Chapter Text
The soft wind brushes over her face with the hint of salt, the fresh smell of sea. Every time, she feels lucky that the Firehouse 34 department is located near the coast.
Lexa comes from a legendary generation of firefighters, her father being one and her grandfather and great-grandfather. They were all one of the best firefighters in history and now she has to live up to everyones' expectations of her. Sometimes that puts a great deal of stress on her even though they already say that she is the best in Seattle and becoming one of the best like her ancestors and the greatest achievement by being the youngest Lieutenants in history at the age of 22, now she's 25. At times it doesn't feel like enough, like she has to do better.
But Lexa was born a leader and she couldn't be any prouder of her achievements.
Lexa is the Lieutenant at Firehouse 34 of Rescue Truck 1, handling any victim rescues and ladder work, sometimes even going out at sea, having the perks of the firehouse department close to the coast. She also has to work very closely with the paramedics, which in the mean time are lacking two paramedics as they are waiting for the two new newbies joining in a couple of hours.
At the moment the only paramedic is Raven Reyes of Ambulance Truck 22
Bellamy is the Lieutenant of Engine Truck 11. His younger sister, Octavia, decided to follow in the footsteps of her brother but however taking an interest into the firefighting side of things and becoming apart of the Recuse Truck, being Lexa's colleague and crew member.
As soon as Lexa enters the Department she goes straight to her office. She sits down with a long sigh as she takes sight of the papers on her desk. It's gonna be a long morning going over reports and handing them to her chief, Gustus.
Gustus is not only the chief of Firehouse 34 but also someone she considers an uncle. Gustus knew her father before he died in his line of duty, when Lexa was 8 and her mother leaving her at the age of 10, claiming she can't handle grieving over her lost and taking care of Lexa, when everyday she was just a constant reminder of him to her mother. So Gustus and Indra took custody of Lexa.
That is how she met Anya, her best friend since year 6, when she transferred into Anya's school after moving in with Gustus. Anya is her colleague on the Rescue crew at the department. She feels blessed to be working with her best friend at the same department. The Blake siblings also feel blessed to be at the same unit too. Siblings being at the same Firehouse is quite uncommon.
That's also the reason why Firehouse 34 is the best in Seattle because their unit has a special bond amongst the crew members, being there for one another on the job and in the their lives outside the Firehouse. They know how to work perfectly together because they know one another like the back of their hand. They all have a history or a special bond between all of them. They are all a close group of friends and a second family to them all, even to Gustus, who is like the father to them all. Let's just hope the two newbies can fit in and not feel left out.
More importantly, Lexa just hopes they're not uptight assholes who think they know everything because that will just ruin the unit's reputation and ruin what all the crew members has achieved and built together over the years to become the best team in Seattle. They don't need a snobby co-worker who thinks they're above the rest and can do whatever they want because frankly, everyone just doesn't have the time to put with it. They take orders from the Lieutenant and get on with the job. It's just that simple. Well... Not always but they get the job done in the end though.
"Lexa?"
Octavia pops her head through the office's door. Lexa doesn't even look up from the papers as she sticks her index finger in the air as a signal to wait a minute. Octavia makes her way to one of the chairs opposite Lexa at her desk, she stays silent as Lexa finishes off the reports. Once she's done, she sighs from relief and slumps back into her chair as she looks up at Octavia.
"Now you may speak"
Lexa's commanding tone is strong and clear. Octavia has always looked up to Lexa as a role model ever since she joined this Firehouse department straight after she graduated and constantly tries to make her proud and show how good of a firefighter she is. She wants to become Lieutenant one day and be just as great as Lexa.
"The newbies will arrive in 2 hours, in the meantime everyone is playing cards in the common room, want to join now that your finished with the reports?", Octavia replies.
Lexa looks around her desk to double check she has done everything important before saying, "Sure."
They make their way to the common room where the engine crew, Rescue crew and the only paramedic is sat around the long table playing poker.
Lexa sits opposite Anya, with Bellamy and Aden sat either side of her. Octavia sits with Lincoln to one side as she gives him a kiss on the cheek with Echo sat on his other side whilst Raven is opposite her.
Octavia and Lincoln have been dating for a few months now and is the only couple in the department but there is something going on between Anya and Raven. Everyone suspects that they like each more than just in a friendship way but they refuse to acknowledge it. And to put it simply, they are both just too stubborn for their own good and won't admit their feelings for one another.
-2 hours later-
"Dammit Reyes!"
"Sorry commander, I'm just too good", Raven winks at Lexa
"Pffft, you just got lucky Reyes, Lexa almost won if you didn't have that Ace", Octavia chimes in.
"Just admit it, I'm the best"
"Never!", everyone yells in unison causing everyone around the table to break into a fit of laughter.
"Uhm!", someone loudly clears their throat to catch everyone's attention.
They all look to see who is standing at the entrance of the common room.
Gustus is leaning against the side of the wall with a small smirk.
"Now that I have all your attention. The newcomers have arrived."
"Shit! Already?"
"Language Reyes", Gustus says in a calm voice.
"Time just went by so fast, don't blame me. It's to be expected", Raven tries to defend herself.
"Come on! It felt like half an hour just went by not two full hours, expect the shock", she tries again as no one says anything but snicker at her.
"Whatever", she crosses her arms and pouts.
"Awe is Raven Reyes pouting?", Anya says sarcastically.
"No", she pouts even more causing another round of laughter.
"Anyway, I'll bring the newcomers in and Lexa you'll debrief the two and all of you, make sure they feel welcomed into the family", Gustus explains with a smile etched onto his face.
"Sir, yes sir!", Raven jumps up and does a mockery salute causing the chief to roll his eyes at her silly tactics and carries on to catch the new paramedics.
Anya smacks Raven's arm and pulls her back into her seat next to hers.
A few minutes later the two newcomers follow behind Gustus as they enter the common room. Lexa stands up as her eyes land on the beautiful Blonde and blue eyed-girl standing in front of her. Lexa swallows as her throat goes dry by her beauty and quickly diverts her focus from her when they make eye contact to the boy standing next to her.
"Hello, I'm Lieutenant Lexa, nice to meet you both", she says looking between the two, shaking the Blonde girl's hand first.
"Hi, I'm Clarke, Clarke Griffin", she replies with a shy smile on her lips as they make eye contact again.
The boy standing next to Clarke takes a small step forward with a warm smile and stretches his hand out to shake Lexa's.
"Hello, I'm Wells Jaha. Nice to meet you too Lieutenant".
This causes Lexa to look away from Clarke to the boy named Wells, accepting his handshake.
She motions her arm out to the people behind her who are all still sitting down. Raven with her signature smirk directed at her after seeing her interaction with the blonde.
"This is the crew and your new colleagues. I am on the Rescue Squad 1, with Anya", she points to the girl and carries on "and Octavia and Lincoln"
She then points to the 3 Engine crew members, "this is Bellamy, Aden and Echo, they are on the engine crew of Truck 12"
"And this thing here", she points to Raven who scoffs at her but still with a smirk. "Is the annoying Raven Reyes and is the paramedic you'll be joining on Ambulance Truck 22"
"I assure you newbies, I am not annoying, Lexa just refuses to admit that I'm just awesome", Raven winks at them.
Anya rolls her eyes at Raven whilst she stands up and everyone else follows suit. They all go to the newcomers and introduce themselves a bit more as they welcome them.
After the introduction is done, Lexa looks to Raven and simply orders,
"Reyes, take the newbies to your Ambulance Truck and go through it all with them and after that show them their lockers".
Raven nods, whilst she leaves she calls over her shoulder, "come on newbies!".
Half an hour later, Clarke and Wells are debriefed about everything about the truck and gave a quick tour around the Firehouse and on their final destination, showing the two their respective lockers. The three of them return back to the common room where everyone else has resumed playing poker.
"Oh, I see how it is. You play whilst I'm not here. I'm hurt, I'm truly hurt." Raven pretends to wipe an imagery tear from her eye and sniffs dramatically.
"Oh just sit down, drama queen", Echo says.
As she takes her seat, the two paramedics shuffle on their feet, don't know what to do.
"We are playing poker if you care to join us?" Lexa asks.
"Sure", Wells replied as he took the seat next to the engine crew boy he remembered is called Bellamy as Clarke takes the empty seat next to the boy, Aden.
Anya deals the cards and they resume playing.
"And I win", Raven places her cards down with a wide smirk as she brags when she thought the round was over.
"Uhm... Actually I did"
Everyone looks to the person who spoke and saw it was Clarke.
She places her cards down and everyone saw that she had indeed won by getting a full house, beating Raven who is now gone silent as her jaw drops in shock.
Everyone starts to laugh and cheer.
"You actually made Reyes speechless, I like you kid!", Anya says making Clarke smile when everyone else agrees.
"This will never be forgotten, you knocked her ego down. Welcome to the Firehouse!", Lexa says jokingly as she spreads her arms out.
"Great first impression", Aden nudges her also with a small smile whilst Raven is still looking dumbfounded. Clarke suddenly starts to think that maybe Raven will now dislike her but before she starts to worry, Raven quickly recovers and a smirk suddenly retakes it place on her face again.
"Finally!", she says exasperatedly, "a worthy opponent! Someone who is actually as good as me. At last, I have been waiting for someone like you, these people suck at poker! I like you newbie", she says dramatically.
"Heeey", came the response from everyone around the table at Raven's insult. Everyone starts to laugh and continue to play.
Clarke looks over to Wells who is already grinning at her causing her to smile bigger whilst they both start to feel at ease and welcomed. Clarke especially is happy that she made a good first impression, even if it was only by luck over a game of poker.
-a half hour later-
They just finished there game of poker while they all start to disperse to their lockers to change into their uniform as the shift will start soon.
Clarke managed to win a couple of rounds, Lexa did twice and even Octavia but mainly Raven won by only scraping 2 more rounds than Clarke. Raven is now delighted to play with the newbie, Clarke, because she feels she's a worthy opponent and that over the years she's needs a competition.
Everyone is now all in uniform and ready for a call whenever, but in the mean time they have taken the spaces on the sofa watching tv in the common room, whilst some others are playing pool and some are even playing a different game of cards at the table.
Clarke notices how Lexa is not here, she has to admit that it made her feel a little bit disappointed even though she doesn't know Lexa, except she is beautiful and has piercing green eyes that she couldn't look away from when she introduced herself. She assumes Lexa is in her office.
Octavia looks up from her spot on the couch and sees Clarke at the entrance, she moves to create space before saying,
"Hey Clarke, come join us, do you like Hell's Kitchen?"
"Who doesn't love watching Ramsay swear at people", she takes the spot Octavia offered next to her.
"You know.. I feel like you and I will become great friends", Octavia gives Clarke a wide toothy grin before refocusing back to the tv whilst Clarke smiles like an idiot at her confession. She feels so warm and giddy that everyone seems to like her, she was stressing before that someone might not like her but Wells assured her that it's very unlikely and he had been right, thank god. Otherwise it would have been awkward as hell since she'll have to work with them. She suspects that if one didn't like her, then everyone else wouldn't either since they are such a tight unit. She respects that they're all close, like a family. She can get used to this.
It takes 1 and a half episodes of Hell's Kitchen before their first call of the day voices out over the intercom, loud and clear throughout the whole Firehouse to hear.
Firehouse 34, Rescue Squad 1, Engine Truck 12, Ambulance 22 attempt of suicide on 5th avenue, 7 floor Spring st apartment building complex.
Everyone gets to their respective Truck before they make there way to the situation. Lincoln hops into the drivers seat of the Rescue truck and switches the alarm and blaring lights on to signal for other drivers to give way as he booms down the streets.
As they arrive at the scene, there is already a large group of people who have gathered, standing around the building looking up to a man standing near the edge of the 7th floor.
They all jump out the trucks and huddle around Lexa as she throws out orders.
"Engine crew get the life net out at the bottom now and secure the area", as they run off she looks towards Octavia "get a harness and attach yourself to Lincoln after he secures himself. You might have to take him off the roof if I can't talk him out of it".
They go and fetch the harnesses whilst Lexa now directs to the paramedics.
"I need one of you up there with us, we might need to subdue him and bring a backboard".
"I'll go", Clarke says without a beat.
Lexa nods.
They make their way up the building, running up 7 flights of stairs. Lexa carefully opens the door leading to the roof, to not scare the man.
She pokes her head out and see a man who looks about in his thirties, with brown hair and around about 5'9. He's looking down, she silently walks out signalling for her crew to follow.
"Hello sir", Lexa says in a low, calm voice to prevent startling him.
He snaps his head up to look at them and takes a step back, closer to the edge.
"Stay back! I'll jump", he warns.
Lexa subtly puts her hand up behind her to signal for her crew to stop behind the door, so the man won't notice them and only think Lexa is there, all of them might overwhelm the guy.
"Please sir, step away from the edge", she says calmly.
"No"
"Sir, step away from the edge", Lexa repeats with a more stern tone.
"Why? No one cares"
"You are wrong"
"How do you know? You know nothing!", he snaps.
"Because if no one cared I wouldn't be here, all those people down below wouldn't be here, that woman down below wouldn't be crying if she didn't care", she keeps her voice levelled and calm.
He hesitates for moment before Lexa carries on
"What's your name sir?"
"D..Dave"
"Hello Dave, nice to meet you I'm Lieutenant Lexa", she takes a careful step towards him, Lexa notes that this time he doesn't back away.
She carries on as he stays quite, clearly conflicted about this whole situation.
"Why don't you come back down with me, Dave"
He shakes his head but steps a little closer to Lexa subconsciously.
She takes another step forward subtly in hopes he won't get agitated.
"That women crying is my wife. She's been constantly working, ignoring me completely, she doesn't care. She's probably with some other guy at work".
"Dave, she wouldn't be here otherwise if she didn't care, she wouldn't be here crying. She is scared because she deeply cares for you. Whatever is going on between your relationship with her, this." She gestures around them before continuing. "This won't solve anything. This will only hurt her even more and she will blame herself for the rest of her life if anything happens to you. Would you want that for her?"
He reluctantly shakes his head no.
"Then come down from the edge and talk it out with her, now she knows she has been in the wrong she'll try so hard to fix this with you. She might not even be with anyone. Don't ruin the happiness that will bring to the two of you by doing this. You'll miss out big time if you wash away your life like this".
He stays silent for a bit until he slowly nods.
He's about to step off until he looses his balance causing him to fall backwards over the edge.
Lexa notices quickly and acts on impulse as she runs fast enough to catch his wrist before it's too late. The concrete ledge is pushing hard against her stomach as she is being pulled over the ledge with the man due to his weight. Before she falls with him she feels hands wrapping around her waist and legs, securing her in place.
"Please don't let go", the man screams.
"Trust me", she grunts out, "that is not my intention".
Her arm is killing her by the sudden pull of his weight and the lack of oxygen by being pressed against the concrete firmly as she leans over the edged.
She feels the set of hands leave her legs but then sees Octavia going over the edge with a harness and attaches herself to the man whilst Lincoln slowly lets them down. As the only set of hands pull Lexa back, she falls back onto the roof, panting a little to get some oxygen then lets out a relieved sigh as she closes her eyes to calm her heart rate.
"Hey, you okay?"
She opens her eyes and see piercing blue staring at her, concern etched onto Clarke's face.
"Yeah, I'm fine"
"You did good"
"I was just doing my job"
"Don't listen to her, she's just being modest", Lincoln winks at Lexa causing her to roll her eyes at him.
They make their way back down and see some of the crowd start to leave and her crew members packing up the trucks.
Dave and the woman she presumes is his wife walks over to Lexa.
"Thank you lieutenant Lexa. I am very grateful. From now on we're gonna be honest with each other. I was wrong about my wife so thank you for talking me out of it".
"I was just doing my job", she repeats her earlier statement politely. They smile and say their goodbyes and thanks again to her as they leave.
Lexa is unaware that Clarke had been watching their interaction this entire time and as the couple left sees Lexa rub her stomach wincing in pain.
"You sure your okay?", Clarke approaches her.
Lexa knows she has just been caught and how it'll be pointless to lie now.
"Yeah just hurts a little from being pressed against the edge, that man looks heavier than he looks", she jokes lightly.
"Come to the ambulance and I'll check for any bruises".
Lexa nods and follows Clarke to the ambulance truck as she opens the back doors and takes a seat opposite the bed in the truck.
"Sit on the stretcher and lift your top", Clarke demands.
Lexa does as she is told and hops up. She lifts her shirt and notices a bruise already forming.
"Great", she says sarcastically.
"Here is some ice for it, keep it on for 20 minutes and I'll apply some of this ointment to help decrease the swelling".
Lexa nods.
After several silent minutes Clarke decides to speak up,
"You didn't have a harness on and still risked your life for his. You did great so stop being modest and accept that", she says heart lightly.
Lexa shows a genuine smile and Clarke promises there and then that she'll do everything in her power to see her smile like that again.
Green eyes lock onto blue for what feels like minutes but only seconds in reality before Bellamy interrupts them.
"Everything is packed up and ready to leave".
Lexa tears her gaze away to look at him, giving a nod before he walks away. Before she can hop down from the stretcher, Clarke grabs her arm and says "stay, I still need to apply the ointment".
Lexa gives a reluctant nod before resting back onto the stretcher. Lexa lifts her shirt back up again and tenses from the coldness of the liquid and also from the feather light touches of Clarke's fingertips on her abs.
Clarke can't take her gaze away from Lexa's toned abs. She also can't help but think how stunning Lexa is and how well fined her body is.
"So that was a heavy first call for the first day", Clarke says to distract Lexa by the topic so she wouldn't notice the blush forming on her cheeks.
"Indeed. It's gonna be a long day".