Authors notes: In the language of the Fire Service, a new Firefighter is given the title of Probationary Firefighter. That title is often shortened to Probie. They are also often called Rookie, or Rook for short. There are a lot of jokes played on the new guy, but those are all in fun. When the chips are down, Probie or not, you are still part of the brotherhood that all Firefighters share.

An 8 foot hook refers to a Roof man’s hook used to pull down ceilings. The Irons are a set of tools made up from a flat head ax and a Hallagan Bar. When put together they are called The Irons. The Jaws are the Jaws of life, used to cut victims out of wrecked cars.

I did not intend for this to be as long as it is but the story just kept going. Every time I thought I was getting near the end, more wanted to come out. And now, on with the show.

The Probie
By Watchdog

A burgundy Ford Bronco winds it’s was through the early morning streets of New Hope Vermont. The sun has not yet risen but there was a line of light beginning to appear on the horizon and the city was just beginning to wake up. A garbage truck lumbers down main street. A newspaper van moves slowly down the street stopping at each paper machine to deliver the day’s news. Mabel’s Diner is doing a brisk breakfast business.

The Ford pulled into the diner and parked with the three taxis, one New Hope police car, and the town tow truck. The driver of the Bronco got out and stretched. John Bigs was aptly named, standing 6’2” and weighing in at a “petite” 290 pounds he was in the best shape of his young adult life. Constant physical conditioning would do that for you. As he ran his hand through his short brown hair he was starting to feel butterflies in his stomach. Today was the big day.

“Morning John,” the waitress said as he walked in. “The usual?”

“That works.” John said with a smile as he sat down at the counter.

“Order in!” the waitress yelled. “Two shingles, pig sticks, taters scattered and two eggs, stretch em and wreck em.” As she worked her way down to him he started taking in an all to familiar site. At 6 foot she was taller than your average girl. And her figured bespoke of a lot of hard hours put in at the gym and wearing a path around the diner.

“How you been Stacy?” John asked the waitress.

“Not bad. Been busy this morning.” she said. “So, today’s your first day?”

“Yep. I got assigned to Station 6.”

Stacy poured him a glass of milk. “That’s the one out on the edge of town, near the industrial park, right?”

“Right. I’m really looking forward to working there. They have a reputation as the cowboys of the fire service. I should get a lot of good training and experience from them.”

“Stacy! Order up!” came the shout from the kitchen. Eric had been cooking at Mabel’s long enough that he had learned most of the regulars favorites, and John Bigs was a hard one to miss. He had started his breakfast even before he had made it to the door.

“Be right back John.” she said.

Stacy returned a minute later with his breakfast, toast, bacon, hash browns and scrambled eggs. She put his food down and then poured herself a cup of coffee and sat next to him.

If Eric kept up shooting the food out like this she would have to start tipping him! They could use it, his daughter was about to start school after all. She thought to herself.

“So you made it.” Stacy said as she sat down next to him. “I guess the fire academy was worth the effort?”.

“Yea, I finally made it. As far as the academy, I will let you know when my muscles stop hurting”. Stacy just smiled and watching him wolf down the food. How could he not know she thought.

John finished his breakfast and looked at his watch. “I gotta go. Don’t want to be late on my first day. Thanks Stacy.” John got up and walked to the door and stopped. “I guess I will see you later”, at that he smiled and walked out the door.

Mabel came out of the kitchen and looked at Stacy. “What are you waiting for? Tell him.” Like the grandmother she looked like she could see young love for what it was, but could not for the life of her explain why they were all so shy about it.

“Shut up Mabel.” Stacy said with a smile. “Yea, he knows”.

John stopped his Bronco in front of Summit County Fire Rescue Station 6 about fifteen minutes later. The building looked a little run down and both engines and the ladder truck were already outside and being washed. John parked, grabbed his gear bag and walked inside.

Just as he was taking in the new digs while standing in the middle of the engine bay, a booming voice came from one of the doors “Your late Probie.”

Startled John looked at his watch. “I’m right on time Chief.”

“If you’re on time, you’re late. If you’re early, you’re on time. Rule number one.” The Chief held his glare a moment longer then smiled and held out his hand. “ Chief Hercules Kinard. Welcome to Station 6. Your locker is on the other wall. Get your gear stowed and meet us out front.”

“Ha Ha good one Chief”, Hercules, Ok you have to be kidding.

“Yea Probie, my name is Hercules. And my brothers name is actually Shane but we call him Zeus. Now, get your butt in gear and we can decide later what you can and can’t believe later.”

What a way to start John thought as he stowed his gear in the locker they had pointed out. “Ah well, first impressions”.

Ten minutes later John was walking out the front bay door and saw the “A” shift crew’s washing the trucks. “Over here.” the Chief said.

John walked over, grabbing a long handled truck brush on the way to the pumper.

“No, not that truck…that one.” the Chief pointed to the Ladder truck. “I assigned you to Ladder 6.” He was about to say more when the house bells went off.

“Station 6, Hazmat 14, activated fire alarm, 19165 Industrial Blvd. Cross street of Plant St. Station 6 Hazmat 14, activated fire alarm, 19165 Industrial Blvd, cross street of Plant St. Time out 0729.”

It was more intense than he had imaging. Everything thing went into high gear. While the driver frantically washed the remaining soap from the truck 15 firefighters including himself were trying to squeezed into their bunker gear in record time.

“Take the hook seat!” yelled the Lieutenant on the Ladder truck. John flew inside the truck and slammed the door just as they started to pull off sirens blaring.

What the hell am I doing on the Ladder truck? John thought as they raced down the road. I requested the Engine, everything I have done was geared toward being the guy on the nozzle.

“Hey Probie. PROBIE!” John turned to his left to search out the voice calling him.

He came face to face with a guy that looked like he had been there and done it all. A slight scar ran down the right side of his face, interrupted only by the enormous handlebar mustache that had been curled up at the ends. Not many people could pull off the look, but the depth of experience showing from his grey eyes said otherwise.

“Names Nick Cole. Just stay with me when we get there and do what your told. “

“You got it” answered John. Man that guy looks like he should have retired ten years ago, what is this the take it easy truck?

Over his headset he heard the Engine’s officer come over the radio reporting no fire or smoke, everything appeared normal.

“Hey probie get a 8 foot hook and the irons, then meet me at the front door”

“Yes Sir… uh sir where is the hook and irons? I barely had time to stow my gear before we rolled out.”

“Yea, ok. Hey Nick help the probie out”

“You got it LT.”

As Nick walked him around the passenger side of the truck, John was thinking he should have pushed the issue, after all the Engine guys were the ones you always saw doing the work.

When Nick opened the door to the tool compartment John nearly fainted. There were no less than four saws, multiple hand tools and pry-bars designed to open any door that was ever made, and two mean looking hydraulic tools that could cut or pry anything metal.

“I thought you guys just dealt with ladders?” John said.

“HAHA, good one probie. I guess we got a lot to teach ya.”

“Yes, I guess so.” he said as he picked out the tools he was assigned and shut the door.

As they walked up to the Lieutenant at the front door the radio went crazy. Station after Station was being dispatched, but not his station!

“What’s going on with that?” He asked

“Structure fire over on the East side of town. If we don’t go we will be on standby to cover the other stations that did. Come on and lets see what is going on here.”

As they walked into the lobby the first thing they saw was a 6 foot beer bottle. That is the biggest beer bottle I have ever seen thought Nick.

“I am the manager here” this statement brought both Nick and John face to face with a slight man that looked just about ready to fall over from the jitters.

“We just had this system installed two days ago and they said that it would not go off unless there was a fire, we have looked everywhere but cannot find anything.”

“OK, well we will look around, but I am not seeing anything either. Nick, take the probie and the Manager around, I am going up top”. And with that the LT left the three of them standing there.

Nick said, OK, so show me around your facility. Where did the panel say the alarm was going off at?

“It said “packaging storage”, but we have been all over that area and cannot find anything”.

“Well, let us take a look and we will just make sure.”

As they walked down the hallway the manager seemed to go into tour-guide mode as he started telling the company history and stats. “Making bottles for 40 years…. Twenty tons of glass a day…. Kilns” John was only hearing every other word.

I should be out there with the Engine Crew, at least they get a hose if there is a fire. What am I supposed to do, beat it out with a roof hook?

As John was thinking about everything except what he later figured he should have he ran smack into the back of Nick.

“What the hell? Why did you stop?”

“Smell that?” Nick was standing rock still, only his head turning as he used his finely tuned sense of smell to pick out the light odor. “Smoke.”

Just that one word snapped John back to the here and now. “Smoke, where?”

“Seems to be this way.” he said as he turned right. The manager trailed them “But that is just an empty store room, there is nothing in there!”.

When they walked through the door it seemed like they had walked into a cheap night lounge, the cigarette smoke was only about 2 foot off the ground.

“We use this as a smoking area sometime, what is the problem with that” asked the manager.

“Well, you see that little white thing on the ceiling, we call those smoke detectors. As you can imagine, they detect smoke. I think they did their job” said Nick, who was now looking annoyed.

“Ok, but the FIRE alarm system went off. We need to be looking for FIRE” the manager seemed annoyed he eve had to tell these “proffesionals” what their jobs was.

“Yea, ok. Well see the funny thing is that that SMOKE detector if part of the FIRE alarm system. Open all of these windows”. It was strange, but it seemed to John that Nick looked a bit confused.

Nick keyed his radio,“L6 Tip man to L6 officer. Alarm was activated in a rear room used as a smoking room. The manager is concerned because we did not find any fire and the FIRE alarm system was going off. We are heading back out, he is all yours.”

When they got out to the truck John put the equipment back on the truck and walked over to Nick.

“So what was that about?” John asked

“What?”

“You just seemed a bit off when the manager started questioning you.”

“Heh, you will learn when and when not to argue with the ones that think they know what they are talking about. Until then, just do what your told and you will do fine. Now, get your butt on the truck. We need to be ready to go when the LT gets back.”

As John was climbing back on the truck he heard the Chief call in to dispatch. “601 to Central Fire.”

“Go ahead 601.”

“Alarm was human error, all fire units completed and returning.”

“Copy, all fire units completed and returning, 0758.”

About ten minutes later the trucks returned to the station. “Alright,” the LT. yelled. “Get the trucks checked and back in service. Probie, your task for the day is to learn where every tool is on the Ladder truck, by the end of the day.”

“Yes sir.” John turned and started to get out of his gear. He started to hang his gear in the locker when Nick stopped him,

“John, put your gear here.” Nick said. “Boots and pants here buy the truck door, jacket on the grab handle, helmet on the seat. That way it’s ready to go for the next call.”

“That is a good idea,” John said. “I would’ve never thought of that.”

Nick smiled. “Stick with me rook, I’ll get you squared away.” He slapped John on the back and went back to the truck check.

The next few hours were quiet and John had time to look over the Ladder truck and become familiar with all the tools. He was surprised to see that the heavy hydraulic tools he spotted on the fire alarm were actually used at car accidents to rip a vehicle apart to get to the occupants..

“This is what I am talking about. Maybe I could hang on the Ladder Truck after all” John said to himself.

After going over the truck for two hours, John felt fairly sure he could find whatever he needed to. As he sat down Nick came out side and looked him over.

“Thought you were told to learn the Ladder Truck” he said.

“I did, just spent the last two hours going over it. Go ahead, ask me where anything is.”

After about 5 minutes of questioning Nick seemed satisfied. Then he threw out his favorite tool.

“Ok slick, pretty good so far. But did you find the bucket?”

“Bucket of what?”

“The bucket of steam of course, every ladder had a bucket of steam on it. Its frickin tradition!”

Not wanting to look foolish at having missed this John said, “Oh yea. I saw it earlier.”

With a twinkle in his eye Nick told him to get it for him.

After a few minutes the rest of the crew was standing outside watching John rack his brain trying to figure out where they would have put this all important bucket of steam. After 30 minutes Big Mike could not take it and started giggling. This turned into a full out laugh that seemed to be contagious to everyone but John.

“Ok, what’s the deal?” John asked a little annoyed.

“Ahhh, god that gets em every time. OK Rook, think about it. A bucket of steam. Really?”

It suddenly dawned on John that he had been had. “Ohh man, ok you got me.”

“Yea. Well I seem to remember that you were so sure it was there. In fact you said you had seen it. Look, I am not trying to call you out but if I ask you a question don’t try to BS me. I usually know the answer anyway. Tell you what, as a penance for your sin polish the silver bell on the front bumper. Then come on in and get some grub.”

“Yea, OK. Sorry about that.”

“Look John, you have to learn you will not know everything your first few shifts. We all went through it, and we have all been caught by the same Jokes. Mine was a Left handed smoke shift so don’t feel to bad.”

With that Nick turned around and left a dumbfounded John standing there with a priceless look on his face.

Tweny minutes later John walked in happy with the Bell he could now use as a mirror to shave in.

“About time probie, get some grub”

“Hey, it was worth taking an extra minue to do right. So where is lunch?”

“We were about to ask you. Here is a shoping list, and the crew fund. Head over to Krogers and pick up the groceries See you in about half an hour.” Nick said with a smile.

“What, now I am an errand boy”. he muttered to himself as he walked to his truck.

Wait, Nick said they all had been picked on. Maybe this is all just part of it.

As he pulled away from the station John made a personal commitment to learn what he could, keep his mouth shut, and go along with whatever they had in store for him,

“Besides, I have a feeling it would be even worse if they thought it was bugging me”.

Walking down the bread aisle John was trying to figure out where the damned “Gluten” free bread was. What the hell was Gluten anyway?

“OH MY GOD! SOMEONE HELP!”

As John ran towards the commotion he was reachiong for the radio the Lieutenant had handed him before he left the station.

“Just listen out for our station. If something goes out you have two minutes to get back or we will have to leave you”.

As he rounded the corner John started taking things in.

Elderly man down on the floor; lots of blood; overturned shipping cart; broken bottle all over.

“What happened!” He asked.

“He was trying to put a bottle up an dropped one! When it broke he slipped and pulled his cart over. When he did that all of the these other bottles fell and broke! He is cut all over and bleeding pretty bad!”

“Uhhh, uhhh.” Damn what was his unit number!

“Ladder 6 Hook Man to Station 6, come in”

No answer

“Ladder 6 Hook Man Firefighter Bigs to Station 6, I have an emergency come in!”

“Go ahead Bigs.” Came the responce.

“I need help at the Kroger, I have a man down and bleeding heavily!”

“We copy Bigs, try to control the bleeding we are on the way! Break. Station 6 to Central Fire….”

Ok ok ok. OK, “Give me your belt!” John told the manager. “He is bleeding the worse from his leg, I need to stop the bleeding!” As john threaded the belt around the mans right leg he saw the blood was spurting out from a deep gash to his thigh. When he tightened the belt the bleeding started to slow down.

As he went to the other areas that were bleeding John was acutly aware that he had almost no idea what he was doing, but he was the one everyone was looking at to do SOMETHING!

After what seemed like an eternity he heard help coming. “He is over here!” John shouted and was met by the ambulance crew, follwed immediately by his crew.

John told the medic what he knew and stepped away. “John are you ok?” Nick asked.

“Yea, I am fine. Why?”

“Take a look at yourself.”

Oh man, I am covered! His pants had blood all over the knees and lower legs from where it had drug through all of the blood on the floor. He also had blood up to his forarms. “Glad I wore my medical gloves” he was not happy.

“Do you have any cuts or open sores?” asked the Lieutenant.

“No sir.”

“Well you should be fine then, hey guys help him get cleaned up.”

“Hey Fireman!” Said the medic.

“Yea?” John answered.

“Did you put this belt on here?” John could not tell if he was mad or concerned from the look on his face.

“Yes sir, he was bleeding realy bad from his thigh and well… it just seemed like the thing to do.”

“Good job, you probably saved his life by doing that.” Suddenly the medic offered his elbow. John just looked at it.

“Sorry you must be new. When we have all this crud on us we bump elbows instead of shaking hands.” When John bumped him back the EMT just smiled and said “Lou, I think he will do ok. After all he is still vertical after seeing all the blood. Did better than Big Mike did on his first one”.

“Ha ha, I have a queezy stomache, that’s all.” this came from Big Mike who happened to be as far away as practical while still being involved.

“Uhhh, sure. Hey where is your bathroom?” The LT. asked.

As John was finishing washing his hands the LT walked in with a white paper suit.

“Put this on and put your clothes in this red bag to we can get it clean without you getting blood all over”

“Yes sir, uhh sir?”

“Yes?”

“What the hell is Gluten free bread?”

John was stil trying to figure out what he missed as the LT limped out of the bathroom because he was laughing so hard.

“Jones! Jones did you make the damn shopping list? Well you got another one BAHHHH AHAHAHAHA.”

After getting back and cleaning up lunch was waiting on John when he walked into the Kitchen.

“All ready to go again?” John nodded. “Good, have a seat and grab a bite.”

“Yea, sure. So… all of the pranks. Is this normal or am I getting special treatment?”

“Oh its normal, and will get worse before it gets better. We pick on each other all of the time. Imaging us as a big dysfunctional family.” Nick chuckled.

“Ah, ok. So do you think that guy will be ok, or…“ he was interrupted by the house bells going off.

“Station 6, Rescue 3, Battalion 2, MVA with entrapment at North Palafox and East Nine Mile road. Station 6, Rescue 3, Battalion 2, MVA with entrapment. North Palafox and East Nine Mile Road. Time out 1331.”

All hell broke loose again. As John got the his gear he was silently thanking Nick for helping him set up his gear. In less than a minute from the alarm John was on the truck and ready to go.

As the trucks pulled out John was wondering what his job would be on this one. No one had taken the time to explain is actual assignments yet, and he had never run a Motor Vehicle Accident before.

“Bigs! When we get there get the jaws off and set them up so we can be ready for them when we stabilize the car.”

“Ok Nick.”

As they pulled up it looked worse than it was. An overturned van was sitting in the middle of the road, and a large sadan sat off to the side, the whole front end caved in.

As soon as they stopped and the airbrake popped John was off the truck and heading for the extrication compartment. After pulling off the cutters he was going for the hoses to connect it to the hydraulic pump when Nick grabbed him.

“Whoa Whoa. Ok good job, but they are saying we do not need to cut. They though someone was trapped in the van but he got out. No one is even going to the hospital. Come on I will help you get this stuff put up.”

When they finished putting the equipment up John helped the crew push the car out of the road, which was no easy job since its front right wheel had been sheared off. It was difficult but with all of them working on it they finally man handled it off the road to get the traffic flowing in at least one lane.

“Alright, lets head out.” he heard the Chief yell.

Johns heart rate was just starting to come back down when they pulled into the station. He was surprised that he had gotten that much of an adrenaline rush just off a car accident.

“Ok guys, good job. Lets grab some dinner and get ready for tonight.” The Lieutenant said.

The next three hours was a combination of eating and cleaning. Finnaly John finished mopping and was putting up the mop bucket when the Lieutenant appeared behind him.

“Bigs you did pretty good today. I am sorry we did not have to much time to go over operating procedures with you but you managed it. Tomorrow I will get you a copy off all of the guidelines and procedures for the station before you go home.”

When John was finnaly told he could go to bed he was sore, tired, and a bit overwhelmed.

One hell of a first day. I wonder what the night will bring.

As he dozed off John was transported in his mind to a white counter, and a smiling face looking across at him. Funny this is the first time I have thought of her since I got here. Maybe I should tell her how I feel, I wonder if she feels the same. Yea, one hell of a day.

That was the last conscious though John had as he quickly slipped off into a deep sleep.

BBBEEEEEEPPPPPPPPP

“Station 6, Engine 3, Rescue 3, Truck 7, Battlion 2, Structure Fire at 8606 Satsuma Ave. Station 6, Engine 3, Rescue 3, Truck 7, Battalion 2, Structure Fire. 8606 Satsuma Ave, Cross street of Hannah Dr. receiving multiple calls. Time out 0314”

WHAT THE HELL! Oh damn, truck, truck get to the truck!

John was not even awake as he was pulling on his airpack. Training was taking over just like he had been told it would.

Mask, Hood, Gloves, Bottle On, Straps tight, helmet on tight. Ok, lets do this.

He could hear the radio in the background as he readied himself to face the beast.

“Battalion 2 central. On scene with a single story residential, lightweight wood truss contstruction. Heavy smoke showing from the rear of the structure. Establishing Satsuma Command, have Engine 6 and Ladder 6 report directly to the scene, have Engine 3 lay a line in from the hydrant at Satsuma and Ensley St.”

God, a real fire. Don’t screw up, don’t screw up. Follow Nick.

As they rocketed to a stop in front of the house it was chaos. People were yelling, a woman was sitting on the side of the road crying holding her child.

Suddenly he was next to Nick and they were heading to the front door.

“Bigs, take the door!” Nick yelled through his mask.

As John ran up the steps to force a door open he was starting to get frustrated. It was never this damnm hard in training.

After a few fruitless moments of not making and headway he felt the door frame start to give. With a last heave the door came open and heavy black smoke came pouring out. Then the heat hit him like a brick wall.

Holy crap! My damn ears feel like they are on fire.

As John moved out of the way the nozzle team shot past him through the door and instantly disappeared in the smoke. He could not even see their flashlights attached to their gear.

“Come on, follow me in, we are doing a search.” yelled Nick.

As they went through the door on their knees John could hear glass breaking somewhere to his left, muffled breathing from the nozzle team to his right, and Nick yelling at him to keep up.

When thy rounded the corner John ran smack into Nicks airpack. “What the hell? Did you find something?”

“Shut up, hold your breath and listen for a minute.”

Damn, search and rescue 101 and John had forgotten the basics in his rush to meet real life.

As he sat there in total silence the surreal scene in front of him seemed to take on a three dimensional quality.

He could picture Nick in front of him, the hose against his right leg. He could feel water moving through the hose and could hear the nozzle team spraying in the distance, he could clearly hear the light cough to his left, and the could almost picture…

Wait a minute, a light cough?

“Nick, to the LEFT! I got someone to the left!”

AS they turned they made their way down a hallway stopping every few seconds to get a better beariing on the sounds of a life in the balance.

When Nick moved into the bedroom he stopped and suddenly grabbed his lapel mic on the radio.

“Ladder 6 Search Team One to command, we have a victim. Back bedroom, adult male. Send in the secondary search team to take over where we left off and we are moving the victim out at this time!”

“John, take out that window over there!”

“Over where? I cannot see a window!” John started to panic but clamped down on it.

“To the right, there should be a window. Break it out and we will take him out that way.”

As John broke the window he saw Nick closing the bedroom door through the clearing smoke. It was then he saw the man on the floor laying on his back, breathing but just barely. He looked oddly familiar, but could not place him or even try to at that moment.

It only took a few more heavy grunts to heave the man out of the window and into the arms of the EMS crew that had run around to where Nick told them they were. By then the other search team had cleared the rest of the house and the fire was pretty much out.

As John followed Nick back to the truck his knees started to shake. So much had happened in the last day that he had not been able to keep up, and now his nerves were raw.

My god that was insane. I can’t believe we got him out in time.

While he was sitting on the back bumper of the pumper trying to calm down a small hand came up and tugged on his coat.

“Is my daddy ok?” said a little blonde haired girl.

“Huh, yea hunny I think he will be ok.”

“What happened to him?” she asked.

“Uh, well he got some bad air in the fire and smoke. So we went in and helped him outside so he could go to the hospital and see the doctor.”

“Are you the one that helped him?”

John was slowly becoming aware that several sets of eyes were on him, including the little girls mother who was slowly walking over to them.

“Yea, my and my partner helped him.” All of the days emotions were suddenly welling up in his chest and he started to feel a tightness in his chest.

“Thank you for helping my daddy.” And suddenly she was around his neck hugging him.

As the tears started welling up it was all he could do not to cry when he hugged her back and carried her over to her mothers arms. “Here, you two should really see about getting inside somewhere and keeping warm.”

“Thank you, thank you so much.” was all the mother could say as she carried her daughter off to the neighbors house.

The last thing John saw was a little hand waving at him before the door closed.

A bit embarrassed John realized that almost all of the firefighters were watching him with different expressions. Some were teared up and all smiles, while some had a distant look and a blank expression. Nick had a mixture of both.

“You did good rookie, you did good. Now come on and lets finish this up.”

When they finnaly got back and all of the equipment cleaned up it was almost time to go home.

John dutifully put his bunk up, and placed his fire gear in the washing machine to clean all of the soot and ash from it.

“Hey Bigs, good job this morning, see you in two days.”

“Ok Nick, se you later.”

As the oncoming crew was coming on he heard a voice from across the bay

“PROBIE, your late!”

John started to laugh when he relived those first moments through different eyes and wondered if the new guy on this shift would have as much fun as he had.

Pulling into Mabel’s John was still trying to decide if he should go ahead and just tell Stacey how he felt. After all nothing else could compare with what he had been through in the last 24 hours, could it?

When he walked in the door everyone stopped what they were doing and looked at him.

“What? Did I do something?”

When Stacey walked around the counter she had a look he had never seen before. He suddenly realized it was… admiration.

“Heard you had a busy night”

“Yea, we did a few things.” He said sheepishly.

“We heard.” said Mabel. “I am glad you came in this morning. There is someone here who wants to see you.”

Suddenly a little blonde girl came running out of the kitche and around Mabel.

“Mr. John!” When she cleared the counter this little 5 year old girl almost bowled John over as she hit him full speed and enveloped him into a hug.

It was the same small girl from earlier. The daughter of the man he had just saved.

It suddenly hit him where he recognized the man from. It was Eric, Mabel’s cook.

As Stacey walked up and slid in next to Erics daughter and looked into Johns eyes.

“There is something I have been wanting to tell you.”

The kiss that took his breath away would have lasted much much longer if John had his choice, but suddenly the diner erupted in auplause, hand shakes, and back slaps.

“Hey Stacey” John said when he finally caught his breath “Hold that thought would ya?”

As the you girl, who John later learned was Mandy held on they parted and Stacey she was all smiles.

When the chime went off he turned around and saw Eric and his wife standing at the door.

“DADDY!” Mandy gave John one more hug and launched herself at her father who had walked over to shake Johns hand and thank him.

“So you want your usual?” Asked Eric.

“You feel up to working after all that?” asked Mabel who had a worried look in her face.

“The Doc said it was just a little smoke. Said that they got to me quick enough that no major harm was done. And besides, I think I owe this guy at least a good breakfast. He had a long night saving my butt, How bout it John, your usual?”

“No, I think I am going to try something different.” As he met Stacey’s eyes he smiles and said “A lot of things are going to be different.”

Mabel’s eyes focused on a face she had not seen in a long time. It had been 14 years since the accident, but he still looked as hansom as ever to her.

“Well, hello stranger. Its good to see you around here again.”

“Yea, its good to come to a place that know you.” Said Nick. “Mind if we sit down for a few and catch up, if your not to busy that is. If you are that’s OK I can come back.”

“I’ll grab a fresh pot of coffee for us. “

“Sure.” said Nick, his face blushing a little. All except the scar from that night four years prior where a woman was screaming to a young girl that would never see the next sunrise and the determined face of a young fireman risking it all on his first day.