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Kate climbed into the back of the van, helping Eddie with the new patient.

There was a call about a man who set off a grenade, luckily there was no lethal damaged due the age of the thing, there was damage to his leg but nothing that couldn't be fixed by a doctor.

This definitely topped the blown up man for Kate.

"This country Amazes me" Kate remarked, continuing to hold pressure to the wound.

"How so?" Eddie asked

"Back home, guns aren't legal. The guards don't even get them, not unless it's seriously needed and here you can just clean grenades" she explained, amazement in her tone

"sorry, police" she corrected

"I figured" eddie nodded with a small grin "it doesn't bother you?"

"Kinda" she shrugged, "you know, when it comes to kids getting shot in school because someone was mad but my opinion won't change anything."

Kate looked back at the man  "We also dial 999, so don't collapse around me because it might take two times to call the right number" she joked

"That's reassuring" Charlie grunted

"Don't worry sir, you already did the hard part for me. The rest is easy sailing" she reassured

"Where you from?" He asked

"Ireland" she replied

The door opened, Kate glanced towards it and seen Evan get in. His hostility had only gotten stronger since yesterday, she wasn't sure what his issue was with them but she wouldn't let it effect her job.

"What brought you here?" Charlie asked

"Now why do you assume something drove me here?" She asked humorously.

"No one moves that far away from home without a reason" he replied, still grunting quietly

He was right, no one moves this far just because they want to. She didn't move this far just because she wanted to.

"I wanted better things, I wanted bigger" she answered his question.

"I guess you've seen a lot of shrapnel wounds." Buckley spoke, starting what would be a riveting conversation.

"My share." Eddie nodded

"You ever seen a guy with a length of rebar stuck through his skull?" Buckley asked, as if it were some competition .

"What are we measuring here, Buck?" Eddie asked

"You know... one time back home there was a paper factory set on fire. Kinda hard to put out the flame can feast from within" she made a joke, trying to diffuse the tension.

Charlie let out a few groans, Kate felt the damp blood leaking through the dressings "I need to change these, they are leaking through" she spoke up,

Buckley handed her some fresh dressings as she peeled back the old one.

"Hang in there, Charlie. Almost there." Eddie reassured the old man.

"I'm just saying, working the streets of L.A. is not exactly stress free. May not be the same kind of pressure you have in a war zone, but..."

"Kate hold on!" Eddie stopped her urgently.

"I thought you said this was a practice round.?" Eddie asked Charlie

"It is."

"Uh, what-what-what's going on?" Buck asked,

"You see that cap? Practice rounds have blue caps. Gold caps are live."

He banged his hand against the drivers wall "Pull over!"

The driver done as he was instructed, and pulled into the nearest car park, the three fire fighters left the vehicle and stood in a small circle with Bobby and a member of a bomb squad who was holding a clear x ray of the live round embedded in the man's leg.

"He's got a live round embedded in his thigh." Bobby said.

"Uh, I thought this thing already went off?" Buck asked

"The launch grenade has two components: gunpowder which makes it travel and an explosive charge that makes it go boom." Eddie explained

"Okay, so why didn't this one go boom?" Buck asked in return, his tone passive.

"It's fitted with a proximity fuse. It's a little smart sensor that tells the cap it's traveled a safe enough distance from the shooter to explode. From his hand to his leg probably wasn't far enough." Eddie explained further

"Well, we can't bring him inside a hospital full of people, not with that still stuck inside him." Kate points out.

"We called the military for help." The bomb squad guy informed.

"The military? Uh, can't you do it? You're the bomb squad.?" Buck asked, straightening up.

"You can't diffuse a grenade. We need to find someone who knows how to pull that thing out of him without setting it off. They're sending someone up from Pendleton. Should be here within the hour.

"He doesn't have an hour."

A small silence fell, no one knew what to do next.

"I can do it." Eddie volunteered "If he doesn't go to surgery soon, he'll die."

"You've done this before?" Bobby asked

"Well, none of the guys I served with were dumb enough to shoot a live round in themselves, but I'm familiar with the ordnance."

"I'm in." Buck nodded

"Kate, you don't have-

"Oh I'm in, I can't miss out on this" she said, rather excitedly

Bobby nodded, the bomb squad grabbed their gear and suited the three of them up. Adding as much safety precautions as possible.

"You seem excited for someone who is about to risk their life" eddie remarked as they continued to get things thrown on them

"You wanna know the biggest "life risking" thing I did at home?" She asked, adding air quotations

"Sure"

"That paper factory, and than it was the occasional house fire or drug related attacks, causing fire. I know that can be life risking but it never felt like enough and it only happened once in a blue moon. My week consisted of putting out bonfires and Patrolling streets for 14 year old boys who collect wood at Halloween. I wanted adrenaline, I wanted fear mixed with excitement and now I'm getting it"

"Just don't forget, some times things can go wrong and that comes with a whole other feeling" Eddie said, he wasn't trying to ruin her buzz, more so trying to make sure she knew the bad parts

"I never said people didn't die in those house fires"

Kate dropped her arms once her vest was strapped on, she walked over to the van and was the first to step inside.

"I'm sorry for all this trouble" he apologized

"No apology needed, it was a mistake. Mistakes are what keep us in a job" she reassured, adding a joke in hope he'd feel better.

Eddie and Buckley joined her in the van, sharing a glance before they all got to work.

"How you feeling there, Charlie?" Eddie asked

"Like a world-class idiot. My wife, if she was still alive, she'd be here now saying, "I told you so." Well, maybe she'll be able to tell me in person in about a minute."

"Well, that conversation's gonna have to wait. Nobody's leaving this life tonight." He told Charlie

"Start the drip." He told Buck

"What was she was like, your wife?" Kate asked

"Oh she was beautiful, she had long brown curly hair. Eyes as green as an emerald and a smile that could light up the whole room. We met in high school. It was love at first sight... for me anyway"

"Did she not like you at first?" Kate asked

"Oh no, it took a long time for her to love me, years of rejection and friendship and other people but it the end it worked out. We got marry after graduation, and lasted for 60 years"

"That's a story for the books Charlie" Kate smiled

"He's losing a lot of blood." Buckley spoke as he peeled back the padding.

"Keep pressure on it." Eddie told him "Not-not too much pressure" he quickly added

"There it is." He said quietly

"All right, so-so pull it out."

"Don't think it's that easy Buck" Kate said to him, rolling her eyes.

"I got to... be careful. The sensor measures the distance traveled based on how many rotations the shell made after the launch. The key is not to turn the shell while we pull it out." He explained, carefully pulling on the live round

"Okay, yeah, so don't turn it."

Eddie strained as he pulled on the round his face scrunched up as he concentrated on slight movements "Gonna have to just... a bit..."

He exhaled a breath of air as the live round was pulled out of Charlie's leg in one piece "Get the box."

Buck grabbed the box and Eddie carefully placed the rest of the grenade into it.

Buck grinned, his arm slipping slightly from the box causing the explosive to roll around.

"Buck, if I die because of your clumsiness" Kate muttered

Eddie carefully placed the box on the ground, Kate and Buckley took their time as they carefully moved Charlie out of the van.

One he reached the concrete he was wheeled away, Kate eddie and Buck walked away from the van feeling relieved to see the outside of it

"You're badass under pressure, brother." Eddie complimented Buck

"Me?" He asked, shocked by the statement

"Hell yeah. You can have my back any day." He nodded

"Yeah. Or, you know, you could... you could have mine."

"And who exactlys gonna have mine?" Kate asked, staring at them with crossed arms.

"Oh me for sure. You're a lucky charm" Buck joked

Kates mouth gaped open as she glared at him "an Irish joke really?"

"How long did you expect me to wait?" He asked

"Oh just until you stopped acting like a 5 year old on time out" she argued

Eddie laughed at her response "don't worry Kate, I got your back" he joked

"Good" she huffed

"Nice work,. I'm glad you all made it out of there" captain Nash recognized

"The guy's a professional, Cap. I was never really worried."

The loud eruption of the van interrupted their conversation, sending a mix of sparks and glass flying everywhere.

"Oh! Mother of god" Kate jumped, taking a leap back "that was terrifying" she exhaled, holding her heart

...

"Okay, what about "G.I.?" Like G.I. Joe. "Hey, G.I." You know, that's a great nickname." Buck tried to convince Eddie, he had been spending hours searching for a nickname.

"Sounds like gastrointestinal."

"Yeah, I don't think so."

"Hey Buck, you know Eddie is already a nickname?" Kate asked, watching as Buck gave a frown.

"You aren't out of the woods, you need a nickname too" he warned

Kate chuckled "Okay if you can shorten Kate then you call me whatever you want for the rest of our lives"

"Uh, how about T?" He asked

"T?" Kate repeated "you're just gonna take away three letters, just like that?" She asked

"Yeah" he nodded "I like it"

"Wow" hen laughed "A + for originality Buck"

"When can woman join this thing?" Kate asked

"Oh no, it's for men strictly. You see, they are worried we'd sell them out" hen joked,

Kate gave her an amused look "yeah, I mean if one of us entered. It would be no competition"

"All right, everybody, listen up. I've got an announcement to make." Bobby announced as he approached the team.

"I just got off the phone with the people from the calendar, and they have made their choice."

"Well, no hard feelings, no matter who won." Buck said, looking towards Eddie.

"That's good, Buck, 'cause they didn't pick you."

"Well, it's obviously a fix. No, congratulations anyway, G.I.!"

"They didn't pick him, either." Bobby shook his head.

All eyes landed on chimney, he leaned against the counter chewing on celery with peanut butter on the end, his eye slowly widened as he realized why they all stared at him .

"No way. You got to be kidding me."

"No. Congratulations, Chim. Or should I say Mr. April? -"

"No way. Are you serious?" He asked again, not convinced it wasn't some prank.

"Chimney! - You're a calendar boy, now" Buck cheered, high-fiving his friend

"I hope I'm not interrupting anything." Athena said, she walked over to Bobby and he took her in arm. The lips meeting seconds later, a few small jeers were heard.

Kate wasn't sure what just happened, she assumed it was something of a badly hidden secret. Her train of thoughts were interrupted by the buzzing phone in her back pockets

"Oh, sorry I have to take this" kate apologized as she walked from the celebrations "congrats, to the pair of you"

She shuffled down the the stairs, once out of sight she answered the call.

"Is everything alright, isn't it late?" Kate asked

"It's Adam he's drinking again" her mom bared

"Why are you telling me this mam, he's not my problem anymore" she shrugged

"He won't stop bothering us, he's got nowhere to go" she almost sounded sympathetic

She sighed down the phone "Look what do you expect me to do, come back. I left for a reason, he is part of that"

"Well, I don't know I just -

"You took him didn't you?" She asked

"Only for a day"

"Mam, are you serious" Kate muttered, "he ruined my life"

"Sweetie I know. He showed up unannounced, could barely stand." Bridget explained

"Is he still there?" Kate asked

She heard a low sigh, that was all the answer she needed.

"I'm trying, he just - he won't leave. Not without some excuse"

"Put him on the phone"

Kate heard the other line Rustling, "hello"

Kate still couldn't stomach the sound of his voice, even just the simple hello was enough to make her want to vomit.

"Get out of her house. Before I take a flight back home and make you - or better yet, I let my brother know you're there and he deals with it" Kate threatened

"Kate please-..

"No" she stopped him, "you don't get to ruin her life too. So if I find out that you are still in that house, or you ever set foot in it again. You'll deeply regret - make no mistake Adam, whether I'm 5000 miles away or not. I will do unthinkable things if you harm my mother"

"I would never -

"Understood" she muttered

"Understood"

Kate heard the phone being handed back "Kate honey-

"Next time he shows up falling out of his standing. You leave him, I don't want him in your house. Or near you or anyone else. Please"

"I'm sorry, I know.. I just didn't know what to do" she apologised

"It's uh.. it's fine, I have to get back to work."

Kate ended the call, shoving her phone in her pocket. She turned around, not expecting to see anyone

"how much of that did you hear?" She asked, sighing

"I uh, I heard you muttering something " buck replied, rubbing the back of his neck.

"So just the end?" She asked

"Is everything okay?" He asked

"Oh everything is dandy" she scoffed, pacing around. She came to a stop once she realized none of this was his fault "sorry, I'm just a little mad right now"

"It's okay, I completely understand" he reassured

"you know yesterday when I said I got your back, I wasn't kidding. If you ever need anything you can come to me" he offered

"Thanks, I appreciate that a lot" she thanked him "look if you keep quiet about what you heard I'd appreciate it"

"Keep what quiet?" He asked, a small smirk on his face

Kate smiled "you know when you drop the whole hostile bad boy act, you can be pretty nice"

"Yeah sorry about that, I don't know what was wrong" he apologized

"Having new people step on your toes can be annoying, you know especially since we are so good looking and talented" she flipped her pony tail

"Ouch" he winced, holding his heard "come on T, let's get some food"

She glared, following him up the stairs "It's Kate, buckley. You can't shorten Kate"

"You said, "if you can shorten Kate then you call me whatever you want for the rest of our lives" he mocked her accent, he glanced behind him and seen the glare that was shooting towards him.

"Even Buckley, you did not just mock my accent" she scolded, chasing him up the stairs

"Hey, hey. No running around" Bobby called

"Sorry dad" Kate joked, the crew laughing

Kate and Buck took a seat at the table, Kate had never met Athena before "sorry, where are my manners. It's very nice to meet you Athena" s

"Bobby's talked about you" she smiled

"All good I hope"

"Oh amazing, you came a long way from home" she commented

"Don't I know it, it seems like the only thing people can say" she chuckled "living here was my biggest dream, and now I'm fulfilling it"

"You should see her reactions" Eddie joked

"Okay, he had a microwave on his head. How else am I suppose to react" she defended

"Trust me, it's only the beginning" Athena joked
"So other than that, are you settling in okay?" She asked

"It's great, these people are pretty nice" she smiled, she glared at buck "apart from the Irish jokes"

"Whatever you say T"

Kate rolled her eyes, "I can't believe that's what you are gonna call me"

"Better then lucky charm" Eddie pointed out

"Way better" Kate nodded

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Every time I say "diffuse the tension" all I can think of his Harry Potter 😭