A Backdraft fic
Chapter two
Phone calls and Seeing Helen
Stephen picked up the receiver on the payphone and fed the money into slot. He threw caution to the wind and dialed the number that he had once given out as his. Now it was solely Helen's. He waited for the voice he longed to hear come over the phone.
Helen awoke in a drowsy stupor to the phone ringing shrilly. Who would be calling at this hour? She thought to herself. She picked up the phone and was prepared to give the caller hell. "Hello?" She said harshly.
"Helen, it's me." Stephen said, weak from exhaustion.
"Stephen? Why the hell are you calling this late? What is so important that it couldn't wait for tomorrow?" She asked, sounding bitchier than she had originally planned. At least he wasn't drunk. She could tell by the way that his voice sounded. Broken and tired.
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have called. I just—Brian—can I just come over? There's something I need to tell you."
"Stephen what's wrong? What happened?" She asked.
"I can't tell you over the phone. Please?"
"Okay. You sure you're okay?"
"No, I'll never be okay. I'll be over there in a few minutes." He said before he hung up the phone. He walked down the hall and glanced at Nightengale and Santos. Pengelly and Schmidt had joined them and now they all had looks of pity for him on their faces. "I have to take care of a few things." He exited through the sliding doors and took the El to the station. He got into his truck and drove to his old house.
Helen opened the door before he had a chance to knock. She led him inside and looked him full on. His eyes were red-rimmed and his white station shirt was filthy with grime. He stood in the middle of the front room and looked at her.
"I—Brian—he—he's gone." He sputtered. Helen looked at him with a look of confusion.
"He skipped town again? Why?" She asked, wondering why Brian's leaving would effect him so much. Brian had always seemed like he hated Stephen.
"No, you don't understand. He—he died."
"What? How? Jesus, Stephen, what happened?" Helen said, rushing to comfort him. Tears once again sprang from his eyes and he sat down on the couch.
"There was a huge fire. I don't even know when he decided to show up." He let out small laugh and continued, "He came to warn me, to protect me."
"From what?" Helen asked.
"Axe. He did it. He was setting the fires. Brian found out and he came to protect me."
"Oh God."
"He's gone too, but I don't care, the son of a bitch. We were almost safe and the roof caved in. He saved my life. I—he was the only family I had left." He said. Helen felt so bad for him and before she knew what she was saying, she said, "You have me. And Sean." Stephen looked up at her with pitiful eyes, buried his head in her chest, and cried with forceful sobs.
"I gotta call Jen. He wanted me to tell her a few things. Can I use the phone?" He asked. Helen handed the receiver to him and he dialed the number that he had gotten from her a few months later.
"Hello?" She said.
"Jen it's me, Stephen."
"Stephen, do you have any idea what time it is?"
"Could you come to the old house?" He asked. He knew that she would know what he meant. Come to his old house.
"Why, is everything alright?"
"Just come. Please."
That was all Jennifer needed to hear. She quickly got dressed and headed over to the old house. It took her about twenty to get there because she lived on the North side and Stephen lived on the South side. She parked the car out on the street and went up to knock on the door. She waited on the stoop until Stephen answered the door.
"Jen, come in." He said quietly. Immediate memories of her and Brian came to mind. Making out in the kitchen while Stephen was as work. Helen walking in on them numerous times.
"Jen, I have some bad news." Stephen said, taking a shaky breath.
"Brian? Is he okay?" She asked weakly. She had been mad at Brian for making her take a real look at her boss and what a scumbag he really was. Now she was getting the feeling that she would never get the chance to rekindle any kind of relationship.
"He's gone, I'm sorry. Um—this is kind of hard for me to tell you. But, he was thinking of you before he went. He loved you; more than you'll ever know. He said he was sorry."
"Was he in any pain?" She asked, trying to keep herself from passing out.
"No. He was a real hero." He said. He knew that he was lying. Brian was in so much pain before he went, it hurt Stephen physically just thinking about it.
Jennifer could not handle it anymore. She sank to the floor and bawled. So many things that will never be said. All she could manage was "That's all he ever wanted, to be a hero like his dad." Stephen gathered her up in his arms and tried to console her, knowing it would be impossible
Brian's funeral was one of great honor. He rode in the back of Engine 17 because both Rimgale and Stephen had requested it. No one would ever know about Adcox. The final report came saying that the arsonist died in the last blaze that he caused.
The honor guard handed the folded American Flag to Stephen and he gave it to Jennifer. Stephen had Brian's fleeting moments of life. That's all he wanted. Except his brother back, but no honor guard could give that to him. He looked over to Jennifer and she was crying again. Her tears, mixing in with the rain that was falling now. He went over to her and once again gathered her up into his arms.
"What were you thinking about?" He asked gingerly, not wanting to hit a nerve.
"What Brian will miss. Family, growing old." She said, turning to face Stephen. "Fatherhood."
"Oh Jen." He said, knowing immediately. "When?"
"The night Tim was burned. Oh God Stephen, what am I gonna do? I can't handle it all by myself."
"Everything will be okay, you'll see. Brian would've mad a hell of a dad."
"I know." She said. Stephen led her to an awaiting limousine from in which they would travel to the dinner that they would have at Willie's, the bar in which Brian had visited just six months ago.
