Thank you for saving me.. or not.

The Note

Over the next few weeks, Stephen's life spiraled into a whirlwind of obsession and longing. With his place of work burned down, he had nowhere else to be, and he found himself drawn to Station 19. He watched Maya from a distance, studying her every move as she navigated her duties, completely unaware that she was being watched.

One evening, he followed her home, curiosity gnawing at him. As he trailed behind, he noticed her entering an apartment building, he stayed outside until morning where he saw her leave for work. When Maya went to leave he saw her talking with a dark haired woman and his heart raced when he saw her embrace the other woman. At first, he thought maybe it was a flatmate, but then he remembered Maya mentioning she was married. The realization hit him like a punch to the gut—this woman was Maya's wife.

The next day, Stephen decided to learn more about Carina. He followed her, discretely during her shift at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital, taking note of her interactions and the way she carried herself with confidence. But the longer he observed Carina, the more jealousy bubbled within him. She had a hold over Maya that he wanted to break.

However, he didn't follow Carina for long as he quickly started to miss seeing Maya so a day later he was parked outside of the fire station again. Watching and waiting for whenever Maya came and went, snapping photos of her when he could.

————

One afternoon, Stephen's urge to be closer to Maya surged to an unbearable level. A dangerous idea sparked in his mind—what if he could get her to save him again? He contemplated ways to injure himself or to create a situation where she would have no choice but to come to his aid.

Today was the day he would execute the plan that had been brewing in his mind. He gathered his supplies: a small can of gasoline, matches, and some loose materials. He stuffed everything into a backpack and set out for his mother's old house, a place that had been collecting dust since her passing years ago. Their relationship had always been rocky, and now the house stood empty—perfect for his purposes.

A few blocks from Station 19, the house was an ideal location for Stephen's plan to unfold. All he needed to do was set a fire and wait for the firefighters to arrive. He envisioned Maya rushing in to save him, and the thought sent shivers of excitement through him.

————

Meanwhile, the crew at Station 19 was busy conducting drills when the klaxon sounded, signalling a nearby house fire. They rushed to change into their turnouts, the usual adrenaline coursing through their veins.

Once they arrived on the scene, they were informed that the house had been empty for some time, with no one living in it. "No civilians inside, just get the hoses ready," Beckett instructed as they prepared to extinguish the rapidly spreading flames.

As Theo approached the house, he heard a voice calling from within. "Help! Help me, please! I'm inside!"

"Civilian inside! I repeat, someone is inside! Requesting assistance from Herrera for search and rescue!" Theo relayed into his radio, urgency lacing his voice.

"Permission granted. Gear up and head in there, Ruiz and Herrera," Beckett replied.

"One minute, Cap," Theo confirmed.

When Andy and Theo entered the building, they called out for the voice. "Seattle Fire Department! Call out!"

The heat was overwhelming, and the fire was spreading rapidly. "Here! I'm in here!" the voice responded, guiding them to a door in the hallway.

Theo exchanged a nod with Andy, and she kicked the door in. Inside, they found a man huddled in the corner, coughing slightly but seemingly unharmed.

"Don't worry, we'll help you get out of here," Andy said, extending her arms to assist him.