Yeah, so . . . y'all might need tissues. And dentist bills. I get the feeling I'll be paying a lot of them after this chapter. Not for the reasons most of you are likely thinking. Let's just say . . . I'm kind of cruel to our favorite girl.

A lot happens this time, folks. Sylvie has some explaining to do to Joe, Buck and Maddie have a third wheel on their coffee run (or Buck's the third wheel, he's not entirely sure), Matt and Kelly get suspicious, Owen gets involved in fire department gossip (there's a shocker), Sylvie gets unexpected help, Joe has had enough, and Sylvie reaches a breaking point. Have a George Winston take on "The Dance" as well - it's what I was listening to as I wrote the end.

Also, disclaimer: I'm not a firefighter, so the descriptions of what Owen discusses with Judd and Michelle are more than likely very far from accurate.

Enjoy if you can!

***

Sylvie prided herself on her emotions. She prided herself on her empathy. Combined, they were her greatest tools as a paramedic. That didn't always mean she was on point with them when she hit her burnout point.

And good Lord, did she hit her burnout point when she finished spilling her polyamorous guts to the Halsteads the previous few nights.

"Thank you for this," Sylvie told Jay in relief as he pulled up to 51, the paramedic finishing guzzling down a fruit punch Gatorade. "I can't believe I drank as much as I did."

"Hey, better you do that with us than at a bar where you could get the wrong people's attention," Jay chuckled, reaching behind her seat to grab a smaller Gatorade bottle and hand it to her. "And I learned a few new things about my brother, too, so I guess I should be thanking you for personal blackmail."

Sylvie snorted. "If Will wasn't at Molly's with Natalie, he was at Molly's with Connor. I was not surprised."

"Oh, I know," Jay grinned. "You didn't get his elated call when Goodwin announced to the ED that she had offered him the role of Chief of the Emergency Department, and he accepted."

"Well, that was where he was originally placed," Sylvie shrugged. "He likely has better memories from the ED than the OR."

Jay sighed. "I know there's the saying 'don't speak ill of the dead' . . . but I'm glad Bekker isn't there now."

"Same," Sylvie nodded. "Though I'd love to see Rhodes and Marcel go head-to-head."

Jay snickered. "Who would take care of the resulting surgeries having to take place?"

Sylvie pouted. "Ruin my fun, why don't you?"

Jay laughed. "Get out of here, Brett. Just call me or Will if you need us for a ride to your place . . . or if you want us to pick you up somewhere else. I think Casey or Severide might murder us if we picked you up here."

Sylvie huffed, grabbing her duffel and stepping out of the car. "They would not."

"Oh," Jay gave her a sly look. "They would."

Sylvie shut the door intentionally. "Get out of here and save the city, Halstead."

"Yes, ma'am," he said in a sing-song voice, giving a two-finger salute and pulling back onto the street.

Sylvie watched him go with a fond look, then headed up to the firehouse, pulling out her phone to check her messages. She hadn't seen anyone when they pulled up, so that meant she was in the clear, especially from Matt and Kelly.

"Well, hello there."

"Shit," she clapped a hand over her heart, shutting her eyes and trying to get it to beat normally again. "Joe!"

"Oh, I'm sorry," Joe sauntered up to walk alongside her. "Did I surprise you just as much as you just surprised me?"

"You are sworn to secrecy," Sylvie pointed at him, cheeks slightly red. "Because that was not what you think it was."

"Really?" Joe raised an eyebrow. "Because I think I just saw Jay Halstead dropping you off at work . . . after none of us heard from you yesterday."

Sylvie hesitated. "OK, that's exactly what you think it was." Joe snickered, and she smacked him on the shoulder. "But it was not where your mind just went!"

"Really?" Joe raised an eyebrow.

Sylvie sighed. "Let's just say I needed an outlet on someone who wasn't in the firehouse."

Joe's eyes lit up in realization. "You finally told someone else?"

"Jay found out after Molly's the other night," Sylvie nodded. "Will found out when I moved into my new apartment."

Joe nodded. "And dare I ask what the subject was?"

Sylvie sighed. "I'm still trying to settle down, so maybe ask me in a few days? At least when I have a clearer answer?"

"Of course," Joe nodded, patting her shoulder. "For the record . . . I'm sorry about the teasing. I know how seriously you take your relationships."

"Thank you," Sylvie smiled.

"You're welcome, Roomdog," Joe gave her a side hug.

Sylvie leaned into him, then brightened when she saw Gianna walk down the side of their new ambulance, fully dressed in her uniform. "You're here!" she cheered.

"100%," Gianna promised, smiling at her.

"I'm really glad to hear it," Sylvie smiled at her.

Gianna grinned, giving Joe a hug as well, then Sylvie saw Matt walk out of the common room towards the driveway, checking his phone. She quietly slipped away, beelining for the side door. Joe frowned in confusion, watching her go, and Gianna looked at him. "Something wrong?"

"Uh," Joe watched Matt come out. "I'll get back to you on that."

"Hey," Matt nodded. "Did Brett come in yet?"

"Yeah, you just missed her," Gianna nodded.

"Huh," Matt frowned. "I'll catch her later."

Joe nodded, quickly leading Gianna back into the firehouse, giving a quick wave to Kelly as he pulled into a parking spot. "OK," Gianna looked up at Joe. "I have to ask. I have never seen anyone in a firehouse as close as Brett, Casey, and Severide. Is that normal?"

"Around here, it is," Joe nodded. "It's considered weird if one of those three isn't attached to the others." He gestured to Matt, who was beelining to Kelly. "See? Attached."

Gianna snickered. "That's adorable."

Joe smiled softly. "It's a little more serious than that, Mackey. For a reason I can't say."

Gianna frowned in consideration, but at Joe's headshake, she let it go. Matt watched them walk into the firehouse, then blinked when he heard the rattle of wheels on pavement. He turned to see Kelly wheel an item on a dolly, and he blinked in surprise. "Wow!" he walked over, grinning widely. "Is that what I think it is?"

Kelly nodded in confirmation. "You got a few minutes?"

Matt snorted. "You bet!"

***

Maddie almost dropped her coffee when Buck's latest words registered. "Crashed the ambulance?!"

"Yeah," Buck scowled, folding his arms and waiting for his name to be called. "Bastard drove into the side of the ambulance and sent them over the bridge into the ditch."

"Oh, my God," Maddie covered her mouth with her hand. "Are they OK?"

"Based on what I heard, they're physically fine," Buck nodded. "But Sylvie's been pretty quiet the past day or so. She said she was meeting the firehouse at their local bar, but I haven't heard anything since then."

"Wow," Maddie sighed. "I hope she's OK."

"Yeah, me, too," Buck nodded. "I'm really tempted to ask TK if he can get his dad to contact her battalion chief and ask how she is. Or see if I could figure out how to get the numbers of some of the rescue squad firefighters."

"Rescue squad?" Maddie frowned, tilting her head. "Does Los Angeles have many of those?"

"Not many," Buck shook his head. "They're the ones you would typically find doing the heavy rescues, like water rescues or wilderness rescues. That was the crew that came with Sylvie's ambulance. They were at the train derailment."

"I remember that now," Maddie nodded, taking a sip of her coffee. "They're close?"

"Oh, yeah," Buck snorted. "Severide closer than the others, but from what I've heard, the others see Sylvie as their baby sister. She's basically got three older brothers right there in the house." He checked his watch to see what time it was, then frowned when he saw Maddie's face twist with an emotion he wasn't sure he could name. "Mads?" he asked in concern. "Everything OK?"

"Um," Maddie took a deep breath. "I'm – ?"

"Buck?"

Buck almost tripped over a nearby chair as he spun around. Maddie laughed loudly at his clumsiness, but Buck stared at the grinning redhead. "Taylor?"

"I know Maddie likes this coffee shop," Taylor walked over, her heels clicking on the floor. "I guess it makes sense you like it, too."

"W – wait," Buck looked between Maddie and Taylor wildly. "You two have met?"

"Oh, yeah," Maddie nodded. "Sometimes when neither of us immediately have somewhere to be, we just stick around."

"Most of the only rescues I've seen were with the 118, and one of those was because you saved my ass," Taylor explained. "Maddie has had some stories to tell. She tells them really well, too."

Maddie preened, and Buck smiled. He and Maddie had bonded when he discovered he was bisexual, when she could join him in gossiping about girls and he could join her in gossiping about boys . . . until Doug, of course. Since she had moved to L.A., he hadn't seen or heard her be interested in another woman again. Maybe that's just Taylor's blunt charisma, Buck thought. "Yeah, Maddie's an awesome dispatcher," Buck wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "I'm lucky she decided to stay in the city."

"Several people she helped save are lucky, too," Taylor gave Maddie a genuine smile.

Maddie blushed, and Buck bit his lip to avoid grinning. "I agree."

Maddie cleared her throat. "Do you have time today, Taylor?"

"As a matter of fact," Taylor smiled flirtatiously. "I have about two hours until I need to get back to the studio. I would love to stay and chat."

Buck concealed a snicker at the way Maddie's eyes lit up. "118 stories, or something else?" he asked.

Maddie abruptly smirked mischievously. "Or you could tell Taylor about your new best friends who are just as troublesome as you."

Buck gawked. "Maddie!"

Taylor's eyes widened. "Can you?" she asked with a grin.

He huffed. "I met two other first responders at that train derailment because there was a conference going on in Santa Monica. We're . . . a little chaotic."

Maddie snorted loudly. "A little?"

Taylor grinned. "Oh, please, tell me more."

Buck sighed, turning to the counter when his name was called. "We're gonna need coffee refills before I'm done telling you all the crazy stories."

***

Kelly shut the door to the ambulance experimentally, then nodded, pleased with their work. "OK, we're good."

"Perfect fit," Matt smiled proudly.

"Leslie Shay," Gianna read the name emblazoned on the door, Gallo watching Kelly wipe it down with a cloth. "I like the name. did she ride on 61?"

Kelly smiled fondly, nodding and not looking away from the name. "Yeah, Shay rode on 61. She was part of the DNA of this firehouse. She was our friend." He took a step back, pocketing the cloth and smiling sadly. "So much new blood at 51 these days . . . pretty soon the people who never knew Shay are gonna outnumber those of us who did." A supportive hand landed on his shoulder, and Kelly gave a small nod to acknowledge Sylvie's presence; she squeezed lightly in response. "And they should know whose shadow they're walking in."

Gianna smiled, admiring the name one more time. She nodded respectfully, then turned on her heel and joined Gallo in walking back to the apparatus floor. Kelly ran a thumb over the gold lettering, then felt the grip on his shoulder release. He missed it immediately, and he turned to see Sylvie smile at them before heading back into the firehouse. She bypassed the Squad table, giving Tony and Capp a small nod as she did. The two watched her leave in bewilderment that Kelly mirrored; he knew Matt did, too. "Hey," he said absently. "Thanks for the help."

"You kidding?" Matt responded, stopping next to him and watching Sylvie disappear.

Kelly pointed after her, looking at Matt. "Has she been like that the entire day?"

"At least since she got here," Matt nodded with a frown. "Didn't even stop to say hi. She went through the side door, not the common room."

Kelly frowned. "Is she avoiding us?"

Matt gestured helplessly. "I don't know. I just know she didn't drive herself here."

"She didn't?" Kelly whipped around, turning to scan the street for Sylvie's silver car.

He didn't find it. "No, she didn't," Matt shook his head. "I don't know who she rode with."

Kelly frowned uneasily. "Think something's wrong?"

"Maybe," Matt shrugged. "Not sure we'd get close enough to ask if she is avoiding us."

Kelly sighed. He and Matt had been a unit for so long, but Sylvie had integrated herself with them so effortlessly. They had their own individual units as well, but he knew they were their bests when they were together. 51 recognized that, too; Capp and Tony's reactions proved that. "Do we need an intervention?" he asked.

Matt snorted. "Should we see how the rest of shift goes first?"

Kelly smirked. "This is why you're the brains of the two of us."

Matt playfully punched Kelly in the shoulder, making the lieutenant laugh. "You have your moments, too, Arsonist Mind Reader."

"Is that me?" he asked mockingly.

Matt rolled his eyes. "Be serious, Sev. Something really might be wrong."

Kelly nodded in agreement. "I've got cigars for tonight, but if this gets worse . . . "

"We check on Sylvie," Matt nodded. "Deal."

***

"You know the entire time he's been here in New York, nothing has made Peter even consider returning to Chicago?"

Owen snorted as he walked across the apparatus floor with a clipboard in hand, his cell phone tucked against his ear. "Let me guess, something resolved with Brett?"

"Oh, it resolved itself, alright. After the bastard crashed the ambulance and sent them all over a bridge and into a ditch."

Owen halted in his tracks, eyes wide. "Excuse me?"

"Oh," Olivia sounded apologetic. "Did TK not update you on that?"

"He told me it got settled!" Owen turned to glare at his son, who was atop the ladder rig and working on the ladder. TK wilted at his look. "He didn't tell me how."

"Yeah, that's how it happened," Olivia sighed. "Rollins is still in contact with a few of the Intelligence officers. She – and Stone – heard what happened from the 2IC."

Owen sighed, tucking the clipboard under his arm and heading back to the staircase. "Are the paramedics OK?"

"It sounds like they are. The new paramedic was a little shaken, but no injuries."

Owen relaxed, relieved to hear it. "Never mind the officers. Brett is going to start giving Wallace heart attacks."

Olivia laughed. "Like you haven't been given heart attacks, either, Owen."

He grinned sheepishly. "I have my son on my crew, Liv. That should tell you all you need to know."

Olivia snickered. "It tells me more than enough. Remind me to work on convincing Noah not to join the police force."

"Or at least not join your precinct," Owen corrected cheekily.

"Fair enough," she huffed. "How did that work when TK graduated the academy?"

Owen paused. "You play dirty, Benson."

"I play however I need to play, Strand."

Owen shook his head, then saw Michelle and Judd walk over, the two senior members of the 126 with interesting looks on their faces. "Thanks for updating me, Liv."

"No problem, Owen. Talk to you soon."

"Yeah, you, too." He hung up the phone, then raised an eyebrow. "What do I need to know?"

"Nothing bad," Judd shook his head. "Just rumors going around the department, that's all."

"OK," Owen frowned, leaning against the railing. "Does it affect us?"

"Potentially," Judd admitted. "Not sure, though."

Owen folded his arms, giving them his full attention. "All right. What're we looking at?"

"It's coming from headquarters," Michelle said. "A few of the paramedics I know in the AFD are talking about it, too. It's coming straight from Deputy Chief Radford."

Owen straightened, now very interested. The Deputy Chief was the one who had brought him to Austin; if this was coming straight from him, it could very well be something involving the 126 in the future. "What's happening?"

"There's talk about increasing the amount of Rescue Squads in the AFD," Judd answered. "Not just that, but customized crews, too."

"How customized are we talking?" Owen frowned.

"They're interesting configurations," Michelle answered. "The reason I heard about it is there's talk about, because of how chaotic and dangerous and risky some rescues are, there would be a riding paramedic for the crew."

Owen nodded slowly. "We had some of those crews in New York," he said. "Not many, but we had them. Sometimes there was a specific ambulance crew for Squad, but there were also paramedics riding the actual rig. It was usually a paramedic of rank."

"That's what I've heard," Michelle nodded.

"Radford's gonna be scouting the firehouses to determine where they would be most useful," Judd said.

Owen frowned. "Other than paramedics, is there anything specific he'll be looking at for configurations?"

"Rescue specialists," Judd answered immediately. "I know there are different classes in the academy that get offered, but not many stand out in the rescue category. I think Marjan is the best heavy rescue firefighter we have."

Owen smirked. "You forget how many several story buildings TK and I tackled in New York." He nodded to TK, who jumped from the top of the ladder with ease, not even bothering with climbing down. "TK was the top of his class at the NYFD academy, not just because he's dual-certified. He's the second highest-scoring heavy rescue graduate."

"Really?" Judd asked, looking impressed at the young man.

"Who's the record holder?" Michelle asked curiously.

Owen full out grinned. "You're looking at him." Michelle's eyes widened, and Judd's head whipped from looking at TK so quickly, Owen almost heard his neck crack. "The 252 had a Rescue Squad going into 9/11, but the crew was wiped out. That was the rig I was serving as lieutenant on. After 9/11, I was promoted to captain of the entire firehouse, and I had to switch to being captain of the ladder. I don't regret it, but I definitely miss the heavy rescues. Before we came to Austin, TK and I were actually discussing proposing getting another Squad for the house." He snorted. "Funny thing is, that crew would have also included a ranking paramedic, if I had my way."

Michelle whistled, impressed. "I can see exactly why Deputy Chief Radford hired you."

"Other than the fact I've rebuilt a firehouse from scratch before?" Owen raised an eyebrow. "Thanks, Michelle. That's encouraging."

"Do you know that what means, though?" Judd asked. "Cap, if this is true, he's gonna be scoping this house."

Owen nodded, unable to keep a smile off his face. "Is it bad I hope he does?"

Judd chuckled. "Adrenaline junkie."

"Oh, trust me," Owen looked over his shoulder at TK, watching his son jog around the rig to check his handiwork. "If you think that's me . . . you haven't seen TK in action."

***

Grumpy Cat: My dad is starting to scare me.

Golden Retriever: Is that good or bad?

Grumpy Cat: When it comes to my dad?

Grumpy Cat: I have no idea.

Sylvie frowned, glad for the reprieve where she was hiding in the locker room. She stood from leaning against her locker and sat on the bench, opening the chat.

Cocker Spaniel: What's he being scary about?

Grumpy Cat: That's the thing.

Grumpy Cat: He's not telling me.

Golden Retriever: And how is he being scary?

Grumpy Cat: He's in a much peppier mood than he was this morning.

Grumpy Cat: Which is pretty impressive.

Grumpy Cat: He's the perkiest in the very early morning when bells go off.

Golden Retriever: Ugh.

Grumpy Cat: That's typically my very eloquent response when the bells ring.

Grumpy Cat: But I digress.

Grumpy Cat: He's being more chirpy than normal.

Cocker Spaniel: Any clue why?

Grumpy Cat: I saw Judd and Michelle talking to him when I was cleaning the rig.

Grumpy Cat: That probably has to do with it.

Golden Retriever: Hopefully if he's excited about something, it's a good thing.

Grumpy Cat: Fingers crossed.

Grumpy Cat: By the way, how soon can I visit Chicago?

Cocker Spaniel: What for?

Grumpy Cat: . . .

Grumpy Cat: Buck, I can't tell if she's joking.

Golden Retriever: Could you buy a ticket for me, too?

Grumpy Cat: Buy your own.

Grumpy Cat: Or let me have time with our favorite cocker spaniel alone.

Cocker Spaniel: How many times do I have to say "I'm fine" for you to believe me?

Grumpy Cat: Until you stop feeding us bullshit.

Golden Retriever: TK!

Sylvie snorted loudly, dropping her face into her hand to try and conceal her grin. "Dumbasses," she mumbled fondly.

"You look like hell."

Sylvie almost jumped off the bench, her phone falling on the wood. She took a few deep breaths, feeling her heart race faster, and she slowly turned around. "Thanks, Kidd. You really know how to make a girl feel good."

"You just had an ambulance crash," Stella reminded her, folding her arms. "I can't worry?"

"You're worrying?" Sylvie couldn't help but retort.

Stella's eyes narrowed to slits. "Watch it."

Sylvie sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "I'm trying to have some time to myself, Kidd."

"You'd probably have more luck in the bathrooms."

Sylvie tried counting backwards from twenty. "What do you want, Kidd?" she asked tiredly.

"I'm just checking in, girl," Stella gave her a saccharine smile. "I mean, if something goes wrong with you, the entire house knows it. After all, you don't have your usual guard dogs barking at your heels."

"My guard dogs?" Sylvie glared up at her.

"Oh," Stella blinked innocently. "Is that not what they are?"

"Insult them like that again," Sylvie began, rising to her feet, eyes narrowed.

"Oh, it wasn't an insult," Stella held up her hands. "They're very protective when they want to be. Kelly in particular." She smirked. "I remember that very well."

"Yeah, I remember, too," Sylvie smirked back. "I had that when he and Matt got me back from Kyle. You sure didn't seem to appreciate the protectiveness two years ago, though."

Stella's smirk was wiped from her face. "Look, Brett, I'll say this once – "

"Hey, Kidd!" Gallo suddenly bounded around the corner, a concerned look on his face. "Did you change where the jump bag is located on the rig? I'm doing inventory, and I can't find it."

Stella turned to him, frowning. "Nothing's changed, Gallo."

"Really?" Gallo looked like a confused puppy. "I swear, I can't find it, and Mouch is talking Molly's business with Herrmann, and Casey's in a meeting with the Chief – "

Stella sighed, turning to look at Sylvie. "We'll talk later."

"Sure," Sylvie nodded.

Stella turned on her heel and strode past the lockers. "Come on, Gallo," she ordered.

Gallo nodded quickly, giving Sylvie a concerned look before following her. Sylvie exhaled heavily and dropped onto the bench, burying her face in her hands. She itched to find Matt and Kelly, she ached for their familiar presences and touches, but after those nuclear bombs they, Gallo, and Squad dropped on her at Molly's . . .

She heard the rustle of a CFD sweater next to her, then a soft voice spoke. "You OK, Brett?"

Sylvie peered out of her fingers to see Ritter sitting a few inches away, looking at her with so much kindness it almost made her cry. "I'll get there, Ritter," she smiled weakly. "Just . . . processing."

"The ambulance crash?" he guessed.

Sylvie laughed. "Oh, I processed that on the ride back to the house. No, I . . . " She hesitated, trying to figure out what to say. "I learned some stuff at Molly's the other night," she finally said. "And it scares me a little."

Ritter nodded in understanding. "Gallo's told me all about that."

Sylvie blushed. "Of course he has."

"Casey and Severide?"

"Of course it's Casey and Severide!" Sylvie hissed.

Ritter looked down. "See, Gallo only joined 51 just before you came back," he said. "He never saw what the three of you were like before you three were . . . well, you three. He saw how you guys clicked instantly when you came back to the house. He didn't see how you sort of fell together. Me, on the other hand . . . I may be Herrmann's firefighter, but I have eyes. I think I've seen a lot more than a few others have. I saw how Casey worked to pick Severide up after what happened with Kidd. I saw you jump in to help him find a new house, even though he bunked with Severide. I saw how the three of you worked to keep that kid safe in the rain. And after that arsonist hunt you three went on? It was like you were glued to each other's sides."

Sylvie blushed. "We basically were."

"Yeah," Ritter nodded. "And I had a front row seat to watch Casey and Severide try and adjust to life without you." Sylvie ducked her head, swallowing hard. "You . . . you didn't see how in one second they could be fighting like cats and dogs, and the next it was like it was them against the world. You integrated yourself so well into their dynamic that it's like they had no idea how to adjust to it being just them again."

Sylvie closed her eyes, feeling tears sting her eyes. "Ritter . . . "

"I'm not telling you this to make you feel bad about accepting the Chaplain's proposal," Ritter told her gently. "I'm telling you this so you can understand more about how they felt. In the past two years, 51 has gotten used to seeing the three of you together. It's weird seeing any of you missing. I think seeing your ambulance in that ditch, as wrecked as it was, and you not responding . . . I don't think they could have handled anything less than being down there, their lives be damned if it meant they could save yours."

Sylvie rested her forehead on her clenched hands. "Thanks, Ritter," she said quietly. "I think I needed to hear that."

He patted her shoulder. "Any time, Brett."

"Hey," Gianna poked her head around the corner. "I don't think Gallo can keep her occupied much longer."

Sylvie nodded, then jumped to her feet when the bells rang and their ambulance was called. "Thank God."

"Phew," Gianna laughed, running out of the locker room, Sylvie on her heels.

They ran right past an obviously annoyed Stella, Gallo looking anxious behind her. The relieved look on his face when the paramedics went by was almost comical. "Thank you!" Sylvie managed to mouth at him as she opened the driver's door, and Gallo gave her a quick thumbs up as she shut the door.

She was buying his next round at Molly's whenever she was there with him next.

***

Joe had meant to talk to Sylvie after the shift ended, but a quick look through the firehouse revealed she was nowhere to be found. When he checked the apparatus floor, Gallo was having an animated conversation with an irritated Stella, and Gianna was leaning on the Squad table where Kelly usually sat, listening to one of Tony and Capp's stories. Ritter was leaning on the engine, asking Mouch something that had the older firefighter smiling, Herrmann shaking his head fondly.

Sylvie was nowhere to be found.

Joe narrowed his eyes to slits, realizing something else . . . Gallo, Ritter, and Gianna were conveniently all facing the exit of the station. All the other firefighters were facing into the apparatus floor, away from the drive . . . and away from the side door of the house, where Sylvie had entered to avoid running into Matt.

Joe did an abrupt 180 and marched back into the firehouse. He could see Boden in his office, sorting out paperwork for the next shift. He found Matt leaning in Kelly's doorway, both officers in their civilian attire, both looking concerned. "What did you two do?" he asked without fanfare.

Both men swiveled to look at him in surprise. "Excuse me?" Matt raised an eyebrow.

"OK, look," Joe rubbed his temples. "I respect you both so much . . . but this entire shift, Brett's been avoiding both of you. Considering the past two years, that's a red flag in itself. But she also just pulled a vanishing act that it looks like the youngsters are part of. Not only that, she avoided everyone else on shift, too."

"Everyone?" Kelly straightened in his chair.

"Oh, yeah," Joe nodded. "Every time ambulance came back from a call? Whoosh," he made a disappearing gesture. "And every time someone tried to check on her, one of the newbies distracted them." He folded his arms. "But from what Gallo, Tony, and Capp say, it started after Molly's a few nights ago. So . . . what did the two of you do?"

The officers exchanged looks. "We don't know," Matt admitted.

"That's what we've been trying to figure out all shift," Kelly said.

"And you didn't ask her?" Joe looked at them in bewilderment.

Matt gave him a dirty look. "Kind of hard to do it when, like you said, she's avoiding everyone."

Joe sighed. "Point." He returned to glowering. "But considering none of us have anywhere near as big an impact on her as you two . . . it's kind of easy to figure out where to point fingers."

"I know, I know," Matt rubbed his temples.

Joe gave them knowing looks. "Then what are the two of you gonna do about it?"

***

Sylvie expected the insistent knocking on her door that evening, but she didn't expect it to happen as late as it was. She closed her eyes, taking a long pull from her wine glass, then put her phone face down on her leg. "It's open!" she called, happy her voice didn't break.

Barely a second later, her door opened, and she heard the familiar footsteps of the two she loved. "Sylv?" Matt asked.

She didn't turn around to look at them. "Do you two know that sometimes you make it really easy to hate you?" she asked.

Kelly almost dropped the bottle of rosé they had picked up, sharing a startled, scared look with Matt. "Sylvie," he began.

"No, I take that back," Sylvie shook her head. "It's not hate, not really. You just do things in the moment that really, really make people think you're insane." She laughed bitterly. "And you scare the hell out of them, too."

Matt swallowed hard, heart sinking when he realized Joe had hit it right on the head. He knew exactly where to point fingers. "Sylvie . . . "

"Joe warned me he talked to you guys after shift," Sylvie held up her phone, letting it drop back on the couch. "Apparently everyone in the house realized something was wrong."

Matt looked helplessly at Kelly, not sure how to go forward. He had never seen Sylvie like this, not at all. The squad lieutenant looked just as lost, but he took a deep breath and stepped into the living area, rounding the coffee table so he was standing in front of Sylvie, who was sitting on the couch so her back was to the entrance. "Then tell us what we can do," he said quietly, sinking into the chair across from her.

Sylvie snorted, looking at him. "Well, I'd ask you not to do something as stupid and reckless as jump out of your rigs while they're moving again, but knowing the two of you . . . "

Kelly shot Matt a look over Sylvie's shoulder, and the truck captain finally moved into the room. "There was no way we weren't getting down to you as quickly as we could," he said.

"See, that's what I'm trying to process," Sylvie pointed at him. "It got made pretty clear to me the rigs could have been moving much, much faster and you both still would have done that."

"Absolutely," Kelly confirmed without hesitation.

Sylvie closed her eyes, pinching the bridge of her nose. "And if that happened, the worst-case scenario is you could have died pulling those stunts!"

"And that wasn't on my mind," Matt sat down on the coffee table, looking like all he wanted to do was sit on the couch with her.

Sylvie exhaled shakily, putting her wine glass down. "You both know how tactile I am," she said softly, avoiding looking at them and instead staring at her hands like they were the most interesting things on the planet. "What you don't know is . . . my train wreck of relationships."

"They haven't been train wrecks from what I've seen," Kelly knitted his eyebrows.

Sylvie laughed bitterly. "I got only slightly lucky with Kyle. See, I'm the kind of person that with any relationship, platonic or romantic . . . it's just my nature to go all in. I have so much to give . . . and I don't have enough fingers and toes to count how many times that has blown up in my face because I was either exhausting or too much." She missed seeing Kelly bristle or the flash of anger in Matt's eyes. "It drained me to give so much . . . and it seemed like I never got enough back. Maybe it was because it was exhausting to keep up with what I could give? Annoying because of how clingy I could be? How I tried to be everything?" She shook her head, biting her lip. "And never in my life have I felt anything be returned like I gave . . . not until you two drove all the way to bring me back to Chicago, and definitely not until Gallo, Tony, and Capp told me what you two did."

"Sylvie," Matt's voice cracked.

"And that scares me," Sylvie's own voice broke, and she internally kicked herself as she felt tears sting her eyes. "I never realized until I left with Kyle that you two became everything to me in just a short amount of time, and when I saw you on that porch . . . God, that had to be the happiest day of my life. No matter what happened with me, the two of you were always there without question, without being asked, sometimes without even knowing what was going on. And now, knowing that the two of you would jump out of your rigs for me?" She shook her head, sinking her teeth into her lip, unable to continue speaking. If she did, she knew the words would spill right out of her.

A hand gently covered both of hers. "God, Sylvie," Matt said quietly. "Look at us, please." She lifted her head with a sniffle. She met Matt's green eyes, the captain looking furious and heartbroken at the same time. A quick glance at Kelly meant she saw the exact same look from him. "Sylvie, you give your everything no matter what," Matt told her. "Your job, helping others, your friendships, your romantic relationships . . . " He cracked a smile. "Us."

"You've seen us at pretty low points in our lives," Kelly added. "And you've been there in ways I still can't believe happened."

"You give your all, and you've never expected anything back," Matt shook his head. "Do you know how lucky that means we are to have you?"

"How could we not be willing to risk what we did if it meant we got to the girl who means the world to us?" Kelly gave her a smile. "You've given everything for us . . . how could we do anything less?"

A sob ripped from Sylvie's mouth. These men . . . how were they real? "Because I can count on one hand the number of people who would risk it."

"Then they're the dumbest bastards on the planet," Kelly said harshly. "And they never deserved you."

"Sylvie, the way you have so much to give . . . " Matt trailed off. "God, you make people think you hung the constellations in the sky."

"And if no one wants to give them back to you because of who you are, then they can go screw themselves," Kelly said firmly. "You deserve that and more." He reached out and put a hand on her knee. "Let us give that to you?"

"Or at least do our bests to?" Matt smiled slightly. "I'm not sure we can get the constellations for you, but we can try."

Sylvie couldn't speak, her throat was clogged by tears. She could, however, nod as fast as she could and curl in on herself. Before she could process the overwhelming emotions she felt at hearing those words, both men had moved, bracketing her between them. She melted into their touches immediately, feeling herself settle at once. "We've got you, Sylv," Kelly mumbled, his temple resting against hers. "We've always got you."

Sylvie whimpered in response, reaching out blindly. They took her hands at once, fingers entwining. Her head finally landed to rest on Kelly's shoulder, trying to burrow into the lieutenant as far as she could; his lips pressed against the top of her head, his other arm tight around her waist. Matt's arm was around her shoulders, his thumb rubbing soothing circles into her neck. The constant contact sent a pleasant buzz through her; after going the longest time in God only knew how long without touching anyone, she was practically getting drunk off them. "Thank you," she managed to rasp.

Somehow, they moved even closer to her on the couch. "Any time," Kelly told her.

"Anything for you," Matt squeezed her hand.

Sylvie had never believed anything more in her life.

***

Do you guys know how often I cry writing my own stories? I can count on one hand how many times it's happened and have fingers left over. I was so close to crying as I wrote the ending because as much as I really, really wanted love confessions . . . this isn't the point in the story where it'll happen.

So, the foundations for Buck and Sylvie to arrive in Austin are starting to come together. From here on, I'll be working to balance 9-1-1 and Lone Star with Chicago Fire more . . . and then everything's going to go to hell. I'm looking forward to it.

Also, yes, I teased Will/Natalie/Connor. I kind of want to throw Jay/Hailey/Kim together, too just because they seem like they would be a good unit.

Anyway, keep your eyes peeled for updates, everyone. I make no promises on when they come, even though it seems like I'm cranking them out pretty quickly now. Burnout can happen at any time, and trust me . . . it takes a while for me to recover from it.

graphic by marvelity