It's Just a Scratch

Though Ed wanted to go down and retrieve his teammates, he deferred to the professional rescuers … men who extracted people from precarious situations every damned day. Taking orders from others, not a strong point for him, Ed accepted the belayer's role as other firemen prepped the Stokes, and two of their crew straddled the railing readying themselves to head down.

As he wedged his feet to anchor himself and waited for the command to begin lowering the rescue man, Ed's mind wandered to the bizarre call that ended with two of his team's lives hanging by a thin wire. Nothing about the hot call had been normal—not that normal was a word they often applied to emotionally charged situations—but in this case, it was just not … well, normal.

They arrived on site, a high-rise building where the top three floors were recently bought by a couple and were undergoing a massive renovation—to the point all three levels had been thoroughly gutted except for the support columns and required stairwell. They learned from the security guard it appeared to be a domestic dispute. The guard, a recent immigrant who didn't speak English well, believed one was armed and the woman threatened to hurt the man … to make him pay.

Given the unknown, he sent Sam and Spike to the forty-first floor while he and Wordy exited on the thirty-ninth. They planned to converge on the fortieth floor if either pair didn't locate the couple on the other two levels. Wordy and he had no luck on their floor, and instead of using the elevator, found a new staircase leading up to the next story, so ran up the steps.

It, too, was empty, but that's when they overheard shouting above them. They raced up another set of stairs in time to witness the naked female shove Spike into a fenced-off area … where he landed on a pallet of barbed wire. Sam had his hands full with the likewise fully-nude man wearing a studded collar with a chain attached to the pole. The kinky couple loudly berated his SRU officers for interrupting their sexual fantasy.

Then everything sped up and slowed down at the same time … and seemed like some oddball comedy of errors. Spike, caught in the barbed wire and trying to extract himself, stood but ended up tripping and becoming more entwined. Seeing his partner's distress, Sam tried to help Spike, but the woman accosted him … hitting Sam upside the head with an extra-long, thick dildo.

He and Wordy were too far to do anything but watch with horror as Spike's efforts to free himself took him precariously close to the edge. Unfortunately, the only barrier between solid concrete and the scaffolding on the building's exterior was several strands of concertina wire—worksite safety violations abounded. As Spike toppled backward, Ed's throat closed off, choked up he wouldn't be able to reach the techie in time to save him … but then there was a flash of blond hair as Sam yelled, "I got you!" and grabbed the trailing wire.

Spike's weight and downward momentum pulled Sam onto the scaffolding, then off, and then they were both falling. By sheer dumb luck or divine intervention, Sam's leg hooked onto one of the poles in the framework one floor down. Ed raced to the edge in time to watch Sam's selfless act as he moved his arms, wrapping the razor wire around his forearms to secure his tenuous hold on Spike.

That's when Ed called out to Greg, telling him they needed rescue services. He sent Wordy to grab their ropes and gear while he spent precious minutes corralling the couple who had come up here to engage in some queer sexual shit … no real domestic issue. He still cuffed them since they assaulted constables who were doing their duty, and at that moment, Ed didn't know if Spike and Sam would survive. But as he did so, the wife smiled and asked him to make the cuffs tighter because it turned her on.

The firemen's, "I'm going down," brought Ed back to the present and he maintained a solid grip as the man went over the side. It felt like ages and Ed only caught snippets of conversation below, but enough to learn Spike remained unconscious. Soon the Stokes with Spike was pulled over the railing and set on a waiting gurney. The paramedics secured the metal cage and then whisked their patient away towards the elevator before Ed even got a glimpse of him—but at least he was alive.

Another basket containing a spine board and cervical collar was lowered, and a short while later a sickening howl rent the air. Ed knew the voice well, and the pain must be excruciating for stoic Sam to make any noise. Thankfully, Spike had the small mercy of being oblivious to the wire cutting into his skin as they put him in the basket. Unfortunately, from the sounds below, Sam remained conscious and wasn't granted the same reprieve.

Several gut-wrenching yowls later, Ed received the signal to start pulling up the fireman on the end of the rope he held. Both rescuers' helmeted heads appeared at the balcony's base with Sam strapped to the litter between them. After they brought the three onto the terrace, Wordy climbed up and Ed breathed a sigh of relief … everyone was now on solid footing.

The Fire Captain's radio communicated the second set of paramedics had been delayed by traffic and only just arrived below. Ed knelt to grab one of the metal basket's four corners, Wordy another, and two firefighters who also acted as belayers, seized the other ones. Without a single word spoken, they lifted in unison to take the critical patient to the medics instead of waiting for them.

Once in the elevator, Ed glanced at Sam. He noted the open, yet unfocused blue orbs. Ed realized Sam must've retreated in his mind to deal with the unbearable pain. His gaze moved down to Sam's arms, noting the amount of blood … and the damned razor wire still wrapped around and embedded in them. Though he wished to cut away every last piece, he understood why the rescuers didn't remove it … Sam would bleed profusely from a bazillion holes.

The ding and slight jolt to a stop alerted Ed they reached the ground floor. When the doors opened, the paramedics stood ready, and behind them was a worried Greg. Ed briefly wondered where Jules was … then realized Greg would've sent her with Spike.

Stepping out, Ed settled Sam onto the gurney, but his hand didn't want to let go. His worried gunmetal eyes locked on Sam's pain-dazed blue ones. Grateful for but also a little upset by Sam's sacrifice, he wanted to say so many things, but sentimentality was not his style, nor Sam's. Instead, he chose humor, something the former JTF2 soldier might appreciate. "Samo, it's just a scratch … but you're still going to the hospital to get checked out whether you want to or not."

Ed could've sworn Sam smirked at him, but it was more likely wishful thinking. A moment later he was being pushed aside as the medic said, "We've got him from here."

Wordy's hand landed on his shoulder in the next moment, and his best friend said, "Do you want me to go with him or are you going?"

Drawing a deep breath, Ed peered at Wordy, recognizing the intense concern filling the big guy's expression. Wordy and Sam connected early and tight, so he said, "You go … we'll follow as soon as we can."

Wordy didn't need another prompt, he bolted out of the building and hopped into the ambulance.

Squeezing the nape of his neck, Ed shifted his gaze to Greg, and the anger he'd been pushing down bubbled to the surface. "I want that damned couple to be indicted with every blasted charge that remotely applies. We almost lost both Sam and Spike today because of their BMDS … or whatever letters are used for that kinky sex shit. And the construction company needs to be held accountable too. Who the hell uses razor wire and barbed wire for a safety barrier?"

His voice calm, Greg said, "Eddie, they're alive … they're going to be okay."

Slamming his palm on the wall beside him, Ed shook his head as the memory of Sam's screams played on a loop in his mind. He didn't know if he would ever get the horrific sounds to fade. Post-incident exhaustion cloaked Ed and he leaned against the wood-paneled stanchion for support.

Noting Ed's adrenaline crash, Greg said, "Let's go. Inspector Stainton is now in charge of the incident, and he said he'd have one of his guys gather our gear and return it to the barn." He took hold of Ed's arm and turned him towards the door.

As they exited, Greg nodded to the inspector, appreciative of Stainton's offer given the situation. He then spied the now blanket draped subjects being put in patrol cars and agreed with Ed's desire they be held accountable for their irresponsible actions which resulted in significant harm to others. That included not only Spike and Sam but the rest of the team too. Jules almost passed out, when Sam shrieked, which is one reason he sent her in the ambulance with Spike.

Ed and Wordy were also both clearly shaken to the core. They experienced the events close up, but even though he was forty stories below, Greg still heard Sam's suffering through his headset. It turned Greg's stomach because their stoic former soldier by and large never made a sound when injured—but if he did, it was usually only a soft moan or groan … nothing ever like the tortured howls Sam emitted today.

Maneuvering Ed to the passenger side, Greg opened the door and waited until Ed got in before shutting it and going to the driver's side. As he drove, Greg worked on putting his feelings in the background because his team needed him to be strong for them at this moment. Spike's and Sam's injuries could be life and career-altering, which meant the team would need to change too.

If either or both men didn't make it back, it would be as devastating to Team One as Lou's death. Well, not quite that far, Sam and Spike were still alive, but their team, their family might never be the same after today. Greg sighed. No matter what happens now, we will remain a family.