Just a quick heads up, I'll soon be releasing a concept art for this story on my DeviantArt. So, if you'd like to see what it'll be, follow me on there! My page will be linked in my bio. My page will be carrying the same username FYI. It'll also give a peak whenever I do these first responder stories, it'll give a peak of what the uniforms look like. So yeah... Anyhow, enjoy this new chapter!

Travis had gotten off the roof, but a fiery explosion caught him off guard and sent him crashing through the glass, dropping his axe.

Fire poured above her as she looked through the broken window that led into an elevator shaft.

"TRAVIS!" Spinelli called out.

"FIFTY-FIVE! SOMEBODY! I'M IN THE ELEVATOR SHAFT! HELP ME! CAN ANYBODY HEAR ME?!" He yelled at the top of his lungs.

"TRAVIS! I HEAR YOU-" She looked up and barely avoided falling flaming pieces of debris.

The debris would fall into the water, barely missing Travis in the water.

A piece of metal fell and crashed into a gas pipe.

KA-BOOM

WHOOSH

CRASH

The gas pipe ignited from the sparks that flew and fire was pouring from the pipe.

"TRAVIS!" She gasped.

Travis took cover underwater as the fire poured above the water-filled elevator shaft.

"HELP! SOMEBODY!" Travis yelled. "FIFTY-FIVE! HELP ME!"

Soon, Spinelli saw wood being broken down. Dean, Arnold, and Stella were there.

Dean chopped through the wood blocking off the entrance of the shaft.

"MONTGOMERY! WHERE ARE YOU?!" Stella called out.

"C- CHIEF! DOWN HERE!" Travis gasped for air as he kept himself afloat and below the fire from the pipe.

Arnold and Dean were looking down at the water, while Stella found a shutoff switch near the gas pipe.

She soon jumped and hit the switch.

"CHIEF!" Arnold and Dean yelled.

SPLASH

She ended up losing one of her radios.

SPLASH

SPLASH

Arnold and Dean followed after. They all lost their helmets.

"EVERYONE ALRIGHT?!" Travis asked while they kept themselves afloat.

"FEEL LIKE WE SHOULD BE ASKING YOU THAT." Stella replied.

"MONTGOMERY, YOU ALRIGHT?" Stella asked. Travis nodded.

They were all keeping themselves afloat.

They all soon reached a dry spot. Stella was the first to get out.

She spat out a bit of water as she had her hands on her knees.

"Alright everyone, we'r- we're not wasting time finding out where Helga is, it's too dangerous!" She soon said.

"Alright, let's go! C'mon! We gotta get outta here, this whole place is goin' up!" Arnold got out of the water. They soon helped Travis and Dean out of the water.

Outside, every available Engine deluge gun (or deck gun), three cannons from a fire boat, and several Ladders were spraying at the factory fire. The flames were pouring from the top of the building and black smoke poured from it as well.

KA-BOOM

BOOM

CRASH

THUD

"LOOK OUT! COME ON! THIS WAY!" Travis guided Arnold, the Chief, and Dean through the factory.

Loud metal creaking was heard as a pipe crashed down behind them. Wooden pieces fell near them.

BOOM

KA-BOOM

CRASH

BOOM

CRASH

CLANG

Canisters were igniting and flying up toward the roof like missiles. Sparks flew everywhere as the canisters exploded. Glass was heard shattering from the canisters exploding along with metal crashing down.

CRASH

BOOM

CLANG

CRASH

They were all running through a field of fire and their faces were stained with smoke and water.

They soon reached a safe spot away from the field of raging flames.

"Wait a minute, Chief!" Arnold was breathing heavily, and so were Montgomery and Dean. Stella looked behind.

"DEUGH!" Stella was smashed with a fist to her neck and fell to the ground.

"JESUS! . . . AUGH!" Arnold shoved away the assaulter with his axe. A helmet fell off its head. It also had on a firefighter coat. Dean, Travis, and Arnold looked at the unconscious Chief.

Arnold and Travis looked over. It was Helga, extremely infuriated, she had taken an axe and a helmet.

"What the hell did you do to Kyle?!" Travis asked, angrily. "I slaughtered Kyle like a pig in a slaughterhouse!"

Dean handed Travis his axe, and Arnold had his axe in hand.

"And where's Gerald!?" Arnold angrily asked. "Maybe dead like Kyle? Who knows! I could care less!" She clenched her teeth.

BOOM

WHOOSH

A flash of fire was seen as the three stared off. Dean kneeled to Stella as he checked on her.

Slowly, Helga was starting to back up with Travis and Arnold stepping forward and making her step back slowly. A big explosion was seen on the farther side of the factory.

KA-BOOM

WHOOSH

A big fireball flashed over behind Helga, showing off a bright flash.

CRASH

BOOM

CLANG

KA-BOOM

Several canisters exploded and shot like a missile to the roof, sparks flying everywhere and metal constantly crashing down.

Wood fell from the ceiling as more canisters kept igniting.

CLANG

CRASH

Sparks were pouring down from the ceiling, igniting the fire even more down below.

KA-BOOM

CRASH

A canister shot up to the roof and crashed against the ceiling to the left of Travis and Arnold. Sparks poured after it crashed.

A bit of fire was just beneath the catwalk they were on.

Nobody said a word, Arnold and Travis were waiting for the first strike. Helga was more infuriated than ever and clenched the axe she stole from Kyle.

KA-BOOM

CLANG

BOOM

Both Travis and Arnold were silent, and Helga trembled a little.

"You tortured me long enough… AND NOW YOU PAY!" Helga swung the axe, but Arnold blocked the hit.

"YOU SON OF A… YOU WERE GONNA KILL MY DAUGHTER AND GIRLFRIEND, YOU'RE THE ONE WHO… SHOULD PAY!" Arnold pushed her away.

CRASH

WHOOSH

BOOM

A fireball shot at the roof as Travis soon swung his axe.

"NOBODY TOUCHES MY FRIENDS! WHAT THE HELLS WRONG WITH YOU?!"

Helga dodged the hit but was forced to let go of the axe. Stella was picking herself up off the ground with Dean's help.

The axe dropped to the ground, echoing across the factory as Helga was now cornered.

"Nowhere to run." Arnold gave a stern look. Travis tried to use his radio, but it was jammed with water.

"It's over for you!" Travis angrily looked at her.

Helga finally surrendered and held up her hands. "This is far from-"

Fire was spreading to a giant oil spill below, igniting an entire field of canisters.

KA-BOOM

CRASH

BOOM

KA-BOOM

CLANG

CLANG

"WOAH!" Arnold and Travis dropped their axes.

"D'AH!" Arnold, Travis, and Helga fell on their knees as the canisters were shooting up to the catwalk they were all on, including the one Dean was standing on.

"LOOK OUT!" Stella yanked Dean off the catwalk, but she fell as canisters kept hitting the catwalk.

CRASH

CLANG

BOOM

The metal holding up the catwalk creaked loudly as it started bending fast. Helga fell off the catwalk.

"HANG ON! I GOT YOU!" Arnold grabbed her arm.

CRASH

Another canister shot up and hit the catwalk, knocking Arnold off.

"ARNOLD!" Travis managed to grab his arm. "H- HANG IN THERE!" He clenched his teeth.

The catwalk fell apart, and Stella was clinging onto the other half of the catwalk.

A flaming canister fell and toppled off and into the field of fire.

KA-BOOM

CRASH

CLANG

"AH!" Travis was knocked off the catwalk, but was clinging onto a bar of it.

The three were now dangling.

CRASH

WHOOSH

BOOM

A big fireball shot up and lit Helga on fire.

"AAAAAHHH! AAAH! AAAAAAAAHHHH!"

Travis grunted to hold all three of them up.

Dean was trying to help Stella off the broken catwalk, he grabbed her arm and tugged on her coat.

Travis grunted again as he held onto the catwalk bar. Metal clanged below after it fell. A firefighter's worst nightmare was seen below. An entire field of raging flames crackled below them as Travis kept holding on to the catwalk, and held Arnold with him.

BOOM

Travis exhaled as he looked down, he felt his grip giving way. His grip started to slowly slip away.

Arnold looked down.

"LET ME GO, ARNOLD!" Helga let go of his arm. He felt his arms aching as they hung above the field of fire. "You go… We go…!" He winced and gripped Travis' arm. He then looked up at Montgomery.

"If you go… We all go…!" Travis gave a saddening look to Arnold, who also had a saddened look. Fire crackled among them as they all hung onto each other.

Stella soon climbed to safety with Dean's help, but they soon saw the three endangered lives. They were standing near empty canisters that were completely engulfed in flames.

She tried using her radio, but they were all jammed.

"MONTGOMERY! ARNOLD!" Stella and Dean called out.

Travis and Arnold looked up, but Travis couldn't hang on forever. Montgomery felt his grip loosening and slipping away with every second.

"Travis…" Arnold looked up. He exhaled and grunted.

Travis' glove slipped from the catwalk bar, dropping them as well.

"GUYS! NOOOO!" Stella and Dean gasped as they watched helplessly.

"D'AUH!"

Arnold had fallen to a big sharp piece of metal lying on a catwalk below, while Helga missed the catwalk completely but tore the metal piece with her shoulder while falling and fell face first into a burning canister. Travis fell onto the same catwalk but slashed the side of his thigh against the broken metal of the catwalk.

The piece of metal was sticking out from the catwalk, and Helga had torn off a bit while falling.

Helga had fallen face-first into a few remaining burning canisters and rag-dolled to the ground. Fire would spread near her body, but then a giant piece of burning sharp metal would collapse from the ceiling.

CRASH

THUD

CLANG

The large piece of metal pierced her back, killing her instantly as fire engulfed her body and the metal lying on top of her corpse. Blood gushed out from the body as flames soon covered it up.

Travis was knocked unconscious and laid on his stomach. Arnold was lying on his side as he was in a bunch of pain.

Stella had no choice but to jump on the other half of the broken catwalk. She landed the jump and climbed onto the catwalk. Dean had no choice but to also follow behind since the way back was blocked by flaming canisters.

"Come on, Smith! I'll need some help here!" Stella slid down a pole that led to the walkway below.

"Arnold! Son! Son, are you alright? Don't move!" Stella found her son lying on his side, yet to even move.

"Arnold! Can you hear me?!"

Fire in the background engulfed the canisters, the large piece of metal, and Helga's corpse.

"…Huh? W- What?" Arnold was turned onto his back as Stella looked over him. He grunted after as he looked around at the raging inferno inside the factory.

"Just lie down! Don't move!"

"What?"

"Don't move, dammit!" She checked over him.

Stella had found a bit of his airpack strap torn, and his coat was also torn with red surrounding the torn area. "…Oh no…!"

Dean soon slid down to the same catwalk and ran to Travis.

"N'dah shit…" Arnold soon looked where Stella was looking. His abdominal region was cut open severely.

"Chief! He sustained a severe injury toward his quad!" Dean called out.

"Shit! We don't have anything to treat them with!" Stella exclaimed and then handed him the mask to breathe fresh air through.

"Damn radios are busted, we can't call for help!" Dean tried using his radio, but nothing happened.

Soon, spraying water was heard against canisters. Dean saw who it was, and two hoses were seen.

"DONOVAN! VIC! SPINELLI! OVER HERE!" Dean called out.

"DID YOU HEAR SOMEBODY?" Vic shouted.

CRASH

BANG

Metal crashed down as they looked around.

"DEAN!" Donovan yelled.

"UP HERE, GUYS!" Stella also yelled.

"Oh my God… CHIEF! GUYS!"

"DONOVAN! VIC!"

Dean dragged Travis over to Arnold.

"We'll get you guys out, lay down! Don't move!" Stella told her son.

The right side of the catwalk had a bunch of debris trashed on it, and it was engulfed by fire.

Large metal pieces were hanging above the burning trash, or they were…

BOOM

CRASH

CLANG

THUD

CRASH

The large metal bars crashed down loudly onto the catwalk and onto the burning debris.

Canisters near Donovan and Vic were soon ignited and…

KA-BOOM

BOOM

CRASH

KA-BOOM

WHOOSH

CLANG

Donovan and Vic were both knocked down from the big explosion and lost their hose.

"DONOVAN, NO!" Vic immediately regained consciousness and saw Donovan out cold. She dragged him to a corner as they were now surrounded by the raging inferno. Fire flared up as canisters kept exploding.

Stella and Dean were wide-eyed as they saw chaos unfolding in the factory.

Arnold was on his side and also saw the chaos. The fire was surrounding the factory and was now a raging inferno.

KA-BOOM

WHOOSH

CRASH

Fire flared up from behind them as they were surrounded by fire.

"I'm not sitting by and letting my son bleed out!" Stella immediately went and slid down the pole. "Chief!" Dean shouted as Travis gained consciousness.

A wall of fire surrounded the hose, and behind it, a fire was flaring up from a big tanker.

KA-BOOM

WHOOSH

BOOM

HISS

"SPINELLI, ON MY SIGNAL! YOU'LL KNOW WHEN YOU SEE IT!" Stella yelled as she grabbed an extinguisher. Spinelli looked over and briefly shut off her hose.

Stella broke off the top of the extinguisher. She then threw the extinguisher with all her strength.

WHOOSH

The extinguisher exploded and Spinelli immediately switched on her hose, extinguishing the little flames left. Fire poured near her boots.

She then extinguished the flames cornering Vic and Donovan. He had finally regained consciousness.

"CHIEF!" Arnold was on his side. Dean and Travis watched as well.

Stella ran to get the hose and pair up with Spinelli. She then looked at the two.

Arnold gave a sigh of relief as he laid on his side.

"ALRIGHT, GO! GO GET THEM!" Stella yelled. "ALRIGHT YOU GUYS, GO GET 'EM!" Spinelli yelled.

"ALRIGHT, SLEEPING TIME IS OVER, NOW GO!" Vic yelled to Donovan as he readjusted his helmet. Water poured toward their faces as they briefly closed their eyes while getting to the stairs. Both their breathing masks were swinging about.

"CHIEF, LOOK OUT!" Spinelli extinguished the fire spreading near her boots. Stella also noticed it.

"KEEP AN EYE ON THEM, I'LL BACK YOU UP! GO!" Stella shouted as Spinelli nodded.

"ALRIGHT, NOW GO GET IT!" She yelled as she sprayed at the inferno.

Soon, Donovan and Vic were climbing the stairs to rescue their injured colleagues.

Spinelli soon aimed her line to where they were, where a fire was blocking their way. Vic threw a broken piece of a canister off.

"COME ON!" Donovan shouted.

KA-BOOM

CRASH

BOOM

CRASH

KA-BOOM

CRASH

WHOOSH

Multiple explosions followed after as a fireball shot up and flared near the catwalk where the Dean and the others were.

BANG

CRASH

BOOM

KA-BOOM

CRASH

Sparks flew from large canisters that were falling and crashing down, toppling down on top of each other. Donovan and Vic flinched, but they kept going to get their friends.

Spinelli also flinched, but she kept her focus and fought off the fire surrounding them.

CRASH

WHOOSH

Another big fireball shot up near the catwalk as Donovan and Vic reached their friends.

Arnold was laying on his back and was watching the chaos, and saw his mother and girlfriend fight off the fire.

Vic kneeled to Arnold while Donovan kneeled to Travis. Vic put her breathing mask on Arnold so he could get fresh oxygen. Travis did as well.

"You're alright, we'll get you out now!"

Arnold exhaled as he got sat up by Donovan.

"Look at her… That's my wife goddammit!…" Arnold was referring to Spinelli while he looked at her. Donovan and Vic soon picked him up as he wasn't able to even stand up. Travis was carried by Dean.

Stella and Spinelli felt more courageous than ever and did their everyday jobs. Fighting the fire. Despite the fire surrounding them, they kept the flames at bay.

"CHIEF! WE GOT 'EM!" Vic yelled to Stella.

"D'AUGH!" Arnold was picked up by Vic and Donovan but yelled as he was in agony. They all started heading for the stairs, Donovan and Vic carrying Arnold, and Dean with Travis.

Outside

A four-alarm was called, and there were many firefighters outside rushing about. An Engine was parked outside, its sirens flashing off the building as it had many hose lines connected to it. There were many hoses running along the ground in general from many Engine companies as everyone was rushing around the place. Stella and Spinelli came out as firefighters were tagging in for them, rushing inside the burning factory.

"Ok, let's go!"

"C'mon! Move it! Move it!"

"Let's go! Let's go!"

"Charge the line!"

Stella and Spinelli ran over toward Aid Car 55, where the stretcher was out and Arnold was being placed on it. Aid Car 23 had its stretcher out as well for Travis as he was treated immediately. Arnold was also treated immediately once he was laid on the stretcher.

"How is he?! Is he alright?! Is he okay?!" Spinelli and Stella soon looked inside the human wall surrounding him. Both Travis and Arnold were surrounded by many firefighters and paramedics.

"C'mon! Let's move him! Let's go!"

Everyone was shouting over each other. His coat was taken off along with his airpack.

"Oh, shit! C'mon! Hurry!"

"C'mon! Up with him!"

"Up with him dammit!"

"Hang on!"

"C'mon! He's losing blood dammit!"

"Hurry up already!"

"Let's go dammit! Come on!"

"C'mon! Hurry dammit!"

"Up with him! Come on!"

"Just hang in there, come on!"

"Alright, up with him! C'mon, hurry!"

"Alright c'mon, goddammit!"

"Let's go! Let's go, dammit!"

"Let's move him! Let's go! Come on!"

"Alright, come on! Let's go! Hurry!"

"Twenty, Fifteen, clear. Fourteen…" Loud inaudible radio chatter was heard.

The stretcher was placed into the ambulance. Donovan would head to the driver's seat as Spinelli, Gerald, and Gibson hopped in. Stella and Warren shut the rear doors.

Aid Car 55's sirens started blaring as it had to drive off slowly at first with the area being crowded with firefighters and fire trucks everywhere along with the hoses running all over the ground.

Aid Car 23's sirens also started blaring as it would soon follow behind, driving off slowly with the area crowded while the loud inaudible radio chatter kept going. Everyone watched the two ambulances drive off as they wondered whether both firefighters would make it. After a minute, they all started walking away.

"C'mon, Arnold! C'mon, help us out here!"

"I don't wanna…" Arnold was dazed for the moment. His right arm was trembling. Scott inserted an IV on his left arm and applied pads to his abdominal injury.

Spinelli was seated beside Arnold and next to Scott, who had his coat off. She had her turnout gear still on, including her airpack. She had her helmet on the ground.

"Sp- Spinelli? Is that you?" Arnold looked over. "Sh. Sh. Just calm down, I'm here!"

"Listen… Spinelli, don- don't tell 'em about Johanssen nor Kyle… It- it'll hurt th- the Department." He slurred his words. "I- I won't." She replied while Arnold nodded.

"And Johanssen, I don't want to hear a single word out of you!" Spinelli snapped at Gerald. "Hey, easy! This won't help us out! Just take it easy!" Scott calmed her. He then checked Arnold's blood pressure. It was slowly falling.

"Look, Arnold… I'm sorry I never listened to you, Arnold…" Spinelli gave a remorseful look. "I- I know…" He slightly nodded.

Arnold then chuckled. "I- I beat it… The fire never got me until now… All these years…" He lightly chuckled.

"No! No! No! No! No! You're gonna make it! You hear me? Just hang in there a little longer!" Spinelli pleaded.

Arnold grunted as the cardiac monitor spiked.

"He's spiking!"

"Pushing lidocaine!" Scott said as he injected it into the IV.

"Who do you love, Spinelli?" Arnold looked over. She gulped. "My heart will always belong with your heart, Arnold…" She briefly caressed his cheek.

Arnold raised his left hand. Spinelli then gripped his hand, not wanting to let go. She then leaned in for what looked to be one final slow kiss.

They soon let go of each other's hands.

Scott gulped as he took out the needle from the IV.

He was getting partially tense as he dealt with this trauma too many times. He loved the job, but when it came down to his friends in this position, he hated the job and felt his heart sink to his stomach.

"…Tired of hearing that siren… Tired… Tur- turn the si- siren, Spin… Turn off the siren…"

"MedStar, this is Aid 55! We're inbound with a firefighter with a severe open injury toward his abdominal area and severe loss of blood!" Donovan started to radio the hospital.

"You're gonna be alright, you hear me, goddammit! Hang in there! C'mon! Don! Get this thing movin'!" She shouted. Spinelli looked at Arnold. "Don't you die on me now! You hear me?" Spinelli pleaded to her beloved.

"You hang in there, Arnold! We're just about there, please!" Spinelli felt chills down her spine. "It's not your time now… I need you… Your DAUGHTER NEEDS YOU!" Spinelli pleaded as a tear slipped from her face. "Arnold… Please don't…" She gripped his arm.

Arnold didn't respond as he started to look lifeless. The cardiac monitor then flatlined.

"No! No! No! No! No! No!" Scott repeatedly said as he immediately grabbed the bag valve mask.

"MedStar, our patient isn't responding! He's coding on us!" Donovan made a right turn.

"This is Dr. Hyerdhal, we'll be ready for you guys!"

"Epi's in!" Gerald pushed a dose of epi. "CLEAR!" He set the defibrillator on.

Gerald and Scott moved their hands away as the defibrillator shocked Arnold to try and restart his heart.

"Shock delivered." The cardiac monitor's voice said.

"Starting compressions!" Gerald started to do chest compressions on his childhood best friend. "You're not dyin' on us now, you hear me?!"

The flatline continued as Spinelli watched Arnold, possibly die in front of her with tears slipping down her face. Scott and Gerald were doing all they could as they weren't letting their friend die on them. Scott felt his heart at his throat as he kept bagging him. Gerald felt his heart pumping out of his chest. The flatline continued as they were nearing MedStar Memorial.