Chapter Text
Olivia had always enjoyed dressing up for Halloween. Even when she had grown past trick or treating herself, she was always making the rounds at Halloween parties after taking the nighbours' kids out for trick or treating. If she really wanted to, she would find a reason to get dressed up. But she was never really interested in the scary parts of Halloween and she wasn't much of a horror person. Haunted houses, horror movies…she had zero interest in it.
Captain Nash wasted no time getting his station on board for the community outreach project after his return. As the newest addition to the station, she hoped to fly under the radar, slipping up to the upper loft of the station relatively early, before the chaos of preparing for the festivities and decorating for the Firehouse Haunt Fest. Maybe she could get away with not participating in the setup for later that day.
"You're here early."
Sitting on the couch by the dining area, Olivia looked up from her worn out copy of Anne of Green Gables, half listening to the news on TV. "Morning, Cap," she greeted him distractedly as he sat at the dining table nearby with a cup of coffee. Turning off the TV, she stood to join him and added, "Thought I would beat the cross town traffic."
"Well, I didn't get the chance to do it three months ago, but now's as good a time as any to welcome you to the 118." He watched as Olivia came to sit at the table. "I hope you've doing okay since you transferred, all things considered."
"I didn't get the chance to say it the other day, but welcome back." Olivia paused for a beat before she added, "I've been in good hands with Chimney and Hen. It's been good for me, being back in an ambulance."
"You transferred from Air Ops, right?" When Olivia nodded in the affirmative, Bobby added, "I had a guy transfer out to Air Ops years ago, he's a pilot."
"Yeah, Tommy Kinard, I know him. I used to work with him. Squad 1701. He said he worked under you for a year before he transferred."
"Small world." Bobby gave her a thoughtful look before he asked, "So what brought you to the 118?"
Olivia could sense the unspoken question, she could see it in her Captain's eyes.
What would make you give up a position that's so hard to come by?
"I was looking to fill a paramedic position temporarily, until a spot opened up at Air Ops for flight paramedics. And I found out that the 118 needed a spot filled. Something about a maternity leave. I fully intend to go back when a position opens up again."
Bobby nodded. "I know how difficult it can be to come into a new situation, work with a new team…"
"I've been helping Evan in the kitchen and the family meals help," Olivia assured him. "It's just been…a lot. I'm just thankful for whatever it is that you did to get rid of Gerrard and get your job back."
"I made him an offer he couldn't resist." Bobby let out a mischievious grin.
Olivia gave him a nod of respect. "I'm going to get a workout in before everyone else gets here."
"Don't forget, Firehouse Haunt Fest setup after breakfast."
"You got it, Cap!"
"And you're manning the ticket booth outside tonight."
Olivia nodded as she stood to leave. So much for avoiding Firehouse Haunt Fest.
"Firehouse Haunt Fest, huh?" There was an amused lilt to River's voice as he leaned back, relaxing on the couch, finding a quiet moment to check in.
"Yeah, I mean, I love dressing up as much as the next person but I really don't care for the scares, the horror stuff, you know?"
"Is it true that you were the one that got the 217 exempted from the Firehouse Haunt Fest?" Tommy's voice was heard from a distance as he approached, emerging in the background behind River.
"Maybe. But we had a kick ass party instead. The 217 does way better with Open Houses. If they're coming to Harbor, they wanna see the helicopters anyway."
"Brat." With that, Tommy contined walking, moving past the camera.
"You love it, Kinard!"
"I'm sure you'll look great. What I'm not looking forward to is all the crazy of Halloween night." River let out a quiet sigh.
"Yeah, me neither. And this is my first one with the 118…"
"You want me to come by after your shift?"
"God yes, I could use the company. I should probably get moving though."
"Do I get to see the costume?"
"Nope. I gotta go catch up with Hen and Chimney. I'll see you later."
Olivia hung up her call with River and pulled off her cardigan to reveal the top part of her Supergirl costume. Shutting her locker, she ran off to catch up with Hen and Chimney.
"Nice costume, Supergirl," Chimney commented with a grin, "Can't believe you got out of scaring innocent children tonight."
Olivia stuck her tongue out at him before she addressed the pair. "Listen, guys, why don't one of you guys take the night off on Halloween? I can cover for one of you. I can help one of you have some family time. I know this isn't ideal but…"
"I know the reasoning behind only one of us being allowed the time off but it doesn't feel fair," Hen confessed quietly, "Chim and I already agreed we'd both work the shift."
"Are you sure? I really think at least one of you should spend time with your family…"
"We're sure," Chimney assured her with a nod.
Olivia saw Tommy in passing on her way out of the hospital after the Pumpkin Head call and subsequent handoff. It was the last call of the day before she could go home and she couldn't wait to get out of there. After Halloween Haunt Fest, and a long day of calls, she was ready to crash directly into River's arms, a thought she hadn't allowed herself to have in years.
"Dislocated shoulder," Olivia commented, "That's mild compared to the times he's nearly died and made the news."
"Between him and Howie, they really do need a wing at this hospital," Tommy quipped.
Olivia tilted her head slightly before she remembered Chimney's real name. "Never a dull moment as a paramedic at the 118," she commented offhandedly, clearly distracted.
There was a curious mix of exhaustion and excitement in her voice and it was Tommy's turn to tilt his head slightly. "I am never going to understand why it took so long for you guys to get together."
"I wouldn't call us together…"
"He's on the phone with you all the time, texting, smiling like a goofball…you're as together as you're gonna be, might as well get on the same page tonight."
Olivia narrowed her eyes at him. "How did — "
"He told me he was going to see you tonight so I gave him my key."
"Do you want yours back? With the way things are going with you and Evan, he might need it." Olivia had a playful lilt to her voice.
"You can keep it. We're not there yet anyway." Tommy smiled. "Go home. Go see your man."
"Don't forget Movie Night!" Olivia called out over her shoulder as she rushed out to rejoin Hen and Chimney in the ambulance.
When she got home after the shift, an hour later than she expected to, Olivia found herself in a dimly lit apartment, and as she walked past the kitchen with the takeout containers on the counter, she found River, at the dining table, lighting the candles to set the mood for dinner.
"Tommy suggested I order from your favorite Chinese place," River casually explained as he pulled out the chair at the head of the table for her to sit at.
"A candlelit Chinese takeout dinner? This is actually kinda sweet." Olivia settled into her seat, and immediately was served some Riesling. "I'm so glad you're here. And I'm glad you had some help from your co-conspirator."
"Tommy was really helpful." River's smile lit up the dimly space as he settled into the seat next to her.
With a nod of approval at the spread, Olivia immediately reached for the sweet and sour ribs and the chow mien to help herself. "How was work?" she asked casually taking a sip of her wine.
"Dropped in on a high rise fire, Tommy had to transport a critically injured pregnant woman after a hit and run, that was a pretty rough one that I wasn't there for, the team went without me..."
Olivia reached for his hand to squeeze it.
"We had a call where a guy got his head stuck in a pumpkin so I can't exactly compare my shift to yours." Olivia let out an amused chuckle to bring some levity to the conversation. "Working at the 118 is exactly as you'd expect it to be."
"Absolutely wild?" An amused chuckle escaped River's lips as Olivia nodded her confirmation. "How are you doing? Are things better at work, all things considered?"
"Well…I no longer have to deal with Vincent Gerrard, which is a relief. Still not a hundred percent sure what happened there, but I'm hoping that it solves at least part of my problems for me. Out of sight, out of mind."
River nodded slowly in response. "When has 'Out of sight, out of mind' actually meant that something out of sight was actually out of mind for you?"
"For what it's worth, after all this time, you still know how to read me like a book." Olivia gave River a fond smile.
"And after all this time, you're still the one that makes my heart skip a beat."
Olivia sighed, wanting so badly not to talk about the difficult parts of their past but knowing that they couldn't avoid it forever. "The first time we tried, it ended up such a big mess. Trying again was always in the back of my mind but…I couldn't stop thinking about the worst week of my life."
River's posture tensed as his smile faded into something more neutral. "The worst week of our lives. That week happened to us, not just you."
Look down at her plate as she continued eating, Olivia replied, "Yeah. I know."
"Do you really know??? Of all the times you almost died, that one was the worst for me, on so many levels."
"I know..." Olivia took a sip of her wine, watching him from behind her glass for a beat before putting it down. "I really just needed the time."
River nodded, clearing his throat. "So what's actually changed?"
"The therapy for one. I don't know why I didn't any go sooner…but it's been a long time coming. Almost losing you in the factory explosion was such a huge wake up call on so many levels…"
"I'm proud of you, for finally getting the help you need."
"I'm proud of me too. I'm finally doing the work on me so I can be the best version of myself for you, for us…for me."
"That's great, and hey, we don't even have to put a label on this," River offered, "I don't want you to ever feel pressured. We can just see where this goes this time around."
"No matter where it goes, I'm not afraid this time."
It had been over a decade since she'd been in the thick of things on Halloween, not since her days at the 122 had she really been all that busy on Halloween, so Olivia spent the day bracing herself for the shift to get extra busy. It was the one thing she appreciated about being at Harbor, being in Air Ops specifically, they tended to only be called in during more dire situations.
She managed to ignore the banter between Eddie and Evan regarding his boils and some curse she couldn't be bothered to pay attention to. But when she saw them in the kitchen, grabbing some coffee, she had to interject.
"It's a bacterial infection, Evan, trust me, you'll be fine," she pointed out to his retreating back as Evan stormed away from Eddie, leaning against the counter, "Just don't pick at it, don't touch it…and maybe get a doctor to drain them since they're huge." She just glared at Eddie before walking away herself.
"Hey are you okay?"
It had been a long night, but Olivia was outside First Presbytarian, pacing around in the parking lot while taking a call from River after a particularly harrowing call that involved Hen's family, with her son Denny involved in a serious accident.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Why wouldn't I be?"
"You know why. Sometimes our jobs get bad. Thought you might want to hear my voice."
Olivia exhaled sharply before she explained, "It wasn't the easiest day, but it ended up okay in the end. I really appreciate you calling."
"I heard you were called to a pretty rough accident."
"Yeah, I don't think I'm making it home for dinner."
"I already have the key to your place, I'll make sure to have something ready for you to eat when you get back."
"You don't have to do that..."
"I do. It'll be like old times. Plus, I'm on my days off. Let me do this for you."
"All right, all right. I just...I'll text you when I'm on my way back. Cross-town traffic shouldn't be as big of an issue by then."
"Bye, Liv. Love you."
"Love you too."
By the time Olivia made it back to the waiting room, Hen had disappeared into see her son, and they were all receiving word via text of Denny's status. Relieved, she walked over to celebrate, first with Chimney by giving him a hug and then also exchanging hugs with Tommy and Evan.
"I'm gonna get going. It's getting late and I should be getting home."
"River waiting for you?" Tommy teased as Eddie was the last to give Olivia a hug.
"Yeah. Send Hen and Karen, and Denny my love."
"You cooked for me?
"I found leftover pasta in your fridge I thought I would heat up for you."
"I'm not really hungry, actually."
Olivia headed for her couch to stretch out, dropping her duffel bag on the floor by the coffee table before plopping herself into the couch. River immediately joined her, carrying the plate of pasta over, placing it on the coffee table before offering his lap for her to rest her head on. Olivia immediately took the offer and rested her head on his lap.
"I can't believe Tommy still thinks we haven't tried dating before."
"I mean, I finally set him straight about that. He seemed shocked by the idea."
"You're not exactly an open book with that kind of stuff."
"It's hard to be when you're in our line of work, you know that."
"I'd still rather love you with all my heart and lose you in the line of duty than to lose you and never get a chance to love you. I never regretted the first time and I won't regret it this time either."
"I know. It was just hard to deal with losing Sadie after the Tsunami..."
"She would have been turning five this year."
A moment of silence was shared between the two of them as the reality of the statement filled the air.
"I'm not saying we try again but if we ever did...you'd make a great Mom, you know that, right?" River commented, running his fingers through her hair.
"And you would be a great Dad." There was a hint of sadness in Olivia's voice.
"Why didn't you ever tell anyone?"
"It was just hard to talk about. My Mom knew. But I couldn't bring it up with Tommy. He'd want to check in, make sure I was okay. And I just needed not to think about it sometimes. Is that bad?"
"No. You have to cope somehow. But I do think about her on her birthday."
"Me too. It's nice to finally be able to talk about her without feeling like my heart is being ripped out of my chest."
"Yeah..." After a pause, River added, "You should eat, you had a long day."
"Probably, but for right now...this is nice."