I run over and push her hair back from her face.
Her eyes are shut. She doesn’t respond.
Something rolls out of her left hand as I pull her body up from the desk.
The pink heart stares at me from where it comes to rest on the wood.
“Jesus Christ.”
I wheel back the chair and lift her into my arms. She’s heavier than she’s ever felt. A dead weight, falling limp against my body. Her head lolls back.
“Hold on. I’ve got you. Just hold on.Please, Hallie.”
I stride from the room and back down the hallway, ignoring the stinging in my eyes from the smoke. I incline my body, using it as a shield over her as I pass the main bar doorway where heat is still radiating out like a furnace. More firefighters are inside, and one comes to aid me, clearing a path to the main entrance.
Flashing lights and sounds punch into my senses as I step outside. Arms slide around my back, supporting me, guiding me.
Someone calls for help.
Then hands are trying to take Hallie from me.
“Don’t touch her!” I cry.
A stretcher is wheeled in front of me.
“Put her down. Let us help,” someone says.
A strong hand lands on my arm, and I turn.
Denver nods at me, a graveness tightening his eyes. “Let them do their job.”
I place Hallie on the stretcher and she’s immediately swarmed. Lights shining on her. Hands reaching for her. Voices talking to her. Asking her questions she can’t answer.
“Sir, let’s get you looked at.”
I shake my head roughly at the medic. “I stay with her.”
Denver’s hand lands between my shoulder blades and he says something to the medic, then follows me as I stay as close to Hallie as I can.
She’s still not waking up. They’re shining a torch into her eyes, and she’s got an oxygen mask over her face.
But she’s not moving.
“Pulse is getting weaker,” someone shouts.
I drag in air to keep standing, but my lungs immediately crumple, sending me into retching coughs that feel like someone is slicing open my chest with a blade.
A medic comes at me again, but all I can see is Hallie being worked on.
“Sir—”
“She comes first!” I yell.
“My colleagues have her. Let’s get you checked so you can be with her, okay?”
A garbled sob bubbles in my throat.
Denver grabs my upper arms and forces me to meet his eyes.
