Chapter 4

Malia

Placing the flowers on Sebastion's tombstone I sat down from across after laying a blanket on the grass and began holding my necklace. "Hey bash, I'm sorry for not coming by sooner I was supposed to come a couple of weeks ago but you know me, I was so tired I mistakenly slept all day" I chuckled "I ended up going to the club that same night and ended up leaving with someone, I couldn't tell you who he was because I don't even know but I do remember him having a tattoo on his chest. It was pretty cool actually; it was an angel with burning wings falling. But anyway, my last day at Firehouse 12 was the other day, I start at the new station tomorrow as the head paramedic, apparently, I was recommended". I Gave a small sad smile and sighed "I wish you were here; I miss you" a tear started to come down my eye, but I quickly wiped it away before it had the chance to hit my cheek.

"Hey, don't wipe them away, it's okay to cry" I heard a familiar voice behind me. "I've cried enough," I said before turning around, finding a tall ginger head stooped down to my level holding flowers, it was none other than Grandon Michaels. Grandon is the one who found Sebastian, he stayed with him the entire time and was even there when they brought him to me at the hospital. He was there for me, continued to check on me and he even helped me plan Bash's funeral when I couldn't bring myself to. He has literally been my rock during this whole ordeal, if it wasn't for him, I don't think I would've survived his death. He came to the funeral and stayed in contact even when he had no obligations to, the only good thing that came out of this was Grandon. Someone who was once a stranger was now one of my best friends.

"Just because you've cried enough doesn't mean anything, you lost your brother Mai. That doesn't just go away or make it any less true. I know you're tired of crying, tired of feeling like this but it's okay to cry. Sebastian's gone, he's not coming back" Grandon said as he looked down at the flowers that were still in his hand and then back at me before mumbling "Trust me I know, I was the same way when Riley died." He put the flowers down against the tombstone and sat beside me.

His words were a little harsh but were true, it's been three years and I still hadn't accepted his death, accepted that he was really gone, not fully anyway. I knew what he was doing, he wasn't saying it to hurt me but to help me. If anyone knew exactly what I was feeling or came close to knowing it was him. He lost his sister in a car crash 6 years ago and to this day I see him cry every once in a while, even when he tries to hide it which he is really bad at. Nudging him "Hey I'm sure Riley and Bash are looking down on us making fun of us for looking like sad sacks" I smiled, attempting not just to cheer him up but myself as well. Laughing "Yeah you're probably right. Knowing Riley she'd say, "I'm right next to you, you moron" We both laughed for a moment but silence quickly filled the air as we continued to think about our lost loved ones. Breaking the silence he asked, "Want to get some ice cream and hot wings" A smile immediately appeared on my face "Do I? Do you remember who you're talking to? I joked. He knew me so well; it was a weird combination but then again so is pineapple on pizza. We both got up before I grabbed the blanket off the ground, placing my hand on Bash's tombstone I said my bye to Bash before leaving.

.........

Today was my first day at Firehouse 68, I was both calm and nervous at the same time, I was so used to being at Firehouse 12 that I hadn't been introducing myself to any new firefighter in 2 years since I started. It's not that I didn't think they wouldn't like me or that we wouldn't get along, I'm good when it comes to people I have a welcoming friendly type of energy when it comes to people at least that's what I told but it was the fact that I didn't want them to think I was trying to replace their paramedic or something.

Walking towards the station the firetrucks, ambulance, and battalion car came into view, it looked bigger than the station I just came from. Looking around trying to get a good look at the station my eyes landed on a firefighter who seemed to be checking inventory or something, he wore the fire department's uniform with a Skully cap to match. "Excuse me" I approached the man waiting for a response. Turning around he had a curious look on his face "Yes, how may I help you?"

"Hey, my name is Malia Dawson, I was hoping to speak with the battalion chief, are they around? I'm the stand-in paramedic, I'm supposed to start today". Within two seconds a smile popped up on his face "Hey, I'm Jason Hendricks I'm one of the guys from Truck 78 and I'll show you to him, come with me" Before we started to leave he reached out his hand and I shook it in return Nodding my head "Yeah sure, of course," leaving the garage and following him "So are you excited? what station you coming from" he asked as he walked me through the training room passing both the kitchen and radio room. "I am actually but mainly nervous than anything else and 12" I chuckled. "Hey, don't worry about it I was the same way when I came, you'll love it here I'm sure of it. The guys are pretty chill and Chief is cool, I'm pretty sure he'll tell you this when you meet but you can come to him about anything, here we are a family and everybody is excited to meet you, especially June. June is your partner paramedic, she can be silly sometimes but when it comes to saving lives she's the best so you can rely on her" My nerves went away just as he said that, I feel better knowing that and I'm really excited to meet everyone.

"Thank you, Jason, you really helped me and I'm no longer nervous, I'm super excited to meet everyone, especially June," I said before accidentally walking into him as he stopped. "Oh, I'm so sorry. I didn't know you were stopping" He laughed "Hey, no worries it's fine, I'm glad I could help with the nerves. We're here, find me after you are done with the chief I'll introduce you to everyone and give you a tour" Nodding my head "Sure thing, I'll see you soon" I said before waving at him as he started to walk away. Before I had the chance to knock on the door, a deep male voice sounded through the door "Come in" The blinds to the office were closed and the Secretary wasn't at the desk so how did he know I was at the door?

I opened the door and found a middle-aged man with blackish-grayish hair sitting behind the desk on his computer. "Hey, you must be Malia Dawson, our new paramedic," he said while getting up and sitting on the edge of the desk. "yes, hi, how did you know I was at the door when I didn't knock?' I asked still wondering how he did that. He chuckled "I have a sixth sense about things and I also heard you and Hendricks talking outside my door" he joked. That explains it. I chuckled "I thought you saw me through the cameras or something but I'm sorry hi, yes I am Malia" I didn't mind joking but I also didn't want him to think that I would be goofing off and couldn't focus on work when needed to.

"you don't have to apologize, we all need a little laughter every now and again but I'm Chief Louis Hayden, Chief Hayden for short. With this job, you'll be fighting for not only your life but the lives of everyone here and the lives we save, paramedics or firefighters we all put our lives on the line. Trusting each other is a crucial part. In this firehouse, we are not only co-workers or ranks but family, you'll be with us for a while not just in your position here as a lead paramedic but every day, every shift, and eventually, you'll bump heads but we talk things out and get an understanding before we go out there and save lives because in one moment in one negative feeling about someone and not trusting them on this job it could be the end and losing one of ours isn't an option not while I'm here." Turning around and reaching from behind he grabbed a water bottle and took a sip before continuing. "I've read your file and your good, your way too good, I know about you being a doctor and you have experience but I want to get to know you the person you are and not just on a file. We will get to know each other, all of us and you'll create bounds here that'll affect you your entire life" He meant every word he was saying, he reminded me of my old battalion chief from Firehouse 12 Macy Monroe, in a few similar ways they were the same but different.

"You've worked in a firehouse before so I don't want to bore you with my words any further" he chuckled "But just know you can come to me for anything, but you are in good hands everyone here is amazing, I look forward to working with you." He reached his hand out for a handshake. "Same here and I promise you won't have any problems with me," I said as I shook his hand. "Alright that's what I like to hear, now let's get you introduced to everyone but first let's get your things put away" I smiled "Yes, sir" I followed him as he opened the door, and started to introduce me to people while we were on our way to the lockers. I had managed to put my things away and get to know almost everyone in just a little over 30 minutes, almost everyone at least. I had met everyone except 2 people my partner June and the captain of squad 66. I was told June was in the office with the chief after he went back to his after introducing me to everyone and the captain was in his quarters doing paperwork and didn't have time for a meet and greet at the moment, which I understood.

"Malia, Malia Dawson" I heard a woman's voice squeal in excitement from behind the guys, pushing her way through I was surprised when she greeted me with a hug instead of a handshake like everyone else. I l looked at the guys before hugging back, from the looks on their faces this was something they were used to. I even heard someone say"I'm surprised she didn't do this sooner, I figured she'd be waiting for her at the entrance when she came in" I couldn't help but give a smile. Jason Hendricks the firefighter I met earlier before everyone else leaned in while she was still hugging me and said "As you can see this is the woman I was telling you about, June." June released me and gave Hendricks a look "And what exactly did you tell her Hendricks, I hope they were all good things" he laughed "Of course June" he said taking two steps back. June turned back to me "Hey girl, I'm June, June Pearson and I'll be your partner on Ambulance 27. As you can see I'm excited to meet you, I've heard good things about you and I can't wait to......" June was cut off by the loudspeaker going through the firehouse. We got a call. "Ambulance 27, Truck 78, Engine 72, Squad 6 and Battalion 23, pin in an accident on Mcarathy bridge. Within a minute we were all in our trucks heading out to the scene.