Josh sat across from Maddie in the break room. He had a cup of coffee on the table in front of him, his hands wrapped around the mug. Maddie had a cup of tea on front of her but her hands were gripped together in her lap as she stared straight ahead and the wall. Tears welled up in her eyes and ran down her cheeks. Her breathing was shallow and Josh could tell she was trying to keep herself calm. It had only been twenty minutes since they had gotten the call.
Linda had been the one to answer the call from the 118 that announced shots fired at their station and that one of the firefighters was injured. She had called over Josh because she was unable to find Sue. As soon as they had gotten confirmed of the injured firefighter Josh had looked at Maddie. He was going to have to be the one to tell his best friend that her brother had been hurt; shot in the safety of his own fire house.
He had waited until he was able to tell Sue; who then told him to take Maddie into the break room and tell her away from prying eyes and open ears. Maddie had been confused why he had asked her to take a break with him but she had followed him into the room anyway. He sat her down and then silently made her tea and his coffee before sitting down next to her. Once that was done he had no other reason to delay the conversation. He had picked up her hand and held it between both of his as he told her what they knew so far as to what had happened.
Maddie hadn't said a word since.
Sue had came in to check on the other woman and inform them that an officer was on his way to escort Maddie to the hospital. Josh had been ready to offer to drive her himself. He didn't know Maddie's brother all that well but he knew just how close the siblings were. They cared deeply for each other - watching everything that had happened to both of them in the last year was proof enough. They also never seemed to get a break when it came to tragedy; especially Buck. Josh just prayed that he made it through yet another thing that could kill him and take him away from the people that loved him most.
Josh looked up as Sue opened the door to the break room again; this time followed by a police officer.
"Maddie." Sue stepped up to the table and placed her hand on the other woman's shoulder. "Officer Cameron is here to take you to the hospital."
Maddie sniffed and looked up at Josh, then at Sue and the officer. Without a word she nodded and stood. Josh followed them to the lockers so Maddie could collect her purse; and then out of the elevator. The whole floor watched as Maddie and Officer Cameron got onto the elevator and left. Josh took a moment to compose himself before turning and heading back to work; Sue following suit minutes later. Five minutes later Josh quickly sent a text to Maddie to tell her he was praying for Buck and to keep him updated when she could.
He never received a text back but he was okay with that.
The drive to the hospital was made in silence as Maddie watched out the passenger window. She clutched her purse in her hands and silently let the tears roll down her cheeks. She couldn't believe for the fourth time in less then a year she was going to the hospital because her brother was hurt. She thought that pain was over. He had survived his leg being crushed; had survived blood clots and a pulmonary embolism; he survived a freaking tsunami for crying out loud. He was okay now; sure still on blood thinners as a precaution...
Maddie's breath hitched.
Her brother was on blood thinners and he had been shot!
Officer Cameron was smart to pull up to the E.R. doors. Before he even had the car in park Maddie was out of the car and rushing into the building. Not even worrying about the desk and receptionist; Maddie turned towards the waiting room right there. She instantly spotted Chimney and Hen sitting together. She slowed and made her way over to them; hugging her purse to her chest. As she got closer she could see the blood covering their clothes; it was a lot; too much really. Thankfully their skin was clean; clearly they had gone into the bathrooms to clean up the best they could.
"Maddie." Chimney sighed as he saw her, standing up.
He went to step forward and give his girlfriend a hug but stopped when he remembered he was still covered in blood; her brother's blood. He froze with his arms up for a second before dropping them back down to his sides. Maddie stopped in front of him and tried to give him a smile but it fell flat as more tears filled her eyes. Eyes that were roaming over Chimney's blood covered clothes; over Hen's blood covered clothes.
"It's bad." Maddie whispered; she wasn't even asking; she just knew.
Chimney swallowed and nodded. "We lost him twice. Once at the station just after and the second..." He paused not sure he should even be saying this; but seeing the determined look in Maddie's eyes he continued. "...His heart stopped just as we got here."
Maddie's face scrunched up in fear.
Hen quickly jumped in. "We would have heard by now if they hadn't gotten him back."
"Exactly." Chimney nodded quickly; looking between the two women.
"Why don't we sit down." Hen motioned towards the chairs but stopped when she noticed Maddie's attention had turned to the third person in the waiting room.
Eddie was sat away from them; on the floor with his back against the wall. He was off to the side; his knees up to his chest and his hands tucked between his legs and chest; staring at the floor ahead of him. Maddie tilted her head as she looked back at Chimney and Hen in question.
"When Buck coded as we got him here he just shut down." Hen sad softly; nodding towards the other man. "As soon as they had taken him back Eddie slid down the wall and hasn't moved. We couldn't even get him up to clean himself off."
Maddie swallowed harshly before holding out her purse to Chimney; who instantly took it without hesitation. The two firefighter paramedics watched as Maddie walked over to Eddie and crouched down in front of him. They watched as she placed her hands on his knees; only hesitating a second as his pant legs were coated in slowly drying blood. They couldn't hear what the brunette was saying but they sighed in relief as Eddie seemed to be responding to her; his red rimmed eyes focusing on the woman in front of him.
"Hen, Chim."
The two turned together as they heard their names being called. Bobby and Athena had arrived... along with what seemed to be the rest of their crew from the 118. Karen was among them and carrying Denny in her arms. Hen's eyes welled up instantly at the sight of her wife and son. She hadn't wanted to leave Denny at the station but Buck had needed her too and Athena had assured her she would look after Denny until Karen had returned. Karen for her part had spent hours at one hospital only now to be in another one for a completely different reason and person.
Karen stepped up to her wife and took her hand in her free one not holding their son and squeezed. "Any word?"
Hen shook her head and swallowed. "He coded as we got here but no news is good news right?"
"It is." Athena nodded as the group started settling into chairs.
Bobby was watching the interaction between Eddie and Maddie away from the rest of them. Chimney quickly got them up to speed as they all settled down; but then Chimney and Hen were standing back up as Bobby handed over their work bags so they could change. They were officially offline for the next 24-hours; maybe more depending on the investigation. Hen headed for the woman's bathroom to change while Chimney headed for the men's. Bobby had another work bag in hand and stepped up next to the two people sitting on the floor.
Maddie looked up at him with a tearful smile.
"He's going to make it." Bobby whispered to her.
She nodded and then turned her attention back to Eddie after eyeing the bag in the captain's hand. She said something before standing and slowly helping Eddie to his feet; but then he didn't move. Bobby took over from there and carefully; like he was trying not to spoke a wounded animal; gripped Eddie's elbow in his hand and steered him towards the bathroom while Maddie made her way over to the group and sat down next to Athena to ask her some questions. She needed to know who shot her brother and why.
