Goodbye and Hello

These good fellows don't belong to me but I promise when I'm done to pick um up, dust um off and with a kiss on the cheek return them safely home.

"The only thing we need is a hand that rests on our own, that wishes it well, that sometimes guides us." Hector Biancoiotti, Sans La Misericorde du Christ.

Chapter 5

Everyone was asleep except for Johnny. He lay on his back with his arm draped over this forehead but his eyes were wide open. The day churned through his head, Roy, Joanne. Roy told him that everything was fine but that little dark spot was growing again. Everything was not alright. He couldn't put his finger on it but he looked over to his sleeping partner and found himself imagining him not being there. What would it be like to have a different partner? Of course he had ridden many shifts with other crew when pulling overtime or on holidays but this would be different. He couldn't imagine having anyone else at his side as a partner or a friend. He always felt so lucky to get to work with someone he called his brother. What if Roy wasn't there anymore? Then he sat straight up in bed. He suddenly felt an overwhelming protective instinct for his friend. He didn't know why but something was not right.

The tones sounded and the lights came on, "Station 51, Station 110, Battalion 9, Engine 86. Apartment Fire………………………time out 0249."

The men were straight up, feet in boots, pulling up turnout pants and running to the trucks.

They weren't the first to arrive finding two other stations already there beginning to fight the fire of the old 4 story brick apartment building. The flames were up on the roof visible throughout the night sky sending enough heat down to remind them of the very definition of fire. People were fleeing the building in their pajama's into the street then add in the bystanders and new arriving engines were struggling to find access to the building.

The Chief came over to Hank, updating him on positions and what they knew so far. "I need your men to sweep the building with 110's medics. The manager thinks everyone is out but he's not sure."

Roy and Johnny ran up to Hank, in full gear, ready to enter the building.

"Roy and Johnny take the 3rd and 4th floors. Brice and Dwyer are taking the 1st and 2nd. Make it quick that roof isn't going to last long."

"Right Cap," they both said as they turned to the building.

Taking the lead Roy headed up the stairs wanting to start with the top floor first then work down. The hallway was almost completely pitch black with thick hot smoke. The two men stuck close together as they headed down the hallway. When they reached opposite doors they would split, each one taking a side of the hall. Both men carried an ax. After knocking and yelling for anyone, if they got no answer they forced entry into the apartment and checked all the rooms of each one. It was time consuming and they were moving slow. Each door was then closed again and marked with an 'X' to show it had been swept for victims.

One by one they moved down the hallway, calling for anyone that could be left and trapped. Knocking out one apartment at a time.

"I can't see a thing Roy," Johnny called through his mask.

Roy took Johnny by the sleeve, "Come on, we're almost done on this floor. My tanks not going to last much longer."

Johnny nodded and followed his partner to the next set of doors. Six apartment sweeps later they reached the end of the hallway to find a window with bars on it. Of course the fire escape was on the other side of the bars.

Roy waved, "Back down the hall then let's get the next floor done."

They had to turn around and hurry down the long corridor back to the main building staircase. The building held an eerie silence except for the crackling of fire above them. Johnny was glad to get off that fourth floor; it was too hot and close to the fire for him. Glancing a look over at Roy he could see the sweat running down his face, like he felt it on his own. The heat was making them breath heavily, increasing their consumption of their tanks. Once down the stairs the routine started again but this time they seemed to protectively stick closer. The smoke was getting thicker and it wouldn't take much to lose sight of someone almost right next to you. The flashlights they had functioned more as homing beacons than they did actual helping to light the way.

Once again they began the split for search's and met in the center of the hallway. As they moved down to the next set of doors Johnny put his hand on Roy's shoulder. For guidance through the darkness as much as for comfort. Roy felt the hand and had to admit it was a sense of security for him also. A mutual 'we know where each is' feeling. What Roy didn't know was that Johnny had made a silent pact with himself that he would not leave this building tonight without his partner, no matter what.

Halfway down the hallway they split up. Roy went into the tiny apartment, turning over tables, looking under beds and in closets. Finding nothing he headed back out when his tank beeped low. Trying to calculate distance and amount of time used so far he determined he would have just enough air to get back out. It would be cutting it close but he should be okay.

As the two men reached the doors an explosion just behind them tossed them into the air like ragdolls.

Hank was on the HT with Marco and Chet when the blast rumbled from the structure. Knowing he still had four men in the building sent adrenaline through his body in an instant.

"CHET?"

"Yea Cap, we're alright. Sounds like it came from the third floor." Hank knew that Johnny and Roy were to cover the third and fourth floor but he wasn't sure where they were at the time of the explosion.

"HT to Gage." Come on Johnny, answer me.

"Johnny, Roy do you read?"

Roy woke up, opened his eyes and could have though he was blind but there was only complete darkness. He was flat on his back but felt something on top of him. Reaching up he tried to move it but found that pulling himself up hurt his chest. He took off his gloves and first felt his face, nothing wet so he guessed no blood. His head hurt but not horribly. Then he did a self assessment down his body, neck okay, chest, oww. Probably a broken rib or two. Then his hands found the beam, it wasn't really big so he tried to push it down some. Finding success he rolled over onto his side. Okay stomach seemed alright, both legs worked. Hmm…might actually get out of this without a trip to Rampart he thought to himself with a smile.

Knowing he could move he called out, "Johnny?" The hallway was quiet. Damn. He made it to his hands and knees and felt around when he ran right smack into the wall. Okay, now his head hurt horribly. "Johnny!" He continued to crawl around, patting the ground with his hands he continued to call for his friend. He had no idea where he was much less where Johnny might be. Then a final beep occurred from his equipment. Knowing it was now just weighing him down he pulled it off so he could get around quicker. As it slid off his face the very first breath burned his mouth, throat and lungs. He pulled his coat over his face as he moved forward again.

"Roy?"

Roy stopped moving around, "Say it again Johnny." He coughed, his lungs now burning.

This time it was louder, "Roy!"

Roy moved towards the sound, "Keep calling. I can't see a thing." He followed the voice until his hand found a boot. "Johnny?"

"Of course it's me, how many feet did you expect to find in this hallway?"

Roy laughed which made him cough again, "We'll if you can be a smart ass then I guess your okay." Roy followed the leg until he found a large chunk of debris holding him down. "Hold on." He winced as he pulled it off of him. He then could see his friend. "You okay?"

Johnny pulled himself to a sitting position just as he realized that Roy was no longer wearing his mask.

"Roy!"

He coughed more, "Tanks gone…let's get out of here."

Johnny started to take his mask off but Roy stopped him, "No, we gotta get out of here." Johnny felt for his HT, "Gage to HT." Nothing. "Gage to HT."

"It's dead," he said suddenly feeling the implication in his gut. His nightmare was coming true. "Roy take my mask." He said trying to get to his feet.

"Johnny," he started coughing violently. The thick toxic smoke now reaching the bottom depths of his lungs. "Too late… getting hard to breath. One of us…has to get…us out…" He coughed again. "Won't do us...any good...if we both...are without...air."

Every breath pulled the smoke deeper, clogging up the small lung sacs of his lungs. As each failed to exchanged oxygen his body reflexively took a deeper breath trying to find the oxygen it so greatly craved. It was a downward spiral cycle.

Johnny looked at his partner, his best friend and knew he was right. It killed him that his tank was the one working but Roy was right. One of them had to keep going and get them both out. He decided that was what he was here for tonight. To make sure that he got Roy out of this building. Got him out safely and back home to Joanne in the morning.

Johnny swept his arm under and at Roy's waist while taking his arm and putting it around his shoulders. Finding the wall Johnny lightly pressed his shoulder against it and followed it, unsure of which direction he was going. The heat grew rapidly telling him that he was heading in the wrong direction.

Roy was leaning heavier on him now, coughing almost continuously. Johnny pulled him closer scared at how quickly he was succumbing to the smoke. He turned around, shifting Roy to his other side and headed back down the hallway.

"Kelly to HT."

"Go ahead Chet, any sign of them?" Hank asked anxiously.

"Cap the 4th floor is all marked off, I think they finished it. We can't reach the third floor the ceiling collapsed and has it blocked. They must be on the other side of it."

"Okay, get out of there." Hank knew they couldn't do anything from that spot now. He was still unable to reach them by HT which was ominous to the Captain. His eyes scanned the third floor windows.

"Come on guys, where are you?"

Roy was trying to keep his feet under him, to keep up with Johnny but he was struggling for each breath now. His lungs were burning like fire and he was getting dizzy.

Johnny reached the end of the hallway to find another window with bars on it. Looking out the window he couldn't see anyone at that end of the building. He needed to get their attention. Now he knew the door to the left was the front of the building. He pushed Roy away from him, looking at his face. His color was ashen, he was now gasping.

Leaning him against the wall he used one hand to hold him up as he tried to open the door. Finding it locked he let go of Roy long enough to try and ram it with his shoulder. The locks held. Roy's knees folded and he started to head for the floor. Johnny reached out and caught him, lowering him to the floor. He needed the ax back, but it was down the hallway somewhere, knocked out of their hands in the exposion. He didn't have time to hunt it down. Looking down at Roy he found more strength and took his foot and power slammed the door, kicking it open. He scooped up Roy and pulled him over his shoulder and turned into the small apartment.

He went straight for the old worn out couch and placed Roy on it. He was now unconscious, his breathing ragged. Johnny turned and went to close the door back, pulling a blanket from the back of a chair to shove under the door trying to block the smoke. He returned to Roy and taking his mask off placed it on him.

"Come on Roy, take some breaths for me. Please," Johnny begged him. But then Johnny's tank also beeped. They were both on their own. Johnny went to the front window and could see the fire trucks below and all the men running around but he knew they couldn't see him in the dark. He grabbed a chair from the kitchen table and shoved it against the window has hard as he could, shattering the glass. Sticking his arm out through the bars he yelled for help.

Chet and Marco came out of the building hauling hose and butt. They went straight to the engine, "Any word from Johnny and Roy?"

Hank shook his head at Chet, "Nothing. Chief has ordered the building evacuated. That roof is starting to go." Their hearts were heavy, knowing their friends were still inside and they couldn't do anything yet.

"CAP!"

They all turned to see Mike pointing at the window on the third floor. It was them. Hank picked up the HT, "HT to Battalion."

"Go ahead Hank."

"Our men, there in the third floor window, last one on the left." Hank was pointing with all his might, like the Chief could see him through the HT.

Suddenly a spot light found the flailing arms. Hank grabbed the bullhorn from the Engine cab.

"Gage, DeSoto we see you. Hold on, we're on the way." He turned to Mike, "Mike get the saw, we're gonna have to get those bars off to get them out." He then took a deep breath. They had found them and at least they were safe for now.

Johnny, after being blinded by the spotlight listened to his Captains call. It was a great relief to know they were on the way. For now he just had to keep Roy going until they could get him out of here. He went back over to the couch and knelt down beside him.

"Roy." But Roy was now quiet; there were no more ragged breaths to be heard. Johnny pulled his turn out coat open and placed his hand on his abdomen. Looking into his face he could see his blue lips.

"Oh God Roy, don't do this to me."

Johnny leaned over and began the mouth to mouth rescue breathing and prayed they would hurry to save them.