Sparks Will Fly

by Daniel Banner

  Lucy squealed and shot away from him, turning on her afterburners apparently. Blue’s lungs were already pleading for air. 12,000 feet elevation was a whole different story from the 7000 feet where he lived and worked. Not only did Lucy beat him to the top, she had enough time to turn and do the Rocky celebration that he had seen her do at Questival.

  Blue came to a stop right in front of her. A cool breeze at the top of the slide felt wonderful as Blue caught his breath.

  “So much for the manly rescue hero,” taunted Lucy.

  Blue took a breath and said, “This is where you've been coming every day, isn't it? You just said you’ve been seeing the sights and spending time with family, but really you've been training at 12,000 feet.”

  “No way! That's 100% pure training and athleticism. These power legs are good for something.” She pounded both of her flexed thighs with fists. “Maybe you should look into training or working out when you get back to Park City.” Even her smirk was attractive as she played her victory for all it was worth.

  “That's what I get for spending all my time bulking up and cutting the muscle for the calendar. Now that the photo shoot’s over I can get some cardio back in.”

  “What's up with that, anyway?” asked Lucy. “What's the draw of getting all oiled up and flexing in front of the camera?”

  Blue felt himself blush. He'd gone back-and-forth plenty of times on whether the calendar was really about putting himself out there for any interested party to ogle him or if his motives were more pure. He and Lucy had teased each other enough that he felt like he had a good indication that her question was sincere.

  “My first captain,” said Blue, “Hollow Leg Harris.” It hadn’t been long since Blue had thought about him, but it had been quite a while since he’d talked about him. “Diagnosed with throat cancer at the end of my probationary year. Spent all of his three months of retirement in surgery and chemo. Couldn’t even talk at the end. A guy who gave me some of the best advice ever was silenced in the end.”

  Lucy was listening intently. Blue looked past her at the rock and grass that ran along the side of the slide to gather his thoughts. This wasn’t something he ever really talked about with anyone.

  “People think fire is our enemy, that it’s this big monster that we’re constantly trying to conquer, but that’s not true. Not in my case anyway. Fire’s easy, just figure out how to get some water on it. Done. But it plants seeds, insidious little eggs that fester and wait and just when a guy is ready to travel the world, or go be a volunteer, or spend some time with his grandkids teaching them everything he’s learned in his life … he’s dead. Not in some heroic way, but weak and sick. And voiceless.”

  Blue turned away from Lucy and looked out over the incline they’d come up at the pristine jungle that surrounded him, and the ruins, and his sexy woman. “Thirty years as a firefighter. Never smoked a single cigarette. No, fire isn’t my enemy. It’s cancer.”

  Lucy took his hand and leaned into him, probably wondering what in the world Hollow Leg had to do with the calendar.

  “All of the money raised from the calendar goes to the American Cancer Society. In the scheme of things, it’s not much, but if I can help a little and have a great reason to stay in shape, I’ll do it.”

  He looked down at her deep, understanding eyes. What had he ever been thinking that hanging out with the guys and living on his own was better than finding someone to share his life with before he ended up like Hollow Leg?

  Blue’s guys were more than halfway up the slope, helping Tia Santa as they came. Abuelita had stayed at the bottom.

  “Look at me,” he said, turning back to Lucy. “The only alone time we’ve had all day and I’m getting all sappy on you.”

  “We’ll have more time later.” That sparkle in her eye was as bright as it ever had been. She’d agreed to spend the last night in Peru with Blue and his guys at the Skylodge—a glass enclosure on the side of a mountain.

  Blue didn’t care that the rest of the group was almost to them, and that Abuelita was staring up at them, certainly hoping he’d tumble to his death down the slope. He kissed her—soft and lingering. It was as monumental as the ruins around them.

  Lucy said, “Mmm,” and gave his hand a squeeze.

  They both backtracked ten yards to meet up with the guys, Chato, and Tia Santa. She was in her 50s and a little overweight. She’d moved slowly up the slope, but wasn’t breathing hard. Living above 10,000 feet elevation had her in pretty good shape.

  “Who’s first,” asked Lucy.

  “Show us how it’s done,” said Blue. The slope was steep enough but this was rock. How much could she really slide?

  Lucy jumped forward and sat on the slick rock. “That’s right, Lobos first.” She whooped and pushed off and took off downhill way faster than Blue had expected, zooming right over the fissure that crossed the slide halfway down.

  “Outta my way, boys,” said Blue, taking his spot on the rock slide. It wasn’t rough at all as he’d expected, but smooth like glass. Was this a relic of an ancient civilization or just worn down from centuries of tourists? Either way, he was going. With a simple shove and a holler of his own he took off down the slope. Seconds later he was at the bottom with Lucy and Abuelita.

  “How was it?” asked Lucy.

  “I caught an inch of air when I hit that crack.”

  “I saw,” said Lucy with a smile. “It was amazing.”

  Abuelita was looking up the hill where Nikola was sliding down. Dax came next, followed by Stone. Tia Santa lined up next.

  “Has she done this before?” Blue asked.

  Abuelita rolled her eyes and said, “She did this a thousand times. She going to show off.”

  Tia Santa pushed off and as she started down, she flipped over onto her belly. When she reached the fissure, her foot caught in the crack and she was jolted forward and twisted around, then she rolled limply the rest of the way down the slope. She came to a stop at Blue’s feet, face down in the grass. Not moving.

  Blue sprang into action.

  13

  What had just happened! One second, Tia Santa was sliding down the Sacsayhuaman slide and the next she was tumbling down, smacking every part of her body against solid rock. And there she lay—bloody and scraped and still. Lucy didn’t have the slightest idea what to do.

  As one, Blue and his guys started moving, Blue giving directions and the others surrounding Tia Santa. “Stone, hold c-spine. Nikola, get ready to roll her. Dax, is she breathing?” Blue took up position at her feet.

  “She’s breathing,” said Dax. “She has a nasty laceration to the back of her head. “

  “Wrap it,” said Blue. “Stop the bleeding.”

  Dax pulled his shirt off and used it as both a bandage and a wrap.

  Blue held Tia Santa’s legs and said, “We’ll roll her on three. Lucy, give us a hand.”

  “What? Where?”

  He nodded to Tia Santa’s hips, then counted down and they rolled her onto her back in unison. Blood covered her face, so Lucy pulled her gaze away, but it fell on a gaping wound in her shin. Was that bone she could see in the cut? Oh no, this was not good. Lucy wanted to yell for help, or tell the guys to save her, but they were already doing it.

  “She needs LifeFlight,” said Blue, “but I doubt we can get that up here. Chato, get the keys from Nikola and drive the car as close as possible.”

  Chato just stood there dumbly, not running to get the car. Abuelita interpreted what Blue had said. Oh yeah, Chato didn’t speak English. Lucy was still frozen. Even the job she could have done she’d just sat there like a bump on a log. Chato took off running.

  “Lucy,” said Blue. “Can I have that cape you’re wearing?”

  Cape? What? Oh, he meant her ruana. As quickly as her fumbling fingers could untie it, she practically threw it at him. With Dax’s help, he got the nasty wound on her shin wrapped.

  “You got some basic vitals, Nikola?”

  “Copy,” said Nik
ola, reaching for Tia Santa’s wrist.

  The rental car came flying around the bend and skidded to a stop nearby. Chato jumped out. Blue pointed at him nodding, obviously impressed. “You're driving to the hospital.” He made steering wheel gestures with his hands but just to make sure he was understood, Lucy interpreted what he said.

  Next, Blue turned to Lucy. “Open all the doors of the car please, and get Chato’s car keys.” Then to his guys, “Stone, stay on C-spine. I'll get the hips. Nikola, you get the shoulders.”

  By the time Lucy had opened all the doors the guys were ready to lift her. Tia Santa was not a light woman, but the guys got her into the car smoothly, laying her across the back seat. Stone slid the front passenger’s seat forward and crawled into the gap and continued to hold Tia Santa's head in place.

  Blue told Dax to jump into the front seat and go with them in case they had a problem. He jumped in, Chato took the driver seat, and they were gone.

  “Shouldn't Abuelita or I have gone with?” asked Lucy. “Your guys don't speak Spanish, and we want to be there with her.”

  Blue waved her toward the parking area and said, “There’s nothing else we can do. Dax and Stone are solid. If anything goes wrong before they get to the hospital, they’ll take care of it.”

  Abuelita moved more sprightly than Lucy thought possible, but it still felt like forever before they reached Chato's car. Blue tossed the keys to Nikola and opened the front passenger door and motioned for Abuelita to climb in. Lucy half expected Abuelita to spurn the gesture, but Abuelita paused in the doorway, looked up at Blue, gave him a nod and patted his arm as she climbed in. Well that settled that grudge, at least until Blue put on his Cienciano jersey again.

  With the help of Google Maps and Abuelita giving directions as well, Nikola got them to the hospital about half an hour later. Chato, Dax, and Stone met them at the entrance of the emergency room, but they didn't have any news. Tia Santa was still back with the doctors. Abuelita went straight up to the desk and started trying to insist that they let her back, but the nurse there was like professional level security. Abuelita returned to the group a couple minutes later disappointed.

  “What do you guys think?” Lucy asked them.

  The guys turned to Dax, who shrugged. “It’s hard to say. I think she started coming around at the end there, but with Chato’s driving it might have just been a reaction to that.”

  A doctor came into the waiting room and walked up to them. In Spanish he introduced himself to Abuelita and told her that Tia Santa was awake and talking. She had a broken leg, some stitches in her head, and bruising from head to toe. She’d lost a lot of blood—as if Lucy didn’t already know that—but they’d been able to reverse that due to the quick emergency care and arriving at the hospital so rapidly. In a few minutes they could go back and visit her. Then he was gone.

  “What did he say?” asked Blue. “How’s she doing?”

  “Really good, it sounds like,” said Lucy, wrapping her arms around Blue’s middle. “She’s hurt bad but she’s talking now. He said you guys made a big difference.”

  Blue let out a big breath. “I’m so glad. We see things like that all the time, but it’s so much different when it happens to someone you know.”

  Abuelita forced herself between them.

  Really? Even now? Lucy bit her tongue and stepped back. In 24 hours she’d be on a plane back to the States.

  From nearly a two-foot disadvantage, she looked up at Blue, then reached both hands up, gripped his cheeks, and pulled him down to her level. She kissed one cheek, then the other. “Thank you, Azul. Thank you. And I am sorry I was … not nice before.” Before Blue could say anything, she stepped back and pushed them together until Lucy’s hands ended up on Blue’s forearms. They were as big and muscular as most guys’ biceps.

  Being in his arms with Abuelita’s sanction was completely different. She wasn’t even watching them anymore; she had moved on to kissing the other guys on the cheek and thanking them.

  Lucy just stood there looking up into Blue’s blue eyes. Being physical with him, even in a limited manner, was back on the table and suddenly she was hungry.

  “You did it,” said Lucy. “Saved the day and won the girl.”

  Blue pulled her closer, his strong arms on her sides and his firm chest pressed against her. “Don’t tell anyone, because I don’t want anyone to take my prize away, but my guys did everything. I just directed traffic.”

  “Your secret’s safe,” said Lucy. “I wouldn’t want Abuelita giving me off to Stone or something.”

  Suddenly Abuelita was there, looking up at both of them, and they froze. They couldn’t just carry on with her staring up at them. With an impatient wave of her hands, she told Blue, “What are you waiting? Kiss her!”

  Blue shrugged, smiling that adorable crooked smile of his, then leaned in with a softness she’d never expect from such strength, and kissed her.

  Lucy felt as if she’d been rescued, that he’d broken down the walls of a prison where she’d been captive and swore without speaking that he would always be there when she needed him.

  “Así es,” said Abuelita, giving her approval. “Now, no more time. You need to go Skylodge.

  “Not with Tia Santa so hurt,” objected Lucy.

  “Yeah,” agreed Blue. He kept one arm around her as they both turned toward Abuelita.

  “Yes. Go,” commanded Abuelita. “I stay here. Chato will go get la familia and all come back here. You go.”

  Lucy did not want to miss the Skylodge—and she didn’t want to miss the rest of the day she’d planned with Blue. But Tia Santa was in bad shape. Could she really just run off for a high-adventure trip to sleep on the side of a mountain? A chance she’d never have again?

  How would she explain to Blue that she was bailing on him again? She’d been the biggest wet blanket of all time on this trip. Backing out of the big finale of the trip could be the last straw with him. After all, Blue saw this kind of injury every day at work. Worse probably. Even bringing it up would make her look silly and over-reactive.

  If only she knew for sure that Tia Santa was on the mend, then maybe—maybe—she would feel okay with going.

  “Not until we see Tia Santa,” said Blue. “I’m not going until I know she’s okay.”

  Lucy felt her mouth hang open as she turned toward Blue. Those were her thoughts coming out of his mouth.

  “Right?” he asked. “You with me?”

  Lucy closed her mouth, clenched her jaw against the emotion rising in her throat, and gave one firm nod. She was not going to cry, she was not. “If I was any more with you,” she managed to say, “I’d be you.”

  He got that mischievous glint in his eye and the irresistible crooked smile was back. “If you were any more with me, you’d be singing the New Mexico State fight song. A-G-G-I-E-S!”

  “That’s a stretch. I didn’t say I’d follow you into the loony bin.”

  Abuelita had lost interest in the banter and wandered off to talk to the nurse at the counter. Lucy couldn’t pick up on what was being said. Maybe if she was closer to them or if they were speaking English. Either way, Abuelita was pushing in her insistent, I’m-too-old-to-care-about-your-excuses way and the nurse was losing ground. Finally the nurse put up her hands and disappeared into the area where the patient rooms were.

  Abuelita returned slowly, looking as confident and smug as Yoda again. “She let you see Santa.”

  Lucy wasn’t sure. Until the doctor and nurses were good and ready to let them back, she and Blue would be standing exactly where they were.

  The nurse reappeared and waved both of them over, saying, “Vengan conmigo.”

  “She said we can see her,” said Lucy, still in shock.

  “Really?” Blue held up a hand and Abuelita gave him a soft high five.

  “Actually she said, ‘Come with me,’ so they could be escorting us off the premises, I suppose.”

  “No way,” said Blue. “Then they’ll really ha
ve to face Abuelita’s wrath.”

  The nurse stopped at the third room back and said something Lucy didn’t quite catch. They went in and saw Santa laying on a bed in the middle the room, covered with a sheet except for where they were finishing up a cast on her injured ankle. Her eyes were open and they brightened when she noticed them. Lucy breathed a huge sigh of relief as she closed the distance to the bed.

  “Aye, bendito,” said Tia Santa. “Lucy. Azul. Me dicen que me cayí.”

  Blue looked at Lucy and told her, “Azul is my name in Spanish. But you’re on your own for the rest of all that.”

  Lucy chuckled then explained that Tia Santa couldn’t remember falling. For a couple of minutes they chatted in Spanish and Tia Santa insisted that she was fine and the pain meds they’d given her were doing their job. Tia Santa brought up the Skylodge trip and insisted that Lucy shouldn’t sit around the hospital when there wasn’t anything she could do.

  A nurse said it was time to go, so Lucy kissed her on the cheeks and Blue stepped up next. Tia Santa caught his hand and shook it with both of hers. “Thank you, Azul. Thank you.”

  He told her she was welcome then Lucy led him out of the room. In the hallway she relayed what she’d learned in the brief conversation.

  “I’m so glad,” said Blue. “It could have ended up a lot worse.”

  “Well your heroics and lifesaving ways have earned you a non-male partner for the Skylodge.”

  “You’re coming?”

  “I’m going if you are.”

  “I’m going if you are,” he repeated.

  Lucy loved the sound of that. “If we’re both going, we might as well go.”

  Blue smiled—which she also loved—opened the door, and motioned her to go through. Finally they’d have their Peru time together.