Maddie arrives in Austin, Squad learns something from Nancy, MRI magnets and gurneys do not mix, neither do MRI magnets and metal on AFD uniforms, an attempt to help Tommy goes terribly wrong, and Squad is determined to make a statement.

And if it seems like I'm leaving stuff out of the summary because of how long this chapter is? I definitely am because I am so proud of the end of this chapter, I don't want to spoil anything.

Enjoy "Displaced!"

***

"And . . . how did you manage this?" Maddie asked in amusement as she swung her carry-on over her shoulder.

"Well," Bobby shrugged, removing her suitcase from the back of the battalion vehicle. "Being the captain has its perks. I just said there was somewhere important I needed to be."

Maddie's eyebrows shot up. "So you stole it."

Bobby snorted. "I borrowed it."

Maddie laughed as they walked into the airport. "Thank you for this, Bobby," she said appreciatively. "I asked around if anyone could drop me off, but it's a busy day for everyone, apparently."

"Now, who told you that, Buckette?" Athena's voice asked up ahead, and Maddie stopped in her tracks, eyes wide when she saw the police sergeant fold her arms.

"Well," Josh smiled sheepishly, May giggling behind him. "Everyone who wanted to surprise her at the airport."

"Including those who had to make sure they could fit this run in before work," Taylor agreed, Ana giving a shy smile.

Maddie looked from person to person, jaw open. "I think we broke her," May laughed.

"I don't know what to say," Maddie stammered.

"No need to say anything, Buckette," Athena smiled, stepping forward and giving her a hug. "You just be safe in Austin, you hear me?"

"You got it," Maddie smiled, hugging the woman who was more of a mother to her and Buck than their actual mother.

May bounced forward next, hugging Maddie tightly. "Thanks for teaching me everything," she said.

"You're welcome, May," Maddie squeezed her. "Keep an eye on Josh for me, alright?"

"I will."

Maddie raised an eyebrow at Josh. "That means you keep an eye on May, got it?"

"I got it," Josh agreed, holding his arms out.

Maddie hugged her friend tightly, closing her eyes. "And thank you for teaching me," she whispered.

"You're a natural, Maddie," Josh blinked tears out of his eyes. "Do us proud in Austin."

She merely nodded, then turned to the two women she never expected to have as friends. "I can't even begin to thank the two of you for everything after Buck left," she sniffed, tears in her eyes.

"You can start with a hug," Taylor hinted.

Maddie let out a watery laugh, hugging Taylor and Ana at the same time. "Thank you for being my friends," she whispered.

Taylor smiled into her hair. "You're welcome."

"Stay in contact, please?" Ana asked, smiling kindly at her. "For any reason at all."

"Absolutely," Taylor agreed. "Even if you just need a virtual girls' night."

"I will definitely do so," Maddie nodded.

The reporter and the teacher smiled happily, and Maddie finally turned to Bobby. The fire captain gave her a warm hug, one Maddie melted into. "You and Buck keep an eye on each other, OK?" Bobby told her.

Maddie giggled. "Pinky promise."

Bobby beamed at her. "Go get your brother."

Maddie nodded, taking her luggage and surveying the six who surprised her. "I'll let everyone know when I land," she said.

"Have a safe flight!" May waved.

Maddie waved back, then took a deep breath and headed further into the airport. Austin, here I come.

***

Buckette: Made it to Austin

Papa Bear: How's the heat?

Buckette: More like humid

Adopted Bear: I'm telling you

Adopted Bear: Wet towel

Junior Bear: Wet towel?

Papa Bear: It's what he called the humidity

Mama Bear: I thought that was San Angelo

Adopted Bear: And it was still humid even with wildfires

Adopted Bear: I don't understand humidity

Maddie giggled, exiting out of the chat as she headed for baggage claim. She knew the 126 had a shift that day, but Buck had promised someone would come to pick her up from the airport. She grabbed her suitcase from the track, then headed outside. She squinted in the sunlight, pulling out her phone to see who her ride would be.

"Maddie!"

Her head shot up at the familiar call, one she didn't expect with the 126 on shift. Leaning against the hood of a car was Nancy, a bright smile on the paramedic's face as she waved to her. "Nancy?" she asked in surprise, pulling her suitcase behind her.

"Hey!" she grinned. "Welcome to Austin, girl!"

"Thank you!" Maddie giggled, accepting the hug offered. "I thought the 126 is on shift today!"

"Oh, they are," Nancy nodded. "This is my last shift off before I return to work."

"Return?" Maddie repeated, looking her up and down worriedly. "Why? What happened? Did you get hurt?"

Nancy smiled at Maddie's concern. "Captain Vega and I were running through candidates to join the ambulance. One of them ran over my foot."

"Oh!" Maddie winced sympathetically.

"Yeah, so it's officially just going to be me and Captain Vega now," Nancy said happily; only Maddie's ER-nurse trained mind noted the very light limp in Nancy's step as the paramedic lifted Maddie's suitcase to put in the trunk. "I start next shift again."

"Well, at least you're going back pretty soon," Maddie said as she slipped into the passenger's seat. "Any interesting calls you missed?"

Nancy smirked. "Oh, girl . . . we missed quite the show."

***

"Ladder 126. Squad 9. EMS 99. Man down, unknown causes."

***

"Sometimes, I really wonder what dispatchers hear when folks call 9-1-1," Buck remarked as the teams walked up to the graveside funeral. "Like, the whole crossbow incident. Or when lava fills a swimming pool."

"Bull stuff," TK quipped.

"Bull stuff?" Eddie guffawed as he unwound his stethoscope.

"Judd found it a riot."

Owen shook his head as he listened to the three men, then nodded as Carlos joined them. "Our party crasher, was he covered in frostbite?" he asked.

Carlos nodded in confirmation. "First officer on scene thought it was rigor."

"Yeah, probably a stowaway," Owen mused, gesturing to the sky. "We're right in the flight path. Sometimes those guys ride in the wheel well. Used to get 'em all the time at JFK."

"Dropped when the landing gear came down?" Sylvie guessed.

Owen nodded in agreement as they stepped up to the two dead men on the ground. Eddie used his stethoscope to check the frostbitten man, and he shook his head. "No respiration," he reported. "No pulse." He paused, then pointed to the man in the suit, the one who had to have been in the coffin. "I don't need to check this guy, do I?"

Sylvie smirked. "No, I think we're good."

Judd sighed, shaking his head. "You'd think that the one place the crazy of this world might let you alone would be your own casket, but nope."

"I'll call this in to the ME's office," Sylvie stepped away.

Owen beckoned to the ladder crew. "Hey, guys? Let's cover him up before the ME gets here."

Judd nodded, and Paul joined Marjan with the tarp. "Can you imagine the stones it would take to stow away under a plane?" he wondered.

Marjan shrugged. "People get displaced by corruption, hunger, violence. They're desperate."

"Truth," Mateo agreed. "But how'd he ever think he was gonna survive this?"

"You'd be surprised," Owen shrugged. "Almost 25% of them do."

The trio unfolded the tarp, then Paul blinked. "Hold up," he said, crouching down. "Look at his hand." Eddie walked over, checking what Paul had seen. "How'd his glove slip off like that?"

"A 1,500-foot fall could have something to do with it," Marjan said dryly.

"The glove? Maybe," Eddie said, carefully turning the man's hand to reveal the scratches inside his wrist. "You don't get these from a fall."

"Maybe from an animal?" Buck guessed.

Paul leaned in and picked something out of one of the scratches. "Or a person," he said, holding a chipped nail up to the light. "Someone with a pink fingernail."

Owen gulped. "He wasn't alone."

***

The three rigs barreled down the streets of Austin, and Owen readjusted his headset when Grace came over the line. "No reports of any other bodies falling from the sky so far today, Captain," she said.

"Victim's ID said he's from San Pedro Sula, so we need information on every flight from Honduras that landed in the last half hour," Owen told her. "His traveling companion could still be trapped in the wheel well with exposure injuries."

"OK, you can't fly from Honduras into Austin-Bergstrom," Grace mumbled as she worked.

Owen frowned, thinking. "Maybe he crossed into Mexico, got on a flight there?"

"Let's see . . . last flight from Puerto Vallarta touched down two hours ago."

"No," Owen sighed. "Timeline doesn't work."

"Oh, wait," Grace's voice perked up. "I do see a cargo plane that just got in from Costa Rica, but before that, it made a stop in Honduras."

Owen nodded to TK, who stepped on the gas. "Right, what's the information on that?"

"We are getting details from Austin air traffic control as we speak. I'll let 'em know you're coming, Cap."

"OK, copy that. Thanks, Dispatch."

***

"Cap, we found it," Judd reported as the rigs pulled onto the runway. "It's a 757 on the south end of the tarmac. Colored pattern on the tail fin."

"There," Buck pointed out the windshield.

TK nodded, parking the rig, and Owen dropped out of the officer's seat. "Judd, make sure these wheels are chocked," he ordered, pointing around. "Make sure nobody starts the damn engines."

"On it, Cap," Judd ran off.

"Paul, Mateo, Marjan, you take the front wheel well," Owen continued. "Squad, with me."

"Did you ever get calls like these in L.A.?" TK asked Buck curiously as they set up the ladder for Owen.

"Nope," Buck shook his head. "We had airplane calls, but no one falling out of wheel wells."

"They don't always end well, so be grateful," Owen sighed as he climbed up the ladder.

TK watched him click the light on. "See anything?" he asked.

Owen frowned, sweeping the light across the wheel well . . . then his light hit the face of a woman inside, and he almost fell off the ladder in shock. "I found her!" he yelled. Workers swarmed quickly to lower the wheel well, and Buck and TK readjusted the ladder. Owen climbed up to check on the woman, and he put a hand to her pulse, wincing at her skin temperature. "She's unconscious, severely hypothermic."

Buck sighed, clicking his radio on. "Medical, we need you under the right wing. Now."

Sylvie pulled the ambulance up close as the three Squad firefighters lowered the woman to the ground, and Eddie jumped out of the passenger's seat. "Stats, Eddie," Sylvie ordered, placing a saline bag on top of the engine.

Eddie nodded, checking the woman's pulse and temperature. "Pulse is weak," he reported. "Temp's at 79 degrees."

"Wrap her up in a blanket," Sylvie told him. "Start a line while this warms up."

Eddie nodded, edging back as Buck helped him wrap the woman in a blanket. He leaned over to insert the IV line, then taped the line in place. When it was completed, Eddie picked up the thermometer and placed it in the woman's ear, checking her temperature again. "Cap! Her temp is dropping! It's 78!" Sylvie snatched the saline bag and ran over as Eddie put two fingers on the woman's neck. "She's going into cardiac arrest," he continued as Sylvie started the saline line. "She's too cold." He looked at the heart monitor when it flatlined. "Pulse is lost."

"Push two milligrams of epinephrine," Sylvie ordered, then held the saline bag up to TK. "Hold this and keep squeezing."

"Copy," TK nodded.

Sylvie crouched down, looking at Eddie. "Temp check?"

Eddie checked the thermometer. "79, but she's in asystole."

"Starting compressions," Sylvie leaned over the woman, pressing on her chest rhythmically.

Eddie kept two fingers on the woman's pulse, checking the thermometer. "80," he reported the increase. "But still no pulse."

"Come on," Sylvie seethed, TK and Buck exchanging worried looks. "Come on, girl!"

The heart monitor beeped, and Eddie grinned. "Temp's rising to 81, and you have a pulse."

Sylvie sighed in relief, watching the woman's eyes blink open. "¿Dónde estoy?" she mumbled.

"Bienvenida a Texas," Eddie responded with a smile.

The woman shifted her head side to side, obviously searching. "Mi hermano," she said. "Hector. ¿Dónde está?"

Eddie swallowed. "Lo siento mucho," he told her. "Hector no sobrevivió."

The woman's eyes filled with tears, and she let out a gross sob. "¡No, no!" she cried, and Sylvie looked down at her hands. "¡No quiero estar aquí! ¡Quiero ir a casa!"

***

"Hey! Buck!" TK called from the driver's seat. "That's Nancy's car!"

"It is?" Buck perked up from the back seat, checking out the window. Sure enough, he recognized Nancy's car as TK stopped, and Buck scrambled out of the back of the rig and jogged into the firehouse. He recognized his sister's dark hair instantly from where she and Nancy were in the kitchenette. "Maddie!" he cheered.

"Hey!" Maddie smiled happily, sliding off her stool to let herself be swung into a hug by her brother. "Oh, it's so good to see you!"

"Welcome to Austin, Mads," Buck kissed her cheek.

"Oh, it's good to finally be here," Maddie beamed.

"Hey, Maddie!" Eddie waved as he guided Sylvie to back into the garage.

"Hi, Eddie!" Maddie waved back.

"Yeah, I have a bone to pick with you about that," Buck scowled. "You knew Eddie was coming to Austin?"

"And I was sworn to secrecy," Maddie giggled. "Didn't you like the surprise?"

"Considering it stopped him from killing me for keeping it secret?" Sylvie exited the ambulance. "Yes."

"Yeah, I don't think it's good if a firefighter kills a superior officer, so it was a great surprise," Owen nodded.

Maddie snickered. "You sent Christopher in first, didn't you?"

"I absolutely did," Sylvie grinned, accepting Owen's fist-bump.

"Stopped him from killing me, too," Eddie nodded.

Buck groaned. "Like I would ever kill you, Eds."

"Oh, but not me?" Sylvie's eyebrows shot up.

"Wow, I'm feeling loved," Owen rolled his eyes.

"Don't worry, Dad," TK smiled innocently. "I still love you."

"Thank you, son."

"Thanks," Sylvie huffed.

"Don't you have two officers back in Chicago who love you, Cap?" Nancy smiled cheekily.

Sylvie squawked, and Buck burst out laughing. "Yes, Nancy!" he raised his hand for a high-five.

"I hate you!" Sylvie whined as Nancy high-fived Buck. "Why can't you miss next shift, too?"

"Because I need to get back to work, or I'm going to go insane," Nancy gestured wildly to her foot. "At least Maddie's keeping me entertained."

"Happy to," Maddie smiled.

"Hey," Owen leaned on the countertop. "You know where you're staying for the meantime?"

"Uh, well," Maddie brushed her hair behind her ear. "Captain Vega offered the spare bedroom at her house, but I know she's got the twins . . . "

"I've got a spare room at my place," Nancy offered.

Maddie blinked, looking at her in surprise. "Really?"

"Yeah," Nancy nodded. "Sometimes after rough shifts, Tim and I were too dead on our feet to drive ourselves home alone. Depending on who was more awake, they drove home and let the other crash. You're welcome to the room if you'd like while you get settled."

Maddie smiled bashfully. "Thank you, Nancy. I'd appreciate it."

"You're welcome," Nancy smiled.

"We're looking forward to having you back, Nancy," Owen patted her shoulder.

"Thanks, Cap," Nancy ducked her head bashfully.

"And welcome to Texas, Maddie," Owen added. "Good to have both Buckleys in the same state."

"Glad to be here," Maddie smiled.

Owen nodded, then headed for the staircase to complete his report. TK and Eddie headed back to the rigs, but Buck and Sylvie remained, watching Nancy and Maddie go back to chatting as if they weren't interrupted. They looked at each other at the same time, the same inquisitive look in their eyes.

***

"Right," Nancy opened the door to her spare bedroom, gesturing for Maddie to look inside. "It's got everything you need in here. Bed, dresser, closet . . . we'll have to share the bathroom down the hall, it's the only full bath in the apartment."

"That's fine, Nancy," Maddie smiled, setting her luggage inside. "Honestly, this is more than I expected when I first got here. Thank you so much for this."

"Hey, you're doing me a favor, honestly," Nancy chuckled as Maddie left the room. "It's been getting a little lonely recently, especially since I was out with a bum foot. I've never really had cabin fever before, and this?" She exaggerated a shudder. "Awful. Never again."

Maddie laughed. "Then I guess I shouldn't be in a hurry to move out?"

"I mean . . . " Nancy shrugged. "Up to you. I certainly wouldn't mind."

Maddie bit her lip, smiling at the casual nonchalance. "We'll see."

"Pizza's here!" TK hollered from the door.

"Then again, if you being here means my apartment's gonna be a new hang-out place," Nancy rolled her eyes.

"Nah!" Buck shook his head as he helped TK with the pizza. "Just a 'welcome to Austin' hang for the night. Y'know, since Christopher is all over being at the Vegas' household. I think I just got bumped from his favorites list."

"I think everyone is getting bumped from his favorites list," Eddie said dryly. "It's all Isabella this, Evie that. Especially Evie."

"Oh, God, is he in the crush stage already?" Owen blinked.

"Jesus Christ, I hope not," Eddie shook his head rapidly; TK burst out laughing at the pale look on Buck's face, too. "No, he likes watching Evie and Isabella practice."

"Practice?" Maddie asked in surprise. "What for?"

"Oh," Owen nodded. "Evie's in taekwondo, right? Isabella's in dance." The four members of his squad company turned to him in surprise, and Owen threw his hands up defensively. "What? Tommy and I talk."

"Wait," TK balked. "If you talk about her daughters . . . ?"

"I haven't said anything too damning about you," Owen patted TK's cheek comfortingly.

TK groaned. "Come on!"

Nancy rolled her eyes fondly as she gathered glasses from her cabinets for the drinks. "This is part of what I don't miss from before Buck and Sylvie joined the house."

"Hmm?" Eddie raised an eyebrow.

"Right, you missed it," Nancy nodded. "Kind of existed before the house was rebuilt, too." She put the glasses down. "Think of the firehouse as a school cafeteria," she said. "Tim had this theory that the firefighters are the jocks, and the paramedics are the science nerds with peanut allergies."

Owen blinked, wrinkling his nose. "I don't like that comparison."

Nancy snorted. "Neither did we." She went back to the cabinets, missing the startled looks Owen and TK were giving each other. "That's why it was a relief when Buck and Sylvie joined the house. They didn't see that divide."

"We never really had that divide at the 118," Buck looked at Eddie.

"Nope," Eddie agreed. "Then again, Hen and Chim were both firefighters, too, even though they were the paramedics when we went out on calls."

"51 never really had that problem, either," Sylvie nodded.

"This coming from the best friend of two highly-respected officers," Nancy pointed out.

Sylvie winced. "Good point."

"I never realized it was like that before," TK murmured.

"Cool kids never do," Nancy shrugged.

Maddie grimaced. "I hope it's not like that at Dispatch."

"Well, if it is, we have it on pretty good authority that Grace will kick everyone's asses for you," Sylvie laughed. "She's pretty awesome." A chirp came from Eddie's phone, and he blinked, looking through his pockets. "Everything OK?" Sylvie asked.

"Yeah, I just left this on in case the Vegas called and something happened," Eddie mumbled, checking his phone, and he grinned. "Oh, my God."

"Is that a good 'oh, my God' or a bad one?" Owen frowned.

"Considering he's smiling," Nancy tilted his head.

"No, that's the realtor you hooked me up with," Eddie grinned at Sylvie. "That house you helped us look at the other day and I put an offer on?"

Sylvie gasped, eyes wide. "You got it?"

"Yeah, we got it!" Eddie laughed in relief.

"Oh, good!" Sylvie cheered, giving him a hug.

"Congrats, Eddie!" TK whooped.

"Now you and Chris aren't cooped up in that motel," Buck agreed.

"Thank goodness," Eddie sighed. "I'm not sure who would've gone crazy first, me or him."

"Probably Chris," Buck answered at once.

Eddie snickered. "Yeah. Definitely Chris."

Owen watched the four celebrate, then caught the wistful look on Nancy's face. "Hey," he scooted his chair closer, seeing Maddie do the same. "It'll be better when you come back to the house. We'll work on this divide you saw."

"It's not that, Cap," Nancy hastened to assure him. "This is the bond you have with your crew. It's just . . . "

She trailed off, and Maddie leaned closer. "What?" she prompted.

Nancy sighed, opening one of the pizza boxes and taking a slice. "I just hope Captain Vega and I can have what Eddie and Sylvie have."

Owen watched Sylvie go into what he affectionately called her "HGTV star" mode as she bragged to Buck and TK about Eddie's new residence, and he shook his head. "You'll get there," he said confidently. "It's just something you'll need to work towards."

Nancy smiled shyly. "Thanks, Cap."

***

"You know what I don't miss about being a firefighter?"

"What's that?"

"Having this big a rig to wash."

Buck laughed loudly from where he and TK were restocking, overhearing Eddie and Sylvie as they watched the ladder crew clean their rig. "He's got a pretty good point," TK admitted with a smirk.

"You know what, Diaz?" Mateo scoffed. "I'd like to see you come out here and show us how to do it better."

"Maybe once your rag isn't so streaky," Eddie sniffed, taking a sip of coffee.

Sylvie threw back her head and cackled, making Marjan shake her head. "Hey, ignore them," Marjan waved Mateo off. "He's just trying to get a rise out of you."

"You know what could use a rise?" Eddie tilted his head. "Your tire pressure."

That set off Buck and TK, making Paul scowl at Eddie. "How about you go practice CPR on a dummy or something, huh?"

"Sure, he can do that," Sylvie smiled sweetly. "When are you available, Strickland?"

Paul's jaw dropped, and Eddie almost fell off where he sat on the bumper of the ambulance due to laughter. "Oh, damn!" Buck choked.

"Cocker spaniel's got claws!" TK crowed.

Paul sighed. "Great. I'm a dummy now."

"Who's trying to kill my company?" Owen frowned, leaning out from the kitchenette.

"That's all Sylvie, Cap!" Nancy snickered from restocking her ambulance.

Owen sighed. "'Course it is."

"Ah, damn."

Buck turned when he heard TK, and he saw the man deflate as he checked his phone. "What is it?" he asked.

"Well, you know we're having a celebration at Carlos's to celebrate my one year of sobriety," TK began.

"Yeah, I know," Buck nodded, smiling gently. "Congratulations on that, brother."

"Thanks," TK preened. "But I just got a message from Amanda in New York. They can't make it."

"They can't?" Buck repeated, sighing sadly. "I'm sorry, TK."

"No, I understand why," TK shook his head. "I honestly shouldn't have gotten my hopes up about them being able to come. They're police officers, I know that at any point, they can get a case that eats up their time." He sighed, pocketing his phone. "At least everyone at the firehouse is able to come."

"Like we'd miss it," Buck swatted his shoulder. "Not for the world."

***

"And thankfully, one of the other dispatchers had to switch their times, so you get right next to me," Grace told Maddie as they walked through the dispatch center.

"Thank you so much for this, Grace," Maddie told her gratefully. "I mean, not just for showing me around, but also vouching for me."

"You're Buck's sister, and that makes you family," Grace patted her shoulder. "We all look out for each other here in Austin, sweetheart. I'm glad you're here."

"I am, too," Maddie smiled shyly.

Grace gestured to her chair, then sat at the desk on her other side. "Let's get to work, shall we?"

Maddie nodded in agreement, sitting at her desk. She took a deep breath, grateful that most of the equipment and protocols were the same as in Los Angeles, and thanks to Grace letting her shadow last time, she knew her way around Austin's equipment very well. She put her headset on, then clicked her keyboard to take the first call. "9-1-1, what's your emergency?" she asked.

"That idiot from pediatrics is stuck to the MRI machine," an annoyed woman's voice answered.

Maddie blinked. "Inside the MRI machine?" she asked, typing the information into her monitor.

"No . . . on it!"

Maddie did a double take in shock, then took a deep breath and clicked the button to dispatch units. "Squad 9, EMS 99," she said clearly. "Heavy rescue and medical."

***

"He's in bad shape," the MRI technician said as she led the 126 squad company down the halls of the hospital.

"What about the patient inside the machine?" Sylvie asked.

"She's responsive," the technician answered, keying a code to enter the observation room. "She's spooked, but she's fine."

She opened the door and led them inside, and Owen whistled, looking at the man thrashing on the MRI machine, held in place by a metal gurney. "Oh, boy."

"You can't just turn it off?" Buck asked.

Right away, the technician shook her head. "It's a 7T magnet, strongest on the market. You can't just turn it off. The magnet has to be quenched."

"How does that happen?" Eddie frowned.

"There should be a safety button in there that will overheat the magnet and kill it," Owen peered through the glass in the observation room.

"The problem is we can't access the button," the technician explained. "It's on the front of the machine."

TK sighed. "Let me guess . . . it's somewhere behind that gurney."

The technician nodded, and Owen rubbed his hands together. "OK, tell your staff to step away please." He turned to his company, the four straightening to attention. "Alright, gang, we're gonna have to get in there and get to that button. Anybody who's got metal rods, steel in their body, raise their hand."

Surprisingly, Eddie was the only one in the company that raised his hand. "Few small shrapnel pieces from my time in the army," he explained. "Safer to leave them in than take them out."

Owen sighed. "OK, you're out." He looked at the rest of the company, seeing them look back and forth between each other. "Sylvie?"

"Earrings, but they can come out," Sylvie gestured. "I got lucky with the Arnow fire, no need for a plate or pin or anything. Still got all my original parts."

Owen nodded, relieved at least one paramedic was clear. "Buck?"

"Screws and rod from my crush injury were all able to come out," Buck told him. "Clean as a whistle, Cap."

Owen nodded, then raised an eyebrow at his son. "And TK? Any metal in your body I should know about?"

TK snickered. "No, sir."

"Alright, you'll be Sylvie's second for medical while this magnet is still running," Owen decided. "Buck and I should be good to do this on our own. Let's get the wooden mallets, get the rubber pressure bags, and we're gonna cover up all these electrical fittings."

The four nodded, then Buck frowned. "Wait . . . what about the metal in our uniforms?"

Owen smiled uneasily. "I was just getting to that."

***

Eddie was relieved beyond measure that he was the only one inside the observation area, ready for his part of the rescue, as Owen, Buck, and TK raced into the MRI room, stripped of every part of their uniform that included metal. That left them in their undershirts, boxer briefs, and socks . . . and Eddie was trying very, very hard not to focus on Buck.

TK scampered up to check on the whining Devon, slipping on a stethoscope to check his pulse. Eddie was very glad that it was not Sylvie who was up there . . . after all, the paramedic captain, like Tommy, preferred not to wear an undershirt under her uniform. That left her even more scantily clad than the men in just her sports bra, underwear, and socks. She didn't look too comfortable like that, either. Eddie could only imagine how much she did not want to stand with the man's eyes directly in front of her chest.

"Help me!" Devon panted.

"We're gonna get you down," Owen promised. "But I need you to save your strength."

"ABCs?" Sylvie called to TK.

"His airways are clear, but I'm hearing a stridor," TK answered. "Possible pneumothorax. Toss me the – " He just started to turn, but Sylvie was already pitching the C-collar to him. "Ah! Nice."

Owen and Buck went to work placing the wood planks, and Sylvie maneuvered to check between Devon and the gurney. "It's crushing his lungs!" she called.

"Alright, place the bag," Owen ordered.

Buck slid in next to him, fitting the airbag into the slot between the MRI and the gurney. "In!"

"Eddie!" Owen shouted over his shoulder. "Inflate!"

Eddie nodded, flipping the switches to inflate the bag. "Filling her up, Cap."

"Buck, go help them with the gurney," Owen ordered. Buck nodded, bounding around to find where he could get a good grip. The fire captain eyed the gap between the gurney and the machine, and he held up a hand to cut Eddie off. "OK, that's good! I can get my hand in to the quench!" Eddie nodded, stopping the flow of air. "Listen," Owen looked up at TK. "When I do this, make sure he doesn't fall."

"Copy," TK nodded, adjusting his grip on Devon.

"Alright, here we go!" Owen called.

"Let's get this over with," Sylvie took a deep breath.

"If we go out after shift, I'm buying every round you want," TK promised.

Sylvie grimaced. "I may hold you to that."

"Three!" Owen counted. "Two! One!" He hit the button to overheat the magnet, and the gurney fell to the ground, right into Buck and Sylvie's hands. TK supported Devon as Eddie raced into the room, his and Sylvie's bags in his hands. "Nice and easy," Owen ordered, helping TK set Devon on the backboard.

"Devon, can you hear me?" Sylvie jogged over as Eddie replaced TK.

Eddie checked both sides of Devon's chest, then nodded. "Bilateral chest rise," he said.

"What does that mean?" Devon rasped.

"It means your lungs didn't collapse," Sylvie answered, patting his arm.

"Why does it hurt so much?"

Sylvie gave a crooked smile. "Because you cracked some ribs."

"But I'm gonna be OK?"

Sylvie chuckled, appreciating that Devon was focusing on her face and nowhere else. "You might need an MRI to be sure," she answered, laughing when Devon paled. "Probably just not here." Devon nodded in agreement, making both paramedics laugh. "Captain Strand, will you travel him to the ER?"

"You bet," Owen nodded, gesturing to Buck and TK. "Come on, boys. Nice and easy on three. One, two, three!"

They hefted Devon up and out of the room, and Sylvie gestured to Eddie. "Check on our friend inside, will you?"

Eddie nodded, jogging over to peer inside the MRI machine. "Hello?" the woman – Jackie, according to the technician – called. "Can somebody please get me out of here?"

"Sure thing, miss," Eddie nodded, holding out a hand. "Go ahead, I got you." He watched as she carefully exited the machine. "Nice and easy, watch your head. Slowly, OK . . . step down, right there." Jackie sighed as she stepped down, and Eddie was about to check her over when his eyes zeroed in on the pin in her neck. "Uh . . . " he gulped. "Ma'am . . . don't move." He turned to find Sylvie rifling through her bag. "Cap!"

"What is it?" Jackie frowned, reaching for her neck.

"No, no, no," Eddie began, then flinched when she removed the pin. Jackie gurgled and collapsed back on the board, her blood spraying all over Eddie. "Cap!" he yelled.

Sylvie rushed to his side, medical bag in hand. "What happened?" she demanded.

"She had a pin in her neck," Eddie answered, scrambling to cover the bloody hole. "I think it got her carotid!"

"She's aspirating blood," Sylvie swallowed, watching blood bubble out of Jackie's mouth. "OK. Eddie, I need you to hold this wound."

"With what?" Eddie blinked at her.

"Your thumb!" Eddie nodded, taking a deep breath and adjusting his hand. "The shard must have sliced her trachea," Sylvie muttered. "She can't breathe."

"Tracheotomy?" Eddie guessed.

"Tracheotomy," Sylvie confirmed, digging through her bag and pulling out a scalpel and tracheostomy tube.

Eddie placed his other hand on Jackie's other shoulder, holding her in place. "She's going into respiratory arrest," he warned.

"Hold her still," Sylvie ordered. Eddie nodded, and Sylvie carefully sliced the scalpel across Jackie's throat. When the cut was made, Sylvie inserted the tube. "Alright, Jackie, I just need you to breathe."

Jackie gasped, and Eddie nodded. "Respiration's back," he said. "She's stabilizing."

"That's it," Sylvie smiled proudly. "Atta girl!" Jackie hazily nodded, and Sylvie stood up straight. "Let's get a gurney in here and let the OR know that we're coming."

"Uh, Cap?" Eddie straightened. "Do you, uh . . . do you want me to do that instead?"

Sylvie paused, then looked herself up and down. "Right," she blushed. "Uh . . . good idea."

"Yeah," Eddie nodded in agreement, swapping places with Sylvie. "I'll be right back."

"Quicker, the better, honestly," Sylvie mumbled.

***

"Y'all good?" Judd asked as Owen left the squad rig, shifting so he could direct the ambulance back into the bay. "Heard an MRI went psycho on your asses."

"Oh, it wasn't our asses it went psycho on," Owen shook his head. "Though I don't want a call like that again just because of that super magnet."

"Yeah, I agree," TK left the driver's seat. "I prefer the full uniform, thank you very much."

"Full uniform?" Marjan repeated.

Owen held up a fist, and the ambulance stopped. "Yeah," he nodded. "Full uniform. All metal still on the body, y'know?"

"Wait," Paul's eyes widened. "So because of the magnet . . . ?"

"Yeah," Buck huffed. "We had to strip."

"And I couldn't even enter the room until the magnet was quenched," Eddie added, leaving the driver's seat.

"Whoa!" Mateo gawked, seeing the blood covering Eddie's uniform. "What happened to you?"

"Carotid artery," Eddie shrugged, unbuttoning his uniform shirt to remove it. "At least it wasn't all over my skin."

"Yeah," Sylvie walked around the ambulance, covered neck to toe, her jacket zipped to her throat. "That's a plus."

Marjan winced sympathetically. "I'm so sorry about that, Sylvie."

"Oh, it could've been worse," the blonde shrugged. "The guy trapped kept his eyes to himself. Now, I'm gonna go soak until I feel comfortable coming back out, and then I'm gonna FaceTime someone who I highly doubt will be stripping me with their eyes like a few of those staff members were."

"Yeah, I need to hit the shower, too," Eddie wrinkled his nose as he examined his skin.

"I'll work on restocking while you guys are there," Nancy volunteered.

"Thanks, Nance!" Eddie saluted, jogging after Sylvie to the locker rooms.

***

It only took ten minutes for Eddie to return, no longer in his uniform shirt but a black undershirt. "Thank you for this, Nancy," he said in relief.

"No problem," Nancy grinned. "Almost finished, actually."

"Seriously?" Tommy's groan came closer from the kitchenette, and Nancy looked up from EMS 99's checklist as her captain rounded the corner, scowling at her tablet. "Perfect! This is just perfect!"

"What's the trouble, Cap?" Nancy asked.

"The house Wi-Fi is down, and Evie's black belt test starts in fifteen minutes, and Charles is going to FaceTime me, but . . . " Tommy smacked her tablet in annoyance. "Damn it!" She shook her head. "I can't believe I'm gonna miss this."

"You won't," Nancy declared, walking over to her bag and finding her phone. "Use my hotspot, Cap. It's 5G. I'm FancyNancy14. Password Buster, with a big B."

Tommy sagged in relief as she took Nancy's phone. "Nancy, you . . . you are a lifesaver."

Nancy grinned smugly. "Kind of in the job description."

"Christopher always gets so excited talking about Evie," Eddie smiled fondly. "And Isabella dances, right?"

"She's my ballerina," Tommy confirmed.

"Black belt test," Eddie shook his head, impressed. "That's a pretty big deal."

"The biggest," Tommy agreed. "She's been working towards this half her life."

"Then you should totally be there!"

Nancy scowled. "Way to rub it in."

Eddie held up his hand, gesturing for her to wait. "Where is it?" he asked. "The . . . dojo?"

"Dojang," Tommy corrected. "And it's way across town, on Kenneth and Godwin."

Eddie thought for a few seconds. "That's in the 126's service zone, right?" he asked.

Nancy nodded. "But we're at work," she reminded him.

"Well . . . " Eddie trailed off, looking at their ambulance. "Your ambulance is work. Why not take work with you?"

Nancy frowned, eyeing the rig, then got what Eddie was saying. "And if we take the rig to . . . say, have lunch in our zone, and we get a call while we're in that zone . . . "

"We'd take that call," Tommy finished, eyes brightening.

"That totally works!" Nancy grinned, looking at Tommy. "We can make it there in fifteen minutes!"

"Nancy, you're driving," Tommy decided.

Nancy nodded in agreement as Tommy headed for the passenger's seat. "Now let's hope there's no traffic lights," she muttered.

"Well, if there are," Eddie smirked. "You have lights and sirens."

"Shut up!" Nancy laughed, swatting at him as she climbed into the driver's seat.

Eddie merely saluted as the ambulance left the station, chuckling as Buck walked up to him. "Did they get a call?" the other man asked. "I didn't hear the bells."

"If they get one, they'll take it," Eddie shrugged. "I just figured Captain Vega should get to see her daughter take her black belt test in person, don't you think?"

Buck smiled at Eddie. "You're amazing, you know that?"

Eddie preened at the praise. "I know."

***

Nancy put the ambulance in park at the dojang, and Tommy gave her a thankful smile before racing for the entrance. Nancy settled back to wait, pulling out her phone and texting Eddie.

Nancy: Made it with minutes to spare. Thanks for the idea.

She was surprised when her phone rang a few seconds later, the screen showing Eddie's number. She blinked in surprise, putting her phone on speaker. "Everything good, Eddie?"

"Everything's fine!" Eddie assured her. "Just glad you were able to make it and I didn't just screw the other paramedic captain over for you."

"Eddie said Evie's black belt test is today?" Sylvie's voice chimed in.

"Yeah, in . . . " Nancy checked her watch. "Two minutes, by my count."

"Whew," Sylvie sighed in relief. "I knew classmates in Fowlerton who had that test. It was always a big deal."

"So I hear," Nancy rolled her eyes fondly. "That's why Cap was so anxious to make it." She paused, hearing the sound of a glass door opening and closing, and she balked, seeing Tommy walk down the sidewalk, her face set like stone. "Wait . . . that was quick."

"She's on her way back already?" Sylvie asked in surprise.

"Yeah," Nancy swallowed. "And she looks . . . not good."

"What do you think happened?" Eddie asked hesitantly.

Nancy quickly hung up, putting her phone on the arm rest as Tommy opened the passenger door. "Cap?" she asked hesitantly.

"Just drive," Tommy said curtly, buckling herself in and grabbing her tablet.

Nancy wilted, revving the engine again and pulling back onto the street.

***

Kelly's phone rang as Tony drove down the road back to 51, and he looked through his pockets, finally finding his phone. He saw the FaceTime notification, and he sat back, answering the call. "Sylvie?" he asked, finding a grip on the rig as Tony swerved slightly at the sound of her name. "You good?"

"I'm fine," Sylvie promised, the paramedic brushing her hair out of her eyes; Kelly saw the background shift, signaling she was walking through the firehouse. "I just needed a break."

Kelly frowned, narrowing his eyes. "That doesn't sound like you're fine."

"What happened to Sylvie?" Joe poked his head over the seat.

"Cruz says hi," Kelly added, angling the phone.

"Hi!" Joe waved.

She giggled, waving. "Hi, Joe! Hey, Capp! Tony!"

"Hi Brett!" the two other men called.

Sylvie sighed happily. "Oh, I needed you boys today."

"Happy to oblige," Kelly leaned back, then frowned. "Wait a minute . . . did you run through a sprinkler or something?"

"No," Sylvie shook her head, running a hand through her wet hair. "Got out of the shower, actually."

Kelly's eyebrows raised. "Must've been one hell of a call you were on if you got dirty enough to need one."

Sylvie fidgeted. "I, uh . . . that actually wasn't a problem." Kelly tilted his head, confused, and she sighed. "Have you ever had a call because of an MRI machine?"

"An MRI?" Kelly repeated, thinking back. "No, not that I can think of. What happened with an MRI machine?"

"The magnet sucked the gurney to the machine, and it trapped one guy," Sylvie explained. "So we had to go into the room while the magnet was still active because the gurney trapped the button to quench it."

Kelly hissed through his teeth. "That sounds exciting." He paused, an important detail catching his attention. "But if you went into that room while the magnet was still active . . . " He shook his head. "You've got metal on your uniforms!"

"Yeah, that was a problem," Sylvie nodded. "So we had to ditch every part of our uniform that had metal."

Kelly did not like where his mind went. "Please tell me you have some sort of metal in your body so you didn't have to strip?"

Joe yelped when the rig swerved even more. "Tony!"

"Sorry!" the driver apologized, righting the rig. "I just . . . what happened?"

"Sadly, Eddie's the only one who bowed out due to shrapnel remnants," Sylvie shook her head with a grimace. "I've been shot at with a crossbow and had seafood vomit all over me . . . and yet I never felt more uncomfortable on a call in nothing but underwear."

"Holy shit, Sylvie," Kelly shook his head, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Captain Strand owes you so many rounds when you're done with your shift."

"Believe me, that's the plan," Sylvie rolled her eyes. "And TK's already called dibs on that. He volunteered before we even got the magnet shut down. At least Eddie brought his jacket in with him so I could wear that until I found a restroom to get back in uniform."

Kelly sighed in relief. "Remind me to get Eddie something he needs the next time I see him."

"Noted," Sylvie giggled, then looked off screen. "Tommy's team is back," she said. "I'll catch you guys later, alright?"

"Alright," Kelly agreed. "Hope the rest of shift is better for you."

"Fingers crossed," Sylvie huffed. "Bye, Kelly."

"Bye, Sylv." She ended the call, and Kelly sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "I was not expecting that," he muttered under his breath.

"And how are you gonna break that kind of a call to Casey?" Capp couldn't help but ask.

"I was gonna cross that bridge when I got to it."

There was an awkward moment of silence in the cabin, then Joe twisted to ask, "And have either of you told her about Casey's head injury?"

"I figured Casey would," Kelly said flatly.

All three of his crew snorted. "Yeah, be prepared for her to have no idea," Tony shook his head. "All due respect to the captain of the house . . . "

"He's stubborn as hell," Capp interrupted, and Tony nodded, pointing over his shoulder to indicate his agreement with his partner. "He probably hasn't said a word."

"And fair warning," Joe added. "The rest of Squad 9 already knows."

"They do?!" Kelly whipped around, eyes wide.

"Because we were trying to figure out who tells Brett!" Joe defended himself. "If you guys don't, Captain Strand promised he would."

Kelly sighed, rubbing his forehead. "You couldn't have mentioned that beforehand?" he griped.

"We would've," Capp shrugged. "But then we thought you got murdered by Casey and Grainger."

Kelly blinked. "When did that happen?"

Tony sniggered. "When they came back to the firehouse with the rig and you were missing."

Kelly sighed, rolling his eyes. "Of course it was."

***

"They drove all that way only to turn around and leave?" Buck's jaw dropped.

"According to Nancy," Eddie nodded solemnly, and Owen let out a quiet curse as he passed out second rounds of drinks. "All the way to the dojang . . . and Captain Vega didn't say a single word on the way back."

"Crushing silence, was how Nancy described it," Sylvie sighed. "She was praying for a call the entire time, anything to lighten up the mood."

"And she stuck to herself the entire rest of the shift," Eddie finished.

"Oh, my God," TK buried his head in his arms. "Poor Nancy . . . "

"I honestly thought we'd been doing better in the house," Owen confessed, taking a sip of his tequila. "Especially ever since Squad got established."

"Well, that was when a paramedic was actually riding with firefighters," Buck pointed out. "And now that it's back to firefighters on rigs and paramedics on ambulances . . . "

He left it hanging open, and TK smacked the tabletop, a determined glint in his green eyes. "We gotta do something," he declared. "I don't know, something to show Nancy that we're not gonna have that divide anymore."

"It's gotta be something meaningful to her, though," Eddie told them. "That's going to show her we mean what we're saying."

Sylvie tapped her fingers on the table thoughtfully, then she snapped her fingers. "I've got an idea," she said. "I need to make a call or two to make sure it's feasible, especially since Captain Vega would have to agree . . . though I'm pretty sure she will."

"I've got one, too," Owen agreed. "One that's been kind of backed up, but after this? Definitely pushing it to top priority."

"Maybe something from each company?" TK suggested. "One from Ladder, one from Squad?"

"My idea would be best from Ladder," Sylvie told Owen.

He grinned. "What a coincidence . . . mine would be best coming from Squad."

"So," Buck leaned in conspiratorially. "What's the plan?"

***

The shrill ringtone made Matt jerk out of his light slumber as Kelly drove them back from Molly's, and he frowned, checking his Caller ID. He blinked in surprise, then put his phone on speaker. "Evening, Sylvie," he said. "You're on speaker."

"I was hoping I'd catch you and Kelly at the same time," Sylvie's smile was audible. "Evening, Kelly!"

"Hey, Sylvie," Kelly grinned. "What's up?"

"Well, the firehouse is planning something for Nancy," Sylvie began. "And there's two separate projects we're working on. One's already green-lit, Owen's just fast-tracking it to completion."

Matt nodded. "And the second one?"

"That's something I kind of need your input on."

Matt and Kelly exchanged looks. "What do you need?" Kelly finally asked.

***

The 126 was plotting, and Nancy didn't like it.

Scratch that, she hated it . . . because Maddie was obviously involved. Her new roommate was often on her phone, and she was often shifty about who she was speaking to. It was obvious whenever it was a friend from Los Angeles, but other than that . . . nothing. Even Sylvie and Eddie were sharing secretive smiles at work, and if Nancy didn't ship the newest paramedic with his best friend, she would think the two were hiding a personal relationship.

So she was surprised when she got a call from Captain Vega asking her to come to the 126 the day after shift. She parked in the lot and headed up the stairs, seeing Tommy in her office. She was so focused on going to speak to her captain that she missed the mad, silent scramble on the apparatus floor to get everything ready. "Captain Vega?" she knocked on the door.

Tommy looked up, and she gave a bright smile; Nancy was thrown by the complete 180 from the earlier shift. "Nancy!" she greeted, standing from her desk. "Thank you for coming in."

"Sure," Nancy nodded, hands in her pockets. "So, what's up?"

"Come on," Tommy gestured, and Nancy blinked, following Tommy back down the stairs. "We were hoping that you could help us with something."

"We?" Nancy parroted, frowning in confusion. "Who's we?"

Tommy led her around EMS 99, and Nancy halted in her steps, seeing Judd, Paul, Marjan, and Mateo waiting for them. "Hey, girl," Marjan smiled warmly.

"Hey," Nancy said slowly, looking from face to face. All four looked excited, and she was worried what for. "What's this about?"

Tommy smiled happily. "This is about family."

The ladder company parted down the middle, and Nancy's eyes widened when she saw EMS 126 parked out on the drive. Everything about the vehicle was the same . . . except for the new addition on the side. Nancy swallowed hard, reading the pristine lettering: Dedicated in memory of Timothy M. Rosewater. "You guys came in on your day off . . . to do this?" she asked in disbelief, walking towards the rig as if in a trance.

"No place we'd rather be," Marjan nodded.

"We just needed you to finish the job," Paul said.

Nancy saw Tim's name was all that was left to paint, the stencil still in place. "But it didn't seem right that anybody but you would fill in the names," Judd walked up to her, holding out the cup of paint to her. "So . . . "

Nancy took the cup with a shaky hand, and she sniffed, looking at the dedication. "It looks beautiful," she whispered. "The numbers . . . are they – ?"

"It's the date of his last call," Tommy said quietly. "The rig will officially have a new name, and Tim will be riding with us on every call."

Nancy clapped a hand over her mouth to avoid grossly sobbing. In the aftermath of the volcano and the wildfires . . . there had never been any real time to grieve and remember Tim aside from the funeral only the paramedics attended, and even then, it was straight back to San Angelo. To see this from not just her captain, but the company they served alongside . . . "You guys," she turned around. "This is everything."

Marjan gave a tearful smile back. "Just make sure we spelled his name right," Mateo grinned. "I learned that one the hard way."

"You better have spelled it right," a familiar voice snorted. "Or it'll be a pain in the ass to change the stencil."

Judd laughed loudly, and Nancy turned in shock. "Captain Casey?" she asked.

"I think Commissioner Grissom is getting tired of owing Kelly favors," Matt snickered as he pushed off where he leaned against the ladder rig. "We wouldn't have gotten here so fast otherwise."

Nancy gulped. "What . . . what for?"

"Because this isn't the first ambulance dedication I've seen," Matt smiled, looking fondly at the paint. "Ambulance 61 has Kelly's best friend's name, birth year, and death year on the driver's door. When the firehouse came up with the idea, Sylvie gave us a call and asked us how to go about the name change and dedication. So we figured we'd do one better . . . fly out and help ourselves."

Nancy blinked, looking around. "If Sylvie was part of this . . . where – ?"

"Finish painting the name first," Matt nodded.

"This was our surprise for you, Nancy," Tommy put a hand on her shoulder. "Squad has something different."

Nancy was relieved her knees didn't buckle at the words. The 126 had not just one . . . but two surprises for her? She licked her lips nervously, then turned and took a deep breath. "Here we go," she whispered, starting to paint in the letters of Tim's name.

Tommy stepped up to join her, watching with pride as Nancy painted her former partner's name on the rig. "And I promise what happened the other shift will never happen again," she vowed, squeezing Nancy's shoulder. "You went above and beyond to help me, and I shut you out the rest of shift. That is on me, not you. I will work to be a better partner, you have my word."

Nancy smiled at Tommy in reply. "Thanks, Cap."

Tommy nodded, and Nancy returned to filling in Tim's name. "Perfect," Paul declared when every letter was completed.

Judd and Mateo stepped up and peeled the stencil away, and Nancy covered her mouth when she saw the complete dedication. "What do you think?" Marjan asked quietly.

Nancy swallowed her tears. "It's perfect," she said thickly.

"If you think this is perfect," Tommy squeezed her shoulder, "then I don't think you're ready for what Squad has for you."

"Is that our cue?"

Nancy should have expected that voice, but it still made her jump anyway; thankfully, Judd swooped to take the paint from her before it spilled all over her sweater and jeans. "Technically, it's not your cue, Sev," Matt rolled his eyes.

"Yeah, I know," Kelly grinned playfully, his expression softening as Nancy looked at him. "You ready?" he asked her.

Nancy bit her lip. "Not sure I am, but I don't know if I would ever be, so . . . "

"Atta girl," Tommy beamed.

Kelly gestured for her to walk into the house, and Nancy walked arm in arm with Tommy, following the Chicago officers inside. She recognized where they were being led instantly, and her grip on Tommy's arm tightened. "Wait," she looked wide-eyed from Matt to Kelly. "Did Captain Strand – ?"

"Yes," Owen responded, and Nancy stopped at the sight of the squad company in front of the memorial display of the firefighters killed in the line of duty. "I did."

Buck and TK removed a covering on the wall, and Tommy concealed a wince at Nancy's death grip as the young paramedic saw Tim's portrait smiling radiantly from where it hung on the wall, his name, date of birth, and date of death emblazoned on the plaque. It was the engraving on the frame that made Nancy whimper.

"I will serve unselfishly and continuously in order to help make a better world for all mankind."

"Tim Rosewater lived and died by that oath," Owen told Nancy softly. "It's only right that it's included on his memorial."

"And this will be a reminder to anyone who seeks to work at the 126 that we have no room for anyone who compromises that oath," Sylvie smiled tearfully at Nancy, taking her free hand and squeezing tightly. "Not when it was that oath is the reason I'm still standing here today."

"Tim will always be part of this house, Nancy," TK told her firmly. "Whether you're out on a call in your ambulance or here when you're not . . . just like you are always part of this house."

"And we're sorry we ever made you think you aren't," Marjan nodded. "Never again, you hear?"

"Never again," Judd agreed.

Nancy finally burst into sobs, her knees collapsing from under her. Sylvie lurched forward and engulfed her in a hug, and Nancy cried into her shoulder, overwhelmed by the way the 126 went above and beyond to show their support. "Thank you," she managed to choke out. "Thank you so much."

"We're a family, Nancy," Sylvie squeezed her tightly. "You don't ever need to thank us for that."

Nancy closed her eyes, trembling as she felt Tommy and Eddie, then the rest of the 126 join the hug. For so long, even when the 126 was rebuilt, it had felt like she and Tim hadn't belonged. Even after Sylvie and Eddie joined, there was a part of her that was scared the paramedics would never be seen as part of the cool kids.

As she was embraced by her captain, fellow paramedics, and felt the familiar silicon rings worn by members of the 126, she knew she would never have to worry about that again. She was welcome at this house no matter what.

***

"Thank you for helping us with this," Sylvie told Matt and Kelly as they overlooked the apparatus floor from the next level, the trio watching the members of the 126, joined by Michelle, Carlos, and Grace, laugh and share stories of calls with Tim. "Your input about how to fast-track everything and the best ways to get this done as quickly as possible . . . we owe you."

"You don't owe us a thing," Matt shook his head. "We consider it an honor to have even a small part to play in these memorials to Tim."

"We were onboard the moment you shared what you and Owen were planning," Kelly squeezed her hand. "We would've found a way out here to be part of this even if we didn't help."

Matt snickered. "Though we might've had a harder time convincing Grissom to let us out here."

Kelly smirked. "He still has a few favors he owes me."

Sylvie blinked. "Which means . . . ?"

"Well," Kelly rocked on his heels innocently. "TK may have mentioned his one-year sobriety anniversary is coming up in a few days."

"And he may have mentioned he was planning a celebration," Matt added.

"And he may have invited us to it," Kelly grinned.

"So Kelly may have bartered with Grissom to let us stay out here for another week or two," Matt finished.

Sylvie's jaw dropped, and Kelly gave her an innocent grin. "I'm assuming you have no problem with that?" he asked.

"No!" Sylvie shrieked, jumping and wrapping around Kelly, making the lieutenant laugh loudly. "Holy crap! That's amazing! Are you serious?"

"One hundred percent," Matt nodded, smiling fondly as he watched the two. "Plus . . . do you have any idea how many furlough days we have? We could take the whole month if we wanted."

Sylvie giggled, bounding over and hugging him next. "You two are the best ever, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise."

Matt braced himself for her attack hug, and he relaxed when his head only pounded lightly with the force. He smiled, nuzzling the top of her head. "It means more when it comes from you."

Sylvie beamed at him in reply, then a shout from TK made her peer over the ledge. "I'm gonna go join the party," she told them.

"Go," Matt chuckled, patting her on the back.

Sylvie nodded and raced down the stairs to join Michelle by the memorial wall. Both men watched her join the impromptu celebration with gusto, and Kelly sighed, leaning on the edge. "We wouldn't have missed this if the world was ending," he said.

"Absolutely," Matt agreed, focusing on Tim's memorial. "Are we still planning on – ?"

"Yeah," Kelly confirmed, pointing down at the apparatus floor. "Nancy's on her own right now."

Matt hummed in acknowledgement. "Shall we?" Kelly nodded, and the two officers jogged down the stairs. Nancy was admiring Tim's dedication on the ambulance again, her fingers inches from touching the lettering. "Nancy?" Matt asked softly.

She turned quickly, and she smiled at them. "I know I've said it already, but thank you both for the parts you played in this," she told them, gesturing to the dedication on the ambulance and his portrait on the wall. "It means the world."

"We were happy to help," Kelly smiled, looking up at the ambulance. "When Shay's dedication on Ambulance 61 was revealed . . . I can't describe what that meant. The moment Sylvie shared the ideas to honor Tim, I was all in. Like Matt told Sylvie . . . it was an honor."

"It hurts like hell when one of your men is killed in the line of duty," Matt admitted. "You're never the same afterwards. If this helps even the slightest, then it's all worth it."

"It is," Nancy nodded in confirmation. "Absolutely worth it."

Matt smiled in relief. "Then perfect."

Kelly eyed the date of Tim's last call. "There is one thing we were hoping you would tell us while we're here."

"After all this?" Nancy gestured. "Anything."

Matt and Kelly exchanged looks, then Matt took a deep breath and explained. They had wondered if it was right to request this from Nancy at this moment, especially after they witnessed the overwhelming emotions she experienced from the dedication and memorial. However, neither came up with a better time to ask . . . so Matt made their request, hoping it wasn't asking too much from the paramedic.

He was surprised when Nancy's eyes widened, then her face split with a grin, tears glittering in her eyes. "Why don't I show you myself?" she suggested.

***

Nancy knew this drive by heart. She had taken this route dozens of times over the past few months, whether it was from her apartment or from the firehouse. She could make this drive with her eyes closed. It was effortless to lead Matt and Kelly down the winding road and park among the trees.

She left her car and waited for Matt and Kelly to leave their rental, then started walking among the graves. She didn't have to watch where she stepped; she knew this path by heart, too. "Tim came here to study at UT," she shared with the officers. "His family lives in Baltimore, but he stayed here. We were hired a few weeks apart, so we were in this field together from the start. He chose to be buried here in Austin." She slowed when she found the headstone. "I just consider myself lucky that I could see him laid to rest." The officers stopped on either side of her, and Nancy saw the moment every word written on the headstone registered.

Timothy M. Rosewater

Friend, Brother. Hero, Savior.

"I insisted on the first two," Nancy said quietly. "I wanted the third, too. It was Sylvie who fought to have 'savior' on his headstone. She wanted everyone to know Tim not only died a hero, but died saving her life." She shook her head, sniffing. "When you said that Commander De Leon was going to let Sylvie rot on that mountain . . . God, I saw red. Bastard knew we were coming from Tim's funeral, and to refuse to let trained firefighters who specialize in those rescues go through the fires? That, to me, is the ultimate insult to Tim's memory."

"No damn kidding," Matt seethed, shaking his head. "Just when I think I can't hate the man more than I already do . . . "

Kelly stepped forward and crouched before the headstone, gently tracing Tim's name. "I don't regret not breaking Sylvie's trust by trying to track her down," he said. "I do regret not getting to meet Tim before he died."

"You would've liked him," Nancy admitted. "And he would've loved to meet both of you." She recalled the first full conversation the two of them had with Sylvie, and she giggled. "He really wanted to meet you two."

"He did?" Matt looked at her in surprise.

"You two mean the world to Sylvie," Nancy said simply. "We all wanted to meet you two. I'm happy I get the chance to know you." She looked down at Tim's grave, smiling sadly. "Even though you never knew him while he was alive, I'm touched you wanted to come out here."

"He saved our world," Kelly swallowed. "How could we not?"

Nancy nodded in understanding, and she intentionally took a few steps back, ensuring she was out of earshot. Matt appreciated the gesture as he joined Kelly in crouching before Tim's grave, his fingers trembling as he traced the word Savior on the headstone. "God, I wish we could've met you and thank you in person," he whispered, voice breaking. "You had an impact on so many people . . . "

"Thank you," Kelly said roughly, resting his hand on top of the stone. "Thank you for saving our world."

Matt took a deep breath and rose to his feet, then he paused when he felt the wind pick up around them. He blinked in surprise, looking around, then smiled. "Sacred ground, brother," he declared. "Sacred ground."

Kelly nodded in agreement, then Matt extended his hand. Kelly grasped it and let Matt haul him to his feet. Nancy rejoined them, kissing the tips of her fingers and pressing them to Tim's name. "Thank you so much for this, Nancy," Kelly told her.

"You're welcome," Nancy smiled. "It felt right to visit him today." She sighed, pulling her keys from her pocket. "Back to the house?"

"Back to the house," Matt agreed.

***

"Hey, Eddie?"

"Yeah?" Eddie turned away from the homemade cake Charles had delivered when he brought the twins and Christopher to the impromptu party, and he watched TK jog to him. "What's up?"

"You know where Nancy went?" TK looked around, twirling his fork as he dug into his slice of cake. "The girls are looking for her. I think Evie wants to impress her with her black belt moves."

"I'm not sure," Eddie answered, looking around with a frown. Come to think of it . . . "Casey and Severide aren't around, either."

"What?" TK blinked, whipping around to scour the firehouse. "They aren't? I thought we'd have to pry them from Sylvie with the Jaws."

Eddie snorted, inhaling buttercream frosting. "Apt analogy."

"Well, they'll show up again at some point," TK shrugged, walking with Eddie back to where Evie was showing off her moves, Christopher excitedly explain what he learned to Buck and Carlos, Grace and Judd watching their goddaughter proudly. "On the other hand, we'll enjoy the show."

"I'm glad Evie got the belt," Eddie smiled. "And it seems like Tommy and Charles worked everything out, so . . . "

TK raised an eyebrow, lifting his plate of cake. "Whatever gave you that idea?"

Eddie laughed, pointing at Evie. "I thought we were enjoying the show?"

"We are," TK nodded in agreement. "Now . . . are we still discussing Evie? Or our men?"

Eddie really did choke on his cake that time, turning and coughing into his arm. "Whoa," Judd frowned, turning to check on him. "You good, Hollywood?"

"Fine!" Eddie gave a thumbs-up, grabbing his water bottle. "Swallowed wrong!" He took a swig to clear the buttercream from his throat, and he turned and scowled at an innocent, wide-eyed TK. "You absolute bastard."

"I have no idea what you're talking about," TK shook his head, taking a delicate bite of his cake.

"Seriously?" Eddie seethed, storming over to the firefighter. "We're doing this now?"

"Someone has to," TK shrugged. "Sylvie didn't when she was uncomfortable after that call, and God knows Buck won't. That leaves me out of the three of us . . . and I sure know you weren't looking at me or Sylvie when we were in that MRI room."

Eddie glared daggers at TK. "Like I would stare at my captain like that, or someone who's clearly taken by a possessive cop!"

"Aha!" TK pointed his fork at Eddie triumphantly. "You were looking at Buck like that!"

"Ay Dios mío," Eddie growled, pinching the bridge of his nose. "TK, if you do not shut up right this minute . . . "

All humor left TK's face, and his eyes turned serious. "Eddie, all I want is for my brother to be happy," he said. "And nothing has made him happier than having you back in his life. Anyone would be so damn lucky to have him for the rest of their life."

Eddie swallowed. "You think I don't know that, TK?" he asked hoarsely. "He has given his all to help me and Christopher. I would have been dead in the water so long ago if it wasn't for him. If anyone knows how lucky having Buck in their life is, it's me. I can't lose that, TK. I won't."

TK put a hand on his shoulder, forcing Eddie to look him in the eye. "I've heard almost the exact same words from Buck," he said, making Eddie swallow hard. "So let me get this in your head if I can't get it in his . . . you won't lose him."

Before Eddie could say another word, a groan came from Buck, making the two look over. "What is it, Bucky?" Christopher asked, turning from Evie.

"Ah, it's nothing, Superman," Buck shook his head, forcing a smile on his face as he put his phone down.

"That didn't sound like nothing, Buck," TK frowned, walking over to join the small group. "What is it?"

Buck sighed, rubbing his forehead. "You know I've started looking into places around the area?" he said.

"You mentioned it before Sylvie left for Los Angeles," TK nodded.

"Let's just say it's a tough market."

"Isn't Captain Strand still good with you at his house?" Carlos asked in surprise.

"He's made it very clear I can stay as long as I want," Buck nodded. "But I don't want to take up too much hospitality, you know? I don't want to take up his couch for much longer." He snickered. "It is a comfy couch, though."

Eddie looked long and hard at TK, the green-eyed firefighter giving him a puzzled look in response. The paramedic finally took a deep breath, then suggested, "When Chris and I move into our place, we've got a spare bedroom."

Buck blinked in shock, looking up at him in surprise. "What?"

"Yeah," Eddie nodded, clearing his throat. "I mean, I've got my room, Chris has his, of course . . . I figured having a guest room might prove useful at some point." He chuckled. "Besides . . . how many times did you end up spending the night on my couch in Los Angeles because my kid wore you out before you could drive home?"

"Bucky can stay with us?" Christopher perked up, eyes sparking with excitement.

Buck resembled a fish out of water, his mouth opening and closing. "Uh . . . "

"Well, that sounds like a good arrangement." TK, being the bastard he was, didn't bother hiding his smirk. "That gets you off Dad's couch, and the Diaz boys get their favorite Buckley in their house."

"Win-win to me," Carlos agreed, the officer a bit more subtle than his boyfriend.

Buck looked at Eddie with wide eyes. "I don't want to impose in any way – "

"Buck," Eddie cut across him. "You're not imposing when I'm offering. Come on, even Chris thinks it's a good idea."

"I think it's amazing!" Christopher agreed, nodding so rapidly his glasses almost toppled off his nose.

Buck looked around, then sighed and nodded, smiling. "Then I guess I'm moving in."

"YAY!" Christopher cheered, bulldozing into Buck.

"Whoa!" Buck flailed, and Carlos barely managed to snatch his plate before the firefighter toppled backwards onto the ground. "Guess I made the right decision!"

"Buck?" Owen craned his neck around Maddie, the elder Buckley's hand covering her mouth. "You good?"

"Yeah, Cap!" Buck gave him a thumbs-up. "Just letting you know when Eddie and Chris move into their place, I'm moving in with them."

"Really?" Sylvie materialized from nowhere, grinning like the Cheshire Cat. "Wonderful!"

"Yeah, now you get the Strands all to yourself," Buck stuck his tongue out at her.

"Hey, now," TK pouted. "What's wrong with me and my dad?"

"Yeah, Buck, we're a joy to be around!" Owen huffed.

"A real delight," Buck rolled his eyes.

"So," Sylvie held out slowly to TK, watching Eddie help Buck and Christopher back into their seats. "They're basically working backwards, aren't they?"

"Starting off married, then co-parenting, then moving in with each other?" TK snorted and nodded. "I guess next on the list is a confession."

"About damn time," Sylvie muttered, unscrewing her water bottle and taking a sip.

TK smirked at her. "Casey and Severide are in town for a few weeks. Just a reminder."

Sylvie scowled, then splashed some of her water in TK's face. He yelped, stumbling backwards. "Screw you, TK!"

"I'm not your type!" TK sang, dancing behind Carlos.

***

When Matt, Kelly, and Nancy arrived back at the 126, they found themselves arriving in the middle of a water war between TK and Sylvie, both running around the firehouse and flinging water from bottles at each other. "What did we miss?" Kelly looked around with wide eyes.

Nancy guffawed as she watched TK duck behind Buck, leading to the other firefighter getting drenched. "Do we really wanna know?"

"I'm starting to think no, we don't," Matt shook his head.

Nancy was still chortling as they walked into the garage, but a figure shifting by the ambulance caught her attention. Matt and Kelly kept walking, but Nancy slowed to watch a man she didn't know in jeans, a leather jacket, and motor boots read the dedication to Tim, the letters shining pristinely now that they were dry. She observed the stern, yet kind-looking man as his sharp eyes scanned the words, and though she didn't know him, she recognized the sincerity in his stature as he bowed his head. She cleared her throat politely, walking up to the man. "May I help you, sir?" she asked.

He looked up at her, then cleared his own throat. "I'm sorry, I just saw the dedication on the side of the ambulance," he gestured to the letters. "It's a beautiful memorial."

"I know," Nancy agreed, unable to keep a smile on her face. "I just got surprised with it today."

"Uh, the date," the man gestured. "I remember watching the news. That was Pilot Knob, right?"

"That's right," Nancy nodded, frowning. "I'm guessing you aren't from around here?"

"No," the man confirmed with a chuckle. "Definitely not." He scratched the back of his head. "New York, actually."

"Really?" Nancy's eyebrows raised.

"Yeah," he nodded. "I, uh . . . are the Strands here right now? I heard from a friend they moved down here, but it's . . . " He winced. "To say it's taken me a while to make a trip to see them is an understatement."

"Hang on," Nancy nodded, stepping inside the garage. "Yo, Diaz!" she bellowed.

"Yeah, Nance?" Eddie popped up from wherever he was hiding from flung water.

"Someone's here for the Strands!"

"On it!" he gave her two thumbs-up.

Nancy giggled, shaking her head and turning back to the man, who had an amused look on his face. "We're usually more professional than this when we're on shift."

"Oh, I know that feeling," the man smirked.

Nancy smiled, feeling at ease with the man even though she didn't know him. "Nancy?" Sylvie jogged over, panting and brushing her hair out of her face. At least she'd found a jacket to cover her soaked blouse with. "Who's our guest?"

"I actually didn't get a name," Nancy admitted.

"Oh," Sylvie raised an eyebrow, turning to the man. "Well. The Strands are on their way. Welcome to – "

The sound of plastic hitting the apparatus floor and water sloshing everywhere made Nancy turn, and she found TK standing behind them, face paler than snow, green eyes wider than she had ever seen. "TK?" she asked in concern, looking at the water bottle he had dropped.

"TK?" Carlos appeared behind him, eyes narrowed in worry.

TK opened his mouth, but no sound emerged. It was the man in front of the ambulance who spoke first, his voice trembling. "Tyler?" he asked, making Nancy whip around to look at him. Practically no one at the 126 called TK by his actual name aside from his father. But she saw TK nod numbly, and the man swallowed hard. "God, look at you."

That seemed to break the spell that froze TK in place, and the firefighter sprinted across the apparatus floor, crashing into the man. Nancy backed up, startled, and watched the man instantly wrap TK in a tight hug, the younger man shaking like a leaf. "You're here?" his voice cracked. "Sylvie, he's actually here?"

"Uh . . . " Sylvie exchanged confused looks with Carlos and Nancy. "I don't actually know who this is."

"Well," Eddie scratched the back of his head as he and Buck approached, both eyeing how TK clung to the newcomer like a koala. "I guess TK knows him, at least. And Captain Strand should be – "

A sharp inhale behind both men signaled Owen's arrival, and Sylvie shivered when she heard the pain and borderline anger in Owen's voice. "You son of a bitch."

Nancy took a hesitant step back, watching the rest of the 126 family slowly realize what was happening on the apparatus floor. She had to give credit to the newcomer for not flinching at Owen's tone, even as he gently pulled away from TK. "I deserved that," he said.

"You're damn right, you deserve it," Owen ground out, raw pain in his voice as he stepped past Buck and Eddie; Nancy gulped when she saw the tears forming in the captain's rage-filled eyes. "It's been ten years, you bastard! What the hell?"

Tommy gasped, both hands covering her mouth. "Oh, my God," she breathed.

"You know him?" Michelle frowned as Matt and Kelly moved to flank Sylvie, eyeing the gap between Owen and the newcomer warily.

Tommy nodded hesitantly. "If I'm right . . . "

"I know," the newcomer nodded, meeting Owen's eyes. "I know I have a lot to explain, a lot to apologize for. Owen, I give you my word, I will. I promise." He swallowed hard, taking a ginger step forward. "But I'm sorry I never said a word before I left."

In the blink of an eye, it was like all the fight left Owen at the words. "You stubborn idiot," he shook his head, striding forward. "Ten years, Elliot!"

Carlos's jaw dropped as the name registered, and Elliot nodded, meeting Owen in the middle of the floor in a hug even tighter than the one he shared with TK. "I know," he muttered. "I'm sorry, Owen. I'm so sorry."

"T?" Judd asked lowly. "Who – ?"

Tommy, meanwhile, hustled to usher everyone deeper into the firehouse, away from the reunion occurring. "Carlos?" Eddie looked at the cop, the only other one who seemed to know the man.

"That's Elliot Stabler," Carlos gulped. "He's an NYPD legend. He used to be partners with Captain Benson."

"He's more than that to the Strands," Tommy whispered, watching Owen and Elliot take a step back from each other, both men still clasping each other's forearms. "He's someone Owen always trusted with TK. Before he left the force, he was like Owen's brother." She shook her head. "And now, ten years after he left . . . he's back."

***

Figured if there was no Gwyn to have that bombshell dropped on the Strands . . . might as well have another one, right? So . . . warning in advance, count on me doing "Return of the Prodigal Son" and "What Happens in Puglia" in the future.

And hey, progress on the Mancy and Buddie fronts! Atta boy, TK, for working on getting Buddie towards sailing.

So the end of the chapter . . . I'm very happy with what I put out. I wanted each company to have something for Nancy, and the dedication to Tim made sense for the Ladder Company. We saw in 3x04 "Push" that Tim's portrait was part of the memorial wall, and I thought that would be perfect for Squad. Matt and Kelly have gone through dedicating an ambulance before, so I thought it fit that Sylvie would call and ask how they went about getting it completed. I also figured if this was happening, Matt and Kelly would want to help honor the paramedic who saved Sylvie however they could, hence the trip to the cemetery with Nancy.

And since this means Matt and Kelly are in Austin for the next episode . . . well. Y'all probably know where I'm going with "Bad Call."

Keep an eye out!

graphic by marvelity