Title: Part of the Job
Author: SneetchesToo
Pairing: n/a
Rating: General
Summary: Day 3: "I'm still here." + sad
Author's Note: #911DispatchersWeek2020. It's not really sad, sad, but it is kinda angsty. Anyway, Lachlan is a character I've used before (along with his twin sister Olivia) so here he is. Also, if we don't get some actual Grace and Carlos interaction next season I might lose it.

Grace was used to getting calls that made her heart hurt.

She was used to feeling every emotion in the book while talking to the voice on the other end of the line.

It wasn't anything new.

It was part of the job.

But this, this was different.

Not only did she know the voice on the other end of the line.

But that voice belonged to family.

And that made it even harder.

"It's okay Carlos, I'm still here." She took a deep breath as she waited for the man to reply. "The ambulance is only two minutes out, just stay calm."

"Stay calm! Stay calm! I can't stay calm." That much was evident right now but she didn't know what else to say. "What do I do Grace?"

"Just stay with him honey, just talk to him." She closed her eyes as she said a prayer.

"He's so scared." She could only imagine.

Lachlan was only four.

She couldn't imagine that falling like he had and more than likely breaking at least a bone or two wasn't scary.

"I know. Just keep him still, you don't know if he has a head or back injury." She knew that Carlos already knew this.

But as a new mother, she finally understood what people meant when they said 'mom brain' was a thing, or in this case, 'dad brain'.

Right now Carlos wasn't a cop.

He wasn't a proud and decorated and hard working man.

No, right now he was a scared father.

"I hear the sirens." He whispered. "They're here."

"Good. It should be Michelle, she'll know where to go." She could hear voices in the background and the sound of Michelle's voice allowed her the peace she needed to let out a breath. "Do you want me to stay on the phone with you?"

She heard Carlos mutter something to the paramedics and then he was coming back on the line.

"No. I'm good." He sounded a little bit calmer this time and she let out a sigh. "Thank you so much Grace, you're a life saver."

"Just doing my job." It was what she was trained to do and it's the only thing she knew how to do.

But she wouldn't trade it for anything in the world.

"I'll text you with an update later." She nodded her head even though she knew he couldn't see her.

"You better." She smiled as she heard Lachlan's little voice call out a 'thank you' of his own. "Go take care of that boy of yours."

"I will. Thanks again Grace." And then the line went dead.

It was never an easy job to have, but it was definitely a rewarding one.