Chapter 11 - Laura
I stood frozen even long after the fire truck pulled out. My heart was beating a mile a minute, and my fingers were shaking. I knew how quickly firemen had to suit up and move out, but seeing it in action was something else.
My ears were still ringing as I took a deep breath and blew it out. I turned, looking around the garage, knowing I was alone. I didn't know what to do. I couldn't just stand here while they were fighting to save lives. I knew I could do more.
I scowled, knowing Ayden said to stay put, but how could I? I was still working with them, part of the team. No, I wasn't running into the building, but I could help.
I hurriedly pressed the button to shut the garage doors and grabbed my keys. I ran out to my car, turned the engine, and hit the gas.
I didn't know the location, and as I pulled out onto a main road, I could see smoke. My stomach twisted up, and I did not know what was happening. I didn't know how serious this was.
I knew I was speeding as I hurried along the road, taking every turn that avoided a main light. My heart was in my ears as I turned the last corner, taking in the scene.
The building was three stories high. There was smoke coming out of three windows on the top floor. I could see the fire behind the glass, and my heart stopped beating.
The street and yard were packed with people, a couple of people pushing to get forward. Police cars filled the street, and policemen tried to direct everyone. The fire truck was parked on the curb, and the guys were already in action.
I parked, not even sure if I was in a spot or not. I hurried across the yard when a policeman stepped in my way.
"Ma'am, this is unsafe, please stay back."
"I'm with them," I snapped, pointing towards the guys.
I knew I was told to stay and watch the fire station, but how could I? How could I stay back, knowing they were here in this?
"Ma'am.." The police officer tried to get me to take another step back. But then I heard Ayden.
"Let her through, Charlie."
I moved, running past the office towards Ayden and Weslie. Ayden glared at me. "I'm pretty sure you were supposed to stay back."
"And you can reprimand me later," I said. "Let me help."
Ayden shook his head when I heard his helmet speaker go off. "We found a boy. Miles is coming out. Owen and I are going further up."
My heart clenched, and I was sure it was on my face. Ayden turned to me. "Laura, we don't have time to take care of you. If you can't handle this, you need to leave. Understood?"
I understood. This was not the place to panic. I nodded and quickly shook my head, clearing my mind.
"I'm good," I said. "What can I do?"
"Just stay out of the way, and if the guys ask for something, you do it."
Ayden turned back to Weslie. "Hoses. And get the ladder up."
They moved away, leaving me standing by myself. I watched as they extended a ladder up, Lucas climbing up it. Weslie and Ayden were unraveling the hose as Thomas climbed the ladder.
Just then, screams erupted, and my eyes snapped towards the noise. An officer pulled back a mother as Miles hurried out of the building with the boy in his arms.
My eyes froze on the boy, seeing it was probably the same size as Michael.
Miles ripped off his helmet, which was on the boy's head. His eyes looked at me for a moment. I could see the shock that I was here, but it was quickly removed.
"Grab me an oxygen tank," he yelled as he placed the kid down, staring compressions on him.
I moved, climbed into the truck, and grabbed the first tank. I pulled it out, struggling, not realizing how heavy they were.
Miles turned it on, pulling the mask around the boy's mouth. He bent down, pressing an ear to the boy's chest. I felt like our space grew quiet as he waited.
I said a soft prayer that he was okay.
Mies nodded and leaned back. He exhaled and looked at me. "Grab another tank."
I nodded, jumping back into the truck and pulling another out. "Who is this for?" I asked as I handed him the tank and the mask.
He pulled the mask up to his mouth and took a long breath in. I suddenly panicked.
"Are you okay?"
He nodded. "I just ran down three flights of stairs. I'm a little winded."
I reached out, placing my hands on his neck. He looked a little stunned as I placed my fingers on his jugular, feeling his pulse. It was strong.
"Miles, we have another kid."
I pulled my hands free as he grabbed his helmet. "Watch him. When the ambulance gets here, they need to take him in."
I nodded as he hurried back inside. My stomach twisted, so I turned my attention to the boy. He looked about seven, and I pictured Michael. God, if this was him, I'd be a mess.
I looked for the woman who was crying but couldn't find her. My guess was that this was her son.
I bent down, making sure the mask was still secure as I waited. It was only a moment before the ambulance arrived and took him. I watched as Miles brought out an older boy, and I masked him up before he was loaded into the truck. He was awake and very aware of what was going on.
"The hallway was on fire," he said, looking panicked. "I opened the door, and the entire hallway was on fire."
"Keep this on," Miles told him, holding the mask over his mouth. "Take a deep breath in."
"My brother."
"He's headed to the hospital," I said.
I watched as the boy's shoulders relaxed slightly, and then the woman from earlier came around. "Liam!"
The police and medics pulled them back, and Miles turned to me.
"The fire is out, but there is severe damage," he said, rubbing his neck.
I held up his mask, and he shook his head.
"You're hardly breathing, Miles."
"You would be, too, if you ran that many stairs while holding people."
"Put it on," I snapped, pulling it to his mouth. Miles didn't argue as I pulled it around, snapping it in place.
Just then, I noticed Owen and Cayden coming towards us. I grabbed each tank and set them up. Owen pulled his mask down after a moment. "The kids?"
"On the way to the hospital. Is there anyone else?"
Owen shook his head. "No. The third person was out before we went in. Ayden is checking to make sure everything is out with Lucas."
I nodded, looking at the building. You could see scorch marks on the broken windows, but otherwise, you wouldn't know what had happened. I imagine the inside looked ten times worse.
Miles coughed, and we all turned to him. He made a face. "I'm fine."
"You're not," Ayden said as he walked towards us. "I know you took off your damn helmet when you saw that kid."
Ayden grabbed Miles by his uniform, and my eyes widened as he got into Miles's face. "You do not remove your helmet ever! Do you understand me?"
They all fell quiet as Miles scowled at Ayden. "He needed it more than I did!"
"And what happens when you fall because you can't breathe? Huh!? Did you think about that!?"
"He's fine! He was coughing, and I got him out perfectly fine."
"You're an idiot who could have gotten hurt!" Ayden released him, shaking his head. "You're going in and being checked out, and tomorrow we're gonna chat about your idiocy that will get your ass killed!"
Miles moved uncomfortably, and I chewed on my cheek. Ayden looked at me. "They are all going in to be checked at the hospital. Make sure they all go. I need to speak with the sheriff."
An hour later, I was sitting in the waiting room. Owen sat sitting next to me, looking exhausted.
"You feeling okay?" I asked.
He nodded. "Yeah, I just know what's coming."
"What's coming?"
Just then, I heard the elevator door bing and open. On the elevator stood Ayden and Wendy, who looked to be having a discussion. Next to them was Ashley, and her eyes widened as she saw Owen. She was practically running and grabbed him.
"Are you okay? Have you been checked out? Jesus, I saw it on the news."
Owen smiled softly, leaning forward and placing his face against her chest. I looked away, taking in Ayden and Wendy.
"How is everything?" I asked.
Ayden shrugged. "The apartment is toast. They will have to remodel the entire top floor and the floor below it." He sighed, shaking his head. "Is everyone still being looked over?"
I nodded. "Yeah, they just brought back Lucas and Weslie. Thomas and Cayden were already looked over and left. Seeing how late it is now, I didn't think you wanted me to hold them."
Ayden nodded in agreement as Wendy wrapped her arms around him. "It's late. Thank you for making sure they all got here. Where is Miles?"
Miles was the first to go back, and he still hadn't come out. I was getting concerned.
Owen spoke up, Ashley sitting next to him, holding his hand. "He's still back there."
I watched Ayden's jaw clench, and Wendy tugged on him. "Ayden, yelling isn't going to help."
"If he would just fucking listen when I tell him to do something."
"You both need to go get checked," I said. "The nurses are waiting."
Ayden and Owen nodded, getting up and leaving me with the girls. I looked at them, knitting my fingers together. "So, is this normal?"
Wendy took a seat next to Ashley, nodding her head. "Yeah, they have to legally be checked after a fire."
"No, I meant…." I frowned. "The severity of it. I…” My mind traveled back to it. Everything was happening so quickly.
"It was…"
Ashley nodded. "It was a bad fire. I think that's the worst one I've seen."
My stomach dipped. "Do they know the cause?"
Wendy shook her head. "Ayden spoke with the sheriff, but they have to do more looking, and with how late it got, people needed to go home and rest."
I looked at the clock, seeing it was a little past nine now. I'd been sitting here waiting.
"You can go home. We can sit and wait and make sure everyone gets where they need to be."
I could. I should. My mind should have been on getting home to Michael, but I had already asked the neighbor to watch him. I called them when I was on my way to the hospital.
"Miles hasn't come out, and he was the first one back. Ayden had yelled at him because he took his helmet off."
Wendy frowned. "Ayden told me….this isn't the first time."
"How many times has he done that?"
"Only twice," Wendy said. "The other time was for an old lady. He gave her his helmet and shifted, getting them out of her house just before the roof fell."
My heart clenched at the thought.
"The helmets are to protect them from the air. The guys are very fit, making them more susceptible to smoke. It’s just like athletes, when they get sick, it’s harder on their bodies. The doctor will likely want to monitor his breathing for a couple of days and ensure he doesn't catch anything or damage his lungs."
My worry from before built up, and I chewed on my cheek.
A question then formed in my mind. “If the guys heal faster than a human, why do they have to be monitored? Don’t you all just heal?”
“They heal faster, but they aren’t gods,” Wendy offered. “While they may be powerful and live longer, they still can get hurt. They can still die. They still scar and when it comes to serious fires, they can get seriously hurt.”
I knew that the guys lived longer, and that they healed quicker, but I guess I still didn’t know everything. I felt out of my depth.
“You said live longer,” I knitted my fingers together, suddenly curious. “How much longer?” These were all things I should know, considering Michael was a shifter himself.
Wendy paled slightly. “Well…they age slower. They can live almost three hundred years, but it’s rare. When you find your mate, you kind of age together.”
I stiffened. “What happens when you don’t find a mate? Or your mate dies?”
Wendy didn’t answer, which was an answer itself.