Chapter 6: Deliver the victims.
Gabriella took a turn to the left with her car on the way to work for a small detour. A cup of chai latte couldn't hurt anyone, right? Neither could drinking it with your taking-it-slow Lieutenant boyfriend. The detour was just an excuse to see him and the chai latte, well, let's call it a bonus.
She parked on the worst parking spot possible after touring the parking lot and pushed the Starbucks doors open. He was already there, waiting for his order. His blank expression turned into a heartwarming smile when he saw her.
"Hey there, waiting on someone?" she said, taking her spot in the line.
"No, no. Just having coffee in the morning. You know. As you do."
Her lips stretched and she leaned in for a kiss.
« Cassy ? » The startbucks lady shouted holding a pumkin pie latte.
He turned toward her and apologized his way through the line.
« That 's mine. It was Casey by the way. » the lady smiled barely even faking interest « Cause you said Cassy »
« Oh. 7.99. Please. Casey. » she held her hand out. He grabbed his wallet and looked at her expression. The classic ain't-nobody-got-time-for-ya' look cashiers and receptionnist have in common. Seems like the more people you see, the less you like them.
Cackling behind him pulled him out of his thoughts. Gabby stood behind, struggling to keep her laughter to herself.
He paid for his pumkin pie latte and she paid for her chai latte. They took the time to sit at the best table and immediately, he broke the silence.
« Whatever happened last shift » his smile disappeared, wrinkles formed on his forehead.
Her eyes got sucked down on the table, she took the lid off her drink and slid her finger on the round rim on the plastic cup.
« I I I » she mumbled « I don't know. I guess I just » she swallowed « I just looked for my place » she cover her mouth with her palm, her fingers rested on her cheek.
« Do you regret becoming a firefighter ? »
« No no no ! » she corrected, « Of course not. Being a medic felt like a part of me. So you know. It's. Pff I don't know. Hard to let go. »
« So why did you take it ? The firefighter test I mean ? »
She shook her head « It just felt right. »
He blew on his latte « Then what's holding you back ? »
She let out a long sigh, her hand looked for an escape. Too many questions she wasn't prepared for . Her phone, that could be her escape. She turned on the screen and took a quick glance at the time. By chance, they needed to hurry.
« Ohh, gotta go » She said, hiding her relief. She grabbed her coat and turned her head away.
« To be continued » he said, her eyes fled his and she moved her hands from her pockets to her chest to her pockets again.
He quickly placed a soothing hand of her arm. « Gabby. I 'm not just your lieutenant. You can talk to me. You know that, right ?»
These words seemed to apease her , she thanked him under her breath and hurried to her car. He followed and shouted
« Do you like Zombie movies ? »
« Love'em » she got in the car.
The cars parked and the alarm rang. Truck, Squad. Ambo all in one call.
« Right on time » Otis said looking at Casey. Herrman watched, alternating between Gabby and Matt. They rushed to the dressing room and took their seats in the truck. A train accident.
Severide and his team led the house to the accident spot. Severide and Casey went ahead the evaluate the situation and start making decisions on how to handle the accident.
A train had entered the wrong rail and slammed into the incoming one, making both burst into flames.
«Who's still in there ? »
« Which rail is it ? »
« Are there survivers ? »
«How long ago did it happen ? »
«Lieutenants ! One question at a time. » Bowden ordonned.
The train station employee looked in a transe. « It all went Kaboom ! Suddenly there were people everywhere. I asked a girl what happened and she said black smoke was coming out of the underground rails. Nobody went down there. The manager and my boss immediately called security to make sure no one could go down there anymore. »
« Good initiative » Bowden congratulated
His head gave a quick nod «The worst thing is only a 50 people came back up, this is a bad day »
« wait, only 50? How many people are still under there ?» Lieutenant Severide asked.
« 400 » He gulped, ready to puke. « It's the Highschool Cheerleading and Football Championships, this year the state decided to send people by train. They were too many for the buses »
Casey bit his lip hard « So you're telling me every person caught in there. They're all kids ? »
« And teachers, but yeah, mostly »
Severide and Casey glanced at each other «We get everybody out. No soul left behind »
« No sweat wasted » Casey finished.
They ran to their respective crews.
« Listen up. There are about 400 people trapped in there. All highschool kids heading to a championship. We need all your focus so no excuses, I want your exclusive attention aimed at the victims » Casey's gaze swept through the crew members but lingered on one. Gabriella Dawson.
« Go go go ! » Severide and Clark headed downstairs, turning their cask lamps on.
Gabby fixed her gear and took her first step towards the scene, she took a second to blow her nerves out and headed off.
A firm hand stopped her pace, it took her a second to realize who it was. Casey sunk his orbs deep into hers.
"You got it firefighter?"
Her eyes briefly fled his before confidently maintaining the communication. Her heartrate doubled with her answer.
"I'm good, Lieutenant"
He seemed to scan for a sign of weakness but her face remained focused. Showing her determination to keep her mission in mind. He tapped her shoulder and told her to follow him.
Casey's crew went down the stairs but the even feable light of their cask showed they wouldn't go far like that.
"Where's Severide? We need to get the rubbles out of the way if we plan on going in."
The ruins of the roof formed a big pile of stones and dust so thick even the sparse holes they found gave view to other piles of stones and cement dust.
Otis, Pratt and Casey all started picking off the stones one by one and putting them on the side and behind them.
"Wait, wait. What are you doing?" Gabby asked after watching them do.
"Mhh. Makin' room to the other side, candidate. We've got no time, don't stay there drinking tea while the grown ups are working. Y'a comin' ?" Herrman joined in followed by Severide and his team.
Several piles of rubble formed here and there surrounding the firemen and Gabby was now helping.
"Guys, we need a plan for the rubbles otherwise we'll just lock ourselves in." She shouted already organizing her part.
Severide slowed down and examined the piles, they were close to building a wall, that was true.
"Guys, she has a point." He said,
Casey, at the base of the rubbles wall was lifting the rocks and passing them on to Otis,who passed them to Cruz ,who was in charge of putting them out of the way. Matt never took the time to check where the rubbles went. The mountain ahead got his full attention.
"Makes sense. Cruz, get that right!" He ordonned
"Let's just put them on both sides, and some squad guys could collect them and throw them out of the way."
"Got it? Mills, with me, we're getting going next door."
Casey focused on his rubble and everyone picked their share off, until the mountain reduced to a hill.
Mills ran by Kelly with no idea of where he was being taken. They got out of the train station and ran towards a construction store.
"Makes sense" He said, chuckling.
"Convenient, ha?" He laughed in relief
"And I never liked construction" Mills joked before pushing the door open.
Severide immediately presented himself.
"Fire departement. I need a transpalet for the train accident at the station. The roof collapsed and we need to get to the victims."
"Hey. Gary! Some jerks trynna steal ya' stuff!"
Severide frowned at the guy and stomped forward. "Look, I've got no time for your crap. I'll repeat myself once and that's it. Fire department, I need a transpalet for the train accident right across the street."
"What you screaming about Carl?" Shouted the other guy, appearing from the back.
Kelly attempted a smile and forced his voice down " Hi. Lieutenant Severide. Fire department. A transpalet now!" His glare was firm but not threatening. Mills stood still, shoulders squared , quietly weighing in on the request.
Two piles of rubble followed each wall to the main hall. The way was now clear for the crew to get in, Casey wasted no time before jumping in, shouting away his orders to Otis and the rest. Moved by the general energy, Dawson fastened her pace, preparing for hard work.
"Remember, quick but don't half ass it. Last thing we need's people crushing each other," Herrman said, addressing his candidate.
She smiled and nodded in appreciation of Herrman's "teachable moments".
The floor was filled with dust and quandtity of other undetermined garbage Gabby couldn't make sense of. She heard mumbling, the sound their feet made as they walked on in search for survivors.
"Fire department, call out!" They said simultaneously, spontaneously taking on different directions.
The light coming from her cask barely allowed her to see 3 feet in front of her, she screwed up her eyes and saw what looked like a cardigan. A very dusty, ashy colored cardigan maybe its owner was near.
She placed her leg forward to take a step and applied pressure. A crushing sound followed, not the same type as earlier, that sound was different. She closed her eyes as to ignore her instincts. And like an alarm, it froze her. A scream. Raw pain that confirmed the instinct she fought.
Gabby looked down with a rare hesitation. Her leg no longer supported her. A searing pain crushed her chest. She only felt herself go down in town to cushion her fall.
By chance, she hadn't hurt anyone else. Ignoring the demeaning voice in her head, she brushed off all the stuff that covered the man she had stepped on.
"Sir, I am sooo sorry. Are you ok?" She palpated his other limbs to check for fractures. "Tell me, where does it hurt?"
"Where do you think it hurts? You fucking destroyed my arm!"
She fought the voice again "I know I didn't see you down there. Before I did that to your arm. Were you hurt?"
"My arm hurts, my arm. It's my arm that hurts"
She took a breath" Look, what's you're name?"
"Adam"
"Adam, I am truly sorry. But now you have to answer my questions so I can help you ok?"
He looked at her, blew out"No, I just felt too heavy to get up."
She nooded "I'll check for feeling in your lower body"
"I got one thing that's still working, know what I mean?" He forced a seductive voice.
She pinched and was glad to observe great reflexes for both legs. She ran a quick check on his torso, shoulders and back to evaluate whether or not getting him up would be a good idea.
She had to take care of that arm. Her eyes swiped her surrounding and stopped at the cardigan again.
Dusty, that could be dangerous. She examined his amr again, this time looking for a cut. His fracture had stayed in, good news. Now she only one thing.
"Hey, Adam, do you have something long and hard I can use?"
His half closed eyes suddenly opened "Yeah I do, in my lower body. F'ya know what I mean."
"Yeah" she said, still looking.
"Oh come on, you gave me that one" He laughed.
Unsure of how to react, she let out a giggle. "Yeah, I guess,"
"I got a ruler in my school bag, right here" he showed her his bag.
She held the ruler straight against his arm and teared a sleeve off that cardigan. She wrapped his arm straight, leaving the ruler for support, and took the second sleeve, to be safe.
"Adam, do you feel good enough to stand and walk? I'll help."
He cringed in pain as he sat up " Yeah, I'm out of here" She placed a careful hand under his shoulder and wrapped his broken arm around hers to rest it on top of her other hand. Making sure it wouldn't suffer more damage.
Using his strength and hers, she managed to haul him up to his feet, she placed the cask over his head, realizing he was taller and would thus provide better lighting. She led him out, grabbed her cask and let the medics take care of him.
She stood there for the flash of a second as her hand struggled to let Adam go.
She jumped back in, leading several people out. Efficient, clear goal, precise motions. Her job, nothing more, nothing less. It was good enough. Rescuing is a team job, I'm doing my part, I have to let them do theirs.
Going in, finding people, leading them out to get help. That was enough. Going in, finding people, delivering them to the medics. That should be enough. Running in, spotting hurt people, pulling them out of there. Why wasn't it enough?
Later Gabby, people need you now. You'll figure that out later.
Over and over, the cycle went on until her legs felt shaky but even then, the firefighter won. Through doubt, through exhaustion, stopping was never an option.
The cracking sound Adam's arm made came back to her, making her cringe. She heard Casey's voice in the distance and quick steps coming from every side. She snapped out of her daze and ran the same direction as her teammates.
The rubble had almost entirely been cleared out by Mills in a transpalet. Could that guy do ANYTHING?
Casey was inside a train car, she could see him try to lift different things that ended up being too heavy. He took no time to wipe off the sweat dripping from his forehead. Unsteady, his cask moved back and forth with every motion. His showed his teeth but in no smile, more as a tell for his effort. The ran toward the car and the more steps she took the better she saw the whole picture.
Casey was in the unsteady train car that had crashed onto the other. There was only dust left of the other car, the rest, she figured, must have been the rubble Construction Mills had cleared out. The accident had been so violent most of the blood had turned into a reddish mud and the bodies of the people who weren't lucky enough to survive were covered in dust and dirt, unrecognizable.
The train car was balanced on top of the shell left of the other one. Broken glass welcomed the crew as they all looked for a way to help their lieutenant. His train car swayed with the way his weight moved inside the car.
"Cas'" She began "Lieutenant! Does it feel steady up there?" She screamed so he could hear through the squeaking metal.
"Does it look steady, Candidate?" he took a breath " There's a kid here. When I arrived he was screaming but now nothing." He pulled on something and a vein appeared on his forehead. The car swayed again.
"He, he he! Lieutenant!" She called out, an idea in mind "Use your weight to keep the car in balance"
"Candidate's got a point? the thing moves with you." Otis said, taking a few steps back.
"Yeah lieutenant, I think we could get the squad guys to stabilize the car" Cruz added and Severide gestured his guys in a circle.
"We're gonna get this car stabilized by finding the most steady and stable place in this station. We'll use the transpalet as basis if we have to. Capp, Mills, go get the wire"
"Hurry" Casey's voice came from above, panick showed through "He's stuck under a seat I can't get stable enough to lift it up. He's getting worse"
Gabby listened carefully for indications of the boy's health " Do you have a pulse?"
"Yeah but it's way weaker now than just a minute ago"
"Try to cover him up, the cold can slow his heart rate"
"I've already done that candidate"
Yes, of course he has.
"Open his mouth and make sure his head stays straight, his tongue could alter his respiration. Place two fingers in front of his nostrils, do you feel a flow?"
A few seconds passed " Yes"
" Keep checking regularly. Is he injured anywhere else?"
"Uhh, I don't know, the rest of him's under this fucking broken seat!"
Gabby looked around her with hope, she gladly could reassure Casey who, she figured must have been checking the boy's breathing.
"Lieutenant, they're hear, they'll hook the car up so you can get the boy out, copy that?"
No answer. His voice didn't make a sound, she heard a squeak as tough a piece of metal was being bent, repeated groans and finally a whimper. Casey's appeared again and the car swayed back and forth as though it only held on a rope.
In his arms was the child he had been rescuing. With a quivering lip, his body hung slack on Casey's arms. His eyes were half shut but Gabby knew he couldn't have been conscious. Casey got to the edge and Gabby had already made the moves to catch the victim. He handed the boy and Dawson's awaiting arms took hold of him. Dawson's look lingered on his skin, pale as a vampire with a blueish undertone that would surely deepen with time. His fingers were freezing cold, something that made her need to shield him even bigger.
"Get him to Brett and come back to stabilize this thing" Severide yelled.
She nodded and jogged toward the ambulance. Brett had work up her neck, the boy might not make it.
Deliver the victim. Just deliver the victim. That's enough.
She drove a finger to his neck to feel for a pulse, weak. Too weak.
Deliver the victim.
She spotted the closest empty stretcher and gently laid the boy on it. His pulse showed how critical his case was. She looked at her ambo colleagues. Busy.
She grabbed an oxygen mask and started the pulses, compressions, got a few blankets and checked for a pulse. Compressions again and pulses of oxygen.
Brett's hurried hand pushed her to the side "I got it, go"
The compressions kept on, the pulses fought Brett's attempt.
"Gabby. They need you. Go!"
If she gave her just a minute, just one minute. He would live.
"Gabby!"
Deliver the victims. That never was enough.
She closed her eyes and remembered. The blisters on her feet from the hours she'd spend training for that test. The faces of the people she'd dragued out of the flames.
The warmth she felt every time she saw a medic, happy to have helped someone. If it weren't for her job, that person would have never made it to the ambo in time.
Life saving was a group effort. And she hated that she hadn't seen it sooner. The thing wasn't about who made the most, whose job mattered the most. What meaning the person doing that job wished it would bring them. It was about roles and purposes. Like a machine, every piece served its purpose. The pieces alone had no value, it's pieced together, where their specific strength complete one another when they acquire the biggest value. When they performed what the machine was designed to perform. Saving lives, that was what the firefighter/medic machine had been designed to do and it did it well.
Her hands stopped and she immediately jumped back to help stabilize the car. It was hooked up to 4 wires and she saw her co workers run amuck, looking for places to attach them to.
By the time she arrived, 3 of the wires had been attached. Severide yelled at her and violently gestured to the ground. Unsure of what she would find, she looked down.
A hook attached to a wire.
Oh, I have to hook it.
She spotted the best solid ground she could find and sprinted to that place. As she ran, a deafening sound startled her whole being. Her heart wrapped in fear and, like a child scared to look in the closet, she glanced to the back.
The car had collapsed, her coworkers lay on the ground, immobile. Stunned, she completely ignored the continuous buzzing her ear had taken on.
Her heart felt heavy at her first thought: Casey.
Her heart burnt at the painful remembrance.
Deliver the victims.
That should have been enough.
I have to say that a firefighter will be in a critical condition after this chapter. He might even die.
I hope you enjoyed this chapter, it took a hell of a lot effort but I'm glad I was able to take it where I wanted. Have a great day and if you fell like it, maybe you could even leave a review.
