A/N I DO NOT OWN ANYTHING! PARTS OF THIS STORY ARE TAKEN FROM SEASON 4 EPISODE 4 "FLAMES" I DO NOT OWN IT!

Luckily, Wildfire wasn't hurt at all during his jump. But Jean and Pablo were both very unhappy that it happen. All Matt could think about was letting Wildfire race again, maybe once that happen, his mom would cancel the Dude Ranch and they'd be able to become a racing stable again. Of course his mom would never go for; she's in love with her Dude Ranch. There was only one other person he could go to….Kris.

That night, Kris and Matt were both at the hotel cuddled on the couch watching whatever was on the TV.

"Hey, Kris, can I talk to you about something?"

"Sure, anything."

"How would you feel about racing Wildfire with me? We'd have to keep it on the down low for a little while."

Kris sighed. "Matt, Jean is just barely speaking to me and Pablo still wishes I would leave. If they find out I've been doing this behind their backs with their horse, I'll never earn their trust. I'll never be able to go back to RainTree. I'm sorry Matt, I just can't help you."

"They'll come around."

"Wildfire could really hurt himself, Matt, I'm not sure Wildfire is ready either. I'm sorry, I really am, but I just can't help you."

Matt sighed. "No, I'm sorry; I know how important it is for you to earn my mom and Pablo's forgiveness. I just…honestly, Kris, I can't take anymore of this dude ranching stuff. It's killing me. I hate it so much and I need to race again, it's in my blood and I need to get it back to RainTree."

Suddenly Kris shot up. "I've got a better idea, someone who, dare I say it, might be better than Wildfire."

"But who…"

"Flame!"

Matt smiled. "You think?"

"It's worth a try."

"How do we even know where he is?"

"Junior should know. If not, I'm sure we can research it."

Matt nodded. "I'm in, let's call Junior."

Kris nodded and grabbed her phone. She spoke to Junior for a few minutes before hanging up. She looked to Matt and smiled. "I've got it, the address its right here. We can go first thing in the morning."

"Great, let's get some sleep."

He turned off the TV and Kris turned off the lights. They cuddled back into each other's arms and fell asleep.

That night morning, just like they planned they were up and out early, on the road headed to the ranch to get Flame.

"Sparrow's Nest Ranch, how come I've never heard of them?" Matt asked.

"Um….I think they're a new operation. They brought Flame three months ago from the farmer Gillian sold him too. But do you know what the first owner said when Junior and I called?"

"What?"

"That Flame was too temperamental and didn't want to be trained." She giggled.

"Ah, like father, like son." Matt laughed.

All joking aside, Matt asked "Can I ask you a question?"

"Sure."

"Why are you doing this? I mean, my mom doesn't want racing back, Wildfire or Flame, it's not going to help get on her good side…so why are you helping me. You could have given me the address and I could have gone on my own, you would have had no part in this. You're trying to help me turn my life around, why?"

"You started to get all these crazy ideas of racing Wildfire….I had to give you the SMACK down." She said playfully smacking his ribs.

"Ah ha-ha." He groaned and laughed at the same time. "All right, you gave me the smack down, but there is something else, I can tell."

"Do I have to spell it out for you?"

"YES!"

Kris chuckled before she turned serious. "That look on your face, I know it…I've had it….when you feel like everything inside you is dying."

"All right, all right, you don't have to spell it out for me."

"It's a lousy way to feel, I want to help."

"It's so complicated."

Kris nodded. "Once we bring racing back to RainTree it won't be so bad. You just need that one thing that can make you happy and that look is gone instantly."

"What was that one thing for you? The one thing that made you happy again?"

"Wildfire, I told you, he was the first person to ever show me any affection. That's why I'm fighting so hard to keep him alive. If he ever dies, Matt, I honestly, don't believe I'll be able to handle it."

Just saying Wildfire and dies in the same sentence had her choking back tears.

"If he dies….a part of me is literally going to die with him. Just the thought of losing him and I…."

She stopped and laughed at herself as tears filled her eyes and slipped down her cheeks. "…just the thought alone and this happens."

Matt smiled softly. "I'm sorry; I didn't mean to make you cry. Wildfire is healthy, healthy enough to race again. He's going to be fine. Like I said, it takes a lot to put out a Wildfire. Wildfire's don't go down without a fight."

Kris smiled and nodded. "I know thanks."

They smiled at each and looked back to the road. Once they got Flame back, everything was going to be ok…wasn't it?

As they pulled in both of their hearts sunk. As they got out of the car their hearts dropped below their stomachs. The place looked as if it had been abandon. The horses were wondering around lose, they were covered in dirt and mud, and way too skinny.

"A-Are you sure this the right place?" Kris asked.

"It's what the sign says…look at this place. Look at this barbwire horses can get cut up in this."

"Matt, we've got to find Flame."

They went inside the barn and gasped. It was even worse inside. There was manure all over the place; the food was old and moldy.

"This place is a nightmare…." Kris said. "Hey, look there he is."

Kris went over to Flame.

"Are you sure it's him?" Matt asked as he followed behind her.

"Yeah, he's all grown up now; gosh he needs a bath, not to mention a few meals."

"His confirmation is perfect. I always knew there was more to him than heart."

Kris smiled.

"There is no work for you here." A voice said.

They both turned around to see a man in his mid 40s.

"I let the hands go last week."

"Oh no, we're not ranch hands, we're just looking to buy a horse."

"Are you the owner?" Matt asked.

"Not by choice…" the man answered. "This place was dumped on me by my ex-wife in a divorce settlement. Are you two married?"

"No…" Kris answered.

"Wise choice, so you want to by the horses?"

"No, just one."

"Only one horse, sorry no can do my friend."

"I'm willing to make you an offer." Matt said.

"Let me explain divorce to you, see I get this money pit, and my wife gets the house in New Port, OH and I pay the mortgage, and alimony and child support. So the only offer I want to hear is if you're going to buy all the horses."

"I can't afford that."

"Well then you're wasting your time."

He turned away but Matt and Kris weren't giving up.

"Wait, that's it?"

"These horses are in horrible condition!" Kris said. "You're not going to get the offer you want."

"If you can't meet my terms, just go away."

"These are abusive conditions; you're not going to get away with it." Kris said.

Matt gently took her arms. "Come on, let's go." He told her and gently pulled her from the barn.

"We can't just leave. What about Flame?"

"There is something off about him, we will get Flame, we just have to find a different way."

They both got in the car and drove away. As they drive Matt noticed Kris was being too quiet and kept her gaze out her window, not once looking at him.

"Kris, are you all right?" he asked.

When she only nodded he knew something was wrong.

"Kris, I know that was rough but we're going to get Flame, and find a way to rescue those other horses as well, I promise."

Kris shook her head. "I know, but…"

"But what? Come on, please don't shut me out."

"You don't know what it's like, living in a place like that. You don't know when the next time you'll get to eat or even the next time you'll get a hot shower. It's scary and it's…it's upsetting. Especially for them, because they don't understand what's going on? When I was a kid I knew my mom was sick so we couldn't live anywhere else, but they don't know any better. They're scared, all of them, they're scared."

"Kris, look at me."

Kris looked to him with tears in her eyes.

"We're going to get them out of there, all of them, we're going to feed them and washing them, we're going to make sure they all feel safe and loved. Just like we did for you."

Kris nodded and smiled through her tears. She believed him.

Of course, by the time they got back home it was late. So they went back to the hotel. They would make plans first thing in the morning. As they were lying in bed Kris spoke.

"Matt, not that I'm complaining but you've been spending a lot of nights here. Isn't your mom angry with you?"

Matt chuckled. "She's always angry at me these days, we're always fighting, and no…it's not about you. Honestly, Kris, I'm at the end of my rope with RainTree. Mom loves the Dude Ranch and I hate it. I want to race again and if I can't get it here, I'm thinking of going somewhere I can get it."

"You really want to leave?"

"I don't want to, but I don't know what else to do. It's why I'm trying so hard to get Flame, if I can get even a little bit of racing back, I'll be happy. If that doesn't happen….I don't know, Kris, I honestly don't know."

Kris just sighed. She couldn't leave Wildfire, not again, and she didn't own him so she'd have to stay here. If Matt really did leave…it could break them apart and that scared Kris more than Matt knew.

The next morning Kris and Matt were up and out early and the first ones to arrive at the clinic they quickly told Noah and Dani about what had happen when they went to get Flame. Noah suggested to call a friend of his at ASPCA who might be able to help them. Now all they have to do is wait, which neither Kris nor Matt were very good at.

Dani had Kris help her do some work in the back to keep her distracted. She tried to get Matt to go home…that didn't work.

A few hours later Kris came out and smiled softly. "Matt, go home."

"Why? Dani doesn't like crazy people pacing around her office?"

Kris chuckled. "Isn't there something you can do at RainTree that will distract you?"

"No, it will only make me feel worse. I just, I feel so useless, sitting on my hands doing nothing."

"Ok, come here."

She took his head and led him over to one of the chairs. She pushed him down and sat on his lap. You need a serious distraction, Matt Ritter."

"Yeah? What are you going to do about it?"

She leaned in inches away from his face. "I could tell you, but I'd rather show you."

With that she pressed her lips to his. He moaned and instantly kissed her back. Their mouths opened and they were making out passionately. Someone cleared their throat causing them to pull away.

"Sorry, Dani." Matt laughed.

"You can continue just go get a room." She teased.

Kris giggled. "No, sorry, I was just trying to distract, Matt."

"And yourself." Dani said.

Kris sighed and nodded. "Yeah, and myself."

As it turns out, the ASPCA couldn't do anything to help them. But Noah came up with a plan and told the owner that the horses have a serious illness, and Junior even stepped up and had some cold hard cash to show.

They all quickly got in the car and headed over to the ranch.

"All right guys, the key to this whole process is everyone staying cool, especially you, Dude." Junior said poking Matt in the shoulder. "I know how you get when things don't go smoothly."

Kris smiled.

"How do I get?" Matt asked.

"Bad..."

"I do not, what are you talking about?"

"Might I remind you of a time when we were 8 years old. I was sleeping over and you mom had made some peanut butter cup mixed with chocolate chip cookies. We were going to sneak downstairs and get more. But your mom caught us."

"What happen?" Kris asked.

"Matt started to freak out, he dropped his cookies and started to twitch and shake, I had told him if we caught to play it cool, so he tries and ends up stuttering."

Kris and Dani burst into laughter.

"Thanks for telling them that." Matt groaned. "Plus I've gotten better since then."

But everyone was too busy laughing to hear.

"It's not that funny."

Kris just gripped her sides and wiped a tear from her eyes. "You're right, it's not funny, and it's hysterical!"

"You want to know what else I find hysterical?"

Kris giggled more. "What?"

"This…" his hand shot out and tickled her sides. She squealed and started to giggle harder. "Matt! Stop it!" she choked out in giggles, trying to push him away.

Junior laughed from the back seat and reached up to tickle her neck.

"Ah! No!" she squealed in giggles. "Ok, ok you win!"

Matt chuckled and stopped. Junior did too.

"No, but all joking aside, Matt has gotten better." Kris said. "Remember that party you threw at RainTree? Jean still has no idea it happen. Matt stayed clamed, especially when she went for the broken cookie jar."

"Thank you." Matt smiled.

Then Kris started to laugh, and laugh hard, harder then she was laughing at Matt before.

"What?" Matt asked.

"Remember….Junior….bookcase." she choked out.

Matt started to laugh with her just as hard.

"It wasn't that funny." Junior muttered.

Matt and Kris just laughed at the memory.

When their laughter calmed down Kris smiled. "Listen!"

She turned up the rock music on the radio as they all danced to the beat.

"Just like old time." Junior smiled.

"No, this is way better. I used to hate you!" Dani said to Kris.

Kris laughed. "I used to hate you. I can't believe I punched you in the face once."

"I can't believe you only punched her in the face once." Junior teased.

Everyone just laughed together…just like old times.

When they finally arrived at the barn they all gasped. It was up in flames.

Junior, Kris, and Matt, all went inside to try and get out as many horses as possible. Dani waited outside to lead the horses to safety. It was mad dash and everything was happening so fast, Kris knew she would safe Flame no matter what it cost. She helped Junior and Matt with most of the horses.

She had just brought out horse 11 and still no Flame.

"Where is Flame?" She asked Junior who was on the ground coughing up smoke.

"I couldn't find him." He answered.

Kris eyes went wide as she rushed back inside.

"The Barn is going to collapse any second…." Matt said looking around to make sure all the hoses and all his friends were there. Two were missing. Flame and Kris. "Oh no…" Matt muttered.

"KRIS!"

He rushed back inside. "KRIS!" he yelled again.

He could hear her in the distance yelling for Flame but there was too much smoke to see where she was. "KRIS, ANSWER ME! KRIS!" he screamed.

"MATT!" a faint yet loud voice yelled.

He ran, jumping over fallen, flaming wood. He finally found Kris in front of Flame's stall. She was on the floor having a coughing fit.

He lifted her up and pushed her face into his shoulder. "Keep your head down." He ordered.

"We've got to get Flame!" she tried to scream.

Matt ignored her and rushed her back outside.

Junior was waiting outside. Matt handed her to him quickly, "Take her keep her away from the barn."

"What about you?" Junior asked.

Matt turned around and covered his face with his arm and went back inside.

"NO, MATT!" Junior yelled.

He rushed Kris over to the horses. She was coughing up smoke and yet still trying to get out of Junior's arms to get to Flame and Matt.

"Flame! Flame!" she choked out. "MATT! MATT! NO MATT!"

Suddenly the side of the barn was broke down and Matt riding Flame had both gotten free.

He led him over to the other horses and climbed down; coughing as he choked out "Got him."

Everyone was out safe and sound. Junior set Kris down on her feet but she wasn't up for long. Matt grabbed her around the waist before she hit the ground. "Whoa, Kris, you all right?"

She nodded and coughed out more smoke. "I feel so weak…." She choked out bringing her arm up to cover her mouth as she coughed up more smoke.

"Just hang in there, Dani called 911 they will be here soon."

"Matt…" she couldn't even finish her train of thought because she couldn't stop coughing.

"Shh, don't try to talk. Its ok you're safe. Flame is safe too. I promise."

Kris nodded coughing into her arm.

Finally the police showed up, Kris, Matt, and Junior were all examined due to the smoke inhalation. Matt and junior weren't too bad. Kris's was bit worse. They strapped an oxygen mask over her face and laid her down on one of the travel beds. Matt stayed by her side and stroked her hair as she laid there breathing in deeply. Junior and Dani both told the police what happen. Then Matt had to go, even Kris managed to make it through her statement.

Once everything was settled the horses were taken to the ASPCA as Matt took everyone back to the Clinic to wait on news. Matt sat Kris down on one of the chair. She was still weak but had finally stopped coughing enough to catch her breath. Luckily there wasn't too much damage done to her lungs.

"Keep an eye on her, Junior. I'm going to talk with the ASPCA and see about adopting Flame."

"I've got her." Junior nodded.

Matt kissed her head and stroked her hair from her face to behind her ear. She smiled softly and he rushed off.

"It was arsine." Junior said.

"You think?" Dani asked as she sat across from them.

"Well, think about, Noah has this guy thinking that his horses are too sick for a big a sale, so what's the next best thing? He gets to collect insurance money."

"By murdering a dozen horses, the ASPCA has to let Matt adopt them now…right?" Kris choked out. Her voice was still very dry and raspy.

Junior and Dani just shrugged. Kris sighed. She wanted Matt to get Flame, not only because he'd be happy but because if he didn't he'd leave and they'd have to break up. Yeah, it was selfish but she was allowed to be selfish once in a while.

Noah walked in which caused Dani to vent her anger out on him by slapping him. They both rushed into the back room, something about….hand massages.

"How are you feeling?" Junior asked.

"My throat feels like sand paper and I can hardly speak, I'm so weak and tired. I just want to go home and get some sleep."

"Matt shouldn't be much longer."

Kris nodded. "I hope Matt gets to keep Flame."

"Yeah, me too."

After a few minutes Matt came out. Junior jumped up. "Well? What did the ASPCA say, can you keep him?"

Matt smirked. "Better, I can keep all twelve."

"The Dirty Dozen." Junior smirked.

Matt smiled even bigger. "I like that. The Dirty Dozen."

Junior and Matt shook hands and then shared a hug. Kris smiled, so happy to see them being friends again. Matt looked at Kris and smiled. "I promise I'm almost done. I've just got to load them all up and then we can head home."

"You mean, RainTree?"

"No, I mean, home."

"Matt…"

"Shhh, don't strain your voice. We will drop the horses off at RainTree then go back to the hotel and you can get some sleep."

Kris nodded fighting to keep her eyes open. Matt chuckled and went over to kiss her head. Then he quickly ran out to help them load up the horses.

It felt like forever but Kris and Matt finally made it back to their hotel. Kris went right over to the bed and lay down. Matt smiled softly. "How are you feeling?"

"Not too great. My throat really hurts and I feel soo weak and tried."

Matt smiled softly and grabbed a bottle of water from their mini fridge. He took it over to her and handed it to her. "Here, drink this."

Kris did as he said but flinched and choked on it, spitting some out. "Sorry, it's just too much on my throat."

"It's all right. Just try and get some rest. Plus we've got busy days coming up, full of taking care of some horses."

"We?"

"Of course, did you really think I can handle 12 horses all on my own?"

Kris smiled and nodded. "Of course, I'll help."

"Good girl."

They kissed gently on the lips and cuddled together falling into a deep sleep.

A/N next chapter Kris and Matt start to train The Dirty Dozen, how will it go? Will Matt have to leave RainTree to be happy? Leave me your thoughts in a review.

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