First Responders

5

A/N: NSFW right from the start!


"Think she did this on purpose?" Kara gasped as she tugged Alex's shirt out of her pants and off over her head, then went back for more kisses.

Alex reached blindly behind her and turned the shower on, biting down sensually on Kara's bottom lip and tugging. "Mmm… dunno… but if she did, I need to get her a damn thank you gift." She went for the fly of the blonde's jeans and then shoved them down her legs. Kara stepped out of them and then shoved Alex against the glass shower door, mouth on her sports-bra-covered breasts.

"This is happening," Kara stated. "Even if Eliza comes back."

Alex moaned as her lover tugged her bra off and then slid her sweatpants and underwear off. Once her girlfriend was naked too, she opened the shower door to drag her inside and under the hot spray.

They tried at first to take things slowly but after a few moments, Kara growled and threw caution to the wind. "Fuck it, I want you too much," she said and got on her knees to lift one of Alex's legs over her shoulder and dive between her thighs.

"Oh God, Kara," the brunette cried out as her lover's strong hands reached up to cover her breasts and pinch and roll her nipples in time with her suckling mouth. She leaned back against the wall, one hand in Kara's hair and one sliding uselessly against the tile as her hips bucked of their own accord into the blonde's mouth. "Right there," she gasped, trying to ignore her ribs' tenderness. "Oh God… right there." Her legs were trembling, and she whimpered as the first waves began to tickle and then rise and crest and she cried out loudly as they crashed over her and kept coming until she almost couldn't stand it anymore.

Then her knees weakened, and she was sagging into Kara's arms, the taller woman straightening to hold her close and drop little kisses on her face. "I've got you," the blonde whispered. "I've got you, Honey."

After another couple of moments, Alex turned them both to press Kara against the wall and look into her eyes. "That was amazing," she murmured. "But it's my turn now." She eased her thigh between the blonde's and rocked into her. "You are the most beautiful woman I've ever seen," she said. Her hand cupped a perfect breast and palmed it gently, catching the nipple between her fingers and loving the gasp of pleasure that came from her taller lover. "I want to be inside you." She squeezed the breast again and licked at Kara's lips playfully as she let the fingertips of her other hand trail down her abs and into the neatly trimmed down at the apex of her thighs.

Kara swallowed and nodded. "I want you inside me," she whispered right into the brunette's ear as she suckled the lobe.

Alex eased her thigh back and replaced it with her hand, starting with very slow, teasing strokes of her fingertips on the outer edges of Kara's folds. The water ran over her fingers and stimulated the blonde even more and she smiled as she felt Kara open to her teasing digits. Apart from the water, Alex could feel how wet her lover was, and she pushed gently between the folds, closing her eyes and moaning softly at the warmth she found.

Kara's hand was on her elbow then and her hips slowly inched forward, seeking more contact. "Inside," she asked. "I need you inside me right now." Then she rested her chin on Alex's shoulder and exhaled sharply as gentle fingertips caressed her clit for a moment before easing back further and then pushing inside her. Alex dragged her fingertips back and then pushed in again, loving the way Kara's arms tightened around her.

"Kiss me," Alex whispered, and Kara nodded, locking their lips together as she slowly thrust her hips to meet her lover's fingers.

The brunette sucked gently on Kara's tongue, squeezing her nipple and running her thumb over her clit all in the same rhythm and the taller woman's breathing hitched as she hit a new level of arousal. She could already feel the beginning of her orgasm. It built slowly, so slowly it almost drove her crazy and her hips jerked harder as she chased it. "Alex," she whimpered.

The hot water cascaded down on them, as Alex smiled. "Look at me, Kara," she said softly. Blue eyes opened and Alex's smile broadened as droplets shimmered on blonde eyelashes. "So beautiful," she whispered. She added a third finger and twisted them inside her lover.

Kara cried out, hips stuttering as she came with eyes locked on her lover's until she couldn't keep them open anymore. They squeezed shut as she buried her face in Alex's neck, curling into her as her body convulsed. "Alex," she whimpered again.

The brunette eased back and wrapped her arms tightly around her taller lover, holding her close. "That was incredible," she murmured. "You're so amazing, Kara."

"Mmmm…" the younger woman replied with a smile against Alex's skin. "Felt incredible too."

They stayed like that for a while and, just when Alex felt like she might doze off, something came into her mind.

"Shit, your burns," she said. "Sweetheart, you shouldn't have gotten your hand wet."

The lieutenant chuckled softly as she eased back to look at it. "Totally worth it." She winced a little then. "Although it kinda hurts. I should probably finish showering and get it redressed."

"Let me help," Alex said as she took her shampoo off the shelf and squeezed some into her hand.

"Thanks," Kara agreed, and ducked a little to let her lover wash her blonde locks as she grabbed some shower gel and washed her own body. Then she washed Alex, grinning a little as she lingered over the older woman's breasts.

"Methinks you're a boob lover," the brunette teased as she finished rinsing Kara's hair and then lathered her own.

"Definitely," the blonde replied happily as she dropped little kisses on them. "And yours are perfect."

"So are yours," Alex added. "Your body's gorgeous, Kara." She finished rinsing out her own hair and then smiled. "Let's get that hand looked at. My kit is in the kitchen."

They got out of the shower, dried off and dressed before heading to the kitchen to find Eliza there, reading on her iPad.

"Uh… hi, Mom," Alex said. "When did you get back?"

"Oh… just a little while ago," the older blonde replied, not looking up. "It sounded like you were enjoying your shower, so I just came in here to read."

The two firefighters looked at each other and Alex's face turned pink. "Kara, um… sit down and I'll redress your hand."

Eliza looked up then in concern. "Are you hurt, Honey?" she asked as the blonde lieutenant sat down and rested her hand on the table.

"Just a minor burn," Kara replied. She retold the story about the dog and her glove and the collapsing staircase, noting once more how quiet Alex got. The brunette seemed to be just staring into space, so Kara got up and went to her, putting her hands on her shoulders. "I'm really ok," she said gently.

"I know," Alex replied, going back to finding what she needed in her medical kit. She took a deep breath and then smiled. "Go on, sit down."

With a nod and a smile of her own, the blonde sat back down and then stayed still as Alex sat next to her and slowly peeled the damp gauze back from the wound. Kara initially hissed with pain but was quiet then as Alex gently patted it dry and spread some antiseptic burn cream over it. The anesthetic in the cream immediately began to soothe the sharpness of the pain and Kara let out a breath in relief as her lover covered it again with dry gauze. "Thanks," she said sincerely.

Alex just looked at her for a long moment. "Is this what loving you is always going to feel like, Kara Zorel," she asked quietly. "Fear, worry and the greatest joy of my life?"

Eliza's eyes moved briefly to Kara's face and her lips turned up a little as she went back to her iPad.

Kara scooted her chair a little closer to her girlfriend so she could take her hands and hold them. "Sounds like it's the same for both of us, so… I guess it's something we'll both just have to deal with together," she smiled.

Simple as that.

They just gazed at each other for a long moment and Eliza snorted. "I've heard you having sex. I'm pretty sure I can deal with a little making out."

And the firefighters chuckled softly as their lips met for a lingering kiss. Then Alex drew back and took a breath. "Honey, where're those painkillers the doc gave me for my ribs?"

"I put them in the medicine cabinet in your bathroom. I'll get them for you," Kara replied. Then she shook her head. "Maybe we shouldn't have…" She trailed off as she remembered Eliza was in the room. "I'm sorry."

But Alex just grinned. "I'M not."

Eliza snorted and shook her head. "I think it's time for dinner."

"Oh… we've got plans," Kara said. "Get your stuff. We're going out!"

Xx

Lieutenant Danvers, Captain Jones and the union rep, George Crighton were sitting on one side of a long conference table in Station One-Two-Eight's meeting room. The NCFD investigator, Paul Williams was sitting opposite them, his notebooks and reports spread out in front of him.

"We just don't have any evidence that there was anyone else there except for Lieutenant Zorel," Williams said.

Alex folded her arms and leaned back in her chair. "My aching ribs and still-healing concussion indicate the contrary."

Jonn frowned and shook his head. "Why are you so unwilling to accept what Lieutenant Danvers said happened. You spoke to the man Lieutenant Zorel carried out of the fire and..."

Williams held up a hand and shrugged. "He said he was alone. He said it was him who was messing with the gas main valve... but there's no way he could have pushed Lieutenant Danvers."

"Bullshit," Alex muttered. She leaned forward on the table, glaring at the investigator. "You know he's just covering his buddy's ass!"

"Be that as it may, Lieutenant, I still don't have any evidence to the contrary. You could have fallen. No one witnessed it. Or you could have jumped. Which leads me to my next point. I want you to take a psych eval, Danvers. I..."

"Now wait just one goddamn minute," Crighton interjected with a chop of his hand. "There are no grounds for that."

"Command thinks there is. Lieutenant Danvers lost almost her entire team. How are we to know that it hasn't affected her adversely?"

"Of COURSE it affected me adversely!" Alex exclaimed. "I'm devastated! But that doesn't mean I hurled myself off a building!"

"There's no need to get hysterical, Lieutenant Danvers," the investigator said with an eyeroll.

The brunette blinked. "I'm sorry... what?"

"If you could just calm down..." Williams shook his head.

Alex's face darkened and she leaned forward again, carefully placing her fingertips on the tabletop and looking into the investigator's eyes. "One more sexist comment like those and I'm going to file a complaint against you. I'm a decorated firefighter and I don't appreciate your insinuation that I'm a hysterical little woman. Do you understand?"

Williams swallowed and looked at Captain Jones, whose face was stony. "Can't you control her?"

Alex growled and Jonn got up then, towering over the investigator as he held his lieutenant back, from lunging across the table. "We're done here."

"Captain..." Alex protested.

The big man tilted his head and gave her a look. "We're done here, Lieutenant."

"But..." the investigator began.

"Do you want me to let her go?"

Williams swallowed.

"Let's go, Danvers. Thanks, Crighton, we'll be in touch." Jonn led his lieutenant out of the room and when they were out of earshot of everyone, he took her aside. "Something's going on here. I've never seen an investigation stonewalled like this before and I don't think anything you say to Williams is going to prompt a favorable outcome."

Alex nodded. "Mmmm... what do you think it is?"

The captain frowned. "I don't know but I'm going to try to find out." He squeezed the lieutenant's shoulder. "Hang in there, Alex."

Williams stepped out of the conference room then and strolled to them to slap a piece of paper into Alex's chest. "Mandatory counseling, Lieutenant. That's an order."

The brunette just nodded as she closed her fingers around the page. "Yes, Sir," she replied sweetly but, as the investigator walked away, she flipped him off. "Whatever."

Jonn chuckled. "In fairness, Alex, is it any harm? You've been through a lot."

The lieutenant shrugged. "I think it's a good idea actually," she replied. "I just didn't want it to come from him."

"Let me guess, Kara already suggested it?"

"No... but I know she'll support it. She... worries." Alex sighed. "It's... all this... it's a lot and I've been a bit insecure."

The captain grasped her shoulder and squeezed gently. "She cares."

"Yeah." A little grin lifted the lieutenant's lips. "She does."

ENGINE ONE-TWENTY-EIGHT, AID CAR ONE-TWENTY-EIGHT. FOREST FIRE AT GPS COORDINATES.

"Shit," Jonn muttered. "Come on. I'm moving you to light duty which means no heavy lifting, ok?"

Alex's grin broadened. "Yes, Sir!"

The firefighters all got into their gear and, as Alex climbed into the engine and offered her girlfriend a frowny face, Kara looked at her with raised eyebrows. "That bad, huh?"

"Worse," the brunette replied. "I'll tell you later."

The drive to the scene took fifteen minutes and, as the team piled out of the big vehicle and looked around, Kara frowned. "Am I blind or is there no fire?"

Schott shook his head. "You're sure the coordinates are right?"

The blonde lieutenant shrugged and keyed her radio. "Dispatch, Lieutenant Zorel, one-two-eight. Can we get a confirmation on those coordinates please? We're not seeing any fire." The dispatcher read the coordinates back and Kara followed along with the dispatch notice she'd brought with her. "Thanks, Dispatch." She looked at her team. "They're right."

"Fuck!" Lane exclaimed, throwing up her hands. "Are you kidding me?"

Just then, a shockingly loud gunshot echoed out and a chuck of tree trunk shattered next to Alex's head. "What the...?!"

The whole team dove onto the ground and then scrambled for cover. "Alex, are you ok?" Kara said as they crouched behind trees near to each other.

"I'm beginning to get a complex," the brunette replied shakily. "I'm starting to think that someone wants to get rid of me."

Kara's face fell and she just gazed at her lover. "Alex... what if..."

"I'm being targeted?" the older lieutenant said, swallowing hard. "Yeah, the thought did cross my mind."

Another gunshot echoed and Alex ducked again. "I can't tell where it's coming from."

"Everyone stay down! I'm calling for help!" Kara yelled. Then she keyed her mic. "Dispatch, Zorel, we're under fire at the GPS coordinates provided. I repeat, we are taking gunfire. We need police backup."

"Dispatch, acknowledged. NCPD is being dispatched to your location."

Another gunshot sounded and Brainy clapped a hand against his cheek as a small shard of wood cut him.

The lieutenants exchanged a look. "It's going to be at least fifteen minutes before the cops get here," the blonde said.

Alex nodded. "See that cabin over there? I'm going to run for it and try to draw fire. If it's me the shooter is after, it'll take his attention away from everyone else. Get them to safety."

"No... no way!" Kara said, shaking her head. "Do you seriously think I'd let you risk... ALEX!"

The brunette was gone, sprinting in a zigzag from tree to tree. A series of gunshots sounded, and tree trunks shredded around her, but she made it to the cabin and ducked around the side of it. "Good thing he's a terrible shot," she muttered to herself. "Or... she?" she added thoughtfully, remembering an ex-girlfriend or two that could explain this recent turn of events.

Then she jumped when her phone vibrated, and she answered it immediately. "I'm sorry, Baby. I knew you wouldn't let me do it and I didn't have time to argue with you," she said calmly. "I love you and I couldn't let you or the team get hurt."

There was silence for a long moment and then Kara cleared her throat as muffled AWWWWWWWs came down the phone line. "You're on speaker, Lieutenant. We all made it to the engine, and we're hunkered down inside."

"Oh... um... good. That's good." Alex grinned then as she heard a series of thank yous in the background. "Anyone get a look at the shooter?"

Lane, who was an army veteran, leaned closer to the phone. "I saw muzzle flash to the north. Stay where you are, Alex. You should be safe. And... what the fuck?!"

The brunette lieutenant sighed. "I have no clue... but being pushed off a building and shot at in the same couple of weeks, seems a bit much to be a coincidence."

Kara took a moment to chance a look out the window. There were no more gunshots, and she couldn't see anyone. "I wonder if the shooter left," she said quietly.

Alex chanced a look around the corner of the cabin. "I don't see anyone."

"Let's just wait for the cops," Kara said, then paused as her radio lit up.

"Lieutenant Zorel, dispatch, come in."

"Zorel, go ahead."

"Lieutenant, there are two local sheriff's units on their way to you. ETA three minutes."

"Good news, thank you, dispatch." Kara breathed a sigh of relief. "Hang in there, Alex."

"So," Vasquez said casually. "Let's talk about the elephant in the room. Alex, Kara... let's keep the mushy shit to a minimum," she teased.

"Hey!" Alex exclaimed. "I didn't know she had me on speaker."

"I can see your blush from all the way over here," the Latina deadpanned.

"Shut up," Alex muttered, making her girlfriend laugh softly.

"My fault," Kara said. "I didn't think."

"It's ok," the brunette lieutenant replied. "You can make it up to me later."

"What did I say about mushy shit?!" Vas interjected.

Just then, the sound of sirens wailing floated to them. "Sheriffs are here. Alex, we'll come get you as soon as it's clear."

"Ten-four," Alex replied. She hung up and shoved her phone back in her pocket, then chanced another look around the corner. The deputies eased out of their cars with weapons drawn, staying low as they crept across the pine-needle-carpeted ground to the engine.

The forest was silent aside from the chirping of birds and droning of insects and there were no further gunshots. One of the deputies banged on the door of the engine and it opened to reveal Lane's face, looking carefully around. She hopped out of the vehicle, followed by the other firefighters and Alex saw Kara exchange a few words with one of the deputies before turning and jogging toward her. A moment later, the blonde lieutenant was stopping in front of her.

"So, lets agree on something. Calculated risks are ok, not reckless ones," she said.

Alex shuffled awkwardly from foot to foot. "And what would you call this one?"

"Terrifying," Kara replied as she pulled them back behind the cabin and kissed Alex gently. "But calculated."

"So... you're not mad?" the older woman asked tentatively.

"I'm not mad," Kara sighed. "I would have done the same thing."

Alex grinned brightly. "I know."

They headed back to the engine where the other firefighters hi-fived and hugged Alex.

"You're an idiot," Johnson said with a little laugh. "But thanks for saving our skins, Alex."

"You're welcome," the brunette lieutenant replied.

"Excuse me, Ma'am?" A deputy interrupted.

"Lieutenant Alex Danvers," Alex said as she offered her hand. He shook it and then pulled out a notebook.

"Deputy Alan Craft. Lieutenant Zorel suggested that you might have been the shooter's target." Alex nodded silently. "We haven't been able to find anyone but we're getting the ballistics team in to see if we can determine bullet trajectory. If we can figure out where the shooter was stationed, we'll hopefully be able to figure out who it was." Alex nodded again. "In the meantime, I think you should take precautions. Wear a vest when you're on the job."

"Understood," the lieutenant replied.

"Do you have any ideas about who might want to harm you?" Craft adjusted his hat a little to shade his eyes from the sun.

"No, not at all," Alex said, shaking her head. "I'm pretty low-key."

"Anything I need to know about your personal life, Ma'am?"

"Like what?" the lieutenant wondered.

"Intimate partner violence, bad breakups, addictions, gambling... anything that might suggest a revenge motive?"

"Nothing like that," Alex confirmed.

"And are you in a relationship now? Or do you have someone to be with you so you're not alone?"

"Yeah, I'm in a relationship. I'm not alone."

The man nodded and scribbled in his notebook. "Thank you, Lieutenant Danvers. We'll get back to you with more questions. Lieutenant Zorel, a word please."

Kara squeezed Alex's shoulder and followed the deputy a slight distance away. "What is it, Deputy?"

"I'm concerned, Lieutenant," the man said quietly. "Attacks on firefighters aren't common but when they've happened, it's been because of things that've happened on the job. I recommend that you take extra precautions. I don't think it would be any harm to have the whole team wear vests for the next while."

"I was thinking that myself," Kara agreed.

"In the meantime, Lieutenant Danvers' boyfriend should also take precautions."

"Uh... actually..." Kara smiled a little. "I'm her girlfriend so that's pretty well covered."

"Apologies for assuming," Deputy Craft replied. He took out his notebook and made that note, then flipped it shut. "I'll be in touch as soon as we have any more information. In the meantime, take care of yourselves." He handed his card over. "And let me know if you or Lieutenant Danvers think of anyone who might want to hurt her."

Kara tucked the small cardboard rectangle into her pocket. "Will do. Thanks, Deputy."

Craft gave her a little salute and then headed back to talk to his colleagues as Kara returned to her team. "Let's get back to the station," she said. "There's nothing more to do here."

They all piled back into the engine as Vas and Johnson went back to the aid car.

"What a clusterfuck," Johnson said, shaking his head. "What the hell is going on, Vas?"

"Hell if I know," she shrugged in reply.