Makoto.

Sousuke bolted out of the building, noticing that many of his co-workers were doing the same, probably just after getting calls like his.

Sousuke raced to his car, cranked on the ignition, and then slammed on the gas.

Otterbrook... Otterbrook... Where?

Sousuke sped along with the other cruisers to the fire. Long before they arrived, he could see the plumes of smoke belching into the air.

Sousuke sped ahead, swerving down the gravel path.

The first sight of the flames stole his breath and he coughed suddenly, realizing that Makoto was in there.

Firefighters stood by helplessly, calming people down, others holding oxygen masks to those in stretchers. A police barricade surrounded the building, which Sousuke remembered as a company firm.

Sousuke jumped out of the car and raced to one of the firefighters, "Why the hell are you not putting it out?"

The firefighter looked at him with pained eyes, "The fire's too big. We've tried. It's going to collapse soon, and we can't waste the water."

"But-" Sousuke spluttered, looking at the building. Suddenly, a firefighter emerged, carrying a limp body in his arms, carrying it quickly to an ambulance.

Makoto is doing that too...

"Well if its going to collapse, what are they still doing in there?"

The firefighter scowled, "There are still people trapped in the fire."

Sousuke glanced warily at the fire. The firefighter from before emerged again, and then jogged to the group where Sousuke stood. "The bottom and second floor is empty but Tachibana's still up on the third."

"Tachibana?! Makoto!" Sousuke whispered under his breath. Suddenly, a deafening crack and rumble. Sousuke looked to see as a section of the roof caved in.

Makoto's in there...

A figure emerged in the doorway, carrying two men over his shoulders. Sousuke watched as he carried them carefully over to the paramedics and then stop to quickly pull of his mask, wiping his forehead.

"Makoto!" Sousuke raced over to him, grabbing him firmly by the shoulders, "You can't go back in there. I won't let you."

Makoto's face was of pain when he gazed into Sousuke's eyes, "I have to Sousuke. It's right. This is why I do what I do. I need to save these people."

And with that, he pulled back on his mask and bolted back into the burning building.

"Makoto..." Sousuke whimpered, watching the flames uselessly.

10 minutes later, another section of the roof collapsed.

Relief flooded over Sousuke when he saw Makoto running out with the presumable last person.

"Stay by my side now, I don't want you going back it there."

Makoto shook his head, gasping. "I've gotta do a final sweep." He kissed Sousuke's cheek and then bolted back inside.

Approximately eight seconds later, the building collapsed.

...

...

...

It hurt. Everything hurt. Makoto's body felt cold, but hot at the same time.

He moaned silently, feeling like his head would split in half if he so much as breathed.

Breathing...
His chest hurt too, making it hard to pull in breaths. He tried to focus on his breath; it was the only thing he could cling to.

In... out...     in... out...

His consciousness faded in and out too. He couldn't quite separate awake and asleep.

...

"Makoto... Mr. Tachibana...?" Makoto heard the voice of a man, "I need you to try and squeeze my fingers. Can you do that?"

He felt a pressure around his hand. Makoto tried to move his fingers.

"That's okay, we can try again tomorrow."

Makoto was confused. Didn't he squeeze the mans fingers?

"How is he?" Makoto recognized that voice. It was weak though.

"Improving. He has more conscious moments than not."

"When will he wake up?" A name... it was just on the tip of his tongue. The voice was deep and tired.

"It is not known for sure. You should go home and rest yourself. We will call you when he wakes up."

"No, thanks. I'm staying." Sousuke? That's it right?

Makoto suddenly remembered. Sousuke. His boyfriend. Why was he in the hospital though? What happened?

...

"Can you squeeze my fingers Makoto?"

Makoto squeezed as hard is he could. I want to see Sousuke. Give me Sousuke. He'll explain what's going on. What's going on???

"That's good! Squeeze again if you can hear me?"

Makoto clamped his fingers tightly.

"Very good. I'm going to go tell the doctor."

Footsteps. Door open. Door close.

"Makoto? Are you awake?" There was that comforting baritone. He took a bit of the pain away by just talking. Sousuke, I'm here.

Makoto felt cold fingers weave through his. "Can you...?" Makoto understood and squeezed tightly, but he couldn't open his eyes or move yet, even with the warm security of Sousuke.

"You're..." Sousuke's voice broke off and suddenly both of Sousuke's hands were holding up Makoto's limp arm, and he was sobbing.

Don't cry, Sousuke. I'm here. Give me time.

Makoto took comfort in the tears. It meant he was alive.

"I was so scared. I was so- when the building came down I- didn't know if you- I'm sorry, I should let you rest but- I'm just so happy you're okay..."

Makoto wanted to cry too, now that he remembered what happened. But he was okay. And Sousuke stayed with him.

...

Makoto slowly opened his eyes, for the first time in 6 days. The light was blinding, so he shut them quickly, but then peeked through his lashes.

He lay in a sterile white bed, in a square room. The window to his left was slightly open, letting a trickle of early August heat seep into the room. It was light out, but fading, early nighttime.

Makoto turned his head slowly to his own body. An IV in his arm made his stomach turn unsettlingly, and he had an oxygen mask on that he instinctively wanted to rip off. A plastic bracelet was tied around his wrist, displaying 'M. TACHIBANA - PANTIENT #058 ROOM: 73'. A black clip with a flashing light was clipped to his index finger, and a circular bandage with a wire connected to it was stuck over his chest.

Makoto looked to his left and... there was Sousuke. His hair was messy, he was growing stubble, and there were deep circles under his eyes, a troubled expression on his forehead.

He slept silently, head leaning back against the wall. Makoto didn't wake him yet. Instead, he pushed down the covers over his legs to inspect what was hurting so much.

He wore a hospital gown that fell just above his knees, make of papery white fabric. But underneath the fabric, bandages piled up in a horizontal line from his left hip, across his thigh, crossing over to his other thigh, and then ending right above his right knee.

Makoto prodded the bandages and choked back a yelp at the intense pain. He turned to Sousuke and reached to shake his shoulder gently. Sousuke woke with a start, eyes widening.

"Makoto!" His ragged voice made Makoto's heart hurt. Sousuke kept from his chair and carefully enclosed Makoto in a loose hug, avoiding the wires.

Makoto buried his nose into Sousuke's shirt, searching for the husky scent of cologne he wore, or the coffee he made in the morning, but he only smelled of the hospital.

"I'm so glad you're okay. You don't know how worried I was." Makoto felt guilty, to have caused this trouble.

"What happened?"

"The building collapsed on top of you. A burning support landed on top of your legs... it burned through your suit... It will take some time for you to be able to walk again."