Hi there! I must apologize for the long wait! I got flu, then Mumps (believe it or not), then it was end of term exams. The last month was absolute madness. I finally got to write this chapter and it turned into a monster. Anyway, I hope that you like it. Hopefully it was worth the wait.
I don't own the characters, just playing with them.
So, this was on of my favorite episodes. What ticked me off is the way it ended. I loved the Jonah arc, but Bobby was a hero, he got hit by a roof and just like that he was replaced by the jackass of jackasses. So, he had leg pain, could hardly get off the bed without hurting and just the next episode he was right as rain. Really? Anyways, was still a great episode.
Thanks to all the reviews and follows, you guys are awesome. Unbeta'd, so please forgive the mistakes,
Onwards…
Bobby felt like he could breathe again despite the smoke and flames that was on the edge of the room.
"You ok?" he asked, relieved.
"Better now," May answered and together they climbed through the hole Bobby had made. The tell-tale noise of the flash over made him move a little faster once they were in the passage, but it was May's scared shriek that gave more speed. Getting May out of the building was the top priority. He also knew that the flash over meant that they did not have a lot of time before the roof came down.
He felt the wind on his neck and covered May just in time before they both got burned when another flash of flames rushed towards them.
"May, don't tell your mother, okay?" Bobby said quickly, doing a quick once over of May. Experience told him they were short on time, and they had to move.
"Okay," May said out of breath. Bobby quickly recovered and pushed May a little ahead of him. When they got to the main floor he glanced back and saw the roof coming down, knowing that they had run out of time, he pushed May a little faster.
He just had to get her out, but of course, fate had other ideas. The next minutes happened so fast, but Bobby would remember every second of it.
The roof caught up with them and May tripped. He felt the debris hit his legs as he went down with her, moving at the last second to cover her body with his. The only thing on his mind was to keep her safe and to protect May at all costs. His helmet flew off somewhere in the fall and he felt small stones and bits of plank hit him on his neck and the back of his head. Big pieces of concrete sealed the par into a pocket which was a miracle, even if it trapped them with no way out. As the debris settled a silence that was eerie followed. Bobby could hear May breathing harshly under him and tried to shift to give her more space. Moving proved to be a big mistake. He couldn't stop the gasp that escaped when he felt hot agony slice up and down his back. Even his leg was screaming to keep still.
"Bobby?" May's voice was quivering with fear.
"I'm okay. Are you? Can you move?" Bobby asked, trying to keep his voice steady and not scare his daughter.
When he stopped seeing the kids as step kids, he didn't know. All he knows is that both May and Harry became his kids, regardless of biology or not.
"I'm fine, and I can move a little bit," May said. Bobby nodded, which was another mistake. He closed his eyes tightly as the world tilted a little bit.
"That's good, we just need to wait. The 118 will be here soon to help us, we just need to be patient, okay?" Bobby said, he raked his brain to find something to keep May occupied. "Tell me how you and Claudette ended up in the quiet room?"
"Well, she stole my ambulance…"
911 – A few minutes ago...
May was sitting in the corner staring at the flames, she was trying to keep her faith, but it was tough going. Claudette's voice echoed in her ears and her mind came up with some weird pictures. She was hoping, perhaps selfishly, that the firehouse responded was the 118. She knew Bobby would make sure that Buck came in to get her, she was hoping that Bobby would come, but she knew the Captain rarely went into a fire unless there was no other choice or it was a big fire. Still, like a small child (in her mind, at least) she wanted her dad. May just hoped she got the chance to tell Bobby she saw him as her dad.
When she heard her name being called, she thought her mind was playing tricks on her, but then it came again and then she heard and saw the hole in the wall. She turned to get Claudette up and after having to go all Athena on her (Buck's words), Claudette finally got up just in time to see Bobby duck into the room.
She is so relieved when he asks if she is okay, she barely noticed that he didn't have his breathing apparatus on. She rushed to his arms, and he steered her through the hole into the burning passage. Before she knew what was happening, Bobby was pushing her forward and she let out a frightened shriek when the flames flamed up behind them. He kept a hand on her back, steering her towards the main floor as well as keeping her moving at a steady pace.
May was suddenly wrapped up in Bobby's arms and she can only shut her eyes as she felt the heat.
"May, don't tell your mother, okay?" Bobby said and May thought he was serious for a second, if the situation wasn't so serious, she would have laughed.
"Okay," she readily agreed. She would do anything for her protector.
As they rushed forward, she could hear the rumble and its as if she could feel Bobby's urgency through the hand he had on her back. They went as fast as they could, but she tripped as Bobby's hand suddenly got pushed harder onto her back and she knew they were out of time. She felt arms surround her and then they were falling.
The silence that settled after the roof came down was deafening. It took May a few seconds to register where they were and what happened. She was laying on the floor and something was on top of her. It wasn't until Bobby spoke that she realized, it was him. Then it hit her. They were under a lot of debris, and Bobby was between her and all that debris.
Well, shit.
"Bobby?" May asked when she felt him move. She couldn't see much as Bobby's torch was pressed against her shoulder.
"I'm okay. Are you? Can you move?" Bobby asked. His voice was strange, but May couldn't put a finger on what was wrong.
"I'm fine, and I can move a little bit," May answered. Her heart was beating fast and the aches of the various scrapes and bumps she could feel was making themselves known, but May was determined not to let Bobby know how scared she was or how much she was hurting.
"That's good, we just need to wait. The 118 will be here soon to help us, we just need to be patient, okay?" Bobby said, sounding confident that his team will come for them. "Tell me how you and Claudette ended up in the quiet room?"
"Well, she stole my ambulance…" and May told him about the showdown that landed them in trouble with Sue.
911 – In the passage
Lucy was moving fast with Claudette and then passed her on when they reached the passage. Williams took over and made sure she made it outside while Lucy waited for her Captain. She knew the roof was coming down and soon. The crash told her that the time was up, and the roof was down. Captain Shore called for an evacuation seconds later and with fear in her heart, Lucy opened the door behind her, and she froze. She grabbed her radio and called it in.
"Mayday, Mayday, Mayday"
"Captain Nash is down, I repeat, Captain Nash is down."
And with that she jumped in to start removing some of the debris, hoping that she would not have to tell the 118 that she lost their Captain.
911 – Outside
The minute the Mayday call came through, the 118 moved as one. All grabbing whatever they could and making a beeline for the third floor. There was no discussion and no plan, they just ran.
Buck and Eddie got there first and without stopping jumped in to help Lucy move the debris. They had no idea where Bobby and May could be, but once some of the bigger pieces were moved, they could get a better idea of where to start looking.
Hen and Chimney came next, and they too jumped in to help. Shouts rang through the air as the team continued working, hoping to hear an answer. After moving a big piece of concrete, a voice could be heard.
"Here" May shouted.
"We're here," Bobby shouted.
The team converged on where the voices came from and within minutes Chimney shouted that they had a visual. The team moved the last piece and finally the Cap and May were free.
911
Bobby started to sweat, the pain that radiated up and down his back was getting unbearable. The sound of May's voice telling him about the showdown kept him focused. He refused to think about the consequences, the end of his career, the problems that would follow. He started when he heard May call out and he followed suit.
May heard Buck call for them and called out. She felt rather than saw Bobby jump, not realizing that he would get a fright. But he called out as well and a few minutes later, the lights of the 118 illuminated their little hole.
"Take May," Bobby said after telling everyone they were fine. May felt Chimney and Buck grab her arms and pull her out. She was a little dizzy after the fall, but Hen was checking her out. Behind Hen she heard Bobby ask if she was okay. Her eyes stayed on him as he was trying to stand up, but if it wasn't for Eddie, May was sure he would not be standing.
"Right, 118, let's get to it," Bobby said, still hunched over. They started moving and then May's heart stopped for a second time that day.
911
Hen checked over May and couldn't see anything other than all the cuts and bruises. She went over to Bobby concerned that he couldn't seem to stand up straight, as she shined her penlight in his eyes, he avoided her.
"Right, 118, let's get to it," Bobby said, still hunched over.
That is when all hell broke loose.
Bobby had an arm each over Buck and Eddie's shoulder and when the group started to move, he collapsed. Buck and Eddie dropped to their knees trying to keep Bobby from falling, but they had no chance or warning. Thankfully May was already out the door with Chimney and Lucy, Hen dropped to her knees next to Bobby and while Buck moved out of the way, Eddie took point on the other side of their downed Captain.
Bobby was lying on the floor half on his side, with his eyes screwed shut, his hands were gripping his back.
"Cap? Cap, you need to talk to me. Where does it hurt?" Hen asked.
"My back, its in spasm. Ahh," Bobby answered, hoarsely.
"Buck, go get a backboard and a neck brace. Tell Chim to get his ass back in here," Hen said quickly.
"No need, I'm here," Chim said as he came through the door and Buck left. He kneeled at Bobby's feet and his hands moved up his legs. "Hey, Cap, tell me if you feel any pain where I am touching, okay?"
"Where? I can't feel your hands," Bobby said haltingly, still trying to grab at his back. His eyes were screwed tight so he missed the worried looks that passed between the three medics.
"Possible fracture of the femur," Chim said, not mentioning the lack of feeling.
"Burns on the neck and a cut on the back on the head," Eddie said, finishing his exam of Bobby's head.
"Dad?!" May's voice caused Bobby's eyes to snap open.
"She saw me get the board and got worried," Buck said as he came in with the backboard.
"I'm fine, May," Bobby said, not noticing the name through the pain.
"Heart rate is elevated, breathing is too fast," Hen said, "We need to move." She said already getting the neck brace on and with some help from the boys, they got Bobby on the board and moved him out towards the ambulance. May walked next to Buck who had an arm around her shoulders. They got to the ambulance, May got in the back with Chim and Hen. Buck and Eddie jumped into the front to drive the ambulance.
Lucy stayed behind to speak to Captain Shore and help with clean-up with the rest of the 118. They will go to the hospital as soon as they were done.
911
May held on to Bobby's hand in the ambulance, refusing to let go. Her pretty face showed her worry for the man she came to see as a father.
"Here, phone your mother to meet us at the hospital," Hen said as she passed her phone to May.
While May was on the phone, Hen took the opportunity to speak to Bobby.
"I need the truth, Cap. How much pain are you in?" Hen asked, looking him straight in the eyes.
"I don't know," Bobby said, Hen snorted and was about to reply when Bobby spoke again, softly and with some fear in his voice, "I can't feel anything. Its like everything just disappeared." Bobby's fear was evident in his brown eyes.
"It might be shock," Chimney said, trying to calm his Captain.
Bobby's reply was so soft, they almost missed it, "last time it felt like this, I broke my back."
911 – Earlier
Athena would always worry about her kids. No matter how old they got, biological (May and Harry) or adopted (Buck), they would remain her babies. So when Eddie's voice came over the radio to call the Mayday at Dispatch, she was willing and able to go and get her girl out of there.
But just as she turned her car around, a call came in and she was the closest. Completely ready to ignore the call and continue her mission to go get her baby, she heard her phone go off.
"Bobby?" she answered.
"'Thena, we are on the way to the Dispatch fire, I will make sure May is fine and let you know. Please try not to worry," Bobby spoke quickly, and she could hear the sirens and horn in the background.
"Okay, Babe. Please stay safe," Athena said already turning into the park to help look for an elderly man that got lost.
"We're here. Love you," Bobby said, and the phone went silent. She didn't even get to reply.
Many hours later, the man was on his way to hospital to get checked out and Captain Cooper from the 136 had given her an update that everything was fine. She thanked the man and got into her car to go to the station, she had a report to write and then she needed to clock out.
When she got to the station, she knew something was wrong. On the steps, Elaine and Rick was waiting for her.
"Athena," Elaine began, but her phone rang and when she looked, it was Hen's number. Her heart almost stopped when she realized she hadn't heard from either Bobby or May in the last few hours.
A lot of emotions ran through Athena in the few seconds it took her to bring her phone to her ear.
"Hello?" She asked and could not quite keep the shake out of her voice.
"Mom?" The voice sounded scared and small, nothing like the strong independent young woman that left her home this morning.
"May? Are you okay?" In her peripheral vision she saw Elaine and Rick glance at each other and move closer. Athena felt a hand on her back and turned to see Lou standing behind her.
"I am fine, a little sore, but I am fine. Mom, Bobby got hurt, like really hurt. He protected me," May said and her voice broke again as she started crying.
"I am coming, Baby, where are you?" Athena's legs almost gave out, if Lou hadn't been there to steady her.
"We are on the way to the hospital, Chimney said we are going to Cedars," May said. Athena was moving to her car when she was stopped by Elaine and Rick blocking her way. She glared at them and while it looked like Rick was sweating more than normal, Elaine just raised an eyebrow. Athena could hear talking in the background and soon her daughter's voice came back. "Auny Hen said we are 10 mintes out. You have time to get there without killing yourself," May said.
"Tell your Aunt Hen she should worry about my husband and daughter and not about me. I will be there as soon as I can, Sweetheart, I love you," Athena said and she heard her daughter reply before the phone went dead.
"Before you start, you need to change and then Lou is gonna drive you to the hospital, Rick and I will follow," Elaine said and her words had barely registered when Athena raced up the stairs and to the locker room.
Not 5 minutes later she was back and with Lou driving, they were on the way to her family.
911 – Elaine and Rick
The car was quiet as the two colleagues and friends drove behind the other car. Lou had taken his car and if he used the lights to get to the hospital quicker, nobody said anything.
"I cannot believe, that after all these years, you are still scared of Athena," Elaine said out of the blue. Rick looked at her sideways.
"You are not scared of her, because you can fire her," Rick said, "You have never been on the receiving end of an Athena payback."
"Rick, you go into dangerous situations every day and you and Athena have been friends for as long as you have been in the force," Elaine laughed.
"Its not just me," Rick said, sounding very much like a petulant child, "Lou is also scared to piss her off. Tell you what, you piss her off and get the bad end of Athena Grant-Nash and survive, then you get to laugh at me."
Elaine's laugh echoed through the car while Rick crossed his arms and stared out the window.
911 – Hospital
By the time Athena arrived at the hospital, the 118 ambulance was already outside. Hen was standing next to Chimney seemingly waiting for her. The car had barely stopped, and Athena was out running to the entrance.
"Athena," Hen stopped her by grabbing her shoulders. She pulled her friend into a hug, giving Athena chance to get herself together. After a few minutes she pulled back and searched Hen's face for answers. She didn't like what she saw.
"What happened?" Athena asked, almost scared to hear the answer.
"May was inside, she got stuck in the fire. Bobby went in to get her, as they came through the main floor, the roof collapsed on them. Bobby shielded May," Hen explained.
"They were trapped for a while, but we got them out. May was fine, just a few cuts and bruises and Bobby seemed fine as well. He was worried about May, when we left, he collapsed," Chimney spoke up.
"'Thena, his back was hurting, and he couldn't feel his legs when we got here. He was taken for an MRI and CT scan. The doctor will come out when he got the results," Hen said. Athena's blood ran cold. She knew about his back and what the diagnosis could mean.
"And May?" She asked and if anyone heard the shake in her voice, no one mentioned or reacted to it.
"She refused treatment. She didn't want to leave Bobby's side. Buck convinced her to go, he is with her now," Chimney said. Athena nodded and with that the group moved inside to join Eddie in the waiting room. He got up and gave Athena a hug, he offered to get coffee for everyone and left with Chimney.
Athena went to the receptionist to ask about her daughter, and she was shown to one of the cubicles where she found Buck keeping May company while they cleaned a cut on her arm and checked a cut on her forehead. Athena waited until the nurse was finished before she went in and before she knew it, her arms were full of a sobbing May. Buck quietly left after squeezing Athenea's shoulder, she gave him a grateful smile.
"He saved me, Mom," May was sobbing uncontrollably.
"I know, Baby, he loves you May," Athena soothed.
"If I was faster, or not there in the first place, he wouldn't have gotten hurt," May cried.
"May, honey, I need you to listen to me," Athena said, taking her daughter's face in her hands. She waited until May locked eyes with her and nodded, "Bobby went in because he wanted to. He loves you so much, but honey, none of this is your fault." She hugged her daughter close not caring that her own clothes got covered in dust and soot.
"Athena," Hen's voice broke through the silence that followed. "The doctor is looking for you," Hen said quietly.
With her arms around May's shoulders, she followed Hen back to the waiting room.
"Mrs Nash," Dr Calloway greeted her.
"Doctor, please, how is my husband?" Athena asked. Dr Calloway sighed, he knew Bobby from past visits and knew that this was a close group, so he didn't even try to move away from them. He just hated to give bad news.
"Your husband suffered severe bruising to his back and spine. His spine has some swelling around it, that is why he lost feeling in his legs. He strained some muscles in his lower back and upper thighs. He also has a fractured femur. There is also some minor cuts and bruises, the most serious being a cut on the back of his head that caused a minor concussion and required nine stitches," Dr Calloway gave the news a straightforward as he could knowing this group would appreciate it. The stunned silence was unexpected, though.
"Will he, uh, will he recover?" a voice asked, and Dr Calloway recognized Buck and answered.
"I am not going to lie, it will be a long recovery, and it will be frustrating and painful, but he will recover. He was lucky that he did not break his back again. We will keep him here until the swelling has gone down as he should not be moving around. when he is up and moving, he can go home,' Dr Calloway answered, knowing that will be next on the FAQ list.
"How long until the swelling goes down?" May asked, her heart breaking as she listened to the injuries that her dad got while protecting her.
"We don't know, it should be a few days, about a week, but that is just a guess. Any other questions?" Dr Calloway asked.
"Can we go see him?" Athena asked, still shell shocked to hear her husband's injuries.
"We have sedated him as he was in a lot of pain, don't worry, no opioids or narcotics," Dr Calloway was quick to say. "he is still asleep, so I will only allow one visitor at the moment." His pager went off then and he left after giving them the room number.
"Why don't you go home and come back in the morning?" Athena said. The group left one by one giving Athena and May hugs and word of encouragement.
"You will call when something happens?" Buck asked as he was leaving with Eddie.
"Of course, Buckaroo. Thank you for getting them out," Athena said giving her pseudo son a hug. Eddie gave her a hug as well and left with Buck.
Hen and Chimney left next, promising to come back the next morning. Elaine gave Athena a quick hug telling her to take as long as she needed. Rick and Lou each hugged her and offered to get her anything she wanted, she just had to say the word.
"May, I am going to call your father to come fetch you. Please rest and don't worry, Bobby will be fine and when he is better, he will tell you the same thing," Athena said as her daughter started crying again.
"Can I see him first?" May asked, sounding like a small, scared child.
"Of course," Athena said. She phoned Michael who was still in LA with Harry, he was worried, but said he was on his way. Together mother and daughter went up to Bobby's room, each lost in their own world.
911
The room was dark with only the monitors next to the bed and a small light above the bed providing any light. Bobby was in a neck brace laying flat on his back. He had bruises on his arms that contrasted starkly with the white sheets. He had a bandage on his head and his one leg was in a cast from his upper thigh to just under his knee. The leg was elevated, and Athena could see ugly bruises on his exposed shin. May's gasp brough her out of her reverie.
"I know it looks scary, but he will be fine," a friendly voice said. Both Athena and May turned around to see a nurse standing in the doorway.
"My name is Edna, and I will be the night nurse. If you need anything, just ask," and she left. May moved closer to the bed and softly kissed Bobby's forehead.
"Thank you for coming to get me, Dad," May said. She held on to Bobby's hand, she suddenly felt a weak pressure and smiled through her tears.
"Always," a weak voice answered. Athena laughed at their normal response and closed her eyes to thank God that her husband would be fine.
"Love you," Bobby said softly and fell back asleep.
"He will be just fine, May. It will be a long hard road, but he will be fine," Athena smiled as she led her daughter out of the room when she spotted Michael. He grabbed May in a hug and with a promise to see her in the morning, left to go home.
Athena went into the quiet room where her husband was, she took his hand and brought it to her lips to give it a soft kiss.
"Thank you, Bobby," Athena said. "Please don't do this again, my heart won't be able to take it. I love you." The answering was all she needed to know he heard her.
The road might be a long one, and there might be some difficult times ahead, but he will be fine. She will make sure of it, his family will be right there, every step of the way.
Next up…
Season 2, episode 14 Broken
What if Bobby wasn't quick enough to get under the truck when the water came down?
Until next time,
MSG