The Bravest
by Hose Jockey 20
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: I own nothing. I make no money. All hail Joss and his band of mutants.
Spoilers: None.
Notes: This is an AU fic that I've wanted to write for a bit… our girls become
some of the nation's Bravest: firefighters. I figured I could put some of my expertise and
personal experiences into this thing. So here goes nothing.
Thanks: All the people who read my stuff and gave feedback. You know who you are.
Dedication: To my colleagues. And to the 343 of New York's Bravest who gave
their lives doing their duty. You will never be forgotten.
Feedback: I'm begging you.
"Aw, Christ, not another one!" groaned Faith.
"Yep. 241 Revello Drive. Structure fire. Let's roll, babe," replied Buffy.
The two donned their protective gear and climbed into the cab of the engine. The engineer hit the emergency lights, and the bay door rolled up to reveal an absolutely beautiful night, marred only by the glow from the fire they were responding to.
"Dispatch, Sunnydale Engine 53 is responding," radioed Captain Art Bishop.
"Dispatch copies. Engine 53 responding."
"You ready Cap?" asked Engineer Josh Brooks.
"Yeah, let's kick these tires, and fight some fires," replied the captain.
"You two ready back there?"
"Yeah, just hit it, willya?" replied Faith.
"Alright, we're rollin."
The engine left the station with its lights flashing. Josh opted not to use the siren, because, well, there were people trying to sleep out there. As they passed Restfield Cemetery, the former Slayers shared a look. Back before they closed the Hellmouth permanently, Restfield had been a favourite patrol place. Now that the vampires and demons, which they used to hunt, ceased to exist, there was no need for them anymore. They were, in fact, the last Slayers to ever be called.
After the first few months, they started to go into a deep funk. Without demons or vamps around, what were they gonna do? They had no ideas until they looked in the want ads one day, and found that the Sunnydale FD had a few openings. After some consideration, the two went down and applied. They passed every test thrown at them with ease, and were accepted as probationary firefighters. And were consequently assigned to the same engine company in south Sunnydale.
After their first fire, the Chosen Two decided that they had found a job that was almost as satisfying as slaying was. It took the same passion to run into a burning building when everyone else was running out. The same strength to lift a vehicle off of a patient. And above all, fighting fires made them hungry and horny after.
That was about 5 years ago. Two years ago, they were both on the list for promotion to engineer. That would have put them with different engine companies. Both Buffy and Faith declined the offers to move up to engineer, opting to stay with each other in the same engine company. The two were renowned for their synchronised interior attacks, and the ruthlessness they had when fighting fires. Both had been decorated for their valor in saving lives at multiple fires, and were considered the best team in the department. The decision was reached quickly to keep them on the same engine, no matter what.
En route to their structure fire, the pair quickly donned the air packs that were kept in the compartments inside the seats.
"So B," started Faith. "You want the nozzle this time? Or do you mind if I take it?"
"Go ahead. After all, I know how much you like playing with big hoses."
"Only yours," Faith smirked.
"Technically, they're Josh's, with him being engineer and all."
"Oh yeah, that's right. So J-man, you mind if I play with your big, wet hose tonight?"
"Go right ahead. And if you want, I'll even let you use the fire hose," he said with a grin.
All four of the people in the cab laughed at that. Buffy and Faith made their relationship no secret. Matter of fact, they were members of the California State Gay and Lesbian Firefighters' Association. (Author's note: I have no clue if such an organization really exists. If someone knows, please clue me in! Thanks. -J)
"So what's the word, Cap?" asked Buffy. "Give us the scoop on this one."
"Um, let's see," replied Captain Bishop, looking at some notes he'd written. "Two story, single family dwelling, Engine 54 is also responding, in addition to some mutual aid from LA County. Two engines and a tanker. Looks like we're gonna be first on scene. Any questions?"
The whole crew replied in the negative, and two minutes later, Sunnydale Engine 53 was on scene.
"Sunnydale Engine 53 is on scene, in attack mode," radioed Capt. Bishop.
"Dispatch copies. Engine 53 on scene, attack mode."
The crew dismounted, and looked up to see a fully-involved structure. A middle-aged woman in a bathrobe approached them.
"My baby! My baby's trapped inside! She's upstairs in her crib! You gotta save her!"
The two slayers exchanged a look, and connected their air masks. Buffy grabbed the axe from the tool compartment, while Faith got the ramjam.
"What the hell you gonna do with that, babe?" asked Buffy.
"Break down the door, what else?"
"Um, I was gonna use my foot, baby. But if you wanna use the jam, then-"
"Okay, screw it. Foot it is. Let's go, B," Faith said, throwing the ramjam on the ground.
The two retired slayers made their way up to the door of the burning house, ignoring the captain's protests.
"No girls, wait for a line to get charged!" yelled the captain.
Faith kicked the door down, revealing a hallway and living room fully engulfed in flames. Buffy followed, and pointed at the lone staircase. Faith nodded in reply, and the two made their way up the staircase. All the walls and ceilings were on fire, so the girls kept low to keep out of the direct heat.
Finally, they reached the second floor, where it was more smoky than anything else. Apparently the point of ignition was downstairs, as the fire hadn't quite made it up to the second story. The walls were still ablaze, as it was an open landing, and the ceiling was still on fire, but they had no trouble making it to the nursery. Buffy clutched the axe tightly as Faith picked up the baby, because as she did, the stairway collapsed.
"Oh shit," the slayers said simultaneously.
"B, now what?"
"Well, we have to get downstairs and out."
"No shit, but how do we do that?"
"I dunno, Faith."
"So we're trapped up here?"
"Looks like it."
"Okay, then if that's the case, I just have to say it: I love you, Buffy Summers."
"I love you too, Faith Summers."
The two girls shared a resigned look as their air slowly ran out, until Faith spied a small window. She grabbed Buffy, broke the window, and unceremoniously threw her partner out into the soft grass.
'Oh fuck, what the hell am I gonna do with this kid?' she thought. Then an answer came to her.
"B!" she yelled. "Get the ladder!"
Buffy took a second to comprehend, then it dawned on her, and she went to the engine to get the 24-foot fly extension ladder. She raised it, and Faith came down with the baby nestled safely in her arms. She passed it on to the nearest paramedic, who took it back to the ambulance for an examination. Faith took her mask off just as the tank ran out, which would have suffocated her.
"Damn, that was some shit," she growled. Buffy just squealed and held her tightly.
"Oh my God, I thought you were gonna die up there!" she exclaimed. "I was so worried!"
Faith just grinned. "We're a tough breed, B. Takes more than a coupla flames to kill the only slayers in fire department history!" She went over to the recovery area, and stripped off her turnout coat, helmet, shroud, and gloves.
"Gee, I get a show this time?" asked Buffy.
"Just wait until we get home, baby," Faith replied with a wink.
"Damn this shift schedule," Buffy pouted. "When are we off again?"
"Um, B shift comes in at 6 tonight. So we probably should get home by 6:45. Any suggestions on dinner?"
"Dinner? Crap, I didn't even think about it."
"Alright, I'll hit the KFC when we get back home."
"You are a goddess."
"A goddess?"
"My goddess."
"Oh, I like the sound of that."
The banter went on for a while, until the incident commander called them over. The IC for this incident was Sunnydale FD Battalion Chief George Henry.
"Mornin chief, what can we do for ya?" asked Faith in her usual 'I don't give a shit what rank you are' style.
"What the hell were you two thinking?" he exploded. "Going into a fully involved structure without a hose line? Going into a structure fire without anything?"
"Chief-" began Buffy.
"And you!" he stormed, turning on her. "Going in with just a Goddamned axe? You're supposed to be the sensible of the two!"
"Wait just a damned second!" snarled Faith. "There was a person in there, a Goddamn baby! And if you think just for one second, that we were gonna let an innocent person die just to follow some damned protocols, then your train of thought musta been derailed!"
"Faith, calm down," soothed Buffy. She was none too happy herself, but knew better than to get into a pissing contest with a fire chief. "Just relax. Yelling at the BC isn't gonna help, baby."
"Yeah, fine." Faith was still pissed, but saw Buffy's reasoning. Fire chiefs had the power to end careers, no matter how good a firefighter was.
"Fuck, just… go to recovery. Get the hell outa my sight," said Chief Henry.
The two slayers left, seething at the chief's attitude.
"Remind me to never work any fire incidents with his redneck ass anymore," muttered Faith under her breath.
"I know, baby. Just breathe. Look at me," she ordered. Faith complied, and immediately relaxed under the unwavering gaze of Buffy's hazel eyes.
"Yeah, okay, I'm breathing. Fuck him. He doesn't know."
"Right. Let's go back to recovery, okay?"
"Yeah, whatever you say, babe."
The two girls sat there sipping their Gatorade in unison, watching the crews make the interior attacks. The slight burns they got from charging into the house hose-less were already healing. By the morning, they would be gone, like so many other injuries from the past.
“So what do you think about it, B?”
“I honestly never thought about it. Going to a different department? Are you sure?”
“Hell yeah! I kinda forgot to tell you, but we got a letter the other day.”
“What?”
“It’s easier to just show it to you, baby.”
The two were in their apartment. It was the day after the apartment fire where the pair had saved their 50th life. And Faith had just asked Buffy to consider hiring on with a different fire department.
She went upstairs, and pulled a letter out of her chest of drawers. Emblazoned on it was the Rancho Cucamonga Fire Department logo. In it was an offer to pay the girls 50% more of what they were making now if they’d sign on with the RCFD, in addition to always keeping them on the same engine company. No matter what.
She went back downstairs and wordlessly handed Buffy the letter. The blonde’s eyes bugged out as she read what their starting salaries would be.
“Oh my God... I don’t know what to say.” That was more money than she thought she’d ever make as a firefighter. “Fifty five thousand dollars a year? Plus raises and bonuses?”
“That’s what it says, B. I think it’s one hell of a deal. Plus, they’d assign us to their busiest engine company on the same shift. Honestly, I think we should really consider it.”
“We? Sounds like you’ve already considered it,” remarked Buffy with a grin.
“Well, yeah. But we are a team, remember B? I’ll do whatever you do, and support it 110 percent. I love you, and no department’s offer will ever make me do otherwise.”
“I love you too, Fai. I’ll tell you what. Give me some time to consider it. I’ll call their chief and tell them what’s going on. Okay?”
“Fair enough, B. That’s all I can ask.”
“Okay.” Buffy yawned. “I think it’s time for bed. You comin up?”
“Right behind you, baby.”
The two made their way up to their bedroom, and fell asleep almost instantly after their heads made contact with the pillow.
Two weeks later, the girls were getting into their uniforms, getting ready to start their last shift as Sunnydale firefighters. Buffy and Faith had jointly made the decision to accept the positions with Rancho Fire. A part of that decision was made because of the stipend in their contracts that said they would never be separated from each other. They would always belong to the same engine crew on the same shift, thus keeping them as the Chosen Two.
“Well, babe, I’ve had some great times here,” said Faith as they strolled into the firehouse. It was the same house they’d been stationed at their whole career. They were the only constant, as everyone else had either retired or gotten transferred. It was the end of an era.
“I know what you mean. This place grows on ya, yunno?”
“Like a fungus,” joked Faith. “God, I’m gonna miss this place.”
The two walked into the common room, and were greeted by the rest of the shifts. All the crews of Sunnydale Engine 53 were there; A, B and C shifts. Also, assorted other people were there, such as the first crew they’d ever worked with, the department chief, and the mayor.
“What the fuck?” Faith asked upon walking in.
“There’s a coupla people who wanna talk to ya before you leave, kids,” replied Capt. Bishop. “Kinda like a retirement party, if you will. Mayor Rossini, go ahead.”
“Girls,” began Mayor Joe Rossini. “You have done Sunnydale an admirable service in your careers. The city owes a debt to both of you, so I hereby present to you the key to the city.”
The girls were in shock as they accepted their keys. They were just simple firefighters doing their jobs. The chief of the department came next.
“Firefighters Faith Summers and Elizabeth ‘Buffy’ Summers, in recognition of your unprecedented 50 rescues, I hereby award you the Firefighters’ Award of Valor. And in addition, I hereby promote you both to captain. Honorary, of course. Congratulations.”
He hung their medals around their necks, and gave them their certificates of honorary promotion. From now on, they would be called Captain Faith Summers and Captain Buffy Summers, Sunnydale FD. At that moment, Engine 53’s tones dropped, and the first call of the shift came in.
“Sunnydale Engine 53, Medic Ambulance 51, cardiac arrest in progress, 78 year old male. 19457 Main Street,” came the dispatcher’s voice over the station intercom. “19457 Main Street. Time out, 1826.”
There was a flurry of activity as A shift went to mount their rig, and spots of confusion as some members of other shifts had to be reminded that they were off duty. Finally, Josh got Engine 53 started, and all the personnel were in their proper places. E-53 pulled out with no further problems.
Two minutes later, the engine was on scene, and the girls immediately started their resuscitative efforts. Five minutes after E-53 was on scene, the ambulance arrived. 10 minutes later, the patient was stable, conscious, and bitchy. He was loaded onto a gurney, and transported to the hospital by the ambulance crew.
“So does that make 51, B?” asked Faith with a grin.
“Why, I think it does, F.”
Josh just shook his head, grinning, as they made their way back to the firehouse.
*Twenty Years Later*
“Damn it, I said pull the line!” yelled Faith.
“Yes ma’am!” replied a firefighter recruit.
“Don’t say ‘Yes ma’am,’ just fucking do it!”
The kid looked terrified as he pulled a 300’ crosslay from the reserve RCFD engine, but he immediately relaxed as he and his partner started attacking a prop fire fueled by propane. It was out in under 30 seconds.
“28 seconds. That’s a new record there, Johnson. Good job,” complimented Buffy.
“Ma’am, thank you ma’am!”
The recruits ran back over to where their training group was, and Faith joined Buffy.
“I gotta say, B, I was kinda skeptical at first, but I really dig this instructor job.”
“Yeah, so do I, but I kinda miss being out there and fighting the fires. But, I guess we’d better leave it to these young punks,” she said with a grin.
“Well, if we’re trusting our department to these kids we got right here, I don’t think we have anything to worry about.” She wrapped her arms around the blonde. “I love you, Chief Summers.”
Buffy smiled. “I love you too, Chief Summers.” A glint made its way into her eye. “So what say we beat the kid’s record?”
Faith grinned. “Let’s do it, B.”
The two kissed, and made a beeline towards the charged hose. Some things never change.