Out of the Ashes

Chapter One

Written for: UmbrellaPrincess

Written By: MBFeeney

Summary/Prompt used: rescued by a firefighter

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A HUGE thank you to Tammy for doing a fab beta job!

*Tissue Warning*

Although this story is based on very real and recent events (at the time of writing), this story is entirely fiction. I hope I have done this subject justice as I grew up not far from where this tragic event happened, but I felt it needed telling.

Hug those you love every day and live each day as if it may be your last.

Out of the Ashes

Chapter One:

It had been a long shift, and I was more than ready to go home. I was at the end of my two consecutive shifts, and was more than ready to crawl into my pit and sleep for the four days I had off before starting my nights.

In just two days, I had rescued three cats, unstuck a drunk idiot from between metal railings, and cut a family of three from a car that had crashed on the M25. It was rough going, but for all the terrible things I experienced, a lot of good came from tragedy.

I cleared out my locker, slammed it shut, and walked through the station to get into my car.

"Hey, Jackson. Fancy a pint?" My watch leader, James Scott, called out across from his poky office.

"Not tonight, I've got to get over to see Theo. It's his birthday, and I promised I'd be there." My five-year old son lived with his maternal grandparents after his mum, my ex, was hospitalised into a rehab centre for substance abuse. It wasn't ideal as I wanted him with me more than anything, but my shifts wouldn't allow it. Thankfully, Hazel and Bramwell Barnes were fabulous at stepping up to the plate and never once stopped me seeing Theo.

"No worries, mate. See you next week."

I called out my farewells to anyone who was still around, and to those coming on shift, as I walked out to my car.

:: ::

The short drive from the station in Ladbroke Grove to their two-bedroom flat in a low-rise block of flats on the Lancaster West Estate didn't take long just after eight in the evening, and when I arrived, Theo was waving out of the front room window, having obviously been waiting for me. It was a Tuesday evening, and although he was normally in bed before now on a school night, turning five was a big deal for a boy. Plus, I'd made special arrangements with Hazel and Bram that I would get him ready for bed, which wasn't usually something I got the chance to do.

"Daddy! Daddy!" Theo's voice floated down to me from the open window. I looked up, smiling before calling up for him to close the window before he fell out. With a wide grin, he did as he was told and disappeared from my view. I had no doubt he was on his way to the security door to meet me. Sure enough, as I walked towards the door, I could see him bouncing around, waiting for me to let myself in.

"Daddy, you came!" He jumped into my arms, allowing me to swing him over my shoulder.

"Of course I came buddy, I promised I would."

Carrying him, I walked upstairs to the first floor where Hazel was waiting by the door with a steaming cup of coffee.

"Hi Hazel. I promise I won't keep him up late."

"It's fine, Paul," She never called me by my surname the way my work colleagues did. "It's a special occasion after all." I put Theo down, took the cup from Hazel, and kissed her on the cheek before entering the flat.

"Well mate, are you gonna show me all the presents you got today?"