"How long do you expect that four-wheel menace you call a vehicle to be in the repair shop this time?" Ezra didn't take his eyes off the road as he made his way through unfamiliar roads to drive Vin home.

The defensive tone in Vin's voice was evident, if somewhat less than confident. "It's not a menace and it's not my fault it's in the shop."

"Of course it isn't." Ezra kept his focus ahead as he deftly swerved around yet another pothole.

"Seriously Ezra, it got banged up some is all."

"How on earth could you tell?"

"Okay, so it's not as pretty as your car"

"My automobile is not pretty Mr. Tanner." He shifted his glance over long enough to favour Vin with a glare. Ezra's offended tone wasn't entirely in jest. "This is a classic vehicle with aerodynamic lines and a sophisticated presence."

A soft snort was the response, with no effort to disguise his opinion of that statement. "It's a car Ezra. All it really does is get you from point A to B."

"Which is considerably more than can often be said for yours."

"Anybody ever tell you that you're a funny guy? Didn't think so."

Ezra slowed down after taking the next corner, attention diverted from the discussion. "Tell me Vin – am I seeing things, or is there smoke coming out of that building?" He pulled his vehicle over in front of the five story walk-up apartment and was out almost before stopping. What had been wisps a few seconds earlier were now billowing swirls that were growing stronger at an alarming rate.

"Yeah, too much to be ignored." Hitting 911 as he got out, Vin kept his tone calm as the dispatcher answered. "I'm calling to report heavy smoke at 719 Woodward Road. I'm an ATF agent." he added, figuring in this neighbourhood making the call more official might speed up the response. "Ezra, what are you doing?"

"Looking for a fire alarm." Ezra took the stairs two at a time and pulled open the door to the building, relieved and not the least bit surprised there was no security system to slow him down.

"Doubt it's gonna work in a place like this."

"Then you go door to door, I'm going to find the source." He disappeared deeper inside before Vin could answer.

Muttering "Idiot!" he followed his friend in and began pounding on doors. He could hear Ezra shouting a fire warning as he mounted the stairs. In a matter of seconds people were rushing down. There was more pounding on doors to be heard as many stopped on their route to notify neighbours. Ezra's voice was no longer audible, and Vin could only hope there hadn't been any trouble, although knowing the man, that seemed unlikely. There was one more door to knock on at this level, then he could go check.

His plan got put on hold with the door was opened slowly to reveal an elderly woman in a wheelchair.

"What's all the ruckus? What's going on young man?" She looked anxiously at the confusion behind him.

"There may be a fire ma'am. We're getting everyone out."

She shook her head firmly. "Oh no. I'm not going anywhere. I can't."

"Don't worry about anything ma'am. I can get you safely clear."

"No."

"Ma'am…"

"I'm not leaving without my cat."

Well of course she would have a cat. Holding back the desire to simply grab the woman and run, Vin did his best keep the frustration from his voice. "Fine. Where is he?"

"She is in the bedroom." Vin gently pushed past the chair, hoping the feline was friendly and cooperative. Like that would happen.

"What's her name?" he called back, not quite believing he was doing this.

"Callie. She's a calico. She's a good girl. She'll come if you call her nicely."

Calico. Perfect. His neighbour had one of those, and he knew the temperament all too well. Vin rolled his eyes but obliged her. "Come on Callie. Time for an adventure." He was glad no one was there to see the look on his face when a multi-coloured ball of fur burst out from under the bed, entwinning herself around his legs. "I'll be damned." He reached down and easily grabbed the co-operative kitty with one hand. "Come on girl, let's get out of here."

He handed the cat to Mrs. Washburn, as she introduced yourself, then put picked both of them up and headed out the door and down the hall. The smoke was much more pervasive now, and he hazarded a glance up the stairs, hoping against all reason to see Ezra on the way down.

The first fire truck had already arrived, with another pulling up as he got to the sidewalk. A firefighter quickly rushed over, reaching out to take Vin's burden. "Is she hurt?"

"We are perfectly fine, thanks to this young man. But my wheelchair is inside."

"Don't worry, we'll find a spot for you."

Offering a final smile to his new friend and a quick pat on the head to Callie, Vin spun on his heel and moved back to the entrance stairs. The captain stepped quickly in front of him, blocking the path to from re-entry.

"No way friend. Not that we don't appreciate the help, but we've got this."

Not really expecting it to make a difference, Vin flashed his badge. It was, as he anticipated, a futile gesture. "Sorry, but that means nothing here. We're trained - you aren't. I get that you want to help, but not in there. Stay here and help keep the residents and all the damned onlookers well back. There are gas lines going into this building. We shut them off but there's still residue inside."

Vin blanched. "My partner is in there. He went up to the top floor where the smoke was coming from."

"Call his cell."

Vin tried but shook his head. "No answer."

"Okay. We'll send someone up. Stay put, I don't want to be rescuing you too. You know if anyone else is still inside?"

"I'll ask around and see if anyone can tell."

With growing fear he watched the radio calls being made notifying the crew of the fact there was at least one man inside. It killed him to be left out of the search, but his head knew it was the right choice. If only his heart could agree. Turning his attention to the crowd, he scanned the onlookers, trying to decide who would be the most likely to know the other residents, and if anyone was unaccounted for. His attention went to a man who seemed to be scanning the group as well, as if doing a headcount. That was his best bet.

Before staring, he had a call to make first. Chris would want to know what was going on. No that wasn't accurate. He wouldn't want to know any of this, but he needed to. He was not going to be happy.

"You can't even be gone 30 minutes. What could possibly have come up already?"

"Trouble."

Chris knew that would be the answer and was fairly sure of the next answer as well. "And you two are in the middle of it?"

"Building on fire. We were trying to get people out and got split up. I'm on the street and they won't let me near the place again." He paused, taking a breath before having to say the next words. "Ezra's still inside, and he's not answering his cell."

Just as predicted, Chris growled, trying with moderate success to control his response. "He's likely too damned busy. You do what you're told for a change and stay back. Bad enough one of you was stupid enough to go in."

"We both were. I just got out faster."

"Don't be telling me things like that. I'll let the others know. Buck and JD are closest. We'll all be there as soon as we can. Vin – I mean it. Don't do anything stupid. Anything else I mean."

Vin hung up and was about to start canvassing the residences, huddled across the way when a young woman charged past him. He barely managed to grab her arm and spin her to a stop.

"Let me go! I have to get in! He's in my little boy - my Tony." It was hard to understand her through the gasping sobs.

"Calm down. Where is he? Where is your apartment?"

"420. I was just next door picking up the baby from the sitters. Five minutes. Please let me go. He's just 4 years old. He won't know what to do. He's not supposed to leave the apartment." She tried to pull away, but he wouldn't release his grip.

"I'll let the firemen know. They'll be faster. Stay here." He'd taken only two steps toward the building when the explosion sent him flying.

M7-M7-M7-M7-M7-M7-M7

TBC