“Reporting party states occupant appears to be a woman with at least one small child, possibly two. Vehicle is submerged to window level and sinking. Water conditions deteriorating rapidly.”
Everything stopped. The noise of the command center faded to white noise. I couldn’t move, couldn’t breathe, couldn’t do anything except stand there while my worst nightmare replayed behind my eyes.
The vehicle in the water. The omega’s face, pale and terrified through the window. Small hands pressed against the glass. The way the car settled deeper as I swam toward it, too slow, always too slow. The moment I realized I wasn’t going to make it in time.
“Beau.”
Sable’s voice cut through the paralysis, sharp and clear. I looked up and found her standing directly in front of me, close enough that I could see the concern in her dark amber eyes.
“Response time matters,” she said quietly, just for me. “Every second counts.”
I knew that. Had known it for three years, had lived with that knowledge eating away at me every night when I closed my eyes and saw those small hands slipping away from me.
“I can’t.” The words felt like broken glass in my throat. “Not again. I can’t fail again.”
“You won’t.” She moved closer, not touching me but present in a way that made it impossible to look away. “Beau, you’re the best water rescue specialist in three counties. I’m sending you because youwillbring them home.”
“You don’t know that.”
“Yes, I do.” Her voice was absolute certainty wrapped in calm authority. “I’ve read your training records. I’ve seen you work. I know what you’re capable of, even if you’ve forgotten.”
“I couldn’t save them.” The admission came out raw, unfiltered. “Three years ago, I tried, I swam as fast as I could, but I wasn’t fast enough. An omega and her kid. They drowned while I was twenty feet away.”
“I know.” Something shifted in her expression, softening. “But Beau, that doesn’t change the fact that you’re the person this woman needs right now. You’re the one who can save her.”
My hands were shaking. I shoved them in my pockets, trying to hide the weakness, but Sable saw it anyway. She always saw things I tried to hide.
“What if I freeze again? What if I get there and I can’t move, can’t function? What if I’m too slow?”
“Then Silas and Dane will be right there with you.” She glanced past me, and I realized both of them had moved closer, flanking me without crowding. “You’re not alone in this. You’ve never been alone, you just convinced yourself you were.”
“Fire Two is still waiting for response authorization,” Dane said quietly. “Clock’s ticking.”
Sable’s eyes never left mine. “I need you, Beau.Sheneeds you. Tell me right now if you can’t do this, and I’ll send someone else. But I’m asking you first because I know you’re the best chance those people have.”
It should have felt like pressure. Like she was forcing me into something I wasn’t ready for. But instead, it felt like faith. Like she saw past the failure to the person I’d been before that rescue went wrong.
“Give me five seconds,” I said.
She nodded and stepped back, giving me space but not leaving. I closed my eyes and did what my trauma therapist had taught me. Counted my breaths. Felt my feet on the ground. Reminded myself that this rescue wasn’t that rescue. This woman wasn’t the one I’d failed. I had better equipment now, better training, better backup.
And I had Sable believing I could do this.
When I opened my eyes, the paralysis had broken. My hands were steady. My mind was clear.
“I’m going,” I said.
“Copy that.” Sable moved immediately to the radio. “Fire Two, this is Command. Water rescue team is deploying now. Lead specialist is Calder, ETA three minutes. Medical support isVance, security backup is Hollow. Maintain visual contact with vehicle and relay any changes in condition immediately.”
She turned to me. “Full rescue protocol. Dane goes with you for security and backup extraction. Silas handles medical once you get them out. I’ll coordinate from here and make sure you have everything you need.”
“Understood.”
Dane was already moving toward the equipment bay. “Gear up.”
Silas caught my arm as I started to follow. “Hey.” He waited until I met his eyes. “You’ve got this. And if your head starts going sideways, I’m right there. We all are.”
“Thanks.”
