Firewatch {Sans x Reader}

Day 73

I haven't talked to Sans. Well, that's not entirely true. I've radioed to apologize twice more and both times he brushed me off saying it was no big deal. It feels like a big deal. Sans doesn't radio me to talk about other things like he used to. He doesn't answer when I ask how or what he's doing. It's driving me crazy. It's been three days since I've talked to anyone at all.
I wonder if Papyrus, Frisk, and Toriel are still camping. I briefly think about asking Sans if they've visited, but I push the idea to the back of my mind.

I drag myself out of my desk chair and grab my radio. I glance over at the [Y/N] fire over in Sans' sector. The firemen finished the controlled burn yesterday, but I hadn't gotten the chance to tell Sans that.
I grab my radio. "Sans?"
There's no answer.
"They uh... Finished the controlled burn. The fire shouldn't spread but if you think it is, I need you to let me know."
"roger that, boss," Sans replies. I sigh and shove my radio back into my pocket.

I grab my pack and start out the door. In the distance, I hear shouting. I strain my ears to listen but the sound just sounds like meaningless screaming. Still, it causes panic to rise and my chest and I decide to make my way out there.
     I don't make it very far. When I get to the bottom of the stairs, Frisk comes running up to me.
     "Papyrus fell into the river!" They shout.
     "What?" I say.
     "Papyrus doesn't know how to swim. He fell in the river trying to grab a fish with his hand. He's all bones, so he's kind of just... floating away," they inform me.

I nod and Frisk quickly leads me to Ruby River. As we approach, I see Toriel standing on the shore panicking. She's shouting encouraging words to Papyrus and trying to explain how to swim. The sounds of Papyrus struggling to swim and sputtering for air fill my ears.
I turn to Frisk. "Does he need to breathe?" Frisk shrugs nervously. I huff and head out towards the shore with Toriel, deciding to treat Papyrus' health like any normal human. If he needed CPR, well... we'll cross that road when we get there.
I run up the shore past where Papyrus is near-drowning. I spot a small rowboat with an oar sitting inside. I push the boat into the water and giving it a hearty shove in, grabbing the oar before it floats too far. I stand back up on the solid ground and take a deep breath. The boat is about 3 feet from shore now. I close my eyes for a second before taking three big steps forward and propelling myself onto the boat. It rocks as I land solidly inside it. The force of my arrival pushes the boat even further into the river, directly in front of Papyrus.
I shove my oar into the river, pushing it all the way down until it hits the bottom. I press it into the mud under the water, using it as a brake. The boat stops and Papyrus floats closer. Once he's near enough, I grab onto one of his arms, right near his elbow, and pull him up into the rowboat. He uses his other hand to grab onto one of the seats and drag himself in even further.
I let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding. I pull the oar up into the boat and start rowing before we get pushed too far down the river.

Toriel and Frisk meet us at the shore. Papyrus gets out of the boat and collapses on the ground. Frisk rushes over to him and Toriel gives me a hug.
"Thank you! Sans would've been devastated if..." She takes in a lot of air and her voice gets quieter. "...if anything bad happened to Papyrus."
In the chaos, I had forgotten Papyrus and Sans were even related. At the mention of his name, my chest constricted. Afraid my voice would betray me, I just nod at Toriel with a tight smile.

I look over at Frisk and Papyrus. The tall skeleton is now sitting up, bent over with his head in his hands. I walk over and kneel in front of him, setting my hand on his shoulder.
"Are you okay?" I ask. He nods slowly.
He replies in a soft voice, "I think I want to go home now."
I nod. "Do you think you can make the hike back?"
Papyrus only nods in response, his eyes closed. I check him over quickly.
Toriel walks over and helps him stand. "We're going to head to the car. Thank you so much, [Y/N]."

Once they're gone I start to head back to my tower. Before I get back, Sans' voice bursts from the radio.
     "[y/n]!" he says. "are you there?"
     "Yeah," I answer dejectedly. "What's up?"
     "i..." he pauses. His voice sounds panicked. "i found chelsea and lily."
     "Oh, thank God. Are they-"
     "chelsea's dead."
     My heart skips a beat and my mouth dries out. My brain hardly comprehends what he's telling me. From the radio, I hear Lily shout, "She's not dead, freak! Use your monster magic! She's fine!"
     "Oh my God..." I mutter. "Shit. Where are you?"
     "i was walking by their camp. they must've been trying to salvage things. i think there's a bear den or something over here. chelsea's been... mauled. it left lily alone," Sans answers, keeping his voice down. "i don't think she even has any legs left. lily's in denial... jesus."
     "Fuck. What do you think I should do Sans?"
     "you're asking me? you're my boss," he replies.

I take in a deep breath and continue into my tower. I walk over to the comm to call the Service office.
"Hello?" The lady answers.
"Um," I start, not sure what to say. "A camper was mauled by what looks like a bear in Two Forks."
"Mauled? Are they... dead?"
I nod gravely before realizing she can't see me. "Yes."
"Jesus. I'll call the hospital and get an airlift out there. Is there anyone else hurt?"
"No, but she was out there with a friend. The friend is pretty shaken."
"Alright, I'll call in the helicopter now. Thank you for letting us know."
"Wait!" I stop her.
"Yes?" She asks. She sounds hopeful, like she wants me to tell her this was all a prank.
"Should the lookouts and rangers be staying out here with murderous bears?" I ask. Thoughts of Sans getting killed by a bear run through my head causing me to shudder.
She sighs. "I think so, there's still a month left in summer. I'll have a ranger run out tranquilizers to you and you can distribute them to your lookouts. Is that all?"
"Yeah. Thanks," I say, setting the comm back in its holster.

I grab my radio and rest it on my mouth, my finger twitching over the PTT button. I sigh and press it in.
"Sans?"
"yeah?"
"Is the helicopter there yet?"
"it just left. are we going home for the summer?" He asks nervously. It makes me think he doesn't want to leave.
"No. They're giving me bear tranquilizers to distribute. Unless you want to leave, I can cover Two Forks, I have a pretty good view." I offer.
"no... no. i'll stay. are you bringing the tranqs over here?"
I don't respond for a second. "Yeah."

When Sans doesn't say anything, I speak up. "I know you've been mad at me and things have been awkward so I might as well tell you this now. I never called in anything about Chelsea and Lily. The office doesn't know you wrecked their stereo or that they think you destroyed their camp. Fuck, I'm sorry."
Sans doesn't speak at first. Finally, he sighs and says, "it's fine. honestly, i'll probably be blamed either way."
I don't respond.