As promised, here's another chapter of the story, and way, way earlier than before. This chapter is also dedicated to you, the readers, who keep me writing. Hope you enjoy!

Disclaimer: I own naught but Sylvia&co.

"Sylvia?" Greg called out as he made his way beside Wordy's house where Sylvia had disappeared a few minutes earlier. "Sylvia?"

"Greg?"

"Hey." He crouched beside her, and she lifted her head from where it had been resting on her knees. "What's wrong?"

"Just a bad memory. It's nothing, just go back out there." She shook her dismissively but Greg could see the tears in her eyes and the trained negotiator in him took over.

"I'm not going anywhere until you tell me what's wrong." He said firmly, sitting himself down next to her. Sylvia stared at him."My job is to negotiate." He told her, smiling a comforting smile.

She smiled weakly back at him and leaned against his shoulder. "I'm very different from what you probably have to talk to, aren't I?"

"You are. Doesn't mean anything though. Just..."

"Another person you have to help?" She jerked up and tears slid down her face. "That's what he always said, and look what he did!" She lifted her hands and Greg grabbed them.

"Who did? Come on, Sylvia. Talk to me." Greg urged squeezing her hands, though he wanted to just sweep her into a huge hug until she stopped crying.

"My bastard of a fire fighting ex-husband! Rarely home after a near call at work, he just upped and left a year ago. Note on the counter with divorce papers. Haven't seen him since, bastard doesn't even care about his own kids. Doesn't care about me."

In the last two sentences, her voice had lowered to a whisper as tears threatened to overtake her again. Greg gave into his heart and pulled her into a tight hug. "Just let it out," he whispered as she tried to pull away from him.

After a moment, Sylvia gave in and cried out the tears that she'd been holding onto for over a year. Greg rocked her back and forth, whispering sweet nothings as he rubbed her back soothingly.

Sylvia pulled back minutes later, her eyes red. "Thanks." She whispered, leaning back and rubbing her face.

"That's my job." He said with a smile before wincing. "Sorry."

She smiled weakly. "It's fine. I overreacted."

"Because I'm another guy in uniform?" Greg inquired.

"Just the thought of something like that happening again...not that you would!" She said eyes wide.

He chuckled, but the sound was full of irony. "I know how it feels to be left behind, Sylvia. My wife left me ten years ago and took our son with her. I haven't seen them since."

Sylvia's eyes went wide and Greg cursed himself. It was too soon to be letting huge personal issues in the line; they'd only

Greg's line of thought was cut off by Sylvia reaching for him. She enveloped him in a hug of her own and he hugged her back. "I'm sorry. No one should have to go through that." She whispered, her words ghosting against his ear, causing him to shiver.

They stayed that way for only a short time before pulling back. "Shall we rejoin the party? Hopefully the kids won't have eaten everything already." Greg asked.

Sylvia nodded and gave her eyes one last scrub, erasing the red that had encircled them. "I am getting hungry..." she said as Greg stood and reached out to her.

She took his outstretched hand and he pulled her up. "Ladies first." Greg said with a sweeping bow and Sylvia walked past him laughing.