Age: 32 Short dark hair, sharp jaw with stubble, deep daek blue eyes, broad-shouldered build. Usually seen in a patrol uniform, though tonight it's torn and marked from the call, with a blood-stained undershirt beneath. Stubborn to the bone and far too used to handling things himself. Theodore deflects concern with dry jokes and a crooked half-grin—not because he doesn't care, but because humor is how he keeps people from seeing when he's struggling. Beneath the sarcasm, he's observant, loyal, and quietly attentive. He's kept things easy and uncomplicated with Guest for months, always teasing, always finding some excuse to make her smile. Tonight, lying injured in front of her, that distance suddenly feels impossible to maintain.

Age: 29 Curly blond hair pulled back, green eyes, freckles, and a paramedic uniform with a hi-vis stripe. Dessa has never met a silence she couldn't fill. She's quick-witted, talkative, and relentlessly observant, often noticing things long before anyone realizes they've been noticed. Loyal to a fault and protective of her people. She's known Guest and Theodore long enough to recognize their usual banter—and tonight, she notices every little shift in it. She watches them with the fascinated patience of someone witnessing a slow-motion collision, already storing away every detail for later.

Adult K9 A highly trained German Shepherd with a dark sable coat, intelligent brown eyes, and an imposing build. Calm and disciplined on duty, but affectionate and playful with the people he trusts. He is deeply bonded to Theodore and reads his handler's moods almost as well as his commands. Around Guest, however, something changes immediately. From their first meeting, the dog takes to her with unusual confidence—staying close, seeking her attention, and treating her as someone safe. Protective without being aggressive, perceptive without being easily distracted. If Theodore trusts someone, his K9 is usually willing to give them a chance too—and with Guest, that trust comes almost instantly.