With Vaseline and Bayleaf not on speaking terms, Vaseline decides to take revenge but when Marion's family's life is put in danger, will the friendship repair?

Tuesday morning was dull and grey and it suited Vaselines mood to a t. He was very angry at Bayleaf for his interference and he wasn't in the mood for anyone taking the Mick out of him.

Marion had not been in touch for over a week and he felt he had blown it.

As he headed to the station he saw Bayleaf jokingly laughing with George and Malcolm and shouted,

"Think it's bloody funny do you?!"

Bayleaf looked at him, dumbfounded

"What you talking about? We was on about that bloke who had his leg stuck in the fence yesterday morning!"

"You know Marion won't speak to me and it's all down to you and your big mouth! Why can't you handle your drink?!"

Malcolm grabbed Vaselines shoulder,

"Please calm down before the governor gets here. You know what he's like if he sees you arguing."

Vaseline glared at Bayleaf who didn't know what else to say. Josie appeared behind Charisma desperate to get away from his insistence that he could get her a gig at one of the top clubs in Soho with his "connections".

Later in the afternoon, after taking part in training, blue watch were in the canteen, Malcolm and Vaseline were sat together while Tony made a few jokes with Charisma and Josie. Bayleaf kept silent as he saw Vaseline glaring at him.

"Look Vaseline I'm sorry what I said, I'd had too much to drink and you know what I'm like when I've got drink in me."

Vaseline looked over at him and opened his can of coke slowly before tipping the entire contents over Bayleafs head. Everyone gasped and looked shocked just as Tate came in,

"What the hell has been going on in here?!" He shouted as he saw Bayleaf covered in the sticky brown substance. Vaseline said nothing as he stormed past Tate and headed downstairs despite Tate telling him to come back. Vaseline kept walking unaware everyone was looking at him.

He walked and walked until he came home, Lynette was at work so he had the house to himself. He went into the fridge and grabbed a beer before making his way upstairs.

His bedroom was covered in posters of models, page three girls and rock bands and he was never tidy with his blanket nearly falling off the bed. He continued to drink his beer while staring out the window. Then he saw a car pull up outside the house opposite.

It was Bayleaf.

He was holding a young girls hand as he stepped out of the car and walked towards the door, the person who answered was a woman the same height as Bayleaf, wearing a baggy blue jumper, leggings and trainers with her brown hair scrapped back into a ponytail.

Vaseline knew that this woman was Bayleafs wife Karen. An awful thought entered his mind, Vaseline knew how close Bayleaf was with Josie and he knew there was some underlying attraction that some of the other firefighters had noticed. He watched the car drive away and finished his beer.

He headed downstairs just as Lynette walked in, taking off her high heels.

"What you doing back so soon?" She asked as he passed her, he ignored her as he walked towards the house. He knocked the door and waited before Karen appeared,

"Hello can I help you?" She asked, her voice friendly and soft, Vaseline smiled at her,

"I'm Roland Cartwright, I'm a colleague of your husband's I need to talk to you."

Karen nodded as she parted the way, Melanie was standing at the top of the stairs and knew the conversation was not gonna be good.

"I don't care what you think about us mate but I have not made a complaint about you!"

Brian Baines was furious as he engaged in a slanging match with Roger Sinclair, the owner of the Blackwall Arms and his longtime business rival. Roger was a tall man with a large beer belly and a scruffy brown beard and he was pointing his finger at Brian yelling,

"So how come the person who complained made an extremely detailed complaint and you know full well the problems I have got?!"

Eileen continued to interact with the customers rolling her eyes in the process. She was more concerned about her two children than her husband's petty feud. She missed her son more and more each passing day and had allowed her daughter in law and grandson to stay with them till he returned, she was also worried about her daughter. Marion had been miserable for over a week and this was noticed by the customers, she still wore her makeup and looked stunning with her clothes but the smile was gone. Eileen didn't know what to do as this was something that her daughter had experienced time and time again.

Brian soon emerged from outside, sweating and breathing heavily.

"I wish you pair would grow up, this has to stop!"

"It will once he gets it into his head he won't beat me!"

As they argued, they were unaware Roger was outside, staring at the pub with a look of malice in his eyes.

"So my husband has been seeing that new firewoman then?!"

Karen was devastated and angry as Vaseline told her the details of Bayleafs attraction for Josie. She couldn't believe her ears! That was why he hadn't seen her much.

"It's been going on a while nothing physical has happened but you can see it in his eyes." The euphoria was wearing off as he saw the anger and heartbreak in Karen's eyes, he knew he shouldnt have said anything.

"Why have you not said anything to me before?" Karen shouted while Melanie remained at the top of the stairs, tears streaming. Her mother was scary when she shouted.

"I only found out this morning Mrs Wilson. I'm so sorry."

He got up and left leaving Karen crying on the floor. He felt awful for what he had done.

The next morning, Vaseline arrived early with George and Malcolm. He was having a laugh with them and eating his breakfast when Bayleaf burst in, his face like thunder as he marched over to Vaseline,

"Have you been to see Karen?! She was raging at me this morning when I went to pick up Melanie! I could bloody murder you, you little prick!" He shouted loudly, Vaseline didn't say a word and then said in a low voice,

"Karma's a bitch isn't it?"

Bayleaf lunged at him then and Vaseline was held back by Kevin and Malcolm just as Hallam burst in,

"Oi, break it up! Whats going on here!"

"You can ask Vaseline!"

"I'm asking both of you!"

"Can't keep his mouth shut!"

"He's a little shit stirrer!"

"That's enough! Now pack it in or you'll both be sent to Tate's office! Such a disgrace!" Hallam shouted as he sat down for his breakfast.

Later, Vaseline finished his morning shift and was going to do a night shift later as punishment for walking out the day before. He decided to go and see Marion to sort things out with her. He would make up with Bayleaf somehow when all was calm.

Eileen was serving an elderly gentleman a pint of bitter just as Marion surfaced, she looked lovely in a black top denim skirt with her hair in a ponytail,

"Oh come on love cheer up sweetie. This isnt like you." Eileen said as Marion's face was still sour looking. Marion looked at her and tried to smile,

"Look why don't you leave it for today. Spend some time with your nephew if you want."

Marion nodded and headed uostairs just as Vaseline opened the door in the hallway, Marion jumped and scowled at him,

"What are you doing here? Get out now, you know that your not allowed to come in that way!"

"Please Marion I want to talk to you for five minutes, I need to explain."

"What's the point? I won't be another Marion like I've told you before, I've been used before Roland and I won't be used again!"

"Please let me explain and then that's it."

Marion looked at the handsome firefighter and nodded,

"Follow me then."

They headed upstairs and Marion stood in the doorway of her bedroom,

"Look Marion, I can't lie I have got a past. Most of the firefighters have. I've had two marriages behind me and I've been with a few women but that was then. This is now. Right now it's you I want and no one else."

Marion looked at Vaseline who stood there looking so sheepish and yet looking like a lost soul and for a moment she could feel the urge to throw herself at him but she was as stubborn as an ox and determined not to give in.

"I've heard it many times Roland, I've been let down that many times. I don't think I can go through it again."

"But I'm changing, ok learning every day. Surely you would see that. I know we are good for each other."

Marion wanted to throw him out there and then and save herself from any heart ache. She wanted to scream that she wasn't interested and to tell him to go and never come back.

But she didn't.

Instead, she walked over and stroked his face.

"You know you have such an innocent look about you despite your personality. Come on my bedroom is through here."

Vaseline couldn't believe this turn of events! Not that he was complaining as he shut the bedroom door behind him, completely unaware of the ruckus that was about to occur downstairs.

Eileen was serving an elderly couple when she could smell something like gasoline coming from the entrance. The smell of smoke soon followed and she wondered if someone's car was on fire. She walked towards the door and round the corner she could see the flames!

"Brian! There's a fire! Call 999!" She shouted hysterically as some of the punters began screaming. Brian quickly dialled the number.

Vaseline and Marion could smell the smoke from the small gap in the door, Marion leapt up and buttoned up her shirt as she rushed into Matthews Room.

"Roland! Help!" She yelled and Vaseline got dressed quickly and immediately grabbed a fire extinguisher, he sprayed the flickering flames on the staircase, feeling the heat as he got nearer while Marion tried calming Matthew who was crying. Joy had gone out for the afternoon and was due back soon.

"Stay in the room Marion! I'm dealing with it!" Vaseline yelled through the flames as they began dying away. The distant sirens from outside indicated that some of his work colleagues had arrived. He thanked his lucky stars.

Charisma and Bayleaf hosed down the fire from outside and soon the fire had gone completely leaving a charred mess. Joy had just returned and was happy that her son was safe as she held him in her arms.

"Thank you so much!" Cried Eileen as she hugged Bayleaf as Brian talked with Tate about his feud with Roger Sinclair and his possible involvement.

Marion looked at Vaseline who was nodding at Bayleaf and Charisma, she suddenly ran over to him and kissed him throwing her arms around him. Vaseline responded with much enthusiasm, thus confirming the beginning of their relationship. Eileen and Brian watched their daughter with Vaseline and smiled, glad that their daughter had happiness in her life.

Later that evening, Vaseline was getting ready for his evening watch when Bayleaf came in,

"How you feeling?" He asked as he grabbed his leather jacket. Vaseline looked at him and gave him a smile,

"Gutted I'm doing night duty but it's what I deserve for walking out earlier. You and Charisma going out?"

"Yeah with Tony and Malcolm, Charisma has gone to take a phone call, I'm just waiting for him."

"Look I'm sorry how I've been, I know you didn't set out to hurt me."

"I'm sorry too although I'll have to try and convince Karen that nothing is happening between me and Josie. It will take some convincing."

"I'm so sorry, I was just angry. My mum always I don't think before I act."

"Yeah, well it's what I deserved. But still your with your third Marion. Maybe she is the Marion for you."

The two men laughed at this small joke just as Charisma came in, the laughing stopped as they saw the tears rolling down his face.

"What's happened Charisma?" Asked Bayleaf as Charisma sat on the bench,

"My great aunt has phoned, My nan has had an heart attack."

"What? Oh god Charisma is she alright?"

"No she's dead. By the time she was taken to hospital she was pronounced within half an hour."

"Charisma I'm so sorry."

"We both are and so will the rest of the squad. You can stop with me tonight." Vaseline said solemnly as Charisma cried.

The two men consoled their friend while safe In the knowledge that their friendship was back on track.