Lula entered the office, took a big breath and said, "Connie, I'm leaving the end of the month."

Connie just started at her, "You are leaving?"

"Yes, I'd like to take a few days off around Christmas to spend with Reginald and his family, but will return for a few days if you need me."

Connie was crushed. She and Lula loved their banter with each other, gossiping about Burg news and Stephanie's man adventures. "I'll stop by and catch up on the news, I just won't be here every day eating doughnuts and reading magazines."

Vinnie came in the back door mumbling to himself about the cold and ice. "What's everyone standing around for? People need capturing."

"Vinnie," Lula said in a civil manner.

Vinnie spun around surprised not receiving some parting insult.

"Vinnie, I want to thank you for giving me a chance to work...and hang out in your office. I'm going back to school next month." Lula stuck out her hand and shook Vinnie's hand.

He stood there still in his surprised state, "Back to school?"

"Yes, I'm going to study occupational therapy at Bellview. Classes begin just after New Years."

"You won't be helping Stephanie?"

"No and don't you dare hire Joyce Barnhardt as my replacement. She and Stephanie would kill each other before the first day was over."

Stephanie walked in licking the vanilla cream from her doughnut off her blouse, "I've got to get some money. It's Giff Bickerson and the drug guy, Harley Davis. Want to scout locations with me?"

Giff Bickerson was a child pornographer. Both Steph and Lula wanted to get him, his crime made them feel icky. They cruised by his house and parked down the street off and on for two days, but nothing was happening. At night lights came on and went off at exactly the same time as if on timers. "Maybe he's living in the basement with his computer? Lula offered.

"No, I've been reading his electric meter, it's hardly moving. He's not home. They were about to pull away when a car pulled into the driveway. It was Bickerson's Malibu. He got out of the car and walked around to the trunk. Before he could take his luggage to the front door, Stephanie had him tackled and handcuffed. "You missed your court day, Mr. Bickerson. Where have you been?'

Bickerson was in is 40's, round bellied, short legged and resembled Mr. Magoo. "I've been away on vacation."

"A vacation sounds nice, was it someplace warm?"

"Oh yes, Florida, DisneyWorld."

Neither Stephanie or Lula thought he was down there to play golf.

Once Mr. Bickerson was checked in with Robin at the TPC desk, the two women returned to the office so Stephanie could get her receipt.

Lula moved to the couch and put her foot up. Her cell phone vibrated causing her purse to hum.

"Tallulah, I've got meetings well into the night. I wont be able to share dinner with you."

"It's OK Reginald. I need to do some house work."

Lula had been going through her closets, trying on clothes noting some items were getting too big. Was she losing weight? Also many items were old, worn and needed to be discarded. She was looking at her FMPs with a new eye after breaking her ankle. By 11 pm she was tired and rolled into bed.

She had been asleep for only a few hours when an explosion came from the house next door. Flames burst through the walls and caught the wood siding on Lula's apartment house on fire. The fire spread quickly in the old wood frame two story house and soon the smoke alarm in Lula's apartment began wailing. She jumped up and fell forgetting about her ankle. Her head bounced on the floor and she was momentarily stunned. The alarm was loud and the light from the alarm was diffused through the smoke quickly filling the room, Lula was confused and frightened. She couldn't breathe. Flames burned through the wall and caught the drapes on fire. FLAMES! Now she understood. Her apartment was on fire.

Tank's cell phone beside his bed was ringing, " What," he asks groggily. "Sir, multiple building fires, Lula's house is involved. Hal and Chet are 4 blocks out."

"10-4, on my way" Tank responded as he angled out of bed.

Staying low she crawled to the door, felt the handle for heat. Finding nothing excessive, she opened it and began crawling down the steps towards the ground floor. Her lungs burned with the smoke. A light shone below her and soon she felt two hands grab her under her shoulders and drag her down the rest of the stairs and out the door.

She began coughing and retching not caring she was only wearing a satin nightgown. People were everywhere, shouting to one another, lights were flashing. Somebody put a blanket around her and placed an oxygen mask on her face. "Breathe," came the instructions from the EMT. Several men in yellow lifted her gently and placed her on a gurney and placed her in an ambulance. The EMT put a pulse oximetry on her finger to measure oxygen levels. On her other arm he was taking her blood pressure.

Lula's eyes are watering from the smoke but she is able to make out the face of the EMT and the big white dinosaur called the Halosaurus, Rangeman Hal. "Lula you are going to be OK," he said though he really didn't know if that was true. It was all he could think to say. She shook from cold and adrenaline withdrawal.

Another ambulance pulled up next to hers and a gurney was taken out. She didn't pay much attention, instead she listened to the shouts between the firemen as they fought to keep the fire spreading beyond the two buildings. Hal had replaced the EMT and sat beside her holding her hand and talking quietly to her.

The second gurney returned with someone strapped to it. Lights from the ambulance was just bright enough for her to make out a burned Harley Davis being loaded up. She shook her head.

"What?" Hal asked.

She removed the oxygen masked and croaked, "We've been looking for him for two days and he's right next door." And she began coughing again. She felt Hal stiffen and she opened her eyes. Tank was standing at the open door. "Lula." Hal got up and exchanged places with Tank.

Tank looked back towards what was once the lavender painted house, "There won't be anything left."

Lula shook her head up and down and croaked, "Good."

She then thought of her car, it was all she would have left, "My Baby..."

Tank smiled, "I'll have Hal take it back to Rangeman." She didn't ask how he would drive it without keys. As strong as Hal was, he might carry it.

The EMT said it was time to take her to St. Francis. Tank left the ambulance saying, "I'll be right behind you."

As the gurney was wheeled into the hospital, Bobby and Reginald were waiting.

Tank came up beside her, "I called them. You need them both."

Lula croaked, "You know?"

Kissing her on her smoke stained forehead, "I've known for awhile. He's a good man, Lula. I hope you are happy."

Bobby moved in beside her. "You've got smoke inhalation. I'll be with you in treatment."

Lula took Reginald's hand and gave it a squeeze. He had tears in his eyes, "Tallulah, I love you." She squeezed his hand again and nodded. She couldn't talk.

For 14 hours Lula remained in the emergency department getting chest X-rays, numerous blood tests to check for gases, continuous oxygen therapy and a bronchoscopy where a small tube and camera are inserted to check for damage or debris in the lungs from vomiting. Stephanie had come to the hospital and offered to sit with Lula while Reggie returned to his apartment. Lula would need clothes and he had items he hadn't yet given her.

When it was time to leave, Bobby came in and gave her the good news. She was dressed and wearing a new orthopedic boot, Reggie was right beside her. She gave Bobby a big hug, "Thank you doctor."

"That's medic, ma'am." He said with a smile.

Lula winked. "I heard the nurse call you Dr. Brown. Why don't you want to be called doctor?"

" I'm not much into labels and titles. I just want to treat people, relieve the suffering."

Lula thought for a moment, "Once I get my associates degree, maybe I can study under you in your rehab work."

"Lula, I'd be honored." He hugged her and kissed her cheek.

As the nurse wheeled her out to the black Audi parked by the curb, Tank helped her out of the wheelchair. She kissed him, "Thank you Big Man. I'm sorry it didn't work out for us."

Reggie came around, shook Tank's hand, "Thank you for all you've done for Tallulah."

"She's special to all of us. Take good care of her."

As Reggie got back and started to drive away, Lula turned to him, "Thank you for being with me."

"Tallulah, I love you. Of course I would be with you."

"Reginald Graham, I love you too," she said smiling broadly.

The late afternoon sun angled into the car and Reggie went to adjust the visor over her face. "No leave it, I'm moving into the light."

"Yes you are my dear, yes you truly are."

The end.