An Hour Later
Eventually, the fire was put out and nobody else was harmed.
Members of Fifty-Five had almost all the equipment packed up. Arnold would then speak to his former in-laws.
"Hey, Arnold." Brooke and Buckley came up to their former son-in-law. "Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd. Anything I can help with?"
"Well actually, we wanted to let you know we'd like to come over to your place and try to reconnect. We've missed you dearly, and we can barely go another day without seeing you!"
"Life's too short to live with anger or a grudge… I'd love to see you guys once more." Arnold smiled as he shut a supply door. Brooke couldn't contain her excitement and hugged Arnold. He smiled and hugged her back. "I love you, and I missed you, Arnold!" Brooke kissed Arnold's cheek three times, and kissed his cheek one more time, leaving a slight lipstick mark.
"I'll see you guys soon." Arnold smiled. Brooke and Buckley smiled at their former son-in-law.
"Someone got a little too playful." Vic smirked at Arnold. "What? What are you talkin' about?"
"You should look in a mirror."
"Why?"
"I think it's for the better, Cap, or else, Spinelli may think you're cheating on her." Dixon came up and chuckled.
"Even the Probie notices!" Vic laughed as they headed toward the front of the truck. "What are you two on about?"
"Just look in a mirror before we go see Spinelli!" Vic kept laughing. Arnold rolled his eyes.
They were all soon in the trucks, and they soon took off to MedStar Memorial.
Later At MedStar Memorial
All of Fifty-Five was at the hospital, including Stella.
Arnold was beside Spinelli, who was feeling better.
"Doc says I'll be making a full recovery, she suggested that I take a couple days off." Spinelli told everyone. "That means you too, Arnold."
"She's right. Despite saving a few lives today, you were pretty reckless." Stella replied. "Eh, that doesn't matter. As long as Spinelli is alright, I'm alright too." Arnold smiled at her. She could only smile.
"As I said before, isn't romance sweet?" Travis smiled. "Agreed."
Everyone agreed.
"Now a kiss towards your bride." Stella smirked. "Mom, c'mon!" Arnold blushed. "We're not even married!"
"Yet." She kept smirking. "That's the keyword! Yet!" Dixon mentioned.
"Well, they want a show? We'll give 'em one! Sweetie?" Spinelli looked at Arnold. He only smirked at her.
Spinelli had a hand on his cheek and another behind his ear, Arnold had both his hands on her cheeks. The two started kissing in front of their friends and family.
They all cheered and clapped for the two love birds.
"Guess Arnold really is a lady's man."
"Woooo!"
"Awesome!"
"Lieutenants in love." Stella smirked at them. Arnold and Spinelli blushed, but they didn't mind.
"Well, this is definitely better than the time Vic thought you could cook rice by eating it raw and drinking boiling water." Warren chuckled. "I told you that I was six at the time!"
"That would have resulted in probably internal burns and bleeding, or as kids would joke 'explosive diarrhea'." Gerald laughed.
"Nah, let 'er cook. She knows what she's doing." Tommy joked. "Oh, right. You probably have the mind of a two-year-old!" Gerald replied while laughing.
"Alright you two, take it easy before Vic jumps you in the parking lot." Arnold chuckled as he squeezed Spinelli's hand.
"So Spinelli, when are you coming home?" Arnold looked over. "Should be around this afternoon. I'm extremely grateful for all of you guys, I really am. And I'm especially grateful for my man!" Spinelli squeezed Arnold's hand.
"I think we'll leave you two alone, you guys look freakin' adorable together!" Vic started.
Everyone started leaving after giving well wishes to her.
"You doin' ok, Spinelli?" Arnold looked over at her. "Yeah, I'm just… just a little tired."
Arnold then smiled as he held her chin. "Tell ya what, how about we go on another date tomorrow night? We have a couple days off so that also means… we can also have a little fun." Arnold tickled her chin.
"You tease!" Spinelli giggled. "But on a more serious note, I'd love to go on another date with you, Arnold. And I know exactly what dress to wear!"
"Forgetting something?"
"Earrings… I rarely wear any at all since it makes me feel uncomfortable as fuck."
"I think I can do something about it."
"I think you'll love what I have in mind." Spinelli smirked. "I already love what's in front of me. You, sweetheart." Arnold smirked back as they held hands.
"Ow! Don't move my arm too much! I got a damn needle in my arm, and I hate being the one with the needle in my arm!" Spinelli retracted her arm after Arnold tried kissing her hand. "Guess you know how it feels, huh?"
"Jackass…" She chuckled.
"You know, I'm grateful we have a couple days off, it finally gives us time to just snuggle up in front of the TV, binge-watch what we want, nothing inappropriate obviously since we have a child to raise." Arnold started. "When you put it that way, we haven't had time for any of that, and I can't wait! After all, I'm more than anxious to finally cuddle up with the love of my life." Spinelli gave a kissy face for the first time in her life.
"That's the first time I see you give me a kissy face." Arnold chuckled. "Call it my affection for you." Spinelli smiled and squeezed his hand.
"I love you so much, Spinelli." Arnold smiled. "I love you more, Arnold." Spinelli smiled back. "Are you gonna be staying here until I get discharged?" She then asked.
"Yup. I'm not leaving you here alone."
"Arnold, please, I'm a grown woman and I take care of myself."
"I'm still staying." Arnold lightly smirked. "I love you for it." She smiled.
"I'll just text Pheebs we'll be back in the afternoon."
"Hey. Does she even work anymore? How am I just now noticing?" Spinelli asked. "She does, she's been having the month off."
"Is that possible?"
"Hey, don't ask me, ask her." Arnold replied as he pulled out his phone.
Later
"She'll be there when we get home."
"Hey, Arnold? About the dog I asked you about…"
"I'm fully in on that idea, but I'm not sure whether Phoebe'll like that idea. Although, maybe my former in-laws can do me that favor…" Arnold had a hand on his chin.
"So that idea is still alive?"
"I believe so, my dear." Arnold smiled. Spinelli wanted to sit up and kiss Arnold but she still felt a little weakened. "Just know, once I get out of here, I'm giving you the biggest kiss yet!"
Arnold smiled. "I love you so much."
"I love you more." Arnold and Spinelli held hands.
At Home
Arnold and Spinelli were back home and now had the next couple days off. They were snuggled up on the couch while Phoebe was in the backyard, getting some fresh air and taking in the environment.
"Boy, who would've thought the L.A. F.D. is that intense to work at? How does this shit even happen?"
"It doesn't look as bad as that chemical fire we once faced which ended up nearly killing three of us." Arnold replied. "And that third one was nearly you, back when Rhonda was still alive." Spinelli looked over. "Oh… Right… Sorry."
"Eh, don't be, I have to learn to move on."
"Speaking of that chemical fire, think we'll ever see something as bad as that again?"
"Ugh, I hope not. Shit not only nearly got me killed but had two of our own killed. And it's not to mention how bad it also looked on the outside."
"Yeah, I remember. But you have to admit, that was a pretty awesome experience, no? Aside from the two deaths."
"Alright fine, you got me." Arnold smiled. "I knew I'd get you to agree." Spinelli smirked. "And about the fun you mentioned earlier…" Spinelli slid her hand slowly down Arnold.
"Spinelli, not now! You do know we aren't alone, right? What if Phoebe walks in on us?" Arnold blushed. "I guess you're right on that part. And also, I'm already itching to get back on the job! It's so boring not having anything to do!"
"Captain McShay was right, even with his cancer, he didn't like sitting around, twiddling his thumbs, and having nothing to do. No wonder he did anything he could to have something to do." Arnold replied. "Working for a private ambulance company." Spinelli chuckled.
"I still prefer our actual job instead of a private ambulance company. And those guys are now hoggin' up all the fun!"
"It's not too bad though, we still have a date tomorrow night." Spinelli smirked. "You're right… Ashley." Arnold smirked.
"Hey! I told you you can call me that on several occasions!"
"I'm your boyfriend so I guess I get a pass?" Arnold leaned over and smirked at Spinelli. She blushed. "What are you tryin' to do? Seduce me?" She chuckled as she pushed his face away.
"Maybe I am." Arnold smirked. "You better not tickle me!"
Phoebe soon walked in.
"Hey uh, Phoebe? You got a minute?" Arnold looked over. "What's up?" She went and sat down.
"Listen uh… Spinelli and I plan to get a house pet soon, and we thought we should let you know about it. Before you say anything, you won't need to do TOO much, I'll have someone else taking care of it." Arnold started. Spinelli looked at Arnold in surprise. "Are you for real, Arnold?!"
"I'm absolutely positive." Arnold smiled. Spinelli hugged Arnold tightly. "Thanks so much, Arnold!"
As they kept discussing what changes would possibly occur, Stella had her hands full after a suspected arson.
"Four kids and a father, all dead… The hell happened here?" Travis asked as they were all inspecting the burned house.
"Listen up! Fire investigators will be here soon, I want to know whether this building is stable or whatnot, and I'll be needing a cause of the fire or the press will be on our asses." Stella mentioned.
"And I seriously thought we could've done something a lot better than seeing four dead kids." Vic said as they checked the floor stability.
Shortly after, sirens were heard approaching from a Ford pickup truck. The fire investigators. Stella soon came outside and met with the investigators.
"Chief Shortman, an honor seeing you." Paul shook hands with her. "Pleasure seeing you again, Joe."
"What the hell happened here?"
"Four dead kids, that's what the hell happened! And this isn't the first kind of attack we've seen before, just last week we had this same unsolved case."
"I'll determine what happened here, and something may be telling me this isn't a coincidence. I'll see whether this is connected to that case in any way." Paul replied. "I suddenly have that strange feeling as well." They soon walked inside the burnt house.
Meanwhile
"A Corgi?" Phoebe suggested. "I feel like that probably wouldn't be of Spinelli's taste…"
"Arnold, how many times am I gonna tell you, I was a kid when I was mostly cold and ruthless! I have a soft spot now!"
"I'm only kidding!" Arnold chuckled. "For the most part." She rolled her eyes.
"But anyways, Spinelli, any idea on what you prefer?" Arnold looked over. "Maybe a… German Shepherd puppy? I'd rather go through the painful training than have it be a little ignorant." Spinelli suggested.
"Excellent! And I think I know JUST where to get one!" Arnold got up and grabbed his phone. Spinelli was a little confused about what he meant.
A few Minutes Later
"Arnold, what was that all about?" Spinelli looked over. "Don't worry about it, honey!" Arnold kissed her cheek once he sat down.
"You guys, I think I should get going now. After all, I have my own life, no?" Phoebe soon said. "No worries, Phoebe, take care now!"
Phoebe nodded with a smile, got up, and made her way toward the front door.
"Arnold, I honestly didn't think you'd agree to have a pet!" Spinelli gave a kiss on his cheek. "Just tryin' to give you everything you deserve. Besides, I already told you on our date the other night, if possible, we'll get a pet." Arnold smiled and kissed her.
"Shits bad enough with the press breathing down our necks, but the mother of those four kids will be blaming us as if we're some sort of miracle." Paul mentioned as he kneeled over to check a fuse box.
"I heard you the past million times… We need a cause like yesterday, this isn't our usual work either." Stella replied.
"Uh, Chief? This isn't normal, right?" Donovan asked. He found a match stick with bunches of cables all burned.
"And that adds to this case." Paul started. "It's almost the same thing, and look, signs of gasoline on these cables.
Vic also found something odd while rummaging through the building. "Hey uh, Chief? I found some sort of broken alarm clock with writing on it and…" She bent over to see what was left. "A sponge?"
"A sponge? Up here? This isn't even a bathroom unless…" Paul looked over. "Let's check that, now!"
Minutes Later
"This is exactly what we found at the last crime scene! I figured this may have been a coincidence, but there's one more piece missing from this… The alarm clock and sponge are covered in gasoline along with a chemical that mixes badly in fire, but there's a component we're missing here…"
"So what? We wait for another of this shit and hope we get lucky we get a whole thing intact?"
"We have to keep searching! I'm not leaving until we search every inch of this place!"
Dixon and Dean came over. "Chief, we were searching through all the burned debris… and we found a weird piece with some writing on it." Dean handed the broken piece to Paul.
"Corrhiza… That's all I read from it."
"No, wait…" The second investigator, Kurt, started. "Years ago at one of our first investigations, I remember hearing that same thing! It's from a company making specialized dynamite!"
"This brings all the puzzle pieces together! But we need to find out how all this GOES together..." Joe said.