Once again, sacrificing sleep for writing . . . I really should stop this even though I know I won't. It's too addicting.

Very Austin focused this time, everyone. It's Squad 9's first day, we get a peek at a Los Angeles group chat (Buck says it's tame), the Halsteads learn something about Matt and Kelly, and the squad has a heart to heart moment. Also, since I am not a firefighter or a paramedic, please pardon any rescue/medical inaccuracies.

Also, enjoy our favorite (Austin) Squad!

I'm so proud of the grids I made for this story. :)

***

"I have to say . . . " TK looked up from his coffee when he heard Buck's voice, and he couldn't help but smile as his partner walked into the room, fastening his watch around his wrist. "I do like the black uniform."

"I've been wearing black my entire firefighting career," TK said, sliding a mug across the counter to Buck's waiting hand. "I'm used to it. But yeah, you look better in black, not navy."

"Hey, I rocked navy!" Buck defended himself. "Black just goes with everything."

TK snickered. "Now I understand why Dad advocates for black uniforms. He wants his uniform to go with everything."

Buck blinked, then burst out laughing. "Oh, please record his reaction when you tell him that. Please, I beg you."

"What are we begging TK to do?" Sylvie's voice came from the hallway.

They turned to see her step into the kitchen, finishing tying her short hair at the back of her head. "Record Cap when TK tells him we wear black because it goes with everything," Buck didn't skip a beat.

Sylvie guffawed, smiling brightly when she looked at TK. "I want that recording."

"And you both apparently want me dead," TK rolled his eyes. "Great. We're off to a great start on our first day."

"Our first day," Buck gestured between himself and Sylvie. "You've been at this station for almost a year now."

"Still a new rig," TK shrugged. "Still – "

"Happy first day!" Owen trilled as he practically skipped into the room.

"That," TK pointed exasperatedly.

Sylvie sniggered. "You're in a good mood, Cap."

"I don't know what I'm more excited about," Owen grinned. "This crew or being on a Squad crew again."

"Yeah, good point," TK nodded, sliding Owen's preferred espresso over to him. "Really, we'd been working on getting the 252 in New York a Squad crew for the longest time before we came to Austin. This is the best gift ever."

"Happy to deliver," Buck bowed dramatically.

Sylvie giggled. "I'm gonna be looking after you three more than I will any victims we get."

"You probably will," TK smirked. "You don't know the record my dad and I have."

"Dude!" Buck looked offended. "Do you know my record?"

And he and TK were off, debating their worst injuries at rapid speed. Sylvie looked between them like she was watching a tennis match, then slowly turned to face Owen. The man looked far too amused, watching as he sipped his espresso. "You know," she said slowly. "You complain about the chaos, but I think you actually really enjoy it."

"You kidding?" Owen grinned. "Free entertainment, all day."

Sylvie shook her head, sighing. "This is gonna be a long first shift."

"Cheers to that!" Owen lifted his cup.

***

Buckaroo: Maddie did the obligatory "first day" picture when she started at dispatch.

Buckaroo: Does that make me obligated to send a "first day" picture of my own?

Maddie raised an eyebrow when she saw the message on her phone, and she set her coffee on the table. "Oh, this'll be good."

"What is it this time?" Taylor looked up from her fruit salad, Ana looking attentively from where her teeth were halfway into a banana muffin.

Maddie waved her phone at them. "Buck starts at his new firehouse today. We had a tradition that whenever we started a new job, or year at school, we send a 'first day' picture."

Taylor's eyes widened. "Please tell me he sent one."

Maddie smirked, texting on her phone, seeing the others in the chat had already responded.

Junior Bear: What kind of question is that? Yes!

Mama Bear: One hundred percent.

Army Bear: Christopher is demanding one. So, yes.

Buckette: Absolutely.

Army Bear: Hang on, who changed my name?

Junior Bear: You didn't match.

Junior Bear: I fixed it.

Army Bear: . . .

Army Bear: Christopher likes it.

Army Bear: I guess I'm keeping it.

Junior Bear: I knew he was my favorite!

Mama Bear: He's everybody's favorite.

Adopted Bear: I still don't get mine.

Mama Bear: You're Maddie's best friend and a good friend of Buck's.

Mama Bear: You're adopted.

Army Bear: If I'm stuck with this so are you, Josh.

Adopted Bear: Let me guess, Christopher is Baby Bear?

Junior Bear: He is now!

"Hey, Maddie!"

"Hey, Lena!" Maddie called back absently, hearing the familiar boots of the firefighter walk up. "Buck's sending a first day picture. Hang on."

"Oh, is he?" Lena raised an eyebrow, casually leaning on the back of Maddie's chair. "I wanna see."

"You'll find out where he's located," Maddie warned.

Lena gave a bloodthirsty grin. "I'd like to see someone from the 118 get it out of me."

"You work for the 118 now?" Taylor tilted her head.

"I'm in talks to transfer," Lena shrugged. "Apparently I'm Eddie's impulse control."

Maddie snorted loudly. "You're a saint for that, Lena."

"I do my best," she smiled smugly.

"Oh," Maddie looked up, gesturing to her friends. "Lena Bosko, meet Taylor Kelly and Ana Flores. Taylor and Buck had a . . . well, I'm not sure what it was. Ana used to teach Christopher, and we ran into each other one day."

"Literally ran into each other," Ana smiled kindly. "Nice to meet you, Lena."

"You, too," Lena nodded.

Buckaroo: {Image: Buck sitting on a porch with a Bernese Mountain Dog, smiling at the camera and dressed in a uniform similar to the LAFD uniform except in black.}

Buckaroo: I was told that I needed to take a picture with my "fellow firehouse dog."

Buckaroo: Which is insulting, frankly.

Buckaroo: If we were taking a dog picture, we needed one more person in the picture.

Army Bear: Of course that's your problem, Buck.

Adopted Bear: Looking hot, Buck!

Junior Bear: I like the black!

Buckaroo: My theory is our captain wants our uniforms to go with everything.

Buckaroo: Hence, black.

Army Bear: You're an idiot, Buck.

Buckaroo: Yes, I've been told that multiple times by the same two people in the past week it's taken to make sure we can all ride this crew.

Buckaroo: Seriously, they've said it repeatedly.

Buckaroo: What was the AFD thinking sticking all of us on the same crew?

Mama Bear: Isn't that a question for your captain, Buck?

Buckaroo: Oh, that's easy.

Buckaroo: His son wanted us, so they got us.

Buckaroo: Hang on, TK's boyfriend is getting a picture of the three of us.

Buckaroo: Cap's a coward, he's backing out.

"Oh, I like that uniform," Taylor whistled when Maddie turned her phone around.

"It looks really similar to the LAFD uniforms," Ana noted.

"He's in Austin, huh?" Lena nodded. "Kind of funny. Eddie left Texas, Buck went there."

"It's pretty amusing," Maddie agreed.

Buckette: You'll do awesome, Buck.

Mama Bear: Yes, he will.

Buckaroo: Thanks for the confidence, guys!

Buckaroo: Meet the new family!

Buckaroo: {Image: Buck in between two people, all of them in Austin FD black uniforms. The man on his right had a mischievous look in his green eyes, his name badge covered by his jacket. The woman on his left had her head resting on Buck's shoulder, her blonde hair pulled out of her face. Her badge was visible on her shirt, declaring her a captain.}

Buckaroo: TK and Sylvie.

Buckaroo: AKA Grumpy Cat and Cocker Spaniel.

Maddie snorted her coffee up her nose, and she coughed, scrambling for her napkin. "Whoa," Lena put a hand on her shoulder to support her, Taylor and Ana both sitting up straight. "You OK?"

"Yeah," Maddie coughed. "I just . . . I didn't expect that message from Buck."

"Oh, God," Taylor's eyes widened.

"Did something happen?" Ana asked worriedly.

"No," Maddie shook her head, typing back rapidly.

Buckette: I just got coffee all over me.

Buckette: What the hell, Buck?

Junior Bear: Did I just read "Grumpy Cat?"

Adopted Bear: That does not look like a Grumpy Cat.

Army Bear: That does look like a Cocker Spaniel though.

Buckaroo: Sylvie thanks you for the compliment, Eddie.

Buckaroo: TK just gave the most defeated sigh I have ever heard in my life.

Buckaroo: Yes, even from you, Athena.

Mama Bear: That's impressive.

Buckaroo: Sylvie's laughing hysterically at it.

Buckaroo: Apparently it beats her old chief's sigh of defeat, too.

Buckaroo: This is why he's a Grumpy Cat.

Adopted Bear: Yeah, now I'm starting to get it.

Adopted Bear: He's hot.

Buckaroo: I think so, too.

Buckaroo: Alas, he's taken.

Buckaroo: And we all know based on Athena that it's not a good idea to take from a police officer.

Mama Bear: I've taught you well, Buck.

Army Bear: He is hot.

Army Bear: So's she.

Buckaroo: I'll let you be the one to tell her best friends that.

Buckaroo: And then see if I help you when they try to murder you.

Mama Bear: Buck.

Buckaroo: No, I'm not kidding.

Buckaroo: Pretty sure they would legit murder for her.

Buckaroo: They've done crazier things.

Junior Bear: It's a little concerning I'm trying to think of crazier things than murder.

Junior Bear: . . . what is crazier than murder?

Mama Bear: I blame you for this, Buck.

Buckaroo: Gladly.

Buckette: So we got two new siblings?

Buckaroo: Yes, we did.

Buckaroo: Pretty sure I got adopted by the new captain, too.

Buckette: Huh.

Buckette: These two are why I'm not straight.

Buckaroo: MADDIE

Adopted Bear: Same.

Army Bear: Same.

Mama Bear: That's two things I blame you for, Buck.

Buckaroo: I mean . . .

Buckaroo: Same.

"I think we're giving Athena a heart attack," Maddie snickered as she finally put her phone down.

"What are you guys doing?" Taylor asked, raising an eyebrow.

Maddie flipped her phone around, showing Buck with TK and Sylvie. "All I said was that these two are why I'm not straight," she answered.

Lena's eyebrows raised, and she wolf whistled. "Same."

"Oh, for sure," Taylor agreed. "Those two are smoking."

"They are firefighters," Ana pointed out.

"Sylvie's a paramedic, actually," Maddie corrected.

" . . . you get my point."

Maddie snickered. "Yeah, I do."

Ana shook her head with a smile. "But yeah . . . same."

"Poor Buck," Maddie sighed. "That is one good-looking crew."

"And we don't even know what the captain looks like," Lena pointed out.

" . . . oh, no."

Taylor snickered. "Forget fighting fires. They're gonna need to fight whoever's drooling over them at the scenes."

There was silence at the table, then Lena burst out laughing. "I really want to see that."

"Me, too," Ana admitted with a shy smile.

"Make sure you get updated on that," Taylor told Maddie.

She smirked smugly, looking at her phone. "Taken care of."

Buckette: I have one request.

Mama Bear: Oh, no.

Army Bear: I'm worried.

Buckaroo: Yes, sister dear?

Buckette: Please keep a tally on how many people hit on or drool over you guys at scenes.

Junior Bear: GREAT IDEA

Adopted Bear: . . . that actually is a good idea.

Army Bear: That does make me curious.

Mama Bear: . . .

Mama Bear: Me, too.

Buckaroo: Oh, we are going to kill Cap by the end of shift.

Buckaroo: I like this idea.

Buckaroo: Consider it done!

Adopted Bear: I have a bad feeling about this.

Army Bear: So Buck is just doing Buck.

Junior Bear: I love this chat.

Buckette: Ditto.

Buckaroo: Oh, this is tame compared to mine with TK and Sylvie.

Mama Bear: This is tame?!

Buckaroo: So tame.

***

"Hey, there's the crew of the hour!" Paul grinned as the four walked into the house.

"Oh, it's been a while since I've seen one of these," TK rubbed his hands together in delight as he looked at their rig.

"Talk about brand spanking new," Judd nodded, looking the rig over in delight. "Cap, I think you're the chief's favorite."

"Pretty sure I was his favorite when he hired me to rebuild the 126," Owen chuckled, folding his arms and walking around the perimeter of the rig, Buck and TK already climbing to investigate it. "But yeah . . . this is as good as you get."

"Definitely reminds me of Squad 3 back in Chicago," Sylvie poked her head out of where she had climbed into the back, looking completely at home on the rig. "Sev would be so jealous."

There was a moment of silence, then TK poked his head out of the window of the officer's seat, looking terrified. "Please don't unleash a jealous Severide on us. Please."

"Yeah, that wouldn't end well!" Buck's head appeared over the top of the rig from the driver's seat.

A camera flash made the three turn around, and Marjan smiled up at them, waving her phone at them. "Cap, get up there!"

"No," he deadpanned.

"Aw, come on, Cap!" Mateo grinned. "Get the entire crew up there!"

Owen sighed. "TK, you're in my spot."

TK blinked, then seemed to realize where he was. "Oh."

Sylvie laughed hysterically as TK proceeded to swing out of the window and climb onto the top of the rig. "What the hell are you doing?"

"Getting out of Dad's spot!" TK made a "duh" gesture. "What else was I supposed to do?"

"I don't know," Buck hauled himself onto the roof of the rig, too. "Open the door and climb out like a normal person?"

"You just climbed out the window, too!" TK gestured wildly.

Buck raised an eyebrow, then made an intentional motion with his foot. The telltale sign of a door closing followed. "No, I didn't."

" . . . oh."

Sylvie's laughter was like a hyena's as Buck grinned smugly, and Owen rolled his eyes as he opened the officer's door and perched on the edge of the seat. "We're off to a wonderful start," he groused.

"And the day hasn't even officially started," Sylvie giggled.

Owen sighed. "Yeah, thanks for reminding me."

"Oh, that's adorable," Michelle smiled, Nancy and Tim joining her in watching Marjan take the photo.

"You're really helping, Michelle."

"I'm doing my best, Strand."

"I appreciate it!" TK beamed.

"Wrong Strand, TK!" Owen barked.

"She said Strand!" TK protested. "I am a Strand!"

Sylvie hoisted herself to sit in the window of her seat, where she had the perfect view to exchange an amused look with Buck, then both of them burst into hysterics. "Oh, laugh it up, you two," Owen glowered, though he was trying to contain a smile of his own.

"Oh, this is perfect," Marjan gloated, showing the pictures she took to the team.

"Nice one, Marj," Paul complimented.

"Thank you!"

"Hey, Cap!" Nancy called.

Sylvie blinked. "I need to get used to being called that." She shook her head. "Yeah, Nancy?"

"Think your hair's gonna stay like that?"

Sylvie did a double take at the seemingly random question. "Uh . . . " She scratched her head. "Not sure?"

"Get down here," Nancy waved her down. "I'll fix it for you. No hair in your eyes, that's for sure."

Sylvie shrugged, hopping down from her seat. "Sure. Thanks, Nancy."

"No problem."

"I'll make sure your jump bag's ready to go," Tim offered.

"Thanks, Tim," Sylvie beamed.

Nancy showed Sylvie into the locker room, then directed her to sit on one of the benches. "When I first started as a paramedic, I had hair about your length," she said, taking the tie out of Sylvie's hair and finger combing through it. "I had a lot of fun figuring out what worked best for me."

"I appreciate this, Nancy," Sylvie smiled, sitting and patiently waiting as Nancy got to work. "Basically all I know how to do with short hair is pull it back or make it wavy."

Nancy snorted. "You've come to the right teacher, Grasshopper."

A beep from Sylvie's phone made her fish in her pocket and pull it out, careful not to disturb Nancy's work. She blinked at the Instagram picture she was tagged in, then couldn't help but laugh. Marjan had perfectly captured the Strands in a glare-off, Sylvie and Buck laughing from their spots. The caption made it perfect.

Firefox: You wish your Squad had as cool a crew as ours.

Sylvie showed the post to Nancy, who chuckled. "I get the feeling you'll become pretty popular after that. Marjan's quite the Instagram star."

"I remember TK mentioning that at one point," Sylvie nodded. "Didn't Cardi B repost one of her rescues?"

"Oh, yeah. Part of how she got on Captain Strand's radar." Nancy finally nodded. "There."

Sylvie checked her reflection in the mirror, smiling when she saw Nancy had created a fishtail braid along her part, perfectly keeping her hair out of her face. "Thank you so much, Nancy," she smiled.

"You're welcome," Nancy smiled back. "We'll keep testing a few hairdos, see what works best for you. It's been a while since I've had a test subject."

Sylvie snorted. "That's comforting."

Nancy swatted her shoulder. "I promise I'll be careful."

"Thanks, Nancy."

The alarms went off, and both paramedics leapt to their feet when the call came for all units. "Ladder 126. Squad 9. Ambulance 126. Multi-car collision."

"Let's roll!" Owen's shout was audible over the wailing of sirens, and Sylvie ran across the floor to jump into the back seat, Owen holding the door open for her.

TK was sitting opposite her, and he handed her the other headset in the back. "Nice look," he complimented.

"Thanks," Sylvie smiled, putting the headset on as Buck turned on the sirens for their rig. "Nancy did it."

"You guys ready?" Owen asked, twisting in his seat to look at them.

"Definitely!" TK grinned.

"Here we go!" Buck whooped, pulling the rig out of the station behind the ladder, Tim driving the ambulance behind them as the entire house barreled down the road.

***

"What about that prison guard Brett and Foster busted, like, the shift she came back?" Jay asked suddenly from where he leaned against the wall of 51's apparatus floor, popping a mint into his mouth.

Joe snorted loudly, already shaking his head. "Didn't Voight put the fear of God in the man?"

"Yeah, that's cause enough for him not to try and hurt her," Will chuckled from where he was glancing at his cards. "Any Kings?"

"Go fish," Capp said smugly.

Will cursed under his breath, making Tony laugh from where he was filling out his crossword. "Careful, Will," Kelly smirked from where he was filling out one of his reports in his chair. "Capp's the undisputed champ at Go Fish in this house."

"You couldn't have told me that before I chose to play?" the doctor demanded.

"Where's the fun in that?" Kelly asked innocently.

Will scoffed. "Bastard."

"Yep," Matt confirmed as he walked by, checking off inventory on 81. "I've known that ever since I met him."

"Screw you, Case," Kelly glared at him.

"Do it yourself, Sev."

Kelly snorted, going back to his reading. "Not in public."

Joe spat out his coffee and Jay choked violently on his mint. Will was the lucky one and only had to gawk to convey his shock at the statement. Kelly looked up from his book in bewilderment, seeing three of his friends in shock and two (Tony and Capp) laughing at their expense. "What?" he asked, Matt pausing his inventory to look over in concern.

"It's just . . . " Jay took a sip of his water to try and recover. "I don't think Will and I knew you guys swung that way."

"You kidding?" Kelly grinned. "Darden and I tried dating before we went into the academy. Figured out we were better as friends . . . it was hysterical when he then tried dating Casey."

"Hey, it worked for a few weeks!" Matt defended himself.

Kelly shook his head, grinning. "A few weeks, yeah. Then we just decided we were all better being disasters together."

"So," Joe held out, looking between them. "Any specific labels?"

"Bi," Matt held up his hand.

"Pan," Kelly shrugged. "Andy was bi, like Matt."

"Cool," Will grinned, offering a fist to Matt. "There's a club of us."

The captain gave him a fistbump back, exasperated amusement in his eyes. "Dork," Jay coughed into his arm.

"Shut up, Jay!"

Joe shook his head, snickering as he pulled out his phone when it beeped. "Brothers," he said fondly, then nearly dropped his phone when he realized what the message was.

Sylvie: {Image: Sylvie and three other firefighters in various places on a Rescue Squad rig. Sylvie was peeking out of the back window, smiling widely. A handsome man with silver in his hair was in the officer's seat, arms folded, smirk smug. Two other men were lounging on the top of the rig: one blond with blue eyes, a pink birthmark over his eye, the other dark-haired with green eyes. Both looked far too innocent, and Sylvie's eyes were laughing.}

Sylvie: You wish you looked as good as this crew.

Joe couldn't help but whistle lowly. "Hot damn."

"What was that for?" Will looked up from where he was about to fling one of his cards at Jay – a King of Spades, by the looks of it.

Joe grinned. "Sylvie's first day at her new house. Let's just say they're a very good-looking crew."

"Good for her," Tony smiled happily.

"Where's she at?" Jay asked curiously.

Joe opened his mouth to respond, then noticed that practically at the same time, Kelly dropped his book, Matt put his clipboard under his arm, and both put their hands over their ears. "What?" he asked in confusion.

"We're waiting for her to tell us where she is," Kelly answered.

Jay's mouth formed an O of understanding, and he nodded. "Good point. Don't tell us."

"Yeah, I won't show the picture, then," Joe grimaced. "The city's plastered on the rig and on their uniforms. Let's just put it this way, she's with people at least as hot as her."

Will's eyes widened. "No kidding. Hot damn."

Joe: That is one good-looking crew.

Sylvie: I think so, too.

"Wait," Jay's head whipped back around. "You two don't know where she is?"

"No," Matt shook his head. "We got voicemails from her last week . . . but it didn't include where she is. She did point out we could look up her area code, though."

"And you haven't?" Will sounded impressed.

Kelly glowered. "Unlike whoever in this department decided it was smart to make her run, we're not going to betray the trust she gave us."

Will gulped. "I almost pity whoever did it when you get your hands on them."

"I don't!" Capp grinned cheerfully. "I already agreed to help hide the body."

"I'm bringing the shovels," Tony added.

Kelly grinned proudly. "Best crew ever."

***

The car accident was nowhere near as bad as Owen thought it would be. The cars were totaled, there was no question about that, but the drivers and passengers were all in relatively good shape. Sylvie was a complete pro, moving from car to car and assessing each person before instructing Buck and TK on what to avoid as they were recovered. Owen watched with a smile as Buck and TK worked effortlessly together to take the cars apart, leaving everyone in Sylvie's more than capable hands. It was one thing to see Buck and Sylvie's records on paper; to see them in the field was incredible.

Everything had almost been cleared when radios crackled. "Squad 9, this is Dispatch," Grace's voice broke through.

"Go ahead, Dispatch," Owen responded.

"How soon is your crew able to leave your current call?"

Owen looked around to see Buck and TK watching Sylvie carefully. When she handed her current patient to another EMS crew, she turned and gave him a thumbs up. "Where do you need us?" Owen asked.

"Rope rescue required at the Wild Basin Wilderness Preserve," Grace answered. "One of the hikers had a misstep and took a hard fall."

Owen nodded. "Copy. We're on our way." He backed up, gesturing. "Let's go!"

"I heard about Wild Basin," Buck jogged to the driver's seat. "I was thinking about visiting."

"Yeah, I don't think this is how you wanted to do it," Owen climbed into the officer's seat. "Get ready for a climb, Sylvie . . . and a slick one."

Sylvie nodded, taking a deep breath. "Copy that."

***

Buck grinned, peering over the rocks to see where he and Sylvie would be landing. "Now that is what I call slick."

"Thanks, Buck," Sylvie sighed as TK helped clip her into the harness she would be using. "That's really encouraging."

"Sorry, princess."

"Alright, TK, you keep hold of Sylvie's line," Owen ordered. "I'm holding Buck's. Sylvie, do your best with our unfortunate fall guy when you get down there, let us know if you think we're good to haul him up in a harness or we need a basket."

"You got it," Sylvie nodded.

"I'll go down first," Buck told her. When she nodded, he turned back to Owen. "Ready?"

Owen gave an experimental tug on the line, then nodded when it held firm. "Go ahead."

Buck nodded, carefully backing up to the edge of the rock ledge. He found a solid handhold, then made his way down. He slipped on one of the rocks, making Owen grimace as he adjusted his hold on the rope, then Buck nodded. "Good for Sylvie!"

Sylvie hoisted her jump bag onto her back, then turned to face TK, easily able to feel her heartbeat in her throat. "Hey," TK smiled at her. "I'm not gonna let you fall. Neither is Buck."

"I know," she nodded, taking a deep breath. "It's just one thing training for this, and it's another – "

"Actually doing it?" TK chuckled. "Yeah. I thought the same thing on the Chrysler Building." He patted her shoulder. "Good luck."

"Thanks," she sighed, backing up to the ledge.

"Watch your left foot!" Buck called up. "You're right above a slick spot."

Sylvie peered down, gulping when she noticed what Buck was talking about. "Thank you!"

She found the same handhold Buck initially started with, then began making her way down the rocks. She nimbly avoided the slick spot Buck had nearly fallen from, her gloves almost peeling off the wet rocks. She heard a thud when Buck reached the bottom, and Sylvie swung onto another ledge, able to find her way down. "See?" Buck grinned. "Piece of cake!"

"Better than I thought," Sylvie brushed moss off her gloves, looking up to see how far they had climbed. She could still easily identify Owen and TK's features, but they were high up. "Now I'm glad one of Kelly's ideas of a good time was a rock-climbing gym."

Buck whistled, grinning. "I'd pay good money to see that."

"I'd pay to get more climbing lessons," the guy collapsed a few feet away wheezed.

"Probably a good idea," Sylvie nodded, jumping from rock to rock and making her way over. "What's your name, sir?"

"Luke," he answered, wincing as Sylvie crouched down and started examining him. "Luke Walters."

"Alright, Luke, my name is Sylvie, and this is Buck," Sylvie gestured to the blond as he joined them. "We're gonna help you out, OK? Can you tell me what hurts the most?"

"My leg," Luke grunted. "And my head."

Sylvie winced, carefully running a hand over the calf Luke gestured to. "Definitely a tibia fracture. Displaced, most likely."

"Can we pull him up in a harness?" Buck asked.

"Luke, where did you hit your head?" Sylvie asked, shifting her position.

Luke gestured vaguely, and Sylvie carefully tilted his head. She hissed sympathetically when she saw how matted his hair was from blood. She clicked her radio on. "Cap, we're gonna need a basket. Displaced tibia fracture and cut on the back of the head. I haven't checked for a concussion yet, but he's likely got one."

"Copy that," Owen answered. "We'll send it down when EMS gets here."

Sylvie unzipped her bag, sorting through the supplies she needed. "Let's take care of that head wound first," she murmured, taking the gauze she needed and pressing firmly on the bleeding.

Luke tensed in pain, but aside from a very pale face, he didn't react. "You're doing good, Luke," Buck nodded.

"Not my first fall on a hike," Luke ground out. "First time it's this bad, though."

"Oh, really?" Buck raised an eyebrow. "Got any trail ideas for me? I'm new to the city, and nature hikes are something I'm interested in."

Luke forced a chuckle. "Maybe when I can concentrate on a thought for longer than a few seconds."

"You got it, man."

"Buckley, basket is heading your way."

"Copy that, Cap!" Buck jumped to his feet.

Sylvie took Luke's hand and raised it to the gauze. "Can you keep the pressure like it is?" she asked.

"I think so," he nodded before grimacing.

"Don't move your head," she warned. "I'm gonna see what I can do about your leg."

She moved down Luke's body, getting the materials she needed for a splint. By the time Buck returned, she had already started forming the splint around his leg. "Wow," Buck blinked, crouching down next to her. "You're good at this by yourself."

Sylvie smiled. "I'm doing my best with what I've got. Hold this in place while I wrap it." Buck nodded, holding the splint in place as Sylvie unwound the wrapping tape. "You know if EMS is here or not?"

"House 121, looks like," Buck nodded.

"Great," Sylvie tied off the splint, nodding in satisfaction. "I don't want to transfer him in the Squad rig."

Buck snorted loudly. "Absolutely not."

Sylvie giggled, moving back to the top of Luke's head. "I'm going to bandage the gauze in place so you don't have to hold onto it anymore," she said.

"Thanks," he said in relief.

Sylvie nodded. "Let them know we're about ready."

Buck nodded, speaking into his radio. "Cap, we're about ready to bring him up."

"10-4," Owen responded; he sounded slightly irritated. "Ladder 121 will bring him up in the basket."

"Copy."

"There we are, Luke," Sylvie smiled, finishing with the bandages. "Let's get you out of here, huh?"

"Yes, please," the man carefully nodded.

"Easy does it," Buck placed his arm under his shoulders.

Sylvie kept an eagle eye on them as Buck maneuvered Luke into the basket they were using, and she helped him make sure Luke was secure. When she was satisfied with their work, she spoke into her radio. "He's good to go, Owen."

"Alright, back up. 121's bringing him up."

The basket started heading up the rocks, and Buck sighed, turning to Sylvie. "After you."

She gulped, knowing why Buck said what he did. He was the heavy rescue expert, so he knew how to climb. She knew, too, but she was not as experienced as Buck was. He was a firefighter, after all, and her experience was medicine. "Now I'm really glad Kelly taught me to rock-climb," she whispered, steeling herself and finding her first stable handholds.

Her ascent was far slower than her descent was, but with Buck at her back, she was able to make it to the top with only a minor slip. TK held out his hand for her, which Sylvie gratefully grasped. He hauled her onto solid ground, a wide grin on his face. "That's our girl!" he exclaimed proudly.

"Thanks, TK," Sylvie sighed in relief, unclipping her helmet and running a hand over the braid Nancy had put in. Thankfully, it was mostly intact. "Remind me to thank Nancy again when we get back to the house. Braid is much better than a ponytail ready to burst at any moment."

TK chuckled. "You got it."

"Great work, you two," Owen complimented, and they turned to see him pull Buck to the top of the ledge.

"Thanks, Cap," Buck beamed.

"Get your gear, and we'll head back to the house."

"Captain Brett?" Sylvie turned (I still need to get used to that, she thought) to face the paramedics of Firehouse 121. "Good work with the splint," the captain said. "Especially by yourself."

"Thank you," Sylvie nodded. "Just doing my job."

She thought she felt eyes piercing through her back, then Owen shifted, and suddenly the gazes of the 121 were lost. "Come on," he patted her on the shoulder. "Let's get out of here."

***

"Carlos!" TK greeted in surprise when he jumped from the rig back at the house. "What're you doing here?"

"Michelle told me Squad had its first solo call," he grinned, kissing TK's cheek when he was close enough. "I happened to be on my break when she told me you were on your way back. How did it go?"

"Really well," TK beamed. "Buck and Sylvie are badasses."

"But we knew that already!" Owen called from where he was hanging up his turnout coat.

"Well, yeah, but seeing them climb down those rocks?" TK grinned. "Wet rocks, too."

"Dry rocks are one thing," Sylvie nodded, looking through her jump bag as she absently headed to the ambulance. "Wet rocks are another."

"I wonder if that can be added to the heavy rescue training," Buck said thoughtfully.

"I'll make a note of it," Owen smiled. "Seriously, though, guys . . . good work."

Buck smiled happily. "Thanks, Cap."

***

Buckaroo: If Sylvie wasn't like my little sister, I would absolutely want to date her.

Mama Bear: And what brought this on?

Buckaroo: We just had our first rescue as a solo crew.

Buckaroo: The woman is a paramedic queen.

Buckaroo: Well, a captain.

Buckaroo: And queen isn't exactly what we nicknamed her.

Buckaroo: But she's a wizard at it.

Eddie couldn't help but laugh as he read the incoming messages in the group chat. "Sounds like Buck's first day is going well."

"Good," Maddie sighed in relief, checking her wallet for what to use to pay for the pizza they ordered for lunch. "I know he thinks the world of his new crew, so I hoped it went as well as he wanted it to."

"Even better," Eddie waved his phone. "Buck basically confessed he's in love with Sylvie."

Maddie knitted her eyebrows. "From what Buck's told me, everyone would be a little bit in love with her."

Eddie snorted. "Honestly, that wouldn't surprise me."

There was a knock on the door, and Maddie sighed. "I need to grab more from my bedroom," she waved her wallet at him. "Can you get the pizza?"

"Yeah," Eddie nodded, heading for the door as Maddie ran down the hall.

Except when he opened the door, it wasn't a pizza delivery person standing there. For a second, he stood gawking at the green-eyed, wide-eyed, redhead standing in a navy-blue dress with a black trench coat, then realized exactly who she was.

"Taylor?"

"Eddie," Taylor recovered her aplomb well, clearing her throat. "Sorry, I didn't realize that was your truck out there."

"What the hell are you doing here?" Eddie snarled, narrowing his eyes. He remembered exactly what she had done the last time they had seen her at the firehouse, and if he had his way –

"Oh!" Maddie popped up behind him with a smile. "Taylor! What brings you by?"

"Uh, you had that portable charger with you when I lost mine," Taylor fished through her bag, pulling out said charger. "I wanted to bring it by, I know our schedules don't line up for a few more days."

"Oh, you didn't have to do that," Maddie sighed, taking the charger. "I rarely use it anyway."

"Wait," Eddie shook his head. "I'm confused."

"Taylor's one of the friends I've had since Buck left Los Angeles," Maddie explained, and the redhead nodded. "Actually . . . she was the one who really pushed me to tell Buck about Daniel."

Eddie looked back at Taylor coldly. "So she knew before Buck did?"

"What do you take me for, Diaz, a heartless bitch?" Taylor snorted. "God, no. I heard 'family secret' and said 'tell Buck.'" She laughed. "If that had happened, I can only imagine the 'I am disappointed in you' face Ana would have made."

Maddie snickered. "Now I really want to know what that face looks like. She's got to have experience giving it."

Now Eddie was even more confused. "Who?"

"Oh, yeah," Maddie grinned. "The other friend I've had? One Ana Flores."

Eddie's jaw dropped. "Christopher's former teacher?!"

"Maddie here literally ran into her," Taylor smirked, leaning against the doorframe. "Coffee and papers everywhere."

"I said I was sorry!" Maddie blushed.

Taylor folded her arms, grinning at Eddie. "I think she was flustered, too. The woman's gorgeous."

Maddie's face was as red as her dispatch shirt. "That's enough."

Taylor laughed, seeing another car pull up. "I'll see you soon, Maddie."

"Bye, Taylor!" Maddie waved.

Eddie found himself waving, caught up in the shock, before he shook himself out of it. "Taylor Kelly and Ana Flores?" he hissed at her.

"Yeah," Maddie nodded. "Sounds like a bad joke, doesn't it? A dispatcher, a reporter, and a teacher walk into a coffee shop . . . "

Eddie shook his head warily. "I don't think I want to know how that joke ends."

Maddie laughed, walking out to meet the pizza delivery man. "That's your own fault, then, Eddie!"

***

"So you're the new paramedic captain, then?"

Sylvie blinked, pausing in getting the next round of drinks for her table at the Honky Tonk. She turned away from the bar to come face to face with a grizzled, grey-haired man, who was looking at her intensely. She straightened under his gaze, nodding warily. "That's me," she said.

"The boys at the 121 said you made quite the first impression," he raised an eyebrow. "I didn't realize Strand was looking for a new captain."

Sylvie narrowed her eyes. "We're a new crew," she said. "I'm an additional captain."

"Still new, though," the man remarked. "Quite the promotion, too."

Sylvie scowled; she wasn't sure she liked who this was. "I was the head paramedic at my old house before transferring here," she said. "The only promotion I have is the title of captain."

"Young for a position like that," the man looked her up and down. "I guess that comes with certain . . . advantages."

Sylvie felt the blood drain from her face at the implication, and suddenly the alcohol she had already drank swirled in her stomach. "What did you just say?!"

"Back away from her," Owen's cold voice said behind her.

"I was just getting to know your new paramedic captain, New York," the man looked over her shoulder at Owen.

"Then you could've done that at the table instead of ambushing her at the bar, Texas," Owen appeared at her side. "Leave her alone."

The man smirked, giving Sylvie a nod. "See you around, Captain."

The oily tone to the name made Sylvie feel even more nauseated, and she hastily covered her mouth. "Come on," Owen put his arm around her waist. "We're getting out of here."

Sylvie let him lead her away, barely noticing when he helped her into the passenger's seat of his car. The trip back to his house was a blur; she could hear Owen on the phone with someone, but she didn't know who.

Then she was in the house, curled in a ball on Owen's couch, the captain crouching in front of her and pressing a glass of water into her hand. "Deep breaths, Sylvie," he said quietly. "Breathe."

Sylvie nodded shakily, trying to calm her stomach. She flinched when she heard the door open, then Buck's worried voice. "Cap?"

"Dad?" TK was right behind him. "What happened?"

"Billy cornered Sylvie at the bar," Owen said briefly.

TK swore colorfully, and Buck blinked. "Who's Billy?"

"Billy Tyson, former captain at the 121," TK answered. "It's why Dad was so on edge at the call. He also wanted Dad's position at the 126."

"Went to pretty great lengths to try and take it from me," Owen nodded. "Took him getting hit by a lightning bolt while on a golf course to make sure it didn't happen."

Buck snorted. "Talk about karma."

"What did he say?" TK asked.

Owen looked at Sylvie, waiting to see if she wanted to tell them. She swallowed, clearing her throat. "She basically implied I was sleeping with Owen to get my position."

"Oh, come on!" TK's entire body shuddered. "I love you both, but that's just . . . not happening!"

"Not to mention you would never do that!" Buck protested. "Why the hell would he say that?"

"He's already threatened the rest of the 126 once when he tried to take the house," Owen said darkly. "Best guess he's now going after the newcomers."

"Great," Buck scowled. "I have a reason to punch him in the face next time, especially if he has it out for Sylvie."

"Buck," she began.

"No, Sylvie," Buck shook his head. "I told Maddie once that between her and danger is exactly where I want to stand. That's exactly where I want to stand here."

"The danger isn't Billy," Sylvie insisted.

"Then what is?" TK frowned.

"It's what he implied, isn't it?" Owen guessed. Sylvie swallowed hard, looking down at her fingers. "That hit you hard. Harder than, I think, it should've."

She nodded meekly. "I'm polyamorous," she whispered.

Owen immediately winced. "And one of the most common misconceptions about that – "

" – is that it's for the sex," Sylvie deadpanned. "Yeah. It was insulting just with that context."

"What other context is there?" Buck asked.

She tasted bile in her mouth, and Sylvie tried to swallow it down. "You can probably guess it."

Buck and TK exchanged confused looks, then Owen inhaled sharply. "Sylvie," he said carefully. "Did someone imply that in Chicago?"

TK tensed and Buck bristled. Sylvie just gulped. "It was after I made a friend at another house," she said hoarsely. "Lieutenant Grainger. Another superior officer."

"Someone thought you were sleeping with superior officers?!" TK's voice was shrill.

Sylvie flinched. "Given my close friendship with Matt and Kelly, you can see how easy it would be to make that assumption."

"That doesn't make it right!" Buck exploded. "Especially if that threatened your position!"

"It did," Sylvie said glumly. "And the reason I left was because not only did it threaten my position . . . but if twisted correctly, it would threaten Matt and Kelly's positions, too. That was not acceptable."

"The accusation towards you is what's unacceptable," Owen said stiffly. "Especially if it included outing you."

"I know," Sylvie buried her face in her hands.

Owen's hand rubbed up and down her back. "Cool down, you two," he ordered.

"Dad!"

"Cap – !"

"That's an order!" he barked.

Footsteps left the room, and Sylvie took a deep breath. "Thank you," she whispered.

"You're welcome," Owen squeezed her shoulder lightly. "Can I sit next to you?" She nodded, and she felt the couch dip. "If you need to be closer . . . " He left the offer open, and Sylvie timidly shifted on the couch. When Owen made no comment, she finally leaned against him, and Owen's arm wrapped around her shoulders. "That's why you left Chicago?" he asked.

She closed her eyes. "It wasn't just that," she whispered. "Outing me being polyamorous is one thing . . . it was also who I love."

Owen nodded, understanding immediately. "Casey and Severide?"

Sylvie winced. "I really am that obvious, aren't I?"

"You kind of are," Owen admitted. "But you're very open with how you feel about others, Sylvie. TK recommended you, yes, but part of what drew me to hoping you would say yes to the offer of being here is your openness. Your empathy, your love for others . . . just how big your heart is. It doesn't surprise me that you love more than one person; your heart has so much to give. Don't be shy in hiding it."

Sylvie peered up at him with a small smile. "You know, when TK said you accepted everyone no matter what community they belong to, I had a gut feeling about you, Owen," she said. "I'm glad I was right."

Owen smiled back. "I'm glad you had a good feeling."

"Cooled down now, Dad," TK's voice said hesitantly. Owen made a beckoning gesture, and Sylvie looked up as TK and Buck returned with drinks for all of them, both looking sheepish. "Sorry about that, Sylvie," TK whispered.

"I get it," she told them.

Buck sat down next, looking at his hands. "Chimney told the firehouse about Daniel," he revealed.

TK started. "Your brother?"

"How did he know?" Sylvie frowned.

"He just knew we had a brother," Buck shrugged. "He overheard Maddie and I talking, heard we had a brother . . . and then proceeded to not only not ask us about what he heard, but told the 118 that we have a brother we didn't share with them. He didn't have all the facts, and he didn't talk to us first. He basically said 'Buck has another sibling and never thought to share that fact with us.'"

"Which was completely wrong without the whole eavesdropping and sharing thing," TK scowled. "That was for you and Maddie to share!"

"I was a savior baby for our older brother, Daniel," Buck summed up for Owen. "Daniel didn't survive juvenile leukemia." Owen's face cleared of confusion, but he still looked angry on Buck's behalf. "Maddie told me just before you gave me the offer. We were going to tell the 118 on our own terms. Eddie accepted that, just like he accepted me telling TK and Sylvie first. When Chimney dropped that bomb in the firehouse . . . well." He shuddered. "I never want Eddie that angry at me."

"So that's what you meant when you said you wanted to work at a firehouse where you could trust more than just one person," Sylvie said softly.

"Yeah," Buck sighed. "No one tried to stop Chimney from spreading what he did. They also believed him pretty quickly. No one waited for my side of the story. Eddie was the only one who realized what was being told . . . then again, he was also the only one who knew there was a secret to share, so . . . " He shrugged uncomfortably. "I left Los Angeles."

"I'm glad you consider my house trustworthy," Owen said. "And I should be upfront with both of you." Sylvie looked at him curiously. "I'm getting treatment for Stage 1 lung cancer."

Buck inhaled sharply, and Sylvie froze. "From 9/11?" she guessed quietly.

"From 9/11," Owen confirmed. "It's Stage 1, and it got caught early. I'm getting treatment for it, and according to my doctors, the treatment is working. I'm not always going to be one hundred percent physically, but I promise as your captain, I will do my best to always have your backs one hundred percent. Especially your backs."

Buck looked timidly at him. "Really?"

"Really," Owen nodded firmly. "I know how to build teams, and I know how to do my best to make them a family, but my first priority is always my own family, and that included the two of you the moment TK never shut up about you." TK blushed, and Owen rubbed Sylvie's arm comfortingly. "The 126 is my house, and the ladder crew used to be what I rode. Squad 9 is my crew now, which means I basically adopted two new kids. You have each other, and I promise you have me, too. No matter what . . . and no matter what anyone says."

Sylvie's smile was genuine as she looked up at Owen. "Thanks, Owen."

"That . . . means more than you know," Buck confessed.

"I can only imagine," Owen shook his head. "But thank you for trusting me, both of you. I will do everything in my power to be worthy of it."

"You already are," Sylvie smiled, feeling her heartrate settle.

Owen nodded, then took the glass offered to him. "To Squad 9," he toasted. "Long may we ride."

TK laughed. "Long may we ride!"

Buttercup barked from his spot by TK's chair, and Sylvie laughed, a warm feeling in her stomach as the mood in the room lifted instantly, Buck changing the topic to some of his crazier rope rescues. TK often broke in with tales of his own from New York, Owen listening attentively while still using his thumb to stroke her arm. It was a contact that made a pleasant buzz in Sylvie's blood; she had seen Owen and TK throughout the day, and she had seen both men very comfortable in showing they cared about each other through their words and stray physical touch. To know Owen didn't mind being so open with her was comforting.

Austin was the right choice, she determined, taking a long sip of her water before launching into the tale of Matt and Kelly scaling the side of a building to rescue a woman from a hostage situation. If they were going to do outrageous rescues, she could throw several of Kelly's more reckless maneuvers out there.

She had a feeling it was going to be hard to beat a tsunami and a solar storm, though.

***

Can you tell I don't like Billy Tyson? The only time I ever liked him was when he helped Owen and Judd with TK and Carlos in 2x12. That's it. He's a bastard the rest of the time. Thank you, Owen, for punching the living daylights out of him in the finale.

But I wanted to highlight what Squad 9 can do here because next chapter . . . time jump and the start of the 9-1-1s! "Back in the Saddle" is next!

graphic by marvelity