Smoke (22 page)

Jonathan ignored the command when he saw movement out the corner of his

eye.

*****

Firemen took a circular saw to the hard concrete of the roof, cutting vents to allow the smoke to filter outside. They stuck a line inside the hole dropping more foam on the chemicals burning out of control.

Jonathan cleared the debris from his mask as it fell on him. Reaching under the long metal workbench, he grabbed the body folded in the hurricane position. Gabrielle opened her eyes as Jonathan picked her up. Closing her arms around his neck, she held on as he dashed from the building.

Paramedics met him with a gurney placing Gabrielle on it. “We got this,” the EMT said stopping him from coming inside the ambulance.

He pulled his mask off watching them work on her. Anthony came up behind him. “Sandra didn’t make it. How is Gabrielle?”

“She’s alive, Anthony; she’s beaten up but alive,” he said with his voice cracking.

Jonathan turned around when he saw the gurney carrying the body bag. He went over before workers could load the body into the coroner’s van. “Wait, I have to see her.”

“We can’t do that.”

“She tried to kill the woman I love! I want to see her!”

The man unzipped the bag lowing it to reveal Sandra’s face. Her face was bloodied but not from the fire. Her ragged spiked hair was charred and crisp. A light trickle of smoke rose from inside the thick plastic and even with the strong smell of smoke; Jonathan got the hint of her hideous perfume.

“Good God, Sandra, what made you so evil; what happened in your life to turn you into a monster? Whatever it was, I hope it has died with you and now you can rest in peace,” he said zipping the bag.

“DeMinico,” the EMT called. “Somebody wants to talk to you.”

Jonathan stepped inside the chamber of the ambulance holding Gabrielle’s hand.

Gauze wrapped in several layers covered the wound to her head. Other than the surface cuts and scrapes, she appeared to be OK. “Hey, beautiful,” he smiled. “How are you feeling?”

“I have a massive headache and probably rabies, but other than that, I’m fine thanks to you and your crew. What about Sandra—did she escape or is she in custody?”

“She didn’t make it, babe. I don’t want to talk about her. You’re my only concern right now.”

“I never doubted you wouldn’t find me, Jonathan. I can’t say I was afraid. Even with the fire blazing around me, I knew in my heart you would be the one to rescue me.

I just had to relax and wait for you to come.”

“I’m Superman in a turnout and bunkers, and you’re my Lois Lane,” he laughed.

“But all kidding aside, it’s the connection we have, Gabrielle. When that alarm sounded I knew it was you calling me. I wasn’t going to disappoint you.”

The rope still dangled around her wrist when she reached up to touch his face.

“There is nothing you can do to disappoint me.”

He leaned over to kiss her, bumping her head with his helmet, he tossed it on the gurney. Cupping her face, he covered her mouth with his, savoring the taste of her smoke tinged lips. The EMT slapped his hand against the back door. “I hate to break this up, be we gotta roll, DeMinico.”

“Alright,” he said releasing her. “I’ll get to the hospital as soon as I can.”

He jumped down from the rear of the ambulance watching it drive away.

Anthony came to stand next to him. “She’s lucky to be alive, Jon. That damn warehouse stored all types of lethal chemicals. This whole block was a ticking time bomb. If Sandra had not started the fire it’s no telling when this place would have gone up.”

“How would Sandra know about this place, Anthony?”

“She worked at the Plain Dealer, maybe this warehouse was going to be exposed by a reporter but she pretended to be a reporter in order to get info from us first.”

“Yeah, and we gave her all the information she needed. Some good it did her; she trapped her own self in the fire.”

Anthony slapped him on the back. “Her plan might have failed but we saved the people on this block from a possible disaster, and we got Gabrielle. Let’s get out of here; I’m hungry.”

“Babe, the fire is ready for the hot dogs and burgers,” Jonathan said entering the kitchen.

“Here you go, and don’t burn them. I have to make the potato salad and prep the steaks and I think that will be it.” Gabrielle said raising the wooden spoon.

It took weeks to repair the damage to her house but with the help of Jonathan, Anthony and the rest of the men at Station 30; the house was back to normal with nothing to show a crime had taken place.

He placed a kiss on her forehead. “I promise not to burn the food for our first Fourth of July cook-out. What time is everyone supposed to be here?”

She checked her watch. “Oh shoot, in less than an hour. Will you send Amira in to help me?”

“She’s playing next door with Marcy and Greg’s kids; I’ll help you. I am really digging how well she adjusted to living with us and how you two hit it off.”

Standing on her tiptoes, Gabrielle gave him a peck on the lips. “She is a sweet little girl and I adore her.”

“I think she can tell you love her.”

Gabrielle nodded. “We love each other, and we both love her; she knows we will always be here for her no matter what.”

Jonathan placed his hands on the small bulge of her stomach. “Yup and when our baby is born, she will have a brother or sister to love also.”

“Who would have imagined I was pregnant. I fought Sandra like a man and took some hard blows and falls.”

“It just shows, when the big guy places an order, nothing can cancel it out. You fought to resist me but he knew better.”

“How do I dispute that?”

“You can’t,” he winked.

Nick’s voice drifted through the screen door. “Knock, knock, anybody home?”

“Come on in, Nick.” Jonathan went to the steps to assist Nick. “Hey look at you!

You’re walking.”

“Yeah, I wanted to surprise you and Anthony by walking instead of using my wheelchair. Where is he by the way?”

“He and Melanie are on the way. Gabrielle is in the kitchen.”

Using his cane, Nick greeted Gabrielle with a kiss and a hug. “Gabby, thanks for inviting me and Sarah. How’s my godchild doing in there?” He asked patting her stomach.

“Baby is getting hungry and Jonathan won’t get the food going on the grill.

Nick, would you like a beer?”

“Alright, I’m going,” Jonathan said scampering out the back door with Midnight behind him.

Nick cleared his throat. “Gabby, I’m sincerely happy for you and Jon. I didn’t think that clown would ever get married much less have
TWO
kids.”

She handed him the beer. “Thank you, Nick. Amira isn’t officially ours yet, but it looks promising.”

“Salute, I know everything will work out, and I hope you and I will become friends as well.”

“Nick, we are friends. Whatever happened with the three of you is in the past.

We can’t live for the past only the future.”

*****

Gwen, Kevin, Anthony and Melanie sat at the picnic table laughing and sharing stories with Nick and Sarah.

Pam listened to the stories Otto and Gordon were telling and laughing

hysterically. Jonathan put his arm around her shoulder. “Do you believe this?”

“I have to keep pinching myself to make sure it’s real. I love you, Jonathan.”

“I love you too, Mrs. DeMinico. Shall we join our guests?”

“Yes we shall, and remember you promised to clean all this when the party is over and give me a foot rub.”

“It would be my pleasure to rub your feet,” he said kissing her.