The Fires That Burn.
By: Kimberly Thomas.
"I wonder if I'll fit in." Julie thinks as she stands outside the 55 firehouse. She Takes a deep breath as she walks in. A wonderful site meets her eyes. The legandary Jimmy Doherty. She holds her breath as he walks towards her. "Hey, I'm jimmy. Need some help?" he ask. "I'm julie, todays my first day." She tells him.
"Ah! The new rookie." Jimmy says. "You're locker is right over here." He tells her. "thanks Jimmy" she says flashing him a smile. She quickly stuffs her bag into the locker as the fire bell rings. "great"she says as she jumps onto the truck behind jimmy. They arrive on the scene five minutes ,ater to see smoke billowing from the appartment building. "walsh, Dk, Take the first floor." Jimmy yells. "Julie, You Follow me." they head towards the top floor. As they reach the landing a man emerges from one of the appartments with a gun pointed at Jimmys chest. He has an insane grin on his face. "remember me jimmy?" "Put the gun down! We can get you out of here!" Jimmy says. "No, You ruined my life and job! Always have to be the "hero" yet where were you when I needed you? IT ENDS HERE! Say goodbye Jimmy. he sneers as he pulls the trigger. Julie gasp as everything plays our before her. Suddenly she jumps in front of Jimmy, Taking the bullet in his place. She falls to the ground. Jimmy looks down at her with shock then back at the place where the man was standing... he was gone. He scoops Julie up and runs down the stairs. "Come on, Stay with me Julie! Stay Awake" He comes bursting out of the door and hurries over to Doc and Carlos. "what happened in there Jimmy?' carlos ask. "there was a man in there! he said I took his life and job. He acted as if I knew him"
"did you?" carlos ask. "I dont know". "Ok Carlos! Lets go" Doc says. Carlos jumps in the cab as doc closes the back. They speed towards mercy leaving Jimmy behind watching them go. "Julie? Come on stay with me!" Doc says. "carlos step on it, she's fading" They arrive at mercy and the ER doctors are already waiting. they offload her and doc rattles off her vitals as they wheel her in. "Gunshot wound to the left flak." He says. "she lost alot of blood out there, 2 bags of saline on board."

*********
Back at the station....

"why? Why her?" Jimmy wonders "why did she take that bullet for me? Why is that man trying to kill me...?"
He was jolted back to reality when sam spoke. "Hows the rookie?" "I dont know, I am heading down there now" he says as he stands and begins to make his way to his car. as he pulls out he flips on the radio... what was playing made him think about his so called "heros life".........
I can't stand to fly
I'm not that naive
I'm just out to find
The better part of me
I'm more than a bird; I'm more than a plane
More than some pretty face beside a train
It's not easy to be me

Wish that I could cry
Fall upon my knees
find a way to lie
about a home I'll never see

It may sound absurd
But dont be naive
Even heros have the right to bleed
I may be disturbed but wont you concede
Even heros have the right to bleed
Its not easy to be me.

Up up and away, Away from me.
Its all right you can all sleep sound tonight.
I'm not crazy or anything.
I can't stand to fly
I'm not that naive
men wernt ment to ride
with clouds between their knees

I'm only a man
In a silly red sheet
Digging for kryptonite on this one way street
Only a man in a funny red sheet
Looking for special things inside of me.

It's not easy to be me.

They song ends as he pulls into the parking lot. He sits in his car for a moment before going in. Dreading what he might find beyond thoes doors. After a moment he gets out of his car and heads towards the entrance.

End Chapter One.