A Flame To Bear (Fire Bear Shifters 4) (2 page)

Bailey Webb blinked against the bright light as she opened her eyes. Sunlight streamed in through the open blinds on her large hospital room window, reflecting off the polished steel of the medical equipment surrounding her.

Feeling dazed, she sat up in her bed and tried to remember why she was here. Her chest ached a little when she breathed in deeply. Slowly, memories of the past twenty-four hours came flooding back to her. She remembered waking up to a blinding haze of smoke and the blaring of fire alarms. Everything in the hotel had been dark, and the hallway had been so hot and thick with smoke that she’d been afraid to venture into it. Besides, she’d thought she remembered something from fire safety classes in elementary school about not leaving a room if the doorknob felt hot, and the door handle on her hotel door had been uncomfortably warm. So, Bailey had opened the window of her fourth story room, and waited for someone to rescue her. Despite the wailing of sirens, though, Bailey hadn’t seen any firemen or ladders near her window in the back of the hotel. The smoke had grown thicker, and the air hotter. Bailey had started considering whether she could survive a jump from the fourth floor, when her hotel door had burst open. Her coworker, Conner, who had been staying in the room across the hall from her, burst in.

“We’re trapped!” he’d yelled. “I tried to get to the stairs, but the smoke is too thick. And the closer you get to the stairwell, the hotter it gets. We’re going to die in here.”

Bailey had never heard Conner sound so panicked. He was always the cool, collected one, even when everything on a work assignment was going to shit. And, as a field journalist, things frequently went to shit. The panic in his voice had triggered her own feelings of panic, and she’d started yelling for help.

He’d yelled with her for a few minutes, but then had told her they should hide in the bathroom and shut the door to keep out the smoke. Bailey had told him he was crazy, and that they would suffocate in there. He’d said, “Suit yourself,” and then disappeared into the bathroom.

It was the last thing she’d ever hear him say.

She’d cowered in the corner by the window, trying to get what little fresh air might seep in against the smoke. Breathing had become more and more difficult, and she started to think that her only choice was to attempt a jump from the fourth floor window. She might be able to make it, and a few broken bones would be much better than dying.

But before she’d been able to act on her plan, a tall fireman had rushed into the room. She’d tried to raise her hand to show him where she was, but she’d had almost no energy left. It hadn’t mattered. The fireman had seen her, and rushed over to scoop her off the floor. With her last burst of strength, she’d told him about Conner. The last thing she remembered before waking up in the hospital had been watching the fireman rush into the bathroom.

At some point, she’d briefly regained consciousness, and the hospital staff had peppered her with questions. They’d tried to get information about her medical history, and emergency contacts. Bailey had laughed. Her only emergency contact was her boss. Work had taken over her life, and she had no family or friends, other than people who worked with her. She’d tried to mumble answers to the staff’s questions, but all she really wanted to know was whether Conner had made it out okay. After repeatedly asking about him, one of the nurses got very quiet. Bailey knew even before the nurse spoke that the news wasn’t good.

“I’m so sorry. Your friend didn’t make it,” the nurse had said. Bailey had closed her eyes and slipped out of consciousness again, which had been a merciful escape from the painful reality of losing a friend and colleague.

But, now, she’d woken up again, and she had to face the fact that Conner wasn’t coming back. Her hospital room was empty and quiet this time. She looked around at the beeping machines and no-nonsense décor. The only thing that brightened the plain, sterile room was a box with a lovely red ribbon tied around it. Bailey pushed the button on her hospital bed that raised the back, bringing it to a seated position, and wondered what was in the box. She didn’t have much time to wonder, though. Before she had finished raising the bed, a nurse she didn’t remember seeing before walked into the room.

“Well, good afternoon, Sunshine. You’re finally awake. I’m Mindy, your day shift nurse. How are you feeling?”

“Um, okay, I guess. Still a little in shock over everything, though.”

Mindy clucked sympathetically as she looked at some printouts from one of the beeping machines and made some notes in her chart. “It’s a lot to take in, my dear. The overnight nurse told me about your coworker. I’m so sorry.”

“Thanks,” Bailey said flatly. She felt like she should say something else, but the whole thing felt a little surreal. Conner couldn’t really be gone, could he? She’d just seen him yesterday, fretting that they didn’t have enough controversial quotes for their story about the ongoing drought in California.

“Were you and your colleague close?” Mindy asked.

Bailey shrugged. “I wouldn’t say we were best friends, but I worked with him a lot. I can’t believe he’s just…gone.”

Mindy put a hand on Bailey’s arm. “I’m so sorry.”

Bailey shrugged again. There wasn’t anything Mindy or anyone else could do to bring Conner back, and dwelling on his death made it seem somehow more real and shocking. Bailey decided she needed to change the subject. “So, how am I doing? When can I leave?”

“Your chart looks really great right now. I’ll have to have the doctor come check on you, but I would bet he’ll discharge you this evening or early tomorrow morning at the latest.”

Bailey nodded. “That’s good to hear. As lovely as you all have been, I’m ready to get out of here.”

Bailey didn’t bother to add that she didn’t know where she was going to go when she left. She had lost her cell phone in the fire, so she had no idea what kind of messages her boss had left for her. She’d given her boss’s name as an emergency contact, so she figured he knew by now that she had landed in the hospital and that Conner hadn’t made it. But her boss subscribed religiously to the idea that “the show must go on.” No doubt, he’d sent his condolences, and then started asking about whether the piece Bailey had been writing could be salvaged.

Something about losing a colleague and almost dying yourself has a way of putting things in perspective, though. Bailey had been unhappy and burnt out with her job for a long time, and she knew she needed to make a change. She just had to figure out what that change would be.

“Everything okay?” Mindy asked, bringing Bailey back to the present moment.

“Um, yeah. Just thinking,” Bailey said, realizing that she’d been frowning. “Gotta figure out how to get home and everything once I leave the hospital.”

“Where’s home?”

“Washington D.C.”

“Shit, girl. You’re a long ways away.”

“Yeah, I was here for a work project. But I’m pretty sure I’m done with that now, given the circumstances.”

“Well, let me know if you need help with anything. A hotel room in town or a cab to the airport or anything like that. I can help you figure stuff out.”

“Thanks, that’s really sweet of you. If I get a hotel room I’m definitely getting one on the first floor, though,” Bailey said with a shudder.

“I don’t blame you,” Mindy said. “I’m going to go consult with the doctor about your chart and see if we can get you cleared for discharge.”

Bailey nodded as Mindy started heading for the door of the hospital room. Just before Mindy grabbed the door handle, Bailey remembered the white box. It looked like some sort of gift, but Bailey had no idea who would have sent her anything. Her boss would never be that thoughtful.

“Wait, Mindy. Do you know what that white box over there is?”

Mindy paused and looked at the box for a moment, and then a huge smile spread across her face. “Oh, that. I almost forgot. One of the firemen brought it in for you this morning, but you were out cold still. I think it was actually the guy who saved you from the burning building. And, dang, girl, was he ever gorgeous. I’d let him save my ass any day. Here, let me grab the box for you. I think he left you a note.”

Mindy grabbed the box and set it on a polished steel tray table next to Bailey’s bed, then disappeared into the hallway with a little wave. Bailey found a folded piece of paper, presumably the note the firefighter had written, and set it to the side of the box. Then she carefully untied and removed the ribbon, revealing the words “The Sweet Crust” printed across the box top in flowery, golden letters. When she opened the lid, the tantalizing aroma of apple pie hit her nostrils, instantly causing her mouth to water. The pie had a perfectly crisp, golden crust, and Bailey suddenly realized that she was starving. She grabbed the phone and rang the hospital’s kitchen, which she discovered had a menu for hospital patients that worked sort of like room service. After ordering a chicken pot pie, and requesting an extra fork and knife so she could cut herself a slice of pie, Bailey remembered the note. She unfolded it, and read the hurried, messy penmanship that was scrawled across the scrap sheet of paper.

Bailey, I know you don’t know me, but I wanted to offer my deepest sympathies to you on your loss. I’m the firefighter who found you in the hotel last night. I tried my best to reach you and your friend in time, but unfortunately you were the only one I could save. I’m so sorry. I know there’s nothing I can do to truly make things better, but I hope this pie can at least serve as comfort food to brighten your spirits for a moment. If there’s anything I can do to help you, please don’t hesitate to contact me. Trevor Hayes.

Bailey stared at the paper for a moment, trying to process the words on the page. The firefighter seemed to be apologizing for Conner’s death, but no one had been responsible for that. It had just been a sad, unavoidable tragedy. Really, Bailey should be sending Trevor pie, not the other way around. Regardless of whether Trevor thought his rescue effort had gone well, he had saved Bailey’s life. He must have done something right.

Bailey traced her finger across the messy handwriting on the note, and made up her mind that she would find Trevor Hayes and thank him in person. He deserved at least that.

* * *

The doctor had decided to keep Bailey in the hospital one more night for observation, but early the next morning she was discharged. She walked out of the hospital building with nothing but the clothes on her back. Her entire suitcase of clothes, her wallet, her laptop, and her phone had all been lost in the fire. Bailey had intended to fly straight home to Washington, but she couldn’t exactly board a plane without an I.D.

Mindy had gone above and beyond her duties as a nurse, and had helped Bailey set up a room at another nearby hotel. The hotel had agreed to let Bailey have a room on an “I owe you” basis until she could get access to her credit card. Mindy had also loaned Bailey a hundred dollars. Mindy’s simple trust overwhelmed Bailey, and Bailey hated to take any money from her, even on such a temporary basis. But Bailey didn’t have many options. She had to eat, and she had to get at least one change of clothes.

Bailey hitched a ride to the hotel with one of the nurses who had just ended her shift. After checking in, she surveyed her room. It was located on the first floor, and, thankfully, looked nothing like the last hotel Bailey had stayed in. It also had a mini refrigerator, which meant Bailey had somewhere to store a few groceries. She walked the mile to a nearby Wal-Mart so that she could pick up a few basics. She loaded her cart with milk, cereal, and the makings for sandwiches. She was tempted to grab a case of beer, but forced herself to skip the alcohol. Until she got her I.D. and credit cards replaced, her funds were limited. She didn’t want to ask Mindy or anyone else for more money. She picked up some cheap shower gel and shampoo, and then headed to the clothing section, where she found a few pairs of sweatpants and a couple t-shirts on the clearance rack. She wasn’t going to collect any fashion awards with these outfits, but the clothes were cheap and comfortable, and that’s all that Bailey cared about right now.

When she arrived back to the hotel, Bailey took a long shower, and then started making phone calls. She’d been dreading the calls all morning. She didn’t want to talk to anyone. She didn’t want to hear exclamations of shock and sympathy, and she didn’t want to field requests for explanations of what had happened. She just wanted to disappear into oblivion for a while. She wanted to spend time alone with her thoughts, processing everything that had happened.

But life would not stop to allow her to wallow. Things would keep moving forward, as they always did. Bailey took a deep breath and picked up the phone to call her assistant, Sarah, back at the newspaper in D.C.

“Bailey!” Sarah screeched into the phone. “Oh my god, are you okay? I couldn’t believe it when I heard about Conner. That must have been an awful experience!”

“Hi, Sarah,” Bailey said, trying to keep her voice calm. Sarah was hardworking and efficient—the best assistant Bailey could have wanted. But Sarah loved drama. She was easily excitable over the smallest little things, so when a big thing came along, like a hotel fire that killed a colleague, Sarah couldn’t stop shrieking and carrying on about it. Bailey let Sarah babble breathlessly for a few minutes, and then stepped in to get down to business.

“Sarah, I lost my wallet, and all of my clothes in the fire. I’m stuck here until I get an I.D. and I have no money or way of getting any. You still have my spare key, right? Can you go to my condo and get my passport? It’s in the fire safe. I can give you the combination. There’s also a credit card in there for emergencies. Can you overnight me the passport and the credit card?”