Lost Dad: Dan Smith

Twenty Two: Things We Lost In The Fire

Sorry for that weird cliffhanger. The new Blame (Bunker Sessions) Is AMAZING. We're almost at 400 reads! :) 

Dan POV:

Her name had barely escaped my mouth before I jumped. It was more of a dive. I didn't feel like having my daughter smashed by a falling fire escape. I'd hate to admit that I thought it would be a lot more graceful than an awkward sprint-and-grab. The world began to move in slow motion. That is, everything but the fucking fire escape. In my mind, which was in complete chaos mode, decided by itself without asking me that the best solution was to shove Laura out of the way. Sounds good, but I decided that my job was done and so I stopped. Under the fire escape. Woody must either be superhuman or did this by compete instinct, but he grabbed by by the shoulder and yanked me out of the way. The metal crashed to the ground with a deafening thud. This all had happened in five seconds. Tops. Woody lets out a relieved sigh. Kyle stands there, probably in shock that there's nobody under the clump of metal on the sidewalk. Will is clinging onto an icy yield sign for dear life. Chrissy stood in shock, holding onto Woody's arm. I notice how tense the atmosphere is. Everything is still. Everyone looks paler than usual. I look to my right and see Laura, looking like she's about to pass out. 

Laura POV:

Everything was hazy. Dan's Eraserhead styled hair blurs into a dark blob on the cloud that is him. Kyle's white tee shirt looks like a cloud of white smoke. My stomach twists itself into a tangled mess of nausea. Sweat seems to cluster my forehead. I can't seem to catch my breath. Dan's grip on my arm doesn't loosen for at least ten seconds. The silence is broken with the sound of firetrucks approaching.  Nobody says a word. I think we're all in shock and can't believe nobody was hurt. Woody is the first person to move, which was to hug Chrissy. She slowly hugs back, probably petrified. Will looks like he's slowly dying. My vision becomes less hazy and my senses seem to tap back into reality. I notice Dan's slowly pulling me closer, wrapping his arm around my other shoulder. 

A few hours (which we inconveniently spent outside) later, we are finally let back inside. Once we step back into the lobby, which wasn't burned, my toes thaw out. Every guest filled the lobby to the brim. The firefighter chief announced which rooms were inaccessible and what rooms they saved luggage from. The only one of our rooms to be burned was Will's, but his luggage was announced as 'rescued.' Kyle stayed in the lobby with him to wait for his things. Dan and I went upstairs to the fifth floor (the elevators were shut down) where our room was. Every door in our hallway was marked with a sticker that said we could go in. The faint odor of smoke lingered in the air. We immediately rushed to our bags to make sure everything was in order. I see my ukulele case packed under some socks and a black sweatshirt. I pull it out, opening its case. My fingers position for a D major chord. Then E minor. B minor. I strum quietly.  

"This is gospel for the fallen ones, locked away in permanent slumber." I sing softly. 

"Assembling their philosophies from pieces of broken memories." Dan sings from the doorway of the living area. I spin around. 

"Guitar, piano, and ukulele?" He asks. 

"And bass." I add, blushing. 

"It's funny. The first thing you check on is the ukulele." He says. 

"What else would I check on?" I ask. I don't have very much money or any valuables I didn't have on me (phone/watch/ring) 

"Valid point." He replies. 

There's a loud knocking on the door. Dan leaps to answer. I set down the ukulele. A police officer is in the doorway with a notepad. 

"Good afternoon, I'm Officer Weber." He says. His voice is very deep. 

"Hello Officer, what can I do for you?" He asks. Officer Weber gives Dan the "I know exactly who you are" smile. 

"I was wondering if you would tell me what you know about the fire." He says. 

"I was with my friends in the 6th floor ballroom eating pizza," Dan starts, "and the fire alarm sounded. We went out the fire escape and it collapsed." He says. Officer Weber jots some stuff down. 

"The fire escape collapsed while you were on it?" He asks. 

"No, we had just gotten off." Dan replies. 

"Was anybody hurt?" 

"No, thankfully." Dan seems like he's really uncomfortable. 

"Anything else?" The officer asks. 

"No, sorry." He says. 

"Thank you, Mr. Smith." Officer Weber replies. 

"Thank you." He replies, gently closing the door. When he turns around, I notice he's trying not to laugh. "Mr. Smith." He mumbles, running his fingers through his quiff and laughing quietly.

Will POV:

Yes, I'm pissed that my room was set on fire and my luggage is taking forever. Kyle's rocking back and forth on his heels humming.  

"Sorry this has taken a decade." I say. 

"No problem." He says. "I wouldn't want you to wait alone." He says. I smile. 

"Room 506?" A receptionist calls. 

"That's me." I go up to grab my bag, which emits the odor of burnt hotel. I swipe my room card to prove that it's mine. 

"Have a good day," She checks the screen. "Mr. Farquarson." She pronounced it like "mee-stur far-kwar-sinn" with a deep southern accent. "Thank you." I reply, shlepping the bag up the stairs. Kyle follows. "So, Mee-Stur Far-Kwar-Sinn," He starts. 

"My suite is on the 7th floor, so happy shlepping!" 

Once we get to the 6th floor, we realize the electricity and heating is cut off to  out half of the building. The sticker on my door verifies that we can go in, but the one right next to it has caution tape over the door and across the hall. 

"That was lucky." Kyle remarks. He unlocks the door, struggling with the simple task, but he gets it. When I step in, I almost immediately drop my bag and flop on the sofa, running across the entire room. 

"Don't fall asleep. We're leaving for the airport in an hour." He reminds me.

=

UGH IM HAVING THE WORST DAY I DONT EVEN WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT.