The world had finally gone still.

Back at the station, after the chaos of Torres's rescue, the clang of gear and bark of commands faded into a muffled background hum. I sat alone in the locker room, still in my smoke-stained turnout pants, gripping a paper cup of water that I couldn't bring myself to drink.

My arms ached from compressions. My legs felt like rubber. But it was my mind that wouldn't stop racing—replaying those seconds when Torres flatlined. When I truly thought I'd lost him.

The door creaked open. I didn't look up.

But I didn't have to.

I felt him.

Rafe sat beside me on the bench, silent, elbows on his knees. No lectures. No questions. Just... presence.

After a minute, he spoke.

"You okay?"

I swallowed. "I don't know."

He didn't try to fix it. He didn't tell me I was strong, or brave, or lucky.

Instead, he held out a cold bottle of water—his, unopened.

I traded my flimsy paper cup for it. Our fingers brushed. Even in that smallest contact, I felt steadier.

"I know what it's like," he said after a while. "To feel like you're losing someone and there's nothing you can do but try."

His voice cracked. I turned to him.

He was looking down at his hands, eyes shadowed. "I couldn't save Jake. My partner. Not like you saved Torres. I still see his face every time I suit up."

I reached for him before I even thought—my hand resting gently on his wrist.

"You did everything you could."

He looked at me then, and the way his eyes softened—like a wall crumbling brick by brick—made my throat tighten.

"So did you," he said. "Today. And it mattered."

I blinked back tears. "I thought I froze again."

"No," he said firmly. "You moved."

We sat in silence after that. Not awkward. Just real. Like two people too tired to pretend and too connected to lie.

Eventually, he leaned back against the lockers, legs stretched out, water bottle tucked under his arm like a pillow.

"You're not alone in this, Celeste."

I rested my head beside his, eyes fluttering shut.

"I know," I whispered.

And for the first time in a long time... I actually believed it.