Ladder 49

The Loss Of A Real Good Friend

Jason's pov

*a couple years later*

The alarm goes off and we quickly head for the fire. We were checking the roof to see if the fire was right under our feet. "We should just let it burn. It's abandoned." Erin mutters. I just ignore him. I hear a cracking behind me. I turn around, confused. Dennis stares back at me wide eyed. Oh no!! "Dennis!" I cry, running over as the roof collapses beneath him!! "No!! Dennis!!" I yell. Someone holds me back as flames fly upward. Tears fall down my cheeks. We all get off the roof as the people on the hose put out the flames. My God! Dennis is dead!

*later that day*

Mike comes down the staircase. "Come on boys let's line up." Vick says. I fight back the tears and we get in line as Dennis's brother Charlie walks over. He shakes all our hands.

Miranda's pov

Jason comes home drunk. "Uh.... Jason, why are you drunk?" I ask. He walks by me without saying a word. "Jason?" I call. "I..... Dennis..... Is dead." He says, looking at the floor. Poor Jason. They're best friends. I walk over and hug him. "I'm sorry about your friend." He breaks down sobbing.

*the next day*

We were all sitting around the firehouse, depressed. "It shouldn't have happened." Vick mumbles. A tear slips down my cheek as I stare at my hands. "He should've been paying more attention." He continues. My eyes go wide. I stare hard at him. "Are you..... Are you saying.... It's Dennis's fault!?" I shout, standing up. "If he was paying better attention-" "You son of a bitch!" I yell, punching him in the face. Mike walks in. "What the hell is going on?" He shouts angrily. Me and Vick are glaring furiously at each other. Mike has tears in his eyes too. "I get home from telling a mother her son is dead and you two are acting like a bunch of pussies!" He yells enraged. "We don't honor Dennis by turning against each other! We honor him by getting back out there on that damn truck and saving people's lives! We honor him by not quitting by saying strong and being Ladder 49's fire team! By being the best damn fire team this side of the Mississippi!" He's right. I'll be the better man here. "I'm sorry Vick." He sighs. "No, man, I'm sorry. It was uncalled for. I shouldn't have said it." We hug it out and I head back home. "You okay?" Miranda asks. I nod, sighing. "It's hard not seeing that crazy moron at the station." I mumble, sitting on the couch. She sits beside me and hugs me. Me and Dennis were gonna go shopping for a ring tomorrow. I was gonna ask her to marry me. How am I gonna do that without my best man. I fight back the tears and hold her hand.

*2 days later*

All the fire fighters have tears in their eyes as Dennis's coffin is lowered into the ground. They bring Dennis's badly burned helmet to his brother. I wipe my eyes with my shirt sleeve and kneel along with the rest of the team as Mike delivers his Eulogy. "His closest friend would like to say some things. Please welcome Jason Aldean." I shakily stand back up. "As Mike said, Dennis was my best friend, we met through the fire department. And I thank God every day I got to work along side that brave big hearted man. He brought me to the love of my life. He helped me fit in. He was my brother. I loved him. It's hard being at the station and not seeing him goof around. He was a goof a funny guy but when it came to saving somebody in a burning building, he was one of the bravest most serious men you'll ever come into contact. When he fell through the roof, a piece of me died alongside him. Station 3 will never be the same." Mike pats my back and I wipe more tears from my eyes. "He was a good man." He says. I nod and walk back to the line of heroes.

*later*

"That was hard." Miranda hugs me. "You honored him. I'm proud of you." I shakily nod, trying not to cry. Dennis's death will not be forgotten. His sacrifice will not be in vain. Dennis will live on through us like Chief said. We honor him by getting back on that damn truck and being the hero he can't be anymore. "I gotta go to work, honey. I love you." "I love you too." I kiss her goodbye and get to the station.