A/N just a heads up the next couple of chapters will be set in the height of the pandemic. Please feel free to skip them if you don't feel comfortable reading them. As always since this is an Author's note I am going to remind you to vote and/or comment if you are enjoying this story.

It has been another month since then and the world as we know it has fallen apart. The world was introduced to nature's latest combatant against the human race. COVID-19 has caused the world to shut down. Of course that has made everyone's lives harder however every single first responder has it the hardest. Everyone is on alert as we have protocols in place that aren't the greatest for our mental health. Right now I am barely getting through a shift. Something tells me that it is only going to get worse. As if on cue the signal bell rings for another EMS call. I find myself rolling my eyes as I join Hen in the ambulance.

"I hope it's not another COVID call. We've had enough to last us for an eternity," Hen half-jokes.

"Well, I'm going to find out. Aid car 118 to dispatch is this another COVID call?" I ask. I turn to Hen as I await the response.

"I'm sorry but it is," The dispatcher confirms. I flash Hen an exasperated look. Just so long as this case recovers well I'll make it.

"At least I can put the PPE on via muscle memory," I joke to ease the tension. After a long five minutes, we made it to a nice-looking house. After getting the PPE on I knock on the door to announce my presence. A man is quick to open the door.

"Follow me," He remarks. After a few seconds, we made it to a makeshift bedroom. Hen and I get to work on making sure that the woman sitting on the bed has enough oxygen. While Hen is doing that I put a blood saturation monitor on her finger. As soon as the reading flashes up I reach my conclusion.

"Sir, we need to get her to the hospital as soon as we can. Her oxygen levels are too low for us to do anything," I turn to the man. He is not happy.

"She can't go. She's on Chemo. Her immune system is non-existent," The man remarks.

"I understand but she needs a ventilator. Unfortunately, the best we can do is intubate and bag which won't last long," I explain. That is the annoying thing about being in an ambulance. There is no room for a ventilator. Before the man has a chance to argue the sound that no one wants to hear.

"She's flatlining. I'm starting compressions," I call out as I commence the chest compressions.

"Wait. She's got a DNR bracelet," Hen responds. That means we can't do anything even if we wanted to. Hen glances at me as I check my watch. I am quick to call it. That makes it the fourth time someone has died during this shift. In all fairness, I probably could have saved her if it weren't for the DNR.

"I'm sorry," the man speaks up.

"I should have called sooner," the man is clearly bothered by the circumstances.

"Look, there was nothing that any of us could have done. At least she had someone by her side," I try to reassure the man. It seems that my words have worked. It's just a pity that I can't give him a hug. After calling it in as a death we say our goodbyes and leave. After a five-minute drive, we made it back to the firehouse. As soon as our boots hit the ground Hen and I shed our PPE. A sigh falls from my mouth as I toss the bundle in the infectious waste bin.

"What's wrong Ella?" Hen checks on me.

"Honestly if the pandemic continues like this I am going to quit. I am struggling with my mental health. It has only been a month and I am already struggling," I explain. Don't get me wrong Buck has been a massive help but he can only do so much. This pandemic is pushing us all to our limits. Hen gives me a sympathetic nod. To make matters worse Bobby has banned all forms of physical contact at the firehouse which means Buck is unable to give me a hug while we are on duty. Oh well, I'm just going to have to push forward. As soon as Hen turns to go to the rec area I head to the locker room. I exchanged my uniform for my LAFD-issued t-shirt and some exercise gear. Ever since the restrictions came into play I've taken to venting my frustrations out on the punching bag. It is impressive that it is still in one piece. I am not the only one who is using it. I head to the gym area to find Eddie pounding at the punching bag.

"Hey Eddie," I announce my presence as I steady the punching bag for him.

"Hey, Ella. Thank you," Eddie responds as he lands a few blows. He is putting his body weight into it. I shuffle my feet to brace myself.

"I'm guessing you are getting out your anger as well," I get my observation out.

"How could you tell?" Eddie responds.

"You're putting your whole body weight into it," I say as he lands a couple of more blows. Eddie looks impressed. After landing a few more blows we trade places. I take a deep breath as I land my first blow on the punching bag. To my surprise, Eddie shuffles back.

"I'm sorry Eddie. I am frustrated," I say as I land a few blows in rapid succession.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Eddie asks.

"I should really be talking to Buck about it," I say. I am avoiding the topic.

"Ella you need to tell him," Eddie hammers home his point as I land a couple of more blows. Those words cause something to stir in me.

"Four people, Eddie. Four people in one shift. All because of COVID," I snap as I land another heavy blow. There is also something else that is bothering me. Like so many others Buck and I have had to postpone our wedding. We even had the perfect venue as well. After five minutes of mindlessly hitting the punching bag, I have released enough of my pent-up frustrations. Sure I am still bothered by the fact that I have lost four people. It must be a record for a day without mass casualties. I dismiss the thought as I head to the locker room to get my uniform and a towel.

"Hey make sure you talk to Buck," Eddie calls out as I head to the showers.

"Of course. I'm not stupid," I retort. With that, I head to the showers to freshen up. After five minutes of what can only be described as bliss, I finish my shower. As I dry myself down I get the nasty feeling that I am going to be brought back to reality. Let's just say nothing lasts. With a few swift movements, I have my uniform on. I quickly check that my uniform is neat enough. After tucking in my little tail I head back to the rec area. I am about to talk to Buck but the signal bell goes. Luckily for me, it is a full company call. We all make a beeline to our respective vehicles. After a few minutes of driving, we made it to the scene. The police beat us to it. That must mean that someone had the bright idea to throw a party in the middle of a pandemic. As soon as boots hit the ground Hen and I distribute PPE. This will be a super spreader for sure. After getting our PPE on, Bobby gets to work finding out what happened.

"Athena, what happened?" Bobby asks as she joins us.

"A brawl broke out during an illegal party," Athena responds. I can tell that she is not happy. I don't think any of us are.

"Hen, Ella, make sure the victims are treated. Also as a precaution the others will take the victims to you," Bobby gives us his orders. The others disappear into the house. After a minute of waiting the first is delivered to us. He has a black eye and he seems out of it. I flash my penlight in his eyes. Everything seems normal which likely means that he has a fractured eye socket. Hen takes the next patient as I get to work on making sure the victim is stable for transport.

"I think we are going to need some backup," Hen remarks as a flood of people come out of the house.

"Yep," I say. Even with help from the others and appropriate triaging, we will be overwhelmed.

"118 to dispatch we are going to need additional RA units," I radio in.

"Copy that. Additional RA units are on their way," Maddie confirms. My attention is soon taken up by a woman that is having a coughing fit. I soon jumped in.

"Everyone you need to move back," I say as Athena helps me push back the small crowd. I get to work on treating her. It is tense but with some help from one of the newly arrived paramedics I am able to help the woman get her cough under control. I am quick to load her into the ambulance. As I do I get her hooked up to a life pack and an oxygen saturation monitor. It is surprisingly low for someone who is alert.

"Just so that you are aware I am going to put this mask on you. It should help you breathe," I inform the woman as I do. As soon as the mask contacts her face she panics. She thrashes around. It is as if she is trying to escape. Disaster soon strikes. The woman manages to rip my face shield off.

"Dammit," I utter as I wrestle to sedate the victim for both our safety. Unfortunately, since she was responsive I didn't feel that an IV line was required.

"Ella, what's going on?" Howie asks. He can obviously hear the commotion.

"She panicked and knocked my face shield off. I'll be fine if she remains stable," I responded. As if on cue the woman starts coughing. Now is my chance. I carefully inject the sedative before putting the mask on. A sigh falls from my mouth as I lean back on my chair. Well, I am screwed. There is a slim chance that I now have COVID which means Buck, Howie and I will have to quarantine together. Of course, this day has only gotten worse.