Alright, so, I'm back after a short break from this story. This chapter, not only is the longest chapter I've ever done, but also hopefully the most entertaining yet! A bunch of action since we're due for some action. Anyhow, enough blab, and I hope you enjoy this fun and action-packed chapter!
Five Days Later
It was nearing nighttime, surprisingly, the HFD gave House 55 another chance on a new Aerial Ladder. The new Ladder truck had the same features as the previous one, a six-wheeler, the same ladder height with it going a few feet past the cab, and the rear has the same rotating red beacon lights. One thing they also noticed was that the truck had better legroom. Surprisingly…
"Huh- Oh, Arnold, come on, already!" Arnold hugged Spinelli from behind as she was drinking soda. "One hug is never enough." Arnold snickered and smiled. Spinelli rolled her eyes with a smile and drank her soda. She eventually gave in and smiled at his random cute moments. Spinelli smiled and reached behind to touch Arnold's cheek.
"Rent in this city can be crazy half the time…" Cruz told Travis while doing a crossword puzzle. "Two thousand for an apartment? Come on… And besides, my place is better than the apartment, and that is that the rent is like twelve hundred." Travis shrugged.
The station alarm went off. "Battalion 55. Engine 55. Truck 55. Squad 55. Aid 55. Still and Box Alarm." And just like that, everyone dropped what they were doing and ran to the engine floor to gear up. "5302 Fulton Street." Dispatch finished.
Truck doors opened as everyone was gearing up while the garage doors opened. Truck engines cranked with the siren lights flashing inside the place. Turnout coats on, the shining of the afternoon sun, SCBAs were put on as truck doors closed.
In the Battalion's Office, Stella was digging through a file when her radio went off. "Dispatch to Battalion 55. Be advised, we've received multiple calls on this fire." Dispatched radioed Stella. She started heading to the engine floor. "Battalion 55 copies that message and en route." She then saw Connie and the other desk workers. "Call headquarters, Connie. The address from the alarm is on our target list. See if they have any info from Fire Prevention. Tell 'em to relay it en route." She ran to her Battalion pickup.
Soon…
Sirens wailed from Truck 55 and Battalion 55 as they passed a Walmart with Engine following.
It soon went inside Truck 55 where Michelle asked, "5302 Fulton, isn't that commercial? Big warehouses?" Michelle asked while strapping on her SCBA.
"Yeah!" Donovan replied. "Remote area at night. Must be burning pretty good to have so many people calling in! Unless the calls came from inside." He added. Donovan was the new driver for Truck with Tommy's driving privileges still being suspended and Dean moving to Squad.
Inside the Squad rig, Squad was coming in from a different direction while a brief view of Truck 55 was seen rushing by with Engine behind. Just from inside the cab, the flashing sirens could be seen.
"How far are we?" Arnold asked. "Four-five blocks! I can see the smoke rollin', boys!" Cruz replied. "I got a feelin' we ain't gettin' any shut-eye tonight, people!" Pep added while adjusting her gloves. Sirens from the cab flashed around the area.
"Smell that? I think we got ourselves a working fire!" Arnold smelled smoke from inside the rig.
"I want everyone ready to go as soon as we land! Montgomery, bring the rope bag, we're expecting the worst here!" Michelle called out.
"Got it!"
Sirens wailed while horns blared. Full House 55 arrived at a warehouse building where the fire was pouring from the second floor.
Stella got out of her truck and put on her helmet and then looked at the building.
BOOM
CRASH
WHOOSH
Many of them flinched as many people stormed out of the building.
"We're gonna need every company this city has…" Michelle looked at the building after the explosion.
"What is this place? A club?" Arnold asked a teen. "How many are inside?" Stella also asked as police patrol cars arrived with sirens still wailing in the background.
"I don't know! Fifty? Sixty? A lot! *cough* It's like a maze inside! There's too many!"
"Paramedics are over there!" Arnold guided the teen.
"Battalion 55 to Dispatch, I need a 2-11 alarm and an EMS Plan Two!" Stella exclaimed. "Engine, get two lines inside! Hold this off until we evacuate everyone! Aid 55 is triage! Engine 77, grab a hydrant on Fuller and feed Engine 55! The fire is in the tresses, we need to move fast! Save as many as we can!" Stella handed out assignments. "Captain, let Spinelli take point for Truck, I need you out here and recon the outside!"
"Copy that, Chief! Montgomery, Alexander, Gibson, Spinelli, inside for primary search with Squad!" Michelle told them.
"Copy that, Captain!"
At the warehouse entrance…"Be advised, 2-11 alarm and EMS Plan Two." Dispatch started radioing companies all over the city while Squad masked up and turned on their flashlights.
After Squad masked up, they walked up to a door where many trapped civilians were banging on the door, begging and screaming to come out.
"HANG ON, WE'LL GET YOU OUT!" Arnold used his halligan to pry open the jammed door. "Come on!..."
CRACK
The door was pried open and a group of people came running out while tripping over each other.
"HEY! EASY! SLOW DOWN! EASY!"
"YOU'RE GONNA BE ALRIGHT! MURRAY, GET 'EM OVER TO YOU!" Arnold shouted. "SUAREZ, HELP HIM OUT. SQUAD, LET'S GO!"
"COPY THAT! ALRIGHT, FOLLOW ME!"
"THE DOOR WOULDN'T OPEN!" One civilian called out.
Arnold went inside with Cruz, Dean, Russell, and Pep following while sirens wailed in the background.
The inside of the warehouse was a burning mess with people trapped just about everywhere.
"FIRE DEPARTMENT! CALL OUT!" Arnold yelled. They all heard coughing away from them.
"FIRE DEPARTMENT! CALL OUT!" Travis yelled. Both Squad and Truck met up with the same victim.
"TRUCK, WE GOT A VICTIM HERE!" Arnold told Travis as flames crackled around.
"GOT HER!"
Arnold looked at Cruz. "Cruz, you grab a search line and tie it off! Truck, you guys go right! Squad, we'll take left!" He ordered. "LET'S GO! LET'S MOVE!"
"Alright! Copy!" Spinelli replied. "Montgomery, anchor the line off!"
"Right!" Travis grabbed the search line and started to tie it off.
"Aye! You two, keep within reach of me! Alright? Let's not get lost in this hellhole!" Spinelli exclaimed. Travis secured the line.
"We're good!" Travis called out. "Alright, LET'S GO!" Spinelli shouted.
"Copy!" The others hooked themselves to the line and started heading off.
Outside…
As a subway passed on tracks above, multiple Aid Car sirens wailed as Aid Cars from all over the city arrived at the warehouse fire. Aid Cars following each other and even taking up the entire area. While the area was mostly lit up by the fire, the sirens still flashed brightly around the area.
Scott came out with a victim on his shoulder and walked to the nearest Aid Car.
"There we are! Careful!" He set down the victim on the stretcher. Stella came over. "Gibson."
"She's not breathing, I gotta intubate." Murray said.
They stepped aside. "What's the layout inside?" She asked.
"Ah, It's crazy, a bunch of stuff around and probably made of kindling. It's a maze. We're gonna pull a lot of bodies out of there, Chief…" Gibson replied. Sirens kept wailing in the background as every truck in the city was arriving at the scene.
"Alright… We'll try and hold this off as long as we can, no guarantee about anything here." Stella gave a determined look.
A retro siren wailed. A vintage Bucket Ladder truck arrived with an Aerial Ladder behind followed by two Engines. Police patrol cars arrived from the right and Engine 94 arrived from the left side. The siren of the lead Ladder truck was a pure white beacon with little red. Appeared to be an old American Lafrance from 1978. An old 70s Seagrave Ladder followed.
Truck 43 and Truck 16 passed by the Battalion pickup (Stella's pickup), passing by Engine 77, Engine 55, Squad 55 and went near the field of Aid Cars since the entire area was filled with Trucks and Engines. The second Ladder followed behind Truck 43 but parked a little farther. Trucks from all over the city were arriving but many of them were parking far since the intersection was filled with trucks, including around the warehouse with many hose lines all over the area.
More Battalion SUVs arrived with the trucks and even more Aid Cars. Blue, white, red, and orange siren lights flashing all over the area. Truck 43 parked near the entrance Squad 55 took with Truck 24 behind. Squad 55's truck was just around the corner and peaking. A closeup of Truck 43 was briefly seen.
Michelle walked up to Stella. "Chief Walker's here! Let me go in."
"Alright, go!" Stella told her.
"Gibson, let's go!" Michelle soon went inside. Scott followed behind while more Aid Cars were arriving with a different Squad company.
Inside the burning warehouse, Truck 55 was searching the right side of the building. So far, they had no luck finding anyone. "FIRE DEPARTMENT! CALL OUT! ANYONE HERE?" Spinelli yelled.
"FIRE DEPARTMENT!" Donovan yelled.
"FIRE DEPARTMENT! HEY!"
"FIRE DEPARTMENT! CALL OUT IF YOU-" Donovan heard a shout. "Alexander! Up there!" Travis pointed.
"HELP!" A shout from above. A woman was lying on a balcony. "Up here…."
"Where the hell are the stairs?!" Spinelli looked around for a moment.
"No idea, Lieutenant!" Donovan replied.
BEEP "Truck 55 to Battalion 55!" Spinelli reached for her radio.
Outside…
"We need an attic ladder up here inside! First floor!" Spinelli exclaimed while several ladders were raised and sirens flashed everywhere. Sirens kept wailing in the background. The ladder on Truck 55 was being raised to the roof along with 43.
"Give me a minute, Truck 55! Next available Truck will bring you one!" Stella replied while she walked around, assessing the area.
Another Battalion SUV arrived while an Aid Car parked near Truck 43.
"Okay, Truck, let's improvise!" Spinelli looked over.
"Copy!" Travis replied. "Got it!" Donovan answered as the two started looking around.
Coincidentally, after a few seconds, the two found a wooden ladder.
"Montgomery, give me a hand here!" Travis came over and moved some junk away from the ladder. Alexander and Montgomery soon grabbed the ladder and raised it to the balcony above.
"Alright, hold it steady!" Spinelli told them and started to climb up quick.
"Alright, hun, you're comin' with us!" Spinelli grabbed the girl with the pink dress.
CREAK
CREAK
CRACK
More people kept reaching over. "HELP US!"
"STAY RIGHT THERE, WE CAN ONLY TAKE ONE PERSON AT A TIME!" Spinelli shouted.
"LIEUTENANT, THERE'S TOO MUCH WEIGHT UP THERE! THIS THING'S NOT GONNA HOLD!" Travis yelled.
"HEY! STOP CLIMBING OVER HER!" Spinelli yelled.
CRASH
CRACK
CRASH
The balcony collapsed, bringing down the victims and someone else…
"TRAVIS!" Donovan yelled.
"CHIEF, MONTGOMERY'S DOWN!" Donovan radioed while Stella was looking at the building in concern.
"TRAVIS!" They yelled while his PASS Device alarm was triggered.
Scott and Michelle came by on the search line.
"What happened!?" Michelle asked.
"Travis is under here!" Donovan shouted. "Hey! Montgomery! Hang in there! We'll get you out!" Spinelli told him while they started to move all the rubble.
"Alright, let's get these victims out! Hurry!" Michelle moved more debris out of the way.
"Come on!" Gibson pulled out two victims. "Stay there! Stay down! We'll be right there!"
"Stay low!" Donovan pulled another victim out.
"On three! One! Two! Three! LIFT!" Michelle used her halligan to lift away the piece of wood pinning down Travis. The others helped her lift it up.
The wooden flooring was up, and Michelle placed her halligan under it to hold it in place. "Down! Down! Got it!"
"Okay, come on!"
"We got him!" Gibson and Donovan pulled out Travis from underneath.
"Hey! You alright?" They helped him stand up. His air mask had come off from the collapse. He grunted while he stood up.
Michelle kneeled to a girl.
"My name's Michelle. Who are you?" She asked. The girl wheezed. "I'm Kathy…"
Michelle stood up. "We're gonna follow this line out of here! Hang onto me, ok?" Kathy nodded and stood up slowly. Michelle held onto the rope and Kathy as they followed the rope.
Travis grunted. "Well, that sucked…"
"Alright, come on." Gibson replied. Donovan and Scott started walking away with Travis.
Outside, sirens kept wailing in the background as Truck 43's Bucket Ladder was extended to a window on the second floor. Two Squad members were in it and trying to help a woman climb out of the window and into the bucket. Truck 55's ladder was raised to the roof where different company members were on the roof and helping more victims climb off the roof.
"Hey! Easy!"
"Alright, take it slow! We got you!"
"Easy! Easy now!"
Stella watched the area with her SCBA on. At the entrance, white siren lights flashed as Scott was the first to come out with a coughing victim.
Michelle came out with Kathy. "Murray!" She called Dan over.
"I got her! I got her!" He ran over and took Kathy. "Smoke inhalation, few lacerations, she's having trouble breathing!"
"We'll take care of her! It's alright, you're in good hands!" Murray escorted her to Aid 55.
Donovan came out with Travis. "Hey! Aid 55! Heads up!"
A paramedic ran over to help out. "It's alright, easy now!"
They reached the Aid Car. "Trav, where you hurt?" Murray asked.
"He got pancaked." Donovan mentioned. "I'm okay, really!" Travis replied.
"Take him in." Michelle said. "Captain, there's a lot more people-" Michelle interrupted. "Montgomery."
Travis shook his head and scratched his head. Michelle shook her head as she walked away.
CRACK
CRASH
KA-BOOM
WHOOSH
BOOM
THRASH
WHOOSH
The firefighters on the roof rescue managed to get the victims on the ladder and away from the roof just in time before the explosion. A huge fireball followed the explosion.
Stella saw that the building's time reach its limit. "Okay, that's it nobody else goes inside! Squad 55, evacuate the building!"
Creak…
WHIRR
BOOM
KA-BOOM
CRASH
THRASH
WHOOSH
Another fiery explosion went off, and the victims and firefighters on the ladder were farther away.
CRASH
WHOOSH
THRASH
BOOM
More fireballs kept flaring up from the roof.
"ARNOLD, REPORT! ARNOLD!" Stella yelled on her radio.
"On our way, Chief! Bringing out two victims!" Arnold shouted on his radio. Stella gave a sigh of relief while the sirens from Engine 77 flashed behind her.
A detective came over. "Chief! Chief!"
"Al, what is it?" She asked.
"My daughter! My daughter, Lexi! She's in there!"
THRASH
WHOOSH
A fireball flared from one of the windows while a firefighter rushed by.
"I got off the phone with her, and she was HERE!" Al pointed at the building while sirens wailed in the background.
"Let's try and find her! Come on." Stella walked with Al to triage. Police patrol cars arrived in the background while sirens kept wailing. The entire scene behind them was pure trucks and siren lights. Only two burned bodies were at triage.
"Murray! Have you seen Olinsky's daughter, Lexi?" Stella asked. "As far as I know, she didn't come through triage." Murray replied while treating a victim.
"Chief, I'm begging you. I beg you…" Al started pleading while Michelle walked up.
"Al, I already pulled my people out. That building is gonna collapse any second. We have to get water on that fire and hope that she made it." Stella replied. Michelle looked at the entrance. Arnold, Cruz, and Pep came out with two victims. "Chief, Shortman, Cruz, and Clemente are back."
Stella looked over. "Arnold, report."
"It's bad! We can hear voices in the back, Delta side, we need at least another minute if we want to get 'em out." Arnold replied after handing over the victim.
"You have to go in and get my daughter! PLEASE! Chief, I'm begging!" Al pleaded. Stella hesitated. But then, she gave the nod to her son. "Lead the way." Arnold nodded and headed back to the entrance. Stella followed him while firefighters walked by. Medics in the background treating the victims.
Meanwhile At MedStar
Indistinct PA chatter at the hospital, overlapping chatter, and Aid Cars arriving at the ER, Travis was stretchered in but seemed relatively fine.
Phoebe was about to run by but saw Travis, so she immediately walked over. "Hey, Trav, you alright?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. Incoming." Travis turned his head to the left where more patients were stretchered in. Phoebe came up to the patient. "Trauma 3, go!"
Travis got off the stretcher. "I'll check in at the nurse's station." He said.
"Trav-"
"Pheebs, help the ones who need you the most." Travis insisted. "Are you sure?" Wiggins asked.
"Yeah, get back to the fire." Travis replied. Wiggins nodded and soon took the stretcher back to the Aid Car. Phoebe went off with another patient that arrived.
Surprisingly, no sight of Teddy yet…
"I need some help over here!" Phoebe called out.
Meanwhile…
"FIRE DEPARTMENT! CALL OUT!" Stella yelled with Arnold behind her.
Outside, flames poured from several windows as everyone looked at the building.
"They'll find her. Don't worry." Cruz told Al.
"ANYONE HEAR US?" Arnold yelled.
"Back here! Help us!" A girl yelled.
"This way!" Stella told Arnold. They felt out the walls to find where was the weak point. Stella found a weak wall and started pushing against it. She pried the wall open.
"Lexi!" She kneeled to her. Stella found Lexi unconscious. "Come here, hun…" Stella soon lifted Lexi onto her shoulder. Arnold helped up the other victim and held onto her.
Stella and Arnold came out, only to find their path blocked off fast. A firewall blocked off their exit.
"It's too hot!" Arnold looked back. Stella looked behind her. "Then through that wall we go!" Stella kneeled and grabbed the other victim. "Go down! I got 'em! GO!"
Arnold grabbed his halligan and started hitting the wooden wall.
"COME ON! AUGH!"
CRASH
HISS
WHOOSH
THRASH
Another explosion went off the roof, making several people flinch. Fireballs kept flaring up.
Half of House 55 was standing next to Truck 43. "ARNOLD! STELLA!" Spinelli went on her radio. "SOMEONE! REPORT!" Spinelli got no response. "That's it, I'm going in!" Michelle clenched her shoulder. "No one goes in! Stay out here! They would want it that way!" Michelle told her. Spinelli only exhaled through her nose and looked back at the building.
"Come on…" Spinelli quietly said, awaiting her future mother-in-law and her husband-to-be. "Hey. Calm down, they can handle themselves." Pep told her while rubbing her shoulder while a 1978 Ward LaFrance was in the background. Spinelli only sharply exhaled.
As the white sirens from Truck 43 flashed at the entrance, Arnold and Stella finally came out with Lexi and the other victim.
Lexi was laid onto the stretcher by Stella. Murray and another paramedic took her.
"I'm here, Lexi!..." Al went with his daughter.
She was stretchered over to the Aid Car. "It's alright, we got her." She was lifted into the Aid Car. "Let us do our job, ok?" Murray told Al, who was beside his daughter.
"Take the front seat, Al." Daniel told him as he got in. Stella and Arnold yanked off their air masks as they took a deep breath, knowing that were the last two victims they'd save from the warehouse…
Spinelli approached Arnold and yanked him into a hug. Arnold hugged her back without hesitation.
"I normally don't freak out over crap like this, but I was really worried about you, Arnold…" Spinelli let out a small and quiet whimper. Arnold rubbed her back despite the SCBA on her back. "It's alright, Spinelli…I'm here…" Arnold took a deep breath. "It's alright…" Arnold then looked up to see his mother, who had a somber look as she soon hung her head.
Over at Aid 55, Gibson slapped the rear of the Aid Car after he shut the doors. The sirens wailed as it soon took off. Triage had more dead bodies. As it drove off, ahead of it, not only was there another Aid Car, but an intersection full of trucks and police patrol cars. There were trucks at the scene until the next block A police patrol car drove by with an Aerial Ladder following, with another patrol car behind. The entire block had fire trucks and police patrol cars everywhere with sirens wailing at every moment.
Over At MedStar
Med was busier than half an hour ago, more victims from the warehouse fire were brought in, keeping all of the staff on their toes.
"Twenty-year-old female, burns over 40% of her body." Paramedics walked by with a stretcher as Phoebe and Teddy walked by them.
"Never did I think I'd come back on such a busy night, but eh, that's MedStar for you, we're constantly busy. If it weren't for this city, I wouldn't be in business." Teddy chuckled as she briefly scrolled through her iPad. "Uh, I'm bringing down extra staff from upstairs, how many nurses do you need, Heyerdhal?" She asked.
"The entire hospital if possible!" Phoebe replied as she looked around. "I'll do my best." Teddy replied as Phoebe ran off to another patient.
Teddy then saw Catherine treating a burn victim. "Dr. Shepherd? I'm coordinating with the burn unit, so if there's anything you need, you let me know." Teddy offered.
"Got it." Catherine replied without looking over.
"You good?" Teddy asked.
Catherine walked up to Teddy after sharply sighing. "Dr. Deegan, if you're worried about me because of the burn victim I lost just yesterday-" Teddy shook her head. "No, no, no. I just wanted to make you stop and catch your breath every once in a while. That's all." She said.
Catherine sighed and nodded. She soon got back to her patient behind her. Teddy met up with the hospital's head of psychiatry.
"I just heard." The doctor said. "Yeah, there a whole lot of patient's family and friends who might need help, you're gonna need more staff." Teddy suggested.
"Got it." They walked away while another patient got stretchered in. It was Lexi.
"Nineteen-year-old with large area third-degree burns and smoke inhalation."
"Trauma 5 just opened up!" Teddy signaled them over. "Heyerdhal, with me!"
The stretcher was brought into the trauma room.
"On my count. One. Two. Three!" Teddy and others lifted Lexi onto the bed.
"Alright, draw an ABG, CBC, carboxyhemoglobin, and lactate! Get a chest X-ray and run her fluids wide open!" Teddy ordered as Phoebe came in and immediately put on her stethoscope. "Lexi, I'm Dr. Deegan, can you hear me?" Teddy checked her pupils and throat.
Phoebe took off her stethoscope. "She's barely moving air."
"Swellings gettin' worse, we need to intubate." Teddy added. "Got it. Give me 20 of etomidate, 60 of roc!" Phoebe ordered. One of the nurses made Al step outside.
"Airway's tight…" Teddy was the one intubating Lexi. "Come on, girl… I'm in!" Teddy did her first intubation since she went down.
"Get her on the vent. Nice job." Phoebe looked at Teddy and gave a small nod. Teddy let out a small sigh of relief.
The Very Next Morning
As Pep guessed, no one would get any shut-eye last night. The trucks from last night's fire were all still there, the fire was out, the warehouse was all burnt and smoldered, and mainly a somber vibe filled the entire block. Burned furniture was outside, and many firefighters walking around inspecting the area, Spinelli walked by Truck 68 while a member was sitting on the bumper. Engine 94 was parked behind Squad 55 in the background.
Spinelli and Arnold met up with Stella, who was at triage, looking at all the burned bodies pulled out. She was standing in front of her pickup.
"How the hell does something like this happen?..." Stella asked. "Wish I knew, Mom…" Arnold also looked down.
Vic came over and gently set down another body. Gibson and Donovan walked by.
"Get some blankets on these bodies. Let's cover 'em up…" Stella told the two Lieutenants.
"Yeah…" Arnold quietly replied. Arnold and Spinelli soon walked away, while Stella stood there looking at the row of dead bodies. Arnold put an arm over Spinelli and rubbed her shoulder while she sighed.
Truck 43's Bucket ladder was raised to the roof in the background with a Battalion SUV near it while a black Medical Examiner van was near the bodies. A medical examiner was writing on a clipboard about the dead bodies next to the van. Two firefighters would walk by while a bunch of burned furniture was pulled out of the building.
Meanwhile At MedStar…
While things calmed down at Med, Travis was seated in a chair with an icepack wrapped around his knee. He still had his turnout pants on while his coat and radio were on the chair next to him.
"I saw you… at the fire…" A young teenage girl walked up to him with a sling on her left arm. She recognized him from earlier. "What happened?..."
"Oh, a balcony collapsed but I was lucky they pulled us out quick." He replied.
"I was lucky, too." The girl started. "Everyone was screaming and pushing. Then I saw a window through all the smoke, so I just ran for it…" Travis took his coat off the chair and set it on the floor. The girl sat down. "The window was up high, so I climbed and pulled myself out…"
"That's good."
"No. No, I don't think so… I couldn't reach it, so I stepped on something - or someone… I stepped on someone to get out… Maybe they were still alive, I don't even know!" Travis slowly rubbed her back. "Hey. Hey…"
"I was so scared! If I would've stopped to help, maybe they'd be okay…" The girl started to tear up.
"Maybe they are." Travis replied.
"No, um…."
"Listen. Listen to me. You didn't start that fire. Whatever happened, none of this is on you. Ok?" The girl nodded as she soon rested on Montgomery's shoulder.
Meanwhile…
Phoebe and Teddy walked up to Al. "Hey."
"So, Lexi's on the ventilator and we sedated her. We'll keep her there for the next 24 hours, watch her closely. She's in burn shock. Her lungs were badly injured from the smoke. We're doing everything we can." Teddy told him.
"Is she gonna be okay?"
"We're doing our best for her, Al." Phoebe added.
"Can I go in and see her?" He asked.
"Of course." They pointed to Lexi's room. Al slowly walked over to Lexi's room and found her sedated and intubated.
Back At The Warehouse Site…
Police barricades were around the area as hundreds of people gathered to pay their respects to the people that lost their lives in the warehouse. Photos, candles, flowers, several plushies, and many signs around the small crowd as they were all in tears. Tributes poured for young lives that were lost. One mother cried against her daughter, who held a sign saying 'forever in our hearts'. More flowers were brought, and candles were lit. A news van was also there.
Stella stood there in disbelief at how something this tragic could happen. Two unmarked police cars arrived. An SUV and sedan. Two detectives came out of their cars while Truck 43 was in the background.
"Sergeant." She shook hands with an old friend. Dave Tanner, who transferred over to the detective side of things of P.D. "I understand Lexi Olinsky is alive because of you. I thank you, Chief." Tanner said. "Just a parent looking out for another." Stella said.
"Commander." Stella nodded at the female commander. "Chief." She nodded back.
"This is Lieutenant Alexa Hubble from Fire Investigation." Stella introduced the woman next to her. She shook hands with Tanner. "Dave Tanner, intelligence. This is Commander Crowley." The Commander shook hands with her. "Lieutenant."
"Arnold. Ashley." Tanner recognized his old friends Arnold and Spinelli, who recently came over. Both of them carrying their halligans. "So, what do we know?" Tanner asked.
"Building owner's name is Barry Kimball. He's already reached out to the HFD and promised to cooperate with the investigation." Lieutenant Hubble said. "Does he know many people were living and partying on his property?" Spinelli asked.
"According to him, no. He thought it was just a small group." Alexa looked at Stella. "When can my investigators get inside?"
"Twenty-three, can we release the scene to the Fire Investigation Unit yet?" Stella radioed.
"Affirmative. We're done in here." Luiz radioed.
"Scene's all yours." Stella told Alexa. "You want to join us?" Alexa offered the two officers. "Please."
"Thank you, Lieutenant." Crowley and Tanner went with Alexa to inspect the inside.
Stella, Arnold, and Spinelli stood out there, mostly watching the pouring tributes. More flowers, more stuffed animals for young teens, and candles were lit. Arnold briefly rubbed Spinelli's shoulder before the heavy engine sound of Engine 55 came up.
It transitioned to Firehouse 55, where Engine 55 was the first to roll inside the engine bay, with Truck 55 following alongside it, Squad behind Engine, and the Aid Car rolling inside a different direction. The brakes hissed after.
Everyone walked inside the common room (upstairs, where the kitchen and dining room were), and sat down where ever… Most of them, except the Aid Car members, Murray and Cutler, had smoke stains on their faces.
Just about everyone slumped over where they were sitting.
"Can't imagine something like this would even happen in this damn city…" Murray mentioned. "I knew this city was crazy, but you've gotta be kidding me if something like this happens." Donovan added.
Meanwhile, in the Officer's Quarters, Arnold and Spinelli were there, and just like the others, a sad vibe was in the air. Arnold stood up, and stood behind Spinelli, wrapping his arms around her and briefly kissing her cheek. "I'll be heading down to the factory, to see if Fire Investigation needs a hand."
"'Kay… Be careful." Spinelli looked up at him. "I will." Arnold quietly replied. "Love you." Arnold kissed her cheek one more time. Arnold hugged her like he never wanted to let go. Spinelli would only touch his arm as she let out a sharp exhale.
Back At The Factory
As a subway passed overhead, Truck 55 was there, parked at an angle while Truck 43 was to the right of them. Michelle was sitting on the bumper with her turnouts on. Her helmet was beside her while she looked around. Stella was also near Truck 55. Another Aerial Ladder was behind 55, Truck 68. Coincidentally, it had the same cab siren lights.
"Suzy's working the Southwest quadrant. You want to help her out, Shortman?" Alexa asked. "I'd be happy to." Arnold replied.
The building owner finally arrived, walking along but had a reporter smothering him with questions. "Please, I'm just here to pay my respects on this tragic, tragic day."
"When was the last time your building was inspected by the city?" The reporter asked.
"I don't know any more than you do about why this happened! I'm just here to say how sorry I am- how DEEPLY sorry I am for my part in any of this." Barry walked through the crowd. A tall black man stepped up. "You own this fire trap?"
"Ok, everyone needs to back up!" The officer exclaimed. Stella came over. "Officer, who is he?"
"He's the property owner." The officer answered.
"MY COUSIN DIED IN THERE! WHERE WERE THE FIRE EXITS?! WHERE WERE THE SPRINKLERS!?" A woman yelled at Kimball. "I- I thought the building was safe when-" The black man pushed him. "YOU KILLED THEM!" The crowd started to surround Barry in anger.
"EVERYONE NEEDS TO DISPERSE, NOW!" The officer shouted.
"LIAR!" A man suddenly punched Barry into the crowd. A bunch of shouting and yelling started as a fight broke out.
"What the hell is this?" Alexa asked. Arnold only shrugged.
Michelle ran over. "HEY!" She yanked on Barry's clothing to get him out. Police officers stepped in to hold back the angry mob.
"OKAY, EVERYBODY, SETTLE DOWN!"
"SETTLE THE HELL DOWN!"
"CALM IT DOWN, EVERYONE!"
"OKAY, EVERYBODY! SETTLE DOWN!"
"IT'S OVER! CALM THE HELL DOWN!"
"HEY! CALM IT!"
"SETTLE DOWN! SETTLE DOWN!"
Soon, Back At The Firehouse…
In the briefing room, Barry was being 'interrogated' by Alexa and Stella. Michelle was also inside. Several coffee mugs of water were on the table. Stella and Alexa's radios were on the table. A police officer was also there.
"Am I under arrest?..." Barry asked. "No. This is just a conversation." Alexa replied.
"Someplace where you won't get overrun by an angry mob." Stella added. "There weren't supposed to be that many people inside. Those parties are usually are lot smaller." Barry explained.
"Mr. Kimball, your building isn't permitted for public events of any size. Am I to understand you had people living in there?" Alexa asked.
"Just a few…" Barry replied.
"In a building not zoned for residential use?" Alexa asked. "I was just trying to help those kids. They don't have a lot of money, and Hillwood can be an expensive place half the time. I'm not some slumlord trying to make a fast buck! That was my father's factory, I didn't want to just get rid of it. And if these kids want to live there and create their art-"
Michelle interrupted. "You get the building up to code." She replied sternly. "Give them somewhere safe to live if you really wanted to help."
"What can I do to, uh, make it right?" Barry asked. Alexa handed over a notepad. "You can start by making us a list of all your tenants, and anyone who had access to the factory." Barry sat there, with rather an odd look.
Meanwhile, At The Factory…
Inside the burnt and smoldered factory, flashlights inside the area were seen as many investigators were inside.
"This place is- What's the word? Byzantine?" Suzy asked about the interior. "Aaand no sprinkler system, no clearly marked exit signs, no fire extinguishers in sight…" She added. "I saw one back there, but it hasn't been inspected since, like, '95." Arnold added while they looked around.
"I stand corrected…" Suzy replied.
"My money's on an electrical fire." Arnold said. "The wiring in this place is a nightmare." He looked around the roof.
"I'm gonna say an open flame. You know, space heater, a candle that got kicked over." Suzy added. They kept looking around for anything strange.
Arnold noticed something weird on the wall and behind a couch. "Hey, Suzy, look at this burn pattern." He pointed. "Think this could be the area of origin?" He asked.
Suzy looked over and aimed her flashlight at the weird pattern on the wall. "Could be. Yeah, yeah actually, it could be." Suzy replied.
Arnold moved the burned couch with his left hand. Behind, he found a destroyed light bulb with a tiny hole. "Whoa." Suzy saw the destroyed light bulb. They aimed both their flashlights at it.
Back At The Firehouse
Stella put down her phone after receiving a text from Phoebe. "MedStar just lost another victim."
"Brings it up to 36." Alexa sighed. "I know…" Kimball quietly answered. "It's on you, Mr. Kimball." Alexa said.
"Easy." Stella reminded. "He gets it."
"Sure. He gets it now. Far too late for all those young people and their grieving families." Alexa was placing the blame on Barry.
Kimball cleared his throat nervously. "Captain, um, is there a, uh… bathroom I could use?" Barry asked. "Yeah. Straight back, down the hall." Michelle replied.
Barry soon got up and walked out of the room. He walked by the three bystanders, Pep, Spinelli, and Cruz. He walked inside the bathroom.
"Are there any exits near the bathroom?" The officer asked. Michelle shook her head. "He's not going any- … where…" Michelle just noticed something off. She then walked out of the briefing room.
POP
"AH!"
THUD
Everyone flinched for a moment, but they all ran to the bathroom.
Michelle stormed inside the bathroom, and with everyone behind her, they found blood splattered on the mirror, a bunch of itty bitty chunks of brain on the mirror, more blood on the floor, and more itty bitty brain chunks behind Barry's head. A small revolver was near him. Kimball shot himself in the head.
So, that does it for this entertaining and intense chapter. So, quite a lot has happened here. Next chapter should shed some light on what happened, but anyhow, I hope you've enjoyed this chapter, and I hope you stick around for the next chapter!