''You should be proud you are here. It means you w-want to go here, maybe. How many of you are sure you want to become a firefighter?'' Matt asked as he twirled the marker between his fingers and wrote his name on the whiteboard. He looked back but none of the high schoolers that were here to see if they really wanted to go to academy responded, instead they were all just surfing on their phones and ignoring him.

''What is Jimmy from South Park doing here?'' A boy on the front row finally said, bored.

''I used to be f-firefighter but I help out here now by giving orientation and information.'' Matt said, annoyed by the remark, but he kept himself from getting Matt.

''Why did you stop, is it so boring?''

''I had to, I g-got injured on the job.'' Matt said and he walked to the desk to get another marker and for once he hoped people would notice he was still limping slightly, although it was getting better and he didn't need his cane anymore.

''How did you get injured?'' A girl asked from the back.

''I neglected orders and I r-ran into a burning building to save somebody. Never neglect orders.''

It was because he had to say it because he knew if he could do it over he would have exactly the same.

''Why are you teachings if you ran into the building neglecting orders. Seems kind of hypocritical.'' The boy on the first row noticed and Matt looked at him, frowning.

Some of the other students around him started to laugh and Matt just rolled his eyes as he turned around to the whiteboard, wiping his name away. Not all of them were laughing, since they were scared. He could see it in their faces and he knew because he had been like that.

Oh he hated this job so much. The group of candidates in front of him was so different than when he had been a candidate. Instead of the highly motivated group he has expected.

''You are w-welcome to leave, if you want to go, go.'' Matt tried to keep his facial expression as neutral as possible and the boy just arched his eyebrows and started chatting with the boy next to him and Casey turned around, walking back to his desk and grabbing the paper with the things he had written down he should talk about.

''Does any of you have any motivation to be here?'' He finally said as he wanted to write the first word down but he lowered the marker again, looking at the group of teenagers.

''It there any of y-you that is here because they want to be here? Or all of you just here because you thought from all the schools you c-could choose from to take a look the fire academy would probably most exciting?''

No response was coming from the class and Casey started to write everything down from his paper.

''Mr. Casey?'' A girls voice sounded from the back of the room and Matt looked backward. It was the same girl who had asked how he got injured and he turned around.

''Yes.''

''What do you need to become a firefighter?''

He wasn't sure if she was really interested or was just trying to get orientation out of the awkward situation but he smiled.

''Bravery and some guts.''

A few people started to laugh, stopping again as the boy from the first row was looking backward at them and Casey realized he was the one that decided what was cool and what was not.

''You, out.'' Casey pointed at the door.

''What did I do?''

''Some people here m-maybe do want to listen and as long you keep deciding they can't listen to me, none of us is enjoying it in here. You can either b-behave in here or get out.''

''Dude, what is your problem except for your stutter!?'' The boy yelled, jumping up and Casey shrugged.

''Right now, a little brat that thinks he is better than anyone else and that little brat should walk out of here l-like a man.''

The boy didn't know what to say for a second and looked at Casey, while the rest of the class looked up at the boy with a gasp. Finally the boy and some of his friends grabbed their bag and walked out of the room.

''Don't f-forget to pull your trousers up or you might fall.'' Casey added as they were nearly out of the door and the threw his marker on the desk, mad about what the boy said about his stutter.

''Alpha as fuck.'' Suddenly sounded out of the class.

''I hate that guy that sits next to me. He keeps looking at me when I ask I question as if I should stop asking questions.''

''He is just an unmotivated brat.'' Matt said and Andy handed him one of this sandwiches, knowing Matt had no lunch with him.

''Your mom makes the best sandwiches.'' Matt smiled as he took a bite and they looked at another group of candidates running by while they had break.

''Yeah, she asks if you can take your mom can make your own sandwiches because she is afraid I won't have enough lunch.''

''Oh.''

Matt wanted to give him the sandwich back. ''Kidding, she asks how many sandwiches you want tomorrow.'' Andy laughed then.

''Oh, two please.'' Matt laughed as they continue eating. They had been here for two weeks now and their friendship had grown in those weeks and they had decided to stick along as friends.

''How about your mom?'' Andy looked up; ''No sandwiches?''

''No, I don't have mom.''

''Any other questions?'' Matt smiled as he looked at the teenagers but all of them shook their heads.

''Well, I hope to see some of you b-back here one day.''

They nodded again and left the room and he looked surprised as Gabriela walked in when they had all passed. She was holding a paper bag; ''Lunch.'' Matt smiled and they sat down at one of the tables.

''How was your morning?'' She asked as they started eating.

''I don't know. Awful and g-good.''

''You hate this job, don't you?'' Gabriela shoved one of the fried in her mouth.

''I don't really hate it but it is n-not what I want to do. I wanted to be firefighter not a t-teacher. I was born to be firefighter.''

Peevish he poked the fries in the mayonnaise and ate them.

''I know.'' She rubbed over his back with one hand. ''But there is nothing tha t can help it. You can always go back to contracting.''

''Or to 51.''

She tilted her head; ''Matt...you know...''

''I know what? That I can g-get a seizure? It hasn't happened in two months and the medication should prevent it. My l-limp is almost gone. Do you think my stutter will stop me from saving people?''

''I am not saying you shouldn't quit this job if you don't like. I am just saying contracting might be better than keep dreaming about 51 and you know you are not going to come back.''

''Gabby, please just let me try.''

She threw the empty bag away and took the empty box from his hands as and pecked him on the lips.

''I should clean the house.''

''Gabby! I am sorry but you k-know I am going to try!''

''I know. I just don't understand why.''

She walked out with a small smile.

Matt finished everything for today and around five he arrived home, where Gabriela had prepared dinner.

''It's clean here.''

They ate dinner in silence and Matt didn't dare to start about changing jobs. Maybe he should stay here as he was still working for the CFD, but he knew this wasn't going to make him happy. He could start contracting again, but he doubted if he could get enough jobs to make it his real job.

''I am going f-for a run.'' He stood up from the table and walked to their bedroom.

''You are what?'' She ran after him and looked as he squatted in front of the closet, opening it and looking through the shoes.

''What are you looking for?''

''My r-running shoes.''

''Babe are you sure?''

''Yeah.'' He said without looking up. He wanted to do it, to prove to himself he could do it. Before the accident he had been running almost five miles every day he was of shift and not contracting.

''I can come with you.'' She said worried as he grabbed his sweatpants and put the shoes on.

''I am going to be okay b-babe but I will be slowing you down if you come with me.''

She nodded. ''Okay, be careful and if your legs hurts come home, okay?''

''I promise.''

He kissed her on the cheek and grabbed his phone and headphones as he walked to the elevator and got some music going. When he was at the street he waved at Gabriela who was still looking from the window and he started running. His leg hurt and he was afraid he was going to fall after he was just down the block, but he kept going. He ran jogged through another street and was deciding how he was going to make his round when he suddenly had another idea.

He knew it was pretty far away but he had to make it and he was actually proud when he was halfway that he had made it this far already. The last time he had been running was on the treadmill at therapy.

Matt stopped running now and walked the last block before walking up the steps to the front door and he pressed the doorbell. His heart was beating in his chest very fast. But he had proven himself, he knew he could do it. He had to, he couldn't stop working at 51.

''Casey?'' Boden opened the door with a surprised frown on his face.

''Chief...please...I want to come back...I n-need to come back.'' Matt panted.

''Matt are you okay?'' Boden said worried as all colour was fading from the younger mans face.

''Please take m-me back...I n-need to come back.'' Matthew said so soft Boden had to bow forward. Matt suddenly collapsed and Boden could barely catch him before he hit the ground.

NOTE: Matt is not enjoying his new job, but is he going to far trying to get back to 51? How will Gabby react when she finds out Matt is not okay and how is Matt?

I hope you liked this chapter! Sorry for the late update. Thank you for reading and please leave a review before you go!