Fire in the Firehouse Part 5

Before long, and without incident, the two men had gotten the tree removed. It had been chopped up and they'd boarded up the window. There was some structural damage that they repaired for the time being. It was enough to keep the snow and air out. Mitch finished up while Colby was hauling the wood round back. He stacked the wood neatly and was soon joined by Mitch. 

"Figured you could use a hand babe. Plus I think we both want to get inside and warm up." Colby smiled and nodded. He was so cold he didn't want to talk much.

Colby signaled by hand he was going back in front. Mitch nodded and continued about his business of stacking the wood. Mitch was unaware of the pond as he'd never had reason to go behind the firehouse. Just one of those things. He saw a log lying on the pond and assumed it was one from the chopped up tree, walked over to get it and suddenly there was a loud "CRACK."

"Oh, fuck! What the hell is this?" He was getting worried. "Oh my God. Its a frozen pond and the son of a bitch is cracking." Now Mitch was no longer the strong, in control man he'd been. Now he was fearful for his life knowing the severity before him. He was uncertain what to do. On instinct he cried out, "Colby! Oh my God, help me!" He was even fearful yelling too loud would cause undue pressure on the ice. Its was just one of those ridiculous things that comes to mind when you're in such a predicament.

Colby was unable to hear him while in front. The wind was howling and carrying Mitch's voice the opposite way. Mitch spoke, "God, can this be anymore cliche? I'm fucked and my lover can't hear me cause of this freakin' wind! What did I do wrong in my life to deserve this shit?" Mitch was between a rock and a hard place. There was no way to escape and the ice was splitting more and more. Unfortunately Colby was not coming back as soon as the other had hoped. 

Mitch knew he had to do something. Regardless of what, the ice was about to give and he had to do something. He baby stepped his way across the ice. It creaked, it moaned, it cracked. Too late, in he went. He let out a blood curdling scream, which couldn't be described in known words. A tone of voice one would figure impossible since the onset of puberty. The scream was just as icy as the water he was now in. Colby thought he heard something, dropped the wood he'd been stacking in the wheelbarrow he'd been using all along to move the wood and ran back to where Mitch was. 

"Mitch? Mitch? Was that you babe? Mitch?" Nothing. Colby scanned the area seeing nothing, was about to turn around, hoping the other had come back around from the other side of the station when he saw the pond. "Oh my God. Oh fuck, no! Oh God no, please! Oh my God!" Colby was ghost white in fear seeing what became of his lover. 

In that instant Mitch popped up for air, face blue and was screaming in fear and because of the icy water that felt as though it were eating away at him. "Colby, help me baby! Please!" Colby's mind spun out of control. In part for the one he loved, in part to save a fellow human being. 

"I'll be right back! Let me get something to pull you out!" His heart ached, filled with pain for his lover. Filled with guilt for not mentioning the pond. Full of fear for what might come to pass. He could barely think straight. "Where the fuck am I going? What the fuck am I doing? Ok Colby, calm down," He began telling himself. Where do I get something to pull him out? Oh, the rope. I'll use that." He carefully scurried up, grabbed the rope, praying he'd not fall again.

Sure enough, history repeated itself. As he moved to slide back down, he took the same path, and landed with a, "God, will I ever learn?" This time as he went to stand, he came back down. He was uncertain what was wrong. His body was too cold to allow him to register the severity of any injuries. "Fuck it! I ain't got time for this shit!" He hoped up and hobbled around back. 

Slowly his body began responding. He quietly thought to himself that maybe he'd just hit a nerve and it caused the muscle to not react like it should. He dodged a bullet this time-he hoped. He fought on his own personal reserve, on a mission to help the man that had won his heart. He pushed forward and came around to the back.

He saw Mitch, cold, shaking, coughing, face all blue, struggling to keep his head above water. He knew he'd not be able to survive too much longer or not run the risk of losing some limbs from frostbite. Hypothermia wasn't too far off. Still hobbling a bit he made it to a nearby tree. He tied the rope to a solid tree for anchorage and tossed his lover the other end. "Grab on baby! Grab on! I'll pull you out." His heart melted inside seeing the one he loved, the one he admired in such a perilous situation. He worked fast. As luck would have it, first toss Mitch managed to catch the rope. Colby used his well defined and sculpted body to his advantage and was quick to pluck the other from the icy water. All the while ignoring his leg, hoping it was as he thought it was.

Colby immediately bent down, Mitch had gone into shock and wasn't breathing. Colby staggeringly carried Mitch about 10 feet away into a little storage unit, free from the abusing wind. He began performing mouth to mouth. He went through the entire act. Mitch was not responding. "Oh, God! Oh, God no! Don't you leave me now you son of a bitch!" He began speaking in anger and emotion. 

Mitch wasn't moving, wasn't responding. Colby was going out of his mind. He wasn't going to let the man he'd just fallen in love die this easy. He looked skyward, remembering something he'd once been told. "I ask that the Pure White Light of Christ surround and protect this man." A long time ago he'd been told saying these words gives comfort and helps in a time of need. Colby waited, and performed CPR again, hoping...

He tried again. Going through all the motions. Hoping that this time would be the one his lover reached out for the precious air that allowed for life. Nothing. Tears cascaded down his handsome face, but he refused to give into a full fledged cry. His heart raced with anger and fear, yet his very being was encapsulated with love for the man he saw dying before him. "No, damn it! NO! Come back to me, damn you! Don't you fuckin leave me! I can't go through life without you! I need you. I, I, I love you Mitchell." 

Colby's mind raced, even pausing for a moment to realize he'd never called his boyfriend by his full name. And he wasn't about to let that become a one time thing. He went back to performing CPR. This time with a renewed fire inside him. There wasn't just desire in him, there was a need to keep this man alive and he wasn't about to surrender him back to God. "You will NOT die this day!" Placing his lips on Mitch's once more, it happened.

Much to Colby's delight, Mitch coughed and gasped for air. He laid still for a moment, got his senses, looked to Colby. "I swear, you'll do anything to get laid, won't you?" Colby lightly slapped his arm, tears billowing down his face. He smiled through his tears. He was speechless. 

Colby leaned over to hug his lover. "Mitchell, don't ever scare me like that again you son of a bitch! I love you so fuckin much my body is in shambles on the inside. I can't begin to think about a future without you. I love you so much and I need you as part of my life."

Mitch was stunned. It was shocking to hear Colby profess his love like this and it was deeply touching hearing his full name be called. It warmed his heart to no end. He smiled and spoke, "Not on your life baby. I love you just as much." He paused and thought long and hard. He also knew this wasn't the time or place to plan the future.

Mitch coyly smiled, though cold and aching to get inside. "You saved me. You saved my life. God baby, I love you. But if we're gunna have sex again, can I warm up first? Please?" He was still the same Mitch.

Colby looked at him, laughed through his tears, "You really are a shit, ya know that, right?" Mitch shot him back his winning smile and closed his eyes, trying to relax, his body still numb with cold.

Colby told Mitch, "Let's get your clothes off. And before you even think it, no not for sex." He half smiled and was half serious. "Found some blankets and a pair of boots. They seem to be a bit big, but they're dry. I'm going to grab the rope, fasten it and we're going to get you back inside." Colby kissed his handsome lover and shot out to do as he said.

While he completed the task of attaching the rope to the same place as Mitch had prior his mind raced. He began nervously talking to himself. "This is crazy. We're stuck here 'cause of this friggin snow, we managed to get out, and now its a fight to get back in. We boarded the place up, but its not perfect. The heat's gunna shoot straight out the cracks in the wood. Well, at least we'll freeze to death and be warm at the same time. Its counter productive, but its a plan nonetheless." Colby was being over come with emotions having almost lost the one of his dreams in the pond incident. Mitch, for so long seemed in control. Though no less a man than his lover, it was now on Colby's shoulders to hang tough for them both. But he knew Mitch would come back stronger than ever.

As Colby looked over his shoulder he saw the best thing possible. The snow had ceased and the sky was starting to clear. There were beams of white light streaming down from the heavens. The sky was a mix of white-gray clouds and blue/orange/pink/purple hues. He unknowingly found himself smiling. It were as though God Himself had painted that on the canvas of sky. The sight gave him renewed hope. But he told himself it'd still be at least about another 24 hours until someone came for them.

Colby went to get Mitch. Upon arriving he saw him ready to go, as his lover gazed out at the sky. Mitch remarked, "Looks like we made it through the storm. Now all we have do is make it through at least one more night." He was very positive in terms of hope. They caught one another's gaze. In the heat of the moment the found themselves locked in an embrace. Colby threw his arms around his lover, keeping the blanket wrapped around him. They softly met the other's lips and began getting lost in one another. Their hearts racing with glee, love and knowing they'd made it through the menacing storm.

***To be continued*** A quick thank you to ALL that have emailed, IMed, or have written a review. I love knowing how much you all enjoy this series. Please feel free to continue and also let me know how and what the story does for you on all levels.