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Firehouse 51...
Marcus was still getting used to the fire station at Firehouse 51. Being part of one of the largest firehouses in Chicago was something that was taking over his body in a way that was more than unexpected. Sighing in the barracks, his bag was more than ready to deal with the pressure of a service in which he would have to put his life at risk every day. Emotion and danger were part of his body, even if he didn't tell anyone about it. In front of him, the captain's and lieutenant's quarters. He gives a slight smile, trying to hide how he feels about his new job. Then Marcus starts to stretch a little and goes into the kitchen, coming face to face with the rest of the Battalion. Stella, Severide, Casey, Herrmann, Mouch, Otis, Brett and Emily, the paramedics, had finally returned. A half surprised applause was heard for Marcus.
(Marcus) - Will someone tell me why there is applause? - He spoke, trying to understand why all this was happening.
(Casey) - It's just that it's Firehouse rules. Every cadet must be prepared and ready to do what's necessary for this family. I guess he hasn't been introduced to our paramedics yet. - Sylvie and Emily walk up to him, introducing themselves, and extending their hands to Marcus. - This is Sylvie Brett and Emily Foster. Our main paramedics, and most of all, our friends and part of this very special family.
(Marcus) - It is such a pleasure to meet you. I've heard so much about the Firehouse, but never imagined I would be part of it. - Marcus shakes hands with both of them, who are somewhat flattered to see that he was praising everyone in it.
(Sylvie) - You get used to it over time. We are not like other battalions. We act as we can to save people. Any decision in a fraction of a second can be important in deciding what happens in each call.
(Marcus) - There were times when I wondered if I could do what it took to save people. - Sighing, he looks at Casey and Severide, who have a little smile on their faces. - May I ask why you are looking at me like that?
(Casey) - We kind of have a rule here in the Firehouse. The Cadet must be the first to cook here in the kitchen. That's the main rule. We had a cadet who loved to do that. You would have loved to meet Mills.
(Marcus) - Thank me because I know how to make some dishes that I think will surprise you. - Marcus goes towards the sink and the table, about to prepare himself, and surprise the other members of Battalion 51.
-Truck 81, Ambulance 61, Squad 3, Engine 51, residential fire, at 467 Racine Street.
(Severide) - Looks like lunch will have to wait. - Everyone starts to prepare for the call, while Marcus changes clothes, putting on his fireman's outfit, looking at Truck 81. He could hardly imagine that he would be getting into it for the first time.
(Casey) - Are you sure you are ready for the first call?
(Marcus) - Absolutely. - Marcus nods and gets in the truck, along with Captain Casey, and at that, they set off for Racine Street, about to head toward the fire again.
Racine Street...
A two-story house was engulfed by a fire that took over the second floor in a completely unusual way, and at the same time, left the inhabitants with immense fear. A woman was trapped on the second floor, which was taken over by smoke and flames, little by little. The trucks from Firehouse 51 approached, along with Commander Boden, who slowly began to look around, increasingly taking over everything in the house.
(Herrmann) - The first baptism of fire one never forgets. And when it happens, nothing is the same anymore.
(Marcus) - These risks are the price we pay to save people. Today is not going to be any different.
(Boden) - All right. Squad 3, make a primary search inside the house. Truck 81, provide cover for the Squad. Try to contain the flames as long as possible.
(Casey) - You got it, Commander.
(Boden) - You should only enter at this point if things are very serious.
Marcus knew that this was a baptism of fire that he would never forget. But it was something that worried him inside. Severide began to enter together with Capp and Cruz, and slowly, they began to enter the place, in a completely worrying way.
(Severide) - Fire Department! Do you read me?
Suddenly, Severide sees a girl running up the stairs, with short, half-black hair, worried. Appearing to be about 13 or 14 years old, she is grabbed by the somewhat worried fireman.
(Severide) - What is your name?
-Anna. - The girl's name reminded Severide of the woman he had once loved, and lost to cancer. The pain simply returned every time the leader of Squad 3 remembered her.
(Severide) - All right, Anna, is anyone from your family with you here?
(Anna) - My mother. She told me to go downstairs, and find help. But I'm really afraid that something might have gone wrong.
(Severide) - We're going after her. What is her name?
(Anna) - Carol. I'm really scared.
(Severide) - Look, Anna, outside there are some doctors who will take care of you while we get your mother. I need you to be brave now, okay?
Anna just nodded and went outside, where Sylvie and Emily were in position to take care of the girl. Marcus continued to look at what was happening, feeling a tightness in his chest, trying to understand what to do to solve this problem they had in hand. Severide continued to climb, while slowly, the other victims, men, women and children descended, in a completely worrying manner. Out of nowhere, a pipe bursts, and flames start coming out, somewhat surprisingly.
(Severide) - Commander, we need reinforcements! A pipe has broken and is blocking our passage! Is anyone available?
(Casey) - The Engine truck is trying to mitigate the fire on the second floor, and we are trying to provide cover from here on the outside.
(Boden) - Casey, you and Marcus go inside to help Squad 3. Herrmann, take the hose from the Firetruck inside the building to help with the piping. - Obeying his command, Casey looks at Marcus, who is more nervous than ever.
(Casey) - Are you ready, Marcus?
(Marcus) - The first baptism of fire one never forgets. But I am ready. - Putting on his helmet and oxygen mask, Marcus enters the house, together with Casey, with fear in his body. And with that, the two enter the residence, and both see the smoke and flames taking over the place. Marcus felt a tightening in his heart. Time stopped, but at the same time, he stood up to continue the Commander's plan. Herrmann began to enter along with the hose, and parallel to this, Severide decided to crouch, so that he could reach the victim on the second floor.
(Cross) - What are you doing?
(Severide) - We can't just stand here. - The leader of Squad 3 began to climb the stairs, while in the midst of all that was happening, Otis began to position the ladder in case of emergency.
The members of Squad 3, Truck 81 and Engine 51, began to explore the house, and in the midst of all this, Herrmann found the pipe that had ruptured and begins to throw water on it, trying to dampen the flames so that the other members of the Squad could reach the top. Casey and Marcus continue to evacuate the people inside the residence, and at the same time, the smoke started to turn black in an almost unexpected way.
(Marcus) - Is this normal for you?
(Casey) - It happens all day long with us. - The two of them start heading towards Squad 3, until suddenly, Casey puts his hand out in front, kind of surprisingly. They stop in front of Cruz and Capp, and at that, he puts his hand on the radio. - Commander, we're on the other members of Squad 3, but no sign of Severide. He must be on the second floor, searching for the victims.
(Boden) - Roger that. Otis, keep the ladder in position from the window.
(Otis) - Already in place, Chief.
Herrmann throws the water into the pipe again, managing to contain the flames. Casey starts walking toward the second floor, along with Cruz and Marcus, until out of nowhere, the Captain stops somewhat surprisingly.
(Casey) - We can't go on.
(Marcus) - Why not?
(Casey) - The floor is unstable. If we step on it now, the floor will give way and we will fall.
(Marcus) - So we have no way to help Severide?
(Casey) - I guess not. All we can do at the moment is try to evacuate the other people who are in here.
A little reluctantly, the group starts to descend the ladder, until out of nowhere, Marcus hears a voice inside the basement, making him a little worried. He then stops, surprising the other firemen who were in the place.
(Marcus) - I heard a voice coming from the basement. We need to save whoever is down there.
(Casey) - I'm coming with you. You'll need help.
The two members of Truck 81 start to go down into the basement, seeing a man with his arm stuck in the wood that formed part of the structure of the house.
-Help! I can't move!
(Casey) - The arm is stuck.
(Marcus) - Is there any way to get him out of there?
(Casey) - Let's see. - Casey starts to lift some of the wood, without success. Marcus tries to force himself to lift it, but he doesn't succeed either. - What is your name?
-Emilio. I was down here checking some belongings that were down here, when out of nowhere, the only thing I heard seemed to be an explosion.
(Casey) - Emilio. I'm Casey and this is Cadet Marcus. We're going to get you out of here. Commander, we have a victim trapped with his arm crushed by some parts of the house! We tried to lift it, but we couldn't!
(Boden) - Do whatever is necessary to be able to save the victims who are inside this building. We will try to deal with the fire outside as long as possible.
(Marcus) - We need an axe! - Marcus takes the axe that was in his hand, which he had put aside to cut the wood. Casey begins to prepare himself, about to give his all in order to free Emilio.
(Casey) - Don't hesitate.
The two begin to throw their axes into the wood, trying to break the support that was attached to Emilio's arm, but little by little, the thought of uncertainty grew, and at the same time, to make matters worse, the flames began to turn a little black, making it very clear that things were getting worse.
Parallel to this, Severide finally arrives on the second floor, completely nervous about his increasingly worrying body.
(Severide) - Fire Department! Call out!
-Help! - A woman screamed on the second floor again, and slowly, Severide burst through the door, coming face to face with her.
(Severide) - Are you okay?
-My daughter! Where is my daughter?
(Severide) - Are you Carol? Anna is fine! She is already outside the house!
(Carol) - Take me to her, please! I want to see Anna!
Severide starts to walk towards the door, until out of nowhere, when Severide steps on the board, a part of it gives way, falling and breaking off.
(Severide) - Damn! Commander, we have a problem!
Outside, Otis positions the ladder back on the second floor, becoming completely concerned about what was happening.
(Boden) - What is it, Severide?
(Severide) - The floor on the second floor is unstable on the stairs. There's no way I can go back from where I came from!
(Boden) - Severide, whatever happens, don't make any risky moves! Squad 3, fall back and head back outside! Otis, position the ladder at the window where Severide is! Casey, Marcus, how's the rescue attempt coming?
(Casey) - We're almost there, Commander!
The two of them were about to cut the wood until they managed to save Emilio's arm. Little by little, the thought of fear took over their bodies.
-Do you think you can save him, Marcus? - The cadet looked to the side, seeing the figure of what appeared to be a little girl in front of him. Casey looked to the side, and saw that there was nothing there.
(Casey) - Is everything okay?
(Marcus) - Everything. For a moment I thought I heard someone else in the house. - Little by little, Marcus lost himself in the voice he had just heard, but it seemed that it was only in his mind that the cadet had heard the mysterious voice that took over his body. He continued to cut the wood, and little by little, Emilio felt the weight on his arm piling up more and more. Time was running against them, and slowly, Casey and Marcus were trying to save a life. But at the same time, Severide was also facing his own problem to save Anna's mother and himself before the second floor was taken over by flames.
On the second floor, Severide and Carol were positioned near the window, with a feeling of uncertainty in their bodies. Otis was slowly getting ready for the two of them to escape.
(Carol) - Is everything going to be alright?
(Severide) - Yes, you will. The ladder is almost in place. - Otis stops, giving the green light so they can go down the ladder. Carol goes down first, little by little, with an immense fear inside her body. But the fear was that it could get worse at any moment, and they wouldn't even know.
(Boden) - Severide, will you come down?
(Severide) - I'm right behind.
Parallel to what was happening, Casey and Marcus continued to cut the wood, until they manage to break the last part of it, freeing Emilio's arm, which was completely swollen. Little by little, the two put the man on their shoulders to guide him out. The flames started to turn black, and so that they could escape, Marcus put his oxygen mask on Emilio's face so that he could breathe. While at the same time, things started to get worse and worse. Before Severide could get down, the sound of an explosion was heard in one of the rooms, causing the leader of Squad 3 to drop the oxygen tank and jump up the ladder, losing his balance and almost falling. Casey, Marcus and Emilio were putting their feet on the door, until out of nowhere, the three of them fell to the ground because of the explosion. A gasp came over each of them, but they knew that they had managed to save the people inside the building. Casey looked at Severide, who was climbing the ladder, avoiding falling to the ground, and using all the strength in the world, he managed to lean on the ladder, climbing down safely, while Marcus looked at the other members of the Battalion, more worried than ever. They had managed to save the people in the building, but at the same time, the feeling of uncertainty was taking over each of the firefighters again.
(Marcus) - For a moment, I thought I was going to die in there.
(Casey) - The first baptism of fire one never forgets.
The two of them carried Emilio to the ambulance, and as he lay on the stretcher, the firemen from Battalion 51 looked at the house that had been set on fire, sighing, while Cadet Marcus thought about how lucky he was to have managed to survive. But one thing was certain: The baptism of fire he went through at that very moment was something he would never forget under any circumstances. The thought of uncertainty took over. Uncertainty gave way to fear. Fear gave way to doubt. Little by little he knew that it was the first day, but it took the courage Marcus possessed in his heart to do the right thing. Being a fireman seemed to be everything to him, and with this baptism of fire, Marcus' determination to save people only increased more and more at that very moment. He looked at the other firefighters and the paramedics of Ambulance 61, realizing that he was part of something even bigger. Marcus was now part of a family. And he was willing to serve with it until the end.
To be continued...