Shane dropped onto the couch next to Connor. He leaned back, shoving a cushion under his shoulder. They hadn’t been out on any calls since he’d arrived, and the guys had promised to help with any patients that needed lifting, but he was still going to be careful. His shoulder injury had been minor and was already well on the way to healing, but if he wrenched it again, he could be stuck on the sidelines for longer. That was something he wasn’t prepared to risk while Darryl Scranton was still out there somewhere.

He looked at his watch. Charlie would be talking with Scott by now. Shane hoped Scott would be able to calm her a little. He’d gotten the feeling she’d been doing the mental equivalent of hanging on to a ledge by her fingertips that morning. He’d considered calling the chief to say he couldn’t make it anyway and then taking Charlie to the police station himself, but in the end, he’d let her go. Skipping a shift wasn’t something he’d do unless he was practically dying himself. He’d said he’d be there, and so he would.

Besides, as much as she might white-knuckle it down to the station, when it was all said and done, he had a feeling this was something Charlie needed to do on her own. Over the last few days, he’d watched her draw into herself, almost disappear.

Not that he blamed her for that even a single bit. The happy, teasing partner Shane had fallen in love with had gone through something terrible. That was going to have an impact, and he was going to be there to help her get back on her feet. This morning, that had been letting her stand on her own and take herself to the meeting. She needed to get out of the house and ditch the feeling that evil was lurking around every corner. They’d play it safe, and wouldn’t take stupid risks, but nor would he stand by and let Charlie’s life be irreparably changed because of one asshole.

He shifted, nudging the cushion in for better support. Besides, there were far better reasons to not be sore as hell coming off shift because he hadn’t looked after himself. Tonight he had to sleep in the thin, lumpy bed in the firehouse rest area, but come 7 a.m. the next morning, he’d be out the door and on his way back to Charlie’s apartment. Maybe he could even catch her before she woke up.

He frowned. That was a point. They’d been in such a rush that morning, neither of them had remembered that Charlie would be coming back to an empty house while Shane was still on shift until tomorrow morning. He reached down and pulled his phone out of his pocket, checking the time again. Would she be out by now? Maybe he’d just drop her a text. Perhaps meeting with Scott would prove to her that Shane was right about everyone just wanting to help, that no one held her responsible for any of this insanity. Then she could come stay with him at the house overnight. If not, maybe Meg would put her up, or Sloane could organize a sleepover. He smiled. Crappy movies and junk food plus time with friends would give Charlie exactly what she needed.

He’d just clicked his home button to unlock the phone and bring up his texts when it buzzed in his hand. Another smile spread across his face. It was a text from Charlie. The smile didn’t last long as his eyes scanned the incoming message.

In accident. Car fucked. Bring

Bring what? If she could send the text, then she likely wasn’t too badly hurt. She hadn’t made a call to dispatch or even 911, so things couldn’t be too bad. Still, when was the world going to cut her a break? He closed the message and tapped into his contacts, bringing up her number. He’d give her a call and find out what state the car was in. If it wasn’t drivable, perhaps Mason would be up for a quick trip out to pick her up. Charlie might be a little apprehensive about seeing them right now, but even she wouldn’t turn down a free ride back in the engine over waiting up to an hour for the tow truck.

The phone rang, going to her voicemail. Virtual-Charlie giggling in his ear made him smile. She’d set the message a couple of weeks before. They’d been waiting in traffic to get back to the house after dropping a patient off at the hospital. She’d been happy, laughing, and making fun of him. They’d get there again. Things would be good again, except this time they’d be great because of what they’d found with each other. Despite everything they’d been through in the past few weeks, it had brought him and Charlie together.

But first, he had to find her, make sure she was okay, and then bring her back to the house, where he’d wrap her up in his arms and ply her with chocolate. And possibly kisses, depending on how much they could get away with back in the bunk room.

Voicemail. Again. Shane braced his good arm on the armrest of the couch and pushed up, walking down the hall to Mason’s office. “Captain? Have we got time for a run?”

Mason looked up from his paperwork. “What’s up, Shane?”

Shane pulled out his phone. Now, standing in front of his boss, he felt a little stupid. Charlie was fine. She had to be. But then something niggled at him, deep down in his gut. Seth had flown out of the house like a bat out of hell a couple of months prior when he was worried Maya had run into trouble, and Mason had covered for him. He tapped at the screen to bring up Charlie’s message and then held his phone out. “Got that about five minutes ago and now she won’t pick up.”

Mason read the message, his forehead wrinkling. “Shane, I can’t really leave without a call right now, not with Chief in the hospital.”

Shane’s gut twisted again, but Mason was right. He couldn’t drag everyone out on a hunch. But that didn’t mean he couldn’t just go. It would probably mean a reprimand, maybe even a sanction with pay docking, but he was going out there to find her.

“That doesn’t mean you can’t.” Huh? Mason was encouraging him to leave midshift? His face must have reflected his amazement, because Mason chuckled. “Grab Kyle and take the rig. You’ll hear over the radio if any calls come in.”

Shane didn’t need to be told twice. He grabbed his phone and turned around, yelling out a thank you over his shoulder. Mason saluted him. “Let me know immediately once you find her.” That wasn’t even a question. Every single person at 81 would be there for him or Charlie in a heartbeat. They already had. Now she just had to figure that out. First step was finding her, and then bringing her back.

Shane spotted Kyle in the seat on the couch he’d vacated and threw the keys at him. He’d let him drive, while he kept dialing Charlie’s phone. “Let’s roll.”