Fire Escape

by J. R. Tate

  She buried her face in his chest, taking in his manly scent. He smelled musky with a hint of the fresh air. It was a place she felt comfortable, completely nestled up to his body with his strong arms around her. There was nowhere else she wanted to be, and for a split second, she felt saddened at the fact that the ferry had docked and it was time for them to get off. She followed him down the ramp and back into the city again.

  His pace was quick as they weaved through the people. “Jeez, Mikey, what’s the urge in urgency?”

  Michael looked over his shoulder at her, smirking. “It’s cold. I wanna get home and relax for a bit. We both have to work in the morning.”

  She finally caught up to him and clasped her hand in his. The breeze made her shiver. “Thanks for going out to the island today. The hardest part is over.”

  “I wouldn’t say that with so much confidence.”

  Arching her eyebrow, she tried to ignore the negativity. “I wouldn’t be so negative about a big milestone in our lives. We have the planning coming up, the joining of our families, the whole thing.”

  “Exactly. I’m glad the woman makes most of the choices. I don’t even know where the hell to begin.”

  “I’m gonna want some of your input. It’s just as special for you as it is for me.”

  “You’re right.”

  They got home a little later and Michael fell asleep about thirty minutes into watching TV. She allowed him to sleep on the recliner, observing him from the couch. It worried her that he was able to crash so fast, but she had to remember that he had been through a lot down in Texas, and though he had been back for around a month, he was still adjusting to everything. The fact that his past was full of injuries and hardship probably wasn’t working in his favor. She could only hope that it was all behind them. Being with the fire department, it was likely that the injuries were far from over, and she would still have to find a way to develop even thicker skin than she had in the time she had dated him. It was easier said than done, and she tried to push the thoughts from her mind and cross those bridges when they came.

  Turning the TV off, Eva debated on whether or not to wake him to go to bed. He looked so comfortable, and she knew he was not the easiest person to deal with when first waking up. She left him alone in the chair and got ready for bed. It wasn’t the first time she’d slept without him next to her, nor would it be the last.

  Dozing, she conjured up positive things about the near future. It excited her and she tried to rest her brain long enough to finally fall asleep.

  ***

  Michael woke up on the recliner around four AM, unsure of where he was for a split second. Sitting up, he realized he was still in his jeans and shirt. Stretching out, he was almost too comfortable to care, but his boots were heavy and he needed to switch positions.

  Eva was sound asleep, nestled deep in the covers. A smile parted his lips as he watched her. Her dark hair was shooting out in every direction, but she couldn’t have looked any prettier than at that moment. Undressing, he slid in beside her, the coolness of the sheets comforting on his bare skin. She opened her eyes and let out a murmur, but was back to sleep before he could say anything.

  It felt as if he had blinked, and it was time to get up for work. The absence of Eva beside him was apparent and he heard the shower running behind the bathroom door. Forcing himself out of the bed, he sneaked in the bathroom and opened the curtain, stepping in behind her. Her body was soapy and she smelled so good. Her back faced him, but he could see her cheeks rise up in a vibrant smile as he pulled her up against him.

  Michael buried his face in her neck, kissing her shoulders and up to her ears. “Mornin’.” He said between pecks.

  “Feeling frisky so early?” She leaned into him.

  “I have a feeling this is about the only time I’ll get to see you this week. Our schedules are busy as hell.” Her body fit perfectly against his, and it excited him more than he thought possible. His hands trailed over her curves, pausing at her breasts and hips.

  She turned around and faced him and he watched the suds slide down her smooth skin, moving down her chest and to her flat stomach. Pulling her in for a deep kiss, he pushed her back against the shower, growing more aroused as her legs wrapped around his waist. Within seconds, he was buried deep inside of her and his throat let out deep groans. Her nails dug into his back, sending a thrill through him.

  Her breathing became labored as she said his name. “Best shower of my life,” Eva said, her grip tight on him as their hips ground together.

  After they finished, Michael washed off and went into the kitchen, allowing her a few minutes to herself to get ready. If they hadn’t moved things along, they would both be late and that’s all he needed to deal with. He whipped up a quick batch of muffins and set out orange juice, butter, and a banana for her.

  She walked down the hallway, her long hair pulled up into a tight bun, exposing her long neck. What Michael would give to be able to stay home all day with her.

  “Thanks for that in the shower, Mikey.” She winked as she dug into the food. “Better than coffee.”

  “You better believe it.” He winked at her and grabbed a muffin as well. They both sat in silence as they ate. Eva skimmed through a magazine and he flipped on the news to the weather. It looked like an early winter was in store for the city. Not exactly something that excited him.

  “Snow possible by the end of the week,” he groaned. “Casey had the right idea with staying in Texas.” He turned the TV off and grabbed his duffel bag. “About ready to head out?”

  Eva stuffed another muffin in her mouth and nodded. “I guess so.”

  The short walk was quick, and they parted ways as they got to the firehouse. She had the ambulance to stock up and he had to make sure the probie did the coffee and other morning duties correctly. It all appeared okay, right down to the newspaper being in good condition on the table. He skimmed through it before going back down to the trucks. It had been a while since he had done any of the cleaning duties, so he grabbed a cloth and began to wipe the side panels down.

  “You’re looking really good, Eva!”

  Michael heard Gregg’s voice from the other side of the garage, and he peered around the truck. Gregg was at the back of the ambulance, his hand clasped in Eva’s as he talked to her. They had gotten close when he was in Texas. Michael was glad she had a good support system during that time. Continuing to watch, he kept one eye on his cleaning and one eye on Gregg.

  “Is that a ring on your finger?” His voice echoed, but Michael couldn’t tell if it was excitement or if he was pissed.

  Eva had responded, but from inside of the ambulance, so Michael couldn’t make out what she said. All he could see were her gestures and she held her hand out for Gregg to get a better look. He kissed her on the cheek and pulled her in for a hug.

  “I’ll be damned! Mikey’s a lucky man!”

  Eva nodded, her smile vibrant and wide.

  “When were you two gonna tell everyone?”

  Again, she said something, but Michael couldn’t tell what her response was. She gave a shrug of the shoulders, her hand still extended. Gregg hadn’t let it go, and his body language seemed to change. Maybe Michael was reading too far into it. After all, he was only getting half of the conversation. Rather than speculate, he threw the washcloth down into the water and walked over to the ambulance.

  “Well here’s the son of a bitch now.” Gregg let go of Eva’s hand and patted him on the back. “When the hell were you gonna tell me Eva was your fiancée?”

  “Don’t know. Guess we didn’t really talk about it.”

  “Well congratulations! It’s about damn time!”

  “That’s what everyone has said,” Eva replied, turning to fill up some gauze in one of the drawers.

  “I was starting to devise a plan on honing in on her if you never made a move,” Gregg laughed, slapping Michael on the shoulder again.

  Michael forced a laugh. He didn’t know Gregg all t
hat well, except that he was sarcastic and a joker. He was going to chalk this up to the usual banter between the guys. There was no need to get jealous. In fact, he felt stupid for even thinking he could be serious. He was a tremendous help and Michael was ashamed at jumping to the worst conclusions about the man’s intentions.

  “Guess the best man won,” Michael replied. “I’m gonna get back to washing the truck.” He nodded toward Eva. “See you this evening.”

  “I’ll come over and help you,” Gregg said. “Stay safe out there.” He gave Eva one last kiss on the cheek and followed Michael. “Seriously, Mikey, congratulations. That’s fantastic news.”

  Michael wasn’t in the mood to have small talk, so he said a simple thank you and left it alone. He gave one last, quick glance toward Eva as they drove off down the street.

  “Engine, ladder…”

  The tones went off, dispatching them to a wreck a few blocks up. Slapping the cloth back into the water, Michael felt relieved. “Saved by the bell,” he said as he grabbed his turnouts. It wasn’t Gregg that was bugging him. He hated all of the attention on him, and with the news of his and Eva’s engagement, he was going to be in the spotlight a lot more than he wanted to be. Gregg was being Gregg and Michael had to get used to his over-the-top personality.

  ***

  Mikey stared out of the side of the rig as they sped through traffic, his instincts kicking as if he had never left. In just the short time he was in Texas, he picked up a lot and noticed the huge differences in how city firefighting was so much different from the wildfires he had to adapt to. One thing was certain – people in both settings refused to move out of the way, despite the huge truck with lights and sirens coming straight at them.

  “Dispatch reports that there are three cars involved, one already in flames. I want the probie to stick with McGinnis.” The lieutenant directed orders, and Michael wasn’t even sure who the new probationary firefighter was.

  Walsh grabbed the jacket of a young kid who had a deer in the headlight look. Michael didn’t wait, and went straight for the car whose hood was completely engulfed in flames.

  “What’s your name, kid?” He asked as he took a long look through each window of the car.

  “Jace. Jace Carlson.”

  Nodding, Michael studied the scene. There were no apparent leaks coming from their vehicle, and from what he could tell, the other two cars didn’t have near the damage as the one they were at.

  “Carlson, did you happen to notice how many people are in the car?”

  “Two. There’s two.” The probationary firefighter was hesitant. Michael hated to think it, but he could spot a probie that would make it through and one who would quit before his year was up. Sadly, the one he was working with lacked the confidence needed.

  “Are you asking me or are you telling me, because it sure as hell sounds like a question.”

  Carlson scratched his cheek. “Two. I see two.”

  Making a clicking sound with his tongue, Michael shook his head no. “You failed to see the child in the backseat. Down in the floorboard.” Leaning in to the window, Michael busted the window, wasting no time in finding out the status of the young kid.

  “McGinnis, this is Lieu.”

  His radio crackled and at first he didn’t answer. He had no time. The child was unresponsive, but at least had a pulse.

  “McGinnis, come in.”

  Queuing the radio on his shoulder, he tried to hide the frustration in his voice. “Yeah?”

  “The car you are at is leaking fuel.”

  “Shit, I checked. Didn’t see anything. I’ve got a kid back here who needs a medic, and fast. Send some other guys to get the front passengers out.” Sweat poured down into his eyes, stinging them.

  “Carlson, see if you can get the front doors of the car open. We’ve got a gas leak and open flame. It doesn’t take a genius to put all of this together. If you can move them, get them as far away as you can.”

  Turning back to the child, he wrapped him up in a blanket and pulled him out, fearing the move would injure him more. The sight of the thick flames and trail of gas on the asphalt was enough persuasion that moving him was the best option. A worse injury was better than exploding. A medic met him half way to the ambulance, taking the child off of his hands. Turning back to the car, he aided Carlson and Walsh in getting the two adults out. They were semi-conscious, and one became completely alert as they distanced them from the vehicle.

  “Wait! I need to get something out of there!” The man yelled, holding his hand out.

  “Don’t worry, we got your kid out. He’s in the ambulance,” Michael replied, fighting off the guy’s resistance. “You need to get checked out too.”

  “No, not my kid! There’s something else I need!” He tried to push through Michael, but was weak from his injuries. He collapsed on Michael’s shoulder, letting out a deep groan. “Please! Do you have time to get it?”

  Michael looked back at the fire and to the man. “Wha…” Before he could finish his sentence, a loud boom echoed off of the buildings, and when he opened his eyes again, Michael saw what was easily predicted – the car had exploded, leaving nothing but a pile of metal and even larger flames. Thankfully, the evacuation near the wreck was successful and no one was in close proximity.

  “What was in your car?” He asked, his curiosity running at what would make a man want to put himself in danger for a random possession.

  A cop walked up, a smile painted across his face as he twirled a set of handcuffs on his index finger. “Roger Martin?”

  “Yes, that’s me,” he grumbled, his upper lip snarling.

  “Your wife, Margie, is being checked out at the ambulance. So is your son.” He pointed over his shoulder. “I’m going to have to take you into custody. You need to go to the hospital to be evaluated, but from this point on, I need to make you aware of your rights. You are now officially in NYPD custody.”

  Michael was so confused. Standing up, he took his helmet off and raked his hand through his hair. “Can someone tell me what the hell is going on?”

  “You boys better wear your masks when putting that car out, and you better do it quick. Roger Martin here has been under our surveillance for a while. He was transporting thirty pounds of marijuana in the trunk. Not only did you take care of everyone involved, but you just helped us close one of our drug cases.” The cop patted Michael on the back. “Try not to get a contact high as you finish up here.”

  Walsh let out a laugh as they took Roger Martin off in handcuffs. “All in a day’s work. Hell of a first day back, huh McGinnis?”

  Scoffing, he put his helmet back on and let out a raspy laugh. “Any victims in bad shape?”

  “Worst one was the kid, but he regained consciousness in the ambulance. The other two cars were minor injuries.”

  “Damn, I wish all calls would sum up this way. Sounds almost too good to be true.”

  “We take them when we can, that’s for sure.” Walsh looked up at the sky, his eyes watching the billowing smoke that was now fading as some of the other guys extinguished the toxic flames. “What say we go over there and get ourselves a free high while the gettin’s good? No one will ever know.”

  Michael let out another laugh. “Tempting, but I’ll have to pass.” He made his way back to the rig, still in awe at how their call ended up as a closed case for the NYPD.

  “Crazy world we live in,” Lieu said in passing as they finished up on scene.

  “That’s an understatement if I’ve ever heard one,” Michael yelled in response, smiling to himself. “It’s good to be back,” he muttered under his breath as he leaned against the truck, taking in all the city sounds. It was like he had never left.

  After the first call of the morning, the shift felt as if it were crawling by. It was true to form. Regardless of whether he was out on vacation or for another reason, the day back after a hiatus was slow with dull calls varying from false alarms to frequent flyers. Glancing up at the clock, he let out a
sigh. He shot a quick text message to Eva in hopes to spark up a random conversation in a desperate attempt to kill some boredom. Her lack of response made it apparent that she was actually busy.

  He walked into the living area where most of the guys were hovered around the TV, watching some daytime program he held no interest in. He noticed the probie on the end of the couch, engrossed in the show, leaning forward with a glazed look on his face. Now was Michael’s chance to give him a hard time. It’s what they did – he went through it as a probie and it was only fair to dish out the mistreatment and pass the tradition on.

  “Hey probie, come here.” Michael nodded his head toward him.

  The kid flashed him a quick glance and turned back to the TV, practically ignoring him.

  “Probie, don’t make me ask you again. Come over here.” He was standing in the threshold between the kitchen and the room Carlson was in.

  “You better do what McGinnis is saying,” Walsh replied.

  Carlson hesitated and then got up, walking over to Michael as if he were a scolded dog with his tail tucked between his legs. He didn’t say anything, but his body language alone gave him away. He was nervous and it made Michael laugh on the inside. He’d only done half a tour with the poor guy and already had him quaking in his boots. It was a perk to the job that he would always love.

  “The guys tell you about me yet?” Michael tried to keep a straight face, but felt he was failing miserably at it. A smile turned up at the corners of his mouth and he fought like hell to keep the scowl on his face.

  “Like what?” The probie asked, not sure if it was a legitimate question or not.

  “What do you mean, like what? I’m particular about a few things. You might want to take notes. If you screw up just once, I have zero tolerance, you hear me?”

  “You’re particular about a few things? Just a few things? It seems like more than a few,” one of the guys spat back.