Chapter 4 - Lewis
"Chloe!" I shout as she goes limp in my arms. My heart slams against my ribs as I sweep her up, cradling her against my chest. "She's unconscious! We need oxygen, now!"
Ollis appears through the smoke, his face obscured by his mask but recognizable by his build alone. He reaches for Chloe, but I tighten my grip.
"I've got her," I insist, already moving toward the makeshift exit my team has created.
"Lewis, let me—" Ollis begins, but something in my expression must stop him because he just nods and starts clearing the path ahead of us.
The journey through the burning building feels endless. Every step is a battle against exhaustion and the toxic air filling my lungs. But Chloe's weight in my arms keeps me moving, her still face driving me forward. She's so pale beneath the soot covering her skin.
Finally, we break through to the outside, and the rush of clean air hits me like a tornado. I stagger, nearly dropping to my knees, but Max is there suddenly, supporting me as Chief Brock takes Chloe from my arms.
"No," I protest weakly, reaching for her.
"Let the paramedics work, Lewis," Chief says firmly, already carrying her toward the waiting ambulance. "You need oxygen, too."
I try to follow, but my legs finally give out. Max and Grant catch me before I hit the ground, half-dragging me to a spot where a paramedic is waiting with an oxygen mask.
"Stubborn idiot," Max mutters, but there's relief in his voice as they ease me down onto the back of a fire truck. "What were you thinking, going in there alone?"
"Wasn't... alone," I manage between coughs. "Chloe was... there."
"Yeah, we gathered that," Grant says dryly. "Max meant what were you thinking going in without proper gear or backup?"
I don't have an answer that will satisfy them.
I saw smoke, I knew someone might be inside, I acted.
It's what any of them would have done. The fact that the someone turned out to be the most fascinating woman I've ever met is just..
. cosmic coincidence. Or fate. I'm too oxygen-deprived to philosophize right now.
The paramedic fits the mask over my face, and pure oxygen floods my lungs. It burns at first, then brings sweet relief. My head starts to clear, though the worry for Chloe remains sharp and insistent.
"Where are they taking her?" I ask as soon as I can speak, pulling the mask away briefly.
"Cedar Falls Memorial," the paramedic answers, firmly replacing the mask. "Keep this on, please."
I nod, letting the oxygen do its work while my eyes scan the chaotic scene around me.
The building is still burning, though the flames seem contained now.
Firefighters move with efficiency, water arcing from multiple hoses.
Ollis is directing the effort, his familiar commanding voice heard even from a distance.
After what feels like hours but is probably only minutes, the paramedic checks my vitals again and gives a satisfied nod. "Your oxygen levels are improving, but you still need to go to the hospital for evaluation. Smoke inhalation is serious business."
"I'll go to the same hospital as Chloe," I say immediately.
The paramedic looks amused. "That's the only hospital in town, so yes."
I feel my face heat slightly, but I'm saved from further embarrassment by Ollis approaching, his helmet off and concern evident on his soot-streaked face.
"You okay, little brother?" he asks, his voice gruff in the way it gets when he's worried but trying not to show it.
"I'm fine," I insist, though my raw throat betrays me with another cough. "How's the fire?"
"Under control," he says. "The old accounting office is a total loss, but we've kept it from spreading to neighboring buildings So, you gonna tell me what you were doing in there? Chief said you were off duty today."
"I was passing by, saw the smoke, heard someone might be inside," I explain simply.
"So naturally you charged in without waiting for backup or proper equipment," Ollis says, his tone making it clear what he thinks of that decision.
"There wasn't time," I defend, though I know he's right. I should have waited. But then Chloe might not have made it.
Ollis sighs, running a hand through his hair. He's been doing that since we were kids whenever I worried or frustrated him—which was often.
"You're lucky to be alive," he says finally. "Both of you."
"I know," I acknowledge, the reality of how close we came hitting me fully now that I'm safe. "But I'd do it again."
Ollis looks like he wants to argue, but something in my expression stops him. "The woman," he says instead. "Chloe, right? You knew her?"
"We met in the fire," I admit. "She just moved to town yesterday. She's a lawyer."
Ollis raises an eyebrow. "So you risked your life for a complete stranger."
"That's the job, isn't it?" I counter.
"The job involves following protocols and using proper equipment," he reminds me. "Not playing lone hero."
Before I can respond, Chief Brock approaches, his face stern. "Lewis, the paramedics say you're stable enough to transport. They're taking you to Memorial now."
"What about Chloe?" I ask immediately.
"Already on her way," he says. "And don't think this conversation is over. We'll be discussing your solo rescue attempt once the doctors clear you."
I nod, knowing there's likely a formal reprimand in my future. Worth it, though. Worth every second of the chief's lecture if Chloe's okay.
As the paramedics help me onto a stretcher—which I protest is unnecessary until a wave of dizziness proves them right—Max appears at my side.
"Want me to come with you?" he offers. "Jennie's at work, so I'm free."
The offer touches me. Max and I have been friends since we joined the department, but things have been different since he started dating Jennie three months ago. Not bad different, just... less available different.
"Thanks, but I'm fine," I assure him. "Stay and help with the cleanup."
Max nods, then gives me a knowing look. "So, this lawyer... she single?"
Despite everything, I feel a grin tugging at my lips. "Worried about Jennie already?"
"Not for me, idiot," Max laughs. "For you. I saw the way you wouldn't let her go. And you've been asking about her non-stop."
I'm saved from having to respond by the paramedics loading me into the ambulance. As the doors close, I catch one last glimpse of the ruined building where, amid all the destruction, I met someone who made me forget about everything else—even the fire raging around us.
The hospital is exactly as I remember it from my many visits over the years—both professional and personal. The same antiseptic smell, the same fluorescent lighting that makes everyone look slightly ill, the same efficient but harried staff.
After a thorough examination, chest X-rays, and more oxygen, the doctor finally pronounces me stable enough to be discharged.
"You were lucky," Dr. Aaron says, reviewing my chart. "No significant damage to your lungs, though you'll probably have a sore throat and cough for a few days. Take it easy, drink plenty of fluids, and come back if you develop fever or worsening symptoms."
"What about Chloe?" I ask for what must be the tenth time since arriving. "Chloe Bennett? She came in with smoke inhalation."
Dr. Aaron gives me a look I can't quite decipher. "Ms. Bennett is still being treated. That's all I can tell you unless you're family."
"I'm the one who pulled her out of the fire," I say, frustration creeping into my voice.
"And that was very heroic," he acknowledges. "But HIPAA regulations still apply. If you want to wait in the visitors' lounge, someone will update you when there's news they can share."
It's not the answer I want, but I know it's the best I'm going to get. I thank the doctor and, after changing into the clean clothes Ollis brought me in the meantime, make my way to the visitors' lounge.
The room is depressingly familiar—faded blue chairs, outdated magazines, a TV mounted in the corner playing a cooking show with the volume too low to hear. I settle into a chair with a view of the corridor, hoping to catch sight of anyone who might have information about Chloe.
As the minutes tick by, I find myself replaying our time trapped in the burning building.
The way she stayed calm even when I told her help might be a while coming.
Her laugh when I made that stupid joke about asking her on a date.
The feeling of her in my arms as we huddled together, sharing what might have been our last breaths.
It's crazy, I know. We just met. Under normal circumstances, I'd barely know her name by now and maybe would have noticed her around town and thought about asking her out. But there was nothing normal about the way we met, and nothing normal about the connection I felt with her.
"You know, glaring at the clock won't make time go faster."
I look up to find Nurse Wilson—Gladys—standing over me with a small smile. She's been working at Cedar Falls Memorial as long as I can remember, and she treated me for everything from chicken pox to a broken arm when I was a kid.
"Gladys," I say, standing to give her a quick hug. "Good to see you. Though I wish it were under better circumstances."
"You and me both," she says, looking me over with a critical eye. "Heard you played hero again."
I shrug, uncomfortable with the characterization. "Just doing my job."
"Hmm," she says, clearly unconvinced.
"Have you heard anything about Chloe Bennett? The woman who was brought in with me?"
Gladys's expression softens. "Still being treated, last I heard. Smoke inhalation can be tricky. They want to make sure her lungs are clear before they move her to a regular room."
It's not much more than Dr. Aaron told me, but something about hearing it from Gladys makes it feel more real, more reliable.
"She's going to be okay, though, right?" I press.
Gladys studies me for a moment, then pats my arm. "She's young and healthy. That counts for a lot. Now, have you eaten anything since this morning?"
The question makes me realize I'm starving. "No, I haven't."
"That's what I thought." She reaches into her pocket and pulls out a granola bar. "This will tide you over until the cafeteria opens for dinner. And don't argue—you need to keep your strength up."
I take the granola bar with a grateful smile. "Thanks, Gladys."
She waves off my thanks and heads back toward the nurses' station, leaving me alone with my thoughts again.
The granola bar does little to satisfy my hunger, but it helps clear my head. As evening approaches, the visitors' lounge gradually empties, until I'm the only one left. A different nurse comes in to tell me visiting hours are over, but when I explain who I'm waiting for, her expression softens.
"I'll let you know if there's any news," she promises before heading back to her station.
I must doze off at some point because I wake with a start to find Ollis sitting in the chair across from me, still in his uniform but cleaner than when I last saw him.
"Hey," he says quietly. "Any news?"
I shake my head, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. "Nothing yet. What time is it?"
"Almost nine," he says. "Fire's completely out. Building's a total loss, but we saved the neighboring structures."
"Good," I say automatically, though my mind is still with Chloe.
Ollis watches me for a moment, then leans forward. "You really don't know her at all? The woman from the fire?"
"We talked," I say simply. "While we were trapped. She's... she's something special, Ollis."
My brother raises an eyebrow. "Special enough to make you sit in this uncomfortable chair for hours?"
"Yeah," I admit. "I think maybe she is."
Before Ollis can respond, a doctor I haven't seen before appears in the doorway. "Is one of you waiting for news about Chloe Bennett?"
I'm on my feet instantly. "I am. How is she?"
"She's stable," the doctor says. "We've moved her to a regular room. She's sleeping now, but her prognosis is good. No serious damage to her lungs, though she'll need to take it easy for a few days."
Relief washes over me so intensely that I have to sit back down. "Can I see her?"
The doctor hesitates. "Visiting hours are over, but..." She glances at my brother's firefighter uniform, then back to me. "Given the circumstances, I suppose we can make an exception. Just for a few minutes."
"Thank you," I say, already standing again. "What room?"
"314," she says. "But remember, she needs rest. Don't wake her if she's sleeping."
I assure her I won't, then turn to Ollis. "You don't have to wait. I’ll walk home later."
He nods, "Call if you need anything."
With that, I follow the doctor through the corridors to Chloe's room. Outside the door, she gives me one more reminder about letting Chloe rest, then leaves me alone.
I take a deep breath before entering, suddenly nervous in a way I wasn't even when surrounded by flames. What if she doesn't remember me? What if our connection was just a product of the extreme circumstances?
The room is dim, lit only by a small lamp beside the bed.
Chloe lies still, her dark hair spread across the pillow, her face peaceful in sleep.
The soot has been cleaned away, revealing skin pale against the white hospital sheets.
An IV runs to her arm, and a nasal cannula delivers oxygen, but otherwise, she looks like she could be simply taking a nap.
I move quietly to the chair beside her bed and sit down, careful not to disturb her. Up close, I can see the gentle rise and fall of her chest, each breath reassuring me that she's really okay.
"You made it," I whisper, more to myself than to her. "We both did."
I don't intend to stay long—just long enough to see for myself that she's alright. But as I watch her sleep, I find myself unwilling to leave. The doctors said she was stable, but what if she wakes up disoriented? What if she needs something?
So I stay, watching over her as the minutes tick by. At some point, I reach out and gently take her hand, careful not to disturb the IV. Her skin is warm against mine, another reassurance that she's alive, that we survived.
"I meant what I said, you know," I murmur to her sleeping form. "About dinner. About wanting to know you better. Fire or no fire, there's something about you, Chloe Bennett."
She doesn't stir, but I swear her fingers tighten slightly around mine. And that's enough for now—that, and the knowledge that tomorrow, when she wakes up, I'll be here. Whatever happens next, we'll face it together, just like we faced the fire.
Outside the window, night has fully fallen over Cedar Falls.
Somewhere across town, the ruins of what would have been Chloe's law office are still smoldering.
But in this quiet room, holding the hand of a woman I barely know yet feel inexplicably connected to, I find myself thinking not of what was lost, but of what might be found.