9-1-1 ᴅᴀᴜɢʜᴛᴇʀ ᴏɴᴇ sʜᴏᴛs

Boyfriend - Chimney

Jenna Han - 17

The firehouse buzzed with the usual energy of a midweek evening. Chimney had convinced Bobby and the rest of the crew to host a special dinner at the station, a family dinner of sorts. But this dinner had a specific purpose: Chimney's sixteen-year-old daughter, Jenna, was bringing her first boyfriend over to meet everyone.

As Chimney set the table with Eddie's help, he couldn't help but feel a mix of anxiety and curiosity. His little girl was growing up, and tonight marked a significant step in her life—and in his.

"Chim, you look more nervous than the time we had that triple alarm fire last month," Eddie teased, arranging the napkins neatly.

Chimney chuckled, shaking his head. "Can you blame me? It's her first boyfriend. I just want to make sure he's good enough for her."

Buck, who was stirring a pot of pasta on the stove, piped up. "Relax, Chim. We'll be nice—mostly." He winked, adding a playful grin that suggested 'mostly' could be up for debate.

Just then, the sound of Jenna's laughter drifted through the station, followed by the deeper tones of a young man's voice. Chimney's heart did a little flip. This was it.

Jenna walked into the kitchen with a bright smile, her dark hair tied back in a ponytail. Next to her was a boy about her age, tall and lanky, with a nervous but polite expression. He had tousled brown hair and wore a button-down shirt that looked freshly ironed.

"Dad, this is Ryan," Jenna introduced, her eyes sparkling with both excitement and a hint of nervousness. "Ryan, this is my dad, Howard, but everyone calls him Chimney."

Ryan extended a hand, his grip firm but respectful. "Nice to meet you, sir. Thank you for having me over."

Chimney shook his hand, sizing him up with a critical yet not unfriendly eye. "Nice to meet you, Ryan. This is Eddie, Buck, and Bobby," he said, gesturing to his colleagues who each greeted Ryan with varying degrees of enthusiasm and scrutiny.

Dinner was served, and they all gathered around the large table. The atmosphere was a mix of casual conversation and underlying tension, the latter mostly from Chimney and the protective firehouse family. Jenna sat next to Ryan, her hand occasionally brushing his, a small but noticeable display of their budding relationship.

"So, Ryan," Buck started, leaning forward with a mischievous glint in his eye, "what are your intentions with Jenna?"

Jenna rolled her eyes. "Buck, don't start."

Ryan chuckled nervously. "I—uh—I just really like Jenna. She's smart, funny, and kind. I want to get to know her better."

Chimney, though appreciating the honest answer, wasn't quite done yet. "What do you do for fun, Ryan? Any hobbies?"

Ryan nodded, gaining a bit more confidence. "I'm on the school soccer team, and I play the guitar. I'm also part of the debate club."

"Debate club, huh?" Eddie raised an eyebrow. "Sounds like you're good with words."

Ryan shrugged modestly. "I try to be. It's helped me a lot with public speaking and thinking on my feet."

Jenna squeezed Ryan's hand under the table, silently encouraging him. "Ryan's really good at it, Dad. You should hear him during a debate."

Chimney smiled, seeing the genuine affection and admiration in Jenna's eyes. "That's great, Ryan. It's important to be able to stand up for yourself and what you believe in."

Bobby, who had been quietly observing, decided to steer the conversation in a different direction. "So, Ryan, what are your plans for the future? Any idea what you want to do after high school?"

Ryan nodded, this time with more certainty. "I'm thinking about going to college for engineering. I've always been interested in how things work and building stuff."

"That's impressive," Bobby said, nodding approvingly. "Engineering is a tough field, but it's very rewarding."

Dinner continued with less interrogation and more casual conversation. The crew shared stories from their firefighting experiences, much to Ryan's fascination. Jenna seemed to relax more, seeing that her boyfriend was fitting in well with her dad's work family.

As they moved to dessert, which Hen had prepared—a delicious homemade apple pie—Chimney took a moment to observe the dynamic around the table. Jenna was laughing at a joke Buck had made, and Ryan was right there with her, clearly enjoying himself. For the first time that evening, Chimney felt a wave of relief wash over him. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad after all.

After dinner, they all moved to the living area of the firehouse, where Eddie and Buck had set up a game of cards. Jenna and Ryan joined in, and soon, the room was filled with laughter and playful banter.

Chimney watched from a distance, leaning against the wall next to Bobby. "I think he's a good kid," Bobby said quietly, as if reading Chimney's thoughts.

"Yeah," Chimney replied, a small smile playing on his lips. "I think so too."

Bobby patted his shoulder. "It's never easy seeing your kids grow up, but you've raised a strong, smart daughter. She'll be okay."

Chimney nodded, his eyes fixed on Jenna. "Thanks, Bobby. That means a lot."

As the evening drew to a close, Ryan stood up and offered his hand to Chimney again. "Thank you for having me, Mr. Han. I had a great time."

Chimney shook his hand, this time with genuine warmth. "You're welcome here anytime, Ryan. Take care of my girl, okay?"

"I will, sir," Ryan promised, looking Chimney in the eye with sincere respect.

After Ryan left, Jenna turned to her dad, her expression a mix of gratitude and relief. "Thanks, Dad. For everything."

Chimney pulled her into a hug. "Anytime, sweetheart. I just want you to be happy and safe."

Jenna hugged him back tightly. "I am, Dad. I am."

As the firehouse settled back into its normal rhythm, Chimney couldn't help but feel a sense of pride and hope. He knew that no matter what challenges lay ahead, his family—both at home and at the firehouse—would always have each other's backs. And that was all he could ever ask for.