Work Text:
INT. LAFD DISPATCH – NIGHT
The room buzzes with activity, but Maddie’s voice is the one cutting through, brittle and breaking as she speaks into her headset.
MADDIE (into headset)
Dispatch to Officer Grant-Nash. Athena, it’s—
(a shaky breath)
—it’s the 118. It’s Buck. He’s on a rooftop, and he’s threatening to jump.
There’s a heavy pause on the other end. Athena, in her patrol car, goes completely still. Her grip tightens on the wheel.
ATHENA (voice low, calm, steady)
Where is he?
MADDIE
Building off 6th and Alameda. It's... high, Athena. He’s not talking to anyone. Just pacing near the edge. Cap—Bobby—he’d know what to say, but...
Her voice falters. Athena hears it—the tremble, the pain, the grief. Maddie is trying so hard not to cry.
MADDIE (CONT’D)
I should’ve seen this coming. He’s been pulling away. I thought maybe he just needed time, but—he’s my baby brother. I should’ve known.
Athena’s eyes soften, pain flashing in her own.
ATHENA
Maddie. Listen to me.
There’s silence on the line—Maddie clearly trying to hold it together.
ATHENA (CONT’D)
I’m going to that call. I’ll be the one talking to him. And I will bring your brother home. You hear me?
Her voice wavers just slightly, but the conviction is unwavering.
ATHENA (CONT’D)
We’re not losing more family.
---
EXT. ROOFTOP – NIGHT
The wind is fierce. The rooftop is lit by flashing red and blue lights from below. BUCK stands at the edge, gear still on, helmet discarded somewhere behind him. He stares upward, jaw tight, eyes glassy. Lips moving, whispering something no one down below can hear.
ON THE GROUND – STREET LEVEL
HEN, in her full turnout gear, stands with a megaphone, heart in her throat. She speaks gently, trying to be steady, trying to reach him.
HEN (through megaphone)
Buck, please. Just talk to me, okay? We’re all here. We’re all with you. Tell me what you need, and we’ll do it. Whatever it is—please.
No response. Buck doesn’t even flinch. Then suddenly—
BUCK (shouting)
BOBBY! I WANT BOBBY!
The cry echoes off the buildings, and the entire crowd jolts. Silence falls like a curtain.
EDDIE
(in a low voice to himself)
Oh, Buck...
EDDIE is standing near the perimeter tape, no gear, just a hoodie and jeans. He’d raced here the moment the call came through. He thanks God that he'd stayed after the funeral. His eyes don’t leave Buck, but there's a tremor in his jaw. Chim is nearby, frozen.
CHIM (softly, horrified)
Does he think Bobby's still alive?
EDDIE shakes his head, slowly, painfully.
EDDIE
No. He knows. That’s the problem.
BUCK (into his radio, loud and clear)
You have twenty minutes to bring me Captain Bobby Nash, or I’m going to jump. Do you hear me? Twenty minutes.
The radio falls silent. All they can hear now is the wind—and Buck’s ragged breathing.
--
EXT. STREET BELOW – NIGHT
Athena’s patrol car pulls up, lights flashing. She throws it into park and is out in seconds. Her eyes immediately go up—searching, scanning—until they land on the silhouette on the edge of the roof.
BUCK. Alone. Teetering on the precipice, both literally and emotionally.
Athena stands still for a beat. Her hand goes instinctively to her badge—her heart. She doesn’t look away from him. Can’t.
This isn’t just a firefighter up there. This is Buck. Her husband’s surrogate son. The boy Bobby saved. The man they’ve both come to love.
ATHENA (softly, to herself)
Oh, baby...
She finally turns, eyes locking on HEN, who’s trying to stay composed but visibly shaking.
ATHENA (gently, but firmly)
Tell me everything.
Hen takes a breath, swallowing thickly. She’s tired. She’s scared.
HEN
We were wrapping up a call. Nothing out of the ordinary. Buck disappeared toward the end. We thought maybe he just needed air, but... he locked himself on the roof.
A beat. Athena’s face remains stoic, but her jaw tightens.
HEN (CONT’D)
He wasn't responding to us. Barely even looked our way. And then he just... shouted. Said he wanted Bobby.
Hen’s voice cracks slightly. She wipes at her face, frustrated with the tears.
HEN (CONT’D)
He’s given us an ultimatum. Says we have twenty minutes to bring him Captain Bobby Nash, or he’s going to jump.
She looks up, hopeless.
HEN (CONT’D)
Athena... he thinks Bobby’s alive. Or... or maybe he just needs him to be. What do we do? We can’t... we can’t raise the dead.
Athena places a hand on Hen’s shoulder. Her voice, calm but full of quiet grief:
ATHENA
No. We can’t.
A pause. Her eyes drift upward again.
ATHENA (CONT’D)
But maybe we can remind him that Bobby never truly left.
---
EXT. BASE OF THE BUILDING – NIGHT
Athena takes Hen’s radio with a steady hand. She moves toward the ladder set up at the side of the building—just out of Buck’s direct line of sight. Her gaze flickers up again, locking on the figure at the rooftop’s edge. Then, with a slow exhale, she lifts the radio to her lips.
ATHENA (into radio, soft, steady)
Buck, baby... it’s Athena.
There’s a beat of silence, then a crackle. Buck’s voice comes back, raw and full of desperate hope.
BUCK (over radio)
Thena? Did you bring Bobby?
Athena doesn’t pause. She doesn’t hesitate. She gives Buck what he needs, not what’s real.
ATHENA (gently)
Yes, baby. Bobby’s here. Can we come up and talk to you?
A long silence. Athena holds her breath. Then—
BUCK (over radio)
I've locked the stairs off. Use the ladder. I saw them set it up.
Athena can’t help the soft laugh that escapes her lips. Even now, so close to the edge, Buck is observing everything. So much like Bobby it hurts.
She touches the breast pocket of her jacket, where a small, worn velvet box is tucked safely away. Her voice drops to a whisper, meant for no one but the wind and the memory of the man she lost.
ATHENA (quietly)
I’m going to save your boy, Bobby. I promise.
She moves toward the ladder—but EDDIE intercepts her. He’s flushed, panicked, practically vibrating with concern.
EDDIE
Athena, what are you doing? He’s going to know you lied to him. When Bobby doesn’t appear—when he realises...
His voice catches. The grief is bleeding through the cracks.
EDDIE (CONT’D)
He’s not in his right mind. What if he jumps anyway?
Athena doesn’t flinch. She places a firm but gentle hand on Eddie’s shoulder, grounding him with her eyes.
ATHENA
I didn’t lie.
Eddie blinks, confused. Athena’s voice softens, but her conviction never wavers.
ATHENA (CONT’D)
Bobby is here. And he always will be. In every life Buck saves. In every order he gives. In the man he became because Bobby loved him.
A beat. Athena takes a breath, voice thickening ever so slightly.
ATHENA (CONT’D)
Now, excuse me... I have to go talk a broken man down from the edge.
She turns, beginning the steady, purposeful climb up the ladder.