The loud, high pitched laughter of Lynette Cartwright echoed in the small confinements of the living room as Vaseline walked inside after his shift. He rolled his eyes and was about to head upstairs when Lynette called out;

"Is that you Roland darling?! "

"Who do you think it is? "

"Don't be sarcastic! Come in and have a chat with your mum, I barely see you! "

Vaseline muttered under his breath as he saw his mother sitting with a glass of red wine while flexing her newly painted toes on the sofa. Admittingly, Lynette looked fantastic for her age as she spent alot of time attending beauty treatments or getting her nails and hair done. Her job as a hospital secretary meant that she was able to afford such luxuries but sometimes it embarrassed Roland as she often acted as though she was his age when in reality she was in her late forties and the age lines were visible despite the layers of makeup. She sat up and finished her glass, tossing her blonde hair out of her face.

"Roland hunny please do your old mum a favour and fill her glass up. " she asked sweetly, Roland looked at her,

"You get it yourself! I'm shattered! "

"Oh suit yourself then! How was work anyway? Put out any fires did you? "

"Only a few minor ones mum."

Lynette laughed as she switched over the channel, her false nails getting stuck.

"Bugger! I've snapped a nail! I swear down that Esmeralda doesn't do her nails properly, I'm asking for Danielle next time. "

Vaseline went into the kitchen and grabbed a beer, he hoped his mother wouldn't go on about the recent work he had done, he knew that she took a critical view about his love life even though her own was just as outrageous.

"Rochelle contacted you? "

"Yeah she's fine, settling well in Manchester."

Rochelle was Vaselines younger sister but he hadn't seen her for six months, she was away studying in Manchester training to be a teacher. Sometimes Lynette would compare both their careers which annoyed Vaseline.

"... Can't bare to look at that Esmeralda, she gets on my nerves, bloody bitch, boasting all the time! "

Vaseline nodded his head, pretending to listen to his mothers everyday whining as he sipped her beer. Then, when he finished, he got up,

"Mum I'm just popping to the shop, I need my fags. "

"Oh get us another bottle of wine darling! "

Vaseline rolled his eyes and headed out, waving at Mr Jackson who was trimming his hedge. As he walked to the corner shop, he managed to bump into someone.

A young woman.

"Hey be careful! " she cried as she dropped her magazine and chocolate. Vaseline picked them up and gave them to her. Then he looked at her,

She was very attractive; blue doe eyes, dark blonde hair that was in a ponytail and the pink lipstick, rose blusher and mascara made her look like a China doll. She smiled at him and he parted the way for her,

"Thank you. " She said softly and she walked away, Vaseline watched her leave and grinned to himself as he walked into the shop. Normally he would attempt to flirt with Amanda, the curvy red headed shop assistant but the mysterious girl had taken over his thoughts.

Bayleaf was on the phone to Melanie who was living with her mother and grandmother, he was sitting in Josie's flat and as she made him a cup of tea, she was looking at the poster that had been dropped off earlier. She was due to perform for a charity night at her local in a few months time and she was nervous as she was every time she performed.

"... I'll see you soon darling, please behave for your mum and Nana. Ok darling. Bye. "

Bayleaf came into the living room and waited for Josie to bring their drinks in, he had a lump in his throat and he wanted to cry, he missed his daughter so much. Josie gave him his mug and sat beside him.

"How long have you and Karen been married for? "

"12 years. "

"Oh right, how old is Melanie? "

"She's 8. She is my world that little girl. I'd die for her. "

"You seem like a devoted father, I give you all the credit in the world. "

"So you perform then, I saw the poster. "

"Yes, I have done some gigs, I started it six months ago, I really like it and I would do it full time but it doesn't make the best money."

"Would you allow the lads to watch you perform? "

"And have them piss themselves laughing at me? No thank you but I may do in the future."

The two firefighters drank their tea and chatted for another hour, both enjoying each others company and developing a true friendship.

The next morning, everyone gathered at the station and Charisma noticed that Ethnic was not himself. He knew that he wouldn't confide in anyone right now so he decided that when they were alone then he would talk with him and get to the bottom of his behaviour. He noticed that things hadn't been right with him for some time and given that he had the closest relationship with Ethnic he thought that he would chat with him.

"Hey Charisma! What's this I've heard that you are planning to take us to take us to glastonbury?! " Vaseline called out and Charisma blushed a bright pink.

"Yeah well, my mate is selling some tickets and I am in the process of speaking with him and arranging things. " Charisma said sheepishly and the crew began laughing just as the bell began to ring.

The call was to a house not far away from the station but it wasn't for a fire. There was a cat stuck in a tree.

"Please get him down, he is quite tame and he hates being up there on his own. I haven't got the strength to get him myself. " The old woman said while keeping a hand on her grandsons shoulder.

"Please get him down. " He said sweetly and Josie couldn't help but smile. Vaseline began climbing up the ladder and the squad watched as he gently grabbed the cat despite the hissing and meowing. He handed the cat to the little boy who smiled happily and thanked him before they all got into the fire truck but as they we're driving away, the cat suddenly leapt from the boys arms and ran into the road and before the truck could stop it was too late.

"That cat commited suicide, he was unhappy with his owners and decided that was the only option. " Vaseline said as they drove away back to the station, everyone was teasing him.

"Cat Hitler! " Malcolm joked as Charisma and Bayleaf joked and laughed, Ethnic remained quiet and Charisma made a mental note to chat to him later.

Later that afternoon, just as Ethnic was about to leave with Rambo, Charisma called him,

"Hey Ethnic, can I have a chat with you? "

"Can it wait?"

"Only ten minutes please. "

"I'll catch up with you Rambo. "

Rambo headed off while Ethnic followed Charisma to the staff kitchen. Charisma made sure that no one was around before he asked,

"Ethnic what's going on? "

"What do you mean? "

"Ethnic, you can't deny that you haven't been yourself lately. You don't engage in banter anymore and you're always quiet. What's going on? "

Ethnic was silent for a moment, he wasn't sure whether he should tell anyone about what was going on at home, after all it was none of the squads business but charisma was his best friend and the rest of the squad were alright.

"There is this gang. The people from my estate look down on anyone who works in public services and this gang suspects that I work in that field. Now I've tried to divert them and I've lied to them but I don't think they believe me. "

Charisma listened and nodded, trying to offer a solution but it was almost impossible. Unless you had been in that situation then it was impossible.

"I'm scared Charisma not just for me but for my mum. She's terrified to walk to work because she's worried that she will be attacked by those bastards. They got suspicious because a few weeks ago my uniform got searched and the copper was alright with me, they know something. I know they do and if they take it out on my mother I will kill them! "

Ethnic put his head in his hand sand Charisma put a hand on his back, not sure what support to give but he felt a great deal of sympathy for what Ethnic was going through.

"Look, I'm the last person you should come to for advice but be on your guard at all times. You never know what is round the corner.".

"Well that's useful advice. " Ethnic said sarcastically, "No, I need to figure this out myself but thanks anyway. Come on I'll buy you a drink. "

The two firefighters headed off, blissfully unaware about the turn of events that would happen in the coming weeks.