A new harness was lowered down for Carver. It must have come from the rescue team because it was a bar with a set of ropes attached. Erin handed the SCBA back to Kevin, and hoisted Carver up. His color was better after a few minutes of air rather than fumes.
They worked together to hook him up, and Kevin pulled Carver’s line three times. Carver moved toward the opening.
Once he was out of sight, Erin gave Kevin the air back. They would have to go one at a time. She tapped his shoulder and pointed upward for him to take the next trip.
He shook his head and put the air back on her face but didn’t remove the SCBA from his shoulders. It was his way of telling her he was prepping her for the ascent without air. She was lighter by far. Kevin gave her his most stern expression. For all that he was easygoing, sometimes he would not bend.
“We’re ready for the next one!” Kwon’s voice again. Erin signaled three times with her rope and gave Kevin the mask back.
The harness jerked upward, moving her toward the brighter sky overhead. Erin held her breath until she emerged and was halfway down the ladder. She stood and waited for Kevin to get out, refilling her lungs with fresh air. Never had freezing Cleveland November air been so missed.
When Kevin arrived safely, Vanessa hustled them to the waiting Rescue Alpha ambulances that had set up mini decontamination showers. She discarded every single layer of her turnouts, uniform, and underwear, and subjected herself to the frigid water of the open-air shower. Vanessa immediately wrapped her in a wool blanket and did the same to Kevin as Haz-Mat hosed off their contaminated gear. The paramedics hustled Kevin and Erin into the ambulance and put them on oxygen and monitors.
“Did the kids make it? Carver?” Erin tugged on the paramedic’s arm, part of her blanket slipping off her back.
“Everyone had a heartbeat. I expect you’ll see them in the ER.” The paramedic had them strap in as the ambulance began to move. “Your oxygen sats look good.”
“Can we take off the oxygen?” Erin fiddled with her nasal cannula. “I feel fine.”
“Other than those bruises on your back?” Kevin didn’t miss the imprint of her first aid kit from the night in the Jeep.
Erin covered back up. “They aren’t new.”
“Oh, Han Solo must be Dy-NO-MYTE!” Kevin was fine if he could mock her. “That’s why you missed team breakfast. When are we meeting him?”
“Never. I keep him tied to my bed.”
“You gonna call him now and tell him all about the wonders of dating a firefighter? Unless you’re using your rope skills…”
“I would text but… crap. My phone was in my pocket.”
“I left mine in Engine. Send the bill to the department for a new one. I’m sure Chief Baker will be happy to reimburse you.”
“Right.”
“The chief was impressed by your work as his aide. I could tell. Not only should he pay for your new phone, but he should ask you to apply for lieutenant this year. He’d probably write a good recommendation to the battalion chief.” Kevin thought about that for a minute. “Does he write a letter to himself since he is battalion chief?”
It was nice that Kevin thought she had officer potential. He had at least four years of experience on her and had never expressed a desire to advance. But was becoming an officer even an option for Erin while she was sleeping with the Fire Chief?
“That’s a later problem. Getting this stink out and finding a new phone is a now problem.”
* * *
Theo picked up Erin and Kevin from MetroGen in Medic 15 after they completed six hours of observation. Kevin was thrilled because he had a crush on the pulmonologist who examined him again after his Freon exposure. The kids did well, but Carver had ongoing lung symptoms and got admitted to the ICU.
Might have been safer for him since his wife yelled at him in the ER.
There had to be a problem because Theo took them into the locker room for another decontamination shower and blocked the door.
“Spit it out,” Kevin said, turning the water on.
“Nessa tried to speak to Cordova about Carver breaking protocol by going in the gas tank.” He coughed into his hand. “It did not go as expected.”
“He got fired?” Erin asked, deciding to take another shower even though it would dry out her hair.
“Cordova said it was in CCFD’s best interest to recognize Carver’s heroic service and not discipline him over this,” Theo said.
“What?! We were damn lucky he didn’t die.” Erin couldn’t believe it. She’d risked her life over his poor decision making, and he was going to get commended!
