Disclaimer: I don't own this show or any of its characters
It was late, they had just gotten back from a call. Everyone, except for Hen and Chimney who were stuck with doing inventar on the ambulance, had gone to bed. Chimney and Hen were talking while doing the inventar and refilling everything they needed.
"Okay so how is everything with you and Tatianna, any small Chimney's being built" Hen asked in her most casual and teasing tone, giving Chimney a wink.
"Henrietta" Chimney pretended to look choked and embarrassed for a moment.
"You did not just call me Henrietta" Hen said while tossing a blanket in Chimney's face and pretending to look offended and horrified.
"Sorry Hen, but you didn't just ask me about my doings with my girlfriend in the bedroom" Chimney said, tossing the blanket back in Hens face and going in on the whole pretending to look offended and horrified.
"Touche, how about we call it a tie?" Hen ask laughing.
"Fine by me" Chimney answered, laughing as well. "So what's the story about the whole name thing?" he asked.
"I show you mine if you show me yours", Hen said teasingly. Chimney pretended to gasp and look blushed´but didn't say anything. "Okay, guess I can tell you, but I expect to hear your story afterwards" she said and gave him a look that was teasing yet still stern. "Okay. So I don't fancy the name Henrietta all that much, never did feel like a name that fit me, but what could I do it was my name afterall", Hen sighted, "I used to lash out at the other kids in school a lot because they teased me with disliking my name; The teacher used to say I was feisty as a hen, which the kids took in and started calling me. At some point I started to take pride in that fact, and the teasing, and me lashing out, stopped, though the name stuck and I just started going by Hen after that" Hen finished her telling.
"Wauw, I would have never guessed", Chimney said astonished, making his eyes widen; "Someone brave enough to bully Henrietta Wilson".
"Yes, well what can I say, kids don't always know what's best for them", Hen laughed, "and don't ever think to mention this to anyone" she said, pointing her finger at him in a threatening yet teasing manner.
"Oh believe me, I know what's best for me", Chimney said while laughing, arms raised in surrender.
"Good", Hen said, joining in on Chimney's laughing. "Now your turn, why Chimney?" she asked, curious. Chimney started to get fidgety and nervous, they hadn't known each other for long, only started driving together on the ambulance a little over a month ago, he sighted;
"Okay so here is the thing, it ain't exactly a happy story or anything, and I don't talk much about it, even the guys here at the station don't know why I decided to go by Chimney, so I would appreciate it if this stays between the two of us as well" Chimney said in a serious yet fragile tone, which Hen picked up on immediately.
"Of course, you don't have to if you don't like, I was only teasing you before about telling if I told" she said, getting serious as well and trying to show her partner that she was there for him either way.
"So a while back, when I was still a rookie here, we went out on a call. It was one of the first calls where I was actually allowed outside the station, even though I had been here for several month at the time", Chimney started getting more fidgety, none of them refilling the ambo anymore; "It was a huge fire in an apartment complex, and I was tasked with doing the venting of the roof", Chimney's eyes was tearing up and Hen went to console him. They were both seated at the back of the ambulance, Hen having a comforting arm around Chimney whose eyes were teary and focused on some memory she had no idea of, maybe this hadn't been such a good idea after all. Chimney continued: "Several crews had been sent, do to how large the fire was, one of which was my brothers", Chimney stopped and looked at Hen, he could see how her eyes was watering as well, like she knew where this story was headed, but she didn't say anything just held him a little tighter; "Well he was sent to the roof as well to help with the ventilation. A pregnant woman came to the roof, confused and in a panic, Kevin…", he had to pause, pressing back the tears before continuing: "My brother Kevin ran to her, noticing the roof that was about to collapse under her and not thinking about his own safety, he pushed her out of the way just as the roof gave in and he fell", Chimney was crying now and tears were falling down Hen's cheeks as well.
"He died saving her", it was a statement not a question, but Chimney answered anyway:
"Yeah. He died a hero". A moment of silence filled the station.
"Is he the reason you call yourself Chimney?" Hen asked, straightening up and drying the tears away with the back of her hand.
"Yeah, in memory of my fallen brother, you know because we're creating small chimneys when we vent the roof of a fire, and that's how he died" Chimney answered, "so in memory of him, and others who have fallen like him, I decided to go by Chimney". They were both quiet for a long time before Hen once again broke the silence;
"I didn't even knew you've had a brother; Don't think I have ever heard you talk about your family" she said thoughtful, yet now held an even deeper respect for the man who had watched his brother die in front of his, maybe not so strange he never spoke of his family, she just, rightfully it seemed, assumed they were dead and that that was the reason for him never speaking of them, but she never imagined anything like this.
"Yeah, guess that's another not so happy story that I might share another day" he said, sending her a sad smile.
"Maybe, I'm just honored you trusted me enough to share this" she said toughed, then very serious and with a smile: "And I think it's definitely a fitting way of honoring a fallen brother, your secret being safe with me", then looking thoughtful for a moment before making a smirking face: "well at least until you die, because I am definitely making sure you get a tombstone shaped like a chimney, and with the text 'Chimney, in memory of two fallen brothers' and let people think about that", she laughed and Chimney couldn't help but laugh to; The mood had definitely returned to the cheery one it had been 15 minutes earlier; "Now what do you say we get done here and join the others for some sleep before the next call comes in?" she asked jokingly.
"Deal" Chimney asked and then returned to refilling the ambo and making jokes. 30 minutes later they were both lying next to each other in their cots, ready for some sleep, when the alarm went on. They looked at each and smiled: "Well so much for sleeping I suppose" Chimney laughed while getting up and hurrying to get the gear on and get into the front of the ambo.
"Guess it's the burden we wear for working in such an amazing place" Hen answered following him.