Marco slipped the key into the lock and then turned to put a hand on Marisol's lower back, guiding her into the hotel room. Marisol turned on a light, while Marco closed and locked the door.

"So now are you going to tell me what's eating you?" Marisol asked, sitting on the edge of the bed.

"Nothing," Marco said, for the fourth time that night.

Marisol smiled. "You keep saying that, and I keep asking because you're a lousy liar."

"I told the guys that I was seeing you and that we're leaving California. My last shift with 51's is tomorrow," Marco said, as he moved across the room to adjust the air conditioner unit.

"You what?" Marisol stood up and turned to look at him.

"What?" Marco said, surprised by her reaction.

"You quit your job?"

"That's the plan, right? You're leaving Jose and C-14, I'm leaving Station 51 and we're gonna go be together. That is the plan, isn't it Marisol?" Marco moved closer to her.

"Uh, yeah, I just, I guess," Marisol stammered for a minute. She turned away from Marco for a few seconds. "I guess I just hadn't thought about the fact you'd tell the guys ahead of time. It just seems so real now." Marisol kept her back to Marco.

He moved over and put his hands on her arms. "I'm in this for real, Marisol. All the way."

Marisol turned to look at him. "Are you?" He asked.

"Yeah, yeah, of course."

"That's why I brought you here tonight," Marco said, moving to sit on the bed.

"Marco, I meant it when I said I wanted to be free of Jose before we slept together," Marisol said, eyeing the bed warily.

"I know," Marco said, although feeling a bit disappointed. "But, if we're seriously gonna leave LA in a few days, we need to decide where we're gonna go."

"I think I'm okay with Colorado," Marisol said, moving to sit down next to Marco. "I've never seen snow."

"Never?"

"I've never been outside of East LA," Marisol said.

"Well, we'll have to remedy that," Marco said. "On our way to Colorado we can do some sightseeing first. I'll take you by Lake Tahoe, and we can go see the Grand Canyon. We can get married in Las Vegas on our way," Marco said, watching Marisol's face for her reaction to his suggestion.

"Get married?" Marisol turned to look at him, standing up again.

"Yes, get married. Isn't that part of the plan leaving together? Becoming each other's family?" Marco said, standing up to face her.

"No, I mean, yes, maybe, eventually," Marisol stammered. "You're moving too fast. Next you're gonna wanna talk about having kids."

"Well, yes, as a matter of fact, I do want to have kids. Don't you?" Marco asked.

"Yes, someday, maybe," Marisol said.

"Can you be anymore non-committal?" Marco asked.

"Can't we start with something a little easier?" Marisol asked.

"Like what?" Marco said, crossing his arms over his chest.

"How about jobs," Marisol suggested. "How are we gonna support ourselves? I'm leaving with nothing. How are we gonna pay to get to Colorado, get a place to live? Find jobs?"

"If you're sure Colorado is where you want to go, I'll touch base with the fire department in whatever city we decide and see if they have any openings. I've been to Crested Butte many times for skiing. I've even met a few guys in the department."

"Crested Butte is fine," Marisol said, absent-mindedly.

"What about you Marisol, what do you want to do?" Marco asked.

"What?" Marisol blinked and looked at him.

"Do you want to stay home and take care of the house and kids or do you want a career Marisol?"

"I've always thought about teaching," Marisol said, slowly. Her mind obviously seeing something he couldn't.

"I think you'd be a great teacher," Marco reached for her hand and pulled her back to sit down on the bed.

"You can enroll in school to get your degree."

"How are we gonna pay to get out there?"

"I have money saved, Marisol. Skiing costs money, but it doesn't cost me much to play soccer. I don't have extravagant tastes. I have plenty saved up to get us by until I start working again, and I can sell my house. That'll easily allow you to go to school."

"You have that much saved up?"

"Well, I mean, I can't stay out of work for months. But, yeah, we'll be fine," Marco squeezed her hand and gave her a full smile. "Ready to move onto the topic of marriage and kids?"

Marisol stood up. "Marco…," she hesitated. Her mind was spinning. She knew this was part of the plan, but he was giving up so much to be with her. She waivered in her resolve to do what she needed to do.

"It's okay," Marco stood and walked up behind her. He wrapped his arms around her waist and dropped his head into her hair. "I know it's a lot Marisol, but we'll be okay. I promise. I'll take care of until you feel strong enough to be an equal partner in the relationship. I'll help you achieve all your dreams."

"It's just a lot to take in, Marco," Marisol said, turning in his arms to face him. "Do you think we can just lay in bed and talk about Crested Butte. Maybe you can tell me a bit more about your life these last few years? We have the where and when, we can discuss the rest later right?"

"We have our whole lives, Marisol; we don't need to figure out every detail tonight," Marco took her hand and led her back to the bed. They laid down and she snuggled into his chest. He stroked her hair as he told her stories about life at Station 51, some soccer games that were too amazing to believe and harrowing close calls on some of his skiing adventures.

Marisol let herself listen to his stories all the while asking if she could live with what was coming in just a few days.

E

"I can't believe you're still mad at me," Mike said, when Tina sat down on the opposite end of the couch, rather than curling up beside him as was their routine.

"You're not helping Marco by denying the glaring issues with his relationship with Marisol," Tina said, turning to face Mike.

"Marco isn't Johnny, Tina," Mike said, exhaling in frustration. "He doesn't go off half-cocked at the drop of the hat. He isn't constantly falling in and out of love. Marco is deliberant in what he does; he's careful and logical. Outside of the Captain, Marco is the most like me. I knew in very few dates that you were going to be important to me."

"And yet, we are not giving up our individual lives and running away together," Tina said. "From everything you just described what Marco is doing now is completely out of character. That screams Danger Will Robinson," Tina said, borrowing a line from the TV show Lost in Space.

Mike rubbed his forehead. "Marco's gonna do whatever Marco wants to do. If I alienate him, when he's in trouble he won't feel he can come to me. As the Engineer, it's my job to give these guys all the resources they need to get their job done. It's also my job to anticipate in advance what they're gonna need. If Marisol isn't who Marco thinks she is, he's gonna need someone to turn to for help. Do you really think that's gonna be Chet or Johnny who just told him how stupid he's being? It's gonna be the guys that he isn't afraid will say, told ya so."

"I get that, Mike. I really do. But, you should be trying to stop the mistake before he makes it. He's quitting his job. What happens if he tries to come back in 3 months; will his job still be there?" Tina asked.

"Probably not," Mike answered honestly.

"You should be trying to stop the mistake."

"I don't know how to stop him," Mike stood up and paced around the living room. "Marco's head strong. I'm not gonna talk him out of this decision."

Mike sat back down and put his head in his hands. "I can't save him, Tina. It's killing me watching him walk into this inferno and I can't provide him any of the equipment to spare himself."

Tina slid over and wrapped her arms around Mike, pulling him close to her. "I'm so sorry, Mike."

He turned so he could wrap her in his arms and let himself lean against her, feeling her compassion invading his soul. He hadn't known her very long, but he already couldn't imagine his life without her. If this was how Marco was feeling about Marisol, he did understand why he was making stupid decisions. If Tina told him tomorrow she had to move across the country, Mike knew he'd follow her.

He leaned back so he could look into her brown eyes. "I love you, Tina," Mike said, his voice barely above a whisper.

A smile spread across Tina's face as she absorbed not only the words, but the depth of emotion visible in Mike's blue eyes. She ran a hand through his short sandy brown hair, "I love you too, Mike."

Mike leaned in and kissed her, putting all of the feelings that were bubbling in his chest into the kiss. After several minutes, Tina pulled back breathless. Mike scooped her up in his arms and carried her toward the bedroom. He knew he'd just taken a step that was going to drastically change his life and he wouldn't change that for anything in the world.

E

"What are you gonna do?" Beth asked, taking her eyes off the kids just briefly to look at her husband. Chris and Jennifer DeSoto were playing in the shallow end of their pool with their two daughters; and Hank and Beth were watching them, while Hank grilled hot dogs for dinner.

Hank shook his head. "I have no idea. I've got a call into Chief McConnike to see what my options are. I can't really refuse a resignation, but maybe I can require more time."

"What about a leave of absence?" Beth suggested.

"Maybe, if Marco will go for it. I've never seen him like this Beth. I'd be shocked by this behavior even if it was Gage. My men just aren't this reckless. He doesn't know anything about this Marisol."

"What about Lieutenant Crockett, can he check to see if she's been arrested, or if there's any information on her?"

"Beth, that's a great idea," Hank said, moving over to kiss his wife's cheek. "As soon as I get done grilling the hot dogs, we'll get the kids out of the pool and I'll go call him."

As Hank pulled the hot dogs off the grill, Beth gathered the kids, wrapping them in big beach towels and sitting them down at the picnic table. She poured drinks and dropped handfuls of chips on their plates. Once everyone was served, Hank grabbed a hot dog and headed into the house to make a call.

"Hi, Ron. Do you have a minute to talk?" Hank asked when the Lieutenant answered the call to his office on the second ring.

"Sure, Hank. Has there been more issues with C-14 and Marco?"

"Sort of," Hank answered. "Marco has gotten involved with a woman in C-14, that he knew when he was younger. I only have her first name, Marisol. But, I know she's connect to Jose somehow."

"She sure is; she's his girlfriend," Lieutenant Crockett said.

"Well, I think that relationship is about to change. Marco's planning on quitting Station 51 and they're going to take off together," Hank filled him in on the latest development.

"What? Are you sure?" Lieutenant Crocket said.

"Marco told the guys today. Tomorrow's his last day with us. I just want to find out if this Marisol has any history of violence, or criminal activity. Anything I can use to change Marco's mind," Hank explained.

"I'm not familiar with her rap sheet, Hank; but I'll do some digging. I don't know that I'll have the information by tomorrow; but I'll see what I can do."

"Thanks, Ron. I appreciate anything you can do to help," Hank hung up the phone, at least feeling like he was trying to stop Marco.

Lieutenant Crockett looked at the phone for a few seconds after Hank disconnected the call and then picked it back up, calling his contact in the Major Crimes Gang Division.

"Tony, I got some news, can we meet?" Lieutenant Crockett said, when the phone was answered. He and the Lieutenant for Major Crimes chatted for few minutes and agreed Ron would stop by later that afternoon to discuss Marisol Sanchez.

E

Captain Stanley let his eyes roam across the men of Station 51 as they lined up for roll call on Tuesday morning. Would this really be the last time his full crew was together?

"I want us hanging at least 600 feet of hose today," Captain Stanley continued in his list of assignments; his voice not giving away the fact that his mind was a million miles away. Chief McConnike had not been helpful. He said if Marco wanted to leave he should let him do it right away and shouldn't force the issue of a two-week's notice. There were days he really despised that man.

"Marco, I've got you down for cooking duty today. Johnny, the dorm, Roy, kitchen and day room. Chet, the bay and Mike, sorry man, you're on latrines today.

Mike just smiled, nothing could ruin his good mood today, not even thinking about Marco. He'd woken up with Tina wrapped in his arms. He given her a kiss good-bye and she'd pulled him in for a second kiss and whispered she loved him in that sleepy voice of hers, that he just adored. "Kay, Cap."

Johnny looked over at Mike, hearing the pleasure in his response to latrine duty. "What's up with Mike," he whispered to Roy.

"My guess, he said those three little words to Tina," Roy whispered back.

"Wanna move in?" Johnny asked, with his trademark smirk that let Roy knew Johnny was well aware of what three words he meant.

"Funny."

"I thought so," Johnny said, moving toward the dorms as roll call broke up.

"Marco, can I see you in my office for a minute," Captain Stanley said before his senior linesman could disappear into the kitchen.

Marco resisted the urge to roll his eyes. He knew Captain Stanley was going to try to talk him out of leaving, but his mind was made up. Although, Marco had to admit he felt a little less sure since Marisol had reacted so negatively toward the idea of marriage and kids. He wondered if he wasn't more invested in their relationship that she was.

"Sure, Cap," Marco said, obediently following his Captain into the office.

Captain Stanley lowered his lanky frame into his chair and gave Marco a minute to sit and get comfortable. He steepled his hands under his chin and met Marco's eyes from across the desk. "Marco, I know your dead set on leaving Station 51 and California for that matter; but whatdya say we do a one-month leave of absence before we officially complete termination papers?"

"Cap, that'd mean you guys had to work with a replacement on overtime for a full month. I hate to do that to the guys," Marco said.

Captain Stanley worked hard to hide his smile. For Marco to have that answer ready right off the bat had to mean he'd at least already thought of the possibility. "I think the guys would prefer that Marco that letting today be your last day with no possibility of return. It's hard losing a member of the family. I think a slow transition would be easier for the crew," Captain Stanley said, giving Marco a safety net while making it sound like he was doing it for the guys, rather than himself.

"I don't know, Cap," Marco hesitated. He did like the idea of not closing the door on this part of his life completely, at least not yet.

The klaxons sounded before another word could be send. The multiple tones telling the men this was a big event.

"Think about it Marco. You can answer me later," Captain Stanley said, as he got up and moved toward the podium.

"Okay, Cap," Marco said, already heading out the door and toward his spot on the Engine.

"Station 10, Station 51, Engine 23, structure fire, 9286 Bayview, cross-street Clements. Time out 8:12."

"10-4, KMG 365," Captain Stanley keyed the mic as he watched Roy slip into the driver's seat of the squad. He pulled free the slip of paper and handed it to Roy as he rounded the squad and headed to his spot in the passenger seat of the Engine. Mike was already sitting in the driver's seat, turnout and helmet on, his mind already tracing the route to the fire.

Roy pulled the squad out of the bay as Captain Stanley cleared the hood; Johnny double checking the map to make sure the route that had flashed into his mind at the mention of the address really was the fastest way to go. Roy turned left as the Engine pulled out of the bay right behind him.

Johnny pointed out the black smoke billowing up into the sky a couple of blocks before they reached their destination. 9286 Bayview was the site of a very dilapidated apartment complex. New owners had just purchased the site. Squad 51 had done a fire inspection there just last week and had warned them about the paint cans, stripper and rags littering the ground on each floor of the building. Roy had explained to them that if there was even a small spark those would act as accelerates and cause the fire to spread too quickly to control.

As they rounded the corner, both Roy and Johnny knew the owners had not heeded their warning to clean up the mess. The building was fully engulfed, windows already blown out from multiple explosions; glass twinkled all across the parking lot as what sun could make it through the black smoke touched it.

People were lined up at the far end of the parking lot; many of them bleeding from cuts caused by exploding glass.

Johnny jumped out before Roy had even put the squad into park, moving to slip on his turnout.

Captain Stanley jumped down from the Engine and moved toward the man that appeared to be in charge. "Is there anyone left in the building?"

"I don't know, I don't know. It all happened so fast. One of the workers was smokin'; an ash dropped on a rag we'd just been using to strip off old varnish from the stair well. I went to get a fire extinguisher and when I came back the whole stairway was engulfed in flames. It moved so fast. The alarms never even went off," the man looked back at the building, his expression one of shock and disbelief.

"No alarms went off, we could have people trapped," Captain Stanley told his crew.

"Sir, how many units were occupied?" Captain Stanley, touched the man on his shoulder to get his attention again.

"Only 8, but we've had squatters living in a few of the units. Because we weren't ready for that level of remodeling yet, and they weren't hurting anyone, I've just kinda been turning a blind eye. I don't know how many have been living like that."

"Go," was all Captain Stanley had to say to his men. He raised the H-T and started directing the other responding units and called for reinforcements. He heard the tones sounding in response to his request as Sam called out 3 more Engines and 2 more Squads.

Johnny took his place behind Chet as they moved one hose into the inferno. Roy placed his hand on Marco's shoulder as they moved deeper into the dense smoke. They'd try to get to the top floor first and see if they could find any victims. Captain Stanley directed Station 10 to take the 2nd floor and Engine 23 to search the main floor.

The men of Station 51 slowly made their way to the third floor. "We're never gonna be able to get down this stairwell," Marco observed as bits of railing started to fall as the hose brushed against it as they climbed.

"I'll be happy if we make it up it before it collapses with us on it," Chet shouted over the roaring of the flames.

"Johnny," Roy shouted and pointed to his right. Johnny nodded and moved away from Chet to start checking the apartments on the left.

Progress was slow because there was so much debris it took time to decipher what was just garbage and building materials, and not a person huddled in a corner. The thick smoke made visibility almost zero and you had to be right up to an area in order to confidently clear it.

Johnny and Roy quickly marked a white chalk X on each apartment they cleared. The heat was intense and Johnny could feel the sweat dripping down his back as he moved to yet another apartment. He turned when he felt Chet tap his shoulder as he cleared the last corner of the apartment they were in.

Chet pointed toward the ceiling. Johnny wasn't sure if he audibly groaned or if the sense of dread was only heard in his head. It probably wouldn't have mattered; the fire was so loud even if he'd yelled his dismay Chet probably wouldn't have heard him. The fire was crawling along the beams in the ceiling, and the structure was dissolving quickly. The intense heat had already weakened the wood and the flames were devouring them seconds after coming into contact with them. Chunks of wood started falling off, hitting the helmets of the four fireman.

"We gotta go," Marco said, pulling at Roy's turnout before he could enter another apartment.

"I've only got one more to check," Roy said, continuing to move forward.

"No time," Marco yelled.

Johnny closed the door and made his X. "Go to a window and get a ladder ready," Johnny shouted, knowing Marco was right in his earlier observation that they wouldn't be going back down the stairwell. "Roy and I'll clear the last apartment and be there before you get to the bottom."

Johnny placed his hand on Roy's shoulder and they moved into the last apartment.

Marco shook his head, but he and Chet moved to the far end of the hallway. Chet slipped off his helmet and air mask just before he leaned out the window. "Hey! Hey!"

Mike had been watching for his friends and saw Chet's matted brown hair before he'd ever called out. Mike was already moving to pull that ladder off the engine and get it into positon.

Roy and Johnny moved as quickly as they good through the apartment. There wasn't any furniture, but stuffed animals and melted hot wheel cars told them someone had been living in the apartment.

"We gotta go," Roy yelled as large chunks of the ceiling began to fall around them.

"There should be a closet on that back wall," Johnny yelled back, pushing debris out of his way as he worked to get to the back wall. The apartments had all been laid on the same and he knew he'd been checking closets on the back wall in the others.

Roy quickly moved behind him, making sure they hadn't missed checking under any drapes or tables. His gut told him there were people in this apartment, but they hadn't found them yet.

Johnny finally found the closet door and as he opened the door, the hand of a little boy fell onto his dirty work boots. Two young children and a woman that was most likely their mother lay unconscious on the closet floor.

"Roy," Johnny called out, but it wasn't necessary. Roy was already kneeling down and pulling the little boy's body toward him.

"Put the little girl over my other shoulder," Roy yelled as he flipped the boy over his left shoulder.

Johnny pulled her out and lifted her up to drape her over Roy's right shoulder. Roy immediately started moving toward the front of the apartment.

Johnny knelt down and pulled the mother up enough to get her into his arms. He stood leaning against the wall for support from her extra weight and quickly exited the apartment.

Marco looked nervously over his shoulder; what was taking Johnny and Roy so long. The ceiling was not going to hold much longer. Chet slipped his leg out the window and began to descend the ladder, just as Roy reached the front door of the apartment.

"Chet, hold up," Marco called out, seeing the two young victims.

He moved to help Roy, but felt the hair stand up on the back of his neck. He unconsciously must have sensed a change in the sound of the fire, or the feel of the air around them because he glanced up just in time to see a large beam falling from the ceiling. He grabbed Roy's turn out and pulled him forward, quickly shoving him into a corner, his body acting as an extra shield between the victims and the falling beam.

Flames shot from the beam, quickly latching on to Marco's turnout. Roy tried to slap at it with his gloved hands, but having two victims over his shoulders limited his movements. Marco was trying to smother the flames by leaning against a wall, but the wall kept giving way and wouldn't smother the flames.

Marco suddenly felt himself grabbed from behind as firm hands stamped down the flames. He turned to see Johnny bending back down to retrieve the victim he'd sat on the floor to help his shift mate. Marco gave him a thumbs up before turning to shove the beam so Johnny could exit the apartment with the woman. He then quickly moved to take the little boy from Roy and hand him off to Chet, who quickly descended the ladder. Paramedics from Squad 10 waited at the bottom to rush the boy to a triage area.

Next, Marco slipped over the window ledge and got his footing on the ladder so Roy could hand off the young girl. He carried her down the ladder, watching to make sure Roy and Johnny were right behind him. He breathed a sigh of relief when Roy reached the ground with the mom and Johnny took his place on the ladder. Marco moved to carry the little girl over to triage area with Roy only a few steps behind him.

Marco deposited the young girl on the blanket.

"I'm sure glad you were there Marco. I'd never have seen that falling beam, it would have hit the three of us for sure," Roy said, as he knelt to lay the woman down. Johnny soon joined them with the biophone, and triage kit.

Marco watched them work for a few minutes and then made his way back to Captain Stanley for instructions of what to do now. There was no doubt about it, this was now going to be a situation of just trying to contain the fire to this one building, as the wind was picking up and embers were floating through the air.

The crew worked for hours to drown the hungry flames, but they were finally successful.

Marco leaned against the edge of the Engine, watching the other units gather their gear, drinking water from his canteen. He loved this job. He loved his teammates. Was this really going to be the last time they battle the beast together?

"Whatdya say, Marco," Captain Stanley said, as he sidled up to the senior linesman. "Can I make it a leave of absence for now?"

Marco looked down at the ground, feeling like he was betraying Marisol. "Yeah, Cap. Can we make it a leave of absence for a month? Just to help ease the transition," Marco said, sheepishly.

"You got it, Pal."