"Mr. Glidden, call your next witness."

The prosecutor stood from behind his table. "Your honor, the prosecution called Firefighter Genevieve Conti to the stand."

After sitting through nearly a week of witness testimony that included her former partners from station eight turning against Barlow, she knew the moment was coming. However, even now, she'd somehow hoped they wouldn't need her. Unfortunately, that wasn't going to happen and she needed to find her strength and stand tall. Heart racing, Gen let go of Johnny's hand and forced herself to stand. This was it. This was the moment that had kept her restless for days and up for the last two nights.

She turned to look at her father, who gave her a nod. "You got this!" he whispered. She nodded back, then glanced behind her at the row where the rest of her crew sat. The all nodded and smiled, offering their encouragement. With a deep breath, she moved from the aisle and headed toward the witness stand.

The sound of her feet on the wooden steps echoed in her ears as she moved into the box to stand. One of the officers approached. "Raise your right hand." She did as he ordered. "Do you solemnly state that the testimony you may give in the cause now pending before this court shall be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God."

"I do," Gen replied in a shaky breath.

"Ms. Conti, you may be seated," the Judge ordered.

Gen eased into the chair and wished she could sit on her hands as she waited.

"Ms. Conti?" the prosecutor began. "How long have you been a firefighter?"

"Three years and two months," Gen replied.

"This includes your time in the fire academy and paramedic training?"

"Yes."

"And when you completed your training you were assigned to Station eight?"

"Yes."

"The same station where the defendant was assigned?"

"Yes."

"Ms. Conti. Others who have testified before you have stated that the defendant, Mr. William Barlow went out of his way to make life for you at that station difficult. Would you agree with that assessment?"

"Objection, your Honor," The defense attorney blurted before Gen could answer. "Leading the witness."

"Sustained," the judge replied. "Rephrase your question, Mr. Giddens or move on."

"Yes your honor," the prosecutor nodded. "Ms. Conti. On April 2nd of this year, your current station, Station 51, was called to assist in a fire at the Azek chemical warehouse, correct?"

"Yes," Gen replied as her heart began to race. "We were part of a second alarm assignment."

"When you arrived on scene what happened?"

"Captain Stanley told me to report to Chief McConakee for my assignment."

"Why was that?" the prosecutor asked.

"My position in the station is utility," Gen replied.

"Which means what?"

"It means I go where I'm needed most." Gen clarified even as sound of her heart pounding began to grow in her ears. The line of questioning was exactly how it had been in her dream.

"So Battalion Chief McConakee assigned you to work with Fireman Barlow, correct?"

"Yes," Gen nodded.

"Even though he knew tension existed between you and Fireman Barlow?" the prosecutor asked.

"Yes," Gen repeated.

"Why do you think he did that?" Mr. Giddens asked.

"Objection," the defense attorney stated. "Speculation."

"Sustained," the judge agreed. "Move on Mr. Giddens."

The prosecutor nodded to the judge then turned back to Gen. "Tell us from your point of view what happened after Battalion Chief McConakee assigned you to Fireman Barlow."

So Miss Firefighter, what are you standing here for? Go pull that hose and hurry up about it.

Gen swallowed as Barlow's words still echoed in her ears. "He ordered me to go pull a two and a half inch line and told me to hurry up about it."

"Did you?"

"Yes," Gen replied. "He was a senior member so I had to follow his orders."

"Then what happened?"

Gen spend the next few minutes describing the fight she had pulling the hose inside and up the steps, how she'd over taxed herself on the hose and how Barlow backed away from her when she tried to hand off to him.

"Is it customary for firemen to take turns being point man on the hose?"

"On a line that large, yes," Gen replied. "That much water coming out under pressure makes the hose unruly. It taxes your muscles and the best way to for people to keep from getting injured because of exhaustion is to tag off."

"Only you're saying Barlow wouldn't take the line from you?"

"Correct." Gen replied. "So I stood my ground and worked as long as I could, but I ran out of fresh air and needed to get a replacement tank."

"So what did you do?"

"I tried to locate Fireman Barlow to let him know I was going out to get another tank."

"Why?"

"Because the rule is, you're not supposed to leave your partner. I wanted him to know I needed to leave so he could follow. Two in and two out is the rule."

"Were you able to tell Fireman Barlow your plans?"

"No." Gen shook her head as memories came flooding back and she battled with a sudden bout of nausea. "I couldn't find him."

"What do you mean you couldn't find him?"

"I mean he wasn't behind me anywhere. I tried looking for him, but the warning signal on my tank grew more urgent, so I gave up and headed down the steps."

"What happened when you decided to leave?"

"I headed down the steps and fell when the hose moved beneath my feet. I landed on my side, rolled down the rest of the steps and from what I'm told was found on the landing between floors."

"What you were told?"

"Yes," Gen replied. "At some point I lost consciousness, so I don't remember anything after hitting the first step."

"Is it normal for fully charged hoses to move on their own?"

"No," Gen affirmed. "When the nozzle is closed the pressurized water doesn't fills the hose but can't go anywhere. The hose is heavy and won't move on its own."

"So how then did the hose move under your feet?"

"There's only one answer," Gen said as she took a deep breath. "Someone would have to move it."

"By someone you mean Fireman Barlow?"

With all the nerve she could gather she turned her attention toward Barlow and met his gaze. His angry eyes started back at her, and she could all but feel the silent threat. "Yes."

"You little bitch!" he wailed as he shoved away from the table, skirted the edge and lunged for her.

Chaos ensued as the jury gasped and several of the women jurors screamed. The court officers darted across the room to intercept, but not before Gen scrambled from the witness chair and took a defensive posture behind it.

"What happened to you was your fault. You wouldn't quit," Barlow shouted as the officers took him to the floor.

"You wouldn't quit, so you left me no choice," he nearly screeched as he fought against the officers. "You left me no choice."

"Get him out of here," the Judge ordered as he banged his gavel.

The officers lifted Barlow to his feet and began dragging him toward the door. "You left me no choice," Barlow yelled, right before the door slammed shut.

For a moment, Gen simply stared at the closed door, as she tried to process what just happened. Movement out of the corner of her eye caught her attention and she turned to see her crew rushing toward her. She raced down from the box, directly into Johnny's arms.

"I want this court room cleared," the Judge ordered. "Bailiff, take the jurors back to their room. I want the audience out, now. The witness and attorney's stay."

Gen clung to Johnny as the reality of the moment finally settled over her. She could feel her father's hand rubbing her back as she fought to regulate her breathing. God, she needed both of them right now.

"I need to leave," Johnny whispered. "The Judge ordered the audience to leave."

"No." Gen clung a little tighter. "Stay, please."

"Your, honor." She heard her father's voice, but kept her eyes closed. "Can we please stay?"

The moment of silence felt like an hour as she waited to hear the Judge's reply. "Yes. The two of you can stay. Everyone else needs to leave."

Hearing the judge's statement she relaxed just a little.

"Miss Conti?"

Gen pulled away from Johnny and turned to face the Judge. "Yes, your honor?"

"Are you okay?"

She managed a small smile. "Yes, your Honor."

"Good. Please take a seat in the audience area while I confer with the attorneys."

She nodded then, on rubbery legs, moved to the audience seating, where she eased onto the bench. "You sure you're okay?" Johnny whispered.

Gen gave him a small smile. "I'm just a little freaked right now, but I'll be fine." She turned to watch the judge confer with the two attorneys. "After that little scene I wonder what they're saying."

"I still can't quite believe one fireman would go to such links to harm another," Tony whispered.

Gen couldn't quite believe it either. She watched as the defense attorney nodded to the judge, then shook hands with the prosecutor. A moment later Mr. Gibbons turned and walked toward Gen. He returned his seat behind the table, then turned the chair around so he faced Gen. "Because of what happened, William Barlow's attorney has accepted a plea agreement."

"So what does that mean?" Gen asked a she glanced from Mr. Gibbons, to Johnny and then to her father.

"The judge will sentence Barlow in a few days," Mr. Gibbon's replied

"So," she ventured. "The trial is over?"

Mr. Gibbons smiled. "The trial is over. Barlow is going to go away for a long time, Gen. So go home, get some rest, then go back to work, live your life and put this behind you, okay?"

For the first time in months she felt complete relief sweep through her as she returned his smile. "I think I can do that. Thank you, Mr. Gibbons."

When they stepped out of the court room a few minutes later, Gen came face to face with her crew, several of the men from station eight and Chief McConakee. She took a deep breath. "Barlow's attorney made a deal. He's going to jail."

A cheer went up in the group and Chief McConakee stepped forward. "Well, lassie, now that this nightmare is finally over for you, I have to ask, do you still stand by what you said before?"

She knew exactly what he was asking. "Actually, Chief. With your permission, I'd like to return to duty."

The worry on his face slowly morphed into a grin. "Glad to hear it. Permission granted and Genevieve…"

"Yes sir?"

"Welcome back."

This is it for the first story in this series. I hope I was able to improve on the original and make it better and more complete. I'll be back soon with What if part 2. Thank you to those who have followed and commented. It's much appreciated.