The Only Way
"Questions, Gentlemen?"
Captain Hank Stanley glanced at each of the other three station captains and found all of them looking back at him – including Chief Howard. He swallowed impulsively.
"This is pretty scary in my book," Captain Ben Lee of 60's said. "For the man going in, if the tree slips at all…"
Hank glanced over the Chief's shoulder at the large oak tree that lay partially inside the cafeteria of the elementary school. They had it tied off at a dozen points already, but the crumbling wall of the building had the tree sinking deeper inside where the last victim, a second grade girl, was trapped.
"We all know the risks," Chief Howard said. "Like the saying goes, 'Life comes with no guarantees, no time outs, no second chances.' Let's get this done."
Hank joined his group of four men. Roy DeSoto was the missing man, having accompanied the last ambulance of dazed and injured school children – including his own tearful second grade daughter and her possibly broken arm.
The faces before Hank bolstered his resolve. He saw fear there. Not the paralyzing scared fear, but the heart squeezing fear of letting the girl down. All he'd have to do is give the word and each of them would be in there in a second, and that was also plainly on their faces. But, this called for only one to go in. And come out. Fast.
"Gage," he called out his remaining paramedic.
"I'm ready, Cap," the young man replied.
"In and out, Pal. In and out." Hank watched with the rest of his crew as John Gage ran into the crumbling building without the slightest hesitation.
Hank's internal clock started ticking. And ticking. And ticking. A slight breeze blew, chilling against the sheen of cold sweat coating his face. The tree groaned and more bricks fell. Hank's heart hammered in his chest. His crew all took a step closer to the building, but Hank raised his arm to hold them. His clock still ticked.
Movement at the doorway caught Hank's attention. He moved forward, his crew at his heels.
Stepping over a new pile of bricks and weaving around lowered branches, Gage exited the building. A young girl's arms circled his neck and his own arms hugged her protectively against his chest. She wore his helmet.
His crew rushed past and escorted Gage and the girl to the squad for treatment. The other firefighters lined their path. All had smiles.
The breeze picked up again. This time it felt warm to Hank. The groaning tree let out a shriek. Several of the strained lines popped and, with a roar, the wall collapsed under the massive tree and it crashed fully into the building.
Hank took a deep breath, letting it out slowly, calmingly. He wasn't sure who said that quote the Chief used earlier, but that person apparently never worked at 51's. They did whatever it took, they never complained, they got it right the first time. They just didn't know any other way.