Chapter 25: Getting out Alive

After the building had collapsed Carey and Barbara stood in terrified silence looking on in quiet hope for any sign. Any small movement that would guarantee Cody and Zack had made it out alive. While the flames still licked the smoldering sheet metal that had once worked to hold up the building, the fire department vigorously continued their work to extinguish it.

"I don't see them," the young girl cried through her tears.

"I don't either," Carey said through her own tears as she began to pace while working herself up into a panic. "Half the building is gone, what if…what if?"

"Don't say it," Barbara replied putting an arm around the other woman's shoulder for support. "If I know the twins, they'll find a way out."

"You're right," Carey reasoned. "With Zack's guts and Cody's brains, I have no doubt that they will find a way to survive this," she added hopefully.

"I know they will," the young girl added with conviction as Mr. Moseby walked up to them.

"Moseby you're here," Carey stated. "I'm so glad."

"I'm glad you called me after you called the police," he replied. "I just wish I'd gotten here sooner. Look at this place, what happened, is everyone alright?"

Carey broke down completely and began sobbing on the manager's shoulder as he wrapped an arm around her in comfort. Barbara took the initiative and decided to ask a few questions, letting them know she'd be right back she headed over to where the officer they'd talked to earlier stood.

"Excuse me," she politely said as she tapped the man on the arm. "I just spoke with you a minute ago, I'm one of the hostages…"

"Yes I know," he replied. "But you really shouldn't be this close to the fire zone. I need you to stay with the others..."

"But you don't understand my friends are still in there," she cried trying to keep him from forcing her back.

"I know, we're trying our best to find them. But it's still not safe for you to be this close to the explosion," he stated gently coaxing her back. "I'm going to have to insist you return to where you were."

"I'm sorry I realize that but please if you have any information?" she pleaded.

"Let me talk to the fire chief and I'll let you know what I find out," he replied.

"Thank you."

Barbara though still saddened felt a bit relieved that the officer promised to keep them informed. As she headed back toward her friends she overheard their conversation and noted the conflicted emotions in Carey's voice.

"I don't know what to do," Carey frantically cried. "I can't leave but I can't stay."

"Carey don't worry," Moseby answered confidently. "It will be awhile until we hear anything so I'll stay and keep vigil. As soon as I find out any information I'll give you a call. But you need to be with Kurt right now, they won't be able to help him unless a family member is there to give the okay."

"I'll be here too Carey," Barb assured her. "In fact I've just talked to the officer who interviewed us earlier and he is trying his best to keep us informed."

"I don't know…"

"Carey, please go, this isn't helping anyone."

"Okay," she meekly replied as she unwillingly nodded. "I'll have my phone on, please you hear anything, anything at all and I expect a call."

"Of course, and don't worry I know the boys, they'll make it out of this."

With that said Carey quietly walked away afraid that she may have just made a big mistake.

"Cody, Cody answer me," Zack shouted through coughing fits as he looked around in panic. "Where are you?"

"I'm here, I'm over here!"

The older twin immediately rushed over to where the sound was coming from, but the smoke and debris didn't make that an easy task. "Codes, keep talking I'm coming." He added as he pushed over the remains of a piece that had fallen from the ceiling.

"Zack don't, it's too dangerous over here."

When Zack finally found his brother his heart jumped in his chest. Lying on the floor surrounded by rubble and what looked to be fallen timber was Cody. But what scared the hell out of him more was the large metal stud that currently rested over his legs as it pinned him in place. Instantly adrenaline rushed through him and he ran over.

"Zack did you hear what I said," Cody asked.

"I heard you, I'm just not listening."

"Zack this place is going to collapse," Cody cried. "I just know it, get out now or you may not have a chance later."

"Okay then Cody, you need to shut up and help me so that we can both get out of here."

"Zack…"

"Don't Zack me," he shouted getting angry over the thought that Cody would choose to give up so easily. "Now I'm going to try and lift this. You'll need to try and slide your legs out from under it, understand?"

"Yes," Cody cried. "But you don't understand."

"I don't understand a lot of things, but I really don't think this is the right time to discuss that."

"Zack…?"

"Cody, we both get out…" he paused for a second realizing what he was about to say. "Or we both…die, your choice," he quietly added.

"Alright, try and lift it but be careful," Cody replied.

"Okay on three, ready?"

Suddenly there was another small explosion somewhere in the background and the boys both new they had to hurry. Zack began to count and on three he tried to lift the obstruction only to realize it was too heavy to do so. Frustrated he looked around in search of some kind of leverage he could use to raise the object long enough to free Cody's legs.

"Zack hurry I think the fire is getting closer it's on the other side of that wall."

"Alright, I found something," he shouted running over and positioning the long pole under the piece of metal. "Shit this isn't working…"

"Try sliding it in at a different angle," Cody suggested.

"Okay that worked," Zack cried relieved, then his smile faded as again they heard another small explosion and his fear that the rest of the building may collapse kicked in. "We need to make this quick, are you ready?" he asked. "On three…"

Officer Pearson stood discussing the situation with the fire chief in charge. Luckily only a portion of the building had collapsed but it was still a pretty big portion and there was no way of knowing where in the warehouse the boys were standing when the explosion occurred. The best he could surmise was that they had extinguished enough of the hot spots to try and send in a skeleton crew safely.

Unfortunately his thoughts were interrupted by the sound of a series of small explosions, effectively, putting a halt to any plans of sending in a crew, and shattering any hopes of a possible rescue. As they continued brainstorming another man dressed in a firefighter uniform walked up with a set of blueprints in hand.

"I think I know of a way to get into the far right corner of the building."

"Why the far right corner?" Officer Pearson asked.

"It's the safest way in. Not to mention the only section still standing," the chief added with a chuckle. "I'm sorry this is no laughing matter, but in my line of work you learn to laugh when you can."

They all nodded and when all the men were assembled a moment later, they discussed the next steps to take to make sure that their plan went off without a hitch, because if it didn't and they were still in the building when the rest of it collapsed, there was no doubt they would be buried alive.

The hospital was packed as she made her way through the two double doors that indicated the emergency room entrance. Looking around the sitting area she found what she was looking for and headed straight for the check in desk. When she gave her name, the nurse behind the computer gave her a look that bordered on sympathy and asked her to wait.

She didn't have to wait long when another nurse came into the room and escorted her into an office toward the back, where she was told a doctor would be with her shortly. Gazing around the room at all the degrees, pictures and knickknacks she sighed in frustration. She wanted to know where Kurt was, and more importantly she wanted to check in with Moseby.

A few minutes later she was tempted to walk out when a doctor walked through the door holding a chart. She noted that he was still wearing his scrubs and appeared to have just come from performing a surgical procedure. When he asked her to take her seat once more she instantly knew something terrible had happened.

"Mrs. Martin?" he began. "I regret to inform you…"

Little by little his statement began to fade until she could barely make out every other word. The only two words that actually stuck in the back of her mind were Kurt and dead. Instantly she thought of her two boys still trapped in the collapsed building miles away.

Suddenly it was all too much, and the events of the previous hours finally caught up to her, turning her world black.

"I can't get it off," Zack cried as he then turned toward Cody and found he had passed out. "Codes, Cody come on buddy, don't do this to me…Oh God help me, I can't lose him. Somebody please help me!"

"Zack hang on to him," came a voice from behind him. "Whatever you do don't let him go, and when I say pull on his shoulders, you do it."

Looking up at the man standing before him Zack was surprised to see his father smiling down at them. "Dad I thought you were still in the hospital?" he asked shocked. "How did you get…."

"There's no time for questions this building in about to fall in completely and we need to get you out."

"But, how did you get back in here I thought you were passed out or something?"

"Let's just say you can't keep a good man down and leave it at that," he snickered making Zack chuckle along with him. "Now let's do this."

"Be careful its heavy…" the young boy began but his words trailed off when his father seemed to lift the object up with ease. "Wow dad, been working out?"

"Something like that," he laughed. "Now follow me and stay close."

Zack picked his brother up and draped him over his shoulder as they made their way through the rabble he now called an obstacle course. He thought they would never make it out until he turned a corner and relief washed over him as he saw the sun streaming in through the opening.

As he carried Cody across the pavement and as far away from the building as he could he smiled inhaling what he could of the cool crisp air. Placing his brother down on the grassy area behind where the warehouse once stood he laid down beside him and began to drift off to sleep himself.

He could hear voices somewhere far in the distance as he looked over only to see Kurt smiling down at him. He knew he was trying to tell him something but couldn't quite make out what he was trying to say. Something about saying goodbye which confused Zack immensely, but at this point his eyes were burning so badly that he couldn't keep them open as they finally succumbed to some much needed rest.

AN: Another chapter for the presses or the website. LOL! :)

Anyway let me know what you think of Kurt's death and how he was able to get them out. Also any guesses as too what will happen next. I left a couple of clues in this chapter.

Anyway, please read and review. :)