Ashes

She looked so Pale

Casey
Truck 81, squad 3, ambulance 61. Structure fire, Jackson blvd and Franklin.

"That's just around the corner," I said to Cruz. "I'm on it lieutenant." I turned back to see everyone properly putting on their turn out gear and helmets and as we pulled up at the fire was all got out. I stood looking at the fire and the building, deciding best point of entry. I looked back and Dawson was leaning on the truck breathing heavily. She looked so pale. "Alright Cruz on the areial. Mouch, Herrmann, and Otis spread out on the bottom floor. When squad gets here they will take second. Dawson you're on my hip." "Lieutenant, with all respect Dawson is normally on my hip," Herrmann spoke up. "Herrmann it's an order. Mask up and go." Once they had run in I walked over to Dawson. "Hey you okay?" She gave me a small but unconvincing nod as I placed my hand on her shoulder. "Do you want to sit this one out?" "If a firefighter sat out everything they didn't feel well then nothing would ever be achieved," she said looking up to me. "Alright let's go in, mask up."

I took off my helmet and placed my mask over my face. I put my helmet back on and waited for Dawson until we went in to the building. It wasn't a bad fire. You could see clearly through the smoke, and the building was vacant. After we had searched numerous rooms, and squad had arrived and done the second floor, we called that the building was clear and went out. Once I'd taken off my mask and fixed my hard hat I took a big gulp of water before chucking the bottle to Dawson. "Thanks," she breathed taking a sip. As engine 51 started the water we packed up our equipment. "Alright 81, load back up." Once everyone was in the truck we drive back to the house.

As soon as we arrived Dawson got out, ripped off her gear and walked into the building. I sighed, I needed to figure out what the hell was going on with her. I got out and walked over to the ambo. "Shay can I have a word?" She got out and walked over to me. "Would you mind going to see if Dawsons okay? She wasn't herself at the fire and she's just taken off the moment we've gotten back." "How'd things go down at the fire?" "She didn't seem okay so I spoke to her and she said she wasn't feeling great. I was happy for her not to go in but she wanted too," I explained. "Alright I'll go talk to her."

Shay

I made my way down the corridor and into the bunk room. I checked Dawsons bunk but she wasn't there. I checked he laundry, and then the patio where she likes to sit to get away from all the men. I walked into the bathroom and one of the stalls was locked. I gently tapped on the door. "Who is it?" Gabby mumbled slightly. "It's just me honey, open up," I said gently. She slowly opened the door and I walked forward pulling her into a hug. Her skin was clammy, and she looked so pale. "I don't know what to do anymore Shay," she said starting to cry, "I'm on my own, I've never done this whole thing before I feel terrible constantly." "You are not alone, you will always have me." "I want Matt," she cried, "I just want him. I want him to be apart of all of this with me." "Then you have to tell him hun." "How?" "I don't know but it's not fair to keep him in the dark. He'd want to be apart of this."
The door to the bathroom suddenly opened and I looked up to see Casey walking in. 'Out.' I mouthed signalling for him to back away. He looked at me, and then at Dawson crying, and slowly backed out, closing the door behind him. "Who was that?" Dawson asked. "Just Kelly," I lied. "Does he know?" "Not about the baby, just that you and Matt are going through a rough patch, and that's why you're living with us. He just thinks you've got that flu that's going around."
She nodded and I stepped back, wiping her tears. "Hun you look like death, will you at least let me check you out in the ambo? Make sure this is nothing more than just be over tired and stressed?" She looked at me, and I could tell from the look in her eyes that she didn't want to, but she nodded slightly knowing she wouldn't win the argument even if she tried. I out my arm around her, "come on, let's go."