ALLEGIANT

A good night’s sleep didn’t come easy to Alex MacGuire, but when it did, you could bet your ass it would be interrupted by the ringing of a fire alarm.  “Get up! We gotta go!” Ramirez pulled at his foot, helping to rouse him.  Leaping from the bed, Alex pulled his uniform pants and shirt on, fumbling with the buttons as he ran to the pole to slide down.  In a matter of 90 seconds, he was in full PPE and on the truck ready to ride while Captain Robinson briefed the company on the emergency. “The fresh snow caused a petrol tanker to jackknife and hit the pilings on an overpass.  Gasoline is leaking from the tank and HazMat is enroute.  To make matters worse, it’s blocking the southbound access to Highway 321 and a pileup has ensued.  Highway patrol has shut down access to both northbound and southbound lanes until this mess is cleared. We need to get as many people to safety as possible in the event the rig explodes.  There are probable injuries and possible fatalities.  MacGuire, you’ll be working both rescue and medic.”  Double duty was the norm for him.  He was the fastest member of his team, agile and precise.  Though he was often criticized for taking risks, he could afford to.  He was the alpha of the Appalachian Mountain pack; an artic wolf.  Of course, Company 118 had no idea and his motives for joining the Department consisted of more than just saving lives.  His pack owned and ran the White Wolf Resort and Ski Lodge and they required emergency services that the human population couldn’t provide for obvious reasons.  A small number of them underwent training, resulting in an infirmary specifically designed for the needs of the pack and other supernatural beings. 

As the brigade of fire and rescue vehicles made their way to the scene, it was apparent the situation was dire.  They would need to work quickly to secure the area.  It was very cold and many of the victims in the pileup were trapped inside their vehicles with no source of power to run heat.  That, coupled with possible injuries, set the stage for hypothermia.  Due to the pileup, the rescue vehicles were unable to gain access to where they needed to be and there were far too few of them for a mission of this size.  As soon as the fire engine came to a halt, Alex’s feet hit the pavement, springing into action.  Part of the crew assessed the tanker’s safety and stability while HazMat worked to clean the fuel.  The driver had not survived, leaving him as a recovery rather than a rescue.  Alex flanked Ramirez, calling out for survivors, assessing damage and injuries.  With a little assistance, the conscious victims were able to be pulled from the wreckage with minor to moderate injuries.  While working to get to the more complicated entrapments, Alex’s impeccable hearing picked up the muffled words in the distance, “IT’S GONNA BLOW!”  In a panic, Alex searched for Ramirez, his gaze locking on him way too close to the tanker working to free someone from entrapment.  Making a mad dash for his crewmate, he was clotheslined by two others, and then more first responders joining the struggling to stop him as the tanker exploded, the blast engulfing Ramirez, as well as half the HazMat team.  “NOOO!!! F***!!!”  Alex screamed out, hitting his knees in defeat, anguish crossing his features as anger toiled in the pit of his stomach.  Everything around him seemed to happen in slow motion, his head spinning, the noise around him drowned out by ringing in his ears. There was no way Ramirez could’ve survived the blast and it was way too f***ing hot to begin a recovery effort. The heat from the flames started melting sh*t within a 100ft radius. While he felt the bile rising in this throat, threatening to make him vomit, Alex had to keep his sh*t together.  Too much emotion would make him phase and there were too many witnesses, not to mention the people that needed him in this moment for his wolf to make an appearance.  With a stoic face, he made it back on his feet.  He’d process what just happened later, when he had the time to fully digest it. 

The screams of a woman caught his attention in the distance.  “She’s coming! HELP! Somebody, anybody! IT F***ING HURTS!” Switching gears from rescue to medic, Alex found the vehicle from which the woman was screaming.  She was in the driver’s seat crying and panting, but appeared to be otherwise unharmed.  “Pigeon Forge Fire and Rescue ma’am, we’re gonna get you out of there.”  “No! I can’t… I can’t walk.  She’s coming, the baby is coming, right now!”  Glancing down, it was clear she was very pregnant.  “Okay… my name’s Alex.  I’m a firemedic.  What’s your name and how far along are you?”  “S…Sara.  I’m 39 weeks and… I was on my way to the hospital when the accident occurred.”  “Nice to meet you Sara.  Was there anyone else in the car with you?”  “No… I… THIS BABY IS COMING! I need to push!”  Using his radio, Alex called for supplies from the ambulance.  “We’re about to deliver a baby.  I need a medsurg kit, clamps, blankets, etc., STAT.  …Okay Sara, I can’t get under the steering wheel… my shoulders are too broad.  We need to get you facing the door so I can assist you.”  While he helped reposition her, his supplies arrived.  Pulling his jacket off, he soaked his arms and hands in iodine before kneeling between Sara’s legs to check her progress.  Indeed, the baby’s head was crowning.  “You’re right.  Call it a mother’s instinct.  She’s right here, ready to meet you.  I need you to give me a really big push Sara.  Push and hold it.  Can you do that?”  The poor woman was beyond talking at this point, but she followed his directions.  “Push… 1… 2… 3… 4… 5.  Okay, relax and breathe a minute.  You’re almost there.  You’re doing great. The baby’s head is just about out.  Give me another push.  Ready?  Go.”  Alex could see the baby’s head while she pushed, a head full of hair, eyes, nose, mouth… he carefully cradled the head while guiding the baby out.  “We have a little girl!” He carefully suctioned the baby’s nose, maneuvering her to get her crying and breathing.  Relief flooded him when she cried… he wanted to join her in that ugly cry, but that would have to wait.  Handing her to her mother, he clamped her cord before cutting it.  “There’s a MedEvac helicopter enroute that’s going to take you to Tennessee Regional.  Hang in there for me, Sara.”  “It’s so cold, Alex.  She’s so cold.  You’re going to stay with us, right?”  Giving Sara his jacket, he took the baby, cradling her beneath his shirt, sharing his extraordinary warmth.  His enhanced abilities weren’t enough to save Ramirez today, but they could save this little miracle he’d just helped enter into the world.  Where one life is lost, another one is gained…

… … … … …

It had been the longest shift of his 10 year career.  He was covered in soot, sweat and afterbirth as he headed straight to his shower.  Emotions pooled around him like the water in the bottom of the shower.  Bracing his weight on one arm, he leaned toward the tiled wall as the hot water rained over his olive skin, soothing his muscles; the cuts and bruises already healing.  If only his heart could heal at the same speed.  The station had given his crew several days off to process the loss of Ramirez.  He didn’t know if that was a good or bad thing.  On the one hand, working kept his mind off of it.  On the other hand, being at the station without his comrade was salt on the wound and it was hard to focus as the scene replayed in his mind.  He knew if his crewmates hadn’t stopped him, he’d have died trying to save his friend, causing two casualties instead of one.  The decision was made.  He shut the water off and grabbed a towel from the rack, wrapping it around his waist.  Grabbing his phone, he dialed the resort.  “Rita, I want the penthouse suite for the next few days.  We’re gonna get some sh*t done around the resort.”