Chapter Text
The next morning, Andrea wakes up before her alarm.
The apartment is quiet, early light slipping through the blinds. She moves through her routine with precision. Shower. Transfer. Dress. Hair pulled back neatly. She chooses jeans and a fitted T-shirt that makes her feel older than fourteen.
By the time Buck’s alarm goes off, she is already in the kitchen.
She has made scrambled eggs. Toast. Cut fruit. Her laptop sits open at the table, a math lesson paused on the screen. A mug of tea steams beside her.
Buck stumbles out of his room half awake, running a hand through his hair.
He stops.
Andrea is fully dressed. Fed. Alert. Suspiciously prepared.
He narrows his eyes.
“Why are you up?” he asks.
She doesn’t look up from her screen. “It’s called productivity.”
He walks farther into the kitchen, scanning the counters like he expects to find evidence of a crime.
“You showered,” he says slowly.
“Yes.”
“You made breakfast.”
“Yes.”
“You look… organized.”
She finally glances at him. “I am organized.”
He crosses his arms.
“You only get this organized when you’re plotting something.”
She rolls her eyes and takes a bite of toast.
“I have online classes. Just because the school building can’t figure out wheelchair access doesn’t mean I get to slack off.”
There’s an edge in her voice at that. It still bothers her. The ramps that never got approved. The elevator that never got repaired. The quiet suggestion from administration that “virtual learning might be better.”
Buck softens for a second.
“I know.”
She shrugs like it doesn’t matter.
He studies her again.
“You’re coming to the station today, aren’t you?”
She sips her tea slowly.
“I might.”
“Andrea.”
“What?”
“Whatever you’re planning behind my back,” he says firmly, “don’t.”
She smiles sweetly.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“You do that thing with your face when you’re about to interfere in my life.”
“I do not.”
“You do.”
She closes her laptop and looks at him fully now.
“You’re the one who said we plan for what ifs,” she says calmly. “I’m just… observing.”
“Observing what?”
“Team dynamics.”
He groans.
“You’re fourteen.”
“And smarter than you,” she shoots back.
He points a finger at her.
“You are not interrogating the new medic.”
She widens her eyes in mock innocence. “I would never.”
He doesn’t believe her for a second.
“You focus on school. Algebra. Essays. Teenager things.”
“I can multitask.”
“That’s what worries me.”
She rolls toward the sink to rinse her plate.
“You should be grateful,” she calls over her shoulder. “I’m screening candidates for long-term compatibility.”
Buck freezes.
“Compatibility for what?”
She turns slowly, resting her hands on the counter.
“For the 118,” she says smoothly.
He stares at her.
“Andrea.”
She grins.
“I’ll be subtle.”
He drags a hand down his face.
“This is going to be a long shift.”
Andrea positioned herself on the second floor balcony like it was a command center. From there she had a full view of the apparatus bay, the kitchen, and the front doors. Her laptop sat open in front of her, homework on the screen, though her attention stayed locked on the entrance.
She adjusted her chair slightly, lining up her view.
Below, the station moved through its normal rhythm. Chimney checked equipment. Hen restocked trauma bags. Buck tried to pretend he was not glancing up every thirty seconds.
Ravi walked up the stairs with two sodas in hand and handed one to her.
“You look intense,” he said, leaning on the railing beside her.
“I am focused,” Andrea replied.
“You’re stalking a job interview.”
“I’m observing a potential team addition.”
Ravi smirked. “Same thing.”
They had built an easy friendship over the past two years. Ravi treated her like an equal. No pity. No hovering. He helped her tweak her chair once and never mentioned it again. She helped him study for a certification exam and refused to let him quit halfway through.
They made a solid team.
“So what’s the verdict so far?” Ravi asked quietly.
“Military medic. Divorced. Close to his nephew. Moved from Texas recently,” she listed calmly.
Ravi blinked. “You did background research?”
“Public information,” she corrected.
He laughed under his breath. “Buck has no idea what he’s up against.”
Andrea kept her eyes on the bay doors.
“He does. That’s why he’s nervous.”
Downstairs, Buck pretended to reorganize a shelf that did not need reorganizing.
Ravi followed her gaze.
“You think this guy’s good?”
Andrea didn’t answer right away.
“I think people who leave everything behind usually have a reason,” she said. “The question is whether it’s a good one.”
Right then, the front doors opened.
Both of them straightened.
A man stepped inside. Dark hair. Clean shave. Posture straight without trying too hard. Civilian clothes, but he carried himself like someone used to weight on his shoulders.
He paused just inside the station, taking it in.
Andrea’s grip tightened slightly on the railing.
“That’s him,” she murmured.
Ravi glanced at her. “You sure?”
She nodded once.
Below, Bobby stepped forward to greet him.
Buck turned at the same time.
For half a second, the entire station felt still.
Andrea leaned forward just a little.
“Show me what you’ve got, Texas,” she whispered.
A few minutes later, Bobby’s office door opened.
He stepped out, calm as always, but there was a spark in his eyes.
“Ravi,” he called, looking up toward the second floor, “can you bring Andrea to my office, please?”
Andrea didn’t hesitate. She closed her laptop in one smooth motion.
Ravi blinked. “Wait. Me?”
“Yes,” Bobby said simply.
Down below, Buck had just started prepping for a small grease fire demonstration for a community safety video they were filming. The propane flame flickered steady in the metal tray.
He froze mid-motion.
“Why does Andrea need to be in that office?” he asked, too quickly.
Bobby didn’t look at him yet. “Because I asked.”
The new medic stood nearby, hands clasped loosely in front of him. Watching. Observing. Saying nothing.
Andrea and Ravi made their way downstairs. Ravi stayed close but didn’t hover. She rolled forward with confidence, chin slightly lifted.
Buck stepped in front of them.
“What is happening?” he demanded quietly.
Andrea gave him an innocent look. “I was invited.”
“Invited to what?”
Bobby finally looked at him.
“Buck,” he said evenly, “relax.”
“I am relaxed.”
“You are not,” Chimney muttered from behind the engine.
Hen crossed her arms, amused.
Ravi opened the office door and stepped aside so Andrea could roll in first.
As she passed Buck, she whispered, “Trust the process.”
He stared after her.
Inside the office, Bobby gestured toward a spot near his desk.
“Andrea, I value your instincts,” he said calmly. “You spend more time observing this team than most people realize.”
She tried not to look smug.
The new medic stepped in after her.
Up close, he looked even steadier. Calm eyes. Controlled posture.
“Andrea,” Bobby continued, “this is Edmundo Diaz.”
The medic gave her a respectful nod.
“Nice to meet you.”
Andrea held his gaze.
“Welcome to the 118,” she replied evenly.
Outside the office, Buck stood completely still, staring at the closed door like it might explode.
Chimney leaned beside him.
“You look like someone just handed your sister an interrogation clearance.”
Buck swallowed.
“I don’t like this.”
Hen smiled faintly.
“You don’t control everything, Buck.”
He didn’t answer.
Inside that office, his sister was evaluating the man from Texas.
Thirty minutes later, Bobby’s office door opened.
Andrea rolled out first.
Eddie followed behind her.
They were both smiling.
Buck felt that smile like a personal attack.
Andrea didn’t even look at him at first. She gestured toward the apparatus bay.
“So this is Engine 118,” she was saying, tone confident. “Response times are solid. Team cohesion is high. They argue a lot, but it’s functional.”
Eddie’s mouth twitched slightly. “Good to know.”
Buck crossed his arms.
“Why are you giving tours?” he asked.
Andrea finally glanced at him. “Because Captain asked me to.”
Bobby stood in the doorway behind them, unreadable.
Andrea continued the tour like she had been doing this for years. She showed Eddie the kitchen, the bunks, the gear lockers. She explained which cabinet stuck and which stair creaked. She pointed out the best coffee mug and warned him about
Chimney’s labeled leftovers.
Eddie listened. Asked questions. Paid attention.
That part bothered Buck more than anything.
They stepped outside to the small area beside the station where an old basketball hoop stood bolted to the concrete.
Andrea tilted her head toward it.
“You play?” she asked.
Eddie shrugged. “A little.”
She smirked. “Prove it.”
Buck’s jaw tightened.
Ravi appeared beside him, holding back a grin.
“This is entertaining,” Ravi murmured.
Eddie grabbed the basketball sitting near the bench. He bounced it once, testing the feel.
Andrea maneuvered her chair smoothly, positioning herself with ease.
She had done this before. Plenty of times. The guys at the station never treated her differently on the court. They adjusted. They adapted. They played.
Eddie caught on fast.
He didn’t hesitate. Didn’t overcorrect. Didn’t pity.
He played.
They went one-on-one, quick passes, clean shots. Andrea trash-talked him the entire time.
“You’re slow.”
“I’m pacing myself.”
“You missed.”
“That was strategic.”
Buck stepped closer, arms still crossed.
“Is he serious right now?” he muttered.
Ravi laughed. “You’re jealous.”
“I am not jealous.”
Andrea scored.
She raised both hands in victory.
“Two to one,” she called out.
Eddie shook his head, smiling.
“You hustle,” he said.
“Always,” she shot back.
Buck felt something twist in his chest watching them laugh.
Eddie wasn’t forcing it. He wasn’t trying too hard. He wasn’t uncomfortable.
He fit.
And Buck hated how easy it looked.
Free When Eddie made a clean shot from just outside the key, Andrea clapped once in approval.
“Okay, Texas,” she said. “You might survive here.”
Buck stepped forward finally.
“Alright, that’s enough,” he said.
Andrea looked at him, amused.
“You’re interrupting my evaluation.”
“You’ve evaluated enough.”
Eddie glanced between them, clearly picking up on the tension.
“Did I pass?” he asked lightly.
Andrea smiled slowly.
“You’re still under review.”
Buck rolled his eyes.
“This is ridiculous.”
Ravi leaned closer to Buck.
“You know,” Ravi said quietly, “if he gets hired, you’re going to have to share.”
Buck didn’t respond.
He watched Eddie hand the ball back to Andrea with a calm grin.