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Team Two, my crew, would fan out to the nearby intersections to collect donations for Thriving Tots, a charity that provided nutritious meals and healthcare clinics for impoverished families across LA County.

Team Three, Captain Blake’s crew, had just gotten off the clock, the members at home with their families. It was great to have a complete roster so everyone got sufficient time off to regroup.

First responders all over the county were participating in the annual Boot Brigade Collectathon for children’s charities. The stations in El Segundo had been assigned to the area we protected and served. Good community relations were essential in our business.

Our fellow first responders at the El Segundo Police Department were providing child safety kits, complete with child ID cards containing a photo and information necessary to assist in identifying a missing or abducted child.

While the causes that brought us into the community were grim, we enjoyed participating in the Boot Brigade Collectathon because it served our community. Having our neighbors familiar with the services we offered made our jobs easier in the long run.

“LT!” I turned to see one of the two paramedics on our crew hurrying toward me with two cups of coffee.

“Hey, AB. Thanks for coming out. I appreciate the refill.” I took one of the paper cups and poured its contents into my insulated mug.

“Wouldn’t miss it, Ember. What do you have going on for the rest of the afternoon once we finish here? We were talking about an impromptu cookout at the beach after this. Of course I opened my big mouth to suggest it, so now I’m in charge. You live on Dockweiler Beach, so I was thinking maybe you wouldn’t mind us having it at your place? Polly and the probies volunteered to come shopping with me.”

I’d hosted a few gatherings at my place in the past, but with JD living there now, I was afraid if I inundated him with guests, it would freak him the fuck out.

Then, again, maybe it would be good for him to be around people. Kit Hansen had hinted that JD had been spending a lot of time alone. I could only imagine the dark thoughts circling his head.

“Uh, let me get back to you in an hour. I have company right now, and I’m not sure if they’d welcome all eight of you at once. You guys can get out of hand,” I teased.

AB grinned. “Okay, but I swear, we’ll do all the work and clean up after. Your guest won’t have to help at all, and we won’t leave a mess.”

Under any other circumstances, I’d have said yes immediately, but I wasn’t so sure about JD. “Let me reach out.”

AB nodded and walked away. I pulled out my phone and texted JD.

Hey, JD. I was wondering if you’d be okay if I had a few people over this evening? It’s just my crew from ESFD who are helping at the volunteer event, and it’ll be outside. They’ll only come inside to change or use the facilities. Let me know.

I started to shove my phone into my pocket when I hit on another idea. I scrolled through my contacts until I found the person I wanted and sent another text message.

Kit, Thatcher here. I’d like to have my crew from the firehouse out to the beach for a cookout. Could you call me?

I put my phone back in my pocket and went to the pumper to grab my work boot for the donations. Cap had arrived and was directing the crew to intersections and outside the grocery store in teams of two, so I waited for my assignment.

“Ember, I’m going to have you supervise the probies. Don’t let them ruin our reputation in the community, please.”

Mark and I both laughed at the possibility of the shit Procter Williams and Rocco Collins might get up to if left to their own devices. It wasn’t an if, it was a when.

“Gotcha, Cap. I thought you were going fishing this weekend.”

We’d chatted during breakfast on our last shift, and he was supposed to go out with his brother-in-law on a deep-sea fishing trip. I assumed Captain Torres of Station 1 would deliver our assignments in Captain Blake’s absence, but I was glad to see the man there.

Mark chuckled. “My sister’s husband is an idiot. Chantal is nine months pregnant, and he thought she’d make the reservation, so he didn’t even bother. Like she doesn’t have anything else going on.”

My phone rang, so I pulled it out and held up a finger for Cap to give me a minute.

“Hello?” I hadn’t looked at the screen.

“Hey, Thatcher. It’s Kit. What can I do for you?”

“Oh hi, Kit. Before I get into that, do you have any fishing charters today that a couple of guys could join?” Maybe I could hook the captain up with an afternoon fishing excursion?

“We had one early this morning. I’m just on my way home now. Why? You wanna go fishing?” The laugh in his voice was encouraging.

“Not me, my captain. There was a mix-up with his plans today, and he and a family member would like to go out. Any way you could make that happen?”

It was awfully presumptuous of me to ask for a favor after having spent only a few hours with Kit and River, but I liked Mark Blake. He was a good captain, and he’d do anything for us. It was my turn to do the same for him if I could.