dream a little dream of me

ch9: hold on

"The PASS device is an alarm sewn into a firefighter's gear. It automatically goes off if we're motionless for too long. The sound will haunt you, because it means there's a firefighter down. It means someone has fallen. It means what we thought was a rescue is probably now a recovery. It means we're about to say goodbye to one of our own. We lose a lot on this job. We lose our victims. We lose our friends."

"Hughes, do you copy? Montgomery? Gibson?!"
All I could hear were sirens, crowd murmurs in the background and the voice of Captain Bishop. Half of my team, my friends were now stuck into a burning skyscraper. My entire body was shaking, I had tears in my eyes. Miller and I were lucky to leave the building in time. Seconds before the fifth floor exploded. For the long sixty seconds I thought I was dreaming. I wanted to be dreaming. But another sentence of my Captain speaking through the radio got me back to reality.

"Hughes, do you copy? Vic!"
No answer. Once again. Now I understood what is actually happening. My best friend was seriously hurt. I left Maya's side looking for Robert. Once I spotted him planning the operation I approached. Ripley was nowhere to be seen. Probably in charge of everything and everyone.

"Chief Sullivan- Robert."
He turns around, looking at me once he heard my voice.
"Andy, what's wrong? Are you hurt?"
I sighed, shaking my head.
"No. Not me. Vic. Maya is trying to reach her. She's not answering."
Robert nodded, understanding.
"She was assigned for search and rescue on the fifth floor. With Gibson."
I nodded.
"And the fifth floor exploded. We have to do something, Chief. Please. Send us back in."
Even tho he was my husband I wanted us to keep it professional at work.
"No, no one is going back in. But I promise you we will save her. Now go and help with the Aid Car."
I shook my head. Complaining.
"No, Robert please! I have to save my best friend! We never leave a firefighter behind."
He definitely hated how stubborn I was but he kept it calm.
"Go and help with the Aid Car, lieutenant Herrera. It's an order."
I don't know did it hurt more because I couldn't run in and look for Vic or him acting this way. I didn't have anything left but to go and help Warren with the Aid Car. Robert went to Maya, probably to figure it out. Meanwhile Travis made it out, but there was no words from Victoria or Jack.

"I am transferring the plan and the operation to you, Captain."
Robert said, which cause Maya to immediately start complaining.
"Sir, respectfully, this is Chief's job!"
"You have heard me, Bishop. I'm going in. You're in charge and please make sure nor Ripley or Herrera make a step into that builiding. It's an order."
With that Robert Sullivan fixed his gear and ran into a burning skyscraper. He had to save his wife's best friend and his best friend's soulmate. The clock was ticking. The situation was getting worse. But he has got this- right?

Meanwhile in the skyscraper Victoria Hughes was knocked to the ground, unable to move. Barely conscious. Jack was in somewhat of better shape but also weak. They had a 15 year old kid with them, named Jenna. Also hurt. Explosion was really bad. Jack tried to pull Vic and Jenna down the stairs. But he couldn't. Gibson was struggling and losing strength himself.
"Come on, Vic, hold on. I got this."
He tried to stay sane and save all three of them.  Victoria shook her head. She was aware of the situation. Jenna had better chances of surviving then she had. Even at this very moment, she wasn't ready to let go but she had to. She got married today. She had a chance to get married. If Jack keeps going like this, Jenna is never going to get that chance. Victoria was crying. Her mind wandered around her husband and how this is gonna break him. She thought on Andrea Herrera-Sullivan, her best friend and her drinking buddy, her wingwoman. Suddenly, all of those happy moments she had with her team together in the beanery, during friendsgiving, in the gym. All of those little moments caused her to smile slightly.
"Ja-Jack, save the life you can save. W-we both know that's not mine."
Jack immediately complained, shaking his head.
"No, Vic, please. Hold on. I got this."
"No, Jack, go. Please, give that little girl a chance to get married too. That is our job. You have to choose priorities. Please.  And- and tell Lucas- tell him I love him, okay? And- tell Andy, tell her she will always be my bestie and- don't let her get all dark and twisty."
Jack's heart was breaking into the pieces. He nodded, kissing the forehead.
"I will Hughie, I will."
With that he got Jenna and rushed down the stairs, trying to find a way out. Victoria was choking on her own blood, ready to look death right in the eyes. It was over, everything was over. She could feel her own heart beating, her blood underneath her weak body. But Victoria Hughes did try to hold on...

"Like I said, sometimes, we lose ourselves. So how do we recover? What does recovery take? Does it take time? Does it take forgiveness? Does it take love? One thing's for sure: you can't force recovery. Because even when you feel ready to be back on your feet, it doesn't mean you are. All you can do is be strong and open and willing. And when it's time to jump in to tackle what's next, you just better hope you're ready."