Later That Night
"Who's my cute little furballs? You two! My fuzzy little furballs!" Arnold was downstairs toying with Diesel and Bandit. Andy was on Arnold's lap as she had a small toy in hand.
"Hurry up with my hair, will you? I've been sitting here for the past 20 minutes!" Spinelli started. She was upstairs with Ashley A, who was doing her hair. "A fireman's funeral goes by faster than you!"
"Gee. Bit of an awfully dark joke but have it your way…. Now hold still!"
"Pfft. I just wrap my hair in a bun for a funeral, barely takes long unlike you." Spinelli rolled her eyes. "Well, it's a date we're talking about here, so that explains why. I'm delicately doing your hair! And what gives with the sudden talk about the funerals you two go to?"
"Ugh, I don't know!… I guess I'm just remembering the look in his eyes… Ash, he looked torn apart. He used to suffer from PTSD, but something is still lingering, I just can't find the answer to it."
"I always knew what you guys do is a dangerous job, but I never knew it could go that far. Think he's probably hiding a past trauma?" Ashley A suggested while brushing Spinelli's hair. "That's something I've been skeptical about, but…" She sighed. "I don't even know what to say anymore…"
"Look, cheer up, Spinelli! Look on the bright side. You're in a relationship with him, you two love each other, tonight is another date night, and you guys are taking care of a baby and two dogs, I mean, you can't tell me there's no bright side here! Right?" Ashley A had an encouraging smile but faded when she saw Spinelli a little upset.
"Just finish up my hair…"
"Yeah, yeah…"
"What is it, Mom?…" Arnold answered his phone, unpleased. "Look, Arnold, I know I may have pushed you a little hard today-"
"A little?! A lot! Mom, I know I love her but-"
"But what's holding you back? Nothing!"
"Mom, if this is about me marrying her, I swear on everything holy in this world-"
"No! No, it's not about that! I was just calling wondering if maybe… you could report to the firehouse tomorrow?… I had everyone from B-Shift suspended! They're all being investigated by the Department and they'll all most likely be fired. I guess that makes more room for more firefighters."
"Fine…"
"You'll be back on your regular shifts this weekend, you'll be having the next couple days off, ok?"
"Alright… I gotta go now, bye." Arnold immediately hung up and threw his phone on the coffee table. "It's tough being a firefighter, sweetie, but it's worth it. Hey, maybe one day you'll follow in daddy's footsteps." Arnold smiled as he tickled Andy.
"Got your nose!" Arnold chuckled as Andy reached for his hand. "My precious angel… You have no idea how lucky I am to be your dad." Arnold looked to his left. "And to think you'll be twice your size soon enough." Arnold chuckled at Diesel, who was scratching his ear for a moment.
Ten Minutes Later
"You're all done! Now go impress your man."
Spinelli wore the same dress from their last date and had the same hairstyle.
"Alright, just give me a minute." Spinelli replied while applying red lipstick.
Arnold was in his tuxedo, waiting on Spinelli. Andy was back in her room with her binky as she was taking a nap.
"Hey, Arnold…" Spinelli said, in a seductive tone. Arnold looked over and smiled. He soon got up and walked over to her. "She is way outta uniform…" Arnold thought as he blushed.
"You look beautiful, sweetie." Arnold held her hands. "You look charming yourself." Spinelli replied with a smile. The two then heard Andy, who was reaching for the shelf near the TV.
"What is it, sweetie?" Arnold came over. Andy kept reaching for a diecast fire truck toy. It was a diecast Mack CF Pirsch Aerial Ladder toy.
"I think she's taking after you." Spinelli chuckled as she walked over. Arnold only smiled as he went over to grab the diecast model.
"Wait." She then stopped Arnold. "I know she wants the diecast model, but couldn't that ladder on it cause a choking hazard?"
"Oh." Arnold then had to think of a way to take her mind off it. "I know exactly what to get! Give me a sec!" Arnold ran upstairs while Ashley A was walking down.
"You never told me she was your baby." Ashley A looked at Andy. "She's not, she's a baby from Arnold's old wife."
"Oh. Say, what's that on the shelf?" She pointed. "A badge we all have to remember our fallen Captain, he was such a role model and father figure for us."
"You okay?" Ashley A looked at Spinelli. "Yeah… I was just remembering the many bad fires we've all faced back then. A mill fire. chemical fire, there's more but I'm not standing here and making a list."
Arnold soon came back with a big stuffed animal that was almost Andy's size.
"Look who I brought!" Arnold sat next to Andy, who made happy baby noises.
It was a giant cartoon stuffed dog. "Mr. Ruffles came to play." Arnold smiled as he toyed around. Andy let out joyful laughter.
"He's a keeper for sure." Ashley A rubbed Spinelli's shoulder. "Good luck on the date." She smiled.
"Thanks." The two smiled at each other. "If you need anything, just call me." Ashley A then headed to the front door.
Andy was now playing with the giant stuffed cartoon dog as Arnold soon stood beside Spinelli.
"Isn't she adorable?" Arnold smiled at Andy. "She's more than adorable, but also beautiful." Spinelli smiled. She then smirked at Arnold.
"You know… I wonder what a second baby would be like." She giggled while rubbing his chest. "I wonder what our child would look like." Arnold smirked as the two slowly kissed.
"Isn't love so sweet?" Brooke smiled with Buckley along with Ashley A beside them.
"AH! Wha- what are you guys doing here?!" The two flinched. "Keep going, we aren't here." Ashley A smirked.
"Weren't you on your way out?" Spinelli lowered her eyelids. "Yeah, I- I gotta get going now…" She soon walked away. "Don't worry, Arnold, we'll take care of everything here. You two have fun!" Brooke told them as Diesel approached Buckley.
"Thanks. We can't thank you enough for this." Arnold smiled. "Shall we?" Arnold smirked.
"Enough yapping! Take us to our and give me my damn kiss!" Spinelli replied as she kissed Arnold. "Never change, my sweet." Arnold chuckled as the two walked out with their arms linked together.
Later
Even though Arnold was driving, that didn't stop him from holding one of Spinelli's hands.
"You doin' ok?" She asked. "Yeah… I guess I just needed a bit of a breather from all the firefighting lately. Surprisingly, we've been facing more fires than medical calls." Arnold replied.
"Come to think of it, it is rather crazy, to be honest. But that has become more of a trend lately… What gives?"
"Uh, hello? Arson?" Arnold smirked. "Oh, yeah, right… I haven't heard too much about it. But anyhow, I have an odd feeling about it."
"Whatever it is… I have a very bad feeling about it…" Arnold replied as he looked ahead.
A loud noise was heard a block from where they were.
"The hell was that?" Spinelli looked to Arnold's left. "I think we may have found our answer…" The Ford F-150 made a left turn as it went to where red and white siren lights were seen.
"Everyone alright?"
"C'mon, help me out!"
"Lieutenant, you alright?"
Members from Engine Twenty-Three had crashed into a pole after avoiding a black sedan. Tire marks were left as it had sped off. Ladder Twenty-Three was already long gone. A black Ford soon showed up.
"Dammit! The truck isn't starting!" The driver said as the engine wasn't starting.
"Aye! You guys alright?" Arnold came up to Luiz. "We're fine, but it looks like the Engine isn't." Luiz looked at his company.
"Arnold, look!" Spinelli noticed tire marks on the road. "Looks like whoever was the driver here, must've done it on purpose."
"Whoever that asshole was, knows that they did." Luiz started. He then started cursing in Spanish. "You do know I can still understand you, right?" Arnold raised an eyebrow and lowered an eyelid.
"Wait, since when did you learn Spanish?" Spinelli looked over. "That's a question for another time. Point is, whoever got in your way, must've done this on purpose. Luiz, I'll leave this in your hands, we can't do much here."
"Especially out of uniform." He snickered. "Luiz…"
"Yeah, yeah. I hear ya. Dispatch, this is Engine 23…" The Puerto Rican soon walked to his team.
"Sucks we can't do anything." Spinelli said as they soon walked back to the pickup. "At least me and you get some time for each other." Arnold smiled once they got in.
"Love you, sweetheart." Arnold held her hand. "I love you more." Spinelli smiled. Arnold then lightly kissed her hand.
"You better be happy with this… Future Mayor!…" The hooded figure was in a parking lot after hanging up the phone. The hooded person was on the phone with the mayor.
If Mr. Ruffles is a real character in a show, I did not have any clue, FYI, it was the first cartoon-dog name that came to mind.