Chicago Fire

My eyes flutter open slowly, and all I see is grey. 5:30 the clock reads. I slowly climb out of my bunk, and get dressed.

"aaawwww go back to sleep Mac!!" I look towards one of my fellow firefighters. I smile a little. That was typical Bugsy. Bugsy was always one to speak his mind. His name was Michael Spencer, but everyone in the station called him Bugsy. My name is Jesse MacTavish, or "Mac." in our station there is me, Bugsy, Matt, Riley, and Joe. We're here full time.

The squad guys get the whole summer off. God I hate them for that! No, I'm just kidding. They do a lot of work. It's amazing what they do. I picked up my things and preceded to take a shower. I walk down the hall, down the stairs, past the trucks and I turned to face one of the engines. I put my stuff down on a chair and inspected the truck as I always do.

I walked around the truck, opened the door and climbed in. So I didn't wake anyone up, I didn't turn on the sirens because as you can probably guess, they echo. I flipped on each light and climbed back out of the truck and examined each light as it went off. All were in good condition. I climbed back in and turned the lights off. I did the same to the other two trucks, as I do every morning. I walked back to retrieve my clothes, and take a shower. As I was walking down the hall, the siren went off. The intercom said:

"3 alarm fire at 221 canal street."

"shit" I thought to myself as I had to strip right there and grab my clothes. I threw them on, grabbed my trousers, coat, and helmet. I put them on and climbed in the truck. Within seconds, Bugsy, Matt, and Riley climbed in. I switched on the lights as Joe opened the garage door and he ran to the second truck along with the part-timers. I switched on the siren and stepped on the gas.

The truck rumbled forward and we headed down the driveway and onto the road. I looked at the speedometer, and it read 40 mph already. The truck gained even more speed as we headed towards the intersection of market street and canal street. I look in the mirror and spotted the truck right behind me.

The truck is strangely quiet. Which doesn't happen very often. I slow the truck and turn onto canal street and there was the building. A 6 story apartment building. We approach the building and pull up to a hydrant. Bugsy and I throw on the masks and go In. The other 3 and the part timers hook up the truck to the hydrant. I go in first and the door is caught shut.

"break a window Bugsy!" I scream through the mask. "I need a vent!" Bugsy swings the axe at the window, shattering it. He ducks and a fireball races out. It was so hot, I could feel the heat through the jacket. I break the door down and step in. The heat was intense. I look around and bust in the first door. I step in.

" fire department! Anyone here? Call out!" I scream. I hear a faint scream from the bedroom. I break in the door and see a kid around my age of 23 or 24. He looked pinned under some lumber. He was struggling to get it off of him while trying to conserve his breath.

"don't move kid." I demand. I lift off the lumber from his slender frame and pick him up off the floor and put his left arm around my shoulders. I walk towards the front door and bring him outside. EMTs rush to his aid and I turn to the apartment. I step back in and head up the stairs. I go through an already open door and see flames shooting up towards the ceiling. I step in cautiously and hear the floorboards creep from beneath my feet. Each step was a matter of life and death due to the fact that you don't know what's underneath the floor.

"anyone here?" I scream out. I hear nothing. I scream again, "anyone here? Call out!" again I hear nothing. By now, 3 more firefighters are now in the building and are now running up the stairs. I step again, creaks get louder and the floor falls from beneath me. My eyes widen and everything slows to a snails pace. I continue to fall and I'm looking at the floor closing in on me.

I hit it hard. I roll over to my side, then my back which was now being supported by my oxygen tank. 18 seconds go by and my beeper goes off. I hear Riley scream, "everyone ok?" everyone replies yes. But me. "Mac, you ok? Mac? Mac!"
"....help...." I manage to say into the radio.

"Mac where are you? Mac! Come on where are you?"
"......I... Dont.... I... I..."

I hear footsteps run down the stairs.
"building clear." I hear Bugsy scream into the radio.

I hear the floor creak above me.
"Mac!!! We're comin'!"
"my leg... My leg..." I say quietly. The fire is only inches from my head. My head is starting to feel warm. My helmet is starting to melt under the intense heat. Riley is repeling down using some rope supported by Bugsy and Joe. He lands and rips off the rope. He runs to my side, "don't worry bro! We got you." he said.

My head is now hot and I can feel the heat.
"stay with me Mac! I got you."
He ties me to the rope.

"PULL!!!" riley screams at them from below. They pull me up and carry me outside.
"I'll go out through the bottom floor!" Riley screamed.

I'm in the firemans carry and they bring me to the ambulance. They tear off my mask and helmet and find my head severely burned. And my leg is broken. They lay me on a stretcher and hoist me into the ambulance. Riley rides with me in the ambulance. Which was not allowed. But he didn't care. He just didn't care! I'm glad I have him and all the guys in my station. They're family.

"Riley... Thank y-"
"save it man." he said smiling. His beautiful green eyes were glistening with tears as he took off his oxygen mask.
"Wha... What happened?"

"you fell bro." Riley said. I look to see ifcanyone is around and no one is. I pull him close to me and planted a kiss on his 25 year old lips. And to my amazement, he returned it.... We broke off the kiss and looked into eachothers eyes like never before. He smiled and I did as well.....