The trip went quickly. There was little traffic until they reached L.A. where they were just hitting the very beginning of rush hour traffic.

"I don't know what you guys think about it, but I'd like to drop Molly off first, we can work out what to do with her car later. She is staying at Cap's house, but he comes in so early she drives herself most days so her car is still at the station." The men had driven in together the day of the trip and Johnny would be driving each of them home later.

"Sounds good to me, then we can all explain to Cap what happened. How do you think he's going to take it?" Mike asked.

A soft and still somewhat slurred voice said, "He'll take it fine. I'm a big girl."

"He should be proud," Chet said softly, "she saved my life up there. It's nobody's fault she got hurt, but her quick thinking and refusal to give up saved me from falling to my death. He should be proud."

"You are right Chet, he should be proud, and he will be, once he knows the whole story," Mike said.

Marco and Johnny made sounds of agreement.

"Wish we could keep Molly hidden until he understood the whole story," Chet said.

"Don't worry about it. Cap is a reasonable man. He'll be fine," Marco said.

"Lis'n to Marco, he's right." Molly was starting to wake up, but was still drowsy. "Time s'it?"

Three sets of eyes looked at their watches and three voices said, "Almost four o'clock."

Molly and John laughed, time was very important to firefighters and paramedics, they all wore watches all the time and answered questions about time as a matter of habit.

"G'd, almos'dinner time." Molly paused while a huge yawn took over, once it passed she seemed more awake. "It's still a gorgeous day, who wants dinner? Bet I could convince Cap to host and grill it for all of us."

"Let's stop and grab some ingredients really quick, maybe Molly is right, bet a nice, relaxing dinner will help," Chet offered.

"Johnny, you can find a pay phone and call Roy and give him a head's up and see if he can come over," Molly suggested.

"Hold up there a minute you guys. What about Cap's wife, how is she going to feel about 5 dirty, stinky, injured people showing up on her doorstep and then possibly Roy and his entire family too?" Johnny felt like he was the only one thinking with his head at the moment, everyone else was thinking with their stomachs. He was getting hungry though. It'd been a long day and the burger he'd eaten had been delicious, but had barely touched the raging beast making itself known in his gut.

"It'll be fine. I'll talk to Aunt Grace and Joanne can help if she comes. We'll buy everything we need including paper plates so Aunt Grace won't have to do a bunch of dishes. Cap'll do it for me, I promise, it'll be okay. I've had a rough day and I would like nothing better than to enjoy a relaxing evening with my brothers and my friends."

That sealed it. They were having a party for Molly when they got home.

Johnny pulled into a market not far from Cap's house and the men ran inside to get the ingredients they would need, some steaks and hot dogs, some deli potato salad and some drinks and chips and some pies and cakes for dessert as well as the paper plates and cups and they were ready to go again. Molly stayed in the car and rested while Johnny called Roy and gave him a quick version of the story and promising him the rest if he came to Cap's house for dinner in about an hour. Johnny wanted to give them time to warn Cap and tell him the story first. Roy promised he'd be there and said that Joanne had a casserole already in the oven that would go well with the BBQ and they'd bring it along to add to the feast. Roy really wanted to get the whole story on what had happened. While everyone joked that Johnny was the danger magnet it seemed like their entire crew was able to attract more than their fair share of trouble, except Mike. Mike was too cautious and analytical to just go finding danger. It was the quality that made him such an excellent Engineer.

Before long the Rover was pulling up in front of Cap's house and the entire crew was rethinking the idea, but there was no turning back now. They didn't plan it but the four men instinctively surrounded Molly in a protective formation. When Molly realized she was in the middle of a fireman fort she started to giggle.

"Um, guys. Hey, I know you mean well and all, and I know you probably don't even realize you are doing it, but I don't need to be guarded."

The four men looked around, realized they had put Molly in the middle of a firefighter circle and then they all laughed too and assumed a more natural stance.

"Sorry Molly, guess it just comes naturally to us," Marco explained.

"Yeah, there might not be a fire, but guess we still feel the need to protect you," Mike added.

"It's the least I could do, all things considered," Chet said.

"We should probably let you lead the way, it is your house," Johnny still felt like he was the only one actually thinking today and it was a little unnerving.

"Probably a good idea." Molly stepped forward, opened the door and called out, "Uncle Hank, Aunt Grace? We came back early, anybody home?"

"Hi. Welcome home," Grace called as she stepped from the kitchen wiping her hands on a towel, "your Uncle is outside firing up the grill, we thought we'd eat outside tonight. We weren't expecting you home until tomorrow though. Hi, guys. What happened? " Grace noticed the sling around Chet's arm and the brace covering Molly's shoulder and lower arm as she stepped up to Molly and started to give her a hug.

"I'll take that hug, but keep it gentle Aunt Grace, I think you can see why we're back early and why I brought all the guys along. We'd like to tell you and Cap together if I can. I'm tired and would like to tell this story just once."

"Sure sweetie, let me go get him." Grace finished her hug and turned to go outside. Grace exited the sliding door to go get Cap and carefully shut it behind her. She knew what the reaction would be when she mentioned the injuries and she hoped to shield the "kids" a little bit from the reaction. Grace Stanley wasn't old enough to be the parent of any of her husband's team, but she still thought of each of them as one of the "kids".

"Hi dear, how's that grill coming along?"

"Almost ready, dear, almost ready."

"Good, we've got visitors. Molly came home early and brought the boys along. Judging by the bags of groceries they are carrying I think they are planning an impromptu party."

"Well, good thing I've already started the grill, the more the merrier. Bring them on out."

"Um, dear, there's more. We need to go inside for just awhile. Chet and Molly seem to be hurt and I think they want to tell us what happened all together. Your team sure does love and look out for one another. The boys seem awfully nervous. I think that's why they want the party, so that you can't be too tough on them because they brought dinner." Grace finished that last sentence with a soft chuckle.

"Aw, hell! How'd they manage an injury?!" There it was, very loud and very Captain like, Grace winced even though she knew it was coming and then the reaction she also knew would be coming, much softer and more full of concern than frustration, "Oh, sorry Grace. It was a simple camping trip and hike. Molly's done that same hike a dozen times. The first time she was just a child! But, I guess the fact that Molly is standing in the living room and not lying in the hospital is reason enough for a party. Let's go get the details on this latest adventure and see what they brought for dinner."

Everyone inside the house flinched when they heard Cap's raised voice.

"It's okay. He only yelled once. We have nothing to worry about." Molly knew her uncle the best, but the men knew she was right. It was only bad if he kept yelling. "Hey, guys, everyone have a seat, get comfortable, we'll go outside in a bit and have our party, just relax for now."

It wasn't long before Cap and Grace came into the house together, ready to hear the tale of adventure and injury. Johnny had already had so much practice he started in without much prompting.

"Hi Cap, have we got a story for you. You are going to be so proud of Molly when we are done telling it and really, the injuries aren't that bad, pretty much just what you see." Johnny proceeded to retell the events of the morning, putting additional focus on Molly's heroics and Mike's ability as a paper weight. When he was done telling about Doc Shulman and the orders for Molly to be watched overnight he simply stopped talking and let the silence take over.

Cap shook his head, "Twits, that's what you all are is just a bunch of twits." Cap looked at Molly, "You saved Chet's life?"

"That's what I'm told, sir. I didn't want him to become a pancake. I thought that would kind of ruin the trip. Really, though, instinct and training took over. I didn't really think about it too much, sir."

"Mike, so you are a paper weight now, instead of a talented and highly trained engineer?"

"I believe I can do both jobs, sir," Mike knew that his Captain was teasing him with his question.

"Chet, what, in heaven's name made you think you could fly?"

"I'm not sure, sir, but it sure was a beautiful day and the view was amazing. I guess I figured I needed a closer look at the mountain than I had been getting, sir," Chet also knew that his Captain wasn't looking for a straight answer. This was how they let off steam at the end of a hard day. A little humor, a little teasing and things were not quite so stressful.

"Marco and Johnny, what made you two think that you should haul this man's sorry behind back up the mountain?"

"Duty," Johnny replied in a light hearted tone, "didn't want you to have to train a new lineman, sir. The good ones are hard to find." Johnny turned and gave Chet a smile as he said the last part. Chet knew he really meant the sentiment and that it wasn't all teasing.

"Did it for Molly, she wasn't looking too comfortable hanging on to my partner sir," Marco answered back.

"Well then, I hear you guys planned a party at my house without asking me first, when does Roy arrive?"

"Any minute Cap, we told him to give us an hour. It's been almost that. We also thought he and Joanne might take Molly for the night. I didn't know if you wanted me to stay here to keep an eye on her," Johnny said, only slightly surprised that Cap knew about Roy when they hadn't mentioned that part yet.

Hank clapped his hands together, saying, "Well, we'll deal with that when it's a little closer to bedtime. Let's see what you brought and get it ready, I'm starved. Ah, steak, you guys really are trying to kiss up."

As the crew moved outside to start the party Cap pulled Johnny aside and putting one hand on his shoulder, gave him a gentle squeeze and whispered in his ear, "Thanks for bringing them back in one piece. I'm very grateful."

John looked into his Cap's eyes when he said, "Every time Cap, if there is any way I can I will, every time. It's my job, sir. And, really, this time Molly did the hard work."

"I know and I'm really proud of her, but I also know that for you it's much more than just your job, it's who you are and that's why I value you being on my team so much and consider you family, John. You are more than welcome to stay the night if it means you are taking care of Molly. Thank you. For everything. Last year, when this all started," he waved a vague hand over the area between where they were standing and where Molly was sitting, "I handled it wrong. I'd seen so many of your relationships end, and sometimes badly." They both remembered Valerie, the only person John had ever proposed to, although it was mostly an accident that it had happened. "I didn't want this to end badly. I should have known to trust you. I watch you work, you spend time with my family during our down time. I should have trusted my knowledge of you as a man. I'm sorry."

Cap moved off to man the grill, enough had been said and Johnny knew to leave it there. He turned to look at Molly and found her watching them with a question in her eyes. He nodded and smiled, answering her question. One of Molly's main concerns about moving forward in their relationship while at Station 51 was that she wanted to be the last person that caused friction between John and Cap, so she had created the hiatus to deal with that. Now any doubt about their relationship was removed. While John and Molly knew he didn't need Cap's approval for their relationship it still felt good to have it. He felt really, really good as he looked around the yard and saw his family before him. The guys were throwing a ball around with Cap's son. Roy's kids were just coming through the door and were ready to join the game. Molly had been settled on a lounge chair with her feet up and a pillow behind her shoulder. Someone, probably Grace, had put a blanket over her legs. They were here to celebrate life and Johnny was ready to join the gang. It was time for his life to take the next step and he was looking forward to it with all his heart. Roy walked up behind Johnny and put a hand on his shoulder.

"How's it going Junior?"

"Good, Pally, it's going really, really good. Have I got a story for you, but first I want to make sure Molly is okay, it's time for her to take her meds. I'll be right back. Wait for me?"

"Always, Junior, always."

Johnny didn't say anything, but flashed Roy one of his trademark grins and Roy knew the words had hit home.

Roy watched as his partner and friend went to check on the newest member of their family and could tell that the story Johnny had to tell would be a good one, but that the story Johnny was still creating would be even better.

Epilogue

It was now October and the leaves in Idyllwild had turned to gold and were starting to litter the ground. Back in May Molly had transferred to L.A. permanently and was working out of station 99, but right now she was on vacation. John and Molly had stopped, briefly, in Hemet to visit Station #1. This was the station the served the area surrounding the hospital and the first to be outfitted with a fully staffed paramedic squad. Doctor Shulman met them at the Emergency room to give them a tour of the radio bay that had been installed and discuss the number of lives that had been saved so far. It was a very satisfying visit.

John and Molly had spent the last three days in the beautiful mountain hamlet of Idyllwild. Their stay at their cabin had been their wedding present from the guys and they still had the remainder of the week to enjoy the mountains. The wedding itself was a gorgeous affair planned to the last detail by Grace, Joanne and Molly. The men of 51 had stood with John as Molly's dad walked her down the aisle. Sarah, Molly's niece, whom the men had met when she was part of the same bus crash that introduced them to Molly, was a flower girl along with Roy's daughter Jennifer. Joanne was Molly's Matron of honor and Roy's son Chris the ring bearer. By the end of their vows not one dry eye remained in the house. Roy's toast at the banquet as Best Man had started the tears flowing again as it was the perfect blend of humorous and hopeful.

Now the newlyweds found themselves dangling on a rocky cliff face.

Right now John was sitting on a narrow ledge, well, leaning into a narrow ledge, it wasn't really wide enough for sitting, but this spot in their climb was one of only a few places wide enough to allow them to come up side by side. He was watching his wife pull her way over an outcropping that had been a little tricky. He watched as her left hand slipped, but her other hand had a solid grasp on a ridge at the edge of the boulder she was clinging to. She took a second to shake out her arm, wipe her hand on her shorts and then find a better handhold and continue on. When she was about six feet below him she looked up and smiled and he thought his world couldn't get any more wonderful.

"What are you doing just sitting there?"

"Just watching the most wonderful and rare creature on earth climb a mountain."

"You're silly."

"Yeah, but you're the one who married me. Don't you know how rare you are? You're the only person in the entire world I can or would want to call wife." He reached down and helped pull her the last few inches onto his ledge.

"Thanks, husband. Wow, look at that view." She swept her hand over the valley that lay under their feet.

"It's quite something."

She looked over at him and saw him looking solidly at her and not at the view. She leaned over bumping him with her shoulder. "You're silly, but love you too. Hey, what do you say we finish this off and get out of here? There is a Jacuzzi back at our cabin calling my name."

"Your wish is my command, wife." He was enjoying the sound of that word so much he was quickly turning it into a nickname. "You are right, I think I can hear that Jacuzzi from here. Hey, how's that shoulder doing?" He reached out and gently rubbed the subject of his question. She had healed just fine from her dislocated the shoulder. The lower back pain had lingered longer than the effects of the shoulder, but Chet had taught her some yoga stretches that had helped immensely. Chet had become a good friend and was in charge of watching the house and checking their mail while they were away. John still asked after any strenuous activity or long shift how she was doing.

"I'm fine, husband. That slip down there was because I hadn't chalked my hands and finding the right grip was harder than I expected. I'm fine. By the time I'm ready to follow you I'll be a little more rested and I'm chalking right now. See?" She dipped her hand into her chalk bag, pulling a little more than she actually needed she rubbed the powder between her palms. "I do think I'll want to put some heat on it later, but I'll finish this climb no problem." Satisfied with her explanation he left a kiss behind as he turned and started climbing again.

As he turned to pass her she reached out and swatted his tush, leaving a white hand print behind.

"Hey, stop that." He laughed as he reached back and brushed away the dust, laughing as he went.

She watched him climb and thought back to the last time they'd been on this mountain. Something had changed that day. She couldn't ever pinpoint which event over the course of that trip had triggered it, but she knew it was the camping trip that had moved John to propose a week later during an incredibly romantic dinner. It had been a crazy summer with the wedding plans and they'd both been kept more than busy fighting several large wildfires during the long, dry summer. Coming to Tahquitz for their honeymoon had been her idea and now she was thoroughly enjoying watching her husband, she sure loved that word, having a blast scaling this massive rock. She watched him until he reached a spot where he had wedged his shoulders into a niche in the rock and had his feet splayed under him, set wide apart and bracing the rest of his body against the rock. He was setting and checking the lines for their next accent. She held her hands around her mouth to amplify her voice and wolf whistled. "Loving the view from here."

He looked down and saw her staring straight up and blushed. "Stop that. I'm trying to concentrate."

"Me too."

He laughed at her antics, shaking his head and went through every step he'd just done to make sure he hadn't missed anything before starting the last ascent. She chuckled and waited for him to continue on again. Soon they were both standing on top of Tahquitz and looking down with the world at their feet. Sweaty, grimy and sore they were both happy as they could be. Putting their arms around each other they felt that their climb together was a perfect symbol of their lives together. A lot of difficulty had gotten them to this point, but now that they were here, together, nothing could be better. After sharing a rather passionate kiss that was viewed only by the wildlife around them, they turned and walked into the next phase of their lives, stronger than ever.

Author's note: Hemet, Idyllwild, Devil's Slide Trail and Tahquitz Peak (aka Tahquitz Rock) are all real places. I narrowed the trail only a tiny bit for the story (it really is only wide enough for one at a time in some places) and accentuated the danger from rock slide. However, as Molly said at the beginning of the story, it is not unheard of for people to die on this trail or a partner trail on the opposite side of the peak, not common, but not unheard of. Hemet-Ryan airport is a primary attack base for Cal-Fire's planes so I decided to put Search and Rescue for the mountain there too, though I can't confirm if this was the case in the 70's. I'm not sure Molly would actually use chalk while climbing, I see her as more of a purist in everything she does, but she needed it in order to leave a hand print on Johnny's butt, and who doesn't want to leave a hand print or two there (oh, I've said too much). I've always thought that the original tower comprising Hemet Hospital resembled a baby Rampart. The set up described for the hospital was accurate for the time of the story. Additions to the building have changed its appearance, but the baby Rampart tower is still visible. I don't think that the hospital itself is actually visible, binoculars or not, from the Ranger tower, but other parts of the valley are visible from the mountain so I ran with it. There might be more Molly and John in the future…we'll have to wait and see if they'll have anything else to say. For now, they are just enjoying their honeymoon so we'll leave them in peace. :)