I’m manning the truck, directing the aerial hose towards a blown-out window on the second floor. It was Marco’s order, so I wasn’t about to question it—I just said “yes, Lieutenant,” and got to work.
Now that my fear, my panic, my ‘wobble’ is no longer a secret—well not to Gio, Marco, Rhodes, the Captain, and Luca—I’m thankful I still have a job to do. They could’ve easily stood me down while I got counseling at Gio’s urging and my agreement. Administrative leave is still on the table if I have another freak-out on scene, but I’m feeling a hell of a lot better about things now that I’ve been talking through them with Wendy, my therapist.
I’m still being watched closely on callouts, but I like knowing that everyone cares enough to help me through them. I’m not sure why I ever doubted that would be the case because not once since I joined 101 has anyone made me feel like I’m not supported by a solid team.
Today, I have Cap sticking close to the truck and keeping a watchful eye on me.
I’m feeling quite good, even being this close to the fire. Confident, even. My breathing is steady, my heart is elevated but not from panic. I’m super vigilant, making sure I’m being observant and having the crew’s back.
We’ve been at this five-alarm fire for hours. The northern side of the building was assigned to 101, the active burn turning everything it touches to char and ash. The smell of burnt plastic, wood, insulation, drywall—all of it clings to everything it touches. And still, despite hours of fighting, the blaze continues to push back on us. We’ve already had several firefighters on other trucks injured and carted off to the ER with first-degree burns and smoke inhalation. One got knocked against a wall in an explosion and was whisked away for urgent medical attention. It means we’re all on edge, but also all focused on the job. Nobody wants to be beaten by any fire. We don’t want property loss, injuries, or for the blaze to spread out and swallow up more real estate.
This fire, though? She’s a blasty bitch who’s on a tear and won’t stop coming back at us over and over again.
The airwaves of the radio suddenly fill with the sound of a PASS device ringing on and off. On and off. Like a siren blaring in my head.
“Mayday. Mayday. Can’t move. Blocked in and my foot went through the floor,” Scotty calls out, his voice strained with obvious pain. My heart lodges itself in my throat. “Smoke too thick. Got turned around and couldn’t find my way back.”
“Firefighter down. In need of assistance,” I call out, signaling to the Captain.
“Rossi, do you copy?”
“We’re boxed in. It’ll take too long,” Marco calls back.
“101, anyone copy?” the Captain shouts again.
Nothing but static fills the airwaves and suddenly, I know what I have to do.
I fight back against the panic threatening to immobilize me. Scotty’s PASS device continues to chime. On and off. On and off. That is the sound that spurs me and drives me forward. I lock the hose in place, quickly climbing down off the truck and grabbing my mask and helmet, my vision laser-focused as I ignore my heart pounding in my chest.
“Where is he?” I ask the Captain as I rush to his side.
“Bottom floor, far left corridor, right at the end. That’s his last recorded location. From there, you’ll have to call out for him.”
“Roger that.” I take a deep breath. Not even a sliver of doubt creeps in, which is surprising all in itself.
“You got this, Iowa?” he asks, his tone steady, straight to the point, and I can tell this might just be the most important question he’s ever asked me. “You go and I’ll get any available crew to come in after you. I’ve got your back. I need to know that I can trust you’ve got Scotty’s.”
“I’ve got this, Cap. Never leave a man behind. Especially Scotty.” Then I’m running ahead, leaving him in my dust. My sole focus is to get into the building and save my fallen crew member. “Call out, Scotty. Where are you?” I yell, only to be met with all the groans and growls of a building fighting a war with the fire and not from the man himself.
Far-left corridor, check. “C’mon, Alex. You’ve got this,” I tell myself, focusing on my senses, this time using them to orient myself in my environment. Smoke? Check. Stifling heat? Double-check. I focus on the floor, watching my step as I constantly look ahead, making sure I know exactly where I’m going and what’s beside, in front, and all around me.
“Alex? Firefighter Maxwell, check the hell in, goddammit,” Captain shouts down the radio, making me wince. He sounds worried and mad, and I know there’d be hell to pay when I get out of this if I don’t reply back to him.
My step stutters at that thought. Not if I get out of this fire, but when.
And then my wobble is a wobble no more.
“Still searching. Almost there. Do you copy?”
“Copy that, Alex. Stay alert,” Cap replies.
I come to a wall straight ahead, signaling the end of the corridor. I listen out for Scotty’s PASS device, straining to hear over the rumbling sounds around me.
“Scotty? Scotty, call out if you can hear me.”
There’s a cough, faint and so quiet, I almost miss it.
“He-here!” Scotty rasps somewhere to my right. It’s a large room, but it’s dark and filled with thick black smoke that would be deadly if someone was stuck in here without oxygen.
I scour the area, turning my head to use the headlamp’s light to cut through the hazy cloud blanketing the space. Then I see the faint flashing light of the PASS device and I have my destination, running toward the man who may drive everyone crazy, but he’d be the first to run into a burning building to save any one of us.
Skidding to a stop on my knees, I look down at the soot-covered face of my firehouse brother.
I push the button on my radio. “Cap, I’ve got him. Just let me check I can move him then we’re coming out.”
“Dammit, Maxwell. How the hell are you gonna do that? You’re 150 to his 220. Give us your location. We’re coming in to make sure you both get out.”
Meeting Scotty’s pained but grateful eyes, I quirk a brow. “You think we need help?”
“How are those biceps of yours, Iowa? Bet you can drag me out easily, especially if you’re used to wrangling hogs back home.”
I chuckle, for once appreciative of Scotty’s knack for making light of a bad situation. He’s like a ray of sunshine in this smoke-filled, suffocating room.
But right now, I need to get both of us out of here.
“Okay. So I’m thinking your ankle’s fucked,” I say, matter-of-factly.
“Can’t move it. Can’t put weight on it. Don’t wanna take my boot off to find out either.”
“Right. So let’s assume the foot is fucked. Can you use me to help get to your feet?”
“Yep. Your two legs and my one good leg should be enough.”
“Right. And by the way, you owe me breakfast, lunch, and dinner after this,” I say, bending down, grabbing Scotty’s arm, and urging him to hook it around my neck. Obviously not his first rodeo, he reaches around and grips my other arm, enabling me to dig my shoulder into his side. “Okay. Let’s do this. One . . . two . . . three.”
I plant my feet and push up, pretty much deadlifting him and using sheer will and determination to get us to our feet, albeit with a howled groan from Scotty when he knocks his foot.
“Check. In. Maxwell,” Cap bellows over the radio channel. I wince, but all Scotty does is chuckle.
“I’ve got him, Cap. We’re coming out. Over.”
“He’s all bark and no bite, Iowa. At worst, you’ll be scrubbing toilets for a few days, nothing more.”
“Maybe I should leave you here,” I mutter under my breath, making him laugh harder, then he stops with a huffed-out groan.
“Foot’s definitely fucked. You’re right.”
“When are you gonna learn, Scotty? I’m a woman; we’re always right.”
“Enough jokes, Iowa. Let’s get the hell out of this joint.”
So that’s what we do, slowly but surely, with me carrying most of his weight, and Scotty gritting his teeth and helping as much as he can. Both of us breathe a huge sigh of relief when Rhodes and Luc barge down the corridor, meeting us halfway. The guys take Scotty from me, grabbing him around the shoulders and feet and carrying him out of there. The red flashing night sky is a welcome sight when we all get safely outside where Cohen and Corey are waiting with a gurney.
It’s then that the realization of what happened crashes down on me, and just when I think my knees might buckle, I hear it.
“Alex!” Gio shouts. I spin around and lock eyes with the man that I love and straight away, I know it’s all going to be okay.