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"All companies, withdraw from the structure. Defensive operations only. Repeat, all companies withdraw!"
The words crackle beneath the roar of the fire, nearly swallowed by timber splitting somewhere above them. Sparks wash across the back of his turnout coat. Eddie catches the strap of his air pack and yanks him through the doorway out into the rain just before the rest of the ceiling comes down.
"Move!"
Buck turns once they're clear, staring into smoke that closes over the corridor as if they were never there.
Chimney's out, Hen, Eddie, Ravi—
"Bobby!"
Buck is already turning back toward the building, one foot carrying him closer to the open door, when Eddie grabs the shoulder strap of his air pack and hauls him backward.
The second-story window directly above them explodes outward.
Glass and burning pieces of it rain across the pavement where Buck would have been standing. Eddie drags him farther into the parking lot, both of them stumbling before they regain their footing.
Engines crowd the curb, their red lights flashing over the wet brick of the three-story apartment building, while fire burns through the roof.
Buck rips off his regulator. "Where's Bobby?"
They start searching through the firefighters spread out infront of the building. Two from the 133. Three from the 122. A pair carrying a hose bundle. But—
No, no ,no.
Eddie is already pressing the transmit button on his radio. "Captain Nash, status."
There is a burst of interference, but underneath it, so faint Buck nearly convinces himself he imagined it, comes one broken syllable.
"...west..."
Then the channel cuts off.
Buck starts moving closer, his heart beating a hundred miles a minute. He's already dragging his mask back over his face as he takes his first step toward the entrance.
The battalion chief plants a hand against his chest before he can take another. "Where do you think you're going?"
Buck tries to wrench himself free. "Our captain is still in there!"
"Stay back," the chief orders. "That building is coming down."
Buck strains against the hand planted on his chest. "So you expect me to stand here and let him die?"
"I expect you to follow my instructions."
"He's still in there!"
"I know." The chief gives him one last shove away from the entrance. "Buckley, stay back."
He releases Buck and turns toward the other crews, shouting for another line to be brought around the west side.
Screw it.
Buck waits until he is several feet away, then he starts toward the building again, but this time Eddie catches his arm. "Buck, he gave you a direct order. You can't just..."
"Would you leave me in there?"
The rest of Eddie's protest dies in his throat, effectively silencing him, and Buck uses that to tear his arm free, not wasting another second.
The hallway is worse now.
Fire has breached the wall and runs along the ceiling, feeding toward the open door behind him and Buck has to climb over the collapced ceiling that came down on their way out.
Dammit.
Buck stays low and forces his way deeper into the hall, one hand sweeping through the smoke ahead of him while the other grips the halligan. Plaster breaks loose above his head, striking his helmet and shoulders before disappearing into the blackness around his knees.
His radio erupts beside his ear. "Buckley, turn around and get out of that building now!"
Not happening.
Buck keeps moving.
"Firefighter Buckley, acknowledge!"
He presses the transmit button without slowing. "I can't do that, Chief."
"That was a direct order! You are alone, you have no line, and that floor is failing. Turn around!"
Buck reaches the collapse blocking the west corridor.
He can't listen. If he turns around now, Bobby dies in here alone.
"I'm not leaving him."
"Buckley, do not take another..."
A cough cuts through the radio, making Buck's head snap up immediately.
It's so faint it almost got lost beneath the crack of burning wood, but it came from somewhere beyond the party collapsed section right infront of him.
"Bobby!"
Please, please—
The cough comes again after a few second.
Buck slams his thumb against the radio. "I hear him. West corridor, beyond the collapse!"
"Stay where you are. Do not proceed!"
Buck is already driving the halligan into the plaster. "He's alive."
He tears down a burning section of wall, then another, the opening near the floor now wide enough for his shoulders, small flames pulsing through it.
Every second that passes without another cough makes Buck wonder if the last one was the final sound Bobby will ever make.
He drops the halligan through the gap and follows it.
One arm goes through. Then his helmet. Heat floods the narrow opening, but Buck keeps clawing at the floor, kicks against the wreckage and rips himself forward.
Once he's finally through, the something behind the wall he just crawled under moves, breaks, and closes most of the space he forced open.
The chief is still shouting through his radio but Buck no longer hears the words as another cough comes from the room ahead of him
"Bobby!"
The west hall is a tunnel of smoke and flames, so Buck stays against the floor and moves toward the sound of small coughs, sweeping one hand ahead of him until his hand finally touches the material of a turnout.
His heart gives a violent lurch.
Bobby is down beside an overturned metal cart, folded against the wall with one shoulder on the floor.
He's still moving, but only barely. A shallow lift through his back, a pause long enough to terrify Buck, then another.
Buck's arms still nearly give out with relief. He crawls the final distance and pushes himself up onto his knees beside Bobby, the movement fast and clumsy.
"Bobby."
No answer.
Buck puts a hand against the side of Bobby's mask. The seal has lifted at his jaw and there's soot on the skin beneath it, Bobby's eyes open behind the lens but looking somewhere past Buck's shoulder.
Buck presses the mask firmly back into place and tightens the loose strap. "Hey. Look at me."
Bobby's eyes move, but they don't really focus.
Buck runs his hands over Bobby's shoulders, his ribs, his legs. He finds no blood. Nothing broken that he can feel through the heavy coat. Then his hand catches the pressure gauge clipped to Bobby's chest.
Shit.
The needle is at zero.
"Okay." Buck hears how thin his own voice sounds. "Okay, I've got you."
He checks his own gauge. Enough. It has to be enough.
Buck pulls the emergency air hose from the pouch at his waist and searches for the connection on Bobby's harness.
"Come on."
Finally, air hisses through Bobby's regulator, who flinches in response, his next breath catching halfway in, followed by a rough, painful inhale.
Buck keeps one hand on his mask, holding the seal, while Bobby takes another. "That's it. Breathe, Cap. Come on."
Bobby blinks up at him, his eyes finally focusing somewhat. "B—ck?"
"Yeah. I'm here."
"The fire..." Bobby tries to turn his head. "Kid, y'need to get out."
As if summoned, a section of burning ceiling crashes down beside them. Buck throws himself over Bobby as sparks scatter across the floor, so close that he feels the heat through his coat.
"Shit." He gets an arm behind Bobby's back and starts hauling him up. "Come on. We have to move."
Bobby's feet slide against the floor, his eyes staying fixed on the flames spreading from the fallen debris toward them.
"No." he croaks "No, no."
"It's okay." Buck tries to reassure as he forces the both of them two steps forward. "I've got air on you, but we have to move before the rest of this comes down."
Bobby's body is heavy and almost boneless. Not really capable of helping as he coughs behind the regulator.
Buck gets his arm around Bobby's waist more securely and hauls him through the doorway at the end of the room. Bobby's boots catch on the threshold, forcing Buck to pull harder before they stumble into the hallway together where fire is spreading across the ceiling at the far end.
Dammit.
There is no way to reach the door he came through. Everything already burned down. They'll need another route out.
"Leave," Bobby says suddenly.
Buck shifts Bobby's weight against him and starts toward the opposite end of the hallway. "No."
"B—ck, leave… Please."
The plea makes Buck's heart lurch and he grips Bobby even tighter before moving again. "Not fucking happening. I didn't run back in here to lose an argument."
Bobby claws weakly at Buck's sleeve, trying to push him away, but the effort only brings on another cough.
"Don't die because of me." He says when it passes. "Please don't. I can't do it again."
God.
Buck knows what Bobby means instantly.
Marcy. Brook. Robert Jr. The family Bobby lost to flames…
His next step falters, but the flames are moving down the hall, so he takes the step anyway.
"You're not fucking losing me, Bobby. I'm right here, so keep moving!"
"Can't."
"Yes, you can. Both of us, Bobby. That's the only option you get."
Buck gets them to the door at the other end of the hallway and shoves it open with his free shoulder. On the preplan, this service corridor led to an exit behind the building. He hadn't expected to need it, but he can picture the route now. One turn past the storage rooms, then the door to the back lot.
"Almost there," he tells Bobby, pulling him through.
Bobby's boots scrape over plaster scattered across the floor and a few steps in, his head drops against Buck's shoulder shortly before he forces it upright again.
The exit sign comes into view at the far end of the next corridor. He can make out the outline of the door beneath it and quickens his pace.
Bobby suddenly sags against him and Buck thinks he's gone unconscious until he feels Bobby's hand close weakly around his coat.
"You're my kid too." his grip loosens on Buck's coat. "I need you to know that."
Buck's throat closes up.
Bobby has called him kid a thousand times. Affectionately, impatiently, with pride he tries to hide and fear he never quite can.
But this is different, worse…. resigned.
Fifteen feet.
"Bobby, stay up!"
Ten.
Buck takes the next step, but Bobby doesn't.
His legs fold beneath him without warning, Bobby's full sudden weight dragging him down onto one knee, making pain shoot through Buck's hip.
"Fuck. Bobby?"
Bobby lies against him without moving, his arm slipped from his shoulders, and his head hanging heavily in the crook of Buck's elbow.
"No, no. Bobby, wake up." Buck lowers him to the floor, fumbling to keep their air line from getting pulled too hard. "Eyes open! Come on, open your eyes. Bobby!"
A sharp crack sounds behind them as the fire races across the ceiling, burning debris striking the floor beside Bobby's boots.
No, no, shit!
He reaches to lift Bobby, but then feels the air line between their packs pull taut. If he throws Bobby over his shoulder, he could tear the connection free.
Buck gets his arms beneath Bobby's armpits instead, and drags him backward toward the exit.
"Come on. Come on."
He hits the push bar with his back, stumbles as it gives, and hauls Bobby through into the rain.
They emerge into a narrow alley on the far side of the building, a brick wall and metal gate separating it from the street.
"That's it. We're there. You hear me? We're out." Buck pants.
Buck lowers Bobby onto his back and grabs the radio at his shoulder. "Mayday. Captain Nash is down at the rear exit. He's unconscious. I need a medic here now!"
A voice answers, but Buck is already working the connection between their air packs loose. He pulls Bobby's helmet off, releases the regulator, and fumbles with the mask straps until he can getit away from his face. Then he strips off his own helmet and mask and bends over him.
Two fingers find Bobby's pulse at his neck. Still there. Buck keeps them pressed in place as he brings his ear close to Bobby's mouth, watching his chest at the same time.
Nothing moves.
A low buzz starts at the back of Buck's skull, drowning out the voice on the radio, and his vision narrows to Bobby's chest. Buck leans closer, holding his own breath so he can feel the slightest trace breath, but there is nothing against his cheek.
"Shit, no. No, don't make me do this. Breathe!"
He slides his other hand beneath Bobby's head, tips it back, and pinches his nose shut before he bends to cover Bobby's mouth with his own.
He can see Bobby's chest rise in the corner of his eyes and watches it fall when he draws away.
"Okay. Okay, your turn."
Buck gives him another breat.
"Bobby, please. I got you out. You have to breathe now."
He bends down again.
Somewhere beyond the rain, someone screams his name. Buck hears it without looking up. He waits for Bobby's chest to fall, counts a few seconds that feel far too long, and gives him another breath.
"Buck!"
Eddie. It has to be Eddie. Metal rattles at the far end of the alley, followed by a hard blow against the gate's lock. Buck wants to call back, but he can't take his eyes off Bobby.
"You called me your kid," Buck says. "You don't get to fucking leave me after that. No take backs, Bobby. Please."
He breathes for him again just as he gate crashes open behind them, and he hears Eddie's boots strike the wet pavement.
Buck breathes for him again. His eyes are burning, tears running steadily down his cheeks, mixing with the rainwater already there.
"Please, Dad." His voice breaks. "Please don't make me do this without you."
He bends again, pinching Bobby's nose as he starts to give him another breath, but as he gives it Bobby suddenly coughs against his mouth.
Buck jerks back so fast his knee slips on the wet pavement. "Bobby?"
Please—
Bobby coughs again, harder this time, and drags in a thin, rasping breath.
"Oh, thank God." Buck gets his hand on Bobby's shoulder and hip and rolls him onto his side, as another cough shakes through him. "That's it. Come on, keep breathing."
A second later, a hand lands on Buck's shoulder and flinches on instinct before he looks up and finds Eddie there, dropping to his knees beside him.
Hen is already coming down on Bobby's other side, her medical bag hitting the pavement as she reaches for his neck.
"He's breathing," Buck says, too fast "He wasn't—"
"I know." Eddie's hand tightens on his shoulder. "Buck, take a breath. We're here. Hen's got him."
Buck looks at her. Hen has one hand at Bobby's neck and the other ready to steady him through another cough. "I've got him, Buck," she says without looking away.
All the strength seems to leave his arms at once. His hand slips from Bobby's shoulder, the pain in his hip rushes back, and he tips sideways.
"Whoa, whoa, okay." Eddie catches him under the arms before he hits the pavement and pulls him against his side. "I've got you."
Buck grips Eddie's coat. He means to sit up and help Hen, but he's shaking too badly.
Chim comes through the gate with another medical bag, skidding to his knees beside Hen.
"He's breathing, but it's shallow," Hen tells him. "Help me turn him."
Eddie moves his grip. "They need room. Come on, just a few feet."
Buck tries to get his legs beneath him, but they tremble as soon as he puts weight on them, so Eddie takes most of it, guiding him backward a few feet before lowering him again.
From there, Buck can see Hen and Chim roll Bobby onto his back. Hen keeps a hand beneath his jaw while Chim opens the oxygen bag and fits a mask over his face.
The battalion chief appears through the gate a few seconds later and stops when he sees Bobby on the ground. "Fuck." He turns toward the firefighters behind him. "Get the stretcher back here. Now."
…
It arrives a minute later. Hen and Chim lift Bobby onto it, settle a blanket over him and keep the oxygen mask in place as they secure the straps. Buck watches their hands, wanting to help and unable to find anything they need him to do.
The moment the stretcher starts moving, he pushes himself up.
"Buck, wait." Eddie reaches for him. "You can barely stand."
Buck ignores him, following on unsteady legs.
At the gate, Buck reaches past the edge of the blanket and takes Bobby's hand.
Bobby's fingers twitch.
"Bobby?" Buck moves alongside the stretcher. "Hey, I'm here."
Bobby's eyes flutter open slowly, drifting past Buck's face, toward the lights beyond the gate, then past him again.
Buck keeps pace as Chim guides the stretcher onto the street. "It's me," he says. "Bobby, look at me."
Bobby's half lidded gaze passes over him once more before it finally holds, his lips moving beneath the oxygen mask.
"Kid."
His eyes widen as he grips Buck's hand and tries to turn toward him, breathing faster now.
"I'm okay," Buck says quickly. "I'm right here. We both got out, Bobby. We're both okay."
Bobby searches his face for another moment, his hand tightening around Buck's once, then again. The third squeeze is so faint Buck almost misses it.
"Bobby?"
His eyes close again and his fingers loosen, but Buck can see his chest rise beneath the blanket while Hen walks beside him, watching every breath.
Buck bends closer without letting go of his hand. "I'll be there when you wake up," he says. "I promise."