Page 10 of Jethro

“Pull back!” yelled Mike into the communication device.

“I’ve got two kids,” said Jethro. “Two kids and their mother. Someone meet me.”

“I got the hose,” said Oliver. “Go help him.”

Aurora followed the direction of his beacon and saw him in the distance. He had a child under each arm, like he was carrying footballs. Behind him, the mother held tightly to his coat, coughing frantically.

“Give me one of the kids,” she said to Jethro.

“Just keep moving,” said Jethro shaking his head. “We need to get out of here.”

The words no sooner left his mouth when the horrific creaking and cracking of wood could be heard above the roar of the fire behind him. He started to run, pushing Aurora in front of him, pushing her body to move faster. The woman still held to his coat as he stormed through the broken door and into the night air.

Jethro fell forward, rolling to his back to protect the kids. Their mother was a few feet away but still coughing. She was alive. The paramedics took the kids and Jethro attempted to stand, searching for Aurora.

He pulled his mask off, coughing and spitting, the tight feeling in his chest forcing him to stay on his knees. Then he felt a slap across his face.

“You idiot! You fucking idiot! You could have been killed in there.” She turned on her heels and walked in the opposite direction. Mike smirked at Jethro, chuckling.

“I think she loves you,” he laughed. Jethro rubbed his cheek and grinned back.

“If that’s love, I don’t wanna see what hate looks like to her.”

CHAPTER SIX

Several hours later after replacing the equipment, showering and changing, Jethro stood outside, watching Aurora pace back and forth along the bayou. He slowly walked toward her and then spoke softly.

“You wanna tell me why I got slapped across the face?” he asked. She looked up at him, her eyes rimmed in red. Jethro immediately felt like shit, stepping closer to her.

“No. No closer,” she said holding up her hand. He nodded, stopping in his tracks.

“Okay. No closer. Do I get an answer?”

“You were reckless!”

“I was saving three people.”

“The building was falling!”

“I knew what I was doing.”

“You could have died!” she yelled. Other firefighters stood at the bay doors and Sonny and Kai turned to them, waving them back inside. “Y-you could have died.”

“But I didn’t, Aurora. Anyone could have died in that fire but I wasn’t about to let kids die when I knew I could save them. I know what I’m doing.”

“No. No, you don’t understand.”

“Then explain it to me. Tell me what I don’t understand,” he said calmly. She tried to rush past him but he gripped her arm, pulling her back to face him.

“Let me go!” she said with tears falling down her face.

“Aurora. Tell me what I don’t understand.”

“Y-you were the only one. The only one there for me. You were the person who got me out. You were the man that killed the others so we could leave. You’re the only person,” she sobbed sucking in a breath, “the only person who cared if I was alive or dead. If you die, who will care.”

Jethro still gripped her arm but gently pulled her closer. He wrapped one arm around her waist, then stared down at her. Her head was against this lower chest, sobs racking her body.

“I’m sorry I scared you,” he said quietly. “But I do know what I’m doing. And. I do care for you. More than I want to admit.”