Chapter 7
Present
It wastouch-and-go for the first three days Cam was in the hospital in the intensive care unit, with round-the-clock care.
Although the doctor’s assured us that their assessment of his burns was labeled second-degree and treatable, they were still worried about his lungs and internal organs.
His specialist, Dr. Sun Kim-Lee, indicated that most fatalities with firefighters weren’t from the burns themselves but from internal injuries and trauma or cardiac arrest.
The doctor gave us hope that due to Cam’s size, his health and fitness, and the fact that the burns were contained to his back, side and a small portion of his torso, he’d be able to make a full recovery after undergoing skin grafting surgery, scheduled for today.
London and I were only allowed in Cam’s room for a few minutes after the first day while he was still heavily sedated and in a semi-conscious state. His eyes fluttered open once or twice as both London and I held his hands and whispered our prayers and thoughts into his ears, but otherwise, he was out of it.
Thankfully.
While London drove Doreen back to her London’s apartment to take a nap and shower, I remained behind to be available in the event there was any news. That’s when one of Cam’s crew members, Benito, stopped by with a gift basket and get-well card from the other crew members. I’d never met that man before but could tell he was worn and haggard from days of exhausting work.
From what he shared with me about the incident, I seriously hoped Cam would wake up with little or no memory of what happened. It was too brutal otherwise. Another one of his crew members named Dominic was found lying on top of Cam and died at the scene.
“How’s he doing?” Benito asks.
I shrug. “As good as can be expected, I guess. How long have you worked with Cam?”
The guy scratches his forehead in recollection. “I started with the Smoky Mountain team two years ago. He wasn’t my supervisor then, we were just crew members together.”
A wisp of a smile pulls at his lips. “Cam was always a ball-buster, man. He was one helluva guy.”
As if realizing what he said, he corrects himself.
“Aw, man. I mean, Cam’s a good guy and we’re all pulling for him to make a full recovery. He’s one of the best there is, and we need him back.” Benito shakes his head in disbelief. “It’s hard to understand why or how this even happened.”
I stand there alone with this stranger, feeling the exact same way. Trying to make heads or tails out of this tragedy and uncertain by how this could’ve happened.
“What did happen out there? Do you know anything?”
Benito runs a hand through his thick, dark hair, staring off into the distance.
“We usually work independently or in small groups of two or four. We had our morning briefing at base camp, got our gear ready, then our pilots flew us up and we parachuted in. It was a successful jump. Each team landed according to the scheduled coordinates and began our mission of surrounding the fire on all sides to extinguish and contain. The last we heard, Cam and Dom were on the west side and were cornered. It took us less than fifteen minutes to get to them, but by the time we did, we found them in their trench.”
Benito’s dark, empathetic eyes connect with mine and he swallows.
“When we got there, Dom’s body was atop Cam’s. He must’ve shielded him from the blaze. We don’t know why.”
My stomach clenches at the thought. “Jesus. Did Dom have a family?”
Growing up with a fucked-up father was one thing but I can’t imagine any kid going through this – knowing their father died protecting another man. In the line of duty. It’s the true act of service, but sad for a kid to lose a father like that.
Benito throws a look over his shoulder as someone walks by us in the corridor and then replies.
“Nah, Dom was a young kid. Twenty-two and single. But his parents…”
I place a hand on top of his shoulder and squeeze. “Please send me the details of his funeral. I’ll make sure that London and I attend on Cam’s behalf.”
Benito nods appreciatively. “You bet. Thanks man.”
He cocks his head then, mouth opening and recognition seemingly sparking in his eyes. “Holy shit. Wait, aren’t you the lead singer of Crenshaw?”
I lift an eyebrow and place a finger at my lips. “Shh. I’m trying to remain incognito and keep things quiet while we’re here. But yeah, I am. Sage Hendricks. Nice to meet you, Benito. And thanks so much for stopping by and checking in on Cam.”
