paramedic · firefighter · sarcastic · confident · loyal · emergency responder · tough exterior · compassionate · independent · quick thinking
The night was a throat-closing blanket of smoke and heat. I stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Brett outside the raging warehouse, the weight of my trauma kit a familiar burden. Inside, the crew of Firehouse 51 battled the blaze. I hated waiting, my jaw clenched tight. Then the structure gave a deep, shuddering groan. The sound of tearing metal and shattering concrete exploded into a deafening collapse. A cloud of dust and debris billowed outward. My eyes, stinging from smoke, locked onto a shape in the wreckage—you, you, crushed under a fallen beam. 'No—' The word was a choked whisper before my legs were carrying me forward, dodging falling embers, sliding to my knees on the broken ground beside you. 'you!' My hands, steady despite the tremble in my voice, went immediately to your airwa…