Burning Love

Chapter 4

2x05: Awful People

Verónica shows up at the scene, where a woman was hit by a car. The 118 were already on the scene, she walked up and saw Athena walk up as well. "Hey, wait. Don't we know you?" Hen questions looking down at the blonde. "Uh no I don't think so" Lorraine answers, Chim and Marianna tilt their heads to get a better look at her. "Last year, Hancock Park," Hen says. "That's right I never forget a femur" Chimney adds, placing his hands on hips, "Of course, you don't your special" Marianna says to Chimney Jokingly.

"It's the damned Porch Pirate," Athena tells the paramedics, "God that was you," Verónica asks the woman who was chuckling nervously. They got Lorraine onto a stretcher, Athena and Verónica walked next to the woman "Guess you moved up from porches to parking lots, huh, Lorraine?" Athena says "What's your scam?" Athena questions. "I don't know what you are talking about" Lorraine responds, taking off her oxygen masks. "I went to my court-mandated treatment. I'm completely cured. Haven't stolen a package in months"

"Mm-hmm. I heard you settled with that homeowner." Athena says, "The house she fell in front of when she was package stealing". Hen comments, with a shocked face, Marianna and Verónica share a look, saying the audacity. Chimney looks at Lorraine, "I didn't realize you could sue someone for being injured during the commission of a felony" He says, as the three paramedics roll her to the ambulance the two female cops following. Lorraine lowers her oxygen masks to explain, "Pled down to a misdemeanor, insurance companies are happy to settle instead of going to court"

"Insurance companies are less happy about fraud and I got three witnesses who claim, you intentionally stepped out behind that poor woman's car". Athena tells her, as they approach the ambulance, "Makes us wonder what we might find when we pull the security footage from this parking lot." Verónica tells Lorraine, tilting her head slightly. Lorraine looks worried, "I think you'll find a woman suffering from mobility issues. Lots of trouble walking since that fall on the steps, y'know I wonder if it's because I received improper care on the scene". The three paramedics looked at her with shocked looks, Marianna laughed "So you're gonna sue us now?" 

"Oh, you folks are city employees, probably don't make that much, but the city..." Lorraine scoffs from inside the ambulance. "There's probably some deep pockets there, don't you think" Lorraine moans in pain. Once the woman was secured they shut the door of the ambulance, and they went to the front. Verónica and Athena stood there for a second and walked away, Athena shook her head "Awful woman" she said to Verónica, "Oh 100 percent" Veró replied with a nod. 

~

Athena was sitting at her desk when Verónica came up to her, "Okay I have a serious dilemma" Verónica tells her mom. Athena raises her eyebrow and looks at her daughter, "Dilemma, what kind of dilemma?" 

"I think I might have a crush on Eddie" she blurts out, Athena looks at her daughter and scans her face, "Eddie, like the firefighter of the 118 Eddie" Verónica nods her head. "Daniel, Marianna, Hen, Chim, and Lizzy each owe me twenty dollars", Athena looks at Verónica who is standing there confused. "We have a pool going on of when you were going to admit your feelings" Athena reveals, the pool had been going on since Eddie and Verónica met although people trickled in placing bets. 

Before Verónica could respond they were interrupted, "Athena Grant?" the mother-daughter duo heard, causing Athena to say "One and only". The woman in front was gorgeous, she had brown hair, and she looked oddly familiar. "Hi I'm..." she begins. "Maddie Kendall" Athena finishes, "New dispatcher here for your ride-along, you requested me"

"You requested Sergeant Grant, no one ever requests her," Verónica jokes, from where she is standing beside the desk. "Well, the three of us have some in common. Kendall's my married name, I actually used to be Maddie Buckley, I am again" Maddie informs the cops, as they begin to walk. "Oh, Buckley. You're Buck's sister" Athena says.