UPDATED AGAIN! I combined Chapters 19 and 20.

Thank you to the guest reviewers who pointed out my tenses were a mess and things weren't developed. Hopefully, everything is now fixed. I apologize to anyone who dislikes the posting again for the third time. I am just trying to make this story the best it can be for readers.

Arriving at the scene with the three other stations that had been called out, Hank was thankful he was not in charge. This was the worst fire he had ever seen and knew that unless something like this happened again, he'd likely never see anything like it again. This was truly a firefighter's worst nightmare.

The apartment building wasn't very tall- only four stories- but it ran down a good size block, close to a half-mile in length and width. He also knew from past inspections that there were four different floor plans for their apartment buildings. Some were just Studio and one-bedroom apartments, but the majorities were two to three bedroom ones. It was a popular place for families to live in as it was in a good neighborhood and was well-maintained. Each apartment had their own balconies, but not only they faced the pool in the middle of the large complex, there was no way to escape from the higher balconies without risking serious injuries as there was no ladder to the ground.

Giving a quick glance over the scene, Hank knew that those stations called out were not going to be enough. The few access points from the sidewalks to the pool were destroyed, likely by an explosive, Hank figured, calling upon his previous experience on the battlefield. The front doors also looked as if a small explosive was used on them. In this case, however, it jammed the doors. Already the fire was on the roof and sides of the apartment building, meaning anyone still inside might not be alive much longer.

As he went to the Battalion Chief to see what he and his men could do, Hank heard more bad news.

"One of my guys got through a pile of rubble. Turns out the balconies have been blown off. Trapped a lot of those on the first floor. Did a lot of damage to the middle of the complex as well. Seems that huge noise people reported hearing? Looks as if it was due to the bombs inside the complex. Even the pool is heavily damaged," the Captain from Station 93 reported, his voice rough from emotions and shock.

Shaking his head, the Chief took one last look at the building and then the men under his command, "Alright, here's what I want. Send in as many men as possible for Search and Rescue. Have at least one guy on hose back them up. A one-on-one situation if needed. I know it'll spread us thin, but if anyone's alive, let's get them out. We only have a small window open. Captains, you take over the engines. Be fast, but be safe."

Each of the three Captains nodded grimly and split up to give the orders to their men.

Already geared up and set to go, Johnny and Roy took one look at each other after hearing their Captain's command. Then, heading off, with Chet helping John and Marco with Roy, they set off inside, praying to find anyone alive. The instance the four entered the apartment, they closed their eyes briefly, knowing that the likelihood was slimmer than they realized.

Rubble was tossed randomly around as if someone had taken the inside of the apartment building and then placed it inside a rock tumbler. It was as if the result of being inside that tumbler was laid out before them. The hallway was blackened and scorch marks were everywhere. Fire popped up in random spots. Some joists were exposed, and of those they could see, some were damaged, some not. Some were completely missing. Wires were everywhere.

Taking a deep breath, Johnny turned down the left hallway with Chet following while Roy went right. The first apartment wasn't too far from the front door and as Johnny kicked the door open, he knew immediately that finding life inside wasn't promising. Even more damage was evident here. Moving quickly, he went to the first bedroom and found a couple who appeared to be in their early-to- mid-twenties. Both were buried under sheets of plaster, plywood and who knew what else. Digging the rubble aside to expose their necks, Johnny took their pulse while Chet sprayed the fire that was creeping up from the outside wall.

Despite his best efforts, Johnny shook his head when Chet looked at him, indicating the couple was dead. Moving into the second bedroom, Johnny and Chet's heartbroken seeing a young toddler. There was no need to see if she was still alive as her eyes were clouded over in death. Knowing her death was likely caused by her legs being nearly severed, which meant it wasn't quick or painless, Johnny had to fight the urge to vomit. Chet lost the battle.

As the continued onwards, each failure to find life seemed to slow Johnny's footsteps.

It seems like an eternity since we started. I don't know what feels heavier, my feet or my heart, Johnny pondered as Chet led him back to where they left off after getting another air bottle. I don't know how much more I can take. It feels as though each lifeless body is stabbing me in the heart, accusing me of not being fast enough. It's bad enough I feel as though I'm being cooked alive, although I should complain considering how many have died. How many have suffered…

Chet, understanding and knowing just how much worse things hit Johnny, simply pointed out which way to turn, leaving Johnny to his thoughts. For him, all he could contemplate was that there were simply no words for this type of cruelty. He didn't care about the heat. He didn't care about having to make sure John ducked when needed, while holding onto a hose and watching the path ahead. All he cared about was moving forward.

When they finally got to the last room in the hall, the fire was finally almost out on this end.

As he searched the final room he was tasked with, Johnny yelled out, "Hey, I think that's a kid! Wait here!"

"Hurry, we're gonna need air soon!" Chet nervously yelled back, voice muffled by his masked. They have both been in here almost twenty minutes and despite the best effort of everyone, and even additional help, nothing seemed to stop this destruction.

Not that the residents will mind, Chet mulls over in his head. I think the -es kill most of 'em.

A loud BOOM! shook the wall and also shook Chet from his thoughts.

"Johnny!" he turned the hose off and dropped it as he raced into the room. Looking around, he saw a hole in the wall to the outside that wasn't there before. "Johnny!"

Running to the blown-out wall, he pulled out his HT as he continues looking around the room. Thankful that this room isn't on fire anymore and close to a viable exist, he informed his Cap what happened over the HT.

"Keep looking. Roy's on his way there."

"10-4," Chet said in a hurry, not bothering to wait for his Captain's response before shoving it into his turncoat pocket.

Frantically searching the room, Chet began talking to himself, "Okay, why is there a hole there? I don't know! Maybe…maybe….maybe he saw something that made him think it would go off? If I thought that I'd throw it and run. Okay, so the hole is there and Gage actually can throw, though I won't admit that so…"

With those thoughts, Chet started searching in a more logical pattern and soon found Johnny in the kitchen. Hearing Roy call out, Chet showed him where John was and told him what he thinks happened.

"Alright, thanks, Chet," Roy said with a distracted tone. "Can you help me get the collar on him and backboard? I'll work on him outside."

Nodding, the two got Gage secured and as quickly as they could without moving Johnny too much, got him next to the squad.

Reaching for the equipment, Roy jumped a bit at hearing his Captain's voice.

"Sorry," Hank said. "Just wanted to know if you needed help."

"Um, how about the biophone?"

"You got it."

"What about the fire?" Roy wondered as he started to assess his partner.

"Surround and drown," Hank informed him sadly. "Ten percent got out, another few percent aren't there. Some might not make it. Those two knew what they were doing."

"Dang," Roy's tone was mournful. Pushing everything else aside, he turned back to his partner turned patient.

"His pulse is 55. BP is 90/60. Respirations are 25. Pupils are unequal, but reactive. Johnny's got a concussion, not real reactive to sternal rub. Broken clavicle and humerus. Broken ribs on left side, got some rhales in both lungs. Pupils are unequal, but reactive," Roy informed his Captain as he found each issue.

Hank updated Rampart with those and John's vitals as Roy went to work securing the arm. After receiving orders for an IV, he got that started as well before he, Hank, and the two ambulance drivers placed Johnny onto the gurney for his trip to Rampart.