and we'll fly, like smoke darkening' the skies ||res||

[emtkxx]

---

Her heart skipped a beat at hearing his confession- so he had thought of her once or twice before they parted ways. Get yourself together, Emily chastised herself before taking a long pull from her caffeinated drink. Perhaps it would help calm her nerves. And she was also trying to contact her happiness over him only having eyes on her. It was nice to have male attention once in awhile, and for her it's been quite a long time. Solely focusing on her schooling and career since the time she left high school; not much time for any real relationship. Hookups helped, but long term relationships weren't her forte. They scared the hell out of her if she were to be honest. 

Feeling a nudge under the table she glanced over to Heather giving her a look and then quickly brought her attention back to the handsome fireman. The brunette was happy he was getting back into work; she couldn't imagine having all that time to herself. She'd go stir-crazy! "Oh no, not at all! I imagine you're a busy guy right now. Trying to get everything sorted out. The hospital has been hectic lately as well," Emily replied warmly placing her cup on the table, and she spoke the truth. There was quite a few sick people coming in lately that's why she hasn't had much time off. Whenever she was scheduled she'd be called in half way through her day and gave up on it all together. However, now that they transferred a few doctors in she was able to breathe more freely. 

"Yeah, there's a nasty virus going around, eh?" Heather decided to chime into the conversation, which was fine, due to the fact her father was one of the patients in the hospital with said virus. Emily leaned back in her chair with a sigh, "It's hard to say what's effecting those patients, Heather." The medical faculty, and government she assumed, were looking into the sickness. Everyone unsure where it could have originated from or how it's spread. Emily wasn't allowed to say much about it, but Heather had cornered her one day in tears and she was only human. "You have to know something more than that. You've been around it all week and you seem fine," Heather pressed; Emily wasn't quite sure how this became the topic of conversation. 

The young doctor merely shrugged, "Of course there are rumours, but I'd rather wait to believe when actual facts are put in front of me." Heather rolled her eyes at that and turned to Liam, "Hopefully you can get through to this one. She's more logical than a robot sometimes." Emily laughed at her friend's lame joke, "I'm a doctor... for the most part." Heather beamed a smile her way before giving her a serious look, "Seriously though... should I be worried about you?" Emily glanced between her and Liam, "I'm fine, if you should be worried about anyone it should be him. Right Sam? You'd think you would want more time to heal." She was trying to divert the conversation because Heather was on to something. People should be worried- this illness wasn't going away anytime soon. The young doctor has seen the toll it's taken on certain patients. 

Her purse suddenly started buzzing and it broke the strange aura around the table, "Sorry it's work..." Emily mumbled getting up from her seat and walking outside. Answering her cellphone all she could hear was chaos on the line,  "What's going on!" She could barely make out what one of the nurses was saying- there was too much screaming. "I'll be right there," Emily responded quickly making her way back inside to grab her things; and she couldn't help but feel pained to leave Liam. They had finally gotten together something she had thought about very much, but here she was walking out. For good reason of course but still. "I'm so sorry I have to head to the hospital. Something's wrong," Her panicked voice alarmed Heather whom stood quickly, "Do you need me to come?" Emily shook her head, "No, I don't think it would be good for the baby." Looking at Liam, "It was nice seeing you again, and nice to officially meet you, Sam." And then she was out of there.

Heather watched as the young doctor made her leave she had never seen Emily look so distressed. Even after having her first surgery. Something big was going down- she could feel it, but who was going to protect her friend? Looking down at Liam, "Can you please follow her... make sure she doesn't get into an accident?" She hadn't drove herself here; her husband had dropped her off before heading to a late work shift. 

[Serendipity]

Yes he had been thinking about her, in fact she was all he could think about in the spare moments he had for his own thoughts. She had left an impression on him that he couldn’t shake, he wanted to get to know this woman, no, he needed to get to know this woman. It was like compulsion really, his heart compelling him to be near her. There was a constant desire to see her face, hear her voice. It scared the hell out of him if he was honest with himself, he had never felt this kind of longing to be with someone before, like he wouldn’t be complete somehow without her. He was losing his goddamn mind!

The only thing that had kept him away until now was work, it seemed to get in the way every time he thought he’d have a chance to call her up and ask her out. Now that he would be back out there in the field fighting fires again he would be even busier, and from the sounds of it Emily’s job was keeping her busier than usual too. They both had jobs that demanded they not be selfish and put other people's lives before their own, it’s the way it had always been but lately he was becoming far more aware of the personal sacrifices he had to make because of his line of work.

Liam was pulled from his thoughts as Emily and Heather fell into conversation about some virus going around, Heather appeared to be quite worried about said virus and Emily was trying to ease some of that worry away by not seeming unconcerned by it. Liam however saw something shift in her eyes as she told Heather once again not to worry but it came and went so quickly he couldn’t be certain of exactly what it had been, unease? Perhaps Emily was more worried about this virus then she was letting on to her friend.

Sam laughed, bringing Liam’s attention to his sister who was nodding in agreement to something Emily had said about being worried about him instead. “You would think. But Liam’s always been like this, stubborn with an ‘i’m made of steel attitude’.” His sister said, giving him a pointed look and daring him to argue the matter with her. Liam chuckled just a little and shook his head. “I am fine. I wouldn’t be getting the okay from the Chief if I wasn’t.” He explained, and it was true, he had healed sufficiently enough to not be in pain when he moved around and he no longer needed the pain meds Emily had prescribed him.

Emily’s phone rang diverting the attention from him which Liam was grateful for but at the same time he found himself frowning at the urgent tone in Emily’s voice as she asked the person on the other end what was going on. He sat up straighter, the rest of his coffee forgotten and listened, trying to gage what he could from the conversation. Before any of them could ask what was wrong Emily was quickly gathering her belongings and explaining she had to leave. Liam followed Heather and also stood up, his concern growing at the panicked look on the young doctors face. “Emily-” Liam didn’t get to finish his sentence before she was rushing off without another word. He had seen her rush off a few times now, but this time was different, he could sense it.

He was already pushing his chair out further, preparing to go after her even as Heather asked him too. Whatever had been said on the other end of that phone conversation had left Emily rattled and he didn’t feel it was safe for her to drive in such a distressed state. He reached into his pockets quickly and pulled out his keys, handing them to his sister. “Sorry Sis, you’ll have to finish up on your own. Take Heather home if she needs you too.” He said quickly before he too was rushing off. He didn't want to leave a pregnant woman stranded with no way home, and he knew that Sam wouldn't mind taking her home.

He wasn’t far behind Emily after she’d left the cafe but he still had to jog to catch up to her as she was almost jogging herself she was walking so damn fast. “Emily….Emily, slow down a bit.” Liam spoke as he came up beside her, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder. He could sense the desperate need she had to get back to work, it was the same desperation he had felt and that had compelled him to run into that burning building to rescue his friends...and it was dangerous.