Page 11 of Burn Protocol

“This pumper here is my baby,” Elena says before I can even ask. “She holds 2000 liters of water.”

My eyes grow large at that amount, but the lieutenant quickly shakes her head.

“It’s not that much. It only buys us five minutes so that we can hook her up to a hydrant.”

“Five minutes?” My voice sounds oddly high and surprised.

“Uhm, yeah. The water comes out at around eight bar. That’s three times the strength of a garden hose.”

There is a light crease between her brows, but there is entertainment in her eyes. It dawns on me that this is Elena’s sanctuary. It’s where she feels safe, where she is at home, and where she opens up. Even if it is only slightly. If I want to get to know her better, this is the best place to start. It is in her heart, in her soul, and it seems that this is at least one thing she does like to talk about.

“Three times doesn’t… doesn’t sound like much.”

I hold her gaze and see her eyes widen slightly with amused surprise. She tucks away a strand of hair that came loose and then shakes her head.

“You’ll hold it next training, and then you can tell me if it is enough strength or not.”

Before I can answer, a gruff-looking man walks toward us. He is as tall as a house and his bald head gleams in the cool fluorescent light of the bay. His strides are fast. Even more determined than Elena’s, and so is the way his jaw is set.

“Gonzales, are you harassing our guest?”

His voice is deep and warm. I recognize it immediately as the Chief’s. Although his words are sharp, the tone is laced with playfulness, and his grin defuses any instinctual reaction the lieutenant was about to give.

“Just giving her the tour, sir.”

He smacks her shoulder once in a friendly gesture and then nods at me. The corners of his eyes crook, and his face lightens up. He is as warm a person as he sounds.

“Miss Carter,” he says while grabbing my hand. “Captain Salisar. It is an honor to have you with us for the next three months or so.”

Elena’s eyes grow large at the mention of months instead of weeks, and her eyes flick up to meet his gaze. Salisar doesn’t see it, or simply chooses to ignore her. She is smart enough to keep her mouth shut, but the way her jaw sets tells me that I am back in the doghouse. Fuck.

“If you’ll follow me for a moment, I’ll go over some paperwork with you so that you are set up for the ride-alongs. After that, Elena can show you just how polished she keeps her precious engine inside and out.”

He turns on his heels and walks away, not even waiting to see if I will follow him. Which I do. I happily dart after him until it hits me that Elena did the exact same thing. I had scolded her in silence for it, so why didn’t it matter with the Chief? Because he’s friendly. Yeah, friendly indeed. And Elena is anything but.

***

The paperwork takes exactly five minutes. I need to sign a waiver in case I get myself injured, or worse, killed. Then I need to sign some stuff saying that I will uphold the station’s rules and guidelines and that I will follow directions from any firefighter at any given moment. Last, there is a piece of paper saying that I cannot write anything to diminish the station, its crews, or anything Bombers de Barcelona related. I am lightly insulted at that one, but scribble my name under it regardless.

Salisar nods appreciatively when I return the papers, and then leans back in his seat. His gaze holds mine, gently and softly. I must have furrowed my brow because he suddenly nods as if he is giving me an answer to a question I’ve never asked.

“I think you’ll fit right in here, Maya.”

“Thank you, sir. I would like that, but I will settle for being a fly on the wall.”

He huffs out a breath.

“Never settle, girl. If you see something you like, you go and get it. Women are told often enough that they can’t do stuff, can’t be what they want to be, simply because they are female. You of all people should know that,” he remarks, hinting at Woman at the Front.

“I do, sir…”

“Then don’t buy that stuff. You want to fit in, then you will. Go for it.”

I chuckle at his resolve and nod a few times until he seems satisfied. If only it was that easy. Then I would just simply will Elena to like me, to see me. See the real me. Not some woman running around playing reporter. If she saw who I am besides all of that, maybe she’d let me in. But according to Salisar, it is up for grabs. All I have to do is ‘take it’.

Before I can chuckle again, he gives me a brief wink. Then, as if he can read my mind, he lets out a soft sigh.

“Give her some time. I know she seems harsh, but Elena is passionate and intense. She will open up to you if you let her adapt to your presence. And once she does, she’ll be fiercely loyal.”