By Nanook

Disclaimers: These characters are made up from bits and pieces of personal experiences. They bear resemblance to Xena and Gabrielle property of MCA Universal and Renaissance Pictures. No copy right infringement is intended. This story was written for fun only.

Violence: Some violence, although nothing out of the ordinary for life as a human being.

Subtext: That's what I was trying for. Any way, it does eventually involve women who grow to care and love each other.

General: There are mild obscenities used occasionally. This is my first attempt at fan fiction, so don't be too rough on me. Thanks.

Alex rolled out of bed as the first bells sounded and hit the floor with a thud. Jesus, it seemed as if I just got in bed. John, who had been coming up for the night to sleep had just made it in time to see Alex hit the floor. He chuckled lightly and said as he made a bee-line back down the way he came, "Alex, you might as well ride along with us since you are up anyway or should I say down?"

Cursing lightly as clothes and boots were found and then struggled into, Alex ran to the fire pole and jumped on sliding down to the bay floor. The trucks were already manned and waiting to roll. It had been such a hectic and long day, that Alex had not bothered to go home to the apartment, deciding rather to crash at the station.

The sirens blared their song into the night as the fire trucks responded to the call. Flashing lights luminated the night air as the trucks burst through the streets to the scene of the fire. Alex would normally respond to the scene in the departments red Ford Explorer, but since she was officially off duty, she rode the truck as an observer.

Six hours later, the big red trucks rolled back into service and quarters. Alex was beyond exhausted and was now sorry she had gone on this call. She had a meeting with some of the top brass of the department, and would need to be on her toes with an otherwise all male board of directors and officers. The start of a headache in her temples signaled that this was not going to be a good day.

After five cups of coffee, (and it wasn't even Dunkin' Donuts coffee) and two and a half hours of arguing, Alex walked out into the hall way rubbing her tender temples. Much more of this day, and she would probably have her first migraine. Alex had been fighting for more benefits for her guys at the station. The shifts were long, and the rotation of the days on and off left something to be desired.

Separations and divorce rates were way up, the stress of having a significant other whose profession was a paid fire fighter. What else could go wrong today? Oh... she knew she should not have had that thought! Murphy's Law would get her, and before she left work that day, she would know first hand that it had come true.

Alex knocked on the Chiefs\rquote door. After waiting a moment with no response from inside, she opened the door and stuck her head in. The Chief was on the phone and he motioned her to take one of the two chairs in front of his desk. The Chief was in his late fifties with graying hair at his temples and a receding hairline. Alex sat down and her eyes wandered to various awards, recognition's and accommodations that graced the walls of the room. They represented over thirty-five years of distinguished duty for the Chief at this station.

Battalion Chief Bud Brewster had been close friends with Alex's Father. They had joined the company at the same time, meeting at training school. They had become fast friends and had remained so until the sudden death of Alex\rquote s Father three years ago.

Bud had kept an eye on Alex, as he felt as if she was his adoptive daughter. Growing up Bud and Alex's families were always doing something together. Bud's children, Alex and her brother Michael were about the same ages and had been close friends growing up together. Bud's daughter had married and moved to another state, but John, Bud's son, Alex and Michael had all followed in their Fathers' foot steps, in spite of their respective Mother's complaints.

Alex's thoughts turned back to the present as she heard Bud say, "Yes, thank you for this opportunity. I am sure it will work out just fine. In fact she's sitting right in front of me as we speak. I am sure it will be her pleasure to do this as a personal favor to you. Thank you again sir." After a brief pause, Bud slammed the phone down on the receiver. Damn, he hated politics! A few more years and he could retire and move somewhere warmer, get his boat and fish to his hearts' content.

Alex's eyebrows furrowed together in a question, and when the Chief offered no immediate response, she asked, "What's going on? Who was that on the phone?" Bud leaned back in his chair and said, "That was Fire Commissioner Raymond Burke. It seems he is getting pressure from the Mayor for some good public relations stories for him considering it's election year. It came to his attention, that we have a token celebrity in our own ranks here that the personal assistant for the mayor figures can help him get votes at the coming elections."

Alex just looked at Bud trying to figure out who it could be. After a few moments of silence from them both, Alex asked, "So who is the unlucky sap Bud?" Bud replied, "You." Alex mumbled, "What? Me? I'm no damn token celebrity." Bud grinned, "Yes you are Alex. You are one of a very few female firefighters/EMT's in the state. You also are a fourth generation family firefighter. You were in the top 10 of your graduating class for firefighting and in the top 5 in the EMT graduating class. Shall I go on? You are something special." Alex replied, "Yeah.... well what does that have to do with the Mayor and his re-election?"

Bud explained, "The Mayor's new personal assistant did some research and came up with this idea of having a newspaper reporter come and spend time with us at the station to write several articles on the fire service and emergency services to help push support for the new bill to give fire personnel credit for years of service for volunteer people. Then they did a check of all fire and EMS personnel both paid and volunteer and then broke it down further into male and female. It was then that they saw they hit the jackpot when they came across your name. Not only do you work as a paid fire firefighter with the distinguished rank of lieutenant here, but you volunteer as an EMT/firefighter at the town in which you own property in the country. How much more American can you get? Plus you are a woman."

Alex shifted uncomfortably in her chair. Her headache was back. Alex spoke, "So what exactly did you promise commissioner Burke that it would be my pleasure to do?" Bud cleared his throat before looking at Alex. Boy, was she going to throw a hissy fit over this, and I do not blame her he thought to himself. Bud started, "Alex, they want a newspaper reporter to come and spend time with you. To actually see what you do everyday. The exciting as well as the dulls stuff you deal with on a daily basis. The paperwork, the calls you respond to, the training drills, how we rotate turns at staying at the firehouse, the kitchen duty and your volunteer duties. What you do to relax and what makes you tick."

Alex shifted to the edge of her chair and leaned her arms folded together on Bud's desktop. Her green eyes blazed at him. She spoke with her anger barely controlled underneath. She started, "Let me see if I fully understand what you are asking of me. You want me to have a stranger, someone I do not know, and probably do not want to know, follow me around every second of every day, writing down every detail of what I do, act, say and think? Knowing me, do you think that is a sane idea? You know I do not mince words. I call them as I see them I don't think it is in the departments best interest to have me as their role model and spokes person."

Bud shifted in his chair and finally pushed himself away from the desk and stood up. He walked around to the side of the desk Alex was leaning on and sat on the edge of it. "Alex," he began, "It doesn't matter what you or I think, it has already been decided and is out of our hands. This could play a very important part in your fight for the volunteer fire person and their getting a monetary pension from the volunteer service in their community. You know as well as I do how many smaller communities are struggling to keep their ambulance and fire departments voluntary. The added tax burden to senior citizens and young couples with young children just starting out in life can be devastating. Isn't that why you originally became interested in the volunteer service? You wanted to give something back to your community and help take care of the older people whose children had moved away for better job security."

Alex started to object, but Bud cut her off short. "Alex, you are always trying to make light of what you do and feel. That you don't care about anyone but yourself, but I know better. Please just do this. I have a feeling something good will come out of this. Alex let out a huge sigh, before she replied, "Okay, I'll try and do it.. I guess I can manage an 8 hour day. At least I'll have my evenings free."

"That's right Alex," Bud continued, "It won't be that bad, a couple days here and it will be all over. Meet me here in the office tomorrow at 9AM and we will make our introductions. The Mayor's personal assistant and the newspaper reporter will be here also to fill us in on the details. Go home tonight and get a good nights sleep. See you in the morning." Bud stood up and shook Alex's hand. "Thank you. I know this is an inconvenience, but it will be well worth the outcome." Alex got up and turned to leave to go home. Bud pulled her into a big embrace. "Thanks honey," he whispered softly into Alex's hair.

Alex did not sleep well. She tossed and turned most of the night and groaned into her pillow before gently rolling out from under neath the body half sprawled on top of hers. She gazed over to see what time it was. It was 5Am and she had roughly gotten 3 hours sleep as the last time she remembered looking at the clock was 2AM. She reached over to stroke the head that now lay nestled on top of her shoulder. Alex thought about how long it had been since she had loved someone and someone had loved her back. She shook her head.

All she needed was Sparky. He wouldn't let her down and with that thought, she got up and pulled on her sweats. She whistled to Sparky who lay stretched out on the now vacant bed. He jumped off and ran to Alex. She attached his leash and out the door they went. Five city blocks later they arrived at the firehouse. They went through the double doors to the side and up the stairs that lead to the gym. The facilities were wonderful. There was a small heated swimming pool, treadmills, stair masters, bicycles, weights, bench presses and anything else you could think of to exercise with. There even was a small boxing ring to one side where Alex had had a few matches.

Two of the things she really enjoyed though were the sauna and whirl pools. Alex looked around. She and Sparky had the gym to themselves. It was great. Alex pulled off her sweats to leave her standing in her red checked flannel boxer shorts and a black sleeveless tank top. She approached the weights and grabbed a couple and returned to the bench press, sliding and locking them in place. She lay down on the bench and started pumping. Sparky came over and lay underneath the bench out of the way, but faced the doors keeping a watch out of any intruders to his masters quiet time.

Alex worked out for about a half an hour using different weights and machines for a full body work out. By the time she finished, her body had a light sheen of sweat on it. Alex thought for a second and then stripped her body of the remaining clothes, and dove into the pool. The warm water felt great on her tight muscles. She proceeded to do 10 laps around the pool before getting out and drying off. She had just managed to get her tank top and boxers on before a growl by Sparky signaled someone else had come into the gym.

Alex stood there in her tank top and boxer shorts, her wet hair dried as best she could by the saturated towel. She allowed her gaze to settle on the unexpected guests. One was John and the other was a tall dark haired woman. She was dressed in a gray pin strip business suit, white oxford shirt with a conservative dark blue tie. The skirt ended at mid thigh and the legs went on forever until they stopped at her black pumps. She was beautiful physically but Alex was getting a bad vibe from her.

When John was finally able to get his jaw off the floor and his mouth closed, he paused for a moment before speaking. Alex, I didn't know anyone was up here, least of all you." Alex responded, "I couldn't sleep so I decided to take a jog and then work out before that stupid meeting later." John winced and put his hand over his face before relpying, "Alex, I would like to introduce you to Ms. Cassandra Hall, the newspaper reporter that is going to be observing us, you in particular." Alex was quick to take her foot out of her mouth so she could answer, "Oh." As Alex moved towards John and Ms. Hall she could feel the color rising up her neck to her cheeks.

Ms. Hall was tall, probably about 6 feet tall. Alex was 5' 6" and was always a little conscious of her height. As Alex and Ms. Hall's hands met in a handshake, their eyes locked in on each other. Dark condescending blues meet stubborn green. Neither would break away first until John's voice brought both of them out of their battle of the eyes, and glared at him.

It was then that they both realized that their hands were still clasped in a handshake. Alex stepped back from Ms. Hall and said to John, "What was it you were saying? John replied, "Alex, Bud's been trying to get a hold of you since around 5:30 this morning. The meeting has been changed from 9 AM to 7AM. The Mayor's personal assistant has to fly out on business for him later today and asked if the meeting could be moved to an earlier time today, rather than canceling it all together. When he couldn't locate you by phone or your cellular and people started arriving here for the meeting, Ms. Hall asked if she could have a tour of the firehouse while we waited for you to show."

Ms. Hall said sarcastically, "Little did we know we'd find you up here in your underwear. Do you always work out in them?" Alex replied nonchalantly, "No, sometimes I don't wear anything at all. In fact, if you had been a couple minutes earlier, you would have had the pleasure of seeing me do laps in the buff." And with that she picked up her sweats and strode through the doors with Sparky following her down to her office.

Alex was still muttering and sputtering about the "tall" condescending woman when she arrived at her office door. She unlocked it and they both went in. She went to the back where there was a small bathroom and a couple lockers. Luckily, her dress uniform was clean and pressed in her locker. She would take a quick shower and change. They wanted a show...she could give them a show.

Alex was talking to Bud in his office fifteen minutes later. She stood in full dress uniform, complete with all her medals of accomplishment and her bars of rank placed proudly on her shirt collar. Her short blond hair glowed under the florescent light and her green eyes were alert, in spite of the couple hours of sleep she had gotten. The almost daily workouts that Alex performed showed in how the tailored dress shirt and pants hugged her slender form. She looked good and she knew it.

John had called Bud and filled him in on the scene upstairs in the gym. Bud was trying to calm Alex down without drawing attention to them. He was saying, "Alex, look, I know you got off to a bad start, but please, please try to relax. She's just a smart-ass reporter and probably doesn't want to be here any more than you want her to be. It will all be over in less than a week. Please be patient." Alex shifted her weight in her black high gloss polished dress shoes and put her hands up in front of her. "All right Bud," she replied, "I'll try to compose myself, but she had better watch it. I'm not taking any sh..."

Alex felt a warm touch at her elbow which caused her to stop in mid sentence and turn to see the prettiest doe like eyes gazing at her. The woman was talking to her but all Alex could do was stare into those brown eyes.

Alex finally got a grip on the situation after a poke to her ribs from Bud got her attention. Bud was introducing the Mayors personal assistant Mackenzie McGuire to her. Mackenzie took Alex's hands in both hers and squeezed them gently. Alex could feel the heat from Mackenzie hands radiating to hers and she felt a chill go down her spine.

Alex stepped back and broke contact with her as she cleared her throat to speak. "It's a pleasure meeting you Ms. McGuire. Bud has told me all the research you did on the department here." Mackenzie smiled and said, "Thank you. It was interesting material to research. I'm looking forward to doing a more personal search on you at a later date, if you're up to it."

And with that she smiled, turned and walked away. Alex just stared after her with her mouth partly open. Bud leaned in close to her ear and said, "Wow, Alex. I think she just hit on you. Be careful and close your mouth. I'll start the meeting."

Bud walked to the back of his desk and asked everyone to take a seat. Out of the corner of Alex's eye she could see Ms. Hall and Ms. McGuire talking. As the two women turned to take their seats, they looked at Alex. She could feel the two sets of eyes give her the once over. One pair of eyes had what looked like a simple case of lust while the other one's eyes narrowed into dark blue slits. Yep, she thought to herself as she took her seat, she was going to be in big trouble, one way or the other, no doubt about it.

Bud sat in his chair and pulled it up close to the desk. He turned to Ms. McGuire and asked her if she would like to take the floor as he knew she had to catch a flight out of the city this morning. Ms. McGuire smiled as she rose from her seat and approached the desk. She said, "We will all be working closely together for the next week or so and I suggest first that we can the formalities and get on a first name basis. Don't you agree Alex?" Alex who was seated in front of Bud's desk almost dropped the cup of coffee she had in her hand as Mackenzie eased her slender body in front of Alex, turned and perched her rear on the edge of Bud's desk. She crossed her short nyloned legs at the knees and she looked down at Alex with the most seductive smile Alex had seen displayed at her. Alex swallowed hard before speaking, " Whatever will speed this whole process up, I have no objection to....Mackenzie." There was a slight mumble from Cassandra's vicinity and Alex turned to look at her. She had a smug look on her face and her blue eyes blazed at her. Alex thought to herself, boy this is going to be so much fun I can hardly wait and then she returned her attention to Mackenzie as she was going through her plans for Cassandra's research and subsequent articles on the department. Alex was to take Cassandra with her in her daily routines. Articles would be written for each day she was with her. Those articles, after being reviewed and approved by Mackenzie would be published in a special section to the following Sundays paper. It seemed straight forward enough. We scratch the Mayors back and he scratches ours. What could possibly go wrong?.

The meeting was over and Mackenzie came over to Alex to say goodbye and good luck and as she shook her hand, pressed a small piece of paper into her palm. Bud escorted Mackenzie out of his office and it left Cassandra and Alex alone. There was an awkward silence between them and finally Alex got up and said, " Let's get going I don't have all day to sit around here and chat with you. Please try to keep up with me, but most importantly, keep out of my way." Alex walked out without another word, Sparky following in suit and Cassandra hurried to catch up. Alex went down to her office and went in. She cursed to herself that she'd have to be in her dress uniform all day. She hoped the guys wouldn't rib her too much in front of the newspaper reporter. She grabbed the clip board off her desk and proceeded downstairs to the rec room where most of the guys were and where she had left Sparky.

All of the duty crew was in the rec room. Alex appeared briefly at the door frame and yelled in for everyone to report to the briefing room now. Alex walked to the front of the briefing room were there was a podium set up. She walked behind it waiting for the duty crew to settle into their seats. Cassandra leaned on the door frame. Alex spoke, "Hi everyone. I bet you are all wondering what I'm doing dressed up in my best. Well, it's a long story which I won't go into now. Before we go over our normal work assignments, I have an announcement and an introduction. This is Ms. Cassandra Hall. She will be here over the next few days to gather information for a series of articles on the department. I want you all to be courteous, respectful and professional to her or you'll answer to me. No fooling around, no heroics. Just be your normal selves...whatever that may be for you." There was gentle chuckling over that statement. " Okay, now we will take a few minutes and critic some of our recent calls" Alex stated.

When the meeting adjourned every crew member introduced themselves to Cassandra and shook her hand. Alex looked on proudly at her team members. Cassandra seemed to be less abrasive by the time the last one was done and she actually looked like she had a half smile on. Alex thought she was a beautiful person physically, but would be so much more so if she only smiled more. Alex was so intent on her thoughts that she didn't realize she was staring at Cassandra, until Cassandra asked her. "Why are you staring at me? Is something wrong?" Alex stumbled over her reply, "No, I'm sorry. I was just thinking I didn't get any breakfast only that cup of coffee at the other meeting and I'm starved. How about we get some lunch? Look I'm sorry I have been such a bear about this, but I'd really like to get along and get through this. I'm just not used to having someone around me all the time." Cassandra nodded her head in agreement and offered her hand. Alex took her hand and had all she could do to control the gasp as she felt the heat from Cassandra's hand radiate up her arm. Cassandra replied, " Yes , I am hungry and I'll try not to get in your way or aggravate you any more than necessary." and she gave Alex a lop sided grin.

After they had lunch in the kitchen upstairs, Alex, and Cassandra returned to Alex's office so she could show her some fire statistics on her computer. Just as Alex logged on to the computer the siren went off. She was up in a flash and out the door. Cassandra was still sitting at the desk when Alex rushed back to the door way and yelled in " Come on Cassie, that's your first fire call." In the time it took Cassie to get down to the truck room, Alex had put on her white bunker pants, short coat and bunker boots and she and Sparky were waiting impatiently for her. She waved her in to the passengers seat in the red Ford Explorer and took off , not waiting for her to buckle her seat belt. Alex picked up the microphone and talked into the receiver that Car 88-L1 was responding to the scene. A confirmation message was received and they could hear other apparatus responding to the scene as well. As they drove swiftly, but cautiously down the streets, landmarks were becoming familiar to Cassandra.

They smelled the smoke before they saw the red-orange flames licking high into the sky. Cassandra was vaguely aware of Alex once again talking into the mic, something about fully involved and a 3 alarm blaze. All she knew as she gazed out the car window was that they had pulled up in front of her apartment building and it was on fire!!

Alex pulled the Explorer over by the portable van that would serve as the Incident Command Post. She swung out of the Explorer and ran inside not waiting for Cassandra to catch up. Cassandra sat frozen in her seat gazing out at the raging fire and screamed out to herself, "Oh my God, Clia and Inky are in there.". It was at this point that the scream nearly deafened Alex as she was just leaning in to tell her to get inside the command center and stay put until she assessed the fire scene and got things set up. Cassandra blue eyes were saucer like with fear as she grabbed for Alex's arm. "You've got to save them. I think they're still in there." Cassandra begged. Alex leaned back a little and grabbed the claw like grip Cassie had on her arm and slowly pried the hand loose. "Who the hell are Clia and Inky?" she yelled. Cassie replied " Inky is my cat and Clia is a little girl that lives in the apartment across the hall from me." Alex shook her head disgustedly and backed herself out of the car. Alex walked around to the front of her car and headed back to the Incident Command Center.

Cassandra caught up with her pleading, "You don't understand, this is where I live and Clia, a little girl across the hall from me always cat sits for me in the afternoons to make a little extra money to bring home." Alex grabbed her roughly by both upper arms. "Why didn't you tell me this earlier? Is she there now?" Cassie finally found her voice and replied, " Yes she is always there now." Alex asked, "What floor and what apartment number do you live in?'" She answered, " Eighth floor, apartment H-12. It is an outside apartment with a view of the park." Alex's portable radio was attached to her coat and the mic was pinned to her shoulder. She keyed the mic and talked into it to see what the actual location of the fire was. After she got off the radio she simply said "Oh, shit. Follow me." Alex grabbed her hand and literally dragged her the rest of the way to the van that was set up as the Incident Command Station. Once they were inside, Alex nodded to a young woman who sat at the command desk , as she slide behind the computer. She quickly introduced Cassandra to Susan, who was in her last year at the fire academy assigned to intern with Alex's department for several months.

Alex looked at the computer screen. One of the projects she had been working on was putting blue prints of public structures on file so they could be assessed easily and efficiently. The blue prints detailed gas lines, water lines, electrical wiring and exits of apartment buildings, museums, schools and any other public buildings in her district. Cassandra came over to stand next to Alex by the computer screen. Alex had accessed Cassandra's apartment floor and was zeroing in on her apartment number. Alex pointed to the screen and Cassandra leaned down near Alex's right shoulder. Alex could smell Cassie's distinctive perfume, a subtle musky smell that blended with her wholesome clean smell. Alex shifted slightly away as she spoke , " Your apartment has a balcony. That's good for us. The fire is burning on the floors above and below yours. A search inside from the floors above or below are risky and time consuming. You said she sometimes takes the cat over to her apartment?" Cassandra's dark blue eyes meet Alex's green ones as she turned to look at her. "Yes, I'm not exactly sure where she'll be, but I know she is in there."

Alex stood up and keyed her mic, "Car88-L1 to Ladder Truck 88-1.What's your location?." After a little feedback on the mic, a broken up voice responded, "We're heading over to the south side." "Good," Alex replied, "I'll meet you there. I have reason to believe there is someone in apartment H-12 on the eighth floor. Get a team geared up and ready to go in as soon as I arrive. Car 88-L1 over and out." Alex stood up and proceeded to leave the van. Cassandra was so close behind Alex that when she stopped, Cassandra ran right in to her. Alex turned and questioned "Where do you think you are going?" Cassandra replied, "I'm going with you to the fire. That's my life up there burning to ashes." Alex sighed and when she replied her voice was colored with irritation, "Oh no you're not going with me." Alex turned to Susan, "Make sure Cassandra stays here and don't let her out of your sight. I have enough to worry about without wondering where she is or if she's safe." Susan replied, "I'll try and do my best." Alex replied gruffly, "Don't try...just do it."

Alex and Sparky rushed out to the ladder truck to find that two of the firemen assigned to it had been pulled for smoke inhalation. They had arrived earlier and had been some of the first ones to go on top to vent the building. Alex radioed back to the Incident Command Station that she was going up in the ladder truck to see if they could access Cassandra's apartment from the outside. Inside access was not possible due to the intense fire inside the floors above and below Cassandra's.

Bud Brewster was anxiously greeted as he walked in to the Incident Command Center by Cassandra. Bud had heard about the fire call after he had come out of a meeting and had come directly over to the fire scene. Bud didn't know that the building that was now on fire was where Cassandra lived or that Alex was on her way to the ladder truck.

The radio came alive with Alex's voice telling Susan that she was going in with the team to do a search and possible rescue. The smoke was heavy around the building and visibility was not good from the outside. They would have to do a physical search and she would take Sparky in as well. Bud walked over to the mic, keyed it and after a few seconds began speaking in to it. "Alex, Bud here, make a quick sweep and then get out of there. The fire isn't knocking down as quickly as we would like. I'm not sure you have much time before that floor will be fully involved. Be careful, be thorough and be quick." Alex replied, "Ten-four, over and out."

Bud turned to Cassandra as he hung up the mic. She still had on her gray pin striped business suit with a white blouse and blue tie, but the person before Bud bore no resemblance to the confident ,all professional, condescending newspaper reporter he had met that morning. Her long dark hair was mildly dishelved as her hands kept going through it in worry. Her dark blue eyes were large with fear. "What if they don't find them? What will happen? How will I ever forgive myself?" Cassandra voice cracked as the last statement came out. Bud took her by the elbow and guided her to a chair by the wall. "Sit down. Relax. Let me get you a glass of water." Bud returned with the glass of water and Cassandra sipped at it gratefully. When a few moments had passed and it seemed like she had collected herself some, Bud said, "Now tell me what happened and who is Alex searching for?." Cassandra proceeded to fill him in on all that she surmised to be true about Clia cat sitting her cat Inky. When she was finished Bud put his arm around her shoulder and simply stated, "You have nothing to worry about. If they're there, Alex and Sparky will find them."

The ladder trucks' platform had risen to the level of Cassandra's balcony. They would be able to access her balcony sliding glass doors and enter the apartment through them. The deck gun was positioned and ready if needed after they went inside to keep things wet and cool outside for their exit. Three fire fighters with a charged line stepped onto the balcony with Alex and Sparky following close behind. The sliding glass doors were easily unlocked with a halogan bar. There appeared to be no fire in the living room area although visibility was not the greatest due to smoke seeping in through the hallway door. Alex gave Sparky the command to research the living room area while she directed the other fire fighters to check and make sure the rest of the apartment was safe to search and to do the search if it was okay. Alex checked the closets in the hallway as young children will often hid in an enclosed space out of fear. She found nothing. She checked the kitchen area, still nothing. Sparky was at her side so that meant she had found nothing in the living room area. The other fire fighters came back in to the hall area and said that they had searched the bathroom and two bedrooms and found nothing.

Alex keyed her mic and said, "Car88-L1 to Incident Command." Susan replied , "Go ahead Car88-L1." "We have done a thorough search of the apartment and there are no signs of the child or cat. I'm going to investigate out in the hall and the apartment across from this one. I just want to be sure of the correct apartment number." Bud looked at Cassandra and she said, "Apartment H-11." Susan gave the number to Alex and she signed off.

Alex checked her watch. It had been fifteen minutes since they had put on their scott air paks. Depending on what your size was and how fast and deep you breathed, a tank would last anywhere from twenty to thirty minutes. They didn't have much time left before they would be forced to leave and replace their oxygen tanks.

Alex felt the door to the hallway. It was not hot even though there was smoke coming in through the bottom. The guys were ready with the charged line and she opened the door slowly. She looked out after a few seconds and could see the apartment across the hall. Next to the door someone had left a laundry cart As she walked near the door, Sparky made a bee-line to the cart and started barking at it. She stood up and put her front paws on the edge of the cart. Alex went to the cart and started pulling clothes out of it. Underneath a pile of laundry curled up in a little ball was a young child and she was holding on to a black cat as tight as she could.

Alex pulled her mask off and leaned down to the child. It was scary enough being in a fire without some person looking like an alien from another planet was after you. Alex spoke gently, "My name is Alex. Is your name Clia and the cat you are holding is her name Inky?" The little girl nodded her head, too frightened to speak. Alex continued in a calm voice, " Your friend Cassandra Hall asked me to come and find you. She was worried that you and Inky were still in here. I'm going to lift you out of the cart and take you with us into Cassandra's apartment. There is a ladder truck waiting for us there to take us down to the street, okay?" The little girl nodded, and then asked "Are you a lady fireman?" " Yes, I am ." Alex replied with a smile. And with that she lifted Clia and Inky out of the cart and into her arms.

The smoke was getting thicker and Clia had started to cough. Once they got back into Cassandra's apartment, Alex stopped a moment and put Clia down. She had a death grip on Alex with her little arms locked around her neck. It took a few moments to pry the tiny hands apart and she told her she wanted to give her some oxygen to help her breathe easier. She had her take long deep breaths.

Alex keyed her mic and after several seconds was speaking to Susan at Incident Command. She told her that they had found Clia and Inky and were exiting the building as they spoke. She also requested an ambulance to be standing by at the ladder truck. Susan replied, "Clia's mother and sister were waiting at the Incident Command Center and she would let them know she had been found and was okay."

Alex turned to one of the fire fighters and said, " Take Sparky, Clia and Inky with you now before the smoke gets any worse. I just want to look at something here and I'll follow you right out." As one of the crew members bent down to pick Clia up, she threw herself at Alex's body and started crying, "I think Inky needs air too, she isn't moving." Alex reached for the black form in Clia's hands never realizing until just now how calm the cat had been through all of the excitement. There was very shallow breathing on Inky's part. Alex signaled for the fire fighter to pick Clia up and get her out of there. Smoke was really starting to billow in through the door jam now.

Alex gave Inky some oxygen and then checked for a heartbeat. Not really sure if cardiopulmonary resuscitation worked on animals, she started some gentle chest compressions. She gave her some more oxygen and repeated the process again before stopping to check for breathing and a pulse. Inky was starting to rally and consequently was scared out of one of her nine lives. Her front claws dug into Alex's fire coat and took a strong hold. Alex braced the cats back with her right hand trying to calm her with gentle stroking on her head with her left hand. Inky finally started to relax some as Alex talked to her gently. She was able to get her inside her coat and out of the smoke which was now coming in the room at a pretty good clip .

Alex was finding it difficult to see and edged her way over to the desk against the far wall. The fire would break through the door and into Cassandra's apartment shortly and she had to get out of there. Suddenly her scott air pack alarm went off telling her that the oxygen was almost gone. Alex started pulling drawers open in the desk, and her hands came across what she was searching for and she stuffed them in her fire pocket and edged to the doors on the balcony.

By now the fire had broken through Cassandra's apartment door like an uninvited intruder. The smoke was now surging out on to the balcony. Alex could hardly make out the outline of the ladder truck platform. The fireman at the deck gun was yelling something to her but she could not hear him over the constant ringing of the scott air pack alarm and the noise from the street below. He was pointing to something behind her and as she turned to face what he was looking at her green eyes grew wide and she mumbled "Oh shit." It looked like a fireball coming straight at her. Before Alex had time to react, there was a loud pop of glass as the balcony glass doors blew from the quick combustion of heat from the flames in the apartment. The force of the blast caused Alex to lose her balance and fall to the balcony floor, taking Inky with her. The firemen assigned to the deck gun immediately started a spray of water in Alex's vicinity and then sweep back to the fire inside the apartment.

Alex hit the cement hard. She had managed somehow in the fraction of a second that she realized what was going to happen, to turn herself partially away from the glass. Her mask protected her face from any shattered glass and her nomax hood protected her neck and hair from any flames and heat. Inky had had lodged all ten toenails solidly into Alex's' chest so she knew she or he was okay. In the few seconds it took her to hit the cement floor, Alex felt something hit her in the side and then there was a sharp pain. She could feel the blast of the water sent her way from the deck gun. The pressure from a charged line was awesome.

Alex knew she was in a dangerous situation and needed to get herself out of there. Alex rose slowly to her knees. Her speaker on her portable radio was crackling to life and she recognized Bud's voice on it. He was yelling into his speaker, "Alex, what the hell are you doing up there? Get down here." Alex keyed her mic and said, "That's what I'm trying to do" and with that she raised herself to her full height. She walked painfully over to the ladder truck platform and got on. The fireman who was at the deck gun, grinned at Alex and said, Boy Lieutenant, that was something to see." Alex replied, " Glad I could entertain you."

Bud and Cassandra were waiting for Alex at the ladder truck. Clia had been transferred to the hospital just to be checked out, but it looked like she would be fine. Bud asked Alex, "What happened?" Alex answered that the force of the explosion had knocked her off her feet. Luckily, she had put Clia under her coat and she had been protected. Bud said, "Alex you had a pretty good fall I want you to go get checked out by the paramedics and then go home. The fire is mostly under control and I'll stay and finish up." Cassandra had said nothing up to this point. Alex looked at her. Her hair was disheveled and her face was pale. Her pinned striped suit that had looked so crisp this morning was wrinkled and creased. Her face showed fear as Clia's had earlier. Alex felt sorry for her. She would most likely loose all her possessions, if not from the fire directly, then from water damage.

Alex started to open her fire coat. Inky was still attached to her chest like ink to paper. Cassandra's face lit up as she reached for her cat. She leaned in towards Alex so she could talk to Inky and stroke her fur. After several minutes she was able to remove the cat from Alex's sore chest. As Cassandra pulled Inky off Alexs' chest she gasped and said, "Alex, you're bleeding!" Alex looked down to her white dress shirt. It did have fresh blood stains on it. Well chalk that one up to garbage she thought. Alex replied, " Relax, it is just where the cat scratched me. It was scared and couldn't help it. No big deal."

While Cassandra was cuddling Inky, Bud pulled Alex aside. "Alex," Bud started. "Cassandra will need a place to stay tonight." Alex responded, "Yeah. She will for quite a few nights. Her place has to be totaled. Isn't the Red Cross set up yet for the ones that lost their homes?" Bud replied," Yes, Alex they are but so many have lost their homes, they are probably going to put them up at the high school gymnasium until tomorrow. I don't think that Cassandra can take much more. She really is a nice person once you get to know her." Alex looked at Bud suspiciously and asked, "So you want me to drop her off at a hotel on the way home, right?" Bud cleared his throat and looked at Alex's feet as he spoke, "Not exactly Alex. Mackenzie McGuire called when she heard about the fire and wanted us to give her the VIP treatment. She said it would be great publicity for the department and would work to our advantage if you offered to have her stay at your apartment for the night until Red Cross could take care of the families first. Alex just looked at Bud. He looked years beyond his age tonight. She sighed heavily before speaking. "Okay, Bud...I don't have the energy to argue any more tonight." Alex turned towards Cassandra and walked over to her. Alex spoke, "Cassandra, I'm very sorry about the fire in your apartment. We don't know what is salvageable until we can access your apartment tomorrow if it is safe. Red Cross has their hands full with all the people that were evicted. Why don't you come home with me tonight and you can deal with all of this tomorrow?"

Cassandra glanced at Alex and replied, " I don't have anything to wear, only the clothes on my back." Alex stared at Cassandra unsure of how to comfort her, but for some strange reason she wanted to comfort her. Alex replied, " It's gonna be okay. I have some stuff that will due for tonight. It might be short on you, but will cover the most important parts." Alex gave Cassandra one of her special grins. Cassandra looked at Alex shocked at first, and then broke out with a chuckle. " Okay Alex, I'm too upset to care." Alex took Cassandra's elbow and whistled for Sparky. "Let's go home.", she said as she guided Cassandra back to the Incident Command area and her car. As they started to walk away, Alex's portable radio crackled to life. " City Car 88-1 to Car88-L1 come in." Alex keyed her mic and answered, " Car 88-L1 on the air, start your transmission." Bud simply stated , "Don't forget the check up with the paramedics before you go home. We wouldn't want to break any department rules....now would we Alex?" Alex swore softly under her breath to herself. Alex replied, " Okay, just gonna get Cassandra and Inky in the car. Be right back. Over and out." Alex's side was hurting and so was her chest but she was not going to be put out on medical leave now. She would let them take her blood pressure and pulse and listen to her lungs and that was it. No clothes were coming off. She had a sweatshirt in the car. She'd put that on after she got out of her gear and they wouldn't see the blood on her shirt and start probing.

Alex and Sparky stepped out of the paramedic triaging area. She had let them check her out, as much as she wanted and was pronounced in excellent health. Sparky and Alex returned to the car to find Cassandra and Inky dozing. Cassandra's face was a bit more relaxed, but was still quite pale. Alex's' heart ached for her knowing that she had most likely lost everything in her apartment.

Inky was nestled in a tight ball on Cassandra's lap with her motor running contentedly. Alex started the car engine and Cassandra jumped, caught her breath and looked around dazed. Alex put her hand on Cassandra's' arm, " Hey, it's okay. I should have woken you up when I got in, but you and Inky looked so cute sleeping... I'm sorry I scared you." Cassandra smiled weakly, " That's okay. I'm just a little nervous."

The drive to Alex's apartment was quiet. Each one was lost in their own thoughts. Alex pulled up into the driveway and turned the car off. Alex commented, " Here we are, home." Alex and Sparky got out and after waiting a moment for Cassandra to get out, she walked to the passenger's door and opened it. Cassandra and Inky still sat inside. Alex slowly reached in and took Cassandra's' hand.

As Alex's key unlocked the door, she pushed it in with her hip, stepping back out of the way to let Cassandra and Inky to enter first. Cassandra stopped after walking a few feet into the room. She turned to Alex and said, " This is a firehouse. You live in an old firehouse?" Alex closed the door and locked it and turned to face Cassandra. She spoke proudly, " Yup. The city was going to tear down this old historical site and I managed to get enough money together to buy it before it was torn down. There was a lot of red tape, but Bud helped me with it and it's all mine now. My Father and Bud worked out of here when they were first starting their careers. My brother and I spent a lot of our childhood here. It has sentimental memories for me." Cassandra just looked at Alex and nodded her head. So, Alex had feelings after all, Cassandra thought to herself....very interesting.

Alex helped Cassandra get out of her coat and hung it up in the downstairs closet. She cleared her throat and said, " Let me give you the grand tour and then I'll get us something to eat." Alex described each room to Cassandra as they walked through them.

The kitchen was big with a tiled black and white checked floor pattern. There was a refrigerator, stove, and microwave on one side of the wall. On the other side there was a kitchen double sink and window looking out on to a deck. Sliding glass doors allowed Alex to eat out there when the weather permitted. There was an arc shaped island in the middle of the room with a small stainless steel sink and lots of drawers underneath the island to store pots, pans and bowls. In the corner, there was a beautiful wooden china cabinet that held cups, glasses plates and bowls.

Off the kitchen there was a small bathroom with toilet, shower and sink. Alex used this to cleanup after she worked outside on her plants or her Ford Explorer.

Alex's office was next to the kitchen area. Her computer, scanner and printer were here. She had a fax/phone and copy machine on her desk. One whole wall had book shelves full of fire fighting related manuals, articles and documents. In the center of the book shelves was a television and VCR. Alex would watch the training tapes here. The opposite wall had Alex's various awards, accommodations and trophies. Framed pictures dotted the walls in between the objects on the walls. There were several pictures of Bud and Alex's Fathers at various award dinners, either getting the awards themselves, or handing them out to someone else deserving.

The living room was a large area that had a high ceiling. The usual furniture was in here, a couch, a love seat with two reclining chairs attached, a coffee table, lamps and on one side of the wall hung a huge tapestry. It was made of brightly colored cotton weave, and depicted a herd of buffalo. The soft earth colors were beautiful. An old side buffet chest of drawers was decorated on the top by many different buffalo figurines.

There was a large fish tank on another stand filled with tropical fish,. The aerator motor had a calming effect. The stairs off to the side of the living room lead to the rooms upstairs. Once you were up here on the balcony you could look out over the living room area. There was a huge fan in the center of the living room ceiling.

Alex's master bedroom was just off to the right of the top of the stairs. There was a huge queen sized bed with a large wooden headboard with a shelf and sturdy wood doors for storage. A beautiful Indian print bedspread covered the bed. The room was papered in light brown, tan, peach and mauve colors. There was a ceiling fan over top of the bed. There was a huge walk in closet on one wall and several bureaus dotted the room. There was a television and VCR on the stand across from the bottom of the bed.

A large bathroom was attached to the master bedroom. It was finished in light blue and mauve tile. In it there was the usual sink and toilet, and a large vanity with mirror across most of one side of the wall. A large tub and shower were arranged across from this wall. In the back of the tub/shower area, a small waist high wall partitioned off the large Jacuzzi from the tub and shower. Alex spent many nights in the Jacuzzi after a long fire or a particular hard day of training. Alex thought to herself that she would enjoy getting in there later after supper. Her side ached pretty bad, but she had to cover until she was alone and could really see what damage had been done.

The guest bedroom was fairly large also with it own bath complete with tub and shower. There were two large bureaus and a large walk in closet. This also had a television and VCR in it. The bed here was a double with a pretty sea green bedspread. The wall paper was a light blue and white pattern.

The room next to the guest room had exercise equipment in it. There was a stair stepper , tread mill, a weight lifting bench, a stationary bicycle and a couple other machines that would work out the upper body muscles and the lower body muscles. One wall had a mirror on it. This was were Alex did her Tae-Bo exercises that were the new rage from Billy Blanks.

There was another smaller room next to the gym room and that was another office and dark room. Alex liked to fool around with photography and she developed her own pictures here. Some of the pictures were department related, but most were for her own pleasure.

Through out the firehouse Cassandra had noticed beautiful sunsets, sunrises, assorted close-ups of flowers and landscapes in all the four seasons and pictures of what she assumed were Alex's family. Cassandra thought to herself that there really was more to Alex than what was on the surface. She would never have thought Alex could see such beauty in life, let alone take the pictures and develop them. That would mean she would have to stop and really take the time and look. After Cassandra's' first meeting with the crude, obnoxious and abrupt Alex, she really was surprised at Alex's sensitivity.

The tour was over and Alex told Cassandra to take the guest room and why didn't she take a nice hot bath? Alex had some old sweat pants and shirts of her brothers that would probably fit her height-wise. If she left her clothes outside the door, she'd pick them up and wash them for her. Alex excused herself to go downstairs to fix supper and would be back up in awhile to get the clothes.

Alex pulled the hamburger out of the refrigerator and put it in a bowl. She added eggs, spices , milk and bread crumbs. She made small balls and microwaved them until they were done. Alex pulled a large container of homemade sauce out of the freezer and nuked that to defrost it. She then added the meatballs to the sauce and put it on to simmer. Alex took the ingredients for a tossed salad out and made a big bowl full of salad. She would add the greek olives and feta cheese later when she put the dressing on. A loaf of french bread was cut in half lengthwise and Alex prepared that for garlic bread. The angel hair would only take a few minutes to cook after the water boiled.

Alex thought they could eat informally in the living room. She had a fairly large collection of movie videos or they could watch television or read. Alex set up two TV trays in front of the couch and placed their silverware and napkins on them. The coffee table would hold the food once it was ready. Alex put two wine glasses and a bottle of chilling white Zinfandel wine on the table. Alex then went upstairs to change and get Cassandra's clothes to wash.

Alex snapped the light on in her bathroom. She striped herself of her sweatshirt and her dress uniform. Well, the shirt was ruined. Blood stains never came out. Alex filled the sink with nice hot water and she'd just wash up for now. Before bed she'd take a nice hot bath and then soak in the Jacuzzi.

There was quite a bit of dried blood on Alex's chest where Inky had dug her claws in for dear life. Once Alex got the dried blood off of her , she could see the pattern of the four nails repeatedly on her chest. There were small bruise's where the nails had gone through the skin. Alex turned herself so she could get a better look in the mirror. There was a bad bruise forming on her side from her ribs down to the top of the hip bone. It was a dark red and purple color. It hurt to touch it and Alex thought her ribs were probably bruised as well. She finished washing up and put on her tank top, boxers, a pair of sweatpants and her slippers. Alex ran the brush through her hair and then walked over to Cassandra's room to pick up her clothes. The small pile of clothes laid out in the hall in front of the door. Alex put the clothes in to wash and went back downstairs to finish cooking supper.

Alex was just draining the angel hair when Cassandra and Inky appeared in the kitchen. Cassandra looked tired but beautiful. Her long black hair hung loose around her face and she had on one of Alexs' brothers old white oxford shirts. She didn't have it tucked in to her maroon sweat pants and she had rolled up the long sleeves to the elbows and the first three buttons were undone on it down the neck line. Alex didn't realize she was staring at Cassandra until her green eyes meet those deep blue ones and Cassandra had raised her left eyebrow in question.

Alex shook her head and mumbled something about getting a bowl. Alex's face was flushed as she turned away. What was wrong with her? Why was she getting all hot and bothered by Cassandra and her long black hair, blue eyes and white shirt? Alex had to admit she was a good looking package, but certainly not her type! She had to remind herself that this was forced on her. Cassandra and her newspaper articles were forced on her and she resented it. Yeah, that's what she had to remember, not how good those three top buttons looked unbuttoned....

Cassandra smiled to herself as Alex turned away to get the bowl. She had noticed the blush on Alex's face and neck before she turned away from her. My, my, my. Was Alex the human cement block of personality and feelings embarrassed about something? She found it hard to believe Alex would be embarrassed about anything. Why was she staring at her? Was she trying to pick her up? She could save that for Ms. Mackenzie McGuire. She saw how Mac had looked and flirted at Alex at the meeting. Why was she getting so upset about that? She didn't care what the two of them did. It was none of her business.

Alex put the angel hair into the bowl and loaded up a tray with it and the sauce and meatballs. Cassandra followed her into the living room with the salad and garlic bread. They fixed their plates and Alex poured them both a glass of wine. They ate in relative silence watching the local news broadcast and there was film of the fire at Cassandra's apartment building.

After they had finished eating, Cassandra told Alex she was tired and would like to retire for the night. Did she mind? She appreciated her generosity at letting her stay there with her for the night. Alex responded that she didn't mind and she was gonna turn in early herself, after she'd put the food away.

Alex finished putting the dishes in the dishwasher and shut the lights out in the kitchen. She grabbed her coat from the closet and she and Sparky went outside. It was a cold evening, but the stars were all out. They walked around the block to settle some of the pasta she'd eaten. Alexs' thoughts turned to the events of the day and the apartment building fire. They had been lucky that there had been no fatalities. A lot of the tenants did lose memories of their lives through damaged pictures and family heirlooms that could never be replaced.

The next thing Alex knew, she was thinking of Cassandra when she first saw her in the kitchen tonight. Alex had to admit she was beautiful. Those blue eyes you could lose yourself in and that black shiny hair that looked so soft you just wanted to run your hands through it. Hey, wait a minute what the hell was happening to her? Why was she thinking of Cassandra like that? Alex shook her head as if she could shake those thoughts right out of her head. She and Sparky continued their walk. Before Alex knew it, they were in front of Kelsey's Market.

Alex opened the door and they both went inside. Patrick Kelsey was behind the counter. He smiled and spoke when he saw who had come in. Patrick had known Alexs' Father and had watched Alex grow up in the neighborhood. Patrick asked, "What you doing out so late Alex?" Alex grinned and replied, "Need a few things for my house guests."

When Sparky and Alex got back in their driveway, Alex set the packages on the ground then she opened the door to the Ford Explorer, and then reached inside the pocket of her fire coat. She closed the door and she and Sparky went inside the firehouse. When Alex had finished putting away the things she had bought, she shut all the lights off and went upstairs to her room.

Cassandra and Inky walked in to the guest room. She flipped on the light switch on the wall and the television for some noise. She looked around the room and was saddened to think she would never again probably walk into her bedroom in her own apartment.

Cassandra laid on the top of the bed with Inky curled up at her side. She had taken a long hot soak and felt a little of the tension ease away. She reviewed the events of the day. How she had been with Alex at the station and how they weren't getting along. She had felt Alex was an arrogant, conceited, exasperating woman! How on earth had she been chosen to do this article for the newspaper? She had felt it was beneath her, but now she was sure it wasn't beneath her. She had had no idea what all was involved in being a fire fighter. All she had been subjected to were drunk firemen trying to pick her up at a firematic function she had had to attend with the Editor of the paper. Cassandra had never given a thought to the women fire fighters like Alex. She knew nothing about this tough breed of women.

Cassandra was the only daughter of a very well to do family from South Carolina. She was sent to only the best boarding and finishing schools money could buy. She never learned how to work for anything. It had all been given to her until her parents' were suddenly killed in a private airplane crash while returning from a vacation in Denver. Cassandra had been at various schools for so long, only returning to home at holiday times that she never really had a close relationship with her parents. Yes, she loved them but, there was no real bond there. She saw them so infrequently that she had come to rely on herself. After her parents death, she had no one to fund her lifestyle, so she had to do what the common people did... work. Her Father had paid the tuition to the end of the semester, so she had a place to stay and was lucky she was graduating that semester.

She had applied to colleges for Interior Decorating, insisted on by her Mother, but Cassandra was interested in writing, which her Mother did not approve of. Cassandra had been secretly writing since she was sent away to boarding schools. The writing took on a persona of a friend. She could confide her hopes, dreams and disappointments without fear of ridicule by her parents who thought Cassandra's' homesickness was just plain silly.

Cassandra remembered making a phone call that first semester away from home at the age of 10. Her parents had laughed at her crying to come home. They were giving her everything a young lady could ask for. Everything, Cassandra had written, except unconditional love! So Cassandra had vowed that night, as she lay in her bed far away from home, the only way she could survive this was to distance herself. And she had done a very good job of it. Although Cassandra was liked at school, she really didn't have a best friend. She really trusted no one and would let no one in. After awhile the other girls accepted this and just left Cassandra alone. Cassandra did write for the school newspaper. and was on the yearbook committee. She found a release for her feelings in the writing and her English teacher had encouraged her to enter several contests under an alias so her parents wouldn't find out. She had won a couple small prizes, but they seemed like Pulitzers to Cassandra.

Sparky curled up on the bottom of Alexs' bed while Alex removed her clothes and started the Jacuzzi. Boy was that hot pulsating water gonna feel good on her battered and bruised body. The bruise on her side hurt like hell and she was sure she would be even sorer tomorrow, if that was possible! She stepped into the hot, swirling water and let it pulsate on her body. She leaned her head back on the edge of the tub and closed her eyes.

Alex didn't know how long she had been asleep in the Jacuzzi, but the blood curdling scream caused her to jerk herself up in the Jacuzzi and step out on to the floor, where she promptly slipped on her ass!! After several son of a bitches and shits, Alex was able to get herself on her two feet and grab a towel and wrap it around herself. Sparky met her at the bathroom door, ears perked up on alert. Alex heard the scream again and followed the sound down to the guest room. She opened the door and was surprised when Cassandra grabbed on to her in a death embrace. Sparky nuzzled her leg and then got up on the bed where Inky stood, green eyes wide with fear. Sparky cautiously sniffed at Inky edging closer to her ever so slowly until his nose rested on Inky's. Sparky just stood there like that until Inky began to rub the side of her face against Sparky's snout. He laid down on his side on the foot of the bed and Inky curled up by his chest as close as she could get and started purring.

Alex was flustered. She didn't know what to do with this sobbing woman who was attached to her. She slowly put her hands up on Cassandras' arms that had a choke hold around her neck and said, "Cassandra, you're choking me, I can't breath. Just relax your hold on me a little. I've got you.", and with that Alex moved her arms to around Cassandra's waist. Slowly the death grip released and Cassandra bent her head down on Alex's shoulder as Alex started moving her hands up Cassandra's sides, gently rubbing her back. This must have had a calming effect on her because she stopped her sobbing and heaving of her chest. Alex spoke into Cassandra's ear which was right near her lips, "Cassandra, do you think you can tell me what happened? If not, I understand." Cassandra pulled away from Alex and was going to answer her but as she did Alex's towel fell down to her ankles. There she stood naked as a jay bird in front to Cassandra!

Cassandra's' eyes took in Alex's muscular body. She gazed at the lovely, tanned body. The strong neck, the firm breasts, the hard nipples and then traveled down further to her abdomen where they stopped. My God she had a nasty bruise from her ribs on down to her hip on one side. Her chest had small abrasions and bruises. What the heck had happened to Alex?

Alex watched Cassandra as her eyes traveled down her body. At first she was kind of surprised that Cassandra would look at her body, but when she stopped and stared at her, Alex's delight turned to "Oh shit mode!!" Alex bent down quickly and retrieved her towel and covered up. A blush now graced her face and neck. Alex cleared her throat and said, "If everything is all right now, I'll go back to my room." With that said, she turned on her heel and left. Sparky followed her and Inky followed Sparky.

Alex returned to her bathroom and turned the Jacuzzi off. She brushed her teeth and put on a pair of boxers and tank top. She entered her room after snapping the light in the bathroom off and saw Sparky stretched out on the bottom of her bed with Inky stretched out right next to him. Alex pulled the covers back on the left side of the bed and got in. She turned the television on and propped herself up in bed with the other pillow.

Not too long later, there was a gentle knock on her bedroom door. Alex must have dozed off, because for a second she didn't know where she was. When her eyes focused , she saw Cassandra standing in the doorway, the white long sleeve shirt the only thing she had on now. The tails of the shirt came to just about mid thigh on her. Her long jet black hair was tousled, but still looked beautiful. Cassandra spoke from the doorway, "I just wondered where Inky was. Sorry to bother you. You all look so comfortable." Cassandra turned from the doorway. Alex spoke, " Hey, you don't have to go. Come on in. I'm just winding down before sleep with a little television. Come on in and get Inky if you want. She's made a new friend." Cassandra came over to the bed and sat on the very edge of it and started to pet Inky and Sparky raised his head and nuzzled underneath her hand looking for attention to. Cassandra smiled and started to alternate between petting Inky and Sparky.

Alex looked at Cassandra. Her smile was absolutely breath taking. Her eyes sparkling a shimmering blue, like sun shining on clear blue ocean water. She had long fingers and perfectly manicured nails. Alex could just make out the hard nipples through Cassandra's shirt. God how she'd like to taste one of those nipples. Whoa... she was doing it again. What the hell was the matter with her? She was out of her league and besides Cassandra was straight . Get your mind outta the gutter Alex.

When Alex returned from daydreaming Cassandra was speaking to her. "Alex , are you listening to me? " She said. Alex shifted again in the bed, cleared her throat and stated, "Sorry, I was lost in thought a moment. What did you say?" Cassandra said, "Well Inky looks really comfortable and as you said you're not sleepy yet so is it all right if I stay in here awhile? I'll just sit down here outta the way if it is okay with you?" Cassandra's eyes pleaded . Alex replied, " No way. You're not gonna sit on the bottom of the bed." Cassandra looked close to tears. Alex patted the bed up beside her. "Come up here Cassandra and get in under the covers. It's cold in here. It's a queen size bed, plenty of room on the other side and I'll even give you the pillow back!" Alex ended with one of her best lop sided smiles. Cassandra hesitated only a moment. What would it hurt? The bed was big enough .They were both adults. She didn't want to go back to her room alone. There was something about being with Alex now. She just felt better. Why she didn't know she just did and for once she wasn't gonna analyze her feelings. Just accept them.

Alex pulled back the covers so Cassandra could get in. She slid in and fluffed up her pillow. The sheets felt good on her body and they smelled like Alex. Alex turned to speak to Cassandra. "Cassandra, there's an old Bette Davis and Joan Crawford movie on. Two of my favorite actresses. Do you want to watch it with me? You don't have to go in to work early with me." Cassandra turned her head so she could see Alex's face. She looked tired, but her green eyes were bright and her smile was very inviting. "Yes, Alex I would. I have a bunch of phone calls to make in the morning concerning the fire. I'll be down later to the station. I also have to buy some clothes." Alex replied, "You take all the time you need. My house is yours. We can always make up the day at the station. If you'd like I'll come home early and take you out to the mall and we can have an early supper out., my treat. I feel bad we got off to such a bad start." Cassandra smiled, "Alex, that's very kind of you. Yes, that would be nice. I also have to start apartment hunting. I'll call the paper and Kim down in ads can maybe sift through some listings for me and compile a list. She's a friend. I'm sure she'll help." Alex said, "I'm sure there are a lot of people that would help you Cassandra, if you'd let them in."

When Alex was awakened by the sound of the phone ringing, she was suddenly aware of some thing next to her. Hell, next to her, on top of her! When she finally came around, she figured out it was Cassandra and some how in the night she had attached herself to Alex's' body. Alex laid on her back and Cassandra was snuggled in to Alex's side, her arm around her waist, her head on her shoulder and her leg over top of Alex's and her knee pressed up into Alex's center. Man, what a way to wake up! That damn phone, she had to answer it.

Alex grabbed for the phone before the incessant ringing woke Cassandra up. Alex groaned into the phone, "Yeah, what is it?" The voice on the other end of the phone sweetly said, "Oh Alex, I just heard about the fire and I was so worried about you. My sources tell me you were a heroine in saving the little girl in the apartment and Cassandra's pussy cat. I'm so proud of you! This will look great for the article. I'll be flying back to town in a few days and we have to meet. I personally want to thank you for a job well done." It took Alex a few moments before she recognized that it was Mackenzie's voice. What the hell was she doing calling her at this time of night? Alex replied, " Mackenzie do you know what time it is here? Jesus, you woke me up out of a sound sleep!" Mackenzie replied, "Well Alex, if I was there you wouldn't be sleeping no matter what time it was. Now, I've got to go. Just wanted you to know I was thinking of you and look forward to meeting with you soon. Good night."

Before Alex had time to reply, Mackenzie had hung up. Alex was groggy from sleep but still realized that Mackenzie was hitting on her again. Before it had been kind of a kick, but now with Cassandra laying with her in bed, it felt like she was cheating on her. What was wrong with her? Here there was a very attractive, intelligent woman throwing herself at her and she wasn't interested? She must have gotten hit in the head at the fire, because any other time she would grab at the chance for a one nighter. It was easier that way. Stay unattached, have a good time and go onto the next one. Why did she feel differently now? Nothing had changed.

Cassandra drifted partially awake as the warm body beneath her shifted. It was only a few seconds or so later and she realized where she was and she knew she wasn't in her bed alone. Her eyes sprang open and slowly adjusted to the light cast from the television set. She had her head up on someone's chest, her arm wrapped around their waist and her leg up over the top of theirs. Suddenly the events of the day and evening came back to her and she realized she was with Alex. Her first reaction was to bolt from the bed, but then she was aware of Alex talking on the phone. Alex didn't say much. Cassandra wondered who would be calling her this late at night. Maybe someone wanted to come over. Alex had been out earlier in the evening, she had watched her and Sparky walk down the sidewalk from her bedroom window. Maybe Alex had had a date and she had messed it up by staying there. Why did she care who Alex talked to? It was none of her business.

Alex shifted back down on the bed after she hung up. She wondered if Cassandra was awake. She couldn't see in the dim light, so decided to ask her. "Cassandra, did the phone wake you up?" Alex asked. Cassandra replied, "Yes, I'm awake Alex. Is everything okay?" Alex cleared her throat, "Yeah, everything's okay. That was Mackenzie McGuire calling. Seems she heard about the apartment fire and wanted to make sure everything and everybody was okay. She'll be back in a couple days. Wants to meet and talk things over." Cassandra removed her arm from Alex's waist and rolled herself off Alex and on to the other side of the bed. She got up and pulled the covers back towards the pillow. Cassandra said, "Alex, I think I'll go back to my room now. I think I can sleep. See you in the morning." She reached down and picked up Inky and returned to her room. As she settled down in the guest room bed, she wondered why Mackenzie's late night phone call to Alex bothered her so. Well, it had been a long day. She'd think about it tomorrow. It was her last thought before she fell into a deep sleep.

Alex was too surprised to say anything but good night to Cassandra. Her abrupt departure was strange. If she hadn't known better she would have thought Cassandra was miffed that Mackenzie had called her. But why would she feel that way? She'd think about it tomorrow after she had gotten some sleep and instantly drifted off to sleep.

Alex rose at her usual early time, showered, dressed and went downstairs to the kitchen. She put her coffee on to drip and let Sparky out. Once Sparky was in and eating his breakfast, Alex fried herself some bacon and a couple eggs. Breakfast was her favorite meal of the day. She finished eating and cleaned up the kitchen. She brushed her teeth, wrote a quick note for Cassandra, and she and Sparky were on their way to the fire station.

Cassandra woke with a start. At first she thought she was still with Alex, being held close and secure. She must have been dreaming . She got up, showered and dressed. Inky wondered while she waited for Cassandra where her litter box was. It had been a long night and she needed to use the box now!

Cassandra smelled the coffee as soon as she hit the top of the stairs. A quick look towards Alex's room told her she was alone. When she arrived in the kitchen, she was greeted with a beautiful single red rose and a note on the counter The note said,

Cassandra,

Make yourself at home. I'm sure you can find the things around the kitchen. On the floor in the bathroom down here is a litter box for Inky. Thought maybe she could use it. Wasn't sure of her preference of litter, so hope what I got was okay. Also got her some dry and canned food. Hope that's okay too. Here's a couple more t-shirts and a pair of shorts. I'll be home at 3PM to take you to the mall and then out to eat."

Alex

PS Saved these diskettes from your apartment. Hope they are undamaged. Feel free to use my computer in the office. See you later.

Cassandra's heart was racing. She got the cat food off the counter and feed Inky. She also showed Inky where the litter box was and she used it right away. Cassandra poured herself a cup of coffee and took a sweet roll from under the cellophane wrap on the dish and proceeded into Alex's office with the diskettes. She accessed the word processing program and popped her first diskette in the A drive. It worked!!! She repeated this task , loading each diskette in to the drive and each one was undamaged!! Alex had saved her whole writing career by retrieving those diskettes! How had she known how important they were to her? But more importantly, why had she gone out of her way to save them? They were in her desk drawers, not out in obvious sight. She'd ask her later. Right now she was just too happy.

Alex threw her keys on her desk and sat down in her chair. She had just returned from a meeting concerning the apartment fire. The fire arson squad had ascertained that the fire had been started by unattended kids playing with matches. What a shame. Latch-key kids always were getting in some sort of trouble. They had found the kids responsible for the fire and they would be doing some community service. The apartment side that had been damaged would be under renovations for a long time. They were just lucky that there was no loss of life.

Alex was at her desk the rest of the day doing paperwork and was thinking about leaving earlier to meet Cassandra when the phone rang. It was Bud and he wanted to see her in his office now.

Bud looked worried as he sat behind his desk. Alex was skeptical about what this visit was about. Bud started the conversation, "Alex, I got a call this morning from Mackenzie McGuire." "Yeah, I did too at 2 AM to be exact. What did she call you for?", Alex asked. Bud replied, "Alex, seems she got wind of the apartment fire and Cassandra living there. Then she heard about you finding the little girl hiding and Cassandras' cat. Now she wants to do a big media blitz with you as the woman fire fighter hero." Bud just sat back and waited for Alex to blow, but she didn't. Alex looked at Bud, sighed and quietly stated, "Bud, you know I would do just about anything for you, but this I will not do. I am not going to get media coverage and PR for the mayor out of the misfortune of all those people who lose their homes. The mayor wants to do something good that will get him good PR, why doesn't he allocate some money in the budget for teaching fire safety in the community and some after school programs for the latch-key kids? I'm not budging on this one."

Alex waited for Bud to respond and when he did it was with compassion and understanding. "Alex", he said "I respect your feelings and wishes on this one. I will not pull rank on you. Ms. McGuire will just have to figure out something else to make points for the mayor." Alex smiled and left. Bud returned the smile but thought to himself, I wonder if it is going to be as simple as refusing Ms. McGuire? She seems pretty taken with Alex. She would have to be careful not to get on the wrong side of her. Bud thought Ms. McGuire could be trouble if crossed.

Alex and Sparky returned to her office and found several messages she had to take care of. The rest of the day went quickly and it was time to leave for home and pick up Cassandra.

Cassandra had been busy most of the day making phone calls to insurance agencies, the newspaper office and apartment searching. She had lined up a couple apartments to look at tonight. If Alex didn't want to take her, maybe she could borrow the Explorer or she could take a taxi. She'd see what kind of mood Alex was in when she got here. Cassandra wandered out of Alex's office to get some ice tea and saw the red rose and note Alex had left her. That was so sweet of her. She really was the nicest person once you got to know her. She was strong and hard when she needed to be, but also had a gentle, caring side that few people got to see. She looked at the clock on the wall. Alex would be home soon. Home, she thought. She acted like she lived there!

Alex and Sparky burst through the door with all the energy of a herd of elephants in search of peanuts! Inky ran over to rub herself first on Alexs' pant legs and then on Sparky's legs. Cassandra was sitting on the sofa reading, her long legs tucked up behind her. Her tortoise shell glasses looked nice on her.....very nice and very sexy! Alex's eyes drifted down to Cassandras' breasts and she could see the semi-hard nipples pressed against the tee-shirt she had on. She had on shorts and those thighs...God she had to get Cassandra out of here, she was messing her head up.

Alex sat on the bench in the mall. She was surrounded with packages that Cassandra had bought. God this woman was wild in the mall. She had waited and then watched Cassandra model each article of clothing for her. She hadn't minded at all, but wished it was swimsuit season! It was the Christmas season and the mall was filled with hussle and bussle and Christmas carols. God how Alex loved this time of year! She was going to start decorating the fire house this coming week. Lots and lots of lights everywhere. She thought she'd go on up to her house she had in the country the weekend. She was wondering if she should ask Cassandra to go with her or not. If she hadn't found an apartment by then, she could just stay at the firehouse. Alex hadn't had anyone up at her country home. It was her private place. She had never wanted to share it with anyone else, why was she thinking about taking someone up there now?

Cassandra finally came and plunked her body down on the bench with Alex. She had finished finally. She looked tired. A few strands of her hair had fallen down over her forehead and before Alex realized what she was doing her hand had reached up and brushed them off her forehead. Her hand lingered a moment more than was necessary on Cassandra's soft skin and as she pulled her hand away she could feel the blush rise up her neck and to her cheeks. Alex stood abruptly, grabbed for the shopping bags and mumbled , " Are you done now? I'm getting hungry." Cassandra smiled to herself and rose off the bench to bend and retrieve the few bags that were left. She replied, " Yes Alex, I'm done. I'm hungry too. Let's go." As they both walked down the mall to the parking lot outside , they both wondered the same thing...what was each other really hungry for?

The restaurant was Italian and not a real fancy one, but the food was excellent. The place was crowded but they were shown to a booth in the back of the restaurant. This was one of Alex's favorite places to eat and the staff knew her well. There was a red and white checkered tablecloth on the table. A glass chimney covered a lit candle that graced the center of the table. Alex wondered to herself why in the hell did these restaurants always have these little rinky-dink candles on the tables. You couldn't see to eat by them, that was for sure. Cassandra looked around the restaurant. Their booth in the corner with the candle light was very nice and well....romantic. The waitress came then and interrupted both their thoughts by leaving them menus to look over and asking for their drink order. Toni returned with Alex's Molson and Cassandra's white zinfandel. They placed their food orders and both sat back to relax and take a swallow of their drinks.

There must have been a big celebration going on a couple of booths away because the noise from that area was deafening. Alex and Cassandra could hardly hear each other talk across the table. It was really starting to irritate Alex. She was leaning over as far as she could towards Cassandra, but she still couldn't hear what she was saying. Finally, she couldn't take it any more and got up from her seat and walked around the booth and slide in next to Cassandra. Cassandra was stunned but automatically slide over when Alex sat down next to her. It was a small booth and Alex's shoulder rubbed against Cassandra's upper arm. Alex turned her head to speak to Cassandra. God, Alex was so close Cassandra could drown in those beautiful sea green eyes. Alex cleared her throat and said, "There, now isn't that better? Jesus I couldn't hear a thing over there with all that noise. There's nothing worse than trying to talk to someone and not be able to hear their answer to your questions." Alex smiled that lopsided grin that was really starting to get to Cassandra every time she saw it. Her throat was dry and she thought to herself, she hadn't had that much wine to drink yet. Must be Alex sitting so close...yeah she was nervous...or something. It was the something that worried her.

Alex continued on with conversation about her day and the apartment fire and training and Cassandra thought to herself she couldn't ever get tired of her voice, her hand movements or her facial expressions when she was talking about something passionate to her. Her thoughts drifted off to what else Alex could be passionate about and then she felt a gentle nudge on her shoulder. She had been gazing into Alex's eyes the last she knew . Alex smiled and set her plate down in front of her. Their dinners had come and when Cassandra didn't respond to the waitress, she had taken the plate from her as the reach was too far for the waitress. Toni gave Alex a big smirk and said, "Oh, I see we changed our seating arrangements." Alex nodded, "Yup, couldn't hear my friend's conversation. You got a problem with that?" Toni chuckled, "Hell, no Alex. Whatever excuse you need to get some action works for me. You know you don't have to wine and dine me to get any action. I'm yours any time for the taking" and with that she turned and left.

Alex felt her face and neck redden. Damn it how come everyone all of a sudden was coming on to her and why did they have to do it in front of Cassandra? It probably made her feel very uncomfortable. Hell probably, she knew it did. Bud had warned her about the possibilities with the press and the department if Alex's lifestyle was made an issue. Alex reprimanded herself. She would have to be more careful. The department didn't need any negative publicity, especially because of her. They both ate in silence. Cassandra's arm rubbed on Alex's arm as she ate. Cassandra wondered why all of these women making offers to Alex was starting to bother her. It was nothing to her what Alex did. She was only writing an article for the paper. Due to circumstances beyond her control she was staying with Alex. What was the problem with her? Just write the damn articles and move on. It was that simple....or was it?

Alex leaned back in the booth and raised her left arm up and over to rest on the back of the booth. Dinner had been delicious and the two Molson's had relaxed her. The company was pretty nice too. They had talked about Cassandra's writing and what it meant to her. Especially when she was away at boarding school. Cassandra had never shared her feelings with anyone before and she wondered how Alex had gotten her to talk about herself. She remembered the diskettes that Alex had saved from her apartment fire and looked into Alex's gentle green eyes. She was mesmerized by them and before she knew what was happening she was thanking her for saving those tapes and leaning in closer towards her. Alex was telling Cassandra it was no big deal about the diskettes and at the same time was wondering what Cassandra was doing. She was leaning in towards her and before she had any more time to think, Cassandra's lips touched hers or her lips touched Cassandra's, she wasn't sure. It was a quick brush of lips on lips, but Alex and Cassandra both felt something. When Cassandra started to pull away, Alex's lips followed hers and this time the kiss was a little more solid. Cassandra was horrified at herself. What had come over her to kiss Alex like that? And why was she responding to Alex's kiss now? My God, she didn't even know what she was doing half the time any more. Alex, felt her stomach flip flop as Cassandra started to pull away. She had to taste more of those lips. Alex edged closer to Cassandra and was interrupted by Toni asking if they wanted anything more. Oh yeah, Alex thought I want more, much, much more. Cassandra kept her eyes down and thought to herself it was a good thing Toni came or she would have let Alex kiss her again. She had to have time to think about what was happening to her...between them.

Alex held the door open for Cassandra so she could step through first. Just as Alex was about to follow her, Toni grabbed her elbow and turned Alex part way around. Toni said, "Alex, there is a phone call for you at the bar." Alex looked puzzled and said to Toni as she walked back to the bar, "Please tell Cassandra I'll be right out". Alex reached for the phone receiver as the bartender handed it to her. Alex spoke in to the phone, "Hello?" A very sultry voice on the other end said, " Oh Alex, I'm so glad I caught you. I'm on a plane right now flying back and just wanted to let you know that I'll expect you to have breakfast with me at 8:00AM tomorrow at my place. I'll have room service send us up something. We must go over some strategy for the newspaper articles." She then rattled off her address and room number, said good night and hung up. Alex had been so taken by surprise she hadn't even been able to get the word no in, let alone any other words. Alex handed the phone back to the bartender in a daze. Toni was at her side the next thing she knew and asking if she was okay. Alex nodded her head and turned to go. She stopped and turned and asked Toni for her pencil and pad. Alex quickly wrote down the information Mackenzie had given her. Damn it! Why was this woman in her face every time she turned around? How did she know where she was? Scratch that. She knew how and damn, she knew why. She didn't know how much longer her libido would hold out on her. It was being offered to her with no strings attached. Just how she liked it. A long hot night of great sex. No promises, no expectations, no commitments, no talking. What could be any better than that Alex thought to herself? She reached for the door handle and pulled. She knew there was something better than that, and that's what scared her.

Alex stepped out into the night and looked for Cassandra. She wasn't right by the entrance to the restaurant, maybe she had walked to the car. She didn't have a key to get in though. Just as Alex started to walk towards the car, she hear some muffled voices nearby. She stopped to get a fix on where they were coming from and then she heard a loud NO. Alex hurried into the alley to find Cassandra's back pushed up against the side of the building and a tall figure pressed up to the front of her body. The tall dark figure was leaning into Cassandra and trying to kiss her, while Cassandra twisted her head from side to side to avoid the lips of the stranger. Her hands were pushed up against his chest, but he was taller and stronger and he was too close to get any leverage.

Alex thought a moment as she assessed the situation. She could do a running jump and kick the guy in the back, but Cassandra might get hurt. So she did the only other thing she could do, insult the guy! Alex yelled, "Hey dirt bag, is that the only way you can get any action? That's pathetic!" The man turned to see what nut was yelling at him but he knew before he turned it would be Alex. He had been in the restaurant and was coming through where Alex and Cassandra had sat at their table and had seen Cassandra kiss Alex. That had made his blood boil. What a waste of a beautiful woman. All Cassandra needed was a good man to take her and she wouldn't be tempted by Alex's charm. He had been tempted by Alex's charm once and had been made a fool of by her. Then there was the fact that Alex had gotten the position of lieutenant. That job was rightfully his. They only gave it to her as a token and because of her Father. Chad grinned maliciously at Alex and said, " What's the matter Alex, can't get to first base with your lady friend and now you begrudge one of your fellow firemen?" "I thought we were all brother firemen. Share and share alike. Well you've got something I want, and I'm gonna take it from you. Just like you took that lieutenants job I wanted at the station." Just at that moment when Chad's attention was focused on Alex, Cassandra decided to make her move. She brought her knee up quick right into Chad's jewels and then slammed her foot down into the instep of his foot. Not only the surprise but the instantaneous pain caused Chad to loosen his vice grip on Cassandra, and she was able to bolt from his grasp. She ran to Alex and Alex directed her to get behind her. This guy was drunk and no telling what shit he'd pull. He also was bigger than her, but she was faster. Chad turned himself around and lunged at Alex.

Cassandra had gotten behind Alex all right and kept on going until she got inside. She spotted Toni across the room and ran to her. Cassandra was in a frenzy. She didn't want Alex getting hurt on account of her. Hell she didn't want her getting hurt period. Toni, Cassandra and the bar bouncer came racing out into the alley. They stopped in their tracks. Alex and Chad were facing each other and just then Chad lunged at Alex and at the last possible second she moved and he plunged to the ground. Alex backed away from Chad as he struggled to get to his feet. He was drunk but could still do some damage unless she could get him down and keep him there. As Chad got to his feet he swung something at Alex and it hit her in the side and dropped her to her knees. It had hit the spot where she had been hurt at the fire. It was hard to get a breath and she struggled to get in an upright position. The bouncer was ready to jump into the scene, but Toni held his forearm. Cassandra looked at her in disbelief as Toni explained, "Alex will never forgive us if we interfere when it isn't necessary. Please just trust me. She's okay." Cassandra turned to look at the bouncer and he begrudgingly nodded his head as he spoke, "Toni is right. If we interfere now Alex won't speak to us for a long time. I won't let her get hurt. Trust us."

When they all looked back at the fight scene Chad once again was charging Alex. As he did so Alex grabbed his outstretched arm and at the same time hooked her foot inside ankle and by doing so threw him off balance and she twisted his arm slightly and the next thing he was on his butt in the dirt in a loud thud. Alex jumped onto his chest and was just about to give him a good punch in the jaw when Jay the bouncer gently touched her arm and said, "Alex , I'll take it from here. Why don't you get your lady friend home?" Alex turned and looked at Jay and spoke. "Yeah, it's been a long day for us both. Okay, but he's just lucky you came along." With that said, she gave him a big grin and got up off Chad.

By the time Alex had stood up and stepped over Chad, Cassandra and Toni were at her elbow. They both were talking at the same time and she couldn't understand a word they were saying. Alex was tired, her side hurt like hell and she was getting a headache. She just wanted to be in her own bed and the night to be over. She turned to Cassandra and Toni, raised both her hands up in front of her as if she was under arrest. They immediately stopped talking. She said to Cassandra, "Can we please just go home? I've had enough excitement for one night." Cassandra smiled at Alex while saying, "Yes, I think we both have had enough excitement for the night." She hooked her arm inside Alex's elbow and they both started off for the car. Toni watched them go arm and arm. She shook her head and said softly to herself , " They've both got it bad for each other and neither one will admit it. Wonder how long it's gonna take for one of them to get up the courage to tell the other one?" She followed Jay and a drunken Chad back into the restaurant.

The drive home was quiet. Each one lost in their own thoughts. Alex was in pain and didn't want Cassandra to know. If Cassandra would just go to bed and let her soak in her hot tub. Cassandra was thinking Alex is in pain. She saw the blow Chad had gotten in before Alex knocked his feet out from under him. It was the same side she had already injured. She needed to look at it and see if there were any open wounds, but how was she going to accomplish that? Alex had to act so tough all the time. Well she would think of some way to get Alex out of her clothes....to check her side she reminded herself.

Sparky and Itsy attacked Alex and Cassandra when they stepped into the house. Alex went to the closet and got Sparkys' leash and bent down to hook it on his collar. Wow, did that hurt! Jesus, she'd just take Sparky on a quick walk so he could do his business and then she was hitting the Jacuzzi. She hoped Cassandra would be gone to bed when she got back. She walked to the door, turned and said to Cassandra, "Gonna be gone for a little while with Sparky. Don't bother to wait up. I'll see you in the morning." Alex opened the door and they stepped out in to the evening.

Cassandra bent down to pet Itsy. She rubbed her body back and forth along Cassandras' legs. Cassandra could see the pain on Alexs' face as she bent to hook Sparkys' leash. Then there was Alexs' quick escape outside with Sparky. Well, she had some nerve practically telling her to be gone to bed when she got back. Who the hell did she think she was telling her that after what had happened between them tonight? She had a news flash for Alex. She wasn't going to be asleep when she came back...far from it!

Sparky did his business out around the back of the house. He was ready to go in, but Alex wasn't. She wanted to make sure Cassandra was asleep. Damn, she couldn't trust herself with her now that she had had a taste of those sweet lips! She also didn't need her to know how much that other blow to her side had hurt her. If the department and Bud found out she had been injured at the fire and not reported it, she would probably be suspended. She didn't need that publicity for the department or with this asshole Chad getting wind of it.

Alex looked up and saw the upstairs hall light go on. Good, she thought to herself, Cassandra was going to bed. She'd wait a few more minutes and then head on in. She would get up early in the morning and be out of the house before Cassandra got up.

Cassandra snapped the light on for upstairs. She picked up the tray and headed on up. She walked in to Alex's room and there was enough light from the hallway shining in, that she didn't need to turn a light on. She set the tray down in the bathroom on the top of the sink area. Cassandra turned the lights on low in the Jacuzzi area so she could see to turn it on. A nice hot soak was what Alex was going to get, a little scotch and then a nice body rub. Then she could get a look at Alexs' injuries more closely. Why hadn't she told her she'd been hurt? Was Alex that stubborn to not admit she was human? To not let anyone care for her?

Alex unhooked Sparkys' leash and he immediately jumped up on the couch where Itsy laid curled up on it. He turned around three times in a circle, laid down next to Itsy and let out a sigh. Alex grinned and shut the lights off downstairs and went up to her room.

As soon as Alex entered her room she could hear the sound of the Jacuzzi. What the heck she thought to herself as she started walking towards the bathroom. She entered the bathroom to smell and see scented candles lit around the edges of the Jacuzzi. The water swirled and churned to the flicker of the candlelight shadowed on the wall. She was about to speak to herself when a voice behind her made her jump. Cassandras' sexy voice drifted into Alexs' ears, "Alex get out of those clothes and into that water. It's all set for you. After you soak, I'll give you a nice body rub and then it's off to bed for you. You've had a long day. I brought scotch up for you so you can have a drink while you soak."

Alexs' body snapped around as her heart jumped at the sound of Cassandra's voice. Damn it! Everybody was always sneaking up on her! She was about to open her mouth to voice her no on the situation when Cassandra spoke. "Alex, please let me do this for you. I know you got hurt at the fire staying inside too long looking for Itsy, Clia and then the disks. Then you got into a fight tonight because of me. Please just let me do this to say thank you. Please?" Alex looked into those pleading blue eyes and just sighed and shook her head. She knew when she was beat. Alex replied, "Okay Cassandra. You win. I give up. Jacuzzi, scotch, rub and bed. Sounds good to me....on one condition. You join me." Cassandra's face flushed and she asked, "What?" Alex replied, " I don't want to fall asleep and drown in there tonight. Besides, you had a bad day too. Okay is it a deal?"

Cassandra smiled and shook her head as she spoke, "Yeah, okay. You get in first. I'll fix our drinks." Alex nodded her head and proceeded to undress. Cassandra's' back was turned to her as she worked at the sink fixing the drinks. She did peak up for just a second to see Alex's back ease down into the water. Her upper back was very muscular. She couldn't wait to run her hands down that back. Alex's voice brought her back from her thoughts. "Cassandra, are you coming?" Cassandra blushed and spoke as she came over to the Jacuzzi with their drinks and handed Alex hers. "Yes Alex, I'm coming. Give me just a minute." Alex took her drink from Cassandra and their fingers touched for a moment. The electricity could be felt by both of them from the touch and both wondered how much longer they could deny that there wasn't something developing between them.

Alex raised her drink to her lips and took a sip. God that tasted good! Just how she liked it, scotch, ice and some seven up. How did Cassandra know? She had better watch herself. She was starting to relax and she wanted to remain in control of the situation. She mustn't give in to these feelings she was having towards Cassandra.

Cassandra undressed slowly. She was nervous but why? They were just gonna soak for a bit and then she'd check Alex 's side. What was the big deal? The big deal was that every time she was around Alex now she was having these strange feelings.

Alex edged over into the far corner and sat up on the bench in the tub. She wanted to give Cassandra some privacy getting in. She had probably never been in a hot tub with another woman before. What was she thinking? Of course Cassandra had never been in a hot tub with another woman naked. Alex kept her eyes down as Cassandra got into the water. Once they were both in the tub at opposite ends, you couldn't see anything. But Alex wanted to see something. She wanted to kiss those lips again and hold her close. God! She had to get a grip. A little alcohol in her made her horny as hell. She didn't want to do anything that would jeopardize anything at the department or her relationship with Cassandra. Somehow Cassandra had gotten through the walls she had put up while she wasn't looking. Now it mattered what she thought and more importantly what she thought of her.

Cassandra stepped down into the Jacuzzi. The water felt good. She grabbed her drink off the edge and took a long swallow. She needed to boost up her courage. She had never done anything like this before, but she had a gut feeling it was right. She needed to get close to Alex and it didn't look like Alex was going to make a move towards her, so she guessed she'd have to make the first move.

Alex took another swallow of her drink. Her eyes were down and her head turned to the side away from Cassandra. She knew she was in the tub as she heard the change in the water flow as she got in. Damn. She wanted to be close to Cassandra. She guessed she'd have to make the first move and see how she reacted to it.

Cassandra eased her way over to Alex in the corner. She was just about to her, when Alex turned around and looked straight into those blue eyes. Alexs' heart took a jump. God what was it about those eyes that made her catch her breath? Why did her stomach do flip flops every time she was near? Why did she have this ache, this longing that she had never had for anyone else? And why did the woman she was falling for have to be straight?

As Cassandra approached Alex, she turned and looked right into her soul with those green eyes. Those eyes pierced her heart and she could see the reflection of....could it be love and longing in Alexs' eyes? Why was she falling for another woman?

Alex slid down off the bench and right into Cassandra crouching in front of her. Their bodies touched and for a second neither moved. It was unclear who moved first, but the results were the same no matter who went first. Alex put her arms around Cassandras' waist and pulled her closer. Cassandras' arms slid up around Alexs' neck and they both tilted their heads and leaned in. Both had their eyes closed and soft lips met gently and briefly at first. A few kisses later the lips touched a little longer. Alex was trying to pull Cassandra closer and Cassandras' hand had a grasp on the hair at the nape of Alexs' neck. God that drove Alex wild when she was touched there and started to intensify the kissing. Cassandra was keeping up with Alex and the more forceful kissing was getting her aroused and she took her tongue and pressed it against Alexs' lips waiting for entry. My God !! Alex was reeling from the excitement of the kissing and now Cassandras' tongue stroking back and forth over her lips was gonna send her over the edge!!

Alex pulled away to gulp some air she desperately needed before she passed out!! Cassandras' face showed puzzlement and before she could say anything, Alex spoke. " I'm sorry I just needed some air. Is everything okay? Are you okay with this?" Cassandra smiled at Alex and placed her hand on the side of her face pulling her in close again. "Alex, yes I'm okay, you're okay and we're okay. I have never felt this way kissing anyone else before, my God, that was absolutely wonderful!! It felt like our hearts were one." Alex grinned that silly lopsided grin and spoke. "Yeah, was pretty damn awesome for me too! I thought I was gonna faint. It's like all of me on the inside was being drained and merging with something else. I've never felt that before either." They both just looked at each other for awhile with the silliest grins on their faces and then Alex leaned in again to capture Cassandras' lips and this time she asked for entrance into Cassandras' mouth and it was given. Their kissing and probing of each others mouths was done in sync as if they had done this before. Small moans were coming from Alexs' throat and being captured in Cassandras'. Both were getting hotter by the minute and Cassandra broke away first this time.

"Alex, let's get outta this water. We'll both be wrinkled up prunes if we stay in much longer. I need to look at your side too." Cassandra said as she tried to catch her breath. Alex reluctantly gave up trying to capture those talented lips. "Okay, let's get out and get dried off. I think I need another drink." They both stepped out of the Jacuzzi and Alex reached back and shut it off. By the time she had gotten back to Cassandras' side she had wrapped a towel around that gorgeous body and was fixing them both a fresh drink.

Alex grabbed her towel and threw it around her body as she walked out into her bedroom. She went over to her CD player and put Sara Evans on to play. She was one of her favorites. Cassandra approached Alex with a smile and her drink. She said, "Okay Alex. Enough distractions. Get on that bed and let me look at your side and no further excuses." Alex saluted her and said, "Yes Ma'am." And she jumped up on the bed without spilling a drop of her drink. She took a long drink and set the glass on the bedside night table and waited. Cassandra came over to her side of the bed and motioned for Alex to lay on her stomach. Alex complied quickly. She couldn't wait to feel this womans' hands on her body.

Alex lay stretched out on her stomach on her side of the bed. Hell, on her side, the whole damn thing was her side. Her head was turned to the side and her arms were straight down by her sides. She was feeling pretty relaxed with the couple scotches she had drank. She couldn't believe Cassandra had kissed her. Christ, had kissed her so hot and deep!! Alex's emotions were reeling!! Alex wondered what Cassandra was feeling and thinking.

Cassandra leaned down and grasped the edge of the towel wrapped around Alex and started to gently tug. Alex lifted her body up off the bed so she could pull it out from underneath her. Cassandra's fingers lightly brushed Alexs' skin. The touch sent goose bumps down Alexs' back. Cassandra smiled to herself as she felt the reaction to her touch. Cassandra leaned over Alexs' back so she could get a look at her injuries. There was a deep crimson-purple discoloration on her side that stretched from her rib area to the top of the hip. The sight of the injury and how Alex had got it caused Cassandra to catch her breath and her eyes welled up. Alex turned her head at the sound of Cassandras' gasp and raised herself partially up off the bed. She saw the tears in Cassandras' eyes that were ready to spill down her cheeks. Before she could say anything Cassandra leaned down and whispered into her ear. "Alex, it's okay. It's just seeing the bruising that you got trying to save what was important to me and trying to protect me." Alex replied with an indignant tone, "What do you mean tried? I delivered on both accounts!!" Cassandra looked horrified as Alex's word sunk in. She hadn't meant that she didn't succeed and was about to say so when Alex winked at her and gave her that smile that made her shudder on the inside. " I was just teasing you", Alex said. Cassandra slapped Alex's bare bottom and told her to lay back down.

Cassandra picked up the bottle of lotion and flipped the cap up. She tipped the bottle upside down and was about to squirt the lotion into her hand when she got a gleam in her eye and aimed it right at Alexs' back. Alexs' body shot up off the bed and she was sputtering as she faced Cassandra, " What the hell you trying to do to me?" Cassandra was bent over in laughter, tears streaming down her face. Alex just looked at her for a moment and then edged closer, her towel lay on the floor between their feet. Alex reached out and slipped her fingers underneath the edge of Cassandra's towel and waited for a reaction. What she saw was the most sparkling blue eyes she had ever seen. Cassandras' lips were turned up into a smile and both women stepped closer to each other as Cassandra raised her hands to cover Alex's and the towel dropped on top of Alexs' on the floor.

Cassandra laid on her side, her head on Alex's shoulder, her right arm around her waist. Their legs were intertwined and Alex had her right arm around Cassandras' shoulder and she was alternating between kissing Cassandra's forehead and letting her fingers trace the fine hairs at the side of her temple. Their first time at love making had been awesome. Both had reached an intensity that they had never experienced with anyone else. They both were still recovering from their racing heartbeats and rapid breathing. They basked in the heat of each others body and after a few lines of conversation they both fell asleep.

Alex tilted her head down so she could start a line of kisses down Cassandras' neck. God she smelled sooo good and tasted even better. As she continued nuzzling her neck, she asked Cassandra what her middle name was. Cassandra sleepily replied, "Jane, why?" Alex grinned into her neck as she continued her mission down Cassandras' neck and on to her collarbone. "Oh, I wanted to make up a pet name for you...and it's gonna be CJ. Cassandra is a pretty name, but way to long to say in the heat of passion." She continued the line of kissing across CJ's upper chest to stop only momentarily to suck at her pulse point , before continuing on to the left collar bone. CJ was starting to respond to Alex's kissing by slightly moaning and tracing her fingers down her back. Alex responded to that action by coming up and capturing CJs' lips with her own. The kiss started out slowly but in no time was rapidly turning passionate. They both stayed in sync with each other as if they had done this many times before. Alex heard the clock strike 2am as she pulled the cover up over CJ and herself . The last thing she remembered as she drifted off to sleep was the contentment and comfort that the body laying curled next to her gave her.

Cassandra awoke and at first was disoriented where she was. Then it all came back to her. The gentle love making at first with Alex and then the more heated passionate lust that filled them both and that seemed would never be quenched between them no matter how many times they made love. She grinned to herself. She had never been that vocal before with anyone. She guessed it just took the right person. She spooned closer to Alex, and just enjoyed listening to the gentle breathing and soon she was lulled back to sleep again by it.

It was late morning before Alex and Cassandra finally got to the fire station. Alex had woken up around 7am and called into the station saying they would be in around 10am. Alex wanted to make CJ breakfast in bed. She wanted their first morning after to be as perfect as their first night together. Cassandra had appreciated the breakfast Alex had prepared and she showed Alex her appreciation, making them get into the station a little later than 10am. Bud had left a message for Alex with the crew on duty that as soon as they saw her to tell her to go to his office.

Alex knocked on Buds' door before she walked in. She had given Cassandra the keys to her office so she could go in and start her work on the articles. Cassandra had lined up a photographer for the afternoon to take some pictures of Alex working with the men to accompany the series of articles she was writing.

Bud looked tired and old. He motioned Alex in as he hung up the phone with a disgusted look on his face. "Alex, I thought I told you to be careful with this newspaper woman around and the Mayors' assistant." Alex threw herself into the chair in front of the desk and replied, " Bud, I have been. Oh, shit! I was summoned by Mackenzie to have breakfast with her in her hotel room this morning at 8am. I forgot all about it. Shit!" "Shit is right and you're up to your green eyeballs in it!!", he roared as he got up from behind his desk and started to pace. Alex was worried. Rarely if ever had she heard Bud raise his voice. Alex started, "Okay, Bud. Tell me what I've done wrong." Bud stopped his pacing to turn and face her, "Damn it Alex, why'd you have to get in a brawl with Chad last night?" Alex took a deep breath before she answered. "Bud, it wasn't my fault. Cassandra and I had stopped for a bite to eat after I had taken her to the mall to replace some of the clothes she lost in the fire. Cassandra went on out to the car while I was taking a phone call. As a matter of fact it was from Mackenzie McGuire. When I went out to the car, Chad had Cassandra in the alley trying to have his way with her. He was drunker than a skunk. I was just trying to prevent him from hurting her. There were witnesses there if you don't believe me Bud." Bud sighed heavily as he poured himself another cup of coffee. "No Alex, I believe you. Chad is trying to make trouble for you by reporting to me the fight you had last night. Seems he left out a few very important details. I'm sorry Alex. I didn't believe you would instigate a fight. The other problem we have here is Ms. McGuire. She seems quite taken with you. That worries me." Bud cleared his throat and continued speaking," She stormed in here over an hour ago . She's waiting for you in your office, she said you stood her up for a breakfast work session." Alex jumped out of her seat and yelled, "What? Christ I sent Cassandra on down to my office while I came to see you. I better get down there quick." Alex bolted for the door and charged down the hallway to her office.

Cassandra reached for the doorknob with key in hand to discover it was already unlocked. She pushed the door open and was greeted with a voice that seemed to be coming from Alexs' swivel chair that was turned away from the door. She had heard that voice before but couldn't place it. The voice was saying "It's about time you showed up baby. I'm pretty ticked at you for standing me up for breakfast. I had some huge strawberries and fresh whipped cream waiting for you. But I think I have thought up a way you can make it up to me." The swivel chair turned around at that point and Mackenzies' mouth dropped open when she saw who was standing in the office.

Cassandra slammed the door shut and stepped up to Alexs' desk. "And just who do you think you are calling baby? And you can take your strawberries and cream and stick them where the sun doesn't shine.", Cassandra said without missing a beat. Mackenzie stood up and came around to where Cassandra was standing. She had an evil grin on her face as she said, "Why Cassandra, I think your claws are showing. I didn't know you had any interest in Alex. But honey, that doesn't matter, because I want her and what I want, I always get. And if for some reason I don't get what I want, things can become very unpleasant for Alex. She loves being a fire fighter. I'd hate to see anything happen to her promising career." Cassandra was just getting ready to reply to that comment when Alex burst into the room.

She quickly sensed something big was going down and wanted to defuse the situation before anything else happened. Mackenzie turned towards Alex and smiled as she approached her. Her hand reached out and squeezed her upper arm as she passed by her and said, "Alex, I'll be back later for the photo shoot. We'll discuss then about rescheduling your missed date with me. I'm back in town and don't plan on going anywhere until I get what I want. We will be spending a lot of time together on this project, so clear your schedule." And with that said she continued on out into the hallway and down the hall.

Alex turned to Cassandra and asked, "What was that all about?" Cassandra turned to Alex and she simply said, "Trouble Alex. Real trouble."

Alex chuckled out loud as she shook her head. She turned to Cassandra and said,
"Don't worry CJ. Everything will be fine. Mackenzie's just used to having her own way. She was just ticked that I blew off that meeting she set up for this morning. I never agreed to it. You believe me don't you?" Alex's eyes had turned sad and her voice had just a hint of desperation in it. Cassandra looked into Alex's eyes and smiled, "Of course I believe you. She wants you Alex and will do anything to get you. Anything..."

Alex smiled and then said, "I'm glad you believe me. Do you want to know what Bud told me?" Cassandra nodded her head and said "Yes." Alex walked around her desk and sat down in her chair as she pushed her hand through her hair and exhaled forcefully. "Well," Alex began, "Seems my old pal Chad ran to Bud about our little run in last night. The only thing is, he left out a few small details like he attacked you in the alley. He was trying to get me suspended. He is so bitter that I got the promotion over him."

Cassandra spoke, "Alex, I'm sorry I cause you so much trouble. I think it would be best if I got a hotel room until I can find an apartment." Alex felt like she was just shot in the heart. My God, she had just found what she had been looking for her whole life, and now she was talking about leaving her after one night.

No!! It was not gonna happen. The best thing that had ever happened to her was not gonna walk out that door without a fight from her. Her pride was not gonna get in the way this time. She wanted Cassandra...she needed her....for Christ's sake, she was falling in love with her...No that wasn't right. She was in love with her!! Now that wasn't so hard to admit to yourself, was it Alex?

Alex stood up abruptly and said, maybe a little too loudly, "No. You are not just gonna walk away from me the first time we have a problem." Cassandra was taken back by Alexs forceful statement."There is no need to move out. This article is almost over, then things will be back to normal. I have some paperwork to take care of before that photo shoot. Will you be there?", Alex said as she sat back down at her desk.

"Oh, I wouldn't miss it for the world", Cassandra answered. Cassandra turned around and walked to the door and pushed it shut. Then she turned the lock on the door knob and leaned back on the door. Alex was buried up to her nose in the paperwork on her desk and did not see what Cassandra was doing.

Cassandra strolled over to Alex and swirled her chair around, taking Alex by surprise. Alex had the cutest furrowed brow when she was puzzled about something...like what was going on now. Alex spoke asking Cassandra what she was doing. Cassandra smiled seductively as she pushed Alex's body back into the chair further, and she knelt on the chair with her knees on each side of Alex's thighs and sat down on her lap.

All Alex could do was sit there dumbfounded and look stupid. Cassandra leaned down towards Alex and gently placed her hands on the sides of Alex's face and pulled her in closer for a passionate kiss. Alex's hands came up to hold Cassandra's waist. After a few minutes of kissing, both woman were gasping for breath. Cassandra leaned back with a satisfied smile on her face.

Alex asked Cassandra through small gasps of breath, "What's this all about? Don' t get me wrong, I like it, but what prompted it?" Cassandra looked hurt as she got up from the chair and turned away from Alex.

She answered Alex, "Can't I just be spontaneous? I just wanted to show you I care about you." Alex knew at that moment she had hurt Cassandras feelings. She got up and put her arms around Cassandras waist, pulling her back into her. Alex nestled her head between Cassandra's shoulders. She could feel the heat coming from her. Cassandra placed her arms around Alex's, closed her eyes and sighed contentedly.

How had this woman gotten to her so quickly? All she wanted was to be close to Alex. The problem was she wanted to be close to her all the time now.

"Yes you can honey. I like it when you're spontaneous. I just don't want you doing anything out of fear." Cassandra tore the arms that surrounded her waist from her. What did Alex think she was afraid of? Who did she think she was saying that to her?

By the time Alex tried to recapture Cassandra's waist, Cassandra was madder than hell and she turned to face Alex. "Don't you dare touch me Alex! Who do you think you are? God's gift to women?", Cassandra asked Alex, her face red with anger.

Alex's face was one of shock. What the hell was going on here? Before she could reply to Cassandras questions, Cassandra continued. "I can be just as sexy and seductive as Mackenzie any day of the week! And don't you dare think for a moment that just because this relationship is the first of its kind for me, that I can't arouse you ANY time I want and ANYWHERE I want!!"

By the time Cassandra had finished her ranting and raving, she had pushed Alex back to the edge of her desk, with her index finger poking home each word of her rant. When Alex's body stopped at the edge of her desk, Cassandra reached behind Alex and swept the papers off the desk as she simultaneously pushed Alex on to her desk.

Her back hit the desk and Cassandra was on top of her immediately capturing Alex's lips in a rough, enthusiastic kiss. Her hands traveled to Alex's breasts and began a rough massage of them. Seconds later, Alex's hands were in Cassandra's hair and she was trying to pull her closer, which was impossible.

Cassandra's tongue teased Alex's until Alex moaned her defeat into Cassandra's mouth. Her tongue probed Alex's mouth, darting in and out. She sucked Alex's tongue and lower lip.

Cassandra finally pulled away to get some air into her lungs. Alex lay on the desk with her eyes closed, breathing rapidly. Cassandra got up off Alex and headed for the door.

As she unlocked the door and pulled it open, she turned to Alex and said, "Are the actions you just experienced from someone who is afraid? I don't think so. I am not afraid of you, our relationship or Mackenzie.

I just found what makes me happy after all the years of floundering and not knowing what I wanted. You are crazy if you think for one minute I'm going to let that go without a fight. If Mackenzie wants a fight, then that's what she'll get! Now you better get ready for your photo shoot with her. I'll be there, so watch your step!"

The door closed and Alex was speechless. Well now, wasn't Cassandra just a little too possessive? Nobody owned Alex! Alex rolled off her desk and bent down to pick up the papers on the floor. Well now, let's think about this. It was kind of neat that Cassandra was possessive of her. Maybe even a little jealous...yeah, she thought she liked that feeling. All she knew was that she wasn\rquote t letting Cassandra go unless Cassandra wanted out. It sure didn't look like she did.

The photo shoot went well she guessed. Other than the small fight with Chad, which was set up by him and Mackenzie. This was getting out of hand and she didn't like it when she wasn't in control.

Chad was much taller than her and had about a seventy-five pound weight advantage on her. Luckily, Bud had been there and it had ended quickly before anyone got hurt. Chad was trying to provoke her and she had to admit, he was doing a good job of it! He was trying to get her to do something bad enough to get herself suspended, and he was getting dangerously close to that goal.

They were supposed to be just posing for pictures in different Tae-Bo and karate positions. They were illustrating some of the physical fitness routines that they regularly engaged in to keep fit. Mackenzie thought that it would be a good "pr" thing to have herself and Cassandra pose with them. Mackenzie and Alex were paired, as was Chad and Cassandra.

The pushing and shoving started at first, when Chad put his slimy hands on Cassandras waist. Alex vaulted over to Chads side, much like Xena Warrior Princess did. Before Alex knew what she was doing, she had Cassandra released from Chads grimy hands and had turned him around and flipped him on his ass to the floor.

Cassandra looked on flabbergasted, while Mackenzie drooled over Alexs skills. Once the initial surprise of the flip wore off, Chad shot up off the floor and started to lunge at Alex. Bud had kind of figured that Chad would try and retaliate, and had placed himself in front of Alex at the last moment, and Chad ended up rushing into his chest instead of Alex's.

It was right after that, that Bud and Mackenzie had a private discussion. The photo session was then ended. It was decided that Mackenzie and her crew would stay in the background and photograph Alex as she went about her normal daily duties. This would be done over the next few days

Cassandra, Mackenzie and the photographer followed Alex almost every place she went. They watched Alex train with the new recruits giving the female ones no special treatment. They watched her check equipment on the engines making sure that after a fire everything was in working order that was on the truck or it was pulled and replaced with one that worked.

They watched Alex at grade schools teaching fire safety to young children. They watched Alex exercise with her team members. This, they all decided to themselves, they liked the most. When Alex was in her shorts and tank top working out. Alex had muscles in all the right places. She had a nice tight behind and firm breasts. A light sheen of sweat on her body glistened in the light and looked so... so hot and sensual.

Alex really was a very complex woman. They could both see the respect and love that all the members of Alex's team had for her. Men and women alike. Alex was a very special person, there was no doubt about that. Anyone would be lucky to catch her. Cassandra thought to herself, she was lucky to have caught Alex and Mackenzie was thinking, she was going to enjoy the chase of catching Alex.

Alex closed the front door after she let out Sparky and Inky outside to romp around a little before they had supper. Cassandra came out of the kitchen with a Rolling Rock for Alex. She found her sitting on the sofa, bent over with her elbows on her knees and her hands over her face. What was Alex thinking?

What Alex was thinking was, what the hell was gonna happen next? The day had been tense and stressful. Chad was doing his best to cause her trouble. She didn't trust him with Cassandra. Chad wanted her and it would be sweet revenge to steal Cassandra from her. Cassandra was a beautiful, sensual woman and any man would be crazy not to want her. Hell, any woman would be crazy not to want her!!

Could she hold on to Cassandra? Did she have it within her to make Cassandra happy? Or more importantly, keep her happy? God, she hoped so.

Then there was Mackenzie hovering around her. Christ, the old Alex would love the attention. But something had changed inside her. All she wanted was to be with Cassandra; for the first time being a fire fighter was not the most important thing in her life. She could probably transfer to an arson squad or any number of other fire related jobs. This had all happened so quickly; Alex finally finding her soul mate. Her mind was racing with scenarios on how their life together could be.

Cassandra stood watching Alex. She knew Alex's mind must be whirling with all the things that had happened the past few days. Alex tried to act so tough, like she needed no one, but actually she was a marshmallow on the inside. Few people, probably saw that or even bothered to take the time to look. I have to admit, I almost didn't see through Alex's veneer. At that moment Alex sighed and sat back on the sofa.

Cassandra sat down next to Alex, offering her the bottle. Alex smiled and said, "Thanks" as she let her hand linger on Cassandra's as she took the beer. She took a long drink and turned to Cassandra saying, "What a day, huh? I'm beat. You must be too. Let's order a pizza tonight and just relax. That okay with you?" Cassandra smiled and edged herself closer to Alex. "Anything you want is okay with me honey. Why don't you go on up and take a nice hot bath and I'll order the pizza. By the time you finish, the pizza will be here and we can watch some TV to unwind before bed. Okay?" "Sounds good to me. See you in a few minutes", Alex said as she got up from the sofa and started upstairs. "Hey," Cassandra called out, "What do you want on your half?" "Sausage and mushrooms."

Alex was just coming down the stairs as Cassandra was paying for the pizza. Hearing banging drawers open and shut; Cassandra came into the kitchen to see what all the noise was about. Alex had a big tray out and was loading it up with plates, utensils, napkins and glasses. When Cassandra appeared next to her, Alex said, "Let's eat up in our room. We have the TV up there and we'll be more comfortable there. Okay with you?" Cassandra nodded her head and replied, "Sure, whatever you want." Alex grinned and said, "Okay. Now it's your turn to freshen up. I'll bring all this stuff upstairs and I'll meet you in our room in a few minutes."

Cassandra ran up to her room, washed up and changed into her sweats. As she zipped up her sweat top, all she could think about was Alex saying meeting in "our" room. She said it twice. "Our" room. She couldn't have made a mistake twice, could she? Was Alex asking her to move in with her? Cassandra finished freshening up by putting a dab of perfume behind each ear. When she walked into "their" bedroom, Alex had the lights turned down. Alex had set up a card table in the center of the room. The pizza, plates, utensils and plates were laid out on it. She had brought up Mountain Dew for Cassandra and some root beer for herself. Alex blew out the match and looked up as Cassandra walked in. God, she looked so beautiful in whatever she wore. Cassandra stepped around Sparky and Inky who positioned themselves near the table, so as to not miss out on anything if it happened to be dropped their way.

Alex pulled out Cassandra's chair for her and then returned to her seat. They both were hungrier than they had imagined, each finishing their half of the pizza in record time. The dinner conversation ranged from women's basketball to the presidential candidates. Cassandra's mind drifted as Alex was explaining her viewpoint on what was wrong with the candidates. Cassandra grinned to herself. She was glad Alex hadn't brought up any alcohol for them. She had some plans for them after dinner if Alex wasn't too tired.

Alex pushed back her chair and patted her belly. She was stuffed! She looked at Cassandra who had just done the same thing, and they both laughed out loud. Alex stood up and went over to the entertainment center. She turned the television and VCR on and put a tape in the VCR. She turned around and walked back over to where Cassandra was seated. She extended her hand to her and Cassandra took it as she was helped from her seat with a gentle tug from Alex.

Alex led her over to their bed and as Cassandra was about to speak to her, she said, "We've had a long day and now we have a full belly. I think we need to stretch out and relax a little before turning in for the night. I have a movie that I think you'll like. Let's just lay here and watch it." Cassandra laid back on the propped up pillows and said, "Sounds good to me honey." Alex leaned down and kissed Cassandra gently on her lips. As she started to pull back to straighten up, Cassandra's arms came up around Alex's neck and pulled her back down to her. Their lips met softly, but firmly. Alex pulled back after a few moments and looked into cobalt eyes that shone with desire as two of her fingers stroked Cassandra's lips. Cassandra took the two fingers between her lips and began to suck them, at first gently, and then deeper into her mouth. Alex looked at Cassandra's soft, warm, inviting lips sucking her fingers, and her fingers were soon replaced by Alex's lips once again. Cassandra opened her mouth and twisted the kiss. Alex opened her mouth at the same time and Cassandra's tongue licked the roof of Alex's mouth. They continued licking and sucking at each others mouths and nibbling at each others tongues. Alex got up on the bed with Cassandra .The frenzied kissing continued and Alex's hand touched Cassandra's breast. Her palm rubbed over the breast several times and then her fingers squeezed the nipple till it was hard.

Their breathing was getting more ragged. Cassandra moaned into Alex's mouth when she started squeezing her nipple and arched her abdomen up into Alex. They both pulled away at the same time to get some air into their lungs. Alex took this time to caress Cassandra's face with her hands and kiss her eyes, her nose, and across her jaw line to behind her ear. Cassandra grabbed the hair at the back of Alex's head and was squirming beneath her. God, Alex was making her feel so many things she had never felt with anyone else. Her eyes were closed as she enjoyed the chills that Alex's kissing down her neck was causing. Alex's hand unzipped Cassandra's sweat top. She reached in and caressed Cassandra's collarbone. Gods!! Cassandra didn't think she could last much longer! She could feel the moisture forming down below. She wanted Alex and she wanted her now!!

Alex could feel the goose bumps forming on Cassandra's body. She was so hot for her! She didn't think she could hold out much longer. She wanted Cassandra so much! She needed her in her life. Alex kissed her way up Cassandra's neck and then back over to her ear. Her tongue was hot and wet. She whispered into Cassandra's ear. "I think we need to get you undressed and into bed sweetheart. I just felt goose bumps on you. Are you cold?" Her smile was hidden in Cassandra's hair. Cassandra pulled Alex closer and said in her most seductive voice, "I agree with you. I think we should get my clothes off and get me into bed, but I'm not cold. Those goose bumps are from how hot you are making me. Alex, I want you to make love to me...now!" Alex's smile broadened as she continued her assault on Cassandra's ear, lightly blowing on it and sucking her earlobe. She rained a line of kisses down her neck and ended up capturing Cassandra's lips again. Cassandra's hands traveled down Alex's back and pulled her shirt tail up out of her jeans. Her hands then wandered up underneath Alex's shirt to her bra, where she unhooked it. They continued to kiss in between the frantic removal of each others clothing.

Once they were both naked, Alex laid Cassandra on her back and began her kissing assault on the beautiful body that lay beneath her. She started at the base of Cassandra's neck, right at her pulse point, with soft light kisses that rippled over to her shoulders. Her hands cupped Cassandra's breasts and her thumbs reached up to rub the hard pink nipples. Cassandra's hands were tracing patterns on Alex's back. Alex leaned in and took one of the nipples into her mouth and as she did Cassandra's body curved up towards her. The nipple was hard and hot. Alex swirled her tongue around it and ended up gently pulling her teeth over it. Cassandra moaned and shifted her body underneath her. After equal time on the other breast, Alex continued her downward trend to heaven. Her lips left a hot trail of kisses down Cassandra's sternum and on her heaving stomach. Alex shifted her body down so she was between Cassandra's thighs. As she grasped her buttocks, Cassandra spread her legs apart and arched them up at the knees. As Alex kissed the inside of each thigh, she reveled in the sweet, wet smell of honey that she knew was pooling there, as her kisses brought her closer to the dark hair and pink lips. Cassandra's thighs tightened. After a moment, her thighs relaxed, and her curly hair tickled Alex's nose. Alex's hands tightened her hold on Cassandra's bottom and as her head lay between her thighs, she said, " I want you. You are so beautiful. I want to kiss you all over." Cassandra writhed against her hands and she pressed Alex's face nearer to her hot, wet opening. Alex's eyes closed as she sank into the wet flesh, her tongue probing through the moist hairs and licking over the hot flesh underneath. She licked frantically as the honey poured from the opening, not wanting to miss a drop. Cassandra's fingers shoved at Alex's head trying to bury her deeper in her love canal as she spread her legs wider. The licking continued as Alex moved up to her nub and then when Cassandra's thighs started to stiffen spasmodically, she took the nub into her mouth and sucked hard. Cassandra's body was thrusting again and again against Alex's face and just as her hot burning flesh was sending shivers all through her body, Alex took two fingers and placed them up in her wet opening, while at the same time pulling her nub between her teeth. Cassandra's body arched high with a scream of " Oh Gods, Yes... and then Alex's name." Her body shook at the height of her sexual intensity in a climax that left her squirming and gasping as she collapsed back on the bed. Alex crawled up to rest her head on Cassandra's stomach but left her fingers still inside so she could feel the multiple after orgasms . They laid that way for quite awhile, both too exhausted to move.

Cassandra finally came back after the best orgasms she had ever had. My God, it couldn't possibly get any better. She opened her eyes and looked down; her hands reaching out to stroke Alex's hair. God, this woman was remarkable! I need to do something equally as nice for her. She pulled Alex up next to her and started in with some deep kissing. The taste of herself on and in Alex's mouth was so arousing. She rolled Alex over on to her back, and with an evil grin placed her body up on top of Alex's. The night was still young yet!

Mackenzie closed her apartment door and walked back to the kitchen to pour herself another cup of coffee. As she sat on the sofa, her mind drifted.....Yes, this was going to work out just fine for me.

Alex was out of the office most of the day in department meetings. Cassandra had stayed at Alexs' to work on her articles for the newspaper. It had been an exciting week being with Alex. She grinned to herself as she remembered the first time they had met. Now things were different, and she was anxious what would happen once her articles were done. She knew she loved Alex and wanted to stay with her, but that meant a commitment on both their parts. Cassandra knew she was ready, but was Alex?

The phone rang startling Cassandra. Alexs' voice was on the other end. " Hi honey. How's your day going?" Cassandra smiled as she answered, " I'd be better if you were here darling." Alex blushed. She had never felt this way about anyone before. Her stomach did this little flip-flop thing when she thought of Cassandra or heard her voice. Thoughts of Cassandra had kept Alex awake during these boring meetings and had almost not been able to cover for her day dreaming. Bud had kicked her under the table and whispered to her out of the corner of his mouth the answer to the question she had just been asked.

"Yeah, I wish I was there with you too, but then you wouldn't be working on your articles that are due on Sunday" Alex answered with an evil grin. Cassandra chuckled on the other end. Alex said, " I only have a minute to talk before I have to go back to the meetings, but wanted to know if you wanted to go out tonight or stay home." Cassandra responded before she knew the words were out of her mouth, " Oh Alex, I think we can find something to eat right here." Alex almost dropped the phone. My God, does she really care for me as much as I do for her? She hoped so. She had a very important question to ask her tonight. " Okay, I'll stop and get us some Chinese take out in case we run a little low on things at home to eat." "Sounds good Alex", Cassandra responded. "Okay, I've got to get back the break is over." Alex stated. " I uhmmm....missed you today". Cassandras' heartbeat quickened. " I missed you too Alex. I'll see you later."

Chad looked in his rearview mirror as he pulled away from the curb. He had just enough time to swing by his house, unload the truck and get to work on time. Everything was set for later.

Cassandra had gotten a call from her editor asking her to come down to the office. He wanted to go over the articles she had finished so they could pick out the pictures to go with the layouts. The feature would be coming out in three days and her work here was almost done.

Alex kept shifting in her seat. When the hell was this meeting going to be over? She had been sitting all afternoon in this hot, stuffy room with only time enough to give Cassandra a quick call. Bud reached over and put his hand on Alexs' shoulder. He turned slightly towards her and whispered softly, " For God's sake, sit still. I'll buy you a drink right after this question and answer period."

Forty minutes later Bud and Alex sat at a table in the bar. Bud looked tired and Alex looked antsy. Bud broke the silence first. " Alex, what's wrong with you today? You're so nervous." Alex popped a few peanuts in her mouth and chewed before she answered.

"Well Bud, I'm just anxious to get home tonight. It's been a long week. I'm going to stop and pickup some takeout Chinese. Cassandra and I are just gonna relax tonight. It's the first day in about a week that we haven't spent at least part of the day together. Guess I just miss her being around." Bud grinned, " I knew you had it bad for her. You love her don't you Alex?" Alex blushed and replied without hesitation, " Yes, I do. I'm just worried about what's going to happen now that her articles are almost finished. I don't want her to leave and if she does...I'm not so sure I want to stay here." Bud was shocked after that last statement. Christ what would he do if Alex left the department?

Chad was sipping on a cup of coffee in the kitchen at the firehouse when he received a call. The conversation was short and to the point. Was everything all set for later? Yes it was and is your end covered? Don't worry about my end, just stick to the plan and we'll both get what we want. The sound of a click and then the dial tone sounded in Chads' ear. He grinned to himself as he put his cell phone away. There was going to be just one slight change to the plan they had agreed upon.

Cassandra looked at her watch for the fifth time in the last ten minutes. It did not go un -noticed by her boss. He smiled to himself. He had seen such a big change in her this past week. Usually she was very business-like, but pleasant and never in a hurry to go home. There was a reserve about her that keep people at a distance from her. Now she smiled, was more out going and worked mostly at the firehouse or at Alexs'. He could hardly get her in to the office any more. One would almost think she was in love. Oh my goodness, could that be it? Was she finally smitten by someone at the firehouse? He hoped so. She deserved to be happy, but he didn't want to lose a great writer. He had thought her a little condescending at first and maybe all looks, but she had quickly proved him wrong. .

Cassandra asked after she looked at her watch once more, " I think we are just about done, don't you? I just have the last article to write and we've already picked out the pictures for the layouts. Is there anything else you can think of ?" The editor chuckled and said, " I get the feeling that you would rather be some other place than here right now." Cassandras face flushed a bright red. " Well, it's not that exactly. I just have plans for dinner later and I have a few things to do before that." The editor closed his folder and said, " I think we're all set except for that last article you're writing. Let's call it a night." Cassandra gathered her things up as she said, " Okay, sounds good to me."

As Bud and Alex got into the car to drive back to headquarters, tones came over the fire radio that there had been an explosion and subsequent fire at their fire station. Alex turned the lights and siren on as Bud pulled his car out of the parking lot. Alex was on the radio talking to the Assistant Chief at the scene. It had been a pretty slow night and most of the crews had been out in the truck bay playing cards or polishing up their engines. All of a sudden there had been an explosion that shook the firehouse and he had the crews get the equipment outside before they started investigating. A fire had broken out on the top floor in the kitchen. Teams had suited up to investigate but small explosions and heat from the fire prevented a search right away until the propane was turned off outside.

Alex asked if anyone had been hurt. The Assistant Chief responded, " Not as far as I know at this point. What's your ETA to the scene?" Alex replied, " You should be able to hear our siren now. It will take us a few minutes to walk up to the command post."

By the time Alex and Bud reached the Assistant Chief, it had been discovered that Chad had been reported missing by his partner. Chad had said he was going up to the kitchen to get something to eat and that was the last he'd seen of him.

The propane had been turned off and the fire was contained now to the kitchen area. The firewalls built into the building as well as the sprinkler system had stopped the fire from spreading. Once they were sure all the propane that had been in the line was dissipated, they would be able to do a search in the kitchen area for Chad. Maybe he had gotten out somehow. While they waited for final word from the search teams, the Arson Squad arrived to investigate.

Alex was fidgety and stepped out of the command unit. She walked back up the street to Buds car. Once inside it she dialed her home number to let Cassandra know what had happened. The answering machine picked up and Alex left a message. As she closed her cell phone, she thought it was strange Cassandra hadn't answered, but maybe she had let Sparky out or was indisposed.

Cassandra answered the doorbell and found Chad standing there. Sparky was at her side and growling softly. Cassandra reached down to pat Sparky on the head and he edged his way closer to her and slightly in front of her. Chad spoke first, " I was just looking for Alex. Mackenzie was down at the station and asked me if I'd drop some papers off to Alex for her. I was going by this way anyway and said I'd be glad to." He reached out to hand them to Cassandra when his pager went off. He looked at the message and asked if he could use the phone a minute to call the fire station. She hesitated a moment and then stepped back and let him come in.

Sparky was at Chad's legs as soon as he moved to come in. He snarled and snapped at him. Chad stopped in his tracks afraid Sparky would pitch into him. Cassandra talked softly to Sparky and started stroking the back of his head and he raised and turned it to look at her. His look asked the question, Do you really want to let this jerk in while Alex isn't here? Cassandra gently took his collar and said, " It's okay Sparky. Alex will be here any minute now." Chad stepped into the house, staying at a distance from Sparky.

Mackenzie could see from her car parked down the street that Chad had gotten inside. She would wait fifteen minutes and then set her plan in motion. That would give Chad plenty of time to start his part of the plan. The only thing he didn't know was that Mackenzie had changed the outcome of the plan that had both agreed upon.

Alex walked back to the command unit and found that things were under control . The fire had been knocked out and the Arson Squad was checking the upstairs scene out right now. The fire and rescue vehicles were being moved to an adjacent empty parking lot until it was deemed safe they could be housed back in the firehouse. The crews were also moving their personal vehicles from the street near the firehouse to the same parking lot. Later it would be decided if the firehouse was safe to house the equipment. Otherwise a temporary command post would be set up out back in the parking lot with the vehicles.

Alex asked one of the drivers if Chad had turned up anywhere and the answer was no he hadn't as far as he knew. The driver then asked Alex if she wanted to know something strange. Alex said, " Yes, what's so strange?" " Well, I heard when they went to move all our private vehicles from the street, that Chads' truck wasn't out there. As far as everyone knew he never car pooled with anyone to work." Alex felt a cold shiver run down her spine as she walked back to the command unit to tell Bud she was leaving.

Chad walked over to where Cassandra had directed him to use the phone. She had taken Sparky out to the kitchen with her as he was so agitated by Chads presence in the house. Cassandra had put Sparky outside and was at the kitchen sink filling his water dish when she felt a presence at her back and then hands at her waist. At first she thought it was Alex and then as the body pressed closer to her back, she knew it wasn't her. As she tried to pull the hands away from her waist, they gripped tighter around her. Chad leaned down to snuggle his face into Cassandras hair. " Oh baby, you're gonna like this. You're gonna feel a real man and that will cure you of any feelings for women for good." Cassandra was starting to panic as she struggled against Chads size and strength. She was sorry she had let Sparky out and that she had turned her back on Chad. The phone rang three times and the answering machine picked up. She couldn't hear if who had called left a message or not as the machine was in Alexs office.

Alex had to wait until the Arson Squad team leader had finished with his initial findings of what had been found at the fire scene. It was a propane leak, but the fittings had been loosened. There were marks made by a wrench on the fittings. There was no way those fittings came loose on their own.

Alex pulled Bud aside as soon as she could. She told him that Cassandra didn't answer the phone when she called and now Chads' truck wasn't at the fire station. There was possible foul play and Chad hadn't been seen since before the explosion. Alex had a terrible feeling about things. She was leaving and going home. Bud had known Alex long enough that even with the crazy circumstances, when she had a hunch it was best to follow up on it. "Do you want me to go with you Alex?" Alex said as she walked out the door, " Yeah, and I think we should call the police from the car. I have a bad feeling about this"

Cassandra brought the heel of her left shoe up and stamped it down as hard as she could on the instep of Chads left foot. She could feel him loosen his grip on her waist as he pulled away cursing. He bent his body over slightly in pain. Cassandra seized the moment to run towards the screen door.

She was at the door getting ready to slide the screen open when Chad grabbed her upper left arm, yanking her back and shoving her up against the kitchen wall. His face was contorted in anger as he spat out, " Okay Bitch, you want to play rough? We can do it that way. I think I'll like it better that way." The statement was followed by a backhanded slap to Cassandras right cheek. The force of the blow was hard enough to leave a red mark on her face.

Mackenzie got out of her car after fifteen minutes and walked up to Alexs' front door. She listened for a moment and then tried the knob. It was unlocked. She eased the door open slowly and stepped into the living room.

Sparky was pacing back and forth on the porch and was clearly agitated now. He knew it was his job to protect Cassandra when Alex wasn't there. He knew Chad was hurting her and that he had to get back inside.

Bud put his cell phone in his shirt pocket. He had just talked to the Sargent at the precinct and had explained their concern that something was not right at Alexs' house. The Sargent said she would send a police cruiser right over to met them at the house.

Alexs attention was on driving safely and quickly to her house. She knew in her gut that something was wrong. That Cassandra was in danger. She just had to get there before Chad hurt her.

Mackenzie closed the door gently and then heard Chads raised voice and a loud slapping sound. She moved towards the sounds and they led her into the kitchen. When she got there she saw Chad and Cassandra. Chad had Cassandra pushed up against the wall and his hand had just connected with her face . The sound was the same that she had heard when she was in the living room.

Mackenzie screamed, " What the hell do you think you're doing?" Chad turned his body towards the voice and his face was distorted with rage. " Shut up or you'll get some of the same! This bitch wants it rough and it is going to be my pleasure to give it to her." Blood ran from Cassandras lip where Chads blows had split it open. Mackenzies raised voice said, "This wasn't part of the plan. You've got to focus on the plan if it is to work and then we both get what we want!" " You bitches are all the same! You don't know what you want. You think another woman can love you better than a man. Well, you haven't had the right man yet. When I get done with Cassandra, I'll be more than glad to service you. Now shut up and let me introduce her to Mr. Dick!"

Sparky was frantic by now. He had been pawing at the screen trying to get back inside. Sparky backed up and made a charge towards the screen.

Cassandra wasn't sure what was happening. She knew Chad had been slapping her in the face. He had taken her two arms and tied them together behind her back with a kitchen towel. She thought she heard another voice and then he had stopped hitting her.

Sparky broke through the screen and slid on the kitchen floor. He lunged in the air and his jaw clamped down on Chads' right forearm with all the strength that was in him. Chad screamed in pain as he diverted his attention away from Mackenzie and Cassandra. He tried shaking Sparky off his arm, but he held on tightly. He started to punch him wherever he could connect with fur.

Cassandra slumped to the floor almost losing consciousness. Mackenzie ran over and bent down next to her saying, " God, this wasn't supposed to happen. He wasn't supposed to beat you. It was just supposed to look like you had slept together, and have Alex walk in on you both. I thought it would be enough to break the two of you up. Chad would have his revenge on Alex and I thought maybe I'd have a chance with her. Christ he's a lunatic! We have to get out of here!"

Alex was cursing and banging her hands on the steering wheel. " What the hell is the hold up? Come on!!", Alex screamed. Bud spoke in a calm voice to Alex, " Alex, getting crazy isn't going to get us there any quicker. There must be an accident up ahead of us." Alex looked at Bud and said, " Fine. I'm not waiting here any longer" and with that said she jumped out of the Explorer. She turned to the window and said to Bud, " I'm walking the rest of the way. I can't wait here Bud. You bring the car when traffic clears up." "Alex, wait!", Bud pleaded, but it was too late. Alex was jogging down the sidewalk towards her home.

Mackenzie helped Cassandra stand up. She was pretty wobbly on her feet and she told her to lean on her until she got her bearings. They had to get out while Sparky was distracting Chad. They couldn't go out the screen door. They would have to sneak back into the living room and go out the front door.

Bud had gotten into the drivers seat after Alex left. The traffic snarl was finally moving. He prayed that the police cruiser would beat Alex to her place. No telling in Alexs state of mind what she would be foolish enough to do.

While Sparky was distracting Chad, Mackenzie and Cassandra slowly edged their way out in to the living room. If they could only get to Mackenzies car, this nightmare would be over. Mackenzie cursed to herself for leaving her cell phone in the car. Sparky wouldn't be able to stop Chad for much longer.

Alex could see down the street. Chads truck was parked in front of the house and a car was parked in back of it. She had decided to approach the house from the rear, go up the fire escape and into her bedroom window.

Chad had lost his patience long ago with Sparky. Christ! He had to get rid of this dog before it did some real damage to his arm. He saw a vase filled with flowers on the kitchen counter and reached over and grabbed it. Chad raised it up and smashed it down on Sparkys head. Sparky immediately let go of his grip on Chads arm and fell to the floor lifeless.

Mackenzie and Cassandra had made their way into the living room without Chad seeing them. Cassandras head was starting to clear some and she whispered to Mackenzie, " Let's go upstairs to Alexs room. We can lock the door there and call for help. There's an old fire escape off one of Alexs bedroom windows and we can leave that way. It may buy us some time." Mackenzie replied, " Okay, you head on up. Let me just open the front door a crack. That way he may think we left the house." Cassandra pleaded, " Please hurry!"

Bud was making good time now that he had gotten past where the accident scene was. He was worried about Alex. If Alex got there before the police and Chad had hurt Cassandra, he knew she would lose it. He prayed to God the police were already there.

The police cruiser pulled over to the curb. The officer got out and looked at the tire. He had a flat. Getting back in the cruiser, he radioed dispatch and they were sending a tow truck out to him. He was to wait there and ride back with the truck. Another cruiser would be dispatched to Alexs house.

Alex edged her way along the side of the firehouse. She hoped no one had seen her. Alex stopped when she got to the fire escape and took off her shoes. This way she wouldn't make any noise climbing them.

Cassandra made her way to the stairs slowly. Her head was still foggy from Chads beating. God, all she wanted right now was to be in Alexs' arms. Safe and loved. She was beginning to wonder if she would ever feel that again.

Chad looked at Sparky lying on the floor and threw the rest of the vase he had in his hand on the floor. God damn son of a bitch! His arm was bleeding from Sparkys bites and his hand was cut from the broken vase. Chad looked around the kitchen and grabbed a towel and wrapped it around his forearm.

It was at this point he realized Cassandra and Mackenzie weren't in the room. He took a bandana handkerchief out of his pocket and wrapped it around the palm of his hand. Shit!! Where did those bitches go? Oh, they are going to pay once he caught up with them. Alex was going to pay also! In fact she'd already started paying. Wait till she found out her precious dog was dead!!

Mackenzie had left the front door ajar. She was on her way to the stairs when she heard the crash in the kitchen, Sparkys cry and then a thud. Footsteps sounded out into the living room. Mackenzie knew she didn't have enough time to get up the stairs and to Alexs bedroom, so she knelt down behind the end of the sofa. Hopefully Chad would see the partially opened front door and go outside. That would give her time to run upstairs.

Alex cautiously made her way up the fire escape. She paused at the window long enough to open it. She always left it unlocked since she had locked herself out one cold night when she had taken Sparky for a late night walk. Alex stepped over the window frame threshold and was about to pull her other leg through when she felt a sudden dull pain in her head. It was the last thing she remembered before everything went dark.

Chad stomped through the living room looking left and right to see if Cassandra or Mackenzie were in the room. He abruptly came to a stop when he eyed the front door ajar. Shit!! Those fucking bitches left the house!! He opened the door and was down

the front steps and halfway down the sidewalk before he noticed Mackenzies car parked behind his truck on the street. Chad grinned to himself. Well the bitches must still be around here some place. Mackenzie waited a few moments after Chad went outside. She was tempted to run over and lock the door, but then he would definitely know they were inside. She hurried upstairs and stopped at the first door that was closed. She hoped it was Alexs' bedroom. She whispered softly at the door for Cassandra. It was a few moments before the door was unlocked and it opened just a crack. Cassandra just stood there and only stepped aside when Mackenzie pushed her way into the room. Mackenzie turned, locked the door and said, " He took the bait and went outside, but who knows how long he'll he gone or what he'll do next. Did you call for help? I'm not so sure this door will keep him out for long with the state that he's in. He is over the edge!" There was no response from Cassandra so Mackenzie went over to the other side of the room where Cassandra sat on the edge of the bed. She gasped as she looked down and saw Alexs' body laying on the floor. There was blood in her hair and she was unconscious. Mackenzie knelt down by Alex and felt for a pulse. " My God, what happened?" Tears spilled down Cassandras' face as she replied, " I heard someone at the window and hid next to it. As they leaned in to step inside, I closed my eyes and hit them with all the strength I had left with Alexs' flashlight. I thought it was Chad breaking in here. When the body fell to the floor I saw it was Alex. I tried to stop the bleeding! I think it is almost stopped. What are we going to do now? Is Alex alright?" "Did you call the police and for help for Alex?" "No, I didn't have time. This all happened as soon as I got up here. If anything happens to Alex I'll never forgive myself!" Mackenzie said, "Well, she's got a pretty strong pulse, and a pretty hard head. But I don't like the fact that she hasn't come to yet. Call 911. Get some help on the way to her." Cassandra picked up the phone and dialed 911.

Chad decided to take a quick look around the outside of the firehouse to see if Cassandra or Mackenzie were hiding out there. He hadn't seen anything unusual until he noticed out of the corner of his eye a movement in the window at the top of the fire escape. Ah ha, They must be upstairs! Hiding out and waiting for the right time to escape. Well, weren't they clever opening the front door so he'd think they had left the house?

Cassandra had gotten through to 911 and was giving the information to the dispatcher when the line went dead. Cassandra looked over towards Mackenzie who was kneeling next to Alex with her back to the window. She was applying direct pressure to Alexs' head wound. Cassandra was just about to tell Mackenzie that the line had gone dead when she noticed the form in the window stepping into the room.

Chad cut the telephone wire going into the house before he stepped over the window ledge into the bedroom. Cassandra looked up and saw the form stepping into the room. She was so shocked it kept her from warning Mackenzie until it was too late. Chad had grabbed her by the hair, partially pulling her up as she struggled to stand. Cassandra started to move off the bed to help Mackenzie and stopped in her tracks when Chad raised a knife to Mackenzies' throat as he pulled her back towards himself. He told Cassandra to pull the desk chair out and then to step back. He forced Mackenzie down into the chair, "You stay there bitch and don't move an inch." He turned to Cassandra and said, "Stay right there next to the chair." Chad went back around the bed to look at Alex laying on the floor. He looked at her a moment and then kicked her in the ribs. There was no response except for the crack of her ribs. He laughed out loud and then asked, "Well, what happened to super woman? Did she trip on her cape and hit her head?" Cassandra started to move towards Chad saying, "You bastard! All of this is your fault. You aren't a quarter of the person Alex is!" Chad replied, "Oh yeah? Well, we'll see how much of a man your Alex is after I carve her up a bit." Chad knelt down next to Alex and swiped the knife across her upper arm, cutting through her shirt. The shirt immediately turned crimson as blood soaked through it as it flowed from the laceration. Cassandra gasped, and stopped by the edge of the bed. Chad pulled the phone cord out of the wall and walked over to Mackenzie. He threw the cord at Cassandra . " Take this and tie her to the chair. You or the other bitch tries anything funny, and I'll finish carving up poor Alex over there." Chad walked to the door to make sure it was locked and then moved to the window to look out. There didn't seem to be anything unusual going on. Guess he had time for a little pleasure before he left for good.

Bud could see the police cruiser parked at the curb in front of Chads' truck. The officer was out of his cruiser and looking inside the truck. Bud parked his vehicle across the street and walked over to the officer and introduced himself. Bud filled him in briefly on what he knew and what he suspected was going on. The officer asked if Bud thought Alex was here and Bud shook his head yes. The Officer asked Bud to stay by the cruiser and Bud said no way. He knew both Alex and Chad and maybe he could help out in some way. Officer Young agreed, with the added stipulation that if he said to back off Bud did so with no argument. Bud and Young approached the front door and found it ajar. They backed away and made an examination of the outside of the house and stopped when they found the broken screen door in the kitchen. Bud looked through the screen and could see Sparky laying on the kitchen floor. He started to slide the screen door open and Officer Young stopped him. "Look, we don't know who did this or if they are still in there and who they have. Let me radio dispatch and update them. I'll ask for backup, get a rescue squad on the way out here and see what they want us to do." Chads' forearm ached from Sparkys' bites. His hand throbbed from the deep cuts. He would have to get medical attention for the bites and stitches for his hand. Shit, he'd have to finish up here quick and get out of town. He didn't know if Cassandra had called the police, but the 911 operators would be dispatching a unit soon. God Damn Alex! Why couldn't she just have loved him and not some woman?

Officer Young and Bud stationed themselves behind Alexs' tool shed that she had her lawn mower and yard tools in. It gave them cover, but also a close enough view to keep an eye on the firehouse while they waited for the backup to arrive.

Mackenzie was tied up and Alex was still unconscious when Chad went back over to Cassandra. He pulled her to him and leaned in for a kiss. Cassandra turned her face so the only thing Chad kissed was her cheek. This action angered Chad and he pushed her up against the bedroom wall with his hand at her throat. "Look here bitch, it is this simple.

You let me take you and I won't hurt your girlfriend over there any more. You don't cooperate with me, and I'll take you anyway plus kill her. Your choice. Decide now!!" Chad was shouting by now. His face was so close to Cassandra she could not only smell his bad breath, but see the veins throbbing in his forehead he was so angry. She realized he had gone over the edge.

The backup police cruiser and rescue unit arrived on the scene without lights or sirens operating. A Captain conferred with Officer Young and Bud. They decided to stage a team by the front door and one by the fire escape/kitchen area. They were absolutely sure now that Chad and at least one other person were in there. They had heard Chad yelling. Bud recognized his voice. .Every precaution would be taken in the event Chad was armed and had taken hostages. Officer Young , Captain Kim and Bud would go in the house through the broken kitchen screen door. Bud had talked the officers into letting him come with them because of his knowledge of Alexs' house and the fact that he might be able to negotiate with Chad.

Mackenzie was tied up and Alex was still unconscious. Cassandra had to buy them some time. She had talked to a 911 operator, surely they had a way of tracing the call? Cassandra knew what she had to do. She wasn't sure Alex would want her after Chad had his way with her, but she couldn't think of that now. All she knew was that she had to go along with him or they all would be dead. She hoped help would arrive soon.

Alex felt like she had been run over by a truck. Her head felt like it had exploded, her arm stung and it hurt to breathe. She wasn't sure where she was or what the hell had happened. If she could only clear her mind and open her eyes. She could hear muffled voices and wasn't sure if they were real or not. She had to concentrate and figure out what had happened. Alex had a feeling something bad was about to happen.

The officers had their revolvers drawn as the three men quietly worked their way into kitchen. They quickly established there was no one on the bottom floor and edged their way quietly up the stairs. Chad had pushed Cassandra down on the bed and was on top of her. He was slobbering on her neck and had ripped her blouse open. His one uninjured hand groped her breast. Cassandra laid there trying not to vomit. When she did not respond to his trying to get his tongue in her mouth, he stopped and pulled back. "Okay, bitch so much for being tender and gentle with you." He took the knife he had laid on the night table and cut her bra in the middle, exposing her breasts to him. Tears formed in Cassandras' eyes and she couldn't stop them from running down her cheeks. Chad buried his face in Cassandras' chest.

Alex was aware of someone crying. She rolled herself over on her side and man that hurt like hell. She had to stay that way a few moments to find her equilibrium. Then she heard a familiar voice, "Please don't be so rough. Stop that! You're hurting me!" The pleading in the voice registered panic in Alex and her adrenaline started pumping. Cassandra was in trouble and she had to help her. She edged herself up on her hands and knees and began crawling towards the voice.

The police officers and Bud waited in the hall outside Alex's room. They had heard a man and a woman's voice, but not Alexs'. They were hesitant to rush the room not knowing if Chad had any weapons.

Once Alex got past the bottom of the bed she could see someone in a chair tied up. Memories flooded her brain. She had come here looking for Chad and Cassandra. Mackenzie saw Alex and motioned with her head towards the bed. Alex could hear gentle sobbing and some grunting. Alex raised her upper body up off the floor so she could see what all the noise was about and saw Chad on top of Cassandra! He was leaning on one hand while the other fumbled with his belt buckle. Another wave of adrenaline was pushed into Alexs' system as she lunged her body up on to the bed, surprising Chad and knocking him off balance on to his sore arm. Chad yelled as the pain rushed up his arm and he struggled to get his balance but with the weight of Alex on him, they both tumbled to the floor. Alex was crazed by now. Chad had fallen underneath Alex, and she had her hands around Chads' throat squeezing with all the strength that she could muster. You bastard, I'll kill you with me bare hands! Cassandra screamed, "No, Alex! Don't do it!" The door burst open then and the two officers rushed in, revolvers aimed and ready to shoot.

Chad was cuffed and taken down to the cruiser. Mackenzie was rescued from the chair and taken to headquarters for questioning and a statement. The Officers left Alex on the bed holding Cassandra. When Bud came into the room, Alex was still comforting Cassandra, rubbing her back and whispering softly in her ear. He said they both needed to be checked out at the hospital. He asked if they thought they could make it down to the rescue unit and Alex nodded yes. Alex got up and pulled one of her old shirts out of her dresser drawer for Cassandra to cover herself with for the ride to the hospital. They both got loaded in the ambulance and Alex laid down on the stretcher and never heard what questions were asked of her, as she had passed out from blood loss and pain.

Cassandra had been checked out and except for bruises and cuts she was physically okay. She had stayed overnight in Alexs' hospital room. Alex had suffered a concussion, blood loss and three cracked ribs. She would be sore for quite a few days ahead, but would be okay. Cassandra hadn't told Alex yet about Sparky. God she dreaded that and it was all because of her. Alex was mumbling some and starting to move in the bed. Cassandra went to Alex and sat on the bed. She reached out and stroked Alexs' face. Alex opened her eyes. "Hi, beautiful", she said to Cassandra. Cassandra blushed and said, " Oh yeah, I look real beautiful right now." Alex answered, "You always look beautiful to me. Hey, what happened? Are we in the hospital?" "Yes Alex. I wasn't going to leave you. I will never leave you." She leaned down and kissed Alex on the forehead. Alex grinned that lopsided smile that had stolen Cassandras heart and said, "Did Bud take care of Sparky for me? What happened to Chad and Mackenzie? " Cassandras' voice choked as she said, "Alex, I have something to tell you about Sparky." Tears glistened her eyes as she struggled to find the courage to tell Alex about Sparky. She reached for Alexs' hand and was about to speak when Bud popped his head in the room. "Oh, our girl is awake. Good. Alex you gave us quite a scare. Are you up for a visitor? This visitor is really anxious to see you." Alex looked at Cassandra and back at Bud, "Sure Bud why not." Bud opened the door wider and Sparky limped in and up to Alexs' bed. He was wagging his tail and crying for his mistress. Bud walked over and leaned down and lifted Sparky up and on to the bed. She nuzzled in to Alex's side with her head on her chest. She was still crying softly. Alex stroked her nose and ear. Sparkys' head was bandaged. She looked over at Cassandra and extended her other arm out. "I want my girl over here with me too." Cassandra asked, "Won't that hurt your ribs?" Alex replied, "Get over here woman and nurse me back to health." Cassandra smiled and replied, "Yes, ma'am!" She got up on the other side of Alex and stretched out. It felt good to have Alexs' arm around her again. This was where she always wanted to be. She sighed contentedly as she kissed Alexs' cheek and snuggled in closer. Alex mumbled sleepily before she nodded off, "All we need is Inky and our family is complete." Cassandra stroked Alexs' face and nodded off herself. The three of them slept like that until the doctor came in to checked out Alexs' vitals. She said Alex could recover just as well at home, and have a little more privacy.

Alex spent several days at home in Cassandras bed with her. Neither one of them could bear to sleep in Alexs bed or even go into her room. They had spent time talking and just holding each other. Alex and Cassandra had come to a decision about their lives. Cassandra said she couldn't live in the fire house with all the bad memories. Alex had resigned from the department much to Buds' chagrin, but he understood. The fire house was up for sale and they were moving. They had to testify at Chads' trial and before the Governor for Mackenzie before they could leave. Chad was convicted of setting the fire at the fire house, kidnapping, attempted rape, breaking and entering.....the list went on...and so would Chad behind bars for a very long time. Mackenzie lost her job with the Governors office and the Governor lost the re-election.

Alex had rented a house by the ocean and they would spend some more time getting to know each other before they worried about jobs. They both had sufficient funds to pay any bills. Bud was there to see them off on their new life. He had been invited to visit in two weeks to do some fishing with Alex. He was sorry to see Alex leave, but he loved her enough to want her truly happy.

It was a long drive to the ocean but with both taking turns driving they arrived late in the afternoon. Sparky and Inky jumped out and began investigating their new yard. Just the essentials were brought into the house for the night. The rest could be unloaded tomorrow.

Alex stepped out on to the deck and gazed out into the evening. A light breeze blew her hair back. The waves rolled to the shore and the sun was just starting to set. It was beautiful. The sky was bright with swirls of oranges and red. Cassandra came out and stood next to Alex. She had been quiet all day. Alex knew something was bothering her. Alex turned to Cassandra and said, "What's wrong honey? You've been quiet all day. Don't you feel good? Or have I done something to upset you?" Cassandra turned to Alex and stroked the side of her face with her hand. "No, you haven't done anything wrong darlin'. It's me. I feel guilty about making you leave your house and life. Do you resent me?" Alex said, "Come here baby" as she pulled Cassandra into her arms. "Don't be silly. You are my life now. You ,Sparky and Inky. I would do anything for you. Don't you know that by now?" "Yes, I do, that's why I worry. I hope you haven't given up everything for me and then regret it later." "Listen honey, you have ignited a fire in my soul that no one will ever be able to put out! I have never been happier. As long as I have you there is nothing we can't do or overcome together. We are soul mates." "Oh, Alex, that is so beautiful..." Cassandra pressed herself closer into Alexs' warm body. They hugged each other like that for several minutes. Alex pulled back with a glint in her eye. Cassandra asked, "Alex, what's that look for?" "Well baby, have you ever made love during a sunset?" "Uhmm, no don't think I have." Well, good then this will be our first of many. Now hand me that blanket behind you on the chair!"

The End