His Hart's Command (Nothing Special 6)

Free thought he was going to be sick. After Fox’s last call, informing them that the firefighters were not going to be able to go inside for a rescue, because of some unknown chemicals in a storage closet that kept exploding, Free had wanted to curl up on the floor and weep. The thought of Hart burning to death made his heart spasm violently.

Free paced back and forth, doing all he could to avoid everyone’s somber expressions. Fox had to call and tell them Hart got out…he had to.

God, please! Tears sprang to his eyes. Tech held him around his shoulders and was guiding him back to his station when Hart’s strained, cracked voice flooded the office.

“Please don’t burn my ear off,” Cough, Cough

“Ivan!” Free yelled, diving for his laptop. He stared at the screen as a bright red beacon flashed on the map. The satellite image kept reducing until Free was staring at the terrifying scene on his computer.

“Baby.” Hart sounded out of breath, he was coughing and hacking between trying to speak. “Please. Get me…out…of here.”

Every member of his team crowded around his station bolted into action. Tech sat beside him, already working on the other keyboard, continuing to shrink the image so they could pinpoint Hart’s exact location. God was on the phone behind him, yelling into his phone at Fox.

“Get your asses to the back! He’s at a window!” God raced out of the door with his cell phone, Day and Syn on his heels.

“They’re coming, Ivan. Hang on.” Free stared at his computer, his eyes never leaving the signal. Hart’s pulse was racing…but he was alive. Free wanted to bolt to the scene with God and Day, but he knew he could be most effective to Hart if he stayed there. Free wanted to confess his love, wanted to tell his boyfriend things just in case…in case he didn’t make it. Free inhaled a sharp breath. “Ivan. Are you okay?”

Hart hacked violently when he tried to answer and Free fought not to blubber down the line. That was not what Hart needed. He needed a strong companion, and Free was going to be everything for him, all the time.

“They’re almost there. I’m still here with you, love.” Free whispered, trying to ease Hart’s panic, hoping to relay to his lover that he was going to survive. They, were going to survive. “I’m never going to leave you. And you’re not leaving me.”

If Hart could manage anything besides coughing and struggling to breathe, he was sure he’d probably try to comfort Free. His pulse raced so where he thought he’d lose consciousness, but Tech was by his side to hold him steady. Every second that went by felt like hours. Finally, a laddered-engine backed up against the almost fully-consumed building.

Free didn’t breathe until he saw Hart being lowered down to safety.

The Heart Locator had worked. It’d saved him.

Now, he needed to see him.

Hart

“Am I finished now?” Hart asked, stifling another cough.

“Yeah, we’re done,” the reporting officer said, handing him his statement to sign. He tucked the file into his briefcase and closed it, slowly fastening the buckles as if he was wanting to say something. “You know, I’ve reported a lot of scenes. But what you did tonight for that couple was really brave, Cap. Reckless…but gutsy as hell.”

“Yeah, gutsy enough that it got you put on mandatory leave,” Commander Lark said, coming through the door. His uniform looked sharp for three in the morning. He most likely had press interviews scheduled the entire day. The hostage situation was breaking news all over the state. Hart had turned his television off the moment they’d admitted him into a room.

“I don’t understand?” Hart coughed and shifted his aching body in the hospital bed. He was ready to go home. Ready to lie in his own bed…with Free. Hart’s mind couldn’t help but go to him. Where is he?

The door to his room opened again and he craned his neck, hoping to see his lover. It was that wicked nurse again. Hart scrambled to find where he’d tossed the oxygen mask, for the fourth time.

“Mr. Hart. I don’t want to have to put tubes up your nose.” She inched past his boss, not caring how she jostled him, and reached across his chest to get his oxygen mask and hook it back over his head. “The doctor says you have to keep it on. Please stop being difficult.”

“He’s stopping right now,” Commander Lark bit out, glaring in that way that meant he wasn’t pleased he had to say it at all.

“Well,” the nurse said, adjusting Hart’s mask. “Thank you very much. Got me a real stubborn hero on my hands here.” She left with a final disapproving huff and closed his door.

“God told me he was shutting down the department while his guys did some training at the SWAT academy next week. So, I figured this is a good time to slow you down. You’ve been going nonstop. Making the job everything. So much so that you’re putting your own life in danger.”