Alaska on fire // Fox 9-1-1

1.1

Alaska's routes, in the last months, had only four destinations: the training camp, the Station 118, her dad's apartment and her own, with certain stops at a few stores and a few outings with members of her dad's team, with whom she had become close.

Like several nights in the past few weeks, she drove to the station after leaving the academy to join the family dinner. After a long day of physical assessments, her exhausted body and mind longed for the cozy and delicious meal her dad was preparing.

"Hey Hen, what's up?" She caught the eye of the paramedic who had her eyes lost at the entrance of the place.

"Hey girl! How were those tests?"

The blonde walked over to her before answering, "I did pretty good. I just want to have dinner though and then slyly fall asleep on the couch."

Hen laughed softly remembering the multiple days she felt that way and knowing that wouldn't change once she was back, officially, a firefighter, "You're welcome to do it, I've got your back."

"Thank you, are you expecting something?"

"Umm yeah, I have a friend coming, Athena. I'm waiting for her to come up."

They continued chatting until a police cruiser pulled up next to Alaska's car, "She's your friend?"

"Yup, she's a police sergeant."

And to see her, wow. She was definitely breathtaking. With her hands on her hips she walked towards the girls, while the blonde just thought about how out of TV the woman, who took off her aviator glasses, looked.

"I don't know you. New firefighter?"

"Not yet, Ma'am. I'm still in the academy."

"You're only a month away from getting out, still." Hen said matter-of-factly.

"And you're already hanging out with the big boys, my respects." Athena's face went from astonishment to a smile.

Alaska hastened to explain a little better, "Yes and no. Ehm, my dad's the captain." And turning her hand over with an outstretched finger, she made a gesture referring to the whole place.

"Oh, you're Bobby's daughter?"

"Yes Ma'am. Alaska Nash." She said, extending her hand to Athena Grant, who introduced herself next.

"All right, come on. Let's go upstairs."

The three women climbed the stairs and met the boys waiting for their food.

"Hey. You guys don't mind, I brought some company to the family dinner. Athena's going through some.... Some stuff at home. So she could use some TLC" Hen stepped forward, drawing everyone's attention, "I also found someone downstairs."

Alaska arrived on the second floor just after and approached the table with a smile adorning her tired face. She hugged her dad first and then walked over to Chimney passing her arms around his torso, "Hey."

"Hey."

She heard her dad greet the sergeant before hugging her, which caused her smile to widen, "We don't normally accept cops at our secret firefighter meetings, but for you we can make an exception."

Laska then ran her hand through Buck's hair, tousling it. Buck, however, barely reacted. He was staring blankly at the empty plate in front of him. She saw the sergeant stop her gaze on them and then heard her speak, though she knew it was to the blond boy beside her, "You know, I ain't sold on you yet, but.... I think keeping me from getting shot deserves a second chance."

"Hey, there won't be a third, though" Athena added, after they gave each other a little handshake.

After not seeing her blonde friend in his usual bubbly state, Alaska turned to look at her dad with a frown. He explained, "Buck here is having a little trouble moving on from a call that didn't go his way."

The blonde rested her hand on the younger boy's shoulder as Athena sat down across from them. "I'll tell you one thing. You know why they make us wear these uniforms, right? Cops, firefighter, paramedics?" everyone understood that she was waiting for an answer from them.

The first to respond was Chimney, "sex appeal?"

Before Alaska could turn and judge him with her eyes, Buck gave an opinion more akin to what she had in mind, "so people can easily identify us."

"Both true, but it's also for our own good. Because when we take off the uniforms, at the end of the day, it symbolizes letting go all the sad, crazy, inhumane things we've seen this day."

Laska felt for a moment trapped in the memory of the emergency room. She saw the busy hallway of gurneys from old cases she had attended to and shook slightly, only noticeable to her dad, Athena and Chimney. The blonde let herself be comforted by the Sergeant's wise words, letting go.

"I see his face every time I close my eyes. That happens to you guys?"

That question unleashed anxiety in her, causing her to shut down for everyone. She focused on the food as she tried to let go of her bad experiences as an ER nurse.

Then the bell rang and everyone at the table stood up, except Alaska. Bobby wiped a napkin across his mouth and then kissed the crown of her head, "sorry shortcake."

"It's okay dad, I'll take over picking up here. I'll leave you your food covered."

"Thanks sweetie. Tomorrow by the time your training ends our shift here should be over. How about you eat at the apartment and stay the night? I have something to tell you."

"Okay, see you tomorrow. Be careful."

"You too. Drive carefully Lackie."