Backfire (20 page)

“He’s right here with me.  He’s fine.  Can you try and open your eyes for me, Mike?”

Attempting to do it again, he felt worthless when he couldn’t even accomplish the simple task of doing what Lawton asked.  “Why is it so bright?”

“The sun is starting to come up.” 

Michael finally fought through the discomfort and forced himself to look.  The blurriness was still present, but he could now make out Lawton and Trevor’s faces.  They didn’t have time to be pining over him. Whatever was wrong, he had to tough it out and get up.  There was no other option. He tried to get up again, only to be stopped once more.

“Hold up there, McGinnis.  I need to take a look at what’s going on.”  He wiped a cloth over the edge of Michael’s hairline and when he pulled it away, Michael saw the red that had soaked in to the fabric.  He grew nauseous at the sight of it.  “I think you probably have a concussion, which means your ass better stay awake.” 

He opened up Michael’s jacket, a look of fear overtaking his features.  Michael grabbed the man’s wrist, wanting to know what he saw.  “What? What in the hell is wrong?”

“Your side is bleeding.”  He pulled Michael’s jacket off completely and unhooked the suspenders of his turnouts.  Michael wanted to sit up and take a look for himself, but aside from Lawton not allowing it, a sharp sting would erupt each tie he tried.  He felt his undershirt being lifted up.  The shirt stuck to the wound like paste before Lawton forced it off, causing even more discomfort.  Michael let out a low groan, trying to mask it so he wouldn’t terrify Trevor even further. 

“It looks like the bleeding has slowed down.”  Lawton pulled out a small first aid kit from his gear and grabbed a package of gauze and some ointment. 

“Can you tell what caused it?” Michael asked between breaths.  It was funny how adrenaline worked.  He didn’t even realize the pain in his side until Lawton had pointed it out, and now it was excruciating.

“It looks like a puncture wound of some sort.  It didn’t go completely through.  Might’ve been a shard of wood or something that happened in the fall.”  He squeezed out some of the medicine onto a gloved finger and applied it to Michael’s midsection.  “You’re gonna need some medical attention soon, though. Could be something internal going on, but the good thing is it’s far to the side. What I’m doing here isn’t gonna be enough. I don’t know how deep it is, but I’ll doctor it as best as I can and get it covered.”

There was a small burn as he rubbed around the wounded area and then a slight numbing sensation.  “Do what you gotta do, Lawton,” Michael grunted.  “Just do it fast so we can get moving.”  He wasn’t even sure how well he’d be able to walk, but he was certain he was going to give it his best and try.

“You sure you’re gonna be able to make that hike again?” Lawton cut a square of gauze and taped it. 

Looking at Trevor and back and Lawton, he propped himself up on his elbows, getting the first glance at what it all looked like.  There was a circle of blood saturated into his shirt and already a small amount seeping into the gauze.  “I know I don’t want to stay here and not try, Lawton. I’m not gonna fucking give up.”  He moved his body and moaned as his elbows slid out from under him. His back fell to the floor with a hard thud.  He closed his eyes and gritted his teeth as a massive burst of pain shot through him.  “Sorry for cursing around you, Trev,” he said, smiling at the child through squinted eyes. 

“Are you going to be alright?” Trevor asked, kneeling down next to Michael.

“I’ll be fine, kid.”  Michael relaxed his head back on the floor of the house, wanting so bad to just fall asleep.  The pain was still strong in his head and in his side, and the thick scent of smoke in the air was a harsh reminder that there was no time to lounge, regardless of the injuries.  He had to push through and stop wasting time.  “Look at me getting hurt again.” He said as he adjusted his weight on the hard surface.

“Again?”  Lawton packaged up the first aid kit and gathered up their stuff.  “Here, take a drink.  I know we’re trying to ration, but I’d say right now is a great time for you to have some.”  He held the canteen over Michael’s mouth and poured in the
luke
warm water slowly.  It tasted so good and Michael savored it.  “What do you mean, again?”

“Nothing, never mind.”  He didn’t want to get into details about Viper and Casey.  He felt guilty.  For the second time in less than a year he was stuck in a predicament where he got seriously injured, foiling not only his, but other people’s chances of getting out of harm’s way.  How could he be so reckless?  His instincts told him not to go in and he did anyway. 

“McGinnis, I think the knock on your head has made you crazy,” Lawton replied.  “I say you rest a bit longer.  The winds still haven’t picked up yet.  That’ll give us a little more time. Then we’ll get moving again. You think you’re gonna be able to walk up out of here?”

Michael opened his eyes and glared up at the other firefighter. “I guess we’re gonna find out.”

***

Lieutenant Harlan was not feeling too positive about the search for McGinnis and Lawton.  He had gone home the night before to try and get rest and spent most of the night awake, pacing at the foot of his bed, wondering what kind of hell his men were going through.  And to make matters worse, McGinnis was FDNY and new to wildfire fighting.  The only thing Harlan found comfort in was thinking that with Lawton’s experience with the area and Michael’s knowledge of fire fighting in general, that they would make a good team and find their way back.

When he got to the firehouse around six AM, he had several messages on the answering machine.  Many were from other stations reporting that they were unable to find the two missing men.  Ducking his head, Harlan opened the bottom drawer of his desk and sifted through the manila folders that contained all of his volunteer’s personal information. 

He had only ever had to notify a family member of misfortune one other time before, several years ago when a young man got struck by lightning when they were out at a call during a thunderstorm.  It was calls like that he prayed he would never have to make again, and here he was, staring down at Lawton’s and McGinnis’s files.  At least there was still hope that they were alive.  He even debated with himself on whether or not he should call at all, but the families had a right to know about their loved ones.

Harlan dialed Lawton’s emergency contact first.  He had his sister up in Dallas listed.  His heart raced as the line rang and a knot formed in his throat when he heard her voice on the other end.

“Hello?”  She sounded groggy and he failed to take into consideration that it was still very early in the morning.

“Is this Sara Burns, Jack Lawton’s sister?”

“Yes it is, who is this?”

Lawton clicked the end of his pen continuously before tossing it aside.  “This is Lieutenant Harlan. I’m sorry to be calling you so early, ma’am, but I’m afraid I have some bad news in regard to your brother.”

There was a short pause before she asked, “What is it?  I told him not to be volunteering, that it was as if he had something to prove.”

He was caught off guard by her abrasiveness and lack of care.  “Ms. Burns, he has gone missing.  We have been busy fighting the Bastrop County fire and he was sent on a search and rescue order.  The fire moved faster than anticipated and now he and another man in the department have not been found.” Again, more silence.  He could hear her heavy breathing on the other side.  “I truly am sorry to deliver this news.  We have our department, as well as others out looking for them.  We’ll keep you updated as much as we can, and feel free to call any time you want.”

“Thanks, Lieutenant, for giving me a call.” 

He heard a click and the line went dead. Staring at the phone receiver for a few seconds, he was still in awe at the lack of emotion from her.  It didn’t matter. People handled their stress in different ways.  Who was he to say her reaction was odd?  He gathered up Lawton’s paperwork and filed it back into the drawer.  McGinnis’s stuff stared up at him.  His file wasn’t near as thick.  Just the emergency contact information scribbled down quickly.  He was amazed he even remembered getting McGinnis to fill it out in all of the confusion and hustle to get him out there. 

He had three people listed. His mother, Betty McGinnis was the primary contact and Eva Crisante and Casey McGinnis were secondary.  He hoped that he could just call one of them and they’d pass on the news.  It was killing him inside, especially when he thought about how hesitant the New Yorker had been about pulling duty so fast.  Maybe he had rushed him too fast. 

Reaching for the phone again, he took a deep breath and wiped the sweat from his palms.

***

Eva found it funny that she was now waking up on Mikey’s side of the bed.  It smelled like him and if she closed her eyes and imagined hard enough, she could almost feel the outline of his body in the mattress.  Glancing at the alarm clock, she was surprised at the fact that she slept until eight AM.  She used to still get up around six on days off, but with Mikey gone she tended to stay asleep longer.  There was no one to make breakfast for or send off to work.

Snuggling into his pillow, she took a deep breath in, the smell giving her brief memories.  She thought she heard a knock on the door, but who would be visiting her this early?  Pulling the covers up, she closed her eyes, not yet ready to be out of bed.  Again, a few more light knocks.  Her curiosity was running wild so she kicked her legs off the side of the bed and grabbed her housecoat.  The wood floor was cold beneath her feet and she tiptoed to the door, peering through the peephole.  Was that Betty?  What was she doing here?

Opening the door, she noticed that Mikey’s mother appeared to have been crying.  “Ms. McGinnis?”  She pushed the door wider, inviting her in.  “What’s going on?”

The older woman didn’t speak at first and wiped her nose with a tissue.  “I’m sorry, hon, for coming by. I just figured it’d be best to tell you in person.”

It felt like a ton of bricks had toppled on top of Eva.  Her mind went to Mikey.  “Tell me what?”

“How about we sit down?” Betty said as they both went to the couch. She pulled Eva’s hands into hers.  “I got a call from Michael’s lieutenant down there in Texas.  He said Michael and another guy have gone missing.”

Eva wasn’t sure if she was hearing her right. Missing?  All of her premonitions and fears about it all had really happened?  “He’s what?”  It was such a stupid question to ask.  She had heard Betty loud and clear, yet that was all she could think to say. 

“They can’t find him.  They went to search through some houses to make sure people weren’t in them.  They lost radio contact and now the fire has surrounded them.  No one can find them.”  A tear trickled down Betty’s face.  How was she being so strong after hearing news that no one knew where her son was?

“How could no one know where he is?” Eva asked, standing up.  She raked her hands through her hair and went to the window, unable to comprehend the whole situation.  “Aren’t they all supposed to stay together?”  She was trying so hard not to lose control.  Tears stung her eyes and her voice shook. 

Betty joined her at the window, her green eyes comforting as they looked at Eva.  “They were in a very rural area.  Due to lake of manpower they had to split them up to make sure no one was still in their homes.”  She handed Eva a tissue.  “He’s just missing right now, Eva.  We’ve gotta keep faith in knowing that he’s still alive and okay.  Just remember, my boy has been to hell and back already, more than once.  There’s nothing he can’t handle.”

Betty’s comment made Eva smile.  “It’s just that the moment he told me he was going to do this I had a bad feeling about it all.  It was so rushed an unorganized. Now my nightmares are coming true.”

Betty placed both of her hands on either side of Eva’s face as they both cried.  “I’ve had my doubts too, hon.  But you wanna know something?”

Eva shook her head. It was amazing how strong Betty was.  After losing her husband, how was she able to do it?  “What?” 

“My gut was telling me from the beginning that something was going to happen.  And right now my gut is telling me that things are going to be okay.  Mikey’s a damn good fireman.  And he’s not alone.”

“I sure hope you’re right,” Eva replied, pulling Betty in for a tight hug.  She didn’t want to let her go. 

Chapter Sixteen

Michael opened his eyes, content that a lot of the blurriness had subsided.  He could hear Lawton and Trevor talking, but he wasn’t sure where they were.  Turning on his side, he let out a low grunt.  The sharp pain in his side was an instant reminder that he wasn’t in the best shape.  Scooting, he tried hard to sit up, pissed at himself for how hard the simple task was for him. 

He accomplished his goal and got a first good glance at what the room looked like after the collapse.  Pieces of wood were everywhere and some were still on top of his legs.  Rusty nails stuck out in every direction on some pieces and he wondered if that is what helped in causing his puncture wound. 
The
hole above him in the ceiling was about six feet wide. 

“Oh good, you’re awake again. 
I really don’t think I should’ve let you sleep with a possible concussion, but I guess it didn’t hurt you too bad.
I was hoping I wouldn’t have to wake you to get going.  The winds are starting to pick up some, so we gotta try and get some headway on it,” Lawton said, again handing him the canteen and a granola bar. “I have a few of these and some mixed nuts that I packed in my pockets.  You need to have some to keep your strength up.” He pulled Michael’s shirt up and examined the wound.  “The gauze doesn’t have near as much blood on it as your shirt, so it looks like the bleeding has stopped a little bit. It’s still moist though.”