Meanwhile outside on a balcony…

"Come on, McShay, don't spoil your appetite." Randall said as he cooked steak on the grill.

"Yeah but since you're cooking, I'm not sure I have an appetite." She replied while chewing chips.

Vic came outside. "You're good in critical moments and now you're… cooking. Am I at the wrong station?" She sat down.

"Well, I never had a meal with the old gang in my previous time as Captain, so I figured I was past due." Randall replied as he placed the steak on the plate.

"Who are you?" Michelle asked, jokingly.

Randall walked inside to serve dinner. Soon, everyone started walking into the kitchen and saw him serving dinner.

"Are we celebrating something?" Donovan asked, confused.

"Uuuhh…. I'm sorry." Randall looked at them. "Well, not you, Powell, I don't know you. But, I wasn't myself for a very long time, and what you guys did… Saved a lot of lives, including mine with that mutiny." Randall told them as he was serving dinner. "I know who I am and I know what I want. And… I will not be returning to Captaincy."

"What?" Spinelli asked. "Is there earwax blocking my hearing or am I going deaf?" She looked at Arnold.

"You heard right. I want to clean my slate, and I want this house to have a true leader, and that is not me. And that is something I hope you guys will accept." He walked up with a plate and offered it to his Captain.

Arnold exhaled through his nose. "Well… I don't know exactly how to feel, but you had me at steak." Arnold took the plate while chuckling.

Randall also chuckled.

"Thanks, Randy." Powell snickered.

"See? How come everyone gets a nickname but me?" Scott chuckled.

"Hmm…" Powell started to think as everyone was now sitting down at the table. "Scottie?"

"Come on now… Nevermind." Scott sat down as everyone started chuckling and laughing.

"How about basket-Scott?" Randall suggested as he sat down.

"Oh, that's a good one." Travis chuckled. "OH! How about soft-Scott? Like soft spot! It fits him!" He chuckled.

Everyone was now having a good time as they conversed with one another.

An Hour Later

After dinner, Arnold was on a catwalk, above the trucks and looking at them. A knock on a pole was heard.

"Don't think I didn't hear you coming." Arnold smirked. Spinelli stood beside him.

"Well, after all this time being temp. Captain, I never thought I'd see you as a permanent Captain."

"Well, not sure how Michelle feels about that but… I truly don't know how to feel." Arnold looked down at the trucks.

"I certainly know how to fix it." Spinelli yanked his collar from the side and pulled him into a kiss.

While they kissed, Michelle was near the Captain's office and looking at a display where several things were sitting there. Photos of old iconic firefighters, and a retro yellow SCBA airpack.

Michelle was looking at the display, mainly the picture of her father, Malcolm. She slowly walked to the Captain's office.

She took a good look at it, wanting to be the next permanent Captain. She then walked away.

The Next Morning

"Alright, Spinelli, come on, stop it!" Arnold chuckled after one more kiss.

Spinelli was in street clothes and ready to head home, while Arnold still had on his blue navy uniform. She had on a black hoodie with red sweatpants.

"Since when do you ever have this much paperwork?" She asked.

"Since Randall left his program early and now I have to report his condition after every shift." Arnold then saw Steven walk in holding… an axe?

"Office suits you, Arnold." He smiled.

"What's that?" Arnold raised an eyebrow.

"Welp, when my old Captain, Fowler, was retiring, he told me I'd replace him and gifted this to me…" He set down the axe in front of Arnold. "I'd like you to have it."

Steven smiled. "I'll see you, Captain." He walked out of the office.

Arnold was rather skeptic. Spinelli leaned over. She saw the axe had lettering.

"Steven, Courage is not living without fear, Courage is living afraid of death and doing the job anyways." The engraved sentence read.

"It's engraved to him… First, the steak dinner, and now, this? I'm starting to get a weird feeling…"

Arnold set the axe on a shelf behind him.

"Spin, I know this may look weird, but I guess it's worth a try to see how he really is. I feel the same way as you do, but what can we do? W-" Arnold sighed. "Look, sweetie, I'll have to see you at home, I have to finish this paperwork."

Spinelli lightly nodded. "'Kay. I'll see you at home, sweetie." They leaned to one another for a long kiss.

"Love you." Arnold briefly held her hand as she walked away. "Love you too, Arnold." Spinelli replied.

He then sighed. Arnold clicked his pen as he started to write, with the scene soon angling at the axe Steven gave him.

Just when one thinks things are starting to head in the right direction, things instead head South. The steak dinner may have been normal, but handing over an engraved axe? A personal belonging? Something didn't fit right with the two. Could there be more than meets the eye?

Half Hour Later

Thirty minutes have passed by, Arnold had finally finished the paperwork regarding Randall's condition for today's shift.

He clicked his pen, exhaled, and laid back on the chair. "Boy, what I'd give to go home right now."

"Ladder 55, Engine 55, Aid Car 55, respond to structural fire. All units respond." The station alarm went off.

"That didn't take long…" Arnold groaned as he soon got up and ran to the engine room where everyone else was already gearing up.

As the trucks were fired up, the Engine drove off first, with the Ladder following.

Later

"Alright guys, a fire alarm was triggered at a school, we'll have to do a sweep. Everyone stay sharp." Arnold informed as the truck horn honked.

As the Engine came to a stop, a police car was seen. The Ladder stopped behind while the Aid Car parked beside them.

Arnold hopped out as the principal came over.

"Hi, I'm Principal Lindsey, I'm sorry I don't know if this is a false alarm but I'm not sure whether it's faulty systems or whatnot." She then noticed a kid writing on a wall. "SHEPHERD, I KNOW YOU'RE NOT WRITING ON THE WALL!" She then turned back to the Captain. "Let me show you the entrance you'll want to use, the person who pulled the alarm must've been covered in blue gel. We installed a gel that sprays when the alarm gets pulled." She noticed something else. "Josh, if you know better put that plant back in the pot!"

Most of them looked too.

"So please, shut off the alarm so the kids can get back to class." She told the Captain.

"We'll see what we have." Arnold replied.

"Jesus Christ…" Principal Lindsey noticed something else. "I have to stop some eighth graders from vaping now…" She walked away.

"Alright, Doss, Warren, search the interior, Alexander, Gibson, exterior. Montgomery, have the Aid Car on standby. McShay, check in with law enforcement." Arnold handed out their assignments.

A police officer looked over. It was Dave Tanner.

Arnold and Donovan noticed the way Michelle looked at Tanner. She looked at him for a moment and then looked at Arnold, who was smirking.

"Shut up." Michelle said and looked back.

"My mouth was zipped closed!" Arnold chuckled.

"You said it with your eyes." Michelle replied and soon walked to Dave.

Arnold only shrugged as Donovan walked away while strapping on his helmet.

Meanwhile Inside…

Ben and Vic soon found where the alarm was pulled. It was stained with blue gel.

"Come to momma." Vic chuckled while approaching it.

"Someone definitely pulled it." Ben said.

Vic shut off the alarm and reached for her radio. "Confirmation on a pulled alarm, continuing sweep."

"Copy." Arnold replied.

"Come on." Vic was about to walk away, but a boy spoke up.

"Hey, Dad." He was facing away.

Vic and Warren looked over. "Why aren't you outside with the others?" Ben asked after putting down the extinguisher.

He then started walking to him. "Tuck? Tuck!" He caught him before he could run away.

"Show me your hands!" He yanked his jacket. His hands were covered in blue.

"You pulled the alarm. Why?"

"It was the quickest thing I could think of to get you here!" Tuck replied.

"What?" Tuck walked to the girl's bathroom.

"Tuck!" Ben walked after him.

Tuck entered the bathroom with his Dad. "I did everything I knew. Put her head up, got towels but I didn't know what else to do! She's pregnant and I needed help!"

Warren just looked in shock. Vic soon walked in.

"Oh my God…"

"Dad? Can you help?" Tuck asked.

"Please don't tell my Mom…" The girl whimpered.

"How did this slide under her parents' nose?" Vic asked, extremely confused.

"Let's worry about that later, right now we need to help you!" Warren replied while taking off his airpack and coat.

"Her name's Ava." Tuck said.

Vic took off her SCBA and coat. "Alright, just let us give a quick exam." She put a towel over her legs.

Ben checked her wrist. "Pulse is elevated but steady. Tuck, fold that towel, and put it under her neck." He did as told.

"I know you're comfortable talking to your parents but maybe there's a teacher you can talk to, or the Principal!" Ben suggested.

"That's the problem…" Ava whimpered.

"Her Mom IS the Principal!" Tuck said.

Ben and Vic looked at each other in surprise.

"I haven't told her yet! She pays attention to every other kid but me! She never even bothered to notice!" Ava said.

"So, are you two good friends or?…" Ben asked.

"Yeah, last year from debate." Tuck replied.

Ben looked at Ava and then Tuck. "That's more than ten months…"

"Oh! Dad! No! Not like that!"

"I have a boyfriend but… he isn't here, he's at the dentist getting his braces off… OH! OW! OW!" She exclaimed in pain.

"I think I've seen it all now…" Vic said.

Meanwhile, at Dean's boathouse, he was bored out of his mind.

Sharpening pencils for no reason.

Twisting pencils with a rubber band.

Sitting on the couch in different positions…

"WOAH!" He fell off the couch…

Outside the school, kids were chatting away, mostly not caring and using this as an excuse to not to do any schoolwork.

"We've confirmed the false alarm but we're still sweeping and then we should be clear." Arnold told Michelle and Tanner.

"Ok, got it. Oh, almost forgot to tell you congrats on being Captain." Tanner told Arnold.

"I'm only acting Captain, but I'm positive I should be permanent Captain. Now if you'll excuse me, McShay and I have to do one last sweep." Arnold soon walked away.

Later

"Am I not imposing enough? I mean, does the red on my helmet not mean anything?" Michelle asked.

"McShay, please, I already had her attention because it clearly says Captain on my helmet. Can't you read?" Arnold chuckled.

"A-B corner is done. We're headed back to the truck. School should be all clear." Michelle radioed. "Can you imagine the amount of paperwork just for a false alarm?" She chuckled.

"Ugh, no…"

"McShay? Shortman? You there?" Warren radioed.

"Warren, go ahead." Arnold replied.

"We could use some supplies from the Aid Car if you can send it in."

"We can't do that." Arnold replied.

"Why not?"

Arnold paused for a second. "Because I sent the Aid Car away…" He then looked back at Michelle, who was confused.

Meanwhile

"Come on, come on…!" Random stuff was laid around the bedroom.

"It has to be around here somewhere!" Spinelli was digging in a closet. "Just give me a moment, Andy!"

She threw out a pair of dark gray boots but didn't notice. She then found what she was looking for.

Pep walked in while drinking a smoothie. "Spin, what on earth are you doing?" She asked.

"AH Finally!" Spinelli pulled out a monkey-stuffed plushie. "My Mr. Monk-Monk!"

"Aid Car 55, medical response. Lakeside," The dispatcher started as the alarm went off.

"Welp, so much for nothing." Travis shrugged to himself.

"We have a 13-year-old in labor… There's no way the Aid Car is already on another call! I JUST released it!" Arnold told dispatch.

"If you need an Aid Car, I have one 5 minutes out."

"Get that truck over here now!" Arnold switched off his radio and set his helmet down on the bumper of the Ladder.

"Get what truck here now?" The Principal came over.

"Oh! An Aid Car. An ambulance." Arnold replied.

"I thought you said the area was clear. Why do you need an Aid Car?" The Principal asked.

"I need to give the all-clear before I can let you take the kids back inside."

"Look, this is my school and my students. So, Captain to Captain, why do you need an Aid Car?" Lindsey asked.

Arnold stared for a moment.

"Aid Car is 5 minutes out, we don't have long." Ben told Vic after asking dispatch.

"This baby's here, we don't have time." Vic replied. "Ok, Ava? I need you to push!"

"Tuck! Sanitizer! Paper towels!" Ben told Tuck. He ran to get the necessary stuff.

"I need to push!" Vic told Ava.

"I SAID I WON'T!" Ava shouted.

"Ok, ok. I'm going to show you something that distracts your brain into doing really random things!" She chuckled. "Just this morning, I managed to stretch my oxygen tank double its time!"

"That's your trick?" Ben looked at her.

"I don't know, it just works!"

Soon, while Vic distracted her, Ava started to push out her baby.

"Keep pushing!"

"AAAAAAAH!" Ava yelled as the baby came out. Only… it wasn't moving…

"Uh, I've never seen this before!" Vic whispered. The baby was wrapped in the amniotic sack.

"This sack usually breaks but…" Warren started. "Somehow, the baby was born in this sack."

"Guys, this is Shortman. Just checking in." Arnold radioed.

"The baby isn't moving…"

"Did I kill it?…" Ava whimpered.

The baby soon moved a leg. "TWITCH! IT TWITCHED! LET'S GET IT OUT!"

"Get me somewhere to suction with! A straw!" Ben started to poke and slowly tear off the amniotic sack.

"Straw!" It would be used to suction off the baby.

After Vic spat out the gooey fluids, she wrapped the baby in a towel and dried him off.

"Come on…" Ben was poking the baby.

And soon, it opened its eyes and started crying.

"There we are!"

"Guys, the Principal is heading in. Do you copy?" Arnold radioed again.

Vic got up and went to her coat. "We copy…"

Minutes Later…

The Principal walked into the bathroom with Arnold behind her.

Ava was sitting up against the wall with her baby.

"How's the girl doing?" Arnold asked.

"Well, medically, she's fine. But this'll be a lot to take in. Lots of responsibility ahead."

"It was protocol for me to send away the Aid Car." Arnold added.

"Sure. Ok." Ben nodded.

Lindsey kneeled to Ava. "Oh my goodness, are you ok?"

Ben looked at Tuck. He got some wipes. He grabbed Tuck's hands and started to clean them. "Alright, turn your sweatshirt inside out, and nobody had to know about this."

"Not even Mom?"

"ESPECIALLY not your Mom."

"Hey. You alright?" Michelle asked Arnold. He only nodded. "Yeah. Yeah, I'm good…" He had brief memories of Rhonda's false pregnancy in high school.

Meanwhile…

"That's your stuffed animal from when you were a kid?" Pep asked.

"Yeah, so? Oh, wait… I forgot. With the childhood you had, you never had one of these, have you?" Pep only shook her head while the straw was in her mouth.

"Well, yeah, I uh… I had this stuffed animal stored away mainly because I didn't want people seeing me with it or else I'd be called soft or whatnot. The only people who see me with it are just my parents."

"I take it you were one of those girls who didn't bother with any of that dolly or girly-girl crap?" Pep asked.

"I think you know me more than I know you." She smirked and turned to Andy, who was sitting on the mattress.

"Huh. I didn't even notice the mess I made…" She noticed all of the old clothes and shoes lying around.

She shrugged. "Oh, well." She then crouched to Andy while holding up her old monkey plush."It may be a little worn out but it's still good enough for you, sweetie."

"Whose boots are those?" Pep noticed a pair of dark gray boots lying around.

"Oh, those were mine. My brother gave them to me once. And guess what?"

"What?"

"I liked 'em!" She chuckled while toying with Andy.

"That's my little girl." She smiled and kissed her forehead.

"By the way, heads up, there's a smoothie downstairs if you want it." Pep told her before walking out.

"In a minute!" Spinelli replied.