The Rival

Part 2

Esmerelda turned to Penny and took her hand shaking it. "I'm sorry" she said "I've heard so much about the famous Fireman Sam I lost my manners for a moment." she confessed. Penny simply smiled and shook her hand replying "that is ok. He does tend to have that effect on others." She winked at Sam and he smiled. He noticed that Esmerelda frowned. 

"Sam a word?" Chief Officer Boyce's voice called out. Sam turned away from the exchange to meet with the two officers. "I wanted you to know that Chief Officer Cooke specifically made this request for his niece to join the station. He is hoping you will take her under your wing." Boyce said. "Yes sir." Sam replied. "Very good, well I will leave her in your capable hands" Boyce said nodding to Sam and Steele before exiting. 

"Oooh Sam there you are." Sam turned to see Esmerelda striding in his direction. She reached out and took his arm. "Will you give me a tour of the station?" she asked batting her eyelashes. Sam looked over at his other companions who shrugged at him in unison. "We did volunteer Sam" Arnold said, "but she was adamant that she wanted a tour from you."

"Right then" Sam said, attempting to get the woman to let go of his arm. "If you will just follow me I'll start the tour." He escorted Esmerelda throughout the station pointing out the information she would need. For her part the young female mostly kept her eyes on the lead firefighter. She didn't seem to ask any questions that pertained to the job. 

They were circling back to the vehicle hanger and Sam found himself smiling at a different blonde who was busy working on Jupiter. "Hey Penny what are you doing?" He asked as they approached the diligent team mate. Penny looked up at Sam and smiled, "Oh nothing much Sam." she responded lifting a damaged hose "just changing out a hose." She turned towards Esmerelda "I hope Sam isn't boring you with too many details on your guided tour" she said to the younger woman. 

"Sam could never be boring." the girl insisted grabbing Sam's arm yet again and leaning towards him. "He's so interesting and so important. And what he does is definitely better than changing broken equipment." she said tossing some of her curls behind her with one hand while pulling herself towards Sam's chest with the other.

"Esmerelda!" Sam exclaimed. "Changing broken equipment and keeping the engines in prime condition is vital!" he said once again shaking the girl off his arm. Penny simply laughed. "No she's right Sam. I think giving a tour of this place would definitely be more exciting, " she winked at them both before turning back to Jupiter to finish her work.

"Come on Sam, you haven't shown me the tower yet." Esmerelda pouted. Sam sighed looking in Penny's direction one final time,  before leading the young recruit outside and towards the training tower. It felt like the longest tour of his life as he tried to finish up and return inside. 

"Ahh Sam there you are." Sam turned relived to hear Station Officer Steele's voice. "Can you prepare the training exercise for the troops today? My dear you need to get into regulation uniform. Go meet up with Penny and she can show you your locker and changing area" Steele said looking at Esmerelda.

"Of course" she replied rolling her eyes as she sauntered away. "Thank you sir." Sam sighed as she disappeared around the corner. "She may be a handful that one" Steele said shaking his head. "According to Boyce she's been sent to us so we can shape her up, she apparently almost flunked out of the academy, but her dear old uncle wouldn't allow it" he whispered to Sam. 

Sam nodded. That explained her lack of work ethics so far. "I'm sure we will get her into proper firefighter shape before too long" Sam responded. He turned to prepare the exercise as Steele wandered back inside. 

A few minutes later, everyone was assembled outside. Thankfully Esmerelda had pulled her hair back into a ponytail and was changed into the regulation uniform, although Ellie muttered something about Penny needing a medal for finally convincing the woman to do so. "Alright team" announced Sam as everyone snapped to attention. "Today we are going to practice an electrical fire," he said drawing their attention to the small blaze in front of them. "Penny would you describe the details" he asked.

Penny was going over details and had just asked Ellie what she thought their first steps should be when Esmerelda rolled her eyes and grabbed the bucket of water sitting on the side. "Why make such a big deal out of this? It's a fire, just put it out," she said dumping the water straight on the flames. 

Sam quickly tackled Esmerelda out of the way as the flames and sparks exploded everywhere. Sam was conscious of Penny ordering Arnold and Ellie to cut the electricity and attach the sticky foam hose while she doused the flames  before it could spread.  Thank goodness for Penny, Sam thought knowing she had everything under control.

"Are you alright?" he asked the young recruit as he extended his hand and helped her to her feet. "Ooh thank you so much for saving my life" Esmerelda replied fluttering her eyes at Sam. "That was so dangerous, what were you thinking?!" Ellie chimed in glaring at Esmerelda.

"It was a fire, I was just trying to put it out. We didn't need a long lecture" Esmerelda said as she brushed some imaginary dirt from her uniform. "The 'lecture' was for safety" Arnold chimed in, "We always discuss matters so we have all the information and know what to do in every situation." 

Penny meanwhile was cleaning up the mess. Sam walked next to her offering her a hand with the hose. He felt the new recruit was getting enough of a lesson from Ellie and Arnold and he needed to clear his head for a moment. He saw Penny's small smile as he wound the hose while she swept the foam debris. 

"Are you ok Sam?" she asked quietly looking into his blue eyes with concern. "I'm fine Penny. Thank you for stepping in so quickly. I can always count on you" he said gazing back into her brown eyes wishing the moment could last. "SAM tell them to stop being mean to me!" Esmerelda screeched causing both lead firefighters to flinch. 

Both turned their attention on the other three members. Arnold and Ellie both stood with confused looks on their face as Esmerelda looked at Sam with eyes brimming with tears. "They are bullying me, just because I made a simple mistake" the young woman began to sob throwing herself into Sam's chest and wailing. 

Sam panicked and looked at Penny for help. She snorted before closing the distance to them. Penny placed her hand on the young woman's shoulder. "Now, now it is ok, everyone makes mistakes" she said gently trying to calm the woman as she rubbed her shoulder. "How about if we go have a nice cup of tea?" she said attempting to comfort her while prying her off of Sam. 

He looked gratefully at Penny as she walked the sobbing young woman to the station. "Sam?" Arnold's voice broke into his thoughts. He turned to see Ellie and Arnold approaching him. "Something is seriously not right with that girl" Ellie started before Arnold could say anything else. 

Sam sighed, "you are right, but what can we do? We will just have to work with her slowly until she gets the basics down. We don't have a choice with her uncle sending her our way. At least it is only for a week" The two firefighters nodded. "Can you both give me a hand with cleanup since Penny is busy at the moment?" The three firefighters made quick work of the cleanup and slowly headed towards the kitchen to see what awaited them. 

to be continued...