Grace Ryder

"*I understand Judd but you weren't the only person that I met while working those phones. Judd, I really feel like I met myself. Talking to people and connecting.*"
—Grace Ryder[src]

**Grace Ryder** (née **Williams**) is a main character of FOX's *9-1-1: Lone Star* who is a 9-1-1 dispatcher in the Austin, Texas area, and is the wife of Judd Ryder and the mother of Charlie Ryder. She debuts in the first episode of the first season and is portrayed by starring cast member Sierra McClain.

## History

### Early life

In 2012, Grace is a volunteer at a prayer hotline where she meets a distraught Judd through the phone. Judd reveals to her about an emergency he responded to that shook him up where Cal's mother recognized him and told him to get out. Grace convinces him to go and try to talk to her, even if he would probably get spit, on reciting *Psalm 31*. After some progress with Cal's mother, Judd manages to get her to talk to him and gets her forgiveness. In between this time, Grace stops volunteering at the hotline after being accepted into a graduate program at Georgetown University with a 3% acceptance rate, not contacting him as she was worried how to reveal the news to him.

While celebrating the success at the bar with her friends, Tommy Vega comes over with Judd, introducing her. Recognizing his name, Judd asks her to dance and he tells her about the success with Cal's mother. After revealing her plans to move, the two of them begin to date and deeply fall in love with each other. Two months after, Grace
tells Judd that she decided to stay in Austin and that she loves him and that she knows he loves her too. Judd lies to her and tells her he doesn't feel the same. Grace leaves the car and they break up that night.

A few months later in 2013, Judd comes to the hospital the day Tommy is giving birth and he's meeting Grace in the waiting room, she notices his tattoo. He asks her about her new job and she tells him that she's training to be a 9-1-1 dispatcher. Judd asks her if she's seeing anyone and Grace tells him that yes she's seeing someone, indicating it is him she still wants to be with. Before Judd starts to respond, Charles arrives in the waiting room and excitedly reveals that they're going to be their twins' godparents. The two of start holding hands as they go inside, slowly getting back together.

Grace started working at her station at the 911 dispatch in 2017.

### 126 Tragedy

During a call where a fire broke out at a fertilizer company, the Austin firehouse 126 responded, and Grace, who was taking the call, advised them of the caller who was stuck in the middle of the compound. Judd answered, theorizing that the fire was moving fast and looked like a four-alarm. After seemingly successfully having control over the fire, Grace suddenly calls back, who tells him that a maintenance man who called in reported that the factory stored ammonium nitrate fertilizer, a highly explosive compound. Judd runs back towards his men to warn them to pull back, but he is too late as the entire factory explodes, tragically killing everyone, but it knocks him back and leaves him unconscious. Grace tearfully calls out to the firehouse on the line to hear silence.

### Return of the 126

Six months after his recovery, Judd seeks to rejoin the 126 but is angered at the idea that he had to be reinterviewed and rejects therapy to the newly admitted Captain Owen Strand. Grace comes home later that night and reminds him about the nightmares he's had, and reminds him not to give up as he hadn't when he had asked for her hand in marriage.

On another night, she and Judd go out dancing at a bar together. Spotting Captain Strand, she walks outside and introduces herself to him. She tells him that him and Judd are alike, that saving people is like breathing to them. She asks Owen to help save Judd, and he is convinced to ask her to tell Judd to come back to the station the next morning.

### Stuart's Accident

In "Awakening", Judd's father, Stuart, fell on the one of his rug and stay laying on the ground for a whole day which leads Judd to think about getting him help because Judd and Grace worry about him being alone in his house. Judd tells his father that while he doesn't want him to go to a nursing house, he wants to have a more manageable house. Later, Stuart calls 9-1-1 and asks for Grace because he cuts his arm and leg with glass and Grace helps him through it until paramedics arrive. Stuart ask her to not say anything about it to Judd. She does tell Judd about it and the couple come to visit Stuart at the hospital where Judd tells his father that he can stay in his house only if he promises to wear a necklace that will call 9-1-1 if he presses the button on it. Stuart tells them that he will do it on one condition, if they start giving him grandbabies.

### Benjamin's Affair

During an emergency call, Judd finds her father in a hotel room with another woman that isn't her mother. He tells the paramedic to check his glucose because he knows he has diabete. At the hospital, he tells Benjamin that he knows about the affair but that he hasn't say anything to Grace because that's not something you should tell to someone you care about on the phone. When Judd and Grace have dinner with Tommy and Charles, Judd reveals to them what happened with Grace's father. After a call she answers to about domestic violence and says the words "sometimes it's not what they say, it's what they don't say" to her boss, Grace finds out the truth herself on what really happened with her father and why Judd has been acting weird all day. She tries to tell her mum the truth but backs out.

Nearly two years later, in "Open", Grace still struggles with knowing about the infidelity and acts coldly with her father, not wanting him around Charlie. This stops when he has a heart attack while babysitting and she learns that her mother already knew about the affair and forgave him.

### Car Accident

Judd and Grace drive to Stuart's house to celebrate his birthday and his second vaccination. While driving, he and Grace start talking about starting their own family but they get into a car accident and fall off the bridge into the river. In the water, Grace is awake while Judd is unconscious, she shakes him awake, he does and tells her that he's going to smash the window and swim to the top of the river. Grace tells him that she can't because she can't move, Judd goes underwater and tries to free her leg but fails. Grace orders him to leave her alone and saves himself but Judd refuses because the "deal" was to stay right by each other's sides until the end. At the hospital, Judd is the first to wake up with Owen and Tommy in the room where Owen tells him that he had an accident, Judd immediately starts asking about Grace. Judd is concern about the fact that Grace was underwater for 6 minutes because you can get brain damage if you're underwater for 4 minutes and Tommy tries to reassure him by telling him that some of people didn't get brain damage after being underwater for 7 minutes, that the water was cold and that Grace is strong. Judd goes to see Grace in her hospital room while her parents are there too and Tommy gets him to leave by telling that food is here. When he leaves the room, he sees the 126 and Carlos all being present, waiting for him. He tries to get food for her and thanks them for being here with him. He shares a hug with Owen and then with the whole 126 before learning because of Carlos' coworkers that the drunk driver who drove them off the road is in the same hospital.

Then, Judd goes to the drunk driver's room, Caleb, and threatens to break his wrist if he screams or calls for help. Judd gets him to confess to being drunk while driving and Caleb tells him that he has a problem and that's it's not his fault. Judd starts telling him about how Grace saved more than a thousand of lives through her job and starts choking Caleb with his arm out of anger. Owen and Benjamin rush into the room, tell him to stop and that Grace is finally awake and wants to see him. Once in the bedroom, the doctor comes and Grace tells her that she can't feel her legs, the doctor tells her that it's normal and that's entirely normal and that the feeling will come back and that they're both coming to be okay. Judd asks her what she means by "they" and the doctor announce to them that Grace is pregnant. Judd leaves the room and goes to tell first, Stuart and then the 126 that Grace is doing good and that she's pregnant.

### Recovering

In "A Little Help From My Friends", Grace wakes up, alone in bed, in visible pain. she puts on a leg brace for her injured leg and leaves the bedroom to join the living room to get her prenatal vitamins. Judd tries to help her but she rejects his help, saying she's okay and can do it on her own. Grace tells Judd that since he's going back to work that day, she needed to be able to stand on her two feet. Judd tells her it's "nonsense" because she has a walker she refuses to use, her parents are dying to come take care of her. Before leaving for work, Judd made her promise to call her if anything happen and she needs help, even if it's to pick up the remote from the ground.

Later that day, Grace goes outside to do grocery shopping, still in obvious pain. When she gets to her car, she accidentally drop her car keys on the floor of the car with her grocery bags and when she tries to get them, she hurts her back and legs even more. After 6 hours stuck in the car, Grace calls Tommy for help who check her out. She gives her a pill to relax her muscles for the rest of the drive.

The next morning, Grace wakes up, in pain again but this time she asks Judd for help, asking him to get her walker. In "Slow Burn", she doesn't need to use her walker anymore.

### Going Back to Work

After 6 weeks of physical therapy, Grace excitedly returns to work and is greeted by her coworkers clapping and giving her a fruit basket. She tells them that she surprisingly feels more relaxed actually working at the call center. Her first call back is during the dust storm, where she helps a woman dig herself out of a garden storage box who she had in a panic ran under.

### Ice Storm

In "The Big Chill", Grace joins Judd when he's painting the nursery for their future daughter and tells him that he has time to finish painting it because the baby won't be able to see two feet away from her face within the first months. Grace tells him that the baby coming soon isn't what's bothering him and Judd tells her that yes it isn't. He's bothering by the 126 being demolished in the same morning. Grace tells him that he has to go to sleep because he has a shift and people depends on him and that she'll continue the painting.

At work, Grace sends Carlos on a call of a break-in at a furniture store.

Out on a call, Judd is on the phone with Grace talking about Marjan. He tells her that he didn't put chains on her car because she left too quickly. Grace asks him why he didn't stop her and Judd answers that no one can stop Marjan when she has something in mind. Judd tells her that she's wasting a trip because Owen is never going to sign this apology letter. Grace reminds him that he did punch the man, Judd says that the punch wasn't that hard and Grace replies that he knocked the man out cold. Judd asks her of his girls are doing and Grace tells him that she's enjoying a cup of chamomile. Judd is worried about Grace feeling bad and tells her to take care of herself. Their phone call gets cut because of the weather.

In "Thin Ice", Grace is still at the dispatch center and receives a call from a woman, Carol, who tells her that there's a boy trapped under a lake. Grace asks her if she knows how long the boy has been under the pond, Carol replies that she doesn't but her husband saw the boy opens his eyes but that was 5 minutes ago. She tells Grace that they tried to break the ice but that it was too thick and that they have to send someone to help them. Grace replies that every firetrucks close to the pond are already busy because of the storm but that she sees another unit in the area and that she'll send them (Tommy, TK and Nancy) there. Later, Judd calls Grace through dispatch and tells her that the last time they saw Paul was at the south wall and that they need her help so Grace starts looking at the building schematics of the structure. Grace realises that they're somewhere on the basketball court and Judd confirms it when he finds a hoop, Mateo telling him that "his lady is good" and Judd replying that it's why he called her. Judd asks Grace how they should proceed to find Paul and she tells him that their best bet is to "double back through the Alpha Bravo wall" because there's a lot of load-bearing beams and a good chance of air pockets for them to make it through. Judd thanks her and they're interrupted by Paul's voice on the radio, Mateo asks him where he is and Paul replies that he's in some sort of locker room, Grace tells them that the locker room is 25 yards northeast to where they are right now.

Later that day, Grace is surprised at the dispatch center by Judd, holding bags of grocery store for the rest of her shift. She asks him what he's doing here and he tells her that himself and the rest of the guys were going to go check on Paul at the hospital and he told them to stop the truck so he could come by and thank her for the help during Paul and Lindsey's rescue. Judd cleans the puddle of water he made because of his boots covered in ice and Grace asks him what he brought with him, Judd leads her to the break room of the dispatch center and when she asks him if the whole team is waiting outside in the truck, he tells her that it's not the whole team and that they at least have the heat on. Judd tells Grace that he couldn't bear the thought of her drinking chamomille tea so he bought her English breakfast tea and Judd says that he did and he brought her ginger chews she likes when her stomach is upset, and cough drops just in case too. Grace tells him that she told him she was fine on the phone and Judd replies that he knows but he wanted to come check on his girls anyways. Grace tells him that his girls are fine and they appreciate him but that if he leaves his crew outside any longer, they are the ones who will need the medicinals. Judd agrees but tells her to holler him on the radio if she needs anything.

In "Shock and Thaw", Grace is drinking tea with Tommy in the break room of the call center. Grace asks her how bad TK's condition is and Tommy replies that it's bad and they won't know more until the doctors run more tests but that it's pretty clear where it's headed. Grace tells her that they won't know until they know and that she has to keep faith. Tommy tells her that she's right and that she'll try. Tommy tells Grace that she has never heard the call center being so quiet and Grace replies that it's because cell service is down everywhere so no one can call 9-1-1 at the moment. Tommy says that it's not a very peaceful thought. Grace asks her what she's doing here, that she should be home, hugging her kids. Tommy asks her how can she does that when someone else's kid is dying in the hospital because of her. Grace says that because of her, a little boy gets to go home and hug his mother and that she saved him. Tommy disagrees and says that TK is the one who saved him and that she should've never let him go in that pond in the first place, that they should've wait for backup. Grace replies that they both know no backup was coming, Tommy says that she should've been the one who went into the pond and that when Grace mentions that she has never done ice rescues before, Tommy replies that it doesn't matter, she was TK's captain. Grace tells her that she still is his captain and that if she gave TK a choice right now: his life or the little boy's life, he would do the same thing a thousand times over to keep that family whole. Tommy asks her how is she supposed to face Owen when he walks through the hospital doors, Grace asks her if anyone has been able to reach him and Tommy replies that everything has been going to voicemail since the phones are down. She continues by saying that Owen was there for her on the worst day of her life and Grace says that she will be there for him. Tommy agrees but says that the only difference is that she caused his.

Later, Bree comes in to check on Grace in the break room when Grace is about to leave at the end of her shift. Bree tells her that something is about to happen, Grace asks her if she's supposed to guess and Bree replies that people are going to surprise her with gifts. Grace says that they won't anymore and Bree tells her that she didn't want Grace's water to break because of the surprise since she heard that could happen. Grace tells her that she appreciates Bree and thanks her for looking out for her. Grace leaves the break room and finds the call center full of people with gifts, especially cupcakes and stuffed animal. Joel, her colleague, tells her that if she wouldn't mind going in labor on Saturday, they could split the pot. Grace realises they have a baby pool on her. Bree tells Joel that he's tampering and that the smart money is on Thursday anyway. Grace tells them to pump the brakes because her baby isn't due for another two weeks. Bree tells her that she's related to her "Miss Early To Everything" and Grace reminds that she's also related to Judd who likes to take his sweet time.

### Giving Birth

At her house, Grace is finishing the painting of the nursery while she sings and she almost fell from her ladder before being interrupted by a knock on the door. She goes to open the door and sees Billy there. She tells him that Judd isn't here and he replies that's why he is. He asks her if he can comes inside because he feels like he's getting frosbites on his earlobes. Billy tells her that he brought sandwiches from the deli. Grace asks him what he's doing here and Billy says that he's been trying to get ahold on Judd and that he won't take his calls. Grace asks him "and?" and Billy replies that it's a matter of some consequence. Captain Carter at the 125 is moving on and Billy wants Judd in the running to take his place as captain. Grace scoffes and tells him that it's quite an offer, Billy says that it's an offer that comes with a big raise which he's sure a growing family like them could put to good use. Grace asks him if he really thinks he could come in here with "30 pieces of silver and buy her husband's soul". Billy says that he understands that feeling are a little raw at the moment but he's not trying to buy him out, he's trying to get the best man for the job, and that he'd also like his best friend back. Grace tells him that he destroyed that friendship when he destroyed the 126. Billy replies that he didn't destroy it, an arsonist did, that the place was burned down to the ground and the department would've gone bankrupt trying to rebuild it. Grace tells him that she learns that people do things for two reasons: the good one and the real one. She continues by saying he should admit that when he saw a chance to shutter the place permanently, he couldn't resist. He couldn't stand to see that house thriving under Owen. She says that she doesn't want to think about what his brothers from the 126 would say if the could see him right now but she hopes he thinks about it and that it keeps him up at night the way losing the 126 keeps Judd up at night. She finishes by saying she promised Judd she would stay relaxed and that she's not feeling relaxed at all right now, so he should pick up his sandwiches and get out of her house. Billy replies by saying that he believes her water just broke.

After getting her things, Grace prays the Lord to have one cell service bar so she can call Judd. Billy tells her that all the service towers are down and Grace asks him what he's still doing there. Billy says that her water just broke and they need to go to the hospital, Grace says there's no "them" and that he'll only make himself useful if he gets to the 122 station house and tells Judd to meet her at the hospital. Billy asks her how is she planning on going to the hospital and Grace replies that she has been driving since she was 16 so she got it. She goes to her car, Billy following her and she tells him he's not officially trespassing. Billy tells her that she's in active labor, she can't drive herself to the hospital. Then, he offers to go in his truck and Grace replies that she wouldn't go in his truck even if it was the last ride out of hell. She tells him to step back and Billy replies that she thinks he'll tell Judd how he let her go out on her own in an ice storm. He jumps into her car and when she's asking him what he's doing, he tells her that she's not the only crazy one and that if he's driving, he's riding shotgun.

In the car, Billy tells Grace that she should ease up just a skosh because of the weather conditions. Grace replies that if Billy keeps talking, he'll walk in these conditions. He continues by saying that what she said about being jealous of how Owen and the 126 thriving, there might have some truth to that and that he still thinks about Judd and his fallen brothers of the 126, that he sees their faces every night. Grace gets a contraction and when Billy offers his hand for her to squeeze she tells him to not touch her because he's not a friend, he's not family, he's just a man who jumped into her car. On the road, they found abandonned car in the snow, while she drives, Grace's car get stuck in the snow.

In "Push", Grace attemps to call Judd once again but fails since the phones are down. Billy tells her that the only thing her phone will be good to will be keeping her ear warm but that a radio would come in handy. Grace asks him to repeat that and Billy says that it'd be easier if they had taken his truck like he had suggested earlier. Grace tells him that if Billy is on his way of an "I told you so" she will "rip his weasel tongue out, stuck it to the windshield and watch it freeze". Grace gets another contraction and when Billy offers her to squeeze his hand, she tells him to keep his weasel hand as far away from her as possible. Billy decides to go looking for a car that still drives or has at least a working radio. In her car, Grace prays to God, saying that she has never felt so cold and that yes, she knows she got herself in this situation because she was headstrong and reckless and that she was filled with wrath, hoping God will overlook that part because she's talking about Billy. Grace says that she's scared and asks God to deliver out of this situation, not for her but for her child who deserves a chance to meet her father. Billy comes back at that moment and asks her to open the car, which Grace does. Grace asks him if he found anything and Billy says that it won't be the answer to her prayers but it will get her out of that icebox. He asks her how far Grace can walk and she replies that she will walk as far as it takes before they both get out of the car.

Billy leads Grace to a tour bus where they'll be able to shelter for a moment. They get into the bus and Grace lays on the couch and stops Billy when he tries to put a blanket on her, telling him she brought her own and that she doesn't where that blanket have been. Billy tells her he's going try to turn the heat on and looks under the driver's seat, hoping to find the keys but failing. Billy takes out the wires under the driving wheel and starts the bus right before it turns itself off since there's no gas. Grace tells Billy they have to find another place but since Grace's contractions are getting closer, there's no way they're going outside right now. When she asks him where does he think he'll be able to find fuel, Billy tells her he's going to siphon it.

Billy comes back after and asks Grace how is she doing, she asks him it'd be better if he could her he found an epidural outside. He replies that he didn't but he found a gallon of diesel. He starts the bus and turns heat on full blast before going back to Grace. She asks him if he's okay and he tells her that he just took a sip or two of diesel while siphoning. Grace asks him if he's sure because his eyes look a bit glassy, Billy tells her that he's fine and that he's the one who has to look after her before passing out. Grace uses ice to wake up Billy, putting it on his head before telling him that she thinks it's time. Billy asks her what she needs while she's screaming in pain, he starts to ramble and Grace just asks him to hold her hand. Billy tells her that it won't be long now but Grace replies that she needs her husband to be there. 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. Soon, Grace gives birth to a beautiful little girl.

### Return of the 126

Weeks later, Grace is at home when her and Judd receive a visit from Tommy, Evie and Isabella. Judd asks the girls if they're ready to meet their little cousin and when both girls agree, Tommy tells them to be quiet because she might be sleeping. Grace tells Tommy that she wishes her daughter was sleeping and she tells the twins to come closer, Tommy telling them that she won't bite which Grace replies to by saying that she bites but only her mother. Grace introduces her daughter to Evie and Izzy, telling her that they're going to look out for her her whole life so she has to do what they say. Evie tells her that they promise to be nice and Isabella tells Grace that they brought her something, a penguin plush because she was born in the snow. The twins start fighting about who thought about the plush and Evie tells Izzy that she did because she's the one who made a report on emperor penguin. Tommy tells her girls to calm down and tells Grace and Judd that they had a good idea, only starting with one baby. Tommy looks at the baby and says that she's beautiful, Judd telling her that they're lucky because she favors her mother but Tommy tells him she sees plenty of Judd in her too. Then, Grace gives the baby to Tommy, letting her hold her god-daughter. Tommy asks them if they decided what was going to be the name of the baby and Grace replies that they wanted to name her Charlie - after Charles. Grace tells Tommy that they want to honor him, that they didn't want to overstep. Judd jumps in saying that if she feels uncomfortable or anything, they can still pick another name. Tommy tells them that she likes it very much.

Later, Grace is present at the opening ceremony of the 126, standing beside Carlos, Charlie, Evie and Isabella as they watch Owen talk. At the party, she watches Charlie with Judd, Tommy and the twins and then she's dancing with everyone.

### Judd's Secret Child

In "Child Care", Grace comes by the firehouse with Charlie to see Judd. Judd says that he didn't expect them to come and Grace replies that they think it'd be fun to surprise him. Judd introduces Grace and Charlie as his wife and daughter and Wyatt - a young man who came by the firehouse - says that he'll leave them be and that he and Judd can talk another time. Judd stops him and tells him that they'll talk about this right here because he doesn't keep secrets from his wife. Grace asks Judd what's going on and Judd replies that Wyatt is under the misapprehension that Judd is his father. Grace is confused but Judd tells her that they'll clear this up quickly because if he had gotten someone pregnant over the past 20 years, he'd know about it. Grace asks Wyatt what is his mother's name and Wyatt replies that she's called Marlene Harris. Judd replies that he doesn't know any Marlene and Wyatt says that he's not surprised because he's pretty sure she didn't get Judd's name either. His mother is a barrel racer, and that she met his dad at a San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo in 2005 before he shows Judd an old picture of his mother. Judd clearly recognises the woman but asks Wyatt how did they manage to find out that Judd could be his father. Wyatt replies that he didn't, but that DNA-OK - a genetic ancestry site - did. Judd says that he doesn't have his DNA on any websites but Grace tells him that he does since after they got engaged, they wanted to learn more about their family trees. Wyatt adds that he doesn't want to blow anyone's life, or money and that his mum doesn't even know he's here right now. He continues, saying that it was probably a mistake coming here like this and that he appreciated the time they gave him. Grace stops him and asks him if he has a number they can have to contact him. He puts his number in Grace's phone and leaves the firehouse, Grace soon following him and telling Judd they'll talk about it at home.

Later, Judd comes home to Grace mopping the floor of the kitchen. Judd tells her that he wants to quickly grab a beer but Grace tells him to stay off the floor and to get out of the kitchen before saying that she can't keep anything clean in this house with him in it. Judd asks her if she wants to talk about the Wyatt situation and Grace asks him what are the odds of him being his father. Judd replies that they aren't zero but it was a long time ago and he was very different back then, that he wasn't himself until he met Grace. Grace says that she knows Judd had a past before they met, that she shouldn't be mad but she is and she can't help it. Judd replies that it's fair and Grace tells him that's it's actually not fair to anyone, not to Judd who didn't know he had a son out there, not to Wyatt who had to grow up without a dad and that's it's not fair to herself and to Charlie either. Grace continues by saying she knew she wanted to have children, a family, with Judd from the day she met him and now she realises he already has one. She adds that she knows it's not rational but that she can barely look at Judd right now. Judd asks her to not say that to him and that whatever is going to happen isn't going to affect their family. Grace tells him that yes it will before going to check on Charlie when she hears her cry.

Then, Judd comes home to Grace setting the table for dinner. Judd asks her what's the occasion and Grace replies that it's a family dinner and that they have things to talk about. Judd says that he didn't know when they were going to go back to talking. Grace says that he was right in what he said earlier, he's still the same man she married, a good man who is going to do right by Wyatt. Because he's Judd's family and that makes him Grace's family too. Judd tells her that marrying her was still the smartest thing he's ever done. Grace replies that yes, but to be fair, he doesn't raise the bar very high. They hug and exchange I love yous and Grace tells him to go get change because they're having company for dinner. The doorbell rings and Judd opens the door to find Marlene there, she comes in and Grace thanks her for agreeing to come meet them. They talk and Marlene apologises for being tough with them but she can be a little overprotective when it comes to Wyatt and Grace says that she understands how it feels before asking Marlene if she wants to hold Charlie, while Judd watches them from the kitchen.

In "The ATX-Files", Judd and Grace invite Wyatt over for dinner and for the weekend. When he's offered meat, Wyatt tells them that he doesn't eat any and when Judd offers him truffle mac, Wyatt reveals that he's vegan so he can't eat it either. Judd realises that the whole weekend he had planned with Wyatt is ruined because he had in mind to go deer hunting and bass fishing. Then, Grace tells Judd that maybe he should just ask Wyatt what he likes to do for fun. He replies that he likes to skate, making TikToks and playing "Magic" - which is a fantasy-based tabletop card game before he apologises and says that he's weird, Judd picks up on that and asks him if he likes aliens. Later in the week, Grace tells Wyatt that he can call her Grace, not Mrs Ryder. Ever since, she treats Wyatt as if he is her son too.

## Personality

Grace is a skilled and leveled headed person, often finding the best solutions for those trapped during her calls. She is very supportive and caring for her husband Judd who she gives advice to often. She is also very understanding towards him, as she knows his love for her made him want to protect her from the reveal about her father's infidelity.

## Relationships

### Judd Ryder

Judd and Grace first met on the phone as Grace volunteers for a prayer hotline that Judd called one day. She first called him "John" because he didn't want to tell her his name. He tells her about what happened that day with Cal's mother and he explained to her how he hurt her in the past. Grace, then, told him to go to her even if he would probably get spit on. Grace recited *Psalm 31* to him and it was what convinced him to go. At the end of their first conversation, he tells her his actual name is Judd. Judd keeps calling Grace at the prayer hotline to tells her about the progress he's making with Cal's mother. While he's at the bar, Judd tries to call after he finally managed to get Cal's mother's forgiveness but someone at the prayer hotline tells him that Grace stops volunteering there. While at the bar, Judd hears Grace's voice from where she's sitting with her friends and when Tommy sees him, she decides to introduce them. Grace and Judd go dancing where Judd tells her that Cal's mother didn't spit on him and actually forgave him. Then, Grace tells him that the reason she stopped volunteering is because she's moving to Georgetown. They start dating, and two months after, Judd tells Charles that he put him down as reference with some firehouses in D.C. and when Charles asks him if he's smitten with Grace, Judd tells him that he's in love.

One day, Judd comes to the Williams' house to pick up Grace for a date and meets with Grace's father, Benjamin. He tells Judd about their family story and legacy and tells him that Grace is destined to have a bright future but it can't happen if Judd is a part of it because of the job he's doing. Later that night, Grace tells Judd that she decided to stay in Austin and that she loves him and that she knows he loves her too. Judd lies to her and tells her he doesn't love her. Grace leaves the car and they broke up that night. The same night, Judd gets *Psalm 31* tattooed on his hand. In 2013, Judd comes to the hospital the day Tommy is giving birth and he's meeting Grace in the waiting room, she notices his tattoo. He asks her about her new job and she tells him that she's training to be a 9-1-1 dispatcher. Judd asks her if she's seeing anyone and Grace tells him that yes she's seeing someone, Judd tells her that he's a lucky man and Grace answers that he is but he is too "dumb or stubborn to know it and that he hasn't picked up the phone in 6 months." when Judd starts to respond, Charles comes him and tells them that they're going to be their twins' godparents. They start holding hands as a sign that they're ready to get back together.

When he tried to get her father, Benjamin's approval to marry her, he rejected and he came back every day, even building him a pool deck just to prove that he truly loved her. Grace answered the call when the 126 tragedy had struck, and knowing that her husband was the one on the call with her, she panicked when he was knocked out, not knowing he had survived. After the tragedy, Grace was there to help support him and is the one who convinces him to get him back on his feet to return to the newly rebuilt station. After unintentionally insulting her faith he refuses to go back to church, he apologizes and decides to slowly return as it's important to her, and to support just as she supports him.

In "Studs", Grace tells her friend Colleen that her and Judd haven't been intimate since the incident. Later, Grace prepares dinner for her and Judd while wearing a new dress and Judd jokes that she's trying to seduce him, which is the case. Grace tells him that she's frustrated and hurt because he doesn't look at her or touch her anymore compared to their sex life before the incident. Then, Judd prepares her dinner and tells her that "[Grace] is the one thing in this world that he can't live without and the idea that he made [her] doubt that even for a minute is a crime", they kiss and Judd stands up with her in his arms before going into their bedroom.

Judd has mentioned to Strand that he would "walk through fire" to show how much he loves Grace, and makes her feel safe in their marriage together.  When on a call and recognizing Benjamin was subject to having an affair, he is notably shaken. He arrives at the hospital and confronts him, telling him to tell his daughter and wife, not wanting the burden of hurting Grace. Soon after, Grace and her mother arrive, and Benjamin lies about what led him to the hospital, leaving Judd to feel guilty about not telling her, as he knows she is close with him. After talking about it with the Vegas, Tommy tells him that he would be hurting her more if she finds out herself with him having known. Judd tries to tell her the morning after at her workplace, but backs out. Later in the day when he returns, he tries to finally tell her, but unfortunately, Grace had picked up on hints Judd had tried dropping during dinner with the Vegas, and she had listened to the call about her father herself. She tells him she appreciates and understands why he kept the secret from her as he didn't want to see her get hurt, but does not want to talk further about it, which he understands.

In "Saving Grace", after their car accident, the couple learn that they're going to have a baby together. Grave gives birth in "Push".

### Tommy Vega

Tommy and Grace are best friends. They meet when Tommy comes to her with Judd because she noticed how he looked at her. When Grace finds out that Tommy says that going back to work feels like "hell", Grace tells her that she'll fight everyone who made her feel like this. Grace also tells Tommy that "she's impossible not to love".

## Trivia

* She can sing extremely well. ("Open")
* She lives at 754 Drew Valley Road. ("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. ↑ "Act of God"
2. ↑ "Friends With Benefits"