Logan

154. Five Alarm, Part 2

*Natalie's POV*

The entire five alarm thing is a lot scarier than I thought it would be. I saw the smoke, black and thick, as we drove through it. I could only see so much and I felt the intensity of the situation as soon as I stepped out of the truck. The bonfire smell was 10x more intense, with the bitter smell from the burning sugar. The team went in, hearing Ripley yell out orders, and I watched as they coordinated to get everyone else out, and attend to the survivors.

It was the way everything was so unsure, it made me anxious but I knew I had to push through it. I'd seen emergencies before, but it was a totally different experience being on the other side of it. All I could do was stand and listen, and watch them work as a team. Captain Ripley's a good leader, I thought.

"Captain Ripley here-need-" the radio cut in and out, then silence. I watched Rhodes hold up her walkie and try to communicate with him, repeating a call signal, with no avail. Rhodes dropped her hand from the device and pointed to Desmond, who nodded and then looked back at me, then disappeared into the building.

I felt absolutely powerless as I saw two structures crashing down on the west end, the Mill's family legacy slowly ending in fire and smoke, and wondering if Desmond and everyone else evaded diasaster. So many families were losing their livelihood tonight.

I heard the click of the communicator, then Desmond's voice cutting in and out, "Hey I need help in here! we're- northeast- corner," I watched everyone look at each other, then at me, and watched four more firefighters rush in, Parker with the med bag.

Rhodes walked up to me, "Natalie, you're going to have to prepare yourself."

I looked over at her in shock, "I'll be fine." I shook my head and she leaned in to me.

"It's Ripley," she said, and before she could tell me more Nash put his hands between us.

"Your dad would kill me if you got hurt," Shoving me into the aid car before covering Rhodes with his body. A gigantic gust of dirt made a whoosh noise as it brought down one side of the building, dirt rushed from the building, sending rocks and rubble forward.

Before I could get up my blood ran cold at what I heard next, "He's been shot- need assistance- he's been shot!" I heard more muffled voices and I pushed open the doors of the squad car, jumping out and running forward, and the world was eerily silent.

The dust settled and I could make out the shapes surrounding Ripley, on the board, still. "Ripley!" I ran toward them and hands caught me, "Ripley!" I looked up to see Elena, "Let me go!" I screamed, I looked over to see Desmond, his face ashy and he looked at me and then away.

And then I saw the blood, and I heard Ripley groan. "Natalie," he breathed out, and Desmond pointed at Elena and she let me go. I pushed her away, a look of sympathy on her face until she was called away, and I gave it no further thoughts as I ran to Ripley.

Captain Ripley held his hand out for me, and I grabbed it, all of my thoughts silent as I tried to think of something to say. "Hey kiddo," he said, as he was settled into the aid car, wires and tubes, and tools floating above us almost in slow-motion, it was just he and I. He groaned in pain and I felt my chest tighten, fearful for what happened next. He looked pale, his face covered in soot, his uniform covered in blood. No, not him. "Don't...." he coughed, then groaned, "Don't look."

He moved his other hand and blood splurted, my hand covered it, pressing down, and I could feel the blood slow around my hand. Desmond and I locked eyes and he held up gauze, "on 3, 2, 1," I moved my hand quickly and he covered it, and I tried not to look down at the blood dripping from my hand.

"Hey," I looked back at Thomas and we locked eyes, and this big man suddenly looked so small and fragile, "sweet girl," his hand brushed my cheek, "sing for me," he whispered.