A dark plume of smoke rises into the air. The burning building below the smoke spews out flames like an erupting volcano. It's been ablaze for mere minutes. For the cops stood watching, it feels like hours.
The FDNY hurry to set up their equipment. The quicker they can set up, the quicker they can tackle this blaze.
Another car pulls up alongside the patrol cars. Two detectives climb out. The cops on the ground glance at them. Eyes widening in fear.
"Holy shit, that's Danny Reagan" one of them mutters to their partner.
Danny storms over to Captain Espinoza "Hey! Captain! What's going on?! Where's my kid brother?!"
Espinoza grabs a hold of Danny's arms to stop him in his tracks "Detective, calm down"
"Where is he?! Where's Jamie?!" Danny yells, he searches the Captain's eyes for an answer "Is he in there? Is my kid brother in there?!"
"We think so" Espinoza confirms with a heavy heart "Last radio contact we had with him, he said he'd found a bomb"
"Oh God" Detective Reagan bows his head, hands still gripping Espinoza's sleeves.
"Detective, I'm so sorry" the Captain steals a quick glance at Baez.
"No! Jamie!" Danny springs to life, tearing himself away from the Captain and running towards the building.
"Danny!" he hears his partner call out.
Danny ignores her. Along with the other cops who grab a hold of him. They're just trying to save his life, but right now he doesn't care. Right now all he cares about is Jamie. It's not their kid brother in there so how could they possibly understand?
Of course he can see the fire. The danger is obvious. Danny still doesn't care. Not when every fibre of his being is pulling him towards the building. An overpowering fraternal need to save his kid brother blocks out common sense.
/
The detectives sit on the hood of their car. Baez has her arm wrapped around her distraught partner. Both feel helpless. All they can do is watch the fire burn out of control. It's a sad day indeed. The Reagans have lost yet another member of their family.
Danny bows his head. Desperate to drown out the roar of the inferno before him. A couple of cops stand close by. Out of necessity rather than eavesdropping. Neither are certain if the detective will or won't attempt another suicidal rescue mission.
One of the officer's radios crackles to life. Well, in actual fact, life isn't the best word to use. The sound is awful. Strained even. The radio sounds like it's gasping its last breaths.
The cop attempts to adjust the frequency in order to get rid of the static sound. A small adjustment is made. An even smaller voice can be heard. Danny's head shoots up. The poor cop has little time to react as the former marine rips the radio from his shoulder.
"Jamie?! Kid, is that you?!" Danny questions, eyes fixated on the radio in his hand.
The cops around him glance at one another. The thought, he's gone mad with grief, is one many of them share. Baez takes a step towards him. Ready to soothe her partner when he realises he's just hearing things.
Another burst of sound is followed by "Yeah, Danny, it's me"
The majority are stunned into silence. Sergeant Reagan is alive?!
A huge grin of utter relief takes over Danny's mouth "Thank God! Jamie, where are you?"
"One secon-" the awful static sound dies down and Jamie's cough can be heard a lot more clearly "Sorry, my radio is broken. I'm in a storage facility and it's on fire"
Danny's heart and voice break simultaneously "I know kid. I'm stood outside of it"
"Oh" the sergeant pauses to catch his breath "Does it look as hot as it feels?"
The detective smiles at brother's attempt at a joke. Danny glances to Baez. She gives him a small encouraging smile. By now a small crowd of cops has gathered around to listen.
"Is that him? Is that your man on the inside?" the scene's fire chief asks as he approaches.
"Yeah, Sergeant Reagan" Baez confirms whilst her partner continues to talk to his brother.
"May I?" the fire chief holds his hand out to Danny.
The older Reagan seems unwilling. A moment ago he presumed his baby brother was dead and now he's able to talk to him. Part of him doesn't want Jamie to talk to anyone else, but he knows he has to. So, hesitantly, Danny hands over the radio.
"Sergeant Reagan? This is Captain Dennehy with the FDNY. Can you tell me whereabouts in the building you are currently?" the Captain questions, placing a hand on his hip.
"Yeah I" Jamie splutters out another cough again "I think I've fallen into the basement. The floor must've given way. I was in the storage container Fourteen A when I found the bomb. I exited to the left and could only have gotten a few feet or so away before the bomb went off. After that I must've blacked out"
"Thank you, Sergeant. We're gonna work on getting a rescue team to you" the fire chief tells him before handing the radio back to Danny.
The detective gratefully accepts the radio "Hey boss, you still there?"
"Yeah, still here" his kid brother confirms "But really wishing I were out there with you guys"
"You will be soon enough" Danny reassures him.
Confidence has been restored in Danny Reagan. The sound of Jamie's voice spurs him on. Now he knows he's definitely alive in there, he's going to fight tooth and nail to get his brother out of there safely. A big brother's protective nature doesn't lessen with age.
"Danny, does Eddie know?" comes a question the older Reagan didn't want to hear or have to answer.
Danny's heart sinks to the ground "I don't know. Since she's not here yet then I'm guessing no, but don't worry, I'll make sure she's outside waiting for you when you get outta there"
Baez catches his gaze. She nods. No words are needed. The question was asked through a simple glance. Baez pulls her phone out of her pocket as she walks away.
Another burst of static down the radio then a heart breaking response "If I get outta here"
"Jamie, don't talk like that. You're getting outta there, okay?" his big brother scolds.