Be careful. Tucker’s unspoken concern was right there. His furrowed forehead reflected all Luis’s worry from the day before, and it was both humbling and reassuring to know that Tucker cared as deeply as he did.
Always am. Luis tried to reassure him with a nod as he held his gaze. He enjoyed being out in the field, loved the adrenaline rush that reminded him of his years on the line, but for the first time in a long time, he had an added reason to return safely.
It was hours before they saw each other again, his data and recommendations paving the way for some cautious ground crews to move in followed by tense hours of monitoring them. The snags were an ever-present concern, and he wouldn’t tell Tucker how close he personally came to a few of the spot fires. Smoke singed his eyes and lungs, and his muscles burned from all the moving around.
As the light started to slip from the evening sky, he finally got a chance to stretch his back and head to the food truck. But he didn’t even have to get in line because Tucker was already there, holding out a sandwich for him.
“Got you one. There’s a place we can sit over here. How are you holding up?”
“Fine.” Luis took a seat on a flat rock next to him, enough away from the line of hungry crew members and scattered clumps of people that they could speak freely. “Back’s a bit tight and not looking forward to a tent tonight, but we need to monitor the overnight developments and get an early start.”
“Yup, we’ll move crews in at dawn if possible.” Tucker nodded. “I grabbed an extra camping pad when I got my gear. You can have it. Maybe double the cushioning will help your back?”
“Thanks.” Luis wasn’t too proud to turn down the offer of assistance. “And yeah, that may help. It’s holding one position too long that really gets me. That and lifting heavy loads, but that’s why I moved into this job. I just couldn’t deal with the gear we had to haul on the front lines.”
“Wish we were alone. I’d rub it for you. You could tell me what to do,” Tucker said idly.
Luis liked how that was probably a genuine desire to ease his pain and not a pretext for sex. And there was none of that macho “I know what you need” bullshit either—Tucker’s willingness to take direction both on and off the job was one of his most appealing characteristics. As his earlier competence had more than demonstrated, he was capable of being the one in charge, but he also wasn’t too proud to defer to others.
“I might take you up on that later.”
“Good. Do that. Now, what’s your early feel for how this started? Are we looking at another arson case?” Tucker leaned forward, as animated about the job as he’d been all day, with an unflagging energy level that Luis admired.
“At first glance, the fast spread would seem to go against the pattern of smaller fires, but I think this might be related. Nearby hiking trail, very early morning ignition, another anonymous report for the authorities to investigate that I’ll put money on leading to a burner phone. I’m hoping to get closer to the ignition area tomorrow, look for more of the same patterns I’ve seen at the other sites with the placement of fuel. I’ll be reviewing the data and evidence in the coming days, see what’s worth turning over to authorities to see if any leads are promising.”
“Good. Glad we’re keeping you busy.” There was a certain wistfulness to Tucker’s tone, like he was grateful Luis had reason to stay, but he knew it wouldn’t last.
Glancing around quickly, Luis patted his hand. “I’m here as long as they need me.” He couldn’t promise to stay forever, and they were hardly at a point where he could make other sorts of promises, even if part of him wanted to do just that.
One of the administrative staff came striding toward them. “There’s a meeting in five.”
“On our way.” Tucker shot Luis a regretful look as he stood, then offered Luis a hand up.
Luis’s tight back muscles appreciated the assistance even if he did hate feeling nine hundred years old some days. If he was lucky, he might end up in a tent with Tucker later, and maybe some of his boundless energy could make its way to Luis, sustain him for what was likely to be a long day ahead tomorrow. Working together was far more satisfying than he could have predicted, having a common purpose, but also having someone at his side, looking out for him, bringing him sandwiches and extra bedding and listening to him bounce theories around. He’d been prepared to miss Tucker on a personal level, but now he saw that he’d miss him professionally as well, and he needed to figure out how to cope with that added layer of emotions.