Rescue Her

Winterfest

A/N This is a Fire epsisode that I'm including purely because I want to.

Anyway, without further ado, please relax and enjoy the read!

~Princess <3

*Firehouse 51: Apparatus Floor*

Squad 3 and Truck 81 had just returned from a call. Kelly was in the middle of taking off his work boots and pants when he overheard Matt's replacement, Lieutenant Jason Pelham, congratulating his crew a few feet away.

"Hey, Pelham." He called.

"Hi." Jason greeted, stepping over to the other man.

"Nice work back there." Kelly nodded

"It was all them." The Truck Lieutenant shrugged, gesturing back at his crew. "They make a lieutenant look good."

He grinned and slapped the other man on the shoulder. Jason turned to head inside, when a short brunette dressed in a Chief's uniform suddenly walked through the doors.

"Hey!" The Squad Lieutenant smiled, warmly.

"Seems like the fun's started without me." Ana smirked as she caught sight of her Godson's dirt covered face.

"Well, maybe if you'd start coming here more often." Kelly teased.

"I know, I know." The older woman rolled her eyes, fondly, and pulled him into a hug.

He returned it immediately and pulled back a few seconds later, keeping one arm around her.

"Come on, I'll fill you in on all the important details." The Squad Lieutenant offered, leading her back the way she had just came from.

Meanwhile, poor Jason Pelham stood there very confused.

*Chief's Office: A Little While Later*

"You wanted to see us, Wally?" Ana inquired as she walked in with Kelly right behind her.

"Ah, yes. Take a seat." The older man nodded and they did so without hesistation. "Look, I don't like to mix personal business and firehouse business, but I believe I need to make an exception."

"Okay." The Lieutenant motioned for him to continue.

"Stella Kidd. She was approved furlough for four weeks. Now, the fact that she was taking Girls on Fire to a new city, that's, well, that's the Stella Kidd that I know and appreciate." Chief began.

"But?" Ana prodded, gently.

"Four weeks became eight. Boston became Concord, became Philadelphia. Now, I was willing to help her cover the additional furlough, but now, after she knew that we had an open spot for a truck lieutenant, she didn't immediately come and claim it." He pointed out. "So you tell me. . . is there something more going on here that I'm not seeing?"

"I appreciate you coming to me with this, Chief. I'm in the same boat." Kelly sighed and the brunette glanced at him in concern. "Casey told Stella he was leaving. I told her there was this floater lieutenant who was impressing everyone, and it's like she didn't hear me. She was so gung-ho about expanding Girls on Fire that everything seemed to go in one ear and out the other."

"Here's the hard truth. Pelham is a top-tier lieutenant. If I don't hear from Stella that she really wants this job by the end of next shift, I'm gonna be forced to make a difficult decision." Chief explained, grimly.

"I will. . . convey that message." The Lieutenant murmured.

"Now, speaking of Pelham-" The older man turned to Ana. "I'm assuming you've had the pleasure of meeting him?"