Jack opened the door for Ashley as they walked out of the restaurant. He'd talked her into having breakfast with him before she left to go back to LA. He took her hand, as he walked her toward the car and stood back as she unlocked the door. When she opened the door, he put a hand on her arm before she could get into the vehicle.

Ashley took a step back, but Jack moved in closer, pinning her between him and her car. Jack caressed her cheek. He leaned in close and captured her mouth in a kiss. He slid his hand down to her waist and pulled her against him.

Ashley closed her eyes and tried to make herself be open to the possibility of her and Jack. After all, she thought, Johnny was no longer an option. When Jack pulled back, Ashley forced herself to smile.

"Just think about it, Ashley," Jack said, as he stepped back.

Ashley just nodded, not trusting herself to speak. She climbed into the car and let Jack close her door. She started her car and pulled out of the parking lot. She looked into the rearview mirror and saw Jack smiling, as he watched her pull out.

Ashley felt her stomach tighten. She forced herself to pay attention to the street signs, so she didn't end up on the wrong highway. She wouldn't think about it right now; she needed to think about Tina. What would she need? Tina had been so wonderful when Ashley was in the hospital. Ashley smiled remembering Tina sneaking in warm chocolate chip cookies and ice cold milk. She could pick up the ingredients to make cookies and have them ready to cook when Tina got there.

Ashley forced herself to concentrate on how she could help Tina and on what she needed to do to prepare to start the Fire Academy. Every time her mind wandered to Johnny or Jack, she would force herself to focus on Tina and the Fire Academy. The only other thought she let into her head was Marco. She was really worried about him. She couldn't shake the uneasy feeling that something more was wrong.

Ashley let herself into Tina's apartment and made her way to the kitchen. She deposited the bags onto the counter containing ingredients for chocolate chip cookies, a gallon of milk, and the makings for lasagna for dinner. Ashley quickly put together the lasagna and popped it into the oven. She was hungry, she hadn't eaten since breakfast, and briefly considered making herself a quick sandwich. She looked toward the guest room that she knew was filled with boxes and nothing was organized to allow her to sleep that night. She decided to skip the sandwich and just try to get the room in some semblance of order.

Ashley walked into the room and tried to shake the feeling of sadness that suddenly washed over her. She couldn't help but wonder how many "new" places she'd moved into and stopped counting when she hit 15; not wanting to know just how many there had been. Some places had been better than others, but none had been filled with love. Not even the home where she had lived with her dad and Maddie, before he died. Maybe she should just take Jack up on his offer. She knew she wasn't in love with him and that she would never feel for him what she felt for Johnny. But, they had a lot in common, they got along well; maybe that was the best she could ever hope for. Ashley ran her hands over her face, took a deep breath and shook her head, trying to get the depressing thoughts out of her head. She looked over the boxes and opened the one that contained her bedding. She quickly made her bed, adding the decorative pillows as the final touch.

Ashley looked around. Having the bed made definitely helped the mood of the room. The next box she opened contained her books. She had a small book case on one side of the bed. She carefully arranged the books, laying her address book on top for easy access. Ashley looked carefully at the diary. She had started a new one about a month ago that she kept in her purse and she wasn't sure where she should store this one now that she wasn't living alone; and wouldn't be here most of the time. She knew Tina would never violate her privacy by reading it, but Ashley just wasn't comfortable leaving it laying out. Ashley lifted the corner of her mattress and slipped the book under it, near the top of the bed.

She turned to start putting away clothes in the closet and dresser until she heard a knock at the door. She figured Tina had her keys in her purse and Mike's hands were full carrying all her stuff. As she moved into the living room she got a good whiff of the lasagna and her stomach quickly reminded her of how hungry she was.

"Perfect timing, I'm starving," Ashley said, as she opened the door. "Johnny!" Ashley felt her heart soar for just one second, and then felt her heart gripped by the ice cold memory of Johnny leaning against the deck railing telling Roy he was in love with someone else. The pain that hit her was even more intense than it had been in that first moment; maybe because the shock of the revelation was over.

Johnny smiled at the sight of Ashley opening the apartment door, but felt his stomach tighten when he saw her eyes darken and she took a step back.

"Ashley, I need to talk to you," Johnny said, stepping into the apartment and closing the door.

Ashley shook her head, her mind racing a million different directions. She absolutely could not hear him tell her he was in love with someone else. She knew her heart wouldn't survive. "We don't need to talk Johnny. I heard you tell Roy you were in love with someone."

"Ashley, that's what we need to talk about," Johnny said, moving closer to her.

Ashley held up her hand, to stop him from moving any closer. "Don't," she whispered.

Ashley moved to the end of the couch and leaned against it to help her stay upright. "We don't need to talk about it Johnny. I'm very happy for you," Ashley said, forcing herself to smile at him. "It really is for the best. I reconnected with an old friend in Arcata. He helped me see that you and I weren't good for each other. Something you'd already figured out. You're a very smart man, John Gage," Ashley could feel herself starting to shake. She wasn't sure how much longer she could hold her composure.

"What?" Johnny didn't understand what was happening.

"Jack asked me to move with him to Arcata. We understand each other, share common experiences. I can be myself with him," Ashley kept talking, hoping to hold it together just a little bit longer.

"You couldn't be yourself with me?" Johnny asked, suddenly remembering what Mike had told him about Ashley being abused in one of her foster homes. He suddenly started doubting all the things he thought he knew about their relationship. Maybe he'd just been seeing what he wanted to see. Maybe she hadn't been falling in love with him, as he had been with her.

"I have a lot to do before Tina gets back," Ashley said, needing Johnny to leave. She could feel the tremors in her body intensifying and she feared Johnny would notice her shaking, if he didn't leave soon.

"Yeah, sure," Johnny said moving toward the door. He looked back at Ashley who continued to stand at the end of the couch. "Good night, Ashley." Johnny said, as he let himself out of the apartment.

"Good-bye, Johnny," Ashley whispered as the door closed.

E

Johnny was grateful that Marco wasn't at the apartment when he got home. He didn't want to talk about what had just happened with Ashley. He wasn't sure he even understood what just happened. Had she really been telling him she was going to move to be with another guy? Was she in love with this guy? If that was true, she couldn't have been in love with him. Johnny felt hurt and betrayed. He was really in love with Ashley; and she had just told him they weren't good for each other. As he walked past the room Marco was using, he vaguely wondered where Marco was this time. Johnny walked into his room and shut the door. He just didn't want to deal with facing anyone tonight.

"I have a soccer game on Monday afternoon, it's about a 2-hour drive; do you want to go with me?" Marco asked Marisol, as they walked along the beach holding hands.

"I'd love to watch you play," Marisol said, looking up at Marco.

He stopped to drop his head and give her a kiss. "Don't go back tonight."

"I have too," Marisol said, pulling away from Marco.

"No, you don't."

"You don't understand," Marisol insisted.

"You're right; I don't. Why do you keep going back, Marisol?"

Marisol grabbed her long black hair in both hands and nervously began to twist it up in a bun. "C-14 is where I belong, Marco. It's the only life I've ever known. I've had a lot of fun these last few days with you; but this is like a vacation; it's not real life."

"It could be."

"No, it can't."

Marco left out a quick sigh.

"Let me just enjoy the time we have together. It'll end soon enough," Marisol said, slipping her arms around Marco's waist. "It's not often I get to live in a fairytale."

"It doesn't have to be a fairytale, Marisol. This can be our life," Marco said, looking down into her brown eyes.

Marisol pushed away from him and walked a few feet. "What am I supposed to do, Marco? Give up everything about my life and just let your world absorb me? C-14 is a part of who I am; and you just want me to leave, like it's nothing. Like these memories don't matter. Rico is a part of these memories Marco. I can't just leave."

"Rico's memory doesn't disappear because you leave C-14," Marco argued. "I still have those memories, Marisol. The three of us, sitting on the curb, eating ice cream on hot summer days. That time we all hitch-hiked out to that lake and went swimming, skipping rocks and swinging on that old swing someone had left behind."

"Until the ropes broke and sent Rico flying into the water," Marisol chuckled, remembering that summer afternoon.

Marco walked over and took her hand. "I still have those memories, Marisol. But, I also have the ones where Rico and I beat people up because they hadn't pledge their loyalty to C-14. Or busted up that old man's shop because he hadn't paid the protection insurance. You don't belong with those people."

Marisol leaned into Marco's chest and he wrapped his arms around her. "I don't know where I belong, Marco. I can't just leave everything I know and try to fit myself into your world. That isn't any different from the way I live now."

"What do you mean?"

"It doesn't matter," Marisol said.

"It matters to me," Marco put his finger under her chin and lifter her head so he could see her eyes.

"Right now, I'm living a life where I belong to Jose. That's my identity. I don't wanna leave to just become Marco's girl, instead of Jose's girl."

"You can find your own interests, Marisol. Be whomever you want to be. But, I'd be lying if I said I didn't want being my girl to be a part of that."

"You don't even know me," Marisol whispered.

"Yes, Marisol, I do know you. I knew you then and I know you now," Marco said, dropping his lips to hers and engaging them in a long, passionate kiss.

"I'll think about it, Marco," Marisol said, when they parted. "But, you know, if I leave C-14 for you, we'd have to leave the area. They'd kill us both for sure."

"I can't leave my job, Marisol. I love what I do. They guys I work with, they're more than just guys I work with, they're my brothers."

"We'd have to leave, Marco. There wouldn't be any other options. They know where you work, they'd find out where you live. If you really want us to be together, you'd have to leave the Los Angeles County Fire Department and all of your friends. Are you willing to do that for me?"

E

Captain Stanley looked over the men standing in front of him for roll call. Roy and Chet looked fine; but Mike looked like he hadn't slept since their last shift and Johnny and Marco looked like they'd just lost their best friend in the world.

Mike had called him yesterday and told him about Marco's disappearing act with both Chet and Johnny. It was already on his agenda to sit down and have a heart to heart with Marco, but he mentally added checking in with Mike to make sure Tina was okay and seeing what was up with Johnny to that list. He finished giving the work assignments for the day and the chore list and watched as the men dispersed to start their day.

Johnny and Roy moved to start checking supplies in the squad and to do the biophone check with Rampart. Captain Stanley figured he'd let them do that before trying to talk to Johnny, in case they got called out on a run. Captain Stanley watched as Marco moved toward the closet to get the mop and bucket. He was going to be mopping the dorm room, so there was time to quickly check-in with Mike, who was looking the Engine over.

"Hey, Mike. How's Tina doing?"

"She's okay, I guess. Roy came by yesterday afternoon and checked on her injuries to make sure they were healing okay. She's had a couple of nightmare's; but she's a trooper. Ashley's staying with her today," Mike said, his eyes narrowing slightly as the thought about Ashley.

"Everything okay there?" Captain Stanley asked, seeing Mike's expression change.

"I don't think so, Cap. I know Johnny went over there before I brought Tina home. He was supposed to tell Ashley that he loved her. Before you start, I know they weren't doing anything while she was here. They definitely spent time together, but they didn't cross the line. Anyway, when I got to the apartment with Tina, Ashley looked like she'd been crying. I asked if Johnny had come over and she said that he had and everything was fine between them; but something was definitely not fine," Mike unloaded the thoughts that had kept him awake last night. "Today, when I asked Johnny what happened, he just shrugged his shoulders and said apparently he couldn't communicate with women."

"I want to talk to Marco first, but Johnny's on my list. I'll see if I can't figure out what went wrong." Captain Stanley put a hand on Mike's shoulder. "Let us know if there is anything we can do for Tina."

"Thanks, Cap."

Captain Stanley walked into the dorm room. Marco was the only one in the room, he was slowly mopping the same spot, his eyes focused on the brick wall.

"Wanna talk about it?" Captain Stanley asked.

"What?" Marco asked, startled by the sudden voice.

"I hear you pulled a Houdini on Chet and Johnny over the last few days," Captain Stanley said, resting his arm on one of the low dividing walls.

"I don't need babysitters," Marco mumbled.

"That isn't what they are, and you know it," Captain Stanley said, not letting Marco pull him into an argument.

"I know," Marco said, sitting down on the nearest bunk and dropping is head into his hands. "They're a great bunch of guys. I don't know what I'd do without 'em."

"You'll never have to find out, Marco. We're a family."

Marco looked up and met Captain Stanley's eyes. "What happens if I leave?"

Captain Stanley moved to sit on the bunk across from Marco. "What's going on?"

"I've been seeing Marisol. I'm trying to convince her to leave the C-14 gang," Marco stood up and started to pace. "At first it was just to get her away from the gang. She's too good to be some gang member's property. But, it became more personal. I really care for her, Cap," Marco looked at his Captain, waiting for him to object, or tell Marco he was crazy.

"You're not an impulsive guy, Marco. If you have feelings for this girl, I have no doubt she must be something pretty special," Captain Stanley said.

"She pointed out last night that if she leaves C-14 to be with me; we'll have to leave the area. Probably the state. There's no way Jose could let us live and maintain control of C-14," Marco looked absolutely miserable as he said the words.

"Your feelings are strong enough for her to make that kind of a sacrifice?" Captain Stanley was surprised that Marco had fallen so quickly for a woman he barely knew. He knew they'd had a connection in the past, but that had been a very long time ago.

"Yeah, yeah, I think they are," Marco said, sitting back down across from Captain Stanley.

"Marco," Captain Stanley hesitated. "Marco, are you sure you can trust her?"

Marco looked down, seriously considering the Captain's question. "I'm not sure," he said honestly. "I really do think she cares about me. But, at the same time, I feel like there's something she's holding back. Like she's not being 100% straight with me."

"You're contemplating some pretty big life changes for someone you're not sure you can trust," Captain Stanley pointed out.

Marco just looked at him, but said nothing.

"We're family, Marco. Whether you're here at Station 51, or at another station, in another town, in another state. Families aren't built on a location, their built on loyalty. Just be careful, Marco. Make sure you know where Marisol's loyalties lie, before you put yourself in harm's way." Captain Stanley stood up and headed out of the dorms, in search of his youngest crew member.

Captain Stanley walked into the kitchen to find Gage furiously scrubbing the oven. He glanced over at Roy, who was watching his partner with a concerned look on his face. Captain Stanley arched an eyebrow at Roy, silently asking if he knew what was up. Roy shrugged his shoulders.

Captain Stanley poured himself a cup of coffee and continued watching the scene before him for a few minutes. The only sounds muttered by the young paramedic were grunts, as he tried to maneuver himself further into the oven to scrub the far back corners.

"John," Captain Stanley said and then winced when he saw the young man jump and whack his head against the frame of the oven.

Johnny stepped back from the oven, rubbing his head. "Yeah, Cap."

"Grab some coffee and come see me in my office," Captain Stanley said, already moving toward the door.

"Ah, Cap, I've gotta finish cleaning the oven," Johnny hemmed, hoping to avoid the conversation.

"It wasn't a request," Captain Stanley said, as he exited the kitchen into the bay.

Johnny threw the rag into the sink and took the cup of coffee Roy handed him. He avoided looking Roy in the eye and headed after the Captain.

"Have a seat," Captain Stanley indicated to the chair across from him.

Johnny plopped down in the chair, keeping his eyes on the ground.

"What's goin' on, John?"

"Nothin', Cap."

"C'mon Johnny. I wasn't born yesterday and I didn't just meet you. And I know more about you and Ashley than you think I do."

"Apparently, there's nothin' to know. She's in love with some other guy," Johnny spat out.

"What? Are you sure? I thought the reason she was upset is she thought you were in love with someone else because of some misunderstanding?" Captain Stanley said, surprised by Johnny's statement.

"Yeah, well someone got that information wrong. She took off to be with some guy she knew before and she's gonna move to be with him when she finishes the academy. I guess she was just using me to learn the skills she needed to get into the academy," Johnny shrugged, feeling himself starting to get angry. "She just played me for a fool."

"Johnny, that doesn't sound like Ashley," Captain Stanley said.

"Yeah, well than how do you explain it, huh? She acted like she liked me, like keeping our time together strictly friends was as hard for her as it was for me. Then as soon as she's accepted into the academy she takes off to be with some other guy," Johnny jumped up from the chair and began pacing around the small office. "This was all just a game to her!"

"Johnny, did you talk to her about all this?"

"And say what? You broke my heart. I loved you. And look like a bigger jerk than I already do? No thanks!" Johnny stormed.

"Johnny, that…" Captain Stanley was cut off by the sound of the tones calling out the station to a house fire. He quickly got up and moved to the podium to write down the information.

E

"I think I've got him, Jose," Marisol said, as soon as Frank and Jose walked in the apartment door.

"Marco?"

"Yes, I think I've got him convinced he loves me and that in order for us to be together we both have to run away. A few more dates and I think I can convince him to tell his friends that we are leaving California. I can have him meet me like you want to and when he doesn't show up for work or his friends don't see him again, they'll think he left with me; just like you planned," Marisol smiled at Jose.

"You did good, babe," Jose said, grabbing Marisol and pulling her into a kiss. "Come with us, Frank and I are going to meet our new distributor; but I want to hear all the details of how you're screwin' with Marco."

Frank, Marisol and Jose left the apartment and Marisol gave Jose all the details he wanted on her conversations with Marco. The news left Jose in a generous mood and he brought both her and Frank into the meeting with a man he simply called Shadow. Marisol stood back and watched as Shadow pulled out various drugs for Frank and Jose to test. Frank let Jose do all the negotiations, but the end of the meeting was an agreement for a very large shipment from Shadow for Jose and Frank to distribute out onto the street and for infiltrating the 18th Street gang's territory. It meant a considerable amount of money for C-14, but Marisol also knew it would mean a gang war. Maybe really taking off with Marco wouldn't be such a bad idea.

"Meet me next week, in the old warehouse district, by building 18," Shadow told Jose.

"Frank'll meet you at midnight."

"No way, I deal with you and only you. You want to bring your number 2 to help with transport, that's your risk. But, if I'm gonna be with the drugs, so are you. Equal risk keeps everyone honest," Shadow insisted.

Frank looked over at Jose, was he really going to go along with those terms?

Jose looked over the man. "Done."

E

"I'm telling you, I heard it with my own ears, Jose is gonna pick up the drugs personally. Next week, at midnight," the detective paced in the office. The conversation was not going the way it was supposed to.

"Sure, and that is a great second charge; but if we can get Jose for the attempted murder of Marco, and for receiving drugs with the intent to distribute we can put him away for a long time and have enough leverage to get him to spill his guts on some of the unsolved crimes we suspect C-14 has been committing."

"Unless he succeeds in killing Marco, then you'll have him for life, but you'll have a dead fire fighter."

"Don't let that happen," the Captain said, sitting down in his chair.

The detective let out an exasperated sigh knowing the conversation was over and hating how this was going to have to play out.