That Night…
It was around midnight, and most of the house was quiet, well, except for the obnoxious snoring coming from Diesel…
Currently, in the bedroom, Spinelli had her hands on the dresser as she was looking down in disappointment. Arnold finally came around and put a hand on her shoulder.
"Hey. What's with the long face?" He asked.
"It's all my fault…" Spinelli muttered.
"What?"
"… I- W- I don't know what it is, but I feel awful! I feel like I failed as a Lieutenant! I- I should've seen this coming wit-" Arnold then interrupted. "What are you on about?"
"Gibson, Arnold! Scott! I feel like I can't even look after my team anymore… I noticed his mood swings and other signs, but why did I let this slide and let this happen to him!…" She softly whimpered.
Arnold started massaging her neck. "Hey. Spinelli. You can't blame yourself for this. None of us could've known this was gonna happen. Not you, not Michelle… None of us."
Spinelli sighed. "… I can barely forgive myself for this…"
Arnold kissed the side of her forehead. "Hey. You're one of the greatest, if not, the best female Lieutenant the HFD has! What happened to Gibson was never your fault." He rubbed her bare shoulder. "If anything, you are the best Lieutenant anyone could work under." He softly smiled.
"Really?" Spinelli asked softly.
Arnold nodded. "Of course! You're the best. And it's thanks to you you made his career at 55 memorable."
Spinelli softly smiled and leaned against him. "Thanks, Arnold. You're really the best husband I can ask for…"
"What I'm here for, no?" He softly chuckled and kissed her forehead.
"Arnold?" Spinelli quietly asked.
"Hm?"
"Can I get a kiss?" She innocently asked. Arnold smiled and planted a long kiss on her lips.
Spinelli turned around from the dresser, instinctively wrapping her arms around his neck as their kiss deepened.
Once they finally separated, they nuzzled their noses together briefly before smiling at one another.
"Have I ever told you just how much I love you?" Spinelli asked with a smile. Arnold smiled back. "You tell me that every day. And I love you more, Ashley."
Spinelli let go of Arnold and sat on the bed. "You gonna come cuddle me or what?" She lured him with a finger while having a flirty smile.
Arnold smiled, walking over to her and hugging her. Spinelli laughed and hugged him back as they rolled onto the bed, Spinelli pinning Arnold down.
"I love you." Spinelli smiled.
"I love you more. You own my heart, Spinelli. All I want to do is hold you close, keep you safe and protected and never let go…" Arnold kissed both Spinelli's cheeks and her forehead. He then hugged her closely to her, Spinelli wrapping her arms back around him.
She then nestled against him, practically forcing him to smell her perfume. "You're so romantic and caring at times I feel like I don't deserve you…"
"Yet I need you in my life." Arnold answered with a smile.
"Oh, C'mere dammit!" Spinelli pressed her lips against his for a kiss. Arnold happily returned her kiss as he hugged her tighter.
The Very Next Night…
It was well into the night, red siren lights flashing everywhere as firefighters ran around the working structure fire scene.
Only three rigs were there, Engine, Truck, and Ambo. Michelle was standing near Engine 55 while Violet and Nessa were working with a patient.
"Check IN, Captain! I need an update!" Stella radioed.
"We need backup! B-Side!"
"C'mon! Let's move!"
"Captain?!"
"Squad is two minutes out!"
"McShay, report IN!"
How or why do we find ourselves in this current mess? Why is Squad not on the scene?
21 Hours Earlier….
Currently 9:09 A.M…
With a loud purr coming from the engine of Truck 55, the firehouse was just returning from a call.
Truck 55 was pulling into the apparatus floor as Ambo came in from the opposite side. Squad pulled up alongside as Engine stopped behind them.
Michelle got out and shut the door on Engine. "Great work out there, 55! And Randall, way to bring it first day back in the field!" She told everyone.
And there he was, Steven, walking around Truck with an axe in hand over the shoulder. "Thank you, Captain. Very glad to be here."
As he walked past Squad, Arnold grimaced with pain in his wrist. "You ok?" Travis questioned.
"Montgomery, I'm fine." Arnold answered as he patted Cruz's shoulder. "You don't look 'fine', you were barely fine on the call." Travis answered.
"I don't need your help, Trav." Arnold walked away.
"Feels like it's gonna be one of those days." Spinelli teasingly hit Michelle's shoulder. "Ugh… Tonight's gonna be a full moon. You already know what that means." Michelle answered.
"Maybe today will be a quiet one." Violet shrugged.
"UGGGH!" Everyone groaned.
"Bro!"
"What?" Violet questioned. "You NEVER say the Q word out loud! Ugh!" Brett told her partner.
"Buckle up then, 'cause we're in for a VERY busy shift…" Michelle said and walked away.
Spinelli rolled her eyes and started walking away. She then patted Vic's shoulder. "Great to finally have you back."
Randall came up to her, but Travis also came over. Steven nodded and turned around. "And that is my cue." He walked away and toward the rear of Truck.
Meanwhile, Michelle walked into the District Chief's office where Stella had a pinboard setup of the city map.
"Are those all our calls?" Michelle asked.
Stella blew a strand of hair out of her face. "Yep. The entire Department is stretched thin as of late. So be smart, conserve resources, and don't expect much backup."
Michelle nodded. "Copy that."
Stella sighed and sat down. "One last thing. Uhm… I- I'm afraid layoffs are imminent..."
Michelle blinked in surprise and raised her eyebrows. "Layoffs?"
Stella nodded. "And you won't be the one choosing, the FD has already chosen Squad to be shut down due to the city's budget."
Michelle shook her head and sighed sharply. "We lost Gibson and Smith, two major losses that happened recently. I'm not willing to lose someone else, ESPECIALLY an entire company! Squad has become an essential part of this house!"
"Unless you can pull a rabbit from your helmet, I suggest you get to it." Stella answered, almost with no solution.
The station alarm went off. "Truck 55. Engine 55. Squad 55. Ambo 55. Industry Plant, 1701 Bullsward Boulevard."
Stella nodded for Michelle to leave her office.
Michelle walked out of the office, with the extreme concern of losing an entire company, Squad 55…
Two Hours Later…
The loud rumble of Squad's engine was heard as the trucks were just returning from yet another call, only this wasn't exactly normal…
As Truck came to a stop next to Squad, Squad hopped out of their truck coughing momentarily.
Members of Truck 55 got out of their rig, Spinelli slamming the door and gagging. "Never gonna get the smell of that place out of my hair…"
"Yeah, well let's hope we never get called there ever again…" Steven said as he walked away.
"Someone PLEASE hose this man down…" Pep said while pinching her nose. "What?" Murray lowered his eyelids while taking his coat off.
"Cut him some slack, we can't keep DUMPIN' on him!" Travis teased.
"This was…. rather unusual, even for us…" Arnold mentioned.
"Lineup!" Michelle sternly ordered.
As everyone lined up, Pep, McCaffery, Cruz, and Suarez coughed again and stepped away from Murray.
"Nope!"
"I know today has already been a lot to handle, but in the next hour, I'm handing my Commanding Officers and all of you full audited assignments. I want every piece of inventory counted, documented, and on my desk by the end of shift. Dismissed." Michelle ordered and soon walked away.
As everyone walked away, Murray walked up to Spinelli. "Vibes have never felt this off after a lineup, right? Come to think of it, Michelle doesn't seem normal. Feels like something's missing." He mentioned.
Spinelli shrugged. "You have a point, I guess. Please stay away from me, you stink like literal sewage acid and other junk… You reek… Phew!" Spinelli answered and soon walked away.
Murray took a sniff of his uniform and gagged, coughing once.
"Ew…"
Later…
"This is not even close to this one Christmas, where we had 36 calls!" Steven chuckled. "36?!" Cruz questioned.
"Yeah, it's like every schmo with extension cords with a string of lights was setting places on fire!" Randall mentioned.
Vic was merely sitting in the locker room with a severely deteriorated attitude.
"Engine 55. Ambo 55. Man down, 441 Docks Road." The dispatcher said.
Meanwhile, on the apparatus floor, Travis caught Michelle near Engine.
"You got a second?" Travis asked. "Make it quick!" Michelle answered while gearing up.
"I can't help but notice that Lieutenant Shortman has been struggling with his wrist and-" Michelle interrupted as she got inside Engine. "I appreciate the heads-up, but focus on those audits and I'll keep an eye on my Lieutenants!" She answered and slammed the truck door.
Ambulance 55 drove out of the firehouse, sirens wailing as Engine soon followed behind.
Arnold soon came up to Steven, with an axe in hand. "I think this belongs to you." He showed the axe.
On the handle, it had a strong message about courage. The one Steven handed him a long while back.
'Steven, Courage is not living without fear, Courage is living afraid of death and doing the job anyways.'
"I gave that to you." Randall mentioned.
"I was just holding on to it for you. Welcome back." Arnold handed over the axe. Steven stared at his old axe. "If you need anything, you can come talk to me."
Steven nodded. "Likewise, Shortman. Thank you." Arnold nodded. "Congrats on the promotion and new rig." He mentioned. Arnold lightly chuckled. "Thanks."
A lot has changed ever since Randall left for rehab and got demoted to the Firefighter ranking. A new Truck 55, a brand new Squad company, a new Captain, the two Lieutenants married, new paramedics, and so on.
Soon, up in the common room…
"I'm guessing she has a reason for the audits?" Spinelli questioned.
Travis shrugged while eating an apple. "Something about that Captain's chair that turns everyone into a jerk."
Steven and Arnold looked at each other and at Travis with lowered eyelids.
"I mean-" Travis stuttered.
"I'd like to see you try! You could barely handle taking my Lieutenant's spot last time!" Spinelli exclaimed.
"Strange too. I was also told I was a Class-A jackass." Steven said. "I heard the same thing before." Spinelli mentioned.
"Well, I'm glad someone has time to eat." Michelle said in disappointment. "Audits. Now. I'm not asking again."
The station alarm went off again. "Truck 55, Squad 55, Engine 55. Ambulance 55. MVC, interstate 54-1."
As they headed toward the apparatus floor, Stella had her hands full with the District.
"Talk to me, 86."
"Chief, we need two more Engines! This fire's spreading fast!"
"I have every unit active in the District, next available Engines are unknown!" Stella answered and set her radio on the desk.
Her radio went off again, sirens wailing in the background of the radio. "Truck 55 to dispatch, requesting three additional Ambulances! We have a derailed streetcar at our location. Priority one for two crushed vehicles and a motorcyclist… being pried from under the streetcar, requesting an EMS Plan II! We have a massive loss of blood!" Spinelli radioed.
"Copy that, Truck 55." Dispatch answered.
"District 7 to House 55, any confirmed survivors?" Stella radioed.
"Captain! We're at one of the vehicles and… we are… recovering what we can… of the driver. no survivors… Passenger suspected, but no sign of the victim." Murray radioed.
"This is Montgomery, we found one of the passengers! A hundred and forty feet North from the accident site!"
"Bodies over here! Cap, two kids… crush injuries…" Randall radioed. "… They're gone… Requesting an M.E."
"MY BABIES! WHERE'S MY HUSBAND!?" Yells from a woman came over the radio. "Squad here, we got more confirmed bodies here…" Arnold radioed.
"Requesting blankets to… to cover the children's bodies…" Randall radioed.
"Ambulance 55 to Dispatch… we have multiple confirmed deceased victims… Requesting a coroner, PD, and the M.E… Ambo 55 will take care of the only survivor…" Violet radioed.
Stella ran her hands through her hair, extremely upset over what just happened. Just about no survivors…
Later at 5:51 PM…
As Squad backed inside the firehouse, Truck pulling in alongside, Engine was already parked inside, engine still rumbling as the brakes hissed from Squad.
With a brief view of the rear of Truck 55, its American flag at the rear, finally transitioning inside Squad, no one could believe what happened.
Everyone started getting out, truck doors closing as the entire house was silent.
Travis got out and immediately started throwing up in a trash can.
As everyone hung their coats on the rigs, Randall kept his gear on and walked to the rear of Squad.
Michelle exhaled deeply, hanging her coat on the mirror. After walking away, a bloody print was on the floor, coming from her boot from the massive bloodbath…
All in the meanwhile, a sniffle was heard.
Arnold walked over to the rear of Squad's truck and found Randall sitting against the rig, crying and sniffling.
"Can't say this was the ideal first day back in the field." Arnold mentioned.
"My entire career I've never had a day on the job… where I was this kind of sober…" Steven started. "No… coping mechanism… Feels like I almost have no skin… I just… feel everything…"
Arnold leaned against Squad's rig. "You know… There isn't exactly a coping mechanism through anything… it's more or less… an escape."
"How'd you get through it?" Randall sniffled.
"This place. Everyone's trying their best. Their compassion. Their faith for the people. Their stupid little arguments… Be honest, you missed it while you were gone."
Randall slowly nodded. "Yeah…"
Arnold patted his shoulder. "That's why we have each other. To lean on one another."
Meanwhile, in the upstairs gym area, Pep was passing by when she saw Spinelli having a sparring session with a punching bag.
"18 calls in and somehow you still have the energy to go at it with a punching bag?" Pep chuckled.
Spinelli shrugged. "Something about me, I guess."
"Damn, I need me one of those smoothies. NOT the ones from the gas station…" She chuckled and walked away.
Michelle soon after walked into the room.
"Captain. Ugh, wait, sorry. I'll get back to the audits." Spinelli said.
Michelle shook her head. "No, no, no. Take a minute." She said while closing the door. "Now… Between you and me, you know of the budget cuts and about Squad…"
Spinelli raised her hands. "Michelle, I know she's my mother-in-law, and you're like my sister, but I know nothing. I'm as shocked and troubled as you are."
Michelle nodded understandingly. "Alright…"
Knocking on the door of the Chief's office, Michelle walked in. "A word, Chief?"
"Make it quick, I'm a little busy." Stella answered.
"Chief, uh- What happened to the deal with the mayor?" She asked. "He promised to raise the budget!"
Stella waved her off. "You think he's the only politician to go back to his campaign promises? McShay, we can't afford to be that naive."
"Chief. We've made sacrifices. We're doing everything right. But you can't even tell me why this entire Department is DROWNING and my team is out there, fighting for their LIVES? And that our Squad company may be SHUT DOWN? I'm not willing to lose them."
"Captain, you are smart. You know the numbers. You've been pushed to your limits today like other times. So I'm letting this moment pass like it never happened… Now leave."
Michelle left Stella's office with frustration.
11:08 PM…
As air hissed from the brakes of the trucks, Travis immediately got out of Truck 55 and walked toward Squad.
"Lieutenant, enough is enough. Admit that your wrist is injured and stand down!"
Spinelli got out and looked over at them.
"I said it's fine! For the last time, get off my ass!" Arnold exclaimed. Michelle also looked over and shut the truck door.
"Your ass is half the reason you endangered all of us!" Travis shouted.
"What'd you say? Say it again." Arnold confronted him. "SAY IT AGAIN!"
"Hey! Enough!" Michelle shouted.
"YOUR ASS. IS HALF THE REASON-"
"HALF OF WHAT-"
"E-NUFF!" Michelle yelled. "Montgomery, stand down and walk away! Lieutenant, with me!" Michelle shouted.
"What is going on? Be real with me dammit…" Michelle asked. "Captain, I'm fine." Arnold answered.
"I don't have anyone to cover for you."
"And you won't need one." Arnold answered.
"Finish your audits." Michelle sternly said.
"Yes, Captain." Arnold replied and walked away.
Soon enough, McCaffery walked over to the bedroom area and found Cruz and Randall praying.
"Do you mind?" Cruz asked.
"My fault." Russ walked away.
Later…
On the apparatus floor, Spinelli was checking over the compartments of Truck 55 when she noticed…
"No, no, no, no, c'mon…!" She checked Engine's compartments and found something missing…
THUD
"What's up?" Pep asked.
"We lost a pair of hydraulic spreaders…" Spinelli replied.
"Didn't someone do a check after the last call?" She asked. "Well, they should've! But we were surrounded by evacuated people and someone must've stolen one of our spreaders!"
"What's going on?" Cruz asked as he and Randall walked in.
"We're missing a pair of spreaders." Pep answered.
"We're supposed to check the equipment after every call!" Cruz mentioned.
"Isn't that you, Warren?" Randall questioned.
"No, I was helping Ambo with medical." Warren answered.
"Looks like you were slacking, Montgomery." Spinelli said.
"Uh, no. I was busy fighting fires and picking up slack from your husband." Travis answered.
Arnold slammed a compartment door of the rear of Squad and walked over. "We're back at this again?"
"What'd you say about my husband?!" Spinelli raised an eyebrow. "You wanna run it back like your failed dating life?"
"You know what-" Travis started, but Randall spoke up. "Montgomery, worry about your job rather than complaining about Shortman!" He said with his arms crossed.
"THEN WHAT? SO THAT I WOULDN'T NOTICE THAT YOU WERE THE ONE WHO FORGOT TO LOCK THE GATE? THAT YOU LOST OUR SPREADERS?!" Travis shouted.
"HEY! NO, STOP! JUST STOP! ENOUGH!" Spinelli yelled. "I DON'T KNOW WHO STOLE OUR SET OF SPREADERS-"
"Who stole WHAT?!" Michelle shouted while walking in.
"Captain, uh… We believe that someone stole the hydraulic spreaders…" Warren explained.
"You're kidding…" Michelle replied.
The rest of Squad 55 walked in and stood next to their truck with their Lieutenant. Arnold sniffled to clear his nose.
Michelle slowly pointed to the garage doors. "I- I- I- I am out here… stretching EVERY NICKEL WE HAVE TO FIND A MIRACLE. And you… lose… one of our most EXPENSIVE TOOLS?…" She looked at everyone. "DO YOU NOT SEE WHAT I'M DOING ALL DAY!? DO YOU NOT SEE WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO SQUAD?!… I'M TRYING TO SAVE THEIR JOBS!" Michelle screamed in complete anger. She put her hands on her forehead and sighed. "Godammit… Spinelli, call the other stations, see if they'll lend us their spreaders because if we're divided without having that damn tool-"
The station alarm went off. "Truck 55. Engine 55. Ambulance 55. Diner fire. 1262 Willis Avenue."
Michelle snapped her fingers "SQUAD-"
The alarm went off again. "Squad 55 requested 274 Thompson Street. Be advised, Truck 38 and Engine 77 are already on scene."
"Wait! Where's Doss?" Pep asked.
"Clemente! MOVE!" Michelle shouted. "Squad, just take your set of spreaders!"
Compartment doors were quickly shut, siren lights turned on, engines cranked, and truck doors shut.
Horns blared from Truck 55 as it was the first truck to roll out.
Sirens wailed and engines rumbled as it transitioned to where Vic was. Dead asleep in the bedroom part of the Firehouse.
3:32 AM….
Red and white sirens flashed throughout the nighttime streets. Ambulance 55 was ahead of Truck 55. Horns blared from Truck 55 as the front headlights flashed brightly repeatedly. Engine 55 followed behind Truck 55, the American flags attached to the rears blowing as they raced by.
Ambulance 55 was the first to drive in as Truck 55 followed in. Horns blared as Engine 55 followed in behind.
Sirens lit up the dark area as everyone started getting out.
"Alright, Engine, fire attack! Find the source of the fire! Truck, you're on primary search! Tommy, find the exterior gas line and shut it off! Brett-" Michelle stopped as she saw Gabriel struggling to get his SCBA on. He grimaced after getting the second strap on and leaning against Engine's truck for support. "Brett! Upton! Triage! You have your assignments! Go!"
"Copy, Captain! Truck, let's move!" Spinelli shouted and walked ahead.
Gabriel grimaced and put a hand against the pumper valve. "Stand up straight, right now or so help me…" Michelle sternly ordered.
Gabriel nodded and stood straight, with a pain-filled expression. "So we're lying to my face…" Michelle said in an extremely upset tone. "Just help Ambo with triage."
"Captain, but I-" Gabriel tried to explain, but Michelle wasn't having it.
"Do it." Michelle said and walked away.
Gabriel slid off his SCBA now that he was sidelined.
Inside, Randall switched on the hose as they found flames crackling and raging everywhere.
Truck followed in behind and cleared the path of debris.
"OVER THERE! I SEE A GAS MAIN CRACKED WIDE OPEN!" Randall shouted.
"COPY!" Spinelli answered. "CAPTAIN, WE FOUND THE SOURCE! A BROKEN GAS LINE THAT'S SPRAYING FIRE ACROSS THE KITCHEN!" Spinelli radioed.
"Copy, Lieutenant." Michelle replied. "Tommy, what's your status?"
"I found the gas line but I can't shut it off!" Tommy answered.
"What do you need? More hands? Can you seal the pipe closed?" Michelle asked.
"Uh… I'll need the hydraulic spreaders to clamp the pipe!" Tommy answered.
Michelle sighed in disappointment.
Back inside…
"LIEUTENANT! I THINK WE FOUND THE OWNER! INSIDE THIS FREEZER!" Travis shouted.
"CAP, I HAVE A PLAN! IF ENGINE CAN PUT THE FIRE OUT, WE'LL SEAL THE PIPE WITH A WOODEN PLUG, AND WE CAN USE SAWS TO GET THE DOOR HINGES OFF WITHOUT SPARK IGNITING!"
"Copy, Spinelli. Proceed as planned." Michelle answered.
"WHERE'S MY SON? IS HE OK?" The diner owner shouted.
"SIR, YOUR SON'S OK! WE'RE ALMOST READY TO GET YOU OUT!" Travis shouted.
"PLEASE! I CAN'T BREATHE! THE DOOR WON'T OPEN!" He shouted back.
As the small crackling flame was put out, Randall switched off the hose and looked back. "Lieutenant!"
Spinelli came over, plugging the hole and using an axe to hit it in.
Soon after, air started hissing. "GUYS, GET DOWN! NOW!" She yelled.
THRASH
HISS
CRASH
CLANG
BOOM
A big explosion erupted from the pipe. Spinelli and the others were knocked back from the blast.
"TRUCK! ENGINE! REPORT!" Michelle shouted. "ANYONE COPY?"
"… We're alright, Cap! But the fire's spreading and there's no way to close the pipe!" Randall answered.
"Captain, I need an update!" Stella radioed.
"Captain, we need backup from Squad! Do we have an ETA?" Randall radioed.
"WE ONLY HAVE FIVE MORE MINUTES OF OXYGEN!"
Michelle exhaled sharply. "Captain McShay to District 7, we have a gas fire that's expanded, the place is small and we're all over each other! The valve is broken and without the spreaders to close the pipe, we can't shut it off." She reported.
"Squad 55 is now available, sending them over now. ETA of 3 minutes. Once they arrive, pull primary search teams out. Have fire attack suppress the fire until Squad arrives." Stella answered.
"Engine, continue working on suppressing that fire. Truck, pry off the hinges on that freezer door, and get out!" Michelle radioed and adjusted the eyeshield on her helmet upward, letting out a sharp exhale.
"Copy that, Captain!" Spinelli answered.
Back inside…
As flames continued to crackle, Randall banged on the door as he worked to pry open the door.
"SIR, CAN YOU STILL HEAR ME?" Travis shouted.
Back outside, horns blared as red and white sirens flashed, a heavy rumble of an engine while its sirens wailed.
"CAP, PATIENT IS NOW UNRESPONSIVE!" Travis shouted.
"Copy!" Michelle answered as the horn blared from Squad. "Squad's here, be prepared to stand down in one minute!"
Inside, Travis and Randall struggled to pry open the freezer door.
Arnold motioned over to Squad. "C'mon, let's move!"
"Squad 55's taking over. Truck, evacuate now." Michelle radioed.
Spinelli tugged Travis away from the freezer door. "WE WERE SO CLOSE!" He exclaimed.
"HEY! WE'RE DONE HERE! NOW MOVE IT!" Spinelli shouted, pushing him ahead.
Finally stepping outside, Squad went inside as Spinelli and Travis yanked off their masks.
Randall soon followed outside, yanking off his airmask.
Several minutes later, Squad came out with their victim and brought him onto a stretcher. Suarez started doing chest compressions with one hand as they rushed over toward an Ambulance.
As Squad went over to a different Ambo, the rest of 55 were left speechless. Almost no reaction after a tough shift, coming to an end as the sun was rising.
Spinelli patted Steven's shoulder, signaling a good job as Michelle stood there, shaking her head…
7:14 AM…
Back at the firehouse, Vic suddenly woke up, the sun shining on her face. She rubbed her face as she heard the rumble of the engines coming from downstairs… She immediately realized what happened.
She immediately rushed out of bed. "No, no, no, no, no, NO!"
Engine, Squad, and Truck were pulling into the apparatus floor, sirens still flashing from the rigs. Ambo backed into the firehouse as Vic tucked her hair behind her ears. The headlights of Ambo flashed brightly as it backed inside.
Vic felt even more awful as she saw Engine pulling in right beside her. Truck and Squad also came to a stop, air hissing from the brakes.
Michelle got out, shutting the door with an extremely upset look. Probably the most upset she's ever been.
"Don't let it happen again." Michelle sternly said. "I'm sorry, Captain…" Vic answered, her voice shaking.
Everyone got their turnout gear off, hanging their coats on the trucks and leaving their bunker pants next to the rigs.
Shortly after, Arnold walked over to the Chief's office.
"Hey."
"Hey…" Stella exhaled and tucked her hair behind her ear, tired out from the long shift. "Looks like we finally finished today's marathon, huh?"
Arnold shrugged. "Look, Mom, uh… Any news about Squad? Like why would the Department do this?"
"I'm so glad you asked…" Stella slapped a file on her desk. "Looks like Squad is here to stay."
"Wait, what?"
"Yup. The Department intended on shutting Squad down, but it turns out they finally realized that they were shutting down a company from a busier house and with more success. So they eventually decided to shut down House 89. Turns out a lot was going on there. Looks like you guys get to keep your jobs a little longer." She chuckled.
Arnold sighed in relief. "Oh my… That's literally what I wanted to hear after such an excruciating shift…"
"You said it…" Stella softly chuckled. "I think it's also about time you lot get some rest before next shift."
Arnold nodded once. "Love you, Mom."
"Love you more, dear." Stella replied as she dug through a file cabinet.
Shortly after, Spinelli walked in. "Chief, a word?"
"Yeah?" Stella looked at her daughter-in-law.
"Chief, uh- Look, I was mostly wondering when can we get a replacement for Gibson? I mean, I feel a little short-handed here. And, well, nobody can really fill the boots he left behind." Spinelli explained.
Stella scratched her forehead before answering. "Ashley, don't worry about it, I already chose someone from the floater pool, they'll be here next shift."
Spinelli exhaled in relief. "Thanks, Chief."
Stella nodded. "Mmhm." She sat back in her chair with Tuesday running into her office with a ball in her mouth. Stella softly smiled as she reached down to pet her.