Fires and Family

Rose-Grace meets with Police Chief Lynch and Fire Chief Eddie Dean.

Lynch: We need to have a press conference about these fires.  People are panicking and we've had to put one of our suspects into protective custody.  

Eddie: Even though she has an air tight alibi for the fire at American Splendor and Sunburst.  

Rose-Grace: I thought  Detective Spiro was handling it.

Lynch: So does she.  I swear, if she tells me one more time that the county has jurisdiction, I'm going to call in the feds.  She refuses to cooperate with Barbieville agencies.

Eddie: I had to go to the arson investigator privately because she intercepted the paperwork.  

Rose-Grace (angry):  I'll call the sheriff.  If he can't make her work with us, I'll call in the feds myself.  Barbieville has never refused to work with other agencies, and I'm not going to stand for one that refuses to work with us.

While Rose-Grace is talking to the sheriff, Lynch's radio goes off.  A prowler was seen outside the medical center and left behind a gas can when he/she fled.

Lynch: You better come with me on this, Eddie.  Maybe we can beat Spiro there for a change.

****

At the medical center (officially Doll County Hospital and Allied Health) Frodo drops by after school with Tanner's things.

Tanner: You aren't Whitney. 

Frodo: She went back to work today.  Waiting tables pays her better even if Midna don't play kissyface with her.  So we're taking turns at visiting and updating the rest. 

Tanner: Grandma said her relief would be here soon.  I don't know why they think I need someone here 24/7.  That's why the hospital staff exists, right?  

Frodo: Oh, yeah... about that...

Morgan: Surprise! 

Tanner: Aunt Morgan?!  You only show up for weddings and funerals.  Holy crap, am I dying? 

Morgan: Ha ha.  Very funny. 

*****

Sunburst has been very busy, even though there was no fanfare to the opening of the new location, but afternoon calms down.  Just in time for shift change.

Esmeralda: They finally let you loose, Albus?  

Albus: Your husband is a dictator.  

Esmeralda: But he's a benign one.  (changes subject) My shift is almost up, but I can go ahead and take your order.  One of the others will be your waitress after that, though. 

Pocahontas: We're a bit intimidated by the new menu.  Probably your replacement will get here before we've decided.

Speaking of which, Tris is reporting for work.

Tris (playfully): Go away, stalker.

Four: I'm not stalking you right now.  I'm stalking an older woman. 

Tris: Mom needs a ride home, huh?

As he waits for Esmeralda to clock out, Four notices Rose-Grace sitting alone.She's nursing some kind of fancy coffee and staring pensively out the window.

Four: You all right?

Rose-Grace: Just stressed out.  And this view of Scott's Debacle isn't helping.  

Four: You've done a good job of fixing it, though.  We've got the hospital now, a museum, and you even helped all the businesses along the Beach Highway move into those spaces.  

Rose-Grace: So many of them are still sitting empty.  You can't force urbanization on a bucolic little town like Barbieville.  Scott was an idiot.

Four: Scott ain't the mayor anymore, Mrs. Pike, you are.  He shot himself in the foot when he built all those skyscrapers and you're cleaning up his mess.  My folks said he tried to turn Hooterville into New York City overnight.  You know that, don't you?

Rose-Grace: Yes, and the Eaton family has had my back every step of the way. 

Four: I think you're really worried about the home stuff.  Tanner.  Your sister-in-law.  

Rose-Grace: Arsonist running around.  That's home and work.

Esmeralda joins them, ready to go home.  Four rises to meet her, but before he goes, he bends to hug Rose-Grace and tells her "you got this".

Albus stops Rose-Grace on her way out.

Albus:  How are the boys?  I heard Tanner went back in with a bad infection.

Rose-Grace: He did, but Marcus worked his magic.  Tanner will be home hopefully by Easter. How's your leg in that spiffy cast?  Finnick just went with old-school white on his.

Albus: Now what kind of hippie would I be if I didn't go with the tie-dye?

Pocahontas: I hope all this hasn't scared them off from following in Albus's footsteps at work.  He keeps telling me he isn't going to live forever.

Rose-Grace: There's been no sudden interest in law school or anything like that.  I think we're good.

Albus: I miss seeing you around since Kida passed away.  Don't be such a stranger.

Rose-Grace: I'll try. It's still hard, you know? 

Albus:  We know.  Now, come give me a hug before you hurry off.