Stand By Me

Sixteen

The temperature dropped over the next three weeks and snow fell, but that did little to impede the destruction that fire brought to people's lives. It was early when Taylor arrived at the firehouse with Kelly, dropping her stuff into her locker and joining the others in the rec room.

"It's been..." Rebecca started to say as she entered the room.

"Please don't finish that sentence," Taylor interrupted, pouring two cups of coffee and handing one to Kelly.

"Why not?"

"It'll jinx the entire shift," Mills added from where he was sat with Cruz.

Taylor listened to the conversation going on around her while she enjoyed her first coffee of the day, before heading out onto the apparatus floor to complete her checks and smiled at Shay. She had just finished, when the alarm went off and she jumped to get ready.

It didn't seem as though the fire had spread too far as they pulled up to the scene, but Taylor knew that things could quickly change and nodded at Matt to confirm that she'd heard his instructions. With her mask pulled securely over her face, she followed Hermann inside and climbed the stairs to the second floor.

Sending the first victim out with Cruz, Taylor stayed with Rebecca and continued their search. Satisfied that no one else was inside, they made their way towards the stairs and both froze as the floor below their feet shifted. Without hesitation, Taylor shoved the candidate forward out of harm's way and scrambled to grab something as the charred floorboards gave way.

She landed hard with a grunt and attempted to roll out of the way of falling debris, shouting out in pain as a large beam trapped her leg. Every movement sent pain through her and she found herself hoping that Rebecca had made it out.

The flames rapidly closed in on her and Taylor removed her cracked mask, reaching for her radio. Thick smoke slowly filled the air around her and she covered her mouth, but the smoke was the least of her problems... all that mattered to her at that moment was getting out.

'I'm down...' Taylor stated over the radio, attempting to pull her leg free and falling back when nothing happened.

'We're coming, Taylor,' came Kelly's crackly voice from the other end.

'It's getting hot in here, Kel.'

'That may be the case, but I am not taking off all my clothes,' Kelly joked, causing Taylor to chuckle and sending her into a coughing fit as she inhaled some of the smoke.

'Kel...' Taylor whispered over the radio, feeling tears form in her eyes and quickly wiping them away.

'Nearly there, Tay'

The sound of voices soon caught her attention and she looked around, feeling relief wash through her as squad appeared around the corner. It didn't take them long to get her free, carrying her outside and setting her down on a waiting gurney. 

Fear curled inside her as she was taken to the ambulance, locking eyes with Kelly for a few seconds before the doors were slammed shut and an oxygen mask was placed over her face. She tried to focus on the numerous voices that surrounded her when they entered the hospital, watching the lights that passed above her and giving up as the darkness dragged her under. Unsure of how long she was out, Taylor came to with a groan and struggled to sit up. The IV in the back of her hand pulled as she bared weight on her palm and she collapsed back against the pillows, glancing up as the door opened.

"Taylor," Will Halstead greeted as he approached her bed, "It's good to see you awake."

"Wish I could say that I feel the same, doc," Taylor replied with a grimace, "I feel like I got hit by a truck."

"Unfortunately, you're going to be sore for a few days, but you were extremely lucky and walked away with only minor injuries."

"How long until I can get out of here?"

"I want to keep you in overnight for observation, but I see no reason why you can't go home in the morning," Will told her, "If you'll excuse me, I need to go and update the chief on your condition." "Thanks Will."