As the felon was delivered to the authorities, Fillmore was able to get a good look at him for the first time. He was surprised: the felon was an average kid with brown hair and brown eyes and a sad expression. Fillmore just shook his head: he was glad that the kid wasn't evil but he was also sad that the kid had become so paranoid about education.
After the felon was driven away Folsom made an announcement:
"Students and fellow faculty: in honor of both Ms. Third and X Middle School being saved there will be a party tomorrow. No classes, just come into the gym. There will be free food and music and the Safety Patrol will receive high honors for their excellent work!"
Everyone cheered again.
Since school was almost over anyway, everyone was sent home. Fillmore's parents and Ingrid's dad and sister arrived at that point. Ingrid's dad and sister immediately hugged her to her surprised.
"Er, I e-mailed them about what happened." Fillmore explained awkwardly.
Ingrid just laughed and hugged her dad and sister back.
"I'm so relieved you're safe!" Mr. Third said happily.
"Same here sis, I was really worried when I got the e-mail during lunch but I couldn't get out of school early." Ingrid's sister Ariella agreed.
"Well thank Fillmore. He saved my life." Ingrid smiled.
Mr. Third and Ariella let go of Ingrid and expressed their thanks to Fillmore. He just accepted it humbly and added that it was Ingrid who save the school from the bomb. Then it was Ingrid's turn to receive praise. Fillmore's parents also expressed how proud they were of him and how relieved they were that he and Ingrid were safe.
After that, Fillmore and Ingrid were driven home. They didn't live too far from each other, so after Fillmore got home he got out of the car but didn't go towards the house.
"I have some unfinished business to take care of, I'll be home in time for dinner." Fillmore explained to his parents.
They hesitated at first, but decided to let him go ahead.
Fillmore rushed over to Ingrid's house and knocked on the door. Ariella opened it and looked surprised upon seeing Fillmore there.
"Please...I have to talk to Ingrid." Fillmore rubbed the back of his head awkwardly.
Ariella smiled, apparently catching on.
"Wait right there." She left to get Ingrid.
A few moments later, Ingrid stepped outside.
"Fillmore?" She said confused. "What are you doing here?"
"I'm here to confess something, something I realized earlier today after you disappeared and before we found out that you were kidnapped." Fillmore said, a little nervous but brave enough to not stammer.
"What is it?"
"Ingrid...when you didn't show up for work or for class I grew worried about you. But even more I...I started to miss you. I missed you so much that my heart ached. That was when I realized that...that I love you." Fillmore took a deep breath, waiting for Ingrid's answer.
Ingrid was beyond surprised at first, but then looked solemn.
"I'll have to admit Fillmore, I didn't have feelings for you before." She began.
Fillmore's face fell as he felt his heart slowly break.
Ingrid then smiled.
"But after I had been kidnapped I later found out from that felon what he was planning. I then became scared, not for me but for you. I was scared that you wouldn't be able to get out of harm's way in time. I then started thinking about our past missions, and all the great work we did together not only as partners but as friends. Best friends. I then thought about that Red Robin case, and why I didn't accept joining them, why I decided to stay with the Safety Patrol: it was because of you and you only." Ingrid said, becoming more cheerful.
Fillmore now looked hopeful as his heart stopped breaking.
"I didn't want to leave you, I cared about you too much." Ingrid continued. "And I didn't want to hurt you. After remembering that I realized: I love you too."
The little breakage that was in Fillmore's heart healed over as he smiled joyfully.
He and Ingrid then drew closer to each other...and kissed.
It wasn't long before their families found out about them becoming a couple. And they couldn't be happier about it.
The next day, Ingrid and Fillmore went to the party as a couple. It didn't take long for everyone to catch on. Plenty of students supported it, though there were those who were jealous because they either had a crush on Ingrid or a crush on Fillmore. When Folsom realized that Ingrid and Fillmore were a couple she also realized that Fillmore's feelings for Ingrid was why he was so cold with her the day before. So, she forgave him.
The rest of Safety Patrol of course were Fillmore and Ingrid's main supporters. Including Vallejo much to Ingrid's surprise.
"I was worried that you would disprove of our being a couple." Ingrid said to Vallejo near the punch bowl.
"Yeah, well, I know you guys won't let your relationship get in the way of work." Vallejo shrugged.
"Or maybe it's because you want us to have what you couldn't?" Fillmore whispered with a smirk. "And that you don't want us to experience the pain you did?"
Vallejo blushed slightly. Ingrid got it.
"Malika." She said knowingly.
"Yeah, her." Vallejo rubbed the back of his head awkwardly. "I thought we had...but then she...well you two already know the story."
"You were in love with her and thought she loved you back." Fillmore specified for Vallejo. "That was the real reason why you were so worried about Ingrid leaving us for the Red Robins."
"I saw you and Ingrid as another me and Malika." Vallejo nodded. "But I should've known better...no one could ever be another Malika."
"You still love her don't you?" Ingrid realized.
"I can't help it." Vallejo shrugged.
"Well, forget about it for now. After all today is about the school and Ingrid being saved." Fillmore smiled. "And maybe in the future things will work out."
"Really?" Vallejo looked surprised.
"Hey, she can't stay a Red Robin forever." Fillmore chuckled. "That sort of group is only for students."
Fillmore winked before walking off with Ingrid so that they could dance. Vallejo almost smiled upon realizing that Fillmore was right. He was still unhappy though...after all it would be years before both he and Malika would graduate.
Near the end of the dance Folsom made a couple announcements. The first one was about the felon. It turns out he wasn't bad, just misguided. His name was Richard Gate and had escaped from a cruel boarding school. His time there made him believe that all schools were evil and so after he escaped he set out to destroy them. Fortunately there were no casualties, X Middle School had been his first target. But this info did mean that he would be going to therapy rather than prison. Fillmore was relieved since he felt sorry for the kid upon seeing what he really looked like.
The second announcement was a surprise, at least for Fillmore. Both he and Ingrid were given medals of honor for their deeds. But that wasn't what surprised him:
"Now, as you all know Junior Commissioner Vallejo will be graduating this semester and going to high school. Because of this it is obvious that he will not be Junior Commissioner next semester or even next year." Folsom said. "He and I had a talk about this earlier today and he mentioned who he would like to be his successor. After consideration I accepted his suggestion and so I would like to introduce the new Junior Commissioner for next year: Officer Cornelius Fillmore."
Fillmore dropped his mouth open as everyone else applauded. Ingrid too was surprised but mostly looked at Fillmore with pride. Fillmore froze, not knowing what to do."
"Fillmore come on, make a speech!" O'Farrell whispered, pushing Fillmore towards the microphone.
Fillmore didn't know what to do. He didn't want to let everyone down but the idea of being a Junior Commissioner didn't appeal to him. Then he realized that there was someone more qualified than him to be a Junior Commissioner...
"Uh, everyone, I am honored that Vallejo considered me as is successor." Fillmore began awkwardly before becoming a little braver. "But mostly I'm shocked since I used to bug the heck out of him."
Everyone chuckled.
"However, I can't accept the position. I'm an action guy, not a 'sit-on-my-butt-all-day-drinking-cocoa' guy." Fillmore continued; Vallejo looked both annoyed and amused by that. "But I do know someone else who would make a good Junior Commissioner: Officer Joseph Anza."
Anza looked surprised, but no one else did.
"Tehama is also a good choice, but the Safety Patrol needs her forensic skills too much." Fillmore added. "So, what do you think Anza?"
Folsom and Vallejo paused for a minute, and realized that Fillmore made a good choice. Anza was frozen so Vallejo walked up to the microphone.
"After thinking it over I realized that Fillmore is right." He said. "Anza is a better choice. Anza?"
Anza recovered and walked up to the microphone.
"Well, I'm very grateful that Fillmore gave the position to me instead of taking it for himself. And he is right about him being more of an action guy than a Junior Commissioner guy so I'm not surprised that he turned the position down." Anza said. "However it was Vallejo's judgement that made up my mind. Since Vallejo thinks it's a good idea then I accept the position."
Everyone cheered.
"Thanks Fillmore." Anza shook his hand.
"Hey, no problem." Fillmore smiled back.
Vallejo and Anza then shook hands, and Tehama almost hugged Anza but stopped and shook his hand with a smile instead.
There wasn't much left to the party after that. Students and faculty alike just congratulated Anza and stated to Vallejo that they would miss him. Fillmore and Ingrid especially would miss Vallejo, but the three of them promised to keep in touch.
