Alarms blared throughout the firehouse, waking everyone from their slumber. It had been weeks since the last incident, still fresh in their minds. Rocky's heart leapt as the alarm continued. Smoke clouded his view as he got low to the ground, remembering what he had learned. He crawled over to the door, feeling it, cautious for heat. It was warm to the touch, so he decided to back off.

Rushing over to his desk, he grabbed his phone, shoving it into his pocket. He bounded towards the window. Marshall had installed a rope ladder on every window, in case of emergencies. Gulping, Rocky knew it was now or never. He let the ladder unravel, watching as it smacked against the side of the building. With a deep breath, he climbed over the edge and descended down.

It was now he could smell the smoke and ash blowing in the wind. He could see an orange, ominous glow coming from the front. Once he reached the ground, he ran to the safe-spot they had all talked about.

No one was there.

He heard a scream and looked back towards the firehouse. In horror, he watched as it collapsed, the rest of it bursting into flames. "Mom! Dad!" He screamed. "Marshall... Zuma... Rubble..." He collapsed to his knees in agony, tears streaming down his face.

'It's all your fault,' a voice said. 'You could've stopped this.'

'All your fault. All your fault. All. Your. Fault!'

Rocky's eyes opened as he silently screamed to himself. He was covered in sweat. He trembled as the images of his nightmare flooded his mind. He looked over at the time. Three twenty-four a.m. With a shaky sigh, he sat up, still shaking. Hesitantly, and silently whimpering, he got out of bed and walked over to his door.

Remembering his nightmare, his hand shook as he reached for the doorknob. It was cool to the touch, much to his relief. He slowly walked down the hall until he reached the room of his parents.

Slowly opening the door, he paused, his breathing shallow as he struggled to control himself. As the door creaked open, Chase shifted in bed, an arm draped over Skye. he opened one eye, then both, looking at Rocky. Almost immediately, he sat up, careful not to wake his wife, and climbed out of bed. He gently moved Rocky back into the hall and shut the door behind them.

He took note of his son's disheveled state. His hair was a mess, his pajamas dampened. He was shaking as well. Taking his hands, he kneeled down to his level, allowing Rocky to stand over him. "What's wrong, buddy?" He whispered.

Unable to hold back, Rocky hugged Chase as tight as he could. Chase, surprised by the sudden action, held him as well. When Rocky didn't let go, he knew something must have been wrong. Picking him up, he walked over to the living room and sat on the couch, stroking Rocky's back.

"What happened?" Chase asked, "What's got you all worked up?"

"Remember that fire a few weeks back? I-I had a dream where it was much worse. I got out, but-" He began sobbing.

Chase understood, "Shh, Rocky, it wasn't real. Everyone's okay. There's no fire." Rocky kept trembling in his arms.

"I wanted to help! Honest! I just- I couldn't-"

"Dreams are strange. They reflect what we think about subconsciously." It became quiet. Chase continued. "When something traumatic happens, we tend to try and push it out of mind." Images began flooding his vision as he continued. "B-but-" He felt his throat tighten as memories came racing back. "We shouldn't try to push them away. When those moments come, we have to let them out, however we need to. Some become aggressive, changing their emotions to anger. Others become depressed and blame themselves." Chase gulped, staring far off at the wall.

'It's not your fault,' they had told him. 'There was nothing you could do.'

"Dad?" Rocky sniffed, looking up at him.

Chase shook his head. "My point is," he continued, "don't try to suppress your emotions. Let them out. How did you feel when the fire happened a couple weeks ago?"

"Scared. Worried, especially when Marshall went down the pole. There was so much smoke, it reminded me of when Rubble and Zuma were in the building collapse." He hugged Chase tighter. "And when you went in, I felt so sad."

"Why's that?"

"B-because I d-don't w-want t-t-to lose y-you!" Rocky started sobbing again, clutching Chase as hard as he could. Chase hugged him even tighter, letting his son cry it out. Rocky would be okay. Chase knew these feelings were normal, especially after what Marshall had told him.

Rocky's never felt the affection he'd felt at that moment. The extreme love for another person, one that cares for him and about him. It was an attachment he'd lost the moment his birth parents began striking him. He never wanted to lose that feeling again.

As Rocky began to calm down, Chase hummed softly in his ear, soothing him. It was late, or early in this case. Rocky yawned, finally feeling tired after the entire ordeal. Chase, too, yawned. It had dawned on him that they'd both be extremely tired when they woke up, but for now, he decided to stay on the couch, holding his son.

~~~

Later that morning, but still pretty early, Marshall was up first, as usual. He got dressed in his running gear and made his way into the kitchen/living area. He noticed Chase and Rocky sleeping on the couch, but decided against waking them. He wondered why they were out there instead of their rooms, but would question it later. Donning his headphones and tucking his phone into his back pocket, he quietly left the two as he walked out the door.

After jogging for quite a while, he stopped to catch his breath. He shivered, regretting not bringing a jacket with him. "Stupid cold," he mumbled. He didn't always dislike the cooling temperatures, but ever since the accident, he hasn't felt the same.

FLASHBACK

It had snowed the night before, but that didn't stop the fire squad from responding. Speeding through the intersections, Marshall glanced over at Everest. She smiled, staring out at the snow on the ground and in trees. Marshall smiled at her. Once he looked back at the road, he noticed a car had cut them off. He swerved the fire engine, causing it to skid off the road. Trying to regain control, he swerved back, only it was too late. The truck's passenger side had slammed into a tree.

Everest's legs were pinned. She was unconscious. Marshall tried to free her, only to have an officer pull him away from the scene. A devastated Marshall sat alone on the curb, watching as other firemen pulled her out.

Chase eventually made his way to the scene, having come all the way from the station after hearing about the accident. He consoled Marshall, sitting next to him. Marshall rest his head on his best friend's shoulder, tears endlessly staining his uniform. "She's going to be okay," he assured him.

"It's my fault," Marshall sniffed. "I should've been paying attention to the road."

"Don't worry about that," Chase said. "I'll handle it." Eventually, the driver of the other vehicle was charged for the traffic offense, but that didn't stop Marshall from blaming himself.

Both of Everest's legs were broken severely. The doctors were afraid she'd never walk again. Marshall was by her side every day he could be. Once the rehabilitation began, however, she was moved across state. Her last words to Marshall were "I love you."

END FLASHBACK

Marshall shook his head. He was never able to contact Everest. Three years later, would she even love him still? After everything that's happened, would she still be willing to pursue a relationship? He shook those thoughts away from his head. The guys told him to go find her and talk to her, but he always refused. As great as an advice giver he is, he feels as though it wouldn't be worth the risk. He felt he couldn't take a broken heart. Much like Everest's legs, his dreams were shattered the instant she left.

Sighing and wiping a few tears from his eyes, Marshall turned, determined to leave the past behind. He jogged back home.

~~~

Chase flinched awake, hearing the front door shut. Yawning, he looked around, confused for a moment. When he felt Rocky shift beneath him, he remembered and smiled. "You won't lose me, buddy," he whispered. "Not for a long time." Carefully and gently, he shifted Rocky off of him and onto the couch. He grabbed a nearby blanket and placed it on him.

He walked back to his bedroom and saw Skye still fast asleep. He shook her awake. "Honey, honey, we need to talk."

"Now?" she mumbled.

"Now. It's about Rocky." She turned over to face him. He told her what happened earlier that morning and how Rocky felt. He spoke carefully as to not let his own emotions get in the way.

Skye listened carefully and noticed just how similar Chase and Rocky were. They may not have been related, but from the way they both spoke, acted and felt, you could hardly tell the difference. Once Chase finished, she smiled. "You know what? I think it's time for that vacation."

~~~

Luckily for them, that morning was a Saturday. They spent all that morning packing their things. Chase and Skye let Rocky continue sleeping for as long as he wanted. They packed his things and put everything in a van Marshall had rented. Strangely enough, he was more than happy to put together the trip. No one questioned it, though. They knew if Marshall was going through something, it was best to leave it at bay.

Chase called Ryder and let him know of the week long vacation. To his surprise, Ryder gave Rocky and Chase two weeks off to collect their thoughts and for Rocky to work on the projects he's wholeheartedly set on completing.

Once everything was ready, Skye went to the living room and woke her sleeping son. "Sweetie, wake up. We've got to go."

He yawned but didn't open his eyes. "Where are we going?"

"It's a secret." Skye smiled as Rocky's eyes lit up. He sat up excitedly, asking many questions all at once. "Uh uh uh, I'm not telling and neither is anyone else. Go get changed and meet us outside."

Five minutes later, Rocky stepped outside, shielding his eyes from the sunlight. He saw a massive van in the driveway. Marshall beeped the horn, motioning him over. Rocky ran to the van and climbed inside. Marshall and Chase were in front, followed by Rubble and Skye in the middle. Besides Rocky, Zuma sat. "Do you know where we're going?" Rocky asked him quietly.

Zuma smiled. "Maybe I do, maybe I don't." He poked the boy in the stomach, getting him to laugh.

"Come on! Tell me! Give me a hint!" The van moved down the driveway and onto the road ahead.

"What do you think, Skye? Should I give the little guy a hint?"

Skye thought for a moment, mostly to annoy Rocky. "A very small one," she finally said.

Chuckling, Zuma turned to Rocky. He leaned over and whispered to him. "Look, I know you're scared of water." Rocky gasped, looking at him in fear. "Don't worry about it. Everyone's scared of something."

"How did you know?" Rocky asked.

"Well, remember when Marshall gave you your iPad? You said you didn't like water. I kinda figured... But I'm going to try to change that."

Rocky gulped. "So, we're going to the beach?"

"No," Zuma chuckled. "Not necessarily. But there will be water. I'll help you swim. You'll be 100% safe. I promise."

Rocky just nodded, but he was skeptical. Ever since that fateful day, Rocky was scared of water. Even showering was difficult sometimes. All it took was the memories to come flooding back.

"By the way," Zuma said. "Since I know your fear, it's only fair you know mine."

"You don't have to-"

"I insist." He leaned over and whispered into Rocky's ear. Rocky's eyes widened and he looked into Zuma's eyes.

Rocky leaned over and hugged Zuma. "You didn't have to say that, but thank you. Your fear is safe with me."

"I appreciate that," Zuma whispered. Rocky wiped a few tears from his eyes and smiled. Zuma smiled back, turning towards the window. Rocky did the same. He watched the landscape of hills and trees rise and fall. Leaning back in his seat, he recalled the dream he had of the fire, how it uprooted his entire life. How he felt when he realized he had lost everything.

Looking at each person's face, his face went from a frown to a smile. Each person had touched his life in their own unique way. I think I'm going to be okay, he thought, looking back out the window.

~~~

Up at the front, with Marshall gripping the wheel tightly, Chase eyed him curiously. "You alright there, Chief?" he asked.

"Fine."

Chase nodded. It was a touchy subject, but Marshall needed to take his own advice and talk. He looked back at the other passengers. Skye and Rubble had fallen asleep. He could see Zuma with his headphones and Rocky completely engrossed with something out the window. Now was his chance. "Wanna talk about it?"

"No." Marshall's face was stiff in concentration, but also another emotion. Anger? Annoyance?

Chase couldn't let his friend drown under the emotions. "Pull over, I'll drive."

"What? No, I can do it."

"You're pushing 90 in a 65 and I don't think you're in the mood to confront a cop. Pull over." Begrudgingly, Marshall did as he was asked. He huffed out of frustration, but quietly opened the car door. "Rest stop! Stretch your legs while you can!"

Everyone climbed out. Skye, Rubble, Rocky and Zuma all walked into the gas station. Chase and Marshall stayed behind. "What do you want to say?" hissed Marshall. "You gonna tell me everything will be alright? To move on and find someone else?"

Chase, taken aback by the sudden outburst, looked at Marshall carefully. "No, not at all. But if that's what's on your mind, you should really talk-"

"There's nothing to talk about. She's gone, Chase. If she hasn't bothered to try to call me in the last couple of years, then she's moved on. She's forgotten all about us." He leaned his back against the van. "She's forgotten about me."

"You don't know that for sure."

Marshall scoffed. "Then what? She just 'forgot to call'?"

"Maybe she can't. Maybe she's wanted to, but she's too afraid."

"Of what?"

"Rejection." A lump filled Marshall's throat. "Think about it, Marshall. Her last words to you. The last time you saw her. She probably freaked out afterwards."

Marshall remained quiet. "I never thought of it that way."

"Everyone knows you two were crazy about each other. But we also know neither of you had ever said those three words. Everest was the first to say it. You didn't say it back. When you put two and two together..."

"Ugh... I freaked her out... It's my fault she hasn't called. I didn't even reach out to her either... I've gotta talk to her."

"You can call the rehab center when we get to the spot." Chase placed his hand on Marshall's shoulder. "Things will work out. I know it."

"I taught you well. Maybe too well." The two shared a hug, laughing, as everyone came back out. "Better fill up the van with gas. We've got a long trip ahead of us."