Presumed dead
It was a five alarm apartment fire. The air was thick with smoke, the charred stench of burning materials searing their lungs. The flames crackled and roared, a relentless beast consuming everything in its path. The 118 had split up to cover more ground. Hen and Chim were seeing to patients that had already managed to evacuate. Buck and Eddie were still searching the undamaged upper floors with a few other fighters from another house.
However the fire was spreading quickly and Buck and Eddie were soon separated. Buck had managed to carry out a small child that was still asleep in their bed when the fire started. However a falling ceiling leads to Eddie becoming trapped on one of the upper floors.
The call came over to evacuate as civilians and other firefighters evacuated the building. However Eddie wasn't with them. Buck’s mind raced as he shouted into his radio, "Eddie, where are you? Eddie, come in!"
Static was the only response.
"Cap, Eddie's still inside!" Buck's voice was tinged with panic, his eyes scanning the inferno for any sign of his best friend.
Their Captain placed a hand on Buck's shoulder. "We have to pull back, Buck. It's too dangerous. I know this is hard but you have to listen to me." Worry for Eddie was mirrored in both their eyes.
"No! I can't leave him there!" Buck's voice broke as he shrugged off Bobby's hand, determination setting in. He was about to charge back into the flames when an explosion rocked the building, sending debris flying. The team was forced to retreat, dragging a struggling Buck with them.
Buck collapsed to his knees, staring at the burning building. "Eddie..." he whispered, tears streaming down his soot-covered face.
Chim watched the scene in front of him, Buck sunk into the floor in distraught. Panic struck Hen and Chim too as they realised that one of their own was still trapped inside.
“Cap, come on, We at least got to try. We can't leave him there. Damn the protocols, that's one of ours!” Chim argued with their Captain.
Bobby looked at him with defeat in his eyes as he slowly removed his helmet.
“We can't,” he whispers out.
His eyes are sad as he looks over at Buck who is still staring blankly at the blaze. Slow tears tracked down his face.
There were a few shouts over to their right.
Chim, who was still looking desperately at the captain, notices his change in demeanour, his eyes go wide and his lips twitch up in a smile. Soon he's smiling as he huffs out a laugh of relief as Chim follows his line of sight over towards the back end of the building to the right.
—--
The heat was intense, and the smoke made it nearly impossible to see, but Eddie kept going. The roof had begun to cave as he tried to go out the way he came but it was no use. But you know what they say, when one door shuts another opens. For Eddie this came in the form of the caved in roof creating an opening to the floor directly below. He found an old service stairwell that led to the back of the building, the concrete still holding steady for now. However the actual stairs were covered in debris and rubble. It was a risk, but he had no other choice. He descended quickly, flipping to the other side of the railings around impassable parts of the stairwell, swinging at the right time to land on a lower level. Luckily he only had to do this manoeuvre 2 times before finally making it to the bottom, his breath ragged, lungs burning.
When he finally burst through the back exit, the cool air hit him like a wave of relief. He tore off his helmet, sucking in deep breaths, and looked around. The chaos of the scene was overwhelming. The back of the building led to an alley that backed onto another set of apartment buildings, which also had been evacuated.
He made his way back to the front trying to stay as far away from the burning building as possible. A smart move considering the explosion that followed. Eddie took cover next to some large garbage bins as parts of the roof fell a few feet away from him.
Quickly he made his way further down the alley, making his way back towards his team, and back to Buck.
The chaos of the scene was overwhelming as he rounded the corner, but his eyes quickly found Buck, still kneeling, looking utterly defeated.
Ignoring the paramedics and firefighters who called out to him wanting to check him over, some in utter disbelief that he had managed to survive after hearing his assumed demise over the radio. Eddie ran. His legs felt like they might give out any second, but he pushed forward, his focus singular.
"Buck!" Eddie's voice was hoarse, but it cut through the noise. Buck's head snapped up, disbelief and hope flashing in his eyes.
"Eddie!" Buck scrambled to his feet, running towards Eddie. They met halfway, and Buck enveloped Eddie in a bone-crushing hug. Eddie winced slightly at the pressure but held on just as tightly.
"I thought I lost you," Buck choked out, his voice trembling with emotion. "I thought you were gone."
Eddie pulled back just enough to look Buck in the eyes. "I'm here, Buck. I'm right here. I'm not going anywhere."
Off to the side Bobby had clocked Eddie's presence and not so graciously manhandled Chimney, who was still trying to convince the Captain to go in after their teammate, to turn and witness the reunion.
—--
Hen leaned back on the couch back at the station, tossing a casual glance around the room. "So, we all saw what happened today, right? The way Buck was acting... I'm telling you, those two are a heartbeat away from finally getting together."
Chimney laughed, shaking his head. "It's like watching a live version of 'Will they, won't they.' We should definitely up the ante in our betting pool."
"I agree," Athena said, crossing her arms with a thoughtful smile. "After today's performance, it feels like we might be getting close." She had decided to stop by for some famous 118 food on her work break.
Bobby just chuckled.
More 20s were soon added to the betting pool and handed to Chim for safe keeping as he wrote down the new amounts in his bet book.
As they were finishing up, Buck and Eddie re-entered the room, fresh from their showers, their hair still damp. They were chatting and laughing as they made their way towards a smug looking team.
"What's so funny?" Buck asked, noticing the amused expressions on everyone's faces.
"Oh, just some friendly team banter," Hen said, shooting a quick, knowing glance at the rest of the group. "You had to be here."
Eddie smirked, sensing there was more to it but not pushing the issue. "Sure, whatever you say." definitely not believing them, not one bit.