Holding On

Chapter 1

Taylor's P.O.V.

Bill T. Jones once said living and dying is not the big issue. The big issue is what you're going to do with your time while you are here. And I definitely took that for granted. My job and my friends. I love being a firefighter, the feeling I get when I save someone from a fire. Or when I save someone in general

The fire roared around us. I inhaled and exhaled calmly through my mask. My eyes had already adjusted to the smoke. I could see clearly through it

"This rooms clear, let's go" Kelly said loudly

I nodded as he turned around and I followed straight behind him. We were on the 3rd floor of an apartment building. We kept going down the stairs but stopped for a second to take a last look around

"Kelly, Taylor you two are the last ones in there and this building is unstable. Get out of there now!" Chief Boden said through our radios

"You got it Chief, were coming out!" Kelly responded. He turned around to me and motioned his hand "Let's go"

He turned around and walked down the steps to the first floor. I followed close behind him. Once we made it down the stairs of the first floor we began our way to the door. I felt the fire erupting and a large hum echoing the building. I stopped walking and looked around me. He stopped walking too because Boden began talking on the radio once again. I looked back to Kelly and my eyes moved to the roof. I knew what was going to happen next. But I knew I had to prevent it. I took off my mask which made my hat fall to the floor

"Severide!" I screamed at the top of my lungs. I knew if I wouldn't have taken off my mask he wouldn't have heard me. I pushed him as hard as I could taking his place where he stood. Before I could take another step I felt a large amount of weigh tumble on top of me

-

Kelly turned around once he picked himself up from the ground after he was pushed "Taylor!" He yelled running by her side. Part of the roof and much of the dermis was on top of her. He quickly grabbed his radio "Mayday, mayday! We got a firefighter down!"

Something exploded inside that made the entire area making the smoke spread everywhere. He ducked down covering his head even though he had his mask on. Once he picked up his head there was a large part of cement on top of her. To large for him to handle, but he had to try. He put his hands over the cement and tried picking it up. Kelly let out a large groan when his arm couldn't handle it

12 hours later

I slowly opened my eyes to find myself staring at the ceiling. My head was pounding softly

"Hey, look who's up"

I moved my head slowly to see Kelly "Hey" My throat croaked at first. The nurse soon came in and sat me up

"How long have I been out?"

"About 12 hours" Kelly said as the nurse walked out

I tried moving my body forward but quickly regretted and moved back

"Hey, maybe that isn't such a good idea" Kelly said as he moved towards me making sure I don't fall

I chuckled and leaned back "Yea, maybe your right"

We heard a knock on the door and I turned my attention to it "Hey, your awake"

I smiled "Matt, hi"

"How are you feeling?" He asked walking to the side of my bed

"Good, bit sore"

"Yea, do you remember what happened?" Kelly asked crossing his arms on his chest

I looked down for a second trying to remember but my mind was drawing blanks "I uh" I shook my head "I don't remember much"

"It's okay" Matt said looking at me

"What did happen?" I asked still trying to remember

"Well" Kelly began "We were in a building, trying to get out because the building was coming down. But as soon as we got to the first floor the roof just caved in a certain spot. You were pinned for awhile"

Just before I could say anything we heard another knock "Hey Taylor. I'm Dr. Rhodes" He said as he put on gloves "How are you feeling?"

I nodded "I'm okay, just sore. Kind of tired"

He turned on a machine to take my blood pressure "Well that's completely normal. Considering you were in surgery for a couple hours"

I could feel the blood pressure tightening. Then it stopped "Couple of hours? Why?" I asked

They stayed quiet for a second "Guys?" I said looking at them

Kelly cleared his throat but Dr. Rhodes spoke up "Taylor you had a fracture in your leg. It took awhile to fix up but I was able to do it. Now you'll be on a brace for awhile. So that means crutches"

"What else?" I asked

"Well, you do have some bruising on your abdomen area. Few cuts on your face but other than that your going to be okay"

I nodded "Great, nothing too major. So how long will it take to heal? The earlier I get back to work the better"

Once again there was silence

"Taylor.." Kelly began

I could see the look on his face, Matt's and Dr. Rhodes "What is it? How long will it take to heal?" I asked again

"Um, unfortunately the fracture from your leg won't be healing as expected" Dr. Rhodes began "I've seen this type of fracture before and I know it well enough to see it doesn't heal correctly"

My face went completely blank "Maybe this time it will be different" I said

He shook his head. I exhaled and leaned my head back on the pillow for a second before I picked my head back up "Okay, so how long till it heals? So I can get back to work"

Dr. Rhodes glanced at Kelly and Matt before he looked back at me "Taylor, I'm sorry but-"

I could feel the tears coming up but I held them back. He didn't have to say anything else because I already knew what he was going to say

"Taylor, since this fracture won't be healing the way it should be. Unfortunately you won't be able to go back to work"

I scoffed "But that can't be. Look I'm a firefighter. Seriously there has to be something you can do. Anything"

He shook his head "I'm sorry"

Silence filled the air. Dr. Rhodes took off his gloves "I'll give you a minute" He said as he walked out of the room

The tears were emerging "Taylor.." Kelly said reaching to touch my shoulder but I flinched back

"If I can't be a firefighter anymore, then what the hell am I going to do?!" I almost yelled