A House Is Not a Home (2024)

A House Is Not a Home is the seventh episode of thefifth seasonand the 66th overall episode ofStation 19.

Short Summary[]

Vic and Jack lean on one another as they process the loss of Dean while Ben and Bailey try to convince Dean's parents to allow them to raise Pru. Meanwhile at Station 23, Andy's role temporarily expands and Sullivan subs in. Carina and Maya explore growing their family.

Full Summary[]

Travis opens a hydrant, getting water to Maya, who is hitting a large house fire from up on the ladder.

Jack tosses and turns on a couch.

Ben and Sullivan go inside the house to search for people.

Vic lies awake next to a sleeping Theo. She sees her heart monitor on the nightstand and gets up out of bed.

Jack gets up off the couch and pulls the shades of the houseboat down.

Vic settles in on the couch.

Travis and Maya high five after the fire is out.

Jack continues to lie awake.

As he, Maya, and Ben come downstairs to leave, Travis complains about his whole body hurting. Maya says that means he's old. He tries to say they're the same age, but she says that's not true. Beckett steps out of his office to note that he's sure they're missing their buddies, but hopes they'll be back together again soon. After he's gone back into his office, they decide they aren't sure if he was sincere or not. Ben tells Maya that he owes Carina a call about the clinic once they get the custody dispute with Pru figured out. Maya says they know he has a lot on his plate, but they're ready to drop gloves with Dean's parents if it comes to that.

At 23, Deja tells Maddox she was going to be a high school teacher before joining the academy. Maddox makes a sexist joke about it. Theo tries to get him to stop. Theo then tells Andy he got a sub for the day, but tells her there weren't a lot of choices. Andy quietly goes to Deja and tells her it'll only get worse if she doesn't stand up to them. Deja says it's just hazing and it's fine. She can take it. If she says something, that puts her on the outside, like Andy. Deja then goes to get some cereal only for it to dump out of the bottom. Barnes and Maddox laugh and tell her to clean it up. She does even though Andy says they should clean it up. Deja warns her that Sullivan is there. He's the sub and he says he can be professional. If she can't, that's her problem.

Travis is leaving a voicemail for his mother, asking her to call him back, as he comes home. Vic asks him where they keep the toolbox. He asks her what tools she needs and guides her to them. She says the towel rack is broken. He asks if she called Jack to come over and hang out. He hasn't been to work since Thanksgiving and they're worried about him. Travis can't call him because he has to go check on his parents. Vic realizes Travis is trying to get her to call Jack because he's worried about her, but he's pretending it's about Jack. He tells her he can worry about them both. He kisses her cheek and leaves.

Maya comes home to find flower petals spread all over the floor, candles everywhere, and romantic music playing. She questions if she's in the right apartment. Carina appears in lingerie with two glasses of wine. She's not working for the next two days. They're making a baby and she wants all the romance and sex that comes with that. Even though they're picking a sperm donor from a very unsexy sperm bank. She starts to undress Maya as she talks about how hard life has been lately. They need something different. She offers Maya a massage, saying she's her massage therapist. Maya leans forward and they share a kiss.

Jack answers a call from Vic, who invites him to come over and hang out. She admits that Travis put her up to it because everyone is worried about them and thinks they should babysit each other. He lies and says he's busy, but she knows that's a lie. She offers whiskey, but he hangs up and settles back on the couch. Just as he does, Ifeya and Bill come in with movers. They wonder why Jack is there. Jack says Ben said he could stay there, because Dean's will left the house to Pru. Ifeya says they're Pru's guardians and they co-signed the mortgage, so Jack should get out.

Ben and Bailey's lawyer tells them Ifeya and Bill and Petra and Henry have worked out a deal between them to share Pru. She'll be based in Seattle, but will spend summers and alternating holidays with the Laus, who spend their summers on a yacht in Italy. Ben says Dean had legal documents stating that he wanted Pru to live with them. The lawyer thats that could mean everything or it could mean nothing. The Millers have a strong arguement for keeping her and a lot of money to fight it out in court. It'll be a long, difficult fight. Ben ignores a call from Jack as Bailey says it's not good for Pru if all the adults in her life are fighting each other. She wants to think about what's best for Pru, even if that means they don't fight. Ben says they need to fight, because it's what Dean wanted. Ben gets an SOS text from Jack, so he tells the lawyer to explain to Bailey how she's wrong while he goes to talk to Jack. The lawyer starts to talk about the long-run, but Bailey says that won't matter if they screw Pru up now. She's already gone through so much for someone so young.

Vic tries to fix the towel rack, but misses and cracks the tile around it. She uses a hammer to remove the towel rack, but breaks more tile in the process. She starts hitting the wall in anger. The doorbell ringing stops her.

She opens the door to find Jack with a bottle of whiskey. They've both gone days without showering. Jack brought his own whiskey because Dean turned him on to the good stuff and then died. He tells Vic about Dean's parents coming to the houseboat to pack it up. Vic calls him back to the bathroom.

Travis enters his parents' home and calls for his mom. She walks past him instead of hugging him and he notices she's packing. She tells him she's leaving and continues her work. She wants to be packed by the time Paul gets home. She told him over breakfast, but she's not sure he beleived her. They were married for 37 years and he didn't tell her he loved men, so it's pretty urgent.

Sullivan tells Andy he saw her talking with Beckett and says it's smart to get in with him. She tells him not everything is about politics. The klaxons ring and it's for the aid car, which includes Sullivan. She sends Theo with him and tells Maddox he's on engine. He makes some sexist remarks and then hands Deja his cereal bowl to take care of. Andy tells him to back off Deja, but he brushes her off.

Jack and Vic prepare to move the sink, but first realize they've forgotten to turn off the water. Jack's glad to be out of the houseboat because he kept expecting to see Dean there. Dean taught him what "beshmall" sauce was. Vic says it sounds right that Dean taught him what béchamel sauce is but not how to say it. Jack thought living there would keep Dean close, but it just makes it worse. Vic starts laughing and says she doesn't know how Jack does it because it feels like Dean's everywhere in the house and he was barely there. She picks up a sledgehammer and starts hitting the wall. She reminds Jack that they agreed not to question each others' actions today. She offers it to him and he takes some of his own swings. He agrees that it feels good. She takes the hammer back and takes several more swings herself while she rants about the situation they're in. Her heart monitor beeps, but she keeps swinging.

Carina asks for number two and Maya points to the mark on her chin and says that freckle. Carina corrects that it's a beauty mark and says they're supposed to be counting blessings, not body parts. Maya says she's feeling very blessed by Carina's body. Carina says number three is a healthy body. Maya says number four is Carina turning what could have been a day of grief and housekeeping into the most romantic day of Maya's life. Their wedding could have been that, but it was dragged down by her losing her job. Carina says number five is multiple org*sms and leans over to push Maya back onto the bed.

Travis is helping Nari pack when Nari says it's not because Paul is gay. Travis knows that. Nari says she never had a problem with Travis being gay, but Travis says she let Paul's internalized hom*ophobia keep her from accepting him. She says she accepted him, but he reminds her she didn't come to his wedding. Nari says it was easier to go along with what Paul wanted. He took her whole life, including her relationship with her son. Travis says Paul did a lot of things wrong, but he never forced her. She chose not to come to his wedding. She can't blame him for that. Nari regrets not being there at his wedding, not being there to read her poem for them. Nari changes the subject by offering Travis lunch.

Theo says the call shouldn't take long as it's just a grease fire burn. Sullivan asks about Vic. Theo says she's healing and grieving and impatient about both. Sullivan says when he started, someone told him not to marry another firefighter, advice he didn't follow. Theo is jarred by the change in subject. Sullivan doesn't understand how he ended up where he is. Theo says firefighters get each other, but Sullivan says that's the problem. There's too much pain in their jobs. They need to put it away when they get home, to come home to someone who doesn't get it. He knows Theo thinks about everyone he's lost when he watches Vic's grief. They arrive at their destination and Theo hops out. As he parks, Sullivan sees flames coming from a third story window and alerts dispatch that they'll need backup.

Ben is angry that Dean's parents are selling Dean's house, but Bailey says it's theirs to sell. Ben thinks Bailey is being cold about it. She doesn't want to fight over Pru. Ben explains why it's important that they fight. Dean's parents don't care about what he wanted. They never did. They just wanted to control him and now they want to erase everything they didn't like about him. That's why he wanted Pru to go to Ben and Bailey. Ben says Bailey's normally right about everything, but he's not right about this. She concedes the point and they agree to fight for Pru.

Andy arrives to see Sullivan evacuating the building's residents. He tells her that Theo is inside, trying to get the originally caller to answer their door. Andy sends Sullivan to start fire attack and sends Maddox and Deja to evacuate. Andy also calls Theo out as he's not in gear.

On the third floor, Theo radios down that there's someone inside the apartment. He's with Ivy and Caleb, who say it's their neighbor and friend, Naomi, who isn't answering her door. Andy tells Theo Sullivan is on his way inside and reminds him he's not in gear. Theo tries to lead Ivy and Caleb out, over their objections. Maddox and Deja arrive and head right for Naomi's apartment, though Deja reminds him they're supposed to be clearing the floor. He tells her fire attack is where the action is. Theo also tries to get him to return to evacuations. He then leads Ivy and Caleb out with him and radios to Andy that Naomi is in a wheelchair.

Ben and Bailey cautiously enter the houseboat. Ifeya says Pru isn't there. She's with her aunt. Ben says they're there to speak with her anyway. They want a peaceful discussion so they can come to an agreement. Ifeya understands it must be hard for them, but she's had to overrule Dean as he was wrong. She wishes she could have overruled other choices he made. Ifeya wonders how Bailey lets her husband work as a firefighter. Bailey defends that Ben is a hero who saves lives, just like Dean did. It doesn't make him less a husband or father. Bailey is offended by that, but Ifeya says she won't hand Pru over to lose a second father. Ben tries to defend their position, saying they want to teach Pru all about the parts of Dean that his parents hated and refused to acknowledge. He begs them to honor Dean in death the way they didn't in life. Ifeya refuses to talk more and leaves.

As Theo puts on his turnouts, Caleb and Ivy ask him about Naomi. Theo tells them they're getting Naomi out.

Deja leads some residents out. Andy asks where Maddox is and Deja tells her that Maddox left her to go on fire attack instead. Andy radios to Maddox to get outside, but he ignores her. Andy sends Theo in to help Sullivan with fire attack.

Inside, Maddox and Sullivan prepare the battering ram. When Theo comes upon them, he shoves Maddox out of the way and tells him to get outside. They get through Naomi's door and start searching for her. Theo finds her chair tipped on its side and Naomi on the floor next to it. He and Sullivan get Naomi onto a stretcher, where they determine that she's breathing before lifting her out. Maddox comes in as they walk out, carrying a hose. He starts spraying the flames.

Vic sits on the bathroom floor while Jack is in the tub. Vic sees a tile they missed and gets Jack to hit it. Vic thinks Dean would be proud of her for not just moping around. Jack thinks he would be proud that Jack didn't just go have sex with the first woman he met. Vic understands. That's how she turns her brain off, too. People didn't understand after Ripley died that she just needed to turn her brain off. Jack understands. Vic asks how long Jack knew Dean was in love with her. She's angry that it was more than a year. Jack tries to explain. Vic would have liked to have had the conversation, though she didn't feel the same way. Vic gets up to get more alcohol. Jack says it's a disaster and Vic says Travis is going to kill her.

Carina tells Maya she say something, though Maya denies it. Carina says she did it in that Maya way. When things aren't right, she stiffens like she's trying to control every muscle in her body. Carina immitates her. Maya realizes she's going to be the strict mom. Carina says she's spent her whole life bringing babies into the world and then sending them off with no idea where they'll end up or what kind of parents her patients will be. Maya realizes she wants to be the one who carries. Carina says they can talk about it and suggests that because Maya's an athlete, she might want to experience that, but Maya says it's okay. Carina can do it. Carina asks about the egg, because they can use IVF, but Maya says she wants it to be Carina's. She wants to hold a little her and wants their baby to have her eyes, her nose, and that freckle. She wants another version of Carina to count her blessings on. They kiss softly and then Carina pulls back and she has some ideas of where the chocolate sauce she's holding can go. Maya says they're making a p*rn. Carina denies it, but then says they kind of are.

Naomi is loaded into an aid car. Sullivan and Theo congratulate each other on a job well done. Barnes and Maddox do the same thing. Andy sees this and tells Maddox he wasn't on fire attack. Maddox says some people aren't cut out to lead. Andy then tells Theo they would have listened to him if he were acting captain. She asks him about him getting along with Sullivan. Theo tells her not to make that a thing, because Sullivan is a good firefighter. She's captain, so she can't bring her personal crap into things. Them working well together is good for them team. She needs to make them listen to her.

Nari serves Travis food and tells him she was weak. She has no excuse. Travis was a delight and Paul was so hard on him for his whole childhood, telling him he was too sensitive and emotional, trying to toughen him up. Nari hated it, but she never stopped him. She's angry with Paul and angry with herself. Travis was never anything but perfect.

Vic says it might be time to call a professional. She gets up to walk out, but Jack grabs the sledgehammer and starts hitting the walls again. Vic tells him to stop. Finally, he drops the hammer, sits down, and starts sobbing. Vic sits next to him and he asks why he can't stop feeling this way. Vic holds him. After a few moments, they start kissing. After a few moments, they stop and Jack gets up. He tries to say something, but Vic tells him not to. Once he's gone, Vic starts crying herself and takes another drink.

Station 23 arrives back at their station. Andy calls their attention to her. She tells them she is their captain. They answer to her. When they disobey her or leave their partners during a call, they put their team at risk. If it happens again, they put their jobs at risk. Maddox tries to leave, but she tells him she's not done. She tells them things are changing. No more hazing and no more sex jokes. Under her watch, everyone will feel safe and comfortable at work. The call was good, no one died, but they can and will be better. Andy then says Maddox is her new fire prevention coorindator. The paperwork will take six or seven desk shifts to sort out. She dismisses everyone. Then she goes to Deja and tells her she's writing Maddox up, but she'll leave Deja's name out of it. She's realized that as captain, she needs to be the one making the place safe for everyone, including Deja.

As Joey sits down to eat his dinner, Ben asks for one thing he learned today. Joey shares something he learned on TikTok. Joey says they should make a plate for Tuck, who is still at practice. As Bailey goes to sit down, her phone rings. It's Ifeya. She answers it, and Ifeya says Pru woke up crying and asking for Bailey. They put Pru on and Ben, Bailey, and Joey quickly start soothing Pru back to sleep by counting the pandas on her pajamas.

Maya and Carina share a glass of wine and talk about sperm donors.

Paul comes home to see that Nari has all her things packed. She hugs him.

Vic is still on the bathroom floor when Theo texts asking how she is. She doesn't answer.

Jack goes back to the houseboat, which is empty except this things.

Sullivan finds Andy exercising in the barn. He tells her her speech was nice. It pays to be ruthless sometimes. She says it wasn't ruthless. It was right. He says to get to the top and stay there, you need to be a little ruthless. She says she's trying to keep everyone safe. Not everyone sees things like he does. He saw her talking to Beckett and knows she's getting restless where she is, like he is. Aquino could be out for a year. If she plays her cards right, she could captain 23. Andy says she'd never steal a house out from under someone who was injured. Andy says she slept with Beckett and was letting him down easy. That's why she was in his office.

Cast[]

Main Cast[]

• Jaina Lee Ortiz as Lieutenant Andy Herrera
• Jason George as Dr. Ben Warren
• Boris Kodjoe as Robert Sullivan
• Grey Damon as Lieutenant Jack Gibson
• Barrett Doss as Victoria Hughes
• Jay Hayden as Travis Montgomery
• Danielle Savre as Lieutenant Maya Bishop
• Stefania Spampinato as Dr. Carina DeLuca
• Carlos Miranda as Lieutenant Theo Ruiz

Special Guest Star[]

• Chandra Wilson as Dr. Miranda Bailey

Guest Stars[]

• Josh Randall as Captain Sean Beckett
• Jeanne Sakata as Nari Montgomery
• Robert Curtis Brown as Paul Montgomery
• Jeffrey D. Sams as Bill Miller
• Barbara Eve Harris as Ifeya Miller
• Natasha Ward as Deja Duval
• Lindsay Mendez as Lawyer

Co-Starring[]

• Shane Hartline as Maddox
• Shaun Heard as Dan Barnes
• Noah Alexander Gerry as Joey
• Daisy Washington as Naomi
• Sarah Cortez as Ivy
• Kevin Welbeck as Caleb
• Janai Kaylani as Pru
• Isla Colbert as Child

Rescues[]

House Fire[]

Station 19 responded to a house fire. Maya got water on the fire from above while Travis, Ben, and Sullivan evacuated the inhabitants.

Grease Fire[]

Station 23 was called to 535 Beatrice Court to treat a burn from a grease fire. Sullivan and Theo responded. When they arrived, they noticed flames coming out of a third-floor window and called for backup. While they waited for backup, they started evacuating the building. When Andy arrived, Sullivan said the person who called for help wasn't answering their door. She sent him in to do fire attack and Maddox and Deja to evacuate residents. She also called Theo to come out as he wasn't in gear. Instead of evacuating residents like Andy ordered, Maddox instead went toward the fire while Ruiz brought Ivy and Caleb out with them, over their objections that they wanted to stay until Naomi, their friend and the original caller, was rescued. When Deja came out alone, Andy asked where Maddox was and learned that he'd left her, so she continued evacuations on her own. She sent Theo back inside to help Sulivan and Theo sent Maddox out. Then he and Sullivan broke through Naomi's door and found her on the floor. They got her onto a stretcher and determined she was still breathing before carrying her out. Maddox then came in with a hose and started spraying the flames. The fire was quickly put out and Naomi was taken to the hospital.

Music[]

Notes and Trivia[]

• This episode's title originated from the song A House Is Not a Home, originally sung by Luther Vandross.
• This episode scored 4.07 million viewers.^[1]
• The scene where Maya comes home to find the romantic apartment was re-written and filmed last-minute, so the actors had very little time to prepare.^[2]
• In the scene where Maya is wearing panties and a sweater, Danielle Savre was supposed to wear blue or red panties, but changed it to white ones right before shooting.^[2]
• Carina biting Maya's finger was improvised, as was much of their movement during that scene.^[2]

Gallery[]

Episode Stills[]

Quotes[]

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