Hey, thanks a lot for the great response already, guys! I honestly wasn't expecting it at all. Feel free to leave reviews if you want, but don't feel too pressured ^^ Anyways, onwards!

"What's your name?" Emma asked as soon as she jumped into the passenger side. Kathryn started up the rig and then glanced over, raising a brow. "I mean. I didn't really get a chance to ask. With that hectic scene. And I figured, since we might work together again later, it'd be good to ask."

"Kathryn. And you're Emma, from what I just heard."

"Yep." She nodded slowly and opened the window, just a tad, trying to get rid of some of the smell that was only just hitting her now. She was used to the smell of burning, it was etched into her mind now, but the fact that it had clung so closely to the kid made her heart ache. "Mills is your partner, I'm guessing?"

Kathryn pulled out, staring directly ahead. "Well, no. Aurora's actually my partner." Emma gave her a weird look. "She followed us in another vehicle. Regina used to be my partner. A few years back, when she first came here. And then she got the director position, and I don't think she ever really looked back. I don't know if she really hated being a medic, I know she loved it for a while, but I think she was starting to burn out a little. And with Henry and a few other things going on, well, she didn't really have time for a hectic schedule, you know? So she just settled into that and went on calls when we needed her."

"So you weren't kidding. She went on the off chance that Henry got hurt?"

"She went in case any of those kids got hurt. But yes. I'm sure Henry was a driving factor." Kathryn glanced over at Emma before turning her attention back on the road. "She might not seem it, but she has a soft spot for kids. And she's honestly one of the best medics we have. Definitely one of the most well trained and experienced. I can't say I've had a lot of other partners that are just willing to dive in like she is."

"Huh," Emma muttered, looking out the window to distract herself. The sun was starting to set, and she had little doubt that in the time since she'd left the scene, things were probably dying down at the school. The radio traffic was starting to silence itself, and less and less she heard the familiar words of her colleagues on the radio and instead the traffic from surrounding agencies to dispatch. A comforting thing.

"Sorry you missed most of your fire. James won't be too happy, I'm guessing."

"It was considered an MCI. So. You used your available resources. That's what I'll say." Kathryn smirked.

"If I didn't know any better, I'd say you wanted to be in the back. What, a fire not enough excitement for you?"

Emma shrugged. "I did a lot of things like that back where I was from. I guess it's just a hard habit to break from in such a small town setting. I don't know. It's just weird to me that everyones not cross trained here. That's how we used to do it."

"Where you from?"

"New York."

"Ah. New York Fire. The Harvard for people like us. Why on earth would you leave?"

Emma didn't really hesitate, because she knew what she was going to say and she knew she was going to say it. Still, she paused before saying a word. "Life changed. That's all." She left it at that.

When they pulled in, Emma's guess had been right. Her crew was cleaning up, and she could see James addressing a group of kids and a couple teachers. The kids from the class, at least, were all away from the ambulances and back with an adult, and she hadn't seen anyone else at the hospital. She guessed parents would be taking them there later during the night to get checked out, or else they'd just let it be and thank god that nothing was worse.

Killian saw her and waved her down, so with a short jog she made her way up to him.

"Aye, Swan. Ya disappeared on me." He didn't seem too angry, not even really confused. More amused than anything. "Ya missed all the fun."

"Save any other kids lives?"

"Naw. It was cleared out after that first class. Rest was run of the mill. Chiefs livid, by the way. Wants to know who the hell authorized ya to go."

"I informed him on the radio. That's all I thought we needed," she stated, and Killian grinned before clapping her on the back.

"I thought you were the one that was good at following orders, Swan."

"Yeah, well. Things changed. That kid needed serious help." Killians features darkened only momentarily before he nodded, starting towards the truck as things started to slow down.

"Lad's gonna be alright?"

"I don't…I don't know, honestly. He wasn't doing very good. I've seen kids come from worse, but I've seen them crash a lot harder, too. Damn, Killian, he was just a kid."

"Mills kid, on top of it. I can't imagine any of us will be living in a very good world if anything happens to the lad. Only family's she's got, I hear. And lord knows we don't need any more of a feud between James and her. It just got over with."

"Huh?"

"Oh. Her and Chief are always on each others necks. It's nothing to worry about too much, love, just don't stick your nose in it." Killian glanced at his watch. "You're done, right?"

"Yeah."

"Have to work tonight?"

"Nope. Night off. Thank god. I don't know how many drinks I could mix after today." Killian laughed.

"I imagine you'll turn down my invite to have a few, then?" Emma looked over at her partner, almost suspiciously, but let it go rather quickly. Killian meant well. And it wasn't really his fault that he had a habit of hitting on her and other girls. It was just something he did. And lord knew she needed a drink or two after today…

"Yeah, I don't think I'll be going. Just going to grab something to eat and head home."

"One day, you'll take my invitation, Swan. And you will love every minute of it." He grinned and then parked the vehicle inside the garage before getting out and starting to take off most of his gear. Emma followed suit, dusting off her soot covered hair before doing the same to Killian, grinning as he smoothed it out only moments later. It was hard to stay on a straight and narrow track when Killian was around. She could say she'd moved to change, but the fact was that it was always tempting to hop back onto the bandwagon that had been her life in New York.

"Room's vacant if you want it for the night," Emma called out to him, gesturing up towards the little set of bareks they always wrestled over when night time came. Emma was happy, at least, that many didn't much care for them during the day. A fight was nice, yes, but it certainly wasn't something she was looking for when she was beat down exhausted.

When she got into her car and turned it on, she sat there for a moment. Telling herself it was to let the bug run a bit before she tried her luck on the road, Emma ignored the nagging feeling in the back of her mind that was really keeping her rooted. The feeling that she should really check up on Regina and the little boy, if only to drop in. She'd said, after all, that her and Kathryn would pick her up later, not just Kathryn. Wording be damned. Regina probably didn't care at all if anyone came right now.

What was she thinking? Emma hardly knew this woman, and certainly this woman hardly knew her. Emma glanced at her watch and then looked back up, as though time were really a factor.

She supposed, at the very least, she could stop at the station and see if Kathryn knew anything. Right?

Right. Totally normal. It was part of a recoup process, she told herself. Finding out what happened to your patient was normal.

The drive to the station was a mere three blocks, but it felt more like miles. Seconds felt like hours. The fact was that she was driving to territory she hadn't treaded on in years. Well, she supposed she had already made footprints that had been washed away years ago fresh again.

That made it a bit easier.

The doorbell ringing, however, was awkward and unusual for her. She was used to always having access, always having a code, and now that she didn't she felt suddenly unwelcome. A face appeared in the hallway as she stood awkwardly, waiting for him to let her in before she chickened out and walked away.

"Can I help you?" An unusual accent hit her ears, and she had to pause to try and figure out exactly what it was. When nothing came to mind, she spoke.

"Is Kathryn around?" He looked perplexed, and then shook his head.

"No, they just got a call, actually. She'll probably be back in a couple hours. It's a transfer." He looked at her as though he wondered if she even knew what that meant, and she nodded curtly before starting to back up. "You need a message passed on?"

"Was just wondering if she'd heard how the kid at the fire today was doing. I, uh. I was an extra set of hands today, I guess."

A look of understanding suddenly graced his face. "Henry. You're the one that saved the boys life."

Almost immediately, she felt herself warm, and she shifted uncomfortably. "Well, no. I mean. I got him out. But that's just standard procedure. I didn't really do anything."

"I hear different. But whatever you say. I won't argue. Want to come in for a bit? It's a bit hectic, I'm afraid, we're a bit overstretched today. But we'd welcome company such as yourself into our humble abode."

Emma shook her head rather quickly and was starting to back out instead. "No. Thanks, but I really do have to go. I guess. Nice talking to you? Mister…"

"Grahm. Just call me Grahm. Hey, you're welcome to stop by anytime, alright? You took care of one of our own. We owe you."

"Trust me," she muttered, shaking her head as she turned around. "You don't owe me a thing."

The drive home was a rather long one. She lived out in the country, in a sort of shut in she could call home. She tried to distract herself with the sound of music, but with almost every note she was reminded of the boy. It was comical, really. She'd had a million patients in her lifetime, and this one kid was sticking in mind. She passed the hospital and briefly considered turning in, but continued past. It wouldn't be worth it.

Of course it wouldn't be worth it. The woman, Regina, would think her mad for checking in. And who knew what kind of condition the kid was in. Was he still in surgery? Was he breathing alright? How much was he hurting? How much were the meds taking away any sort of pain?

Fuck.

A quarter of a mile out, she had pulled off to the side of the road and started a U turn back into town.

She was crazy. Regina was going to think she was absolutely nuts.

Emma didn't know if she disagreed.