Shiny, Shiny Gold

Maeve in the episode treasure hunt

Interesting call today.

A call about someone stuck on a cliff, and someone else found out because of a message in a bottle. "Alright Chimney, Eddie, gear up! You're going with them!" Bobby announced, pointing at the helicopter that just landed.

Maeve patted Buck's back, knowing that he felt disappointed he couldn't do the mission on the helicopter.

"Better luck next time, Buckaroo." She smiled.

"Easy for you to say, you go every time."

"Try being a shapeshifter first, then."

Maeve shape-shifted into a dragon and followed after the helicopter, scanning the ground for any signs of human remains.

Or just humans.

And sure enough, there was a hiker stuck on a cliff. He had a tent set up and was waving to the helicopter, trying to get its attention.

Maeve flew down to him and shape-shifted back as soon as she landed. Eddie lowered down a minute later and they both helped the guy.

His leg was fractured bad and he had been here for days. Eddie brought him up to the helicopter and they returned to the base. Apparently, the guy had a phone but he didn't want to call for help yet.

He stayed because of some treasure.

"Did he say treasure?" Buck asked.

Good question.

...

The story was that some famous writer buried 5 million dollars worth of treasure somehwere in the city before he died. He left a poem for people as a clue to help them find it, sending the city into a frenzy.

Taylor was covering it on the news.

"I walked along the river's edge to hide my secret treasure." Chimney said, reading the poem off his phone.

"This poem's terrible."

"It is.." Maeve nodded, sitting on Bobby's lap as she also read from the captain's phone. "A heron soared, a grey bridge roared, a bullfrog croaked, good measure. It's less of a poem, and more of a riddle." Bobby stated.

"Fine, it's a terrible riddle."

"I stopped beneath a willow tree in the narrow place. And then I saw the light beam fall upon my treasured place." Hen read.

"The guy on the cliff- he was asking about willow trees." The youngest firefighter pointed out. "A real-life treasure hunt. Wouldn't it be-..." But Buck was interrupted by the rest of the 118.

"Dangerous."

"Reckless."

"Stupid."

"Probably not even real."

"Fake."

"But what if it isn't fake?" Buck beamed. "How cool would it be to find it?"

"you know, this poem thing is getting a lot of traffic."

"Which means our friend Clyde is likely not the last emergency we are gonna from this treasure hunt." Bobby concluded, patting Maeve's head.

"Your girlfriend's story not gonna help out with that." Eddie mused. Buck swore that Taylor is not his girlfriend but Maeve knew that she was.

Everyone got up to get some snacks, and Maeve heard Buck talking to Taylor on the phone.

Master of eavesdropping because of her advanced hearing.

He was teaming up with Taylor.

Ouch, not her or Eddie?

The young firefighter had no intentions of finding the treasure anyways. But, she always liked a puzzle.

It's how she kept herself busy at the lab anyways, she was good at them.

She wanted a partner though, someone to help.

So, the shapeshifter had an idea.

She was gonna watch the team closely. Her theory is that Taylor and Buck would team up with Eddie, Hen with Chim and Bobby with Athena.

So... if she was right, there was one more person left.

...

The days were filled of calls, all about the treasure chest.

Someone with a bear statue on them, someone who stole construction equipment to dig, and many more.

The things people do for money.

Maybe it was because Maeve was a kid, but doing all this for money was kind of idiotic. But in the end, she was right.

Eddie teamed up with Buck, just as she thought.

And she wasn't super surprised to see Eddie and Buck talking to Ravi, gathering information like a couple of low-grade spies. She was watching from on top of the fire engine and noticed that Hen and Chimney were watching them too.

Another theory proven correct.

There was a call about a guy that stepped into a whole colony and Maeve could hear Hen and Chimney ask the guy why he was looking here.

Amateurs.

And then, there was Bobby.

He bought a whiteboard after work, making Maeve give him questioning looks. "Don't tell your mother." He whispered and Maeve nodded, she had to be his mini sidekick anyways.

He worked on it all day, trying to figure out where the treasure was. Until suddenly, the door opened and Bobby rushed to hide the whiteboard outside.

Maeve ran to the living room and embraced Athena, who had just come home.

"Hey baby." She cooed, picking up the young girl. "I was uh- just making some breakfast." Bobby said from the kitchen.

"Sounds great."

She went into the kitchen and Bobby had just rolled the whiteboard outside. "What was that?" Athena asked, placing Maeve on the counter.

"Uh, it's just a project that I'm working on."

Bobby wasn't the best liar, even his truths sounded like a lie. "You want some French toast? I'ma make you some french toast." He said, dodging the subject.

All too quickly.

But Athena didn't buy it and went to open the door.

Once she saw the whiteboard, she turned back to Bobby with an annoyed expression.

"Busted." Maeve winced.

"Not you too." Bobby took the whiteboard into the kitchen and flew into an explanation on where everything was.

Maeve didn't stay around, all she did was sneak Bobby's phone and herself into her room.

Bobby and Ravi private chat

Today 3:23 pm

Bobby: hey Ravi!

Ravi: What have you done with Cap, he doesn't talk like dis

Bobby: it's Maeve, I stole his phone. >:3

Ravi: Oh hey Maeve :3

Bobby: Can we meet?

Ravi: sure!

Maeve deleted the chat quickly and kept Bobby's phone in his room before grabbing her bag and heading out the door. "I'm gonna go to the park!" She told Bobby and Athena.

"Alright, be safe, bye."

Good thing they didn't bat an eye at the park. Maeve loved the place, she would spend hours at that place. But the shapeshifter had other plans.

She flew over to Ravi's and knocked on his door.

"Hey Maeve!"

"Hey probie!" She chuckled, high-fiving him. Ever since they met, Maeve and Ravi developed some sort of friendship.

They were the best of friends.

"What do you need, partner?" He asked, getting them some water. "The treasure thing. You wanna help me go look for it?"

"Really? The thing that's got the city in total chaos?"

"Yeah! I'm not doing it for the money, I just like puzzles."

"We can split it 2 ways, that's like..." But Maeve already did the math. "2 million 5 hundred thousand. I'll just give my share to Bobby."

"Alright then, where do you think it will be?"

"Honestly, I don't know. What I do know is that people keep getting hurt because of it..."

"Harcourt died in his sleep so maybe he buried the place somewhere that's not too dangerous."

"Well, the city was his-... wait a minute..." Ravi paused, suddenly getting an idea. "What is it?" Maeve tilted her head. The other firefighter got out his computer and started researching something.

Then, he pulled out a map and laid it on the table.

"Alright, Hallorann's books are all set in the city, right?"

"Yeah?"

"So maybe it's not in the canyons or resorts... maybe it's right in the middle-.."

"Of the city..." Maeve gasped, pointing at the map. "Exactly. Willow trees, bullfrogs and a grey bridge roaring."

"All we need to do is find a list of grey bridges. One of them would have to have the treasure!" The shapeshifter smiled. The other firefighter smiled back, but stopped for a moment.

"Be honest with me, Buck and Eddie collecting information from me earlier, weren't they?"

"... Yes."

"Assholes... Oh, uh- I didn't mean to..." And Maeve laughed, it was funny how scared people were of Bobby.

"It's fine, I keep secrets pretty well."

"Why are you teaming up with me and not Buck or Hen or your Dad?" Ravi asked, taking a sip of water.

"Well, they left me in the dark too so... plus, you're my friend!"

"Aww, thank you!" The probationary firefighter chuckled. "Now, let's get that list of bridges."

...

The next day, a call came in from another person trying to find the treasure.

A lady stuck in a septic tank.

The place also confirmed Maeve's theory. No grey bridge roaring, so it definitely wasn't here.

Though, Buck smelled horrible by the end of the mission.

Blech.

Of course, the day wasn't complete without the revelation that Harcourt was alive.

Great.

So much for the treasure.

But Maeve still wasn't doing it for the money, she just wanted a puzzle. She sneaked out of the conversation and headed downstairs to see Ravi by the lockers.

"Hey Rav." She greeted him at his locker.

"So much for the treasure, huh." He sighed, clearly disappointed.

"Yup, I guess so. But doesn't mean we stop, right? We can just solve the puzzle and have fun." Maeve shrugged.

"But it may not be real so why bother searching?"

"Because I still think it is."

As Athena texted Bobby the news, she noticed that the sergeant mentioned a book called Gutted in Glendale.

Bingo.

Later that night, as Bobby went for his grocery run just before Athena got home, the shapeshifter flew over to Glendale Narrows.

And there he was.

Jeremiah, the assistant.

Shovelling gold into his bag, wow, it really was real. Maeve landed on the tree, shaking it and startling the poor man. "Oh god, don't eat me." He sobbed, thinking that Maeve was a monster.

"What?" The young firefighter questioned, shape-shifting back into a little girl. "Oh.. you're just a kid... and you also found the treasure... how?"

"Well, I never did it for the money, just wanted a puzzle. My friends wanted the money, and I was just gonna give them mine."

Jeremiah looked at the girl and back at the treasure, was he about to be as greedy as Harcourt? Or was he gonna be better than that?

"I-I... well um, sorry kid but... I got it first... I can split it with you?"

"Oh, I was just gonna ask for a couple of coins..."

"Oh... uh, sure, how many do you need?"

...

Maeve returned home just in time, walking through the door as Bobby and Athena were getting ready.

"I'm home!" She announced.

"Hey kid." Bobby greeted, coming out of his room. Maeve went to her room and put down the bag before going back out. "Where are you guys going?" The young firefighter asked as the couple was going towards the door.

"Come with us, we'll show you."

Much to Maeve's humour, her parents had just realised where to look for the treasure.

"The Glendale Narrows. That's what they call this part of the river." Athena said, getting out the car.

"Wait, you mean this concrete channel of water in it? I keep telling everyone that this is not a river." Bobby argued, holding Maeve's hand.

And of course, Buck, Eddie, Hen and Chimney showed up too.

"Seriously?" Buck exclaimed.

"Well, so much for giving up." Maeve said, still holding Bobby's hand. "I can't believe you guys. I. thought we'd all agreed to stop looking."

"And yet here we all are."

"Did you two really bring your gear?" Maeve hadn't noticed Buck and Eddie holding their bags of equipment until Chimney pointed it out.

"Wasn't sure what the terrain would be like. Wanted to be ready.." Eddie answered, making Athena scoff.

"Hey, they brought their med kits." He pointed out, like a child. "This treasure hunt has been nothing but medical rescues and injuries." Hen retorted.

"I was not about to become one of them."

"Hey-! Plus, Bobby brought a weapon!" Chimney pointed at Maeve and the shapeshifter rolled her eyes.

"Really?"

"W-Well, I just thought that since she was also part of the team and-.."

"He brought me because I am a weapon." Maeve interrupted Bobby, turning to him with an unamused expression. "... and also because you are part of the team."

"There it is."

Before anyone started arguing, Bobby cut through the conversation about how everyone figured it out.

"Guys, guys, it's 5 million dollars. So we split it 6 ways."

"Nuh uh, 5." Maeve shook her head. "You can keep the money, I just wanted a puzzle."

"Okay then, 5."

"7." Eddie butted in.

Turns out, even Taylor and her cameraman needed a cut because of a pre-existing deal.

Eh, they both can share Taylor's coin, Maeve thought.

"Cameraman with no name gets a cut?" Chimney asked. "No, no, no.."

"Okay, I don't think anyone that isn't physically here should get a cut." Hen concluded. However, Taylor was here.

Her helicopter had just pulled up.

"Okay, I don't know the exact math here but that's enough!"

"It's 714285.714" Maeve and Buck said simultaneously. "I'm not sure what to do with the point 4." Buck said.

"You can keep ours. We found the treasure, so let's go enjoy it. Together, come on." Bobby smiled, picking Maeve up.

They went to the little islands and of course, Ravi was already there.

"Guys! I found the treasure!" He exclaimed, pointing at the chest in the ground, and everyone stared in disbelief. "What's 5 million divided by 8?" Eddie asked.

"625000 dollars." Maeve answered, waving at her friend.

Ravi brought the chest up, and everyone circled around, awaiting the moment they open it.

"It's lighter than I thought. I'm guessing it was a check, not the actual jewels because who would be dumb enough to do that?" Ravi chuckled.

He was just teasing them by talking a lot, because he knew how long they were waiting.

Finally, they opened the chest and....

It was empty.

"You have got to be kidding me." Hen cursed, and Maeve could feel the anger radiating off the firefighters around her.

"I think we need to have a word with Mr Harcourt."

...

Everyone showed up to the writer's mansion, and the gate was wide open.

Never a good sign.

"I'm gonna go in and check it out. You all wait here." Athena instructed, walking towards the open door.

"You're not going in there alone." Bobby said.

"We're coming with you, Athena." Hen argued, but Athena refused.

"Do any of you have a badge... and a gun?" She asked, pulling out her weapon. Obviously, no one replied.

"That's what I thought..."

Athena went inside and of course, no one listened to her. They all went in, and saw Athena standing over Harcourt's body.

Looks like that was the ending to his book.

"Oh my god. Is he dead?" Ravi asked, alerting Athena of their presence. "Most likely murdered." Chimney answered.

"Didn't I say to wait outside? Why do you people never listen?"

That question was answered by the sound of police cars entering the estate. "So that we could be your alibi?" Hen shrugged.

Hen was right.

The police lined the team outside, and Rick, the detective that worked with Athena, was questioning them.

"So you all found an empty treasure chest.. drove down here like an angry mob to confront him, now he's dead. But these facts are unrelated to each other?"

Woah, coincidences do exist.

"Rick, he was dead when he got here." Athena informed. "We didn't kill him."

"We just wanted to." Buck answered, and Maeve elbowed him. "Buck." Bobby warned, turning to him with a face that read 'are you stupid?'

"You're new." Rick said to Ravi, who nodded.

"Yeah. Uh, but I'm not with them, really... I'm more with her, I barely know these guys." He pointed to Maeve.

Everyone bent over to look at him, and Maeve bent over too, to give them a smug smile.

Another police officer came out, saying that they pulled the security camera and it wasn't them. Athena gave Rick a knowing look, and the detective passed her gun back.

"I didn't actually think it was, I was just.. I was just doing my job. And maybe enjoying the moment a little."

Apparently, the person who saw him as he died was a pregnant lady whose husband almost died trying to get the treasure for his family.

The next day, Bobby invited everyone (including Taylor and Ravi) over for breakfast, and everyone, as usual were discussing the hunt.

"So why bury an empty treasure chest?" Hen asked.

"He didn't." Ravi replied, leaning back on his chair. "What? We got there and there was no treasure." Eddie said.

"That is true, but..." Ravi gestured to Maeve who was sitting next to him, looking smug. "Hollis did bury treasure."

"But the assistant, Jeremiah got to it after hearing about what Mama and Harcourt talked about so he took the money and is now in the Maldives."

"It's true." Athena confirmed, looking impressed.

"Okay, but how do you know?" Buck asked confusedly and Maeve picked up her bag that was on the ground.

"I got there when he was taking the treasure and managed to snag 17 coins."

Everyone just stared at her, dumbfounded.

"I got two coins per person, one for me, two for the rest of you, including Taylor and one coin for Denny and one for Chris." She explained.

She opened her bag, and there were a few gold coins.

"I played dumb last night while my partner searched. I gave her places to search and voila, the one good team of the 118."

Ravi and Maeve high fived each other and everyone was still staring at them with shocked looks.

"... So does anyone-..."

"Me!"

"I do!"

"Thank you so much!"

"Yup, best decision I ever made was adopting you."

"That's so sweet."