K9 Companions

2

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm glow over the fire station, the laughter and chatter of the team filled the air. Sirius sat at the long wooden table, a plate piled high with burgers and fries, while Archive rested beside him, his bright orange vest a beacon of loyalty. Regulus sat across from him, sharing bites of food with Lucifer, who wore his green goggles proudly.

Sirius was in the midst of telling a particularly animated story about their last mission when the door swung open. One of the night shift team members, a tall, rugged firefighter named Danny, walked in, shaking off the chill of the evening air. As he made his way toward the lockers, he accidentally brushed against Buck, who was leaning against the counter, laughing at something Eddie had just said.

Archive immediately reacted, his instincts kicking in. With a low growl rumbling from deep in his throat, he darted in front of Buck, placing himself between his owner and the newcomer. The sudden shift in atmosphere caught Sirius off guard.

“Archive, come here,” Sirius called out in French, his voice steady but authoritative. He had trained Archive to respond to commands in both English and French, hoping it would give him an edge in any situation.

But Archive remained firm, staring at Danny with a fierce intensity that surprised everyone in the room. Regulus, sensing the tension, quickly turned to Lucifer, who had already started circling around Danny, barking sharply. It was his bomb alert bark, a sound that sent a shiver down Regulus’s spine.

“Lucifer, stop!” Regulus commanded, his voice cutting through the mounting chaos. But Lucifer was already on a mission, tackling Danny to the ground with surprising force. The suddenness of the action left everyone momentarily stunned.

“Freeze, Lucifer!” Regulus yelled, rushing forward. He could see the small prototype device tucked into Danny's jacket, a sleek, metallic shape that glinted ominously in the light. Regulus’s heart raced; they had trained Lucifer to detect even the slightest hint of explosives.

Danny fell backward, his eyes wide as he struggled to comprehend the situation. “What the hell?” he exclaimed, looking bewildered at the scene unfolding around him.

“Get him off me!” Danny shouted, panic creeping into his voice as Lucifer continued to pin him down, barking fiercely.

“Easy, boy!” Regulus urged, his voice steadying as he approached. “Lucifer, release!” With a determined tone, he gestured for his dog to back off, hoping to diffuse the situation.

Sirius, now fully alert, stepped closer. “What’s going on, Danny? You need to explain yourself.” He could feel the adrenaline coursing through him, the protective instincts kicking in as he watched Archive standing guard.

“I didn’t mean to bump into Buck,” Danny stammered, raising his hands in surrender. “I swear! I just came in to grab my stuff.”

“Then what’s that?” Sirius pointed at the device, his voice low and serious. The atmosphere in the room shifted; laughter had vanished, replaced by concern and confusion.

“It’s just a prototype bomb,” Danny said, finally managing to sit up. “I was bringing it in for the night shift. It’s harmless—just a training model! We’re testing its features.”

Sirius and Regulus exchanged glances, the tension slowly dissipating. “Training model or not, you need to be more careful,” Sirius replied, relief washing over him. “Archive doesn’t play around when it comes to protecting us.”

Regulus's frustration flared. “Seriously, Danny? You don’t bring a device like that around military K9s. You know how they are trained!” His voice was sharp, the concern for the safety of the dogs evident in his tone. “You could’ve put everyone in danger just by being careless.”

Eddie, who had been quietly observing the entire episode, chuckled and shook his head. “Well, that was one way to make an entrance. At least we know our station is well protected.”

As the tension eased, the group returned to their meal, laughter gradually filling the air again. Sirius felt a sense of camaraderie settle back in, the earlier adrenaline fading into a comfortable buzz. Buck moved back to his spot, a teasing grin on his face.

“Alright, now that we’ve all had our fun, who wants to hear about the time I single-handedly saved a cat from a tree?” he asked, a twinkle in his eye.

“Not this again!” Regulus groaned, rolling his eyes. “You told that story last week.”

“Yeah, but this time I have backup,” Buck replied, gesturing toward Archive, who had settled at Sirius’s feet. “He was there, too!”

The atmosphere lightened as the team bantered back and forth, teasing Buck and sharing their own stories. Sirius watched the interactions, a warm feeling of belonging wrapping around him like a blanket. This was his family, forged in the fire of shared experiences and unwavering loyalty.

“Hey, Sirius,” Danny said, his tone now relaxed. “Can you teach me some of those commands in French? I think I could use a little help with my dog.”

Sirius grinned, happy to share. “Sure! It’s all about consistency. Let me show you a few basics.”

As the night wore on, the laughter and stories continued, the bonds of friendship growing even stronger. The earlier incident faded into a humorous anecdote, a reminder of the importance of vigilance, but also the joy of being together. In that fire station, surrounded by love and laughter, Sirius felt truly at home.