Slowly, sounds and smells made it into his conscious again. The smell of disinfecting agents were heavy around him, and there were voices. He couldn't make out what they were saying. Something was at his hand, so he forced himself to finally open his eyes.

"He's awake!" he heard a familiar voice next to him.

Slowly, Maurice Boscorelli turned his head and saw his partner sitting next to his bed, smiling.

"Hey," she said. "Welcome back."

Bosco wasn't sure what he was doing in a hospital bed. He looked at Faith with a questioning expression on his face.

"Don't you remember, Bosco? There was a shooting in the station house. You were shot."

Remembrance dawned.

"Bobby…" Bosco managed to say.

"Bobby?" Faith echoed. "Who's Bobby?"

"Medic…"

"You mean Bobby Caffey? He died, don't you remember?"

Bosco turned his head away from Yokas and stared at the ceiling. So that was it. The bright light at the end of the tunnel they had described when they came back from the dead. He had been dead.

A tear formed in his eye and rolled down his cheek. He remembered when he was driven out of his body, how Faith and Swersky had tried to keep him alive.

"Thank you," Bosco croaked. "For being there."

There was a moment of silence where neither of them knew what to say. Finally, Faith broke the silence again.

"Swersky wants to quit," she simply said.

"What?" Bosco didn't believe his ears. That couldn't be.

"I overheard Captain Stick. So far, it's not official, but Lieu has handed in his resignation, so it seems."

Bosco thought for a moment. That simply wasn't possible. He couldn't just leave. A different Lieutenant would never let him get away with as much as Swersky did.

"Can you imagine Christopher as LT?" Faith voiced her thought and shuddered.

"Let me talk to Swersky," her partner told her.

"You think that's a good idea?"

"Just let me talk to him."


When Johnson heard footsteps on the stairs, he quickly regained control over his emotions again before DK reached the bay.

"You okay, boss?" he wanted to know when he discovered his superior alone by the engine.

Johnson looked out and at the sky.

"I think it's gonna rain soon," he said, not replying to DK's question.

"That was a nice funeral," the firefighter stated, following Lieu's look outside.

Johnson nodded slightly.

"You won't leave till I tell you, right?" he finally sighed.

"Brothers, Lieu, remember?" DK said, pointing out to the others in front of the stairs.

The Lieutenant turned around and saw them all standing in front of the stairway, most of them still wearing their full dress uniform. It was a touching view. He would really miss this bunch of pals.

"I just can't take it anymore…" Johnson started and let his blue eyes wonder out again through the open gate.

"We made it through so much together, we will make it through this," Walsh said from the stairs.

The Lieutenant turned around to meet the eyes of his friends. His voice was warm, but his face tired.

"I appreciate the thought, but you can't help me with this," Johnson sighed again. He needed to tell them, let them know he wasn't leaving because of them.

"It's Ruth. And the girls…I can't stand the fear in their eyes anymore, I can't stand to hear the relief in their voices when I call home to let them know it had been some other firefighter who got injured. Or killed. I just can't…"

He remembered the pain of Mrs Martin again when they had watched her husband die. He didn't want his wife and daughters suffer through that.

"I just can't do that to my family anymore…" Johnson said and slowly went past his colleagues to get to his office again, receiving comforting pats on his shoulders. He wasn't just leaving the squad, Lieutenant Johnson was leaving his second family.


55-Charlie was on patrol again. After the happenings of the last few days, both were hoping for a quiet shift. While Sully was concentrating on the driving, Davis looked out of his window, watching the people flying by. It was raining again and that wasn't improving their mood either. So finally, Ty decided to start a conversation to cut the silence.

"So, how does it feel to be a Godfather?" he asked his partner with a slight smile playing around his lips.

Sully couldn't help but smile as well when he remembered the beautiful baptism ceremony the day before. He now had the responsibility for a child.

"It feels strange. I know that for now, I don't have much to do, but if something should happen…I'll have a child to care for," Sully replied thoughtfully.

"And before I forget, Abby says thanks for the bear."

Ty grinned. "Kids love teddy bears."

"You would know," Sully said and reached over to touch the ear of his partner.

"Hey! What's that supposed to be?" Davis wanted to know, trying to fight him off.

"I just wanted to check if you're finally dry behind your ears! You know, I can't take care of two kids," Sully mocked him and laughed.

"Just drive!" Davis said in a tone as if he was pouting. But in fact, he couldn't help but join the laughter of his older partner.


Ruth approached the armchair her husband was sitting in. He hadn't spoken a single word since he got home. He was just starring outside the window, watching the rain drops making their way down on the pane.

"You really want to quit?" Ruth asked when she was beside her husband.

"Who told you?" Francis asked, already guessing the answer.

"DK called earlier. He told me."

She stepped closer to face him. Her eyes read sympathy and something else, Johnson needed a moment to figure out. Then he could make it out: it was hope.

"Do the girls know?" he asked, again watching the rain outside.

"Yes, I've talked to them."

Silence was heavy for a moment, only cut by the rain drops hitting the window. Ruth took her husband's hand and sat down on the armrest of the chair.

"Honey, we love you very much and yes, we would be glad if you would stay home and do something else. But don't quit being a fireman because of us. Do it because you want to. This," she pointed at his uniform he was still wearing, "this is what you are and we love you one way or the other."

Johnson looked at his wife, reached out and drew her close.

"Did I ever tell you that I love you?" he whispered and smiled slightly. He had made a decision already. And it was good to know he people he loved supported him. He couldn't leave the squad. His squad.

"I love you too, my hero," Ruth replied and bent down to gently meet her husband's lips for a kiss.