Disclaimer: I own nothing, except my own creations.

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Sitting outside the lawyers' office, Heidi can't help but feel like she is waiting to see the principal. With the Rescue station being sued, today was her appointment to meet with the lawyer assigned to their case.

It had been a fairly stressful fortnight. She'd been relatively busy at work – which helped her avoid thinking about the case – and when she went home she was so tired these days that she didn't do much else but shower, eat and roll in to bed – and not always in that order either. But the suing was always right at the forefront of her mind.

Her back was killing her, and seated in the cushioned chairs that were scattered around the foyer, she struggled to find a position that was comfortable. She missed the days when she could cross her legs over her knee and as unladylike as it may look, the only position that was even remotely comfortable these days was when she slid down the chair just a little and spread her legs.

Somehow she felt that this wouldn't be appropriate behaviour in the lawyers' office, and the receptionist most likely would not approve. And odds are she'd need some assistance with getting upright once again, so she'd have to content herself with shifting in her chair every few seconds – an action that was already drawing looks from the receptionist.

Thankfully, she was put out of her misery when the phone rang and the receptionist nodded in her direction. 'Ms Coulson will see you now.'

She kind of slid and stood up from her chair as the door opened and she faced the new arrival. 'Hi, I'm Edie Coulson,' said the black haired woman before her. 'I'll be representing you.'

'Heidi Wilson,' she responded, shaking the proferred hand.

'Right this way.'

She had no time to worry about back pains or anything else pregnancy-related as she took a seat before the imposing woman. 'I need to tell you everything that happened that day. Don't leave anything out, and everything you can remember is important.'

Telling what she remembered, Heidi was surprised when she finished quickly. The lawyer hadn't said a word throughout it all, scribbling notes at a furious pace on her notepad, and as she finished her last sentence, she kind of trailed off, unsure if what she had just revealed was sufficient.

Ms Coulson lifted her head with a smile and thanked her for sharing, clarified a few issues, and then got to the point. 'The other party is looking to take you to trial unless we can come to some sort of suitable arrangement.'

'But I did nothing wrong,' protested Heidi as the lawyer opposite her nodded her head.

'Unfortunately that's not the issue here,' she explained. 'The issue is was the job done properly? You performed the rescue without permission and abseiled down without the appropriate equipment.'

'But I saved that woman's life,' Heidi cried. 'Surely that means something.'

'I know you did,' soothed Ms Coulson. 'And that is something that I will raise when we are discussing the settlement offer with the other party.'

'Settlement offer?' asked Heidi bemusedly. 'What settlement offer?'

'We're going to offer Amanda Sydney a sum of money to cover her 'losses' and...'

'You're paying her?' interjected Heidi outraged. 'But why?'

'This will avoid the case going to court,' said the lawyer in an even tone. 'Something I believe that will be the best for everyone.'

Heidi was silent.

'I have organised a meeting with the other lawyer in three weeks time,' continued Ms Coulson. 'You don't need to come to this meeting. It'll just be the lawyers battling it out.'

'What happens if she doesn't accept the offer?' asked Heidi tentatively.

'Then we'll be heading to court,' responded the lawyer in a definitive tone. 'Most likely in four or five months time.'

'But that's ages away,' exclaimed Heidi as the woman opposite her shrugged her shoulders. 'Our justice system at work I'm afraid. Fingers crossed.'

With little more to discuss, the appointment swiftly drew to a close. Reaching for her door handle, the lawyer offered her last bit of advice. 'In the meantime, I suggest that you refrain from stepping even one centimetre outside of your stated duties,' suggested the lawyer in a tone that brooked no argument. 'What do you say?'

'Yes ma'am,' said Heidi feeling thoroughly chagrined.

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Arriving back at the station, she was breathing heavily by the time she reached the top floor and discovered that the team were sitting around the table. Throwing a confused look to Jordan, it was Michelle who offered the explanation. 'Good you're back Heidi. I've called this staff meeting because I have something that I need to share with you all.'

Taking her regular spot between Jordan and Chase – the chair conveniently placed to allow her a swift exit to the toilets if required and for ease of movement to and from the table – Heidi smiled in thanks as Jordan handed her his drink of water and Michelle continued to talk. 'As I am sure you all know, the Amanda Sydney incident two weeks ago has generated a fair bit of bad press for us and ...'

Heidi knew better than to apologise. After the first story had come out in the paper, she'd been so worried about the station's reaction – and that of the superiors – that the suing had actually slipped from her mind for a moment. She'd apologised profusely to each team member for the bad coverage that she had generated, and had been told unequivocally by each and every one of them that it wasn't her fault.

Jordan had actually offered to water bomb the newspaper that had called her an 'unfit mother' and she knew that Lara was running some online interference to gather support for her.

She realised that her mind had drifted away from the matter at hand when Jordan elbowed her in side and she spilt her water, only to discover that everyone was looking at her. 'Sorry,' she mumbled under her breath as she dabbed at her shirt and averted her eyes.

There was a pause before Michelle continued once again. 'As I was saying before, in an attempt to help our media image, the people higher up have agreed that a journalist should spend a few days with us to see what we do.'

There was a collective groan at the table, the loudest coming from Vince.

'Ah ah,' scolded Michelle. 'Hopefully this will mean – fingers crossed – that we'll get a glowing review and some positive articles. Heaven knows that we could do with some.'

This was met with grumbles of what could be taken as approval.

'Paige Delacarte-Sowery will be joining us next week,' said Michelle in a final tone before she focused her attention on her. 'Heidi, you'll be conducting the station tour 9am Monday morning.'

'Me?' said Heidi somewhat shocked as Vince piped up. 'Are you sure that's such a good idea?'

'We want to show everyone that you're still part of the team don't we?' said Michelle with her arms stretched out.

'Yes,' consented Heidi grudgingly.

'And what better way to do this than that?' declared Michelle before she turned on the others. 'Chase and Jordan – you'll be showing her to operate some of our equipment. Dean and Lara – Paige will be riding with you on Tuesday.'

'What about me?' asked Vince with a grin.

'Just be your usual charming self,' muttered Michelle as she wrapped up the meeting.

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Next Chapter: Saving a child from a train wreck wasn't exactly what Michelle had had in mind for that week.