Rollercoaster

Up and Away pt 2

September 26th, 2020
b u c k

"That was so crazy." Chimney said, slumping down in the recliner in the bunk room.

We just got back from a call, it was a really bad wreck. The car was wrapped around a pole and everyone came out unharmed. "Yeah it was, they were so lucky."

We sit and chit chat for a few minutes when the bell goes off.  Bobby rushes down the stairs, talking into his radio. "118 can be there in 7 minutes, that's only a few blocks from us."

"Everyone suit up," he started, jumping up into the truck. "There's a rogue hot air balloon, three people on board."

My head shoots up immediately, Finn and Brax are in a hot air balloon right now.

"Did they say who called it in?" I ask, already jumping into the truck with Bobby.

"They just said it was a woman, her son, and the pilot." He furrowed his eyebrows. "Why?"

I felt the color drain from my face. "I think it might be Finn and Brax."

"We'll get them down safely," he said. "But we have to leave now."

Once everyone was ready, we started to head out. I unknowingly started shaking my leg with anxiety, I can't lose them. I don't know shit about hot air balloons but looking up at the dark sky, I know this can't be good.

...

"How the hell are we getting them down?" Eddie questioned, looking up at the balloon in the air. It's lower to the ground than before but it's still pretty high up there.

"It looks like the pilot has it under control, so it should be pretty easy." Bobby said, looking through the truck trying to find some tools we could use.

"Can't we just pop the balloon?" I stupidly asked, regretting the question.

"That's not really how hot air balloons work, Buck." Chimney said, laughing at what I said.

I looked down at my feet, scared of what the outcome is gonna be.

"Oh shit," Bobby said. "Why is she yelling?"

I look up and see Finn yelling out of the basket, waving her arms frantically. We can't quite hear her over the wind, but the pilot is no longer in sight.

"I think the pilot passed out." Eddie said. "I don't see him."

"We have to get them down, right now." Bobby gets in the truck and sticks his head out of the window. "Buck, Eddie get on top. We're gonna try something pretty risky."

"I connected my radio to the frequency they use up there, you can talk to Finn and tell her what we're doing." Eddie said, handing me the radio.

"And what exactly are we doing?" I ask, not knowing anything apparently.

"You're gonna tell her how to land the thing."

...

"Okay Finn, listen to me." I try to calm her down. "You can do this I promise."

"Where the hell is the guy in charge? Shouldn't the expert be telling me how to land this thing?" She questioned, something that we all wish we could answer.

"We have no idea where he is, he wasn't in the building when we got here." I explained. "But I googled it and it seems pretty easy to land."

"Pretty easy my ass." She sighed. "But I have to try my best, right?"

"That's right baby," I say in a soothing voice. "You got this."

I explain to her the plan, and tell her how to land the balloon. All she has to do is pull in the roap to open the the parachute valve, and it will lower the altitude enough for them to get close enough to the truck.

I'm gonna catch Braxton while Eddie gets into the basket with Finn so he can help her land. Even though neither of them knows how, but the pilot is obviously useless at this point.

"Cap, slow down." Eddie said into his own radio. The balloon was almost level with the truck, now all we have to do is get Braxton and Eddie has to jump in.

"Okay Finn, Braxton has to jump out. I'll catch him I promise." I say into the radio.

"You better fucking catch him or I swear to god." She yells at me, completely serious.

They get closer to the truck, and Eddie holds onto the basket while Braxton jumps to my arms.

Eddie gets into the basket just as it goes back up into the air with the wind, making him almost fall out but he pulled himself up in time.

E D D I E

"Well hello Finny." I say, still catching my breath from pulling myself into the basket. "Fancy seeing you here."

"Oh shut up and land this thing please." She said, handing me the rope and going over the the unconscious pilot.

I maneuver the balloon to the ground as smoothly as I could, but obviously google isn't really the best teacher. As the basket hit the ground, it flipped over almost throwing us out. I looked over at Finn to see her trying to hold the pilots head in place, to avoid any injuries to him.

"It looks like he just got scared and passed out, he might have a concussion." The nurse in her was starting to show.

"Okay the team is heading over, Hen and Chimney will take him. I'm sure Buck is coming thi-"

I got so rudely interrupted by Buck pulling Finn out of the basket, with Braxton running behind him.

"I'm so glad you're okay," he held her face in his hands, kissing her. "I was so scared."

"Yeah, me too." She pulled away and hugged him tight, letting Braxton in on the hug.

I love this little family.