Under Suppression

Reignite

I know for the amount of fun tasks that are included in this job, I shouldn't be complaining about the very few mundane things that have to get done, but I'm going to anyway, because I absolutely hate rolling hose. I think most people on the department can agree to that feeling, given that they always seem to forget to put it away before the end of their shift, leaving me to do it for them.

So nothing made me happier when I heard the sound of the fire tones going off, followed by the red LED lights lighting up throughout the station. I pulled out my phone, eager to read anything along the lines of "smoke showing" or "multiple callers" off of the dispatch notes to confirm a real fire, but my shoulders dropped when all I was met with was a "downed powerline" call.

"God damn it," I muttered, watching Joel and Eric drag their feet toward the engine, giving me a weak salute. "Have fun sitting for 5 hours!"

"Shut up, Jenkins, and roll your hose 'cause that's as close as you're getting to any real hoes," Eric bit back, just in time for Alycia to step out of the training room. My eyes widened, not expecting her to still be here so late after her presentation, but regardless, her timing was impecable.

"What was that?" she questioned, her genuine confusion making it clear that she hadn't actually heard, but I only smirked, glancing back at Eric who quickly shut his mouth and hopped in the truck.

That's right, dickhead..

"Now, what are you still doing here, Ms Almost-Nurse Practitioner?" I smirked in her direction, picking up my roll of hose and tossing it onto the rack.

"I'm in no rush to get home, especially when you're still here," she shrugged, following my lead in trying to roll fire hose, and I blushed for a moment before stepping in when she grabbed the wrong end of the hose.

"Alycia, I love you, but you have the wrong end. Here.." I grabbed the coupling on the other end of the hose, holding them both up for her to see. "Whenever you roll hose, you always have the male coupling in the center of the roll because men are sensitive little shits and need protecting.."

She let out a small laugh, and I chuckled myself, feeling my own mood brighten at that sound. I didn't realize how much I missed her laugh until I heard it just now. It was as if it was a reminder of easier times, an example of what life could be like again if I just let it. It was easier said then done, but for now, I was just going to accept that happiness because I really needed it.

"You can tell the difference by remembering that you can see the threads on the male coupling... And when you put them together, the female does all the work," I bit back my smile, demonstrating how the swivel on the female coupling turned to attach to the male, and she shoved my shoulder at the obscene looking gesture. I laughed, throwing my hands up in surrender as she shook her head at me. "Hey now, I'm just showing you how to remember!"

"Yeah, you and your perverted analogies!"

"Actually," I lifted a finger in a matter of fact way, and she mocked the gesture, forcing me to push her hand down and laugh. "Joel taught me that in the fire academy."

"Yeah, I believe that."

Once I finished rolling the hose, I wiped my hands in my pants, looking up to see Alycia smirking at me, her arms crossed over her chest.

I chuckled, "what?"

She slowly leaned forward off her heels, dropping her arms, and I watched with confusion as she pulled down her sleeve before holding onto my jaw and wiping the fabric along my cheek. She smirked, shaking her head.

"You're like a fucking child. There's dirt literally all over your face."

A flashed her a confident grin, biting my lip with a puffed out chest. "It's a dirty job."