Shaking off Ric as soon as she gets back into the building, Elena quickly sheds her gear, grabs her bag and heads for the door. Seeing how upset she is, Ric follows after her, grabbing onto her upper arm just as she reaches the front door. Taking a breath, she knows that she can't leave not now, not when her friends are in the midst of fighting a huge forest fire and even though she's loathe to admit it, him too.
Staring at Ric for a long moment, she jerks her arm away and then goes back inside. Seeing her discarded yard gloves, she puts them back on and goes back outside to start to pull weeds. Angry and confused and on the verge of tears, she struggles to comprehend how he could do what he did. Never can she remember ever feeling such a deep visceral pain. His betrayal stinging long and deep and cutting into her like a blade cutting into skin. Even though she has plenty of painful memories centered around her family, what Damon has done here hurts infinitely more. Unable to concentrate, she starts haphazardly pulling weeds and clumps of grass and slamming them to the ground below.
Watching her intently, Ric finally pushes through the door and goes to talk to her. When she picks up a large rock and launches it like a shot put, he's seen enough. Approaching her, he again reaches for her arm but in her anger, she didn't hear him and the next thing he knows, he spread out on the ground beneath her. Having taken self defense classes, Elena is no wallflower when it comes to defending herself. Rolling her eyes, she gets off of him, letting him get off the ground. Once he brushes the dirt and grass off, he gestures for her to take a seat at the picnic table.
"Look Elena, I know you're upset and confused and I understand, I really do."
"Don't play dumb, Ric. I know it's about my dad. For the first time in my life, I trusted someone enough to tell them and now he thinks I'm nuts," she snaps, dropping her head and lacing her hands through her hair.
"I knew your dad, Elena. I worked the Storm King fire that killed your father. I worked out of the Idaho smokejumper base back then, so I wasn't part of your dad's crew but everyone knew who he was. Since we're close to the Missoula group, we would get together sometimes for picnics and to shoot the breeze."
"I had no idea."
"The ones that died that day were mostly found in a close group. The fire pushed by violent winds, slammed up the hill. The blast of hot air knocked the men to the ground, seconds before the fire exploded over them. The flames were described as two to three hundred feet high. Only three of them made it to the highway. Fourteen firefighters died that day, all of them were carrying tools and packs when they stopped to deploy their shelters. Your father was found second from the bottom, clutching the last firefighter as he tried to pull her up the hill. You have a right to be very proud of the man he was, Elena."
Swallowing thickly, Elena unashamedly lets her tears fall down her eyes. She knew that he died in a fire but none of the articles she found provided much for details. "You were there?"
"I was there but by the grace of the man upstairs, I'm alive to talk about it today. But tell me, Elena, why did you choose to become a smokejumper?"
"Initially I wanted to make him proud of me but after I started, it was more about me than it was about him. I love what I do and I'm good at it and whatever it was that happened today has no basis in fact."
"I believe you. Listen, I'm going back inside to monitor the fire and to get some paperwork done. If you want, you can go home for the day."
"I'm just going to stay out here for a little while. I'll check in with you before I leave," she adds, wiping what's left of her tears. Nodding, he stands up, gives her shoulder a squeeze and walks off, disappearing into the building.
It is nearly noon by the time Damon and his crew arrive on sight. Plummeting out of the plane, their bodies jolting as the parachutes crack open, leaving them wafting down against the smoke filled sky. As they descend, their chutes mask the sun that is harsh, blind and unforgiving behind them, shadows of their descent drift on the veil of smoke that is shrouding the mountainside. As soon as they land safely in the drop point chosen by Mikael, they unpack their shovels, picks and chainsaws and head towards the fire to start working the line.
The western shoulder of the mountain is thickly forested and not easily accessible. The fire is being fanned by strengthening westerly winds. It has already consumed more than two hundred acres of prime forest land. Gazing at what's ahead of them, Damon can see that if it continues to head east or switches back, there would be little risk to them. However if the wind shifts to the south and west, they would be in grave danger.
Cutting their line, they work along a forested ridge that is running along the fire's southern flank. Keeping a good ten feet apart, they saw and hack and scrape and dig until the ground is cleared. The purpose is to destroy the brush, grass and dead wood that provide fuel for it. When the fire arrives at this point, it'll be starved of the very food source that is feeding it. By the time they are done, their bodies are soaked in sweat and their fire retardant shirts and pants are covered in ash and debris.
Collapsing onto the forest floor, Damon gratefully accepts a bottle of water from Brady. Too busy to even think about it earlier, now that he has a moment to rest, he can't get the look on her face out of his mind. She looked so completely broken for a moment and then it was revulsion that took its place. Knowing that she's furious with him at best and hating him at worst, Damon has to wonder if he made the right choice. It's like his mind is at war with his heart. He's supposed to be objective and yet he let what he feels for her overrule everything else. He already knows that he has an Everest sized mountain to scale if he's to have any hope of earning back her trust and her love. Fatigued, Damon drops his face into his hands.
"What's going on, Damon?"
With dirt, ash and grime now coloring his skin, he looks up. After taking a long pull from his water bottle, he shrugs his shoulders, having no answer for him.
"Damon, you know she's good at what she does. Why did Ric pull her off of the plane?
Getting no response, Brady continues, "You're my best friend, Damon but she's my friend too. She saved my life and if you had her pulled because you're in love with her, then maybe you need to step aside. She didn't deserve to be benched and you and I both know that."
"You know nothing," Damon snaps. Jumping to his feet he picks up his chainsaw and stalks off. Seeing the dust up, Rebekah steps in beside Brady.
"Do we need to worry about him?" she asks, kicking the dirt beneath her feet.
"Normally I would say no. Damon is the utmost professional but now...," Brady starts to say when he sees an unfamiliar smokejumper walking up to Damon. They talk for a few minutes and when Damon nods he walks away. The next thing he knows is they're marching further into the forest to continue their work, brushing his concerns aside for now.
After a sleepless night, Elena drags herself out of bed. Once she uses the bathroom, she goes into the kitchen to start a pot of coffee. Standing over the sink, she looks out of her window, a little taken aback at the hazy atmosphere which alerts her to the fact that the blaze her friends are fighting is probably a bad one. Her gut lurches painfully when she thinks about how she'd feel if he got hurt. Even though she loves him, there is no doubt in her mind that whatever they were building is over and done with. Turning on the TV on, she hopes to get some news about it. After watching a quick blurb, she gets ready and heads to their base.
Once in the building, Elena goes to her locker and changes into her running shorts, shoes and the Yellowstone tee shirt that he gave her. Walking outside, she goes straight to the track and starts to run. Clearing her mind, she runs, lap after lap, pounding the pavement with each slap of her sneakers against the asphalt track. Round the area near the back door, she sees Ric walk outside carrying a couple of sodas. Motioning her over to the picnic table, he takes a seat, popping open his can, he takes a big swallow, setting it down just as she drops onto the opposite side. Picking up the can, she opens it and takes a deep pull, licking her lips when she sets it back down.
"Did you want something?"
"I wanted to talk about Damon."
"Well I don't," she snaps back and starts to stand up.
"Elena, please?"
Rolling her eyes she sits back down and pulls her now sweaty hair into a ponytail. "If you're going to make me listen, get on with it."
Nodding, he takes another sip then raises his eyes to meet hers. "Look Elena, I've known Damon a long time. This had nothing do with doubting your abilities or distrust or anything of the sort. He's in love with you."
"If loving me makes him lose his objectivity, perhaps you should replace him?"
"He was worried that you're in this for the wrong reasons," he starts to say, raising his palm when she opens her mouth to retort. "I trust your motives and I do believe you are doing this because it's something you love, not something you feel you need to do. And believe me, you won't be grounded a second time. But try to put yourself in his shoes for a few seconds. For the first time since I've known him, I saw real and visceral fear in his eyes. He was genuinely afraid for your life. Loves does that, Elena, it changes us."
"He had no right to go over my head. Although I wouldn't have let him leave me behind, if he had only asked me, talked to me, this wouldn't have had to happen. I love him too but if we can't work together, I'll go someplace else. Will you give me a recommendation if it comes to that?" She adds, firmly, her heart thrumming wildly at the mere thought of leaving him behind.
"Elena, I don't want to lose you and it would kill Damon if you leave. But yes, if you two can't work things out and you feel that you have no other options, yes, I'll give you a glowing recommendation."
"Thank you. Have you heard from any of them?"
"No, it's an intense fire. I've been trying to talk to the forest service but haven't been able to get through. I'll let you know if I hear anything."
"If that's all, I'd like to leave early. I have some things I need to do."
"Yeah, just have your phone on you in case I need you to come back for whatever reason."
"Sure thing, Ric." After sharing another look with him, she finishes off her soda, drops it in the recycle bin, leaving him behind to contemplate what this place would be like without her in it.
After fighting the fire nonstop for another day, they are finally able to take a breather. Standing some distance from the group and weary from exertion, Damon casts his eyes along the ridge. The rumble of the fire beyond the ridge and the crackle and babble of shortwave radios is the only noise they hear, the only exception being the occasional snap of a branch or the crackle of dried pines needles when someone would step on them. Taking off his helmet, Damon drags his hand through his hair. Matted and tangled with sweat, he wipes his brow before scrubbing his palm over his face. His ash-covered face is striped black where sweat has run across his skin. Even his bright blue eyes seem wild. Dropping his pack for a moment, Damon picks up his canteen pouring some over his head before taking a drink. Cringing in pain when he bends his arm, he shrugs it off for now. Looking around he sees a large rock. With his axe in hand, he collapses onto it. Pulling a rag out, he wipes clean the head till the steel glistens. The sun is streaming through the trees and it almost looks surreal to see such beauty amid such destruction.
The water in his canteen is warm and metallic tasting. It's hot and the forests are ripe for fires from the lack of rain. But with the jumper season reaching its end, Damon wants nothing more than to get back to her. When he lets his mind drift to her amid the chaos and havoc of this mission, his heart clenches so painfully, it's almost as if it's in a vise grip. After taking one last pull from his canteen, Damon fastens the lid and puts it in his pack. Standing up, he's about to shoulder it when he hears a faint sound. Thinking it came from over the ridge, he looks around but sees nothing. Shrugging his shoulders painfully, Damon sees something above a gray spine of rock. His eyes widen when he recognizes it to be a black bear, parts of its fur are burned and charred. As he watches, the animal skitters away and onto the rocky ridge. For whatever reason an animal might have, it looks around, pausing when its eyes meet his. For a few brief seconds both stand, staring only at each other. As soon as it runs off, Damon feels a chill surge up his spine. Sitting back down, his mind is a whir at what he just witnessed. Hearing his name, he looks up, blowing out a breath when he sees Rebekah climbing up towards him.
"When are we going to head to the pick up point?"
"As soon as we're given the all clear," he says to her. Bending over the waist, he drops his face into his hands. And when he closes his eyes, her face is all he sees. Hell, he'd rather stay and fight fire than walk into the hornet's nest that awaits him as soon as they get back to their base.
"Elena would've been an asset to us, you do know that right?" Turning his head, he raises his eyes to hers. After sharing a long look with her, he drops his face again. Dirty, hurt and pushed to the brink of exhaustion, Damon doesn't say anything, he stands up, picks up his pack this time and starts to walk away. Seeing their commander begin the long trek back to the base to await further orders or go home, they fall in line behind him.
Once they're cleared to go home, they pile onto the plane. Once everyone is safely on board, Marcel takes off, flying them back to their base with the precision of the skilled pilot that he is.. Damon grimaces when he accidentally brushes his arm against the armrest. Although it's not a huge burn, it's third degree from what he could see. Not wanting anything to hinder his reunion with Elena, he hasn't said anything to anyone. He'll have Elijah look at it once he sees her face. Although he has absolutely no doubt in his mind that she's pissed and probably won't listen to anything he has to say, he can't not try. Closing his eyes, he sees her face as he always does. The last thing he hears is the roar of the plane's engine as it carries him back to her.
"Elena, can I talk to you for a moment, it's about Grayson," Ric adds after hearing from Marcel that they're on their way home. After assuring Elena that their smokejumper family are all okay, he pulls a chair out for her. Once she's seated, he hands her a bottle of water and a packet of lemonade mix to add some flavor to it.
"I didn't think of it till this morning but I was at your father's funeral, Elena. I know it's been years but I remember giving his parents my condolences. Your dad was very young when he died. They'd likely be in their sixties or seventies by now, I suppose?"
"Are you telling me that I may have living, breathing grandparents?" she gasps, her heart immediately starting to pound in her throat.
"That's what I'm telling you. The chief at the Missoula base is a good friend of mine. I can ask him if he knows their name. I believe your dad grew up in that area."
"Do you know if he had any brothers and sisters?"
"That I don't know, Elena. I only remember his parents. Nik works in Missoula too so he may know something."
"Oh my God, Ric. Do you know what this means?"
"I'll help you in any way I can, Elena," he starts to say when the sound of the plane roars overhead. Knowing that the guys are back, the two of them rush outside to welcome them back. As soon as he steps off of the plane, brown eyes meet blue. Sighing, he walks towards her, nursing his sore arm with his other hand. Noticing that he's rather pale, she feels just a pang of anxiety but pushes it aside. Not yet ready to let go of her anger, she sidesteps him to greet the rest of her co-workers, making a point to give her best buddy, Kol a hug. Linking her arm with his and as hard as it is, she walks right past Damon without looking at him again. Although she doesn't understand it, her eyes sting with wetness. Whether from hurt or anger, she isn't quite sure.
Standing there, he stares at the door ahead of him, the door she just walked through. He doesn't move till Ric waves a hand in front of him. Snapping out of it, Damon follows him inside and into the locker room. Feeling like his insides have been ripped out, Damon doesn't want to take his shirt off and let everyone see his burn. Deciding to shower when he gets home, he brushes his hair out of his eyes and grabs his things to go home. Seeing her with everyone else in the parking lot, he wants to join them but doesn't. Although his heart squeezes painfully, he doesn't want to ruin any more of her fun so he crawls into his car and goes home alone and very afraid.
Once he's home, he cleans his burn and puts a dressing on it with his first aide kit. Although he thinks he should know better, he wants to see her. Driving by their usual watering hole, he doesn't see any familiar vehicles so he sucks in a breath and drives to her house. Seeing her car in the driveway and the light on in the kitchen, he steels his spine and forces himself out of the car. Standing in front of her door, he can't quite pull the trigger and bring himself to knock. Needing to see her, he finally raises his hand and raps on the door. When she pulls it open, his breath catches in his throat. She's wearing baggy sweat pants, a tank top and is stunning beyond words, enough to take his breath away. His gut is a maelstrom of guilt and anxiety and pain. Feeling his heart throb in his thoat, he opens his mouth but nothing comes out.
"What are you doing here?" she slurs, her alcohol laden breath filling the air between them.
"Elena, I need to explain."
"I don't want you here. I don't trust you. You took my deepest, most precious secret and used it against me."
"You have every right to be angry. I'm so sorry, Elena."
"How dare you question my ability to do my job and my professionalism? I've never done anything to warrant what you did to me," she snaps, anger and resentment combine to give her voice a lethal pitch.
Flinching at the biting tone of it, he practically begs her to give him just a few minutes of her time. Feeling like his lungs are being ripped out through his throat when he looks into her eyes, he stumbles slightly and grabs onto the stair railing. Seeing what looks like sheer unadulterated hatred, he recoils, dropping down a step. Even though his arm is throbbing and his skin is hot with fever, he tries one more time. "Just give me five minutes, please, Elena, I'm begging you."
"Take your sorry ass off of my porch. You're my boss at work but here I can tell you exactly what I think. Go find some bimbo to soothe your guilt with. I'm not interested," she snaps and he could almost smile internally at her feistiness. But as surely as the sun sets in the west, he knows that if he smiles now, it would be like throwing down the gauntlet. Crossing her arms over her chest, she glares at him with such hostility that he can almost feel the tip of the dagger as she twists it in.
Knowing with absolute certainty that he's not going to get anywhere with her tonight and probably not anytime soon, he sighs painfully. Every instinct in his body is urging him to tell her that he's in love with her but he doesn't want to, not like this and not when they're miles apart. No, he'll save it for when and if she lets him in again. "I'll go. Goodnight, Elena," he says softly. Stepping back she levels him with another scathing glare before slamming the door in his face.
Cradling his arm, he turns around and walks back to his car. Needing to have his arm looked at, he starts to drive to the emergency room. Feeling the hot spin in his belly, he slams on the brakes, stopping the car. Opening the door, he drops to his knees, spilling his guts on the pavement. Dropping his head onto his forearm, he sits there till he summons enough strength to crawl back behind the wheel. Starting to drive again, his vision blurs and he loses consciousness, the car stopping only when it crashes into a tree about a block from the hospital.
Huge thank you to Eva. I love you dearly my sister.
Thank you to all of you as well. I appreciate the support more than you know.
Chapter title: 'Everything Burns' by Anastacia featuring Ben Moody.
Please remember to review.
Be safe and have a wonderful day.