Chapter Text
Silence envelops the room as everyone processes what was just shown on screen.
"Athena you gonna be okay?" Hen asks looking over at her friend, upset.
Athena nods putting on a brave face. "May's okay that's all that matters to me."
Buck exhales through his nose roughly staring at the TV where there's another 20-minute countdown being displayed. He hugs his knees. 'I don't know what to think... I mean they never took it seriously before and now all of a sudden its a big deal? I mean I enjoyed it, it was consensual on my part... I had issues back then so it doesn't make sense why they are so convinced I'm some victim all of a sudden.'Buck's train of thought is cut off when Maddie comes to sit beside him, Eddie moving away to give them some space.
"Buck... Look I know that wasn't easy to watch-"
"Maddie it's fine." Buck assures her plastering a smile onto his face. "Who cares if you saw me being a dumb probie, I'm different now I promise."
Maddie looks at him sadly. "Buck that wasn't your fault s-she assaulted you in a vulnerable moment."
Buck is about to protest but she plows on.
"It doesn't matter that you wanted it okay? You came to her for therapy and she should have known that being in a high emotional state can lead to making mistakes, she is the professional in this situation and she should've never even thought about doing that with you or any other patient."
Buck contemplates this. "Even so... It doesn't matter anymore it was a while ago."
Maddie sighs. "We'll talk about this when we get out of here okay?" Buck nods knowing he can't fight it.
Chimney sits on the couch eating some potato chips he found on the table.'God that episode was a mess. I feel horrible about how we handled what happened to Buck. We just made jokes about it... We should have known better. And poor Athena having to watch May's attempt again.' He sighs dejectedly and eats another chip.'At least it can't get much worse....'
The timer runs to zero and they all get settled in their seats.
The familiar red soundwave appears before switching to a view of a birthday party with a bouncy house, balloons, and a clown on stilts. A guy(Dan) walks around holding champagne stopping next to two guys.
Hen whistles impressed with the work and money put into this party.
Josh: Compensate much?
Dan: He only turns ten once.
Other Man: And what ten year old doesn't want a sushi chef at his birthday party?
Dan leans down to try and stop a boy as he runs by albeit unsuccessfully.
Dan: Cam! Maybe I'm overcompensating a little bit. He's dealing with a lot lately. Man, this wind is awful?
Josh: Santa Anas. Makes my allergies go crazy.
"Ughh I hate the Santa Ana's winds, work is the worst during them." Buck groans out.
Dan calls out to his son again.
"Cam! You having fun?"
Cam gives him a weird look before climbing into the bouncy house.
"His mother's turning him against me. Undermining."
Josh: I told you t o give her more in the divorce settlement.
Other Man: That money pays her to be cool.
A woman walks over holding a baby in her arms.
"Awkward..." Chimney says, wincing.
Woman: Pays who to be cool?
The guy shrugs shaking his head.
"This wind. Dan, do you mind holding your son?"
Dan watches his kid bouncing in the bouncy house and gets an idea.
Dan: Excuse me.
"Danny!"
Athena sighs in annoyance. "He could be a bit more considerate."
Bobby nods in agreement.
He walks over to the bouncy house starting to crawl in.
Dan: Coming in!
Cam: Dad, you're too big.
"Come on!"
He starts to jump around. He jumps on his back making he kids fall down. The scene cuts to show the pegs holding the bouncy house down becoming slightly looser. The wind picks up slightly.
"I have a bad feeling about this," Eddie mumbles.
"Yeah! Higher?"
Cam is grinning at his dad now.
Cam: Yeah.
His dad falls on his back again launching the kids to the floor. The stakes holding down the bouncy house become looser again.
"I think I remember what happened." Buck speaks up. "Wait this was only a little bit before... " Buck pales at the realization of what's happening this show.
"Buck?" Hen questions. Buck shakes his head.
Cam: Whoa!
Dan: All right, who wants more? Want more?
We do!
Yeah.
He bounces onto his back again, and the stake pops loose, causing the winds to start rolling the bouncy house.
"Oh shit!" Karen gasps out as Maddie watches on in horror.
"Whoa. Cameron!"
People stare in horror as the bouncy house blows closer to a nearby cliff, the POV switching to a recording someone is doing on their phone. Finally, it rolls off the cliff and floats through the air where Dan falls against the entrance and out of the bouncy house.
"Do people literally have to record everything?" Hen huffs out.
"Sometimes it's useful but most times it's just annoying," Bobby says seemingly agreeing with Hen.
"Technology..." Eddie scowls. "So weird." Buck side-eyes Eddie muttering, "Technophobe..." Much to Eddie's displeasure.
The black screen with the red soundwave appears, Abby's voice ringing out over the phone line.
Abby: 9-1-1 what's your emergency?
Woman: Our bouncy house just took off a hundred feet in the air!
"One of those big blow-up houses for kid's parties?"
Maddie scoffs quietly. "Yes, Abby that's what a bouncy house is." Chimney muffles a chuckle having heard the sass.
Woman: Yes! You have to come now. There are children still inside of it. My stepson is in it. My husband got thrown. Oh my God, I don't know if he's dead!
"Where is the bouncy house now mam?"
Woman: It crashed in the hill. It's hanging, like from the side of the cliff! Please come quickly. Please! Please!
The black fades away to show the 118's Fire engine and ambulance racing down the road. They pull up to the house and hop out of their respective vehicles before the scene changes to show the cliffside with a bouncy house hanging on it.
Chimney sighs in annoyance remembering how he was upset about manning the winch again during this rescue. 'I've realized now it's not that big of a deal.'
"It must have sucked trying to get everyone down from that in one piece," Athena says looking at the scene on the television before her with raised eyebrows.
"Yup." Buck states popping his lips on the 'P'.
Hen: Adult male, down, on the hillside. We got three kids in a bouncy house.
Bobby: All right, we're gonna stage the trucks on that service road. Hen, I want you and Buck to rappel down, anchor that bouncy house. Assess the condition of those kids, start to send them down one by one in a basket.
Hen nods.
"I'll take care of the dad. Chimney, you're gonna stay up here and work the winch."
Chimney: Hey. How come I never get to do any of the fun stuff?
'Right so people in dangerous, potentially fatal positions is fun...' Maddie thinks, not voicing these thoughts out loud. 'Not that I'll say anything I don't know anyone here but Buck and I don't want to upset anyone... Doug always said I shouldn't speak my mind about things'
"Working the winch is fun."
Chimney sighs looking frustrated. Hen, Bobby, and Buck prepare their harnesses while Chimney secures the winch. The three stand on the edge of the cliff where we hear the kids in the bouncy house crying out for help. Buck and Hen rappel to it and secure the bouncy house on hooks.
Hen: Bouncy house secure, Chim.
Chimney: Copy.
Buck and Hen reach the kid's level.
Cam: Help!
Buck: Hey, guys? Hey! Hey, guys, we're... We're L.A. Fire and Rescue. We're gonna get you out of here, okay? Everybody, just stay calm.
Hen: Hey, boys, can you tell if your friend here is okay? Is he awake? Is he breathing?
One of the kids shakes his head. Buck radios Chimney.
Buck: Lower the basket down, Chim.
Chimney: Copy.
The rope on the winch starts to go down.
Cam: Is my dad okay?
Hen looks concerned and the scene changes to show Bobby approaching Dan lying on the ground.
Dan: Cameron...
Bobby: Sir. Sir, do not move your head. Stay still. We'll get you out of here as soon as we can.
"Cameron..."
The camera pans down to show Dan, his head having a few gashes in it. The camera moves upwards showing Chimney standing by the cliff overlooking the winch.
"Ooh that looks kind of bad..." Hen says. "Good thing he was okay when I got a look at him."
Buck: Chim, little lower.
Chimney: Copy.
Hen: Boys, come on, let's go. Now.
Buck: All right, that's it. Nice and easy, nice and easy.
A basket attached to the winch comes into sight.
"All right, basket coming in, Hen."
Buck radios Chimney.
"Hen's going down. She's got one kid, come on."
Chimney starts to lower the winch down the cliff more towards the ground.
Buck: All right. Chim, we're good. Take me down.
They all reach the ground where Hen moves the kid onto a gurney and starts towards the ambulance.
Hen: BP and heart rate stable. Vitals are stable.
Cam is waiting with his stepmom and starts to run towards something.
Cam: Dad? Dad!
'He's so little... kind of like Christopher.' Eddie thinks, smiling at the kid on screen.
Dan is on another Gurney alive and well.
Woman: Dan!
Cam: I thought you were dead.
Dan: I'm okay, Cam. We're both okay. Love you so much.
"I love you so much, too."
"Ahhh nothing like family love after a traumatizing event!" Karen says looking at the happy family with joy in her eyes.
"Yep!" Buck says eyes lighting up slightly. "It's always a new kind of love after injuries." Unbeknowest to him he gets a few concerned looks from the people in the room.
The stepmom looks so relieved as she walks with the gurney.
Woman: Everything is gonna be okay. Had us worried, there.
The camera pans over to Bobby who watches for a moment before he radios Chim.
Bobby: We're good down here. You can pack it up topside. Nice work at the winch.
Chimney looks annoyed.
Chimney: Thanks.
"Oh cheer up Chim." Hen chides.
Bobby shakes his head at Chim. "I'd say you get plenty of action on the job nowadays."
Bold red letters depicting 9-1-1 show on the screen with the LA skyline in the back. The screen turns the familiar black with a red soundwave.
Abby: 9-1-1 what's your emergency?
Athena: It's my daughter... She just overdosed... I think she's... I think she's dead.
Everyone goes quiet looking on in anguish at the screen as past Athena sobs through the phone line. Bobby rubs Athena's shoulder as she takes a deep breath.
Athena's pain and anguish can be heard over the phone, her voice breaks a few times and you can tell she's crying through the muffled sobs ringing out over the phone line. The scene changes to show Athena kneeling over May's body which is still propped against her bed. She slaps May's cheeks and shakes her lightly.
"I think I'm gonna be sick..." Buck whispers staring at the screen in slight horror.
Eddie hums his agreement. "I could never imagine... Thinking you lost your kid... It would be horrible"
Buck looks at him curiously. "Do you have a kid?"
Eddie freezes. 'Should I tell the team yet?... I mean I know Hen has a kid but...'
The glitchy voice rings out through the room again.
Oh Eddieeeee I think you have something to tell the team right?
Everyone turns to look at him and he scowls. "Is this really the right time? With what we are seeing on screen?"
I don't care.
Eddie shakes his head but complies. "Alright I have a son named Christopher who's 7."
Buck lights up at this. "Oh you have a kid! I love kids!"
"We know Buck." Chimney crawls out before turning to Eddie with a smile. "That's awesome man you should bring him by the firehouse sometime if cap'll let you!"
Bobby nods his head. "That would be fine."
Hen let's out a sigh of relief. "Thank you Eddie I'm not alone with having kids anymore you are my new best friend."
Chimney gasps and wipes fake tears away.
Athena: May. May. May. Wake up, wake up, wake up. Come on, come on, come on, come on, come on, come on. Wake up. May!
Athena presses her head into May's chest, turning her head to feel her heartbeat. Her eyes widen and the camera shifts over and zooms in to show, sitting on May's nightstand, an empty pill bottle prescribed to GRANT, ATHENA. The scene changes again and paramedics are seen wheeling May out of her room on a gurney, an anxious and upset Athena and Harry following.
"I'm really sorry this happened to you." Maddie speaks up quietly looking at Athena. "I saw stuff like this in the hospital I used to work at, it's really rough."
Athena smiles at Maddie. "Thank you Maddie I can tell you and Buck are siblings."
Buck puffs out his chest in pride.
Harry: Mom. Mom! What's wrong with May?
Athena turns to grip Harry on the forearms.
"Honey. Honey, honey, honey. Your sister isn't feeling well, okay? I need you to go next door to the Johnson's. Call your father, tell him to meet me at the hospital, okay? All right, can you do that?"
Harry: Yeah.
"All right. Lock the door. I have to go and ride with your sister."
Athena hops into the ambulance and a paramedic steps in after her closing the doors. The ambulance peels out of the drive, sirens wailing. The scene changes to show the inside of the ambulance where the paramedics put an IV and a breathing mask on May.
Paramedic: Pulse is weak and thready. What did she take?
Athena: Hydrocodone.
Athena stares at the orange pill bottle in her hand.
Paramedic: Do you know how many pills she took, the dosage?
"They were mine from last year. I had some dental work done but didn't finish the bottle. Maybe six or seven were left, I-I-I don't know."
Bobby rubs Athena's back more as the scene continues.
Paramedic 2: Pupils aren't responding. She's a six on the GCS, fading.
Athena moves in to lightly hug May.
"Mommy's right here, baby. It's okay. I'm right here. Can you hear me? Stay with me. Stay with me."
The scene switches to a hospital where they are wheeling May down the hallway with Athena walking at her side.
"You're gonna be okay. They're gonna take good care of you. You be strong for me now, okay?"
Athena stops outside the doors, looking distraught as the swings shut after May and the doctors. Athena is now pacing anxiously in a hallway near the waiting room. Michael walks over, looking confused.
Michael: Athena. What's up? You're not answering your phone.
"I-I rushed out so fast, I forgot it."
She grips his hands tightly for support.
Michael: Okay, well, what happened?
"She took a bunch of pills."
Michael: On purpose? Well, what did she take?
"Hydrocodone."
Michael: Okay, can... well, can we see her?
"No... she's still in ICU. They said maybe half an hour or so. I need to sit down."
Michael leads her over to a chair before he paces anxiously himself, finally settling back in a chair.
"Michael has always been such a good dad." Karen says with a smile.
Athena nods looking very grateful.
Michael: God, this is my fault. You were right, you were... you were right. I shouldn't have told them. They weren't ready.
"Did she seem this upset to you? I mean, I-I know it's... hard. But this hard? When is the last time we didn't know exactly what May was feeling?"
Michael: Sh... well, she's a teenager now. I-I just, you know, maybe we weren't, paying enough attention. I just... I don't know, but...
"Okay, all right, let's let's not do this right now, okay?"
Michael: Okay. Okay.
Michael leans over and hugs Athena as she lets out a little sob. Athena glances up when she hears footsteps approaching and looks shocked at the sight of another guy standing near them awkwardly.
Buck eyes this guy carefully. 'There's nothing special about him... Seems like an average guy... But no he's is gay for sure. I don't know how but I can just tell.'
Hen a karen exchange glances knowing how awkward it must have been to meet the guy Michael's obviously with.
"H-He with you?"
Michael leaves the hug and glances over at the guy, looking like a deer in headlights.
Michael: We... we were having dinner, and he... and and he drove me here. I'm sorry. He was... he was just worried about me.
"I-I'm gonna get a cup of coffee."
Michael: Yeah, okay.
Both Athena and Michael stand up with Athena stifly walking past the guy. The scene shifts and Athena walks alone down a hallway coffee cup in hand. Athena approaches the room Mays in, which has its doors open allowing a view of May on the bed, asleep. Athena takes a deep breath before entering the room adjusting May slightly so she can be more comfortable. Athena glances up to see Michael standing in the doorway before he walks towards May's bed.
Athena: The last time she was in a hospital bed, I was lying in it with her, feeding her.
Michael: Yeah. It was just an hour and a half of labor. We almost didn't make it to the hospital. She was so damn eager to get into this world.
May starts to stir, opening her eyes much to the relief of Athena and Michael.
Everyone breathes sighs of relief despite knowing the outcome.
May: Mom?
Athena: Baby. Hey. Dad's here, too.
Michael: Hey, sweetheart.
May: I'm sorry. I was stupid.
"She's not stupid for that a lot of us have been there." Buck speaks up looking sadly at the May on screen.
Buck's pronoun usage doesn't go unknown to the rest of the group and they look concerned.
Maddie looks at Buck with an indecipherable face.
Bobby has understanding written all over his face. 'I can help buck... Like how he helped me.'
Athena: No, you're not stupid, honey. You're a young girl. Being young is hard, honey.
Michael: And I'm the one that should be sorry. I didn't see how much you were suffering with all of the stuff at home. About me.
"This wasn't because of you, Daddy. Things have been going on. I didn't want to tell you about them, because I was trying to handle it by myself."
Athena: What kind of things, honey? At school? A boy?
"No. Bunch of girls. Mostly this one, Layla. I don't know why they chose me. I think because I was talking to a boy she likes, and they decided to gang up on me. And they kept saying "You're nothing" and "You're the worst" and "You should go k*ll yourself" and "No one would care if you did" and "You should die.""
"What the fuck." Chimney's glare pierces through the screen.
Everyone stiffens in anger at what May said.
"Oh hell no." Karen spits out. "Athena I'm glad you have those girls hell."
"You bet I did" Athena huffs out venomously.
May's eyes are teary near the end of her sentence voice raising slightly.
Athena: You know none of that is true, don't you, honey? You are a special, bright light in the world.
Michael makes a hum of agreement in the background.
"No, I'm not. You guys got to say that 'cause you're my parents. I hate my life. I'm weird. I have no friends."
Several people wince having also gone through their awkward teen years.
Athena: What about Georgina? You two? You two are thick as thieves, now.
"Not anymore. She's with Layla now. I didn't want to die. It hurt so much, but I swear I didn't want to die."
May starts to cry and Athena rushes forward to cup her face in her hands.
Athena: No, no, no, no, no, no, no. Now, you listen to me. You're strong, you're courageous, you're a champion, and you are May Grant. And you are filled with holy fire, and no one messes with you. No, you're not alone anymore. And those girls? They done picked the wrong family.
Michael: The wrong family.
Laughter rings out at Michael's support, easi g the tension in the room slightly.
A woman walks into the room pulling out a card.
Karen: Excuse me. Mr. and Mrs. Grant? I'm Karen Williams. I work for Child Protective Services. I'm going to have to ask you not to say anything else in your daughter's presence.
Michael: Athena, what is this?
Athena: When a child attempts suicide, then they need to go through an independent assessment protocol to determine why, and if they're at risk to try it again.
"Okay, but we can tell you what the cause is."
Athena: No, they need to talk to her alone, find out if it had anything to do with us.
May looks shocked.
Karen: She will be admitted tonight, put on 24-hour watch, and evaluated in the morning.
May: I don't want to stay here. I want to go home!
Athena: Shh...
Karen: The evaluation may take a couple of days, but we will notify you if we have to move her, and what facility she will be housed in.
These words anger Michael.
Michael: Facility? You listen. This girl just endured a life altering trauma. She needs to be home with her family.
"It's unfortunately protocol" Bobby says sympathetically.
Athena: Look, you don't need to do this.
The lady looks confused at Athena's words.
Karen: You're a police officer. You know what I'm authorized to do if you don't let me do my job.
"Damn go easy on her it's her daughter" Buck scowls at the lady already deciding he hated her.
"It's okay Buck" Athena reassures him.
May: Mama, please. Please don't leave me.
Athena: All right.
"Don't go."
Athena: Look, look, look, calm down. All right, we all have to follow the rules. They... they just want to find out that you're okay. All right? Now, you tell them everything, you understand? You're safe, and you'll be home with us in no time. Can you be brave for me? All right, I need you to be braver than you've ever been. All right. That's my girl. That's my girl. Love you.
Athena hugs May.
Athena: All right, I love you.
"I love you, too."
Michael: I love you, baby.
They exit the room staring back at May who looks terrified. The scene changes to show Athena and Michael walking down a hospital hallway. Michael whips his coat angrily into a doorframe as they walk by it.
Eddie and Buck hide their snickers at this.
Athena cracks a small smile.
"Obviously I get that he's mad but what did the doorframe do to him?" Chimney asks increduosly.
Everyone shrugs.
Michael: This is not right! It's just not right.
Athena stops him in the hallway..
Athena: Hey, hey, hey, hey. Michael. Now, look, my family is everything to me. And there ain't no trouble from the inside, or even from the outside, that's gonna tear it apart. Now, we may be buried in it up to our necks right now, and I may want to slap you with my left hand, but my right hand is holding you and the kids tight. Now, I'm gonna make a couple of calls to some cops I know down at the CPS facility where they're taking May. She's gonna be okay. Come on, let's go.
'Athena is being so brave right now'sMaddie thinks kind of in awe. 'I would be falling apart right now if I was her and this was Buck.'
Athena starts walking down the hall again, Michael staring at her dejectedly.
Michael: Where?
"Home. Together."
Michael starts walking after her and the screen cuts to black.
The camera cuts to a flyover shot of LA at night. We then see Chimney in his kitchen opening the fridge. We see Chimney pulling out premade food and putting it in the microwave.
Chimney: Hey, Tatiana? Do not come in here, okay? Not while I'm cooking, please. I kind of have this thing when I'm cooking, if somebody's watching me. You know, I kind of get stage fright, so... Just stay put, okay?
"Is that Bobby's cooking" Athena is looking at Chimney with one eyebrow raised.
Chimney flushes and says nothing.
A pretty redhead is sitting on the couch, tablet in her hands.
Tatiana: Listen, babe, you do not have to convince me not to move while somebody else does all the work. And it smells really good.
"Thank you."
Tatiana: I saw the videos of that jumpy house flying through the air on the news. I cannot believe anybody survived that.
Chimney hurriedly takes food out of the oven waving smoke away and throwing it in the trash.
Buck starts to laugh.
"Oh shut up Buck you can't cook either."
"Yeah well I know my limits Chim" Buck starts to laugh harder and Chimney stands up from his spot on the couch sporting a fake irritated face that holds back a grin.
"You wanna have a cook-off Buck?" Buck also stands up.
"You're on, Rebar"
"God save us all" Bobby mutters dejectedly.
"Sit down you two! " Hen yells and they both sit still smiling.
"Yeah, me neither. Yeah. You know, when we were rappelling down to, anchor the house and assess the condition of the kids, we were pretty sure we were gonna find a body or two in there."
Tatiana: Is it terrible that the phrase "when we were rappelling down" turns me on so much?
"Kind of, yeah." Buck says bluntly. Maddie smiles at him.
Chimney clears away all signs of pre-prepared food. Walking out to the living room where Tatiana sits, two plates in hand.
"And dinner is served."
The scene changes to the two of them sitting at a small table lit with candles just having finished their food.
Tatiana: Well, you cook... you rappel down cliffs. You're a keeper, Chimney.
"Well, then, I think you will like what I have for dessert."
"oh no..." Chimney looks down sadly as he realizes what his past self is about to do.
The 118 all look at him with sympathy.
Tatiana: Ooh.
Chimney takes a deep breath before standing up and facing Tatiana, digging in his pocket. He pulls out a ring box and gets down on one knee and Tatiana gasps looking shocked.
Eddie and Maddie realize Tatiana is not in the room with then which must it didn't work out.
"Tatiana, I love you. And I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you please marry me?"
Chimney winces and Hen pats his shoulder in consolation.
The camera pans down to show a beautiful ring before switching over to show Tatiana's not-so-happy face.
"Ouch man." Eddie says and Chimney nods.
"It's okay it clearly wasn't meant to be. We can be the three bachelors. Me you and Buck-o"
"I feel like a monster has just been created" Karen whispers to Hen who sighs. "Not for long this whole calendar challenge will have Buck and Chimney at each other's throats."
Karen laughs. "Not Eddie?"
Hen examines Eddie before smirking. "Nah."
Tatiana: Chimney, it's beautiful. And you are a beautiful man.
"I can't tell if that's a yes."
Tatiana: It's not.
Chimney's face falls.
Tatiana: But it's not a no, I just... I wasn't prepared for this at all. Okay, it's just, it's such a surprise.
Chimney gets up from the floor and back into his chair.
"I-I thought this was what you wanted."
Tatiana: You should've asked me before you did this.
"That ruins the whole point though?" Maddie asks looking confused.
"Exactly." Hen says looking annoyed with Tatiana. "That woman was an idiot"
"You wanted me to ask you to ask you to marry me? I don't..."
Tatiana: I was engaged before. I cheated on him a week before the wedding. I have issues with commitment. And I just want to be really, really sure, so that I don't hurt you like I hurt Ted.
Eddie's mouth falls open in shock. "This is like those Spanish soap oprah's Chris likes to watch."
Buck looks over at Eddie with a playful grin. "You sure it's just Chris that likes them? I could see you as a soap Oprah guy."
Eddie scowls at him. "I do not like them... I tolerate them."
Buck shrugs and looks away smile still on his face.
Bobby watches this interaction with scrutiny before nodding.'I knew it was right to accept Eddie in'
"St... wait, wait, whoa, wait, wait. So-so, so you were engaged before?"
Tatiana: Look, if I say no, we have to break up. A relationship can't handle a rejection like that.
Chimney grabs her hand in his.
"Okay. Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait... All that I'm really asking you to do is to just keep doing what we're doing. Which you love. For the rest of our lives, it-it's really... It's not that complicated."
Tatiana: Just... give me a few days.
"Her answer wasn't going to change." Chimney says dejectedly.
"Of course. Y-Yes. Sure, of course."
A video game screen with a firetruck zooming down the street starts the next scene.
Hen: Right here, right here, right here. Turn left!
Buck: I'm trying!
"This is so domestic" Karen comments.
Buck grins at the screen.
Buck and Hen are on a couch in the loft focused intently on the video game in front of them.
Hen: So you're fleeing the scene? You do realize that you lose points for murdering people on the way to a fire.
"It should be fine. It's a flesh wound. Obamacare."
There's a silence before laughter ripples through the room. Buck preens glad to have cheered his friends up.
Hen: What?
Hen reaches over and starts trying to yank Buck's controller out of his hands as he struggles.
"Hen! Please... Someone call HR! No... Hen!"
"You two are like siblings." Chimney days with a short of laughter.
Hen manages to take the controller from Buck, laughing at his ridiculousness. Hen spots Chimney walking in and tries to hand him Buck's controller.
Hen: Ridic... Chimney! Here. You're up.
Chimney walks past not even acknowledging the words much to Buck and Hen's confusion.
Buck: Aw, man.
Chimneys opening the fridge and Hen and Buck walk over.
Hen: Hey. What's... what's wrong? You okay?
Buck: Look, Chim, if there's something you want to talk about...
"Thank you guys for checking up by the way... I appreciate it."
"Of course Chim." Hen responds with exasperation.
"Yeah man we're family." Buck says in solidarity.
Chimney: I'm a goodlooking guy, right? I mean, like, you can do a lot worse than me? Yeah?
The camera cuts over to Bobby who looks confused.
Hen: Chimney, I've done a whole lot worse than you.
Hen and Karen both look down.'Eva...'
Bobby: Buck.
Bobby hands Buck a stack of plates.
Chimney: You think I'd be a good father?
Hen: Of course, Chim. What is this about?
"I asked Tatiana to marry me."
Everyone does a double take and Bobby raises his eyebrows.
The 118 winces, realizing what's about to start between Chim and Bobby.
Hen: What?
Buck: Are you serious?
Hen: Um... well, what happened?
"First, she said she cheated on a fiancé that I didn't even know about, and that now we need to break up, then she said she didn't know. I..."
Buck: Did you offer her the option of an open marriage? It's super modern.
"Not the time Buck." Maddie says rolling her eyes at him when he look sheepish.
Hen looks exasperated.
Hen: Buck. Chim... I'm sorry. That may not have been the response you that you hoped for, but it's not no.
"well..." Athena starts to say.
"I was trying to cheer him up."
Chimney: It might as well be.
Bobby: Probably for the best.
Bobby sighs wishing he'd never said anything, knowing what's going to happen to chimney later this episode.
Chimney pauses looking startled at the captains words.
"What was that?"
Bobby: Nothing. I'm sorry. I... I didn't mean anything by that. You doing okay?
"Of course you meant something by it. "Probably for the best"? There's a lot of meaning behind that. What, you don't... you don't like her?"
Bobby: I never said I don't like her. I don't like her for you.
Hen and Buck glance over from where they're preparing the table seemingly noticing the rising tension between the two.
Despite the tension there are some chuckles as they watch Buck and Hen whip their heads back and forth between the two.
"And what does that even mean? No. Come on. Come on with it, wise man, just say what you want to say, 'cause I'm getting real tired of you standing there, just silently judging me with that... Yeah, right there, with that smirk on your face. You know, you're always so quick..."
Bobby is standing arms crossed, his lips pressed tightly together.
Bobby: Chim.
"To comment on everybody's life, but you completely shut down whenever we ask you about yours. Why is that? I mean, how long have we worked together, Bobby? I know nothing about you. I've never even met your wife and your kids. You know why? 'Cause all you do is you sit there, brooding, staring in that little book of yours."
There are a few gasps and Bobby looks like he's been struck.
Chimney looks guilty and upset. "Bobby I'm sorry this was before I knew anything but either way I shouldn't have said anything."
"Thank you Chim but it's alright I forgot about it. Okay?"
Chim nods. "I'm still sorry though."
Bobby: You know what? You're upset, let's drop it.
Bobby starts to turn around so he can walk away.
"My God, Bobby. Come on, just say it! What is it? Say it!"
At these words, Bobby turns around raising his voice slightly.
Bobby: All right, you're living a lie, man! You let her manipulate you. You pretend to be somebody you're not when you're around her. Making up stories to satisfy some hero fetish of hers? What is that?
"You know what? Maybe I wouldn't have to make up stories if every once in a while, you let me take point on something. I have to operate the winch, right? And The Maneuver? I can do The Maneuver.
Everyone goes quiet not sure what to say.
Buck and Hen are still standing awkwardly by the table, plates in hand. Buck gives Hen a quick head shake indicating that they shouldn't break this fight up.
Bobby: I know you can. That's not the point here. Chimney, this relationship that you're in is fueled by lies. Come on. Y-You asked me to make you two dinner so you could pass it off as your own.
Chimney looks over at Buck and Hen for support and they quickly go back to setting out plates.
"I was not getting involved in that Chim sorry."
"No I get it Hen."
Bobby: She's not in love with you. She's in love with this fantasy version of you.
"You know what? I feel real bad for your wife. I really do. Must be tough living with someone who thinks he's right all the time.
Athena sighs and Eddie looks very confused not having and context on Bobby's past yet.
Chimney starts to walk angrily towards the exit of the loft.
Hen: Chim.
Chimney holds up his hand to stop her.
"I'm getting some air."
Chimney's car merges onto a busy road and we see Chimney in the driver's seat vibrating with anger. The scene cuts to show a truck hauling rebar.
"The foreshadowing..." Buck says and Chimney snorts.
Chimney: Call Tatiana.
The phone's dial tone plays for a bit before going to voicemail. Chimney huffs in anger.
'You've reached Tatiana. Please leave a message.'
Chimney sets his music louder and accelerates his speed. Getting even more upset when a truck in front of him is going slow.
"Road rage is never good." Karen comments watching as Chimney sighs and sinks lower in his seat.
"Come on."
He swerves attempting to pass it. He finally does and there is some honking behind him. He takes his eyes off of the road for a few seconds and has to swerve again narrowly missing a piece of junk in the road.
"Oh my God!"
"Jeez that was close man!" Eddie says looking shocked at how Chimney almost crashed.
His car swerves across a few lanes and he stops just before he is about to hit a construction barrier. Chimney lets out a sigh of relief before he hears honking behind him and a truck that is unable to stop barreling towards him and smashing his car into the barrier.
Maddie, Eddie, Athena, and Karen gasp as they are the least prepared. The 118 just sits silently.
The black screen and red soundwave pop up again with Abby's familiar voice ringing out in the silence of the call.
Abby: 9-1-1 What's your emergency?
Chimney: Can you...I'm in my car...
"Oh my God Chim you were still awake?" Karen comments looking horrified.
Chimney nods solemnly. "Yeah but I could barely feel anything at least."
Abby: Sir I can't understand you could you speak louder please?
"Send help... I was in a car accident."
The screen cuts to show the calm firehouse where Bobby sits in the fire engine checking on gear. His phone starts to ring and he quickly picks up.
Bobby frowns remembering how scared he felt when he got that call.
Bobby: Hello.
He looks concerned.
"Who is this?"
His eyes widen in horror and he jumps from the engine.
"Okay. All right, everybody, let's gear up! Let's go, let's go!"
Buck appears over the loft railing looking confused and Hen appears a second later.
Buck: For what? I didn't hear a bell.
"It's Chimney. Come on. Hustle up. Hustle up, everybody, let's go!"
"We were so confused when you said it was Chimney" Hen speaks up. Buck nods. "Yeah cap wouldn't tell is much."
The bell finally starts to ring and everyone rushes into action. The scene switches to show a shot of the LA night skyline before switching to the crash scene. Bobby hops out of the fire-engine and walks over to Captain Serrano of the 122.
Serrano: Captain Nash.
Bobby: Yeah. Thanks for calling.
"Your guy's this way. He wouldn't let anyone else touch him. You, you might want to prepare yourself, sir."
Bobby: Hang back, guys.
As Bobby gestures for Buck and Hen to not come any closer the two exchange nervous glances. Bobby approaches the car.
Everyone is silent and tense as the scene plays out. Chimney watches intently, not having remembered much from this night.
Bobby: Can I get in there? Hey, Chim.
Bobby finally sees Chimney and stares in horror. Chimney is sitting in the driver's seat of his car, a piece of rebar through his skull that pins him the the headrest.
Maddie gasps and recoils at the sight. Eddie simply grimaces and looks up at Chim.
"How the hell did you survive that man?"
"Sheer will I guess" Chimney responds puffing out his chest pridefully.
The others watch in resignation. Bobby, Hen, and Buck having to see all of this again clearly messing with them.
Chimney: Bobby, I... can't move my neck.
The camera changes to show Bobby leading Buck and hen to the scene, filling them in on details.
Bobby: He's alert and talking, doesn't appear to be in any pain.
Buck: Got a piece of rebar through his skull. How is that even possible?
Hen: It's possible. Brain tissue has no nociceptors. It can't feel pain.
Buck: Okay, what about the rest of his head?
Bobby: Well, he's in shock. Now, listen guys, this hasn't registered yet. He knows he's pinned, but that's it, so we got to be cool.
Buck: So if this thing's right between his eyes, can he see it?
Bobby: I don't know what he can see.
Chimney shudders. "The fact that I could have gone blind..."
"You could've been brain dead Chim." Hen says tensely.
Hen now sits in the passenger seat checking on Chimney, Buck is leaning against the hood watching through broken glass as Bobby is next to Chimney outside of the car.
Hen: Airways sound good.
Bobby: What's your pain level?
Chimney: Not much pain. I don't think there's any spinal damage. I can feel my legs, but when I try and move my head...
Everyone freaks out at his words.
This elicits a few strained chuckles from people.
Buck and Hen: Don't!
Bobby: Be still.
Chimney: What's going on? Wh-Wh-Why aren't you guys, like, cutting me out of here?
Bobby: It's complicated.
"Why?"
Bobby: You've been injured, Chim.
"How bad is it?"
Buck: It's not good.
Hen gives him a warning look and Buck pales slightly.
Everyone just sighs and shakes their heads at Buck much to his indignation. "I'm not that bad!"
"Oh please you're the type to accidentally tell kids Santa's not real" Chimney snarks back at Buck.
"I would not!"
"Well, I want to see it."
Bobby: No, you don't.
Chimney looks irritated at how illusive everyone is being.
"Yeah, I do. Bobby, show me."
Bobby: All right.
Bobby digs into his turnout coat and Hen and Buck look hesitant. Bobby pulls out his phone and takes a quick video.
Bobby: Are you ready?
"Show it to me."
Bobby: All right.
Bobby turns the phone around and a video of Chimney sitting in the seat with rebar through his head and blood dripping down his face plays. A numb realization takes over Chimney's face.
"Holy crap. How come I'm not dead?"
"That's what we all wondered." Athena says smiling over at Chimney. "Guess you got 9 lives."
Bobby: Because you are the luckiest and the unluckiest son of a b*tch on the face of the earth all at the same time.
Buck looks frozen just staring at Chimney's head.
"Hey, you guys, I can't even feel this."
Bobby: I know.
"All right, well, please get me out of here before I start to..."
Bobby: All right, we're working on it. Normally, I'd be consulting with my smartest EMT, but right now he's got a rebar stuck in his head.
"Awww Bobby I knew you loved me!"
"Shut it Chim. "
Now Bobby is in the passenger seat and Buck sits in the back of Chimney's car with hen outside of it. Bobby wraps a collar around Chimney's neck.
Chimney: Nice and tight, right?
Bobby:All right.
"All Good?"
Buck: Good
Bobby: Yeah.
Bobby and Hen wrap white straps around Chimney and the seat to keep them together.
Bobby: All right, can you move?
Chimney: Not a bit.
"Good. All right, Buck."
A tow truck tows Chimney's car onto its flatbed for easier transport. Hen and Buck watch from the side and Buck winces at the mostly totaled car. Chimney calls out from his seat to Buck.
"Wait you were towed to the hospital in the car?" Eddie speaks up incredulously.
"Yup it was pretty crazy."
"Dios..." Eddie mutters in Spanish. Buck whips his head around surprised at the use of Spanish.
"Hey, Buck. How's the car, man? Is it a total loss?"
Buck gives the car a triple check taking in its crushed back and looks nervous.
"Nah, man, you... can probably buff most of that out."
Everyone bursts out laughing and Chimney frowns at Buck.
"That was way more then a buff by the the way."
"Well I wasn't about to make you more miserable." Buck says sheepishly.
"Thank you Buck"
"Of course Chim."
Hen side eyes Buck, amused as he grins up at Chimney.
Chimney: Good.
The tow truck, several ambulances, and fire engines take off down the street, horns blaring. The screen goes black and then lights up again to show the parade of vehicles reaching the hospital's circular entrance. A surgeon and one other doctor take in the scene.
Surgeon: Let's get O.R. 3 prepped for a decompressive hemicraniotomy.
The 118 cut some of the rebar off allowing Chimney to be removed from his seat and put on a gurney.
Doctor: We'll take him from here.
Buck: Wha... No, w-we're not leaving his side.
"Are you family?"
The 118 all nod vigorously. Eddie is surprised. 'Well from what I've seen so far they're really close...'
Bobby puts a hand on Buck's shoulder.
Bobby: Buck, our job ends here at these doors like always.
The three watch as Chimney is taken into the hospital. Chimney is lying on a surgery table with doctors flitting around his bedside. The scene fades to show them carefully making incisions in his head and drilling. That scene fades out and Hen can be seen dejectedly restocking the medical supplies in the back of the ambulance. The doctors return to the screen and remove a piece of the skull, revealing Chimney's brain. A doctor grips the rebar and carefully slides it out causing blood to flow from the cut in Chimney's head. The heart machines hooked up to Chimney start to beat quickly and flatline.
There are noises of disgust and a few people cover their eyes with their hands. Everyone goes quiet again when Chimney flatlines.
"We will always be grateful you survived Chim" Bobby says.
Chimney nods unable to look away from the screen.
The camera zooms in to show Abby and her mom, Patricia sitting around the table with a few other people. The Dining room has birthday decorations up and Patricia is struggling to open up a present.
"Chimney I think they are torturing us this episode."
Chimney nods.
Abby: Isn't that pretty paper, Mom?
Patricia: It's on too tight. What is... the hell is this?
An older guy speaks up.
"Who is this guy?" Hen glares at the man on screen before turning to Buck. "I swear if she cheated on you..."
Buck looks shocked before hurriedly speaking up. "No no it's not like that! That's her brother, Matt."
"Oh never mind then." Buck looks very confused.
Matt: That's the perfume you like.
"But I don't wear perfume."
Probably Matt's wife or something?: Sure you do, Pat. You always smell wonderful.
Abby: Look, Mom.
Abby pulls it out of the box and sprays it on her wrist, holding it out for Patricia to smell.
"See? It's your favorite one. Sniff."
Patricia gets immersed in the scent before looking confused again.
Patricia: Is... someone having a birthday?
Maddie winces. "You can tell it's getting worse. Buck nods.
Matt clears his throat and gives Abby a look. Later on Matt and Abby are clearing the table.
Abby: I got it. I got it.
They enter the kitchen.
Matt: Okay. She seems a little cantankerous today.
They start to load the dishes into the sink.
"I know. She's not always like that. I think, you know, big event like this... it's a little overwhelming for her."
Matt: Yeah, not just her? You look tired, Abby.
"Oh My... shut up."
Matt: Well...
"That's a very rude thing to say to a woman."
Bobby and Athena side eye each other before rolling their eyes at the woman on screen.
Matt: I Didn't mean it...
"That's rude."
"Apparently it's rude to care about someone now." Hen says looking disgruntled.
"Hen please..." Buck says trying to defend Abby.
Hen just sighs.
Matt: I'm... I-I am worried about you.
"Don't..."
Matt: She's only gonna get worse, you know. I mean, i-it's progressive.
"Yes, I'm familiar with what happens with Alzheimer's. I've done the reading."
"Okay damn." Karen says.
Matt dries his hands a pulls a piece of paper out of his back pocket, setting it on the island.
Matt: Yeah, well. Read this.
"What is that?"
Matt: It's a brochure for a memory care facility. I put Mom's name on a list, and a room has opened up.
Abby stops where she is throwing away things and looks irritated.
"You put her on a list for a memory care facility without asking me?"
Matt: Because I knew what you would say.
"You don't know what I was gonna say."
Matt: "I can handle this, Matt."
"Well, I can handle it, Matt."
Matt: And I know you can and you have been, and I don't tell you enough, but you are a saint for doing it.
"I'm not a saint. I'm a daughter."
Matt sighs and leans his head back.
Matt: A saintly daughter.
"Oh Come on."
Who got the short end of the stick because you're not married, you don't have any kids. It's not fair.
Abby whips around angrily.
"Oh My God. Stop it. No. It's because I made a choice that I want to take care of my mother. Okay? And-and I've never complained about it, not once."
"But you have been complaining this whole show?" Chimney says in exasperation.
Matt: Saints don't complain. They suffer. (Why is Matt lowkey a diva?)
"No he's right." Says Eddie.
"You too Eds?" Buck groans out. Eddie's eyes widen at the nickname but Buck clearly didn't register it.
"I'm not suffering. This is my choice. It's important to me. And, you know, I have the means. I have a really good job, she gets benefits, you help out. We're doing this. We're fine."
Matt: But are you living?
Abby: Matt.
Matt: I mean it, Abby. It's just... You had something with Tommy before. And ever since Mom has been here, you've been alone. You got to start thinking about yourself.
"This Tommy guy is mentioned a lot, do you know anything about him Buck?" Athena asks gently.
Buck frowns. "All I know is they were engaged before and he left because things with her mom were too complicated for him. He sounds like your regular asshole to me."
Hen shakes her head angrily. "Men..."
Abby starts to exit the room and Matt gets more frantic.
Matt: And Mom's gonna need a facility like this at some point. Just take a tour. That's all I'm asking.
Abby leaves the room and Matt is left to talk to himself, angrily slapping the brochure onto the table. The camera zooms in on Abby where she is swiping pieces of wrapping paper off the table a look of contemplation and grief on her face.
"I get it's hard but he's putting time and effort into this she should at least hear him out." Bobby says much to peoples agreement.
The scene starts in the firehouse loft where Buck is seen pacing around anxiously as Hen sits at the table, her head in her hands as she looks over a crossword puzzle.
Buck: It's been, like, 14 hours. How long's it take to pull a rod out of a guy's skull, anyway?
Hen: You ever heard of that saying, "It ain't brain surgery"? Well, this is. What's 3 across for when doubled in...?
Bobby walks over to the two with a smile on his face.
Bobby: Just got off the phone with the surgeon.
Buck: He alive?
Bobby: He's alive.
Relief flickers over their faces and they start to look hopeful.
Hen: He still have both his eyes?
"Was that really where the bar was set?" Chimney asks.
Buck snickers. "Heh- no Chim the bar was set above your eyes."
Everyone groans.
Bobby: Yeah.
Buck: Any... a-any brain damage?
Bobby: There were some complications when they took the rebar out. He started hemorrhaging. They got the bleeding under control, but had to put him in a medically induced coma. They'll let us know if his condition changes.
"Jeez" Maddie says. Chimney looks over at her.
"Did you see anything like that when you worked at the hospital?"
Maddie shrugged. "I saw bad stuff like yours but never rebar through the skull."
Buck looks shocked and the camera pans down to show Hen looking like she's about to cry.
Buck: You mean if he wakes up.
Hen: Or if he doesn't.
The view switches over to Bobby who looks scared as well.
Bobby: Yeah.
"Well it all turned out okay in the end." Buck says enthusiastically.
The screen goes black and the red emergency call soundbar appears.
Abby: 9-1-1 what's your emergency?
Caller: Uh. There are people trapped in the back of a truck. I can hear them screaming.
Abby: What's your location, ma'am?
Caller: I'm at the warehouse parking lot on Colorado. There's no driver and the doors are locked, I don't think they can breathe.
The scene changes to show the fire engine pulling up to a parking lot where a giant red truck sits, surrounded by police officers and squad cars. The 118 all hop out of their respective vehicles.
"Oh yeah this was a bad one." Athena comments.
Bobby: Buck, get the tools.
Buck: Yo, Hen. Is it wrong I was stoked there was an emergency? I was climbing the walls back at the house.
Buck winces at his poor choice of words. "Sorry I didn't mean that.
"We know what you mean Buck don't worry." Athena reassures him.
Hen: We all were, and, yeah, it's wrong. We're not here to blow off steam. We're here to help.
Hen winces. "Sorry Buck that was harsh I was just stressed.
"Nah you're good Hen."
Bobby and a police officer enter the frame.
Police Officer: Truck is registered out of Texas. We're still looking for the driver.
Bobby: It's got to be over 100 degrees in there. Buck! All right, get these people some water.
Knocking and cries for help can be heard through the metal doors of the truck. Bobby and Buck can be seen sawing at the door while Hen watches from further back. Something catches Hen's attention and she rounds the side of the truck, she tries the driver's door but it remains locked. Hen climbs up to reach the window and peers inside spotting the driver's ID with his full name and picture. Back at the truck Bobby and Buck manage to saw off the lock and open the door revealing roughly a dozen people stuffed inside the long cargo container. A man steps into the light carrying a small boy in his arms, speaking rapid Spanish. He hands Buck the little boy and Buck carefully carries him away.
"Holy crap..." Eddie says looking outraged. "This is no way to treat people."
Everyone looks at him sympathetically.
"I get how you feel Eddie" Hen says and Athena and Karen nod.
Buck: I got him, I got him, I got him.
Bobby can be heard giving directions off-screen.
Bobby: All right, get these people some water, come on.
Buck: Put it down. Hen.
Bobby: All right, this is truck 118. I'm gonna need as many ambulances as we can.
Buck: Hurry up, come on.
Bobby: Chopper, too. We may have to medevac a few of them.
Buck lays the boy on a blanket and Hen sits next to them with her medical supplies.
Hen: It's at least four and a half hours to the Mexican border, if that's even where they started.
Buck: Come on. Breathe. Starting compressions.
Other paramedics, Firefighters, and police officers are on the scene helping people out of the truck and doing medical work. Buck starts doing compressions on the little boy, who isn't breathing.
"Oh I hope he's alright..." Maddie says nervously.
Buck: All right, come on. I know you can hear me. I need you to breathe for me, okay?
The camera switches to show Bobby in the truck speaking with an older man.
Bobby: Can you stand up? Take my hand. Take my hand. Ready? All right, go, go, go.
Back with Buck and Hen, the man with the boy now kneels at his side as well as Buck continues more frantic compressions.
Man: Por favor, mijo.
Hen puts a breathing mask on the boy, looking concerned. The boy's other family member sit nearby, sobbing and tearful.
Hen: Come on, come on, come on, come on.
Buck: All right, give me something.
The boy gasps suddenly sitting up slightly, chest heaving for air. Everyone around is delighted.
Everyone, including the people who already knew the outcome, relax.
Buck: Javi, Javi, good job, good job. Toto-todo bien, todo bien. All right?
Eddie grins when Buck attempts Spanish to comfort the family.
Buck notices this and smiles slightly as well.
Buck looks at the boys mom and dad and the father sobs gratefully while the mother buries her face in her husband's neck. The camera zooms out to show the parking lot filled with blankets and people who are hurt or helping. Hen looks up and spots someone in the crowd of onlookers and she starts to make her way over. She recognizes the guy from the ID she had seen in the truck earlier. She starts to run up to him and his eyes widen as he tries to bolt.
"Oh get his ass Hen!" Karen shouts supportively at the screen. Hen means into Karen's side smugly.
Hen: Hey! d*ck! Where the hell do you think you're going?
She tackles the guy onto the ground and Buck looks over, confused.
"I thought you tackled a random guy." Buck laughs out.
"Sick son of a b*tch. Whole families could have died in there. Someone with a badge and a g*n want to put this trash in custody?!"
The police officer from earlier quickly comes over and rests a hand on Hen's shoulder assuring her that he's got it.
Hen: Got him?
Buck quickly runs over to Hen grinning slightly and bouncing up and down.
Buck: Ooh, that was badass, but I thought we weren't here to blow off steam.
Hen flowers at Buck but can't hide her grin at Buck's bouncy excitement. "I'm glad you think I'm badass Buck."
Buck grins. "I always will, scouts honor." He puts a hand to his chest.
Hen: You know what you can blow.
Buck blinks. "I forgot about that, I take it back Hen."
Hen grimaces. "Sorry Buck."
Hen angrily walks under some caution tape and storms away not noticing Buck's look of hurt and shock.
Buck: Hen.
"We were all worried about Chim you didn't deserve to be lashed out at like that."
"Hen it's okay I promise." Buck assures her with a grin.
Suddenly there is a phone ring coming from Buck's pocket. He pulls it out quickly and answers.
Athena groans under her breath.
Buck: Hey, everything okay?
It's Abby.
Abby: You answered. You always answer. You're so sweet. No, everything's fine. Um, is this a bad time?
"You're lucky he answers while he's at work woman." Hen crumbles. Buck flinches.
Abby looks surprised that Buck picked up the phone.
Buck: No. I'm-l'm at a call, but I-I wanted to answer and, you know, make sure... you're not out on the ledge or something.
"Buck was that an actual concern you had for her?" Chimney asks looking worried.
"Uh I mean with everything going on with her mom and I just was worried... I don't know." Buck stammers out and the others shoot him concerned glances.
"Thank you. I can't believe you're at a call. Um, I'm not on a ledge. But I'm in a windowsill. You're on a call. I'm letting you go. Go back to work. We can talk later."
Buck: Nah, come on, tell me.
"No, it's just my mom. My mom has Alzheimer's, did I tell you that? I can't remember if I told you that or not."
"I think she's the one with Alzheimer's" Karen mumbles to Hen who muffled a laugh.
Buck: No, I, I didn't know that. Sorry.
"Um, thanks. And she's just... slipping, you know? She's getting worse, and I... I'm starting to feel like she might need more... than just me. More help. Professional help."
The camera switches from Abby to show Patricia lying in her bed, looking frail. Buck looks confused and unsure of what Abby is even talking about.
Buck: Y-You mean like a home?
"Yeah. Although even as you say it out loud, I'm paralyzed with guilt at the thought of it. I mean, she's my mom. Right?"
Buck: Yeah, that's rough. Look, I don't... I don't know a lot.
'abby can't expect Buck to know anything about taking care of the elderly when he's in his mid twenties.'Hen thinks bitterly.
Buck looks over at Bobby helping a little girl out of the truck.
Buck: But if there's one thing I learned over the last 24 hours, the only thing that matters is family.
"Right. Yes. You're so right. Thank you."
Buck sighs. "I was trying to tell her to do what's best for her mom."
"Yeah I don't think she was listening to you" Eddie says.
Buck sighs again, shoulders slumped.
Buck: Yeah, you got it. Um... Look, I'll talk to you soon. Okay?
Buck hangs up the phone and the screen goes black before being replaced with a wide view of an LA highway. The scene changes to show Bobby knocking on Tatiana's open door. She looks over at him from where she is preparing a plate of food from a pile on her kitchen table.
Chimney turns to stare at Bobby, questioningly. Bobby shakes his head.
Bobby: Tatiana. I'm Bobby. We spoke on the phone.
She shakes his outstretched hand.
Tatiana: Oh Yeah. Hi. Now I know why Chimney always calls you Gary Cooper.
"I see you've had some visitors."
Tatiana: Yeah. All day and last night, too. Is that normal, or is Chimney just really popular?
"Firefighters are a brotherhood. Cops are the same way. One of us goes down, we make sure the family's looked after."
Tatiana: And I'm the family?
"Well you were his girlfriend lady." Buck says, irritated.
"I was hoping to convince you to come to the hospital to visit him."
Tatiana: I thought you said that he wasn't awake.
"They're bringing him out of his coma now. It'd be good if you were there."
She doesn't speak for a while just putting away food looking kind of upset at Bobby's words.
Tatiana: He asked me to marry him.
"I know."
Tatiana: It's not right, you know. Putting me in that kind of situation. Either I say yesor I'm some kind of monster.
Chimney wilts.
"That's dumb if you don't want to marry him you say so otherwise why be in a relationship if you want to avoid proposals and not be committed!?" Hen sounds like she's losing brain cells listening to Tatiana talk.
"You don't have to say yes. You just have to come hold his hand. This is not about love, it's about decency."
"Yes Bobby!" Buck cheers out.
Tatiana: That's my point. Anything I do now that isn't being Florence Nightingale, it makes me look like some kind of jerk. So, I hold his hand when he wakes up. Then it's stay with him until he's out of the hospital. And then it's you can't break up with him until he can walk or talk again, and that's assuming that he ever can. And you want me to just play like I'm in love for how long? A month? A year? I am not a bad person. I am just not in love with him.
"Is she terminally stupid?" Eddie asks. Buck nods.
Chimney seems to get brighter with his team standing behind him.
Bobby looks sad but understanding at the same time.
"Tatiana. My friend is coming out of a medically induced coma. I don't know if he'll ever fully wake up. And if he does, I don't know if he's gonna be able to talk or see or hear or even remember who I am. I am not asking you to love him or marry him, and I'm not judging you f or your feelings. I'm not. I'm just saying he loves you. Misguided as he may be. And the only two things I can think of to help him are to pray and to hope that if you're with him, he'll feel that love for you and it will give him a reason to fight his way back to us."
"I didn't fight for her, I fought for you guys. You kept me alive." Chimney chokes out with a few tears gathering in his eyes.
"Oh Chim..." Hen cuts herself off wiping a few tears away.
Tatiana has tears in her eyes but just sighs and continues to put food away.
Tatiana: I'm sorry. I just can't.
Bobby just nods mutely and leaves.
"What a bitch." Bobby mutters too loudly and everyone stared at him open mouthed. "What?"
Buck beams up at Bobby. "Couldn't have said it better myself cap!"
The scene changes and shows Abby and Carla in Abby's kitchen where Abby is putting on her coat and preparing to leave.
Abby: Okay. Um, she's had her midday pills, except I think I might have used next week's day-of-the-week box by accident. Would you mind just checking on that?
Carla: We'll get it squared away.
"Thank you."
Carla: So, should I ask?
Abby stops and turns back having been about to leave.
"What?"
Carla picks up the brochure for the elderly care home sitting on the counter.
Carla: Am I about to be out of a job?
"Oh. No. My brother left that."
Carla: This is a good place.
"Is it?"
Carla: Vacancies are rare. Are you considering it?
"I was for a minute. But then I thought, you know, as long as my mom is still here with me... I want her to be here with me."
"I guess that makes sense." Athena says.
Carla nods in sad understanding. A school bell rings and the camera switches to show a school called 'Palm Hill High School'. Athena's squad car waits outside and Athena watches intently as three girls walk down the steps of the school, laughing. Athena looks down at a yearbook in her lap and one of the girl's faces matches the photo with the name 'Laila Creedy'. Athena clenches her jaw as the girls walk past her car. Athena starts her car and the screen switches to show Chimney lying asleep in a hospital bed with a giant stitched-up scar on his head. There is a faint beeping in the background and a tube in his nose. A doctor stops by the window looking into Chimney's room, Bobby, Hen, and Buck trail behind her.
"'Thena...?" Hen asks hesitantly.
"What would you do if it was Denny?" Is all Athena responds with.
Hen clenched her jaw and nods.
"I'd do the same if it was Chris." Eddie says and Athena glances at him with a tight smile.
'I wonder what it would be like to have a kid to care about like that?'Buck muses silently.
Doctor: He's a tough nut. He's gonna be in this room for a few days. Intubation tube is out, obviously, but the catheter's still in.
Buck: Can he hear us?
"I always treat them like they can. All right, two minutes, and then I'm kicking you out."
The doctor slides the glass door open and shuts it after they've all entered. The three of them pull up chairs to sit at Chimney's side. Buck looks very small and fragile staring at Chimney's still figure. Bobby grabs one of Chimney's hands in both of his.
Maddie stares at the screen suddenly reminded of how Buck looked all those years ago at Daniels bedside, legs to short to touch the ground barely a toddler. 'I hate seeing him in hospitals even if he's not the one hurt...'
Bobby: Hey, Chim. We're all here for you, buddy.
Buck: H-Hey. I-I was thinking maybe when you come back to work, um, you know, you should do The Maneuver instead of me.
Hen looks surprised and Buck notices.
"To motivate him to get better."
Hen whispers clearly paranoid that Chimney will hear.
Hen: He can't do The Maneuver.
"I can to!" Chimney protests much to everyone's amusement.
"Yeah, he can. Hey, Chim, you can do The Maneuver. Right?"
Everyone laughs slightly, Buck's words breaking some of the tense atmosphere. Hen speaks up again, voice choked with unshed tears.
Hen: Chim. I, um... I tried to get ahold of your parents. There's a 16-hour time difference with Seoul, you know, so maybe... maybe that has something to do with it.
Chimney huffs. "Don't expect much with them."
He gets a few concerned looks that he waves off.
Chimney's hand moves slightly and Bobby grabs it again from where he had dropped it before.
Bobby: Yeah, it's all right. His family's right here.
"Thanks again you guys."
Hen: Please don't ever let him do The Maneuver.
They all start to laugh again as the camera slowly zooms out, the screen goes black and the credits start to roll.
"Well that was something wasn't it..." Athena says.
"Ugh I hope the next episode is more chill then these first three." Buck grumbles.
"You do realize we are firefighters right Buck? We don't have "chill days"." Hen says looking tired.
"A man can dream..."
