Her lungs were burning as she pushed her limits. Running as fast as she could through the park. She took a deep breath in through her nose and pushed air out through her mouth as she tried her best to catch her breath, to get her muscles the oxygen it needed to keep going. She was all too familiar with the feeling of not being able to breath. It was one of her worst fears. No air. She blinked her eyes quickly at the images that flashed through her mind. Her job wasn't easy. It wasn't fun. It wasn't very safe but she loved it. Helping people. Saving them. She ran towards the danger. It was her first instinct. It always had been ever since she was a little girl. It was the family business and even though it cost her dad his life when she was 14, she knew that she would follow in his footsteps. She knew it was her calling. She smiled as she approached her favorite part of the running trail. It never failed to challenge her toward the end of her 6 mile run. She measured her steps and then leapt for the first large boulder landing on it with her left foot, pushing off and then landing firmly back on the ground with her right without breaking stride. Both of her hand's landed in front of her on the next large rock and she pushed herself over the top hurdling it with both feet flung to the side. She continued hoping expertly from one rock to the next as the burn in her legs began to be slightly painful and she struggled to maintain an even breath. Her head shot up at the familiar sound that began ringing through the air and like clockwork 20 seconds later the siren could be hear echoing through the park. Then she saw them, the lights and she knew she had to hustle. This wouldn't be the first time a call came in and she was on her morning run so she knew she had about 3 minutes to get to Roberts Drive where the truck would slow just enough for her to jump on, but it wouldn't stop. Truck 72 didn't stop for anyone. She broke into a sprint breathing when she could. She was cutting it close this time. The truck pulled along the street slowing as she rounded the corner out of the park. The side door flung open and she sprinted with everything she had left, jumping onto the step and grabbing the hand rail.

"Becaw!" Jesse said annoyingly as Beca sat back in her seat struggling to catch her breath. "Good run?"

She nodded as she kicked her tennis shoes off and slipped her feet into her black bunker boots. She pulled the thick grey trousers up over her running shorts and slipped the thick red suspenders over her shoulders. Beca turned and pulled her turnout coat off the hook that hung on the side of the inside of the truck. After slipping her arms in, she pulled the coat tight, clipping it together snuggly then fastening the Velcro it all the way down.

"2 minutes out" Came from the front of the cab.

Beca sat back now fully dressed and caught the helmet that was tossed to her from her best friend. She put it on her head and took the next two minutes to close her eyes and prepare herself to do whatever she needed to do to help the people. To save them. To not allow the fire to get them.

XxXxXx

"I know I've said it like a thousand times since yesterday but I can't believe you're really here." Aubrey said as she placed the coffee cup down on the small round table that sat outside of a local coffee shop.

"You and me both" Chloe agreed setting her own cup down and easing into the chair. She slipped her sunglasses off the top of her head on over her eyes so the bright morning sun wouldn't bother her. "I can't believe I finally got that job."

"Of course you got it Chlo." Aubrey replied with a smile. "You are an amazing teacher."

"Yeah but Hidden Hills is one of the best private schools in the country. Teachers don't just leave a school like that. I was lucky." Chloe replied with a smile. She knew she had landed an amazing job working at a prestigious school doing what she loved. Teaching. And what made it even better was it was 20 minutes from her best friend since elementary school lived.

Aubrey smiled and sipped her coffee. She paused at the sound of a siren in the distance. The alarm got louder and louder as it approached. Then a honking horn blew and before she knew it the two trucks sped past them. "So what did you have planned for today?" Aubrey asked as the noise faded into the back ground.

"Unpacking and getting settled in I guess." Chloe answered. "You? Are you working today?"

"Nope. I took a couple of days off to get my best friend and new roomie settled." Aubrey grinned.

"Awes" Chloe said with a smile.

Aubrey's phone chimed quietly. The blonde looked down at the message that appeared on her screen.

"So Jessica is having a pool party this afternoon." Aubrey said looking up from her phone to Chloe. "Feel like going?"

"Who's Jessica?" Chloe asked.

"She's another ER nurse. She and I get a lot of the same shifts. She's really sweet and so is her roommate Ashley." Aubrey answered. "Nothing to crazy she said just some afternoon drinks and a low key cook out tonight."

"Yeah, okay" Chloe agreed. "Sounds like fun. What does Ashley do?"

"She's an administrative assistant at some big company downtown. They met in college and were roommates for a while until Jess got into nursing school." Aubrey explained. "You will like them. They are really nice and Jess is so tired of hearing me talk about you. She's ready to finally meet you."

"No pressure" Chloe smiled. She put her empty coffee cup down on the table and looked up at the clear sky and taking a deep relaxing breath. "I think I'll get used to southern California life really quick."

"You know who else is ready to meet you?" Aubrey teased.

Chloe's head dropped back down and met her friend's eyes. "Who?"

"Luke." Aubrey said with a wiggle of her eyebrow.

"I literally just moved here yesterday Bree." Chloe replied.

"So." Aubrey argued. "He is such a sweetheart Chlo. He's got this kind of bad boy vibe but he's really really sweet. And so hot."

"So if he's so great, why are you telling me? Why haven't you snatched him up for yourself?" Chloe asked.

Aubrey shrugged. "Not my type."

"And how did you meet this hot bad boy sweatheart?" Chloe asked.

"He's Jessica's brother."

Chloe rolled her eyes. "I'm assuming that Jessica's brother will be at the low key pool party?"

"He'll probably be around" Aubrey replied as she turned her head pretending to be interested in something across the street.

XxXxXx

"You okay?" Stacie asked as Beca took her helmet off followed by her oxygen mask. She lowered the tank on her back to the ground slowly.

"Yeah. How about the lady?" Beca asked.

"She's stable. We're going to take her in though." Stacie answered. She reached down for the radio that was attached to her hip as her partner CR's voice called in their patient.

"LAFD Ambulance 9 in route to UCLA Med with female, 47, smoke inhalation. Currently stable. 8 minutes out."

"Gotta go. See you back at the house" Stacie said before turning quickly to get into the passenger side of the ambulance.

"Yo B" Jesse called.

Beca turned around and made her way back towards the truck.

"Everything okay?" Jesse asked.

"Yeah, just checking on the lady. Stacie said she'd be fine but they are taking her in anyway." Beca explained.

"Nice save Bec." Jesse said with a pat to her back.

"Hey, you Squad asshole's wanna help us put out this fire?" Bumper yelled over his shoulder as he helped unravel the large hose from the truck. "Oh that's right, you guys aren't real fire fighters." He teased.

Beca raised her gloved hand and greeted him with her middle finger.

"Squad 61. The structure's roof is unstable. Let's get up there and assist it in coming down." The Chief's voice sounded over the megaphone.

"Come on" Beca said to her best friend. "Let's get back to work."

XxXxXx

"It's so nice to finally meet you" Jessica said as she engulfed Chloe in a hug. "Bree has told me so much about you."

"It's nice to meet you as well" Chloe replied. She was a little taken by surprise by the show of affection from the blonde but forced herself to return the hug. "Thanks for inviting me."

"Are you kidding, we couldn't wait to have a party to celebrate you're moving here." Jessica revealed as she pulled out of the hug.

Chloe's eyes widened.

"Welcome to LA!" Jessica said happily.

"Remind me to kill Bree." Chloe whispered to no one in particular.

"Come on. You'll have fun." Jessica said as she pulled Chloe out of the house and out back towards the pool where Aubrey was standing with a few other girls.

"Girls" Jessica said loudly. The group turned to face the new redhead. "This is Aubrey's best friend Chloe Beale. She just moved here from Atlanta yesterday." Jessica stepped away from Chloe and Aubrey filled the space.

"Thanks a lot Bree." Chloe whispered to her best friend.

"I knew you would hate being the center of attention." Aubrey replied with a mumble.

"This is Flo, Emily, Kori, Greg and Donald." Jessica introduced her friends.

Chloe waived shyly in their direction. Aubrey was right, she did not want to be the center of attention. She much preferred to people watch, especially new people, until she got an idea of who they were. She used to be bubbly and out-going but that ended up in one to many broken hearts for Chloe's liking. She used to throw herself into relationships, to jump in with both feet so to speak but she often found that she lost herself in that process. She tried become more of what the other person was looking for instead of who she really was. Once she finally realized what she was doing and that it wasn't what she wanted, it became difficult to break out of those friendships. Those relationships. Many times it left her alone but she always had Aubrey to pull her back. So she made a decision to change. To be cautious. To protect herself. To play it safe.

"Come on" Aubrey's voice pulled her out of her thoughts. "Let's get a drink."

XxXxXx

"Samantha Carpenter" Stacie said as she leaned on the door frame of Beca's small room.

The brunette looked up from her book. She was laying on her twin bed with her feet crossed and her head propped on a pillow.

"Samantha Carpenter, 47, 4895 South Wayside St.," Stacie said stepping just inside. She locked her hands behind her back and leaned against the wall. "Smoke inhalation."

Beca finally caught on.

"She's fine. Probably be released in a few hours."

Beca nodded and returned her eyes back to the page. "Thanks."

"How much longer are you on?" Stacie asked.

"Tonight till 8."

"You should come over. My neighbor is having a BBQ tonight for a co-workers friend who just moved to town or something like that." Stacie shook her head and rolled her eyes slightly, "It could be fun."

Beca shrugged.

"Come on Becs. You have what? Two days off before your back here?" Stacie asked.

Beca nodded.

"Let's have some fun. Have some drinks. Let off some steam. We've earned it." Stacie argued.

"Hey you out of here?" Cynthia Rose said poking her head in the room.

"Yeah. Just trying to get Beca to come out tonight." Stacie answered.

"Come on B. It will be fun." CR said with a smile. "You know how crazy Amy is."

"So you're roommate will be there too?" Beca asked looking at Stacie.

"Of course. Think about it." Stacie answered.

"Hey you ladies headed out?" Jesse said leaning in the doorway with his hands on each side of the frame.

"What is this Grand Central Station?" Beca mumbled.

"Yeah, thankfully." CR replied to Jesse. "You?"

"Few more hours and then 2 glorious days of sleep." Jesse answered with a boyish smile.

"You should come with Beca to my neighbor's pool party tonight." Stacie said brightly, knowing if Jesse knew about it he would surely drag is best friend with him.

"Ew, that weird old man next to you is having a pool party?" Jesse asked making a disgusted face.

"No. Idiot." Stacie replied. "My super-hot nurse next door neighbor." Stacie winked at him.

"Nurse?" Jesse asked. "Where?"

"UCLA. Emergency."

Jesse nodded. "Yeah, I think I remember her. She's got a friend, green scrubs, blonde, hot." Jesse recalled from his trip down to UCLA's Emergency room a few weeks ago to visit a fellow fire fighter.

"Just come over when you guys get off." Stacie said pushing off the wall and heading for the door.

Jesse stepped to the side. Stacie turned back toward the brunette who had been staring at the same line in the book ever since Stacie walked in.

"Lieutenant Mitchell" Stacie said before turning towards Jesse. "Swanson."

"Conrad" Jesse said with a smile.

"See you losers later." CR said patting Jesse on the shoulder and following Stacie out.

"Hold up Stace, give me a ride?" CR's voice carried down the hallway.

Jesse invited himself into Beca's room and sat at the foot of her twin bed. "So a party?"

XxXxXx

"Mitchell" Chief Smith said knocking on her door just as Beca slid her leather jacket over her shoulders.

"Hey Chief" Beca greeted with a smile.

"Before you go, I just got word from division that we will be receiving a new trainee on Monday morning." Chief Smith looked down at the paperwork in his hand. "Benjamin Applebaum. He's interested in both Truck and Squad so you will be working with Allen on this one."

"Bumper's a dick chief." Beca replied as she slung her backpack over her shoulder.

"Maybe but he's part of this house." The Chief said authoritatively. "Just so you know, he doesn't like you very much either.

"What a shocker." Beca said sarcastically.

"Ready to go Becs?" Jesse said from behind Chief Smith.

She nodded.

"Enjoy your time off. See you in a few days." The Chief said excusing himself.

"Let's go meet some girls." Jesse said with a huge smile.

"Seriously Jesse. I just want to go home dude." Beca said as she walked out of her room and pulled the door closed. "We've been on for three days."

"And we have two days off. So let's go and meet Stacie's hot neighbor and have a good time. Please Becs?" He begged.

"You could just go by yourself." Beca supplied as he followed her out of Fire Station 72.

"I need a wingman." Jesse whined.

"Stacie will be there." Beca argued. "And CR."

"But they aren't you Becs please." Jesse begged again. "Just for a couple hours."

XxXxXx

"So what do you do Chloe?" Stacie asked after having been introduced to the redhead by her neighbor.

"I'm a teacher. I'm starting at Hidden Hills in a couple of weeks." Chloe answered with a smile. She brought the red solo cup to her lips and took a drink.

"What grade or subject do you teach?" Stacie asked. "How does it even work these days?"

"I teach Art for all the lower grades and then I teach the older kids that are interested in taking it as an Elective." Chloe answered. "How about you? What do you do?" Chloe asked the tall brunette.

"I'm a paramedic." Stacie answered. "I'm assigned to Fire Station 72."

"Wow. That's, so do you know Bree?" Chloe asked.

"Bree?" Stacie asked.

Chloe turned and pointed to the blonde who was across the pool engrossed in conversation with Jessica.

"Um, kind of. I've seen her around the hospital and a couple times here but I don't really know her." Stacie answered with a smile.

"She's been trying to get me to move here for a couple of years now. But the timing never seemed quite right." Chloe said making small talk.

"And what makes the timing right now?" Stacie asked as she sipped her drink.

Chloe shrugged. "Well" She thought. "I've been in Atlanta since college and I guess it was time for a change. Then the school job became available and it felt like it all just fell into place."

"I see. So" Stacie said tired of small talk. "Is there a Mr. Beale?"

Chloe blushed slightly. She didn't love talking to strangers about her personal life but Stacie felt easy to talk to so for some reason she couldn't understand she answered. "No. There isn't. I guess that made moving out here easier too. I haven't been in a relationship with anyone for a couple years."

"Oh. Bad breakup?" Stacie asked.

"Um? At first, yes but then we eventually became friends." Chloe said with a smile thinking of Jake.

"So are you ready to get out there and mingle?" Stacie asked.

Chloe quirked an eyebrow, "Are you sure you don't know Aubrey? Did she put you up to this?"

"She put who up to what?" Aubrey's voice sounded behind her.

"Oh, Bree this is Stacie. She's Jessica's neighbor." Chloe said turning toward the tall brunette. "Stacie, this is my best friend Aubrey Posen."

"Hi." Stacie greeted.

Aubrey was about to answer when the roar of a motorcycle pulling up brought a smile to her face.

"Guess who Chlo" Aubrey said leaning down into Chloe's ear.

"You know Luke?" Stacie asked the redhead.

"No but Aubrey seems to think I should." Chloe replied with a small frown. She had been having a good time mingling and meeting new people while secretly hoping that Luke wouldn't show up. She wasn't looking forward to the pressure she knew Aubrey would put on the two of them to talk to each other. He pulled the gate to the back yard open and Chloe had to admit he was good looking. He was tall and built and had a great smile. The tattoos on his arms didn't bother her either but she wasn't ready. Jake broke her heart and although it was two years ago, she thought Jake could have been the one.

"Luke!" Jessica said streaking by them. She greeted her older brother with a hug and they exchanged some words before Jessica pulled him by the hand in their direction. "Luke, you remember Aubrey from the hospital. And you know Stacie" Jessica turned to Chloe. "And this is Chloe." Jessica said with a smile. Her hand gesture, while probably innocent, made Chloe feel as if she was being presented to him.

Luke smiled in all of the girls' direction before turning back to the redhead. "It's nice to meet you Chloe." He held his hand out towards her.

She politely took his hand in return. "Nice to meet you as well."

XxXxXx

Beca pulled her Jeep up behind a motorcycle that was parked in between Stacie's and the house where she assumed the BBQ was being held. The scowl on her face caught Jesse's attention.

"What?" He asked.

Beca pointed to the motorcycle. "It's blocking the fire hydrant."

Jesse rolled his eyes. "Please Beca. For one night. Can you just be regular?"

"That's a little offensive." Beca replied quickly.

"Seriously Bec. Not even one night, just a couple of hours." He pleaded.

"That shit is against the law Jesse. If there were a fire" Beca stopped talking at the sound of her passenger door being slammed shut. She turned to watch him walk through the yard towards the back fence and the illuminated back yard. "Dick" she whispered as she looked back toward the motorcycle. She shook her head and reluctantly opened her door climbing out of the Jeep.

As she entered the yard she spotted Stacie and Jesse talking. "I can't believe you actually got her here." Stacie said as Beca approached.

"Me neither." Beca smirked.

"Well, well, well. Lt. Mitchell" CR said strolling over to the group. "Look at you out of the station and in civilian clothes. I almost didn't recognize you." She teased.

"Okay. I'm gonna go." Beca said quickly as she made a turn to leave.

"Whatever Becs. Let's get a drink." Jesse smiled as he wrapped his arm around her shoulders. "We need to get on their level."

"One. Drink." Beca said as she felt herself being pulled in the direction of the table that was the bar for the evening.

"Sorry" She turned quickly to apologize to the redhead that she bumped into as Jesse continued to pull her through the crowd.

"So you're a teacher?" Luke asked making small talk. Bringing Chloe's attention back to him.

"Yes. I am. What about you?" Chloe asked feeling awkward. As soon as Luke arrived and was introduced to her, Stacie, Jessica and Aubrey each seemed to suddenly disappear and now she was left with Luke and the look on his face didn't exactly scream friendship to her. It made her a little uncomfortable.

"I'm a writer. Mostly freelance work, some short stories but I'm working on a murder mystery novel at the moment." He answered.

"Oh wow" Chloe answered hoping it sounded genuine when all she could think of was a way out of the conversation and possibly out of the party.

Beca smirked as she set her sights on the back of the blonde's head. "Hey Jesse, remember a couple months ago when we brought that guy in who got his hand caught in a meat grinder? Remember it was all mangled?"

Jesse nodded as he poured himself a drink.

"Remember that nurse that took one look and threw up everywhere?" She said her voice laced with sarcasm.

Aubrey's smile faded from her face as she turned around. "Okay, seriously it happened once." She replied angrily. "It was gross and I wasn't feeling good that day."

"Woah, calm down Aubrey. I won't want you to toss your cookies in the pool or anything." Beca teased.

"Everything okay here?" Jessica asked as she stepped up to the table.

Aubrey slowly pulled her eyes from the short brunette and towards her friend. "Yeah, it's great." She said as she smiled and left the table.

Beca couldn't help but laugh as Aubrey walked away. "If I would have known that Nurse Posen would have been here you wouldn't have had to drag me." She said sarcastically turning to Jesse.

"Maybe lay off her?" Jesse suggested.

"Wait, green scrubs, tall, hot?" She questioned him. "She's the one you have this massive crush on? She's the one you were talking about?" Beca's head fell back with laughter.

"Shut up." Jesse said quietly as he motioned with his hand for her to quiet down.

"This is awesome. Seriously. Thanks Jess. I so needed that laugh. Dude, why didn't you tell me?"

"Because of this" He gestured toward her. "I knew there was no way you would let me live it down."

"Relax." Beca said with an eye roll. "It's fine." She turned back toward the direction that Aubrey had marched away from them in. She was standing with a tall blonde guy and a redhead. "She's cute." Beca replied.

XxXxXx

"Let's go" Aubrey whispered into Chloe's ear.

Not that she wasn't thankful for Aubrey's request but the sudden change in her friend's mood alarmed her. "What's wrong?" Chloe asked turning away from Luke and towards her friend.

"Nothing. I'm just tired and ready to get out of here." Aubrey tried to convince her.

Chloe followed Aubrey's eyes toward a small group that had gathered around a table. "Who are they?" Chloe smiled as the brunette laughed at something the guy said.

"Some of Stacie's friends, co-workers or whatever." She said scowling at Beca.

"Don't like them much?" Chloe asked.

"No, Stacie's nice and the guy I've met a few times. He seems really sweet." Aubrey said.

"And by the look on your face, the other girl you seem to hate." Chloe surmised.

"She's an asshole." Aubrey husked as Stacie approached them.

"Hey we're gonna go" Aubrey said quickly. "Could you tell Jessica?"

"Yeah, sure. What's the rush?" Stacie asked.

Chloe saw the opportunity to turn the tables on her best friend and she took it. "Bree doesn't like your friend."

"Who Jesse? He's harmless." Stacie said with a smile.

"No the girl." Chloe clarified.

"Beca?" Stacie asked.

Aubrey rolled her eyes.

"How do you know her?" Stacie asked.

"From the hospital." Aubrey answered quickly. "She" Aubrey began but stopped quickly remembering the day to clearly.

"So" Chloe glanced from Aubrey to Stacie. "They are paramedics too?"

"No, Jesse and Beca work for the fire department." Stacie answered.

"Oh." Chloe said sounding surprised.

"No" Aubrey said knowing what Chloe was thinking. "They work for LAFD but they are on the idiot squad."

"The what?" Stacie and Chloe asked at the same time.

Luke cleared his throat. "I'm going to go find my sister." He said angry that he had all but been forgotten about.

"The idiot Squad" Aubrey said again.

"No" Stacie said shaking her head. "They are on rescue squad."

"Same thing." Aubrey said as she made eye contact with Beca who put a hand over her mouth faking like she was going to throw up. "When members of LAFD come into the emergency room it's usually because they are members of idiot squad. They're reckless and dangerous."

"And brave. They save people." Stacie argued.

Aubrey rolled her eyes. "Let's go." She said loudly to Chloe.

AN: I wanted to try something completely different from my other stories. Problem is... I can't tell if this sucks or how bad it sucks. I guess I should have gotten a clue when I struggled to write the stupid summary... Oh well. Help me out. What do you think? Continue or just let this AU go?