Ty's eyes snapped open and grew wide as he tried to comprehend his surroundings. He felt a tube in his throat as he frantically attempted to remember how he got into that position. He had no idea how much time had passed.
'I remember Bosco and I went in to get Alex, Faith and Kim, then nothing after that. There was an explosion, oh God, Alex was there. I hope she's ok.' He thought. Forgetful of the tube in his mouth and down his throat, he tried to call out to anyone who could tell him how everyone else in the fire had fared. This only resulted in a fit of coughing and a familiar face rushed in from the hallway. She placed a cool hand on his burning forehead and gently told him to calm down.
"Don't try to talk Ty." Alex said, noticing the relief on his face at the sight of her, despite the rings around her eyes, wrinkled clothing and messy hair. She mimicked it with relief of her own that he'd woken up.
"They put a tube down your throat to help you breathe, I'm going to get a nurse to take it out and I'll be right back." She left the room and practically skipped down the hall trying to find a nurse. Alex returned, nurse in tow and watched with a cringe as the tube was removed. Ty continued to dryly cough and Alex handed him a cup of cool water.
"Give it a few minutes before you try to talk, your throat must be pretty sore." Alex advised him as the nurse left. He nodded his response and accepted the water.
"Everyone got out ok." She informed him, realizing that question would be first and foremost in his mind. "Bos just had a bit of smoke inhalation and some minor burns. Faith has a pretty wicked concussion. Kim is ok too, she is going be really sore for the next few days like the rest of us, but all in all we were lucky. You were the worst off." She sighed. He looked at her, his eyes still showing the confusion he felt about his condition.
"I feel fine." He croaked. "What's wrong with me?"
"You would feel fine, you're all doped up on morphine!" she laughed. "The doctors thought you might have had some internal bleeding, but it seems you are pretty tough. We just had to sit around biting our nails for two days until you woke up! You did breath in a lot of smoke though and were having some trouble breathing, hence the tube." Alex explained.
"You?" Ty pressed, still hoarse but ignoring Alex's advice to let his throat heal.
"I'm fine. I got some smoke in my lungs and a couple burns on my legs, but that kinda goes with the territory don't you think?" she answered. Ty looked miffed, but let it pass, knowing that before anything, Alex was a firefighter.
'Bosco is probably the only one who could have carried me out.' Ty thought, it having occurred to him that he didn't get out on his own. 'The firemen wouldn't have been there in time. I'll have to thank him when I see him.'
*******************************
In another room, Faith was gathering her belongings and preparing to leave.
"You don't have to baby-sit me Bos, its ok for you to go home. Just like it was ok yesterday." She informed her partner. When he looked offended she added,
"Not that I don't appreciate it, because I do. It's just that I figured you would have other stuff to do and I don't want to keep you from work or anything."
"I took a couple sick days." Bosco replied. "I wanted to make sure you were ok, that's all." Faith cracked a smile; Bosco hadn't left her side for more than five minutes during her two-day hospital stay.
"That's sweet Bos, so out of character, especially since that guy is still at large." Faith joked. Her smile faded when Bosco didn't look amused.
"What?" she questioned.
"You really scared me Faith. I almost lost my partner and best friend, so cut it out with the jokes." Bosco replied angrily.
"Bosco, I am fine, mostly thanks to you. You were there for me when I needed you, and I have every confidence that you will be if I need you again. So please, as refreshing as this new, sensitive Bosco is, I liked the old Bosco, he's the one who saved my ass and he's the one who will catch this bastard." Faith scolded her partner. Bosco pondered her words carefully for a moment then said,
"Wow Faith, that hospital gown looks super on you!"
"Yeah, well you obviously need to pump a bit more iron my friend, can't even lift a waif like me." Faith countered, smiling as she pulled on a pair of jeans.
"Are you calling me weak Yokas? I'll take you right here!" Bosco challenged, putting his arm on the bed in an arm-wrestling stance.
"Beating a concussed woman who has spent 2 days lying in the hospital hardly proves your strength Bos." Faith escaped the contest, now fully changed and ready to leave. "Not that you would win." She quipped.
"Fine, I'll have to prove it another way." He said cryptically. Faith looked confused and let out a squeal when Bosco picked her up over his shoulder in a fireman's carry and marched out of the room, her stuff in his free hand.
"Bos! Put me down." Faith laughed as the nurses on the floor turned to stare.
"Ph! Not strong enough to carry her." Bosco made a disbelieving face at one of the nurses, as if he had no idea where Faith could have gotten the idea for such a comment. The nurse giggled and blushed.
*******************************
Kim and Jimmy lay curled up on the couch in their apartment.
"You know Kim, it's been two days and we haven't talked about it yet." Jimmy carefully ventured.
"I know." She sighed, "I just wish I was more of a help to everyone and less of a burden. I wasn't exactly cool in a crisis."
"You were babbling a bit, but you hit your head." Jimmy defended his fiancé.
"I know, but even before that all I could think about was you and Joey and I thought I would never see you again." She began to cry silently. Jimmy brushed a tear from her face.
"Kim, thinking of your son at a time like that is normal. And we're all together now. You were even talking about being late to pick up Joey." Jimmy counseled.
"You're right, I did sound like a big idiot after the explosion didn't I?" she asked, a smile creeping onto her face.
"Dear God yes!" Jimmy laughed. "No one could make out what you were saying!"
"Bosco said I was wandering toward your voice through the burning apartment too. Pretty crazy huh?"
"Not that crazy, I do have that effect on women." Jimmy joked.
"It's true!" Kim laughed as Jimmy leaned toward her, placing a soft kiss on her mouth. Kim groaned in spite of herself.
"What?" Jimmy asked, feigning offense.
"Sorry, I guess I'm still feeling pretty sore." Kim responded. Jimmy wiggled his fingers in the air.
"I have the perfect medicine. Turn around." Kim turned her back towards Jimmy and he began to work slowly, massaging her shoulder. Kim seemed to melt into his touch.
"You're worth your weight in gold." She moaned softly.
"You know what else is good for sore muscles." Jimmy began,
"What?" Kim asked
"Hot water." Jimmy replied.
"You know, I think you're right. Care to join me?" she asked as she got up from the couch and headed for the shower.
"I thought you'd never ask." Jimmy said as Kim grasped his hand and led him behind her.