Hi. So, this is it. I'm not used to writing endings because most of my stories don't have endings. How did I do? Please let me know.

Thank you to everyone who's taken the time to read this story. I can't express my appreciation. Thank you especially to those of you who kept reviewing. I loved hearing from you.

Susanne

ONE YEAR LATER

It had taken a long time to clean up Los Angeles and the surrounding cities after the earthquake. Despite the devastating destruction, only 85 people had actually perished in the disaster. One year to the date of the earthquake a memorial was held for those 85 people. It was well attended by the families, friends and emergency workers that had responded to the situation.

Station 51 had been rebuilt. It looked very much the same but with important differences. Engineers and architects had learned from the earthquake and had changed some of the building standards. If another quake was to hit, the Station wasn't going to be one of its casualties.

Standing outside the new building, 'A' shift looked it over. The other two shifts that made Station 51 their home were also present. B y some unspoken, unconscious plan the three shifts each stood together with their fellow fire fighters. The shifts were used to working with each other when overtime shifts were necessary but they still automatically gathered together with the same people they generally worked with.

"It looks the same," Chet stated, sounding nonplussed.

"Of course it does. Why improve on perfection?" Johnny responded.

"I wouldn't go that far," Captain Stanley said. Looking at the Station house, though, was much like seeing an old friend. His heart filled with peace. They were home again. Finally.

"No?" Mike said. "The only thing that would make this better is if Old Red and the Squad are behind those doors."

It felt like it had been an eternity since the men of Station 51 had worked as actual fire fighters. All county works had been doing whatever was necessary to rebuild the city. Most of their time had been spent doing construction or clean up.

"Well, what are we waiting for?" Chet asked as he started up the drive way.

"The politicians," Captain Stanley said. They were early. He knew that but they had to wait for the official opening day ceremony and all the hoopla that went with it. Too bad politicians weren't as punctual.

"Ah, do we have to, Cap?" Chet asked, sounding very much like a kid on Christmas morning.

"Yes, Chet, we do," Hank said.

First one car and then another pulled up across the driveway. Both of them were large limousines. Out of the first came a photographer and some of the minor county officials they were waiting for. As the men stood and watched, a large red ribbon was strung across the driveway between two poles they'd put up.

Amused, the men of Station 51 turned to see who was going to climb out of the second car. Four large men, wearing dark glasses and suits climbed out first. They took up positions along the sidewalk so they could watch over the whole proceeding.

Once the body guards were settled, the door to the back of the limo opened again. The men of Station 51 were somewhat taken aback to see the mayor of LA and the governor of California both clamber out of the back seat. Still stunned, they watched as yet a third person climbed out. The person was shorter than the first two and kind of stayed behind them. The fire fighters weren't able to quite make out the person's features.

"So, this is where you do all your work," a familiar female voice said.

"Chris?" Roy asked, with disbelief. Ignoring the dignitaries the six men scrambled to see the person behind the men. Sure enough, there she stood. Chris looked much better rested than the last time they saw her and maybe a little less heavy. None of it really mattered to them. It was just damn good to see her again.

"Who else were you expecting?" Chris asked with a mischievous grin on her face.

"I thought you couldn't make it," Johnny said as he gave the woman a quick hug. He'd written to her and asked her to come for the reopening, just as he'd promised. But Chris had said she didn't have time to take off of work or the money to come.

"I was asked to tell a little white lie. Let's get this thing over with so you can show me around," Chris said.

The six men of 'A' shift surrounded her and stood back to watch as the politicians did their thing. It was not the first grand reopening and it wouldn't be the last. The people of LA had grown kind of jaded to the whole process so it wound up being just the politicians and the firemen. That was just fine by them as they waited impatiently for the whole ceremony to be over.

"You're looking much better than the last time I saw you," Chris whispered to Roy. The senior paramedic was on her right hand side while Johnny was on the left. Some part of her felt like she'd come home upon seeing their familiar faces. She decided to not pursue that line of thought.

"So are you," Roy whispered back with a little mischief in his voice. At least now Chris had clothes that fit her properly and weren't hospital greens.

"How much longer is this going to go on?" Chet said quietly behind them. He really wanted to go look at the inside. None of the rest of this mattered much to him.

"Let them have their moment, Chet. It's been a lot of work to get this place up and running again," Hank muttered.

Finally, the ribbon was cut and the politicians made their way inside. The men from Station 51 were right on their heels, trying not to look to eager to get inside.

"So this is the famous Chris?" the captain of 'B' shift asked. The other members of Station 51 had heard stories about Johnny and Roy's time on the freeway. Inevitably, they also heard about Chris and the others.

"Yes, this is her," Johnny responded, grinning with pride. It felt wonderful to see her again, especially when they weren't trying to save their lives.

"Why am I famous?" Chris asked, not really liking the implications.

"We're heard stories about you," the captain of 'B' shift stated. "I'm glad you were there for Johnny and Roy when they needed you and vice versa."

"I'm glad too," Chris admitted, suddenly feeling a little shy. To break the spell, she turned her attention back to the dignitaries. The mayor and governor were wandering through the building, trying to seem interested. These endless tours were starting to take their toll.

It was the first shift for Station 51 since the earthquake. They were all very relieved to have their home away from home back. The first thing they saw upon entering the garage was that Big Red and the squad were indeed parked inside. With a whoop of unbridled joy, Chet climbed aboard the fire engine.

Laughing, the rest of the shift watched as he checked every inch of the engine in pure delight.

"How long are you here for?" Johnny asked. The two paramedics and Chris were hanging back a bit, letting the others have their fun.

"I'm just here for the day. My boss couldn't quite understand why I needed to come down here for this. She figured I should have seen enough of LA the last time I was here. But I had to come. I've been wondering how you all were doing ever since I went back," Chris responded.

"Have you heard how any of the others are doing?" she continued.

"Ponch and Jon are back at work. Their station had to be rebuilt as well because the freeways collapsed on top of it," Johnny said. He'd been in close contact with the two CHP officers since the earthquake. They'd become close friends.

"Spencer is teaching at the university now that classes have started again. Thomas hasn't been around much. I think he got a part in a soap opera in New York City. Nick is back at work. There's been a lot more crime of late so he hasn't had much time for anything else. Paul has been around helping anyone who needs it. He helped with rebuilding Station 51," Johnny informed her. "Helen has moved home again now that her house has been declared safe."

"What about Mr. Blue and the rest of the National Guardsmen?" Chris asked. The other fire men were wandering around the station, comparing it to what they were used to. The three of them hung back in the corner of the garage, catching up.

"We got to know them pretty good while we were stationed at the base. Bob had to do desk duty for a while until his leg healed completely. Then he moved back out into the field. They were kept busy tracking down trouble makers and searching through the rubble for bodies," Roy told her. "I saw Bob four days ago. He came over for a barbeque I had to celebrate the station reopening."

"What? You didn't invite me?" Chris asked, feigning hurt feelings. Roy turned several shades of red. The thought hadn't even occurred to him after the woman had turned down the invitation for the reopening ceremony. "Sorry. I was just giving you a hard time."

"Well, let's begin the tour then," Roy suggested as he tried to change the subject. His face was still pretty red. "You've seen us in action all ready. Now let's show you what the equipment we usually use looks like."

Smiling so hard she was afraid her face would split in half, Chris nodded. She was going to drink up every minute she was here. This was a dream come true to be here with these men with their world finally turned upside right. She'd seen them under the worst circumstances possible. Now she was looking forward to getting to know them under the best. "Sounds good to me," she said. "Lead the way."

"By the way, did all of you find new homes?" Chris asked. She'd been writing letters with Johnny and Roy and some of the others but somehow their new residential status had never really come up.

"Yeah, all of us except Captain Stanley. He needs a bigger place for his wife and two kids. They're building a new home where the old one stood. It should be finished in a month or two," Johnny said.

"That's great. I'm very glad to hear that," Chris responded. Then they were off, exploring the new/old Station 51. It was good to be home. It was good to be among friends again. Los Angeles wasn't such a bad place after all. Maybe she'd come down here for another vacation after all. But then, maybe not.

THE END