Ben sat in his car outside of the doctors office thinking about what is just told to him. "I've never had any issues with my health. I always try to do right so that I would have to deal with issues as I get older," Ben thought to himself.
As he headed home he picked up his phone to call Miranda. "Hey Ben, how did your appointment go?" Miranda asked nervously. The thing he hated the most about all of this was that it was another thing for Miranda to worry and stress about. She already had her own heart to deal with.
"It went well Miranda, the doctor and I came up with a treatment plan and a plan for me to do at home so that my risk of getting sicker or being hospitalized is lowered," Ben replied trying to reassure Miranda. Ben pulled up into their driveway, go out and headed into the house.
"Baby I have to get ready for this black firefighters coalition banquet that is being hosted on a boat. And I told Miller and Vic that I would ride with them. So I have to get ready and I will see you when I get home tonight and I love you," Ben concluded.
"Okay Ben, see you tonight and I love you too," Miranda replied.
Ben went into the kitchen, grabbed a bottle of water and thought about his son. He then quickly remembered that Tuck and Joey were staying after school for debate team so he didn't have to pick him up because he usually rode home with a friend or Tucker would pick them up.
Ben walked back through the living room and upstairs to their bedroom. He slipped his shoes off and laid on the bed for a moment.
He usually wasn't the religious one, Miranda believed in God and Jesus and she prayed every night but she never forced him to do it. He usually just laid there and listen to her. But in this moment he felt that he needed to believe and at least try to pray like Miranda does.
Ben laid on the bed with his face in his hands, "Ummm Jesus...I don't know you but according to Miranda you know me and she's always talking to you. So ummm I really need your help with my health. I don't want to be sick and I don't want to worry Miranda. So if you could heal me or make this manageable and Miranda and I get to have our 60 years together I would really appreciate that, Amen."
Ben got up after he prayed, went to the closet to pick out an outfit and then headed to the bathroom to take a shower before getting dressed. Ben finished showering got dressed and was brushing his hair when he heard the doorbell ring. He sprayed his cologne on, looked himself over in the new full length mirror Miranda bought than went downstairs to open the door.
When Ben opened the door Vic rushed past him, "Hey Ben, nice house. I have to pee where is the restroom?" Vic asked rushingly.
"Down the hall and to your right," Ben said amused as Miller came to the door.
"I told her to use the bathroom before we left but she swore she didn't have to go. Nice house Warren," Dean said impressed.
Once everyone finished their bathroom break, Ben locked up the house and they road to the dock to get on the boat.
When they arrived there were several other black firefighters getting on the boat.
"How cool is this to be surrounded by so many other black firefighters?" Ben stated as they got in line to get on the boat.
"So cool," Dean and Vic said together.
"Hey guys!" Sullivan yelled as he jogged to get in line with them.
Once they got on the boat, they found a table and sat down. Shortly after everyone had arrived and was settled down one of the chiefs spoke.
"Every year I am excited to be apart of the Black Firefighters Coalition Banquet. It shows the progress we're making in this line of work to see you all here today." The group of black firefighters were served dinner, drinks and they networked among themselves.
Though Ben was having a good time he still couldn't stop thinking about his current health situation and how was he going to tell his crew. Since the boat was large he decided to explore. Just as he was coming around the corner of one of the walkways he saw Dean jump overboard. He quickly ran to look and assess the situation and he saw the chief that was hosting the banquet floating lifeless.
Ben grabbed a life jacket and jumped in after them, "MAN OVERBOARD!" He shouted. The impact of hitting the water almost knocked the air out of him but he recovered just as Miller secured the other piece of the life jacket to the chief. There they were waiting to be rescued and all Ben could think about was Miranda and their boys and how he didn't want to die and leave them.
Ben and Warren watched as the boat started to get further away. Ben thought back to a moment he had in the kitchen with his son Joey. He was so happy that he finally had a family to call his own and Ben was glad he could be there for him.
He thought about the last time him and Tuck played basketball and kept calling him an old man but Ben end up winning the game.
He then thought back to the last time he and Miranda made love. With Covid going on they hadn't even been able to stay in the same house hold let alone touch each other.
The week that Miranda decided to come home to grieve with him, her father and the boys was the first time they were able to hold each other. After the first few days of grieving, they were laying on the couch watching the sci-fi channel when Miranda began to kiss his chin and neck. Next thing he knew, Miranda's hand was down his pants and they made love twice on the couch and once in their bedroom.
Ben's thoughts were interrupted by Dean speaking.
"Warren... I don't want to die," Dean said as they floated.
"Me neither," Ben replied as he thought about how worried his wife would be once she found out what was going on.
Suddenly they heard yelling and several other fire fighters were standing by the ledge. And the boat was finally stopping and three flotation devices. Ben and Dean swam to the devices as they held onto the chief and secured as much as they could onto the flotation device.
Once the trio were on the devices they were pulled back to the boat. Just as they were getting closer to the dock, an EMS crew and new station pulled up.
"Crap," Ben said to himself as he wrapped himself tighter in the blanket he was given.
Miranda settled in on the couch to wait for Ben to get home. He wasn't answering his phone so she told herself his phone probably died and since he was at a banquet there was nothing to worry about. Miranda turned on the tv and the news was on.
"BREAKING NEWS! Today on a small ferry boat during the annual Black Firefighters Coalition Banquet, three firefighters were pulled from the water after one loss consciousness and fell into the water. The other two firefighters jumped in to help save him.
Miranda gasped and sat up, "Was that Ben that loss consciousness and fell? Is that why he wasn't answering his phone?" She wondered to herself.
The news anchor continued to talk, "Rick is reporting live on the dock where the boat is stopped.
Miranda watched as she saw EMS rush towards the boat and take a man off and onto a stretcher but they kept his face covered. Then she saw several firefighters coming off the boat but not Ben.
She quickly got up, slipped her shoes back on and headed towards and out of her front door. As Miranda quickly drove she remembered that her teenage sons were in their rooms. She quickly called them.
"He Tuck, can you go where Joey is so I can talk to you both," Miranda requested.
Tuck heard the urgency in his mom's voice so he moved quickly. "Okay mom, we're together."
"Hey! So I was watching the news and saw that something happened at the event that dad was at and so I rushed out of the house without telling you and I apologize for that. But as soon as I find out what's going on I will call you back, okay."
"Yes mom," Tuck replied. "Yes mama B," Joey replied.
"Okay boys, I love you and will call soon," Miranda said as she hung up the phone.
As Miranda drove she used some breathing techniques that helped with anxiety and stress because she felt her chest getting heavy and her stomach starting to hurt. She went to Grey Sloan Memorial because it was the closest hospital to where the ferry boat was. Miranda rushed into the emergency room and saw Ben sitting on a bed wrapped in a blanket with one of the interns checking his vitals.
Miranda gasped and held her chest as she felt tears forming. Just as she did this Ben looked up and saw her and his jaw clinched. He knew that as soon as she saw the news that she was going to worry and stress and he didn't need both of them struggling with health issues at the same time.
Miranda ran to Ben and did a quick survey of him before grabbing his face and kissing him passionately and slowly. Ben grabbed Miranda's waist and pulled her closer as their kiss continued.
Some of the doctors and interns watched in shock as their chief kissed her husband but were stopped from watching when Richard got in between their view and demanded they get back to work.
When Miranda's thoughts came back into focus she remembered where she was and stopped kissing her husband so passionately. She pecked his lips 3 more times before backing up slightly and wiping his lips with her thumb.
"Sorry Ben, I'm just glad that you're okay," Miranda professed as she looked around to see who was looking.
"Yeah me too Miranda. But I must say that my new favorite thing is passionate public displays of affection with the chief of surgery," Ben said grinning. Miranda blushed and hit his chest.
"Ahhh," Ben shrieked and scared Miranda.
"Just joking," Ben said and gestured causing Miranda to hit him again.
"Oh I told the boys I would call them once I knew something," Miranda explained.
"Okay, let's FaceTime them," Ben suggested. Ben held the phone so that the boys would see him first.
"DAD! Your okay," Tuck yelled. "We're so glad you're okay," Joey said.
"Yeah, mom called and told us why she rushed out and we've been worried," Tuck confessed.
"I'm okay guys, one of my fellow firefighters and I jumped into the water to help save one of the chiefs here in Seattle. Everything is good guys so mom and I will be coming home soon okay," Ben said reassuring.
Once Ben was discharged, Ben and Miranda walked to her car holding hands. They drove home in silence as Miranda continued to hold onto his hand.
"Ben I'm upset that you jumped in the water but I'm glad the man is going to be okay...and that your okay. I won't be okay if you're not okay," Miranda confessed. Ben looked at his wife and kissed her hand.
They pulled up to the house and immediately Tuck and Joey came racing out of the house. They embraced Ben and all walked together into the house.
Once everything was settled and Ben and Miranda were in their room, they showered together and then got in bed. Miranda laid on her stomach and began kissing Ben. He lifted her chin, "I am okay and I will be just fine. We will get through this just fine," Ben said before kissing Miranda back just as passionately as they did in the emergency room. Miranda smiled as she rubbed and laid her head on his chest. They held each other until sleep found them.