After finishing washing the breakfast dishes and wiping down the table, Johnny Gage sighed as his eyes wandered to the phone on the kitchen wall in front of him. Running his hand over his head, he forced himself to resist the urge to pick it up and dial the number he knew by heart. What was done was done and the only real choice he had left was to cut all ties and move on. He reminded himself that he had to leave the past behind him and not look back. It was just too painful to revisit.

He jumped in surprise as the claxons rang out and the dispatcher voice echoed through the whole station. "Station 8, Engine 127, apartment fire with possible entrapments, City of Angeles Apartments, 1228 West Magnolia, 1228 West Magnolia, cross street North Tajauta Avenue, repeat apartment …"

"Hey partner, stop day dreamin' 'bout that hot date you have tonight, we've got work to do." Benjie Melendez slapped Johnny 's shoulder as he ran past his new partner.

Turning and following Benjie out of the kitchen and into the bay, Johnny barely had enough time to slide in and close the squad door as Benjie accepted the slip of paper with the address that their captain handed him through the window. Tossing it across to Johnny, Benji gunned the engine, spinning the tires on the slick pavement as he hit the horn to warn any unsuspecting pedestrians as the squad lurched forward and they rolled out of the station before turning left and heading towards the address with the engine following closely behind.

Benjie chuckled as Johnny tried to put on his helmet while grabbing the dash at the same time in a futile attempt to stop himself from sliding across the seat as he took the next corner a little too fast.

o.o.o.o.o

Pulling the squad up just past where Engine 127 was parked, Benjie turned and stared up at the flames that were shooting out of the fourth and fifth story windows. Letting out a soft whistle, he murmured, "Looks like a big one!"

Johnny only had time to nod in response as both men opened their doors and jumped out of their squad, quickly pulling on their heavy jackets as they ran across to join their captain, Matt Roberts, who was talking to the captain of Station 127.

"What have we got, Cap?" Johnny asked as they reached the two men's sides.

"The apartment manager says that almost everyone managed to get out before the fire took hold, but he thinks two of the tenants could be trapped in their apartment on the fifth floor. Their car is parked in the parking lot, so he knows they were home, but he can't find them in the crowd. I want the two of you to go in and do a quick search but make it fast, I'll send Martin and Hammond in to cover you."

"Will do, Cap!" Benji nodded before they turned and ran back to the squad, opening the squad's apartment doors to grab the gear they needed.

Turning back to Johnny as he grabbed his oxygen tank and shrugged into it, Benjie grinned excitedly, "Ready, kiddo?"

"Ready," Johnny nodded and smiled, grabbing his own air bottle from its spot in the squad's compartments. Quickly slipping his arms through the straps and adjusting it so it rested comfortably on his back, he slipped on his air mask and placed his helmet back on his head as he sprinted across the sidewalk and followed his partner into the burning building.

o.o.o.o.o

Slowly hanging up the phone, Hank Stanley ran a hand over his face, suddenly feeling ten years older as he realized that his worst fears had come to fruition. He released a soft sigh as he pushed himself out of his chair and crossed to his office door, pulling it open. Taking a deep breath, he walked slowly around the back of the engine to where he knew Roy and his new partner, Allen, were doing their morning check of their supplies. "Ahh Roy, I need to speak to you in the office for a minute, Pal."

"Cap?" Roy frowned as he looked up at his captain. The upset look on Hank's face that warned Roy that something had happened as he slowly rose to his feet and followed Hank back to his office.

"Roy, I have some bad news. I think you should sit down."

"Has something happened to Joanne or one of the kids?" Roy asked, his heart in his throat at his captain's strange behaviour as Cap turned and slowly closed the door behind them.

"No, it's not Joanne or the kids," Hank answered quickly as he turned and crossed the room, nodding in a silent order for Roy to take a seat. Waiting until his senior paramedic was seated, he cleared his throat before he began, "I just received a phone call from Roberts from Station 8, he thought that I … you … would want to know-"

"Johnny?" Roy asked softly, his chest tightening in fear at what he was about to be told.

Cap nodded, "He was involved in some sort of a rescue at an apartment building fire earlier this morning. Roberts told me that the roof collapsed while Johnny was still inside. It took them a few minutes to find him and then to get him out-"

"How … how bad?" Roy asked softly, dreading the answer.

Hank took a deep breath, "Bad, Pal, his partner managed to stabilize him enough to get him to Rampart, but Roberts said it … it doesn't look good."

Jumping up from his chair, Roy turned and ran towards the door, demanding as he passed his captain. "Why didn't Roberts or Rampart contact me directly? I'm listed as Johnny's next-of-kin."

"Not anymore, Roy, Johnny must have changed who was listed as his next-of-kin when he transferred across to Station 8. He made it pretty clear when he left that any friendship between the two of you was over, remember?"

"It was just the anger talking," Roy answered quietly, his chest tightening with guilt and regret over what had happened between them as he opened the door, "We both said some things to each other in the heat of the moment, things that neither of us really meant."

"Are you sure about that, Roy?" Cap frowned, aware that he was walking on eggshells as he added, "Because Johnny transferring across to Station 8 told me that he took whatever happened between the two of you to heart."