One Sunny Morning, Inside The Engine Bay…
It was a sunny and quiet morning at House 55.
Inside, the entire engine bay was abandoned and deserted, while the trucks were there, the place seemed deserted. The sun rays shined through the door windows that were closed while the trucks looked somewhat dusty. Turnout gear at the respective trucks as it slowly moved between the two rows.
BEE BEEP
BEE BEEP
BEE BEEP
The PASS Device is an alarm, sewn into firefighter's gear, specifically their SCBAs. It automatically goes off if motionless for too long. A sound haunting to any firefighter. It means a firefighter is down. Someone has fallen. From what one thinks is a rescue, now turns into a recovery… It means…
CRASH
CRUMBLE
WHIRRR
We have to say goodbye to one of our own…
An explosion went off on the upper floors, and the lights of the stairwell soon powered off. Metal clanging was heard from above.
Both the Lieutenant and Captain turned on their flashlights.
*BEEP* "Mayday! Mayday! Firefighters down! There was an explosion on the upper floors! Half of Squad 55 is trapped! We need a RIT Team right now! Over!" Michelle radioed.
On the outside of the skyscraper, sirens continuously wailed as red, white, blue, and orange siren lights continuously flashed around the area. Every ambulance and fire truck in the city was there. The scene moved from left to right showing a handful of trucks parked out front, including Engine, Truck, Aid, and Squad 55.
"Negative! We can't send anyone up!" Chief Walker answered.
"Chief, we have to get up there and help-"
Stella set down a set of radios as she got on her radio unit. "Captain, we have to help the people out here! Triage has relocated outside! We're still pulling victims from the building, the structure is not sound! " She said as a truck horn blared loudly in the background. Black smoke poured from the upper levels of the skyscraper. "Squad found out of those chemicals and ordered the Chiefs for a full evacuation!" Stella continued as more trucks arrived. One Aerial Ladder arrived in front of Engine 55. She then saw a firefighter walking by.
"Hey hey hey! Get PD to move those crowds back, and those news vans are blocking our Aid Cars! Get 'em out here!" Stella ordered while several stretchers were headed to the Aid Cars.
"Got it!"
"We understand but we're so close to the floor that exploded, we-" Michelle was cut off as a Squad company arrived.
"Chief Walker! How far out are our other Ambulances?" Stella asked.
"Two minutes out, Shortman!"
Stella gave a thumbs-up as she walked in a different direction. "It's all hands on deck out here, McShay! I don't wanna lose anyone else and that includes you and Spinelli! Get down here! Both of you!" Stella went to talk with a Battalion Chief.
Inside the building, the elevator that took half of Squad opened. Suarez and Dean came out carrying the unconscious man.
"Lieutenant! Are you there?" Dean radioed. "Ugh!" He grunted to hold up the victim. No response on the radio. "ARNOLD ANSWER ME, MAN! … Ugh!"
"McCaffery! Cruz! You there?" Pep tried her radio, but no response either. "Come on, let's get this guy out and we head back in once we replace our (SCBA) cylinders!" The two nodded.
Outside, the entrance had police tape warped around, but not the entrance itself. The police tape was wrapped around the crime scene lights that were at the entrance while sirens reflected from it.
"AYE! WE NEED A GURNEY OVER HERE!" Dean shouted as two firefighters brought over a stretcher.
Suarez and Smith set the man on the stretcher. "He's unresponsive and suffering from SEVERE smoke inhalation!" He then saw a firefighter from 43. "We still got missing firefighters on 26! Grab a jump bag, we'll handle the backboards! But we'll need more hands!"
Right before they walked away, Stella stopped them. "Hey hey HEY! No one goes back into the building!"
"But Chief, our people are still inside!…" Pep confronted her. "Not to mention your SON is up there!" Dean added.
"We can't just leave them!" Michelle radioed while Stella sighed. "We're under full evacuation protocol!"
"But Chief! Cruz, McCaffery, and Shortman stayed behind to contain that blast! What part of that do you not understand?!" Pep insisted. "And you don't think I don't know that?!… Look, until engineers give us the go-ahead, we can't risk sending anyone inside! All we can assume is that the building will collapse!"
"BUT- we were just with them! We can take the elevator up! Us and 43-" Dean started while sirens flashed from Engine 55, but Stella cut him off. "ABSOLUTELY NOT! Elevators were shut down, the building is off limits!-"
"But Chief-"
"WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO NEED OUR HELP OUT HERE! So you three glove up and get to work! And McShay! You and Spinelli get your asses out of there!" Dean, Suarez, and Pep stared in frustration at the Chief.
"Do you copy?" Michelle looked at Spinelli. Spinelli shook her head and motioned up. "Fuck that…" She started going up the stairs. Michelle followed behind without answering Stella.
Meanwhile…
Bright blue and red siren lights flashed as a black police SUV arrived at the ER of MedStar.
"Got a patient here!" A man shouted from inside as the SUV door was opened.
"I need a gurney here now!" Phoebe soon got out the other side as Bob was dragged onto the gurney.
"Thirty or forty-year-old male, unwitnessed cardiac arrest, unknown cause! No history of cardiac problems! Ongoing CPR! I need an IV started, and a milligram of EPI pushed NOW!" Phoebe continued chest compressions as they headed inside.
Tanner's phone started ringing as he breathed heavily.
"Spinelli here. Unless you got something important, piss off!" He reached her voice mail.
Back At The Skyscraper…
Spinelli and Michelle were heading up the stairs when they soon encountered Vic and Alexander.
"Spinelli? Michelle? What the hell are you two heading up the stairs?" Donovan asked.
"There was an explosion!" Spinelli answered without stopping.
"Yeah, that's why we're heading DOWN THE STAIRS! WE GOTTA GET OUT OF HERE!" Vic shouted. "HALF OF SQUAD IS STILL UP THERE!" Spinelli yelled.
"HANG ON!" Donovan yelled, but the two were already out of reach. "I'll go with them!" He told Vic.
"No we both will!" Vic suggested. "No! You find more people and get them out and then get back up here as FAST as you can! Ok?" Donovan soon started heading upstairs. Vic ran downstairs as Donovan's helmet flashlight blurred into a flashback…
Eleven Years Ago…
At West Hillwood Fire Academy, around thirty applicants were all lined up and gathered. A few of them stood out too…
An eighteen-year-old tomboy tucked in her red shirt while a blonde football head stood next to her. He cleared his throat and fixed his shirt before noticing the young tomboy. Another applicant soon lined up next to him.
"Thought there'd be more or less." The football head started.
"What?" The tomboy replied.
"I didn't know there were gonna be female recruits here, that's all." The football head shrugged. "Thousands of applicants, thirty recruits, only two females."
"If you're insinuating you want to get in my pants, I'll knock your teeth down your throat and I'll shove-" The tomboy soon got interrupted. "Woah, easy. I'm not trying to say that! I'm just saying I'm impressed. Almost no female applicants nowadays, to be honest." The football head said.
The recruit next to the football head cleared his throat. "Ah hem? Hello? I'm standing right here. Take it outside."
"Chill out, man. What are your names, by the way?" The football head asked.
"Donovan. Donovan Alexander. Some call me Don for short." Donovan bumped fists with the football head. "I'm Arnold. Arnold Shortman." The two then looked at the young tomboy.
She sighed. "Spinelli…"
"No first name? Pretty odd." Arnold looked at Spinelli.
"I don't like my first name! Ok?"
Donovan looked at the football head. "Wait… Arnold Shortman? Thee Arnold Shortman? High school football pass rush legend? Bro, you were a walking highlight!"
Arnold looked at Donovan. "You're a legend yourself, Don! National Gold Medalist track runner and cross country, not just in high school! Believe it or not, I admire your stamina."
While Spinelli rolled her eyes and stuck her tongue out briefly in disgust… "So? What's your story? Multiple D1 scholarship offers? What brings you to the Fire Academy?" Donovan asked.
Arnold shrugged. "I wanted to follow in my mother's footsteps. As much as I wanted to take up a scholarship, I decided to follow something else. What's your story? Gold Medalist track runner now at a Fire Academy?" He asked.
Donovan shrugged. "I don't know, to be fair with you. I guess I wanted to pursue something else. One untold thing, for me at least, is how lonely it can kind of get. Maybe not all track runners feel the same, but that was my experience."
"How about you, Spinelli?" Arnold looked at her.
"Pfft. I come from nothing. I'on have a story like you two high school sports big shots. All I can say is this was a chance to prove myself." She crossed her arms briefly.
Before Arnold said anything, Spinelli continued. "And just because you're being nice to me, and I have a vagina, doesn't mean we have to sleep together. I'd never sleep with you now, nor ever…" She glared. Arnold shrugged. "Geez. So much for trying to be friends…"
"You know, during my years of training for Track and Cross Country, I learned that there's safety in numbers, strength in numbers, so I suggest you two patch it up. 'Cause one thing we should consider is sticking together." Donovan explained as the training instructor walked to them. Spinelli and Arnold looked at Donovan briefly. They looked at each other soon. Spinelli looked away while Arnold kept looking at her.
Present Day
"We're sticking together, guys! Whether you like it or not!" Donovan ran up the stairs behind them.
Outside…
Radio chatter went on as sirens wailed, Dean was treating a smoke inhalation victim at an ambulance.
"Breathe deep. You know the drill. Breathe deeply." Dean said as Pep came over. "How's everything over here?"
Soon, a woman came over. "Excuse me! Were you upstairs? Did you see my daughter? Her name's Molly! She has dark hair. She told me a few of you were upstairs with her, she even told me about the station with her! She was upstairs texting me but she then stopped. We were going to meet at the red planters across the street when she came down, the place where we end our morning phone calls before she goes in to face her boss. He's a jerk!" Dean and Pep looked at the mother. "I'm sorry, but I'm a mom and I have to say things like that. Oh! Here's a picture of her. Have you seen her?" The mother soon showed them a picture on her phone.
"Ma'am, we're truly sorry, we don't know where she can be but we'll keep an eye out." Pep told her while firefighters walked by in the background.
"… Just a little further… Just need to get to triage so they can give you a chest tube and we can get back to Montgomery… before he, um… We never got your name, what's your name?" Murray asked. Murray was carrying Molly's arms while Watkins carried her legs.
"Molly… But everyone calls me Molly…" She replied.
"Ok, Molly, I'm Murray, he's Watkins. Tell us something about yourself, we need you to be conscious!"
"… I can name every state capitol…" She wheezed.
"I bet not South Dakota…" Murray replied with a small chuckle.
"Pierre… Easy…"
"How about Jersey?" Murray asked. "Molly?" Molly was now choking and wheezing.
"Shit! Set her down! She's suffocating!" Murray and Watkins quickly set her down.
"She's suffocating, she's cyanotic. We need a chest tube, but with what?" Murray looked at Watkins, who quickly grabbed an EPI pen from Molly's first aid kit. "This could buy us time 'till we get her down!"
"Yes! Alright, just hang on…" Murray opened her jacket enough to reveal a spot to insert the needle.
"AAAAH! OW!"
Murray let out a relieved sigh. "You're okay, you're okay, Molly… Watkins, get me some padding or anything. We need to keep it as still as possible." Murray told him.
Watkins got a few cotton balls and some tape to place around the needle.
After Murray stabilized the needle… "Alright, I'll take her down from her, get back up there and get Montgomery out of here!" Murray picked up Molly.
"You sure?"
"As long as I don't get dizzy or anything, I'll be fine…" Murray referred to his medical issue that got him off Squad.
Watkins immediately started heading up.
In the other direction, Vic was running down the stairs when she soon found Travis unconscious.
"Travis?… Travis! TRAVIS!" She kneeled near him. "Come on, come on…! Have a pulse!… Please have a pulse! Please have a pulse!" She checked his neck area for a pulse.
Metal creaked from above. "… Pulse! Ok! Travis? Travis, OPEN YOUR DAMN EYES! OPEN YOUR EYES IF YOU CAN HEAR ME!"
Flashback from Two Years Ago
During a winter morning, inside the engine bay of Firehouse 55… "Look, I don't know who you are, but I know damn well you're not talking to me like that." Travis was talking with a recently transferred Victoria Doss while loading the SCBA cylinders into the old Truck 55, which was a four-wheel 1996 Seagrave Gladiator Aerial compared to the present-day Truck 55.
The only features it kept were its rear red beacon siren lights, and the siren lights on the cab. It also transitioned from four wheels to six wheels.
To briefly summarize the rigs of then vs. now, back then, Station 55 housed three usual trucks, including the Chief's pickup. Truck 55, Engine 55, Aid Car 55, and Battalion 55. Truck 55 was a four-wheeled 1996 Seagrave Gladiator Aerial Ladder. Engine 55 was a 1995 Spartan Metro Star. And Aid 55 was a 2008 Ford E-350 Ambulance Type III.
Compared to now (Present day trucks) Firehouse 55 houses four rigs, including the Chiefs pickup as previously mentioned. With the arrival of the new Squad truck, and despite the crash between Truck 55 and Truck 66, House 55 was given one more chance on a new Truck. Truck 55 is a six-wheeled 2014 Pierce Dash CF Aerial Ladder. While it kept the same siren light setup from the old truck (even the rear red siren beacons), it had a mounted 125-foot ladder, with the front of the ladder extended by four and a half feet, which also made the rear a little more extended by a few feet, making it one of the bigger trucks in the entire Department, or, quite frankly, the biggest truck. Engine 55 was a recent and brand new model after the old Engine was destroyed. Engine 55 is currently a 2020 Pierce Enforcer Engine. Squad 55 is a six-wheeled Pierce Squad Heavy-Duty Truck. Aid 55 was also replaced with a Ford F550 Type I Ambulance. And finally, the Chief's pickup is a 2020 Ford F-150 Fire pickup, without the bed topper.
"Take a step back, new girl, and let me load the cylinders in peace." Travis told her. "I'd rather have my ears stuffed with snow rather than hear you trolling me."
Vic softly chuckled. "So you think I should be seen but not heard, hm?"
"At this moment, yeah." Travis kept storing away the cylinders.
"So I should know my place because I'm the new girl?" Vic asked whilst smiling.
"Or maybe because you're new." Travis answered. "First time a girl works here who isn't all that serious…" Travis referred to Spinelli and Michelle as being more serious than Vic.
"Ok, I have news for you, buddy! You don't know me!" Vic started, but Travis took over. "My fiance died two weeks ago, we've all been through crap. Both our Lieutenants have their own shit going on. Our Captain is having issues. Ok? Look… Take a number, or take my advice. Dial it back a notch, you're not getting through all this. Okay?" Travis said as he finished loading the cylinders and closed the compartment door. He soon walked away.
"Finished up, Lieutenant!" Travis told Spinelli.
"Alright, Montgomery. You! New girl! Get to cleaning the Chief's pickup! It's not cleaning itself!" Spinelli shouted while she had a chewed apple in hand.
Vic only stood in disbelief as everything blurred out to the present…
Present Day
"Come on, Trav! We'll get through this! We'll get through this!" Vic exclaimed. Travis finally opened his eyes. "OKAY! Ok! We'll get through this! Ok! We'll get through this dammit!" She started to drag him along, with blood smearing against the floor.
Meanwhile…
Things for Squad haven't been exactly… smooth, nor anything else for that matter.
Dean stood with his hands on his hips, clueless on what to do, sweat dripping from his face. Pep had her arms crossed as she looked at their rig, Squad 55 whilst sweat dripped from her. Suarez looked at the field of ambulances as it looked familiar to a callout he had with Cruz once.
The red siren lights flashing off Pep soon blurred into a flashback…
Flashback Eleven Years Ago
At the West Hillwood Fire Academy, Dean looked unrecognizable. Currently sitting down at a table reading a book about select poems, Pep came over with Arnold, who had his arm over her as they laughed together.
"Arnold, I didn't think a big football pass rush star would throw away his future career for firefighting." Pep purred. Arnold kissed her forehead. "Don't forget the charm I mentioned." He smirked.
Dean rolled his eyes as someone else came over. "Smith, right? I heard you pulled off the sledge drill in under three minutes." It was none other than Scott Gibson.
"And?" Dean replied without looking.
"I'm most likely gonna do it two, FYI." Scott sat on the table and chewed loudly on his apple.
"Look, I don't know you, I didn't do anything to you, so I'm trying to read. Ok?" Dean answered. Scott chewed on his apple louder.
"Gibson, you really couldn't have been dropped on your head harder…" Arnold lowered his eyelids. Scott shrugged without caring while a big sweat spot on his back could be seen. Pep giggled at Arnold.
"I'm just trying to get our trainer's attention but it's not gonna happen if you keep beating my time." Scott kept testing Dean.
"Not my problem." Dean shrugged without caring.
"It will be if I beat you." Scott insisted.
"It won't." Dean answered while looking at his poem book.
"Will too."
"Nah, it won't. 'Cause I could care less."
"Bet you will."
"Bet you're more wrong." Scott teasingly continued.
Dean shook his head. Scott crunched loudly on his apple.
"Oh, my God! Will you STOP CRUNCHING THAT APPLE!?" Dean stood up in frustration after slamming his book against the table. Everything turned silent.
Dean shook his head and picked up his phone and book. "Whatever. It's not worth it…" He walked away.
Pep briefly looked at Dean before looking back at Arnold and giggling.
Present Day…
As the scene shifted into the middle of Truck and Squad 55, red and white siren lights flashed around the area as Pep and Dean were with the Chief, Arnold's mother.
"Are you saying it's not worth it going back in for Shortman?" Pep asked in frustration while an Ambulance arrived behind them.
"Ma'am!" Dean tried to insist as they walked past their Squad rig. "Not until we have the all clear from our engineers! There's still active fire in there!" Stella exclaimed. "Hey, hey! I have two men with second-degree burns with red cards at triage, section C! GO!" Stella told a paramedic.
"Copy!" The paramedic ran to triage.
"CHIEF! We have every first responder in the city! You can spare us and another company! You even have other Chiefs! YOU HAVE TO SEND US BACK IN!" Pep insisted but Stella stopped.
"NO, I CAN'T!" Stella sighed deeply. "You think I don't want to send anyone up? As much as I want to, the building could be compromised, and I can't gamble any more lives. You guys are already out here, and I need you DOWN HERE! THAT'S MY FINAL CALL!" Stella walked away.
Red and white siren lights flashed at them as they looked around. Two Battalion Chiefs walked by.
While Dean stood there in defeat, Pep wasn't giving up. Pep tugged on Dean's coat. "Screw whatever she says! Remember the warehouse fire? Owned by Mr. Kimball? She was prepared to gamble with time. Let's go! This isn't her! Sooner or later she has to realize what we're doing is the right call." She ran over to pick up her SCBA and helmet and strap it on. "Come on! You in or what?"
Dean got his SCBA and helmet and followed behind.
Pep saw Suarez and signaled him over. He immediately picked up his SCBA and helmet and followed behind without anyone noticing them.
"This is the floor Squad contained the explosion! Fire most likely burnt itself out!" Spinelli started as she put her halligan down and put her gloves on. "Either that or we'll get swallowed up by a backdraft, genius!" Michelle warned.
Spinelli felt the door with her bare hand. "It's hot, the handle's jammed! Pressure pulling it shut probably!"
"Or maybe warped! If it's probably hot enough to have this door warped, maybe we should THINK about what it is we're all doing here! A backdraft can kill us instantly! We don't even know if this building is stable!" Donovan tried to warn her.
CLANG
Spinelli threw her halligan against the ground. "THEN GO! IF YOU DON'T WANNA BE HERE! HOW ABOUT YOU TWO COWARDS GO? I'LL GO AFTER SQUAD BY MYSELF IF I HAVE TO!" She yelled. She picked up her halligan and continued to try and pry open the door.
Flashback Eleven Years Ago
At the West Hillwood Fire Academy, running hose drills made Spinelli feel over the edge.
"I can't…." Spinelli panted in exhaustion while wearing a weighted vest. "Come on, you can't stop now! You can't give up now!" Arnold encouraged. "Here I thought you'd have enough strength to do this."
"Maybe this is too much… I guess my parents were right… Maybe I'm in over my head…. I'm surprised you're still insisting even if I told you to buzz off…" Spinelli stood up and put her hands on her hips while gasping for air.
The trainer blew his whistle. "Spinelli! What's the holdup?" He exclaimed.
Other recruits only snickered at her.
Arnold grabbed Spinelli's arm and pulled her close. "Hey. Don't let 'em get to you. Show them what you're made of! Prove 'em wrong! Just like the PASS Device. Once you stop moving, you're dead. You can't afford to stop now!" Spinelli soon nodded and took a deep breath.
Soon, she crouched down and started tugging on the hoses again.
"That's right! Hand over hand! Big pulls! You got this!" Arnold encouraged while Spinelli grunted, giving it her all.
Present Day
"I'm not stopping 'till I get in there!" Spinelli was unable to wedge the door open.
Donovan shook his head. "Then let's get in there without using all our energy! Tell me when!" Spinelli looked back. She soon raised her halligan to the door hinge bolt. "Go!" Donovan started hitting her halligan upward.
With both their halligans, they slowly removed the door hinge bolts to loosen up the door.
"One more!"
Repeating the process, both hinge bolts were removed from the door.
"… Nice…" Spinelli soon broke the door closer with her halligan.
CRACK
"We're in." The three started to mask up.
After getting their fireproof hoods and helmets on… "One! Two! Three!" Michelle counted down to cautiously remove the door.
They wedged the door away and set it aside.
"Oh my God…."
The entire floor was filled with smoke and everything in sight was burned.
"Come on." Spinelli led the way with Michelle and Donovan following.
Over with Murray, on the 10th floor, he was cautiously carrying down Molly.
"Alright, let's pause for just a second…" Murray set Molly down on the floor. He looked above as he heard heavy metal creaking.
Molly wheezed. "My mom… thinks that I'm all alone… crumpled up on the floor… alone… but I'm not… Thanks to you…"
Murray shrugged. "Yeah, well… just thank me when we're out of here…" He grimaced as he kept hearing the metal creaking. He was securing the needle in Molly's chest.
Soon, heavy footsteps came running up.
"HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY!" Murray shouted.
"AH! NO MORE STEPPING ON ME!" Molly yelled.
Pep froze as she saw it was Murray. "Murray?! Where are the others?!" She asked.
"No no no no no! Don't stop here to help! You gotta keep going and help the others! Montgomery and Watkins are still upstairs!" Murray exclaimed.
"Yeah! And the rest of Squad is still upstairs!" Dean added as they went ahead.
"Go! Just keep going! GO! GO!" Murray shouted.
"AH- OW!" Travis groaned in pain. "You see? If it hurts, you still have enough fight in you to care! Which means we're getting you out!" Vic was dragging him down the stairs.
"STOP!"
"Not a chance!"
Flashback Two Years Ago…
"Stop!" Travis started. "You have to lift your knees higher! Train like we fight! Fight like we-" Vic then interrupted. "Fight like we train. Yeah, I got the first twelve thousand times you told me while we do this gauntlet…" They kept running up the stairs.
"Knees up, new kid!" Travis told her.
"Kid is worse than GIRL! I'm not a child!" Vic answered.
"'I'm not a child!'" Travis mocked in a horrible high-pitched tone.
"…What was that?…" Vic started laughing.
"Me mocking you." Travis shrugged.
Vic shook her head while laughing. "Ok… listen, 'friend', you probably worked here years before me, but that doesn't mean you get to bark orders at me. You're not my Commanding Officer."
"Yeah, but I was still here way longer than you. Seniority rules." Travis answered.
"Ugh…" Vic scoffed while breathing heavily.
"Stairs again."
"Who died and made you my boss?" Vic started laughing away while Travis froze. Vic stopped laughing immediately.
"I'm not asking again. Do the stairs…" He started walking down.
Present Day
"YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO SPEAK UP, TRAVIS! I CAN'T HEAR YOU!" She soon noticed he was out cold. "OK! Ok! I can go faster now that you won't feel this!" She started dragging him along faster.
On the upper levels…
"… Alright, let's go!" The three finished connecting a line to each other.
As they looked around, it looked like there was nothing there at all. Everything was pitch black. "It's like the explosion took everything out… There's nothing in sight!" Donovan mentioned.
Spinelli stopped the two as she looked around.
BEE BEEP
BEE BEEP
BEE BEEP
… BEE BEEP
BEE BEEP
PASS Device alarms were blaring in the distance.
"Y'all hear that?"
They looked at one another. "Oh no…"
"That must be Squad!" Spinelli tried to go ahead. "HEY HEY HEY! HEY!" Michelle yanked on the rope Spinelli was connected to.
"OUCH!"
"We'll get toward Squad! We know you're anxious about your husband, but there is zero visibility! We have to treat this like any other call! Like any RIT rescue! We can only go as FAST as we can GO!" Michelle told her Lieutenant, who had a desperate expression at first, but soon nodded whilst the PASS Alarms kept blaring.
"Alright!… SQUAD! WE'RE HERE! WE'RE COMING TO YOU!" Spinelli yelled.
Soon, they cautiously moved forward while feeling the floor with their halligans.
All anyone could see was smoke and their flashlights.
At MedStar…
The waiting room was pretty empty while all the staff had their hands full.
While sirens flashed, standing beside Truck 48, two Chiefs were addressing the media. "There was an explosion inside the building, but it seems it was contained by half a company. Unfortunately… We still have firefighters unaccounted for but, uh, it'll be some time before we get any information on who they are." Chief Beckett explained to news reporters while Stella stood beside him.
"Excuse me! One more question!" One news reporter said. Tanner tried calling his Lieutenant friend, but nothing.
"I'm sorry, excuse us but we have to get back to work. Thank you." Chief Beckett and Stella soon walked away.
Phoebe soon came by. "How's he doing?" Tanner asked. Phoebe sighed. "He's stable. Did you get a hold of either of them yet?" She asked.
Tanner shook his head and looked at the TV. "They're most likely still in there…"
Phoebe shook her head. "Many of our own are still there…" She replied while looking at the TV.
News footage showed multiple Chiefs giving orders, paramedics treating the wounded, and firefighters running around carrying equipment or supplies, multiple shots of the black smoke pouring from the skyscraper, and multiple shots of the emergency vehicles, including Truck 55, Aid 29, Engine 23, Truck 43, and many more.
Back At The Skyscraper…
Half of Squad met up with Watkins and were heading up the stairs until…
"HEY! WATCH IT!" Vic yelled at Dean, who almost ran into her.
"WHAT THE HELL? IS EVERYBODY STILL IN THIS BUILDING?!" Dean asked with extreme confusion.
"ONE OF YOU, GRAB THE BOTTLE AND HELP ME OUT!" Vic grabbed Travis's legs.
"Watkins, you help her out! The rest of us will head back up!" Pep said.
Watkins soon grabbed Travis's SCBA straps. "On three! One! Two! Three!" They lifted Travis and started heading down the stairs.
"I have a feeling it's not just Squad still up there!" Pep mentioned as they started heading upstairs.
Flashback To The Academy
In an office, both Dean and Scott were with a commanding officer, specifically, a strict Lieutenant.
"Ignoring a Commanding Officer. Talking back to a Commanding Officer…. Stri- Striking a fellow trainee?" The Lieutenant finished.
"He started it." Both Dean and Scott pointed at each other.
The Lieutenant stood up and soon sat on his desk in front of them. "I'm gonna let you in on a secret. Ok? Just us." He started. The Lieutenant took a deep breath and his expression dropped. "I don't care. I don't care who started it. I don't care why. I don't care who was right or wrong. I don't care if you find a way to like each other. And I REALLY don't care if either you like me or not. All I care about is how well you do this job, how efficiently. Now, unless you can prove to me you can work things out well enough to accomplish that goal, I have absolutely no interest in passing either one of you out of the Academy. Is that clear?" The Lieutenant soon sat back in his chair.
"We'll work it out, Sir. I swear." Dean said.
"Or you won't. Fine with me too. Makes my job a lot easier. Weed you two out right now." He opened his office window shades. "Smith. Gelson. You're free to go."
Dean got up.
"It's actually Gibson, Sir." Scott said.
The Lieutenant looked at Scott. He looked around for a moment before answering . "Like I said, I don't care." Scott would only nod.
Present Day
At the entrance of the skyscraper, Murray came out with Molly. Crime scene lights lit the entrance as sirens reflected off.
"I NEED A GURNEY OVER HERE!" Murray yelled.
Two firefighters brought a stretcher to him. Molly was set down on the stretcher.
"Her lung collapsed, had to relieve the tension with a needle in her chest! She needs an IV!" Murray told the two firefighters.
Stella came over.
"Molly, you with me?" Murray asked. Molly wheezed. "Still here…"
Stella checked Molly's eyes. "Where's the rest of 55?" She asked.
"I… Montgomery's hurt, he needs help now! I haven't seen Truck or Engine! Smith, Clemente, and Suarez are inside, I think all of Squad!" Murray answered.
"Squad went back in?" Stella gave a confused look. " But everyone else- I thought we were all inside! Aren't most of us stuck on the upper levels?" Murray answered with a confused look.
Stella shook her head as Molly's mother came over.
"Molly! Thank God! What happened?" She asked.
"Mommy… I yelled at Mr. Sorenson. I- I think I'm gonna get fired…" Molly wheezed. "AH…"
"He's the one who should be fired, good riddance!" The mother answered while radio chatter went on.
Truck 55's ladder could be seen in the background. "I didn't think I'd see you again…" Molly told her mother.
"You know what I'm gonna do?" Molly's mother started while Murray and Stella gave strange looks at each other. "I'm gonna call Mrs. Mitchell. Remember her? She told me she needs help around the house!"
"I can get a new job by myself, Mom…" Molly smiled. Her mother stroked her hair while the rear of Squad and Truck 55 were in the background. "I only wanna help, sweetie…" She smiled.
Molly teared up. "I really didn't think I'd get to see you again…"
"Sweetie…" She held Molly's hand.
Murray sighed. "We really have to get her into the Aid Car, ma'am." They kept holding hands. "Go, go." The two firefighters started wheeling the stretcher toward Aid 55, which was parked next to Engine 55.
Before Murray followed, Molly's mother hugged him. "Thank you for saving my little girl…!"
Murray took his coat off and put it on his shoulder. "We're headed to MedStar Memorial, you can follow us behind!" Murray ran toward Aid 55.
Stella followed behind him. "Her abdomen's rigid, resps are shallow, she'll be lucky to even make it to the hospital alive." She told Murray.
Murray hopped in. "We'll make it, not my first rapid transport." He shut the door and cranked the engine. Stella only shook her head as the rear doors closed.
Background Music: Something In The Air by Steelfeather
The PASS Device alarms were getting louder and louder, indicating they were getting closer.
"Sounds getting louder! We're close!" Spinelli mentioned. "We have to be close! I think I hear more alarms!"
"FIREFIGHTER DOWN! PENETRATING WOUND TO THE CHEST! SEVERE BLOOD LOSS! PULSE IS THREADY, GET OVER HERE PEOPLE!" Vic yelled as she and Watkins came out with Travis, who was now unresponsive.
"LET'S GO! LET'S GO! LET'S GO! LET'S GO!" Watkins shouted.
A stretcher was brought over and Travis was laid on it.
"It's a race against time! Get an IV and fluids going! COME ON!" Stella shouted.
Vic only stepped away as she saw her best friend lying on the stretcher. Stella soon approached her.
"Hey. You should get checked out, get water and some O2-" Vic interrupted. "Just need to catch my breath…" She panted.
Stella took off her helmet, revealing her messy hair. "Any news on the others? Spinelli? McShay? Truck Or Engine? Squad?"
Vic only laughed and turned away. "The hell do you care?…"
"What was that?" Stella asked and raised an eyebrow while Truck and Squad 55 were seen in the background with Truck 43. Vic turned around. "I said 'What the hell do you care?' You were willing to leave us all in there! You even left your son! AND YOU DID LEAVE US! YOU EVACUATED THE ENTIRE BUILDING WITH MY WHOLE TEAM STILL INSIDE!"
"It's protocol." Stella replied.
"You could've made a different choice like at that warehouse fire! But you didn't! That's my report!" Vic answered with an attitude. "THERE WAS NO OTHER CHOICE!" Stella answered. She soon sighed and shook her head. "Look, you are eager and loyal to your friends, and I understand. But I barely have that luxury! That's not in my position!… What the hell do I care?… More than you could possibly know… You should know that." Stella explained. She soon walked away and put her helmet back on.
"And Doss? The next time you come at me like that, you're fired!" Stella added and walked away.
As for Aid 55, the sirens wailed as the red and white sirens flashed while racing down a street with traffic pulling over.
"Out of the way dammit! How are her vitals?" Murray asked.
Two additional paramedics were onboard. "She's still unresponsive! Agonal respirations, poor cap refill!" Molly had fallen unconscious en route.
The paramedic checked her pupils. "What's her BP?" Murray asked while looking ahead.
"It's dropping! 70 over 32! Let's start another large-bore IV!" The paramedic answered and grabbed another IV.
The cardiac monitor flatlined. "She's flatlining!"
Murray grabbed the Aid Car radio. "MedStar ER from Aid 55!"
"Copy, 55. Over."
"We're inbound with an unresponsive 26-year-old female-" A voice interrupted Murray. "Murray, is that you?"
"Phoebe?" He asked.
"Oh, thank God it's you… We've been getting victims from the skyscraper all day and night and it hasn't stopped. What's going on?" Phoebe asked while one paramedic did chest compressions. The second paramedic pushed a round of EPI.
"We're three minutes out, crush injuries to the chest and abdomen, bleeding internally, BP's bottoming out! Looks like she just went into asystole…" Murray explained.
"We'll be ready." Phoebe answered.
Soon, Aid 55 arrived at MedStar's emergency room, parking next to another ambulance.
The rear doors opened as one paramedic hopped out. The stretcher was brought as the ER team ran outside with gloves and trauma gowns.
"Let's get her inside! Keep up the chest compressions! Push another round of EPI and set her up for an ex-lap, move it!" Phoebe directed as they wheeled her in. She looked at Murray.
"Her trauma occurred over a half hour and she hasn't responded to treatment! She's been bleeding internally this whole time! It wasn't supposed to be like this…" Murray explained. "Get inside, and I'll find you when I find out anything! I have to go now!" Phoebe soon ran inside as more sirens approached.
Murray took a deep breath as Ambulance 61 soon arrived. The rear doors opened, and Vic hopped out. She saw Murray as Travis was brought out.
"Doss?! Travis!" Another ER team ran outside, led by Dr. Shepherd. "What do we have?" She immediately checked Travis's pulse.
"Penetrating sharp force trauma to the chest, patients in shock, coded twice on the way here! Rhythm's back and needs blood!" Vic explained while a blood stain was on her face.
"Ok, let's go, let's go, let's go!" They immediately wheeled Travis inside the ER.
"Thank God you found Montgomery-" Vic purposely bumped into Murray and walked away without looking. "Hey! What the hell?…"
Murray only stood there as the three ambulances were parked behind him. He only shook his head as he looked inside.