Owen Strand

"*I have three commitments to my people. Everybody who clocks in will also clock out, everybody gets a fair shake, and no one, and I mean no one, gets left behind when it comes to skincare.*"
—Owen Strand[src]

**Owen Strand** is the protagonist of FOX's *9-1-1: Lone Star* who is a former Manhattan firefighter that relocated to Austin, Texas with his son, TK Strand. He debuts in the first episode of the first season and is portrayed by starring cast member Rob Lowe.

## History

### Early life

Owen was born in Santa Monica, California. When he was 12, he and his 10-year-old brother, Tyler headed to LA County Beach to teach him the basics of surfing. Despite Tyler's telling him he is ready to go into the waves, Owen tells him he is still too young but promises that he'll do it next year, before going in the water to surf himself. Tyler follows him, promising he would follow his instructions. Owen agrees, letting his brother in the water, and finding him a small wave for him to surf on. Unfortunately, Owen does not notice the wave is much bigger than anticipated and quickly tells his brother to swim back but is too late as Tyler is sucked under the wave. He panics and runs back to the shore, finding his unconscious brother washed up near the pier. He runs and finds a lifeguard, and she instructs him to call 9-1-1. The coast guard is able to take him to the hospital, where he meets his parents. His father, Walter, assures his son he did the right thing, while Catherine, his mother is worried about how long Tyler was in the water. When the couple go see the doctor, Owen overhears that Tyler did not survive, devastating the family. A tearful Owen then turns to the hospital wall, seeing a painting of a clown, sparking his coulrophobia.

The grief of losing Tyler eventually tore the family apart, leading Caroline to decide to move to New York with a reluctant Owen. He refuses to go and begs Walter to fight for them to stay together. Walter tells him to go with his mother and he tearfully looks on as they leave in the car, turning away and becoming angry, feeling abandoned. As a result of blaming himself for breaking up the family, Owen begins to build up anger issues that would last him into late adulthood.

A few years later, while working as a lifeguard in East Hampton during the summer, Owen was on duty, when he saw a little girl and her mother swimming beyond the buoys. Before he could blow his whistle, a riptide caught them both and they were pulled under. The mother came up, but her daughter didn't. Owen rescued them both, but the little girl began to turn blue. His training as a lifeguard automatically kicked in, reviving the little girl with CPR and mouth to mouth. Realizing that being of service is a way to give his life some meaning, he drops out of law school three months later and joins the fire academy. At some point between those times, he met his first wife, Gwyneth who was also studying law and they were married, having a son, Tyler Kennedy, named after his brother.

Years later, Owen was present at ground zero during 9/11 with his crew, Station 252 in Lower Manhattan as the buildings came down. As the South tower fell, the heat became so intense, that metal melted but the crew went in regardless, tragically killing most of them except for Owen. A total of 343 firefighter's lives were lost that day, 14 from Station 252. After the events, he rebuilt the station from scratch and kept a piece of the building on his desk as a reminder of the tragedy.

Often times after the tragedy, he would stay late behind at the firehouse to help console any of his members having a rough time. He started drinking a lot and his absence would lead to arguments with Gwyneth, and her growing tired of him using the tragedy as an excuse, notably missing TK's sixth birthday. The first night he slept on the couch, Gwyn still made sure he wasn't cold by putting a blanket over him and telling him she loved him.

The night he moved out of their house, Gwyn told him he "sucked the joy out of their family and out of her" and Owen told her to get over it. He also insulted the family bird Ginsburg when it protested. Then, they told each other they needed some space, which ended up in Owen moving out. They divorced soon after that.

In between this time, Owen also remarried to a woman called Lorraine, but got divorced shortly after calling the marriage a "mistake". Owen mentions that he pretended to be sad when she asked for a divorce.

### Diagnosis

Years later, when TK becomes an adult, he works with his father at Station 252, the same one he rebuilt. During a rescue, TK tells him he intended to propose to his boyfriend, Alex. Owen expressed his concern that the two had not even moved in together yet. TK assured things will be okay, and he had already bought the ring. Owen approved the proposal but notably begins coughing. Owen tells a worried TK not to worry, as it was probably just a viral thing and goes to the doctors to get some antibiotics.

Unfortunately, Owen finds out that it was not a virus, but his doctor says it was rather tumors at stage 1B for lung cancer. Owen denies any exposure near any risks but learns that as a result of being at ground zero, by the 20th-anniversary of 9/11, more survivors that day and during the cleanup will get sick or die than those who were killed on the day itself. Owen asks if he was going to die, but the doctor reassures that this was the best-case scenario to be diagnosed now. He finds out he can work, and the numbers are on his side for survival, but to let this be a time to reflect on his life and see if things are what he wants them to be, as the hardest part of the condition was more of the psychological effect. He worries that he would not make it in time for TK's wedding, but the doctor tells him they would try their best to make sure it happens. Later that night, he goes to the 9/11 memorial to reflect and think things over.

### Relocating to Texas

In the morning, still distracted by his thoughts, he arrives to work and meets Beth Healy from the Department of Justice, and Deputy Fire Chief Alden Radford to come down to Austin, Texas and rebuild Station 126, a station that had just suffered a tragedy six months prior from scratch just as he did in Manhattan. Owen questions why the Department of Justice was involved, and she tells him there had been an inclusivity issue down in Austin, where the Civil Rights division got involved. Though Strand is confused about why they didn't hire someone diverse if the department focused on it, Radford tells him they needed him, as an outsider who understood how much the community would heal if he rebuilt the house. Owen denies the offer, but Radford gives him his card in case he changes his mind.

After they leave, Owen asks a co-worker where TK was, and she tells him he hasn't come in yet. A worried Owen shows up to his apartment, knocking on the door to no answer. Suddenly concerned, he calls in a crew to bring in a battering ram to open the door, and finds TK on the floor, having overdosed on oxycontin. Horrified, he tries to wake him up and the crew successfully does. TK wakes up and tries to apologize to his father, as he comforts him.

A little while later, the two of them talk, with Owen questioning his son where he got the pills from, and if this was his first relapse. TK tells him he hadn't touched a pill for years up until then, and that the opioid crisis made him get the pills easily. TK tells Owen that Alex was in love with someone else, and they broke up before he could propose. Owen comforts him, and TK asks if he had to report this to the department, worrying that he could be suspended. Owen tells him the entire crew was there and they used the battering ram, but is convinced to report as an accidental overdose. Owen tells him in exchange that it would be a 'tough love' deal with TK from now on, it starts with telling him to go to therapy twice a week, with a therapist he chooses, and for him to pack his bags, as he takes the deal to relocate to Texas.

As soon as they arrive, they go to the station building, which had been closed down temporarily after the tragedy.

### Cancer's Treatment

Owen starts his treatment in "Yee-Haw", it's called adaptive therapy where they use immunotherapy and limited chemo to slow its growth so he will die as an old man with cancer "many, many years from now" rather than from cancer soon. Unfortunately, he has to stop getting his hair treatment because it would interfere with his treatment which caused him to have nightmares about losing his hair during the episode. He starts his chemotherapy in "Texas Proud" where he met a man called Wayne who gives him advice on how to tell the people he's close to. During "Act of God", he has to tell TK about his cancer when his son found nausea med for chemo patients in his office. In "Studs", TK accompanies him for the first time during a chemo session where Wayne starts talking about the side effect of the treatment on their sexual performances.

In "Monster Inside", his doctor tells him that he shouldn't be drinking during his treatment, but she tells him that his cancer is 2,77% smaller than when they started the therapy, and that the reduction is almost identical as what doctors observe on their canine counterpart who received first the immunotherapy drug cocktail before humans do. When the doctor tells him that while they're all treated in the best condition, some of the dogs don't have home to go to and Owen decides to adopt one of the dogs: Buttercup.

### Being Challenged by Billy

In "Friends Like These", he meets Billy Tyson who used to work at the 126 with Judd and took a year-long personal leave for a thyroid cancer when they lost the rest of their crew, he asked to rebuild the firehouse, but Owen got his job and Billy now works as a captain for the 121. Billy comes to the 126 so Owen can give him a tour of the new firehouse and when Owen tells him that he still hasn't find a golf court to play, Billy tells him to go with him play golf where he does. Owen confides in him about his own cancer, but Billy uses that against him to report it to Deputy Chief Radford. The Deputy Chief tells him that his cancer puts himself, the rest of his crew and the public at risk, Owen tells him that it won't be a problem and that he'll pass the CPAT in full PPEs.

In "Bum Steer", Owen gets TK to help him trains for the physical test as he is the only one who knows Owen is the one who come up with the test and not Billy or the Deputy Chief. When Judd learns that Owen is the one who came up with the test, he goes to see Owen and tells him it's weird how they went all the way to New York to bring him to Texas only to put him at risk of losing his job. Owen concludes that Judd spoke to Billy and knows that Owen is the one who asks for the test. Judd tells him that he's going to pray for him to succeed in that test because if Owen fails the test, he loses the firehouse and the rest of the 126 do as well. Billy and Owen meet up again on the golf court while it's raining and Billy starts threatening to fire Paul and Marjan because of their huge salary increases, Mateo because he took him five attempts to pass the test and while TK seems to have his head on his shoulders, Billy mentions what happened in New York and how weird it would be to keep TK around is his father isn't. Few seconds later, Billy is struck by a lightning and Owen carries him to the clubhouse in the rain and saved his life, also allowing to pass the test. Owen visits Billy at the hospital and the two decided to become friends.

### Remission

In " Back in the Saddle", it's been a month since Owen finished his last round of immunotherapy. His blood work and pulmonary function tests look good, and his tumor has been reduced by 73%. The doctor tells him that his lung cancer is officially in remission and that he could do a surgery soon to remove the tumor completely. In "2100°", the 126 and their loved ones have a party to celebrate Owen's remission.

### Gwyn's Pregnancy

After learning that Gwyn is pregnant, the couple go to see a doctor in "Difficult Conversations" who tell them that this is a high-risk pregnancy for both Gwyn and the baby and that, usually, couples who are in their situations terminate the pregnancy. Later that day, they decide that the best thing to do would stop the pregnancy and Gwyn makes an appointment, but right before they leave, they argue and come to the conclusion that they both want to have that baby together. In "Everyone and Their Brother", Gwyn and Owen tell TK about the pregnancy. In "Displaced", Gwyn moves in with Owen by bringing all her stuff from New York to Austin and they start arguing about which kitchen equipment they should keep. Later in the episode, Gwyn tells Owen that the doctor messed the number of weeks Gwyn was pregnant and that there might be a chance that he isn't the father of the baby and that Enzo, her last boyfriend could be, because they had sex when he came to Austin when Owen and Gwyn hadn't decided on if what their relationship meant. It is revealed later that Owen is not the dad and that the baby is Enzo's. Gwyn, then, decided to go back to New York in "Bad Call".

### Depression

In "A Little Help From My Friends", he helps TK and Carlos move in together and confirms to TK that he's okay with it and that even if TK has left their house, he won't be alone, Buttercup will still be there. Later, Owen finds Mateo sleeping in the training room after they both got kicked out of the firehouse by the next shift. Mateo asks him why Owen isn't at home and Owen asks him the same. Then, Mateo reveals to Owen that his house blew up and he didn't tell anyone because he was ashamed of the fact that he's a firefighter and let his house exploded. At the end of their discussion, Owen says that it sounds like Mateo is looking for a new roommate and when Mateo confirms it, Owen tells him that he knows someone who's looking for one too, himself. During shift, Mateo joins Paul and Marjan and he's nauseous at the mention of food due to being hangover. He reveals to them that he has now become roommate with Owen and last night had been hell. There's a flashback from the last night where Mateo asks Owen if TK will be cool with him staying in his room and Owen reassures him about TK not living there anymore. Owen gets the tequila out and they both start drinking, a lot. After a while, a drunk Owen tells Mateo that he didn't reschedule his cancer surgery, he cancelled it because he doesn't feel like it's the right time anymore. Mateo reveals it to Paul and Marjan and during a call, later in the day, they start talking about what happened with Owen, but Owen interrupts them as they are talking about it on the open channel.

Later in the week, TK wakes Owen up at 2:30 in the afternoon and asks Owen how long he has been hiding the fact that he's depressed. TK learns that Owen cancelled his cancer surgery and plans an intervention for him in Owen's living room along with Carlos, Paul, Marjan, Mateo and Judd. TK reassures him that this is safe space, and he can talk to them about what's happening. Owen asks Carlos what he thinks, and Carlos says that "he's understandably on alert". Marjan goes next and tells him that her coming to Austin change her life and that he's the best captain. Judd starts and tells Owen that he's depressed and that everyone knows it. Owen tells them that he's not because he has nothing to be depressed about. TK answers that this is why they're worried because the future he was preparing himself for got ripped out from him. Owen responds that it's because he knows how to roll the punches and Judd says that, no, he knows how to take punches and that when they stop, he goes looking for more. TK tells Owen he believes he's always been "bear and grin kind of guy" and that he suspects Owen to be suffering from smiling depression which Paul explains he's a thing when you use an upbeat attitude to hide the fact that you're not talking care of yourself. Owen retorts that he's the person with the biggest skin care regiment out of all of them and can't believe they're saying he doesn't take care of himself. So, TK asks him why he cancelled his surgery, Owen confirms he cancelled his surgery but it's not because he's depressed or have a death wish, it's because TK was in the hospital and Judd had his car accident, and that it didn't feel like the right time. TK tells Owen he needs to reschedule the surgery right away because it took him months before scheduling the first one, only because he was "going to become a father", Owen says that "he was already a father" and that he will forever regret that choice of words. Owen asks about what if the surgery isn't successful and they can't get out of all the cancer and TK tells him that he's not afraid about that, he's afraid they won't find any more cancer and that he'll lose his biggest excuse to feel sorry for himself. Owen puts an end to the intervention, and they all leave the house.

The next day, Owen finds Buttercup laying on the floor of the house, in pain and brings him to the veterinarian. He's joined there by TK and Carlos to who he's saying that Buttercup has a serious bowel blockage or most likely a new tumor. Owen tells TK that he's going to reschedule his surgery and do it today and he thanked them for the intervention because he really needed that kick in the ass. Soon, the vet comes back with Buttercup who's looking much better, and she tells Owen, TK and Carlos that he had an obstruction but that it wasn't a tumor. Turned out, he swallowed Gwyn's sloth that she used as a slow tea infuser.

### Recovery and Arson

In "Slow Burn", he wakes up after his surgery and Dr. Jacobs tells him that the tumor was actually bigger than they thought and that even though, they managed to remove it, his recovery will take longer, not 5 days anymore but 3 to 4 weeks. Stuck at home, Owen gets the visit of Judd who comes to talk to him about Marjan losing someone on a call and how he can't stop thinking of the other things he could've done to save both of them, Owen tells him that he should focus on the fact that he did save McKenna and that it's the "curse of being Captain" to always wonder what you could've done differently. When they're done talking, Judd mentions that since Owen is bored during his recovery, he should call Billy Tyson.

Owen goes to Billy's house where Billy tells him that his thyroid cancer came back and that he had COVID. There, Owen learns the existence of an app that rely on the calls of the Austin PD and Austin FD that Billy listens to, to keep himself busy since he can't work anymore. During this recovery, Owen managed to repaint his bathroom, listened to meditation podcasts, repotted plants and finished the puzzle TK and Carlos gave him while listening to the app Billy uses. One night while he's out, TK calls him and asks him how he's doing before asking him if Owen would like to come for dinner with himself, Carlos and Carlos' parents; Gabriel and Andrea. Owen accepts and they hang up. He enters a bar to buy a bottle of juice. There he hears a call for the 126 about reported smoke, on his app from an address close to the bar. He runs there and finds someone who immediately runs away when they saw him. Owen helps one man who's on fire and goes saving the life of another man in the building. The 126 arrives and Judd asks him what he's doing here, and Owen tells him that he was in the area and tells Judd that they're dealing with arson. Judd asks him to leave the scene because he's not a Captain right now, just a civilian.

The next day, the AFD Arson Investigator comes to the firehouse and asks him questions about what he was doing in the area, what he saw, etc. Owen answers to his questions and tells him that he's convinced its arson and that they should check the place again for evidence. Later, we see Owen buying things and trying to recreate a fire in his garden to prove that it was arson. Owen calls Billy and shows him what he found before telling him that there were similar cases in the past six months and that they need to go back to the building that was on fire the other night to find more proofs. Billy refuses to go with him because he's afraid of losing his pension and health. When he's supposed to go have dinner with TK, Carlos and Carlos' parents, Owen goes back to the building looking for evidence, unaware that the arsonist is behind him and hit him on the head. Owen regains consciousness in a building on fire with someone standing at the door, staring at him.

In "The Big Heat", he collapses due to the hit on his head and wakes up at Billy's house. Billy tells him that he's not responsible for Owen being hit, but he's the one who dragged him out of the warehouse on fire. Owen decides to go to the police because he now has proof at it was an arson. Then, Owen realizes that he's late to the dinner with TK, Carlos and Carlos' parents, Gabriel and Andrea and go there, two hours late. At dinner, TK remarks that Owen smells like campfire and Owen tells him that it's from when he saved the man, earlier in the week, because his organic shampoo didn't manage to get rid of all the smell. Gabriel that he took Owen reporting the fire as an arson very seriously and that the Rangers have been looking into multiples suspicious fires during the year and that they unofficially think that it's a serial arsonist. Gabriel tells Owen and TK that he believes the arsonist is a firefighter because it would take someone with incredible skills to fly under the radar and that a serial arsonist is usually triggered by some sort of traumatic life event, someone who's been laid off, divorced or had a major illness around the new year. Owen asks him if he knows anyone who fit the profile, Gabriel says no but tells Owen to call if he ever has someone in mind.

Later that night, Owen gives Judd a visit to tell him about his suspicions on Billy being the arsonist and how he wants Judd to convince him that he's wrong even though, everything adds up to his theory. Owen tells Judd about what Gabriel told him on the arsonist's profile and Judd tells him that it doesn't just sound like Billy, it also sounds like Owen. Owen tells him that Billy's cancer came back 5 months ago, right after Christmas, and that 5 days later, the fires started. Grace appears from the bedroom and tells them that Owen needs to report this, and that if he's wrong, the truth will be on Billy's side but if he's right then he got to stop him before he killed somebody.

Owen is arrested by Gabriel the next day after the police searched his house, for criminal trespass, reckless destruction of property, aggravated assault and arson. Owen is interrogated by Gabriel who tells him that his alibi sucked because he was two hours late for dinner. Gabriel tells him that there wasn't any footage of Owen going to buy limes in that store but there were footages of him buying accelerants, wire cutters, crimping tools and a bunch of others suspicious objects at a hardware store, a week ago and that they found a little arsonist workshop at his house with counterfeit circuit breakers that were used in the original warehouse arson. Owen asks him if the informant who gave him this evidence wouldn't happen to be Billy and then says that the reason, he had all of these at this house was because he was trying to figure out how the arsonist did it and that since the only person he told was Billy, he's telling everyone that Owen is the arsonist because he knows Owen will soon found out that he's guilty. Owen asks Gabriel how he can be the arsonist when he's the one who reported the arson in the first place and Gabriel answers that most arsonist tends to suffer from illusions of grandeur and that they don't like being ignored. Finally, Gabriel tells Owen that there was a victim, a migrant called Jorge Cortez who died during the first fire at the warehouse and that now, Owen isn't just an arsonist, he's also a murderer.

Later, Investigator Raymond comes in the interrogation room, disconnects the camera and micro to make sure that this conversation stays between them. Owen tells Raymond that he was framed and that they should look into Billy Tyson. Raymond tells him that the only thing that matters is that Owen has to prove that Billy is guilty, he asks him if there's anything that Owen haven't tell Gabriel about the arsonist, like if there's any fires that Owen believes Billy has set but still haven't been revealed. Owen asks him why he should say anything when it could just be Raymond working with Gabriel on how to add more charges on Owen. Raymond tells him that he's not working with Gabriel and that he's Owen's only hope. Owen starts talking about more incidents that he wanted to look into, but Gabriel entered the room and stopped them before he could say anything else. Gabriel re-enters the room and tells Owen about a witness that saw him during the warehouse fire and who was injured during the fire. He was badly injured, and they didn't know whether or not he would pull through the surgery, but he did, and Gabriel tells him that when he wakes up, he will identify Owen as the arsonist. Owen then asks Gabriel if he shared that news about the witness with Billy since they're working closely on the case together.

It is revealed later that the arsonist was actually Investigator Raymond when he went to the hospital to try to kill the witness (who didn't exist and was replaced by a doll) and was arrested by Gabriel and the rest of the Texas Rangers. Gabriel starts interrogating Raymond, but he wants to talk to Owen as well. Once Owen is in the room, he asks him how he managed to figure out that he was the arsonist and Owen answers that he was just lucky. Raymond tells him to tell the actual truth and Owen says that he figured it out because it's how he would've done it. Raymond asks him to answer the question he asked Owen earlier about how many fires have been set by him. Owen answers with eleven, which is correct. But Raymond tells him that he's so close to the truth, because yes, there was eleven fires that were discovered but the question was: how many did he set? and the answer to that is a few more. Raymond tells them that since they took what was the most important to him, he's going to repay the favor. Then, he sets himself on fire.

Owen immediately calls Judd and tells him that everyone needs to evacuate the firehouse now because the arsonist might have left a parting gift there and that the 126 is high on the list of the most important things in Owen's life. After the explosion, at the Ryder's house with Tommy, Billy, Judd and Grace; Tommy is talking to Charles on the phone and tells him that the bomb squad found two bombs at the firehouse: one in Owen's locker and another under a sink. Owen is concerned about the fact that Raymond talked about "few more fire" and right now, only one of them have been discovered and he thinks that the firehouse was only a diversion from the real thing. Owen tells them that right before he killed himself, Raymond said that he would take away the most important thing in the world to him. Billy interrupts him and tells him that he thought Raymond was talking to Gabriel and not Owen. Owen, then, understands that he was talking to both of them and that the targets are TK and Carlos. Owen tries to call TK multiple times but end up on his voicemail every time. Once at their house, he finds TK and Carlos in the bedroom, ready to jump out of the window and with Billy and Judd's help he manages to get them out of the house, safely. Owen only ends up with burns on his forearm due to the fire.

### Dust Storm

In "Dust to Dust", Owen is meeting up with Deputy Chief Radford to discuss the necessary cuts in the Austin FD's budget and when will the 126 fire station reopens. At the end of the reunion, Radford tells Owen that he's going to retire soon, and he offers the Deputy Chief position to Owen. Owen doesn't give him an answer and tells Billy about the offer when they're having lunch together. Owen saves the life of a little girl during the dust storm and then goes to look for Mateo when he learns that the man was outside during the storm. He finds him when Mateo is trying to save the life of people stuck in a building because of the plane crash and with the help of Mateo and the rest of the 126, they save the lives of the people stuck. Later that day, after a talk with Judd, he decides to rebuild the 126 stations with the help of the team.

He's present when Billy comes to the station and tells them that he's going to be the next Deputy Chief and that he will shut down the 126 permanently. After learning that Billy isn't the Deputy Chief yet, Owen punches him.

A week after he punched him, in May, Owen is having a hearing with the Austin Fire Chief for punching Billy in the face after he closed down the firehouse. The Chief tells Owen that they're here to discuss the punching and not the fate of the 126. Owen replies that they should because he can accept being fired or suspended by it shouldn't have an impact on the members of the 126 who uprooted their lives to move to Austin and have served the city perfectly. The Chief refuses, suspends Owen and Owen tells the 126 that they're staying with their current firehouses.

### Ice Storm

In "The Big Chill", it's been a month and a half since Owen left Austin for the Hill Country with Buttercup. There he meets Sadie, the woman who lives in the cabin next to him and moved few days ago after her divorce was finalized. She tells him that he looks pretty handy with an axe, and he tells her that he used to use one in his former life, she jokes about him being an axe murderer. Sadie tells him to be careful because the snow here tends to make people go a little crazy.

Later, Marjan gets to the Hill Country and enters Owen's cabin when he opens the door, taking time to hug Buttercup when she's inside. Owen asks her if something happened, and she tells him that nothing happened and that's why she's here. Marjan reminds him that it's demolition day, he tells her that he apparently missed the livestream, and she replies that he did but that the ice storm has stopped the demolition process and that the building is still standing. Owen is confused about what she's getting at and Marjan tells him that the universe intervened, it gave them a stay of execution, that it's speaking to them and that they need to listen. Owen tells her that the universe doesn't speak. Owen tells her that the cold will go away, and the firehouse will be destroyed and that she has to accept they've done everything they could. Marjan asks him if they really did everything they could before showing him the apology letter he was supposed to sign. Marjan tells him that he could've sign it months ago and be reinstated and asks him why he didn't. Owen replies that because it'd be a lie since he's not sorry he punched Billy. Marjan tells him that none of them are sorry it happened but that he let pride get in the way of what matters the most: putting their house back together. Owen tells her that even if he signs that letter, it won't bring back the 126 together, since the 126 is buried, regardless of what Owen does. Marjan tells him that they've brought people back from the dead, how can he just give up like that. Owen answers that he can because he's tired of playing the hero since it only gives him haters, like Billy who just want to take him down, any way they can. Owen tells her that he learned his lesson and that he didn't give up, he's given in to reality and that's something Marjan should consider because they can't save the world since the world doesn't want to be saved. So instead of fighting it, he's going to try to enjoy it for the first time. Marjan accepts it reluctantly and starts leaving, refusing Owen's offer to stay until the storm passes. She puts the apology letter on his table and leaves his cabin.

Out on a walk in the snow with Buttercup, Owen notices that the weather is getting worse and tells Buttercup they're going back to the cabin except Buttercup took off through the snowed in fields to lead Owen somewhere. Owen follows him and finds a man unconscious in the snow, he shakes him to wakes him up but can't communicate with him, as the man is speaking in Spanish, a language Owen doesn't speak.

In "Thin Ice", Owen brings the man back to his cabin, laying him on the floor to treat his stab wound. He's interrupted by Sadie who visits him with hot toddies before she notices the other man. Owen tells her that he found the man in the snow, that he's hypothermic and have a stab wound that hit a brachial artery. He asks Sadie to take a clean pair of socks from the dresser and vodka, which she does, because Owen is going to have to cauterize the wound. He tells her that she has to try putting the socks in the man's mouth to see if he can bite down on it, she asks him if she should give him a glass of vodka first and Owen replies that the vodka is for them. The man wakes up and Sadie tells him in Spanish what's going to happen before Owen starts cauterizing the wound. The man passes out because of the pain. Owen tells Sadie that he's going to need a hospital and asks her if there's a landline at her place. She tells him that she doesn't, but she has something that could replace it.

Later, Sadie comes back to the cabin, holding a box which contained a "relic", Owen asks her when the last time was, she used it and Sadie replies that she never did but her ex, Clyde, collected ham radio. She apologizes that she doesn't have the instructions, but Owen tells her that it's fine and they'll figure it out together. Sadie gives him the emergency frequencies and Owen calls for help with the radio. It works and Owen manages to get in contact with the 9-1-1 dispatch of Kerrville. Dispatch tells him that they're jammed with the storm, but they'll send someone up there whenever they can before cutting the communication. Sadie realizes that he's actually a firefighter and Owen jokes about it being less exciting than an axe murderer. Sadie disagrees. While the man is unconscious, Sadie and Owen sit together at the table and Sadie wonders who stabbed him which Owen does too. She asks him if the man said anything to Owen and Owen replies that he was speaking Spanish and was pretty agitated. Sadie guesses that he's probably there illegally and that *Coyotes* use these backcountry roads as smuggling routes. Owen tells her that they're still really away from the border and Sadie tells him that it's been quite the thing these past few years and that people pay cartels to get them as far as Rio Grande as they can and that when they have them, they jack up the price and if they can't pay, they get rid of them. They're interrupted by Buttercup barking and the door opening and notice that the man is gone. Owen goes on the porch and screams for him without getting any answers, he grabs his coat and hat and leaves the cabin to find the man. Sadie tries to stop him but fails. Owen goes in the woods, yelling for the man who run away, and he accidentally fall off a hill, knocking himself unconscious and laying on the ground.

He comes back to himself in a barn, full of people. A woman - Elena - hovers over him asking how his head is, Owen replies that it hurts. They found him in the storm and decided to bring him there. Owen asks her what happened, and a man interrupts them in Spanish, telling them to not trust Owen because he could be with immigration. Owen tells them that he doesn't care where they're from, he's just glad they came and thanks them for saving him. Owen tells them that they can't stay in this barn because it's too cold. He asks again what happened to Elena and she tells him that they were transported from McAllen when the coyotes tried to take everything from them. They fought back and there was a crash, and they took back what was theirs. The ones who could run away and the others stayed behind. Owen says that he thinks he found one who was injured and was looking for him when the storm hit. The doors of the barn open and Owen recognizes the man who he was looking for, the guy gets a gun out of his pocket and Owen realizes that's the man the migrants were running from.

In "Shock and Thaw", Owen tells Elena that finding a man in the snow doesn't entail to frisk him, Elena replies that they frisked him when they found him in the snow. Manuel tries to talk to his companions with his radio and Owen tells him that the situation is between Manuel and the others, that Owen isn't a part of it. Owen offers him money and when Manuel is about to take it, Owen knocks him out, twists his arm and get the gun out of his way. Once he's on the ground, Owen asks Elena to find a rope. The radio startles them when someone is speaking into it in Spanish, Elena translates that another Coyote know where they are and is on their way to them now. Owen wakes up Manuel and quickly checks him for concussion before offering him water since they have a long road ahead of them. When Owen tells them it's time to go, Elena tells him that they have a problem, one of the men lost his shoes during the accident and has frostbite so he can't walk. Owen finds a door and with the help of the others he grabs it and will uses it as a sled for anyone who can't walk. One of the men decides to leave because it's better to survive alone then dies together. Owen tells him that he has food, water and warmth in his cabin, less than two miles away. The man replies that it won't matter if the cartel finds them before they manage to reach the cabin.

Later, while they're on their way to his cabin, Elena asks Owen why he is helping them and Owen replies that they helped him first. Seconds later, Manuel collapses and asks Owen to let him there to die. They decide to put him on the sled too and continue their way to the cabin. They manage to get to the cabin where Owen meets up with Sadie again who's been waiting for him there. She asks him what's going on and Owen tells her that their patients who they thought was running from Coyotes, is the Coyote himself. He tells her that his cartel buddy must be looking for him now so he wants to get on the radio see if he can get help to come quicker. He tries to get someone on radio but fails to.

When the sheriff knocks on the door, Owen lets him in and shows him in professional card, telling him he's now a retired Fire Captain. The sheriff asks him how many people he got in there and Owen replies that there's twelve of them, some of them with injuries and that he was hoping they'd sent at least one RA unit, the sheriff replies that they're pretty thin right now, assisting actual taxpayers. Owen says he's glad they sent him, and the sheriff replies that they didn't, he followed them here after getting a complaint from a rancher about migrants taking residence in his barn. Owen asks if someone really called that in because it didn't seem like anyone was home. He asks Owen why they have Manuel tied up and Owen replies that it's for his own safety. The sheriff praises Owen for succeeding to bring all those people from the barn to here in those weather conditions and that he's a "regular modern-day Moses", Owen tells him that they actually saved him. The sheriff tells him that he's going to go back to his cruiser and calls Border Control, so they sent vans up there. Elena begs him to not do that because she hasn't seen her sons in 20 years and that they can send her back once she has seen them. Owen tells him that he understands that he has to follow regulations and that he should, but they should also call a local advocacy group to meet them at the hospital. The sheriff is confused about Owen being part of the trip to the hospital and Owen tells him that he was going to ride with them since they literally saved his life. In Spanish, Manuel interrupts them and says that he shouldn't trust him because he's a liar, the sheriff stops him and that he's feeling a bit outnumbered right now and he would hate for someone to get hurt. Owen tells him that those people aren't a threat to him, the sheriff tells Owen that he has done enough and should let the folk who are equipped to handle this, handle it. They're interrupts by the radio coming back to life and Sadie approaches it, attempting to respond before being stopped by the sheriff, holding her at gunpoint. The sheriff asks everyone to get on the floor and when Sadie asks what's happening, Owen tells her that the sheriff is working for the cartel, the sheriff replies that he's more of a private contractor before giving Owen zip ties so they can tie everyone.

The sheriff tells them that now they're going to wait for transport and go take these people to an egg farm or a concrete mixing plant or wherever the hell they're going to pay off their debts. Owen tells him that some of those people are injured and not fit to travel, and the sheriff replies that he always expects to lose a little product in transit. Sadie asks him what they're going to do with her and Owen, and the sheriff replies that it's tragic but it's really Owen's fault before pointing the gun at him. He's interrupted by the siren of his car wailing and he asks Owen who's out there, Owen replies that he has no idea, and the sheriff tells him that they're going to check out right now. The sheriff tells Sadie that she keeps tying up people and that if anyone walks through the door, he'll shoot them. Outside, Owen goes to the car and notices Marjan's scarf attached to the gas tank, he goes in, turns off the siren and sees Marjan on the side of the house. Marjan uses a match she found and lights up her scarf, making the cruiser explodes and Owen knocks the sheriff out, they fight, and Owen almost gets shot before Elena comes in and kicks the sheriff in the head, knocking him down. Sadie comes outside and asks what happened and Owen tells her "Marwani happened", Sadie is confused about what a Marwani is, and Owen shows her Marjan, "his friend and big-time badass". Marjan tells him she learned from the best, him.

Once the police and paramedics arrive, another sheriff asks him if he's more reachable on his office number or cell and Owen replies that in the foreseeable future, it'll be the cell. He reaches Marjan and Sadie and Marjan asks him what's going to happen to the migrants now, Owen replies that it's not up to them. Sadie suddenly says that she's confused about why Owen won't sign the apology letter, wondering if it's an ego thing or a guy thing. She continues by saying that everyone knew this "Bobby" had it coming so is he really going to let him win. Owen corrects her, saying that it's Billy not Bobby before asking Marjan if she's serious, Marjan replies that she only wanted another opinion, Owen says that it's not another opinion, it's her opinion. Then, they watch as Elena reunites with her sons and Marjan points out how amazing it is when a family never stops fighting for each other. Owen replies, calling her out on her not being very subtle.

Marjan and Owen get in his car with Buttercup so they can drive back to Austin. Marjan asks him how he want to do this and when Owen is confused, she clarifies, asking if he wants to go straight to the headquarters so he can deliver his letter of apology to Billy and be reinstated or if they drop Buttercup home first. Owen asks her why she thinks he's going to come back and Marjan replies because "they're going back". Owen says that she is coming back, implying that he isn't. Marjan tells him that he packed all his stuff and Owen replies that because he has to stay mobile, but he doesn't know what he's going to do yet apart from giving her a ride back to Austin. Marjan asks him if that's it and Owen tells her that he's very appreciative of the fact that she helped him out. and that he's going to make sure she gets home safely. Marjan reminds him that by "helping out" he means saving his life from being murdered, Owen agrees, and Marjan says that he owns her more than a ride and that Owen needs to sign the apology letter so he can go back to being their captain like they talked about. Owen reminds her that she's the only one who talked about it, he didn't say anything, but no. Marjan tells him that he's so stubborn and that the universe is shouting in his ear, and he can't hear anything. Owen replies that he hears something and it's Tom Petty singing "Breakdown" on the radio which Owen and Marjan both end up singing. Once they're done singing, Marjan tells Owen she still is mad at him.

In "Push", Owen comes back home after dropping Marjan. He realizes the power is out and to the faucet and shower being frozen. He grabs a water bottle from the fridge and warms it in his fireplace so he can shave off his beard. After he finishes shaving and changing clothes, Owen is about to go on a walk with Buttercup but is interrupted by a knock on the door. He opens it and finds Tommy outside. He asks her what happened, and she tells him that they need to talk.

Later, Owen goes to the hospital to see TK. He gets out of the room and tells Tommy, Paul, Marjan, Nancy and Carlos that the doctor told him that TK's body is trying to shut down because his heart stopped. He says that he doesn't think it's quite right and it's because his own heart stopped before turning to Marjan and tells him that she was right: he gave up. And that he wishes it was about pride and ego, but it isn't, it was about fear because everyone was looking at him to put back together their world and he was afraid he wouldn't be able to and that's why he ran away. Owen continues by saying that everything that is happening is his fault, Tommy tries to interrupt him, but Owen says that it's true before turning to Marjan and telling her to tell the universe, he received the message. Owen says that it might be too late to fix things but he's still going to try. Marjan asks him what he means by that, and Owen tells her that he's going to find Billy and gives him that apology letter and get himself reinstated. Marjan asks if he's going to do that now and Tommy realizes that it's something Owen can do, at the moment. Owen tells them that he doesn't know if he can fix the world in time for his boy to wake up but when TK does wake up, Owen wants him to see that he's not the only Strand who hasn't stopped fighting. Tommy asks him if he wants some company and Owen accepts. Paul stops them, telling Owen it's good to have him back. Owen notices Carlos and walks to him, hugging him before leaving with Tommy.

In the car, Tommy is trying to radio Billy without any success. Then, she starts telling Owen that she has something to say to him, but Owen stops her. He tells her that she doesn't have to do that, and he presses that she doesn't even when she repeats that she has to, because he doesn't want to hear it. He guesses that Tommy would say that there's something she could've done differently or better, Tommy replies that it's right and Owen says that ok, she's right because there always is something they could've done differently or better. He continues, telling her that she doesn't have to ask for forgiveness because she already has it. Tommy thanks him for saying that. Then, Owen says that no matter what happens he can't think of anyone he would have rather had his son serve under than her before he takes her hand in his. Tommy nods and tries to radio Billy again. Then, she radios Judd who asks her if she was able to track down Owen. Tommy replies that Owen is actually with her, and Judd tells him that he wants Owen to know he's sorry about what's happening to TK and that he's praying for him. Owen tells him that he appreciates it before asking if Judd talked to his wife. Judd says that he hasn't ever wince the phones were down, but that Grace should be at home. Owen replies that she's actually not at home because he and Tommy are in the Ryder's living room, and she isn't there. Judd asks them what they're doing here and Tommy replies that they tracked Billy's GPS to his house and that his truck is outside. Owen, then, asks if Judd perhaps an idea has about where they are, and Judd replies that there's no "they" because Grace isn't going anywhere with Billy. He asked them to look around for a pink duffel bag and when they can't find any, Judd understands that Grace must have gone into labor. Tommy tells him that they radioed every hospital within 20 miles, and no one heard of her, Judd realizing that Grace is stuck in the storm. After Judd tells them that their birth plan was to give birth at West Park hospital, Owen tells him that he and Tommy will come from the south and Judd - with a firetruck from the 122 - will come from the north and they'll meet in the middle in hope to find her.

At some point, Tommy recognizes Grace's car, and they tell Judd they found it, but she isn't in it. Owen sees footprints in the snow. Soon, Tommy and Owen found the tour bus and join Billy and Grace. Tommy checks Grace out and tells her that it's time to push. Grace replies that they have to wait until Judd gets there but Tommy tells her that he did everything he could to make it in time but it's time to push now. They're interrupted by Judd calling for Grace before he gets into the tour bus. Grace is relieved that he made it and Judd tells her that she didn't think he would this. While Grace and Judd are having their baby, Owen goes outside, thinking about how his own child is dying at the moment and falls to his knees in the snow.

### Return of the 126

Weeks later, Owen and Marjan are outside the 126 watching as it is about to be demolished. Owen thanks her for fighting for the 126 and for him before saying that it's been a pleasure working with her. Marjan thinks the same and tells him that she never had as much fun as she did when she was working in his firehouse. They're soon joined by Tommy, Nancy, Judd, Paul, Mateo and TK who hold a box full of pastries and they share hugs when they see each other again. Owen asks them what the odds of those pastries are being gluten free, Nancy answers that there's no way and that everything is bad in those pastries, Paul adding that today they're eating their feelings. Owen gives up and asks TK to give him a bear claw. TK asks Marjan what she wants, handing her the box and she tells everyone to just save her one with tons of sugar. Marjan thanks them for being there and Mateo tells her they would never miss it - again. Paul says that the 126 being demolished stings and Judd agrees, saying that he spent the best years of his life there. When the ball is about to swing, Marjan gets a notification and realizes that her GoFundMe finally got fully funded. TK asks her to stop messing with them and she tells him she's not, Owen is surprised that someone gave them $4.6 millions and Marjan tells him that they actually got $5 millions. Owen asks her who would do that and Marjan replies it's someone called Cole Robertson who no one know except for Paul since Cole is Lindsey's father. Owen and Marjan run to the foremen and tell them to stop.

Later, at the ceremony of reopening of the 126, Owen starts by thanking the Robertson family whose generous gift allowed them to rebuild and reopen the 126. Then, Owen continues by talking about the push-ins ceremony and how it's a tradition for firefighters to push in their rigs the very first time they enter the firehouse. At the party, while TK is filling his and Carlos' glasses with punch, Owen joins them and asks them if the firehouse is still homey and that he didn't go too far in the remodel. TK replies that the firehouse looks exactly the same before Owen asks him, offended, if he's out of his mind. Carlos asks Owen if the subway tile on the backsplash new and Owen thanks him for noticing and that he always wanted to get rid of it, almost making this whole thing worth it. When they're about to walk somewhere else, TK stops and freezes when he sees Gwyn coming in the firehouse with Jonah in her arms, asking Owen if she's really here. Owen tells him that she's late but she's here while Gwyn apologizes for missing the ceremony. TK asks her why she didn't tell them she was coming and Gwyn replies that it's because Owen and her wanted it to be a surprise. Gwyn kisses Owen's cheek and hugs Carlos before hugging TK, telling to be careful to not squish his brother. Owen jokes about Jonah being a heartbreaker in the future before asking if he doesn't kind of look like him. Gwyn replying that he's crazy. When everyone is dancing, Owen goes back to his office and put the rock from 9/11 back on his desk.

### Stalker

In "Prince Albert in a Can", after he and Catherine came back to his place and go to his bedroom. They found the wall covered by the words "Toxic Pig" in blood and with a dead pig on his bed. In "Negative Space", Owen meets with Gabriel who's in charge of the case. Gabriel asks Owen if he has any ideas who could be behind this and Owen replies that he can't considering he doesn't have any enemies, Catherine and Mateo both jump in saying that he did punch the guy at the bar and Sergeant O'Brien recently before mentioning deputy Griffin who was in jail until he was freed.

At the firehouse, Owen tells the 126 about deputy Griffin being freed a month ago. He gives them posters to put around the firehouse so they can call the cops if he shows up and Marjan gets angry, saying that the man is a murderer. Owen replies that he knows but the only thing they can do right now is on their guard.

Later, Owen calls Marjan and Paul because two undercover Rangers saw her go into the store Griffin works at and calls him a murderer in front of everyone. He tells Marjan that Griffin has been fired but that they have to stay away from him and let the Texas Rangers do their job. Marjan tells Owen that they have to warn Sadie too and she has to remember him who Sadie is because Owen forgot her and that Marjan knows Sadie is in Austin because she sent them both invitations for her art show. They both go there and warn Sadie that Griffin is out and might be coming looking for her. They tell to call the police immediately if she sees him and when she takes her phone out and calls 911, Owen and Marjan are confused until they realize Griffin is at the art gallery too. Owen asks him to leave but Griffin retorts that he has nowhere to go right now, Sadie points out that it's a private event and Griffin replies that they finally feel how uncomfortable it is when someone show up at your place of business and create problems. Griffin tells Marjan that she was lucky there was a blizzard, or she could've ended up in a ditch and in response, Owen punches him, getting arrested because of that.

Owen is joined by Gabriel in an interrogation room. Gabriel tells Owen that they've been ordered to get rid of all the surveillance on Griffin because of Owen punching him and that Griffin has now a protective order against Owen making him not allowed to be within 100 yards of him. Before leaving, Gabriel tells him to keep himself in check. After he's released, Owen meets up with Catherine, TK, Carlos, Marjan and Mateo at the house and they realize that they should look into the Capitol attack if they want to find any evidences he was involved, Catherine points out that it'll take forever to go through all the security footage but TK said that Carlos is now an expert at going through hours of footages and Carlos replies that it's why he needs glasses now but he'll do it if TK helps him which the other man agrees to.

Later the 126 are called on a fire at the art gallery and Owen goes in to go save Sadie which he manages to do. At the hospital, Gabriel joins them, and he talks to Owen telling him that while the Texas Rangers can't watch Griffin, Owen can before Gabriel gives him the address. Owen goes to check on Sadie and when she tells him she's planning on going back to her cabin, he says that she won't be safe there and takes her with him to Carlos and TK's place.

While Owen and Catherine are on surveillance duty, Griffin joins them in the car and takes a photo of Owen proving that he was the one breaking his restraining order before leaving the car. Griffin approaches his vehicle, which blows up, setting him on fire, forcing Owen to suppress it with a jacket. Later, while on the phone with Owen, Gabriel gets a call from a coworker, and they realize Griffin was not the stalker responsible for these crimes.

Later, Owen and Gabriel come to TK and Carlos' loft where they arrest Sadie. Then, after he visited Marjan and told her she had a week off work, Owen goes to see Griffin and tells him that he knows he got blew up by the cartel he was working with. Griffin asks him why he saved him and Owen replies that he did because it's his job and because knowing that he'll always be hurting considering his burns, it felt like justice.

### Anger Issues

Throughout the show, it has been shown that Owen was suffering from anger issues, especially in the season 2 finale where he punched Billy and then in season 3 where he punched Sgt. O'Brien, a man in a bar and deputy Griffin. We learn in "Red vs. Blue" from TK that Owen has been going to anger management class after punching Billy and he finished his courses during the time jump.

After his break up with Catherine over Owen misunderstanding a situation and telling her that she had "daddy issues" and that's why she was with him in "Riddle of the Sphynx" which resulted in her telling him that the only reason they could get back together was if Owen went to therapy and a meeting with a father with anger issues during a call that ended on the father shooting a man that had hit his car where he was with his family on the road in "Impulse Control", Owen decided to go to therapy. When the therapist, Dr Patt, asked him what was going on, Owen replied that he had rage.

In "Down To Clown", Owen is in therapy and Dr Patt asked him to show him the journal he asked him to keep and note every time he felt rage or the need to lash out. Dr Patt realizes that it's frequent and Owen tells that when he said he was angry all the time, he meant it, he just doesn't know why it's so sudden. The therapist tells him that this anger is probably rooted from a deeper problem and tells Owen that they will try something called EMDR which is a therapy method that occupy the active mind so it's easier to reach the unconscious part. As he watches the ball on the screen, Owen tells the doctor that he first sees a spot in his lung, then he sees TK laying on a hospital bed with a tube down his throat and finally the ball turns to a red ball looking similar to the red nose of a clown. Dr Patt then asks him to talk about the clown because the tumor and TK being injured are both traumas Owen suffered through the clown must be too. Owen tells him he has no trauma related to a clown, but Dr Patt isn't convinced.

Later, Owen dreams about one his therapy session where he proves to Dr Patt that he doesn't have a thing about clowns because he managed to watch movies filled with clowns and wasn't scared. But then, Dr Patt turns into a clown and asks him if he's sure about that, before calling him "sonny boy" and Owen wakes up from his nightmare at that. When Owen brings up the sentence and nickname in the therapy session, Dr Patt asks him if it means anything to Owen and he replies that he knows exactly where it comes from; his father who abandoned their family when Owen was 12. Dr. Patt asks him how he felt when his father abandoned them, and Owen tells him he felt shame, terror and rage.

Later that day, Owen calls his father but a woman answer telling him Walter isn't available at the time and asks Owen if he wants to leave a message.

### Reuniting with his Father

In "Shift-Less", Owen goes to California to see his father. First, he visits the beach where his younger brother, Tyler, drowned and then goes to Orchid Fields, a nursing home. Once he gets to his father's room, he sees him being surrounded by his new family and Owen leaves to the waiting room when everyone stands up and leaves Walter to rest. In the waiting room, he meets his younger half-brother, Robert, they talk about TV ads before Owen asks him if he has family in the nursing home, Robert says that he does and that they keep telling him that he has to tell what he needs to say to his father, but he doesn't know how to do it. They keep talking about Walter and how he was the kind of father who would come watch his son play in a baseball game and when Robert asks Owen if his dad was like that, Owen replies that he wasn't, his dad was an empty chair. A nurse interrupts them by saying that Walter is awake, and Robert tells Owen that he should say what he has to say to his own father.

Later, Owen calls TK who's at home with Carlos. TK offers Owen to come eat sushi with them, but Owen refuses and tells them to do their own thing. TK asks him where he is, and Owen tells him he's out for a drive and that he just called TK to tell him that he loved him and he's proud of him because he doesn't tell him that enough. TK replies that he's proud of Owen too. Owen then apologizes for the way he and TK have stopped talking to each other like they used to, and TK says that it's on both of them. Owen says that maybe they should both do better before he says his goodbyes to TK and tells him to say hi to Carlos.

Then, Owen goes back to the nursing home, knocks on his father's room's door and his stepmother, Helen, who reveals she knows who he is and asks Owen what he's doing here. Owen replies that he has some things to say to Walter and Helen asks if he really has to say them to a dying man in a hospital bed. Robert arrives and tells his mother to let Owen talk with his father, while revealing he also knew his identity from their talk. Left alone, Owen tells his unconscious father that he could pass him on the streets and have no idea who he is, how he had a whole plan in the plane to tell Walter that he was just a bastard who couldn't wait to leave his family but that's not how it happened because Owen and his mother are the ones who walked away from Walter. Owen adds that Walter just found himself a new family and that all this time he thought Walter didn't want to be a father, he just didn't want to be a father to him. Owen voices he's not sure he can blame him because he's the one who broke their family. Owen apologizes and tells Walter that he should've tried harder to save Tyler. However, Walter wakes up and having overheard everything, tells him that it's not his fault because he was just a kid and that nobody ever blamed him. Owen bitterly replies that he was Tyler's big brother, it was his job to protect him and Walter replies that the world isn't a safe place and that Owen should know that as a fire captain, revealing he kept tabs on Owen's life in all the time they've been estranged. He then adds that grief is the thing that broke their family not Owen and calls him a real man who puts others first while labeling himself as a selfish failure for not being there for him and that he hoped Owen can forgive him and forgive himself. Finding some closure, Owen promises to try, since he's tired of being angry. Having reconciled with his father, he leaves the room and sees Robert who tells him to not be a stranger. He then goes to the beach and surfs for the first time in decades.

### 9/11 Trauma

In "A Bright and Cloudless Morning", the 126 reply to a call at a building who exploded and collapsed and Marjan asks Owen if he has seen anything like this before, Owen replies that he has - during the attack on World Trade Center on September 11th, 2001. Once he's in the building, Owen gets caught into an explosion and get stuck under the rubble where he meets a man called Manny who's injured badly. Owen tells him that his team is going to save them, and Manny replies that they'll have to find them first. Manny then asks if he saw the second one because he heard there was a second one on the radio, but Owen is confused and asks him if he has a radio, Manny telling him that he does but he can't grab it now. Owen starts hitting on a metal pipe so the 126 can hear them but it doesn't seem to work. Owen tries to lift the block of cement of Manny to save him and tells him to talk about himself, asking him if he has a wife or any children. Manny replies that he had a wife and two daughters, Emma who's 36 and Mya who will be 28 next month. Owen asks him what's his secret because he doesn't look old enough to have kids this age and Manny replied that they were 16 and 8 when he died making Owen froze until he notices the badge on Manny's chest, a NYPD one. Owen realizes they were together in the Concourse the day the South Tower fell. Owen tells him that he must be stuck in a building like they were on September 11th and Manny asks him why he's still stuck down there and why he keeps coming back to this event. Owen replies that he doesn't, and it must have been on his mind after his doctor told him his cancer might be back. Manny tells him that he does keep coming back to this day, especially with that rock on his desk and that he needs to stop. After that Owen loses consciousness and dreams of the 126 and Gwyn while he's at the hospital. Owen asks them if Manny made it out and Gwyn replies to him, saying that he died and that he can't save everyone. Owen apologizes to her and tells her he wished he could've saved her and Gwyn replies that there's nothing he could've done and that he needs to go forward not back. Owen wakes up in the building with TK - in turnout coats - along with the 126 who are saving him, and they get him to the hospital.

At the hospital, he wakes up with TK by his side who asks him how he's feeling, Owen replies that he feels like a building fell on him before asking if everyone made it out okay. TK replies that Judd broke his leg again, but he'll be okay before saying that the doctor found something on his scan, Owen said that it's the spot on his lung and wonders why they told TK about it. TK reminds him that he made him his medical proxy last year and that he can't lose another parent now, not so soon after losing Gwyn, and Owen replies that there's nothing he can do about it and that's why he should make a will, to prepare for the eventuality of something happening. Later, Judd joins him in his room and Owen tells Judd that one day the 126 will be his and then he meets up with Tommy where he tells her that the spot on his lung is nothing but a fungal infection.

After that, Owen is putting away the 9/11's rock he kept on his desk all these years.

### Honor Dogs

After buying a new bike to go through his mid-life crisis, Owen meets a group of bikers. He goes with Judd to one of their nights at the bar, thinking he'd get a cool new nickname but there he realized the ceremony involves branding themselves with an eagle which prompted him and Judd to leave the bar quickly and go back home. There, Judd tells him that Owen might be a bit bored now that TK is going on with his adult life and that Mateo spends most of his times at Nancy's. Owen tells him that he's living his best life when he has "dragons to slay" and Judd reassures him by saying that if he waits around, something's awful is bound to happen. The next day, a woman appears at his door, he assumed she was trying to purchase the bike. However, she reveals she is Rose Kasey, an FBI agent and she tells him that they'll actually need him to keep the bike.

In "The New Hot Mess", he meets up with Kasey again and she tells him that the bikers group are an extremist group planning a massive attack in Austin with bombs and that they need him to put a mic in the office of the bikers. Owen goes to the bar and manages to put the mic under the desk in the office of the leader except Sgt. Ty O'Brien sees him as he is also a member of the group. They talk afterwards and O'Brien tells him this bar isn't a place Owen wants to be before leaving and telling him to never come back here again. Then, Owen meets up with agent Kasey who tells him that he did good until they realize that he hasn't turned on the mic and she tells him that he needs to go back there. Once he goes back home, O'Brien is waiting for him, showing him the mic that he found under the desk. Finally, he tells Owen to grab his helmet and they leave his house.

In "Cry Wolf", Owen is with O'Brien at a woman's house, the woman turning out to be O'Brien niece-in-law. There he learns about O'Brien's nephew who disappeared a month ago after he joined the Honor Dogs a year before and that's why O'Brien is in the group, to look for his nephew. Later, while he's in the FBI office where they show him how to turn on the mic, he sees a picture of Andy on the search wall and takes it, replacing it by a takeout paper. He shows it to O'Brien and together they decide to trick one of the members into giving them access to the farm where the picture was taken. They succeed and there they found the ammonium nitrate that the FBI was looking for. Later, Owen is called back to the FBI office where Rose tells him that O'Brien was a founding member of the Honor Dogs and can't be trusted.

In "Abandoned", Owen wears a wire to record O'Brien confessing except they're interrupted by the biker's group who just found out they have a mole in their rank. Back at the bar, he learns that while O'Brien was a founding member, he left the group when their ideas started to become more radical and he didn't agree with it, he also learns that O'Brien tried to warn him by saying in his text that there's "99,9% of chances you don't show up" since 999 is the call number for officer down, Owen tells him that he's a firefighter and that they don't have any of those codes. When Turner comes up to them and starts taunting O'Brien, Owen tells him he's the "rat" and he's wearing a wire connected to the FBI which leads to him, and O'Brien being kicked out the bar. They soon meet Kasey and her partner who are outraged at their actions. At night, Owen is waiting for O'Brien outside of the FBI office and they exchange about how the FBI don't want them to mess with their case again before they both leave together on their bikes.

In "This Is Not A Drill", he goes to the Honor Dogs bar to tell them he knows they have the Ammonium Nitrate and that the FBI do too and that they should give up their plans of creating bombs. The leader of the Honor Dogs deny it and the FBI arrive to raid the bar and arrest the members. Owen gets arrested too and while he's outside with a FBI agent, the bar explodes killing many members of the gang. He runs back in and manages to save Agent Rose Kasey, but she dies from her wounds soon. At the hospital, he goes to see Turner who confesses to him that O'Brien's nephew, Andy, is the one planting bombs. Along with O'Brien and the FBI, Owen goes to O'Brien's nephew's wife's house and sees that her and her son are missing. While O'Brien and Carlos look for Andy, Owen reveals to the 126 that he has been working with the FBI for weeks and that they should be aware that some bomb threats might be coming to them and that they should the people they love that they love them. Later, a bomb threat is made to the Capitol but Owen realizes it's a fake and goes to find Andy in the crowd. He tells him his accomplice, Mickey, kidnapped his wife and son and Owen tells him that they're safe as O'Brien and Carlos found them. Owen jumps into the ambulance filled with Ammonium Nitrate and with the help of Grace, he drives it into the river, making it explodes away from anyone.

### Accidental Open Relationship

In "Sellouts", Owen meets a rich woman at a charity gala, Kendra Harrington, who he believes she thought he was a prostitute because she gave him two cheques made to his name and not to Stand Up For Cancer. After a talk, he realizes he was wrong and she was giving money to the charity because her brother died of cancer and because Owen rescued Buttercup, a cancer dog.

In "Open", Owen learns that Kendra and her husband, Brett, are in an open-relationship and decides to end it, because he doesn't think he's ready to be a part of that. Then, during a call, Brett dies and Owen invites Kendra to stay at his house where Gabriel calls him. He tells Owen that Kendra is the main suspect in the death because some toxins were found in Brett's body. In "Tongues Out", Owen believes in Kendra's innocence despite Gabriel's warnings and engages Paul to help them solve the case. After investigating, they realise Brett accidentally poisoned himself with pesticides but after Kendra comes to visit Owen to celebrate her birthday, Paul realises that he was wrong and calls Owen telling him not to drink the alcohol Kendra brought. Kendra already drank it and she starts losing motor and breathing functions due to the poison that Brett also puts in the bottle after trying to kill her by cutting the breaks wires on her car. At the hospital, Kendra and Owen are about to kiss when TK, Paul and Carlos interrupts them.

### Huntington's Disease

In "Donors", he connects with his half-brother Robert following the death of their father. Owen invites him to dinner with TK and Carlos, with everything going good as Owen is given some mementos his father kept. However, he notices something off about Robert when his hand starts to shake, and his memory seems groggy. Robert soon reveals he has Huntington's Disease and gradually over time it worsens and its a hereditary condition, as Walter's side had it and the latter died before the final stages. Owen becomes worried when Robert implies Owen and TK can be at risk of carrying the disease, due to being direct relatives. However, Robert assures him that his visit was to connect and not bring about bad tidings.

In "A House Divided", Owen takes a test to know if he has the gene for Huntington's disease and tells TK about it when he comes to see him at the loft. He tells him that he'll have the results in 48 hours. During that time, Owen drives Robert back to California and when he's at the beach with Robert, his wife and daughters, he receives a mail from the clinic and calls TK to tell him the news: he tested negative to the gene which means neither he or TK have it. Once he hangs up, Robert tells him he's happy for him and tells Owen that he and his family will come to the wedding but that after that Robert will stay in Austin in the hope of Owen helping him die by assisted suicide.

## Personality

Owen is a quick thinking and often seen as self-centered individual who often is found in situations where he has to be responsible and take charge. After his father abandoned the family, Owen felt he had to step up and be a leader in everything he did, working his way up in becoming a fire captain in his adult life. After the tragedy of 9/11 with his first firehouse, unable to deal with the stress of the reality, he pushes away his deep feelings of survivor's guilt, leaving everyone close to his family out, and feeling stuck in the past. As a result of this pushing away, Owen feels highly about himself at times, having a huge obsession with skincare and his looks. He has an extensive knowledge of spices and fancy foods that suit his needs, such as having an espresso machine in the firehouse. He often denies feeling much negative emotions such as the stress and depression he has due to the tragedies he has witnessed in his life.

Despite this, deep down Owen is caring for everyone around him, especially to TK and is able to open up slowly when he is given a wakeup call. After he sees the consequences of an individual's anger issues going too far, he is able to finally sit down in therapy, working out the anger he has felt deep down for years. After confronting the father he did not have in his life, he is told to forgive himself for being the cause of his family falling apart. He is also later told to let go of the past as he remembers 9/11 during an emergency, where he does and remembers all the lives he did manage to save.

## Relationships

### Family

#### TK Strand

*Main article: TK-Owen (relationship)*

Owen and his son have a very close relationship in the first season of the show, seeing as they were living together. But they became more distant as the show evolved, with TK getting his life back together and spending more time building his future. In the third season of the show, Owen points out that it's been a while since they've actually talked, and he apologizes for that but tells TK that he's proud of him and that he loves him. In the fourth season, after being occupied by the FBI and the Honor Dogs, Owen goes to TK and Carlos' loft to talk to TK and tells him that he's proud of him. Later, he takes over the wedding planning because he thinks it's the last thing TK will need from him now that he's getting married. Clearly touched, TK tells him that he'll still need him to help him be an amazing father and because Owen is his best friend.

#### Gwyneth Morgan

Gwyn and Owen were married and their marriage was happy until he dove into his work and started drinking heavily, leading to divorce.

Years later, Gwyn came down to Austin during the time jump to check on TK after he was shot, and the two of them reconnected. They started to have sex when she got stuck in Austin during the lockdown. After they learn that Owen's lung cancer is in remission, Gwyn decides that it's time for to go back to New York. Later, Owen convinces her to stay because "how many times can they have a second chance at the best relationship of their lives?".

In "Friends With Benefits", Owen states that when they were together, they were miles apart and now that they're not together, they're closer than ever. He says that they should invent a term for that and Gwyn tells him that it exists, it's called "friends with benefits". Later, Gwyn asks Owen what they are because she wants clarity in their relationship. After a talk with Judd, Owen decides to propose to Gwyn once again but Gwyn says no because it's not what she wants, she really just wanted clarity. Then, she tells him that she's pregnant. They later learn that they're having a boy.

In "Displaced", Gwyn moves in with Owen by bringing all her stuff from New York to Austin and they start arguing about which kitchen equipment they should keep. Later in the episode, Gwyn tells Owen that the doctor messed the number of weeks Gwyn was pregnant and that there might be a chance that he isn't the father of the baby and that Enzo, her last boyfriend could be, because they had sex when he came to Austin when Owen and Gwyn hadn't decided on if what their relationship meant. It is revealed later that Owen is not the dad and that the baby is Enzo's. Gwyn, then, decided to go back to New York in "Bad Call".

Owen is extremely crushed by Gwyn's death, because he obviously still loved her even after their break up.

#### Carlos Reyes

Carlos and Owen share both a professional relationship with respect for each other and a father/son-in-law relationship where they care about each other. Owen sees Carlos as a good match for TK. When TK is hurt on a call and is in a coma at the hospital, Owen asks Carlos if he wants to spend time with him and tells him that TK would probably appreciate that. It is said that Carlos has seen Owen and Gwyn around each other so it's possible that they have share time all together at the Strand house. When TK and Carlos has a fight in "Friends With Benefits", it is Owen who defends Carlos' actions. He also comments that his son and Carlos are "more than (friends with benefits)". Owen and Carlos share a hug in "2100°".

In "Bad Call", Carlos comes by the firehouse to speak to TK but as he is out on a call, Owen tells him to wait for him there and offers Carlos a smoothie. They go in the firehouse's kitchen and Carlos tells Owen about his suspension and after Carlos tells him about how his father thinks he's too soft to be a cop, Owen tells him that "there should be a heart behind that shield" and that Carlos "got a good one." Then, they work together to find TK, Tommy and Nancy after they were kidnapped by robbers and when they do, Owen has a talk with Carlos' father where he tells him that they only succeeded to find them because of Carlos and that "he's an impressive guy.". Carlos has a hard time calling Owen by his name which the latter insists, but by the end of episode "A Little Help From My Friends", we see Carlos managing to call him "Owen". In episode "The Big Heat" Owen officially meets Carlos's parents and compliments them for raising a "fantastic son". Later in the episode Owen agrees with Gabriel when the latter states that he loves that his son is with TK. In "Push", when Owen leaves to find Grace, he hugs Carlos tightly.

### Friends

#### Judd Ryder

Owen and Judd are close friends. Judd is the first person in Texas who learns about Owen's cancer. During the altercation between Billy and Owen, Grace tells Judd that if Owen hadn't tell him to go to therapy, she didn't where they would be right now so she tells him that he should help Owen if he can. Judd meets up with Billy and tells him that while "he's flashy, his heart is in the right place". Billy then tells Judd that Owen is the one who came up with the CPAT test, not Billy. In "Displaced", Judd is excited about the idea of Owen and Gwyn having a baby. In "Saving Grace", Owen is the one who tells Judd about the accident, they share a hug when Judd is getting food and another one when Judd announces to the 126 that he is going to be a father. Along with Benjamin Williams, he's stopping Judd from killing the man who drove them off the road.

## Trivia

* He loves dogs and Cesar Millan. ("Friends Like These")
* He lives at 1234 Iron Mountain DR with TK, before he moved in with Carlos. He now lives with Mateo as his roommate. ("Act of God" and "A Little Help From My Friends")
* He loves Han Solo and says "Never tell me the odds!" a lot. ("Bum Steer" and "Difficult Conversations")
* He believes in aliens. ("The ATX-Files")
* He tried to go vegan for a moment before stopping. ("The ATX-Files")
* He has coulrophobia, fear of clowns. ("Down To Clown")
* He was Mr October for the New York Firefighters Calendar. ("Open")

## Appearances

 "**Friends Like These**"

 "**Everyone and Their Brother**"

 "**The ATX-Files**"
 "**Prince Albert in a Can**"

 "**This Is Not A Drill**"
 "**Double Trouble**"

## References

1. ↑ "Shift-Less"
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Awakening"
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Pilot (Lone Star)"