Fire

The Rocker

You feel pressure, and your lungs fill. The scent of roses and iron, that's when you hear them.

"I tried, I did", he sobs, "we were stuck up there. I tried...I tried" Eddie weeps.

"Come 'ere", you hear Eddie's sobs muffle as you hear his uncle's voice.

"No one blames you, lad. You did what you could," you hear your Dad sniffle.

"Come on, my little moonbeam, I know you're in there", you hear as you feel a hard pressure on your chest.

Causing you to rise up from the floor sharply and gasp for air. Your eyes open wide, and the lights are blinding.

You look around hurriedly, "Am I....am I dead?" You say, averting your eyes, trying to check over yourself. You touch your arm and feel the tight bandana.

There are no words in their responses, just crying, and you feel hands on your hands and face.

"Shit...dead meat maybe...don't do that again...fuck", you hear Eddie say, his voice cracking, a squeeze to your hand.

"Moonbeam!!!" Your mom exclaims as you feel her hands over your face, "Oh my sweet baby" you are peppered with rose-scented kisses.

"Tha's my girl!" Your dad booms, full of raw emotion. A hand squeezes on your shoulder.

"You're gonna be alright lil' lady", Wayne says gruffly, "Just gotta get you to the hospital."

You splutter, "You all saved us....thank you."

"Seemed like the right thing to do, seeing as that what you were fixin' to do for us", Wayne drawls, "Besides, I knew all wasn't good in the shire when Eddie left me a two-page letter rather than his usual note on the refrigerator." He lets a small laugh.

"Then this sweet girl called for you, but we told them you weren't home yet, and they got worried and told us about the Larpy tomorrow," your mom says sweetly.

You laugh and immediately start coughing. Eddie helps you sit up. You open your eyes slightly to look at him, "Carla", you say, smiling, "I think she meant Larping."

Tear tracks cut through the ash, dirt and blood on Eddie's face, but his soulful eyes meet yours, and a huge smile spreads across his face, "There she is, still playing detective", he says gently.

You reach for his face and burst into tears, "I'm sorry."

He bends down a little, so his face is level with yours, "What are you talking about?" He says, wiping your tears away, "Hey, everything is ok, alright?"

"I hurt you. I'm sorry. I didn't stay with you when you asked." You say sadly

"Well, you know...just don't do it again..alright?" He says, smiling, but his eyes well up again.

He kisses the back of your hand "My Lady. As Pelor is my witness, I will do everything I can, every damn day, to make sure I never see tears fall from your eyes again. Never."

You try to sit up a little taller, "I swear it too...for you... and your eyes. So reabsorb those ones, ok?" You say adamantly. Eddie laughs.

"Whats a Pelor?" Your Dad asks, puzzled

"My Lady detective idiot badass weirdo," Eddie says as he puts his arms around you.

You both smile at one another and suddenly remember the other important people in the room.

As you turn around, you notice the three of them have huddled together and are crying. Your mom with her arms around your Dad and Wayne, "It's ok, my sweets, it's just happy, relieved tears".

Eddie looks down at your left arm and grimaces, "We need to get you to a hospital. That looks gnarly."

"Is it a very metal injury?" You ask, looking at your arm.

"I mean, on the scale of pop to metal, I give it a Heavy Rock?" He says, pretending to give it a severe assessment.

"Are you ok? Did it get you?" You remember that thing hanging off his body as you nearly lost your grip on his arm.

"Yeah, I'm good. It turns your soccer shin pads were quite the asset." He raises his eyebrows and leans into you.

"Are they all gone?" You look concerned at Eddie.

"Yes, all shot up and burned to a crisp." He says reassuringly, "Looked like a pile of jerky, honestly. Which reminds me, I need to ask your Dad where he got a flame thrower. That was epic!"

"On that note, I think we should definitely take some shooting lessons with your Uncle."

Eddie nods enthusiastically, "I think that would be an amazing idea. The shooting range was one of the options on the tape dates, you know."

You laugh and hold your good arm out to Eddie, who helps you up, "I look forward to finding out more of those tape dates." You smile coyly.

"I mean, sure, but I think until your fully better, and until we've dealt with that shit ton of trauma, maybe we just... I dunno...for the sake of healing, obviously...indulge in a great deal of bed rest. I mean, I need rest, and you need rest, so we might as well rest together, right?" He flashes you a knowing smile.

"Right...for so much rest." You say, trying not to laugh.

"So much rest...just...so much," he says, grinning at you.

"You know I wonder if I'll have to have a bed at the hospital?"

Eddie stops in his tracks, looks at you, scoops you up, and runs towards his van. Quickly chucking you in and jumping in himself.

"Hey! Where are ya going? " Wayne shouts over.

"The hospital, of course, it's an emergency!!!! Don't wait up," Eddie grins and fires up the van.