"Marco sat down at the table and folded his arms, glaring at Evonne.

Evonne wrapped her hands around the ceramic mug, needing the warmth from the coffee to keep her from shivering. It was a balmy day, probably in the high 70's; but the chill she felt from Marco's cold look had her struggling to keep her composure.

"I was fifteen," Evonne said, looking down at the cream colored liquid in the white ceramic mug.

"And what, you think that excuses arson?" Marco said, his tone frigid.

Evonne looked up, shocked at how harsh he was being. She'd never seen Marco be anything other than helpful, thoughtful, and jovial; the man sitting in front of her frightened her a little.

Marco steeled himself against the look he saw in Evonne' s eyes. After Kate had left he had paced his apartment trying to figure out what to do. He couldn't help thinking about Cara Lynn. Mike had really liked her and she'd turned out to be a total lunatic. She'd been helping Kevin attack the station; what if it was his turn to get duped by a pretty face. He wasn't going to let his attraction to Evonne cause him to do something stupid. No matter how frightened she looked, he could not let her get away with this, Marco told himself; even as he struggled not to reach across the table and hold her hands.

"I grew up in East LA. The gangs ran the neighborhoods; the Latin Kings ran our block. The boys in the neighborhood either joined the gang, or they had to leave and go live with relatives elsewhere. Matteo, my younger brother, was only 13 years old when the Latin Kings tagged him to join the gang. My dad was trying to arrange for him to go live with cousins we had in Torrance, but it hadn't happened yet," Evonne said, looking down at the cup of coffee, not daring to look at Marco's glare.

"They told him he had to go to this empty building that a lot of homeless people lived in. He was supposed to light one of them on fire. They told him it'd be funny. That they ran all around the room and it would set the whole room on fire. I couldn't let him do that, Marco. I had to help him. I had too!" Evonne clenched her hands together to keep them from shaking, but she couldn't bring herself to look at Marco, knowing what she was about to say.

"I went with him to the building. We went to every floor and told the homeless people that the building was about to burned down and they had to get out. If they were too drunk to walk; we carried them out. We checked every floor, Marco; every floor." Evonne looked back up at him.

"We went back to the third floor where there were all these boxes and papers. I bunched up papers in several different locations. I rolled up a paper and lit it on fire. I ran around the room and lit all the bundles of paper on fire so it looked like someone had run around the room while in flames."

Marco didn't know what to make of the expression on Evonne' s face. She looked like she was in intense physical pain; Marco thought she might throw up.

"We checked everywhere," Evonne said, her voice breaking as tears filled her eyes. "I didn't know. I'd checked the boxes on the floor, I moved several of them. I didn't know…," Evonne started to cry openly; covering her face with her hands.

Marco closed his eyes understanding what she wasn't saying. Homeless people often put a bunch of empty boxes around the box they were living in so that if anyone was looking to steal stuff they'd figure all the boxes were empty and move on.

"That was the injury," Marco whispered.

Evonne turned away from the table bending over and crying harder.

Marco moved from his seat to kneel down next to her. He wrapped his arms around her and she moved to rest her head on his shoulder. Marco let her cry for a few minutes and then handed her a handkerchief.

"What happened?" Marco asked.

"The man suffered second and third degrees burns over 40% of his body," Evonne whispered.

"So you got charged with arson causing bodily injury," Marco said.

Evonne nodded. "I never meant for anyone to get hurt. I know it was wrong to plan to burn down a building, Marco. But, I was just trying to help my kid brother. I knew that in a few weeks Dad would get him out of town; but because Matteo had done what the Latin Kings wanted, or they would have thought he did anyway, they'd leave my family alone. I had stuck around to make sure the fire department got the fire out and none of them got hurt. When that fireman walked out, carrying that man over his shoulder," Evonne shook her head. "I completely panicked. I ran over apologizing. That's how the police knew it was me."

"It was a long time before I could forgive myself. In fact, my dad had to track down the man that was injured and take me to see him. I wouldn't eat, I couldn't sleep. I was devastated that I hurt someone. I am sure my dad met with the guy before he took me there; but he told me that he didn't blame me. I don't know when I cried harder. The night it happened or the afternoon, David, that was his name, told me he forgave me," Evonne wiped at her eyes.

"I know I should have told you, Marco. But," Evonne shook her head. 'It's still so hard to live with sometimes."

Marco took her hands. "I understand, Evonne; I really do. I didn't have that kind of gang activity where I grew up; but we didn't live too far from it. I had friends that got caught up in that life. I'm sorry I was so cold. I've told you some of the stuff that's been going on and I know you've seen some of the news reports. This isn't the first time someone's targeted the station. Last time, a girl got close to Mike, the guy that just got married, and used their relationship to get information on us and to go after Mike."

"And you thought…," Evonne' s voice trailed off as she realized Marco suspected her.

"No, well, maybe. I didn't want to think so, but I didn't want to get made a fool either."

"I promise you, Marco. The fire at my restaurant was an accident; even the insurance company didn't question me and with my history you know there had to be no way I could've started it. I am not doing anything to you and your friends. I am incredibly sorry about my past; but it is the past."

"I'm sorry for making you relive that story," Marco said, feeling like a heel.

Evonne shook her head. "You were right; I should have told you before. You're a fireman, you invested your hard earned money into a joint business with me. I should've told you before I let you do that."

Marco brushed a stray strand of hair out of her face. She is so beautiful, he thought.

"Do you want to go to a wedding reception with me Saturday?" Marco asked.

"The night before our grand opening," Evonne smiled.

"Hey, you can make sure I leave early enough to get a good night's sleep," Marco smiled at her.

"I'd love to go with you," Evonne smiled at him.

Marco leaned forward and gave her a tentative kiss. When she didn't pull back, he deepened the kiss.

Neither one of them noticed the man in a truck with the camera across the street.

E

"Are you ready for a marathon shift?" Johnny asked Roy as he walked into the locker room the next morning.

Roy paused just for a second from buttoning his uniform shirt. "It's worth it to have the time off for Mike's reception."

"Especially if it has any of the benefits of the wedding," Johnny smiled as he opened his locker. Ainsley wasn't feeling a 100%, but that hadn't stopped them from taking full advantage of their kid free time yesterday.

"Kid swap on Sunday?" Roy said, a smile spreading across his face as he remembered the activities he and Joanne had enjoyed the day before.

"Definitely," Johnny said, grinning ear to ear.

"Definitely what?" Chet said, as he entered the locker room.

"Roy and I were just setting up some babysitting," Johnny said, giving Roy a wink.

"Yeah, well while you guys were playing Legos with the kiddos; I got myself a date," Chet said, a twinkle in his eye.

"Well, Chester B. Kelly, you actually managed to trick some poor suspecting girl into going out with you?" Johnny asked, feigning shock.

"Funny, Gage. It's Carol, the woman from the accident last week."

"The one with the fork in her belly?" Roy asked

"That's the one," Chet said, as he began to change his clothes.

Johnny and Roy exchanged looks. "Oh, man, Chet; you could lose your job for that," Roy said, a serious expression on his face.

"What?" Chet asked, looking up.

"Oh yeah," Johnny said. "Why do you think I never dated any of the women I saved? I had a lot of them trying to show me their gratitude," Johnny winked at Chet. "But, regulations are clear. You can't accept gifts for doing your job."

"This isn't a gift," Chet said.

"Leadership says it is," Roy explained.

Marco walked into the locker room.

"Marco, is it against regulations to date a woman you help at a scene?" Chet asked.

Marco looked over at Johnny and Roy. "Chet has a date with Carol; the woman he helped in that multi-vehicle accident the other day," Roy explained.

"Man, you can't do that," Marco said, looking over at his partner.

"What? No, seriously?"

"Yeah, seriously," Marco insisted.

Chet looked back and forth between the guys. "Uh-uh. I don't believe you guys. I'm gonna go ask, Cap."

Chet headed out of the locker room followed by Johnny and Roy as Marco moved over to change.

"Hey, Cap," Chet called out in the bay.

"Where's the fire, Kelly?" Captain Hookraider asked, coming out of the kitchen holding a cup of coffee.

"I was looking for Captain Stanley; but you'll know the answer to this and won't pull my leg like these guys. Is there any regulation that forbids firemen from dating women they assist in a rescue?"

"Of course there is," Captain Hookraider looked at him like he was an idiot. "Why do you think it took Gage so long to get a girl."

Hookraider moved toward the Captain's office, knowing that Hank was in there getting ready for the start of his shift.

"I can't believe this," Chet said, running a hand through his hair. "I really like her."

"Sorry, man," Roy said, putting a hand on his shoulder.

"I can't cancel this date. And I'm supposed to pick her up from the hospital on Friday," Chet's faced looked really worried.

"You want us to stop by and tell her when we go to Rampart next?" Johnny offered.

"No I don't want you to tell her. Seriously, guys, what am I gonna do? I really like this girl."

"Roll call," Captain Stanley called as he came out of the office. The guys lined up in front of the Engine and Squad.

"Fisher, thanks for covering for Mike today. Sanders will come in at 8:00 AM tomorrow to cover on Thursday," Captain Stanley said, moving down the line. He looked at each of his men, noting Chet's downcast face.

Captain Stanley ran through the necessary announcements and made job duty assignments; plus, assigned chores.

"I just have one more point of business," Captain Stanley said, looking up from his list over at Chet who was standing with slumped shoulders and staring at his feet. "And that's to inform Fireman Chet Kelly, that…,"

"We got you!" All the guys yelled.

"What?" Chet looked up, a confused look on his face.

Roy, Johnny and Marco started laughing.

"What?" Chet asked, looking around baffled. "But, Captain Hookraider…"

Captain Hookraider came out of the office laughing. "You didn't think I'd pull one over on you, Kelly. C'mon, phantom, we all know about you. If you can dish it; you'd better be able to take it."

Johnny doubled over he was laughing so hard.

"So, I can date Carol?"

"If you can keep her from cancelling," Marco teased him.

Chet smiled. He knew he should at least fake being mad; but he was so relieved all he could do was smile.

E

"Stay tuned for the latest development of the secrets of Station 51," the report said, just before a commercial for cereal came on the TV.

"You've got to be kidding me," Roy said, turning around from the stove where he was preparing to make dinner.

"Cap," Johnny called out. "You're gonna wanna see this."

The sound of chairs scraping against the floor drowned out the jingle playing for the Sugar Smacks commercial as the guys pulled up a seat to see what latest pile of lies Simon Salyer was publishing about them.

"As you can see, Station 51 Fireman Marco Lopez is having a very intense conversation with a woman I have identified as Evonne Diaz. She has a criminal record of arson causing bodily injury and yet; as we can see she and Fireman Lopez are very cozy." The scene showed Marco kneeling in front of Evonne and them kissing.

"However, something apparently angers Fireman Lopez because you can see the icy stare he is giving Miss Diaz and eventually whatever he says to her reduces her to tears." The scene switched to a very angry looking Marco sitting at the table, his arms crossed and an icy look on his face, and then showed Evonne double over, obviously crying.

"That is not how that happened," Marco yelled at the TV, standing up.

"Evonne's an arsonist?" Chet asked, looking at Marco a shocked look on his face.

"No, she's not an arsonist," Marco said defending her.

"Be quiet," Captain Stanley ordered as the report continued. Now the scene was of a large residential nursing home.

"As you can see from these photos someone attempted to set this nursing home on fire yesterday; but due to the fire suppression system they were unsuccessful. Is that why Fireman Lopez was so angry at his female companion. Fireman Lopez performed a recent inspection at this facility that received a passing score; but the inspection done by Fireman Pierson from Station 10 indicates there are serious fire code violations. Perhaps Fireman Lopez wanted Evonne to burn down the building to hide the fact that he accepted money to overlook fire code violations."

The scene showed Marco's fire inspection report with a passing score and his signature and then another form signed by Chad Pierson that had a long list of violations and a FAILED stamped in red.

"Those are entirely different buildings!" Marco shouted, standing up again. "My inspection was of their new facility over on Greenwood, look at the building code – 116. Chad's paperwork is building 92; which is their old location over on Fairview and doesn't even have occupants right now because they know the building isn't up to fire code. The building numbers are right there in the corner of the form."

"No one's looking at that," Johnny said.

"The only thing they saw was the passed note on yours and that bright red failed stamp on Chad's," Roy agreed.

"This is total crap," Marco said, desperately wanting to throw something.

"Marco, calm down," Captain Stanley said.

"How can I calm down – that jerk is accusing me of taking bribes and then getting Evonne to try and burn down a building with elderly occupants to cover my tracks."

"Well, that news report does solve one mystery," Captain Stanley said, getting up and flicking off the TV. "One of the runs yesterday was to the facility over on Greenwood. It looked like someone piled up a bunch of garbage against the side of the building that faces the alley and set it on fire; only whomever did it, also put the fire out once it blackened the wall of the building and then actually cleaned up the garbage bags. The only way the crew knew that it had been garbage is because they could smell the burning trash and they found burned bags in a nearby dumpster. They couldn't figure out why someone would do that. Now we know, it was a setup for this story."

"And then they tried to pretend in the story that the fire was on the inside of the building and the fire suppression system put it out," Fisher said. "You guys have someone really pissed at you."

"Tell us something we don't know," Chet grumbled.

"Like the story about Evonne," Captain Stanley said, turning to Marco.

Marco ran a hand through his hair. "It's not like this guy made it out to be," Marco said, sitting back in the chair.

"Was she charged with arson causing bodily injury?" Captain Stanley asked.

"Yes, but listen to the story before you condemn her," Marco said, launching into Evonne's story.

"That's a rough situation, Marco," Captain Stanley agreed when Marco finished his story. "But, it's still gonna look bad on you if you get serious about this girl."

"How bad?" Marco asked.

"You can forget any chances of promotion," Fisher interjected.

"I hate to say it, Marco; but Fisher's right. The upper brass isn't going to care why she did it. She burned down a building that resulted in someone getting seriously burned. They aren't going to terminate you over it; but they certainly aren't going to let you rise to a position of authority," Captain Stanley warned.

"That's okay, Cap," Marco said. "I like being a linesman, and honestly, don't really want to have the responsibilities of a Captain. I'm excited to be starting a restaurant venture with Evonne. I don't want to stop being a fireman; but it's not the only thing I want either."

Captain Stanley looked at Marco and watched him quietly for a moment. "Then, I guess the only other thing we need to know, is when do we get to meet her?"

Marco smiled. "She agreed to be my date at Mike's reception."

E

Eric ducked just in time to miss the stapler that went flying across the police station floor. "Son of a …"

"Kate," Eric interrupted her. "In my office right now," Eric ordered, his tone gruff.

Secretaries were moving away from her desk and other officers had stopped what they were doing to stare at her. Kate was passionate about her work; but she rarely lost her cool.

"Did you just see that," Kate said, her voice raised and her finger pointing at the television set that was switching from the secrets of Station 51 to a commercial.

"I'm sitting right here," Eric said, indicating the table he'd been sitting at getting an update from fellow officers about another case when the news report started.

"How'd he get the information on Evonne?" Kate asked, her hand wrapping around a tape dispenser.

Eric walked over and disarmed her, moving the tape dispenser to another desk. "In my office," Eric said, pushing her toward his office.

"I want to know who's leaking information?" Kate said, her voice raised as she looked around the room. "C'mon, stop being a coward. You know what you're doing is wrong. What is more important to you than your integrity? Money? Do you have something against firemen? Against me?"

"Kate!" Eric's tone made it quite clear he was done giving her any leniency.

Kate huffed and stomped into his office. Eric followed her closing the door and pulling down the shade.

Sue looked around as police officers and secretaries looked at each other, eyes wide. "I would hate to be whomever the leak is when Kate finds them," one of the secretaries leaned over and whispered to Sue. "She'll probably kill them with her bare hands."

Sue swallowed hard and moved back to her desk.

"What was that?" Eric asked, sweeping his hand back toward the desk area.

"So, I lost my temper," Kate said.

"No, that was more than losing your temper. You completely lost your sense of professionalism and that isn't like you," Eric said. "If you can't keep a professional distant on this case, I'll pull you."

Kate looked over at him. "You wouldn't dare."

"Watch me," Eric said, moving to stand in front of her. "You are dangerous out there if you can't keep your perspective. I won't let you put yourself at risk like that. What is going on with you?"

"He was one of us," Kate said, her temper flaring again. "He was a cop; and a good one," Kate said, looking up at her husband. "I actually liked the guy and he pulled the wool over my eyes. I feel so, so…"

"Betrayed," Eric answered for her.

"Betrayed," Kate nodded, flopping down in the chair, the fight in her gone. "How could I have missed it?" Kate looked at her husband.

"You didn't miss anything, Kate," Eric leaned forward taking her hands in his. "He had us all fooled. No one expects a police officer to be moonlighting as a reporter and using his position here to create stories built on half-truths."

"I should've seen it," Kate insisted.

"Stop," Eric said, his tone firm. "You did not miss anything. This is not your fault."

"But…"

"No, buts," Eric interrupted her. "You're a great cop, Kate. One of the best I've ever worked with. But no one is perfect, and you're not a mind reader."

"We still have a leak," Kate said, looking up at him.

"I know. We'll find them, Kate. The more information they try to access; the more rope they pull to hang themselves with. We'll find them."

"You may have to restrain me when we do," Kate warned him.

"Who's gonna retrain me?" Eric asked.

Kate smiled at him. "I love you."

"I love you too. Now get back to work and solve this case. When it's done I say the two of us take a nice long vacation. Somewhere really cold, so you don't want to leave the hotel room," Eric smiled at her.

Kate leaned forward and kissed his lips, letting the kiss linger for a few seconds. "Sounds perfect."