Cory was under fire the instant she walked through the firehouse doors.

'And where were you?' Chris asked antagonistically.

Cory had spent the previous night tossing and turning, trying to figure out a way to make things right between her and Chris. Her plan was quickly dissolving under Chris's provocative demeanour.

She was about to fly back with a cutting remark, then thought better of it. After all, Chris did have the potential to be a real bitch if she put her mind to it.

She shrugged off the comment.

Tc arrive at the station half dragging Leslie along behind him.

Cory had a hard time making out that it was her though. With flat hair and dark glasses she didn't look like her normal perky self.

'Finally.' Palermo said impatiently and descended the stairs.

Leslie winced as his voice echoed through her head.

Palermo strode over to where Chris and Cory were standing. Tc and Leslie followed suite.

'I'm glad you three could finally show up.' He addressed Chris, Cory and Leslie. 'It seems that Sergeant Callaway is the only responsible member of this team on a Saturday.'

'That's because he's the only one that didn't go out on the piss last night.' Leslie retorted.

Palermo just rolled his eyes.

'Well it is a Saturday.' She continued.

The lieutenant engaged her in a death stare. 'Heaven forbid you should be available to do your job Officer Baker.' He said moving closer to her. He stood directly in front of her now, revelling in the fact that she was much shorter than himself and using the advantage to its full potential. 'Loose the glasses Baker.'

Leslie huffed but did as she was told, squinting in discomfort as she did so.

Palermo smirked and turned his attention to the task at hand. 'Okay. The situation is that there's a drug bust going down in the next twenty minutes. It'll take up most of our resources. You four are staying here to provide support.'

'Wouldn't we be more of a help if we went with them.' Cory asked. She didn't particularly look forward to cooling her heels here.

'I don't think any of you are in a fit state to be going on a drug bust.' He said.

'What about me?' Tc asked defensively.

Palermo looked from Tc to a calendar sitting on the desk and back to Tc before walking away.

'What was that all about?' Chris asked Tc when Palermo was safely out of ear shot.

'Victor's going in for surgery today.' Tc said and wandered over to his desk. He sat down and glumly looked over a report he'd been working on.

Chris and Cory exchanged looks before remembering they were supposed to be mad at each other.

Chris wondered over to Tc's desk and pulled up a chair. 'You don't think what happened to Victor is your fault, do you? Is that was Palermo was getting at?'

Tc sighed. 'At first I did. I told Palermo I got over it but I guess he didn't believe me.'

Chris patted his arm. 'Victor will be okay.'

He nodded. 'I know.' Tc looked around to make sure to was could hear them before continuing. 'I think you should lay off Cory.'

'Me lay off her?' Chris said rather loudly before Tc hushed her.

'Just listen.' He said. 'I was talking to her when I was over there this morning. Leslie hit on her last night. Almost slipped in the tongue before she knew any better.'

Chris stared at him. 'You're kidding.' She laughed. 'Poor Cory.'

Tc nodded.

'Hang on. When did this happen?' Chris asked.

Tc leaned closer so he could whisper. 'Last night after she left your house she went for a walk. There were two guys brawling outside a pub and she broke it up and sent them on their way. Anyhow, she saw Leslie inside crying her eyes out, went into comfort her and that's when it happened.'

'What was she crying about?'

'A few things. She didn't like how things went with you last night. She felt bad that you found out the way you did. As well as that, Sharon got really jealous of you and dumped her. Sharon thought that Leslie had a thing for you.' Tc was aimlessly doodling on a piece of paper.

'When really she had a thing for Cory.' Chris said jokingly.

Tc laughed. 'Nah, it's just a rebound thing.'

'I did tell Cory that Leslie was gay.'

'Yeah but she didn't believe you.'

'Were you surprised when Cory told you? About Leslie I mean.'

'No. I already knew.'

Chris gaped at him. 'How?'

'Victor told me. Sharon told him.'

'So you let me go to a gay club with a lesbian and not tell me? Thanks Tc.'

'It was too late by then. Besides, you wouldn't have believed me.' Tc got up and went to file some papers.

Chris sat there thinking about his last comment. He was right, she wouldn't have believed him. And it was no wonder that Cory didn't believe her.

Chris found Cory sitting by herself on a half wall outside the firehouse grinding gravel underfoot and sat down next to her.

Before Chris had a chance to say anything Cory spoke first.

'Chris, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have been so hard on you last night. You're only human and you have a right to forget things.' Cory said not making eye contact.

'Yeah, but I shouldn't have forgotten something that important.' Chris said, the comment making Cory smile. 'And I shouldn't have been mad at you for being friends with Leslie and not me.'

Cory looked at her. 'I was never not friends with you. You've always been my best friend.'

Chris held out her hand. 'Still best friends?'

Cory shook her hand. 'Still best friends.' She said.

They hugged for good measure.

'But in a strictly heterosexual way.' Chris said and they both laughed.

A few hours later the teams that had gone on the drug bust returned rather pleased with their success.

As they congratulated each other with pats on the back, Chris, Cory and Tc watched on, scowling and green with envy. Leslie was just green from being hung-over.

Amongst the organised chaos that had just enveloped the firehouse, Sharon entered and received whistles and stares from the still fired-up male officers.

She rolled her eyes and made her way through the crowd to where the Tc, Cory and Chris were sitting.

She stood in front of Tc's desk with her hands folded in front of her. 'I just came by to tell you that your friend's operation went very well.' She said. 'He came out of recovery about half an hour ago. He's very tired still, but okay.'

Tc nodded and thanked her. 'I was going to call soon and see how he is.'

'His mother is with him. She should be able to fill you in.' Sharon smiled remembering the fuss Rosa had made all day.

Rosa had been told she could wait in the ward until they'd brought Victor back from surgery. However, she'd followed them when they'd wheeled him from the room and followed them into the operating room before they realised what she was doing.

Sharon glanced down at her hands. 'Um, I was also wondering if Leslie was around.'

Tc pointed to the other side of the room where Leslie was sitting. She had her dark glasses back on again and had her head resting on the desk in front of her with a hot cup of coffee sitting beside her.

Sharon walked over to Leslie and patted her on the shoulder.

Leslie looked up. 'What are you doing here?' She asked getting to her feet slowly.

Sharon sighed. Now would be a good time for humility. 'I came to apologise.' She took Leslie's hand and held it, running her thumb along Leslie's knuckles.. 'I was wrong to be jealous of your relationship with Chris and Cory. And I should never have accused you of being unfaithful.'

'You've got nothing to be jealous about. I've never loved anyone as much as I love you. You're the best thing that has ever happened to me and I'm madly in love with you.' Leslie brought Sharon's hand up to her mouth and kissed it.

'So I'm forgiven?' Sharon asked.

Leslie nodded. 'You're forgiven.' She leaned forward, putting her arms around Sharon's neck and kissing her deeply.

Sharon responded by holding Leslie and pulling her close.

Cory who'd been watching the scene stole a glance at Chris who was trying not to laugh at all the men in the room who'd were watching on with their jaws almost touching the floor…that and Tc who was fiercely writing a report and pretending not to know about the whole episode.

Palermo had come down the stairs at that time and had frozen half way down when he saw the two women kissing, startled that one of the best female bike patrol officers he'd seen in a long time had a girlfriend.

A few months later.

'I would like to raise a toast.' Palermo said raising his plastic cup in the air. 'To welcome back and old friend, and to say goodbye to another.'

'Cheers.' Everyone said and touched their cups together before drinking their coke.

Today was the da that Victor returned to duty and Leslie left to go to her new posting, still at Long Beach but as a bicycle manoeuvres trainer for new rookies.