A/N: Nice long chapter for ya! I got past what little writer's block I was having, and I have a better sense of where I want this to go now...so keep reading and reviewing!
Bramblerose4, you reviewed literally the minute I was about to update XD Of course I'm writing it for you, lol, if no one liked the story I would've stopped writing a long time ago :D Ahhh I'm so flattered that you're writing stories from my AU, I love you^^ I can try to PM you with a description since the boys haven't reached Galstir yet, 'kay?
Okay guys, that's it, here ya go!
~LoverBoyWonder
**EDIT: ADDED PAGEBREAKS**
"Hank! Hank!" Charles ran through the smoke, coughing, and started yelling into the wall comm. "There's a fire in the outside hallway; where are you?"
"I'm up in the ceiling," Hank answered, voice calm, "Hold on."
"Erik's here!" Charles' eyes were locked on the fallen man as he spoke, "and I think he's hurt."
"Okay, I'll be there as fast as I can. There should be a fire extinguisher on the wall under the comm."
"Got it," Charles said, opening the small compartment in the wall and pulling out the red device, which was covered with warnings and symbols in multiple languages.
"Okay," Hank's voice guided Charles. "Pull up the orange handle.
"Done," Charles said, voice shaking. The thick smoke was taking over the hallway.
"You'll have to get to the fire," Hank said, "but push the yellow button on the extinguisher-" Charles found it with his fingers "-and it should put the fire out."
"Okay," Charles said, ready for action, and put the comm down. He took a deep breath, eyeing the dark hallway and Erik's body on the floor. He hesitated for only a fraction of a second-
He dashed into the black smoke, hearing fire crackling in front of him, all around him-
He sprayed the extinguisher again, and again, wherever the small orange and yellow flames licked at his feet, grabbed at his clothes-
And he was coughing and running back, back to Erik- Erik's body- had to get out of the smoke, he couldn't breathe-
And he was out and Hank was there, Hank caught him, but Erik was still on the floor-
"Got you," Hank grunted as Charles collapsed on top of him. "Alex, grab Erik! We have to get them into the sickbay!" Alex, who had come along at Hank's instruction and was standing behind the engineer, nodded and did as he was told. They carried the two bodies into the infirmary and bandaged Charles' burns, which showed through his singed and tattered clothes, but they had no idea what to do with Erik and they didn't want to risk what their military commander had once called 'complications'. Hank stayed with the two unconscious men as Alex ran to the cockpit.
"Sean!" he yelled, "Land now! Charles and Erik are hurt; we need to get medical help now!"
Sean, sensing the urgency of the situation, began flicking dials and pulling levers. "There's a planet close to here- prepare for landing in fifteen minutes."
Alex nodded. "Need a copilot?" Sean gave the affirmative, and Alex took Erik's usual seat, saying "Just tell me what to do." He buckled himself in and pressed the comm button to call down to Hank, "We're landing in fifteen; I'm staying up here to help Sean in the cockpit."
"Fine," replied a worried Hank from sickbay, "I'll make sure nothing else happens to these two. Just hurry."
Charles opened his eyes and tried to sit up. His body protested painfully, and suddenly Hank was over him, saying "Don't try to get up, you'll be okay."
Charles' throat was dry, but he managed to croak out "What…happened?"
Hank touched his arm gently. "You ran into the hallway," he said, "you put out the fire but you got a bit burned. Sean is landing now, so we can get you some medical help."
Charles struggled to speak. "And…Erik…"
Hank sighed. "He's here," he told Charles. "We're getting him help also."
Charles eyelids were heavy and the room was spinning. He breathed out gently and closed his eyes, slipping again into blissful, cool darkness.
Charles woke to murmurs around him in a softly lit room and he blinked, confused.
"He's waking up," someone said. A young woman, skin as blue as an Earth sky, appeared in his line of vision, saying "Shhh" as she held up a bag of liquid and switched out his IV drip.
Charles tried to protest- to ask where he was- but his body was tired and he once again surrendered to sleep.