When Fires Collide - Chapter 1
First and foremost, Huge Thank You to Foxfire69 for the use of his OC Cinder. She has become a great part of many of my stories now. If you haven't read his stories pop over and read those. There are several references / spoilers for his books that are a part of this story. Also if you have read the first story 'Origins - A Skase Eversahll Story' do soasit introduces characters from this story. As always read and enjoy.
It had been two months since Smudge had left for his home in London. Cinder had spoken with him many times since then and had even watched the Graduation and Appointment Ceremony that the London Fire Brigade had held for him. Marshall and the Paw Patrol had watched from the Lookout as well. Cinder's first weekend off was coming up and she had planned to call Smudge for a long chat.
Smudge had called Marshall and told him about his farewell for now encounter with Cinder. "I really wish I could have seen that," Marshall said with a knowing smile.
"I'm sure I had a goofy grin on my face for at least half the trip home," said Smudge.
"I'm glad she gave you a little hope," said Marshall, "Give her time, she'll figure things out. She just needs to assure herself that the distance isn't too much of a hurdle."
"As I said before," Smudge explained, "She's worth waiting for. Well, goodbye, talk to you soon. Oh, tell Chase that Bruno wants to meet him even if it's only a video meeting."
"I will," laughed Marshall, "Take care of yourself. Talk to you soon."
Marshall hung up and sighed.
"Such a long sigh," said Everest from nearby. "I'm not sure if you're not going to miss him as much as you do Cinder."
"Cinder was right in that he is easy to talk to," said Marshall, "He's a good friend. And yes, I'm going to miss him. But nowhere near as much as I do Cinder; or you." Marshall added with a smooch.
Tones alarmed at the station. Cinder was at her desk going over various station training reports.
'All Alert! Major Accident on the interstate. Passenger bus and at least three other vehicles involved. Witnesses report one of the vehicles on fire. Heavy Rescue, Station 25 respond code 3.'
Cinder listened to the radio as multiple stations were toned indicating a large Task Force incident. She ran for her locker and grabbed her gear stepping onto the engine as soon as she had her gear on. She looked at her driver and verified he was sure of the location. She looked in the eyes of everyone and saw the tension she knew that she herself felt.
"Ok, guys," Cinder said, in her soft but commanding voice, "We have a possible mass casualty incident. We've trained for this. If you get over your head, call for help. Once we make the scene address fire concerns and let's get everyone triaged as fast and efficiently as we can."
"Yes, Chief Cinder," replied the crew.
As the engine pulled onto the highway cars were backed up well past the entrance ramp. The crews made their way to the inside lanes where there was an established emergency vehicle lane. Cinder looked ahead toward the scene. There was a large plume of heavy black smoke rising.
"We definitely have fire," Cinder softly noted, "Fire containment is our primary priority. Heavy rescue will begin triage upon arrival."
As they drove closer toward the scene, it was apparent the bus had caught fire and was spreading.
"Oh ***!" said Cinder softly, or so she thought. There was absolute silence in the engine. Cinder never cursed. A grim feeling of dread swept over the crew.
"Ok guys," said Cinder softly, "We know what to do. Get the fire contained as fast as possible. If you see a rescue opportunity and can safely do so, take it."
"Yes Chief!," called the crew.
Cinder provided dispatch an update and requested an additional engine company. They were advised other apparatuses were delayed because of the back up but were on the way.
The engine pulled to a halt, Cinder bailed and ran to perform a 360 degree assessment. As she ran by the bus she noted a small girl about 5 years old standing near the bus screaming for her mother. Cinder ran over to her.
"Sweetie," asked Cinder softly, "Where is your mother?"
"I-in there," the girl said, pointing to the bus. "She pushed me out the window and said she-she loved me. I-is she going to be ok?"
Cinder looked toward the bus seeing the flames blowing through the windows and knowing in her gut the truth. She hated this part of the job.
"Come with me," said Cinder, turning the little girl from the grizzly scene. "The fire fighters are doing everything they can."
Cinder grabbed her radio and provided an update also calling for the medics to come take the child. They ran up and she quickly provided a quick explanation.
The medics lead the girl away to the awaiting ambulance where they began their assessments. The crews were already attacking the fire when Cinder turned back. In total four vehicles had been involved along with the passenger bus. The bus had run up on top of a small passenger car which, after the impact, had caught fire quickly spreading to the bus. The other three vehicles had not been able to stop in time and struck the bus or other vehicles diving away from the growing collision.
The fire took over an hour to control and ended up requiring three additional engine crews. The heavy rescue truck had also arrived and begun their task of freeing those that could be saved from the wreckage first and then returning to begin removing the bodies of those that had succumbed to injuries or the fire. In total twenty people of twenty five had escaped the bus before the fire overtook those remaining; including the little girl's mother and father. Three others had succumbed to injuries including the driver of the vehicle that later was found to have cut off the bus and caused the accident initially. In total, 8 people had been killed.
Cinder performed with enviable precision but was working on skill and her instincts; inside she had shut out the world after hearing the child describe being thrown out the window by her mother knowing she would not survive but who's last effort was to save her child.
"Chief," said Sadie, "The fire is contained and all viable victims have been transported."
"Good, good," said Cinder softly and robotically.
"Chief?" said Sadie, "Chief, are you ok?"
Cinder looked at Sadie but could not see her. Sadie turned and ran to find Ashley. She found Ashley talking to Skipper. She quickly explained what she saw in Chief Cinder. They both stopped and moved toward Cinder.
"Cinder," said Ashley, "come with me."
"I have to complete this," said Cinder. "I have to…" Cinder looked around noting that everything was done and crews were rolling up hoses as the law enforcement and medical examiners office began their part of the process.
"It's handled," said Skipper, "Cinder, you did great. You go with Ashley, we've got the clean up covered."
Ashley led Cinder over to Skipper's vehicle and sat her in the back seat. Ashley moved around to the other side and sat down beside the Dalmatian.
"Cinder, You and your crew did an amazing job with what you were presented," said Ashley.
"She watched her parents die," Cinder whispered softly, as the tears began to fall. Ashley reached over and pulled Cinder into a hug.
"Her mother shoved her out the window of the bus," Cinder explained softly, "She knew. Her last thought was to save her child. I don't even know the child's name. I …"
"Cinder, her name is Cindy," explained Ashley. "She is completely uninjured. You got her safely away."
"She watched them die," Cinder repeated softly.
"Cinder, you did everything you could," said Ashley, knowing in her heart she wanted to cry as well.
"She watched them die," was all Cinder kept repeating. Suddenly she began to sob huge tears rolling down her muzzle. "Why would that happen, why?" Cinder whimpered softly as she buried her face in her paws. Ashley held her as she wept. Many miles away a certain Dalmatian suddenly felt anguish like he never had before.
Marshall was playing with Chase when he inexplicably collapsed to the floor of the Lookout. Chase ran to his side.
"Marshall!," said Chase, "Marshall, what's wrong?"
Suddenly Marshall began weeping and softly whimpering, "Oh Cinder."
Chase hit his pup tag, "Everest! come to the Lookout fast!"
"Is it Marshall?" asked Everest, "What happened? Is it Marshall?"
"I don't know," said Chase, "I think it might be Cinder. Marshall is repeating her name and he isn't responding to me."
"I'm coming!" said Everest. She was with Skye at Katie's getting her nails done. She ran, she didn't even stop for her snowcat. She ran with everything she had. Skye jumped into her chopper and followed her to the Lookout.
Chase had hung up with Everest and called Ryder. Moments later, Ryder ran into the room.
"Marshall?" asked Ryder, "Marshall, talk to me. What's happened?"
"Cinder, oh Cinder," was all that Marshall whimpered.
Everest ran into the room from the elevator. "Where is he?"
"Over here Everest," called Chase.
"He still won't talk to us," said Ryder.
"Marshall?" asked Everest, lifting his head from his paws. "What's happened?"
Marshall looked into her eyes, tears streaming from his eyes, Marshall whimpered softly, "Pain, she's hurting, she's hurting badly…"
Everest ran to the control room. She tried to call Cinder's cell phone, no answer. She thought, then she called Ashley. A few rings later Ashley picked up.
"Everest?" Ashley said.
"What's happened?" said Everest, "Marshall's collapsed, did something happen to Cinder?"
"She's not injured but I need you to bring Marshall here as fast as you can," said Ashley. "Cinder just finished leading a mass casualty response with multiple fatalities when she suffered an operational stress injury (OSI). We need Marshall down here as soon as possible."
"Understood, I'll get him down there!" Everest replied before hanging up.
"Ryder!" called Everest.
Ryder ran into the control room, "What's happened Everest?"
"Cinder suffered an OSI" Everest yipped, "Marshall needs to get to her in Heartland right now!"
Ryder opened his pup pad, "Robodog, bring the air patroller up on the double!"
"Arf, Arf" acknowledged Robodog. In a matter of moments Robodog set the Air Patroller down in the yard.
"Chase, you're in charge until I get back," ordered Ryder, picking up Marshall and carrying him into the Air Patroller. "Robodog, take us to Heartland as fast as you can fly."
"We're going Marshall," said Everest softly as she stroked the fur on top of his head. Marshall whimpered in response. Then, she called Ashley and let her know they were on the way.