First

It takes all three of them to get me to my feet. My knees don’t want to work. Travis slips my arm over his shoulder and lets me rest my weight on him. We make our way to the stairs, where Ty fits my mask over my face. The action stings, which it’s never done before, but there’s no time to focus on that.

The first level is starting to go. Overhead, timber under the sheetrock creaks ominously and every now and then flames sneak out and whisper at us as we pass. Still, it’s not far to the door. My legs go out from under me as we hit the porch. Travis drags me the rest of the way, Ty slipping under my other arm and helping.

Once we’re a safe distance away, they lay me down and take off the mask. The sky overhead is a beautiful pale blue, with wispy white clouds brushing the edges of my vision. Captain Blake’s face appears above me. ‘Medics are on their way,’ he says.

I want to nod, but am too tired. Instead, I wave my hand in acknowledgment. ‘Nelson?’ I ask.

‘Already down. That entire side collapsed once you went through.’

‘Sorry. Should have been more careful. Why are you here?’

Captain Blake glances over his shoulder at something I can’t see and nods. ‘We got called in to this one as back-up. Now I’m glad we did.’

‘Me too,’ I mumble.

The air is cool and clean. The sky distracting. I swear I only close my eyes for a few breaths. When I open them, a pair of medics surround me. They’re almost done running through their assessment, which is kind of weird.

‘Hey, Sleeping Beauty. You’re going to have some nasty bruises,’ one of them tells me.

The other, who doesn’t smile, is busy setting a drip line. ‘You’ll need stitches for the gash on your head. Hold still.’

He uses a pen light to check my eyes and his frown deepens. ‘Probable concussion,’ he tells his partner.

‘I could have told you that,’ I grumble. Too bad they lever me onto the gurney, a surprisingly painful movement.

Nelson, face pale, runs towards us as they wheel me toward the ambulance. ‘You okay, Jacobs?’

‘Yeah. Shitty roof.’

Nelson gives a weak laugh. ‘Right. Bad construction.’

Captain Blake reappears, towing Jeff behind him and Nelson heads back toward the engines. ‘Jacobs, you’re not coming back tonight. Jeff, make sure he doesn’t try to get discharged before they fully check him.’

Jeff nods and clambers up into the sardine can with me. ‘Captain told me to call your sister,’ he warns as he pulls out his cell phone.

I groan. ‘If you do that, I’m a dead man.’

He shakes his head and ignores me. Fortunately, he only has the house number. I overhear the answering machine kick on and relax. I have to remember to delete that message before Cat gets back into town.

‘Anyone else you want me to call?’ he asks after hanging up.

Maya….

‘No.’ Then I think about it and correct myself, ‘Actually, Dallas Miller. Make sure he knows to bring me a change of clothes. I refuse to walk out of the hospital bare-assed in one of those stupid dresses.’

I give Jeff Dally’s number and listen absently to their one-sided conversation. Dealing with Dally won’t be fun, but it’ll be much better than facing Cat. Thank God she’s at the conference.

‘He’s on his way,’ Jeff informs me.

‘Awesome.’ I hurt everywhere. I’m sure the mental shock will set in later. ‘Hey, Jeff?’

‘What, Jacobs?’

‘I’m just gonna close my eyes for a few minutes. Don’t let them cut anything off me.’

He chuckles and gently pats my shoulder. ‘Got it.’

The last thought before I slip into sleep or unconsciousness or whatever it may be is that I really hope Dally remembers to bring underwear and socks with the rest of my clothes.