A/N: Another story comes to an end. Thanks for sticking with me through thick and thin. I hope you enjoy this last bit as I dust poor Chet off and put him back where he belongs. He's been a good sport at least... Thanks to Xav for being the best beta reader and writing partner ever. Reviews appreciated!

Los Angeles County Fire Academy

Obstacle Course

Chet Kelly was nervous. He had worked hard over the last six months. Harder, in fact, than he ever had in his life. But, he had more to prove, and there was more at stake than ever before. After training as hard as any Olympic athlete, after defying what seemed to be insurmountable odds, Chet was about to lay it all on the line. He was about to run the Fire Academy Obstacle Course for real. For the instructors and, inevitably, for some of the cadets as well.

It had been nearly a year since the accident that had taken his left arm and radically changed his life. He was determined to show all those present that he could take anything the department could throw at him. No, he couldn't work out in the field anymore, at least, not as a lineman. He refused to use a prosthetic, and he didn't want a desk job at HQ. But he could, and would, prove to them that he could be an instructor. That they needed his expertise. He had been one of the best and most experienced linemen out there. Even though he had been partnered with Marco Lopez as his senior, over the years, the department had sent more than one newbie to Chet for polishing.

Chet looked over at his coach and former partner, Marco Lopez, who stood on the sidelines, near the starting line. Marco was standing close to the table where Chet's turnout gear, SCBA, and air tank were stacked. Once Chet laid a hand on any of the items, the first official would start the timer, and his race for the finish would be on. He had to finish the course within 12 minutes. He took a deep breath and pulled the leather sheath onto his stump. He turned and looked at Marco. They had practiced successfully on a similar course hundreds of times, but this was the real thing. This was it. Marco smiled at him and gave him a thumbs up.

Chet watched as the young man right before him took off headed for the first obstacle. He waited the prescribed two minutes before striding up to the table.

He gave his name and waited while they marked him off. When he received the go ahead, he stepped over to his equipment and took another deep breath. He glanced over at Marco, who grinned and nodded. Chet smiled to himself. He could do this. His hand dropped onto his turnouts, and the race to regain his life began.

~51~

The next few minutes flew by in a blur. It was if muscle memory took over and Chet's body was in its natural environment. He proceeded smoothly and rapidly through the course without a hitch, until he reached his arch-nemesis, the rope-climb at the end. All along this was the one area that was the hardest for Chet to achieve. He had made it to the top before, but it was always the spot that slowed him down.

Chet was so focused on the task of just surviving the course, he never even glanced at Marco once he took off from the start. If he had looked at his coach, he would have seen his friend going nuts as he divided his attention between his stopwatch and his best friend's performance on the course.

Chet drew a deep breath as he scrambled up the rope, and then faltered part way up. He was running out of steam, and he realized it. This was the way it always happened. He paused for a few seconds, and then focused on the bell at the top of the rope tower. He thought about that day in Rampart's ER when John had told him his arm was gone. He'd nearly cashed it in when the despair hit him. And Chet took a breath and began to climb again. Because there was no way he was giving up now. He finally reached up and yanked on the bell cord.

The clang of that fire bell ringing out was met with wild cheers and applause that never registered with Chet as he shimmied halfway down the rope and then dropped the rest of the way to the ground. He immediately launched himself over the finish line and raised his arms triumphantly. He quickly stepped over to the time instructor manning the timer marked down his official time. He handed the slip to Chet, whose eyes widened.

Marco stared at his stopwatch in disbelief and then at Chet he hurried over to him and grinned. "Amigo, you do realize you beat your best practice time, right?"

Chet laughed and showed him his time slip. "Practice time? Marco, I officially beat my graduation time!"

The head of the Academy walked over to the pair. Chief Miller remembered the two of them well. They'd both been outstanding students and become excellent lineman. He'd been following Kelly's progress since his accident and had been pulling for him all along. He shook their hands and turned to Chet.

"I'm impressed by the grit you showed here today, Kelly. It so happens I have an opening coming for a line instructor in a couple of months. Of course, you'll need some additional training, and an assistant, but I'm sure we can work all that out. Why don't you come see me in my office, say tomorrow afternoon about two o'clock?"

For a moment, Chet's brain shut down and his mouth wouldn't cooperate. All he could do was nod. The chief laughed, completely understanding his shock. He smiled and turned to head back to his office.

Belatedly, Chet added, "Yessir. I'll be there! Thank you, sir!"

Chet was brought out of his daze by a strong slap to his back and Marco's laugh. "Let's go tell Mama! I would bet she has some tamales ready for us already. You know she loves you!"

"Better believe she does! She has taste!"

Marco snorted in derision and relief. Finally, all was as it should be.

~The End~