Inferno

***~113~ Traumatized***

Ellie's POV

I rush over to all of the paramedics and tell them which kids to take first and what my observations are. They start to take Lance, but he refuses.

"You're not taking me until every single one of these kids are taken care of" he says darkly.

I go over to him and sit down next to him.

"Lance, besides that boy over there, you're the most critical" I say softly.

"I don't give a shit" he snaps. "I'm the one who was responsible for all of these kids. I'm going to have to look...I don't even know how many parents in the eye...And tell them that I'm sorry I let their kid die" he says as he starts to cry. He puts his head in his hands and starts to sob.

I sit next to him and pull him into a hug.

"Alex, take Sasha and Luke to Taylor. I'm sure he's going crazy. I'm staying with Lance until they take him" I say softly.

"Your arm, El" he starts to argue.

I just shake my head. He knows me well enough that he knows it doesn't matter what he says. He just nods and leaves to take Sasha and Luke out.

Mason and Nick help get all the kids that are fine outside and to parents. Lance and I just silently sit there while the ones who are having issues are getting help. Finally the paramedics come back to Lance.

"You're the only one left" the paramedic says softly.

"You've checked every corner of this damn school to make sure that there isn't some terrified kid hiding somewhere?" He barks.

"No, I didn't sir, but officers are scouring the building now with dogs" she says calmly.

"Please Lance. You're going to do permanent damage to your leg if it's in the tourniquet for much longer. Let her take you" I say sternly. He finally sighs and nods. The paramedic and I help him onto a stretcher and I walk out with them.

"You saved my life, Ellie" he says, looking at me with tears in his eyes.

"And you saved Olivia's life" I say gently. He says nothing as he lays his head back on the gurney. We get outside and I search the crowd until I see Taylor. It wasn't hard. All of Firehouse 20 is standing out in front, waiting on us.

As soon as I lock eyes on Taylor, my cool resolve is starting to melt. I need him. I need him right now, so desperately. He doesn't wait for me to get to him. As soon as he sees me he moves through the barricades and starts running at full-speed towards me. He grabs me so tight in a hug that the wind gets knocked out of me.

We hug each other so tightly that it feels like our bodies are one. He kisses me so deeply that I feel it clear to my toes. He's sobbing so hard that my beautiful man looks like he's been beat.

He puts me down and looks at me hard.

"You got shot?" He asks me.

I just nod. "My arm" I say quietly.

"Baby, it's 20 degrees out here" he says as he takes off his fire jacket and puts it on me.

"Where's Emma and Trace?" I ask, looking around.

I see Emma immediately, but not Trace. That's odd. I go up to her and she immediately folds into me, sobbing.

"He's dead, momma" she sobs as she collapses. I catch her but she leans into me with such force that we both start falling. Taylor catches both of us and sets us gently on the floor.

"Who?" I ask, immediately feeling like I'm going to throw up.

"Trace" she finally gets out.

I look up at Taylor and then at Luke. Luke is hysterical; Jake and Liam are holding him. Cradling him.