"All right, all right, everyone fall in." Cap's voice rang out in the day room as he entered, and everyone scrambled to fall into line. Johnny first, as usual, with Adam next to him. Chet scooted in next to Adam, followed by Marco, and finally Mike.
Chet spotted someone enter the day room and stand next to Mike. Word was that they were getting a probie today, someone doing the last of their first-year rotation, but they hadn't gotten any details. No matter, Chet figured. One probie was like another, and whoever it was would do their rotation and move on to the next station.
Cap nodded to whoever had joined the end of the line, clearing his throat before glancing at the clipboard in his hand. "Before we get started, I'd like to introduce Samantha Winters. She's joining us for her final rotation before her assignment. Sam, step out, please."
She? Chet's interest was immediately piqued. He stepped forward briefly before he felt Adam's hand on his shoulder, pulling him back.
Soon Sam stepped out from where she stood next to Mike, glancing down the line with a nod. She seemed tiny by comparison, probably not even as tall as Chet, with a round face and shiny black hair pulled back into a tight ponytail. But if she had made it through the academy, she must be pretty tough, Chet figured.
And pretty damn cute, too. Chet thought to himself.
Cap completed the rest of the briefing, and the crew broke up. Johnny and Adam talked among themselves as they headed out toward the squad, Mike made his way to the stove for a cup of coffee, and Marco returned to his studies for the engineers' exam.
Sam seemed a little uncomfortable, glancing around the room before her eyes settled on Chet. Eyes as dark as her hair. And he had been correct. She barely came up to his shoulder.
Chet cleared his throat, aware that he was probably making her even more uncomfortable. "There's coffee if you want some." He offered. "And I can give you a quick tour around the station if you want."
"Captain DeSoto already gave me the tour." Sam replied, her tone guarded as she regarded Chet skeptically. "But I could use some coffee."
"Sure." Chet led the way, giving Mike a quick nod as the other man smiled ever so slightly. "How do you take it?"
"Black."
"I like you already." Chet replied lightly as he found a pair of mugs and filled them both.
Sam picked up her mug before Chet could hand it to her and took a sip. "Just so we're clear, I don't date anyone I work with."
Chet nearly spluttered as he heard Marco let out a low chuckle. Even Mike seemed amused. "No, no. Of course not. Million reasons why that's a bad idea."
"Good." Sam did smile just a little then. "Glad we understand each other."
The tones went off before Chet could form a response, sending everyone to their respective positions. Johnny and Adam were already in the squad, and Cap handed Johnny the slip before climbing into the engine next to Mike, Marco not far behind, climbing in the back.
Chet let Sam go ahead of him, watching as she boosted herself up and into the engine, and he soon followed behind. It was a tight fit with the three of them in the back seat, but they were all getting settled as Mike turned on the lights and sirens, following the squad out of the bay and on to the road.
By the time they arrived at the scene, the house was fully engulfed. It was obvious to Chet that their lone engine wasn't going to cut it. Cap was already on the radio calling for an additional engine as Mike started setting up the pumps.
It was a rhythm that Chet was well familiar with after all these years, dragging down hoses and hooking them up to the truck, waiting as the pumps started working to fill them.
"Winters, you stick with Kelly." Cap barked. "Lopez, go around to the west side. Additional support's on its way."
Sam nodded, slinging the hose over her shoulder and starting toward where Cap had directed her. Chet momentarily questioned if she would be up to the task once the hose filled and she opened up that valve.
He took up a support position behind her and braced himself, waiting for the pressure in the hose to build. Just as he was about to tell Sam to open it up, she did so, directing it toward the flames.
She stumbled back slightly under the pressure, and Chet automatically placed a hand on her back to steady her, just as he would have with Marco. Even through the turnout coat, Chet could feel Sam tense up.
Sam braced herself again, aiming the hose at the fire. Her control was so remarkable that Chet wasn't sure she needed him to back her up.
But she was still a probie, and Cap would have his head if he left her on her own.
Chet thought he spotted movement in one of the second-floor windows. Sam seemed to spot it, too, directing the hose away from the window to call over to Cap. "Captain, there's someone upstairs!"
"I see them." Cap called back. "Winters, go grab a ladder. Kelly, you stay on that hose."
Sam looked a little disappointed, but did as directed, bringing the ladder from the truck and setting it up against the house. She stepped aside long enough to let Adam and Johnny up the ladder, holding it while they worked to rescue the people trapped on the second floor.
They were one hell of a team, Johnny and Adam. At times they seemed to work as one, seeming to understand each other with just a few words. Chet supposed it was no surprise, given they had worked together for the better part of a decade.
There was no way in hell he could do what those guys did. He could do basic first aid, but what Johnny and Adam did went well beyond that.
While Chet kept his hose trained on the flames, he glanced over every so often at Sam, who was running back and forth between the squad and where Adam and Johnny were working on the people they had rescued.
Soon Sam trotted back over to Chet and took up the support position behind him. "About time." He called out. "Was getting tired of holding up this hose by myself."
"Sorry." Sam answered. "Those two had me playing fetch."
Finally, they had the fire knocked down and they started cleaning up. The ambulance arrived to take the fire victims to the hospital, and Adam closed the doors, smacking it before leaving it to clean up his own mess.
With their cleanup complete, they all piled into the engine for the ride back. "So, you got your first taste of working with our dynamic duo." Chet ventured. "Johnny and Adam, I mean."
Sam looked puzzled for a moment before she seemed to understand. "They're quite a pair. It's like they just know what to do without telling each other."
Cap let out a low chuckle. "They've worked together the better part of a decade. They almost share a brain at this point."
"That's scary." Chet muttered to a round of laughter. Even Sam cracked a smile.
She had a pretty smile. Dammit.
"Sam, you have an interest in the paramedic program?" Cap asked.
"Maybe." Sam answered. "I didn't think too much past getting through the academy and probation."
"It's tough." Marco commented. "I remember. Probably tougher for you ladies though."
Sam shrugged casually, but her expression said it all. "There's a lot of guys that don't want us around."
Marco nodded, a similar expression on his own face. "I get it."
Chet's heart sank a little at that. He had hoped things were getting better. It was a far cry from when he had picked on Johnny for his heritage all those years ago.
He was still more than a little ashamed of that, and at times wasn't entirely sure Johnny had forgiven him.
Mike backed the engine into the bay, and everyone climbed out. The house fire had taken up the better part of the morning, and Chet realized he still hadn't figured out what he was making for dinner.
Unless…
"Hey, Sam." Chet ventured. "How do you feel about cooking tonight?"
A slight smile quirked at Sam's lips as she folded her arms over her chest. "Why, because I'm a girl?"
"No, no, of course not." Chet hurried to explain, feeling his face heat up. "We all rotate. I'm supposed to, but I haven't figured out what to make."
Sam looked thoughtful for a moment before nodding. "I can come up with something. Is there anything I shouldn't make?"
"Nah, we'll eat just about anything." Chet answered.
"Even Adam's cooking." Marco commented.
"Oh, come on, it's not that bad." Chet argued. "That thing he made last week, what was it again?"
"Don't remember and don't care to." Marco responded. "Never been so glad to get a call during dinner."
Mike let out a snort of laughter from behind his newspaper, and Chet shook his head. "Everyone's a critic. Sam, if you want to make a list, we can go after it."
Both Marco and Mike gave him a baffled look, and Chet found himself at a loss for words.
"I think I'm quite capable of finding the grocery store." Sam seemed equally baffled. "But thank you."
"There's pen and paper over by the phone." Mike told her.
Sam nodded and made her way over to the phone. As soon as she was on the other side of the room, Marco whispered, "What is wrong with you?"
"Nothing." Chet hissed. "Just trying to, you know, make her feel welcome."
"Not sure you're succeeding." Mike responded.
"Not sure you're helping." Chet shot back.
Mike merely smiled ever so slightly and returned to his newspaper. Shortly thereafter, Chet heard the squad pull in and shut off, followed by slamming doors and two voices.
"Of course you'd take her side." Johnny scoffed as he and Adam entered the day room.
"Because she's right." Adam responded, taking down a pair of mugs and setting them on the counter as Johnny filled them.
Chet often felt as if he was always walking into whatever conversation Johnny and Adam were having about halfway through. "Woman trouble?"
"Married people trouble." Johnny answered, turning to lean against the counter. "Nothing you'd be any help with."
"Neither would Adam." Chet felt a bit slighted.
Adam merely arched an eyebrow as he took a sip of his coffee. "I'm more help that you are."
"Not so sure about that." Johnny replied sharply.
Adam nudged Johnny. "She's right and you know it."
Johnny shot Adam a death glare and set down his coffee, muttering something about checking over equipment. Adam watched him go, shaking his head as he took another drink of coffee.
"What's with him?" Chet finally asked.
Adam shrugged. "Diane's giving him shit about taking the captain's exam, so he says. More likely he won't shut up about it and Diane's tired of hearing it."
Chet huffed. "Hell, I'm tired of hearing him talk about it. He's been talking about taking it for two years now. What's the problem?"
"He's the problem." Adam answered.
"Isn't he always?"
"I think I'm all set." Sam announced suddenly. "I'll be back in a while."
She was gone before Chet could respond, and he could almost feel Adam's eyes on him. He almost dreaded what the other man might say.
"Surprised you're letting her go all by herself." Adam commented casually.
"He already offered." Marco replied. "She turned him down."
Adam looked amused as he finished his coffee and set the mug in the sink, crossing behind Chet and clapping him firmly on the shoulder. "Buck up, babycakes. You'll win her over eventually."
"Or not." Marco answered.
"Both of you can go to hell." Chet told them sharply. "It's not what you think."
"Right." Adam answered with a little laugh. "Just trying to make the probie feel welcome."
"Exactly."
"Mm-hmm." Adam eyed Chet skeptically. "And I'm sure you would go to all that effort even if she wasn't young, cute, and female."
"What would you know?" Chet answered.
"I can acknowledge that a woman is pretty without wanting to get in her pants." Adam replied casually.
"Jesus, Adam." Chet could feel the heat rising in his cheeks as the other two men snickered. "Who said anything about that?"
"Oh, Chester." Adam had a good laugh then before leaving the day room. "Hey Johnny, this'll cheer you up…"
Great. Chet would never hear the end of it now.