Ignition

Melody Anderson paused after lifting the crate of bottled water onto the folding banquet table to gaze at the glow over the mountain. The fire had been burning for several days now and with the drought conditions as they were it didn't look like it was going to be contained any time soon. There was a steady stream of men and women coming in from the front lines to rest and recuperate as they can before going back. They were all so exhausted. Yet they doggedly fought on against a terrible foe that was eating everything in its path.

Melody, a former Navy corpsman, was an emergency medical technician, but because the base camp was so short handed she helped out where she could when she wasn't working directly with the first aid station. In both capacities she was getting to know some of the firefighters well enough to already consider them more than acquaintances.

As she looked up the road she saw another group making their way wearily down toward the base and she began to set the bottles of water out on the table. Not far away a fellow worker was preparing plates with large sandwiches, bags of chips, and fruit. At another table further down a huge urn of coffee was being refilled.

“Hey, Mel.”

Turning, she found her supervisor, Jody, standing with a phone in one hand and a clipboard in the other.

“Hey, Jody. What's up?”

“We've got a call from up on Sharp's Ridge. Someone apparently fell and hurt their leg. I'm sending you up with Terrance.”

Melody nodded and immediately followed Jody back to the first aid station. Sharp's Ridge was a remote, heavily wooded area a good distance away from the fire so it was considered safe to send an ambulance crew. She was well acquainted with Terrance Scott, who was a paramedic, but had never worked with him. Theirs would be an odd pairing, with her being so petite she'd barely met the Navy's height requirements, and he standing over six feet and made of solid muscle, a legacy from his days as a college football player. They were equally mismatched in coloring, she being very blonde and blue- eyed and he having deeply tanned skin and dark brown eyes. He was waiting by the bus when she arrived, his big hands already protected with blue surgical gloves. He smiled and nodded as she approached.

“Hello, Little One. Ready to roll?”

Normally one to take offense at such a nickname, she had found herself instead feeling warmed by it from the first time he'd called her that. From him, for some reason, it didn't rankle as it perhaps should have as there was a gentle, non-judgmental air about him that belied his commanding, sometimes gruff, manner. Instinctively she knew there was no censure behind it and appreciated how he treated her with utmost respect despite her small stature and tender manner. Not all of her colleagues followed his example.

She smiled and nodded in return, “Let's go.”

They made the swift drive in companionable silence, their minds on what they might find once they arrived. With each turn, the roads became narrower and rougher as they climbed in altitude, until a badly pocked and barely passable lane finally brought them to an isolated clearing perched on the side of a mountain. Terrance killed the siren but left the lights flashing as they climbed out of the bus, their puzzled eyes taking in the scene before them. The cabin was in poor shape and had obviously been abandoned. The clearing in which it sat was likewise unkempt.

“Hello?” he called, his deep, resonant voice carrying easily, “Is anyone here?”

There was only silence and, after a glance at one another, they approached the cabin in search of anyone who might be incapacitated and unable to respond. After a thorough search that included the decrepit outbuildings they returned to the bus, mystified.

“A wild goose chase?” Melody wondered as she climbed up into her seat. “Why?”

“Probably somebody's idea of a joke,” he responded, obviously irritated, and closed his door. Turning off the flashing lights, he then carefully turned the bus around and they slowly began making their way back down the mountain.

They hadn't gone far when they were brought abruptly to a stop by a large tree blocking the road.

“Well, damn!” Terrance muttered in disgust as he pushed the gear shift up into park. They climbed down from the bus and approached the tree to get a better look at the situation then stopped in shock. It had been purposely cut down. “What the hell?”

Melody began to get an uneasy feeling.

“Terrance, listen.”

He glanced at her then looked up and around.

“I don't hear anything.”

“Exactly. No birds. No squirrels. Nothing.” She shivered. Even the wind seemed to have disappeared. “Let's go back. We need to radio this in.”

They turned but before they had taken more than a couple of steps there was a sudden crack of sound and Melody stumbled forward as blood blossomed from her upper arm.

“Oh God!”

Terrance threw one glance over his shoulder then lifted Melody from her crouch and began to drag her back toward the bus. Gunshots continued from behind them, the bullets plowing into the road around their feet then into the front of the vehicle as they ducked behind it. There were hissing noises seconds before steam erupted from beneath the hood as the bullets cut through the radiator and the bus shuddered into silence. The shooting stopped as Terrance worked to stem her bleeding. Melody was trembling with pain and shock, but his hands remained steady. Somehow he was keeping his wits about him despite the evolving nightmare around them.

“What's going on?” she gasped and he gave a sharp jerk of his head.

“Hell if I know.” He moved her a little to one side. “I need to get some bandages.”

She nodded, “Hurry.”

Terrance opened one door of the bus only as far as necessary and climbed inside. It didn't take him long to re-emerge with bandages and a handheld radio shoved into a pocket on his pant leg. He quickly wrapped her arm, continually glancing around him in search of further threats. The silence was eerie and terrifying.

“Should we get inside?” she asked.

“I don't know. We're sitting ducks either way.” He looked around. “Personally, I'd rather see what's going on.”

Before she could respond there was a sudden explosion in the woods nearby and they started, instinctively ducking as debris rained down. Almost instantly there was a dull thump then another explosion on their other side followed by a third. Fire began to lick at the dry, dead leaves and underbrush. There was a smell of cordite and gasoline and suddenly there seemed to be flames appearing all around them.

“We gotta get outta here,” Terrance growled and, with a last look around, began to lead her back up the road toward the clearing.

Terror kept Melody upright as they ran. She kept expecting more gunshots but, instead, there were more thumps followed by more explosions as fires continued to break out on either side of the road. Once they reached the clearing they ran for the dubious protection of the cabin, not realizing until they reached it that the explosions had stopped. But fire was rapidly spreading through the woods. It was only a matter of time before it reached them.

“C'mon! We can't stay here!”

Terrance drug her on up a faded path leading into the woods. The intensifying wind drove acrid smoke into the spaces between the trees. Suddenly, they stumbled on a small creek, its water a mere trickle from the drought. Going downstream seemed to lead away from danger so they began following the creek bed. But the wind continued to pick up, blowing smoke around them and they realized it was blowing the fire straight for them. Melody stumbled over a rock and nearly went down, but Terrance wrapped a strong arm about her waist and kept going. Sweat poured down their faces and was soaking through their uniforms. They were both having trouble breathing.

Then Terrance stopped and stared upward. There, further up the rocky hillside and nearly hidden by the trees, he could see a small outcropping with a dark hole beneath it. Without a word, he began dragging Melody uphill. She followed without speaking, gasping as she struggled to keep up.

By the time they reached the outcropping the leading flames had reached the spot where they'd stopped on the creek. A small cave opened beneath it and Terrance took only long enough to look inside for any hidden danger before shoving her through the narrow entrance before him. It led back about two dozen feet before ending in another hole too small for them to crawl into. Once she reached the back of the cave he turned and, crouching beneath the low ceiling, retraced his steps, taking the radio from his pant leg as he went. She heard him at the mouth of the cave yelling above the roar of the wind and approaching fire, telling whoever was listening what was going on and about where they were. But before he could retreat back into the cave a pine exploded nearby and Melody heard him cry out as he fell backward, falling just a few feet inside the doorway with the radio landing beside him. Lurching forward she used her good hand and grabbed him by his shirt, trying to pull him backward.

“Terrance! You have to get back!”

With difficulty he pulled himself up and allowed her to tug him into the dim light of the back of the cave. There they wrapped their arms about one another as the wind howled and flames began to eating away at the dry vegetation outside their shelter. Smoke billowed in but almost immediately was drawn back out, looking for all the world as if a small tornado stood between them and the outside. The cacophony of noise made it difficult to think and impossible to be heard.

The firestorm seemed to go on forever as they huddled, trembling, together until abruptly, it was over. A light veil of smoke lingered in the air and the strong smell of burnt timber filled the cave, irritating Melody's nasal passages as she hesitantly raised her head from where it had been buried in Terrance's neck. Looking out she could see nothing but smoldering devastation beyond the cave entrance. When she tried to pull further away, his hold on her tightened.

“Melody? My eyes...”

Looking up into his grimy face she could see in the dim lighting that his eyes were squeezed shut. Numerous small cuts surrounded them. Instantly she was up on her knees, turning his face with one hand toward the light at the front of the cave and carefully inspecting the damage with her penlight.

“Can you open them?” she asked and watched as his lids fluttered, then gently held them open as she looked closer. “Can you see?”

He shook his head. “No, not clearly.”

She allowed them to close again and sat back, her mind reaching past instinctive panic and evaluating the situation. Looking down at her arm she could see blood seeping through the bandages and applied pressure as she turned around. Spying the radio laying near the cave entrance, she then crawled awkwardly after it and immediately sighed with relief. It was still operating. Moving on until she could reach outside the cave, she began radioing for help. Within moments she knew their rescue was being mounted.

Leaving the radio where they could listen for transmissions, she crawled back and resumed her seat close beside Terrance. They sat in silence for a few moments until all of the pain, horror and fear she'd been suppressing surged to the surface and she began to whimper just before sobs erupted uncontrollably from deep inside. Immediately Terrance's arms enfolded her and held her tight so that her face was buried against his massive chest.

“Go ahead and cry, Little One. You've earned it.”

And he rocked her gently until her paroxysm began to pass.

“I-I'm sorry,” she gulped when the sobs finally abated, “You didn't need this.”

“You did. I wanted to join you, believe me.”

She was surprised to hear herself chuckle wryly.

“I won't ask you why you didn't. You men are all the same.”

She could almost hear him grin.

“How are your eyes feeling?”

“Like someone poured a beachful of sand into them. They've definitely felt better.” He paused and shifted as if he could look down at her. “How's your arm?”

She glanced down and, seeing the bloody bandage, she began once again applying pressure, just in case. The pain was intense but bearable. “I'll live. We'll both live.”

She felt him nod, “Yes, we will.”

Relaxing back against him she felt his arms tighten briefly around her.

“Hopefully it won't be long before they find us,” she murmured and they were quiet for a while as they listened to the static and bursts of transmissions on the radio.

“What do you think happened out there?” she finally asked. “Who could possibly have wanted to do this? And why us? We're supposed to be the good guys.”

“I don't know, Little One. Some sick bastard with an axe to grind most likely.”

“There was some speculation that these fires were all arson. Do you think it could have been the same person?”

He shrugged, “Anything's possible.”

They listened to the voices on the radio coordinating their rescue.

“At least we were able to let them know where to start looking for us,” she said gratefully. “It shouldn't take them long.”

“Hopefully not.” His voice was a deep rumble against her ear. “I have a confession to make.”

“Oh? What's that?”

“I've been wanting to ask you out.”

She jerked in surprise and looked up to see his face, “No. Really?”

“Um hmm.”

“Why haven't you?”

“The time never seemed right. We hardly ever saw each other and when we did it was always work related.”

“So you're mentioning it now because...”

“It seems like a good time to ask.”

She chuckled and rested her head back against him.

“I'd love to. But after this, no barbecue, please!”

He chuckled as well, “No. I was thinking maybe pizza.”

“Ah, one of my favorites. One with everything on it but the kitchen sink.”

“A woman after my own heart. Sounds good to me. Where do you live?”

“Pinedale. And you?”

“Next county over. Charlestowne.”

“And you're based out of here? That's quite a commute.”

“Yes, but its a great drive through the wildlife preserve to get here, especially early in the morning.”

“I bet you see quite a few animals along the way.”

“A few. Thanks to the efforts of the eagle rehabilitators there's been an increasing presence of them along the waterway. I've seen several.” He paused. “Beautiful creatures. Magnificent to see in flight.”

There was another burst from the radio as their rescuers reached the cutoff for Spark's Ridge from the main road. They listed as the voices reported on the progress of the fire that had passed them and were reassured that it posed no further harm to the crews on their way.

To take their minds off their injuries, they continued to talk as time passed, asking and answering questions as they shared experiences and got to know one another better. He learned she had never been married. She learned he had and that he had a teenage son living with his ex and her new family out west.

“I miss being able to spend time with Bobby,” Terrance confessed, “We talk online several times a week and try to get together during the year, but its not the same. Still, I know he's happy. Mavis and Tom are solid and are good parents. It could have been a lot worse.”

“I wish I'd had kids.”

“You still can. You're still a young woman.”

“I'll soon be thirty-six. My biological clock is ticking.”

Their rescuers reached the burned out remains of their bus and radioed for clarification of where they were to proceed. Melody crawled to the radio and responded.

“Sure would be nice if they get here soon,” she said as she returned to his side, “I'm ready to blow this Popsicle stand.”

A little less than two hours later the first of the crews met them at the entrance to the cave. Melody recognized most of them from the base camp.

“Welcome to our humble abode,” she joked as she was led outside and urged to sit. Some spots still smoldered around the blackened trees and along the mountainside above them, but around the cave the intense heat had dissipated. As her arm was treated she watched a medic wash out Terrance's eyes then wrap bandages around his head. Stretchers were brought up and soon they were being transported to safety.

~

It was evening the next day and the hospital corridor was oddly quiet as Melody was wheeled toward room 421. The attendant's sneakers made little noise on the spotless floor as he pushed the chair along. There were the beeps of heart monitors and an occasional cough or moan from patients in rooms as they passed. A nurse and doctor were consulting outside one door.

Arriving at 421, the attendant knocked gently on the partially open door and was rewarded with a gruff “come in.” Tears shimmered in Melody's hazel eyes and she unconsciously tightened the hold on the small stuffed dog that she carried as she was wheeled into the room.

Terrence sat upright on the bed, his big body incongruously clad in a beige hospital gown that barely fit his massive shoulders. His head was turned in the direction of the door and in the dimmed light the white bandages over his eyes and forehead stood out in stark relief against his dark skin and hair.

“Who's there?”

“Hello, Terrence.”

His response was instantaneous.

“Melody?”

“Yes.”

The attendant wheeled her up to the side of the bed, set the brakes on the chair, then quietly left, pulling the door closed behind him. Leaning forward, she reached out and covered Terrance's hand with hers. He turned his up so that he could clasp hers tightly.

“It's good to hear your voice, Little One.”

“And it's good to see you,” she answered, her voice catching, “I wanted to come sooner but they wouldn't let me.”

“Are you okay?”

“Yes. The doctors say there will be no lasting effects. Just a flesh wound, as they say.” She tightened her hold on his hand. “What do they say about you? How long until they take the bandages off?”

“They said it will be a few more days but they believe my eyes will fully recover.” With his free hand he motioned toward the gown covering his chest and grimaced. “But my dignity probably never will.”

She chuckled, “You look quite handsome in such high fashion.”

His teeth flashed white in an answering grin, “I'll take your word for it.”

“I brought you something. I have several and thought I'd share.”

She placed the stuffed dog in his hand and watched as he felt of it.

“A stuffed animal?”

“A dog. Quite cute, actually. Looks like a St. Bernard dressed like an EMT.”

He smiled as he laid the dog on his lap.

“Thanks.”

“Have you had any visitors?” She asked after a moment.

“I think everyone from Homeland Security and the FBI to the parking meter cop has been in to see me. You?”

“Yeah, all asking the same questions. How many different ways can you describe gunshots and explosions?”

There was a moment of silence as they each remembered the harrowing day they'd spent together. The horror was still very much on their minds.

“Terrence, I...”

He reached toward her voice, “Shh, Little One. I know. I feel the same.”

She sat forward and placed her face against his hand which then tenderly cupped her cheek. From there he traced her face with gentle fingers.

“Even blind I can see your beauty.”

She turned her head and placed a gentle kiss in his palm.

“You sweet talker. Where will you go when they release you?”

He shrugged, “Home, I guess.”

“Do you have someone to pick you up?”

“Not yet.”

She sat quietly for a moment before taking his hand between hers.

“Why not come home with me? I have an extra room. It's not much but it's quiet and the house is easy to get around in.”

He took a deep breath and she hurried on.

“It would mean...a lot...to me if you would.”

“Would that be wise, Little One? You with a gimpy arm, me with no eyes...”

“Oh posh!” she snorted, “We survived the worst a bunch of loonies could dish out. Surely we can help each other recover?” She tightened her grip on his hand. “Truth is, I'm not ready to say good-bye just yet. We've been through too much together.” She paused before softly adding, “and I'd worry less if you were nearby.”

Not releasing her hand he laid his head back on the pillow and shook it slowly from side to side.

“You make this difficult for me.”

“Good,” she smiled, “I want to. Look, you have no one to help you. At least for now. But I can and have space I can share. Why not take advantage of it?”

“Melody, I...”

She tightened her hold once again.

“We could order pizza in.”

There was a long silence before he took a deep breath and relaxed.

“I'm not ready to say good-bye, either.”

She smiled with happy relief.

“Okay, then. When do they say you will be released?”

“Tomorrow.”

“I'm leaving tomorrow as well. Once they let you go someone can pick us up and we can head for home. Later, once we've rested, I can drive you to your house to pick up some things you'll need. Think you can handle that?”

“I'm fine except for my eyes.”

“Then it's settled. You'll be coming home with me for however long you want.”

He turned his head toward her and asked in his quiet growl, “Are you sure about this, Little One?”

She nodded and held his hand to her cheek.

“Yes. Who better to share my pizza with?”