After securing the hotel front doors opened Mike returned to the stairwell to clear a path for his colleagues. The stairwell itself was the only means of traversing the hotel with the elevators out of commission, let alone too dangerous for use in a fire.

Massive portions of broken drywall and support beams filled the base of the stairwell, making it impossible for anyone to walk up or down the stairs. Grabbing ahold of the largest pieces of debris Mike began pulling the obstructing matter clear. Bit by bit the pile of broken beams, plaster, wires, glass and pipes were moved from the stairwell and onto an ever growing pile on the floor behind him.

The thick smoke that rolled through the stairwell was blinding and pungent. Unable to see how far the blockade extended Mike continued to use his hands to locate any pieces that he could unwedge and toss aside.

Embers and ash continued to rain down in an ethereal snow storm, swirling around the lone firefighter in a glowing fog.

Coughing Mike took a moment to rest, his lower back still aching from his initial fall from the explosion. Slipping up his face mask Mike wiped the drying, sticky blood from his face as well as the fresh layer of sweat. As soon as his face was exposed to the smoke his eyes stung from the acrid cloud of dark smoke and embers.

"Hey can anyone hear me?" He called out quickly before covering his face to take a fresh breath. Coughing once more he slipped off his mask and called again. "Chet, Roy, Marco, Johnny? Are you there?" Unable to stand the smoke any longer he slipped back on his mask and resumed clearing the pathway.

"Mike?" Chet had just barely managed to hear Mike's voice. "Mike? Where are you?"

"Right here!" Mike replied, yelling loudly so he wouldn't have to slip off his mask anymore. "At the base of the stairwell."

"You sound like your ten feet away. I can't see."

"Me neither. Are you alone?"

"No! Marco, Johnny and Roy are here, too."

"Anyone hurt?"

"Yeah." Chet admitted, knowing they were so close to the exit.

"How bad?"

"My ankle's broken and Roy's unconscious. Marco and Johnny are a little banged up, but nothing too serious. How about you?"

"Just a few bruises." Mike found a long jagged piece of a broken support beam laying diagonally across the stairwell. "I'll get the pathway cleared for you, just a little more to clear."

With Mike clearing away the debris at the bottom of the stairwell Marco began clearing away what debris he could from their position higher up on the stairwell.

Chet looked over at Johnny who was being uncharacteristically quiet. Even through the thick smoke and smudged face masks he could see that Johnny was exhausted and in pain. "Johnny, how're you holding up?"

"I'm okay, Chet. More worried about Roy. How's your ankle feel?"

"The ankle can wait, how's Roy? How long has he been out?"

"Don't know. He was out when I found him, and hasn't woken up since." Johnny let out a pained breath as he shifted his weight to keep Roy steady across his shoulders.

"You sure you're alright?" Chet knew that Johnny would never willingly admit to being injured or feeling ill, especially when Roy needed help. Some would argue that this was a weakness of character, others would say it was a strength.

"Yeah, just tired."

An ominous groaning sound from the top of the stairwell caught both Johnny and Chet's attention. The groaning sounded like wooden floor boards warping, ready to snap.

"Chet, did you hear that?"

"Yeah... Sounds about two floors up."

"Think we could get through the stairwell?"

Chet looked at the small opening that was still being created by Mike and Marco. "Maybe."

"I think we'll have to chance it."

"I think you're right." Chet put his hand on Marco's shoulder. "We need to get out of here, the floors above are going to collapse."

Marco nodded and stepped back, toward the wall.

Chet yelled down toward Mike. "Mike, we're going to get through the stairwell now, we're running out of time."

"Right, I'll guide you down."

Johnny slowly lowered Roy down to the floor and sat his unconscious partner against the wall. "Marco, Chet and I will help you get down the stairs. Then you and Mike can carry Roy down after you."

"Right, no problem." Marco understood Johnny's plan and acted accordingly.

Taking an awkward step forward Marco pressed his hand against the wall for guidance and felt Mike's gloved hand grab ahold of his other arm. Mike helped guide Marco over the layer of debris and onto the base of the stairwell.

"I'm through!" Marco called back to his awaiting colleagues.

"Good work, Marco!" Chet responded relieved. "We're going to lift up Roy and send him down to you, okay?"

"Okay, we're ready."

Johnny lifted Roy up from under his arms while Chet grabbed Roy's legs. Carefully the two firefighters worked together to carry Roy over to the thinned wall of debris and hand the unconscious man to the awaiting men below. Marco reached over the blockade and took ahold of Roy's legs while Mike supported Roy's shoulders.

"We've got him." Marco confirmed.

"Now get him out!" Johnny called. "We'll follow!"

Mike and Marco didn't want to leave either Johnny or Chet behind, but knew that Roy was their priority at the moment. "Okay, but move it!"

"Like always." Chet confirmed.

"Here Chet," Johnny stood over the blockade at an odd angle. "lean on me, step down."

The groaning continued.

"You don't have to tell me twice." Chet quipped as he used Johnny's shoulders as leverage to step over the blockade. "Alright, I'm over."

...to be continued...