Rekindle The Flames (The Men of CLE-FD Book 4) (20 page)

Chapter Twenty Four

One Month Later

Pam stopped doing her paperwork when a special broadcast
broke regular programming on the television playing in the waiting room.  She
came from around the desk and sat in one of the chairs in the waiting room and
watched as the television camera focused on a large fire.  She saw two
firefighters stumbling out of the burning structure dragging a third
firefighter between them and paramedics quickly lift the firefighter onto a
gurney to wheel to an ambulance.

Pam sat with her hand covering her mouth as she watched
the nightmare unfold in front of her eyes.  Two of her best friend’s husbands
were firefighters, and their unit was on scene along with several others.

Gabrielle paced the small office refusing to watch the
exclusive breaking news happening. Jon was careful but had been hurt more than
once battling a fire. Pam turned to her and said, “We have to find Megan and
let her know what is going on, Gabby.  She works in the ER, and when injured
firefighters start arriving, she is going to freak out.”

“I know. I’ve been notified that three firefighters are
being transport, and their condition is serious.  We have to be on standby to
assist.”

Pam put her hand on Gabrielle’s shoulder.  “I’m worried
about Megan and look at you. You’re shaking—is there anything I can do for
you?”

“I’m okay.  We should get to the emergency room and get
set up,” Gabrielle said walking away from Pam.

Megan stared at the television in the breakroom; her hands
folded tightly together as she rocked back and forth on the couch. Her prayers
increased when she heard the reporter say
Because of the intensity of the
fire; they are pulling out all the rescue workers at this time. Their primary
concern right now is getting this blaze under control.
She held her breath
but kept her eyes on the screen as she watched firefighters scrambling, trying
to see if she noticed any of them…they were moving too fast. She did see the
Rescue Squad 1, Engine and Ladder 30 parked in the shot, so she was positive
Ryan, Jon, Nick and the rest of the crew were there.

The reporter approached a man in command. Megan ached that
it would be someone she recognized. Watching the screen as the man turned and
removed his white hat, she felt her heart hit the floor; it was another B-Chief
and not the Chief at Station 30.

She clicked the television off and went back on the
floor.  The ER would be flooded with victims from the fire soon. “Megan.” She
heard Gabby’s voice calling her from down the hall. She stopped to wait for
Gabby and Pam to reach her. “I’m okay. I’m staying positive and concentrating
on the patients that need my help.”

“Yes, that is the mindset to have right now,” Gabrielle
agreed.

 “Gabby, have you heard anything from Jon?”

“No, I haven’t heard from him.  I’m waiting just like you
and trying to keep myself calm.”

Tears tried to cloud Megan’s eye, but she pushed them
back. “You look worried, that makes me worry.”

“I won’t lie, Megan, I am worried.  Whenever there is a
fire of this magnitude, I can’t help but worry about those my husband and his
guys. I know they are the best, but they are also only human.”

Megan blinked. “I can’t lose him.  I can’t, Gabby.”

Gabrielle hugged her. “They will be fine. We just have to
pray harder for their safety.”

“I can’t stand here and do nothing,” Pam huffed.  “I’m
going to see what I can find out. I’ll let both of you know if I learn
anything.  We’re in this together, my sisters.”

The doors of the emergency room flew open as paramedic’s
rushed in with the first wave of victims. Gabrielle straightened her face.
“Okay, this is where we turn off our emotions and help those people that need
us.”

Megan nodded and was called to assist a doctor with a
patient right away. She went into the exam room and saw the turnout coat on the
chair.  A breath caught in her chest.  The doctor barked orders to her as she
stood in a trance. “Nurse Tisdale! Did you hear what I said? Get vitals on this
patient and start an IV solution stat.”

“Yes, Doctor,” she said snapping from her haze.  She moved
the curtain back afraid to look down at the firefighter lying on the table. She
lifted his arm to slip the blood pressure cup around it and could tell right
away it wasn’t Ryan by the gray hair covering the man’s arm.  She looked at
him, and he had to be in his late 50s or early 60s.  He had burns to his face
and chest. The breath caught in her chest released as she went to work on the
patient.

She smiled politely and in a comforting voice said,
“You’re going to be okay. I’m here to take care of you.  What’s your name?” The
oxygen mask on his face prevented him from speaking clearly, but Megan was able
to make out his name and write it on a chart. “Okay, Mike.  I have to start an
IV on you, so be still and don’t jump.”  Her fingers trembled as she tried to
insert the needle into the thick vein. Her mind would not allow her to push
Ryan away.  If an experienced firefighter like this man had been injured what
was stopping Ryan from getting hurt?

The doctor shook his head as he watched her fumbling.  He
scolded her. “What is wrong with you? Can’t you start a simple IV?  Have you
ever inserted an IV into an actual patient before? I’m assuming you have since
you’re working in a hospital.”

The condescending words were familiar but coming from a
different source. She narrowed her eyes at the doctor whose age she placed as
not much older than Ryan and said, “Yes, I know how to insert an IV, and I’ve
done plenty of them.  However, reprimanding me in front of a patient is
uncalled for and unprofessional.”

She finished with the patient and left the exam room. 
Tossing the rubber gloves in the trash she updated the chart and slipped it
back in the slot.  Her eyes rolled when she saw the doctor approaching her.

“What the hell was that back there? You don’t speak to me
that way, ever!”

Megan couldn’t stop her lips from moving.  Arguing with a
doctor was like terminating herself, but she couldn’t help it.  Lately, every
little thing was setting her off. “Then I suggest you don’t speak to me the way
you did, either. I admit I stumbled but not because I’m incompetent; I’m
worried about my husband. He’s battling the same fire that injured that
firefighter.”

He pushed the glasses up on his thin pointy nose. “I’m
sorry.  I didn’t know that.  If you want to take a break to check on him, go
ahead.”

She shook her head. “I have to keep busy to keep my mind
off my husband.  Are you ready to see the next patient?”

“I understand.  Our next patient is in Room 4,” he said
taking Megan’s elbow and escorting her to the room.

*****

Ryan pulled burning debris from his path as he made his
way through the structure that was once a premier spa for the upper crust
society.  The heat was unbearable, and he knew his SCBA was close to empty. 
His radio went off again with the chief warning all firefighters to evacuate. 
The severely damaged structure could cave at any minute trapping them inside.

He moved to another room where the flames danced across
the ceiling angrily, looking for more victims.  He stayed low to avoid the
living force of the flames that couldn’t be reasoned with.  Without a fire hose
at his disposal to smother it, the fire was living and growing off the oxygen
in the room.

“Fire department, call out if you hear me,” he shouted. 
The thick smoke made it difficult for him to see what was in his path.  He came
to a door.  He had to take precaution when opening doors. The back draft could
wipe him out.  Removing one glove, he touched the door, it was hot but not from
fire.  He opened it and called out again.

As he started to leave, he heard a small, whimper.
Dropping to his knees he went in to search for the victim.  He felt a hand but
the rest of the body was trapped under rubble.  Clearing the smoldering embers
with his hands, he pulled the victim free.  “Chief, I got one! I’m coming out.”

“10-4, Ryan.  Make it quick.”

He lifted the body over his shoulder and proceeded to
leave the room when a hand clamped around his leg. “Help me.”

Ryan looked down; there was another woman.  She was
severely burned and losing consciousness. “Chief, I got two victims here.  I’m
gonna need help.  I’m on the second floor on the east end of the building.”

Jon’s voice came over the radio. “We’re on our way, Ryan.”

Ryan looked up at the ceiling; the fire was crawling
across it from the hallway.  He had to get them out and to a safer area to wait
for help.  He hoisted the first victim over one shoulder and picked the smaller
lady up to carry her over his other shoulder. He was thankful both victims were
not heavy, but with his gear and his oxygen running low, they felt like they
weighed a ton.

He managed to get half way down the hall and to the
stairs.  He paused.  He was out of oxygen.  He held his breath only breathing
when necessary.  He took the first step and the floor caved under his feet.  He
felt himself falling with the victims still in his arms.

“Ryan!”

He heard the voice but couldn’t move. He was buried under
burning wood and floor material. Coughing, he pushed what he could away.  Then
he remembered the victims.  Where were they?

Jon called out again. “Ryan, where are you?”

“I’m down here! Drop me a line, Jon.  I have two victims
that need medical attention.”

“Are you hurt?”

“I’m okay, I think. I’m out of air, though.”  He turned to
the first victim; she was still breathing.  Checking on the second victim, he
shuddered and bent back on his knees.  It was Iona James, and she was close to
dead.  He coughed again sticking his nose inside his turnout to block the
smoke.  His lungs weren’t seasoned to handle the assault of smoke like the
experienced firefighters, but he was tough.

Steve from the rescue squad propelled down on a rope with
a spare SCBA and handed it to him. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah,” he answered putting on the mask. He pointed to the
first victim. “Get her out first, she is still alive.”  He looked over at
Iona’s lifeless body.  “The other victim is DOA.”

“Did you check to make sure?”  Steve asked strapping the
first victim to the rope and easing her up to firefighters waiting above.

He nodded. “Yeah, she’s gone.  Let’s get out of here
before we’re goners too.”  He grabbed his shoulder as he stood up. “Fuck!”

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing, go ahead; I’m right behind you.”  He heard a
tiny groan come from Iona who he thought was dead.  Her body was badly burned
and curled underneath the smoldering ashes of the fallen ceiling material. “I
should leave your ass here,” he snarled.  “You better be glad I have a
conscious.”

Ryan limped from the building carrying Iona’s smoking
body. A paramedic rushed over and took her while another one seen about him. 
He took off his turnout; it was smoking.  Coughing he dropped to his knees to
catch his breath.  His lungs were on fire.

A paramedic helped him to sit up as he applied an oxygen
mask to his face. He looked at the spot on Ryan’s shoulder and said, “You have
a bad burn on your shoulder also. We’ll have to transport you to the hospital
to be evaluated.”

Jon came over to him. “How are you doing, man?

Ryan pulled the mask from his face. “I took in some smoke
and have a burn on my shoulder.  How are the victims?”

Jon hesitated and said, “I’m sorry, Ryan. Iona lost the
battle and died a few minutes ago. I don’t know the condition of the other
victim.”

“Damn, I don’t how Megan will take this,” Ryan said as a
paramedic applied gauze to his shoulder. “Did she say anything before she
died?”

“Paramedics didn’t say.  She died as they were treating
her injuries that were extensive. Again, man, I’m sorry.”

Coughing he struggled to breath and took a deep breath of
the oxygen to get some relief. Ryan removed the mask again. “I know I should be
feeling bad for her, but I don’t.”

“How are you going to tell Megan?  Iona was the only
mother she knew.”

Ryan shook his head. “I can’t be the bearer of this type
of news by myself. I’ll call Mr. Jones to meet me at the hospital. We’ll break
it to her together.”

“Let me know if there is anything I can do to help.  I
have to get back and help with the search and recovery.”

“Well, they are ready to take me to the hospital. Hey,
Jon, I’m surprised her body even reacted to the fire.  People who live in hell
don’t usually burn.”

“I agree.  People like her usually walk away unscathed,”
Jon said putting on his helmet.  “Put that mask on so you’ll breathe better.
I’ll come to check on you at the hospital when I can get away.”

Ryan sat on a gurney and gave Jon the thumbs up.

Chapter Twenty Five

James sat with his daughter holding her hand. “Megan, I’m
sorry.  I know despite what has happened between you and Iona, she was still
your mother.”

Megan wiped her face. “These tears are not for losing her
but for finally getting my freedom.  For 25 years, she's hated me.  I can’t
pretend I’m over your part in this, Dad. I resent you for keeping the truth
from me, but I have to thank you for not giving me away.”

“That was never an option, Megan.”

She took a deep breath. “I have so many conflicting
emotions right now.  I should feel hurt that she is dead, but I don’t.”

“I know, honey. It’s hard to feel anything for a person
that treats us so badly. I’m taking credit for my mistakes, too. I have to ask
you to forgive me for my part in this. I was young and trying to cover my
unhappiness with Iona by having affairs when I just should have given her what
she wanted and left.”

“If you’d done that she just would have found another man
to torture and put through hell.  No, you did the right thing and stopped her
destruction.”

Pam knocked on the door and stuck her head in the room.
“I’m sorry to interrupt, but Ryan is back in his room now, Megan.”

Megan hugged her father. “I have to see him.”

James hugged her back and said, “I’ll be in to see him in
a minute.”

Megan walked into the exam room.  Ryan was sitting on the
bed holding his head in one hand. “You scared me—don’t ever do that again.”

He lifted his head up and smiled at her. “You’re not
getting rid of me that easily. Plus, it’s not that bad of a burn.” His voice
was hoarse when he spoke.

“And don’t forget smoke inhalation. You took in a lot more
smoke than you think.”

“Aw, it was just a little,” he said pinching his fingers
together. “I didn’t swallow enough smoke to require an overnight stay in the
hospital.” He pulled at the tubing irritating his nose.

She sat next to him on the bed. “It’s only for precaution.
So don’t be a big baby.  You’ve had one breathing treatment already.  If Gabby
doesn’t feel you’ll need another one, you will be released in the morning.  I’m
going to stay with you tonight.”

Ryan caressed her knee. “Baby, I’m worried about you. 
Talk to me.”

She got off the bed to wet a face towel. Wringing out the
excess water, she cleaned the soot from Ryan’s face replacing the nasal tubes
carrying oxygen to his nose. “I’m fine. Everyone is expecting me to break, but
I’m not going to do that.  I have so much more to be thankful for than losing
Iona.  I feel sorry for Connor.  I talked to him to let him know that I’m
available to him to help however I can.  Dad is willing to pay her funeral
expenses so Connor won’t have to do that.”

He cupped her face. “You’re an amazing woman and I’m
blessed to have you in my life.”

“Sweetheart, you’re the amazing one.  You saved two lives
today and although there was no love lost between you and Iona, you did attempt
to save her life too. I love you so much, Ryan.” She felt the tears spill from
her eyes. “I don’t know why I’m so emotional.”

He put his arm around her and drew her close to him. “You
have a lot stored inside of you.  It had to come out eventually.”

An orderly showed up to take Ryan to his room. Megan put
the washcloth in the sink.  She went to unhook his IV bag from the pole and
turn off the oxygen flow on the wall. “Your ride is here. I’ll get the rest of
your stuff for you.”

He smacked his lips. “Great. I have to sleep in an
uncomfortable bed and without you tonight.”  Getting off the bed he lost his
balance and stumbled.  The orderly and Megan caught him. “Damn, what was in
that crap Gabby gave me?”

“The medication will make you dizzy and probably sleepy.”
They eased him over to the wheelchair. “As the drug wears off, you’ll feel
better,” she said tucking the IV bag behind his shoulder.

Megan made sure Ryan had what he needed until she finished
her shift. Her supervisors suggested she be with her family to grieve the death
of her mother.  She refused and decided to keep working.  They didn’t
understand her reasoning but didn’t argue and let her complete her shift.  She
finally clocked out. It had been a long 15-hour day, and she was tired. 
Whenever thoughts of Iona entered her head, she pushed them away.  She did not
want to grieve this woman or shed a tear for her.

Megan made a detour before going to Ryan’s room. In the
basement of the hospital, she entered the morgue.  Speaking with the attendant,
he escorted her to the refrigerator that held Iona’s body.

“Do you want me to open it?” The attendant asked.

She nodded slowly. “Yes, please.”

He opened the drawer and pulled the metal shelf halfway
from the compartment. “I’m not authorized to open the bag, Megan.”

“I don’t need to see her.  Can I have a minute alone with
her?”

“Yeah, sure.  Let me know when you’re done.”

The pungent smell of burnt flesh and smoke filled Megan’s
nose.  The contents of her stomach turned making her sick.  She unzipped the
bag exposing Iona’s face.  It was horribly disfigured by the fire, and her eyes
were open displaying an empty soul.

Megan looked away not able to look at the woman she once
adored.  Iona would be upset if she knew someone was viewing her without her
makeup perfect and her hair flawless. What they would see now is a crisp burnt
skin and wisps of hair that managed to escape the scorch of the fire. Flesh
hung from her cheeks and ears.

“Wow, this is my final memory of you, Mom.  How funny the
tables got turned and you are lying on that cold slab of metal and not me as
you wished.  My heart aches for Connor because he didn’t feel your wrath. So to
a degree he still loves you, he just couldn’t tolerate your meddling.  While Conner
is in a bad way now, he’s going to be okay.  I’ll make sure of it.  Me on the
other hand, I have yet to shed a tear for you and I probably won’t. It will be
hard for me to forget what you did to me and feel any sadness for you now that
you’re gone.” She paused gathering her thoughts.  “I don’t believe you intended
to be an evil person. I think greed, having status and even Dad mistreating you
led you to be the person you are.”  She zipped the bag up unable to take Iona’s
lifeless eyes staring into space. “Goodbye, Iona. I can only hope your soul
will find peace somewhere now.”

Megan returned to Ryan’s room.  He was sleeping
peacefully.  She stood by the side of his bed wishing she had his strength. He
risked his life running into burning buildings to save people. The tears flowed
down her face as her heart became heavy. She could have lost him today.

Touching his hair with her fingers, he moved his head and
opened his eyes. “Hey, you’re back.”

“Of course I’m back.  I’m not leaving this place until you
leave.”

“Don’t. Don’t do that.” He sat up, pulling the oxygen off
his face and held her hand. “You don’t have to worry about me. I swear, I’m
fine. Come, lay with me.”

She felt his strong arms wrap her up, and everything felt
like it should be. She rolled to her side, letting him spoon her from behind.
His kissed her neck, and she melted in his arms, realizing this was what she
needed. The tears fell harder, but they were happy tears.