Dakota
Dedric popped his head into my office. “Check off inspection is done, Lieu. One of the air packs needed a new cylinder but I replaced it.”
I looked up from my paperwork. “Good work, Rook. Make sure you fill out a report and date it.”
“Yes, sir.” He left the doorway.
It’s good to be back at work.
I checked my phone for the fifteenth time.
Nothin’.
I had spent the afternoon catching up on paperwork and trying to decipher texts from Lena. Unlocking the phone, I opened our text feed. After rereading them yet again, I still couldn’t figure out her tone.
My list of obligations? The fuck does she even mean by that?
“I was kinda excited to take her to get it,” I mumbled to myself.
“You talkin’ to yourself, Lieu?” Zeke teased.
“Reckon I was,” I admitted. “What’s up, bud?”
“I was just checkin’ in on you.” He shuffled his feet awkwardly. “I know all of this has been tough.”
Even tougher when you can’t decode someone’s texts.
“It’s…interesting. Cassie is moving her stuff all the way out today.”
He looked surprised. “Damn, brother. No chance of reconciling?”
I shook my head firmly. “Not a one.”
He nodded sympathetically. “Can’t say I blame you. Too many out there to stay with one you can’t trust.”
I looked down at my phone.
Or one that sends confusing ass text messages.
The station bell rang, and we both paused for the radio transmission.
“Battalion 1, Engine 11…”
I jumped up from my desk.
“Respond to 505 Landon Lake Circle for a possible structure fire. Caller advised smoke coming from front windows.”
The five of us dressed quickly. “Ben, put us en route!” He keyed up his lapel mic.
As we hauled ass out of the bay, Zeke switched on the Q siren. Turning to face the back, I began calling out assignments. “Ben, you’re on the nozzle. Rook, you catch the hydrant, Zeke, Carter, y’all are with me on the search team. Everybody is goin’ home, repeat it.”
“Everybody is goin’ home,” they repeated in unison.
Zeke pulled the apparatus into a smoky neighborhood. I grabbed the truck’s radio mic, ready to alert dispatch as I scanned the numerics. “This is 501…503…505, there it is!”
I keyed up the mic. “Battalion 1, Engine 11 on scene, working structure fire with smoke showing, Battalion 1 establishing command.” My team and I piled out of the truck.
The neighbors had gathered in the front yard. “Anyone know of any occupants?” I asked. A big, burly man spoke up, “The man and woman are both at work, but they have two dogs.”
“Zeke, Carter, let’s set up or an interior attack, possible pets inside, go!” I barked. Putting on my air mask, I double checked my PASS alarm. “Let’s go, y’all.”
I fuckin’ love this job.