Danger Zone (File One of The First Responders Files)

Chapter Eight

And here comes "Rattle Second City!" Obviously we're gonna be very Chicago-focused right now, especially since I have a few episodes to get through before I even think about starting the next 9-1-1 series, so hang onto your seats, guys. Look at it this way . . . you get Sylverasey galore!

The 118 eavesdrops, 51 meets their new paramedic, Sylvie is cool as a cucumber, two of her boys are not impressed, and she gets thrown a curveball. In other words, a typical Chicago Fire episode. XD

Enjoy!

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"Where's Buck?" Bobby looked over the loft area as he finished making omelets for the incoming crew.

"He was in the locker room with me," Eddie frowned, checking his watch, then his phone. "He usually follows me up."

"I think I heard his phone rang after I finished inventory on the ambulance," Chimney piped up from where he was lounging against the pinball machine.

Bobby nodded in acknowledgement. "Wonder who called him," Eddie grabbed the silverware and napkins for them.

"Maddie's on shift today, so it couldn't have been her," Chimney shrugged.

"Oh, come on," Hen scowled. "Surely you guys don't think Buck doesn't have any friends except for us?"

"I'm with Hen on this," Eddie agreed. "My parents and I aren't on the best terms, but that doesn't mean there aren't people back in Texas I'm still occasionally in contact with."

"And I've started getting in contact with a few of my med school classmates, and I know I haven't introduced them to y'all," Hen snorted.

"OK, I get it," Chimney raised his hands. "No need to bite."

" . . . need to be nervous?" Four heads swiveled to the staircase as Buck jogged up, phone pressed to his ear as he fastened his watch around his wrist. Buck waited for a few moments, then snorted. "From what you've said, every partner you've had has gone on to do amazing things . . . well, except Chili or Borelli. I don't like either of them that much, just so you know. As a former cocky probie, I know that wouldn't end well . . . and frankly, Chili sounds like while she was a good paramedic, she was – pardon my language – a bitch." Bobby's eyebrows shot up, but Buck didn't seem to realize he was being watched. "Come on, girl, one of your former partners is a successful relief worker in Puerto Rico and another is on her way to medical school. Who wouldn't want to work with you?"

Eddie turned to look at Hen, surprised by that last part of the conversation. She was listening more intently, and Chimney seemed to be grinning. "This is interesting," he smirked.

"OK, hey, listen to me," Buck put one hand on his hip, glaring at some spot in thin air. "You have gone into some of the worst fires in the business. You have been a paramedic at that house for years. You have the respect of everyone in your house, and it sounds like you have the respect from officers at one of the pickiest, more uptight houses in the city. You're kind, you're gorgeous . . . hell, how many people in the past two years have you somehow had a hand in putting behind bars?" Bobby straightened at that, and Buck snorted. "Yeah, you win compared to everyone in my firehouse combined. You're a badass, and you're going to turn your new partner into a badass, too. So you start that shift, you meet the new girl, give her your best welcome ever, and the two of you rock that shift like it's the last one you'll ever have."

Bobby had completely abandoned pretending not to listen, and Eddie leaned against the counter, arms folded and listening to Buck with a small smile on his face. "Like captain, like firefighter," he couldn't help but say.