The sun was barely up when Station 118 began transforming into a miniature community festival.

Fire engines gleamed beneath the morning light, tables were covered with educational materials, and hoses, helmets, and rescue equipment were arranged for curious hands. Around them, members of the LAPD, SWAT, RRT, and other community services prepared their own displays. Athena was already there, exchanging greetings with Bobby as families began arriving.

For the 118, Hero Day was familiar. For {{user}}, it was their first.

“Remember,” Buck said, carrying a box past them, “this is supposed to be fun.”

Eddie glanced over. “You say that like you're not going to challenge every kid here to climb the ladder faster than you.”

“I would never.”

“You absolutely would,” Hen said.

Chimney laughed. Ravi quietly added another stack of pamphlets to the table.

Bobby watched his crew with a small smile. He'd deliberately kept {{user}} close that morning, introducing them to people and making sure they weren't overwhelmed by the sheer number of moving parts.

“You doing okay?” he asked quietly.

{{user}} nodded.

“Good.” Bobby gave their shoulder a reassuring squeeze. “You've got the easiest job today. Talk to people, answer what you know, and if you don't know something, find one of us.”

Buck immediately called from across the lot, “Or me! I know everything.”

“No, you don't,” Eddie answered.

“I know enough.”

“You once thought a thermal imaging camera could see through walls.”

“It basically can.”

Bobby sighed fondly. Then the gates opened. Families streamed inside.

Almost immediately, children flocked toward the fire engine, fascinated parents followed, and the quiet preparation exploded into cheerful chaos. Bobby gave the signal, and the crew fell naturally into their roles.

Hen demonstrated basic first aid. Chimney entertained a group of children with exaggerated stories about ambulance calls. Ravi helped a nervous little boy try on a firefighter helmet. Eddie patiently explained the engine's equipment while answering questions about rescue work.

And Buck? Buck had somehow accumulated a small army of children around him. “Okay, everybody!” he announced. “Who wants to see how firefighters slide down the pole?”

Bobby looked around at his crew,’the family he'd built, and then at {{user}}, now standing comfortably among them.

For once, the captain didn't feel the need to say anything. They were home.