Rescuing Alec

Chapter 9

Nate

I waited for a text back from Alec, I went to sleep slightly disappointed. The next day I busied myself with chores around my apartment and running errands. I ate a quick supper and started to get ready for my date with Josh.

I had been thinking about Alec all day, was I too harsh with him when he wanted to talk to me? I really should hear him out, maybe there was a good explanation for why he left like he did. Then when he never answered my text, maybe I blew my chance.

I still didn’t know what I was going to tell Josh, he was a nice guy, but I knew the spark was stronger with Alec. I didn’t want to lead him on if there was a chance to get back together with Alec. Jesus, why was this so complicated?

I took a shower and was getting dressed when I got a text, thinking it was from Josh I swiped my phone, it was from Alec.

“Thank you, can we talk?”

I was trying to decide what would be the best response. I was starting to see that all my friends and family were right, I was being a jerk to Alec. I did owe him a chance to explain, he sure as hell didn’t deserve to be treated the way I was treating him.

I thought a few minutes, I text back, “I will see you at work tomorrow.”

I finished getting ready and headed out to meet Josh. I was trying to decide what to say to him, I didn’t want to lead him on, but I at least needed to hear Alec out. I felt a pain in the pit of my stomach, I needed to tell Josh about Alec, the sooner the better.

I got to the bar, Josh was already there, we got a beer and found a table to sit down. We made small talk for a while as the waiter brought us a second round.

Josh took my hand, “Nate, what’s going on, you act like you really don’t want to be here?”

I shook my head, “I’m sorry Josh, there is something I need to tell you.”

He sighed, “yeah, I figured that out about halfway through the night when we first met. Everything was going great and then you started acting funny, what did I do?”

I looked him in the eye, “no, you didn’t do anything wrong, the truth is, that night I thought I saw someone who I thought I would never see again, it just threw me.”

He said, “was it an ex?”

I looked down, “no, not really an ex, but a guy that I really fell for when I was on vacation.”

Josh asked, “so was it him?”

I nodded, “yes, it was. He just started to work at my fire station on Monday.”

I explained the whole situation in Cancun and then how I wouldn’t listen to Alec when he tried to explain. I finished by telling him about the text, and that we were going to talk tomorrow.

He ran his hand through his hair, “wow, ok, so you need to see where things lead with him? Then what, if it works out, you’re done with me?”

I sighed, “I’m sorry Josh, I didn’t plan on this happening, I really thought I would never see him again.”

He held his hand up, “no that’s fine, I get it, I was just a rebound guy, been there before.”

“Please don’t be like this, I would never have gone out with you if I ever thought things were going to turn out this way, I am sorry.”

Josh stood up, “no it’s fine, I’ll leave you to go chase your Prince Charming, I hope you get what you want.”

He turned and walked out the door. Shit that didn’t go well, I guess I couldn’t really blame Josh for being upset. Jesus, I sure have a way of chasing guys off lately, I hope my talk with Alec goes better tomorrow.

I pulled into the station the next day to start work, I see Alec being dropped off by the same women and little boy that picked him up the last time we worked. I headed inside, Thad and I started to get the unit stocked and ready to go for the day. The rest of the guys were getting their trucks ready as well, Alec was helping his partners. We had our morning meeting and went back out to our trucks. I saw Alec come toward me.

Thad noticed and said, “hey, I’ll grab the last of the supplies, be back in a few minutes.”

I was arranging things as Alec poked his head around the corner.

“Hey Nate, thanks for agreeing to talk to me.”

I said, “yeah, I’m sorry I was so short with you, I guess I should have let you explain.”

He smiled, “I understand…”

Just then the entire station was called to a large fire in an abandoned building in an industrial area. We all ran to our trucks and sped to the fire scene.

The whole building was engulfed when we arrived, we all jumped into action, water was being sprayed within a matter of minutes. Thad and I stayed back, we are only there in case any of the firefighters are injured. We also helped pull hoses and run needed items to and from the trucks to the guys doing the real work.

Out of the corner of my eye I saw a young boy run up to Alec, he pointed to the building and was talking in a very animated fashion. Alec stood and yelled, “there is a kid inside, I’m going in.” He took off on a dead sprint for the burning building. I stood in disbelief, then took off after Alec. Thad grabbed me and pulled me back. The captain was yelling at Alec to get back here, he didn’t turn around, he disappeared into the building. Several of the other firefighters ran to the building, Captain yelling at everyone to continue spraying water and sent a team of search and rescue guys in after Alec. I ran up to the door that Alec had gone in, Thad holding me back from running in. Damn it, what was Alec thinking, he’s going to get himself hurt or worse, killed. It seemed like forever, when one of the guys came running out with the kid, Thad grabbed him, and started to work on him to make sure he was breathing.

I yelled, “where’s Alec?”

The rescuer said, “my partner was trying to get him to come out, Alec said he thought he heard another kid inside.”

The other search and rescue guy came out of the building and yelled, “I can’t get Alec out of there, I need some help.”

Just then we heard the second-floor collapse. My heart sank, I couldn’t stand the thought of not being able to talk to Alec again, I took off running to the building, Thad tried grabbing me again, but I broke free and continued my sprint inside. The search and rescue crew were right behind me. I heard captain holler, “Nate get your ass back here, let the S&R do their job.” I just ignored him, I was sure Alec was trapped in there.

The S&R team lead us to the spot where they found the kid, hoping Alec was still there, we couldn’t see him. I was looking around trying to see through the smoke and flames, my mask was fogging over from my heavy breathing. I thought I heard a cough, I turned to see Alec trapped under a beam.

I screamed, “Alec! hey guys, he’s over here.”

We rushed over, the S&R team lifted the beam, Alec was unconscious, I reached in and pulled him out. I picked him up and threw him over my shoulder and ran for the light of the opening. Every firefighter was standing there with their eyes glued to the door. Mike and Joe had taken the little boy to the hospital, Thad was waiting with a stretcher as I emerged, I laid Alec on the stretcher and yelled for Thad to hurry and get him loaded in the squad so we could get to the hospital. The captain came running over as we were getting everything secure.

He yelled, “get your ass to the hospital, and Nate, I am going to chew your ass once we get back to the station, you will never pull a stupid stunt like that ever again.”

I pulled the door shut in his face and yelled to Thad to get going as I worked on Alec.

We pulled into the ER and the doctors and nurses immediately took over and wheeled Alec away.

I went to the bathroom to clean up as best I could, I came back out and joined Thad in the waiting room. I kept thinking of Alec and all things I needed to tell him, God I hope is alright. We had been waiting for a couple hours when the captain showed up.

“Any news yet?”

“No, not yet.” Thad answered.

Captain sat down next to me, “we are still going to have a long talk young man.”

I looked down, “yes sir.”

“Then I am going to put you in for a medal, you stupid idiot.” He added.

The door flew open and the women that I had seen pick up Alec ran in, “how’s Alec, where is he?”

Captain stood, “we are still waiting for an update, please sit here with us, I’m sure he going to be fine.”

She took a deep breath, “what happened, they told me he ran in a burning building?”

Cap said, “yes, there was a little boy inside, he ran in to get him out. He got trapped under a beam and we had to pull him out.”

“Oh God, is the little boy ok?” She asked.

“He had a little smoke inhalation and couple scrapes and cuts, he will be fine.”

She sighed, “thank God.”

She sat down, Cap said, “I’m going to see if I can get an update.”

We sat in silence for a few minutes, Thad stood, “I’m going to get a coffee, can I get either of you anything?”

She smiled, “no, thank you.”

I said, “yeah, I could use a coffee, thanks Thad.”

He turned to leave, “sure thing Nate.”

The lady turned to me, “did he say Nate?”

“Yes, I’m Nate.”

Her eyes widened, “Cancun Nate?”

I felt the color drain from my face, “um, yes, I met Alec in Cancun. He told you about me?”

She huffed, “Yes, he told me everything, you know if you would just talk to him, you two may have worked things out.”

I was confused, “you want us to work things out?”

She just looked at me, “of course I do, I want my brother to be happy.”

I was stunned, “your brother?”

“Well yeah, who did you think I was?”

I stammered, “I-I thought you were his wife.”

She laughed, “if he had a wife, he would have never talked to you in Cancun, he is the most loyal person I know.”

I bowed my head, “God, I am an ass. When I saw you pick Alec up the other day and the little boy called him daddy, I just assumed you were married with a kid.”

She sat back down, “Alec was married, and Roman is his son. His wife, Zoe, was killed in a car accident a little over a year ago, He went to Cancun for a bachelor party with his friends, he left early because I called him to tell him our mom had a heart attack, he rushed home to be with us. When mom was released from the hospital, he moved here from San Diego to help her.”

I ran my hand across my face, “Jesus, I am the biggest jerk that ever lived, I’m so sorry I didn’t let him explain when we first saw each other again.”

She glared at me, “yeah, you are a jerk, I don’t know why, but he really is nuts about you.”

I smiled, “believe me, the feeling is mutual, I should have listened to my family and friends and talked to him.”

“Well, promise me that you will talk to him. By the way, I’m Amy.” She held her hand out.

I shook it, “nice to meet you Amy, yes, I’ll talk to him so that I can tell him how sorry I am.”

She finally smiled as the doctor and captain came in.

Doctor asked, “are you Alec’s family?”

Amy stood, “I’m his sister, Amy.”

He smiled, “Alec is going to be fine, he has a slight concussion and some badly broken bones in his leg, we had to do some surgery, but we got it all back together fine. He may need some skin grafts later, his leg was burned a bit too.”

Amy breathed a sigh of relief, “thank you, when can we see him?”

“He should be waking up in the next hour, once we get him settled into his room, we will let you go in and wait with him.”