Title: Trapped!
Author: Angel Mouse
Relationship: Bridge/Sky
Rating: PG
Warning: Um.. scary scenes?
Theme: Fire/Children

Trapped!

It was in the middle of the worst heat wave that New Tech City had ever seen. Water was rationed and tempers were short. Crime was at an all time high and SPD were stretched to the limit. Even some of the more senior cadets were being drafted into helping out.

So which is how Bridge and Sky found themselves helping evacuate an old person's home that was being threatened by a bush fire that was raging out of control nearby. They had cleared the building finally after almost an hour and the smoke was getting very bad.

The last bus rolled away just leaving the two cadets standing. Sky gave a small cough, heading for the jeep they had been given but Bridge had stayed standing, frowning, and his eyes staring into the smoke that was slowly covering everything.

"Bridge, come on." Bridge didn't reply, just stood there, frowning. Finally he moved and it was to take off one of his gloves. He waived his hand in front of him, frowning even harder as he began taking a few steps into the smoke. Sky had turned to call him again and he frowned himself, seeing Bridge moving. He quickly jogged to Bridge's side, putting a hand on his shoulder, stopping him. "Bridge, what's wrong?"

Bridge didn't answer for a long moment and when he did, his voice had that distant, distracted quality it got sometimes when he was using his powers or sensing something.

"There's someone out there. Two or three of them I think. They're scared, confused and lost." Sky frowned and looked into the smoke. The fire was close, very close. The smoke was thick and the air was heavy, breathing was starting to get harder.

"Are they very far away?" Bridge frowned in concentration, stretching his mind as far as it would go, trying to get more information.
"Not really. I'm getting a faint trail but I can follow it." Sky nodded and made his decision.

"Okay, start following it. I'll get the jeep and let the base know where we're going." Bridge nodded, starting to walk slowly into the smoke while Sky ran to the jeep and grabbed the radio, quickly calling in and letting the base know what was going on, but his eyes never left Bridge's slowly retreating form, he didn't want to loose sight of him. After getting a warning to be careful and watch out for themselves Sky started the jeep and slowly started following Bridge.

Ten minutes later they were in the thick of the smoke and Bridge was now sitting in the jeep, both his hands in front of him, concentrating hard on tracking what he sensed. They had been going this way for a little while when Bridge jerked his head up in sudden realisation.

"Sky, they are here." Sky slammed the jeep to a stop and they both scrambled out. Bridge put one of his gloves back on and led the way. Sky had grabbed a couple of emergency packs and followed, sticking close to Bridge. They were both coughing harder now and they could hear the roar of the flames near by.

"Bridge, where are they?" Bridge unerringly turned right and headed towards what looked like an abandoned warehouse. He reached the door and ripped it open, heading inside. Sky saw that the other end of the building was on fire and ran after his friend.

"Bridge, come on, this place is already on fire. We have to go!"
"No, they're in here, I can feel it. They are so scared Sky." Bridge headed for a small office towards to one side, Sky having no choice but to follow him. He shook his head as he followed, knowing that they'd catch ten levels of hell for this but when he saw the two small children cowering by the wall, he knew that it was worth it.

Bridge was kneeling down in front of them, smiling gently as he put his other glove back on and spoke softly to them. Sky knelt down next to him and smiled as well, trying not to cough too hard. He put the pack down on the ground and reached in for some water, listening with renewed respect at Bridge's soft words, calming the kids down.

"My friend Sky and I are here to get you out of here and take you somewhere safe okay? We're from SPD and we won't hurt you." The two children looked up at them in fear and Bridge smiled gently at them, taking the water bottle from Sky and holding it out to them. "Here, have a drink. You must be awfully hot and thirsty."

The older of the two, looking no more than six or seven, nodded and took the bottle from him. Bridge turned at Sky and opened his mouth to say something but suddenly there was a huge crash behind them, causing them all to jump.

The roof of the building had collapsed at the other end, but the structure was so weakened that the beams near the door to the small office had fallen as well. Bridge and Sky exchanged glances and they knew that they couldn't get out now. They just had to wait it out. Sky looked around and saw the small corner that the kids were huddled in was the best position.

"Bridge, help me move that desk and cabinet. We'll build a barricade that'll hopefully hold for a while, and when it doesn't, I can shield us." Bridge frowned but nodded in agreement. Lucky for them the desk was mostly wood and metal, and the metal cabinet was a small enough one that the two of them could lift it.

They managed to make a small sort of cubby hole that would help protect them from the flames. Sky spoke softly to Bridge as they stuffed some rags they had found along the door crack. "I've hit the emergency button on my communicator, they'll know we're here and send someone for us." Sky went to move back to the kids but was stopped by Bridge's hand on his arm. He looked into his friends face and saw worry in his eyes.

"Sky, are you sure you can shield us, this isn't like training." Sky smiled gently at him.
"I know. I believe I can do this Bridge. I wouldn't let anything hurt you or those kids. I promised didn't I? Besides, it may not come to that." Bridge still looked worried but he nodded reluctantly, finally taking his hand off Sky's arm.

"If you have to, I can lend you my energy." Sky looked at him and then shook his head in disagreement.
"No Bridge, you can't. It'll hurt you to much to do that. I won't let you." Bridge just shrugged, knowing how stubborn his friend could be. They moved back over to the kids, trying not to cough too much and crawled under the table to them.

They made themselves comfortable as they possibly could, the two small children, a brother and sister they found out, clinging to them in fear and comfort. Bridge was careful not to touch their skins but held the little boy close while the girl clung to Sky.

The air was getting harder and harder to breath but they tried to keep the kids minds off it. But after a little while the smoke got so bad the two children finally succumbed and fell into a deep sleep. They exchanged worried glances and then suddenly the fire burst through door. Sky instinctively put his shield up, it's bright blue glow a contrast to the red flames.

Bridge moved closer to him, both of them shielding the small children with their bodies. It was getting harder and harder to breath.
"Sky, can you hold it for long?" Sky coughed and then shrugged.
"I'll hold it as long as I have to."
"Well you please let me help you? You can't do this all by yourself." Sky gave him a gentle smile, appreciating his friends offer. The smoke was so thick now and the heat was intense. It was being dissipated slightly by Sky's shield but it was still overwhelming.

"No Bridge, it'll hurt you too much. Let me do this for you." Bridge just looked at him, his eyes full of worry and without thinking he reached out and took Sky's free hand in his gloved one, holding it tight but gently.

"Sky, I don't want you to hurt yourself either." Bridge wanted to say more, wanted to tell Sky more about his feelings for him, but he couldn't find the words. Sky just squeezed his hand, his eyes meeting Bridge's. Sky's shield was beginning to flicker and the flames were getting closer. Pain flickered through his eyes and Bridge tightened his grip on Sky's hand. "Please Sky; let me help you, let me lend you some of my energy." Sky shook his head and the shield flickered again as a beam fell from the roof and impacted on the filing cabinet, bouncing off Sky's shield.

Sky winced in pain and Bridge looked at him concern but he shook his head, closing his eyes, concentrating on holding the shield as long as he could.
"Bridge, there's something I have to tell you." Bridge looked at him in confusion, wondering what Sky was going to say. Sky managed to open his eyes and latch onto Bridge's.

They stared at each other for a long moment, coughing hard as the smoke got worse and the flames got higher. The two children were barely breathing but they were at least still alive. The flames were creeper closer to them and it was harder and harder to breathe.
"Sky, what is it?" Bridge coughed harder, wondering what his friend was trying to say. Sky coughed hard as well. Sky opened his mouth to speak but that's when the shit here the fan.

The fire burst even further into their small room and the rest of the beams from the roof fell in the room. They both looked up at it and then Sky flinched even more, pain running across his face as pieces hit his shield. Suddenly they both were hit with a blast of heat and hot air, causing them both to throw themselves over the small children, Sky's shield finally failing as his strength gave out.

Sky turned his head to look at Bridge, seeing Bridge's eyes connect with his he tried to open his mouth to say what was in his heart but nothing but coughing came out. Bridge tried to smile at Sky but he couldn't help but cough as well. And that was the last thing they both remembered, staring at each other in the smoke.

The next thing Sky remembered was waking up in the back of an ambulance, an oxygen mask over his face, and Bridge lying in the bed next to him, a mask over his face as well. He tried to move but was held down by the gentle hands of a medic.
"Easy there Cadet. You've taken a fair bit of smoke and you need to breathe some oxygen for a little while."

"Bridge, is he okay?" The medic looked over at Bridge and frowned slightly.
"He should be. He got a lot of smoke, a bit more than you by the looks of it and a few bumps and bruises, just like you." Then Sky remembered and tried to sit up again.
"The kids we found! Are they alright?" The medic pushed him back down on the bed again, giving him an exasperated look.

"They are fine. Both suffering severe smoke inhalation but with some time and rest they'll be okay. There in New Tech City Hospital, where I should be taking you both but the Commander at SPD wants you there in their medical wing." Sky relaxed slightly, breathing the pure oxygen through the mask, realising that the air through the mask never tasted so sweet.

He laid his head back on the pillow with a sigh. They were safe. Bridge was safe. The children were safe. He looked over at Bridge and smiled at the sight of his dearest friend breathing deeply. Everything would be okay now. But guilt ate at him at the thought that he had almost lost Bridge without telling him how he felt about him. Sighing softly he closed his eyes and tried to relax. Today had been a trying day.