When the morning klaxons sounded the crew found their Captain already up. The aroma of coffee drifted through the station. Stanley stepped out of his office and asked to see John.

"Shut the door John." Stanley ordered. "Take a seat." He gestured to a seat in front of him. Johnny tentatively sat down. "I'm sorry about the confusion this morning at the fire...as your Captain I should have been the one telling you that you were released." He sighed "I'm sorry...you have a right to file a report against my leadership and I fully understand if you do...that's your right." Stanley looked at his youngest crew member expectantly, waiting patiently for a reply.

John let out a long breath . "I must admit I was a bit confused when you sent me to help out 36s. We usually stick together...sticking together avoids confusion...but when I came back to the squad and you were gone...I…aahh…thought you left me behind deliberately and I was disappointed." He looked sheepishly at his Captain not wanting to come out and accuse his superior of a wrong doing but that was how it looked to him, so the Cap needed to hear he truth.

"You say that like it's happened before. I spoke with your partner briefly last night and he mentioned your early days in the department were hard. He didn't go into detail but I kind of got the picture. I've made out a report and mentioned my mistakes...again, I am sorry." Stanley looked at the paperwork on his desk and slid it across to John.

"That's ok Cap I believe you and you don't have to mention about leaving me behind...everyone makes mistakes...it was your first big fire as a Captain...I'm ok with just the apology." He looked up at his Captain and for the first time since the shift started felt relaxed. It really had been a misunderstanding.

"That's very gracious of you John...I'd like to finish our talk we started last night. There are a couple of things in your file that needs clarification and well I'd just like to get to know you a bit better as I would the rest of the crew. It should make working together a little easier...Would you like to join me for breakfast? My wife makes a mean omelette and I have a nice deck out the back we could sit and talk."

"I..I..I'm not that good at talking about myself." John said nervously, unless it's to a pretty face, he thought to himself. "But...ok...I like food...so...ok." He nodded and rose wiping his hands on his trousers.

Stanley rubbed his hands together, "Good...we'll have some coffee...wait for C shift and you can follow me to my place." He slapped his hand on Gage's back who immediately flinched away. This didn't go by unnoticed by Stanley.

"Hey Gage how was clean-up?" Kelly yelled as Gage walked through the door. Kelly chuckled to himself thinking how funny is was that Gage had to do some hard work for a change.

Roy raised his head and looked at Kelly. He straightened in his chair and frowned. "How did you know Johnny did clean-up with 36s?"

Kelly looked up realising his mistake. "Cause you guys got in so late...I just assumed you must of helped with clean-up...for a change." He said trying to act innocent.

"There could have been any number of reasons we were late. We do help out at the hospital when needed."

"Forget it Roy" Gage placed his hand on his partner's tense shoulder. "Everything is cool….Cap explained….its ok. Just drop it. You need a refill?" John asked his partner trying to diffuse the tension building up in the kitchen.

John then looked at Marco. "I'll be over at your place around lunch, if that's ok...I have something I need to do this morning and then I'll pick up your order from the hardware store and come over."

"That's fine Johnny, whenever you're ready." Marco replied smiling. He thought to himself, 'He is so lucky to have a friends, like John, who are willing to help.' Roy asked if he needed help but Marco said no, it was a two man job.

Kelly laughed out loud. "What?" Marco asked.

"Oh I was just thinking. Trust Gage to turn up at lunch...free meal."

"I wouldn't call it free. John has helped me a lot with this house. He's saved me a lot of money. Lunch will be worth it." Marco got up to rinse his cup, a little annoyed with his friend. Since John had been helping Marco with his house Kelly had constantly been on Gages case. He wondered if Kelly disliked the paramedic for some reason, but couldn't work out why. It was very unlike Kelly to be so openly ill-mannered with a fellow crew member. His barbs had become quite offensive.

The fact was Chet was very jealous of John because of the increasing time he spent with his best friend. He loved stirring Gage simply because he could, but it was also because of jealousy. There really was nothing to be jealous of. John helped Marco because he enjoyed renovating and hoped to buy a house that needed fixing up one day.

Captain Stanley listened to the banter from the bay area. He, like Marco, wondered if Kelly disliked Gage. That was something he was going to bring up with his youngest crew member during breakfast. He also took note of Roy's comments to Kelly. The lineman would be the next crew member he'd like to talk to. He looked up and saw the first of the crew members of C shift arriving. After a quick word to C shift's Captain he called out to John asking if he was ready.

John jogged into the bay area acknowledging his Captain. "Lead the way Cap...I'm starving..." Stanley smiled and thought, twit. They jumped into their cars and drove out with John following his Captain. This did not go unnoticed by Kelly.

"Gage better not go whingeing to the new Captain." Kelly said out loud to no one.

"You're lucky he doesn't report you for harassment. I would have by now if I were him. What is your problem anyway?" The normally quiet engineer asked.

"Nothin...I just like stirring him...that's all...butt out Stoker." Kelly scowled.

Mike walked away shaking his head. Chet was a great lineman but he just didn't understand how he could be so mean sometimes with his antics. He liked John. The young paramedic was a hard worker, and was one of the few people who always made a point of thanking him for helping out at MVAs or for keeping the water flowing at big fires. Kelly, on the other hand, was starting to get on his nerves.

Johnny had told his partner about the Captains invite. Roy told him to relax and enjoy the talk. "He just wants to get to know us. That's all. I guess he needs to understand us a bit...you should let him know that Kelly is going a bit too far with his stirring." Roy advised his partner. "He can't do anything if he doesn't know it bugs you."

"I don't want to get Kelly in trouble...the atmosphere at the station will be awful if I blab."

"It's awful now. Kelly's stirring is getting on everyone's nerves. He needs to tone it down Johnny. This is your chance to let the Captain know how you really feel."

"What if he doesn't mind the stirring and he thinks I'm a wimp or something?" Gage replied worriedly.

"Well, we'll cross that bridge if that happens, but I have a feeling Stanley won't think it's ok to constantly harass you if it's making you feel uncomfortable at work."

"Ok, thanks Pally." John smiled.

"Enjoy breakfast Junior." Roy left.