Page 43 of Instant Heat
"Thatcher!" This time faint coughing answered me call."Brooks, where the hell are you?" I mumbled to myself as I strained to hear more sounds. I turned right, and the coughing grew louder and louder.
Then somehow through the haze I could faintly make out a pair of boots.
I rushed forward; panic seized me again when I found Thatcher slumped over in a coughing fit. Bending down, I grabbed his arm and threw it over me shoulder, me own arm supporting him around the waist. He was still coughing furiously when we started toward the exit.
"Did you find Rae?"
He shook his head. It took all me willpower not to tell him that the time it was taking me to get him out of the building was time I could've spent looking for his sister. When we reached the opening again, I was grateful to see Nathan already waiting, oxygen in hand.
"Make sure he stays put," I said to him when he took Thatcher from me. I didn't wait for his answer, I needed to find Rae.
More wood splintered to the ground while the fire kept crackling on. The fear inside me heart kept growing and growing as I entered room after room only to find it empty. Static filled me ears before Nathan's voice filtered through,"Griff, the chief wants you out. She is going to collapse."
No, no, no.
I didn't answer him, instead, I picked up me pace. I heard more splintering and looked up just in time to see a beam head straight toward me. Diving forward, I managed to avoid the falling piece of wood.
"Gallagher." It was Chief Abbott this time."I understand why you feel you have to be in there now, but son, this building is coming down. I want you out."
I closed me eyes for a second. Hissing, creaking, and crackling filled me ears. Taking a breath, I concentrated harder.Come on, Rae, where are you. I forced myself to listen past the sound of the burning building. Squeezing me lids closer together, I concentrated harder.
Then I heard it.
Coughing.
She's alive. I was so tempted to pull the mask from me face so I could better hear from which direction the sound came. I heard it again, stronger this time. Immediately I set off, the sound getting louder with each step I took.
Turning left, I entered another room and just about lost it. There in the corner was Rae, covered in soot, hugging an elderly man close. I almost tripped over me feet trying to get to her. When those big, blue eyes filled with fear latched onto me, I felt mine sting with tears of relief.
I yanked the mask off and covered her mouth with it before turning me attention to the older man. He was out cold, but still breathing. When it looked like she could take a breath without coughing, I placed the mask on the man."I found them," I said into me radio."I found them both, I need help getting them out." I rattled off me location before I took Rae's face in me hands.
"Can you walk?" Rae started to cough again. I knew we had to get out of there fast; me chest was starting to burn from the smoke. I hauled Mr. Bishop over me shoulder and gripped Rae's arm. She winced. That was when I saw the nasty burn on her shoulder and upper arm.
I put me arm around her waist and held her tight to me as we started the journey back. Squinting, I did me best to navigate through the thick blanket of smoke. Behind us another beam crashed to the ground, startling Rae. Me grip tightened, tugging her closer.
Heat filled me chest and me own breathing became labored. I wanted to stop and rest, but I needed to push forward. Me feet felt like lead, every step an effort. Just when reaching the end seemed impossible a figure moved through the smoke.
The moment Nathan reached us, I handed over Mr. Bishop—there was no way I was letting Rae go. I bent me knees and swept her into me arms, heading for the exit with renewed energy. I only stopped moving when I reached the waiting ambulance.
I took Rae's hand in mine and held it tight while the EMTs started working on her. Outside in the light of day, that burn on her shoulder and arm looked even worse; it also reminded me how close I came to losing her.
A firm hand clasped me shoulder and squeezed hard. When I looked, Chief Abbott was behind me. He did not look happy."You ignored a direct order."
"I know, sir." Me gaze skittered back to Rae. The oxygen mask covered half of her face and her eyes were wide. Her tears ran a line through the soot and dirt glued to her skin. Me heart couldn't take it. Biting on me teeth, I gave the chief me attention again."I'll accept whatever reprimand comes me way."
Chief Abbott looked from me to Rae and then back at me again."Not today, son." He smacked me shoulder and gave Rae's leg a gentle squeeze before he walked off to deal with a few reporters.
In me peripheral vision, I spotted another figure coming toward us.
"Is she okay?" Thatcher rushed to the gurney, immediately looking his sister up and down. I couldn't help but glare at him. Until he turned his gaze on me.
Everything I wanted to accuse him of died on me tongue when I saw the same panic and fear in his eyes I felt in me bones.
I understood why he did what he did, and no amount of I-told-you-so and what-the-hell-were-you-thinking was going to change the situation. When your heart was involved, rational thinking and your ability to follow orders dissipated.
I could hardly fault the guy when I did the exact same thing.
"She needs to go to the hospital," the EMT announced.
