor plan, she thinks. It saves her time, as she runs toward the stairs, taking two at a time, arriving at the top immediately.
“Fire department, call out,” she says.
Of course she’s not on duty, but it’s ingrained in her DNA now.
“Help,” she hears, from her right. “Daddy?”
Then she hears a blood-curdling scream, and it’s so terrifying to her, that she somehow moves even faster into a room, eyes bouncing off every surface. She sees him, lying on the ground, fire moving up the right side of his abdomen. He looks to be about nine or ten years old.
“Help me,” he screams out.
She runs to him, ducking down into a low squat, removing the sweatshirt from her mouth to press over the flames to extinguish them.
“It’s ok,” she tells him, fear and anxiety swirling in her gut. “I got you.”
“I want Daddy,” he says.
“I’m sure you do. Tell me your name,” she asks.
“Henry,” he answers her.
“Henry, I’m Rebecca. Is there anyone else in the house with you?”
“Yes,” he says, but doesn’t elaborate.
“Dad, Mom,” she presses.
He shakes his head.
“Alright. It’s alright. I’m going to get you out of here.”
“My side…it burned. It doesn’t hurt. I feel weird.”
“It’s ok, Henry. I got you.”
He starts to cry, and she wants to comfort him so badly, but she can’t fully. It breaks her heart.
“Love, it’s ok. You can cry.” She pauses. "I’m going to lift you now.”
He nods, as she places one arm under his neck, and the other under his legs, below his knees. She lifts him with ease. The side of his body that is burned is away from her, and she doesn’t want any debris to coat the skin, so she places her sweatshirt over the area.
“Hold my shirt to your side,” she says.
She turns toward the door, when suddenly, the ceiling gives and falls, blocking their escape. Henry wails out in fear. She flails backwards, keeping them both as steady as she can, but the smoke is beginning to affect her cognitive faculties.
“Rebecca, I’m scared. Where’s my Daddy?”
She can’t even answer him, because she’s trying to determine a way out, but she’s coming up short. Her breathing begins to slow a little bit, even though her heart is pounding. Her eyes start to shift downwards. No, she thinks to herself. She can do this. She can get this kid to safety. She turns around looking for the window. Perhaps that could be an escape. But they’re also on the second floor. She needs access to a ladder or something. Where is the fire department? Why are they taking so long? The station that she just interviewed at is really close. Why are they taking so long? Her breathing slows more. Her eyes begin to droop further. She blinks them back open.
“Henry,” she says. “I need you to listen to me. I have to put you down. I promise you’re going to be ok. The fire department should be here soon. Get another shirt or blanket and hold it over your face so you can breathe.”
“What about you,” he asks, through his tears.
“I’ll be ok, Henry,” she says, as she drops to her knees.
Henry falls back to the floor, his head hitting the carpeting.
“Get something to cover your face. Go,” she tells him, as she falls to the side, and her body lands on the floor, eyes closing.
Henry gets up, and runs as quickly as his little legs can carry him. He grabs a blanket from his bed, and a shirt that was on the floor. He runs back over to Rebecca, and places the shirt on her face, lifting her own hand, hoping she is able to hold on to it. And he places the blanket to cover his face. He then lifts her sweatshirt to his side. Her eyes open slightly, and she’s able to grip at the shirt that he placed on her. Tears begin to stream down her face, as she accepts that they are both likely to die.
*****
“Rebecca,” Ted yells, as he shakes her, to try to bring her back into the present.
Her eyes pop open, sweat on her brow slipping.
“Rebecca, it’s ok. You’re safe.”
She bursts out in tears, clinging to him, as he lands onto her bed.
“Can I put my arms around you,” he asks her, gently.
She nods.
“I need you to use words, Rebecca. I want your full consent.”
“Yes," she says, meekly, wanting his touch and support and desiring to push him away because she’s so angry at him.
His arms circle around her body, as she turns away from him.
“Can I hold you like this,” he asks, as he moves his body behind hers, face landing beside her neck.
She thinks for a second. She doesn’t want this. She wants to be angry and push him away. Her hesitance causes Ted to cease all his movement.
“Rebecca,” he asks.
He’s so comforting, and she’s so scared. She wants nothing more than to feel him wrapped around her, making her feel safe.
“I need you to say it,” he says. “I’m not trying to take advantage of you. I just want to be here for you. I’ve been having nightmares and flashbacks too.”
He then hears a very meager ‘yes’ from her.
He moves closer, holding her tightly.
“We’re safe, Rebecca. I promise you.”
Her eyes close, and she sees Henry’s little body on fire, and her eyes pop back open.
“Henry,” she says quietly.
“Henry is ok. I promise you.”
“But he got hurt because of me.”
“No, Rebecca. No. He got hurt because of a fire that was started by…it’s…it’s ok. Close your eyes and breathe with me. Feel my breaths,” he says.
She does her best to follow the sensations, the rise and fall of his abdomen along her back.
“We’re safe, and Henry’s safe. It’s ok.”
She falls asleep to the feel of his body and the soothing sound of his voice.
*****
She wakes to the bright sun light that peaks into the room. She’s not fully conscious, not really, but she enjoys the warmth that cocoons her body. The sun is extra warm this morning, she thinks to herself. She lets out a hum. Her eyes blink open. She sees an arm that isn’t hers. And she remembers. She moves a little bit to try to give herself some space from him, but his arm that was lying flat in front of her, actively moves to her abdomen, pulling her back into him. And oh. Oh. He’s hard against her ass, and well, it’s doing things to her. And she shouldn’t. She really shouldn’t. She’s still so angry at him, even though he was so kind to her last night. He lets out a sigh in her ear, and that does it, so she pushes her ass into him. Nothing changes from him. He’s clearly still asleep, but his cock isn’t and well…she pushes herself into his pelvis again, beginning a slow grind. But what the fuck is she doing. She’s doesn’t have the consent to do this. He’s asleep. She’s taking advantage of his state, and that’s not fair to him. She tries to push away from him again, but his grip on her tightens. And fuck, she can’t not grind into him.
“Rebecca, fuck,” he says, which startles her, and she hits the back of her head on his forehead.
“Fuck,” he yells out.
And then they hear dispatch: “service call, animal stuck on electrical pole.”
“God damn it, fuck,” she says, pushing away from him, as he lets her go, both attempting to get up off her bed.
Ted makes eye contact with her.
“Rebecca,” he says.
“No,” she replies, full of embarrassment for her actions, as she moves around him, then jogs out of their door.
“Fuck,” he says, hand gripping his erection.
Notes:
😬
Chapter 8: 8
Notes:
Thanks for your comments and messages. I'm glad you all are enjoying this story 💜
Chapter Text
Ted absolutely fucking hates raccoons. Absolutely. Fucking. Hates. Them. Ok, fine, he doesn’t. But if it weren’t for this particular fucking raccoon, maybe things would be different. Maybe he’d still be in her bed, with her grinding her ass all over his cock, while he pretends to be asleep. His erection is still present, (thank god for these turnout pants), because yeah.
“Lasso,” he hears.
“Chief,” he replies.
“Head in the game,” Issac says.
Ted salutes him.
Meanwhile, Rebecca isn’t fairing much better. After she climbed the pole to separate the wires that is trapping the raccoon, she literally rubs herself on it to alleviate some of her arousal. Did it work? No, but no one needs to know that. It’s all his fucking fault.
“Welton, report.”
“Electrical wires moved away from animal. Animal appears to be stuck on an enclosure used to hold wires together.”
“Animal control has just arrived,” Ted reports over comms.
“Just keep the wires away from it,” Issac requests.
“Over,” Rebecca replies.
She watches the raccoon screech. Its little mouth is open wide, and if that isn’t exactly the way she feels, then she doesn’t know anything else that would exemplify it.
After what felt entirely too long, she is climbing back down. She needs coffee and a miracle.
“Welton, good work. The detectives are waiting on us at the station.”
So much for a miracle…coffee it is, she thinks.
*****
“We can’t investigate the scene yet,” Tom reports.
“I assumed that,” Rebecca says.
“But we do want to share more about our investigation,” Tom says. “This information doesn’t leave this room, except to inform Julie.”
Rebecca and Isaac nod.
“Due to the nature of the education around firefighting, all of our firefighters are suspects. This includes Beard, Lasso, Tartt, Zoreaux, Bumbercatch from 48 and Kent, Hughes, Obisanya, Rojas from 76,” Tom says.
“Of course, there are folks who have been targeted themselves, so please know that we’re taking this with a grain of salt. No one is being surveilled, but we are gathering information on each person,” Jan adds.
Isaac nods.
“Is there anything you need from myself or Julie?”
“No,” Tom replies.
“Alright,” Isaac says.
Tom continues.
“Dr. Zava.”
“Dr. Zava,” Isaac questions.
Tom and Jan glance at Rebecca.
“Dr. Zava has been trying to aggressively pursue me, and it’s bordering on stalking behavior. Tom and Jan set up a restraining order for me.”
Tom nods.
“We have since brought him in as a person of interest. It didn’t yield anything substantial. But we were able to get a warrant to tap his phone.”
“Yeah, the judge was quite keen to do so. Maybe she doesn’t like him,” Jan adds.
Isaac nods, saying, “Rebecca, I’m sorry you’re having to go through all of that.”
“Thanks, Chief,” she replies.
“Always here if you need anything,” he adds.
She nods.
“Barbara reported something that is now on our radar. To be honest, I think it’s a joke, but O’Brien said it needs to be investigated further,” Jan says.
Tom adds, “Barbara shared that she’s concerned about Sassy, and her possible involvement in the fires.”
“Sassy,” Rebecca asks, incredulously.
“Sassy, yes,” Jan replies. “I think it’s way off base.”
“Well, what did Barbara report,” Isaac asks.
“She said, ‘Sassy told me about an article she read about a woman, who intentionally set fires to meet firefighters and flirt with them,’” Tom shares.
“That seems like a joke,” Isaac states.
“Perhaps, but I’m not letting any possible lead go,” Tom replies.
“Fair enough,” Isaac says.
“Sassy seems well-intentioned, even if she goes about things in a misguided way,” Rebecca says.
“If nothing else, she’s really bad at reading the room, so to speak,” Jan blurts out.
“She is also in love with Lasso. That’s been the talk around town since forever,” Tom shares.
There’s a long pause.
“But wait, that theory kind of falls apart now, does it not,” Rebecca asks.
“You mean with Lasso being targeted?”
“Yes,” she replies.
“Not necessarily,” Tom answers. “She will continue to be investigated as a suspect.”
Isaac and Rebecca nod, as Rebecca takes a sip of her coffee.
“Moving on,” Jan says. “We’ve also added Nate to the list.”
“Nate,” Isaac and Rebecca question together, at the same exact time.
“Yes,” he replies. “He’s a former firefighter, and he potentially has motive. You took his job, Rebecca.”
“I didn’t take his job,” she replies.
“No, not necessarily. But motive is there,” Tom adds.
Rebecca nods.
“Not Nate. I just can’t even imagine that,” Isaac utters.
“We are currently investigating him and his whereabouts. Unfortunately though, we don’t have any ability to request help from a judge…at least not yet,” Tom says.
“Ok,” Isaac and Rebecca reply.
“Jan, give them your suspect and theory,” Tom requests.
“Liam,” Jan replies.
Rebecca gasps, as Isaac swallows hard.
“What? He technically has motive.” He pauses, taking in their demeanors. “Ever since it happened, he hasn’t been the same. Sure, he’s still his usual jovial self, but he has motive.”
Rebecca lowers her head, knowing exactly what Jan is referencing. Isaac takes a deep breath.
“You think he would try to target firefighters? Us…his friends…because of what happened,” Isaac asks.
“Grief can make us do terrible things,” Jan replies.
“But he was hospitalized at the time of one of the explosions,” Rebecca notes.
“We’re aware,” Tom replies. “But all suspects are being investigated. Also, we’re looking into whether there may be two people working together.”
“If Liam is a suspect, then what about her,” Rebecca asks.
“Jan and I talked about her,” Tom responds.
“She’s been…” Rebecca stops herself, feeling tears permeating her eyes. “This is all so much. I need a break,” she says.
She leaves the room immediately. She wants to run to her room, but she knows he’ll be there. What she wouldn’t give to finally be off of this shift. After walking aimlessly through the station, Isaac finds her.
“Welton, I know this is a lot. And I know that you are directly affected in so many ways. But we’ve got to do our jobs here. So many people are relying on us.”
“I know, Chief, I know.”
“I know you know. I’m just as shocked as you by this news. We can process it together later. Right now, we have a job to do.”
She nods and follows him back into his office.
*****
She’s numb. Her legs carry her, one step at a time. Once she reaches the door of their room, she pushes it open fully. Ted looks up at her from a book that is perched in his lap. She notices the red mark on his forehead. He takes in her face, observing immediately that something is up.
“You look like you’ve seen a ghost,” he remarks.
“Something like that,” she says.
She walks to her desk, and sits down, head landing on her hands, which are clasped together on the surface.
“You want to talk about it,” he asks.
She doesn’t respond. He’s annoyed by her lack of response, but he lets it go. Only one more hour before they get off of this shift. He needs some time away from her…to think, or so he tells himself.
He watches as one of her arms lift from the desk, fingers tangling in the back of her hair, then moving across her skull. She’s touching the area where her head hit his forehead.
“Does your head hurt,” he asks, gently.
“A little bit, yeah.”
“I’m sorry that I have such a hard head,” he says, in a joking manner.
“I’m not in the mood for jokes, Lasso.”
“Ok,” he says.
She gets up and turns toward him.
“I’m sorry that I did all of that,” she says, waving at the general area where she hit him in the head.
“I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable. Sometimes, he has a mind of his own.”
She knows. She felt it. She brings herself back into the moment, hoping that her face doesn’t give away her thoughts.
“Thank you for your apology,” he replies, sincerely.
There’s a long pause, eyes searching one another’s.
“I thought you were…Luca,” she says.
As soon as she says it, she realizes what it sounds like, and she’s right, as his face displays the annoyance and anger he feels.
“You took a sincere apology and then ruined it,” he says, anger in his voice rising.
“I’m sorry, but why do you even care,” she asks, her own voice rising.
“I don’t,” he says.
“You seem to care a whole lot about who I’m fucking.”
“Trust me, there’s nothing more that I could care less about.”
“Then why are you so angry?”
“I’m not angry,” he yells.
She snorts.
“Yeah, you’re definitely not angry, Lasso. You might want to see someone about that.”
“That’s a low blow, and you know it,” he yells, as he gets up from the bed, book falling to the floor.
“Yeah, it was,” she agrees. “But why do you care about who I’m fucking. Answer me that.”
“I don’t care.”
“You’re lying.”
“Why do you even want an answer? Are you embarrassed of your decisions?”
“Really, Lasso?”
“What,” he asks.
“You’re going to go there?”
“You’re just angry because you have no one,” he says.
“At least someone is fucking me.”
“And how lonely that must be to have nothing more.”
“You don’t know anything about me or my situations,” she yells.
“And you don’t know anything about me or mine,” he yells back.
He sighs.
“Stop! I don’t want to fight,” he says.
“Too late,” she replies.
“Why do you want to keep fighting? What’s in it for you,” he asks.
“Nothing is ‘in it for me,’” Lasso. I’m angry.”
“And I just said I don’t want to fight.”
There’s a long pause. They exchange looks, both of them studying the other, as Rebecca’s phone rings. It breaks the thick tension in the room.
“Honestly, Welton, I can’t wait to get a couple of days away from you.”
“The feeling is fucking mutual,” she replies.
She turns away, picking up her phone.
“Hi. Yes, I’ll be there after work.” There’s a pause, then, “of course I’m leaving with you,” she says, as she turns back around, making eye contact with Ted.
“See you soon,” she says, as she ends the call.
He turns around, picking up his book from the floor, and addresses her without making any kind of visual contact.
“I’m going downstairs,” he announces.
She watches him leave.
*****
The last thing Rebecca wants to do is to be in the same room with Ted (again), but she can’t control where he spends his time off shift.
“Babe, where is your head,” Keeley asks.
“It’s been a tough couple of days.”
“I heard. I’m glad both you and Ted are ok. It’s so scary that someone seems to be targeting you both.”
Rebecca nods, taking a sip of her gin and tonic, as Keeley smirks, no longer able to hold it in for any longer.
“I’ve also heard about the sexy fights.”
“What the fuck,” Rebecca replies, turning toward Keeley, her armor building up.
“Apparently you and Ted are quite loud.”
“Keep your voice down. I don’t want anyone to assume.”
“Well you know how gossip gets around in this small town. Everyone knows.”
“Great,” she replies.
“So, what’s up with all the yelling,” Keeley asks.
“Nothing. He annoys me.”
“What’s going on with your face?”
“Nothing is going on with my face. What are you on about?”
“I’m just reporting what is being reported to me.”
“So the guys think that we’re ‘sexy fighting?’ What even is that?”
“I imagine it’s like foreplay,” Keeley exclaims.
“That’s the last fucking thing I want to do with Ted fucking Lasso and his stupid fucking mustache.”
“Murderous rampages can also be foreplay.”
“Keeley, honestly, I really am not in the mood for this.”
“Babe, ok. I’ll drop it!” There’s a silence between them, as the noise rages around them. “Are you doing alright? I know there’s been a lot of action over the last three days.”
“No, I’m not. But I don’t want to talk about it. I just want to fuck about it instead.”
Keeley nods, looking over at Luca, who is talking to Ted and Beard at the bar. Rebecca’s eyes follow as well. She sees the source of her anger and frustration (and confusion), as well as the tension reliever that she so desperately needs.
Desiring a subject change, Rebecca asks, “how’s Roy?”
“He’s good, yeah. Currently watching some trashy reality TV. Never tell him I told you that.”
She laughs.
“Noted.”
“Ankle is healing though. Slower than he wants. He wants to be out there with you.”
Rebecca takes another sip. She misses him as her partner, but more over, she needs to get away from Lasso. She needs Roy back as soon as possible.
“I’ll tell you one thing, Babe, he makes a terrible patient.”
“Don’t we all,” she replies.
Keeley nods, stirring her drink.
*****
It’s an hour later, and Rebecca has a significant buzz. She’s feeling light and breezy, but she also feels a sense of dread? She takes a long swig of her drink. Maybe if she drinks more, it’ll make her forget, just for the night.
It’s the first time she’s in the same room with almost every possible suspect as the arsonist, and really, it feels unsettling. And if someone were to be actually targeting firefighters, this would be a great place to do it. She shakes this thought from her head. What is she doing, she wonders, as she tries to bring herself back to the conversation before her.
“This is exactly why I always bring a lady some tulips,” Dani exclaims.
“But why tulips,” Sam asks.
Mae interrupts with another round of drinks, as she places them down on the table. Everyone cheers. Dani is here talking about tulips, and she’s wondering if he’s somehow behind the bombs. She hears laughter coming from the bar, and it’s Sassy, who has her hand on Ted’s back, clearly laughing at something he said. Is she somehow involved? Beard sits next to them drinking a beer. But really, should he be drinking, Rebecca wonders. Just because he’s been injured doesn't mean he’s not somehow involved. She shakes her head. She glances away from the bar and makes eye contact with Nate, who sits with other members from station 48. He waves at her, and she hesitantly waves back. He was at some of the scenes. Rebecca then makes eye contact with Liam across the room, who raises his glass to her, with a gentle smile on his face. She shudders, as she then raises her own, with a pit in her stomach. It’s just so unsettling. She gets up, and everyone at the table looks up at her..all of her colleagues and friends, who are also considered suspects. This is too much.
“Babe, you alright,” Keeley asks.
Rebecca nods and points to the bathroom.
“I can come with you,” Keeley says, but Rebecca pats her shoulder.
“I’m fine, Keels, don’t worry.”
She nods, not fully believing her, as she can see the surge of emotion in her eyes, but allowing her to go.
Rebecca weaves through the bar, waving and smiling at folks, which she knows is phony, but she needs to keep it together. When she pushes open the door of the bathroom, she glides into a stall, locking it, and immediately flings her body against it. The person or persons who is trying to harm her and her colleagues could be in that room. And that thought has her spiraling.
“Fuck,” she cries out, hand rising to her chest.
There’s no one to come for her. No one to console her. She’s alone.
*****
Keeley makes her way to the bar, not because she needs anything specifically, but because she’s curious about what is going on between her best friend and Ted.
“Ted,” she says, getting his attention.
He turns his head toward her, but cannot move too far due to the extremely close contact of Sassy up against his side.
“Keels,” he says.
“How’s everything been,” Keeley asks.
“Oh, good. It was a tough shift, but we made it through.”
“Yeah, I heard it was tough,” she replies.
Sassy gives her a look, and Keeley understands what she’s trying to say without words. She’s very clearly interrupting.
“And how are you, Sassy,” Keeley asks.
“Doing great. Just enjoying my evening with Ted,” she says, hand rubbing along his spine.
Ted doesn’t respond, he just picks up his beer, taking a sip.
“Glad to hear it.”
“How’s Roy, Keels,” Ted asks.
“Oh, he’s doing alright. Healing slowly.”
“I bet he’s frustrated.”
Keeley chuckles.
“So frustrated,” then, “hi Beard,” she says.
“Keels,” he replies.
“How are you feeling?”
“A little better every day.”
“Glad to hear it,” she says.
And then there’s a lull. Keeley recognizes it for what it is. She’ll try again later.
“Well, good to see you all.”
They all return those sentiments back to her. And she walks away, frustrated that she didn’t get to ask Ted about what was going on between him and Rebecca. But she’s not a quitter.
She makes her way to the bathroom before being stopped by Dr. Zava, who just arrived.
“Keeley Jones,” he exclaims. “Good to see you.”
“Zava,” she replies.
“What’s with the cold shoulder,” he asks.
“You’re a doctor, figure it out.”
“Just because she made her detective friends fill out a restraining order…”
“She’s here, and you are absolutely violating the order,” Keeley tells him, full of annoyance. “I will call Tom and Jan.”
“No need, no need,” he says, hands up. He then addresses both Ted and Beard, who are looking over at him and Keeley.
“My favorite firefighters. Hope you’re both well.”
They acknowledge him briefly, with either a raise of their drink or a head tilt. Ted is very clearly distracted with Sassy hanging all over him. Dr. Zava observes Sassy’s behavior and a scowl appears on his face.
“You are violating the restraining order,” Keeley says, again.
“You don’t have to be mean about it, Keeley Jones. I’m leaving.”
He turns away from her, saying hello to other patrons. She rolls her eyes, as she makes her way to the bathroom.
“Tartt,” she hears, as some of the fellow firefighters cheer.
She opens the door, and she immediately hears Rebecca’s short pants.
“Fuck,” she says. “Rebecca, open the door. Come on, Babe. Open the door for me.”
Rebecca is frozen, and her breaths are caught in her throat. She can’t move.
“Rebecca,” Keeley says again. “I’m coming in.”
She drops to the floor, and makes her way under the stall. She looks up at Rebecca, whose face is practically unreadable. She pushes off the floor, then stands in front of her. She reaches out to touch her hand.
“Rebecca, listen to my voice. You’re safe. Try to breathe. Follow my breaths.”
But she doesn’t. She can’t. She’s paralyzed with fear.
Keeley attempts to touch her face, and she flinches away from the touch, breath coming rapidly. She’s worried. Normally, she can help to calm her. But for whatever reason, it’s not working this time.
“Rebecca, Babe, it’s me, Keeley. You’re safe here with me. I’m going to place your hand on my abdomen. Try to follow my breaths.”
She lifts Rebecca’s hand to her body, and slips her own hand over hers, hoping that she follows. But once again, she doesn’t.
Keeley is at a loss. She knows what happened on shift. She heard all about it. But now, she’s worried.
“Babe, I’ll be right back. We’ll get through this, I promise.”
She ducks back down, pushing her body under the stall, then making her way from the bathroom. It’s loud, the sounds permeate her ear drums, but her mind is only in one place. She goes to the only person she thinks might be able to help.
“Ted,” she says, hoping to get his full attention.
He turns toward her, with limited motion. He observes Keeley’s face.
“What’s wrong?”
“Come with me,” she says.
His head twists around to Sassy, who has tightened her grip onto him.
“I’ll be right back,” he says.
“Don’t leave me,” she whines.
“I’ll be back,” he repeats. “Have another drink.”
He pushes away from her, and she lets go, begrudgingly. Keeley moves back toward the bathroom. Ted catches up to her and stops her with a hand on her shoulder.
“What is it, Keels?”
“It’s Rebecca. I don’t know what’s wrong, and I can’t calm her down.”
“I don’t think she’s going to want me there,” Ted replies.
“Maybe not. But you can help me at least move her."
Keeley turns away from him, signaling for him to follow her. He does so, but not without anxiety bubbling up inside him. Keeley pushes the door open.
“Rebecca, it’s me. I’m back,” she announces.
Ted follows her inside. He watches as Keeley drops down and slides under the stall. He waits outside of it, hearing Rebecca’s rapid breaths. He feels his own moving quicker and quicker, and he pauses himself to slow back down.
“Ted, I need you to crawl under,” Keeley says.
“Really, Keeley, there’s barely any room.”
“I can’t hold her up. I need you.”
He sighs, dropping to his knees, maneuvering under the stall as best as he can with very limited space. He’s practically straddling the legs of both Rebecca and Keeley, as he finally sits up, upper back practically touching the toilet.
“Rebecca, I’m back. It’s ok. You’re with us.”
There’s no acknowledgment from her.
“Ted, if you can get up and hold her, I can unlock the door, and we can move her so we have more room.”
“Alright,” he says, pushing himself off the floor. “If only I was as tiny as you.”
“You’re search and rescue. You’ve gotten through smaller areas.”
She’s right, he thinks.
“Hurry, she needs us.”
Once he finally gets to his feet, he moves to her. He doesn’t want to touch her without her consent, but he needs to in order to help her. He wraps one arm around her waist, and places his other hand on her hip. He pulls her body toward him, and she goes, willingly, although limp.
“Rebecca. You’re ok, you’re safe. I got you. I promise,” he tells her, with a gentleness that Keeley only sees from him when he’s talking to Henry.
“Good job, Ted. I can unlock the door.”
“Does it open in or out,” he asks.
“Out.”
“Oh, good. This is going to be so much easier.”
Ted feels Rebecca move slightly in his arms, as Keeley opens the door. She waits so Ted can move them outside of the stall. He guides Rebecca across the small room, where there is more space. He presses her against the wall, but he stays close.
“Rebecca,” he says, fingertips moving up to her face. “You’re safe. Can you feel my stomach against yours? I want you to breathe with me.”
Keeley watches them. Rebecca is still catatonic.
“You remember after you woke up after your nightmare, and I got into bed with you. Do you remember feeling my breaths against your low back?” This question is clearly rhetorical, and he doesn’t expect her to answer. “Feel me, Rebecca. And breathe with me.”
Keeley is shocked. They slept in the same bed together? Oh that sexy blonde haired minx needs to start breathing now so she can interrogate her soon, she thinks…after she calms down, of course.
“Rebecca, I’m going to reach for your hand and place it on my abdomen, between our bellies.”
He does exactly what he told her he would do. He places his own hand over hers.
“Follow the rhythm of my breaths.”
While her eyes are open, they’re static. He looks into them, seeking any movement, anything that would show that she’s coming back to him. But there’s nothing.
“Rebecca, we’re safe. Henry is safe. Follow my breaths. Come on, you can do it.”
He notices a slight movement in her green eyes.
“Rebecca, breathe. Come on.”
“Henry,” she chokes out.
“Henry is safe,” he whispers, fingertips landing back on her face.
Her eyes become slightly more expressive.
“Do you feel our hands,” he asks.
She doesn’t nod, but he can tell that she can.
“Breathe to my rhythm. I promise you, Rebecca, you’re safe.”
She attempts to follow the movement of his abdomen. She takes in the chocolatey brown of his eyes.
“Keep going, you’re doing great.”
Keeley watches them and doesn’t understand anything she’s seeing, but she’s excited.
“Ted,” Rebecca says.
“Shhh, breathe, it’s alright,” he replies.
“Ted,” Rebecca says again.
“What do you need,” he asks.
“Don’t go home with her tonight,” she replies, sniffling.
He finds himself completely annoyed at this request, but she’s not herself, and he lets it go.
“No more talking, Rebecca. I just want you to breathe.”
Keeley is shocked. Does Rebecca want Ted to go home with her?
Rebecca closes her eyes, as she focuses on his breaths, making her own follow his. If she continues to look into his eyes, she might do something stupid, like let go of her anger toward him and everything that happened.
“You’re doing great, Rebecca.”
He drops his forehead to hers, and she feels his breaths on her face.
The door opens suddenly, which causes Rebecca’s eyes to pop open, but she doesn’t stray from Ted. He doesn’t move either. Keeley addresses the intruder.
“Sassy, now isn’t a good time.”
“Ted, what the fuck. I thought you were with me tonight.”
He takes another steadying breath, for Rebecca, but more so for himself.
“Sassy, we’re dealing with something here,” Keeley says. “You’re welcome to use the bathroom, but we’re busy.”
“I waited for you to come back,” Sassy tells Ted, who continues to breathe for Rebecca’s benefit (and his own).
“Sassy, go back to the bar, and I’ll be there soon.”
“I’d believe you if you weren’t pressed up against her,” she exclaims. “What’s her deal anyways?”
He lifts his forehead from Rebecca’s, as he then turns his face toward Sassy.
“It’s in your best interest to leave right now,” Ted says.
Keeley is taken aback. She’s never heard Ted talk like that to anyone, (well, except Rebecca, but she knows that there are different reasons for that).
“If I leave, then I’m not going home with you tonight.”
“That’s fine,” he replies.
“Rebecca is ok, by the way,” Keeley adds.
Sassy stomps her foot and throws open the door.
Ted turns his head back to Rebecca, and she looks at him.
“I’m so sorry,” she says.
“About her,” he questions.
She shakes her head.
“You have nothing to be sorry about. Are you feeling a little better?”
She nods.
“Glad you’re alright, Rebecca,” Keeley says, reaching for her shoulder.
“Keeley, can you give us a minute? I promise I’ll come find you.”
“Of course,” she says.
She exits the bathroom.
“Rebecca,” he questions.
“Ted, you need to know something.”
He moves back from her, and he lets go of her hand that was on his abdomen. Her own hand rises to her chest.
“There are multiple people in that room out there who are suspects.”
“What,” he asks.
“And one of them is Sassy.”
“What?”
“And all the firefighters.”
“What,” he asks again.
“And Nate and Liam. This cannot leave the room.”
Ted is stunned. They are all people that he’s known for most of his life.
“And her,” Rebecca adds, with a whisper.
“Her,” he asks, then realizes exactly who she’s talking about. “No.”
“Yes.”
“She’s” -
“Because of us, she’s”…there’s a long pause. “I didn’t want you to go home with Sassy tonight for that reason.”
He sighs, shock enveloping his system.
“I’m sorry to spring all of this on you, I just…”
“I understand,” he replies. “Am I a suspect?”
“Yes,” she replies. “But for obvious reasons” -
“I’m not anymore.”
“No.”
He sighs.
“Are you ok,” he asks. “This has got to be so much for you to hold.”
“It is.”
His hand lifts to her face, fingertips moving along her cheekbone.
“Is this ok,” he asks.
She nods.
“I want you to say it.”
“It’s ok that you’re touching me like this.”
His fingers continue their descent from her cheekbone to her jaw.
“I’m so sorry that I said that I thought you were Luca.”
He pauses his movements. That one really stung this morning. He backs away from her, dropping his hand from her jaw.
“Rebecca, I think it’s best if we get you home. It’s been a tough few days, and with this panic attack, you’ve got to be exhausted.”
“Ok,” she says.
“Ok,” he replies.
He backs away from her further.
“Let me walk you out to Keeley. I’m sure she’s worried.”
Rebecca nods, as he opens the door. She stops him with a hand on his arm.
“Thank you for coming and helping.”
He nods, saying, “my pleasure. I’m just glad you’re feeling better.”
Rebecca lets go, as she walks around him. He follows her, as he notices Keeley talking to Beard.
“Keels,” Ted says, and she turns toward them, taking in Rebecca’s face.
“Babe, come here, you had me so worried.”
Keeley practically runs into Rebecca’s arms, and she catches her, her arms wrapping around Keeley’s waist.
“We need to talk about you and Ted sleeping together,” Keeley whispers.
Rebecca stiffens but doesn’t respond. Keeley lets her go, as Luca approaches them.
“Hey, Sexy, you ready to get out of here,” Luca asks Rebecca.
“Oh,” she replies, completely forgetting about their plans, due to her heightened physical and emotional state.
“Get your things. I’ll take care of you tonight.”
Before Rebecca can accept or protest, he takes her hand.
“Where’s your stuff,” he asks her.
“I have it,” Keeley announces. “Babe, you sure you want to go with Luca? I know it’s been a long night. I’m happy to drive you home.”
“She’s ok,” Luca says.
“Rebecca,” Ted questions, hand lifting to her bicep, before squeezing gently.
She looks at him and sees the question in his eyes.
“I’ll see you both later,” she says, as Luca begins to move her away from them.
They watch Rebecca be guided away. Keeley grasps Ted’s arm, when he turns away.
“You slept together,” she asks him.
“It’s not like that.”
“It’s like something! You slept together in the same bed. You were cuddling her.”
Ted sighs.
“Keeley, not now.”
“Well, if not now, then when,” she asks.
She watches, as he looks back at the door that Rebecca and Luca just exited.
“You like her,” Keeley exclaims.
“No.”
“Yes, you do.”
“Keeley, I can’t do this right now.”
“Why?”
“Because I’m worried about her. You saw how she was tonight. And then she just…went home with him.”
“You wanted to be the one to take her home.”
He sighs, angrily.
“I’m not trying to make you mad, Ted, I promise. I’m just as worried about her as you.”
“I wanted to be the one to take her home.”
“Then tell her that,” Keeley says.
“Every time we try to talk about anything, we fight.”
“Yeah, I heard all about the sexy fights.”
He sighs. Of course she did.
“Tonight was the first time that she actually talked to me…opened up to me.”
“Yeah, and…”
“I was hoping that I could take her home. But she chose him.”
“Maybe one day, Ted, she’ll choose you. But she needs to know that you’re even a choice to choose.”
*****
“Open your legs for me,” Luca says, lips grazing her thighs.
She can’t stop thinking about the bathroom…the way he touched her…the way he calms her down. And she hates him for what he put her through…the guilt she feels. She grabs the back of Luca’s neck to push him into her core. She doesn’t need to think about him anymore tonight.
Chapter 9: 9
Chapter Text
Ted opens his eyes and immediately thinks about her. She could be a suspect in the fires and bombs that are targeting him and his colleagues. He rolls over, hand moving across his bare chest, attempting to soothe himself. His mind flashes back:
“Beard, that’s crazy,” Ted replies, laughing.
They’re sitting in the station kitchen, drinking cups of coffee.
Beard shrugs in response.
“Two alarm fire. 652 East Elm Drive,” they hear over the speakers.
“Fuck,” Ted yells, “that’s my…fuck. Henry.”
Beard swallows hard. They hear everyone run toward the rig. Ted’s heart races, and he feels immediately frozen.
“Ted, Ted,” Beard yells.
After several minutes have passed, he snaps to attention, courtesy of Beard shaking him. His body begins moving on autopilot, running toward the equipment area. He steps into his turnout pants, feet hitting the bottom of his boots, as he’s done so many times before…suspenders slipping over his shoulders…gloves, jacket, face shield, and breathing apparatuses applied.
“Ted, no,” Julie says, as she directs communication in the comms system. “This is too close for you.”
“I can’t stay here,” he tells her.
And she nods.
“But you are not to go into your house,” she says, and he acknowledges her, impatiently.
The rig moves out of the station, sirens blaring, lights flashing. It’s a familiar journey for Ted, and he begins to shake violently, worry and fear present. He looks around at his colleagues, who carry the same expressions.
A car moves into their lane, and Bumbercatch swerves. He narrowly misses it, slamming on the brakes, running slightly off the road. When the rig stops in full, he turns around to look at everyone.
“What the fuck was that,” he asks, rhetorically.
Ted’s chest is so tight that he can barely breathe.
“We’ve encountered a minor issue. A car swerved into our lane, and we’re stuck,” Julie reports over comms. “What’s your ETA?”
“Eight minutes out,” Isaac responds over comms.
“Shit,” Bumbercatch says, as he turns the wheel back toward the road, hoping that there’s enough traction for the tires because it has rained recently.
The truck is heavy with all its gear, and it could easily get stuck, so Bumbercatch knows that he can’t floor it too hard, or else the tires will spin out. He pushes on the gas a little bit, and the rig moves slightly. He applies more pressure, as the tires spin once, twice, before they move a little more. Fuck it, he thinks, as he adds more pressure, and the left tire makes contact with the road, which pulls the rig, right tire spinning multiple times.
“Fuck,” he says.
“Come on,” Ted screams.
Bumbercatch presses on the gas, and the right tire spins more.
“Fuck,” he exclaims.
He presses harder, and the right tire finally gains some traction. Pushing again, ensuring he doesn’t move the wheel, the rig climbs back onto the pavement, and he stops, everything that is hanging inside moving to the rhythm of their anxious heartbeats.
“ETA,” Isaac asks over comms.
Bumbercatch presses on the gas pedal again, and the rig springs to life, moving forward.
“We’re back and moving. Four minutes out,” Julie reports.
Beard breathes a sigh of relief, as he reaches for Ted’s hand.
“Ted, who is at your house,” Julie asks over comms.
“Henry. And,” he pauses, breath narrowly escaping between his lips. “Her.”
“Ok,” Julie says. “Two possible vics. Whoever arrives first is alpha and beta. Everyone else, take the positions of both charlie and delta.”
“Over,” they hear from both Roy and Nate over comms.
“Lasso needs to stay in the rig,” Isaac states.
“He will,” Julie replies.
Ted’s leg bounces up and down, sweat permeating the face covering that he wears.
“They’re going to be alright,” Beard says.
“You’re ok. You’re safe,” he says to himself, hand moving over his chest, attempting to increase the length of his breathing.
He feels the sun on his face, and he attempts to ground himself into the warmth. His phone begins to vibrate on the nightstand. His eyes open, but he doesn’t answer.
*****
She wakes but keeps her eyes closed. She feels him behind her, his arm slung over her abdomen. She pushes herself back into him, and he stirs. She does it again, as his breath quickens against her neck. She feels him begin to harden, and she writhes on him. His hand presses down on her hip, so she can move more fluidly against him.
“Don’t speak,” she says, as he releases his hand from her hip then moving to her breast, squeezing her, nipple puckering against his palm.
With the room that he’s created, she reaches around to his cock, guiding it to her entrance.
“Fuck me,” she tells him. “Don’t say a word.”
And Luca obeys.
*****
“Dad,” Henry exclaims, running toward him when Michelle opens the door.
“Hey, Michelle,” he says, a hint of irritation in his voice, attention shifting immediately to his son, who’s barreling toward him.
Ted squats down to receive the massive hug that Henry gives him. Michelle chuckles watching them. Their marriage may not have worked out, but she still loves Ted with every fiber of her being. And seeing their son with him continues to remind her that she wants to consistently be the co-parents that Henry deserves.
Henry begins talking and telling him all the things that 9 year olds want their parent to know. Michelle observes Ted, knowing immediately that something is off.
“Henry, go get your shoes, ok? I know you’re hungry,” Michelle says.
“Ok,” he exclaims, as he runs out of the room.
“Hey, Ted, are you alright?”
“Nothing is wrong, Michelle.”
“That’s not what I asked you,” she says. “I’m not wanting to fight, I just want to make sure you’re ok.”
He sighs.
“I’m not fully alright, but I promise you, he won’t know.”
“Ted, this isn’t about Henry or your behavior around him,” Michelle says, sympathy in her voice. “I know work has been difficult. If you need me, I’m here.”
“Thanks, Michelle.” He pauses, not sure what, if anything, he should share. “It’s about her.”
Her mouth drops open.
“I can’t say anything further, and I’m sorry for that.”
“That’s ok, Ted.”
“I shouldn’t have even said that.”
“Ted, it doesn’t leave this room.”
They hear Henry running out of his bedroom.
“Let’s try to enjoy the afternoon,” Michelle says, as Ted nods.
*****
Michelle laughs at something Henry says, as she briefly notices a person with a dark navy blue jumpsuit, walking toward them. She shifts her focus and knows immediately that it’s Rebecca. She looks deep in thought, frown lines prominent on her face. Before she can say anything, Henry yells out, “Rebecca!”
Rebecca turns toward the voice and a smile forms.
“Henry,” she exclaims back.
He pushes away from his chair, excitedly, and runs to her, engulfing her in a hug. Michelle and Ted watch them.
“Rebecca, since you’re here, you’ve got to have lunch with us,” Henry says.
She pats his shoulder.
“Oh no, Henry. You’re having lunch with your family.”
“But I want to have lunch with you too,” he says, pouting.
Michelle looks over at Ted, who doesn’t seem as uncomfortable as he normally is when around Rebecca. That’s interesting, she notes.
“You’re welcome to join, Rebecca,” Michelle says.
Ted nods, not speaking, necessarily, but he’s not sure how to feel. He didn’t want to see her so soon, but another part of him does. He feels torn.
“Well, I am pretty hungry,” she replies.
Henry cheers, saying, “you can sit next to me.”
He asks the patrons at a nearby table, and they grant him permission to take their unused chair. It makes Ted smile. He’s happy to see that his son is so kind, not that it surprises him.
Rebecca thanks him, as Henry brings the chair next to his own, and she sits down, as a person brings her a menu to peruse.
“Hello, Ted,” she says.
“Rebecca,” he replies. “I see you’re coming from inspection.”
She nods.
“I’m curious about what you found.”
“Honestly, we found nothing, but I’ll go into it more when we’re back on shift.”
“Rebecca, I got a new lego set,” Henry says, turning toward her.
“You did,” she asks, turning toward him in interest.
Michelle watches Ted, and she’s surprised at what she’s seeing. Just being in Rebecca’s presence for a few minutes has caused him to calm further.
“Hey, Henry, the food is almost here. Go wash your hands, ok,” Michelle requests.
He nods.
“I’ll show you my lego set in a minute.”
Rebecca acknowledges him by patting his knee before Henry gets up from the table.
Their server approaches the table, and Rebecca makes a quick choice for her meal. He thanks her as he leaves.
“How did it go with the restraining order,” Michelle asks Rebecca.
Rebecca blanches.
“Oh, Rebecca, gosh, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.”
There’s a long pause.
“It’s ok,” she replies.
“Restraining order,” Ted asks, shocked. “Are you ok?”
Michelle continues to notice the difference in his behavior toward Rebecca. There’s another long pause.
“Yes, I’m ok.”
That doesn’t answer his question, but before he can say anything else, he’s interrupted.
“Grandma,” Henry exclaims, as he walks out of the front door toward their table.
“Henry,” she exclaims, as he runs toward her, then hugs her around her waist.
“How’s my favorite grandson,” Dottie asks.
“I’m your only grandson,” Henry replies, chuckling.
Dottie chuckles too.
“Fancy meeting everyone here,” she says, taking a long stare at Rebecca.
“Why is she here,” Dottie asks.
“I’m actually leaving,” Rebecca replies.
“No, Rebecca, don’t go,” Henry says.
“It’s ok, Rebecca, stay,” Michelle states. Then to Dottie, “if you can’t be cordial, you can leave.”
Before Dottie has a chance to respond, Ted butts into the conversation.
“Mama, what are you doing here?”
“I was just out for a stroll. It’s a lovely day after all. We used to bring you here as a little boy. You remember that?”
“Of course I remember, Mama,” Ted replies.
She pulls up a chair, doing the opposite of what Henry had done, and sits.
“How are you, Son,” she asks. “These fires and bombs…it’s all so scary.”
Rebecca looks over to Henry, whispering in his ear, and he chuckles, reaching for his lego set. Ted looks over at her, grateful that she’s trying to distract Henry. He doesn’t need to hear this.
“I’m just so scared about it all, Ted. When your dad was still alive, I was terrified every time he went to work…just like I am with you now.”
He nods, about to speak, when Dottie begins again.
“And then…you remember everything that happened. It’s what caused your ‘episodes.’” She pauses, saying, “your father gave everything to this town. He was an amazing firefighter.”
Rebecca looks up at Ted briefly, while Henry begins to show her his lego set. Ted catches the questions in her eyes. He tries to focus back on his mother.
Dottie observes the connection that her grandson has with Rebecca.
“Henry, Dear, your mother is over there,” she says.
Henry looks at Dottie, confused.
“Mama, that’s inappropriate,” Ted says.
“What, Ted?”
“Dottie, I think it’s time to go,” Michelle says.
“No, I should go,” Rebecca replies.
“Rebecca, stay, please,” Michelle answers.
At that moment, Rebecca’s phone rings.
“I need to take this,” she says, hastily, answering the call, as Ted and Michelle begin talking to Dottie, and Henry addresses Rebecca.
“Hello?”
There’s a long pause, as Rebecca gets up from the chair, patting Henry’s shoulder. There’s a silence on the line.
“Hello,” she says again, as she moves away from their table.
Keeley recognizes the voices of Ted, Michelle, and Henry.
“Babe, are you on a family date?”
“What? No. I just happened to run into them, and Henry asked me to stay for lunch. I can’t say no to him.”
“Well, isn’t that just the cutest thing.”
“Not really, his mother just showed up, and you know she fucking hates me.”
“Eh, who cares about Dottie Lasso. She’s just a bitter, old woman.”
“Be that as it may, it’s so awkward. It’s the reason I answered your call.”
“Were you not going to answer if Dottie wasn’t there?”
“I didn’t say that.”
“You didn’t have to…”
“I know why you’re calling,” Rebecca says, sighing.
“Well, you owe me the gossip about what happened over your shift.”
“Keeley.”
“Nope, Babe! Tonight, I’m coming over.”
“What if I’m not there,” Rebecca asks, defiantly.
“Where else will you be?”
Rebecca doesn’t answer her.
“Exactly. See you tonight,” Keeley says, in a sing-songy voice.
Rebecca ends the call, turning back toward the table. What if she just turns the other way and leaves. But then Henry would be devastated. She takes a deep breath and begins walking back.
Rebecca hears, ‘well, she got your son hurt,’ from Dottie.
She then hears, ‘yeah, and I caused him to get hurt too,’ from Ted.
Rebecca is surprised, but she schools her face.
“Mama, it’s time for you to go,” Ted says.
“Fine. It’s too nice of a day to argue,” Dottie replies. She then says to Henry, who was being distracted by Michelle, “Henry, I’m excited to have you over tomorrow.”
“Can we play our favorite game,” he asks.
“Of course,” she replies.
Rebecca sits back down, not saying anything, attempting to keep the peace.
There’s a long pause from Dottie, as she rises.
“Well,” she says.
“Mama, don’t,” Ted says, in warning.
“Ok, well. I guess I’ll go,” she says. “See you tomorrow, Henry.”
Henry gets up to hug her goodbye. No one else moves, including Ted.
“Goodbye, Ted,” Dottie says, whose attention shifts to someone she knows, as she calls out to them, walking away.
There seems to be a collective exhale at the table, when plates of food begin to be placed in front of them.
“Rebecca, I can share with you until your own food comes,” Henry says, none the wiser of the tension at the table.
*****
When the knock sounds, she sighs.
“You big, beautiful minx, I know you’re home,” Keeley says loudly.
“Jesus Christ,” Rebecca says to herself.
She opens her door tentatively.
“You’re acting like I’m going to attack you,” Keeley says, a smirk on her face.
“Your face says otherwise,” she replies.
Keeley laughs as she grabs her, holding her close, as Rebecca allows herself to be embraced fully. When Keeley lets go, she moves into her apartment, as Rebecca closes the door.
“I know you don’t want to talk about any of it, Babe, but I’m dying. You’ve got to give me something.”
“Did you bring alcohol,” she asks.
Keeley pulls a bottle of champagne out of her purse.
“It’s like you don’t even know me,” she responds.
“Alcohol first, then talk.”
“Definitely,” Keeley agrees.
*****
“So you didn’t actually sleep together,” Keeley questions. “This is disappointing.”
“Well,” Rebecca replies.
“But you slept in the same bed, and he held you!”
“He just felt bad for me, probably.”
“That doesn’t seem true. The way he talked to you in the bathroom…the way he held you…Rebecca!”
She looks away, as she remembers how she was grinding on him in a moment of weakness, and a stupid fucking raccoon just had to get itself stuck in electrical wiring equipment. She should be thanking it, if she’s honest. But she also wonders how far it would have gone without that distraction.
“Wait a minute. What’s happening with your face,” Keeley asks.
Rebecca sighs.
“Nothing.”
“No, whatever this is…is not nothing. Something happened.”
“Nothing happened.”
“Ok,” Keeley replies. “Nothing happened. But you wanted something to happen.”
“What,” Rebecca exclaims.
“Oh, that struck a nerve.”
“No.”
“Oh, yes, Babe. Tell me,” she exclaims.
“There’s nothing to tell.”
Keeley eyes her. She really thought the alcohol would let her guard down enough to tell her everything. She decides to change the subject.
“So…what are the sexy fights about?”
“Oh my God. They aren’t sexy fights.”
“That’s not what I’ve heard.”
“Who knew grown men were such fucking gossips.”
“Men are notorious gossips,” Keeley replies, laughing.
Rebecca downs the last of the champagne in her glass.
“Have you at least talked about what happened?”
“No,” she replies.
“Ok. But you have to work together now.”
“Only for a couple more weeks, and then he’ll go back to his station.”
Keeley sighs.
“Sounds like you got it all figured out then.”
*****
He comes up from between her legs, and she sighs, hand letting go of the grip in his hair.
“You feel better?”
He moves to the side, lying next to her, watching as she comes back to herself.
She nods.
“I know there’s been a lot going on. You ok?”
“Yeah,” she replies.
“What’s happened recently?”
“Someone is targeting firefighters. Whoever it is wants to actively harm us.”
“That’s scary,” Luca replies.
“The recent bomb was so bizarre. It had nails on the top. It was designed to explode causing the nails to ricochet outwards, intending to hurt my colleague.”
“I’m just glad you’re ok,” he says.
There’s a pause, and she looks over at him, surprised by his emotional response. That’s not what she needs or wants in this dynamic. She looks away, attempting to catch her breath, not desiring to engage any further.
“You want to slide down my pole,” he asks, a glint in his eye.
Her face scrunches up.
“Do you really think that stupid fucking line is going to work on me?”
He smirks.
“Every one of my lines work on you,” he replies, as he reaches for her hip.
She pushes away from him, getting up, legs wobbly.
“Where you going,” he asks. “I haven’t even fucked you yet.”
“And you’re not going to because I’m leaving.”
“Rebecca, you’re all bent out of shape because I said that?”
She gathers her things, tosses her clothing on, and hopes that she’s at least covered.
“Fine,” he says. “You’ll be back.”
She doesn’t even respond. She doesn’t know what she’d even say.
*****
When she gets home, she takes a very long shower. As soon as she turns the water off, she hears her phone ping. She plucks a towel from its hanger on the wall, drying herself. She squeezes her hair into it, allowing the water to permeate the fibers. She hangs the towel, and then picks up her phone, expecting a long text apology from Luca, but what she sees instead is an apology from Ted.
Ted: Hey, it’s Ted. I’m so sorry for my mother
How did he get her phone number, she wonders. They should have their numbers regardless because they are partners, but it surprises her…including the apology. It seems sincere, just like the way he took accountability for his own actions to his mother.
Rebecca: Thank you for saying that
Ted: I want to talk
Rebecca: Like right now?
Ted: It doesn’t have to be right now
Rebecca: Ok
Ted: Ok?
Rebecca: Yes, Ted. Ok
Chapter 10: 10
Chapter Text
“Ted, do you know anyone who may be out to target you,” Tom asks.
“Well, I mean…no,” Ted answers.
“That was weird,” Jan replies.
“Say again,” Tom says to Jan.
“You hesitated, Ted. Are you thinking of someone,” Jan asks.
“Her.”
Tom and Jan nod, as if conveying that no other explanation is necessary.
*****
“Where is Lasso,” Rebecca asks Isaac, as she exits the equipment area.
“He’s with Jan and Tom in my office.”
“Oh,” she says.
“He’s available if we get a call.”
“I assumed.”
There’s a pause.
“I can’t believe that the arsonist or arsonists were literally at the structure, and we have absolutely no proof. No footprints, nothing,” Isaac laments.
She nods.
“I legitimately don’t understand it. There’s nothing,” she replies.
“You can present your findings in about twenty minutes…48 and Julie will be here. I suspect Lasso will be done way before then.”
“Ok,” she says.
She climbs the stairs, her bag dangling at her side. She enters their room, finding evidence that he is indeed at the station. She turns toward her desk, flinging her bag on the bed. She notices a little pink box. She picks it up, bringing it to her nose, as she takes a long whiff. Once again, it smells like home. But she won’t tell him that. He doesn’t need to know. She puts it back down, taking a minute. He wants to talk…he texted that. There’s a part of her that wants to hear what he has to say, especially after she heard him take accountability for his own actions with his mother. And there’s another part that is still so angry at him for what transpired. She sighs aloud. She turns toward her bag, rifling through it, trying to find her phone. Once she does, she pulls up Roy’s contact information and sends him a text.
Rebecca: how did your follow up go?
Three dots follow, and she waits.
Roy: good…still out for a while
She sighs.
Rebecca: miss you
Roy: things aren’t going well with the cowboy?
Her lips curve up in an annoyed smile.
Rebecca: it’s fine. Just miss you
Roy: fuck you…seriously are you alright
Rebecca: yeah
Roy: K
Rebecca: I hate it when you text k
Roy: K
Rebecca: fuck you
Roy: K :)
She rolls her eyes, chuckling, and she drops her phone on the bed, turning back toward her desk and the pink box that…taunts her, tantalizes her? She reaches for it, fingertips encasing the cardboard-like texture. She lifts it to her nose, smelling again. She then opens the box, seeing three cut biscuits. She lifts one from the small package, feeling the dense ingredients, heavy on her fingers. She takes a bite, crumbs falling onto her desk.
“Fuck me,” she says, a moan filling the room.
A throat clears behind her.
“That’s quite the compliment,” Ted says, as he leans into the doorway.
She turns quickly toward his voice, biscuit held between her fingers, mouth moving, as she continues to taste the creation that he has gifted her. He watches her mouth move, until she holds her other hand up in front.
“Where did you get these from,” she asks.
“Do you like them?”
She nods.
“Good,” he says. He pauses, then points over his shoulder. “48 is here. It’s time to debrief.”
“Oh,” she replies, placing the rest of the biscuit in her mouth, chewing immediately.
“I’m really glad you like them.”
“Thank you,” she says.
She repackages the biscuits, folding the lid back into the box, putting it down tenderly. He watches her and notices how gentle she’s being. It causes his heart to thump in his chest. She wipes her hands on her slacks. She nods, as she begins moving toward him. He pushes off the door frame fully, to make room so she can exit first. He turns around, watching her ass, as she makes her way into the hallway.
*****
“We know that the arsonist/arsonists, we’re unsure if it’s one person, two, or multiple, were physically inside the structure with both myself and Lasso.”
“Do you think it’s multiple people,” Jamie asks.
“We are unsure,” Rebecca reiterates, annoyed.
Everyone nods.
“This is also the first incendiary device that is a little bit different from the others. This is the first one where there are additional materials or enhancements. In this case, it was nails, which clearly indicates that whoever this arsonist or arsonists are do intend to hurt us.”
There are some murmurs around the room, as Isaac and Julie glance at each other.
“Other than that, this device is similar to all the other ones.” She pauses for a moment, seeking questions. “Additionally, we found no footprints or shoe markings detected anywhere, which is interesting, since we know the person or persons was there at the location. We don’t quite know what to make of that.”
“Perhaps someone is wearing some kind of protective covering,” Zoreaux replies.
“Oh, like Michelle sometimes wears in the emergency room to cover her shoes,” Ted adds.
Rebecca makes a mental note, as she watches Tom and Jan write in their notepads behind her colleagues.
“Interesting thought,” Rebecca says.
“And no one found anyone in the woods nearby,” Sam asks.
“What about footprints out there,” Jamie questions.
“Nothing was found in the woods,” she says, “including forestry that appeared to be stepped on…detectives found nothing.”
“Whoever this is…is like a ghost,” Jamie exclaims.
Rebecca rolls her eyes at Jamie.
“Probie, read the room, bro,” Zoreaux says to him.
“Anyways, we have no new leads. Just continue to be cautious on all calls and be conscious of the environment during search and rescue operations,” Rebecca states.
More murmurs and nods.
“Does anyone have any questions for myself or the detectives,” she asks.
“When the bomb exploded, did the nails as well,” Jamie asks.
“Yes,” Rebecca answers. “Is there a reason that you’re asking?”
“Just curious,” Jamie says.
And Tom and Jan write in their notebooks.
“Alright, thank you Welton. 48, you’re dismissed. Good to see you all.”
Members of station 48 get up and leave the area, as they get ready to travel back to their station.
“Now, you all know it’s that time,” Isaac says.
They all grumble.
"Equipment inventory and maintenance today,” Isaac says, as everyone groans.
“Hey, hey. We can make it more exciting if we send someone out to get fancy coffee, right?”
Their groans lessen slightly. It’s a well-known fact that firefighters don’t just fight fires. But if you ask any firefighter their most hated part of the job, it’s this, and well, losing victims, obviously.
“Alright, does anyone volunteer?”
No one does.
“Ok, fine,” Isaac says. “I’m thinking of a number between 1 and 50, closest person to the number has to go get the coffees.
Each person calls out their number.
“Lasso?”
He’s pulled out of his thoughts.
“43,” he says.
“And Welton,” Isaac asks, whose mind was also elsewhere.
“4.”
“Sorry, Welton, you’re the closest.”
“Fuck,” she replies, annoyed, as her colleagues start spewing their coffee orders at her.
“Just write it all down,” she exclaims, annoyance exacerbated.
“We’ll get started in about an hour,” Isaac says.
They all leave the room. She gathers their handwritten orders, realizing that her annoyance isn’t solely on having to go get the coffees…she honestly doesn’t mind. It’s just that she’s about to see Liam, and she’s not sure how to act, especially knowing that he is now a suspect.
She leaves the fire station, walking toward the coffee shop. She knows that if a call comes in, they’ll contact her, and pick her up. As she walks, she takes in the sun on her face, the wind flowing through her hair. And suddenly a chill rips through her body, as soon as she sees the sign for the shop.
She opens the door, noticing that her heartbeat has picked up its pace.
“Rebecca,” Liam exclaims. “It’s good to see you.”
“Hi, Liam. Nice to see you as well. I have some orders for you.”
“Ah, I see. So it was your turn, huh,” he questions, chuckling.
“I lost the bet,” she replies.
“I’m sorry to hear. Alright, hand me the list.”
She drops the handwritten orders onto the countertop, as Liam wades through them.
“Ok, Rebecca, you got it.”
He begins on the orders. She glances around, trying not to give away her discomfort.
“How are you,” he asks.
“I’m fine.”
“Just fine,” he asks, as he begins steaming the milk.
“Well, you know, I’m tired.”
“I can imagine.”
There’s a long pause, the only noises are from the espresso machine.
“How are you,” she asks.
“I’m doing alright. Just taking one day at a time.”
“That’s fair,” she says, mind totally elsewhere.
There’s another long pause, as he continues to work.
“I heard that you and Ted were trapped during that last fire. I’m glad you’re both ok.”
“Me too,” she replies, trying to find something to focus on, so she doesn’t have to engage in any more conversation.
Why did she not bring her phone?
“You know when my wife got sick, I felt all this pressure to do everything I could to protect her. I bet you feel that way now.”
She does. The pressure feels massive. If she doesn’t figure this out, one of her colleagues could be seriously harmed or killed. It’s bad enough that two firefighters are already out with injuries caused by this person or people.
All she can reply with is a quick nod and “yeah.”
“I think about you and Ted and all the other firefighters at this time. It’s got to be a lot.”
The espresso machine whirrs.
“Yeah. And thank you.”
She turns around, looking out the window. This gives her a moment of peace with no more conversation. She takes a deep breath, trying to reduce her heart rate.
Coffee beans grind, which wind her up again, as she catches a glimpse of the bulletin board hanging on the wall.
The espresso machine whirrs again.
A flyer catches her attention, but before she can react with the panic she feels, she hears Liam say her name. She turns.
“Here are these drinks…just finishing the last one.”
“Ok, she says.
There’s another long pause, and she’s grateful for the silence. He pours steamed milk into a cup, and pours espresso, making a unique design in the foam.
“You’re all set!”
“Thanks, Liam. I hope you have a good rest of your day.”
“I hope you have a safe shift,” he replies.
She lifts both trays from the counter, as Liam moves around it and ahead of her. She takes one last look at the flyer, as he opens the door.
“Thanks,” she says, as he nods.
She walks back toward the station, mind swirling.
“Ms. Welton,” she hears, and she stops immediately.
“Trent Crimm,” she says, as she turns toward him.
“Good to see you. Do you have a moment?”
“No.”
“That’s ok, I’ll walk with you. Do you need a hand?”
“No.”
She sighs loudly, ensuring that her annoyance is known, as she turns and begins walking again.
“So firefighters are being targeted by the arsonist or arsonists…”
She stops, turning toward him.
“Where did you hear that,” she asks.
“Can you confirm?”
“No.”
“So is that confirmation?”
“You are going to get more firefighters hurt if you print that,” Rebecca replies.
“Ms. Welton, I’m only doing my job,” Trent says.
“Fuck off, Trent, and yes, that’s the only thing on the record.”
She turns away from him, trying to balance the beverage holders in both of her hands with her teetering legs. Somehow they cooperate, and she makes her way back to the station with anger swirling in her gut.
With each step, her boots pound the pavement, shock reverberating up her legs, the physical feeling not lost on her emotional state. She’d like to pound Trent Crimm to the ground.
She walks into the station, and everyone greets her by taking their beverage from the holder.
“You’re welcome,” she barks.
She tosses the empty tray into the trash and sits the other on the table. The drinks that remain are hers and Ted’s.
She lifts hers and Ted’s from the tray, tossing that tray as well. She takes a sip and begins walking up the stairs. She stomps up them, attempting to push her anger out of her. She walks into the room, and Ted looks up at her.
“Oh, you’re back,” he says, with a gentle smile on his face.
She nods, walking over to where he sits and gives him his coffee.
“Thank you,” he says, in earnest.
She turns away, walks to her desk, and sits. She opens the pink box, removing a biscuit, and she takes a bite. He can hear a noise escape her, whether it’s a moan or a groan, he doesn’t know. But he likes it.
“So, hey, Rebecca, can we talk?”
She stops mid chew. She shakes her head no. She begins to chew again and then swallows.
“But you texted back saying ok to talking.”
She turns in her chair.
“Am I not allowed to change my mind,” she asks.
He throws up his hands.
“Ok. Ok. Bad time, I guess. Thank you for the coffee.”
She nods.
“Did something happen on the way to the coffee shop? Are you ok?”
“Why do you care, Lasso?”
“Well, I care about you. Or I want to, but you won’t let me.”
“You don’t even know me,” she says, as she gets up.
“I know some things about you,” he replies.
“Oh, yeah? Like what?”
“No, you know what…I’m not saying anything else. I don’t want to get my head ripped off again.”
She rolls her eyes.
“Fine. I don’t care anyways,” she says, as she turns back toward her desk and sits down.
“You’re welcome for the biscuits.”
She turns toward him.
“Oh would you like another thank you? Would you like me to suck your cock in gratitude? You act like such a child when you aren’t getting immediate praise. What is wrong with you?”
“What is wrong with me? What is wrong with you?”
“Fuck you, Lasso,” she says, getting up, picking up her cup, and leaving the room.
Ted sighs, as he places his hand on his cock, as he plays the words she said over and over in his brain.
*****
Two days. Two whole days of nothing but maintenance and incident reporting. But it’s better than being targeted by an arsonist or arsonists.
After finishing her last report, she completes a workout and then takes a quick shower. When she’s done, she realizes that she doesn’t have all of her clothing with her. She begins to walk back to their room. She hopes he’s still working on his own reports or watching tv or anything else than sitting in his bed. But alas, there he is, looking up at her when she walks in, clad in only a towel, water droplets slipping from her taut muscles.
“Oh,” he says, clearing his throat. “I can give you a moment.”
He gets up, moving his book to the side.
“You don’t have to leave,” she says.
He pauses, looking up at her. She realizes immediately what that sounded like.
“I brought the wrong clothes. I’m going to grab the right ones and go back” -
“I don’t mind giving you a few moments. Really.”
He gets up from his bed, gives her a gentle smile, and closes the door behind him. She stares at it for a few moments, before she drops the towel, rummaging through her bag for her clothing.
After fully dressing, she gets into her bed, wet hair be damned, and lets the silence envelop her. Moments later, she’s asleep.
*****
He thrashes, once, twice.
“Welton, alpha, Lasso, beta,” Isaac says. “Give me one moment as I begin the fire simulation.”
His mind flashes forward.
“Debris down, blocking access into beta,” he reports over comms.
“So you do need my help,” Rebecca retorts, and he rolls his eyes.
He looks out at the downed debris, and he knows it isn’t real. And yet, it feels so real. His breath quickens, and he crouches down, a shell of himself, hands gripping his own fists.
His mind flashes again.
“Lasso, report,” Julie requests over comms, anger in her voice.
He hears her through his ear piece, and he can’t respond, as he’s running up the stairs, two at a time.
“Kent, report,” Isaac requests.
“Moving inside from back entrance, heading to alpha,” he says.
“Shelley, report.”
“Inside, moving to beta,” Nate reports.
“Beard, report.”
“In charlie,” he replies.
Ted makes it to the top of the stairs, and there is debris down everywhere. He attempts to move around everything as quick as he can, trying to get to Henry’s closed door.
“Henry,” he calls out.
He gets closer, and more debris falls in front of it, stopping him immediately. He falls to his knees in a panic. His chest feels like it’s collapsing on itself, breath tumbling from his lungs. He feels hot, which is in part the fire, but even more so, the despair that courses through his veins. He can’t get a breath in at all. He wheezes, lungs failing him. He feels numb, dizzy even. He feels like he’s dying.
The debris is blocking his ability to rescue his own son.
His mind flashes again.
“Daddy,” he screams.
He can see his dad through the opening in the wall.
“Teddy, don’t you move any closer,” Dottie yells.
“Daddy,” he screams again.
The debris is blocking his ability to rescue his own dad. But that isn’t his job. His dad is meant to be rescuing him.
“Ted,” she says, in a soothing voice.
Ted thrashes and kicks.
“Ted,” she says, again, gently.
He continues to move aggressively, and she’s worried he’s going to hurt himself and her, so she grabs his arms, and lifts them over his head, pinning them down. She then straddles his hips. She whispers in his ear.
“Ted, you’re ok. You’re safe. I got you. I promise.”
His eyes pop open, and she lifts her head to meet his gaze.
“You’re safe. It’s ok. I’m going to let go of your arms.”
She loosens her grip, as her fingertips slip from his forearms to his biceps.
“Rebecca,” he says, fear present in his voice.
“Shh, it’s ok. Can you breathe for me?”
He’s dizzy from the nightmares, but also her, who is on his lap, looking gorgeous in the moonlight.
“Rebecca,” he says again.
“What do you need, Ted,” she asks.
“You,” he replies.
She nods. She pushes off his pillow, removing her leg from over him, as she lies down next to him, and he turns toward her.
“Breathe with me,” she says, as she takes his hand, and places it gently on her belly.
They look into each other’s eyes as they breathe together, co-regulating their emotions. As Rebecca enhances her breaths, so too does Ted. She lifts her hand to Ted’s cheek, caressing the stubble there. He looks down at her lips, eyes moving back up to look into hers.
“Keep breathing, Ted, you’re doing great.”
He follows her, continuing to stare into her eyes.
Several moments later, he falls asleep. And she doesn’t move her hand from his cheek. She watches him as he rests, wondering exactly what his nightmares were about. She then moves her hand up to his forehead, swiping away the tendril of hair that has fallen into his face. She then drags her fingertips down toward his mustache, feeling the scratchiness of the hair on her fingers. She then drops her fingers lower to his lip, drawing along it. She closes her eyes, imagining. She then feels his hand that was on her belly, twitch, then move away, reaching around her, pulling her close to him. Fuck, she thinks. Is he awake? But he doesn’t move anymore, or make any indication that he is conscious. She lies in his arms. It feels safe. It feels like home.
*****
She wakes to Ted pulling her closer to him by her hip. She burrows her nose in his neck.
“Rebecca,” he says, gently. “Are you awake?”
She doesn’t say anything, desiring to just be here with him like this. He doesn’t say anything else. He sighs, a comfortable sigh, and she just lies there with him, his palm flat on her hip, as his breath evens out.
They lie together for a while with nowhere to be, no one needing anything from them, and neither realizing that the other is awake.
Unfortunately, though, they are on shift, and a couple of loud knocks sound, startling both of them.
“Breakfast is ready,” Sam yells out.
She lifts her head away from his neck.
“I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to fall asleep and smother you,” she says.
“Thank you for comforting me last night.”
He lifts his hand and moves her blonde hair from her face. She smiles a bashful smile.
“I don’t think I was that helpful,” she replies.
“Well, you were. So thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
He’s still got his hand on her hip, and when he realizes he does, he removes it, hips thrusting toward her. She feels his erection between the apex of her thighs.
“I’m so sorry, please don’t mind him,” he says.
She nods, keeping her face neutral.
“Are you ok,” she asks, ignoring the feelings and comment.
“Yeah,” he says, as he breathes out. “I don’t want to bore you with all the trauma.”
“Maybe after some tea.”
“Ew, yuck. I will never understand how you drink that brown garbage water.”
She slaps him in the chest.
“I’m glad you’re ok,” she says.
“Thanks for sleeping with me,” he replies.
And they both laugh, awkwardly, which breaks all the tension. He lets go of her, and he misses her body immediately. He gets up, stretches awkwardly, and reaches a hand out to help her up. She takes it, feeling how thick and long his fingers are in the palm of her hand. When they’re both standing, another knock sounds on their door.
“Breakfast,” Dani yells.
“Breakfast is apparently an urgent affair this morning,” Ted jokes, and she chuckles lightly.
*****
Rebecca walks into the Crown and Anchor. Her hair is down in waves, and she’s dressed casually. Ted sees her enter, and it reminds him of the first time he saw her.
“Ted, what are you even talking about,” Keeley asks.
“Well, I’m not sure, Keels,” he says laughing, taking a swig from his beer bottle.
And that’s when he sees her. She’s tall, almost statuesque. She’s got platinum blonde hair that falls around her shoulders. It has a slight wave to it. He likes the way she has it styled. She’s got what looks like blue eyes, no, scratch that, maybe green eyes, a beautiful shade that he absolutely wants to see closer. He watches as she moves near where they are seated. She’s wearing heels, which make her appear even taller, not to mention, they are a skinny heel, and she walks with a confidence that makes his cock perk up. She’s wearing a business suit, almost the color of coffee, and it complements her hair color. She is absolutely gorgeous, he thinks. She approaches the bar, and Luca, their bartender, greets her. Ted can tell he’s attempting to flirt with her, but she’s having none of it, asking immediately for a gin and tonic. He watches her.
“Ted? Earth to Ted,” Keeley asks, then punches at his arm.
“Ow,” he says, hand coming up to soothe the area where Keeley hit him.
“Ted, oh my god, if you could stare any harder,” she says, laughing.
“You’re so obvious, Lasso,” Roy replies.
“Buddy, calm down,” Beard adds.
But he can’t. She’s beautiful, and she just lights up the room. He watches as Luca places her drink down in front of her, and she thanks him. She then makes eye contact with Ted, who feels his stomach fall, a sense of innate desire present. He smiles. She smiles back, albeit slightly forced. And that’s ok, he thinks, because she doesn’t owe a stranger anything. She looks down at her drink, fingertips sliding along the edge of the glass. She looks back up and makes eye contact with Ted again, who has yet to look away.
“Ted,” Keeley calls again.
Rebecca looks away, down at her drink, and Ted looks at Keeley.
“You should go talk to her.”
“Oh no, Keels, I can’t do that.”
“Why the fuck not? You’re practically eye fucking her.”
“And she’s doing the same to you,” Beard adds.
“Fuck this,” Roy comments, getting up and leaving them.
“She is not,” he lifts his hands giving air quotes, “eye fucking me, Beard.”
“Well, maybe not as hard as you are,” Keeley adds, “but she seems interested.”
“Go talk to her,” Beard says.
He looks back toward her, and she’s looking back at him. There’s no way he can even get up to go talk to her because he’s aroused in a way that is quite obvious.
“Ted, go,” Keeley says.
“I can’t,” he replies.
Just then his phone rings, and he breaks eye contact with her, observing who is calling.
“It’s Henry,” he says, attempting to slyly adjust himself.
He then gets up, awkwardly, trying to hide his erection. And since all the blood in his brain is now down south, he staggers just a little bit.
“Henry, hi,” he says into his phone, walking away.
When he comes back, not even ten minutes later, she’s gone. It’s like she never existed, except he knows she was real because his friends saw her too.
She’s still painfully beautiful, he thinks, as he watches her. She walks up to Keeley, wrapping her arms around her, squeezing her, her chin hitching over her shoulder. Luca doesn’t acknowledge her and instead turns away. He finds that interesting.
“Babe, you’re here,” Keeley exclaims.
He watches them together, as Luca walks over to them, putting glasses of beer down in front of both him and Beard.
“So how’s that been going,” Beard asks, as soon as Luca is out of earshot.
He continues to watch them, as Rebecca makes eye contact with Ted before looking back at Keeley.
“It’s going, I guess,” he replies.
“You both haven’t talked,” Beard asks.
“No.”
“What are the two of you doing together with the free time that you have?”
“Well, we’ve been sleeping together,” Ted replies.
Beard chokes on the sip of beer he was in the middle of taking.
“It’s not what you think,” he replies.
Beard gives him a look.
“We’ve both woken up with nightmares, and we’ve comforted each other…then fallen asleep together.”
“And yet you haven’t talked?”
“No.”
Beard hums.
*****
Two beers later, Ted is having fun with his colleagues and friends. He notices that Rebecca gets up to presumably go to the bathroom. He notices that Luca tosses a towel on the bar, as he turns, following the path she just took. He tunes back in to what his friends are saying. He takes a sip, his mind on her. He remembers something about a restraining order, and he begins to feel a sense of worry for her. He drinks the rest of his second beer, his last for the evening. He waits for another couple of minutes hoping that she’ll come back out soon. But she doesn’t, and Luca doesn’t either. He gets up, excusing himself. He moves toward the bathrooms, and he sees them at the end of the hallway. It looks like Luca is aggressively talking to Rebecca. She pushes him away and then moves around him. He grabs her arm, and pulls her back toward him.
“Hey, Luca,” he says. “She doesn’t seem to be interested.”
“Ted, this is none of your concern,” Luca says.
Ted walks calmly toward them.
“It is my concern when you put your hands on her, and she clearly doesn’t want you to do so.”
“I can handle myself,” she says to Ted.
“Of course you can. But you don’t have to do everything alone, Rebecca.”
Rebecca pushes Luca again, moving away from him.
“I told you. It’s over,” she says.
Luca watches her go.
“Easy, Ted, don’t go too hard for her. She isn’t even that hot.”
Ted sees red, and pushes Luca up against the wall, hands gripped in his shirt.
“You have anything else you want to say,” Ted asks.
Rebecca pulls Ted, and he lets go of the grip he has on him.
“I didn’t think so,” he comments, watching Luca, as he feels Rebecca pulling him away.
They make their way out of the hallway back into the noisy bar. She pulls him down to sit at an empty table. She looks flush, and he isn’t sure what to make of that.
“I can handle myself, Ted. What are you doing?”
“I was worried. Michelle asked you about a restraining order, and I just assumed” -
“I don’t need you or anyone else to fight my battles for me.”
“I know you don’t. You can absolutely handle yourself, but you shouldn’t have to do it alone.”
“I’ve been doing everything alone my entire life.”
There’s a pause.
“Can I take you home,” Ted asks.
“Why?”
“Because I want to make sure you get home safely.”
“I appreciate your concern, but I’m fine.”
“It’s always one step forward, two steps back with you.”
“What? Now you’re mad because I won’t go home with you.”
“I’m not asking you to go home with me. I was asking if I could take you home, you know, to make sure you get home safely. It’s totally different.” He pauses, full of frustration. “I’m not like him. You deserve better than him.”
“And what…you’re the better I deserve,” she asks.
He hesitates.
“Good night, Ted,” she says, getting up and going back to Keeley, who watches the entire exchange with piqued interest.
Ted gets up and moves his hand through his hair. He says goodbye to his colleagues and friends, as he leaves.
“Rebecca, what was that all about,” Keeley asks.
And she drops her head to the table and groans.
“That was so hot, Rebecca. What is getting in the way of you fucking him senseless?”
“Keeley, I don’t need this right now,” she says, lifting her head from the table.
“Ok,” she says, holding her hands up.
“Maybe I should go too.”
“Do you want me to take you home,” Keeley asks.
“No,” Rebecca replies, kissing her on the cheek. “I promise I’ll text you when I get home.”
She picks up her bag and waves to her friends and colleagues. She opens the door, looking for him. She sees his figure in the darkness ahead.
“Ted…”
Chapter 11: 11
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
“Ted,” she calls, seeing him in the distance.
He stops, taking a moment before turning. She moves toward him, slowly, as if she’s approaching a wounded animal. He watches the way she moves, tentative, definitely lacking her usual demeanor. He doesn’t like it at all, but he’s absolutely fucking furious, and if she feels bad, then so be it.
“Ted,” she says again.
He doesn’t respond, as she continues to approach him.
“I’m sorry,” she says.
He doesn’t speak.
“Ted, say something,” she implores.
She finally reaches him, hands gripped in front of her. She stands awkwardly, waiting for him.
“What are we doing,” he asks.
“I don’t understand.”
He thinks about whether he wants to be truthful about what his question is referring to or not.
“I just wanted to apologize to you. You were just being kind and offering to take me home, and I just…” she pauses herself, not really sure how to end that sentence.
“You drive me absolutely crazy, Rebecca,” he says. “Honestly, I’m so angry at you.”
“I’m trying.”
“If this is you trying, then I want none of it.”
“Ted.”
“No, Rebecca. I’m done. I don’t know what else to do. I’m really trying. I wanted to talk to you about what happened, but then you were upset about something and took it out on me. You keep doing it.”
“I’m sorry, Ted. Really.”
“Thank you for your apology, but I’m done attempting with you. I’ll do my job, have your back as you have mine, and when Roy is cleared, I’ll go back to my station, and this will be over. It’s what you want anyways.”
He turns away from her and begins to walk.
“Will you take me home,” she asks.
He pauses, turning back toward her.
“I’m pretty sure Keeley can take you home,” he says, turning around again, as he shoves his hands in his pockets.
“Ted,” she calls, as he keeps walking.
She drops her head, nails making indentations in the skin of her hands.
“Fuck,” she says softly, as she watches him.
*****
When she enters their room, she sees the little pink box on her desk. Her breath tumbles from her chest. Since their awkward conversation outside of the Crown and Anchor, Rebecca wasn’t sure how to approach him. But…there the biscuits are, and she’s not sure what to make of it. She drops her stuff on her bed and makes her way to their shift meeting.
Moments later, she’s completely zoned out when she hears, “alright, Lasso, Welton, you’re on grocery duty.”
Every shift, two firefighters go to the grocery store to get food to cook for the entire staff during their time on shift. Unfortunately for Ted and Rebecca, it happens to be the first week that they’ve been paired together.
“Can someone take my place,” she asks, as Isaac shakes his head.
“Of course,” she mutters under her breath.
*****
“This is list is a mess. What can the guys really make with these ingredients,” Rebecca asks.
Ted doesn’t respond, as he pulls out a shopping cart.
“How do you want to divide this,” Rebecca asks.
“We’ll just go together,” he replies. “It’s easier.”
“Fine,” she says.
They make their way to the produce aisle, and Ted stops, as Rebecca searches for the items that are on the list.
“Carrots and potatoes,” she says to Ted, who nods.
Out of the corner of his eye, he notices someone walking up to him.
“Ted,” Sassy says.
She’s wearing her departmentally mandated uniform, as are Ted and Rebecca.
“Sassy, hello. Looks like you’re doing the same thing as us.”
Sassy nods, as Rebecca walks back toward them with an armful of vegetables.
“I see you’re better,” Sassy says to her.
“Yes. I am, thanks.” Then to Ted, she says, “I’ll get the carrots and potatoes.”
She leaves them.
“I’m sorry about the way I acted the other night, Ted. I hope you can forgive me.”
“It’s forgiven, Sassy, don’t worry about it.”
“Sometimes, my jealous streak gets a little wild. I like you, Ted. Do you want to go out when you’re off shift?”
Rebecca walks back up to them, putting the items in the cart.
“Can we talk about that later,” he asks.
“Only if you promise that you’ll take me out on a date.”
Rebecca clears her throat. When she does, they both look at her.
“What,” she asks.
“Can you give us a minute,” Sassy requests.
She shrugs, saying, “sure,” then catching the plea in Ted’s eyes, as she walks away, looking down at the list.
“So about that date,” she asks.
“Look, Sassy, I don’t think I’m ready to date. I thought I was, but I don’t believe I am.”
Sassy is immediately annoyed.
“It’s because of Welton, isn’t it?”
Ted is taken aback.
“You have feelings for her.”
“No, I do not…not that it’s any of your concern.”
Barbara walks up to them.
“Yay, you found Lasso. Great,” she comments. “Come on, say goodbye, we have to get back.”
“Whatever,” Sassy says to Ted.
She and Barbara leave, as Barbara pats his shoulder. Rebecca walks up to him moments later.
“How’d that go?”
“What do you care,” Ted grumbles.
“I don’t,” she says. “Next aisle.”
Six aisles later, she places a boxed cake mix into the cart.
“Who is making a chocolate cake,” she asks.
Ted doesn’t respond.
“Alright, just a few more items,” she says.
As they turn the corner, she runs straight into Luca. Ted perks up in attention.
“Oh, hello,” Luca says to them both. “Or is hello no longer appropriate. I don’t know, you’re going to have to tell me.”
“Hello, Luca,” she says, but it’s short and without emotion.
Ted, meanwhile, scowls at him.
“Down, killer,” Luca says.
“If you’ll excuse us,” Rebecca replies, as she pushes Ted to continue moving.
Several steps later, he finally speaks.
“That was awkward.”
“Well, yeah, no thanks to you,” she replies, as she tosses an item into the cart.
*****
“Great, you two didn’t kill each other,” Isaac jokes when they enter the kitchen area with the groceries.
“You’re so funny,” Rebecca says, in a scathing tone.
They put the groceries away together, steering clear of one another as best as possible.
“We’re going to do a movie night,” Isaac says.
“Oh. You aren’t letting Dani pick the movie again, are you,” Rebecca asks.
Isaac chuckles.
“It’ll be station choice.”
“Ok,” Rebecca says. “I’m going to go lift some weights.”
“Oh,” Ted replies. “I was about to do the same.”
“Well, you can both do it at the same time, unless something happened between you two.”
“It’s nothing. We’re fine,” Rebecca replies, full of annoyance.
She leaves the kitchen area, and Isaac turns to Ted.
“You both seem fine,” he says, and Ted shrugs.
*****
Halfway through the movie, they hear, “structure fire, 2189 Woodcrest Street.” They all jump up, running to the equipment area, dressing quickly. As Rebecca pulls her suspenders over her shoulders, she feels a pit in her stomach.
When the rig moves out of the garage, they hear Isaac over comms.
“Structure fire, outside is burning rapidly. Vacant lot, don’t expect any vics, but keep a look out. Everyone not search and rescue, remember to be vigilant during the scene.”
She feels nauseous. It’s been some time since the last bomb, and that has her concerned. She wonders what they may be inadvertently walking into.
“Highly likely this is the work of the arsonist or the arsonists, especially if the outsides are burning rapidly. Keep an eye out,” she says over comms.
*****
When Bumbercatch pulls up, the structure is engulfed in flames. And it reminds Ted of that day.
As soon as Bumbercatch pulls up to his home, Ted notices that station 76 has already arrived. He jumps out, and no one can stop him, as he runs toward the house, ignoring the pleas. It’s his son, and he needs him.
As he runs, Ted observes that his home is fully engulfed in fire. It’s burning spectacularly.
“Lasso, Lasso,” is being screamed in his direction, both over comms and out loud.
But he doesn’t care.
“Analyzing if any windows would be an option for accessing the upstairs, and all appear to be compromised,” Sam says over comms.
“God damn it, Lasso,” Julie screams over comms.
“It’s fine, I’ll figure out a way to get upstairs if I need to,” Ted reports.
“Ted, please. This situation is too close for you. You may be a liability,” Julie says.
“Ted, I know you’re scared,” Isaac adds, “but we can do this without you.”
“No,” he says in a rage, which takes everyone aback, as Beard catches up with him, right as they reach his front door.
There’s a sigh over comms.
“Beard, charlie, Lasso, delta. Kent and Shelley just breached inside from the back door,” Isaac states.
Beard pulls out his ax and swings, splitting into the wood. He pulls back, making contact with the door again. Ted grabs his ax, swinging into the door consistently, via adrenaline, needing to get inside, needing to get to his son. As soon as the door gives, fire rages outward. Ted runs through it anyways. It’s dark and hazy inside his home. All of their possessions, ruined. He moves through the path the fire affords him, toward the staircase. He takes two at a time. He makes it to the top of the stairs, and there is debris down everywhere. He attempts to move around everything as quick as he can, trying to get to Henry’s closed door.
“Henry,” he calls out.
Rebecca exits the rig, as Ted takes in the scene before them.
“Alright, let’s go,” Isaac says over comms. “Welton, alpha, Lasso, beta.”
They separate from one another, as Ted begins to move around the structure.
“Remember, keep ears and eyes open,” Julie requests.
Rebecca arrives at the front door, which is cracked open, and that feels…ominous.
“Front door breached,” she reports.
“Be careful inside. Both of you,” Isaac replies over comms.
“Back door breached as well,” Ted reports.
Rebecca enters, and the structure inside is barely burning. Again, only the external is engulfed in flames. She is now convinced that this is the work of the arsonist or arsonists. She reports this over comms.
“Fire department, call out,” she says.
Meanwhile, Ted is experiencing the same in the back of the structure.
“Fire department, call out,” he says.
There is no response. She searches each area with precision, ensuring that nothing is left behind. He does too.
“Nothing so far,” he reports.
Then they both hear it. It sounds like a female voice, crying out for help.
“Possible vic,” Rebecca reports over comms.
“I heard her too,” Ted adds.
“Ok, possible vic,” Isaac and Julie both reply.
“Sounded like it was coming from the back of alpha,” Rebecca reports.
“Really, it sounded like it was coming from the front of beta,” Ted replies.
“It might be a trap,” Rebecca responds to Ted over comms. “Once we both do our initial searches, let’s meet in the middle, and determine where we’re hearing the voice.”
“Over,” he says.
They both continue their searches, listening for the vic again.
“Alpha complete, moving to the middle,” she reports.
As she moves, she notices that the fire is beginning to creep up the internal walls.
“Beta complete, moving to the middle,” he reports.
She sees him coming toward her.
“Have you heard her again?”
“No,” he replies.
They meet in the middle, confused. Then they both hear the voice again, and it’s coming distinctly from the back of alpha.
“Vic calling out from the back of alpha,” Rebecca reports over comms. “Both Lasso and I are heading there.”
“Copy,” Isaac says.
They both move toward the voice. When they arrive in the back of alpha, there is no one there, which doesn’t make sense.
“What the fuck,” Rebecca says.
And then there’s a flare, which must have been produced by a small flash grenade or other bomb device, because debris falls from the ceiling, narrowly missing them both, but trapping them in the corner.
“Fuck,” Ted says, dropping to his knees, immediately activated in panic.
“Lasso,” she says over comms. “Come on, snap out of it. It’s a trap. We’ve got to get out of here.”
He doesn’t respond.
Ted can hear his son screaming his name, which brings him slightly out of his panic. On the other side of the door, Henry's screaming causes Rebecca to stir, but she’s quite disoriented and slow-moving. Then she hears banging on the door. She’s very lethargic, but she understands that someone is here to presumably rescue them. She closes her eyes. She counts the number of cracks against the door. She knows it’s an ax.
Ted swings one last time, and the door cracks open, debris and fire splaying everywhere. Henry gets burned on his neck, and so does she (on her forearm), but she gets it out immediately, rolling them away from the fire.
Once Ted is finally in the room, he sees his son with a woman lying on the floor. And then he begins to panic again. She watches as this fireman falls to the floor before her, but she can’t do much, as her eyes close again.
“Lasso,” she screams, as she begins to shake him aggressively. “Lasso!”
“Lasso,” Julie says over comms. “Lasso.”
“Welton, report,” Isaac requests.
“Lasso is in a panic, and we’re trapped in a corner.”
“Sending in Rojas and Hughes.”
Rebecca begins to lift him because they need to escape, but he fights her.
Ted goes back to Rebecca, as he begins to drag her, in anticipation of rescue, but she begins to fight him in a delirious rage, induced by smoke inhalation. The fire rages closer to him and Henry, as she becomes even more aggressive and combative. As a result, Henry is burned on his leg, which causes Ted’s temper to flare, and he overpowers her violently, throwing her over his shoulder.
“Lasso, stop fucking fighting me,” she says, as she pulls both of his arms behind him, squatting down, pulling his torso over her shoulder. She looks around, devising an escape plan. She finds that one area of the debris is less high than the other areas. She climbs over it as best as she can, nearly dropping Ted multiple times in the process. He continues to try to fight her, but he can’t with his arms pinned behind him.
“Lasso, fucking stop,” she rages.
She gets them out of the debris trap, and she runs toward the back, where she meets her colleagues. They take Ted from her shoulder. Then they hear a “help, help” coming from the front of beta, and Rebecca looks back toward the area, trying to determine if she should go. But before she can make any decision, the ceiling begins collapsing around them, and Dani grabs her, pulling her out the door.
When they get around to the front, she drops to her knees, frustrated tears soak her facial covering. Colin drops Ted next to her, who still seems to be in a rigid panic state. Emergency personnel run toward them, as do their fire captains.
And the rage that runs through Rebecca causes her to perk up, fueled by the adrenaline coursing through her veins. She begins to yell at Ted, who is lying on the ground.
“You fucking did it again, Lasso. You caused another vic to die because you can’t control your panic.”
She pushes away from the ground, straddling his hips, starting to shake him by his shoulders. Isaac runs up to them and pulls Rebecca off of Ted. Barbara immediately kneels down next to him, providing him with oxygen.
Isaac holds Rebecca to his chest.
“Rebecca, stop. It’s ok. You’re both safe.”
“But she’s not,” she says. She’s gone.”
“We don’t know that. We don’t know anything.”
Isaac attempts to soothe her, as he lets her go.
“Come on,” he says, pulling her toward an ambulance.
Julie squats down next to Ted and tries to calm him to bring him back to himself. She unzips his jacket, attempting to caress his chest, hoping the movement might ground him.
“Ted, breathe in the air that’s coming into your nose,” Barbara says.
*****
After he finally comes back to himself, he feels a sense of embarrassment. But there’s no time to dwell on it because he’s being asked questions in the ambulance.
Rebecca walks by, once then twice. She’s removed her shirt, so she’s wearing only a compact sports bra, with her suspenders resting over her shoulders. Debris lines the musculature in her arms.
“Rebecca,” she hears, and she turns.
“Have you been cleared by medical,” Isaac asks.
“Yes,” she replies.
“Has he,” she asks, tossing a thumb behind her.
“Not yet, but he will.”
“Isaac, I can’t work with him anymore.”
“Rebecca, not now.”
“Well then when. This is a continual problem, and it’s affecting how I do my job. It’s getting people killed.”
“Rebecca,” Isaac says, pausing. “This was meant to rile us up, scare us, and divide us. We need to get back to the station and regroup.”
She sighs. She wants to fight more. She wants to yell. She wants to punch the fuck out of Lasso. But all she does is sigh, but even louder.
“You can be mad all you want, but right now, we need medical clearance for both of you so we can get back to the station.”
“Fine,” she replies.
*****
When the rig pulls back into the station, Rebecca jumps out immediately, wanting nothing to do with the man she has to sit across, who keeps staring at her, angrily.
She slips her suspends from her shoulders, unbuttoning her turnout pants, as they fall to the floor. She puts everything back in its place. She turns away from everyone. There’s a melancholy and a sense of confusion in the air. She goes upstairs, getting her things to take a shower.
Ted removes his equipment from his body, beginning the process of cleaning it, but probably doing a half-ass job, so he stops.
He knows exactly what he’s doing and why.
Since he’s arrived, he lets Rebecca shower first. No one requested this of him, but he has just done it this way since day one. But now, fuck it and fuck her. He wants to shower everything off of him. It’s been a harrowing night with a lot of triggers and flashbacks thrown his way.
He walks up the stairs, going into their room to get his things. He makes his way into the communal bathroom, hearing the water fall in the shower that she currently occupies. She took the middle stall of three, so he has no choice. He steps into the shower next to her, stripping his clothing. He turns it on, letting the water cascade down his body. He hears her begin to cry, and a scowl grows on his face. Normally, he would want to comfort her. But he’s so angry right now, he really just wants to punch her. He listens to the water fall. A few moments later, as he’s cleaning himself, the water next to him turns off, and he hears her leave the area, presumably going back to their room. He sighs. When he’s done washing his body, he turns up the temperature, letting the heat permeate his skin. He relishes in the feeling and allows himself to rest in the water.
He joins her in their room about fifteen minutes later. He doesn’t acknowledge or address her when he walks in, as he goes straight to his bed, getting into it, and picking up his book. She gets up.
“We need to talk about this,” she says.
He looks at her.
“No, we don’t. I’m tired. It’s been a long night. And there’s nothing a conversation will achieve.”
She ignores what he said.
“You did the exact same shit the day Henry was injured. You are reason why he got burned on his neck.”
He drops his book to the side and gets out of bed.
“Don’t you dare talk about Henry, Welton,” he says, raising his voice.
“Don’t you raise your voice at me,” she responds back.
He moves toward her.
He yells, “you are also the reason that he got burned. My little boy got even more hurt because of you.”
“But if it wasn’t for me, he might have died!”
She has quite a visceral reaction to what she just voiced. She continues.
“What took you all so long to get there? The station isn’t even that far from your house!"
She moves toward him, and he doesn’t respond.
“Why do I even bother trying to talk to you,” she says, as she moves away from him and toward their door.
“You are absolutely infuriating.”
She has her hand on the door knob, and she then lets go, turning back toward him.
“I’m infuriating,” she asks, voice rising.
“Yes, you. You infuriate me.”
There’s a pause. He moves toward her.
“I don’t like you.”
“Yeah, well. You don’t have to like me."
He moves closer, and her back hits the door.
“Get the fuck away from me,” she says.
She can feel him against her leg, and her body reacts immediately.
“Is that what you really want? Look me in the face and tell me that you don’t feel this too.”
“Fuck you,” she says, but her body betrays her, as her eyes flit south to his lips, then rise again.
“Fuck you too,” he replies, as his hand lands next to her head, pelvis landing against hers.
She pushes him back, and his hand loses contact with the wall.
She says in anger, “I really, really don’t like you.”
He smirks.
“I know you don’t. But I know you want to fuck me.”
She reaches for the column of his throat, hand wrapping around it, nails digging into his skin, as she brings him into a searing kiss. He opens his mouth immediately because she’s virtually choking him. She slides her tongue into his mouth, as he leans his body completely into hers. Both of his hands land next to her head. Her hand is still wrapped around his neck, nails practically breaking skin, the pleasure and pain heading straight for his cock. She then pushes him back, breaking their kiss, hand still tight around the column of his throat.
“I hate you,” she says.
“That kiss says otherwise.”
They are both breathing heavily.
“I can’t tell if I want to kiss you or kill you.”
“You want to fuck me..just admit it, Rebecca,” he says, as he pushes her back into the door, lips landing near her ear.
There’s a long pause.
“Let me fuck you,” he says.
Notes:
….yay?
Chapter 12: 12
Chapter Text
They hear yelling above them, as they attempt to settle from the harrowing events of the evening. Then it’s silent. They all look up toward the ceiling.
“Is it happening,” Sam asks.
“What do you mean,” Dani questions.
It’s quiet and unnerving.
“Well, if it’s happening, it’s about to get really loud,” Isaac replies.
“What’s happening,” Dani asks again.
“We’re about to have a winner in the bet,” Colin says, cheering.
“Oh,” Dani replies. “I love love. And I love Rebecca and Ted. Together.”
*****
With his body pressed up against her, lips practically grazing her ear, she’s in a state of arousal that’s permeating her entire being. She remembers the first time she saw him.
This place is small and quaint, she thinks, as she walks into the Crown and Anchor. She has just come from her first interview with the town’s fire department. They are looking to hire a firefighter and fire inspector, who will perform both sets of duties. She knows she’s qualified, and has the experience they’re looking for in a potential candidate. But she needs a drink. The flight was long, and this location, is unlike anything she’s ever experienced before. She walks to the bar area and is immediately greeted by an attractive young man, who attempts to flirt with her. She shuts that down immediately by ordering a gin and tonic. He nods, walking away from her, presumably to make her drink. She looks down, fingers wringing in her lap, as she feels eyes on her. Her attention is pulled back to the man, who places her drink in front of her. She thanks him. She continues to feel eyes on her, so she looks up and catches his eyes. He’s attractive in an unconventional way. The mustache throws her though. Facial hair isn’t something she’s normally into, but it works for him. He smiles at her, and she finds herself smiling back. It’s forced, and it’s not like she means to, but the pain and heartache from her divorce continues to cause her to protect herself. She looks down at her drink, fingertips sliding along the edge of the glass. She finds herself curious about him. She looks back up, and he’s still looking at her. The small woman next to him loudly calls for his attention…Ted. She looks down, smiling to herself. She likes his name. She wonders if she’s his girlfriend. She takes a sip of her drink. And then it’s a whirlwind. He’s getting up in such an awkward way, as he brings his phone to his ear, practically running away. His friends and girlfriend(?) call for him, and she watches them, as they converse with one another. This is for the best, she thinks. She doesn’t need any distractions. She still has to meet with the department tomorrow afternoon for the second phase of their interview process. She picks up her drink and downs the rest of it. She tosses some money onto the bar. She looks up to where he was sitting before, and the small woman is looking at her, with a smile on her face. It looks like she wants to get up and walk over to her, but she clearly refrains, as Rebecca gets up and leaves.
“Rebecca,” he says, in a low, gravelly voice, bringing her back to the present. “Let me fuck you.”
She’s so wet, and his voice in her ear causes her clit to throb with need. He moves his face so that he can look in her eyes.
“No,” she says, pushing him away.
He moves back from her.
“No,” he asks.
“No,” she says.
“Ok,” he replies.
There’s a long pause, as they look at each other, chests heaving, tension in the air palpable.
“You’re going to be begging me to come,” she says.
He moves toward her immediately, lips capturing hers, as her back lands against the door. His hand finds the back of her head, cradling it protectively. She opens her mouth to him, and it’s like lightning. She’s never felt anything like this before, as she pulls him even closer to her, feeling his cock near the apex of her thighs. He wraps his other hand in her hair, grasping, pulling her head to the side, so he can get a tighter seal on her mouth, as he slides his tongue against hers. They break for air, and he kisses her jaw, lips moving up toward her ear.
“I think you’re going to be the one begging me to come.”
“Fuck you,” she replies, as she pushes him away from her.
“What,” he asks, seeing how affected she is, just as he is by her.
“Fuck,” she says, as she pulls him back to her by his neck, taking his lips between her own, as her back hits the door again, and it causes her to gasp into his mouth. When they require air, the kiss naturally ends.
“Can I take off your shirt,” he asks.
She nods, as she pushes him back. He brings her with him, giving himself enough room to lift her shirt up and over her head. He tosses it behind him, as he lifts his own shirt from his torso, dropping it to the floor. He observes the musculature in her arms, shoulders, chest, and abs. He watches her as she does the same. He then kisses her, tongue finding hers. Several moments later, she pushes him back, and he somehow lands against the door, with her tongue exploring the recesses of his mouth. His fingers teeter near her bra strap, and when they part, before he even asks, she nods. He unclasps her bra, and she moves back from him, as it falls between them. He gasps.
“You are beautiful, Rebecca. Can I touch you,” he asks.
She doesn’t verbally respond, but she lifts her hand to one of his, placing it on her, eyes closing when his palm drags over her nipple.
“Fuck,” she says, an airy sigh escaping her lips.
“Oh, yes ma’am, I like that noise,” he says. “Do it again.”
“Touch me, again.”
He doesn’t need to be told twice, as he slides his palm on her nipple, fingers then squeezing it. She moans, and god, the noises she makes goes straight to his cock. She kisses him, hand rising to his cheek, fingertips slipping down, as she nips at his bottom lip, pulling, before taking him in deeper, tongues dueling. She starts to grind on his cock, which clouds his thoughts, causing him to move only on instinct. He pushes her back immediately, as she pulls on his lip with her teeth before she lets go.
“Take off your shorts,” he says.
“Or what,” she asks.
“Or I’ll just rip them off. The department might not be too thrilled though…you know with our outfits being departmentally mandated,” he responds.
“Ted, shut the fuck up,” she says, as she slips her fingers into her shorts, pulling them over her hips.
He shuts up immediately, seeing her bare before him. The muscles of her thighs make him want to sink his teeth into them.
“My god,” he says, which aren’t exactly the words he wants to say, but there is no blood in his brain.
He turns them, and her back hits the door (again). He leans down, taking a broad, flat-tongue swipe at her nipple, and her fingers tangle in his hair. She presses his head to her chest, as she feels his tongue slipping over her nipple, before his mouth closes around her.
“Fuck,” she says, head falling back.
He lavishes her breast, fingers caressing the other one, because god forbid he neglects it. The weight of her in his hand is heavy, and he can’t even get a full handful of her. He moves to her other breast, giving it the attention that he gave the other. He’s a giving man, what can he say. She moans above him, and her noises make his cock twitch. He pulls at her nipple, and it falls from his lips, and she pulls him up to her mouth, lips meeting his. She feels his tongue along the seam of her lips, so she opens her mouth to him, and he slides his tongue deep inside. One hand moves to her hair, fingers tangling in her tresses, and the other begins to creep down, slowly, toward her hip. He caresses her skin there, as she kisses him back. He feels her nipples on his chest, tickling his skin. Her hand rises, guiding his toward her center. He breaks their kiss, dropping his forehead to hers, moving his pelvis away to make room.
“Fuck, Baby, you are so hot. Smoking really.”
“A fire pun. Now? Fucking really?”
“I think you know by now I love a good pun.”
She rolls her eyes, as he feels her continue to move his hand, and they arrive at her mound. She guides his fingers to her clit, as she uses them to rub herself.
“You are so wet, Rebecca, wow. I knew you wanted to fuck me,” he says.
“Shut the fuck up,” she replies, mirth in her voice.
They circle around her clit together, her fingers guiding his. His forehead remains on hers, and they breathe each other breaths.
“Tell me if I’m doing anything that you don’t want or like, Rebecca.”
“Ok, Ted.”
She removes her fingers from his, and he takes over fully. He circles her clit, exactly how she showed him, and she mewls, as he kisses her. When she opens her mouth to him, he enters her with two fingers, thumb applying pressure to her clit. She gasps into his tongue, which has made its way inside her mouth. He speeds up his rhythm, fingers pushing in to his knuckles, pulling out, pushing back in deeper, as he continues to apply more pressure to her clit. His other hand moves from her hair, down her face, fingertips tickling along her jaw. He moves his hand lower, until he has a grip on the column of her throat. He then breaks their kiss, moving his lips to her ear.
“There’s no denying the fire that burns between us,” he whispers.
She moans, lost in the pleasure that she’s experiencing, from a man that she’s grown to loathe.
He continues to thrust his fingers, making sure to hook them toward her outer wall on his way out. She’s so wet, that his knuckles are drenched with her.
She drops her head behind her, giving him more room to squeeze around her neck, as he fucks her with his fingers. She feels the embers burning deep inside her.
“Fuck,” she says, as he continues to fuck her.
“Look at you,” he whispers. “You’re beautiful like this.”
Her orgasm is building, the embers igniting further.
“Are you going to come for me,” he asks.
“Oh, god,” she says, feeling herself on the precipice.
He feels her clench around his fingers, noticing how engorged her clit feels under the touch of his thumb. He then stops all his movements, but does not removes his fingers or thumb. She opens her eyes, murderous intent present.
“Fuck you,” she spits out.
“Oh, I’m going to fuck you,” he tells her, hand squeezing around her neck. “Beg me.”
“Fuck you,” she says again, pushing him away from her, as his fingers slip against the sensitive area of her outer wall, and she moans.
“Fuck.”
“Rebecca, all you have to do is ask nicely.”
“Fuck you. I hate you.”
“I hate you too,” he says, with a smirk on his face.
He pauses, waiting her out. He removes his hand from inside her.
“I miss your pussy,” he says, as he lifts his fingers, wet from her to his mouth, licking her arousal.
“God damn it, Ted, fuck you.”
“Beg me.”
She watches him, as he watches her. She’s going to kill him.
“Fuck, Ted. Please.”
“Good girl.”
His fingers enter her immediately, and they move again, hooking inside, dragging back out, thumb applying pressure on her clit, as he rubs her. The smoldering embers begin to build, as they start to burn in her core.
“Look at you being so good for me. You gonna come all over my fingers?”
She moans, feeling him squeeze her neck more, eyes watching him as a tendril falls into his face.
“Oh, god,” she says, the burning building, as the flames internally combust.
With two fingers inside her, and five wrapped around her neck, she comes. He stops, as she clamps around his fingers, watching her in awe. When she lets go of them, he helps her work through it, giving her some aftershocks of pleasure, as she writhes between the door and him. When she stops fully, her eyes are closed, cheeks flush, breath falling rapidly from her lips.
He lets go of her neck, caressing up to her face, then along the apple of her cheek. She opens her eyes and looks at him.
“You are so beautiful when you come,” he says.
She doesn’t say anything or acknowledge him. She closes her eyes, body sagging against the door and him. She feels his cock against her thigh, and while she wants him to suffer her wrath, she needs to recuperate.
“That looked like a powerful orgasm, Rebecca. You’re welcome,” he says, amused, as he continues to gently caress her face.
“Fuck you,” she whispers, still absolutely spent.
*****
It’s still unnervingly quiet.
“I know we should go to sleep, but I don’t think any of us are sleeping tonight,” Colin says.
“Good thing I have my own room, being fire chief and all,” Isaac replies.
They laugh and roll their eyes.
“Can we sleep in your room too,” Dani asks.
“Not enough room,” Isaac replies.
“Maybe they’ve just gone to sleep themselves,” Sam adds. “It has been a long night.”
“You mean to tell us that they were arguing, and then they just went to sleep,” Colin asks. “That seems highly unlikely.”
They hear a loud crash overhead.
“Welp,” Isaac says.
They all grab their phones, ready to text the news.
*****
When she comes back to herself fully, she keeps her eyes closed. He gave her one of the most powerful orgasms she’s ever had. And while she’s more lucid, she’s still tired. He continues to gently touch her face, fingertips sliding along her cheekbone, to her jaw, then lips. He caresses her with so much care and concern, very much the opposite of the way he was fucking her with his fingers just a few moments ago. And while she absolutely hates that she had to beg him, she will have her revenge.
“Rebecca,” he whispers, as he kisses her gently.
She barely kisses him back, so he ends their kiss. He looks at her face, and she’s smirking with her eyes still closed. When she opens them, he sees the playful fire, the aggression, and oh boy, he may have overplayed his hand here. She lifts his fingers to her mouth, and she sucks the two fingers that were deep inside her.
“Fuck, Baby, you're going to make me come all over myself.”
“Oh, you’re not coming any time soon,” she says, as he gulps.
She pushes him back swiftly, and as his body begins to fall, she grabs him so he doesn’t hit the floor hard. He lands, as her arm snakes behind him, which takes the brunt of the contact. She moves back from him, both hands pushing off the floor, so she can remove the lone piece of clothing that is shielding him from her. She hooks her fingers into his shorts, but not before looking up at him, and he nods his consent. He lifts up, as she pulls, and his cock springs free. She’s surprised at his length and girth. She pulls his shorts from his very muscular legs, and she throws them, having no care where they land. She straddles his hips immediately, as she moves herself over him. His cock splits between her lips, and he feels her wetness.
“Oh, god, Rebecca,” he says, as she drops down on top of him and kisses him.
His hand lands in her hair, fingers wrapping in her tresses, as he feels her tongue along the seam of his lips, and he opens his mouth to her. As her tongue explores his mouth, she continues to move on his cock. He gasps. He pulls her hair, which forces her to break their kiss, and she looks down at him.
“Rebecca, you feel so good. Can I fuck you?”
She shakes her head no, and he looks at her confused, as she moves on his cock again.
“Oh, god,” he says.
“What’s that saying,” she asks, as she moves on him again.
“Fuck,” he says, knowing exactly what she’s referring to.
“Fuck is right, Ted,” she says with a smirk, as she moves down his body, hands beginning to caress his chiseled chest down to the visible rows of distinct muscular segments of his abs.
“Oh, god,” he thinks, as she moves down further, feeling her nipple drag on his thigh.
When she arrives in the position she wants herself in, she looks up, and he looks down at her.
“Payback is a bitch, Ted,” she says, as her hand rises to his cock, and she pumps him a few times from her own slick arousal.
“Oh, god, Baby, I’m so sorry. I should have never…”
“I know how to shut you up,” she says, as she takes his cock into her mouth, and sure enough he goes quiet.
She takes him in to the hilt, eyes remaining on his.
“Oh fuck, Rebecca, I’m not going to last. My god.”
She lifts herself up, mouth finding the ridge of him, as she sucks.
He grunts, as his eyes close, and she watches him, concentration building on his forehead. She takes him back in, feeling the tip of him hit the back of her throat. She keeps it open, so that she doesn’t gag on him, as she feels his balls smashing against her chin. He grunts again. She lifts up, lips moving over the ridge, sucking on the tip. She closes her eyes, concentrating on the feel of him, heavy, in her mouth.
The only noises are the sounds of her saliva and his precum being slurped, as she moves on his cock. There’s a knock on their door. Their eyes both pop open, and they look at each other, and he tries to keep the moan in his mouth, when he sees her, mouth full of him.
“Use protection,” Colin yells from outside their door, as he slides a condom under it.
Neither responds, as she pulls back up, and he closes his eyes in concentration. She pays attention to his body, like the way his fingers twitch at his sides. She moves up to the tip of him, teeth sliding over the ridge.
“Ah, fuck, Rebecca,” he says, as he opens his eyes, looking down at her, catching the smirk in hers.
She sucks at the tip of him, then pulls her mouth off, hand wrapping around to pump him.
“You can put your hands on my head.”
His fingers twitch, as he lifts his hands, and he wraps them gently in her hair. She takes him back in to the hilt. He applies pressure on her head. As he takes in the pleasure, he watches as she bobs on his cock, breasts moving with her movement.
“You’re so fucking hot, Rebecca.”
She pulls herself up, sucking at the tip of him, really sucking, and my god, he thinks. She’s going to suck his soul from him. He feels his orgasm building and burning. He should warn her, but before he even has a chance to, she pulls off his cock, as she squeezes the tip of him. He feels rigid, the pleasure fading away, but the arousal state heightened.
“Fuck,” he says.
“Doesn’t feel too good, does it,” she asks.
And no, it doesn’t, he thinks to himself. He needs to come, and he needs to come now. And unfortunately for him, he’s at her mercy.
“Baby, I need you. I need to come.”
She continues to squeeze at the tip of him, letting go, when she believes his orgasm is gone.
“You need me,” she asks.
“I need your mouth, or your fist, or my fist…or your - I just need to come.”
“And how would you like to come?”
“However you’ll allow me to,” he says, hoping that his giving in to her demands will get him what he wants.
She pretends to ponder what he’s just said.
“Ok,” she says, as she drops down, taking a hold of his cock, and she closes her mouth on him again.
“Fuck,” he says, feeling her wet mouth engulf him fully.
He wraps his fingers in her hair, and her eyes lift, as he looks down at her, watching. She pulls up, sucking at the tip, the whole rhythm beginning again. After watching her bob on his cock, he feels his orgasm building again. And god, she feels so good sucking him, and this visual…he feels it, just as she pulls off him again, squeezing him.
“Rebecca, fuck,” he yells out, louder than he should have, considering that their colleagues are around them.
“Yes,” she asks.
“Fuck you, I need to come,” he says, as he attempts to push at her shoulder, but she doesn’t move.
“Did it go away,” she asks, as she lets go of the tip of him.
“I hate you.”
“I hate you too,” she replies sweetly.
“Fuck,” he says, hand moving toward his cock, to finish himself, but she blocks him.
“Rebecca,” he whines.
“Shh, Ted,” she says, in a soothing voice. Then, “can I fuck you?”
“God, yes. Please. And please let me come.”
She moves up his body, nipples dragging up from his abdomen to his chest, as her face reaches his.
“Hi,” she says, kissing him gently, then reaching down for his cock, bringing it to her entrance.
“I should have never teased you.”
“No, you really shouldn’t have,” she replies, a smirk forming on her lips.
She sinks down onto him, and they both gasp together. It’s as if he was made to fit her and vice versa. He feels her wrapped around him, and he chokes out a breath. She begins to move, a slow grind. And with the way her body is moving, he won’t last.
“Rebecca, you’re so tight and wet.”
She doesn’t say anything, but her hands lift and hook over his shoulders to give her leverage. She stops moving.
“You can’t come until I come again.”
“Rebecca,” he whines.
“Make me come again,” she demands.
She begins a slow grind on him. His hand reaches up to her breast, testing the weight of her in the palm of his hand. As she moves, they begin to bounce. He watches her, as his fingers move from her breast down to her clit.
“Make me come, Ted, and then you can come inside me.”
He chokes out another breath.
“Are you sure? We don’t need protection?”
“No, we don’t need protection,” she replies.
He speeds up his fingers on her clit, trying to get her there as rapidly as he can because he needs to come now. She continues her slow grind, as he presses into her clit, moving the nub around, keeping it consistent, willing her to come. She speeds up her own rhythm, feeling full with him deep inside her. She feels the burn in her core. She pushes off his chest and then drops her hands back behind her, as they both land on his muscular and firm thighs, lifting up on him and grinding on him at the same time.
“Oh fuck, baby, ride my cock,” he says, watching him split her open, her breasts bouncing in front of him.
She rides his cock, creating quite a display for him. And he’s trying so hard to stave off his orgasm, but when she’s on top of him like this, he truly doesn’t stand a chance.
He continues to rub her clit, as he then feels it engorge under his touch. She clenches around him, and oh, he can feel it in the base of his spine.
“Oh, god, Rebecca, I’m so close,” he yells out, as her hand pushes from his thigh to his stomach, then pulling off him, grabbing his tip, as she comes.
“Fuck,” he cries out, as she writhes in pleasure above him. “Rebecca, what the fuck.”
She sighs.
“I can’t believe I timed that so well,” she says.
“Fuck you,” he exclaims with a whine.
She gives him a smug look, as she relaxes. She grabs his cock, sinking back down onto him, taking the same position that she was in prior. Her hands land back on his thighs.
“Show me how you fuck me,” she says.
He’s so frustrated with her that he wants to throw her off of him, but he also wants to fuck her. He pulls her down onto him aggressively, not even caring that his cock is deep inside her, and he plants his feet. He fucks up into her, chasing his orgasm, her face buries in his neck, lips near his ear.
“I want your cum.”
He fucks her, balls slapping against her, and then he comes deep inside her.
It’s quiet. No one speaks. They’re both so blissed out, there’s no sense of the other in the moment. After a few moments, she lifts up.
“You’re going to be draining out of me all day tomorrow,” she says.
He cracks an eye open to look at her.
“Well that’s because you edged me three times,” he replies, an annoyance in his voice.
“You deserved it,” she replies. “And you’re welcome.”
“Fuck you,” he says, opening his other eye to look at her.
“I already did.”
“Fuck,” he says, as his hand lifts to her hair, pushing it away from her face.
They hear their phones going off, and they both ignore them.
“Come here,” he requests, bringing her into a kiss.
She kisses him back, and he opens his mouth to her, her tongue sliding against his. Her fingertips slip down his face to his jaw, holding steady there. When she pulls away, she drops her forehead to his.
“I hate you.”
“I hate you too.”
*****
“Never ever have I wanted to hear about how my colleague is about to make my other colleague come,” Colin says.
They all nod in agreement.
“Do we think they’re done,” Sam asks.
“Something tells me they’re going to go all night,” Isaac says.
“I love love,” Dani adds. “But I don’t want to hear it.”
“I feel like this is going to be so much worse when we go to our rooms,” Colin adds.
“You’re probably right,” Sam replies.
“Oh Roy texted back. He says ‘fuckkkkkkkkk,’” Colin says. “Keeley also texted back thirty eggplant emojis and way too many purple heart emojis to count.”
“Beard texted a salute emoji,” Sam reports.
“Julie texted to say that she’s happy for them and recommended that we all buy ear plugs.”
“That’s a good call,” Dani says. “Julie is so wise.”
They nod.
“Zoreaux texted back saying, ‘go Ted,’” Sam says.
“Barbara says 'fucking finally,’” Colin shares.
“Well, I’m off to my room,” Isaac says, as he stands.
“Can I come with you,” Dani asks.
“You’ve got your own room, Dani, all by yourself.”
“Yeah, but my room is right next to theirs. At least Sam’s and Colin’s room is across the hall.”
“We will not be spared either, Dani,” Sam says.
“It’s going to be a long night,” Isaac replies. “Good night, everyone. And godspeed.”
*****
“As much as I love having you on top of me, this floor is hard. Can we move to a bed,” Ted asks, into her hair, several minutes later.
She snorts, as she is roused by the vibrations of his vocal cords against her face.
“What,” she asks.
She lifts herself to look at him.
“I asked if we can get up and move to a bed.”
“Oh,” she says, as she pushes back from him, the muscles in her arms rippling.
She gets up, her legs shaky from her powerful orgasms. He sits up, taking a minute to reorient himself from the strong orgasm he had.
“You damn near broke me, Rebecca.”
She chuckles, as she helps him up. They move toward his bed, since it's the closest. She climbs in, and he does as well. When they settle, with him pressed up against the back of her, he kisses her neck, fingers tickling along her hip.
“I just need a moment to get my strength back.”
“I’m sure you do,” she replies, and he picks up on the amusement in her voice.
“Very funny,” he says, sighing.
They lie together for a long while. She believes he’s asleep, but realizes he isn’t when she feels his fingertips move upwards, as he takes a breast in his hand, nipple puckered against his palm. He squeezes.
“Don’t start something you can’t finish,” she says.
“Who says I can’t finish?”
“You’re barely functioning right now.”
“Thanks to you by the way.”
“You started it,” she replies.
“Maybe I should end it.”
He kisses her neck again, lips trailing kisses down to her shoulder. He squeezes her nipple.
“Now, I might be a simple midwestern man, but when a woman goes down on me, I return the favor.”
“Oh, yeah,” she asks, hand rising to his that rests on her breast.
He moves his lips up to her ear.
“Well, I can suck your clit until you come, or I can tongue fuck you until you come. Your choice.”
“And what if I want both,” she asks, as she squeezes her breast with his hand.
“Then your wish is my command.”
He hooks his fingers in between hers, lifting their hand from her body, as he lands on his back, and she does as well. He turns to her, lifting his leg to straddle her.
“Hi,” he says.
He’s so endearing, she thinks.
“Hi,” she responds.
His hand lifts to her breast again, running his fingers over her areola.
“You are so beautiful, Rebecca. I can’t wait to fully taste you.”
He kisses her gently, and it feels different…less rushed, less dominant, and less aggressive. She kisses him back, lips split between one another, as her hand lifts to his strong back, and she caresses along his spine. When she opens her mouth, she catches his tongue, sucking on it, before letting go. His teeth scrape along her tongue, and as their kisses come to a natural end, he pulls back from her, hand reaching for her cheek, moving toward her lips. He pulls her bottom lip down with his thumb and kisses her again, mouth already open, and he explores her further, tongues fighting for dominance. Her hand lands in his hair, and she pulls, to get a better angle on his mouth. When they need air, they break apart, slowly, neither feeling the need to move further. Their eyes meet. His fingertips land on her face, touching her skin.
“Ted, make me come again?”
He salutes her, and she rolls her eyes playfully. He makes quite the show of it, kissing every inch of her skin. He moves from her face, lips trailing from her cheekbone to her lips, down to her neck, then her collarbone, where he may or may not have scraped his teeth to leave bite marks. Then he spends some time paying homage to her breasts, and she laughs, as he looks up at her, nipple in his mouth with a huge grin on his face.
“You’re such a man,” she comments.
“Well, can you blame me? Your tits are perfect.”
She smiles, as he kisses her sternum, pushing her breasts between his face. She laughs again.
“Ted.”
“Yes, Darlin’,” he asks, a grin on his face.
He moves further down her body, peppering kisses on the muscled segments of her abdomen, down to her pelvis, one kiss on each hip bone, before he settles himself between her legs. The aroma of her penetrates his senses, and he feels his cock twitch. He lifts the palm of his hand to her mound, the edge landing on her clit. He moves it around, as he opens her legs further.
“So wet for me, Baby.”
He removes his hand and takes a long, broad swipe from her entrance to her clit. He moans in approval, catching her doing the same. He looks up at her when he does it again, and he sees how affected she is by his movements. He finds that he quite likes it. He also finds that he likes the way she smells, tastes, and feels. He takes her clit into his mouth, sucking, then licking over it to soothe. He lifts his fingers, tickling along the musculature of her inner thigh, and she laughs above him, as he watches her face. He bites down on her clit, and she looks down at him, as he enters her with three fingers. She mewls, biting at her lip, as she closes her eyes. He watches the concentration form on her face, as he pulls his fingers out, pushing back in again. He moves his tongue over her clit, flat, then kisses it, and she feels his mustache scratch along her sensitive skin. It causes her to gasp, hands landing in his hair, pulling him further into her core. He speeds up his rhythm with his fingers, but keeps the same pressure and rhythm on her clit, following cycles of engorging and shrinking. He’s literally listening to her body’s clues on how to best pleasure her. He gets lost in the taste of her, as he keeps hooking his fingers into her outer wall. When her clit engorges again, he gives a little more pressure when he licks her with his tongue, then flicking the nub with the tip.
“God, Ted,” she says, fingers pulling at his hair, as he looks up at her.
She’s very flush. Her nipples are hard, and he can make out the pleasure on her face between them. He does the same movements again. She bites her lip, to keep from moaning or mewling too loud. He wants to hear her, but he also knows that they’ve already been loud enough for everyone to know what is happening. Oh well. They can deal with those ramifications tomorrow.
He moves his fingers that are not inside her upward, fingertips landing on her breast. He pinches her nipple, and she opens her eyes to look down at him. He has the audacity to basically wink at her, as he eats her out.
“Fuck,” she says.
He hits a particularly sensitive spot inside her, and she moans, way more loudly than intended, and he squeezes her breast to reward the beautiful noises she makes. He pulls his fingers out of her, as he lifts away, bringing them to his mouth, licking her arousal. He pinches her nipple again.
“You know what I’d really like,” he asks.
“What,” she questions, a deep husk in her voice.
“For you to come in my mouth.”
“Oh,” she says, and he moves himself back to her core.
He licks down from her clit to her entrance, tilting his head, so he can enter her with his tongue. She cries out in pleasure, especially when his thumb lands on her clit, applying pressure. He runs his palm over her breast, as he thrusts his tongue deep inside her. His nose bumps the underside of her clit, and she’s falling apart really, really fast.
“Ted, don’t you dare stop,” she says, breathlessly.
He wasn’t planning to because she tastes so good, and the way that he can feel her clamp down on his tongue reminds him of how it felt when she did that with his cock. His cock springs to attention with the memory. He moves himself to try to relieve the pressure. He must have slowed on his movements because he hears her sigh.
“Ted.”
He builds back up to his rhythms, and she mewls, fingers pulling at his hair, as he tweaks her nipple. With his face buried deep between her thighs, and his thumb on her clit, she comes on his face, body writhing, as he tries to keep her still. He works her through it, providing pleasurable aftershocks. When she comes down, he slows, not removing his face or his thumb, so that he can revel in the smell, taste, and feeling that is essentially her.
“Fuck, Ted,” she says, as she opens her eyes to find his.
But his face is buried deep between her legs. It’s so erotic, that she feels like she could almost come again just based on this visual.
“Ted, did you drown,” she asks, a chuckle to her voice.
He answers her by moving his fingertips over her nipple, and she shudders. She combs her fingers through his hair, as she feels the hormones pulsating though her nerves. He pulls back slowly, tongue sliding from inside her, and she mourns the loss. But the image of him is sexy. His face is entirely wet from her, including his cheeks, chin, lips, nose, and mustache. He smiles at her, as he removes his thumb from her clit.
“That was the best I’ve ever had.”
He smirks.
“I could tell,” he replies, and she attempts to swat at him, but she can’t, (or maybe she doesn’t actually want to).
“Fuck, Ted, how did you get so good at that?”
“I will never reveal my secrets,” he replies.
She rolls her eyes. He lifts up further, using the sheet to wipe his face. She moves to pull him up to her. He lands on top, and she can smell herself all over his face. It makes her feral, and she lifts her hand to the back of his neck, fingers tangling at the nape, pressing him toward her, as their lips meet in a tender kiss. But that gentleness doesn’t last long because she opens her mouth to him, and he kisses her deeply, tongue dragging along hers. The taste of her permeates their kisses, and they both moan, swallowing one another’s noises. She feels the scratch of his mustache on her upper lip, and it reminds her of how it felt on her other set of lips. She shudders, and he catches her movement, ending the kiss naturally.
“Are you ok,” he asks.
“Yes,” she replies.
She feels him move a little bit, presumably to take some pressure off of his rock hard cock resting against her inner thigh. She runs her thumb over his wet mustache, and he smiles, showing off his dimples. She’s noticed them before, but it’s really so endearing to see them so close. She moves her thumb toward one of them, pressing into it. He chuckles, as she yawns.
“I know I’m good, but I didn’t know I was that good.”
“Shut the fuck up, Ted.”
He mimes zipping his lips, and she chuckles. She moves her legs, so that she can wrap them around his hips. His cock lands exactly where she wants it, and he pushes into her entrance.
“Fuck me,” she says with a moan, the same way she did when she tasted his biscuits for the first time.
He drops his forehead to hers, as they both gasp when he bottoms out, balls flush against her. She lifts her hands to his ass, squeezing. When he begins to move, she can feel the aftershocks again. He pulls himself out of her, not completely, but when he pushes back in, she pushes his ass into her further.
“You like it when I’m deep inside you,” he whispers in her ear.
She sighs. He drops his torso to her body, still holding himself up, but feeling her nipples sliding on his skin, tickling the hairs on his chest. He kisses her gently, lips split between each other, as his rhythm builds. She smacks his ass cheek, and his rhythm is interrupted, which causes him to break their sweet kiss.
“Do it again,” he requests.
She smacks his ass again, and it causes him to speed up his movements, as he presses deep inside her. She can feel the tip of him bumping up against her outer wall, which is already terribly sensitive.
“Oh, god, Ted.”
“Baby, you feel so good.”
As he pulls himself out, pushing back in, he kisses her again, and she kisses him back, mouths opening, allowing their tongues to find the other’s. When their kisses come to a natural end, he pushes back, hands landing around her neck, giving himself leverage.
“Grab my neck,” she says.
“Fuck, you’re so hot, Rebecca.”
He holds onto her neck, the base of his palms covering the column of her throat.
“Tell me if it’s too much. I don’t want to hurt you.”
She nods, as he thrusts into her, continuing to build his rhythm. As he thrusts, the bed starts to make squeaking noises to his rhythm.
“Fuck,” he says, but he doubles down, because fuck it, she feels so good, and he wants to watch her face when he comes inside her, (sorry to his colleagues).
*****
“Where in the hell is the WD-40,” Sam asks.
“Probably in the rig,” Colin replies.
“We gotta spray that bed because we can’t hear this every night we’re here.”
“WD-40?” You mean the spray that lubricates metal,” Dani asks.
“Yes,” Colin answers.
They hear the squeaking get faster and louder.
“Honestly, I kind of preferred when they were only screaming at each other,” Sam says.
They all nod.
“At least you won the bet, Dani.”
“But at what cost,” he replies.
*****
With his hands wrapped around her neck, and him thrusting into her, the tip of him hitting her most sensitive spot, she clenches on him.
“Fuck, Rebecca.”
He continues to speed up, and as he fucks into her, the bed squeaks more, but he ignores it. After several moments, he’s fucking into her with abandon, and she encouraging his thrusting by pushing her hands into his ass. Her legs are open, no longer against the side of his torso, as she enjoys the way he fucks her.
“Are you going to come on my cock,” he asks, tendril falling over his forehead.
“God, Ted, fuck me,” she says, breathlessly.
He removes one hand from her neck and moves it to her clit, thumb pressing into it, as he fucks her. His other hand on her neck moves to the column of her throat, wrapping around her fully.
“Fuck, I’m so close,” she yells out.
And he presses harder on her clit, making sure that he fucks her well, so that she comes before he does.
“You like the way I fuck you,” he asks, feeling his own orgasm on the precipice. “You gonna come on my cock?”
“Fuck,” she says, feeling the pulsations moving from her core then outwards. She clamps down, and he watches as it ignites, and she comes, her body goes rigid underneath him. Her breaths practically stop, a flush grows on her face, and her body begins to involuntary move to the pleasure that is firing off inside her. He watches her in awe. When she comes back to herself, she looks up at him bashfully.
“You’re so fucking beautiful when you come,” he says, as he fucks into her again.
He drops his body onto hers, removing his thumb from her clit. She lifts his hand to her mouth, taking his thumb between her lips.
“God damn, Rebecca.”
She watches him, as he watches her.
“Fuck me and come inside me.”
He can’t even respond because his orgasm is growing and building, and he’s fucking her, squeaky bed be damned because this is the best sex he’s ever had. He fucks into her, feeling her breasts moving with his rhythm. He presses deep inside her as it ignites for him, and he comes.
“Fuck,” he grunts out, dropping all his weight on top of her.
Her hands rise to his broad, sweaty back, caressing, feeling his chest flush against hers, the rise and fall rapid. They lie there together in the afterglow. After a few minutes, he pulls out of her, but doesn’t move away. And she’s glad he doesn’t. It’s quiet except for the sounds of their mixed breaths.
“I hate you,” he says, gently.
“I hate you too,” she replies, tenderly.
There’s a long pause.
“We probably should take a shower. But I’m tired, and I don’t want to move.”
“Move to the side,” she says, and he does.
She turns toward him, fingers moving his tendril from his forehead. She kisses his lips gently.
“Go to sleep, Ted. I’ll be here in the morning.”
*****
Except she wasn’t there the next morning. He wonders how he didn’t wake when she got up. He tries to take in his surroundings. He begins to feel panic. He brings his hand to his chest, palm massaging, trying to ground himself. But he can’t help but worry. Does she regret everything?
Notes:
Rated E for edging, eroticism, and ecstasy, am I right? 😂🤣
Also I can't take full credit for the two fingers inside her and five fingers wrapped around her neck. Larissa, thanks for dropping that to me from twitter. I can't give full credit to whomever came up with it because I'm no longer on the twitters but yeah. HOT 🫠
Chapter 13: 13
Notes:
WHEW not me being gone for like 8-10 weeks, but now I'm BACK with a 10,000+ word chapter. Prepare yourselves
Chapter Text
She wakes before him, sore in all the right places. She watches as he sleeps. Her fingers lift to push his hair gently away from his face. Her phone pings across the room, but it doesn’t distract her from watching him. She’s not sure what to think about last night. Sure, there was angry sex, but there was also more. Her phone pings again. She observes the way he breathes, quiet and peaceful, very much unlike the way he fucked her last night. Her phone pings again. This time the noise stirs him, but he doesn’t wake. She sighs. She moves as quietly as she can, lifting her body over his, as her feet hit the ground. She moves to her side of the room and picks up her phone. She finds multiple messages. Clearly the guys texted everyone last night, but she finds herself not even mad. Another message comes through.
Tom: Rebecca, it’s urgent, call me immediately
Rebecca: what’s up. I just woke up
Tom: come to structure from last night. Got something you should see
Rebecca: ok, give me thirty minutes
She quietly gathers items to take a quick shower. She leaves their room, but not before looking back at him. Her hand, which is not filled with her stuff, rises to her chest, palm resting over her heart.
After a quick shower, she finds that no one else is awake, which makes sense, as it’s still early. She picks up a banana and leaves, making a mental reminder to text Isaac when she arrives.
*****
She steps out of her car. Her phone rings…Keeley. That’s the thing she needs to deal with right now. She declines her call and texts Isaac her whereabouts.
“Are you texting your man,” Jan comments, and she rolls her eyes.
“Jesus Christ,” she replies.
“Congratulations are in order, no?”
“Oh my god…can we not,” she asks him. Then out loud to herself, “did they text everyone?”
Tom arrives, hearing her comment.
“Yes, they did,” he states.
She rolls her eyes again and shakes her head. She’s not mad, per se, but living in this small town is frustrating with its lack of privacy.
“I think it’s cute. The boys love you both,” Jan adds.
She sighs. She knows.
“So, what is this all about,” she asks.
“It’s a doozy,” Tom replies.
“Oh?”
“Come with me.”
They walk toward what little is left of the structure. Her brain flashes to the night before, the voice that they heard, and the remembrance that they lost someone.
“Rebecca?”
She blinks, her head turning toward his voice.
“You alright,” Tom asks.
She nods, as she begins to follow both detectives. They make their way to the front of the structure.
“So the voice that you heard last night,” Tom says. “It wasn’t real.”
Rebecca snaps her neck over to look at him with a questioning eye brow raise.
“Come here and look,” Jan adds, as he moves.
They arrive at what was once the right side of the structure.
“Remember how both you and Lasso heard a female voice? You heard her voice in the back of alpha, and Ted in the front of beta?”
She nods.
“Here is why.”
He takes a pointer that extends. Her eyes follow the pointer to what looks like a completely ruined tape recorder.
“The voice was a recording,” she asks, dumbfounded.
“It certainly appears that way, yes,” Tom replies.
“And there is one in the back of alpha,” Jan adds.
“What the fuck,” she exclaims.
“I know,” Tom says, hand reaching out to console her.
She can feel the emotions of it all bubbling to the surface.
“She sounded so real.”
“We are unsure if the voice was a real voice recorded or some kind of altered simulation,” Tom replies.
“I thought we lost another,” she says, “like we did before.”
“I know. It made me think of her too,” he adds.
He pauses, as she reaches for the pointer, moving debris away from the recorder.
“Do you think we can get anything from it,” she asks.
“It’s highly unlikely due to the fire damage. But we’re going to do our best.”
“Fuck, I can’t believe this.”
She pushes the pointer into Tom’s fingers, as she buries her face in her hands. They allow her to take a moment.
“So they created voice recordings to have this voice speak at different times, and then to stop on one recording, which forces Ted to come to me, where they set up explosives.” She pauses. “They’re toying with us, aren't they,” she asks, full of anger.
“It certainly appears that way,” Jan replies.
“Fuck.”
“Rebecca, I’m curious. Did you recognize the voice,” Tom asks.
She shakes her head. There’s a pregnant pause between them.
“Show me the other one,” she requests.
They make their way over to the back of alpha, where Tom’s pointer shows her the other recorder. This one is more damaged than the other.
Tom hears her sigh.
“We’ll get them, Rebecca. We will,” he says, and she doesn’t have the heart to discount him.
*****
Ted’s eyes flutter open, as he takes in his surroundings. He begins to feel panic building deep inside. Where is she? Does she regret everything? Did he dream it all? He brings his hand to his chest, palm massaging, trying to ground himself.
“Loverboy, breakfast is ready,” Colin yells.
He sighs, pushing a hand through his hair. He can smell her all over him, and unfortunately his cock springs to attention. The timing is poor though, as the guys bang on the door.
“Lasso, wake up.”
“We need you out of your bed so we can burn your sheets and WD-40 the frame.”
“Loverboy…”
“Fuck,” he yells out.
“I’d think you’d be a lot more calm this morning,” Colin yells.
He shakes his head.
“I’m coming,” he replies, loudly.
“Oh, you can’t say something like that ever again,” Dani replies through the door.
“You and Welton traumatized poor Dani,” Sam says, laughing.
Ted hears them moving away from the door. Oh boy, he thinks to himself. He wonders if Rebecca got it just as bad as him this morning. He pauses…Rebecca. He gets up, wanting to find her.
*****
He takes a deep breath before his foot hits the bottom of the stairs. And then he hears them, rapid fire questions and comments:
“Did you guys have to be so loud?”
“I love love, but why?”
“Is your bed ok?”
“We bought more WD-40 in case what we have isn’t enough.”
“You look like shit.”
“Did you even sleep?”
“I don’t know, I think I preferred the arguing.”
He’s overwhelmed. It’s not like he wanted this to happen…like this.
“Where is she,” he asks.
“She’s at the site from last night with the detectives,” Isaac replies.
“Good morning, Ted. We’re here too,” Sam says.
“I’m sorry about last night,” he says, feeling remorseful.
“I’m more sorry that no one thought to spray your bed frames. How very stupid of us,” Colin replies.
Ted chuckles.
“You look happy,” Dani says, observing.
He clears his throat.
“What’s for breakfast,” he asks.
“Why? Did you work up an appetite,” Colin asks.
Ted blushes.
“Alright, enough,” Isaac says. “Breakfast now and then maintenance on Lasso’s bed.”
“And Welton’s too,” Sam adds.
*****
Her phone rings as she gets into her car. Keeley.
“Fuck,” she says to herself, but she answers her call anyways.
“Babe,” Keeley exclaims. “You and Ted slept together? Like had sex?”
She shakes her head, the volume of her voice giving her an instant headache.
“Keeley,” she starts, but is immediately interrupted.
“Oh my god, I’m so happy, Babe! I saw you two together from the moment you walked into the bar. Did he have fun with your magnificently glorious tits? Oh my god, I’m so jealous!”
“Keeley, Jesus Christ. Give me a moment. We just got some scary news regarding the fire from last night.”
“Oh, fuck, Rebecca. Are you ok?”
“No,” she says, sighing. “But I will be.”
“I’m so sorry. I know how stressful this whole situation has been for you all. Hell, we even feel it as members of the community.”
“Yeah.”
“I can call you later.”
“No, it’s ok. You were just coming in with a lot of energy, and I just needed a moment to adjust.”
“So I can be excited again?”
She chuckles.
“Yes, Keeley.”
“Tell me everything,” she exclaims.
“We fought like we always do, and it just turned into sex.”
“Hot, hot. But I’m going to need way more detail.”
“Keeley, there’s not more to tell.”
“Babes, don’t make me force it out of you. I’ll climb you like a tree until you start telling me.”
“Keeley, for fucks sake.”
“I’m so happy for you and Ted. I’ve known Ted since forever, and I can’t think of better person for him than you.”
She smiles.
“Rebecca? Are you there?”
“Keeley, it was so good. It was the best sex I’ve ever had.”
“Good work, Ted.”
She sighs with a chuckle.
“But more than that…”
“Yes,” Keeley asks.
“I’m so attracted to him. It’s almost gross.”
“Yeah, we all know,” she exclaims. “I can’t believe you both didn’t. I swear.”
“Fuck,” Rebecca says, annoyed.
“You sound really happy, Babe.”
“I am. But we really need to talk through everything.”
“I’ve been saying this forever,” Keeley says.
“I know, I know.”
“You owe me a bottle of champagne and all the sexy details.”
Rebecca chuckles.
“God, I’d kill for some champagne right now.”
“Two more days on shift, and then you’re all mine,” Keeley exclaims.
“Well, Ted may have something to say about that.”
“Fine, we can share. And don’t think I won’t be harassing him for details too.”
“That has already crossed my mind.”
“Be safe, Babe. Fuck these people setting up these fires and explosives.”
“Indeed,” Rebecca replies.
“Call me?”
“Always.”
“Happy and excited for you both.”
“Thanks, Keeley. Bye.”
*****
After more questioning and roasting all throughout breakfast, Ted enters their room with Colin, Sam, and Dani in tow.
“Smells like sex in here,” Colin says.
Dani makes a face.
“Give me the WD-40,” Ted says, snatching the can from Colin’s hand.
“Fine, but we aren’t leaving until we see you spray every nook and cranny of the bed. Hers too,” Sam adds.
He sighs, beginning to spray the frame. But apparently his method isn’t good enough because Colin grabs the can from him and begins drenching it.
Forty minutes later, with two full cans of WD-40 used, every inch of both of their beds is glistening with it, in the hopes that the lubrication will reduce the noise from their activities. Not that Ted actually thinks that she’s interested in continuing said activities. But he doesn’t voice that to the guys. He watches them, as they exit the room, laughing to themselves, patting each other on the back. He reaches for his phone. And oh boy. They clearly texted everybody. Emojis from Keeley and Mae…one word texts from Beard and Roy. And so many others. He doesn’t bother reading any of them. But he calls the one person who knows him best.
“Buddy, I’m in trouble.”
“I heard the guys didn’t love the squeaky bed.”
He sighs.
“Yeah, well our bed frames are coated with WD-40 right now.”
“Good men,” Beard replies.
“But that’s not why I’m in trouble.”
“I know.”
“You know?”
“Of course I know.”
He sighs again.
“What if she…”
“Have you talked to her?”
“No.”
“You had sex instead?”
Ted makes a strained noise.
“I’m not judging.”
“I know.”
Then he hears her downstairs.
“Beard, I have to go. I’ll call you back.”
“Alright, Ted.”
He drops his phone to the bed, walking out of their room and down the stairs.
He overhears, “fancy coffee doesn’t take away from the noises and words that are etched in my brain.”
“I suppose not,” she replies.
As his foot hits the bottom step, he moves toward her voice, needing to see her, talk to her…maybe even touch her.
“Rebecca,” he says, voice gentle.
She looks up at him. His face is tentative.
She takes a coffee cup out of the holder and walks to him.
“For you,” she says.
“Thank you,” he replies.
Before anyone can make any comments, they hear Isaac.
“Ok, briefing in fifteen minutes. Rebecca, with me.”
“Can you give me a moment,” she asks.
Isaac nods.
“Ted, come upstairs,” Rebecca requests.
“No shenanigans. You’ve got a briefing to do,” Isaac says.
She nods, as Isaac turns away. She begins her ascent up the stairs, and Ted stares at her ass. She looks down at him.
“Ted?”
He snaps out of his trance and follows her. After he enters their room, he closes the door immediately. She turns back to him.
“We need to talk.”
“I know.”
“It’s about last night.”
“I figured. We had sex.”
“No, not that,” she says, and he’s immediately disappointed that she doesn’t want to talk about what happened between them.
“Tom and Jan found tape recorders at the scene…one where I was working, and one where you were working. The recordings are what we heard. There was no female victim there.”
Ted’s mouth drops open.
“It was a trap? All of it was one big trap,” he asks.
“Yes.”
“But she sounded so real,” he replies.
“Tom asked me if I recognized the voice. I didn’t. Did you?”
He shakes his head.
“But even if I did recognize it, I don’t know if I was fully present to even realize it.”
She nods.
“Who would do this?”
“I don’t know. Somehow you and I are connected in this person or person’s chaos. We initially thought it was all firefighters. But now it seems like it’s just us.”
“Are you ok,” he asks.
She shakes her head.
“Can I touch you?”
She nods. He wraps his arms around her, bringing her into his body. He smells her hair, as her arms circle his waist.
“I was scared that you were gone this morning. I thought you regretted everything,” he whispers.
She pushes back from him, and he lets her.
They hear Isaac calling for Rebecca.
“I don’t regret anything whatsoever,” she says, pausing, watching Ted exhale deeply.
“I don’t regret anything either,” he replies.
“Rebecca,” Isaac exclaims.
“I have to go. But tell me, why does the room smell like WD-40?”
He chuckles.
*****
“Our detectives found tape recorders, two of them. One was placed in the back of alpha, the other placed in the front of beta. Someone either recorded a female, or it was a manufactured female voice. We’re entirely unsure. And the recordings were timed off each other, which is what prompted Lasso to move toward me since I only heard the voice. And that’s when a small electrical device went off. There was nothing remarkable or notable about it.”
“Someone is targeting you and Lasso,” Dani asks.
“It sure seems like it,” Isaac adds.
“Any other details,” Colin asks.
“There were no footprints found anywhere on site or in the surrounding areas. And there was the same fire pattern on the outside of the walls, with a gas accelerant like usual,” she adds.
She hears their murmurs.
“When we were on scene during the fire, we didn’t see anything unusual or out of the ordinary. Did anyone see anything suspicious,” Tom asks.
They all shakes their heads.
“If there is nothing more, Welton, then we can end here,” Isaac says.
She nods.
“I will debrief everyone else, including 48. Dismissed,” Isaac says.
Tom and Jan walk up to Ted.
“Hey, Ted. You doing alright,” Tom asks.
“Yeah, thanks. It’s a lot to take in.”
“That it is,” Tom confirms. “Did you recognize the voice on the recorders?”
“I don’t believe so. But even if I did, there was so much going on last night, I don’t know how reliable I’d be with my memory.”
“Makes sense. If anything changes, please reach out to us.”
“Of course. Always.”
“Congratulations on Welton,” Jan adds.
“Hey, whatever it is…it’s between her and I,” Ted says, a hint of defensiveness in his voice.
“And the whole town. You know how it is,” Tom says.
He sighs. He really does.
The detectives pat him on the back as they move toward Rebecca. He watches as she interacts with them. When she turns away from him, presumably to walk the detectives out of the station, he watches her, remembering everything about last night. His cock twitches. He wants her, but they need to talk about so many things. He shakes his head, attempting to rid himself of the horny. He makes his way to his gear, moving things around, for no reason other than to wait for her. He does this for several moments, until he sees her reappear. She walks toward him. When she gets closer, she reaches for his hand, and he allows her to interlace their fingers together.
“Come on, we need to talk.”
He nods, as he follows her willingly up the stairs. As they cross the threshold of their room, the smell of WD-40 permeates.
“We need a fan in here or something,” she comments. “How much WD-40 did they spray?”
“They used two whole cans,” he replies.
“Jesus Christ,” she says, chuckle in her voice.
“I can go get a fan…to help air it out.”
“Ok,” she says, dropping his hand.
He leaves her, and she walks over to sit on his bed, as she waits for him.
He reenters a couple of minutes later and sets up the fan. The whirring sets a calm, gentle vibe in the room.
He sits down next to her.
“Rebecca, I know we have a lot to talk about regarding last night, and the fact that you and I are both being targeted,” he says, hesitating.
“We can talk about both, Ted. It’s ok. I meant what I said. I’m not going anywhere.”
He takes a deep breath and lets it out. He really needed that reassurance.
“Since we are both the targets of this arsonist or arsonists, I think we need to talk about all of our interactions together, including how we met and so on. Do you think you can do that?”
“I can. But I really want to kiss you.”
“I do too. But this is more important, Ted. It has to be more important. Our lives are at stake.”
“No, I know. I do.”
There’s a long pause.
“Let’s start from the beginning. The evening you saw me,” she says.
“I was at the Crown and Anchor hanging out with Beard, Roy, and Keeley. And then I saw you. You were so tall, almost statuesque. I was obsessed with your platinum blonde hair and the way that it fell around your shoulders. I couldn’t stop staring.”
“I remember,” she adds.
“I was trying to determine your eye color as you were walking up to the bar. I initially thought blue, but when I finally realized your eye color was green, I lost my breath for a moment.”
He pauses, and she watches him.
“And the way you were dressed. So business. So professional. And your heels. Rebecca, you look great in heels. So sexy. So confident. It made my cock rock hard.”
She smirks.
“I saw how Luca was flirting with you, and you were so disinterested. But then you made eye contact with me, and I couldn’t help myself. I smiled at you. And you smiled back. I could tell you looked slightly uncomfortable. I should have looked away then because the last thing I wanted to do was to make you feel uncomfortable, but I couldn’t tear my eyes away.”
She smiles.
“Then you looked at me again, and I just melted internally. My friends, who are now our friends, wanted me to go talk to you.”
“I could tell,” she responds.
“They were saying that you were eye fucking me.”
“I was eye fucking you? Are they kidding? You were doing that to me.”
“Oh believe me, they called that out,” he replies, chuckling.
“So why didn’t you come talk to me?”
“I couldn’t get up, Rebecca. I had a raging erection.”
She smirks, thinking.
“But then you left,” she replies.
“Henry called. He was upset because he took a nap, had a nightmare, woke up, and told Michelle that he wanted to talk to me. So I rushed out to talk to him.”
“Oh, poor Henry.”
“When I came back you were gone.”
She sighs.
“I came to the Crown and Anchor to get a drink after my first interview with Julie and Isaac.”
“Yes, I know that now. I didn’t know that then.”
She nods.
“I was interested in something casual…just for the night.”
He is surprised by that admission.
“I remember feeling your eyes on me. And when I looked up, I saw you. The mustache threw me for a moment. I’m not normally into facial hair, but it works for you. You smiled at me. And all the pain and heartache from my divorce just came roaring back. When I smiled back at you, I knew it looked forced. But you were undeterred.”
“Guilty."
“And then I heard, who I now know as Keeley, say your name. At the time, I wondered if she was your girlfriend.”
Ted laughs.
“I didn’t know,” she exclaims. “Although knowing Keeley now, I can’t believe I ever thought that.”
They laugh together.
“And then you got a phone call, and you were all flustered as you left.”
She pauses, making sure she has his eye contact.
“I was disappointed.”
“You were,” he asks.
“I was.” She takes a moment, unsure of whether or not to reveal… “I waited, as Keeley, Roy, and Beard stared at me. I knew they were talking about me, wondering who I was, and why I was there. I waited for five minutes or so hoping you’d come back, but you didn’t. So I finished my drink with the intention to leave. I noticed that Keeley wanted to speak to me. She never did get up though.”
‘You waited for me,” he asks.
She confirms with a nod. And he kisses her immediately, lips parting between them. Her hands lift to his face, one reaching around to the back of his neck, pulling him toward her, as she opens her mouth to him. He takes advantage, slipping his tongue deep inside. She sucks on it, running a hand through his hair, and as she lets go, her teeth catch it, and he gasps. She runs her tongue along his, and it’s lightning. She breaks their kiss, dropping her forehead to his, breathing each other’s breaths.
“I know we need to talk more, but I want you.”
“One orgasm each and then back to talking.”
“Excellent compromise,” she replies. “We should lock the door.”
“I got it,” he says, as she removes her hands from his body.
When he gets up, she unzips her dark navy blue jumpsuit, moving herself from the bed to stand. She slips it from her shoulders, and it falls to the floor. She stands before him in her bra and panties. He moves back to her, as he lifts his shirt from his torso, throwing it behind him.
“God, you’re so beautiful.”
“Show me,” she requests, as her nimble fingers tickle along his waistband.
He unhooks her bra, letting it fall, exposing her to him, as she pulls his shorts and boxers from his hips. His shorts fall to the floor, as her bra lands somewhere, and he kisses her, palm landing on her breast. She opens her mouth to him, tongues dueling, feeling his cock hard against her hip. He pinches her other nipple, and she gasps, as he swipes his tongue deep in her mouth. He moves his hips against hers, and she then feels his cock, rock hard against her inner thigh, and she’s had enough foreplay. She breaks their kiss.
“Inside me. Now,” she demands.
He salutes her, as she lies back onto his bed, pulling her panties off, and opening her legs wide for him. He moves to her, kissing her abdomen, wanting desperately to taste her again, but he also wants to feel her come around his cock. They agreed on only one orgasm. She must read his mind.
“Once we talk about everything after this, you can taste me again.”
“Fuck,” he says, as he drops his body to hers, kissing her deeply.
He pushes off the mattress with his knees, reaching for his cock, lining himself up with her entrance. He knows he already has her permission, so he slides the head of himself inside her slowly. He can feel how wet she is on the tip of him, and as he fills her, they gasp into each other’s mouths. Once he bottoms out completely, her hands slip up and down his spine. He begins to move slowly. Her fingernails start their decent downward toward his low back, and it forces a primal desire to speed up, but he keeps his movements slow. It’s languid. It’s sexy. He breaks their kisses, dropping his forehead onto hers, once again breathing in each other’s breaths.
“Tell me what you need.”
“You,” she responds.
He moves slowly, desiring to take his time. But she has other ideas, as she clenches on him, her hands moving to his ass to push him faster. He can’t resist her, and he speeds up his thrusts, pushing deep inside her, pulling back out, thrusting in again. She mewls, intending to keep quiet, but can’t fully. He’s got to hand it to the guys though because the bed squeaks no more. Hell, it shouldn’t with the amount of WD-40 they sprayed.
“Ted, God.”
“I’m here.”
He continues his movement, her breasts bouncing along. She digs her nails into his ass.
“Fuck,” he whispers.
He speeds up his rhythm more, her wetness and tightness permeating all of his senses.
“Can you come like this, Baby,” he asks. “Do you need my fingers?”
“Move back a little. Let me show you how I touch myself.”
He pushes off the mattress, hands landing on her shins, opening her legs up, and he watches her breasts move, as he builds his rhythm back. Her fingers slip down each divot of her abs until they make contact with her clit. Her eyes close, and he watches her, desiring her to come.
“I’m close,” she says.
And he speeds up more, feeling himself on the precipice.
“Me too,” he tells her.
Fingers press into her clit, and she pinches it, nail digging into the underside of it, as her back arches. He watches her go rigid beneath him, cock trapped between her walls. When she unclenches around him, he falls back toward her body, pushing into her deeply, fucking her. Her arms wrap around his back, keeping him close. Moments later, he comes inside her, a deep whiney exhale tickles her ear. Her hands rub along his spine as they lie together, his breaths arousing to the sensitive skin behind her ear. Her hand then rises to the back of his neck, fingers playing with the hairs on his nape. He pulls himself out of her, and she sighs, mourning the loss. Several minutes pass as they touch each other gently.
“I can’t believe you waited for me,” he whispers.
Her hand swipes up his back, fingertips gentle on his skin.
“I wish you hadn’t left.”
He lifts himself up so he can look at her.
“But your little boy will always come first…even to me.”
“Rebecca,” he says, dropping down, placing a sweet kiss on her lips. He pulls back slightly to take in her green eyes.
He touches her cheek, fingertips sliding toward her neck. He’s so gentle with her, and it brings tears to her eyes.
“Keeley always said if that night never happened…”
“She said that to me too,” he replies.
They both sigh together. He caresses her cheek, taking her lips between his own. He pulls back.
“I’m sorry I didn’t leave a note or any other communication this morning,” she whispers.
“I’m so glad you’re here.”
He kisses her again, as if they have all the time in the world. He pulls back a few moments later, sitting up on his shins, as he pulls her up too.
“Let’s get cleaned up. We have more talking to do.”
She nods, hand rising to his face, swiping the tendril away from his forehead.
“You want to shower with me?”
“Well, I am an environmentalist,” he replies, grinning.
She rolls her eyes, playfully, as he pushes away from the bed, helping her to stand. They gather their things together, putting on minimal clothing, in case they encounter any of their colleagues. They open their door, look around, and make their way quietly into the bathroom. They drop their things into a stall. They rid themselves of their clothes. She turns on the water, as his arms wrap around her waist, lips landing on her neck.
“Ted, no funny business,” she says, as his hand makes its way north, fingertips slipping over her breast.
After rubbing her nipple, he turns her to him.
“There’s nothing funny about the business that I have to attend to in this here shower,” he replies.
“We said one orgasm each,” she says, knowing that was a fucking lie.
“I can be quick,” he says, as he drops to his knees before her, wasting absolutely no time.
“Fuck,” she whispers, the warm water cascading down her back.
“Open your legs for me.”
She does what he asks. He kisses her clit, then lays his tongue flat on her, licking from her entrance to her clit. She makes no noise, but god, if they weren’t in the communal fire station shower, she’d scream out. He’s just so good at this. He licks back through her lips, gathering her taste. It’s exquisite. Fingertips land on the outside of her thigh. His tongue lies flat on her clit, and he then tickles it with the tip. His fingertips move toward the front of her thigh, squeezing, as he takes her clit into his mouth, suckling. His fingers move toward her inner thigh, nails digging in, and he looks up at her from between her legs.
“Fuck,” she whispers, hand landing in his hair, beginning to pull him into her further.
His fingers move again, landing near the apex of her thighs. He bites on her clit, using the surprise to dip three fingers inside her, immediately pushing in to the hilt. He pulls on her clit with his teeth, letting go, licking over it, flat to soothe. He moves his fingers to a slow rhythm, that begins building immediately. He alternates licks, bites on her clit, and at times, sucking it into his mouth. She uses her pull on his hair to push him to her particularly sensitive areas, as her hips rock into his face. She feels it deep in her core, and he must feel her clenching because he speeds up his rhythm. He fucks her with his fingers, ensuring to curl them toward her outer wall, tongue playing with her clit. The pleasure continues to build for her, and he lifts a hand to her torso, fingernails drawing up to her breast, as he takes a handful of her. He watches her, and after a particularly hard bite on her clit, her body goes rigid, pausing, and she begins to move involuntarily against his face and mouth. She exhales noisily, attempting to be quiet, as he laps at her, fucking her through it. When it begins to subside, he makes sure he’s holding her by her hips, as he attempts to let her ride whatever pleasure may be left. He licks her slowly, removing his fingers, as he watches her come back to herself. The aftershocks are still present for her, as she watches how comfortable he is between her legs. She pulls up on his hair because it’s all so overstimulating. He kisses her clit, then her pelvis, and he pushes up to his feet. She kisses him, tasting herself on his lips. One arm snakes around his shoulder, her other moves downward, her palm landing on his inner thigh, fingernails pressing into his skin. He gasps, and when his mouth opens, she slides her tongue deep inside. Her fingernails scratch upward, and her thumb makes contact with his balls, and he gasps again. She breaks their kisses, dropping to her knees before him. Luckily, he’s already hard again. The timing is impeccable, really. She grasps his length in her hand, mouth moving to the tip of him. She also wastes no time, as she takes his cock in her mouth, letting go, ensuring that she takes him in fully. He watches her, hands wrapping in her hair. She moves back, allowing the ridge of him to bump against her teeth, and she takes him in again to the hilt. She sets a rhythm, keeping her eyes on his. She sucks every time she’s got the tip of him in her mouth before her mouth engulfs him again. He tries to keep his grunts quiet, but she’s just so good at this. She speeds up her rhythm, with his encouragement from his hands pulling her hair. He finds himself close. She must know because she begins to suck even harder at the tip of him. As she bobs on his cock, sucking harder when she moves back, he pulls on her hair back toward him, tip hitting the back of her throat.
“Fuck, Rebecca, I’m” -
She relaxes her throat, as she feels him come. He grunts louder than he intended, which was covered by the sound of the shower water hitting the floor. His hands loosen in her hair, and she moves back, as he finds her eyes again. She pulls off of his cock, as she swallows. He lifts her immediately from the ground, kissing her fully, wanting to taste them mixed together. After a few moments, she breaks their kiss, her forehead lands on his.
“You’re so good at that.”
“So are you.”
They hold each other under the spray, being mindful of how long they’ve been in the shower together. After a couple of minutes, they wash and rinse each other. They get out one at a time to try to be as inconspicuous as possible. They succeed, as they make their way back to their room without incident. As soon as Ted closes the door, he locks it. And Rebecca drops her towel.
“Fuck, Baby, you are so beautiful.”
“Thank you.”
“Do you know how gorgeous you are?”
She looks away.
“Rebecca?”
“That’s a long story, Ted. Not one for today.”
“Ok,” he replies, allowing her to set the boundary. “When you’re ready, I want to hear all about it.”
She nods, as she dries off and puts her clothes back on. He follows her lead, finding his clothing strewn across their room. When they’re both fully dressed, they sit on Rebecca’s bed, which is way less ruined than his.
“Are you too tired to talk more,” he asks, smirking.
She slaps him playfully.
“You’re not that good,” she says.
“That lie is diabolical,” he replies.
She laughs.
“Fine, fine,” she says.
There’s a long pause, the sound of their breaths and the fan calming.
“Alright, where were we,” he asks.
“The day before,” she replies.
“Ok.”
“The next day, I woke up in my small hotel. You know the one.”
He nods.
“Wait, did you go anywhere else that evening?”
“No, just back to my hotel.” She stops, looking down at her lap.
“What,” he asks.
“I texted Luca.”
“Oh.”
“He wrote his phone number on the receipt, and well, I called him. He came over to the hotel.”
They’re both quiet, looking down. She looks up at him.
“I’m glad it was him and not you that night.”
He looks up at her.
“Whatever this is…it’s so much more compared to that.”
He smiles, liking the sound of that. She smiles back, and she kisses him. He breaks their kiss, fingertips rising to her cheek.
“Let’s keep going before I get carried away,” he says.
She smiles, her own hand rising to his on her face. She lifts his hand and kisses his palm, letting go.
“My second interview wasn’t until 5:30pm. So I laid in bed reading documents, prepping. Around 4:00pm, I felt myself feeling nervous, so I decided to go for a run. I put in my ear buds, and I left the hotel area, keeping track of my surroundings so I didn’t get lost. I hit my stride when I noticed smoke from a white two-story house. And I didn’t even think. When I got closer, I heard who I now know as your son, Henry. He was yelling for help.”
He reaches for her hand.
“I wrapped my sweatshirt around my elbow and arm, and I threw my elbow into a window. I continued to do that until it cracked, and I kicked into it, the glass shattering immediately. I used my clothed elbow to move the glass out of the way, and I climbed through into your house. I heard Henry’s voice upstairs immediately, and I ran toward the stairs. I could tell that the structure was beginning to deteriorate, but I still felt like I could rescue him and get us out. But when I got to the top of the stairs, I heard him scream.”
Tears fill her eyes. His hand rises to her face, palm landing on her cheek.
“When I found him, he was lying on the ground, and fire was moving up the right side of his abdomen. I used my sweatshirt to extinguish the fire on his skin.” She pauses. “He told me that he wanted his Daddy. He wanted you,” she says, squeezing his hand.
He squeezes hers back.
“I asked him his name. He told me, and I told him mine. I also asked if there was anyone else in house with him, so I could figure out if I could get to them too. He said yes, but didn’t specify who. Of course, I didn’t learn until afterward who it was…her.”
Silence engulfs them.
“Let’s keep going,” he says.
She nods.
“Henry was so scared. He told me that he couldn’t feel the side where he was burned. I comforted him as best as I could.”
“Hey, you did a good job comforting him, Rebecca. He told me so in the hospital.”
She smiles, shyly, making eye contact with him.
“Really,” he says.
His thumb caresses along the back of her hand.
“What happened next?”
“I lifted him, placing my shirt over the burn to keep it as clean as possible. And then the ceiling fell, which blocked the door, the only exit. The deterioration felt so fast. But I didn’t even question it because the smoke was beginning to affect me.” She stops. “Henry asked me where you were. Of course I didn’t know who you were, as he was referring to you as Daddy.”
He lowers his head, feeling a sense of sadness.
“I tried to determine a way out, but I came up short. Things started to shift. My breathing began to slow, even though my adrenaline was high. My eyes started to shift downward. I turned around looking at the window, thinking that it could be an escape. But it was too high. My breathing slowed more, and my eyes began to droop further. But I just forced my eyes open because of Henry.”
“Rebecca,” he says, gently.
“I told him to listen to me…that I had to put him down, and that the fire department would be there soon. I asked him to get another shirt or blanket to hold over his face so he could breathe.”
“You were so selfless,” he says, hand caressing along her cheek, and he kisses her forehead.
“I told him that it would be ok…that I’d be ok.” She pauses. “As I fell to the floor, Henry did too. But he did everything I asked of him, and one thing I didn’t. He found a shirt for me and placed it over my face, lifting my own hand, to ensure I could hold it in place. If he hadn’t have done that…”
He smiles, so proud of his little boy for being so brave and altruistic.
“At that moment, I accepted that we were both likely to die.” She stops speaking, tears beginning to fall, as he wipes them away. “Ted, I held him so tight in my arms.”
“Sweetheart, come here.”
She allows herself to be wrapped up by him.
“He saved me. Your son saved me.”
“And you saved him. I’m so glad you were there. You gave him a chance to survive.”
“I also hurt him.”
“And I did too.”
They sit together, wrapped up in one another. His fingers comb through her hair, as her hands caress along his spine. After several moments she asks the question that has always plagued her.
“What took so long to arrive?” She stops herself. “I’m not trying to blame, but I want to know.”
He pushes back from her, nodding. He takes her hand again. After a long, deep breath, he begins.
“When the call came in, initially I was paralyzed with fear. Beard got me moving toward the rig. Julie wanted me to stay, but there was no way I would do that. It was my son. I could never stay behind.”
“Absolutely, Ted.”
“Everything was such a blur. We got into the rig, and Bumbercatch pulled out of the station moving in the direction of my house. And then something odd happened. A car swerved into our lane. Bumbercatch did his best to avoid it, but the car forced us off the road.”
“Ted, oh my god. Was this ever reported to anyone?”
“I would guess it’s in the incident report.”
“Did any of you see the color, make, or model of the car?”
He shakes his head.
“It’s ok. That’s ok,” she soothes.
“All I remember was Julie on comms sharing that a car swerved in our lane, and we were stuck on the side of the road. Isaac then reported that they were eight minutes out, which scared me because my little boy, Rebecca…”
“I know, Ted. I know.”
“By this point, we weren’t far from my house…perhaps like four or five minutes. But it took a little time for Bumbercatch to get the rig back on the road.”
“Which is why it took longer to get to the house.”
“Yes.”
They sit together.
“Do you think the driver could be related to the arsonist/s?”
“I just…Rebecca, this is so much.”
“I know, Ted. I know. Fuck.”
The silence is deafening.
“I’m going to follow up with the detectives about the car. Can you continue?”
He nods.
“Once we were back on the road, Julie asked me who was at my house. So we were prepared to find her and Henry. But not you.”
She nods.
“When we arrived, I jumped out. Julie and Isaac were so mad at me, but I couldn’t stay in the rig. I had to get to him. What I didn’t realize at the time was that my house was fully engulfed in flames. Looking back, we should have all done it differently. The situation deteriorated so quickly.”
She nods, really feeling like the fire is connected to the arsonist(s).
“I heard them assigning everyone. I was assigned to delta, which would have been Henry’s bedroom. I think they knew that was where I was going regardless.”
She nods, fingers caressing his hand that she holds.
“Beard swung into my front door, and it split into the wood. He swung again, but I got impatient, took his ax, swung consistently, so I could get inside. As soon as the door gave, fire raged outward, but I ran through it. It was dark and hazy inside. I ran to the staircase, taking two at a time. Once I made it to the top of the stairs, I noticed that there were debris down everywhere. I attempted to move around everything as quick as I could, trying to get to Henry’s closed door. I called out for him. I got closer to it, and more debris fell in front of it, which stopped me immediately.”
He looks away from her, removing his hand from hers, as his hands and arms wrap around his own body, as if isolating himself from her.
“Ted,” she queries, noticing him caving in on himself.
“Rebecca, I fell to my knees in a panic. Debris blocking my ability to rescue the people I love…I had a panic attack. I have a long history of them. I’m just…I’m so ashamed. I got my little boy hurt.”
He starts to cry, and he pushes her away, as she attempts to move closer to him.
“Love, it’s ok. Let me hold you.”
He stops fighting her, and she curls herself around him.
“It’s ok to cry. Let it out. You’re ok, you’re safe. I got you. I promise.”
“Rebecca,” he whispers, sobbing.
She rubs his back, as she holds him.
“There’s so much more to tell,” he says, quietly through his tears.
“And I’ll be here to listen when you’re ready.”
He takes in her comment as he cries. He wants her to know about his dad. But it’s all so much, and he doesn’t want to be too much for her.
“Ted, lie down with me,” she requests.
He moves with her help, and they lie together, face to face. Tears form and begin to fall for her as well. She reaches for his face, brushing his hair to the side. They cry together, wrapped up in each other’s arms.
*****
He wakes, his arm is trapped, circulation cut off. He opens his eyes to her, her blonde hair splayed over his arm. She’s awake, and she smiles gently at him. She moves his tendril from his forehead, as her lips follow, leaving a sweet kiss.
“Rebecca,” he whispers.
“I’m here, Ted. I promise.”
Her fingers run through his hair.
“You fell asleep. Are you alright?”
He nods.
“I’m glad you’re here.”
“Me too.”
His stomach growls.
“You hungry? I can go downstairs and get some food for us.”
“That’s ok. We should probably go make an appearance. You know, otherwise, they’re going to think that we’ve been having sex this whole time.”
She chuckles, as she nods.
“I love them, but I don’t care what they think.”
They get up slowly, making sure they’re presentable. Before they walk out of the door, Ted’s phone rings, and it’s Michelle.
“Take it. It might be about Henry,” she says, as she squeezes his bicep. “Come down when you’re done.”
He kisses her gently.
She walks downstairs, prepping herself.
“Oh, good, one of you is still alive,” Colin exclaims. “Did you kill Ted?”
“Hilarious,” Rebecca deadpans.
“Is Ted coming too,” Sam asks.
Dani groans.
“Sorry, Dani,” he says, laughing. “Dinner is almost ready.”
“Ted will be here in a few moments. Michelle was calling him.”
“Oh. Then come sit down. We need to talk,” Colin says.
*****
“Hey, Michelle.”
“Ted. How are you?”
“I’m good. You doing ok? How’s Henry?”
“Oh yeah, I’m well, and Henry is fine. Don’t worry.”
“Good. I’m glad.”
“So I heard about you and Rebecca.”
He sighs.
“The guys texted me.”
He sighs again.
“I swear, they are just…”
“I’m happy for you both, Ted.”
“Thanks, Michelle. It just happened, and we’ve been talking about everything today.”
“That’s so great. I’m glad you’re both finally talking. I was tired of giving you a hard time about that.”
He sighs.
“You were right.”
“I’m always right,” she replies, a smirk in her voice.
“That you are,” he says, chuckling.
There’s a lull.
“Michelle?”
“I hope you know that whatever happens with Rebecca, we can work out an agreement. I would absolutely welcome her into our family dynamic. She saved our son, Ted.”
Tears fill his eyes.
“She did, Michelle.”
“And I will always be grateful to her for that. But if I’m honest, I want the best for you, and I think she’s it.”
He wipes his tears away.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to bring all of this up. I just…it’s all reminding me of that night in the hospital, and it was so much.”
“I know. It was.” He takes a moment. “Are you ok?”
“I will be, Ted. Truly. I’m happy for you both. And I’m happy that our son is ok.”
“I am too.”
“Alright, I've got to get back to work. Don’t worry about Henry, he’s with your mom, and they’re apparently playing with his legos.”
“Of course,” he says, chuckling. “Thank you for calling. I feel bad that you found out this way…even though we don’t know what this all is…yet.”
“It’s ok, Ted. You know what it’s like growing up and living in a small town.”
He nods.
“That I do.”
“Be safe. We’ll talk soon.”
“Ok, sounds good. Bye Michelle.”
He puts his phone down. He feels so grateful to have this kind of co-parenting situation with her. His fingers lift to his hair, and he combs through it, as he begins to make his way downstairs.
*****
“What are your intentions with our Ted,” Sam asks.
“Our Ted,” she asks.
“Yes, he’s ours. We had him first. Well, most of us grew up with him or known him the longest.”
“Christ,” she replies. “I mean I get it. But he doesn’t even work in this station. I do. You’re telling me that I’m not yours?”
“You are. We love you too. We had this conversation with him earlier today.”
“You did,” she asks.
“We did,” Sam replies.
“They did,” Isaac says, as he walks into the kitchen.
She’s surprised and touched.
“Are you going to hurt him again,” Dani asks.
“You’re not going to fuck in our communal areas, right,” Colin queries.
She smirks. She can’t help it.
“What the fuck, Welton,” Colin replies.
“Ok, ok, ok,” she says, hands up in defense. “Look, this is all so new. We’ve been talking all afternoon trying to listen to one another instead of arguing. It is not my plan or intention to hurt him, just as I believe that’s not his plan or intention either.”
“That’s good," Dani replies. “You two have needed to talk for months.”
“I’m glad to hear this too,” Isaac adds.
“Yes. We both have done things so poorly.”
“Yeah, but it was a very traumatic experience for us all. It’s ok. Give yourself some grace,” Sam says.
“Thanks, Sam.”
“I’m with the guys though. No sex in any communal areas…please, Welton,” Isaac says. “That’s the new rule.”
She nods.
They hear Ted coming down the stairs. As he enters the kitchen, they all look at him. But he only has eyes for her.
“Did they corner you with questions and comments too,” he asks.
She nods with a smile on her face.
“Alright, guys. Did you get all your questions answered?”
They nod, as they get up and cheer, hugging both Ted and Rebecca together.
*****
After a dinner full of roasting, which Rebecca had to stop multiple times via her middle finger or an overdramatic eye roll, they make their way back upstairs to their room. When they cross the threshold, she takes his hand moving them toward her bed. She sits, getting herself comfortable with her back against the pillow, and he follows her, letting his back fall against her chest. She wraps her arms around his torso.
“It’s ok if you don’t want to talk more about it,” she says.
“No, I want to…we need to because if there are any other connections, they can be investigated further.”
“Ok.”
“There was a traumatic incident that happened when I was young.”
He pauses.
“Ted, you don’t have to share this now. I promise.”
“I want to, but I can’t…yet. I just want you to know that the incident from my childhood…it’s what causes my panic and panic attacks. Remember during the training simulation, and of course last night when the explosion occurred…it was also what my caused my panic when I reached Henry’s door, which delayed my ability to get to you both.”
“Thank you for telling me,” she whispers, as she kisses his neck gently. “I’m sorry that I got so angry at you about the panic without being curious.”
“It’s ok.”
There’s silence that fills the space.
“I remember some of it. Henry was screaming your name, which caused me to stir, but I was quite disoriented.”
“Yeah, it was Henry’s screams that brought me out of my panic attack. It forced me to move. I began swinging into the door, ax consistently getting stuck, forcing me to push and pull with my adrenaline. With all that force, the door cracked open, which caused the fire and debris to explode.”
“Which is how Henry got burned on his neck and me on my forearm.”
He lifts her arm from his torso and kisses the area that is still scarred.
“I’m so sorry,” he says.
She kisses the side of his face.
“I made sure to get the fire out on Henry’s neck, as I rolled us both away.”
“When I finally got in his room, I saw you both, and I just…”
He sighs.
“I vaguely remember you falling to the floor before us but I couldn’t do anything.”
“I’m so sorry, Rebecca.”
“No more apologies, Ted. We both made a lot of mistakes here, but we were doing what we could to rescue your little boy.”
He kisses her forearm again, sighing.
“When I broke out of the panic again, the fire was raging. Henry was terrified. I did my best to re-regulate, but it was hard because I felt so hopeless, just I had before when I was a kid.” He pauses, and she caresses his abdomen. “I reported what I saw, regarding both you and Henry, and how you both would need transport. Beard stopped everything he was doing to get to us. I remember Isaac asking if charlie had been searched, and Beard stated that he didn’t see anything or anyone. But now we know differently.”
They both take a deep breath.
“You know, I didn’t recognize you in the moment. Not until later.”
“I wouldn’t imagine you would in the moment, especially that moment,” she replies.
“I remember asking Henry your name.”
“I remember that. I also remember you touching me, and I gripped Henry’s jeans, finding your eyes through your breathing apparatuses.”
“You’re ok, you’re safe. I got you. I promise,” they say, in unison.
They’re quiet as they process all of it together.
“Ted, whenever I had nightmares, I’d hear your words.”
He tips his head back, face finding hers. She reaches up, fingertips touching his chin, pushing his face toward hers, and she kisses his lips gently.
“I’m glad my words have given you comfort,” he replies.
“I’m so grateful, even if I wouldn’t allow myself to feel that way toward you.”
They both sigh together.
“The next part is a blur to me, except what I know after the fact. Can you tell me,” she asks.
“I made a plan, called it out over comms, but I needed help. They couldn’t get to me as the ceiling collapsed over the staircase. So I had to get you both out alone. The team had to start spraying the fire from the outside so that they could get a ladder up to the window. But of course, we were working against the fire, which was continuing to rage uncontrollably.”
Her hand caresses his chest.
“Once they got the ladder set up, I attempted to move Henry toward Sam, who was perched on the top of it just outside of the window. I couldn’t quite get Henry to Sam yet, so I placed him closer to the window. I went to get you, but as I began to move you, you began to fight me. I knew you were delirious and totally not yourself, but we were wasting time. You kept hitting me, and I couldn’t gain any kind of upper hand. And then the structure completely deteriorated around the window, and the flames moved inward, subsequently, burning Henry on his leg…” he stops.
“Ted, it’s all my fault. I’m so sorry,” she says.
He lifts his hand to her face, turning it toward him, looking into her green eyes.
“No, Rebecca, no. No more apologies, remember.”
She nods.
He keeps eye contact with her as he says, “I got so angry and was finally able to overpower you. I threw you over my back and was able to get Henry to Sam, who began extraction.”
“And then the whole house collapsed.”
“And then the whole house collapsed,” he confirms. “I clung to the top of the ladder with you behind me, your arms gripping my neck.”
Her hand rises to his face.
“Thank you for rescuing me,” she says, in earnest.
“And thank you for rescuing Henry,” he replies, gently.
He kisses her lips, pulling back, turning away, as he rests his head in the crook of her neck.
“I remember hearing the chaos in my ear, and feeling you swing over my back as we were suspended in the air, ladder between my legs…then seeing Henry below wrapped up in Sam’s arms, careful of all the burns. It was so hard.”
“Ted, Love,” she says, as she reaches for his hand that rests on his abdomen.
She interlaces her fingers.
“What I was hearing in my ear, Rebecca…”
“Tell me.”
“The front of the house fell first, which is when Henry was already out, and I was barely on the ladder with you. Beard and Roy got out through the back before the rest of it fell. I kept hearing in my ear, ‘structure down, Shelley down.’ And of course there was a back and forth of who was going to go to search the debris with the fire raging. I remember Isaac yelling over comms telling Julie to keep out, but Julie was having none of it. At one point, I heard them arguing, and Julie took off running toward the structure to search for Nate herself.”
“Wow.”
“And we were suspended in the air on the ladder, and I couldn’t do anything to help. Worst of all, I couldn’t even get to Henry.”
“What happened next?”
“The teams got the water up quickly, and Beard and Roy could hear Nate’s PASS alarm going off, and they were able to rescue him from the rubble. And finally, they were able to get us down from the ladder. I went to Henry immediately, and Barbara got you onto a gurney and checked you out, immediately noting that you needed oxygen.”
“After I became more lucid, we learned about her, and I” -
“Single MVA. Cross streets of Fillmore and Highway 22,” dispatch reports.
Ted jumps up from the bed, as Rebecca follows immediately.
“To be continued,” he yells out, as they both run out of the door.
*****
When they arrive on scene, there is a single car pushed into an electrical pole. The metal is warped, appearing as if the car had been speeding prior, before the driver lost control. The front of the car is on fire.
They jump out of the rig, and Rebecca moves toward the driver’s side. Ted maneuvers around to the passenger side.
When she arrives, she observes that there is no one inside.
“Welton, report.”
“There is no driver,” she replies.
“The fire looks unstable,” Isaac adds.
Ted arrives at the passenger side.
“Lasso, report.”
“No one here either.”
Rebecca shines her flashlight into the vehicle and sees red numbers counting backward from eight.
“Bomb. Abort now.”
Ted turns, running away from the car, as does Rebecca. Breaths get clogged in her lungs as she follows him. They get back to the rig when an explosion rings out. Luckily, they were entirely out of the blast zone, but the fire rages out of control, engulfing the vehicle and power lines above.
“What the fuck,” Rebecca asks.
“Use foam,” Isaac requests over comms. “Calling off station 48.”
Ted and Rebecca watch as their colleagues spray the fire, his hand reaching for hers.
“Was this another trap,” Ted asks over comms.
“We have to believe everything is until proven otherwise,” Isaac replies.
“Fuck,” Rebecca says, as she squeezes Ted’s hand.
She realizes that she needs to figure all this out. She wants to keep him and his little boy safe because she loves them both.
Chapter 14: 14
Notes:
hi, so if you’re reading this, pls leave comments. It’s hard to continue to invest time and energy in it if ppl aren’t expressing interest
now hmmm let's have a lil fun, shall we? 😏
pls ignore any spelling/grammar shit...I cannot read through this anymore 😅
Chapter Text
She wakes, and while anxiety begins to flood her system, she instead focuses on him; the way he feels wrapped around her, as his breaths tickle her neck, and how his erection is pushing into her ass. She moves on him, wanting to quell the anxiety pulsating through her. He sleeps peacefully behind her. She moves against his erection again. She places her hand on his, where it rests on her abdomen. She moves their hands lower, meeting the lace that resides there.
“Keep going,” he rasps in her ear.
She moves their hands lower, under the lace, until they feel her wetness on their fingertips.
“So wet for me.”
She moans, quietly, moving their fingers around her clit, applying pressure. He kisses her neck, gently.
“This is a nice way to wake up,” he whispers in her ear.
She continues to play with her clit using both their fingers. She sighs, loudly.
“What do you need, Baby?”
She sighs again, fingertips moving faster.
“I need to come,” she replies.
“That makes two of us,” he comments, as he thrusts himself into her ass.
“Inside me. Now.”
“So demanding.”
“Fuck you.”
“Don’t worry, I will fuck you.”
He moves his right hand from her back, lower, grasping himself, moving toward her entrance. She slows on her clit, pushing her ass back into him, waiting. He smirks at the invitation. He pulls her panties aside, as he pushes himself deep inside her, and she applies pressure to her clit again with their fingers. He bites at the juncture between her neck and shoulder, and he begins moving.
“Fuck, you feel so good, Ted. Fuck me,” she commands.
“Give me my hand back, and I will.”
“No,” she whines.
“No,” he questions in her ear. “But I thought you wanted me to fuck you.”
She lets go of his hand that was pressing into her clit, and he takes control. His hand lifts to her breast, under her shirt, giving himself leverage. He pushes himself in and out of her, building a rhythm, fingertips digging into her breast, nipple puckered against his palm. She moves her fingers on her clit, feeling the tip of him against her outer wall every time he pushes deep inside. He buries his face in her neck, building his rhythm, until he’s fucking her, balls slapping against her skin. She feels it, and no, she doesn’t want to come already, but he’s hitting all her spots.
“Fuck,” she says, and he knows already that she’s close.
He fucks her, feeling her beginning to clench on him, and she comes, body going rigid, before she shakes, head pushing his face away from her neck. When her body adjusts, hormones firing from every nerve, she unclenches, and he fucks her.
“You want me to come inside you?”
She doesn’t answer initially, then he hears her.
“Come in my mouth.”
“Fuck, Rebecca,” he says, as he pulls out of her immediately, pushing her toward her back.
He moves up her body quickly, stroking his cock, aiming himself. She opens her mouth to him, tongue falling forward, as he strokes himself above her.
“Fuck, Rebecca, you’re so hot,” he says, as he comes.
He watches as his cum lands inside her mouth and on her cheek. He drops his hand to the wall in front of him to keep himself upright. He closes his eyes, tendril falling over his forehead.
“You taste so good,” she says, and he opens his eyes, watching her, as she runs her finger through the cum on her cheek, making sure it’s gathered on her fingertips before she places them in her mouth.
She swallows, and he kisses her immediately, tasting himself on her tongue when she opens her mouth to him. Their kisses naturally end because they both need to breathe so he pulls back, dropping his forehead to hers.
“Good morning,” he says, smirk on his face.
“Good morning,” she replies, smirk on hers.
“That was just dirty,” he notes.
“Well, I wanted you to fuck me, and I wanted to taste you.”
“I love when a woman gets what she wants.”
He kisses her, lips parting, desiring to taste himself on her tongue again.
“Breakfast,” they hear.
“Well, I think we’re already satiated,” he says, as they both laugh.
*****
Ted and Rebecca enter Isaac’s office where and Tom and Jan wait.
“Good morning,” Tom says.
Jan observes them both, but before he can say anything, Rebecca gives him a look, including an eyebrow raise, that shuts him up immediately.
“So what did you want to discuss with us, Rebecca,” Tom asks.
“Ted and I were talking, and we have a hunch that the arsonists also started the fire at Ted’s house all those months ago.”
Ted nods, rubbing his palms together in his lap.
“What makes you both think that?”
Ted tells them about the car that ran their rig off the road, as they attempted to get to his house. He also reported that the fire deteriorated rapidly when he arrived. Rebecca added her thoughts about that deterioration, and how it feels similar to the arsonist’s work. Tom and Jan ask a lot of questions.
“It sounds like there is no actual evidence of this,” Jan says.
“It’s a hunch,” Rebecca replies. “But it also feels true.” She pauses, then asks, “do we have any evidence from that fire? Obviously, Nate couldn’t do his job, as he was incapacitated, as was I.”
“We don’t have all that much. Just some reports from both fire stations. But we don’t have any information that would be helpful to this theory.”
“Ted, can we go to the house,” Rebecca asks.
He takes a deep breath, and she takes his hand in hers.
“Yes, of course. There’s really nothing there. And when the insurance company came out, they didn’t report anything suspicious. They maintain that it was a gas leak.”
“We should get the reports from the insurance company, and interview the person or persons who came out to inspect,” Tom says.
“That’s a great idea,” Jan replies.
There’s a pause.
“Rebecca, would you like Ted to stay for the rest of our briefing,” Tom asks.
She looks over at him.
“I can leave,” he says, thumb caressing her hand in his.
“Ok,” she replies, knowing she’ll share relevant things with him later.
“Ted, if you can provide us with any information you have from your insurance company, including names, please send that over to our office,” Tom requests.
“Of course,” he says, as she lets go of his hand in his lap.
He turns toward her, lifting his hand to her face, caressing.
“See you soon,” he says.
She kisses his lips gently, and he nods at Tom and Jan as he leaves the office, closing the door behind him.
“You two make a nice couple,” Tom comments. “You both seem really happy.”
“Yeah, and you both clearly had a great morning,” Jan adds.
She sighs.
“Anyway, moving on,” she comments, gesturing for them to continue.
“Some updates from our end,” Tom says. “Forensics was unable to pull anything from the recorders, but they did say that they believe the voice could have been real or digitally manipulated.”
“That’s very unhelpful,” she replies.
“It’s interesting though that forensics thought the voice could be real. It’s something to note. They tried to explain to us why they felt that way, but I can’t even pretend to explain it to you.”
“That’s alright.” She pauses. “Anything else discovered?”
“No,” Jan replies.
“Ok. Any updates from last night’s explosive device,” Rebecca asks.
“The scene is now clear for us. Do you have time to head over there,” Tom asks.
“I’ll double check with Isaac,” she replies.
*****
After finding nothing on site, Rebecca heads back to the station, finding Ted in bed reading.
“Hey,” he says, looking up at her.
She’s in her jumpsuit, hair tossed up on the top of her head in a messy bun. Her sunglasses hang in the vee.
“Hi,” she replies.
She walks toward him, and he places his book to the side, as she leans down to kiss him in greeting.
“Did you find anything?”
She shakes her head, as he sighs.
“The only thing from the meeting earlier to note is that forensics didn’t get anything major from the recorders. They just stated that the voice could have been real or digitally manipulated.”
“Well, that’s interesting,” he says.
“Yes, we noted it, but it doesn’t give us anything, really.”
He nods.
“I called the insurance company, and they are going to email all the documentation they have from the fire. They said that should include the name of the inspector.”
“Great,” she replies.
“Shift is over soon. You know if we go to the Crown and Anchor, everyone is going to have questions.”
“Let them ask,” she says, “even if we don’t have all the answers. We don’t owe anyone anything.”
“You’re right,” he says, as he pulls her toward him, and her knee lands on the mattress. “Straddle me. We can pass the time by making out a little bit.”
She smirks, lifting her leg over him, settling in his lap.
“I mean, I know we need to continue our conversation, but I’d kinda rather make out,” he says.
She chuckles.
“Hi,” she says.
He kisses the tip of her nose.
“Hi,” he replies.
Before he can kiss her, his phone rings. He glances over at it, and it’s his mom. Normally, he wouldn’t answer it and kiss her instead, but Henry is with her.
“Answer. It’s ok,” she says, as she attempts to move off of him.
He stops her, as he answers his phone.
“Mama? Everything alright with Henry?”
“What? Oh yes, everything with him is fine. I’m calling because I heard that you had s.e.x. with that woman, who hurt my grandson.”
“First of all, you can say the word. It’s sex. Second, she didn’t hurt Henry. She actually was the reason that I was able to rescue him. And third, who I am or am not having sex with is none of your concern.”
Rebecca’s jaw drops open, as she listens to him.
“Now, Ted, you listen to me,” Dottie says.
“No, Mama, you listen to me. It’s none of your concern.”
“But people around town are talking,” she exclaims.
“I don’t care,” he replies. “I’m still on shift. I have to go.”
He ends the call.
“Ted,” she says, hand rising to the apple of his cheek. “You alright?”
He looks up at her, after placing his phone to the side.
“Yes.”
“That was kind of hot,” she replies.
“Yeah,” he asks.
“Yeah,” she says. “Kiss me.”
And he does.
*****
They stand together, facing each other in the parking lot.
“Alright,” Ted says. “Are you ready?”
She sighs.
“I’m as ready as I’ll ever be.”
“We could just go back to my place. Get a lil naked,” he says, mischievously.
She laughs.
“Don’t tempt me, Ted.”
“Noted,” he says, with a smirk on his face.
He kisses her, and his hand lands in her hair. Luckily, she has her hair down this evening, which enables him to pull her so he can capture her mouth and tongue in one fell swoop.
A throat clearing breaks them apart.
“I heard that this,” Sassy waves at them, condescendingly, “was a thing.”
“Hello, Sassy, good to see you,” Ted says.
“Hope you’re happy, Ted. You broke my heart.”
“I’m sorry. I had no intention of hurting you,” he replies.
“Rebecca,” Sassy says, as she walks away toward the entrance of the Crown and Anchor.
“Oh boy.”
Ted sighs, as she attempts to console him.
“Hey, we get to see the man I had sex with next, so…”
They sigh together.
“This small town,” she says, and he nods.
“Shall we rip the band-aid off,” he asks.
She nods.
“Can I hold your hand?”
She nods again, a smile developing on her face.
When they enter, every face turns toward them and cheers and questions ring out from all sides. Rebecca is immediately overstimulated, while Ted squeezes her hand, letting her know that he’s right beside her.
“Babe,” Keeley yells, practically falling off the bar stool, as she runs toward them.
Keeley flings herself at Rebecca, who catches her easily, arm wrapping around her. Her other hand is still in Ted’s.
“Babe,” she exclaims in her ear. “You’ve got to tell me everything!”
Keeley pulls back, glancing down at their entwined hands.
“Oh my God,” she says, as she launches herself at Ted, who also catches her easily.
Rebecca makes eye contact with him over Keeley’s head. She smiles, and he smiles back. Keeley lets go of him.
“Sorry, Ted, but I’m going to need some time with Rebecca tonight.”
“Of course, Keels.”
Ted squeezes her hand one more time before he lets go, allowing Keeley to drag Rebecca away. She looks back at him, helplessly.
He chuckles.
“Ted,” they exclaim, as he makes his way over to them.
Beard, Jamie, Zoreaux, Bumbercatch, Colin, Sam, Dani, and Roy sit together, beer bottles line the surface of the table.
“Fellas,” Ted greets.
“I see you and Welton are holding hands,” Bumbercatch says.
“You must have tamed the wild beast,” Jamie adds.
“Probie, shut up,” Zoreaux says.
“So how was the sex,” Jamie asks, doubling down.
“Leave,” Roy barks out.
“Fine,” Jamie replies. “Bye, Grandpa.”
Roy growls at him.
“Heard you both made a lot of noise," Zoreaux says.
“So much noise,” Dani replies. “I’ll never unhear what I heard.”
“Did any of you get to sleep,” Bumbercatch asks.
“Once they were done, yes,” Sam shares.
“But they definitely had a marathon fuck fest though,” Colin adds.
“Fellas,” Ted warns.
“Rebecca. What can I get for you,” Luca asks, as Keeley stands next to her, ready for any semblance of a fight.”
“Two beers please.”
“You got it. Happy for you and Ted,” he says, but he doesn’t sound sincere.
Rebecca doesn’t respond.
“Keeley?”
“That fruity drink you always make me,” she requests.
They hear “Ted” from across the bar.
Ted turns away from the guys toward Barbara’s voice.
“Ask them who won the bet,” she exclaims, laughter in her voice.
Ted turns back, and they all give Barbara a look of annoyance.
“I take it none of you won?”
They shake their heads. Ted looks back at Barbara, who smiles, smugly.
“Beard, how did you lose,” Ted asks, laughing.
He shrugs.
“At least I won the bet at our station,” Dani says.
“Yes, you did,” Barbara replies. “But I beat all of you, and other emergency personnel, including fire, police, and emergency transport.”
She cheers and everyone around her laughs.
“Happy for both you and Rebecca, Ted,” she says.
“Thanks, Barbara,” Ted replies.
“Thanks, Barbara,” Rebecca adds, as she walks up to him, holding a beer.
He takes it from her, and they clink their glasses together, taking a long swig.
“Welton,” the guys yell, cheering.
“Jesus Christ,” she says, rolling her eyes. "Oh and congratulations, Barbara. I heard from across the room. Hope you won a lot of money.”
“I actually did,” she replies, smiling.
Barbara sits down at the table she’s sharing with Sassy and other EMS personnel. Sassy gives her a look.
“Sassy, get over it. He was never going to choose you.”
“I could have made him.”
“You’re a real downer…acting like a jilted ex-lover.”
Sassy’s phone rings, and Barbara sees who is calling her.
“You and Dr. Zava are perfect together,” she states.
“We’re not together,” Sassy replies.
Barbara shrugs, as she gets up and leaves the table.
Keeley wraps her arm around Rebecca’s waist.
“Come sit down, and tell us what happened,” she says.
“No,” Dani says. “I cannot relive it.”
The guys laugh at him.
“We’ll sit, but we’re not going to talk about it. We’re glad to hear that you all are happy, but we just want to hang out tonight with our friends,” Rebecca says.
Ted nods in agreement.
“Fine,” Keeley replies. “But you owe me.”
Rebecca nods, laughing. She walks over to Roy, and hugs him from behind. He tries to push her away, but she knows he’s only doing it because he doesn’t want to give away how much he misses her.
“So you two didn’t have sex in my bed, right,” he asks her.
Ted and Rebecca don’t answer. The rest of the group laughs.
“Fuckkkkkkkkk,” he replies.
“If you set it on fire, it’ll burn very quickly, especially with the amount of WD-40 they sprayed on it,” Ted replies.
“What the fuck, Welton. I said to not murder him in my bed. I sure as fuck didn’t say to fuck him in my bed.”
She shrugs, as she and Ted sit down at the table.
“Moving on,” Rebecca says. “How’s your ankle?”
“The fucker is getting stronger. But you know how slow healing is.”
“I do,” she says, putting her arm around him. “I miss your grumpiness.”
He growls, and Rebecca squeezes his cheek, with a grin. Ted watches them fondly.
“And Beard, how about you,” she asks.
“Doing well. Should be cleared to return to desk duty soon.”
“That’s great, Buddy,” Ted replies.
“It is. I’ve been so bored. Been puttering around with some old hobbies.”
“Those old scientific experiments of yours,” Ted asks.
Beard nods.
Nearby, Liam sits at the bar, nursing a beer. He watches all the personnel roast Ted and Rebecca. He, of course, heard all about it. He’s happy for them. He drops his head, staring at an imperfection on the wood. Mae walks out of the back, wanting to see what all the ruckus is about. She sees Ted and Rebecca and knows immediately what is going on.
“I’m happy for them,” she says to Liam, who lifts his head.
He puts a smile on his face immediately, and it’s clear that it’s not genuine.
“I am too,” he replies.
“You alright,” Mae asks.
“Yes,” he answers.
He looks over at Ted and Rebecca.
“I remember what it was like when my wife and I were first falling in love. Seeing them…it reminds me of us.”
Mae nods, hand lifting to his forearm, hoping to provide some comfort. Rebecca makes eye contact with both Liam and Mae, and she smiles, but to anyone who knows her, it’s forced.
*****
Two drinks later, Keeley finally drags Rebecca away to a quieter location and gets to hear some details about her and Ted. Naturally, she couldn’t stop asking about how much Ted loves her glorious tits.
Ted is catching up with Beard on the other side of the bar, and the rest of the guys are nearby ordering shots and having fun.
Nate arrives to cheers, and he makes his way to a stool, sitting next to Jamie, who engages him in conversation. Rebecca glances over at them, as Keeley asks questions, and she observes that they’re quite close and in, what looks like, a serious conversation. She’s quite curious about whatever they’re discussing. Rebecca gets pulled back into her questioning from Keeley.
When Ted sees Rebecca get up to go to the bathroom, he excuses himself a few minutes later. Keeley watches him, knowing exactly what he is doing. He’s not slick, she thinks to herself.
When Ted rounds the corner, he waits nearby. When Rebecca exits the bathroom, he lightly pushes her inside.
“Hi, Baby. You want to go back to my place and slide down my pole?”
She smirks, as she pushes him up against the wall, taking his lips between her own. She kisses him lightly at first, then bites his bottom lip, causing him to gasp. She slides her tongue in his mouth, and he greets her tongue with his.
Keeley opens the door and without looking in, says, “this is a public establishment. If you’re going to have sex, go home.”
Rebecca breaks their kiss.
“Fuck off, Keeley.”
She starts laughing, letting go of the door, leaving them alone, as Ted laughs.
“So can I take you back to my apartment?”
“Do I still get to slide down your pole?”
“Baby, I would be honored.”
“Then let’s go,” she replies, taking a minute to adjust each other.
They both leave the bathroom at the same time, but no one notices because the alcohol is flowing. Ted is about to make a comment that they’re leaving, but Rebecca takes his hand and guides them toward the door. What they don’t see is Luca glaring in their direction.
*****
He opens the door, moving back, allowing her to enter his apartment. He watches her ass, which causes him to miss the movement from the hedge a couple of feet away.
“Home sweet home. In the interim,” he says.
“It’s nice,” she replies, as she looks around.
“It does what it needs to do.”
“I know you lost everything, but you’ve done a great job making this place look your own.”
“Thanks. Do you want anything?”
“I could use a glass of water.”
“Water, coming right up,” he says.
She follows him into his kitchen. She takes in the surroundings. The kitchen is a good size with an open concept. He gives her a glass of water. She takes a sip, and then places it on the counter next to her.
“So we’re all alone,” she says, taking a hold of his shirt and pulling him toward her.
“Yes, we are,” he replies, with a smirk on his face.
“Because you’re making my temperature rise, I need you to hose me down.”
“Fuck, Baby, you know I love a good pun.”
He backs her up to the counter, and he kisses her. She opens her mouth to him immediately, allowing his tongue to explore the recesses of her mouth. Her hand rises to the back of his neck, pulling him further into her. Her back arches over the countertop, which pushes her pelvis into his cock. It causes him to pull back with a groan. He lifts her shirt from her body, leaving her clad in a black, lacy bra. He unbuttons her jeans, pulling the zipper down, as he pulls them from her legs. When he gets them down to her calves, She uses her arms to pull herself up onto the counter. He gets the jeans off of her, flinging them behind him. She wears a tiny, black, lacy thong, and she opens her legs to him, and he can see the wet patch of her arousal.
“Seeing you like this…Rebecca, I’m going to come in my jeans.”
“Well, we cannot have that,” she says.
She pulls him between her legs, unbuttoning one button at a time, until she can push his shirt from his shoulders. She lifts his undershirt from his torso, guiding it over his head. She drops it to the side. She runs her fingernails from his chest, down each divot of his abs, until she reaches his jeans, making quick work of removing them. As they fall from his hips, he steps out of them and pushes them aside. She pulls his boxers down, and they fall as well. He steps out of them, as she pulls him into the vee of her legs, feeling his hard cock against the center line of her body.
“Kiss me,” she commands.
When she opens her mouth to him, he slides his tongue along hers, meeting in the middle. She groans, and the vibrations go straight to his cock. He breaks their kiss.
“Fuck, I need you,” he says.
He grasps her hips, moving her close to the edge. He moves her panties aside, as he lines himself with her entrance. She grabs his ass with both of her hands, pushing him inside of her, and they breathe and sigh when he fills her. He begins moving, and she meets his thrusts with her hips.
“Damn, Rebecca, you feel so good. I want to hear you, Baby.”
“Fuck, Ted,” she says, moan following.
She wraps her legs around him, which gives her more leverage to meet his thrusts.
“Take what you need and come with me.”
She pushes back, one hand landing on the countertop behind her. She lifts her breasts, one at time, from the black, lacy bra, and they fall over it, bouncing to his rhythm.
“Gorgeous. You’re so beautiful.”
She squeezes her nipple, as her fingernails move down her abs, fingers disappearing under the lace, where she meets her swollen clit.
“Fuck me,” she yells out, and a loud grunt escapes him.
The sounds of wetness and slapping permeate the kitchen, as he fucks her, enjoying her gentle mewls and feral moans. He feels himself close, speeding up, feeling her press into her clit with her fingertips.
“Oh god, Ted, fuck.”
“I am.”
He fucks into her, and she clamps down on him, the charge ignited, as she comes, rigidity breaking into fluidity. And as soon as she unclenches, he fucks her, until he’s balls deep when he comes inside her. He drops his head to her neck, and they breathe each other in, feeling the pleasure firing everywhere. After a few moments, he pulls himself out of her, but holds her close. She runs her hands along his spine.
“I love the noises you make,” he says.
“I love yours too.”
They hold each other quietly for several moments. She can feel him start to slowly drain out of her. His cum lands on the kitchen floor.
“Oh,” he says. “Let me clean that up.”
He drops to his knees, pulling at the lace, and she helps him move her hips so he can slide her panties off her legs. He opens them, pulling her toward him, and he takes a broad, flat lick from her entrance to her clit, tasting her and himself.
“We taste so good together,” he says.
“Ted, oh my god, fuck.”
She drops both of her hands behind her, as she looks down at him, hovering between her legs.
“Sit back and relax. Let me clean you all up.”
He swipes his tongue through her folds, settling on her clit, applying pressure. He then kisses it, biting gently. He looks up at her, and she watches him, his brown eyes filled with immense mischief. He then moves his tongue back down, and he enters her with it. She can’t see his eyes anymore because his whole face is buried deep between her thighs, but she doesn’t mind. He tongue fucks her, as his fingers finds her clit with ease. She mewls and moans above him, dropping her head back, taking in the pleasure that he’s giving her. He presses harder onto her clit, making sure to hit every angle and every nerve ending, while thrusting his tongue in and out of her hot center.
“Oh god, Ted, right there. I’m so close.”
He doubles down all his movements, willing her to come on his face. After several more rounds of repetitive movements, her hips rise from the counter, as the waves hit her, causing her breasts to bounce. He attempts to keep her grounded on the countertop, as he fucks her through it. When her orgasm passes, he reaches for her other hip, and with his hands on both, he keeps her steady. He removes his tongue from inside her, laying it flat, and the aftershocks pulsate, as he runs his tongue up to her clit. He kisses it, sucking it into his mouth. She lifts her head lazily, finding his eyes between her legs.
“You look like you’re having fun down there,” she comments.
He bites at her clit, and she gasps, as he sucks it back into his mouth. She mewls. She reaches for his head, and she wraps her fingers in his hair, pulling him even further into her. There’s no further to be, but she likes seeing him between her legs like this, with her hand guiding and pulling. His own hand lifts to her chest, and he runs his fingertip over her nipple. Her eyes close immediately. He can tell that she liked that, so he does it again, as he bites her clit. She opens her eyes rapidly, as he sucks her clit into his mouth, pulling, and she feels it build again. He scrapes over her nipple with a fingernail and a loud moans escapes her. Since she’s holding herself up, he removes his hand on her hips, and enters her with three fingers, pumping in and out.
“Ted, fuck,” she exclaims. “I can’t, it’s too much…”
He pinches her nipple, and she explodes. He watches as she writhes, riding out her third orgasm. When he notices that her arms are about give out, he reaches up and pulls her forward. Her breasts land on his face, as her head lands on top of his own. He removes his fingers from inside her. He wraps both arms around her, keeping her secure. They remain in that position.
“You alright, Darlin’?”
She pushes back from him, pulling at his shoulders. He gets the hint, as he rises from his knees, but not before grabbing his shirt and wiping his face. He moves between the vee of her legs, using his hands to pull her close to him. He wraps his arms around her, and she rests against him, head landing in the crook of his neck.
“You alive?”
She grunts, as he chuckles. He waits her out, rubbing her back gently, as one hand lands in her hair, combing through it. He holds her for what feels like a long period of time, but he’s not complaining. He’d hold her forever.
“Ted, what did you do to me?”
“Welcome back,” he says, smugly in her ear.
He pushes back slightly to kiss her temple. She lifts her head, finding his eyes.
“Fuck you.”
“I already did. And I’ll do it again too.”
“Good,” she replies.
“Let’s go upstairs.”
He kisses her, but he doesn’t get too carried away. When he pushes back, he picks up all their clothing and places it into the laundry bin. She drops to her feet, legs wobbly, needing to use the counter to keep steady. As he walks back to her, he chuckles.
“I’m just that good, huh?”
“Smug doesn’t look good on you.”
He smirks.
“I beg to differ.”
She rolls her eyes. He turns toward a cabinet, bending down, and she smacks his ass. He grabs a spray bottle, applying it to where she was sitting and the floor. He wipes it quickly, replacing the bottle in the cabinet. He moves to the other side of the kitchen to the sink. He washes his hands. He turns back to her, drying them on a towel. He takes in her body.
“You’re so fucking sexy, I could bend you over right here.”
“Then do it.”
He takes her hand, pulling her toward him. He kisses her, and his hand reaches for her cheek, caressing. He starts to back her up toward the direction of the stairs. When she opens her mouth to him, he pushes his tongue deep inside. He swallows her moans. Her upper back hits the edge of the stair bannister, and her hips push into the empty space below. Because of that, her eyes fly open, and her movement stops. Ted breaks their kiss, and as she lets go of his shoulders and flails, her arms lift to hold onto the vertical posts above her.
“If only I had handcuffs,” he says, chuckling.
“That can be arranged in the future,” she replies.
He smirks.
“We can just pretend now. I promise I won’t remove my hands.”
“So I get to do whatever I want to you?”
“Maybe,” she says.
“Well, this is a treat.”
He kisses her, hand rising to her breast, taking a handful of her, palm teasing her nipple. He bites at her bottom lip, and when she gasps, he slides his tongue along hers. He squeezes her breast again, and when he breaks their kiss, his lips move down her jaw, as his teeth bite into her neck. His other hand roams lower, pressing her low back into his pelvis, and she feels him beginning to get hard again. His hand moves again, over the curve of her ass, and it stays there, as he bites into the juncture of her neck and shoulder. She gasps, a moan escaping her lips.
“I want to hear all the pretty sounds you make, Baby.”
He bites again, and she whimpers, breaths rapid, whiney exhales fill the space. He kisses down her chest, taking her breast that is not in his hand in his mouth, suckling her gently, biting down on her nipple, as he squeezes the other one. He is rewarded by more of her breathy sighs and moans. She can feel him fully hard against her inner thigh, as he sucks at the sensitive skin of her breast, near her areola. She drops her head back against the railing, as he marks her. There’s something so inherently beautiful being marked by him, that in the moment, it almost overwhelms her. When he lets go, he lays his tongue, flat, over the red marks to soothe.
“I should autograph this,” he says, with a chuckle, admiring his handiwork, but also her breasts. “Keeley is right. You do have glorious tits.”
She lifts her head and looks at him, dubious.
“What? You don’t believe you have glorious tits? Because you do. They could heal the world.”
She laughs.
“Be quiet,” she says. “Get back to work.”
“Really, Baby. Your tits could end poverty. Or war. Or” -
He’s cut off, because she’s lowering herself to her knees before him, hands still holding onto the railing above her. She kisses his thigh, then the other. She looks up at him.
“Well, are you going to put your cock in my mouth or not,” she asks.
He doesn’t need to be told twice. She opens her mouth, ready and willing. He places his hand on himself, pumping once, then twice, placing the tip on her tongue. She engulfs him fully, the wetness of her mouth has him shuddering above her. He places his hands over her arms, fingertips wrapping around the railing, essentially trapping her. But something tells him that she’s perfectly content exactly where she is. She takes him in fully, cock hitting the back of her throat. She doesn’t move initially, then she pulls back, her teeth catching the ridge of him before she takes him back in to the hilt.
“Fuck,” he says, watching her on her knees before him.
She looks up at him, green eyes watching, mischief crinkling around her mouthful of his cock. It’s almost suffocating how beautiful she is, and at the same time, how submissive she is to him right now in the moment.
“Can I fuck you,” he asks.
She pulls back, tip of him the only part in her mouth, as she starts to suck. And oh god, if she wants to suck it all from him, he’s not fucking opposed. Nosiree.
“Oh god, Baby, fuck,” he says, room filling with his grunts.
She takes him back in again, nose clamped against his pelvis. But she doesn’t move. She leaves her throat open.
“Fuck, Rebecca,” he says, as he pulls away from her, to give her breathing room, then pushing himself back into her mouth.
She keeps her throat open, breathing through her nose, encouraging him to fuck her mouth. He gets the hint, understanding that this is what she wants from him. She wants him to take all the pleasure that he desires from her.
With his hands clamped around her arms, holding them above her head, he uses this as leverage to thrust into her mouth, pulling back out, allowing himself to build a rhythm. She watches him as he fucks her mouth slowly, quickly building, because her mouth is warm and wet, and she’s so hot that he’s going to internally combust. As he moves faster, her breasts bounce with the way he fucks her mouth, and he can feel his orgasm taking shape deep in his spine. He speeds up more until he’s fucking her, muscles in his hips and ass contracting. His spine arches as he fucks up into her mouth, tip of him hitting the back of her throat. He feels it building more and more. He is trying to stave it off, mostly because this feels so good, he never wants it to end.
“Oh god, Baby, I’m going to come.”
He thrusts himself deep inside of her, as he comes against the back of her throat. He groans, breaths falling rapidly.
“Fuck,” he says.
He shudders, feeling all of his nerve endings firing with pleasure. She pulls off of him, letting go, looking up at him. She swallows.
“Get up here,” he says, as he lets go of her arms and pulls her up to stand.
He lifts her, managing to get her wrapped around him, legs encircling his hips. He’s not sure how he’s even standing with that earth-shattering orgasm…perhaps it’s adrenaline, but that’s no matter, because as soon as he steps on the first stair, he lies her down, and then kisses her, and she opens her mouth to him. He can taste himself in her mouth, and he moans, as she feels the vibrations deep in her core. He slips his fingers over her nipple, as she slides her tongue into his mouth, her hand moving to his neck to keep him there. He breaks their kiss, realizing that he needs a breather. He buries his face in her neck, as he breathes, and she rubs along his spine. After a few moments, he kisses her neck, pushing back just slightly, then face falling on her collarbone.
“You liked that,” she comments.
“I like when you submit to me.”
“I like when you dominate me.”
“Well, I like when you dominate me. Although the edging,” he says, trailing off.
“Hey, you had quite the orgasm after that,” she whispers.
“I wish I could fuck you right now.”
“Patience. We still have to make it up to your bedroom.”
“I can fuck you on the stairs. It’s really no problem at all.”
He lifts his head with a grin on a face.
“Well, unfortunately, we have to wait,” she notes. “What else do you have in mind?”
He pretends to think.
“I’m not opposed to you sitting on my face.”
“Oh, you’re not opposed?”
“No,” he says, with a smile.
“I might be too sensitive,” she replies.
He pretends to think again.
“I don’t know, Baby, too sensitive means you’ll come quicker. I don’t see the problem.”
She smirks.
“Then get on your back.”
He moves off of her, as she moves out of the way. He sits on a stair, and lies back, his head landing on another stair, neck holding his head in place. She straddles him, leaning down to kiss him, being sure to capture his lips and tongue. When she pulls back, she moves up the stairs, knees landing on the stair that his neck rests on. She lowers herself to his face, and his tongue greets her clit, tickling around it. One hand lands on the stair railing, the other lands on a stair in front of her.
“Ride my face and make sure I hear you,” he says, from between her thighs.
She moves on him, his tongue disappearing back into his mouth, as he lets her set a rhythm that feels good for her, before he makes any further movements. Her clit makes contact with his mustache and the scratchiness is a new sensation, heightening her pleasure. She builds herself to movements that feel good, and her body responds to them, as she lets out involuntary mewls. He lets her take what she wants and needs. Her hand lets go of the rail, landing on the stair in front of her, as she rides his face. He dips his tongue inside her, hands moving to her ass, fingernails digging into her skin. She moans, enjoying the sensation immensely. He thrusts his tongue in and out, as she scrapes her clit on his mustache.
“Fuck, Ted, just like that,” she says, the wave building, nearing its crest.
She moves faster on his mustache, and he speeds up his rhythm to meet hers. He smacks her ass cheek, and she grinds down on his face, as a reward or punishment, she doesn’t know. But unfortunately (fortunately), that’s her undoing because her body falls back, and she shakes over him, feeling the pleasure all over her body. He lets her ride it out, and when she slumps forward, he cleans her up with his tongue, aftershocks raging through her.
“God, you’re so good with your mouth.”
He can’t reply because his face is deep between the apex of her thighs. He kisses her clit, taking his time with his mouth and tongue, giving her additional pleasure, and a sense of affection.
She lifts up and moves her hips back to look down at him. And his face is glazed with the essence of her. He’s looking up at her, smiling.
“Is this your happy place,” she asks.
He smiles.
“Come down here,” he says.
She moves down his body slowly, until her nose taps along his, lips landing onto his. He opens his mouth to her, and she tastes herself in his mouth, and she moans, opening her mouth further to him, fingertips sliding along the wetness of his cheeks. When she breaks their kiss, she looks down at him, and he pulls her up, so her breasts are right above his face. He takes one of them into his mouth, sucking, and he enters her with three fingers. She cries out above him. His mouth then anchors itself to her nipple, sucking, biting, then letting go, as he builds a rhythm with his fingers.
“Play with your clit while I play with your tits.”
He bites at the underside of her breast, then running his tongue, flat over her nipple. She fingers her clit, moving it around. The aftershocks begin to fire again. She’s so sensitive. She moans, as he bites down on her nipple, licking to soothe.
“Ride my fingers, Baby, Bounce your tits on my face.”
She does what he’s asking of her, as she takes the pleasure from his fingers that he hooks into her outer wall. Her breasts bounce and slap with her movements, and he kisses and bites at them, tongue always moving over any bite marks to soothe. Her own fingers on her clit speed up, and she can feel her orgasm coming.
“Ted, I’m gonna come.”
“Good,” he says.
Her nipples slap against his face, as she comes, writhing, where he is inadvertently smothered by her tits. She lets her body fall onto his, and he catches her.
“Am I suffocating you?”
“I’m fucking happy,” he says, which is muffled.
She feels him kiss her sternum, so she knows that he can breathe just fine. Although she’s aware that he would happily suffocate between her tits and/or thighs.
“God, Ted, I’m not going to make it up the stairs.”
“Well, that’s ok, Darlin.’ I can carry ya. I am a firefighter after all,” she hears, which is muffled.
She rolls her eyes, playfully, which he cannot see. She rests in the bliss of it all. After a period of time, she pushes back from the stairs, and as he feels her do so, he latches onto her nipple, giving it a long suck, before letting it drop from his mouth.
“Hi, Baby,” he says, smirk on his face, still wet from her.
“You look like a mess,” she says, with a chuckle.
“I’ll gladly look like a mess if I get to do those things to you,” he replies.
She kisses him, opening her mouth, letting him slide his tongue inside. His hands slip down her back, gripping onto her ass. She can feel his cock hardening against her thigh.
“I’ve awoken the beast,” she says.
“Oh, I’ve been awake,” he replies, chuckling.
“I think it’s now time for me to slide down your pole.”
“You liked that firefighter innuendo didn't you,” he asks.
She rolls her eyes, laughing.
“I did.”
“Well, it’s my job to go inside when it’s extremely hot, and I never pull out until it’s dripping wet.”
She laughs, fully, and he laughs with her.
“That is the most…”
She kisses him, and he reciprocates, pulling himself up, so she’s straddling his groin. He gets himself into a squat, as he lifts them both, and she wraps her long, muscular thighs around him. She breaks their kiss, and she kisses his cheek, jaw, then down his neck, as he makes his way up the stairs, one at a time, so as not to fall or drop her.
When he finally makes it to the top of the stairs, he pushes her against a wall and kisses her, tongue immediately in her mouth, exploring. Her nipples brush against his chest, before flattening between them. A hand lands in her hair, fingers combing through it, as he kisses her. He moves back, taking her lip with him, when he then lets go, moving to assault her neck with his teeth.
“Ted, no teeth marks there,” she says, laughing.
“Oh shucks, that means I can only bite your tits. Poor me.”
She laughs, as he moves them away from the wall and toward his bedroom. She doesn’t even have the cognitive faculties (or desire) to explore his bedroom, as she just wants him, even after he gave her multiple orgasms. He turns himself, so he can sit on the edge of the mattress, her knees land as well, as she grinds on his cock. His fingers land back in her hair, as he caresses it, taking in her green eyes. She looks about as ruined as he knows that he looks. But she’s still beautiful, he thinks, as he kisses her. Moments later, she’s lying him back, letting him get situated before she straddles his hips.
“You ready to slide down my pole?”
She smirks, as she lines him up with her entrance, and she slides down onto him.
“Great technique, Baby,” he comments, with a glint in his eye.
She laughs, as she leans down to kiss his lips, beginning to grind on his pelvis. She’s extremely sensitive, and she won’t last long at all, but she just wants to feel him close and inside.
“Ride me,” he says.
She pushes up, using her hands on his chest. She moves up, practically off of him, and then takes him in to the hilt, building a rhythm. Her body begins to move in a fluid motion, her tits bounce, and he watches, enraptured with how sexy she is. He’s currently busy studying her waist to hip ratio, when she stops moving.
“Eyes up here, Ted,” she says, as slides her fingernail over her nipple.
“Fuck, Baby, do it again.”
She follows his command, as she begins moving again, and he lifts his hand to her breast, taking as much of her as he can in the palm of his hand. She speeds up, and he watches her, feeling his swollen cock wrapped around her wetness.
“You slide on my pole so well. Such a good girl for me.”
She liked that comment, so she speeds up, letting her tits bounce, as Ted holds her, fingertips squeezing her nipple.
“Fuck,” she yells out, moaning, rapid breaths slipping from her lips.
“What do you need,” he asks.
“You,” she says. “Just you. Only you.”
He squeezes her nipple again, as she rides his cock.
“You wanna come together,” he asks.
She nods, mewls escaping.
“You wanna come like this? Some other position?”
“I just want you to fuck me.”
“Ya know, I haven’t fucked you from behind yet.”
She shudders. He sure hasn’t. She lifts off of him, cock falling back toward his body. She gets onto her hands and knees. This invitation has him moving so fast, he practically falls off his bed. He pushes into her immediately, hands landing on her hips.
“Arch your back for me.”
She does what he asked.
“Beautiful.”
He moves himself fully inside her, pulling back out, setting a rhythm. It builds quickly, because he just can’t help himself. He places his hand in her hair, pulling, which arches her back further. Moments later, he’s fucking into her with abandon. And she’s fingering her clit, tits bouncing to the rhythm he set.
“Fuck,” he says, as he slaps her ass cheek, while he fucks her.
“I’m so close. I’m about to come,” she exclaims.
He is too. He’s been holding back, because fucking her with her ass up in the air and her back arched, has got him mesmerized.
“Ted, I can’t hold out much longer.”
“Come, Baby, I’m coming too.”
She lets go, as she writhes, moving forward, practically pulling herself off his cock. She clamps down on him, which triggers his orgasm, as they come together. He lands softly on her, and she holds them both up. He pulls himself out of her, moving to the side, lying on his back, as she does the same. They breathe together. She turns toward him.
“I hate you.”
He looks over at her.
“I hate you too.”
He pulls her close to him, arm wrapping around her. She settles her face into the crook of his neck. He looks up at the ceiling, fingertips caressing along her back. They lie together, silently. Moments later she thinks that he’s fallen asleep.
“I know we still need to talk, and we will, I promise,” he says, quietly.
She sighs in his neck.
“Darlin’, there’s something I’ve got to know. The restraining order…”
She pushes back to look at him.
“Dr. Zava.”
He exhales, angrily.
“Tom and Jan filed a restraining order for me. And because of that, they have declared him to be a suspect, their prime suspect. There are court orders in place, including phone tapping.”
He watches her.
“You’re safe?”
“Yes.”
He sighs.
“It’s because of that night in the ER?”
“Yes, among other things.”
There’s a pause.
“Michelle told me to get one. She was actually the reason I talked to Tom and Jan and had them do it.”
“I’m so glad she did.”
“Me too.”
His hand lifts to her face, pushing her hair back.
“I’m here. I’ll keep you safe.”
“And I’ll keep you safe.”
She leans down to kiss his lips gently.
*****
She stirs. There’s noise, but she’s disoriented. It’s like she was fucked unconscious. Where is she? She turns to her side and sees Ted, peacefully asleep. That’s right, they’re at Ted’s apartment, where they had sex for half the night. The noise occurs again. It’s simultaneous. It’s a phone call, then a text message alert. Moments later, she hears a knock at his front door.
“Ted,” she says, groggily, attempting to move toward him, but she’s stiff and sore.
He moves toward her voice.
“Baby, I’m too tired to fuck you. I need to sleep,” he replies.
“Ted, someone is at the door. And your phone is going off.”
He becomes immediately more alert, reaching for his phone on the nightstand.
“It’s Michelle. She’s here with Henry.”
She begins to panic.
“Rebecca, it’s ok. Michelle knows, and she’s happy for us. And Henry enjoys your company. It’ll be alright. Pick anything from my drawers. I’ll go down and greet them. Come when you’re ready. Ok?”
“You sure I shouldn’t just sneak out of the window,” she asks.
He chuckles.
“If you want to sneak out, you can. But I’m not sure your legs have enough strength in them since I fucked you unconscious, multiple times,” he says, with a smug smirk on his face.
“Fuck you,” she says, hitting his chest.
Moments later, Ted answers his door. Michelle takes one look at him, and she knows immediately why he was so unavailable.
“Dad,” Henry yells out, running to him, wrapping his arms around his waist.
“Hey, Ted. Sorry to show up unannounced. I tried to call and text.”
“Michelle, it’s alright. I’m sorry I didn’t hear any of it.”
“Long shift?”
“Something like that,” he responds.
“I need to go to the hospital. I’ve been called in…hoping you can take Henry for today and tomorrow.”
“Of course. It’s no problem at all.”
They hear movement on the stairs, as Rebecca descends, foot hitting the bottom level.
“Rebecca,” Henry yells out, moving away from Ted toward her.
“Henry, it’s so nice to see you,” she says, as she squats down, allowing him to run into her arms.
Michelle and Ted watch, as Henry hugs her.
“I’m so sorry about this,” Michelle whispers.
“It’s ok, Michelle. Truly. I’ll do my best to answer any of his questions, even if we don’t fully have the answers ourselves.”
Henry lets go of Rebecca.
“I’m so happy you’re here. Can we go play?”
“Sure. But give me a few minutes, Henry, ok?”
“Ok,” he replies.
“Bud, you can go put on the TV. I’ll make us some breakfast shortly.”
He leaves the foyer.
“Michelle, I’m so sorry," Rebecca says.
“No. No apologies. It’s very much ok. I’ve got to go, but I will pick up Henry tomorrow afternoon.”
“Take all the time you need. And I promise I’ll be better at answering my messages.”
Michelle smiles.
“Have a great day,” she says.
She leaves, as Ted closes the door.
“Fuck,” Rebecca says.
“Hey, at least she didn’t walk in on us in the kitchen last night.”
“Fuck,” she says again, both in fear and horniness.
He smirks, pausing.
“I don’t have any tea, but we can go to the coffee shop after breakfast to get you some.”
“Sounds like my boyfriend needs to buy some for his place,” she replies, reaching for his chest, taking a fistful of his shirt, pulling him to her.
“Boyfriend?”
“Does that sound too…immature?”
“No, Darlin’. I love it.”
He kisses her gently.
“Let’s get the lil man, and get the breakfast train moving, Girlfriend.”
“This feels so cheesy,” she says, with a smile.
“You started it,” he replies, as she taps his shoulder playfully.
They make their way into the kitchen.
“Hen, come in here. We’re going to make breakfast.” He pauses, then says to Rebecca, “good thing I had the wherewithal to clean up in here last night.”
Rebecca shakes her head to rid her brain of the horny, as Henry runs into the room.
“Hen, what do you think? French toast, pancakes, waffles, eggs, hash browns, bacon…”
“Pancakes,” he exclaims.
“Pancakes it is,” Ted says, laughing.
Ted begins gathering ingredients, enlisting Henry’s help. Rebecca follows Ted’s instructions on where to find items needed. When they’re ready, the three of them begin the process, sharing the work. After the batter is created, Ted heats the stove and banishes his son and girlfriend to the kitchen table to play.
“I have a lego set that you haven’t seen yet. I’m going to go get it,” Henry says, as he runs up the stairs.
Rebecca makes eye contact with Ted, who knows exactly what she’s thinking, as a smirk grows on his face.
Several moments later, Henry runs back down the stairs with a box in his hand. He sits down next to Rebecca and begins to take the pieces out. He looks over at her. Henry doesn’t often see her in clothing where her arms are shown, and he touches the skin where she was burned. She places her hand on top of his, a tinge of sadness on her face because she can tell he’s also sad.
“It’s alright,” she says, squeezing his hand that lies over her scars.
He smiles, a small, sad smile, allowing her to lift her hand, so he can lift his.
“This one reminds me of that one we built together in the hospital,” Henry says.
She’s so tired of this IV stand, she thinks, as she maneuvers herself through the hallways and eventually onto the elevator. She adjusts the gown over her clothing because there’s no way she’s flashing this entire hospital. Bandages cover the burn on her arm, and even though it itches like a mother fucker, she tries to just leave it alone. When the elevator arrives on his floor, she exits. She still moves slowly, even weeks after the fire. She’s frustrated, but she’s trying to be patient. She moves toward his room, guiding the IV stand. She stands at the door, and she takes a deep breath. She knocks, opening it slowly.
“Rebecca,” she hears, his little voice marred with discomfort, but also excitement.
“Henry,” she replies, with a smile on her face.
“We get to keep building the lego set, yay,” Henry cheers.
“Hi, Rebecca, how are you feeling,” Michelle asks, as she gets up from the chair near Henry’s bed.
She walks toward her, hand rising to her shoulder, giving her a light squeeze.
“Healing. Slowly,” she responds.
“I know it’s frustrating. But it takes time.”
“I know.”
“Take my seat,” she says. “Give me a moment, and I’ll set up what you both have already built.”
Rebecca lets out a breath, discomfort filling her chest.
“You alright?”
“Yes. Sometimes the pain comes on strongly.”
“We can certainly adjust your pain meds.”
“I know, but I’m trying not to take them.”
“There’s no shame in needing pain meds, Rebecca. I can tell you’re in pain.”
She sighs.
“You’re right. Thank you.”
“I can call your doctor to place an order, and I can administer it here for you.”
“Thank you,” she responds.
Michelle pats her shoulder again. She moves away, as Rebecca walks slowly to Henry’s bed, sitting down, adjusting her IV stand.
“I’m glad we get to keep building it,” Henry tells her.
“Me too,” she replies.
Michelle brings over the lego structure that they’ve built so far, placing it on the table that rests over the bed. She moves it so it’s within reach for Henry.
“How’s your pain,” Michelle asks him.
“It’s ok,” he answers.
“Tell me if it begins to hurt worse, ok?”
“Ok, Mom.”
Rebecca watches them as they interact.
“I’ll let you guys play. You can call me on that phone if either of you need me,” she says to Rebecca.
“Thanks, Michelle.”
Michelle leaves the room, looking back at them, as Henry begins to tell Rebecca about the next phase of building.
*****
An hour or so later, Michelle re-enters to hang a bag of pain medication on both Rebecca’s and Henry’s IV stands. She comments on their work, leaving them once again. Henry laughs lightly at something Rebecca says. Several minutes pass, and Henry begins telling her a story, when a knock rings out on the door. The door opens slowly.
“Dad,” Henry greets.
“Oh, sorry to interrupt, Hen.” He pauses. “I didn’t realize she was here.”
It is said condescendingly, but Henry is none the wiser. Rebecca, however, is immediately annoyed.
“How are you feeling, Son?”
“Better now that I get to hang out with Rebecca and play.”
Ted nods. He walks to the bed, moving Henry’s hair from his forehead. He then bends down and kisses the top of his head.
“I’m glad to hear you’re having fun.”
He doesn’t ask how she’s doing, and she promptly ignores him. He stands there awkwardly for a moment.
“You guys are making good progress,” he says, which causes Henry to go off on a tangent about what they’re creating.
Rebecca listens to him, but internally she’s seething. She hates him. She’s glad his little boy is safe, but he’s so hurt, and a lot of the reason has to do with the man who stands before her.
Several moments later, Henry is done, having to take a couple of deep breaths because it was a lot for his body. Rebecca notices it immediately, placing her hand on his.
“Take a minute, Henry, and breathe. It’s alright.”
This makes Ted feel inferior, so he interrupts her.
“He’s my son. That’s my job!”
“Yeah, and? Look at him. You did this to him.”
“So did you. It’s your fault.”
“It’s your fault,” she exclaims, the exertion causing her to reach for her chest in pain.
The door opens.
“Ted, if you cannot be here without starting arguments, then you need to leave,” Michelle says. “Every day we do this. When is it enough?”
“She shouldn’t be here,” he exclaims.
“You should go,” Michelle replies.
“He’s my son!”
“He is. And he wants her here. I want her here.” She sighs. “I don’t know what happened between the two of you,” -
“I can go,” Rebecca says, hand over her chest, struggling to breathe. “It’s fine.”
“No, stay,” Henry pleads, his lungs practically working overtime, as he starts to panic.
The three of them notice immediately, and they put their arguing aside for the sake of Henry, who needs them.
“Breathe, Buddy.”
“It’s alright, Henry. You’re safe.”
“Sweetheart, it’s ok. Mom’s here.”
“Rebecca,” he exclaims.
She blinks her eyes open to both Ted and Henry looking at her in concern.
“You alright,” Ted asks, fingertips gliding on her forearm.
She shakes her head.
“I didn’t say something bad, did I,” Henry asks.
Rebecca snaps back into attunement.
“No, Henry. No. You did nothing wrong. I had a flashback, like a memory. But I’m ok.”
“I have those too,” he replies.
She hugs him immediately, and Ted wraps his arms around them both, holding them.
“Oh shoot, I’m burning the pancakes.”
He gets up and runs to the stove.
*****
“Hello, Ted, Rebecca, and young Henry,” Liam exclaims, as they walk through the door.
“Good morning, Liam,” Ted says, guiding Henry toward him. “We are in desperate need of tea and our usual.”
Liam’s strong laugh rings out.
“I would have never bet you would order a tea,” he replies.
Ted smiles.
He inputs their orders, gives the total, and Ted pays him immediately, before Rebecca notices, as she is speaking with Henry. Henry then walks over to the bulletin board area, looking for a little game he and Rebecca can play together while they wait on their drinks. He looks up at the bulletin board and notices a flyer. Ted walks up to him, knowing exactly what he’s looking at. The flyer is colorful, with the words, ‘missing person’ written in big, broad letters, as well as a photo.
“I miss her,” Henry comments.
“I do too,” Ted replies.
Rebecca stands nearby, as Liam makes their drinks.
“You know, Rebecca, maybe this is the beginning of the family you’ve always wanted, just as you told me.”
She nods, solemnly, but a smile comes across her face.
“I’m happy for you all.”
“Thanks, Liam.”
*****
After spending the entire day with Henry playing games and watching movies, it’s nearing his bedtime.
“Dad, can Rebecca tuck me in tonight?”
Ted looks at Henry, who is sincere in his request. He then makes eye contact with Rebecca over Henry’s head, as tears develop slowly in her eyes.
“You can ask her yourself.”
“Rebecca, will you tuck me in?”
She places her hand on his shoulder, lightly caressing.
“Of course. Come on.”
Henry gets up, and she follows. Ted reaches for her hand, which stops her temporarily, as she looks down at him. It’s written all over his face. She feels it too. But is it too early?
*****
Henry lies in his bed, as he looks up at Rebecca.
“I like having you here,” he says.
“I like being here,” she replies, and she pauses. “I’m sure you have a lot of questions for me and your dad. We’re figuring it all out.”
“Are you dad’s girlfriend?”
“Yes,” she replies.
“Cool,” he says.
“It is cool,” she agrees. “Do you want or need anything else from me?”
“Mom will lie with me, as I try to fall asleep. Will you lie with me?”
“Of course, Henry.”
She gets onto the mattress, finally settling next to him.
“Can I hold you,” she asks.
He nods. She snakes her arm under his neck, and he moves toward her, allowing her to hug him into her body.
“Is this ok,” she whispers.
He nods. She drops her chin to the top of his head, as she caresses his back gently. Within minutes, he’s asleep. A rogue tear falls into his hair.
*****
Rebecca makes her way back downstairs to Ted. She is feeling a sense of contentment, along with a sense of grief over what she doesn’t have. She wants to tell him about Rupert, about how desperately she has always wanted a child. She rounds the corner, finding him exactly where she left him. He has a look of fear on his face.
“Ted, what is it? What’s wrong.”
“I just got an email from the insurance company with the information I requested. There was one name listed for the inspector. But there’s a note indicating that the person’s name is not someone who has ever worked for their company.”
“What?”
“The name listed is John Smith, but the company has never had that person on their payroll. In fact, they were set to send out an inspector, their name is listed, but he never came since the inspection ended up being completed by this ‘John Smith.’
“Ted, oh my god. I’ll call Tom and Jan.”
“Rebecca, I can’t breathe.”
“Come here, Ted. It’s ok.”
He moves toward her, wrapping himself around her. They sit together, a steady stream of fear and concern permeating their bodies.
Chapter 15: 15
Notes:
Thank you all for your comments! Keep them coming, as I find them quite motivating. Enjoy!
Chapter Text
“Hey. Hey, stop,” Isaac exclaims. “Listen up. This is important.”
“We have new information that we want to share with everyone,” Tom says. “The fire at Lasso’s home ten months ago…we now have reasonable belief that whoever the arsonist or arsonists are…they were initially targeting Ted and possibly his family.”
There are gasps heard from everyone. Rebecca reaches for Ted’s hand, as she wraps her fingers around his.
“How did you come to this conclusion,” Sam asks.
“Rebecca, do you want to take this from here,” Tom asks.
She nods, pausing, then reluctantly lets go of Ted’s hand, as she gets up. She walks to the front of the room.
“Ted and I have been having a lot of conversations since we both identified ourselves as clear targets of this person or people.” She pauses. “For those of you who were in the rig that night, recall a vehicle running you all off the road…” She stops talking, making eye contact with Ted, hearing murmurs from their colleagues. “We felt like that was suspicious…” She trails off. “We then began talking about how the fire at his house deteriorated rapidly that evening. And how the recent fires have a similar pattern.”
There are quiet mutterings through the room.
“We brought this to the attention of O’Brien and Jan, and they encouraged Ted to reach out to his insurance company to get any information they had available on the fire.”
She takes a long, deep breath, seeking Ted and his grounding presence.
“The insurance company returned his correspondence, and they indicated that the fire inspector, named ‘John Smith,’ who completed the investigation, doesn’t work for their company.”
Everyone audibly reacts, as shock fills the room.
“In the report that this ‘John Smith’ created, they indicated that the fire was started by a gas leak, but that is wrong. A fire like that doesn’t just occur and deteriorate that quickly.”
“It would have been a much slower burn,” Julie notes.
“Exactly,” Rebecca adds.
“The insurance company indicated that the fire inspector, who was set to investigate, never arrived because he saw that the property had already been inspected. He assumed that the job had been completed, and that he no longer had to inspect it. We know differently now. We don’t know the gender of this ‘John Smith.’ It’s obviously not their real name. We don’t know anything more.”
“The insurance company is working with us and answering our questions as we navigate our investigation,” Tom adds.
“I was able to go out to the property to see if I could find anything, since Shelley and myself were both incapacitated at the time. I didn’t find anything of note. But that means nothing.”
“We wanted to make both of your stations aware. This is an active investigation,” Tom adds.
“Any questions,” Jan asks.
“Do you think that this ‘John Smith’ is the arsonist,” Jamie asks.
“It seems likely, although we have no evidence,” Tom states.
Rebecca makes eye contact with Ted.
“What are we doing to keep Ted safe,” Dani asks.
“We keep doing what we’re doing to keep everyone safe, including Ted,” Isaac replies. “We still believe that this person or persons are targeting Ted and Rebecca, possibly all firefighters, so we keep being hypervigilant, as best as we can. Remember, stay present during these fires…always be watching. Whoever these people are…they are well-planned and well-resourced. But they will slip up at some point.”
Jan nods.
“Any other questions,” Tom asks.
“Any suspects,” Zoreaux asks, curiously.
“That is internal,” Jan replies, cutting off any additional questions in that realm.
“Any other questions,” Tom asks.
“Does anyone think that the revelation of recorders with the female voice is weird,” Jamie asks.
“How so,” Tom asks.
“It’s so random,” Jamie replies.
Rebecca gets a tingling sensation that runs up her body.
“Maybe it’s not as random as we think,” she replies.
“Her,” they all say at the same time.
There’s a long pause.
“We are investigating. We will get to the bottom of this,” Tom adds.
“Alright,” Isaac says, as he gets up from his chair. “As 48 leaves for their station, I want you all prepping.”
There are murmurs around the room.
“Rebecca, stay,” Tom says. “We need to have an additional conversation.”
As everyone starts to get up and move around, the mood is somber. Ted feels hands of his fellow colleagues clap against his back. Although the only touch he wants is Rebecca’s.
*****
He tosses and turns.
“What about her,” Ted asks Isaac, in panic, watching Sassy work on Henry.
“They reported, multiple times, that there was no one inside.”
“Where is she,” he asks.
“I don’t know,” Isaac answers.
“Fuck,” Ted replies.
“You left your kid home…alone,” Rebecca exclaims, albeit weakly, pulling the oxygen mask completely off her face.
“Fuck you,” he exclaims. “What about you, huh? Acting like you’re some kind of firefighting professional…if you weren’t there, I could have gotten to him faster and saved her!”
“Fuck you,” she replies, in anger, hand gripping at her chest, as Barbara forces Rebecca to lie down, placing the oxygen mask back over her nose and mouth.
She pushes Barbara away, adrenaline coursing through her veins.
“I am a firefighter. Fuck you, you careless bastard.”
He’s taken aback by this information, but he can’t process it in the moment.
“He wasn’t home alone. He was with her…his babysitter. And now she’s gone because of you.”
“Both of you, stop,” Isaac exclaims. “Now.” He pauses, attention shifting elsewhere. “Beard, Kent, Higgins, report.”
“Shelley needs immediate medical evacuation. ETA,” Higgins requests.
“Ambo, ten minutes out,” Barbara replies, over comms, then to Sassy, “go with Henry. I’ll go to Shelley.”
Rebecca moans, chest feeling heavy, as if it’s caving in on her.
“Hey, hey,” Barbara says. “Stay still. I’m going to move you and place you in the ambulance with Henry.”
“The hell you are,” Ted screams out. “She got my little boy hurt,” he says, hysterically.
“Lasso, stop,” Isaac says. “You can go with them.”
“Help me lift her,” Barbara requests.
Ted scoffs, as he moves over to Henry, medical equipment all over his tiny body. Isaac helps Barbara lift Rebecca into the ambulance. They move her to the side, so they can take the rigid back board from behind her.
“Tore Nate’s suit off as best as we could. Major damage to lower extremity. Looks like significant third degree burns,” Kent reports over comms.
Barbara grabs as many medical supplies as she can, placing them on the back board, then makes her way back to the gurney, before sprinting with it toward the directions Beard gives her over comms.
The heart monitor attached to Henry’s chest beeps loudly, catching everyone’s attention nearby.
“Fuck,” Sassy yells out, “cardiac arrest.”
She begins CPR compressions to Henry’s chest, as Isaac runs over to the ambulance, finding the resuscitator bag, pulling it out of the plastic, as he races back to the gurney, placing it over his face. He uses the resuscitator to help breathe for Henry. Ted falls to his knees in fear. He feels arms wrap around him, pulling his body and face away from the images of his son before him. He doesn’t know who it is that’s pulling him, but his adrenaline causes him to push them. Rebecca falls on her back. Ted sees who it is.
“You! You’ve done enough,” he cries out.
“I’m trying to help you,” she yells.
“Ted,” she exclaims.
He thrashes, sweat covering his brow.
“Ted,” she says again, shaking him. “Wake up.”
His eyes pop open, his breaths rapid.
“It’s ok. You’re safe.”
“Henry,” he asks, breathlessly.
“Henry is safe. We’re here at the station on shift, and Henry is with Michelle, Ted. You’re safe.”
“Fuck,” he replies.
She pushes the wet strands from his forehead, as she gets into bed next to him. He moves to her immediately, wrapping himself up in her. He notices the light on at her desk, documents lined all over the surface.
“It’s alright, Love.”
They lie together for several moments. She wants to ask, but she rubs along his spine instead. She attempts to give him some solace from whatever interrupted his sleep.
“You’re still at it,” he asks, meekly.
Rebecca has been combing through every document they have from any and all available resources. She’s been reading and rereading every time they have a break.
“I’m not going to stop until I find these people.”
“But you need to sleep, Darlin’.”
“I know, Ted. I know.”
He breathes her in, feeling more calm in her presence.
“Do you want to talk about it…the nightmare,” she asks.
“When Henry went into cardiac arrest…”
“Oh, Ted,” she whispers, and he begins to cry.
“It was so scary,” he says, through his tears. “I thought I was going to lose him.”
She nods solemnly. She believed that too. They hold each other, as they both fall asleep.
*****
“They’re so cute together, but the flirting,” Dani says. “It’s out of control.”
He flips a pancake in the pan.
“Right? Flirting with her through their chores, while working out, everything…it’s just gross,” Colin adds.
“I know. I heard him say, ‘I like the way you work that pole,’ to her. And I almost threw up in my mouth,” Sam adds.
“I don’t want to talk about this anymore,” Dani says, turning down the heat on the stove.
“I mean they’re so gross, even in meetings. You guys the remember the other day,” Colin asks.
“Oh yeah, when he watched her playing with the top of her pen with her mouth, and he said, ‘I wanna be that pen,’ like it’s too much,” Sam adds.
“And then to make it worse, she replied, ‘you’ve been the pen,’ and I just…I love love, but this is on another level,” Dani adds.
Isaac walks into the kitchen.
“You guys have nothing on what I heard.”
“Oh,” Colin asks. “What trauma did they subject you to?”
“Well, Ted was mopping the floor, and Rebecca walked up to him, admiring him. She then said, ‘that’s not the only thing that’s wet currently.’ And he replied, ‘fuck, Rebecca,’ as he dropped the mop, moving to her immediately. I had to yell at them.”
“We should just spray them with water every time they say or do something horny and inappropriate,” Colin says. “Like training a puppy.”
They laugh.
Ted and Rebecca enter the kitchen. Clearly hearing what they were talking about, Ted comments.
“Personally, I think the best one was during the training simulation,” he says, mirth in his voice.
They all groan.
“For fuck’s sake, don’t tell us,” Colin exclaims.
“Remember, Rebecca…you got drenched. And I said, wet you is my favorite you,” he says.
She gasps, then laughs, as Dani runs out of the kitchen.
“Get out,” Isaac demands. “This is a place of work. Fucking hell.”
Ted and Rebecca snicker.
“I’m sorry, but I just couldn’t help myself,” Ted replies.
“The trauma that we are enduring,” Sam states, shaking his head.
“Man, it’s going to be great when Roy and Beard come back,” Colin says.
As soon as this sentence is uttered, it kills the jokey vibe in the space.
“And then you all will miss this,” Ted says, as he points to both himself and Rebecca.
“No,” they all exclaim.
Rebecca watches, a sense of sadness permeates her. She doesn’t want him to leave.
*****
Two days on shift, and everything has been quiet. For Rebecca, it feels quite unnerving. And it shows in her body language. The anxiety is palpable. Ted has been monitoring it, questioning her, but she tells him that she’s fine. He knows she is, but he also knows that she needs to relax.
The squad is currently in their living room area watching a movie. Ted sits close to Rebecca, and his hand caresses her thigh. She’s shaking her leg, full of restless energy. There’s a blanket draped over them, that she clutches in her hand. She’s watching the movie, or attempting to follow along, but Ted has other ideas for her. He moves his hand up on her thigh, fingertips making little drawings on her skin. She does her best to concentrate on the movie, but he’s making it difficult. He moves his hand up further, continuing to draw. Her leg stops bouncing. His fingertips then touch the apex of her thighs, and she’s already wet just from his touch. It’s just not fucking fair how attracted she is to him. He turns his face to her ear.
“I want to feel you from the inside,” he whispers.
A surge of breath escapes her, as she feels his fingertips move under the shorts she’s wearing. The lace scratches the back of his hand, as his fingers make contact with her clit.
“So wet for me, Baby.”
He feels it engorge under his touch.
“Can you be a good girl for me and be nice and quiet,” he whispers, as he enters her with two fingers, thumb moving to her clit.
It’s a terrible angle, but he doesn’t give a fuck. He just wants her to feel good and relax.
He hooks his fingers toward her outer wall, as he pulls them out, pushing back in.
She concentrates on remaining silent, as their colleagues are sitting on the other couch to their left and on the floor in front of them. He doubles down, moving faster, fingering her, thumb pressing into her clit. She feels it, building, practically careening her toward a mind-boggling orgasm.
“I can feel you. You’re about to come? Come all over my fingers,” he whispers in her ear.
She pushes her lips together into a straight line, jaw gripping together, as her orgasm breaks, and she comes, writhing as quietly as she can.
“Such a good girl for me,” he whispers, as he slows all his movements, giving her little aftershocks of pleasure that course through her body.
She doesn’t say anything, she just slumps against his body, and he holds her tightly.
Several moments later, with no suspicion from anyone, her hand moves and then lands on his abdomen, slipping lower. If anyone were to look over at them, it just looks like she’s cuddling him. But in actuality, as her hand moves lower, she’s gripping his clothed cock. He exhales, louder than he probably should have. But no matter, the movie’s scene is loud, so they’re in the clear. She reaches into his shorts, wrapping her fingers around him. She strokes his shaft. She feels him kiss the top of her head. He feels heavy in her hand, and while she wishes he were fucking her right now, this will have to do. Her fist slides over the ridge of him, gathering precum on her hand, then back down, beginning again. She can feel him sigh in her hair. As she moves on his cock, from his balls, his shaft, the ridge, and tip, she shifts and repeats. She can feel that he’s beginning to pulsate, indicating that he’s close. He buries his face in her hair, as he comes, ensuring that he makes no noise. He’s made a mess of himself, but with the hormones raging through him, and the woman that he loves draped over him, he’s happy.
*****
Keeley opens the door.
“Babe, I can’t believe you’ve been fucking Ted for like two weeks, and I haven’t gotten the real details. I mean, I only got so much at the Crown and Anchor. Come in, come in! I’ve got champagne chilling on ice.”
Rebecca sighs. Leave it to her best friend to keep it real and supply the alcohol.
“No Roy tonight?”
“He knew you were coming, and what we were going to talk about, so he said, ‘fuckkkkkkk that’.”
Rebecca chuckles.
“Definitely sounds like Roy.”
She follows Keeley to her kitchen, where she pulls two bottles of champagne from ice.
“Now, get your hot ass onto the couch,” Keeley exclaims, as she hands Rebecca a bottle.
When they settle together, Keeley takes a moment to really look at her.
“You look so happy, Babes. I’m just so happy for you both. Now give me all the dirty details.”’
“We have the most amazing sex, Keeley,” Rebecca gushes. “He’s so kind, gentle, giving, passionate…rough”
“Hot. Tell me more.”
“Our first time was like this hate-fueled angry sex, and it was so fucking hot. He tried to edge me, but I got my revenge.”
“Yeah, you did,” she says, cheering, taking a big gulp from the bottle.
“And he’s so good with his mouth and tongue,” she adds. “And the way he touches me, holds me…I’ve never been with anyone who treats me like this.”
“You love him,” Keeley observes.
She nods, shyly.
“Why so shy,” she asks, gently.
“What if he doesn’t feel the same way?”
“Babe, I can assure you, that man loves you. He had feelings for you before you even realized your own.”
Rebecca takes a long pull from the bottle.
“What’s getting in the way of telling him?”
She doesn’t say anything. She sits frozen.
“Rebecca,” Keeley asks, placing her hand on top of hers.
“It’s too soon,” she admits.
“Is it though?”
“Isn’t it?”
Keeley shakes her head.
“I’ve known Ted for a long time, Rebecca. We’ve grown apart as friends, and we’ve grown together as friends. I’ll be honest with you. I have never seen him so happy. And that’s all because of you.”
“Really,” she asks.
“Really, Babes. Listen to me. Have I not proven to you that I’m always right,” she asks.
Rebecca laughs, pushing at her shoulder. There’s a long pause, as they both drink from their respective bottles.
“And I love Henry.”
“I know. I’ve known that since day one in the hospital."
“Go, go,” Michelle yells, directing staff. “ETA, 2 minutes out.”
They heard the call. She knew it was their house and their son.
“Expecting lung damage, second and third degree burns, level one trauma. Three serious patients incoming. Two in one ambo. One child. Other ambo is 7 minutes out. Three possible minor injuries coming afterwards. Low risk, low priority,” the shift supervisor calls out.
Keeley runs into the waiting room.
“Michelle, I heard. Are they here yet?”
“No, Keeley.”
Keeley paces, waiting. Michelle ignores her feelings, as she directs people to gather supplies.
“Child, cardiac arrest in field, rhythm regained,” the shift supervisor reports.
Michelle’s mind swims. Henry.
Moments later, they hear the sirens. As they prep, including opening the doors, they observe Barbara and Ted jumping out of the ambulance. They run, getting the back open as quickly as possible. Michelle sees her son lying on the gurney.
“Michelle,” Ted says, exasperated.
“You’re alright,” she asks.
“Yeah. But Henry. And her."
“Fuck, Ted,” she replies, in shock.
“Lasso, help me,” Barbara requests.
They remove Henry and the gurney, running him into the ER. Michelle stays, frozen in the moment, but brings herself back to the present. An orderly runs up with a wheelchair, which sets her into motion.
“Hey, what’s your name,” she asks.
“Rebecca.”
“Can you move?”
“Very, very slowly, yes.”
“Alright, let me help you.”
Michelle gets Rebecca down from the ambulance with help from the orderly, and they get her situated in the wheelchair. She pushes her inside.
“I know you,” Keeley says, pointing at Rebecca. “You’re the woman from the bar yesterday.”
Rebecca doesn’t respond to Keeley.
“Henry,” she squeaks out, traumatized, in pain, and exhausted.
Michelle leans down before her.
“Dr. Zava is with Henry. He’s my son. He’s in good hands.”
“Michelle, I’ll stay with her,” Keeley says, determined. “I’ll check on Roy when he arrives. Go be with Henry.”
She nods, as other staff run up to Rebecca with a gurney.
“You didn’t care about yourself, you only wanted to know about Henry,” Keeley replies.
Rebecca nods.
“You spent time every day with him when you were both hospitalized. And even when you were released, and he wasn’t, you still visited him every day.”
She nods, tears beginning to form in her eyes.
“We had Henry over last week, and he wanted me to tuck him into bed. He wanted me to hold him. I just,” she says, trailing off.
“Rebecca,” Keeley coos, as she wraps her up in a hug.
“I always wanted to be a mother, you know that.”
“Here’s your chance, Babe,” she whispers in her ear. “You love each other. You love his kid. His kid loves you. This is yours. And no one, other than Ted and Henry, deserve you more.”
Tears fall over her eyeline.
“It’s ok,” Keeley says, soothing her as best as she can.
Rebecca pulls back.
“When he goes back to his station,” she says, pausing.
“Hey, you need to tell him how you feel.” Keeley pushes back from her. “Also, just so you know, if Roy catches you two having phone sex or whatever else, I’m afraid of the consequences for both of you.”
Rebecca chuckles through her tears. There’s a long pause.
“Where is he tonight,” Keeley asks.
“He’s home. He wanted me to spend time with you.”
“Good man.”
She wipes her tears away.
“Now. Tell him, Rebecca.”
She smiles.
“Love you,” she says.
“Love you more,” Keeley replies.
After the tears, there is more drinking, more laughing, and more sexy details. When she leaves Keeley’s with a smile on her face, she misses movement in some nearby bushes.
*****
He opens his door to her, looking beautiful in the moonlight.
“Hi, Darlin’. Did you give Keeley all the sexy details,” he asks, smirk on his face.
“A few,” she says, with a shrug.
She leans in to kiss his lips gently.
“You taste like champagne,” he comments. “I like it.”
“There’s more where that came from.”
“There’s more kisses? I like the sound of that,” he says, as he pulls her inside, closing the door behind her.
He pushes her up against it, and he kisses her, hand landing in her hair. She opens her mouth to him, and he slips his tongue inside. They kiss until a natural ending point, and he pulls back, forehead landing on hers.
“Is it too soon,” she whispers.
“To have sex? No, Baby. It’s never too soon to have sex.”
“No, Ted,” she says, pushing him back, and he looks at her, realizing that she has something she wants to talk about.
“Rebecca?”
“I think it’s too soon to tell you,” she says, cryptically.
“You can tell me anything, Darlin’.”
Tears begin to well in her eyes.
“If I tell you, then it’s real. And I thought it was real before.” She pauses, sighing. “It wasn’t.”
“Rebecca? Hey, whatever it is, I want to know. And I also know that you’ve been drinking. Maybe we should go to bed and talk in the morning.”
She pulls him to her, wrapping her arms around his body.
“I hate you,” she says.
“I hate you too,” he replies. “So much so.”
*****
He wakes to his arm tingling, but when he opens his eyes, he forgets about the discomfort. Her head is draped over his arm, blonde hair fanning out all over him and the pillow. She looks so content in her sleep. He doesn’t want to disturb her, but her face is just so kissable, he just can’t help himself. He kisses the tip of her nose.
“Now my lips,” she says.
“Yes, Ma’am,” he replies.
He kisses her gently, hand rising to her hair, pushing it away from her face.
“Good morning, Darlin’. How are you feeling?”
“Maybe slightly hungover?”
“Sounds like a fun night. I can go and get you some water, medicine, and a good, healthy breakfast.”
“No. Don’t go anywhere,” she whines.
He kisses her lips again.
“I won’t. Not yet. But when I do, I promise to come right back.”
She kisses him, and he moves on top of her, not to escalate anything, but just because he wants to be closer to her. When he pulls back, he looks down at her. She looks tired from the night out but content with him. He smiles.
“You’re so beautiful, Rebecca. Do you know that?”
She shakes her head.
“Who made you feel like you’re not beautiful,” he asks.
“Rupert,” she replies.
“Who is Rupert,” he asks.
“It’s a long story.”
“We’ve literally got all day, Darlin’.”
“I need some water,” she replies.
“How about this. I’m going to go get you some things to help, and I’ll be right back. Then you can tell me everything you want to tell me.”
She nods.
“Don’t go anywhere,” he says, kissing her lips gently.
She chuckles quietly, even though the mood feels gloomy.
“Wouldn’t dream of it.”
“Ok, I’ll be right back.”
She watches him leave, and she’s not sure if it’s the champagne or the anxiety that’s got her stomach churning. Moments later, he returns with a tray.
“Alright, I’ve got water with lemon, full of electrolytes for hydration, pain pills, and some dry toast.”
“Thanks,” she says, as she lifts the water to her lips.
She takes a bite of the toast.
“You want some,” she asks.
“No, it’s all yours. I had a piece of fruit in the kitchen.”
She eats the toast slowly, finally finishing it. She then takes the pills.
“Feel a little better?”
“I do actually.”
“Good. If you need more water, I’ve got you, just let me know.”
She pushes the tray back from her. He lifts it and places it on the floor.
“Can you hold me,” she asks.
“Of course.”
He moves toward her, placing both of her legs over his, and her hips touch his inner thighs. He’s able to both see her and hold her, which is a win-win for him. He waits her out, fingertips rising to her hair, pushing it away from her face.
“Rupert was my ex-husband,” she tells him.
He nods.
“When we first met, I was working as a bartender in a pub in London. He would come in, flatter me, pay attention to me for like six straight weeks. I rebuffed him because I saw the wedding ring on his finger. But he was so charming, and I liked the attention…he made me feel special. It’s all I ever wanted, to be special, doted on, loved…”
He nods, fingers tangling in her hair.
“Because he was a married man, I went against my every instinct by starting a relationship with him. And when he got divorced, I had him all to myself. And I was happy. Or at least that’s what I believed at the time.”
He kisses her forehead, fingertips running through her hair, soothing.
“He changed, or maybe he was always this way…but he would monitor my behavior, telling me what to eat, what to wear, who I should spend time with…and I just listened. I thought it was what I deserved.”
“Rebecca,” he says, gently.
“I believed him.”
“It’s ok, Sweetheart.”
Tears slip from her eyes, and he wipes them away slowly.
“Ted, he cheated on me.”
She cries, and he pulls her to him, allowing her to cradle into his body.
“You deserve so much better than that.”
She cries harder.
“It’s ok, Darlin’. I’m here.”
There’s a long pause.
“He got her pregnant.”
He kisses the top of her head.
“I always wanted to be a mother. I begged him. I guess I wasn’t good enough.”
She cries as he holds her. Several moments later, he responds.
“Henry would beg to differ.”
She pushes back from him, her face red and wet.
“What,” she says.
“My son loves you, Rebecca. You were with him on one of the most traumatic events of his young life. And you were there every day afterward. If I wasn’t being such an asshole, you would have been there even longer. But I’m rectifying that now.”
“Ted,” she says, whimper in her voice.
“He loves you, Rebecca. He does.” He pauses. “And if you don’t know, I love you.”
He says it so casually, like it’s nothing to him. But she knows that’s furthest from the truth.
“I thought it was too early to tell you.”
“Tell me what? That you love me?”
She nods.
“The last time I loved someone was Rupert. And that ended in an awful way. I’m so afraid to tell you.”
“It’s not too early, Darlin’. Tell me.”
“Ted, I love you,” she says.
Her voice quivers, but there’s an honesty present that strikes his heart.
“I love you too, Rebecca. So much.”
He kisses her, and she kisses him back, fingers slipping up to his neck. Neither get carried away, as it’s not the time in the moment. He pushes back, dropping his forehead to hers.
“I’ve loved you for a while. Even when I hated you.”
“It was never hate,” she replies. “It was always love. But misunderstandings and miscommunication got in the way.”
“You’re right.”
He kisses her again gently, fingertips brushing away remaining wetness.
“So tell me, how did you get away from Rupert?”
“I got up enough courage to get divorce paperwork drawn up and delivered to him. I moved out immediately. It was so hard and painful.”
“Divorce is painful. And you got yourself out of the abuse that you endured…you’re so strong.”
She nods.
“Sometimes I don’t want to be strong, you know?”
He caresses her jaw.
“I do know. I feel the same way.”
She caresses his.
“How did you get here?”
“I’ve always been interested in firefighting since I was a little girl. I started lifting heavy weights right after I left him. That was very helpful in getting out a lot of the anger I felt toward him. It was a couple of months later, when I met some firefighters who were training at a nearby park. I started talking to them about their work, and the more I learned, the more ready I felt. I went through all the education and training. Years later, I decided that I wanted a fresh start. And here I am in the United States…in Kansas.”
“Lucky us. Lucky me,” he responds.
“But when I arrived…” she trails off.
“The fire. Us.”
“Yeah.”
He sighs.
“I’m so glad you’re here.”
“Me too.”
They hold each other.
“What happened with you and Michelle,” she asks.
He pushes back to look in her eyes.
“We fell out of love. For the longest time, I thought it was because I was too much. But she has since made me realize that was never the case.”
“I’m sorry,” she says. “That must have been so painful.”
“It was. And it was hard for Henry. But we are great co-parents. We love and respect each other. We may no longer be in love, but we care about one another an awful lot.”
“I can tell.”
There’s a pause.
“I may not know much, Rebecca, but I can tell you with certainty, that I won’t ever fall out of love with you.”
She kisses him, and he kisses her back. When they need to breathe, Rebecca breaks their kiss, dropping her forehead to his.
“Thank you for listening.”
“Always. You can tell me anything. Always,” he replies.
“I know. And you can too.”
He kisses her, gently, and she opens her mouth to him, feeling his tongue in her mouth. When they need air, they part, neither moving.
“How are you feeling,” he asks, brushing her hair from her face.
“So much better. But I should also tell you that I’m worried about us when Beard and Roy come back to work.”
“It will be different. But different doesn’t mean bad.” He then smirks. “So you’ll miss my cock at the station, huh?”
“I’ll miss you.”
He raises an eyebrow at her.
“Fine. I’ll miss your cock too,” she says, in a faux exasperated tone.
“I’ll miss you too. I’ll also miss fucking you at work, but there’s always phone sex. Or maybe we can take showers together over FaceTime. There’s got to be waterproof headphones, right?”
She laughs, hitting his chest.
“I’m serious, Ted. It’ll be so weird not having you there…with me.”
“I know, Darlin,’ but we’ll figure it out together.”
He pauses.
“Maybe I can sneak out. Fuck you against the rig.”
She smirks.
“Or you can dance on the pole for me, and then I can eat you out against it.”
“Oh so you want me to show you how I work the pole?”
“Baby, I’ve seen you work it. You’re excellent at it. Truly. But I also have some short term memory issues, so I need to keep seeing it…keep it fresh in my mind.”
She slaps his chest, laughing.
“Seriously, I know it’ll be a change, and it will be hard, but we can do it. We’re worth it.”
“We are,” she replies.
He kisses her gently, hand rising to her face, caressing.
“You know, I haven’t taken you out on our first date yet.”
“Oh,” she says.
“What about tomorrow? Can I do all the things: bring you flowers, pick you up from your place, wine you, dine you, maybe even sixty-nine you,” he asks.
She laughs.
“Such a romantic.”
“Baby, you have no idea.”
“I actually don’t, you’re right.”
“So, tomorrow night,” he asks. “Can I take you out on a date?”
She nods.
“I’d love nothing more.”
He kisses her, hands wrapping around her body. They slip down to her ass, pushing her into his pelvis, as he lifts her, and she lands on his erection. She groans in his mouth, as he pushes back, lips close to hers. He looks into her eyes.
“We don’t have to do anything this morning. I know you’re not feeling a hundred percent.”
“Maybe an orgasm or two might help,” she replies, cheekily.
He smiles, his dimples on full display.
“Yes, Ma’am. Now grind on my cock.”
She follows his command, feeling his erection against the lace of her panties, which rubs against her clit. The roughness and scratchiness of it begins to heighten her pleasure.
“That’s it,” he says.
She moans, lifting her shirt over her head, dropping it off to the side. He tosses his own in the same vicinity. He places open mouth kisses on her jaw, down her neck, arriving at her cleavage, sucking at her sensitive skin, while she grinds on him. When his mouth closes over her nipple, she gasps, as her noises fill his room.
“Fuck, Ted, I need you.”
As he sucks her nipple, he lifts her by his hands on her ass. She gets the hint, holding herself up, as he pulls his boxers down as much as he can, fingers moving her panties to the side, He then rubs the tip of himself through her folds. He pulls back, letting go of her nipple. He looks into her green eyes, as he pushes himself into her, and she mewls. He watches as her face morphs into pleasure. When he bottoms out completely in her, he allows her to take control, as she begins to grind on him, alternating with some slow movements forward and back and then to the side. Her breasts move with her rhythm, and he’s mesmerized. His fingertips slip slowly up her back, tracing along her spine, as she makes love to him. It’s quiet. It’s slow. It’s their love and their affection for one another. It’s the physical act of everything that they feel for one another.
“Rebecca,” he whispers, as he catches her green eyes, splashes of dark arousal permeating. “I love you.”
“I love you too,” she whispers back, kissing him.
With her tongue deep in his mouth, and his cock buried inside her, as their bodies meld together, their pleasure rises. She shifts, building a rhythm, and he lets her, as he touches her gently. His nimble fingers play with her silky skin, up her back, rising to her neck. As they break their kisses, he uses his hand on her neck to pull her to a new angle, to hopefully get a better seal on her mouth. His fingers move to her hair, combing through it. He grabs a fistful of it, pulling her, and she gasps, as he slips his tongue deep inside. She pushes him back, which causes their lips to part, teeth knocking against the other’s. Her rhythm gets disrupted, but she speeds up her grinding, alternating with bouncing. When he breaks their kisses, he drops his forehead to hers. They breathe in each other’s breaths. She starts bouncing on him more, and he feels her nipples moving against his chest hair.
“You’re so beautiful, Rebecca.”
He traces down her side, grasping at her hip, briefly, before his fingers find her mound, then press into her clit. She mewls. As they breathe each other’s breaths, he presses into her clit, moving it around, heightening her pleasure, which forces her hips to move faster on his cock.
“Ted,” she says.
“Yes, Baby,” he asks.
“I’m close.”
“Good.”
He doubles down, pressing harder into her clit, and she responds in kind, bouncing on his cock.
“I want you to come with me.”
“Yeah,” he asks.
“Yes,” she replies.
“Then let me lie back.”
She lifts her hands from his body, and he lies back, as she moves herself so she can be on her knees. He’s buried deep inside her, fingers still on her clit. He plants his feet and thrusts up into her.
“Take over for me,” he tells her, as he removes his fingers from her clit.
She replaces his with her own, circling around the nub, as he builds his rhythm.
“Come closer. I want you close to me.”
She drops her chest to his, and he kisses her, as he thrusts in and out of her, using his legs as leverage. She continues to rub her clit, as she opens her mouth to him. As the pleasure grows, the rhythm builds even more. She feels herself pulsating around his cock, just as she feels him pulsating. It bursts forth without warning, and she clenches on him, which triggers his orgasm, as he comes deep inside her, as she writhes on top of him. They both slow all their movements, the aftershocks firing.
“We are so good at that,” he says.
She chuckles, kissing him lightly.
“Yes, we really are,” she replies.
*****
He knocks on her door, smoothing his hair. He holds a huge bouquet of red roses in his other hand.
“Coming,” she says, through the door, and he smirks to himself. She sure as fuck will be later tonight, he thinks.
She opens her door, and his jaw drops open. She’s wearing a short, red dress, cleavage and muscular legs on full display. She’s wearing high heels, which makes her taller than him.
“Ted,” she asks, with playfulness, knowing she’s rendered him speechless.
“Rebecca, you look…”
He trails off, jaw dropped, literally in disbelief.
“You look nice too,” she comments.
“You are so sexy in this dress. I just wanna take you into your bedroom, and rip it off of you.”
“But our first date,” she says.
He takes a deep breath to regulate himself.
“Our first date, yes. Then I’m bringing you back here, and I’m fucking you until I’m draining out of you for hours.”
“If you keep talking to me like this, we aren’t leaving,” she replies.
“Ok, ok,” he says. “These are for you.”
He hands her the huge bouquet. She smiles.
“They’re beautiful, Ted.”
“You’re beautiful, Rebecca.”
She kisses him, and he kisses her back, but he stops himself from carrying on, because if he doesn’t, he’s fucking her against her door, hell every surface, no ifs, ands, or buts.
“Come in,” she says. “Let me put these in water, and we can go.”
He walks into her apartment, observing.
“I like your place. It’s very you.”
“Thanks,” she says, from the kitchen. “You can take a look around.”
She pulls a vase from a cabinet, as he takes in the surroundings of the place that she calls home. When he reenters the space where she is, he clears his throat. And she looks up at him, as she places the vase and flowers on her kitchen table.
“I can’t wait to ruin your bed tonight.”
She smirks.
“I look forward to that as well,” she replies.
“Let’s go before I do something bad.”
She laughs, taking his hands in hers, leading him to the door.
*****
He didn’t have much time to plan, but he knew he wanted to bring her here. It’s his favorite restaurant in town, and he wants to share it with her. Ted greets the staff as they walk in together, hand in hand. He introduces her to them, and he is sure to include, ‘Rebecca, my girlfriend.’
They take them to a private table…the perks of knowing everyone in this small town. Ted pulls out a chair for Rebecca, and she sits. He moves around the table, sitting across from her. Their server hands them menus, and he immediately orders a bottle of wine.
“Red, right,” he asks, just to confirm what he already knows.
“Yes,” she replies.
Their server leaves them.
“This is my favorite place here in town. I hope you’ll find something on the menu that you like.”
She reaches out to squeeze his hand that rests on the table.
“Ted, I know I will. It’s ok.”
He nods.
After reading through the menu, she finds something that sounds amazing, and they order, just as the bottle of wine arrives. She takes a sip, letting the taste linger on her tongue.
“That’s delicious,” she says, and he smiles.
****
After dinner, they converse, as they finish the bottle. She swirls her glass around, and he watches her.
“This has been nice,” he says.
“It has.”
“Things have been so chaotic with work and everything, but things with you feel so easy.”
“I feel the same way.”
There’s a long pause, as she takes a sip of her wine, and he reaches for his own. They make eye contact.
“Do you want dessert,” she asks, at the same time that he asks:
“Can I take you home and fuck you.”
“I like your idea better.”
They drain the rest of their wine, as he calls over their server to pay.
*****
She opens the door, as he kisses her neck, moving her hair to the side, mustache tickling her skin.
“Ted, Love,” she says, laughing, attempting to move through the door, but he’s busy.
“Oh sorry, Darlin’, I got caught up in the taste of you.”
They walk through the doorway, and he slams the door closed, as she turns in his loosened arms, pushing him up against it.
“So you brought me flowers, took me out, wined me, and dined me…”
She trails off.
“Now I’m gonna sixty-nine with you, Baby.”
“Oh yeah,” she asks.
His hand lifts to her face, pushing her hair aside.
“I thought you wanted to fuck me,” she says.
“I can do it all,” he replies. “Kiss me.”
She kisses him, and he opens his mouth to her, allowing her to take all the control that she wants. After several moments, she pushes back from him, lifting her dress from her body. She’s wearing see through lingerie, bright red and lacy. He chokes out a breath.
“Holy fuck, Baby. Look at you.”
She smirks, turning around, her bare ass on full display.
“Oh god,” he says, as he watches her walk away from him, into the area of her bedroom.
“You coming,” she asks, turning back.
“I will be soon, and so will you,” he replies, as he begins the process of unbuttoning his shirt as fast as possible, watching her hips sway. He drops it, then unbuttons his khakis, pushing them down over his hips. He runs toward her bedroom, practically falling over, as he tries to pull his boxers downward.
She lies down on the bed, watching Ted race in, boxers half down his hips. She laughs at his struggle.
“Come here, Love. I can’t have you breaking yourself before you have a chance to give me an orgasm.”
He goes to her on the bed, climbing up her body. His face reaches hers, and he brushes his nose alongside hers. She reaches down, helping to free him of his boxers. He lifts his leg, then the other, kicking them off, as he drops down and kisses her, and she opens her mouth to him. Several moments later, he kisses her cleavage, removing her breast from its confines, tongue flat over her nipple.
“Ted, Ted,” she says. “Hold on.”
He lifts up, and she does as well. He gets the hint, unclasping her bra, and removing it immediately.
“That’s better,” she says.
He smiles.
“It really is.”
He takes his time lavishing her breasts, as her fingers curl up in his hair. When he comes up for air, he drops his chin between them.
“I wanna taste you,” he says.
“How funny because I want to taste you,” she replies with mirth in her voice.
“First, we’ve got to remove this gorgeous thong. Let me be careful with it because I’m going to need to see this lingerie again and again.”
She smirks. He moves down her body, slowly, kissing every rib, every divot of muscle of her abdomen, until he reaches the red, lacy panties.
“Lift up, Darlin’.”
She follows his instruction, as he slides them from her legs. He drops them to the side.
“Look at that pretty, pink pussy, Baby.”
“Can I put it on your mouth,” she asks.
He laughs.
“You never, ever have to ask,” he replies, as he drops to his back next to her.
She sits up, lifting her leg over him. She straddles him immediately, slipping her lips over his cock.
“Oh, god,” he says, in response.
She slides herself up his body, leaving a trail of her arousal from his cock up to the top of his abdomen.
“So wet for me.”
“Always,” she says, as she leans down to kiss him.
She breaks their kisses, lifting off him so she can turn completely around. With her ass in his face, he bites at the skin, and she gasps, loudly.
“Ted,” she says, laughing,
“What? I’m impatient.”
He reaches for her hips, moving her over his mouth, allowing her to drop down completely onto his face.
“Fuck,” she says.
She drops her torso down onto his body. She reaches for his cock, which has a bead of precum on the tip. She takes him in hand, opening her mouth, engulfing him. She feels vibrations between her legs. She feels him bite at her clit, then his tongue pushes inside her. And she begins to move and grind on his face. She lifts up from his cock, taking him back in, allowing herself to establish a rhythm. He thrusts his tongue in and out of her, as she grinds her clit into his chin. His hands wrap around her thighs, keeping her steady, as she bobs on his cock. They both simultaneously speed up their respective rhythms, because they know the tells of each other’s bodies. As she lifts up, she sucks at the tip, taking him back in fully, while his tongue fills her, tip tickling inside her. She feels it careening from her core, as it shoots upward, and she comes, which pulls her from his cock, tip of him still in his mouth, sucking, which triggers his orgasm. As the writhing subsides for both of them. She moves just enough so that he doesn’t suffocate, as her face lands on his thigh.
“Fuck, Baby,” he says.
“I know,” she replies.
They lie there in the afterglow.
“That was so good. I can’t wait to fuck you.”
She smiles into his thigh. What a great first date, she thinks to herself. And it’s not even over yet.
Chapter 16: 16
Notes:
Short chapter here...for reasons
Chapter Text
“Oh god,” he says, watching his cock disappear inside her, as her ass swallows him before she moves, making his cock visible to him again.
He watches her as she fucks him, her ass jiggling, hands between his inner thighs.
“Fuck my cock,” he tells her, and in no uncertain terms does she stop.
He watches himself move in and out of her, feeling her tightness and wetness all around him. He smacks her ass cheek, watching it shake. He staves off his orgasm because this view is hot as fuck, but he wants to watch her come.
“Turn around.”
She pulls herself fully off of him, turning herself around, straddling him again. She smirks. She grabs him, moving the tip of him back to her entrance, slipping down on him. His fingertips tickle up her abdomen, taking a handful of her in the palm of his hand. Her nipple slides against his rough palm, and she mewls.
“Oh god,” she says.
“I wanna watch you come first, and then I’m gonna come all over your tits.”
She smirks and then speeds up her grinding on him, alternating with bouncing, and he watches her, encouraging her.
“Fuck, I’m close,” she says.
She adds her fingers to her clit, as she grinds and bounces.
“Structure fire, 62304 South Colston Street,” rings out over dispatch.
“Fuck,” she yells out, as she lifts off his cock immediately.
She flies off the bed, tossing a towel at Ted, as she throws on clothing. Ted follows on unsteady legs, as all of his blood is currently in his cock. He dresses quickly, trying to hide his raging erection. She pulls open their door, and he runs out after her. They slide down the pole ensuring to not hit anyone below. They race to their gear, stepping into their boots, pulling their turnout pants up their legs, suspenders over their shoulders. When they’re finally geared up, they jump in the rig, just as the rig moves out of the garage.
“Structure fire. Old residential dwelling. Dispatch reports the possibility of one female vic. Dispatch also reports only two ways into this structure, front and side. Welton, alpha, Lasso, beta,” Isaac says.
Ted looks over at Rebecca. Through her face shield, he can see that she’s struggling too.
When they arrive, smoke plumes erupt from the structure.
“Be careful,” Isaac says over comms. “Everyone else not search and rescue be present. This might be the work of the arsonists. Report anything suspicious.”
Rebecca jumps from the rig, and Ted follows her immediately. She makes her way toward the front door, as Ted goes around the structure looking for the other entrance. When she arrives, she kicks at the door. It doesn’t budge. She reaches for her ax. She swings, making contact with the old wood, causing it to splinter. She pulls it from the door and then swings once again. Ted finds the other entrance.
“Door open,” he reports over comms.
“Lasso, tell us what you see when you enter. I’m working on the front door,” she says.
“Copy,” he replies.
She swings again, and the ax gets stuck in the wood.
“Internal wall on fire,” he reports. “Wait, I hear someone. Female voice. Behind this wall. Only one way in, and it’s blocked with debris that have fallen from the ceiling.”
“I’m coming,” Rebecca yells out over comms, as she swings into the door.
It breaks, finally, and she kicks into it, leg plowing through it. She gets inside, and the entire wall is on fire. She sees Ted in the back area. She moves toward him, as she looks around.
“Bizarrely built structure…interior wall goes from the left side of the front door all the way to the back,” she reports.
“There’s a doorway in the very back, which is how you move into the rooms opposite of the room that we’re both in, and it’s where I hear the voice. But it’s blocked by debris,” he shares over comms.
She moves toward Ted and sees the doorway covered with debris.
“This sounds like a trap,” Isaac states over comms. “48 on their way.”
“Help, help,” they both hear.
The screams are loud.
“Female voice calling out for help,” Rebecca reports over comms. “Can hear her from the other side of the wall.”
She grasps her ax in both hands, as Ted pulls out his. She starts swinging at the debris that has accumulated in the doorway of the wall. They both hear her again.
“She sounds real,” Ted reports.
“Ambo here,” Sassy states over comms.
“48 here,” Julie reports.
Rebecca continues swinging into the debris. Ted swings into the drywall next to the blocked doorway. He moves slower than she is, and she takes notice.
“Ted, Love. Look at me,” she says over comms. “It’s ok. I’m here with you. We’re ok.”
He nods at her, as he lifts the ax to swing into the wall again. The fire rages before them.
“Help, help,” they hear again.
“We hear her calling for help. But she hasn’t said anything else. Could be another recording,” Rebecca shares over comms, as she swings again.
“Ted,” the female voice yells out. “Help.”
He stops swinging, as he drops his ax. He falls to his knees. Rebecca turns toward him.
“Ted,” Rebecca calls out over comms.
She runs to him. She tosses her ax aside, as her hands rise to hold his face carefully, so as not to disrupt the functionality of his safety gear.
“It sounds like her,” he states, a sense of dissociation present in his voice.
“Stay with me, Ted,” she says. “Come on. This might be another trap….it feels like they’re toying with us. We know what happened to her.”
“I can send in 48,” Isaac notes over comms.
“Come on, Ted, I need you,” she says to him.
He gets up, legs shaky, reaching for his ax. She watches him, as he moves back to the wall, taking a swing. She grabs hers, making her way back to the blocked doorway.
“We got it,” she reports.
They both swing simultaneously.
“Help, help,” they hear.
Rebecca cracks the debris enough where it falls forward, and she can see more of the opening above her. It’s not enough though, so she continues to swing. Ted breaks through the drywall, pushing the ax between two vertical wood planks to open the drywall on the other side so he can see into the space. His ax permeates it, and he notices that there is no fire on that side.
“I see someone,” he reports over comms. “They’re lying on the floor. Body away from me. Room is full of smoke, but no fire on the outside walls.”
Rebecca moves the debris aside and begins to climb to where she can see over the opening.
“I see them too,” she states.
Her foot slips, and she falls back to the floor, landing awkwardly on her feet. She begins to climb again. Ted swings into both planks of wood to make enough space for himself to crawl through, even though it’s on fire. When he looks through the opening again, he sees the person get up and begin to run. Then he hears the voice.
“Help, help. Ted, help me.”
“The person just got up and is running toward the back of the structure,” he reports over comms. “I also just heard the female voice call out for help again. It’s a trap.”
“Abort immediately,” Isaac screams over comms. “All personnel move to the back of the structure. Let’s get this person.”
Rebecca climbs to where she can see over the opening, and she sees the person climb out of a window that was broken through.
“Hurry! I just saw them climb out of the back window,” she exclaims over comms.
“I’m closest,” Jamie reports, as he takes off for the back of the structure.
Rebecca drops down from the wall, as she looks for Ted. He’s on the his knees, frozen.
“I see them,” Jamie reports over comms. “Right side of structure, heading toward the woods.”
“Everyone go toward Jamie,” Isaac barks.
“Love,” she yells out over comms. “Ted!”
He doesn’t respond to her. She drops down before him, pulling both arms around her shoulders, as she rises to her feet. He’s draped over her back, as she runs toward the side door.
“Outside of structure,” she reports.
“I lost them,” Jamie shares over comms.
“Water team, go,” Isaac requests.
“48, continue looking around in the woods. O’Brien and Jan just arrived. They’re coming to you,” Julie notes.
Rebecca runs toward Isaac and the team with Ted over her back. When she nears them and is far enough away from the structure, she drops to the ground gently, then lies Ted down. Sassy and Barbara run toward them. As they attempt to examine them, Rebecca pushes them both away.
“Ted, Love. Come back to me,” she says, straddling him, as she pulls his gear from his face, hand caressing his cheek over his cloth face shield.
She removes her own gear from her face, and she kisses his lips gently, hoping to ground him. She pulls back, unzipping his jacket, so she can place her hand on his chest. She removes her glove before she touches him, as she begins to rub. She then removes his glove from his hand, unzipping her own jacket, as she lies his hand on her chest.
“Breathe with me, Ted.”
She accentuates her own breathing to help him ground back in the present. Moments later, he finally starts to follow her breaths.
He squeaks out, “her,” as his eyes close.
Chapter 17: 17
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Hours later, he finally falls asleep nestled in her arms. She stares at the ceiling, thinking back to the evening.
“What can you tell us about the person,” Jan asks.
“Dressed in all black, wearing a hoodie, and it was covering their head. I can’t give specifics about their height, because it was so dark inside.”
“What about gender?”
She shrugs.
“Again, it was so dark, and their hood was up hiding their head, hair, and face from view.”
Jan nods.
“What about the voices,” Tom asks.
“She sounded real. But it could have definitely been a recording.”
“What makes you say that,” Tom asks.
“The timing of it all. Hearing the voice, and seeing the person run…”
They both nod.
“Have you interviewed Tartt,” she asks.
“Yes, but like you, he didn’t give us much to go on either. It was dark, and the person was running,” Jan says.
“Any footprints? Anything?”
“No. That is what we don’t understand. It’s like they’re a ghost. Except you, Ted, and Jamie saw them. If it wasn’t for the three of you, we wouldn’t have realized anyone was there,” Tom states.
“Do you recall if the person had anything on their feet? Coverings? Anything unusual,” Jan asks.
She shakes her head.
“I’m sorry.” She pauses. “This is crazy,” she exclaims.
“I know…it is,” Tom replies. “But this also feels like a slip up in some ways. I can’t explain why I feel that way, but I do.”
“The voice calling for Ted,” Jan comments. “Do you think the person knew Ted and was trying to get his attention?”
“I don’t know. It was kind of weird because the voice sounded the same the entire time. But the addition of Ted’s name triggered him. He shared that he thought the voice sounded like her.”
“Yes. He told us that too in the brief time we talked with him.”
“Do you believe it’s her,” Rebecca asks.
“We don’t know,” Tom replies.
She nods.
She thinks. Clearly, it was a trap meant to play with them, manipulate. It is obvious that they knew what happened at Ted’s home all those months ago. And why would they not know? It was on the news everywhere at the time. But it also feels like they have a personal stake in this as well. She continues to stare at the ceiling. She wills sleep to come, and she’s beyond exhausted, but she’s also wide awake. Ted moves in her arms, and she looks down at his face. His eyes are scrunched, as if tense. She holds him tighter. She’ll stay up the entire night to hold him like this, just to keep him safe.
*****
The doorbell rings.
“I’ve got it,” Henry yells out, as he plows down the stairs.
He opens the door.
“Hi,” he says, as he embraces her. She squats down to be able to catch his arms around her shoulders. “Can we watch our favorite movie,” he asks.
“Of course,” she responds.
Ted walks up to them.
“Thank you so much for being available to come over and watch him.”
“No problem,” she replies.
“Michelle got tied up at the hospital, and I start my shift soon, so…”
“Hey, no need to explain. I’m always glad to spend time with Henry.”
“I appreciate you,” Ted responds. “So there’s food in the refrigerator for you both. And of course we always have snacks.”
“Popcorn,” Henry yells out nearby.
She chuckles.
“Go,” she says to Ted. “We’ll be fine.”
Ted nods, as he picks up his bag.
“Henry, come here.”
Henry runs up to him.
“Be good, ok?”
“Always, Dad.”
Ted wraps his son up in a hug, kissing the top of his head.
“Mom will be home in a couple of hours,” he says.
“Ok. Dad. Love you.”
“Love you too, Buddy.” He pauses, then says to her, “if you need anything, let me know.”
“Of course,” she replies.
He nods, as he opens the door to leave his house.
“Ted.”
He turns back toward her.
“Have a safe shift,” she says.
He wakes in a panic, which causes Rebecca to stir.
“Love, it’s ok. I’m here,” she says, as she soothes him with her hand on his broad chest.
He opens his eyes to look at her.
“Rebecca,” he asks.
“Yes, Love. I’m here.”
Her hand rises to his face, caressing his cheek.
“You’re safe,” she says, kissing his forehead gently.
“I’m not ok,” he says.
“I know, Ted.”
“I just…”
“I know. I know exactly what you’re thinking.”
“I can’t even talk about it.”
“It’s alright. We don’t need to right now. We need to rest, as best as we can.”
He nods, as she kisses him gently, in attempt to ground him.
“I love you.”
“I love you too,” she replies.
*****
“Ted, you ok,” Tom asks.
He blinks his eyes.
“I know it sounds crazy, but it really did sound like her.”
Tom nods.
“It doesn’t sound crazy,” Jan replies.
“I just,” he trails off. “Was it her?”
“We don’t know. As of now, all of you saw a person, but we know nothing more than that. We haven’t had a chance to investigate yet. We’re still waiting on the smoldering to dissipate,” Tom says.
Ted nods.
“Rebecca reports that she thinks that the voice was recorded because of timing. Do you feel similarly,” Tom asks.
He nods.
“Ted, are you ok?”
“No,” he replies.
“We can take a break,” Tom says.
“There’s nothing more to tell,” Ted replies.
Tom nods.
“You really look like you’ve seen a ghost,” Jan remarks.
“Maybe I have,” Ted replies.
*****
He finds her in the weight room, pulling the bar and weight up from a squatting position, then placing it back on the ground. She lifts again, not knowing that he’s behind her, watching her. When she finishes the set, she drops the weights to the ground with a clang.
“As always, perfect deadlift form,” he comments.
She turns toward his voice.
“Ted, you’re done with Tom and Jan?”
He nods.
“You alright,” she asks.
He shakes his head, as she wipes her face with a towel.
“Love,” she says.
She reaches for his hand, tangling his fingers with hers, as she leads them out of the weight room. She guides them through the common areas, up the stairs, and into the room that they share. She turns back toward him, and he walks into her arms.
“I’m sorry if I smell a little bit,” she says.
“You’re perfect,” he replies.
She pushes back from him.
“So you’d say no to a quick shower together?”
He shakes his head.
“Ok,” she says. “No shower.”
“No, I’m saying yes,” he replies. “But no funny business.”
“No funny business,” she says with a chuckle. “I promise.”
She gathers her things for a shower, while he gathers his. They make their way from their room and into the shower area. They strip their clothing from their bodies, as she turns on the water. She watches as Ted tips his head back into the spray. She watches as the water runs over his strong chest muscles, down the divots of his abs to his semi-erect cock. He catches her eyes when she looks up at his face. He smiles.
“I love the way you look at me,” he says.
“How do I look at you,” she asks, as she wraps her arms around him.
“Like you love me.”
“I do love you.”
“I know. And I love you too.”
“Oh my god, are you two showering together,” Colin yells out.
“Hey, we’re saving water,” Rebecca yells back.
“We are environmentalists after all,” Ted says.
She smiles at him, hearing Colin huff, as he exits the bathroom area.
“I know you’re sad and scared right now, Love. I am too. And I promise we’re going to talk as soon as we get out. But I’m glad to see that you can still joke.”
He kisses her gently.
“No funny business,” she says, pointing at him, as he smiles at her.
“No funny business,” he replies.
After a quick shower, they make their way back to their room, putting clothes on before they settle in Ted’s bed. She rubs over his chest.
“Tell me how you feel,” she says.
“I’m so scared, so confused, and so conflicted.” He pauses. “If that’s her, and she’s alive…why is she doing this?”
“I know, Ted. But it could be some kind of weird, manipulative trap. It can’t be her. She is considered deceased.”
“I know,” he responds. “But they never found a body or DNA, which is quite uncommon in fires.”
“I’m aware,” she responds. “Because of that, do you believe it’s her?”
He nods, then shakes his head, and she lifts her hand placing it on his cheek, turning his face toward hers. He begins to cry, and she kisses his forehead.
"She was the sweetest person. I just don’t understand,” he says, between tears.
“I know. We don’t have to understand right now. It’s ok.”
He cries, as she holds him.
“I couldn’t save him,” he exclaims, as he then pushes away from her.
“Ted,” she says, knowing immediately that something is wrong.
“I couldn’t get to him. And I tried.”
“Ted,” she says, pulling him back to her, trying to ground him in the present.
“Mama, stop pulling me,” he exclaims, as he pushes away from Rebecca again.
“Ted, Love,” she says, tearfully.
“Mama, stop, pulling me away. I need to get to Daddy. He needs me.”
She’s concerned. She can’t get him out of this flashback. She lifts her leg to straddle him, and he fights her, both hands landing on her forearms.
“Ted, it’s me, Rebecca. Come back to me,” she yells out.
He continues to fight her.
“We’re here at the fire station. We’re not with your Mom or Dad. Ted?”
She begins to shake him as best as she can, trying desperately to bring him to the present. He fights her further.
“Welton,” she hears from the doorway.
Sam and Dani rush in, with Colin on their heels.
“I don’t know what’s wrong,” Rebecca exclaims.
“Come on,” Sam says to her lightly, reaching out to help her off of him.
Unfortunately, Ted has such a grip on both of her forearms that she can’t move.
“Ted,” Dani yells out, and Colin attempts to pull his hands from Rebecca’s arms.
When he gets Ted’s hands looser, Rebecca uses all her strength to free herself, as Sam helps her off of him. Ted flails on the bed before them. Tears stream down her face, as she watches him, helplessly.
“Ted,” she whispers, as Sam holds her.
Colin shakes Ted’s body.
“Ted, Ted,” he exclaims. “Get something cold. That might help.”
Dani nods, as he leaves the room, just as Isaac enters.
“What’s going on,” he asks.
“It’s Ted. We don’t know,” Colin replies, as he attempts to shake Ted again.
“He’s in a flashback,” she replies to Isaac’s question. “Love,” she whispers, as her hand drops to his cheek.
Dani runs back in with an ice pack.
“Place it on the side of his neck,” Colin says.
Dani moves between Colin, Rebecca, and Isaac and puts the ice pack on Ted’s skin. Suddenly, a deep swoosh of breath escapes, as his eyes blink open, rapidly.
“Ted,” she asks.
He breathes erratically, as his hand rises to his chest.
“Ted, we’re here. You’re safe,” Isaac says.
Sam lets go of Rebecca, as she bends down toward him, to swipe his hair from his forehead.
“Love,” she says.
She kisses his forehead, hand rising to the apple of his cheek.
“Rebecca,” he chokes out.
She nods, as she kisses his lips gently.
“You’re ok, you’re safe. I got you. I promise,” she says.
“Fuck,” he replies, tears falling from his eyes.
The guys watch as she climbs into bed to comfort him. They nod to each other, as they make their way out of the room, determined to check on them both later. Isaac looks back and watches them for a moment before he closes the door.
“Love, you had me so worried,” she says, as her fingers caress his cheek, as he wraps himself up in her.
“I’m so sorry.”
“No apologies, Ted. I’m just glad you’re back.”
She holds him as he cries. She doesn’t ask any additional questions. She just touches him gently and wipes away his tears. When he falls asleep, she holds him close. After a period of time, there’s a quiet knock on the door. It opens a moment later, and Isaac pokes his head in.
“Are you both ok,” he whispers.
She nods.
“Yesterday was a lot for both of you, but definitely for Ted. Take care of him, Rebecca. He needs you.”
She nods again.
“And I’ll take care of anything you need. I’m here for you, ok?”
She nods again, as she swipes the tendril away from Ted’s forehead.
“I care about you both. You’re both so important to all of us here. Please come to me with anything.”
“Thanks, Isaac,” she whispers.
He nods, as he exits. She continues to hold him, as a gentle smile forms over her lips. She’s supported, and they’re supported. And that feels good.”
*****
“Rebecca,” he whispers, as he stirs, feeling her lips on his skin.
“Morning, Love. How do you feel?”
“Tired,” he says, as he opens his eyes, finding her green ones piercing his.
“I can imagine you are,” she replies.
She kisses his lips, softly, feeling them between her own. She pulls back, dropping her forehead to his.
"Stay here. I’m going to get some coffee for you.”
He nods.
“And tea for yourself,” he questions.
She gets out of bed, turning back to him, dropping a kiss to his forehead, nodding.
“I’ll be right back.”
She opens the door, leaving their room. She makes her way downstairs, finding everyone in the kitchen.
“Morning,” she says to them.
“Are you ok?”
“How’s Ted?”
"Did you sleep? You look like shit.”
“Wow, ok. Yes, I’m ok. Ted seems alright. He just woke up. Yes, I slept. And thanks for telling me I look like shit.”
“You’re welcome,” Colin replies.
“Coffee,” Isaac asks.
“Please. One for Ted. I’m hoping he’ll talk to me this morning.”
“Hopefully, there will be no calls, so you can talk uninterrupted,” Isaac replies, as he pours hot water from their kettle.
“I hope so too,” she says.
She watches as Isaac pours coffee into a cup, as he pushes it over to her. She adds the correct milk and sugar to Ted’s coffee. Isaac adds a tea bag to her cup. She thanks him, as she lifts them both, carrying them out of the kitchen.
When she walks back into their room, he’s sitting up against the headboard.
“Thanks,” he says, as he reaches for the cup that she extends toward him.
“Of course,” she says.
She places her tea down on the bedside table, sitting down next to him. Her arm swings around his shoulder, as they sit hip to hip.
“I was so scared, Ted,” she says.
He sips at the coffee she made him.
“I was too. I’m sorry that I scared you. I didn’t hurt you, did I?”
“No. But the guys did have to pull me off of you because of your grip on my arms…”
“Shit,” he says, hand rising to her forearm to inspect. “I’m so sorry.”
“It’s alright, Ted. I know you weren’t yourself.”
He sighs. He leans over her, sitting his cup of coffee on the table next to her tea.
“You’re right. I wasn’t myself.”
“What happened? I know it was scary. I could see it in your whole body. If you’re not ready, that’s ok, I promise. But I want to know so I can support you. I love you,” she says.
“I love you too. So much. I never meant to hurt you. That’s how I know I was absolutely not myself.”
“I know, Ted. I trust you.”
He nods. He’s honored to have her trust.
“When I was Henry’s age, I lost my father.”
She moves to straddle his thighs. It’s nothing remotely sexual. She just wants to be close to him as he tells her this thing that is clearly painful. Her hand rises to his face, caressing his jaw.
“I’m so sorry, Ted.”
“He was a good man, Rebecca. A really good man. He was my hero. I always wanted to be just like him when I grew up. And in a lot of ways I am.”
She smiles. She can see how much he loves his father.
“He was a firefighter.”
She remembers hearing this from Dottie. And it surprises her all over again.
“He worked at this station,” he adds.
“Wow,” she replies.
“Yeah.”
“What happened, Ted?”
“One night, Dad was at the station, and Mama and I were at home. She was making dinner, and I was playing with my toys at the kitchen table. I’m not sure how it happened, like it all happened so quickly…a fire broke out, and it spread rapidly.”
She caresses his face, giving him a kiss on his forehead.
“Mama and I were stuck in the kitchen, and there was no way out for either of us. We were surrounded by fire on all sides. My Dad and other firefighters arrived. He and his partner were able to create an opening in the wall big enough to climb through. My Dad climbed through it, and he covered my mama and I with a fireproof blanket. He put his arm around me and walked us through the opening. Debris fell, knocking him down, as he pushed me back into the kitchen with my mama. Debris blocked the opening, except there was a small area where I could see my Dad and his partner. He was able to climb out from the debris, and he was trying to swing into it to create another opening. The ceiling collapsed on them both. Again, I could see them through the small opening. I yelled out for him. Like I remember yelling, “Daddy, I’m coming.” I was trying, willing myself to save him. My Mama pulled me back. We then heard an ax against the opposite wall. We were rescued immediately, but my Dad and his partner weren’t. I lost my father that night. And I vowed to take his place in the world…be the hero that he always was to me, even if he couldn’t save me that night.”
“Love,” she says, in a soothing tone.
“I miss him so much. He was my everything, Rebecca.”
He begins to cry.
“I know you miss him, Ted. I see how much you love him.”
“And when the fire broke out at my house…I just,” he trails off. “I had no business going inside. None. I was so triggered, and when that debris fell in front of Henry’s door, I panicked, as if I was reliving my previous trauma…as if I couldn’t save my dad again.”
She wraps her arms around him, letting him cry. It all makes so much sense to her. She realizes that it’s also the reason that he’s froze in previous situations with her. Any time debris falls and traps someone, it triggers Ted. What a terrible situation.
“You’re probably wondering why I’m working as a firefighter if this triggers me every time. But Rebecca, I would never put anyone in harm’s way. This was never an issue for me until,” he trails off.
“Henry,” she answers for him.
He nods, as tears continue to fall.
“I understand why you do this work, Ted. I do. We utilize our trauma to do good in the world. We both do. You got triggered, Love.”
“But I got both you and Henry hurt. Two people that I love dearly.”
“And who you both rescued.”
“But she…I didn’t,” he trails off. “But she might be alive…trying to hurt us.”
He sighs, as she kisses his forehead.
“I know.” She pauses. “This is a lot.”
There’s a long pause between them, and she wipes away his tears.
“You went through a terrible trauma as a child, and look at what you’re doing with it. You are helping people. Yes, it’s hard, and yes, people still get hurt. You’re human. I’m human. But it’s ok, Ted.”
He nods.
“I miss him.”
“I imagine you do.” She pauses. “When we’re off shift, will you show me some photos of him?”
He smiles through his tears.
“I’d love nothing more, Rebecca. Truly.”
“I’m so glad you told me, Ted. It’s so helpful for me to know as we work together. Beard knows, doesn’t he,” she asks.
“Of course. He keeps me grounded as my partner.”
She smiles.
“I love that he does that for you.”
“You do that for me too.”
She smiles again.
“I’m glad. And you’re my person.”
She kisses his lips gently, fingertips wiping his tears from his eyes.
*****
“Fuck off,” Roy snarls.
Rebecca laughs, as she takes a sip of her gin and tonic.
“I will not fuck off,” she replies. “You know I’m right.”
He rolls his eyes, as Keeley and Ted sit down with new drinks for the table. The rest of their teams are nearby conversing with Nate. Police and emergency personnel sit together chatting and drinking. Behind the bar, Mae cleans a glass, as she looks over to where Liam usually sits, but finds no one there.
“No Beard tonight,” Roy asks Ted.
“Not tonight. He said he wasn’t feeling too well in the noggin’.”
“That’s too bad,” Keeley replies.
Nearby, Rebecca overhears, “No Tartt?”
“No, he went home. Said he was tired,” Zoreaux replies.
“So, I got the all-clear to come back to work,” Roy says.
Rebecca feels immediately sad, and Ted places his hand on her thigh.
“That’s great,” Ted says. “I know all of 76 will be happy you’re back.”
Roy growls in response.
“I know you’ll miss her,” Roy says, pointing at Rebecca. “But I swear to fucking god, if I see one dick pic, I’m choking you both out.”
Ted chokes on the beer that he’s drinking.
“Noted,” he says.
“Don’t listen to him, Love. He’s a big, scary, threatening softie.”
She pinches Roy’s cheek.
“Fuck off.”
Keeley watches the exchange, seeing the sadness on Rebecca’s and Ted’s faces.
“I know it’ll be fine when you both go back to your stations.”
“It will be,” Ted replies. “We’ve already talked about it, and we’ll continue to do so.”
“I take it you did your job,” Keeley asks Rebecca.
“Yes, I told him that I love him,” she answers.
“That’s my girl,” Keeley replies.
Ted kisses Rebecca’s temple.
“I love you too,” he whispers in her ear.
There’s a pause, as they all drink from their respective beverages.
“So, it sounds like it was a rough shift,” Roy says.
Rebecca nods, as Ted sighs.
“We’ll be at full strength soon,” Roy replies. “We’ll get these fuckers somehow.”
“That’s the spirit, Babe,” Keeley yells.
*****
Another drink later, and Rebecca finds herself pushed up against the bathroom stall door, as Ted’s lips explore the skin of her neck.
“Ted,” she says, giggling. “Let’s go home.”
“Yes, Ma’am,” he replies, between kisses.
Except that he doesn’t move. He keeps kissing her skin, teeth scraping over her collarbone, as her hands tug his hair. She laughs lightly, a flutter of sound, when his mustache tickles her skin.
“Ted.”
“I’m busy,” he says, in between kisses.
“I feel that. But come on, Love, let’s go home and have sex.”
“We can have sex right here,” he says.
“I wouldn’t say no to an orgasm.”
He makes his way lower, kissing into her cleavage.
“I’ll be quick. I wanna get you home and outta your clothes.”
She laughs, as he lowers to the ground before her, making sure not to hit the toilet behind him. He unbuttons her jeans, lowering them over her hips, taking her panties with them. He kisses her inner thigh and then the other. He looks up at her with a grin on his face. He then lowers his face between her thighs, tongue poking out, lying flat over her clit. Her fingers wrap into his hair, as she feels him kiss it. He lies his tongue flat once again, then begins to move her nub around. It feels amazing, like it always does, and she sighs, as she watches his head between her thighs. He looks up at her, as he bites her clit, licking over it to soothe. His tongue flutters over it, and she mewls, beginning to move her hips against his face. With her fingers in his hair, she pulls him closer, as he bites her clit again, which causes her to gasp, concealing the sound of the door opening.
“Lasso, Welton! There’s a bomb!”
Notes:
Come yell at me in my comments 🤣
Chapter 18: 18
Chapter Text
Ted hears the words, “Lasso, Welton! There’s a bomb,” with his mouth wrapped around her clit, and he backs away immediately.
“Fuck,” Rebecca cries out, both in fear and anger of the immediate lack of pleasure she experiences.
“Rebecca,” Ted says, frightened. “That sounded like her…the voice she used when playing with Henry.” He pauses, attempting to ground himself. “No, it can’t be. She’s gone.”
He wipes at his mouth, pushing up from the floor, knees aching, fear and confusion written all over his face.
“What,” she asks in a totally horny haze.
She’s struggling to understand anything he’s saying.
“Rebecca, we have to go,” he says, pulling her clothes back up, ensuring she looks presentable.
He feels the anxiety build, palpable, then places a hand on his chest in attempt to ground himself.
“There’s a bomb? And you think she’s here,” Rebecca asks, finally making connections.
“Rebecca, focus,” he says, helping her, as he flings open the stall door, with an arm wrapped around her waist so that she doesn’t fall.
She turns away from him, beginning to run, and he follows her, as she hurls open the door. It’s chaos. Yelling and screams.
“Lasso, Welton, there you are,” Sam yells.
“We heard there’s a bomb,” Ted says.
“Yes, Nate discovered it. He heard ticking. He thinks he can disarm it. We’re trying to evacuate, but everyone is in a panic.”
“Fuck,” Rebecca says, finally cognizant of what’s happening. “Where is Nate?”
“He’s over by the bar,” Sam replies.
“What can I do,” Ted asks.
“Come with me,” Sam requests.
“Rebecca, be safe. I love you,” Ted says.
“I love you too, Ted. So much. Watch your back,” she replies.
She runs over to where Nate is, as Ted follows Sam.
“Rebecca,” Keeley calls out.
She stops, looking around for her. She finds her immediately.
“Keeley, go. Where’s Roy?”
“He went searching for you.”
“Fuck,” she says. “Go, Keeley.”
Keeley grabs her to hug her, but she does it so quickly, Rebecca nearly doesn’t register it.
“Be safe,” she says.
Rebecca nods, as she looks around for Roy.
“Welton,” she hears.
“Isaac.”
“Nate says he can disarm the bomb.”
“I know. I heard.”
“Go and help him. The rest of us have evacuation covered.”
“Where’s Roy,” she asks.
“I’m not sure,” Isaac replies.
“I need to find him,” she says.
“No. We’ll find him and get him evacuated. We got this.”
She nods, running over to where she knows the bomb, and subsequently Nate is, fear permeating her.
“Welton,” Nate calls out.
“Nate, you ok,” she asks.
He nods.
“Look at this,” he requests.
She looks down at the device. It has a timer, counting down. The way it looks reminds her of the bomb at the school. But it also looks different. She hasn’t seen this type of version from the arsonist. It seems out of character.
“You think you can disarm this,” she asks.
“Yes,” he responds.
“I’ve never seen anything like this,” she comments.
“Really,” Nate questions.
“Really. How do you plan on disarming it?”
“Well, you see the fertilizer, capsule, and the wires…”
“Yes,” she replies.
“If I’m able to determine which wire is the trigger for the capsule and fertilizer, then I’ll cut it.”
She watches as the clock attached continues to count down.
“Which one is the trigger wire,” she asks.
“I believe it’s the yellow one.”
“You believe,” she asks incredulously. “This can’t be a guess. You have to be sure.”
“I know that, Welton,” Nate says, a warning.
“Fine. Why do you believe it’s the yellow wire?”
“Because it’s the only one that looks to have some fertilizer debris on the bottom part of the wire,” he says, as he points.
“Huh,” she replies. “That seems sloppy. Too sloppy for the arsonist.”
“I don’t think it’s sloppy,” Nate says, and Rebecca gets a weird sensation that flows through her. “I think they wanted us to find it and disarm it.”
“That’s bizarre. Why? This makes no sense,” Rebecca says, as she watches Nate move the wires around with a pointer device.
“Perhaps to build fear,” Nate responds.
“Well, they’re successful with that,” Rebecca comments. “Ok, if you’re so sure it’s the yellow wire, let’s get it cut.”
“I can do it. I don’t think you should stay, just in case I’m wrong.”
“Nate, then don’t cut it. Let’s get out of here and deal with the aftermath later,” she replies.
“No, I can disarm it,” he says.
“I’m not leaving you alone with it.”
“Yes, you are. I’ve got it. I was the unofficial fire inspector before you came along.”
“I’m aware, but don’t be a hero. Come on,” she says.
“No, I can disarm it.”
“Then I’m staying with you.”
“No,” Nate replies.
“Why do you want me to leave so badly,” she asks, feeling a sense of suspicion rise in her.
“Because I can do this, but on the off chance I can’t, I don’t want you hurt. This town needs you.”
“And we need you too. What are you doing, Nate? Why are you doing this?”
“Rebecca, go.”
*****
“Is that everybody,” Ted asks.
“Yeah,” Zoreaux replies.
“And we’ve checked everywhere,” Sam asks.
“Yes,” Isaac replies.
“I haven’t seen Roy,” Bumbercatch notes.
“Come to think of it, I haven’t either,” Ted shares. “Let’s go,” he gestures to Sam.
Ted and Sam make their way down the hallway where the bathrooms are located. They search each one. No one. They move further down searching any place where he could be located. They come to a small door. It’s locked. And they hear him immediately.
“Kent, we hear you. We’re coming,” Sam yells.
Ted finds a tool sitting on a box across from the door.
“What the hell is a pipe wrench doing here,” Ted asks.
Sam shakes his head.
“Wait, there’s got to be some kind of latex gloves in the kitchen just in case there are fingerprints on it.”
“Good thinking,” Ted replies.
Sam runs off.
“We’re coming, Roy. Just hold on.”
Moments later, Ted sees Sam waving gloves in the air, as he runs back toward him. Ted takes them, immediately putting them on his hands. He lifts the pipe wrench, swinging against the door knob. He swings a couple of times until it gives, and they open the door. Roy is huddled against the wall next to it, holding his head with his hand, covered with blood.
“You alright,” Ted asks.
“I’m fucking bleeding, and I got a fucking headache, but otherwise, I’m fucking ok.”
“Come on,” Sam says, as he places his arm around Roy.
Ted wraps his arm around the other side of him, pipe wrench in his other hand. They walk him out of the closet and back down the hallway. As soon as they’re in the main area of the bar, they hear Rebecca and Nate in a heated discussion. Nate eyes the countdown, thirty seconds left.
“Rebecca, go. Now,” Nate tells her, full of frustration.
“Rebecca,” Ted yells. “Come on.”
She doesn’t even bother anymore with Nate, and she runs toward the man she loves.
*****
“Back up, back up,” she hears, as they run out of the Crown and Anchor. She’s been mentally counting down from thirty since the moment she saw the three and the zero. Fourteen, thirteen, twelve. They continue to run. She’s aware that Roy is hurt. Nine, eight, seven. Her lungs burn. Three, two, one. She closes her eyes.
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