Fire Escape - Book Three: Troubled Heroes Series (An Action Thriller) (13 page)

             
Michael leaned down and gave her a quick kiss on the lips. “Sorry I’m being grumpy. I’m glad I came with you. Just takes some getting used to.”

             
“I’m used to your crankiness. It’s nothing new!”

             
Vivian knocked and came back in with some paperwork in hand. She was grinning from ear to ear. “Your urine test confirms pregnancy. We send the blood test off for final confirmation, but you are very pregnant, Miss Crisante. Congratulations! Do you have any questions so far?”

             
Even though Michael knew she was pregnant, actually hearing it from a health care provider was overwhelming, but an extreme feeling of happiness and satisfaction rushed over him. They had official word. Eva was pregnant. In a few short months their world would be spun upside down.

             
“Well, this is new to both of us. It’s our first child. What comes next?”

             
Vivian turned away from the computer and set the paperwork aside. “Well, we’ll schedule you for an OB physical in a week. That’s when you’ll meet your doctor.” She looked back at the computer screen. “From the notes here, it says you’ll be seeing Dr. Salas. He’s been doing this for a long time and is very efficient. He’ll get more of an idea of how far along you are and when your probable due date will be. We’ll get you started on some prenatal vitamins as well.”

             
“This is really happening,” Eva’s voice quivered and Michael stood up to hold her hand. He hadn’t been much help during this visit. The least he could do was give her some support.

             
“Was this not planned?”

             
Eva shook her head as a few tears trailed down her face. Michael grabbed a tissue and handed it to her. Her pregnancy hormones were crazy, but it still pained him to see her on the emotional rollercoaster she had hopped on.

             
“We never really thought about it. Never discussed kids all that much. We just got engaged. But here we are discussing due dates and prenatal vitamins. Two months ago I would’ve laughed if someone said I would’ve been here today.”

             
“Well here you are. It truly is a blessing, planned or not. Do you need anything?” Vivian was so caring and Michael could tell she meant every word.

             
“I think I’m okay. Do we just make the appointment with the receptionist?”

             
“Yes ma’am. A week from today. I know it’s a lot to take in, but it’ll all slow down soon. Congratulations to both of you.”

             
“Thanks,” Michael finally spoke, deeply appreciating the help Vivian provided.

             
Michael held Eva’s hand all the way to the parking lot, letting out a deep breath at the smell of the cool, fresh air. “First appointment in the books.” Pulling her into a hug, he rested his chin on the top of her head. “I promise you, everything is going to be okay.”

             
She wrapped her arms around him. “I know it will be. It’s just all happening so fast. I thought we’d be talking about cake and dresses and wedding plans. Now we have to get a bigger apartment and decide on nursery colors. Funny how life takes drastic detours sometimes.”

             
Looking down at her, he kissed her on the forehead and laughed at her comment. “Story of my life, babe. Story of my life.”

Chapter Nine

              Michael was glad to go to work the next day. Eva was emotional – that was nothing new. She was like that since he had known her, but now that she was pregnant, it was exponentially bigger than he had ever witnessed. Due to her psychological state, she had taken some vacation days to gather herself. With her blessing, he was allowed to tell people about the pregnancy, but honestly, he wasn’t sure how many he’d tell, or if he would at all. He didn’t want a lot of attention on himself and he had telling her folks on his mind. It was a constant worry that he knew they’d have to overcome.

             
It was the same story when he got to the station house. Gregg had beaten him there, his eerie facial expression making Michael’s skin crawl. He ignored the man who was suddenly becoming a hitch in his life. Making a beeline for the coffee, he nodded toward Lieu who was in his usual spot, ready to hand over whatever witty comments he had to throw at him.

             
“Morning…” Michael said, gulping his coffee down a little too fast.

             
“Morning there, McGinnis. Everything okay on the home front?”

             
Sitting down, he ran his hand down the front of the newspaper. “Of course. Why wouldn’t it be?”

             
Lieu shrugged and arched his eyebrow. “I don’t know. Just that Eva took some personal time off and here you are at work. I figured couples tend to take vacations together. Are you smothering her?”

             
“No, of course not. She just has a few things to take care of that she can’t get done while at work. You know, wedding stuff and all that girly crap. I don’t ask too many questions about it.”

             
“Oh, so you guys set a date?”

             
“No, not officially.” Michael felt as if he were digging a hole. He debated on telling Lieu the real truth, and though he trusted his superior with his life, he wasn’t sure if news of a baby could be kept under wraps, even with one of his best friends.

             
“You look like you’ve got something else to say.”

             
Michael picked the paper up and pretended to read it. In reality, he couldn’t focus long enough to even read the headlines. “No. That’s about it. No mystery here.”

             
“Engine… ladder…”

             
Michael was relieved to hear the page and shimmied down the pole to the truck. Continuing to ignore Gregg, he grabbed his turnouts and hopped into the engine, hoping to avoid another awkward exchange like they had had a few days before in route to a call.

             
It was odd that Gregg hadn’t said anything to him. Even if his comments were sarcastic and backhanded, he usually spoke. Today, Michael could feel his stare burning a hole right through him. What the hell was this guy’s problem? Michael felt a knot in his stomach as they approached the scene of the fire.

             
As they got off the truck, Lieu briefed them on the situation. “Fire on the third floor. Two apartments down on the end of the hallway. Reports say there is a family still up there. McGinnis and Walsh, go in and report back. We need to get in there fast or we’re gonna lose the fire. Stay together. Do not split up!”

             
Michael ran in, taking the nearest stair case two steps at a time. He could feel Gregg right behind him, wishing it was Daryl instead. He hated having someone back him that he couldn’t trust. Maybe it was him being neurotic. His judgment could be clouded by what Eva had said in that he was subconsciously jealous, but it didn’t matter. This was the first time in his years with FDNY that he couldn’t trust the man going into the belly of the beast with him.

             
They approached the third floor, which had zero visibility from the thick smoke. Getting low to the ground, Michael looked back at Gregg and they began to crawl to the apartment that the witness had reported was on fire. Smoke was seeping from underneath the door. Michael checked the door knob that was hot to the touch. Standing up, he felt of the wood. His palms were sweaty against his gloves. Fires like this were creepy. Once the door was opened, there was no telling what the fire would do.

             
“I’m gonna open the door. As soon as I do, get as low to the floor as you can,” he said to Gregg. Walsh didn’t reply, but got on his belly. Taking a deep breath, Michael crouched down and reached up, turning the knob. A bright flash of orange and blue flames exploded from inside, just as Michael had predicted. Hugging the floor with his entire body, Michael felt the extreme heat, but just as soon as it blew up, the flames had retreated back into the living room.

             
Looking up, Michael waved for Gregg to follow him inside. Continuing to crawl in his stomach, he yelled out.

             
“FDNY! Is there anyone in here?”

             
The roaring fire was so loud that if anyone responded, it would’ve been amazing if they could hear. Michael went from room to room, scanning the obvious hiding spots. So far, he had no luck in finding anyone. He looked back to find Walsh who was nowhere to be found.

             
“Gregg?”

             
The smoke rose up toward the ceiling, swiveling and churning as if it were a storm brewing over his head. As Lieu had said, the fire was getting out of control. Where the hell was his partner? It wasn’t good practice to split up when Lieu had specifically said to stick together. His temper was flaring, but right now was not the time to lose his cool. He had to find the victims and get out, or he would get lost himself.

             
He scooted toward the bathroom, and a sense of relief rushed over him. Queuing his radio, he cleared his throat. “Lieu, I found two kids in the bathroom of the first apartment.”

             
“You and Walsh bring them out. We’ve got a hose on its way right now.”

             
“I have no visual on Walsh.”

             
“Can you bring them out yourself? Since it’s a central apartment unit, we can’t get a ladder up to you. We are losing the entire third floor. You need to grab them and get out now! I’ll find out Walsh’s status!”

             
Michael sized the kids up, holding his hands out to keep them calm. “Don’t worry, I’m here to help you. Are your parents home?”

             
The girl, who appeared to be a little older, shook her head no. “They are at work.”

             
“Okay, well I’m gonna get you both out.” With the visibility almost zero, he would have to carry them both. What kind of parents left kids this young at home alone?

             
Hoisting them both in each arm, he let out a groan and pushed through the thick smoke. Even with his mask on, the toxic air stung his lungs. He had to hurry or it would poison the children even worse. He knew it was against protocol, but when they got into the hallway where the smoke wasn’t quite as thick, he took his mask off and let each one of them get a puff of the air. Replacing his equipment, he kept moving forward, still keeping an eye out for Walsh. Hopefully he was scanning the rest of the area for victims.

             
The floor shook beneath his feet. The weakening building was about to give way. If the floor collapsed, they would tumble three stories, possibly four if the building had a basement. The chances of survival were practically nonexistent. His legs screamed in pain. Each stair case he came to was impassable.

             
Stopping in a far corner, he called Lieu on the radio again. “Lieu, none of the stairwells are safe. Where the hell do I need to go?”

             
“What’s your location?”

             
Michael looked around, trying to grasp his bearings. He felt disoriented from lack of good air. Each of the children were sluggish. In a few short minutes they would lose consciousness.

             
“I’m uhh, I’m on the back side of the third floor. There is a window. Can you get the ladder up here? It’s our only way out. I still don’t know where Walsh is.”

             
“North side?”
              “Yes sir, north side. Hurry Lieu. I’m not sure how much more time we have.”

             
He leaned against the wall and closed his eyes. They burned under his lids. It felt like hours, but  a firefighter knocked on the window behind his head. The ladder was there for their rescue, and Michael moved back as they knocked the glass out. He handed each kid over first, and then made his way out of the smoky building. The fresh air had never felt so good.

             
When he reached the bottom, he made his way back to where his crew was located. Avoiding the suggestions to get checked out, he double checked on the children who were instantly carted off for observation. He noticed Gregg standing by the truck, bottle of water in his hand, completely unscathed. His anger grew as fast as the fire, and he balled his fists up as he approached him.

             
“What in the hell happened up there?”

             
Gregg put his hand up to hold Michael back. “I had to go search the other areas.”

             
“I seem to remember that our direct orders were to stay together.” Michael got up in his face, his hand gripping Gregg’s collar tight.