Page 89 of Burn Protocol

She pulls me against her chest, placing soft kisses all over my head and face. She lets my breathing slow down, before carefully pulling out her fingers. I still whimper at the movement and she chuckles low into my hair. When she lays me down gently, I want to melt into her but she wraps the blankets around me instead.

“I said, get some more sleep, querida.”

She presses her lips against mine and gives me a slow wink. Her uniform is still pristine, not a single crease. I know her duty calls, but I am grateful she answered me first. I smile up at her and pull her in for one last kiss. She sighs softly, contentedly, before nodding and striding out of the bedroom. We both know that if she doesn’t, neither of us will leave this room ever again. And that is something I’d really like to get used to.

***

My heart thuds against my ribs as I look around the bay. It is filled with firefighters, their families, councilmembers, and reporters. Their voices buzz off the walls like a hive of busy bees as they occupy all of the space. The roll-up doors are opened and the vehicles are parked in front of the building to make even more room. The Chief really went above and beyond to make it happen. He even had to talk to the mayor to get it approved, but he got it done somehow.

It is the first time in my career that I didn’t have any say in the presentation. Not the form or shape, not the location or the people invited, not even the images that would be shown. Helen flat-out refused to show me the cover. “Any input from your end would breach the contract between the fire department and Woman at the Front.” Apparently that included any feedback or comment. The only thing I was informed about were the editorial changes in the text, and even those I had to accept and swallow without a single reply. Thankfully, Helen kept those changes small and each one improved the text, keeping its integrity while increasing the emotional impact. There was nothing there for me to complain about.

Still, even though I know the article is good and the photos I provided meet all the standards, it feels off not to be included in the end product. Almost as if I am being shut out of my own house while it’s being redecorated. Elena isn’t a fan of it either. It took me weeks to get her to really open up to me and let go of her reservations for this article, only for it all to be ripped away from our control. Both of us had paced several kilometers over the past few days until Salisar swore to her he had personally overseen everything. We had both been able to let it go at that point, up until this morning.

I had slept a few more hours after Elena left for work only to wake up with a startling jolt. It took me a few minutes to remember that even though it was presentation day, all I had to do this time was to show up. Nothing more, nothing less. Yet, I’ve not been able to relax since. Not even now that I am here, back at the station—a place that pretty much became my second home over the past few months, surrounded by the people I am proud to call my friends and family—can I unwind. What are they going to think about the article? And where the hell is Elena?

I look around the bay again, but my girlfriend is nowhere to be seen. My heart thuds even harder. She didn’t run, did she?

Before I can whip out my phone to text her, Helen shows up at my side holding a glass of sparkling cucumber water. She gives me a sympathetic look before she smiles.

“I’d give you something stronger if alcohol was allowed on these premises. You look like you can use it.”

Her soft chuckle only holds warmth now, and I can’t help but smile in return.

“You have no idea.”

“Oh, but I do.” She gives me a wink and then tilts her head toward the front of the bay. “Are you ready?”

I nod slowly and follow her when suddenly all radios around us crackle and the overhead speaker comes to life. Fuck!

Attention all units. Station 2 out of service for thirty minutes. Adjacent stations to assume coverage. Dispatch clear.

Around me, several firefighters look up from their coffee, their eyebrows raised. The bay goes silent for a moment and all eyes turn to me. I blink as I whip my head up toward Salisar in surprise. He looks back at me and gives me a slow wink. Then he steps aside, revealing Elena who’s nervously standing in the opening of the hallway.

Dressed completely in her ceremonial uniform. The tailored navy blue fabric is wrapped snugly around her, adorned with gold buttons and insignias. Her hair, normally pulled up in a bun, now comes down in waves, falling over her shoulders. The white of her crisp shirt is a stark contrast to the deep brown color of the strands. And then there is the tie. She is wearing a fucking tie. I feel my cheeks flush when I imagine my hand wrapping around that sliver of fabric, pulling her toward me for a searing kiss.

Right as I am blushing, she turns toward me and her whole face lights up. And I, I can’t help but grin in return. She walks up to me with those long, powerful strides of hers and pulls me into a warm hug that makes my breath stutter. Yeah, there is no doubt anymore that I am madly in love with her, but I am sure anyone else can see it too now.

“Alright, now that I’ve got your attention,” Salisar’s voice booms through the bay as Elena breaks away from me and slips her hand in mine. “We are gathered here for a very unique moment. A little over four months ago, this firehouse opened its doors to Maya Carter, journalist for Woman at the Front to work on an article about our lieutenant, Elena Gonzales. The objective was to write a closing piece in a series of female first responders.”

A few of the crew chuckle at the innuendo, and I can’t help smile at the little jab too.

“Carter delivered on that promise, but it became far more than a closing article.” Salisar nods at us and El squeezes my hand softly. “During the intense months that Gonzales and Carter worked together, they grew close. Developing something more than just a friendship.”

A few of the reporters whip their head up and glance our way. Elena’s hand is still in mine, warm and soft, grounding me. There are some soft whispers, questions that are bound to follow soon. But that’s not what draws my attention. Every single firefighter beams at us, a warm smile on their faces, as if they are proud. No, not as if… they are proud!

“Today we present to you the article that closes a series, but also starts a whole new story. That of Elena and Maya.”

Some of the firefighters clap and nod, but Salisar raises his hand to quiet them down.

“We aren’t just presenting the article,” Helen takes over, her voice cutting crystal clear through the room. “We are also revealing the cover of our new issue, of which you all will receive a free copy. This cover is by far the best that has ever graced our magazine, and we are proud to reveal it to you now.”

Salisar and Helen pull down a piece of cloth from an easel, revealing a vertical resin-encased photograph. But instead of the one where Elena exits a burning building while covered in soot that I had expected, I am looking at a whole different image. It is a picture of us, together, laughing in front of Engine 2. Clearly captured when neither of us was aware of it. Elena’s hand is on my arm, and I beam up at her with a radiant smile. I remember the moment clearly. It was one of the days after we visited the school and Elena was joking about something Fernandes had said that morning. We weren’t an item yet. And yet… we were clearly already in love. I feel my lip tremble and my eyes go blurry. Elena snakes her hand around my waist and pulls me close against her.

“Welcome to the family, kid.” Salisar declares while nodding at me, and I feel the first tear fall down my cheek.

“Welcome, Carter!”

The voices of the bombers boom around us and several hands slap against my shoulder. Elena holds on to me tightly to make sure I don’t tumble over, while looking down at me with a wide smile. She raises her free hand to wipe the tear from my cheek and brings her lips to my ear.