Page 18 of Slammed Into Inferno

“Uh. Fuck. They rushed him in and we have not gotten an update. I know he would want me to call you to let you know.” Tyler sounds nervous, which is making me nervous.

“I -I’m on my way. I need to make sure he is okay.” I am rushing around my apartment while I tell Tyler I am leaving.

“Do not rush and get yourself hurt; he would have my balls if he knew you got hurt on your way to see him. Oh shit, the doctor is coming. I will update you when you get here,” Tyler lets out a breath before hanging up.

“Tyler… It’s going to be okay. He has to be okay.” I tell Tyler, letting out a deep breath. I am trying to keep myself together because I do not know what happened or how bad it is.

“He has to be Evie. For his family, his brothers… and you. I will meet you outside. Bye,” He hangs up.

Thank God to the taxi driver he understood when I said, ‘step on it’. Also, Sundays in Boston in the fall almost winter season is not too busy either. Paying the taxi driver and rushing inside like a crazy woman, I mean I am because the guy I am falling for had an accident at work and not knowing what state he is in. I notice a firefighter with blonde curly short hair, tall, maybe taller than Declan standing out front with his arms crossed, leaning against the wall, glancing up at the sky. Okay, are all the firefighters at Declan’s station required to be built like someone from Sparta? Also, how has Sophia never mentioned him to me? She would be climbing him like a god damn tree.

I believe I recognize him. “Tyler?” I ask him quietly.

“Evie? Hey. You got here fast,” he gives me a tight smile.

“Uh, yeah. So, what happened? And what did the doctor say?” I ask Tyler timidly. You would think being a nurse I would be calmer, or I’d think logically about the situation. Not when it is the person you love. Love? Do I Love him? Not now, Evie! Focus!

Tyler lets out a deep breathe before telling me, “There was a structure fire down in Hyde Park. Our station does not usually service that area, as you know, the flames were coming out of every directions where a bunch of stations were called. He is our lieutenant, so he makes the calls for our truck after the chief yells the orders. We were inside trying to get everyone out and only just gotten the last person out and Declan thought he saw someone or something in the back of the building. Over the radio, our chief told us to evacuate as the building was going to cave in the matter of a minute, Declan, being himself, told me to head out and he would be right behind me. I turn to follow him toward the back of the building,” Tyler’s voice gets a little shaky while takes a deep breath before continuing to tell me the rest of the accident.

“We were not even five feet from the area he wanted to check, and the ceiling gave out came crashing down on both of us. He got the brunt of it; we were both knocked out from the collapse. After I got my surroundings and hearing our radios going off since we were immobile for a period…. I dragged him out of there. The doctor said he was lucky as the hit could have been a lot worse. He suffered a serve concussion and a dislocated shoulder and a sprain wrist. I swear to God this man has nine fucking lives, I tell ya.” He is pulling the back of his neck while letting out a deep breath while telling me what happened.

Trying to take this all in and process what was just told to me, and what could have happened, I keep thinking, is this what it will always be like? I know me being a nurse is demanding and stressful, at least I leave not injuring myself or possibly die. I must look at Tyler like a crazed woman who is staring at him and not answering him.

“I know it is a lot to take in and to date someone who is in this line of work. This is more than a job for most guys here. It is a brotherhood like no other. When one of us gets injured, we all get injured. Everyone’s spouses and significant others become family. You’re one of us now. Before you see him, take a minute and go in clear-headed. It will crush him seeing you fearful,” he smiles at me and next thing I know, he gives me a hug. I sniffle.

“Thanks, Tyler. He is incredibly lucky to have you and this whole engine behind him. Okay, I am ready to see him. Can you take me?” I smile and follow him inside.

Standing outside of Declan’s room, I take a minute and gather myself because, like Tyler said, I do not want to show him how his job makes me fearful or even if I can handle this type of life with him. I turn the handle and let myself in, and as soon as he hears the door, he groans a little. “Ty, I told you I am fine and stop bugging me, Jesus. Bro, for real, it was not even that bad of a call, only a scratch.” He lets out a jagged breath.

“Hi,” I say quietly, hugging myself in the doorway with the door shut behind me.

He turns his head to the side and his eyes bug out of his head, “Evie, baby, what are you doing here? H-How did you find out?” he asks softly as it hurts him to talk.

Slowly walking over to the side of the bed, I grab his hand in mine, “Tyler called me. I rushed right over her to see you and make sure you were okay. Gave us all quite the scare, I will say.” I tried my best to not cry, just seeing at him in this room with the wires and monitors, it could have been worse. The tears cover my face.

“Evie, baby, don’t cry. I am okay and I am alive. Please do not cry, baby. I am so sorry,” he whispers to me.

“Declan, I was worried. So scared, baby,” I whisper to him as he takes my hand and kisses my knuckles.

He lifts the blanket and pats the bed. I kick off my shoes and climb into the small hospital bed with him. He puts the arm, with no wires or monitors, around me while I lay my head on his chest and listen to his heart beating. He kisses the top of my head and we lay there together listening to the beeping. I keep thinking if this is the life I want to live; I know this could happen at any moment again, and he could seriously get hurt worse than today or even die on the job. Can I live with this notion? Can I be with someone again who puts his work first? I am not entirely sure I can, and it breaks my heart. I might have to let him go. The nurses were trying to check on his vitals as I lay in bed with him. I sit up and try to untangle myself from Declan. He is out cold thanks to the medicine they have been giving him, so I know he will not feel me moving to get up. I smile up at the nurse and mouthsorry; she is an older lady and winks at me. I look at my phone and it is way past visiting hours, and I need to be at work in four hours. I lean over the bed and give him a kiss on the cheek, and I whisper to him‘I love you’because I know he will not hear me or remember it. Silently, I put my shoes on and leave the room. I am holding in a sob in the back of my throat as I will not let myself break down in this hospital hallway. No, this breakdown is going to be saved for when I am home alone in my shower, like any adult woman in this world, because my heart knows this is the end for Declan and me. I simply hope he understands. I am not even sure I fully understand.

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