Detective Nashton walked into the hallway with Roy following. Nashton stopped and put his hands on his hips, he looked at Roy with hesitation in his eyes.

"You said your partner helped the victim at the scene of the fire, correct?"

"Yes." Roy couldn't understand what the detective wanted.

"And your partner had been injured during the rescue?"

"Yes. What's going on?"

Detective Nashton sighed. "Well, as it turns out the man your partner rescued is a repeat pyromaniac."

Roy swallowed nervously a he put the pieces together. "And he's the arsonist, isn't he?"

"Yeah. It looks like it."

Roy turned away in frustration, he leaned against the wall and pounded his fist against it. "Johnny was almost killed saving the lunatic who started the blaze to begin with." He looked back at Nashton. "How do you know it's him, for sure?"

"Well, when asked why he was at the scene he claimed that he was there to check the wiring."

"And?"

"The building had NO wiring installed, whatsoever."

"Okay. He lied about being there, but how do you know he's the arsonist?" Roy didn't doubt Nashton but he just wanted to be sure.

"After a few more questions he became really agitated and went on a rant about how putting up new buildings is yet another way mankind is killing the planet and its natural beauty."

Roy couldn't believe what he was hearing. "So he burned down the buildings to keep them from damaging the Earth?"

Nashton just shrugged. "In his mind the act of burning down man made structures is a way to let nature regain power through the 'Phoenix' rising from the ashes legend."

Dixie had overheard the conversation and joined the two men. "You caught the arsonist?"

"Yes ma'am."

"Then maybe Mrs. Darren can find some peace after all."

Roy's eyes widened. "'Darren'? Wasn't he brought in..."

Dixie nodded. "Yeah. He didn't make it."

Roy shut his eyes. "How long ago?"

"Less than an hour. I've spent as much free time as I had trying to console his wife."

Nashton felt a twinge of guilt. "Where is she? I'd like to talk to her, if that's okay."

Dixie pointed at the doctor's lounge. "She's in there. Be gentle."

"Yes ma'am." Nashton disappeared into the lounge leaving Roy and Dixie alone in the hallway.

The x-ray tech finally arrived, Dixie walked over and held the door to the exam room open. As he entered the room Dr. Brackett exited. He saw Roy standing alone and immediately asked him the obvious question.

"What did the detective want?"

Roy was lost in thought, he didn't hear Brackett speak.

"Roy?" Dr. Brackett put his hand on Roy's shoulder and noticed how unnaturally warm Roy felt.

At his touch Roy jumped a little. "What? What did you want?"

"I asked what the detective wanted with you." Dr. Brackett couldn't help but notice how pale Roy's complexion had become as well, he also noted the sheen of sweat building on Roy's skin.

"Oh. He just wanted to tell me that the victim Johnny's saved was the arsonist."

"You're kidding."

Dixie chimed in on the bleak conversation. "No, and now Detective Nashton is informing Darren's widow of the news."

Dr. Brackett sighed. "I doubt that will be enough to comfort her." He didn't take his eyes from Roy. "How about you? Are you okay?"

Before Roy could respond his legs buckled and he passed out. He fell backward but Dr. Brackett was able to catch him before Roy's skull met the hard floor. "Dix, get a gurney, will ya'?"

Dr. Brackett lifted Roy's hand and checked his pulse. "Roy? Can you hear me?" He then put his hand to Roy's forehead.

Dixie returned with a gurney and two orderlies. "Dix, he's burning up."

The orderlies and Dr. Brackett carefully lifted Roy from the ground and onto the gurney. Dixie opened the door to Exam Room 2. Roy remained blissfully unaware of anything that was happening around him.

Inside the room Roy was placed onto the examination table. Dr. Brackett took his penlight and checked Roy's eyes. "Dix, what's his temperature?"

Dixie grabbed a thermometer and placed it between Roy's teeth. While waiting for the thermometer to measure Roy's temperature, Dixie proceeded to assist in checking Roy's other vitals. She placed the B.P. cuff on his arm.

"Well his pupils are normal." Dr. Brackett checked Roy's pulse again, then put his hand on Roy's abdomen. "Pulse is a little fast, respirations normal."

Dixie looked at Dr. Brackett. "Blood pressure 110/80."

Roy started to rouse, as he lifted his head to look around Dixie put her hands on his shoulders to keep him from getting up.

"How are you feeling Roy?" Dr. Brackett resumed the examination, glad to see Roy awake.

Seeing as Roy was able to speak Dixie pulled the thermometer from his mouth. "Fine. I guess. What happened?"

Dr. Brackett stood up straight. "What's the last thing you remember?"

"Standing in the hallway with you and Dix." He swallowed, trying rid the dryness in his throat.

"And then you passed out."

"Should I be worried?"

"No. You most likely passed out from exhaustion."

Dixie checked the thermometer. "Kel, his temperature is 102.8."

Dr. Brackett just shook his head. "How long have you been running a fever?"

Roy thought back to the events of the day. "For at least three hours, I think."

"Three hours?" Dr. Brackett was genuinely surprised by the answer. "Why are you working with such a high fever?"

"Because there's no one left to fill in for me."

Dixie and Dr. Brackett exchanged the same looks of disbelief. "You mean there was no one left to take over your shift?"

"No one. Johnny and I were the only squad unaffected by the flu. At least, we were."

Dixie smiled. "And then you brought in Sarah."

Roy thought back to the young girl he saved. "Sarah? The girl from the fire... How is she?"

"She's fine. She said that she remembered someone picking her up off the floor and putting an air mask on her face."

Roy closed his eyes tight. "And then I put the mask back on and contracted her flu."

"Uh-huh." Dixie responded in a playful tone.

Dr. Brackett just smiled. "Well, I think regardless of how many people are left to take over your shift, both you and Johnny are going to be taking the rest of the day off."

Roy glanced at Dixie who just smiled and tagged onto Brackett's advice. "And it gets better."

"How?" Roy's voice was becoming hoarse, his throat now drier than it had been before.

"You both get a night's stay right here."

Roy sighed. It's not like he had anyone at home that could look after him anyway. "Alright, I'll stay."

Dr. Brackett looked over at Dixie. "Dix, go ahead and start an I.V., I don't want him getting dehydrated." He pushed open the adjoining door leading to exam room 1. "I'm going to check on Johnny."

"Hey Dix?" Roy sounded so weak and pathetic. "Could you call the station and let Cap know what's going on?"

"Sure." She finished with the I.V. and taped it down on Roy's arm. "Now rest, you've earned it."

The next morning Roy was awakened by Johnny tossing a pillow at him, it landing on his face. Dixie pulled some strings so they could share the same hospital room. At this moment Roy couldn't decide if what was a favor or nuisance.

"Hey, wake up!"

Roy pulled the pillow from his face. "What?"

There was another news report on the television. 'The arsonist that has been terrorizing the city over the past 24 hours has been captures. All of the fires have been contained and only two firefighters were injured. Unfortunately one of the firefighters did not make it. There will be a ceremony held in his honor this Friday in front of the courthouse.'

Johnny sighed and looked over at Roy. "Well, you were right." He clicked off the television set.

"About what?" Roy closed his tired eyes again.

"They caught him."

"Yeah."

"Well, don't get too excited!" Johnny teased.

Roy looked over at his partner. "You know, I think I liked you alot more when you were asleep."

"Hey, Roy?"

"Yeah?"

"Can I have my pillow back?"

"Nope."

-The End

Author's Note: I'd like to thank everyone who read this story, reviewed and kept urging me to finish! It's far more fulfilling to write when I know so many people were interested and wanted to read more! Not the most exciting chapter of the story but hopefully it was a satisfying conclusion.

And as for the cliffhangers? Mwa, ha ha... I couldn't help but keep adding them, my inner-Loki had been piqued. I still can't decided if using cliffhangers at the end of each chapter was a clever way to keep you reading or manipulating you into reading. I'm good with either answer!