"My God… He sacrificed himself to save you all?…" Pep asked, shocked. Arnold had a tear slip down. "… Yup. And I know he'd do it again because he loved us all. He was so much of a father figure to us. Since my rookie year, he's been my mentor and father when I lost my real father… He even trained my Mom to be the best Battalion Chief this city has seen. In truth, Pep, Captain McShay was the best Captain anyone could have, and Station 55 was extremely lucky to have a Captain like him. Not a day goes by where we don't remember him, and his heroic sacrifice…"

"If it wasn't for him, Spinelli, you, your Mom, Travis, or most of the Station wouldn't be here if it wasn't for him…" She said while looking down.

"I remember how distraught Michelle was, it was just a painful sight… She already grew up without her mom, and now she lost her dad in a fire." Arnold shook his head. He sniffled as several tears fell from his cheeks.

"Oh, Arnold…" Pep stood up and got near for a hug. Arnold hugged her back despite his injury. Pep stroked his blonde hair delicately, wanting to make him feel better.

"I miss him…" Arnold broke down in tears. "Sh, sh. There there now, Arnold."

After a minute, they soon let go.

"Pep, I can't thank you enough for staying a little longer. I know you probably have your own life to live-"

"Actually, I barely do. Outside of the station, I barely have a life. I live alone, I don't have any siblings, my parents don't love me-"

"What did you just say?"

"My parents don't love me. They disowned me… My dad was a fat-stinkin' drunk asshole, and my mom was a disgustingly slutty stripper…"

"Oh my God, Pep…"

She started to sniffle. "The number of times my asshole of a father would beat me when he felt like it, and my bitch of a mother would just ignore me. The only escape was the next-door neighbor, she was an elderly woman, and she was the kindest person I ever knew as a kid."

"And what happened for your parents to disown you?" Arnold asked as he reached for her hand. She soon held his hand. "One day, my dad came home drunk with a slutty hooker, and my mother was in her bedroom fucking a random guy she found in a strip club… Long story short, my dad beat me and my bitch ass mother kicked me to the curb. The elderly woman took me in and treated me like her own child or grandchild. Arnold, the amount of trauma I've suffered all those years… Ever since I was a little girl, I was always alone. I never received true love from my parents, and I still have several scars from them…"

"For example where?" Arnold asked, but Pep blushed. "I- I know it may sound absurd but… I have a bit of a scar around my… my…"

"Where?" Arnold asked, curiously. "M- My boob." She blushed furiously. "Oh…"

"Look, I'd show you but I don't want to create an awkward moment here, the point is, I barely have any reason to live. Station 55 and firefighting is the only reason I'm still here. I feel loved and appreciated there, and I feel better when I can help others."

"Hey, come here." Arnold motioned her over. Pep stood up and stood beside him. "What is it?"

"You're loved no matter what. We all love you, Pep. You're a courageous female firefighter and an icon to the department along with Michelle, Spinelli, Vic, and my Mom. Pep, we all love you, even if your parents don't care about you, guess what."

"What?"

"We do. I do. I know how it feels to battle depression and trauma, I used to suffer from it before I found my happiness again in Spinelli. Pep, you may not find happiness in love interests, but you can find happiness in your friends." Arnold gave a comforting smile while holding her hands. Pep soon smiled.

"Thanks, Arnold." She gave a long kiss on his forehead. "I think I better get going now. I've been for the past seven or eight hours now?"

Arnold smiled as he nodded.

"I'll see you later, Arnold." She smiled and held his hand one more time. She kissed his cheek before leaving.

She soon walked out of his room.

Arnold soon exhaled through his nose as he wondered what he would do for the rest of the day.

Early Next Morning

It was around seven in the morning, Arnold was asleep as he was recovering from surgery.

He soon blinked his eyes open as he felt a hand run through his hair delicately. It was his mom, Stella.

"Hey there, sweetheart. How are you holding up today?" She gave a shining smile at her son. "Hey, Mom. I missed you." Arnold smiled.

"Don't worry, honey, I'm here to keep you some company." Stella then held his hand. "How's Spinelli doing?" Arnold asked.

"I'd say she'd want to ask you the same thing."

"And how long have you been here?"

"Around a couple of hours. I found you asleep, so I figured I'd let you get some rest." She stroked his hair. "Oh, and in case you're wondering, Kyle's funeral will be tomorrow. Helga's corpse was recovered, but let's not go there…"

"What? What's wrong?" He raised an eyebrow. "Apparently the metal that fell on her, not only pierced her open, but it practically split her in two, with her organs sticking out." Stella winced. "And how'd you know?"

"The fire investigators, who else?"

Arnold exhaled. "I can finally be at peace knowing Helga's reign of terror is finally over. And if anything, I'm more than happy that Andy is safe. How is she? WHERE is she?"

"Oh, don't worry about her. I brought her back home safely to Spinelli." Stella smiled. Arnold smiled as well.

A knock on the door was heard.

"Hey, you two. How are we doing this morning?" Phoebe had a smile on her face. Arnold smiled. "Phoebe, I can't thank you enough for the surgery. You're the best doctor this hospital has ever seen." He held her hand. She let out a small giggle. "Aww, you're too kind, Arnold." Phoebe smiled.

"Just let me check you out real quick and I'll be on my way." Phoebe said as she started to check his eyes.

After a minute, she cleared him.

"You're as healthy as you were before coming here." She chuckled. Her pager then went off. "I'll see you guys later, I got a 9-1-1." She ran out of the room.

"Hey, what's with the long face?" Stella noticed Arnold was rather upset. "Mom, don't you see?" Arnold started. "I was lucky enough to make it here! Mom, you know this is a dangerous job we do, and I recognize it, and I love the job. But Mom, it has me thinking… What if I lose you to a fire?…" Arnold sniffled.

"Oh, sweetie…" Stella stood up and hugged her son. "Mom, I already lost Dad to a gunshot wound, and I don't wanna lose you in a fire! I don't wanna lose you at all!" Arnold started to break down in tears.

"I'll be here for as long as I possibly can before I have to leave you…" She let a few tears run down her face. "Mom, please don't say that! I don't want you to leave! I need you…" Arnold just broke down in tears, and so did Stella as she realized her son was right.

Despite loving the job, they knew it was a real possibility for Stella to leave her son from a fire. She wasn't a normal Battalion Chief that stands around, she often joins her crews. She was a brave icon to the Department.

"I'll always be alongside you, son, no matter what. I love you, son." Stella stroked his hair and kissed his forehead. "I'll always love you, Mom, please don't you ever leave me!" Arnold hugged her as tight as he could despite his surgical wound.

They soon let go.

Arnold sniffled and then smiled at his mother. "Don't ever leave me, Mom… I still need you…" Stella had a hand on his cheek. "I never will, honey." She gave a comforting smile and a comforting kiss on his forehead.

Arnold gulped as he soon recomposed himself.

"Well… As much as I want to stay with you, honey, I have to get going now. Life as a Battalion Chief." Stella gave a brief chuckle. "I'll see you later, Mom." Arnold smiled. Stella also smiled.

She soon walked out.

Arnold exhaled through his nose once more. He closed his eyes as he started to remember back at Captain McShay's funeral.

He remembered Michelle's emotional eulogy, and at the end of her speech, she smiled and nodded at him. He would nod back and smile. Arnold was the one who was beside her the most and helped her out with her eulogy. She's also had several discussions with him about becoming the Station's new captain, but she has a long road ahead. She wanted to honor her father and carry his legacy.

A knock on his door was heard. He still had his eyes closed.

"How's my Lieutenant doing this morning?" Arnold opened his eyes. It was his beloved woman, Ashley Funicello Spinelli.

"Spinelli!" Arnold smiled. "Hey, Arnold." She smiled. "Where's Andy?" He asked. "Don't worry, she's with my parents. I wanted to come see you, I missed you!" She leaned in for a kiss.

The two kissed and they didn't want to separate at all. They nuzzled their noses together after.

"Is that lipgloss I notice on you?" Arnold smirked. "You bet your damn ass it is. I felt it was only appropriate since I decided to come see you." She smiled.

Arnold held her hand and briefly rubbed her ring finger. "Say, what were you doing just now? I saw you with your eyes closed." Spinelli asked.

"Eh, nothing. I was just remembering Michelle's eulogy to her Dad, and Malcolm's funeral. And it was something that had me thinking, what if I lose my mother to a fire? I already saw it happen to Michelle in losing her Dad! And even Battalion Chiefs aren't safe! You saw it with Ripley!"

She sighed. "You're right, unfortunately. If it isn't a fire that doesn't kill you, toxic chemicals make you agonize on your deathbed."

They were referring back to the former Battalion Chief that trained Stella to be the best Battalion Chief after him. Chief Ripley was killed by toxic chemicals that snuck into his immune system after an explosion at a coffee processing plant. He ended up dying a couple of days later.

"Arnold, no matter what, I love you. And I hope you know that." Spinelli rubbed his hand. "I love you, Ashley Funicello Spinelli." Arnold had a shining smile. "And I love you, Arnold Shortman." Spinelli leaned in for a kiss.

The two kissed for a minute or two, not wanting to separate.

"I missed you, Spinelli." Arnold smiled. "Just shut up and kiss me!" She kept kissing him.

After their kiss, they nuzzled their noses together and their foreheads touched as they smiled together. A love that runs deeper than anyone could ever imagine.