A/N: I'm back with a new AU! This was inspired by the fact that I have been watching A LOT of Chicago Fire. None of the characters from that show will appear however but the basis of the firehouse and what firefighters and paramedics do will stem from scenes I've seen. Anyway, I've written a few chapters and am really excited to see where this goes. Please let me know if you're interested in me continuing to write this fic. Thanks, and I hope you enjoy it.
I'm rating it T for now but it will go up to M in the future because, well, you know me!
Stepping out of her new car, Regina closed the door firmly before straightening her clothes. She had aways hated the paramedic state issue trousers. The material was overly-manufactured and creased too easily. She also thought they made her look dumpy and didn't carry the air of authority or knowledge which doctors scrubs did. Knowing there was nothing she could do about them, Regina sighed as she straightened her jacket before glancing down one final time at the emblem stitched onto her left breast pocket. Boston Fire Department.
Regina took a deep breath before walking up the street towards Firehouse 7.
As she walked onto the lot, she took in the red brick building. The front gates stood open, two fire engines gleaming in the early morning sunlight. In the bay next to them, an ambulance was parked neatly. She smiled slightly at the sight of her new rig before walking through the open doors and looking around.
"Can I help you?" asked a friendly voice from behind her.
Regina turned around and put on her most dazzling smile. She wanted to make a good impression but had been told she could come across a little cold at times. She needed to make this job work. She needed Boston to become her new home.
"Good morning," she smiled. "My name's Regina Mills, I'm the new paramedic on Ambulance 67."
"Oh right," the man grinned back at her, his baby blue eyes sparking as he did so. "My name's David Nolan, I'm the lieutenant on Engine 17. Welcome to Firehouse 7, Regina Mills."
"Thanks," she said as she shook his rough skinned hand.
"Come with me and I'll take you to the briefing room. Chief always likes new people to introduce themselves at the start of their first shift."
Regina nodded and followed the blonde man. He was tall and strong, the stereotypical embodiment of a firefighter. Regina had worked in firehouses before but never in a city as big as Boston. She hoped she was ready for it.
"Shit!" Emma exclaimed as she dropped her hairband from between her teeth. Holding her pony tail in one hand, she reached over the centre console to fumble around under the seat with the other. After discovering several candy wrappers and an incredibly scratched CD, Emma straightened up triumphant and finished securing her hair into a low bun.
Jumping out of her car, she slammed the door, flecks of yellow paint falling to the floor as she did so, and jogged onto the forecourt of Firehouse 7. Glancing at her watch, she sighed with relief as she read 7:59am. She wasn't late.
"Cutting it fine, Swan," came a drawling voice as she walked inside the building.
"You know me, Jones," Emma replied as the man stepped out from behind Ladder 7 where he had been securing some tools. "Busy, busy, busy."
"So how were your days off?" the scruffy man asked, falling into step beside Emma as the two of them headed towards the meeting room for their start of shift briefing.
"Nothing special," Emma shrugged. "Yours?" She didn't actually want to know what the lecherous man did on his days off but she also wanted to keep the peace. Their work required trust and clear communication. Arguments could put people's lives in danger.
"Oh you know," Jones said, "I spent my time doing what any dashing, single firefighter would do. Charming girls in bars, of course."
"Same here," Emma quipped as she pushed the door to the briefing room open and quickly walked away from Jones to sit beside her best friend. She and Ruby hadn't simply become friends because they were the only two female firefighters in the district. They were also both outgoing, fun, larger than life characters who loved their work and lived to serve the city of Boston. It was just a shame they didn't ride the same truck.
"Hey Red," Emma said as she slipped into the empty seat beside the tall brunette.
"Swanny!" Ruby grinned, breaking off her conversation with her lieutenant and turning towards Emma. Nolan looked a little disgruntled but said nothing. "What happened on Saturday night after you guys left?"
"A lady never kisses and tells," Emma said with a wink.
"No but that love bite on your neck sure does," Ruby exclaimed, as she pulled Emma's jacket away from her skin to inspect the bruise.
Damn it! The make up wasn't thick enough, Emma thought to herself.
"Tell me everything," Ruby said, eager for the gossip as always.
"Well, you saw the start of the night," Emma said. "I personally thought I was punching above my weight."
"Me too. I've never seen such a sexy-,"
"Good morning ladies and gentlemen," came the dulcet tones of their Chief, effectively cutting off Ruby as everyone in the room turned their attention to Chief Gold. The older man limped his way up towards the front of the room, leaning heavily on his cane as usual. While the veteran firefighter was no longer able to run headlong into burning buildings, he lead his teams excellently from the ground and helped in any way he could. Everyone admired the man's determination to get back on the job after a rescue mission went wrong and he fell several stories onto the sidewalk. The doctors had never fully been able to repair his shattered ankle, leaving the man with a permanent limp.
"Welcome back to work. Let's make this shift a good one," he smiled, as he reached the front of the room and turned to survey his staff. "Just a quick announcement today. We have at last been assigned a new paramedic in charge to Ambulance 67 after weeks of dealing with floaters. I'd like you all to give a warm House 7 welcome to Regina Mills." He gestured to the brunette woman sat in the front row and she got to her feet.
Regina walked to stand beside Chief Gold and turned to face the room. She wiped her sweaty hands on her hideous trousers. Public speaking had never been her strong suit but she took a deep breath and began.
"Good morning. As Chief Gold said, my name is Regina Mills and I've just transferred to Ambulance 67. I used to work at a firehouse in Maine but after a few months up there I decided I needed a change. I'm new to Boston and looking forward to getting to know all of you."
She paused and glanced around the room at the sea of faces. They seemed welcoming and friendly enough. Her gaze landed briefly on a set of striking green eyes but after a few seconds, a smattering of applause was heard and Regina quickly took her seat again.
"Thank you Mills," Gold said. "The only other thing to say is that after the incident at Firehouse 11 last week, we have been told to expect a full kit inspection some time over the next few days. Engine 17 and Ladder 7, I want a full stock check carried out first thing this morning. We do not want to be called to a scene where we do not have the proper equipment to deal with the emergency. Same goes for Ambulance 67. Whale, can you show Mills the stock cupboard please?"
A blonde man nodded his head at this and glanced sideways at his new colleague. Regina smiled politely at him but the gesture was not returned.
"OK, well then let's get on with it and have a good, safe shift," Gold said before he limped back towards his office.
Chatter started up around the room as people recommenced their conversations from before the meeting. Regina got to her feet and looked about her. There were two other women at Firehouse 7, chatting together in the corner. As Regina watched, the brunette with a gaudy red streak in her hair, threw back her head in laughter at something the blonde had said. Regina saw a twinkle of mirth in those incredible green eyes before the man called Whale stepped in front of her line of vision. He looked surly, his blonde hair was slicked back using far too much gel which made him look like an overgrown teenager and his blue eyes were cold and calculating.
"So you're the new POC?" he asked, arms folded across his chest.
"Regina Mills, hi," Regina said, extending her hand.
"Victor Whale," the man said, grasping her hand firmly before returning to his previous, defensive stance.
"Nice to meet you," Regina smiled. "I look forward to working with you. I've heard great things."
"Really?" Whale asked. "Because we've heard nothing about you. You come in from another state and land the paramedic in charge gig. How does that happen when I've been working here for five years?"
Regina was a little taken aback. "Erm, well I applied and I got the job. I guess they thought I was the best person to lead Ambulance 67," she added, a little sassily.
Whale scowled at her. "Follow me," he said gruffly. "I'll show you where we keep the supplies for your ambulance."
Regina frowned but followed the man out of the room.
"Everything's accounted for, Lieutenant," Emma said as she stood in the doorway to August Booth's office.
"Great, thanks Emma," Booth smiled. "How was your weekend?" he asked with a knowing wink.
Emma groaned. "You spoke to Red didn't you." Booth nodded. "You guys are the worst gossips I've ever known."
"Only when it's juicy," Booth said, laughing.
"Oh and juicy it was," Emma said, licking her lips before she waltzed off down the corridor.
August's mouth fell open as he watched his oldest friend disappear. He chuckled to himself and returned to his paperwork. He had barely finished one report when there was a second knock on the door.
"Hatter," August smiled as he looked up. "How are you?"
"I'm good thanks Lieu," replied Jeff Hatter as he moved inside the office and took a seat in the spare chair.
"Do you need something?" Booth asked as he surveyed the man before him.
"Advice," Jeff admitted, leaning forwards in his chair. "About my daughter."
"Not sure how I can help with that," Booth said, folding his arms. "I don't have kids, remember?"
"Yeah but you're great with them. And Grace adores you," Jeff prompted.
"She's a sweet girl," Booth smiled. "What do you need my advice about?"
"Last night she started asking questions about my job. What I did, why I did it. Until now she's been too young to really understand the gravity of the danger we face every time we go on shift. But now, now she's a little older and she's starting to realise. She told me last night she's worried she's going to lose me too, like she lost her mother."
August put down his pen and looked carefully at Hatter, wondering what to say. He understood entirely where the man was coming from. The danger of the job either drew people in or pushed them away. For the firefighters themselves, it was thrilling. For their families, it was terrifying. That was why Booth was partially glad he didn't have any family. There was no one waiting at home to worry about him.
"Jeff," Booth started. "You love this job right? And you're good at it. Do you trust your team?" Hatter nodded. "Have we ever let you down in the past?" Hatter shook his head. "You've been at Firehouse 7 for six years and we've saved each other more times than I can count. That's what we do. We get into dangerous situations but together, we always come out. It's completely natural for Grace to be scared, but you need to make her understand that your family here at 7 has your back. Maybe you could bring her by the firehouse sometime. I'm sure everyone would love to see her again and she can see that you're in safe hands."
"Yeah, that's a good idea. Thanks August," Jeff said with a smile.
"No problem," August smiled. "Let me know if you need anything else."
"No, I keep the gauze in this section here," Whale said, annoyed. He leaned over Regina and moved the supplies in the medical bag around.
"OK, sure thing, Whale," Regina said, not wanting to piss off her partner on her first day. Even if the man suffered from ridiculous case of obsessive compulsive disorder.
"And the neck braces fit better if you stack them like this, see?" he said, turning them all over and slotting them back into the cupboard.
"Oh yes," Regina humoured. "Excuse me for a moment," she said before hopping down from the back of the ambulance and heading towards the break room.
The station was yet to receive a call and most of the firefighters had finished their kit inspections and were hanging out, watching television, and catching up. Regina entered the room and glanced around for the source of the delicious coffee aroma that wafted through the air.
Spying a surprisingly sophisticated coffee maker in the kitchen, Regina crossed the room and set about making herself an espresso.
"Would you like some help with that?" asked a man Regina had seen in the meeting earlier. His light brown hair flopped over his forehead and his cheeks were covered in stubble. His eyes were kind but his face looked vaguely troubled, anguished. When he spoke, Regina thought he had a strange accent. It sounded like he was British.
"No, thank you," Regina said, smiling sweetly. "I can manage."
"My name's Robin, Robin Locksley," the man said, leaning against the counter beside Regina and watching her make the coffee. "I'm on Engine 17."
"Lovely to meet you," Regina said, transfixed by the dark brown liquid dripping tantalisingly from the metal spout and into the white porcelain below. She was not particularly interested in engaging in conversation until she'd had her caffeine hit.
"Likewise," Robin said. "So what brings you to our wonderful city?"
"I needed to get out of Maine," Regina said. "Family," she added when she saw the curious look on Robin's face.
"I hear you," he nodded. "I moved away from family too. Well, in-laws. It was too painful to be around them after my wife died. Too many memories. So I came across the pond to America and began a new life."
"I'm sorry," Regina said, softly. She hadn't expected the man to be quite so honest with her. She supposed it must be a British thing.
Robin waved his hand. "It was a long time ago. I'm happy here now. And I hope you will be too. Welcome to House 7 Regina."
With that, the man walked away, leaving Regina now clutching her steaming cup of espresso, wondering how long it would take her to be happy in Boston.
Emma was standing in front of the bathroom mirrors trying to cover up the hickey on her neck with some foundation she had borrowed from Ruby. It wasn't that she was ashamed of what had happened that weekend, far from it. The guys loved hearing her tales but she decided in the interest of professionalism that she ought to cover it up. Satisfied with the end result, Emma shrugged back on her jacket and headed out of the room.
As she turned into the corridor, she spotted the new paramedic leaning up against the wall looking out onto the forecourt.
Figuring she ought to introduce herself, Emma walked up behind the brunette.
"Hey," she said.
"Jesus!" Regina cried, jumping at the sudden voice and spilling hot coffee all over her hand.
"Shit! I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you," Emma said, quickly pulling tissue from her pocket and handing it to Regina.
"Then maybe don't sneak up on people," Regina spat, dabbing her scalded skin with the tissue and inspecting it for damage.
"Hey, I said I'm sorry," Emma frowned. "It's not like I did it on purpose."
"I need to run this under cold water," Regina said. "Excuse me." She walked off towards the break room.
"Erm, the bathroom is just down here," Emma called after her.
Regina paused before spinning on her heels and marching back towards the blonde.
"Want me to give you a tour of the house?" Emma offered as she followed the paramedic into the bathroom. "Seems like you might need one."
"It depends," Regina said, hissing slightly as she placed her hand under the cold water. "Are you going to creep along behind me the whole time."
"Fine, be like that," Emma said. "I was just coming to introduce myself. I'm sorry I made you spill your coffee, coffee made from the machine I bought for the firehouse incidentally. I'll leave you to it."
With that the blonde trounced out of the bathroom, leaving an angry Regina behind.
Thoughts? Any feedback is welcome my darling readers - good or bad.