Emily POV
I groaned and opened my eyes. I was sure I hadn't passed out yet. I looked up at the ceiling, or well the floor that I was just standing on. I saw a very large splinter of wood dangling by a thread. I rolled over as fast as I could the moment it started to come down. My whole body groaned in pain at the movement, but it was either that or go home with wood in my abdomen.
I started coughing as my throat started to close up. Ever since my last foster home my throat would close up at the most inopportune moments. I looked around the room without trying to move. The fire was in the far corner of the room, but I knew at any moment it would start crawling towards me.
Jamie POV
I reached my dad's faster than I ever have before. I threw the car in park, and was out the door even before I had the lights off. Thankfully I had brought the right set of keys with me so I could unlock the front door. It was maybe five a.m; If I was lucky, my dad would be up.
I went straight to the kitchen, and I was right; dad was up. Pops was too. They both looked at me, "What's wrong son?"
I looked in between them, "Where's Julia?"
"In Nikki's room." I started to head up but Pops stopped me again, "What's wrong Jamie?"
"Emily's hurt. They're bringing her to the hospital. They don't know how bad." They both paled. I ran up the stairs to Nikki's room. I opened the door and tried not to disturb Nikki. I knelt next to Julia and shook her awake. She rolled over, and her eyes grew wide.
"How bad?"
"I don't know. I'm sure she's fine. Nick called me right before they pulled her out of the building."
She shot up and grabbed her clothes, "If she's not walking it's bad."
I looked at her. She was immediately prepared for this while I was panicking. "We can get your stuff later, let's go."
We ran down the stairs. We stopped and looked at Dad and Pops. Pops was really pale, and I couldn't figure out why. Dad just looked anxious, but I could understand that considering he's known Emily since she was little. I shook my head. I didn't have time to figure this out now. I need to get Jewls to the hospital now.
Dad seemed to sense that I didn't know what to say, "Go. Call me later and I can drop Julia's things off wherever she would like."
I nodded and we rushed out the door. I wish I had my sirens on our way because traffic was just starting.
Emily POV
I groaned in pain again. I had shitty luck lately. For some reason I still had my helmet on, yet my oxygen tank was nowhere to be found. I could barely hear my radio, but what I did hear was complete panic.
"Nate."
"Probie what the hell happened, get back up on that ladder and find her."
"Probie do not listen to him. That whole floor is compromised now."
"Emily is that you?"
Seriously how stupid were these guys, "No, it's my ghost. Yes it's me Nate. Who else would it be?" I didn't wait for him to answer, "That floor is officially off limits. It's pieces are still dropping onto the floor I'm on. You need to come to the seventh floor and help me out."
"Where are you hurt?"
I started coughing more. This talking was not good for my throat, "My throat's closing up."
"Shit. Angela and Probie get your ass up there now."
"No. Probie's still outside. Angie and Jack can come up." I started coughing more. I rolled over a little more so that if I coughed up any blood it would not get caught in my throat.
I waited for a few minutes and then I heard people coming into the room. I sat up a little and saw that it was Angie. "Over here." My voice was incredibly hoarse by now. Angie leaned down and helped me up. Her and Nate put my arms around their shoulders and lifted me up. I groaned again, "Careful."
She put her oxygen mask over my face but I shook it away as I kept coughing. They helped me stand up straighter as we walked, hoping I could get more air to my lungs. "Just take it slow Boss, you're doing fine."
"Oh shut up Jack. I know damn well that if we don't get out of this building now, we're screwed."
Angie laughed, "Can you speed up at all? We kind of do need to rush."
I started walking a little faster and we finally reached the stairs. I took a deep breath, "No matter what, keep going got it? If you need to, lift me up to get us down faster." The more stairs we took the faster we got. By the third floor I could almost walk on my own.
We were on the last flight of stairs and I could barely breathe. I started coughing again and they stopped. I couldn't move I was coughing so bad. Angie and Jack hoisted me up further, and rushed me down the stairs. The moment we got outside I leaned on the step railings. My coughing stopped a little with the fresh air, so I leaned over to catch my breath.
I hissed in pain and clutched my side. Nate rushed over, "Are you okay?" He helped me take my jacket off and swore when it was all the way off. He yelled for the paramedics to get over here.
I moved my arm from my side and looked down. I stood up and swore when I felt blood run down my side. The paramedics put an oxygen mask to my face and helped me to the ambulance. I laid down on the bed as Nate jumped in. I gave him a questioning look, normally one of us had to stay at the scene to be in charge.
"Don't question it. You and I both know it's been awhile since you've actually drawn blood at a fire. Plus your throat hasn't swelled up in years, so why now? I'm coming with."
I nodded and looked back to the paramedic, "No pain meds. I'm allergic." That was only partially true, but either way I would refuse medical attention if they tried to drug me.
