After a week of break, we're finally back! Let's get back into the story, shall we? Enjoy!

Hours Later

It was around three in the afternoon, Pep and Dean were still with Arnold since early in the morning.

Dean had gone to use the restroom, while Pep had fallen asleep while holding Arnold's hand.

Soon, Arnold slowly blinked his eyes open, a little dazed and confused about where he was as the last thing he remembered was being in the Aid Car.

He then saw Pep beside him, holding his hand. He smiled and gripped her hand, awakening her shortly after.

"Hu- Huh? Wh- Arnold?!" Pep looked at him. "Hey, Clemente." He gave a weak smile. "Oh, Arnold! Thank goodness you're alright! How are you feeling?"

"Can't say I've been worse, this IS the worst injury I've suffered my entire career. But I hope to be out of this bed soon enough." Arnold gave a slight shrug. Phoebe came in.

"Arnold! You're finally awake!" She smiled. "Hey, Pheebs! Say uh, could you explain what even happened?" Arnold asked.

"Well, it's a bit of a long story, but in short, you got here to the hospital just in time for emergency surgery."

"Phoebe, wh- where's Spinelli? Is- Is she hurt? Where is she?!" Arnold looked around. "Hey, hey, calm down." Pep stood up and touched his cheek, trying to calm him. "She's home right now, she's resting, alright?"

"Bu- But what about my daughter?! I left her with my former in-laws!" Arnold was starting to freak out. "Hey! Hey, hey, easy! Easy, easy, easy now! She's fine. Your mom already went over to check, she's doing fine."

The cardiac monitor's heartbeat started rising.

"Arnold! Arnold! Calm down already, your heart rate is spiking! Your baby and girlfriend are doing well! Just calm down!" Phoebe told him.

"Hey! Hey! Look at me." Pep made Arnold face her as she had both her hands on his cheeks. "Listen, your daughter and girlfriend are doing okay. Your girlfriend is at home sleeping, and your former in-laws are taking care of your beautiful baby girl! Okay? They're okay, Arnold." Pep tried calming him down. Arnold was breathing heavily as he felt out of breath.

He slowly started to calm down and take deep breaths. Pep gave a comforting smile and started to stroke his blonde hair delicately.

Arnold was breathing normally again, and his heart rate was back to normal.

"Thanks, Pep…"

"Not a problem." She flashed a pearly white, comforting smile. Dean soon came back.

"Ugh, finally you come back, black Hulk. I've been waiting to use the restroom for the past half hour!" Pep scoffed. "Not my fault I had to take a dump from eating stale chips!" He replied as he sat down. Pep soon let go of Arnold's hand and hair and went to the restroom. Before she left, she grabbed something from her purse.

"Man, I thought you'd never wake up honestly. How you feelin' man?" Dean asked. "How do you think I feel? I suffered from stinging and sharp pain in my abdominal area, now I have stitches around that area. But eh… I don't really wanna complain here since I know people suffer worse probably, but man…" Arnold shook his head as he remembered the fall inside the factory fire.

CRASH

CLANG

THUD

"D'AUH!"

Not only did he hear his scream, but Travis as well. He also remembered the sharp stinging pain he had suffered. He even remembered the clanging and crashing of the canisters and burning metal that fell near the catwalk.

Arnold winced remembering that moment.

"So, this means I'll be out of the station for the next month or two, hm?" Arnold looked over and slightly pursed his lips. "Unfortunately, yeah. And it sucks, man. I feel like you're the glue to hold everything together! Ever since McShay died, you've been the father figure in his place, you know?"

"Wow. Never knew you guys ever thought of me that way. But with me sidelined now, who'll be the interim Captain?" He asked. "No idea about that, but I'd guess someone from B-shift will be filling in for you."

"Well, I guess that'll be alright… I just wonder how things will be while I'm gone."

"Vic hooked up with Ben and then he cried after?"

"What?"

"I'm only kidding!" Dean chuckled.

"How long have you guys been here anyhow?"

"Welp, for maybe the past six-seven hours or something? I didn't keep count." Dean replied while shrugging.

"I think you should head home, you look like you need some rest."

"Nonsense. I can-"

"Dean, please. Go home and get some rest." Arnold gave an encouraging smile. Dean soon nodded. He soon got up, grabbed his jacket, and soon walked out.

Arnold soon sighed as he missed feeling Spinelli's soft touch.

"Eh, why not?" Pep shrugged. She had taken a stick of lipgloss with her if she wanted to apply it.

She soon applied the lipgloss onto her lips.

After she got done applying her lipgloss, she soon went back to check on her Lieutenant.

She walked into Arnold's room and found him… chuckling?

"Uh, Arnold? What's so funny?" She asked. "Hm? Oh, nothing. I just find it funny how we don't live in New York."

"Aaand how so?" She sat next to him. "With the amount of idiotic traffic there, and imagining the fire department there having to painfully go through that traffic, it's common sense to not be a firefighter there." Arnold slightly laughed. Pep giggled. "Well, I guess you're right on that." Her hand neared his hand.

"Oop! Sorry." She removed her hand and blushed. "No, no. You're fine."

"You're fine rather yourself." Pep giggled a bit.

"So uh, Pep? I'm curious to know, are you dating anyone? Or-"

"I already told you, I've been single ever since the night we had sex together. Of course, I'm so hot I can simply throw my ass into any random guy's arms, but I'm not a slut either!" She scoffed. "Besides, I'm single because I have a bit of a secret that I never confessed to anyone…" She started to blush.

"What is it?" Arnold looked at her. "Arnold, the day I met you at the Academy, I instantly fell in love with you. You're so charming and sweet, you're such a beautiful soul but… I know you're dating Spinelli and well… Who am I to make you do anything bad? I made that mistake once, and I don't wanna do it again!"

"Pep…"

"I admit it… Even after years of knowing you and barely seeing you, I love you. It's not for how big your dick size is-"

"Why do I always get that? You, Rhonda, Spinelli, and Phoebe when I dated her in high school." Arnold blushed.

"Didn't you even look at yourself once? Besides, I bet if a random girl saw it, she'd say the same thing." She shrugged. "But anyways, enough sexual crap. It's not the size of your dick that attracted me to you, it's the personality you have… But I know you have your relationship, and I don't wanna ruin anything for you or me."

"Pep, let me see your hand real quick?" Arnold asked. "Uh, sure?"

Pep held out her hand, and Arnold soon held it and kissed the back of her hand.

"Thanks for being honest with me." Arnold smiled. Pep blushed and smiled.

"Is- Is that lipgloss I see on your lips?" Arnold noticed. Pep's cheeks were red. "Oh- Oh, you noticed? Why uh, gee. I- I didn't think anyone would notice." She pulled on the collar of her shirt nervously.

Arnold only smirked as he blushed a little.

"Say, where's my phone? I haven't seen it." Arnold looked around. Pep pulled it out from her pocket. "I thought I'd keep it safe for you."

She then put it near his arm. Arnold sat up a little and gave a small peck on her cheek.

"Thanks." Arnold gave a friendly smile. Pep blushed as she touched the spot where Arnold kissed her. "Gee… You're very welcome, Arnold." Pep hesitated for a moment. She then leaned over to kiss his forehead. She winked after she sat down.

"Hey, Arnold. I never asked before but… How did your former Captain die? I never asked what happened." Pep asked.

Arnold let out a deep sigh. "I still remember that day like yesterday. That day we nearly all lost our lives if it wasn't for Captain McShay rescuing us one last time…"

Flashback To A Few Months Ago

A storage unit fire had broken out, and almost every member from Station 55, including the Battalion Chief, were all trapped inside with thick smoke growing, with their airpacks running out of air.

Several fire trucks were outside as everyone rushed around.

A Battalion SUV soon arrived at the storage unit.

Malcolm McShay hopped out with all his gear for one more time.

"DONOVAN! Move this Ladder into position! I'm goin' up!" He told Donovan.

"Sir, I can't! The roof's too unstable and whoever bends it will fall through!" Donovan walked over to the Ladder truck. "Copy that… Move the damn ladder!" McShay started to put on his coat.

"But Captain, wait!"

"Donnie, I hand-picked every member of this team! Not all of you were the best recruits, but I picked each one of you specifically 'cause you were the right mix, the right magic to become a family! A crew that would love each other, risk their lives for each other! That's what I have to do for this family!" He put on his gloves.

Donovan gulped. "Si- Sir, you're not well…"

"Exactly, that's why I'll save my daughter's life and do right now what I've done for the last 40 years of my life which is be a damn firefighter! Now you get me on that roof! That's an order from your Captain, Probie." He sternly said.

"But, Cap-"

"Well, I'm going to die anyhow, and I'm not letting some stupid cancer take me from this life!" He strapped on his helmet.

Background music: Time's Running Out by VG LUCAS

Donovan nodded. Soon, Donovan and Captain McShay climbed up to the Ladder turntable.

Inside

Stella was with the rookie Dixon, Arnold with Spinelli, Vic and Michelle McShay, Gibson and Mccaffery, and Travis with Warren. The smoke was insanely thick and visibility was just about gone. They all tried using their flashlights to try and guide themselves through the smoke, but they were all bound to run out of air and collapse.

Malcolm coughed as he reached the ladder.

"Goodbye, Rook. You'll always be that clumsy and favorite Probie of mine…" He patted Donovan's shoulder as he started to tear up. "And Donovan… You tell Michelle that everything I did, every single thing I did her whole life, was because I loved her. I know I've made mistakes along the way, but I loved her… You tell her that…" Malcolm was now teary-eyed for one last time.

"Yes, Sir…" Donovan gulped.

"And one last thing, to this family… Tell 'em all that I love them all… The best firefighters I could ever raise… I love you all…" McShay took a deep breath and started climbing the ladder that was extended to the roof.

Malcolm was taking gasping breaths as he coughed from his cancer.

"Copy! We're changing the blades- Wait a minute, hold on! Someone's on the roof! Male, around 60!" A voice through the radio said.

Everyone inside was sweating profusely, their airpacks running out of air, and some were already out of air as their alarms sounded.

McShay grabbed his axe as he felt out the unstable roof.

"Just stay with me, Spinelli! Just hang in there! We'll be out soon…!" Arnold held Spinelli by her shoulders as she felt weakened. Her airpack was bound to run out any second.

"It's getting too hot in here…" Michelle collapsed as her airpack ran out. Vic was taking gasping breaths, with her oxygen running out.

"Somethin' wrong?" Dean radioed. Donovan had radioed him first. "Cap… Captain McShay's on the roof…" His voice trembled. Smith gasped.

Dean came from an Engine unit and found Donovan standing at the Ladder control panel of his Ladder company. A firefighter ran past him before noticing McShay on the roof. Soon, many firefighters noticed and all they could do was watch…

Donovan was speechless as he looked at the roof. Dean looked at the roof after Donovan had radioed him.

Captain McShay was taking gasping breaths, and then summoned all of his remaining strength and started to swing his axe at the roof.

Swing after swing, hit after hit, McShay was determined to save his family, including Stella who he mentored back then.

Stella's airpack was running out of air as she collapsed, Dixon was holding her up, but his airpack was also running out. He soon collapsed.

Timers on their airpacks were going off.

With the few holes McShay made in the roof, black smoke was pouring from those holes as he kept swinging his axe with all his strength and determination.

Arnold and Spinelli looked at each other as everyone inside was losing hope.

Gibson was just leaning against a wall as he was seated, with his airpack completely out of oxygen.

McShay hit the roof as smoke poured out, but the roof was slowly giving way.

"WOAH!" He nearly lost his balance after his foot fell through a hole.

Arnold and Spinellis' flashlights illuminated their faces as they dripped with sweat. The two would only join their heads together as they held each other up.

Captain McShay was fearless as his time was nearly up. He kept on swinging his axe at the roof, determined to save his team, his family. A firefighting family he hand-picked and raised.

Travis fell to the floor as both his airpack and Warren's airpack had run out of air.

Spinelli's airpack ran out of air, and she nearly collapsed as Arnold held her up.

Captain McShay took two final swings and breaths as the roof creaked loudly and had finally given way.

CRASH

WHOOSH

Fire poured violently from the hole where Malcolm fell to his doom…

"Captain McShay? Cap!" Donovan radioed. "I need a rapid intervention team to recover a firefighter!…" His voice trembled at the end.

Now Playing: To Make You Feel My Love by Sleeping At Last

The thick smoke inside quickly went away with Malcolm's heroic act. Stella was the first to notice and soon took off her breathing mask and black fireproof hood. She was on her knees, just barely conscious enough to notice.

She stood up coughing as she helped up the rookie Pat Dixon. She helped him take off his breathing mask and hood. They soon put their arms over each other's shoulders as they started to find their way out while coughing. They still used their flashlights as it was dark inside the storage unit.

Travis was on his knees as he took off his breathing mask and coughed. Warren was laying on his side, just barely conscious. Travis helped Ben take off the mask. Soon, Warren started to cough as well. Travis would sit alongside him for a moment.

Vic soon noticed the smoke was gone, and took off her breathing mask. She then looked at the Captain's daughter, Michelle. She soon helped her take off the mask. Michelle soon woke up and noticed the smoke was gone. Vic gave a friendly smile and handed Michelle her helmet. She coughed as she was helped up by Vic. The two friends put an arm over each other and started to walk away together while using their flashlights to guide them out.

Travis stood up and soon helped Warren to his feet. They put an arm over each other's shoulders. They started walking away together and making their way to the exit.

Gibson was found unconscious by Stella and Pat. Stella kneeled to him and took off his mask and slapped his face several times, hoping he was still alive.

Scott woke up and he looked around frantically. Stella smiled as she handed him his helmet. Scott started coughing as well as he was helped up by Dixon. The three soon started walking away together as they all coughed.

Arnold had taken off his mask and hood and took Spinelli's mask off as he held her by the waist after she was knocked unconscious with her airpack out of air.

He slapped her face several times, hoping she'd wake up. She soon blinked her eyes open.

Arnold smiled ear-to-ear as he let tears slip down his face. The two smiled at each other and gave a quick kiss to each other, they soon hugged for a moment.

Arnold soon picked up her red Lieutenant helmet and handed it to Spinelli. She put it on and left it unstrapped, and smiled at him.

They soon put an arm over each other's shoulders as they started walking away together.

While they walked away, a firefighter funeral bell was heard faintly in Donovan's head. They soon started making their way out of the facility.

Outside, an Engine truck awaited just outside the exit, with its sirens flashing off the building. Several hoses were connected to it. Everyone soon walked out of the storage unit and gasped for the fresh air outside and started coughing again while some of them fell to their knees. Scott soon took off his airpack and gasped for air.

Dean slammed his helmet against an Engine truck as he shook his head and pursed his lips while fighting back tears.

Stella noticed his frustration but wondered why. Dean had his hands on his waist while shaking his head and looking at the roof where thick black smoke poured.

Travis, Warren, Stella, Arnold, Spinelli, and Michelle looked at Dean. Gibson and Dixon were too distracted coughing and gasping for air. They all soon noticed Donovan, who stood blanky at the Ladder control panel of their truck and had tears running down his face. Along with the ladder extended to the unstable roof.

Michelle was gasping for air for a moment as she walked to Ladder 55 but noticed a hat on the bumper of the truck. Her father's hat was on the bumper of Truck 55. Donovan then looked down in sadness. Dean was just now giving a saddened look as sirens wailed in the distance.

Everyone soon realized who was the person that saved them all…. Captain Malcolm McShay was the hero who saved all their lives, a sixty-year-old captain. But he ended up paying the ultimate price in saving them. His family… Michelle looked at the hat sitting on the bumper of the Ladder, gasping for breath while tears started to build up, with a saddened look on her face. Sirens were blaring in the background, and would slowly fade as everything went dark, with one final ring of the bell at any firefighter funeral.

Present Day…