This chapter and the next one are completely original. I included these partly to accommodate for David's storyline and partly because I personally thought that the end to this movie was a little rushed.

Chapter 11- The Aftermath

I must've fallen asleep or passed out at some point because, after Blade told me to wait, the next thing I remember is waking up in Maru's garage.

"Wha-" I mumbled. "What happened?"

"Easy there", an unfamiliar voice spoke up. An African-American human man in his fifties I'd never seen before was standing over me. "You need to rest."

"Who're you?" I questioned, still not quite with it.

"I'm Dr. Gary Atwood, the doctor down at the lodge", he explained. "Blade called me in to have a look at you. Now, I just need to test your memory, all right? What's your name?"

"David Franklin Hazelwood, Junior."

"Date of birth?"

"October tenth, 1993."

"Parents' names?"

"David and Cynthia... Dad died before I was born."

"Oh, I'm so sorry... What year is it?"

"2016."

"You seem to be okay", he reported, "but you have a broken arm, a mild concussion and a couple of minor burns to your back and legs. I also had to give you six stitches in your forehead."

"Everything is blurry..." I commented.

He handed me my glasses. "That better?"

"Yeah. Thanks."

"Well, you must've lost your contacts in the fire."

I glanced down to see that my right arm was in a cast. Still struggling to get my bearings, I looked around. According to the clock, it was four and, given how light it was, I figured that was PM. I really only had one thought on my mind, though.

"F**k!" I mumbled to myself (a word I've never used before) before elaborating. "Kimberly didn't make it."

"I'm sorry?" he asked.

"David?"

I jumped at the sound of Blade's voice.

"Blade!" I gasped. "I am so sorry! I tried to save Kimberly! I really did! I don't know what happened! I just-"

"You don't have to apologise", he interrupted me in a soft voice. "You did everything right. These things happen."

"I'm sure you could've saved her!" I countered.

Blade sighed. "You're right. I could have, but I didn't. I was so focused on Dusty that I didn't see that she was in trouble."

"How is Dusty?" I wanted to know.

"Maru's doing everything he can. It's too early to tell right now."

"Oh... And Harper?"

"She's okay", Blade assured me. "She cried for a little while when we told her that her mom is gone. I don't think she understands, but we found some ice cream for her and that seemed to cheer her up. The Smokejumpers are taking care of her for the time being, until we get someone from ACAFCA gets here."

"A-caff-kuh?" I repeated.

"American Child Adoption and Foster Care Association", he elaborated.

"Oh..." I shook my head. "That poor girl. Her mother's gone... all because of me."

Blade sighed again. "I know how you feel."

"Nick?" I guessed.

He hesitated. "You know about Nick, huh?"

It was my turn to hesitate. "Yeah... Maru told me."

I expected Blade to be mad, but he wasn't. I think he was just relieved that he didn't have to explain. "I blamed myself for a long time."

So, someone understood how I felt. Plus, Nick and Kimberly were about the same age. (Later research told me that Nick was twenty-eight when he died while Kimberly was twenty-nine.) "How do you... get through it?" I wondered.

Blade was silent for a moment before answering. "Let me show you something."

Dr. Atwood gave him permission to take me outside for just a second. As we left, I caught a glimpse of Maru working intently on an unconscious Dusty with Dipper watching anxiously.

Curiously, I followed Blade to the runway where the Smokejumpers and Harper were playing with a soccer ball. All eight of them were laughing. I wasn't sure who was having more fun: Harper or the male Smokejumpers.

"What did you want to show me?" I asked uncertainly.

"See Harper?" he quizzed me. I nodded, still unsure what he was getting at. "You saved her life. Without you, there would've been two casualties." He took a deep breath. "We do lose a life every once in a while and it is tragic, but we just have to remember, there would be many, many more lives lost if we don't keep going, if we don't do our jobs."

"That's why you became a firefighter after Nick died", I assumed.

Blade nodded. "I couldn't bring Nick back, but I could help others who were in danger like he was."

I nodded in understanding. Even though I understood, this situation really got to me. Usually, I'm calm and unflappable, but I could see now that there were certain situations I handled better than others. "Still, I don't think I'm ready to become a firefighter", I conceded to Blade. "Partly because of this and, well, partly because of-"

"David!" Wildflower sobbed as she came charging towards me, nearly knocking me over with a big hug.

"Careful, Wildflower", Blade cautioned, but he was smiling.

"Oh! Sorry!" she giggled sheepishly through her tears. "I'm just so glad you're all right. I heard what happened with that hiker, Kimberly. I'm so sorry."

"Thanks."

"Oh! Cabbie wanted to know when you were awake!" she added hurriedly. "Your family's been calling. Something about your wife..."

"You're married?" Blade asked in surprise.

In response, I held up my left hand.

"But you're so young", he pointed out.

"Twenty-two, going on twenty-three", I confirmed. "But she's the love of my life."

"David! There you are!" Cabbie approached us. "Your family have radioed about six times. Apparently, your wife's in the hospital."

Oh, no! "Thanks, Cabbie."

I was on the radio in no time. "Hey, guys." I tried to keep my voice from shaking.

"David!" Mom cried. "You're all right!"

"I'm okay, Mom", I assured her.

"It's good to hear your voice!" I heard Celeste sniffle. "We've been worried sick."

"We heard that there was a big fire and you and Dusty got hurt", Chug added worriedly.

"And a hiker lost her life", Sparky put in. "I'm so sorry."

"We all are." That was Dottie.

"Thanks, guys. I just feel f**king awful about it, though."

Despite herself, Celeste laughed. "Uh-oh! It must be bad if you're dropping F bombs!"

I ignored her. "How's Susannah?"

"She's fine", Mom assured me. "Although, she is a little sick at the moment. She was throwing up a lot, so we got her to the hospital just to be sure. Fortunately, it looks like it's nothing serious. They're just keeping her in for a couple of days as a precaution."

I nodded. Then I remembered that they couldn't see me. "I really should be there for this..." I murmured. Unfortunately, I had no way of getting back home now. The park was closed. With very few exceptions, nobody was allowed in or out. Besides, I couldn't abandon Dusty.

"So, how are you and Dusty?" Skipper questioned fearfully.

I told them everything I could before announcing, "I better get back to Dusty,"

"Okay. Let us know anything when you hear", Skipper requested.

"I will", I assured him.

With a heavy sigh, I released the talk pedal to end the call. What am I doing here? I wondered. My family should have always been my top priority. Although my intentions were good, I never should have become a firefighter. I should have let Dusty handle it. He had been extremely reckless and disobedient at first, but last night, he had proven himself worthy. I was proud of him and ashamed of myself. I came to help people, my family, my community, maybe even the world.

Instead, I had made a pretty big mess of everything.

Believe it or not, this wasn't even the first time I had taken on too much. When I was thirteen, I was involved in three after school activities: the school paper; playing the tuba and the chess club. On top of that, I was trying to prepare for my Bar Mitzvah (for which I was a nervous wreck because I am petrified of public speaking) and Dusty's parents had just died and I was trying to be there for him, plus my mom was pretty sick for a while and I was taking care of her. I ended up getting sick myself and my grades were slipping. So, I had to take a break from my school activities until after my Bar Mitzvah and Mom and Dusty were better. I never thought I would be so stupid to make the same mistake twice.


A social worker from ACAFCA came by early the next morning. Since the park wasn't deemed safe yet, she had to be escorted by a TMST agent, who had to come to the park anyway to collect statements from the staff.

"Hi!" The lavender forklift with the ACAFCA logo on each side smiled at us. "I'm Julie Tomlinson, with the American Adoption and Foster Care Association. I'm here for Harper Sutherland."

Blade nodded. "Yes, of course." He led her towards Harper, who was sat drawing pictures with Wildflower. She seemed calm on the surface, but it was obvious that she was hurting from losing her mother. I only wished that I could turn back time and save her.

Julie spoke to the little girl gently and scooped her up. Harper looked nervous, but didn't cry. Poor little thing. She had no idea what was happening.

I couldn't even begin to imagine how awful it must be to be in her shoes. I'd seen this kind of thing up close when Dusty's parents passed away when we were thirteen and he had to move in with Leadbottom and again when Celeste's grandmother died. I hadn't experienced a loss like that, though. I mean, sure, I lost my father, but I hadn't even been born yet; I didn't know him at all. I had always missed the idea of having a father more than I missed my actual father.

"What happens to her now?" I wanted to know.

Julie sighed. "Seeing as Kimberly Sutherland lives in West Virginia, this is ultimately a case for social workers in West Virginia. I have already contacted them. Really, I'm just here to escort Harper on a flight back home."

"Then what?" I demanded worriedly.

"I have already heard back from the social workers, who have already spoken to friends and family of Kimberly Sutherland. Apparently, the father is no longer in the picture- abusive boyfriend- and Kimberly's parents are unable to take her. Mr. Sutherland has a serious heart problem and Mrs. Sutherland is his full-time carer." She sighed again. "If there's no other family, she'll have to go into the foster system", she concluded ruefully.

Everyone on the base- except for Dusty, of course- heard this and nodded, downcast. The foster system? How awful! She couldn't stay on the base, though. With fires at any moment and everyone very busy, it wouldn't be practical, for the team or for the three-year-old.

Determined to help someone in need, I had the words on the tip of my tongue: I'll take her. I was tempted to foster her, maybe even adopt her.

Then I caught myself. No. I couldn't. I wasn't in the right position- physically or mentally- to take care of a child. With my injuries and the shock of witnessing Kimberly's death, I wasn't even sure if I could take care of myself right now. On top of that, I was still worried about both Dusty and Susannah. I just couldn't worry about Harper too. I was beginning to learn that you can't help everyone, try as you might.

It would be more selfish to keep her than to not keep her, I realised with a heavy heart. I had always put others' needs before my own. Now, even though it went against all of my natural instincts, at least for the time being, I had to put myself first.

It's okay, I assured myself. You can still help people, but just like anything else, think it through first.

So, instead of offering to foster Harper, I seized a pencil and scrap of paper from Maru's garage and scrawled out my address and phone number in Propwash Junction.

Maru peered at my note. "That's pretty good handwriting for your left hand", he commented, gesturing to my right arm in the cast.

"I'm left-handed", I stated drily.

Maru looked a little embarrassed. "My bad."

"Could you please give this to the social workers in West Virginia?" I requested, handing the paper to Julie. "I want to make sure she's all right."

Julie looked a little surprised, but took the piece of paper. "I'll be sure to", she promised. She looked back at Harper. "Okay, say goodbye now."

The entire Piston Peak Air Attack team waved goodbye to Harper cheerily as she disappeared with Julie, heading off towards her new life.

When she was gone, I sighed. Wildflower put a hand on my shoulder comfortingly.

"I know it wasn't easy for you. It was hard for me not to offer too", she informed me with a sad smile on her face and tears in her eyes, "but it really is for the best."

I nodded in agreement. "I think you're right."

Why did the right decisions have to be the hard ones sometimes? I never thought that they were. I've always tried to help people. Should be a no-brainer, right? Now, I wasn't so sure.

All I could do now was hope for the best.

In this chapter, I also rectify another complaint I have about this movie: I kind of wish we got to see Blade talk about Nick.

As I mentioned on my forum, I felt like I took a bit of a risk with this storyline and people may not like it, but I thought it would be an interesting way to go.

Oh, and if you've read my Cars stories, then you should be familiar with ACAFCA. As I've said before, as far as I know, it is a completely fictional organisation.