Elvis groans in dismay at the news.
"See you later, Elvis. It looks like you'll have to catch me later, eh?" The red head says with an attempt at a smile, before Sam, Penny and Trevor dash off to deal with the fire, leaving Elvis and Station Officer Steele on their own in the station.
Elvis lets out a strangled whimper as he sinks to his knees, as though his shoulders have a burden heavier than his heart, as Jupiter's sirens screech into the distance, announcing its urgency. He was so, so close to telling Sam how he felt! And now, that chance had been ripped away from him!
"Right, Fireman Cridlington- I think you better be at home, resting." Station Officer Steele decides suddenly, entering the garage. "I'll take you home in Venus." He adds, whilst pulling out a set of the fire tender's keys in his pocket.
"Thank you, sir." Elvis replies dully, though why does it matter now? He knows that Sam will be back, of course, but he knows when he does come back, Elvis would have lost his courage and would consign himself to heartbreak and pain for as long as he and Sam were in each other's presence.
Station Officer Steele awkwardly helps his youngest fireman in Venus, as he still finds it difficult to manoeuvre around, and once the two are buckled in, they drive out of the station in silence.
...
The black haired man is quiet all the way to his home, as he cannot bear to think of speaking, and thankfully, his boss doesn't push it for conversation, either, only making a gruff remark here and there about something happening in the streets- the most notable one being about town rascal Norman Price.
As he stares out of the window, he sees 3 Vale Road- Sam's house. He feels tears pricking at his eyes as he reflects on how he would pick his friend up every morning in Jupiter. Elvis is usually the one to turn up at the fire station early along with Station Officer Steele, in order to check things over, like kitchen supplies and potentially give Jupiter a test run every day whilst giving one of his friends a lift to work at the same time- that way; Elvis was the first to know if Jupiter wasn't herself.
A lone tear escapes his eyes, and trickles down his face. He will forever be resigned to unspoken and painful love. Why did it have to end like this?
...
A/N: Elvis' morning routine came from the opening theme of seasons 1-4. I just filled in the blanks. Would Elvis ever be able to find the courage to tell Sam how he feels?