twenty one
"asswipe"

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   "GOT SOMETHING ON YOUR MIND?"

   Lynn landed another harsh punch on the black and red hanging punching bag, before turning over her shoulder to see who had spoken up. Her eyes landed on Bobby, who had a raised eyebrow pointed at the girl and then towards the heavily swinging punching bag.

   Maybe she had made it too noticeable.

   Only a shift ago was when Lynn stood witness to Hazel Allen commiting suicide in front of her, and she couldn't shake the feeling that had been following her ever since. If only Lynn hadn't gotten those two words mixed up, then maybe Hazel would've listened to her and put the gun down. Maybe she'd still be alive if she hadn't messed up.

   "I'm fine," Lynn said through clenched teeth, turning her attention back towards the punching bag as she let out a two function punch. Her hands were safely wrapped with a bandage along with punching gloves, however, she was starting to feel the effects of landing punch after punch with relentless force.

   "I didn't ask how you were doing, I asked if you had something on your mind," Bobby corrected, taking a few steps forward so he would behind the punching bag, helping Lynn keep it steady as she repeatedly punched it.

   "You know I do," Lynn answered simply, raising her leg to do a swing kick before landing swiftly. "That girl could've still be alive if I hadn't fucked up."

   Bobby seemed to tense up at Lynn actually swearing, since it was basically one of the first times he had ever heard a curse word come from her mouth.

   "Lynn, you cant beat yourself-or the punching bag-up for that."

   "Watch me," Lynn muttered, raising her hands to protect her face as she prepared for another round of few punches.

   "There's no way you could've known the outcome of that situation, Lynn," Bobby continued, simply ignoring her previous sarcastic comment. "If Buck or I would've went in there, there was certainly no way we could've talked her out, that's why I picked you. You did the best you could, and sometimes, that isn't even enough. People have their minds made up, there isn't much we can change if they won't listen."

   "No, Bobby, you don't understand!" Lynn suddenly snapped, throwing her arms down to the side instead of a easier position. "I-I saw her, I knew she wasn't going to pull that trigger when I first walked in. But after she heard me talk, Bobby, I swear I saw the second the light flipped off in her eyes. Like she had given up, and knew there was no coming back."

   "And there was nothing you could've possibly said to convince her otherwise," Bobby responded, shaking his head at the girl both mentally and physically beating herself up.

   "I get it, Bobby, you want to make sure I'm not wrapping myself up in this call, in this girl," Lynn stated, her expression almost emotionless, and she clenched her jaw together. "It's just, this was the first time I actually had the opportunity to stop it from happening. Because as a paramedic, by the time I showed up to the scene, that person had already jumped, they had already shot or hung themselves. But for once, I had a chance to change it before it happened, and I failed."

   Bobby flashed the girl a sympathetic frown, her face twinged with sadness as he heard the small rant.

  "I know you're my captain, and you need to make sure I'm okay enough to do the job, so I'm fine," Lynn finished, where her usually bright blue eyes were saddened with emotional and guilt.

   "Keeping all those feelings buried isn't going to help you, you know," Bobby warned, raising an eyebrow towards the girl as she rolled her eyes.

   "Thanks for the advice, dad," Lynn taunted, ignoring the man as she landed another few punches into the punching bag. And she rose her arm to wipe her forehead, feeling a bit of sweat trickle down. "But I've been burying those feelings for as long as I can remember."

   "Why don't you practice with Buck? He's a decent workout partner," Bobby suggested, and Lynn suspiciously narrowed her eyes towards the older man.

   He wasn't trying to push the two of them together like everyone else, was he?

   "Yeah, not to brag or anything."

   Lynn let out a huff of air as she suddenly heard the boy behind her, and she would've jumped from the surprise but wasn't in the mood. She when glanced over her shoulder, she saw the boy was now changed out of his uniform and in a pair of dark blue shorts with a grey muscle tank, and he looked damn good in them.

   "I like practicing by myself, thanks," Lynn replied, placing a strong fistful punch onto the bag full of sand.

   "Raise your elbows up, you'll get more force," Buck interrupted, taking a step forward while he placed a few of his fingertips on Lynn's elbow, rising it a bit higher. "And your knee's, they need more bounce, or else they'll lock and you'll fall on your ass."

   "Keep talking and I'll knock you on your ass," Lynn grumbled, rolling her blue eyes as Buck must've found something amusing, since he let out a laugh.

   "I'd like to see you try."

   "You do remember that already did that before? At the blood drive?" Lynn retorted, sending a victorious smirk towards the boy as she recalled the funny time.

   "Well, I'm not off guard now, still think you could do it?" Buck sneered, raising both of his hands that were also wrapped in bandage and gloves.

   "I could beat you any time of the day, with my eyes closed," Lynn pointed out, lifting her arms up as she steadied herself out with her black gloved fists raised.

    Buck stared at the girl with the tiniest of smiles stretched across his face, where his eyes racked Lynn's body posture. She was wearing a pair of tight, black leggings with a cropped red shirt barely covering her abdomen.

   "I like this more feisty and confident side of you," Buck stated, backing up a foot or so just as Lynn rushed her fist forward, and he narrowly escaped it hitting his chest.

   "I'm always like this," Lynn replied, trying to land two more punches but Buck had escaped both of them quickly.

   "No, no, you feel more yourself."

   Buck grabbed ahold of Lynn's fist as she once again launched it forward, and shifted his hips so he would be close to her body. Their chests were just barely touching, and it seemed while he was distracted with the sudden nonexistent space between them, Lynn took her chance.

   She hooked her leg right behind Buck's right knee, and then yanked on it so his body weight would fall underneath him. He landed on his back with a thud, and Lynn smiled down in victory towards him as she crossed her arms over her chest.

   But just as soon as Lynn was going to teasingly comment on the fact she got him down within two minutes; Buck lifted his foot to swipe her feet right out under her. She let out a squeal from the surprise, and as she fell forward he grabbed ahold of her arm and swung her right underneath his body; pinning her to the ground.

   "You were saying?" Buck rose an eyebrow with a clear smirk written in his lips, his eyes having a glint of amusement in them.

   For merely a second, it seemed like Lynn's breath hitched in the back of her throat from the short distance that was now between her and Buck. His body was pressed against her lower half, and he had a hand wrapped around her wrist in an attempt to make sure she wouldn't escape his grip. Their faces were inches apart, and she could feel Buck's warm breath bouncing off her skin.

   "Asswipe," Lynn grumbled, letting out a huff of air as she tried to get beneath being pinned, hopefully to get Buck on his back instead.

   "Someone mad they lost?"

   "I don't lose," Lynn retorted, pushing Buck by both of his shoulders, and off her body so she could finally take in a deep breath.

   "I believe you just did," Buck responded, backing away so he would be sitting on his butt with his elbows resting on his knees.

    The two sat down together for a moment of silence, where they both seemed to be catching their breathes along with the fact Buck wanted to talk about Lynn's first lost; but didn't know how to bring it up.

   "I could've saved her," Lynn murmured after the tension had grown so thick she'd rather just get rid of it. She let out a sigh as she glanced down to the black mat under her body. "I could've done something to help her."

   "You did everything you could, Eve, I know you did," Buck glanced up to make eye contact with Lynn, sending a small sympathetic smile her way. He reached across and placed a hand on Lynn's knee, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "You know, a wise woman once told me that losing people hurts, but we have to accept the pain, we can't just ignore it."

   Lynn let out a little chuckle, recalling her words with Buck where they had the close discussion of when he had lost his first person.

   "She's sounds like a smart person," Lynn commented, shaking her head as her eyes fell down to her knees. "I don't know, Buck, this one just hurts."

   It seemed like when those words came out of Lynn's mouth, Buck's face twisted with sadness at the emotion riddled in her voice.

   "And we can get through it, I can help," Buck suggested, and then his soft face was replaced with a much more happy one. "We're going out tonight, all of us!"

   "What?"

   "We're going to a bar! We're having fun tonight, I promise you," Lynn pegged, raising a confused eyebrow towards the man as he was now jumping up from the mat with excitement.

   "Oh, I don't know, Evan," Lynn cringed up her face, not really feeling like she was in a party mood.

   "Oh, Evie, there's no backing out!"

a/n: thank you guys for 1.5K views in only a week wow!! that's so crazy <3 don't forget to vote or comment if you're loving the story!!