So, I'm finally back to upload another chapter after a busy and stressful week... Anyhow, I think this particular chapter will be... entertaining, emotional, intense, and powerful... So, enough yapping, and I hope you'll enjoy this lengthy and intense chapter.

Fast Forward One Week Later

After a week of waiting, Pep was fully cleared for duty by Phoebe after her latest appointment.

It was a sunny morning in Hillwood, just about everything felt normal in this fire-infested city, well, as normal as it can get. One odd thing was that more sirens were wailing than usual, but what could that be about? At Firehouse 55, Stella wasn't in her office like usual.

One thing that the Firehouse noticed was a strange vehicle constantly following Engine 55 alone during calls and then speeding off after Engine stopped. While the HPD got involved multiple times, nobody knew who drove the mysterious car. The Intelligence unit of the HPD couldn't shed any light on who it was. While the others thought of brake-checking the car multiple times, Spinelli ordered not to engage and let PD handle it.

In the gym area of the station, Spinelli took off the quick wrap hand wraps from her hands as she sat next to Arnold on the weight bench. Arnold helped Spinelli with not only organizing a new boxing routine but the best gear for her. Spinelli's old MMA gloves were worn out earlier than expected since she punched hard. So, this time around, Arnold got her a pair of expensive boxing gloves for her.

"Amazing as always, baby… I'm always proud of you." Arnold kissed Spinelli's cheek with a smile. Spinelli smiled back. "Thanks. I couldn't have asked for a more supportive husband."

"And I couldn't have asked for a more supportive, loving wife and caring mother." Arnold kissed her cheek again and smiled.

Soon, Pep walked in. "Hey, guys!"

"Look who's back in uniform!" Spinelli smiled and stood up. They briefly shadow-boxed each other before embracing. "That's my girl!"

"Ugh, it feels great to put this uniform on again! I missed having my badge!" Pep mentioned. After they let go, she soon asked, "Have you guys heard of the high-rise fire downtown?"

"Is that what's going on?" Spinelli started. "No wonder the Chief isn't here, Stella's probably too busy coordinating the district firehouses and stuff." Spinelli wiped off the sweat from her body. Arnold soon handed over her shirt.

Michelle soon walked by. "Guys, group meeting on the apparatus floor."

Spinelli soon pulled her phone out of her pocket. "Minus well should text my parents to tell 'em today might be a 24-hour shift so they'll have to stay with Andy longer than usual." She sighed. Arnold put an arm over Spinelli's shoulder and kissed her cheek.

Later, down at the apparatus floor…

"Two additional units requested per Deputy 5. Be advised, partial evacuation in progress. Dispatch to Battalion 9…" The Dispatcher said while Travis adjusted the radio.

"Alright, check these carefully, we haven't rolled this many hoses in a while." Michelle told them as several of them carried hoses.

"Radio's tuned in, Cap, alerts are on, should be a matter of time before we're called in." Travis told everyone as he walked toward Engine.

"Looks like the structural fire originated on the 24th floor. 25th is currently zero percent contained. All units are advised to exercise caution. Over." The dispatcher mentioned.

"Zero percent? Why haven't we been called in?" Dean asked while rolling a hose. "Oh, please, I wish they would, show 'em what House 55 is made of!" Donovan added.

"Clemente, what makes a high-rise fire different from other fires?" Michelle decided to test Pep's knowledge.

"Roof can't be vented, internal containment is essential. Using fire doors, concentrated wet-downs, get the blaze as small as we can and contain it to the floor." Pep answered while checking a compartment on the Squad truck.

"Well answered. Alright, we'll all need to remember to conserve energy! In a building this tall, you can usually use the elevator IF you don't jump the fire line! Fire in the elevator shaft opens up a serious problem. Got it?" Michelle reminded while pacing slowly.

"Ain't that beautiful?…" Cruz rolled his eyes.

"If any of us drop in there, you know the rules. We save firefighter lives first." Travis mentioned while rolling up a hose.

"Take breaks if you need them," Michelle started. "Or you might contribute to the problem rather than the solution. Nobody likes a hero. Understand?" Michelle told them.

"Copy, Captain."

"Understood."

"Yes, Cap."

"Station 71, Station 20, Station 80, full house responses needed. Copy."

"Battalion 21 to Deputy 7…"

"Engine 1 to Truck 19…"

"Truck 49 to Battalion 30!…"

"Station 43, full house response needed. High-rise fire."

"Deputy 7 to House 43…"

"I can guarantee with how things are going, we'll be last on scene." Spinelli mentioned while checking the Engine compartment area.

"Settle down, Lieutenant, not everything goes our way, haven't you seen that in the past few months or so?" Michelle told her. Spinelli shrugged. "Yeah, yeah, I know…"

Fast Forward That Night…

Well, so much for what Travis said early that morning….

Currently nighttime in Hillwood, Stella was addressing the news, her voice being heard on the TV, just about no calls all day except the skyscraper fire.

After shutting a compartment door on the Squad truck, Arnold sighed as Pep walked around the rig.

"This entire day my Mom has been busy with this high-rise fire…" They leaned against the truck. Arnold looked over at her. In the background, Warren and Murray were chatting away while reorganizing stuff in the Aid Car. Arnold lightly pinched Pep's cheek. "Glad you're back on Squad, Clemente." He smiled. Pep smiled back. She then giggled. "It's more than great to be back, especially under the best Lieutenant and roommate." They smiled at each other.

Soon, Spinelli came over after pacing around in the Officer's Quarters. Arnold ensnared her into a hug. "Hey, Spin." He smiled. Arnold noticed she was chewing on bubblegum since there was nothing better to do. Spinelli teasingly stuck her tongue out for a moment, with the bubblegum on her tongue. She kept chewing on the gum as Arnold blushed.

"And just how old is that gum?" Arnold smirked.

"Just a few hours ago." She shrugged. Arnold rolled his eyes with a smile. "And here I thought I didn't know my wife well enough."

"Better than a couple of days old!" She answered. Spinelli blew a small bubble, which ended up popping. She ended up blushing. Arnold soon kissed her on the lips.

"Isn't it crazy?" Arnold started. "In just three days, our lives will change." He held Spinelli's left hand with a smile. "Spinelli, there is so much you've done for me that words can't express my gratitude for you. I love you, Spinelli." Arnold held her by the hips and smiled.

"And I love you, Arnold. Words can never express how lucky I am to be your wife, or meeting you way back at the Academy." Spinelli wrapped her arms around his neck.

Right as they started to kiss… "Station 55. Full house response needed. Requested per Deputy 7." The station alarm triggered as dispatch radioed through.

The garage doors opened as the two newlyweds to-be separated and went to their trucks to gear up.

Everyone rushed down to gear up.

The entire garage was lit up in red and white with the siren lights flashing.

Truck 55's horn blared as it was the first to drive out. Engine rolled out second with Squad following while the horn blared. Aid 55 soon drove out.

Cars moved out of the way as the trucks made their way around.

Twenty-Seven Minutes Later….

After the trucks raced through the streets and traffic, all of the trucks arrived to find the entire skyscraper surrounded by Ambulances, Engines, Ladders, Trucks, Towers and Tillers, and police squad cars. The entire area was lit up with blue, red, and white siren lights along with the street lights.

Squad, Engine, and Truck 55 all parked slanted at the entrance of the building while Aid 55 joined the rest of the ambulances for an EMS Plan Two.

One of the upper floors of the building had fire pouring from the windows while black smoke poured and filled the air.

At the entrance, full House 55 walked in while multiple crews came walking in and out while a lot of radio chatter went on. Everyone had on their SCBAs. Either Scott SCBAs or MSA G1 SCBAS. And everyone was carrying a tool, which was a halligan, sledgehammer, pike pole, or axe.

"Alright, here's what we know. Chief Shortman and all the other Chiefs are operating from Base camp, three floors below where the fire is. Just about every company in the city has been hitting this fire since morning and it's only ten percent contained. Get in there, fight smart, fight safely, and mostly, fight this damn thing!" Michelle told everyone as they headed toward the elevator. Dean and Cruz were adjusting their SCBAs while Michelle explained what they faced ahead.

Sirens wailed in the background as horns blared. Siren lights from the outside flashed to the inside.

On The 22nd Floor

The elevator doors opened, and full House 55 walked out to meet up with their Chief with Michelle leading the way with the Lieutenants behind her. Donovan, Warren, and Cruz were carrying hose lines on their SCBAs.

Stella came over with a radio in hand. "You two, tag in for Company 17." She signaled 55 to follow. "Listen up! I don't want anyone to be exposed to the smoke and debris for too long! Understood? Battalion 9 and Deputy 6, give me a moment."

"Yes, Chief!"

"Copy!"

"Station 55, excellent response time. Now, containment has gone up to fifteen percent but it's slow going. I need everyone except Squad on that active fire to relieve Companies 7 and 36. Aid 55, you're on Triage."

"No problem." 'Murray replied. "You got it." Watkins answered. The two soon went to the triage area.

"And I need you two on crowd control on floor 28, we're holding about a hundred civilians on there! It's safer to keep them on the fire line. Squad, primary search. I want you to keep an eye on any hazardous chemicals because we have zero clue if there are any chemicals in the building. You all have your assignments, GO!"

"Let's go, Fifty-Five! Let's move!" Michelle told her team as Stella walked toward a different company.

Squad went a different direction while Engine went another, and Truck went to relive Companies 7 and 36.

"So much for taking on this beast, mm?" Vic looked at Donovan. "Eh, we can take care of some civvies, no? Let the rest of 'em have some fun." He answered.

Soon…

"WOO HOO! Told ya! Tons of fun!" A female Lieutenant from Station 12 said.

"Easy, Dearborne! This isn't a drill!" Scott warned.

"Diggin' her energy." Warren shrugged. "I can do without it." Michelle rolled her eyes. "Station 7, we're relieving you!" She pointed.

The Captain came over. "Copy that! Hey! Be careful! Debris in here is falling pretty bad!"

"Copy! You hear that? We'll keep it slow and steady, guys!" Michelle advised them. Company Seven soon headed out.

Dearborne scoffed. "I've been there all day, been there, slow and steady is all we've been doing."

"Think we should get in there?" Warren asked. "I mean, I-" Michelle got interrupted and sighed.

"Yeah, and make some headway! Go big or go home! Right?" Dearborne started as she looked over. "There's a break in the fire!" The fire wasn't raging at the moment.

"I see it." Warren replied. "But it's not very big!" Scott mentioned.

"But it's big enough to get to the fire door! And if I can get to it, it'll give us the advantage and give us a better handle!" Dearborne insisted as she looked ready to run through.

"Closing the fire door would help bu-" Michelle got interrupted again.

"We're all agreed!" Dearborne ran at the fire.

"IT'S TOO RISKY! STAND DOWN, LIEUTENANT! DAMMIT, DEARBORNE!" Michelle yelled. The fire raged right after.

"She made it!"

SCREECH

CRASH

THUD

"AUGH!"

"Dearborne! Talk to me!" Michelle tried to radio, but static came through. "Dearborne, repeat! Confirm you're okay!"

The three tried to look for her, but the fire was blocking their sight. "The steel of the building must be interfering with the radio, she probably can't even hear you!" Scott told her.

"She's probably hurt, I have to go in!" Michelle kept looking at the fire.

"Let me hook up our hoseline first!" Warren went to the nearest standpipe.

"Michelle, that's too much! You probably won't make it to her!" Scott warned.

Michelle stared at the raging flames. The fire crackled, almost like it wanted to challenge her. "The hell I can't…" She ran at it.

"MICHELLE, NO!" Scott shouted.

But defying all odds, Michelle jumped through the fire to reach Dearborne.

She found Dearborne pinned under a vent pipe.

"I almost got it but this stupid vent got in the way!" Dearborne hit the vent.

"Hang on, I got you!" Michelle tried to lift it using her halligan. "You need more hands, better leverage!" Dearborne told her.

Michelle looked to both sides, only to see the fire was raging and getting closer.

"Fires getting closer!"

But soon, two hose lines sprayed their way.

"McShay! You ok?" Scott and Warren came over. Warren and the Engine Lieutenant came over with hoses.

"Guys! Help me lift this thing so I can pull this useless Lieutenant out!" Michelle waved them over.

"Useless?!" Dearborne looked at the Captain. "I would've been running 55 if it wasn't for you biased Chief!"

"SHUT YOUR GODDAMN MOUTH! YOU'RE THE WORST FEMALE LIEUTENANT IN THE HFD!" Spinelli yelled after dropping her hose. "Easy, Spinelli! Not worth wasting your air on scum like her!" Michelle suggested.

Michelle, Scott, Ben, and Spinelli started to lift the pipe off Dearborne.

Soon, the pipe was lifted off, and Michelle pulled out Dearborne. Dearborne merely pushed her off and simply limped away.

"Yeah, a simple thank you would've been nice, you bitch!" Spinelli exclaimed. "Lieutenant, looks like that attack gave us a major hold on that fire!" Warren told her.

"But there's probably fire in the ceiling, and it's probably spreading." Scott added.

Spinelli reached for her radio. "Squad! Search the 26th floor, we have a hold on the fire, but there's probably fire spreading in the ceiling! Go check it out!"

"Copy, Lieutenant! We're on our way!" Cruz answered.

Warren, Scott, and Spinelli walked ahead while Michelle was with Dearborne.

"Hey, hey, hey! You can't put weight on it!" She advised. "Oh, no, no way! I'm not stepping out with Shortman weighing my every move!" Dearborne started. "I told you- AH!" She nearly stumbled.

"You really deserve to be stripped of your title like Welch…" Michelle was disgusted by Dearborne's attitude. She then went on her radio. "Deputy 5, this is McShay, I got an injured firefighter on 25, we're coming down, send replacements."

"Copy that, McShay." Chief Beckett answered.

Dearborne placed her arm over Michelle. "You ass…"

"Yeah, yeah, screw you too…" They started to walk away together.

Meanwhile, with Squad, they all carried fire extinguishers just in case as they arrived on the 26th floor.

"Chief, we're on the 26th floor, commencing search!" Arnold radioed. "Squad, we're looking out for any hazardous chemicals! All civilians were evacuated, alright? I repeat, no civilians on this floor, we're searching if there's any combustible material!" He reminded his unit.

"Got it, Lieutenant!" McCaffery replied.

"Copy!" Pep answered. "Got it!" Suarez answered. "You got it, Lieutenant!" Dean replied.

"Suarez, McCaffery, Smith, you guys take one side, Clemente and Cruz, you're with me!" Arnold assigned partners.

"Got it!"

"Copy that!"

"Copy!"

Meanwhile, on the 28th floor, Donovan and Vic were looking around for the fire evacuation coordinator for the building.

"Oh! Hello! Hi!" A young female called them over.

"Hey."

"I'm Molly, fire evacuation coordinator for my office." She then looked at her clipboard. "Station 55… Um… Here! Wait, no, that's Station 5… He- Nope, Fifteen… Ah! Here we are! Woah… You guys are WAY outside of the district. Must be a pretty big fire if they had to call you guys in." She chuckled.

Both Donovan and Vic were inches taller than Molly so they looked more… more tougher, to say the least. "It's that bad to call our District Chief away from her district?" Vic looked at Donovan. He shrugged as he looked at Molly. "Look, I know it feels counterintuitive to stay up here right now, but-" Molly interrupted.

"Uh, 'panic stampede running past floors of fire and smoke is likely to cause more injuries than good. If instructed, gather your floor to a common space until the Fire Department gives the all clear.'" Molly finished reading a page in her booklet.

"She's a mini McShay…" Vic chuckled. Donovan, whose goggles strap covered the city name on his helmet shield, gave a curious look.

Molly then used her whistle. "Last names, G through M, it's time for your restroom break!" Vic and Donovan looked at each other. "I- I got a list of everyone on this floor. And, I also have a first aid kit, whatever you need, I- I'm here."

"Ok, well, we need to do a sweep to check for any fire or smoke, so, think you can cover the stairwell for us?" Vic asked. "Uh- Sure! Sure, no problem! On it!" Molly passed between them and went to the stairwell door.

"I dig her energy, I'll say that." Donovan shrugged. "Yeah, well I can do without it, for the most part. Maybe." Vic replied.

"Maybe? Or for sure?" Donovan smirked as they walked off. "Ok, I don't know…" Vic answered.

Later…

After exiting separate rooms, the two met up in the hall to check the ceiling.

"No smoke here."

"No smoke."

They raised their axes to the ceiling. "So much for anything here, to be honest." Vic shrugged. "So… How's Catherine been lately?"

Donovan shrugged. "She's been better, I-" Soon, the door opened. A man went to the stairwell door.

"I'm getting out of here right now." The man said. "Mr. Sorensen, I can't let anyone out. As fire evacuation c-"

"The building is on FIRE, and you and your STUPID VEST CANNOT KEEP ME HERE." Mr. Sorensen complained as Donovan and Vic walked over.

"I'm afraid you're very wrong, bud." Donovan started. "You see, the Fire Department is in charge of the entire building, and we put Molly in charge of this door. So how about you go back to where you came from? Maybe sit somewhere? A bag to breathe into? Mm?" He guided the man away.

Vic gave a thumbs up to Molly with a smile.

On The 26th Floor

HISSSSSSSS

After Cruz extinguished one of the fires, Arnold spoke up. "Check the rest of these vents along the floor, make sure they're not hiding any flare-ups."

They walked ahead while checking the vents on the floor. "Did you need to ask me something earlier, Cruz?" Arnold asked.

"Uh, I guess there's never a perfect time, no?" He shrugged. "Look, Lieutenant, it's about the semi-truck fire last shift, it was a big mistake on my end! I'm the reason everything went wrong!" Arnold and Pep looked back. "I- I had a bad headache from last night and I- I didn't adjust my radio to the appropriate channel, that's why I couldn't hear your order not to engage."

"It was a high-pressure situation, don't worry about it, Cruz. Could've happened to any of us, even Clemente here, and especially since it's her first shift back." Arnold answered nonchalantly. "Wait! That's what was wrong with you yesterday? Why didn't you say anything?!" Pep looked at Arnold.

"I-I- I thought my radio was synced with everyone else, but I was on the wrong channel! I wasn't paying attention… It… It's my fault…" Cruz took a deep breath from his mask and looked at the two.

Arnold hesitated for a moment. Looking away for a second, he looked back at Cruz. "You could've killed all of us, Cruz… Almost all of Squad died because of your recklessness…"

Cruz nodded in acknowledgment. "I know!…"

"Cruz, I don't care what you do with your personal life, but you can't let it disturb you during shift! With you slacking off, you put all of Squad in jeopardy-"

THRASH

WHOOSH

Fire flared up behind them. They picked up their extinguishers and headed over.

"That's all I've had on my mind!" Cruz started as Arnold and Pep extinguished separate fires. "I have to tell you 'cause you're my guy! And more than just my Lieutenant! You're a great friend, a- and I couldn't live with myself-" Cruz froze as he looked to his right. "Oh no…"

"What?" Arnold and Pep saw what Cruz saw.

"Are you seeing what I'm seeing…?"

A shelf full of hazardous materials. A bunch of barrels of hazardous materials were also there, but that wasn't the worst part….

"Squad to Deputy 7, we're on the 26th floor, we found a massive load of combustible materials…" Arnold radioed. "Paint, sealant, you name it. Fire's coming through the floor, if it hits this stuff, it'll blow and there's enough to bring down the entire building… We need to completely evacuate immediately…" Arnold looked at his Squad members in fear.

Soon, an outside shot displayed fire pouring from an entire floor as sirens continuously wailed. Helicopter blades whirring and horns blaring.

As many firefighters were guiding civilians, Stella finished up forming a plan with the rest of the Chiefs. "Listen up! Wrap things up, we have to evacuate this building immediately! Move everyone downstairs!" Stella started as she headed with Murray, Montgomery, and Watkins. "I got 100 civilians on the top floor and we need to get 'em evacuated."

"What can we do?" Murray asked as he got on his old Squad uniform. "Can't send the elevator past the fire line, and the stairs are filled with black smoke but there's a PPV Fan on the 27th floor, above Squad." Stella went back to the whiteboard to show them. Many firefighters were walking around to prepare for evacuation. "It'll draw out the smoke out of the stairs so we can get 'em out."

"Got it."

Murray, Watkins, and Travis went to get their SCBAs while Tanner walked by.

"Reports of cardiac distress symptoms, no available Aid Cars." Dispatch radioed and mentioned the address. Tanner knew where that address was. He then looked at his phone messages.

Michelle finally came in with Dearborne. "She needs a splint and ice packs!" Two firefighters came over and took her.

"Engine 28, do you copy?" Stella tried to radio, but nothing came through. A Deputy Chief in the background was discussing with a Lieutenant.

"What's wrong?" Michelle asked as she grabbed a bottle.

"Radios are spotty, I need to tell 28 to be ready to evac civilians once the stairs are clear." She tried radioing again. "Engine 28, report in!"

"I'll go and get 'em up to speed and get back down to help!" Michelle suggested. Stella nodded. "Good. Go!"

Michelle closed her water bottle and soon went off. While the stairs were filled with smoke, her SCBA was the only thing protecting her.

"I'll put a wet rag over my face or hold my breath! It can't be worse than burning to death!" Mr. Sorensen ranted. Donovan rolled his eyes.

Michelle soon came along, coincidentally.

"We've been trying to radio in but it's just static." Vic told her. "All the Chiefs are ordering an evacuation, get everyone out. Get these people ready once the stairs are clear." Michelle informed her.

"Just go back and sit the hell down!" Donovan told him.

"You can't stop me!" Mr. Sorensen replied.

"You'd suffocate before getting down five flights! These firefighters are trying to save your life!" Molly stood up against him while the others walked away. Michelle briefly took off her air mask in the background.

"You make coffee and copies! We gave you the floor captain job because no one else wanted it! Now get out of my way!" Mr. Sorensen insisted.

"No! You may think that I'm a joke or- or that this job is a joke, but I- I don't care! I take it seriously! It is my job to keep you safe! And letting you down the stairs is dangerous, so you need to SHUT UP and stay put! You may be my boss, but you are not… going… anywhere…" Molly finished. Everyone stood in silence.

The three firefighters only shrugged at one another.

"That should be the control box, right?" Murray asked. "Be my guest." Travis pointed.

CRACK

Murray used his axe to break off the lock. He opened the box and turned on the fans.

WHIRRRRRRRRR

"That should do it."

"Listen up! I need everyone to divide into groups of ten! But remember, walk briskly, don't run, this isn't a race!" Donovan told everyone.

"Give it a few and see if the stairs clear." Michelle started. "Shouldn't be long." She soon walked off to warn Engine 28.

Donovan walked up to Molly. "Hey. You should go down with group one, okay?"

"N- no. No, no, no, no. I- I should stay and- and help." She said. "That's our job. Listen, you did a great job here, but let us handle it from here. How about you lead the others down?" He gave an encouraging smile. "Really? Because, um, I know my mom's outside the building and in the crowd somewhere, texting me to stay safe, a- and I wouldn't mind seeing her right now…" Molly teared up talking about her mother.

"Alright, listen up! Group one's headed down with Molly! Let's go! Move it!" Donovan told them and signaled them over.

CREEAAAKK

CREEAAAKK

Meanwhile, with Vic, she heard heavy creaking beneath them. "Alexander, you hear that?"

Donovan didn't hear her for anything. He was currently guiding the civilians. "No… Yeah. Yeah, yeah. And when you're next…"

"Don! You hear that? DON!" She shouted.

Meanwhile, with Squad, they met back up to try and hold off the flames.

"Battalion 25, how much longer 'till evac is complete? We can't hold this floor forever!" Arnold radioed. "Evac in progress. Squad, hang tight!"

Everyone froze as they heard the same creaking. "Guys, you hear that?" McCaffery looked back.

"Do you hear something?" Dean asked.

They all looked to the right, the window area.

CRACKLE

HISS

RUMBLE

Squad figured out what the noise was, a horrible answer…

Flames quickly rose from the windows and moved up… "FIRES JUMPING FLOORS! IT'S MOVING BETWEEN THE SPACE OF THE WINDOWPANE! FIRES JUMPING FLOORS!" Arnold shouted on the radio.

CRASH

SHATTER

HISS

THRASH

CRACKLE

"AAH!"

"AUGH!"

"D'AUGH!"

CLANG

CLANG

Travis, Murray, and Watkins were blasted back by the explosion and made them drop their tools. Their helmets and air masks went flying as glass flew everywhere with black-fiery smoke pouring.

WHIRRRR

"DON, GET AWAY FROM THE WINDOW!" Vic tackled Donovan to the ground.

"UGH!"

CLANG

BOOM

CRASH

SHATTER

BOOM

CRACKLE

Curtains and glass went flying as it went back to the floor below.

"Shit… Watkins! Montgomery! Y'all okay?" Murray looked around as his coat was covered in broken glass. He pulled a piece of glass from his face. Watkins slowly sat up and shook his head.

"I'm fine…"

"Travis?!"

"Ugggh- AH! OW!" Travis was lying on his stomach in sharp pain. Murray turned him on his back. "Easy, there…"

A big sharp piece of glass penetrated Travis' gear and into his chest… Murray slid a finger through, Travis was already bleeding. His bleeding was somewhat subdued. Watkins also saw the blood on his finger.

Papers flew around as heavy breathing between them was heard.

Meanwhile…

Many desks and chairs were lit on fire after the explosion. Donovan and Vic slowly got up as civilians stormed toward the stairwell.

"WAIT! NO, NO, NO, NOT ALL AT ONCE! DAMMIT…!" Donovan tried to stop them but knew it was useless.

As sirens wailed in the distance, the flames raged in front of Vic.

"Vic? Vic?"

"Alexander, get everyone out, I'll hook a hose to a standpipe and knock a path out to the stairs! Go!" Vic told him. "You sure?" He asked.

"I'm more than sure! Go, I got this!" She answered. Donovan nodded as they went their separate ways.

Vic ran off and jumped through the flames.

"Mayday! Mayday! Firefighter down!" Murray tried radioing in, but the radios were down. "Looks like we'll have to drag you down." Murray grabbed Travis's SCBA straps.

Travis coughed. "… I think the glass nicked my pulmonary artery, I'll bleed out before we even get there…" Murray started dragging him along. "I don't think it did! I'm pretty sure it didn't!" Murray answered.

"Guess we'll find out in a couple of minutes…" Travis weakly said.

Watkins went ahead to deal with any doors. He opened the stairwell door, only to see the stampede of people rushing down. He immediately closed the door.

Back at Base camp…

After loading equipment onto a stretcher, Michelle said, "A lot of Chiefs would be downstairs already, preferring to be safe in the lobby."

Stella shrugged as she adjusted her SCBA. "Not how I do things, you should know that by now. Alright, let's move it." They soon wheeled away the stretcher to the elevators.

Meanwhile…

Phoebe just got off her shift at Med, and was at the firehouse, only to see it was deserted.

Tanner walked in behind. "Mr. Spinelli! I'm here! Hey, hey, have you seen Mr. Spinelli? He texted me and said he was here." He asked Phoebe.

"Uh, no? Why would he even be here? He's supposed to be back home, I think." Phoebe shrugged.

"Mr. Spinelli!" They soon walked into the apparatus floor where the one garage door was open while the rest were closed.

"Anybody here?" Phoebe called out aside from the staff there. "Tanner, why would Bob be here in the first place? This place is rather deserted." Phoebe shrugged.

"I think I'll go check-" Tanner looked at the upstairs area, just above the apparatus floor. "Oh no…" Phoebe saw where he was looking. He ran to the stairs with Phoebe following behind.

He raced up the stairs and found Bob unconscious, with no staff in sight.

"Bob!" Phoebe kneeled to check his pulse. "… Unresponsive… Barely breathing… No pulse. Starting CPR." She started chest compressions. "What was he thinking coming here?"

Back at The Skyscraper Fire

HISSSSS

HISSSSSSS

HISSSS

HISSSS

More fires were extinguished by using extinguishers. Squad was encountering more fires.

"The flare-ups are increasing!" Dean mentioned.

"Then we need to secure this floor and get out!" Arnold added. "Closing the fire door should be a good start." McCaffery added after extinguishing another fire.

"Our only way to contain the explosion." Pep said and extinguished another fire.

KNOCK

"Y'all hear that?" Cruz asked. The knocking continued. "Somebody's in here!"

Cruz broke the door open with the extinguisher.

"I thought this was the exit…" A man wheezed.

"He's inhaled a lot of smoke!" Cruz kneeled to the man.

"Squad to Deputy 7, we got incapacitated victim on 26! Stairs aren't passable, we need elevator evac!" Arnold radioed.

"Negative, Lieutenant! I can't send the elevator past the fire line, you know that!" Stella answered. "But Chief, we have no choice!"

"We already evacuated the building! Save who you can! Get yourselves out! It's protocol!" Stella replied.

"Protocol? Are you insane? You're abandoning an entire company because of PROTOCOL?" Michelle asked in frustration. "If fire breaches the elevator, the entire building can be compromised!" Stella replied.

"The building's already compromised!" Michelle retaliated. "I'm Deputy Chief, and my word is final!" Stella exclaimed. "Look, as much as I hate it, I prepared to gamble one life to save hundreds, let alone six lives." Stella pointed at Michelle. "It's a terrible decision but that's the job, the job YOU wanted!" Michelle yanked the key away from Stella.

She switched the elevator back on.

"Shortman, the elevator's on its way!" Michelle radioed. She then looked at Stella, who gave her a cold and angry stare. Michelle stood her ground.

Meanwhile, in the stairs, Murray, Travis, and Watkins were slowly going down the stairs, currently on the 26th floor.

"You know what I can't wait for? Tomorrow and past tomorrow. 'Cause tomorrow, you two will be laughing and laughing at me, and how I dragged your ass down these damn stairs… Montgomery? Hey! Stay awake for us!"

"I'm already laughing…" He weakly replied. "Yeah, just keep laughing…" Murray rolled his eyes as he grunted to drag Travis.

A whistle was heard, barely a chirp. "Hello? Hey, Watkins, check it out!" Murray soon set Travis against the wall.

"Hey! Hey- Oh, my God…" Watkins found the source of the whistling.

It was Molly, who got run over in the stampede of civilians.

"help… ….please help… help please… they wouldn't stop… they kept going…" Molly groaned in pain. Watkins kneeled next to her.

Soon, Murray kneeled to help Watkins. "Don't move, don't move…"

"How are her breath sounds?…" Travis asked.

"Her breathing is shallow…" Watkins started as he kept listening. "I hear crepitus, a pneumothorax, we have to reinflate her lungs, but… I don't know with what!" Watkins looked around.

"Guys…" Travis quietly said. Murray kneeled over to him. "Glass must've shifted, it's bleeding more!" Murray took off his fireproof hood and placed it under his coat to keep pressure on it.

"She'll die if you two don't get her downstairs…" Travis said. "So will you if I don't keep pressure on this." Murray answered.

"You two are extraordinary medics and firefighters… I once told you two, there are differences in those… Watkins, you were once a surgeon… Save the life you can save, and we three know it's not mine…"

"Travis…" Murray looked at him. "Hey… So much for our good day… This was supposed to be such a good day…" Travis answered.

After stretching out the hoseline, "Stairs are dark but the smoke is lifting!" Donovan told Vic as he came up behind her. "Hey! What happened back there? Didn't you hear me yelling?"

"Huh?" Donovan didn't hear what she asked and instead heard a slight ringing in his ears. "I guess I just missed it?" He partly shrugged.

Soon, the hose was switched on and started spraying at the fire. Donovan held her shoulder with precaution.

"Hey! You guys thought you could hog all the fun or what?" Gerald and Ben came over with a hoseline and sprayed at the fire. Gibson and Tommy came over with another hose. "No way you're doing it alone without us!" Scott said.

"About time we get some help!" They high-fived each other.

Over with Squad, Dean and Pep carried the man into the elevator, and everyone got in.

"Cruz, you didn't have to tell me about the truck explosion." Arnold spoke.

"Of course I had to!" Cruz answered.

"You're my guy… Come on. McCaffery, with me!" McCaffery stood up and went along with him. Suarez, Dean, and Pep looked over. "Watch his vitals. His pulse is thready, get him on concentrated O2. Only a matter of minutes before this floor blows… We didn't finish closing those fire doors!" Arnold stepped out with Cruz and McCaffery and hit the elevator button.

DING

"ARNOLD, WAIT! HEY! NO!"Dean looked back after placing an oxygen mask on the man.

"HEY- WHAT ARE YOU DOING?! LIEUTENANT, WAIT! ARNOLD! CRUZ!" Pep punched the elevator doors after it closed.

Back at the Firehouse, Phoebe checked for a pulse but got nothing. "We can't delay anymore, we need to get him toward Med!" She continued chest compressions.

"My SUV! We can use my SUV!" Tanner immediately ran downstairs to get his SUV.

Meanwhile, Michelle and Stella were still staring each other off. While Stella remained with a calm and intimidating look, Michelle looked on the verge of distress. She gulped once as she took deep breaths. All she was waiting for was for the elevator arrow to light up downward, a signal that Squad was headed down.

"My key?… I need it back…." Stella stuck her hand out. Michelle's face was covered in sweat as she looked at the elevator arrows again.

DING

Michelle switched off the elevator and handed over the key. Stella clinched the key and soon walked out of the stairwell door.

"Elevator's a go, they're on their way down, Cap!" Arnold radioed. "They? Who's they, Arnold? L- Arnold, where are you?" Michelle asked.

Background Music: Drunk On A Feeling by Madilyn Bailey

"We stayed back!" Arnold started. "We?" Spinelli finally came around, her air mask on her head. "Arnold, what the hell are you up to?!" Spinelli radioed.

"Cruz, McCaffery, and I stayed behind to shut all the fire doors!" Arnold replied as he shut a pair of fire doors with his halligan.

"Arnold, no! You can't-" The radio signal cut off as he went ahead. He was heading to meet back with Cruz and Russell.

Arnold used his halligan to push up the door stopper.

"Arnold, talk to me goddammit!" Spinelli radioed back.

"No time, Ashley!…" Arnold replied as he went back.

Spinelli froze since it was rare for Arnold to call her Ashley. "Talk to me, face-to-face!" Spinelli felt her heart skip several beats. She looked at the elevator doors.

Michelle and Spinelli soon pried the elevator door open.

The elevator door above was pried open by McCaffery and Arnold. Smoke poured from the floor as fire hissed and crackled in the background. The entire background lighting was lit in fiery orange. Their flashlights shining brightly.

Spinelli looked up. "Arnold! Figure out a way to get down the stairs! Repel down the shaft! YOUR ESCAPE BELT! SOMETHING! JUST GET OFF THAT FLOOR!" She exclaimed.

Cruz and McCaffery stood behind their Lieutenant. "Can't….Stairs are blocked off, we don't have the right gear or the O2. We can help the most right here! I- Try to secure these doors and save the building…" They started to take off their air masks.

Spinelli yanked her air mask off her head and put her helmet on. "Don't you dare do this, Arnold… What about Andy?! She isn't gonna grow up without a father! She almost lost you once, she can't bear it now or ever! SHE NEEDS US!"

"I didn't send that elevator for you three not to take it! Shortman, remember what I said earlier today… DON'T be a hero! Don't you guys do this!" Michelle told them. "Find a way to-"

Arnold put his helmet back on and interrupted Michelle. "To save ourselves?… Maybe… But what about everybody else? Isn't Engine, Truck, and Aid still on the upper floors? Doss and Alexander? Montgomery and Murray? Watkins? Johanssen? Warren? Tommy? Gibson? Everyone? Have you heard from them? Only Suarez, Smith, and Clemente got out. Our entire team is still in this building." Michelle and Spinelli looked up at them. "We're not sacrificing losing everyone to save myself, I'm not allowing that to happen just because we saved ourselves. I'm not saving myself… I'd rather sacrifice myself to save our entire Firehouse than to save ourselves… And I know you two remember that night when House 53 got completely wiped out by a factory explosion… At least they sacrificed themselves to save the factory workers while they could, because that's what real heroes do, save others rather than themselves… You know what we signed up for…" Arnold referred back to early in their careers when a factory explosion killed an entire Firehouse, and Firehouse 55 was the first to respond that tragic night…

Spinelli sniffled as tears slowly built up in her eyes. Michelle also sniffled, realizing her Lieutenant and friend was right. A tear slipped down Spinelli's cheek as she stared at Arnold in sadness and clinched onto the elevator doorway.

It's not about being a hero.

As water sprayed, Donovan, Vic, Gerald, and Warren were still fighting off the fire. While it kept flaring up, they didn't give up.

It's about facing fears.

In the elevator, Pep punched the elevator panel while Dean was doing chest compressions. Suarez was sitting near the man in disbelief, all of them with their masks off.

Dean took a deep breath as he looked up.

It's about finding strength.

"Come on…"

Red and blue police siren lights lit up the engine bay. Phoebe looked over. Tanner's SUV screeched to a halt as he jumped out and raced to the upstairs area

It's about going where you're needed.

In the stairwell, Murray and Watkins were still troubled about Molly and Travis's injuries. Travis was barely conscious as his coat had stained blood…

It's about making the hardest decisions…

Molly wheezed in pain.

In the worst of circumstances.

Murray shook his head as his face was covered with cuts from the explosion. He looked at Watkins, who had a skeptic look. The two paramedics didn't know how to proceed.

WHOOSH

CRACKLE

Arnold looked back at Cruz and McCaffery. "We gotta go. There are still more doors to close…" He looked back down at his fiancee and Captain. "You two need to run… down as many floors as you can…Ok?…"

"Arnold!…" Spinelli started. "Ashley…" Arnold looked at her. "I'm sorry… I'm sorry I most likely won't come home to our daughter, but at least you will, I don't want Andy to be an orphan… I'm sorry we never got the wedding we've planned for so long, I'm really sorry… If anything happens, she'll be in your hands. Everything will be. I once told you you are the best Ashley I'd ever meet, 'cause that's true… I told you… I love you, Ashley Spinelli… I always will…You were the biggest miracle ever, Ashley… You were my miracle… I love you, Spinelli…"

Spinelli sniffled. "Jus- Stay on the damn radio with me! 'Kay?" She pointed.

Arnold nodded. "Okay…" Arnold sniffled as a tear slipped down. "'Kay, I will…" He stepped back to shut the elevator doors.

"Let's go, Lieutenant…" Cruz said as the elevator door closed.

"Okay…" Spinelli hit the elevator door as she started to cry briefly. Michelle made Spinelli step back by tugging on her coat as several tears slipped down. Michelle soon slowly shut the elevator doors as Spinelli recomposed herself and wiped away her tears. She took a deep breath as Michelle patted her shoulder.

It's about seeing the whole picture. It's about knowing how to follow, and how to lead.

Tanner carried Bob on his shoulder as he and Phoebe raced down to the SUV in the engine bay.

It's not about us. I told you…

"Arnold, talk to me! Keep talkin'! You there?" Spinelli radioed as she picked up her halligan. "I know! I am! I'm here!" Arnold answered.

"I mean it dammit! Keep talking to me! We're headed toward the stairs! Y'all still there?" She asked as Michelle and her were at the stairs. "I am! I'm here!" Arnold answered.

"Alright, we're headed for the stairs now! You still there?" Spinelli asked. "Yup! I'm here!" Arnold replied. "Cruz? McCaffery?" She asked.

"We're here, Lieutenant!"

"We copy!"

"Arnold?" Spinelli asked again. "Don't worry, I'm here!"

"We're headed down, you still there?" No response, making both of them freeze…

"Arnold I said we're headed down!…" Static came through. Spinelli's eyes frantically looked around as she gulped. "Arnold talk to me dammit!" Spinelli tried radioing again. Static came through…

"Cruz! McCaffery! Do you two read?!" Michelle tried her radio, but the static kept going…

Spinelli grimaced like never before. "ARNOLD!" She yelled desperately.

We're just doing what has to be done.

BOOM

KA-BOOM

CRASH

BOOM

CRUMBLE

A massive explosion went off. Spinelli and Michelle looked up in fear as everything went black…

Soon, a small light of fiery orange lit up as ashes slowly flew up as the song faded out…

Somebody has to…