Joy In Hell
by GCS
Chapter Four
Johnny grasped Roy's arm, linking onto his wrist as Roy's hand grasped his.
As his foot left the ledge the building crumbled beneath them. Captain Stanley pulled his men securely into the basket and into his strong arms.
Everyone was safe.
Cheers could be heard from below as the snorkel truck began its slow retreat.
Captain Stanley's arms released his men, but his hands found purpose in gripping their shoulders. Words could not express the gratitude he had for his men, gratitude that they had gotten the innocents out of the hell that they had faced that day; gratitude that he had gotten them off the structure in time.
Roy turned to his best friend. A smile spread across his face. Johnny met his partner's glance and grinned in return. It had been close, but they had been ready. They both knew that they would lay down their lives for each other or to save the lives of their victims.
Thankfully today that had not been necessary, and for that they were grateful.
As they rode the basket down they looked at the destruction left behind by someone they knew had set the blaze that fateful day.
Why anyone would intentionally start a fire that might injure another human being was something that no firefighter would ever understand.
When the basket finally found its way to the ground the rest of the crew from the A-shift of Los Angeles Fire Station 51 stood waiting to welcome the two paramedics. Joy could be seen in each man's eyes. Joy that on that day they would all return to the barn together.
Mike shook Johnny's hand as he stepped down from the basket, both men smiling at the other. Chet and Marco patted Roy on the back as he too left the confines of the basket. Hank Stanley followed his crew back to their engine and squad.
He watched as his linemen and engineer helped the two exhausted paramedics out of their breathing apparatus and lowered them to the rear bumper of the squad to rest and drink some much needed water.
The efforts to save the building had not been successful and now all there was to do was to make sure that no hot spots remained and none of the surrounding buildings were at risk. Since 51s had been first on the scene they had been stood down.
As he walked up beside Mike, Hank noticed a man in the crowd, a disheveled looking young man of about twenty two, brown hair, and a glint of joy in his eyes. The hairs stood up on the back of his neck. He'd seen that type of look many times in his career. Those were the eyes of satisfaction, the eyes of someone who had succeeded in their efforts, the eyes of the arsonist. Hank raised his HT and requested officer assistance. Vince Howard jogged over beside him. "What have you got Hank?"
Hank pointed out the man in the crowd. "I think you need to ask the superintendant if he knows that man. He may be the arsonist."
Vince nodded his understanding. He too had seen that look many times.
He raised his walkie-talkie and requested back up.
Then he walked over to the man in question.
The young man had been so intent on staring at the downed building, he hadn't noticed the officer as he approached and took him by the arm.
The End
9/12/10
As his foot left the ledge the building crumbled beneath them. Captain Stanley pulled his men securely into the basket and into his strong arms.
Everyone was safe.
Cheers could be heard from below as the snorkel truck began its slow retreat.
Captain Stanley's arms released his men, but his hands found purpose in gripping their shoulders. Words could not express the gratitude he had for his men, gratitude that they had gotten the innocents out of the hell that they had faced that day; gratitude that he had gotten them off the structure in time.
Roy turned to his best friend. A smile spread across his face. Johnny met his partner's glance and grinned in return. It had been close, but they had been ready. They both knew that they would lay down their lives for each other or to save the lives of their victims.
Thankfully today that had not been necessary, and for that they were grateful.
As they rode the basket down they looked at the destruction left behind by someone they knew had set the blaze that fateful day.
Why anyone would intentionally start a fire that might injure another human being was something that no firefighter would ever understand.
When the basket finally found its way to the ground the rest of the crew from the A-shift of Los Angeles Fire Station 51 stood waiting to welcome the two paramedics. Joy could be seen in each man's eyes. Joy that on that day they would all return to the barn together.
Mike shook Johnny's hand as he stepped down from the basket, both men smiling at the other. Chet and Marco patted Roy on the back as he too left the confines of the basket. Hank Stanley followed his crew back to their engine and squad.
He watched as his linemen and engineer helped the two exhausted paramedics out of their breathing apparatus and lowered them to the rear bumper of the squad to rest and drink some much needed water.
The efforts to save the building had not been successful and now all there was to do was to make sure that no hot spots remained and none of the surrounding buildings were at risk. Since 51s had been first on the scene they had been stood down.
As he walked up beside Mike, Hank noticed a man in the crowd, a disheveled looking young man of about twenty two, brown hair, and a glint of joy in his eyes. The hairs stood up on the back of his neck. He'd seen that type of look many times in his career. Those were the eyes of satisfaction, the eyes of someone who had succeeded in their efforts, the eyes of the arsonist. Hank raised his HT and requested officer assistance. Vince Howard jogged over beside him. "What have you got Hank?"
Hank pointed out the man in the crowd. "I think you need to ask the superintendant if he knows that man. He may be the arsonist."
Vince nodded his understanding. He too had seen that look many times.
He raised his walkie-talkie and requested back up.
Then he walked over to the man in question.
The young man had been so intent on staring at the downed building, he hadn't noticed the officer as he approached and took him by the arm.
The End
9/12/10
