Burning Flames ¦ Evan Buckley

Chapter 29 - Close

It was all systems go when the 118 were called to a bomb scene. The team geared up and headed to the victim, however Chim, despite being Captain, took the lead on the victim. "All right, Buck and El there could be a secondary device, we need to get everyone off the 'x'" Chimney companded.

"Sir, is there anyone else in the house?" Buck asked the husband, Ned.

"Uh..no, no. Is she gonna make it? Please, please, please, tell me she's gonna make it" Ned spoke, his voice shaking.

"Why don't you come with us? We can check you out" Eddie spoke, getting involved now.

"No, no, no, she has to know that we weren't just going out to dinner. I have tickets for us to Fiji" Ned yelled as Buck and Eddie struggled to get him away from the scene.

-

Rose Avenue. Car pile up, civilians involved. "So how did it go last night?" El asked Eddie.

Eddie shook his head, "She erm...wants a divorce" Eddie spoke, clenching his jaw.

"Wait what?" Buck joined in.

"Yeah...I erm...Don't wanna talk about it right now" Eddie nodded, not wanting to get emotional before the scene. El couldn't help but feel bad for asking, she figured after seeing them at the beach together, them calling on his breaks at work, the I love yous to one another, she thought it was a given she would want to be a family again.

"Alright, make way! LAFD!" Chim spoke as the team headed to the scene. "Alright, El and John, triage the minor injuries. Hen you're with me. Buck and Eddie, check the driver." He instructed.

"Unlucky" Buck mouthed to her with a grin, it seemed as though Chim was only putting her on Triage, likely revenge from all the times he had to work the winch.

El rolled her eyes and began to make her way round with John doing the same. "El, give me a hand here, move these people away!" Chimney called. El did as he asked and approached the circle, ushering people back and to the sidewalk.

"Everybody back, nothing here concerns you" She demanded, most of them beginning to move. She turned back to see the status of the victim however her heart dropped when she saw it was Shannon. Her eyes darted as she saw Eddie making his way over. "Eddie...Eddie" El spoke and ran to him, Chimney getting there just before.

Once they had begun to put her on the backboard, it was seeming clear that she may not make it, blood remaining on the crossing. El turned back to look at Buck, not knowing what to do. Once she turned back to Eddie he was already getting in the back of the ambulance, El just hoped it wasn't to say goodbye. Backup arrived at the scene which allowed the rest of the 118 to go with Eddie, he was going to need all the support he could get.

Buck and El sat in silence in the truck, only having their imagination to wonder what was going on in the ambulance behind them.

-

The team waited in the waiting room of the hospital, not being told anything. Silence filled the air and only became deafening when Eddie came into the reception, holding a bag of her belongings. Els' heart sunk into her stomach, her eyes scanning his saddened, broken features. She knew what it was like to lose a loved one, but not a husband. Bobby had arrived just in time, the pair hugging tightly.

With a heavy heart, El felt Bucks hand brush against hers. In the spear of the moment, El gently took ahold of his hand, needing some sort of comfort in this moment. Buck looked down at her with the same sad expression as her own and squeezed her hand. A mutual, silent moment of comfort needed for them both.