Hello everybody ! I hope you're enjoying your holidays (for those who have them), or at least you enjoyed your Christmas day to eat some bad things, chocolate, take a few pounds that you'll try to lose after the 1st January (as a resolution you won't ever held) to have a good conscious, but I trully and sincerely hope... You didn't break your fingers on these son of a b**** of oysters (I put some * to avoid any insults against these useless and evil marine and bivalve mollusks).
Anyway, I wanted to update this story for Christmas after a hard week of work on it but... My computer bugged and I litterally lost MY ENTIRE WORK because saving it *gun in my hand, ready to pull the trigger*. But I'm proud of my memory, and with my head, I've almsot rewritten it word for word (yeah yeah ! Word by word!) in a short time, as you can see !
Hum hum, I have go be serious one minute. For this chapter, I mixed two ideas : one comes from ChefPopo (a french reader), and the other comes from MiladyEly (she didn't know what idea ChefPopo had). I liked them both, so I decided to mix them in his chapter, which is longer than usual (three OpenOffice's pages usually, this one is on nine pages). But I hope you will have pleasure to read it, because I took some pleasure to write it *evil laugh*
Hoping you'll appreciate this chapter. Tell me what you think.
Chapter 10 : Finally free ?
Outside of the structure, the sun was shining hardly on the ground and on the firemen. It was at least 86 degrees, if more. The bomb squad and the excavation teams were doing a break under the tent they fitted in a short time, while the firefighters from the firehouses 44, 51, 57 and 95 were continuing to clear the area to reach the air pocket and get their brothers out of this hell as soon as possible. Chief Boden knew that nothing and nobody would stop them on their work, and they wouldn't take a break : they had just one think in their head, especially the firefighters of the firehouse 51. And he couldn't blame them : If Casey didn't ordered them to get out of this house, they also would have been buried alive, as their brothers. They felt guilty to have followed Casey's order, but if he didn't do it, they would be probably dead by now. Seeing this, the teams on break a questions on their minds and locked their gaze on the batalion chief, who knew them better than themselves.
« What's happening to them chief ? Why they're continuing working and don't take a break ? »
Boden couldn't blame them either. He turned toward the group, his hand on his radio.
« They won't take a break because their brothers and sister are still beneath us. Casey ordered them to get out of the house before it explodes and they feel guilty to have followed this order. They will continue until they will be safe outside the hell and in one piece ».
The bomb squad and the excavation teamps looked each other without a word. But everybody thought the same thing. These guys under them were also their brothers. So why taking a break ? Everybody took two or three bottles of water, approached the group of firefighters and tended them a bottle. Everybody stood straight, took a bottle and emptied it. A sign of recognition from them.
« Chief told us. For your lieutenant ».
Captain Patterson turna to the one who talked. Vlad. He gave him a curious look.
« He did the right thing. To get you out. If you have been caught in this explosion, you may be dead right now ».
Patterson nodded slightly. He knex it, that it was the right choice. He would have done the same thing if he was Casey.
« This is why we have to continue. Because without him, we may be dead. We need to get them out. And alive ».
« It's our aim too. And we won't stop until reaching this aim ».
Patterson smiled and everybody worked again. Boden was satisfied on this scene in front of him. He had managed to unite a group of firefighters who didn't know each other around the same aim. And Vermulan was also impressed by what he heard and saw.
« I didn't thought they would work together ».
Boden didn't move an inch.
« Be a batalion chief isn't the ability to lead a team, it's the ability to be heard and to gather the teams under one common flag ».
Vermulen didn't know what to say. This last sentance was against him. Because of what he did to the squad 3, his squad. Deep down, he knew it.
« I have to take this for me ? Right ? »
« I just replied to your first sentance », Boden assured, a smile on his face.
Of course he had to take this of him. He didn't have the right the play swith the work of his squad.
« If you say so... »
They were interrupted by a soft clearing throat. They turned and saw some women with hands full.
« We... We heard the explosion and... And on TV they said some of yours are under the rubble ».
The woman who began to speak didn't continue, wanting to have an answer of the unswered question.
« It's true », Boden confirmed.
« We know you won't stop your work before getting them out, our husbands are firefighters and... And we know it's hard for you. So we brought some water, spayers, somethign to eat. Proteins, bananas, sandwishes... Enough the kkep your body in shape ».
The women tended their armsto give them what they had, but Boden and Vermulen were too busy to look each other. They had the same idea. They raised the security line.
« Why don't you do the distribution by yourselves ? It will make us happy. I'm sure ».
The women didn't know what to do or to say, even thank you. No need. Hesitant, they passed under the line and went inside the tent to make some packages and give them to the firefighters. They were proud to help firefighters, the brothers of their husbands. Boden and Vermulen looked around them. A lot of reporters were here, ready to give the informations they had, and they didn't noticed them, because they were focused on the firemen.
Soon after, a car approached and passed the security line, held by the police. Curiously, Boden approached as the driver's door opened and let appear a blond man with a blue gown.
« Will ».
« Chief Boden ! We meet each other often as I can see ! »
His smile disappeared quickly, seeing the look that Boden gave him.
« I-I... I just wanted to make a point ».
Boden sighed and closed his eyes.
« Six of my men are under the debris of a collapsed house, and three of them are in a critical condition, vital even. So I'm sorry if i didn't smile or laugh to your... Point ».
Will swallowed hardly, his eyes still locked on Boden's.
« I-I understand ».
He cleared his throat.
« How is it inside ? »
« The last contact was ten minutes ago. Al we know is that there are residual fires that we can't extinguish. So the air is full of smoke, dust and CO2. And I have three firefighters down ».
It was enough for Will to shiver.
« I see. I need to talk to someone inside. Someone has a medical training ? »
« Dawson. She came down with Borelli, our new candidate through a hole we did. They were the only ones who could come down. She was the PIC of our ambo, the 61. Severide andd ferraris just have basic training ».
Boden wanted to ask in what it will help him, but he didn't have time.
« Alright. It will help me to do my job. I presume you won't let me come down, so I have to help Dawson from here ? »
« Correct ».
« So I'll will ne talk to her. Now ».
« We don't have a direct contact with them. Tony is doing some comings and goings through the tunnel between the group and the air pocket. He needs to place to beacons, so the rescue team can find their way to the group ».
« Okay. I can take some place ? »
« Make yourself at home ».
He got all his stuff out of his car and asked the paramedics to come to help him. Vermulen came too, curious.
« So you're family of this cop on the intelligence unit ? Halstead ? »
Will asked himself how he could know his brother. And while he continued to work, he asked him.
« You know my brother as I can see ».
« Your brother uh ? He worked on one of our call ».
Vermulen and Will shared a look.
« When we'll have a contact ? »
« Soon. We asked Ferraris to call us when he will begin to place the beacon ».
« I'll come with you ».
Vermulen nodded and signed to follow him. They waited just a few seconds before having a contact.
« Chief ? This is Tony ».
« Ferraris, how is it down here ? »
« Ah ! Vermulen ! I'm asking myself when you'll go talk on this damn radio ».
« Hello to you too... »
Seeing the tension between us, Boden decided to intervene.
« Tony, answer the question ».
All heard Tony sighed deeply on the radio.
« It becomes hard. Residual fires are still burning and we can't extinguish them. Smoke is invading the space and it's hard to breathe ».
« You have some SCBA though ».
« How much time to come and save us ? »
Vermulen and Boden had the same reflex at the same time : look each other and bite their lips.
« We don't know ».
« For now, we can breathe. But if we use our SCBA and we have nothing before being rescued, the smoke would kill us ».
Tony was right. They had to wait until using their bottles of oxygen to have a bigger chance to get out alive.
« Understandable. How are the injured men ? »
« Borelli took a concrete slab on his back when the ceiling collapsed a little. He has a big hematoma con his D3 vertebra and he has a concussion. Uh... Hermann has huge chest pains, Dawson thinks it's his broken ribs. Severide is almost unconscious, his fever is growing and he's in pain because of the peritonitis. Dawson is trying to immobilize his arm. And Casey... »
Ferraris didn't want to give details, but he had to.
« He needs to get out of it. He may not make it ».
Boden closed his eyes, thinking about what Tony said.
« And you ? » Boden asked.
« Me ? Uh... Dawson said that my back is beginning to be infected. But apart this, I'm good. I will care about myself when all will be over. Not before ».
Will had worked with the firehouse 51 many times, but he didn't see them like this. He saw them brave and strong and heroic, always there for each other. He turned to Vermulen.
« I need to talk to Dawson. And fast. If they are as injured as he said, Casey is an emergency care. If there was a traige, he will be red tag, almost black ».
« We're doing everything we can, but we ahve to break this concrete slab before going down the air pocket and find them. You can talk to her when we will go down ».
« And... and can we put a radio on, on the galery to talk to her ? »
Vermulen was thinking. It wasn't a bad idea. The radio could serve as a relay between us and the group. And will could talk to Dawson directly.
« Tony ? Can you let your radio on, where you are on the tunnel ? »
« You're talking to me ? »
« TONY ! »
Boden intervened again. He sighed of anger.
« Vermulen is here to get you out, so keep your grudge for later and focus ! »
It was one of the first time Boden was so angry. And the fact that six of his men were still under him didn't help.
« Copy that chief. Uh... To answer, why let my radio on the tunnel ? »
« It will serve as a relay between us and your group ».
« No possibility. The signal can't pass to them. I tried ».
Will grabbed the radio.
« Then place a secodn radio in the end of the tunnel. There will be two relays, but I need to talk to Dawson, and quick ! »
« This isn't a great idea, but it can work. I will put them in place. Lets say... Five minutes ? »
« Okay. As soon as you finish, you call us understood ?
« Understood ».
The firemen stopped a moment the time for Boden, Vermulen and Will to talk to Tony, and they profited to drink and eat.
« Come on guys ! Lets go to work, and we don't stop until they reach this ground ! » Vermulen ordered, clapping his hands.
This time, he will work with his men.
Inside, Tony did as quick as he could to find to place to put his radio on, but there was nothing. He took three small parts of a concrete slab, built a litle' house' with them and placed his radio on inside. He continued his road to the groupe ans in two minutes he came above the five firefighters.
« Dawson ! »
Lost in her thoughts and looking Matt breathing with more difficulty, she startled and looked through the hole.
« I need your radio. It will serve as a relay between outside and here ».
Without understanding well but trusting Tony, she grabbed her radio and tended it to him.
« I'll be right back in a few seconds ».
He took three other parts of a cocnrete slab, did the same house and inserted the radio on inside. Then he came back.
« Try to talk to them. It will work ».
« Tony I don't have my radio anymore. The only radios that aren't out are Borelli's and Matt's ».
« Then take one, you don't have choice ».
She bit his lips. Borelli just began to sleep and his injury wasn't bad. And Matt was sleeping for ten minutes and his injuried were bad. She didn't have another choice.
« Matt ? Matt, open your eyes for me please ».
She heard him groan despite the mask, and soon after, he opened his eyes painfully.
« Hey... », he said, almost whispering.
« Hey ! I need your radio. And it can hurt you ».
« Ah... »
Slowly and didn't wanting to hurt him, she grabbe his radio and freed it. She heard Matt gritting his teeth some times, but she did it. Sighing deeply, she turned the radio on.
« This is Dawson, someone is here ? »
Outside, everybody was working hard to get them out. And everybody was waiting a sign of life from inside.
« This is Dawson, someone is here ? »
Hearing this voice, the firemen of the firehouse 51 screamed of joy, hugging each other. Finnaly. The other firemen came soon after, congratulated each other and wanting to work again and again, harder. But Boden signed to stop the time to talk to Dawson, and to take a break to eat and drink.
« This is Boden. You don't know how glad I am to hear you ».
« Me too chief ! »
He was soon joigned by Will who had a radio on his hand.
« Dawson, this is Will Halstead. How are the injured men ? »
« Uh... Borelli is concussed and has a big hematoma on his back, but he's good. Hermann has some broken ribs and a huge chest pain. Severite has a peritonitis because of a iron stick that was lodged on his right flank and his arm is broken, Tony has a deep second degree burn on his back that is begin to be infected. And Casey needs to get out of here ASAP ».
« How bad ? »
Dawson took several seconds to answer.
« Possible head and cerebral traumas, pelvic and femoral fracture, paralyssi of his lower body, chest pain, difficulty to breathe. In and out of consciousness ».
« You have his vitals ? »
« Pulse at 124, BP at 15 over 7, sature at 95% with the non-rebreather mask ».
« 15 over 7 ? he has painkillers ? »
« Morphine, since I arrived. I also injected three dose of epi because of a cardiac arrest ».
« Time ? »
« Around seven minutes of cardiac arrest, an hour ago ».
Will close his eyes, turning to Buden hurrily.
« We need to get him out. He is near the black tag ».
Boden turned then to group of firefighters.
« Lets keep working ! You heard Dawson ?! »
No time to nod or talk, they came back to work.
« Dawson ? He is conscious ? »
« Beraly. I had to wake him up to take his radio and talk to you ».
« You need to keep him conscious. Otherwise he will dift into a coma, or even death ».
« How much time befire the rescue team ? »
« Not much longer. The guys are working on the concrete slab above the air pocket ».
« Okay ».
Gabby looked Matt. His breathing was very shallow. She caressed his cheek to make him open his eyes.
« You heard this ? They will be here soon ! »
« Dawson ? »
She startle again because of Will.
« This is Dawson ».
« I need a list of what you have down here. It can help me to guide you before getting out ».
The paramedics were ready to make this huge medical bag for will.
« Okay so I have... Three balloons, four intubation kit, including two for a tracheo, seven vials of morphine, two o midazolam ».
She continued to list what she had while the paramedics did everything they could to follow her. Once done, Dawson turned his head to Matt then his monitor. Something was bothering her.
« Matt ? Matt, you hear me ? »
She looked the monitor again, closer, then grabbed his radio.
« Will ! He has respiratory arrest ! »
Her scream woke Kelly with the painful and horrible groan. When he opened his eyes, he saw Gabby near on Matt, panicking. She had removed his mask to replace it by a baloon again.
« Come on Matt, breathe ! »
Kelly straightened, came toward Gabby but she didn't notice him.
« Dawson ? Inject a half-dose of pei and three milligrams of midazolam ! It would help him ! If he inhaled smoke, his airways are swollen and inflammed ».
Dawson heard Will, but contniuing to push air into Matt's lungs. Kelly placed his hand on Gabby's.
« Let me. I will do this ».
« You're not in shape Kelly ».
« It's my little brother. I'm always in shape for him ».
Kelly and Dawson shared a look. Kelly didn't want to give up. Dawson gave up, letting Kelly take care of Matt's breathing again. She took the epi-shot, amptied it in a half way, then pushed three milligrams of midazolam into his system. After several secondss Matt gasped for air and coughed. It was blood, but at least, he was breathing.
« Continue to bag him Kelly ».
He nodded.
« He's stabilized for now. But he really need to get out of this hell ».
« We're working on it Dawson. It's almost done », Boden assured.
He finished his sentance and the concrete slab finally broke. Finally. The firemen screamed of joy again and hugged each other. His brothers and sister were goind to get free. Boden made a rescue team of six men, Vermulen as a leader, Patterson, Vlad, Cruz and two men from the bomb squad. The excavation teams settled a tripod with a pulley and rope system that they would replace by a ladder to get the victims out. Finally in the air pocket, they brought down three rescue trays.
« Tony? This is Boden. Six men are in the air pocket and are coming ».
Tony opened his mouth but no owords went out. He heard Dawson and Kelly laugh in relief through the hole, then began to adpproach the gallery.
« I'm going to meet them ».
« Be careful Tony », Kelly ordered.
Gabby put her hands on his.
« Lay down and rest, he is stable for now. I will continue ».
He shook his head, not wanting to let Matt in this shape.
« Kelly. I'll take care of him ».
He sighed, closing his eyes. Gabby was right. His condition did't allow him to think clearly, but at the same time, he couldn't let Matt. Not today, not now. Seeing that she was going to lose, she sighed.
« What a stubborn ! »
« I'm not deaf Dawson ».
Kelly tried to laugh, but his belly paralyzed him. he let go one second, allowing Gabby to continue pumping air into Matt's lungs..
« What was I saying? Lay down and rest. You're not in shape ».
Kelly had no choice. He lay down, watching gabby work on Matt.
In the gallery, Tony joined the rescue team and firemen had hosted the group almost with open arms. But the narrowness of the place was stopping him.
« You can come outside now ».
« No. I don't have the right to leave before the others. They are more wounded than me. And you won't make me change my mind ».
And he couldn't pass. He turned and led them to the injured group.
« Dawson? I found someone ».
She looked up and sighed in relief. Finally the rescue team was here.
« Matt, did you hear this? Help is there! You're gonna get out of there! »
As she spoke to him, the guy took the K12 that Dawson and Borelli had taken down to make a bigger hole and move the ladder and a rescue tray. Matt groaned, opening his eyes painfully and planted them in those of Dawson.
"Birds... »
Remembering what he had said shortly before about his hallucination, she remembered that the sound of the K12 was associated with birdsong.
« Yes Matt, birds came back. They are here for you. You gonna get free ».
He smiled slightly, struggling not to close his eyes. She raised hers to the group.
« We must act quickly! » she cried. « We're losing him ! »
She unconsciously knew that if he associated once again the sounds and sensations around him in a hallucination, this wasn't good at all. Patterson grabbed his radio.
« Halstead? This isPatterson. We will send you Casey in less than ten minutes. Dawson just told me to hurry, because we're losing him ».
« In this case, you don't have ten minutes Patterson. Either you go back in five minutes, or he's dead ».
It was a race against time. The last slab broken, they installed the ladder, then moved the tray down by using a rope.
« Hermann, Borelli! Wake up! I need help! »
Woke with a start, they gritted their teeth for a moment before knowing what was happening.
"The rescue team is here, and Matt goes first. You have to put him in the tray ».
No time to talk, they swooped on Dawson to help her. It was difficult because of the cries of pain that Casey launched, but once successful, Gabby strapped the monitor to his feet, hsi IV lodged between his arm and chest, then replaced the oxygen mask and blocked the bottle between his legs.
« No jokes huh? You stay alive, okay? See you at the hospital ».
« P-pro.. Mise? »
« I promise ».
She stroked her hand and signed to the others to get him up. Finally he would be free. She took his radio.
« Will? Matt had a hallucination when he had his cardiac arrest. He associated the sound of birdsong to our K12, the heat of the flames to a sandy beach and the sun, and his lack of oxygen to the sea and waves. If that happens, you will know what to do ».
« Thank you for warning me Dawson. But I doubt that's useful ».
« He's beginning to hallucinate again. So yes, it's useful. And that is why it's urgent to get him out ».
« Understood ».
Patterson, Cruz and Vlad volunteered to take Matt in the air pocket and bring him to the surface. Once done, Matt closed his eyes because of the light.
« S-sun... And ... W-warm... »
Firefighters around him knew what it meant. At the same time, it had stayed an hour down here, in the dark.
« Yes lieutenant », Cruz began. "You are finally out of this hell and you cann see the sun ».
They tied the rope to the tray and signaled the others to go back in. Casey was finally free. on the surface, and all firefighters clapped their hands, whistling, felt proud to have worked hard to get them out one by one from this hell. Brett and Chile arrived with a stretcher so that they could put the tray on it and Will could check him before sending him in Chicago Med. He put a light in his eyes, which made Matt growling and struggling painfully.
« Slow pupillary reaction. Take him immediately to Chicago Med, warn them of your arrival and call Connor to take care of him. Connor and only him ».
« Copy ».
They began to run towards their ambulance to take him away from this place and to save him.
Inside, a second tray was lowered so they could place Kelly on it. He didn't want to, but Gabby had managed to talk to him and put him in the tray. Suddenly a building structure gave away, probably badly put. And with the weight on the concrete slab just above the group, it began to collapse.
« EVERYONE OUT! GO IN THE GALLERY! » Dawson cried.
She just had time to push the tray under the structures still standing, and push Hermann and Borelli too while the others returned to the gallery. And then, nothing. It was total darkness.