Briefing seemed to drag on, and on. Ponch kept looking over at his watch to see what time it was, then trying to do something to keep him from falling asleep. For a while he was just bouncing his leg under the table, but apparently it bothered Jon, because Jon turned to him and politely asked him to stop. Ponch apologized and stared at the table for a while. He was still listening to Getraer, he just wasn't paying as much attention, he noticed a lot of people were taking notes at the moment so he pulled out a paper and pen and tried to do the same.

That just wasn't happening! All that happened was doodles. Jon looked over at the paper. "Ponch, are you taking notes or what?" he whispered.

"Sorry…I'm trying to concentrate…doodling helps I guess," he replied.

Jon just laughed and rolled his eyes.

Getraer looked back to where the two were seated. "Um Baker I need to speak with you," he said.

"Ok…?" Jon replied a little unsure. He was hoping he wasn't in trouble.

Getraer then closed his black binder. "They rest of you get on out there…and make sure to drink plenty of water it's gonna be a hot one today," Getraer informed.

There were a lot of sighs and groans after that. No one liked the extremely hot days. They all started leaving the room, some dragging their feet, not wanting to go out into the heat.

"Let's try to stay in the nice cool building," one officer suggested.

"Nice try!" Grossie said leading the group outside.

"Well I'll be in court most of the day," Bonnie announced.

Everyone glared at her playfully. "Take me with you, Bon-Bon. Just let me sit in the nice cool air conditioning," Ponch said.

Bonnie only laughed then walked out the door.

Ponch didn't follow them, he stayed back to see what it was Getraer wanted with Jon. He walked back to the briefing room, with a cheerful smile on his face.

"Poncherello I believe I just said Baker," Getraer said trying to get him to go away.

"Aww come on, Sarge…I'm his partner," Ponch argued.

Getraer just looked at him about to say no again, but came up with a better way to get rid of him. He looked and noticed that Ponch wasn't wearing his medical alert bracelet. He looked over at Jon, he felt slightly bad about doing this to Ponch, but he wanted this to be a private conversation.

"Um…Poncherello I know this might come as a shock to you, but it would be really nice if you would wear that medical alert bracelet you were given. And I know you have it…if something were to happen to you…" Getraer started.

Ponch just stared at Getraer with a mixture of extremely confused and a little upset. "Yeah…ok sure I'll be back in a few minutes," he replied then walked off slowly.

Jon looked at Getraer. "Is it really necessary to send him away?" he asked.

Getraer sighed. "Well if I want to get to talk without being interrupted a bunch, yes."

Jon nodded in agreement to that, then waited for Getraer to go on.

"Well I know that someday you were planning on becoming a sergeant. You haven't taken the test yet and all that, but I can help you through everything," Getraer started.

Jon just stared at him now even more confused than ever.

"The sergeant at the station in Bakersfield is retiring, and they need a new one…I figured you would be a good man for the job. You and one other person are the two options they have, so if you don't pass the test, or if you just don't want to do it then the other guy will."

"So you're asking me to leave here…to go be the sergeant somewhere else?" Jon asked both thrilled and scared at the same time.

"Yeah, is that all right?"

Jon nodded. "I'll have to think about it…and um can I talk to Ponch about it at all?"

"Of course you can. I just didn't want him to start protesting instantly. I know he's gonna do everything he can to try to keep you here…just please do whatever you feel is best for you. And if you do end up going there…Frank is more than welcome to transfer to that station as well."

Jon smiled widely at the thought, but then his smile faded when he realized something…Ponch wouldn't want to leave Central.

Soon Ponch entered the room again, at just the right time to see Jon's smile fading, and him looking more upset than ever before.

Ponch looked confused, he turned to face Getraer, and Getraer looked just fine. Ponch couldn't seem to figure out this scene.

"Well…I got it on," Ponch said.

Getraer nodded and tried to bit back his smile at Ponch always being the one to walk in on an important conversation. To him right now for some reason it had just caught him funny. He turned and started to leave. "Oh and Baker I need to know and answer by the end of the month," Getraer added before leaving.

Jon nodded then looked at Ponch. "I don't know what I'm gonna do Ponch," he stated simply.

"I don't know either till you tell me what is going on," Ponch said.

Jon looked at him. "I've got the strangest feeling you're gonna hate this," Jon said.

"Oh yay!" Ponch replied with a hint of sarcasm. He went and sat down "Talk to me while I check my blood sugar," Ponch said.

Jon sat on the edge of the table and stared at the ceiling for a few minutes. The light was almost blinding, so he decided to look at the wall instead. He wasn't a big fan of watching Ponch check his blood sugar. When he watched the first few times, as he had to poke his finger, then some blood came out and then Jon would make a face, and Ponch would laugh.

Jon normally didn't mind stuff like that, but for some reason he just couldn't stand to watch Ponch doing it. Ponch had done it on Jon once just for the fun of it, and Jon hated it! He just didn't like blood was the main reason. He didn't mind seeing it…but he just preferred not to.

"Jon, you gonna talk or what?" Ponch asked as he waited for the results.

Jon was suddenly brought back to reality when he heard that, he was lost in thought thinking about how much this decision could affect the people around him…no matter which choice he made someone was going to be affected by it…and would leaving here to go be the sergeant put a dent in his friendship with Ponch? If that was the case there was no way he was leaving! The last thing in the world he wanted was to leave for a higher position and lose his best friend in the process of leaving. He stared at Ponch not sure how he was going to tell him. What was Ponch gonna say? Was he gonna react badly to the news? Or would he take it just fine?

Ponch stared at Jon noticing that something must be wrong. He was super quiet, and no matter how many times Ponch tried to talk Jon didn't have much of a reaction.

"Are you ok?"

"Huh?" Jon asked looking at Ponch.

"Are you ok?" Ponch asked again.

Jon nodded "Yeah…I'm fine…are you ok?" Jon asked trying to change the subject.

"Yeah I'm perfectly fine," Ponch lied. He was low, and needed something, but right now he was too concerned about Jon.

"Ponch…are you telling the truth?" Jon asked.

Ponch looked at him. "I'll get a snack before we go. But you seriously need to tell me what's going on," Ponch replied.

"I will…but let's first make sure you're fine," Jon replied.

He and Ponch both walked to the break room to find something to eat. As Ponch was eating his snack he felt a lot better, for two reasons, one because he told Jon that he needed something and two because he went and ate something before things got worse.

After eating his snack Ponch and Jon both headed for the door. Jon was still dreading the moment of when he told Ponch what he and Getraer talked about. Mainly because…Jon wanted to go.

They walked outside and instantly were met by the heat of the California sunshine. "Sarge was right about it being a hot one," Ponch said as he strapped on his helmet.

Jon nodded his head in agreement. "Let's just try to take his advice and drink plenty of water when we can," Jon said.

"Already got it covered, Baker. I've got three water bottles in my saddle bag," Ponch replied with his trademark toothy grin.

Jon smiled back then started his motorcycle and the two started off on their beat.

Surprisingly enough for the most part Ponch didn't say anything to Jon about his talk with Getraer. He was completely silent about it. Jon was thankful for that, but the thing that bugged him was knowing that Ponch was going to ask him sooner or later.

Pretty soon he heard Ponch clear his throat. "So?" he asked trying to start off the conversation.

"So what?" Jon asked.

"What did Getraer want?" Ponch asked over the noise of the motorcycles, while at the same time trying not to sound irritated. Because now he was starting to get this nagging feeling that Jon just didn't want to talk to him.

"Oh…he just wanted to ask me about the sergeant retiring up in Bakersfield," Jon replied calmly.

"Oh?" Ponch replied with a raised eyebrow. "What about 'em?"

"Wanted to know if I'd take his place," Jon replied then looked over his shoulder to see if he could change lanes, of which he did so as fast as he could before Ponch could reply to what Jon said.

Ponch was left behind completely stunned and silent for a few moments, soon he was beside Jon again. "He wants you to do what!?" he asked.

"He knows that I want to be sergeant someday…he asked if I wanted to take the guys place. I never gave a definite yes or no…but I'm still leaning towards a yes if I pass the test anyway."

"Jon come on! This is you we're talking about…you'll pass that test no matter what happens. But you don't wanna go to Bakersfield," Ponch said.

"Oh?"

"Jon…listen I'm sorry I don't like to make choices for you…but…why can't you just stay here and take over when Sarge moves up to a higher rank?"

"Well why can't you just come to Bakersfield?" Jon asked.

"I'm not leaving Central, Jon," Ponch replied rather quickly. "Look it's your choice…but I think you should forget it," Ponch added.

"I knew you'd feel that way…that's why I didn't want to say anything yet," Jon said.

Ponch was quiet.

"Ponch…I've wanted to be sergeant for a long time. This isn't something that happens very often…and if I say no then someone else will get the job."

"Then give it to the someone else! You don't have to go, Jon!" Ponch sped up not feeling like talking about that anymore. He didn't want Jon to leave.