What if Tim and Lucy's crash in 2x17 was worse, but also brings them a little more together? (Because that new firefighter is cute, but definitely not our OTP)

What the fuck just happened?

It's the first thought in Tim Bradford's mind as he comes to after the pickup truck broadsided their shop. His second is of Chen.

He blinks the world back into focus and pivots to check on his rookie, the movement causing broken glass to fall off his uniform. Her eyes are closed, a wound bloody on her forehead.

"Chen. You okay?"

There is no way he can lose her, not again, especially not to some low-level drug runner. She survived Caleb only to be taken down by this? His heart is racing, and the adrenaline has nothing to do with the impact of the accident. He tells himself that his worry over her is a totally normal reaction.

The relief he feels when she opens her eyes is palpable.

He reaches for the door frame, forgetting for a moment that it's covered in shards of his window. Pulling himself to standing, he winces and glances down at his right hand. He needs to radio Harper to let her know that the vehicle got away. A quick radio call follows and he lets the Detective know that they've lost Ripper.

Worse than that, He can smell gasoline. A look down shows a growing fuel spill, one that could ignite at any second. Tim needs to get Lucy from the shop before it blows.

"Boot!" The answering groan tells him that she likely can't get out of the suv on her own. He races around the vehicle and reaches inside the broken window to pop her door.

"Tim…" Lucy's soft voice moans. Her eyes are bleary. Damnit. She probably has a concussion.

"I got you, Boot." Tim pushes the deflated airbag out of the way and reaches across her to unhook her seatbelt. Thankfully it immediately releases. He slips an arm under her knees and one behind her back and lifts her from the car. She leans against his chest, pressing her face into his neck. He hates himself a little for finding pleasure in it.

Out of the corner of his eye he can see the puddle getting larger, and he holds onto Chen a little bit tighter and picks up the pace, making sure to go upwind. He knows too well how hot a gasoline-based fire burns, and there's no way in hell he wants them by it. And now he knows there's definitely glass in his hand - it hurts like a bitch, but he tightens his grip on her leg anyway. He's grateful she can't see the grimace he knows is on his face.

Eventually he figures they're far enough away and eases Lucy to her feet, keeping an arm around her back while he reaches for his radio.

"7-Adam-19, I've got a Code 30. 10-52"

Dispatch responds immediately. "Copy that, 7-Adam-19. Sending ambulance to your location now."

Only seconds later an explosion rips through the air, the force of which sends both Tim and Lucy to the ground. So much for being far enough away from the vehicle. He does his best to turn and take the brunt of the fall.

"If you were tired of holding me up, you could've just said something. You didn't have to throw me to the ground." Lucy's mumbles into his neck. Tim had never been more happy to hear Lucy's insubordinate snark.

Lucy's body is half on his. He knows he needs to get them back to at least seated, check them both for any additional injuries, but instead he reaches up alongside her side, letting the touch reassure him that they were both okay. It's nothing sexual, instead, it's comforting. He's been tamping down his feelings for so long, but every once in a while he realizes how deep he really is. He is so screwed.

His fingers trail off her shoulder and reach once more for his radio.

"This is 7-Adam-19, we're gonna need you to send LAFD too. Our shop just exploded."

"10-4, 7-Adam-19."

Tim gets them both sitting up and Lucy over to the curb, further away than he'd originally planned since he can feel the heat of the fire on his neck.

The fire rages, and Tim stares at it, beating himself up. He should've taken into account that they'd just refilled the tank before heading out on overtime.

A rare silence stretches between them. Tim takes his eyes off the inferno that is their shop for two seconds and looks back at Lucy. Her eyes seem to be taking longer and longer to open after each blink.

"C'mon, Boot. You gotta stay awake. You probably have a concussion"

"I will stay awake if you sit by me, instead of pacing until the ambulance arrives."

Knowing he can never argue with her, he folds himself down to the curb beside her. The concrete isn't comfortable, but he's waited in worse places. She immediately leans her head onto his shoulder, which makes him smile. He should probably encourage her to stay awake again, but he can't bring himself to disturb her.

He can hear sirens in the distance. They'll get there soon, but in the meantime, he just enjoys sitting in silence with his Boot.