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It was supposed to be simple.
Or at least that’s what the 118 had been told on dispatch. A food truck in the local port had caught on fire, nobody was reported to in the vehicle or stuck in proximity to the fire. As simple as they come. But then again, most of the calls they got were supposed to be simple.
Bobby had divided his team: he, Eddie, Buck, and Hen had gone to start to tackle the fire and look for anyone who may be inside still whilst Chimney and (Y/N) had gone towards the crowd of people near the water’s edge to check for burns injuries.
“Hey, I’ve got one over here,” Chimney called out to his partner, nodding his head at the slightly wounded man. “He says his wife, Diane, is here somewhere. Can’t find her. He mentioned she has some sort of reaction overdrive?”
“On it.” (Y/N) called back before manoeuvring her way through the crowd scanning for injuries. “Diane, Diane, Diane. Wherever could you be, Di-”
(Y/N) stopped as she reached the edge of the platform. Pacing back and forth was a woman. She was frantic, all consumed with her steps that she didn’t notice (Y/N) come up behind her.
“Are you Diane?” She asked, placing a hand on the woman to try to calm her. Almost on reflex, Diane jumped and turn sending (Y/N) backwards and over the water’s edge.
The midwinter water felt as if needles were prickling at her skin, sharp and deep, as she plunged below the water's surface. The force behind the push forced (Y/N) to lose all control of her whereabouts. Up became down and left turned into right. She wasn't far from the surface, but her panic and her struggle send her further down.
Her mind went back to her training; she needed to calm down or she knew she may not survive at all. (Y/N) slowed down her movements, letting her limbs move with the current, but the water made it harder for her to start moving again. She felt the weight of the world pressing down on her, almost as if it was mocking her as she continued to sink further down. The daylight above her growing duller with each passing moment.
God, she wanted to get out of this water. She wanted nothing more than to swim to the top and go home to her wife, her Hen. It was almost laughable to her, and if (Y/N) could spare the oxygen she would laugh. Hen would be furious at her; she could hear the lecture now. There wasn’t anything on Earth she wouldn’t give to have that lecture now. It would mean she was safe, but more importantly it would mean she was alive.
By God, did she want to live.
But as much as she wanted to live did the water want to reap her. Maybe living was too much to ask for, (Y/N) thought as shut her eyes, no longer having the energy to keep them open. Maybe what she wanted was for Hen to be okay if she didn’t live. Everything would be fine as long as her Hen would be happy.
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“Hey, Chim,” Hen called out to the man as he approached her, “Is (Y/N) with you? I haven’t seen her.”
“No, last I saw her was by the water’s edge. I thought she came back to you. Try her on the radio, maybe?”
Hen nodded before reaching for the radio on her shoulder. “(Y/N) check in? Are you there?” Silence. She waited a moment before trying again. “(L/N). Are you okay? (Y/N). Please answer.”
She was met with silence again. Looking over to Chimney to take over what she was doing, she set off towards the waters edge. As she got closer, a woman franticly called her over.
“It wasn’t my fault. I swear it wasn’t. I was scared and she appeared. It took my by surprise, honestly. I didn’t mean for it to happen. It was an accident.”
Hen reached out and took the woman’s arms to calm her. “Ma’am? Ma’am. I’m going to need you to calm down and tell me what happened.”
Instead of responding, the woman looked down into the water and pointed at the body slowly sinking deeper and deeper.
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The brightness of the room hurt.
It was like looking into the sun itself. Even with her eyes closed, (Y/N) found the light blindingly bright. Slowly though, she found the strength to open them again but instead of seeing the icy water she had expected to find, she was greeted by the plainness of a hospital room.
All it held was her bed, a couple of drawers, and a chair pushed up against the wall with a slumped Hen on top of it. She looked so peaceful, so much so, (Y/N) felt bad for waking her up.
“Hey, baby.” She croaked out before coughing. “Hen? Henrietta, you need to wake up.”
Slowly, Hen lifted her head to look at her wife. “You’re awake.”
(Y/N) nodded, reaching out her hand to take her partners. She watched the woman carefully, trying to judge her reaction; her face was void of emotion, but her voice wasn’t.
“You almost died. I could’ve lost you today. Denny almost lost you- Hell all of us almost lost you. Why didn’t you swim up?”
“I don’t know. I tried; I tried but I couldn’t. I couldn’t breathe and I don’t remember anything except that I couldn’t breathe.” (Y/N) responded.
“What would’ve happened if I hadn’t gotten to you?”
“I’m sorry.” (Y/N) looked away towards the dark window. Even now, it was hard to breathe. She almost wished she was back underwater so she could avoid this conversation. Both of them knew that risks came with the job but knowing something bad will happen compared to it actually happening are two completely different things. “I’m so sorry.”
“I know. I love you.”
“I love you too.”