Page 32 of Sparks Fly

HALLIE

The first moment Hallie becomes aware feels like kicking up from the murky depths of a deep ocean. The next thing she registers is a dull, throbbing ache behind her eyes, as if her skull is being squeezed in a vise. She tries to blink, but her eyelids are heavy and uncooperative, as a steady beeping filters in through the fringe of her awareness.

Where am I? What the fuck happened?

Fragments of memory flicker behind her closed lids—the gentle rocking of the train, the buzz of anticipation as she typed out a text to Kaia. And then... chaos. A searing pain exploding in her head before everything went black.

Hallie’s eyes flutter open as she claws her way back to full consciousness, her heart monitor spiking with the sudden surge of adrenaline. She squints against harsh fluorescent lights, her surroundings gradually coming into focus. Sterile white walls, the sharp smell of antiseptic, a tangle of wires and tubes snaking from her arms.

The hospital. I must be in the hospital.

As Hallie is slowly piecing together her reality, she becomes aware of a warm pressure enveloping her hand. She glances down, her breath catching in her throat at the sight that greets her. Kaia is slumped in a chair beside the bed, her fingers wrapped around Hallie’s, her head resting on the edge of the mattress as if she’d fallen asleep keeping vigil.

With her other, slightly trembling hand, Hallie reaches out to brush a stray curl from Kaia’s forehead, instantly calmed by the familiar feel of her soft skin. Kaia stirs at the touch, her brow furrowing slightly before her eyes blink open. For a moment, she seems disoriented, head turning slowly as she takes in her surroundings. But then her gaze lands on Hallie, and her entire face transforms.

“Hallie,” she breathes, her voice rough with sleep. “You’re awake.”

Tears are already welling in Kaia’s eyes as she sits up, her grip tightening on Hallie’s hand as if she’s scared that Hallie will slip away again if she lets go. Hallie feels her own eyes start to burn, her throat constricting around the rising pressure of everything she wants to say.

“Kaia, I...” she starts, but her voice cracks, splintering around the rawness left by her ordeal. She swallows hard, trying again. “I’m so sorry, baby. I have some more groveling to do.”

Kaia shakes her head, a watery smile tugging at her lips. “No, you don’t. I’m the one who should be apologizing.”

She leans in, pressing her forehead to Hallie’s, and for a moment, the rest of the world falls away. There’s no hospital, no beeping monitors, no aches or pains. There’s just the two of them, breathing each other in, savoring the closeness they’ve gone without for too long.

When Kaia pulls back to wipe a stray tear from Hallie’s cheek, the lieutenant notices the other figures sitting quietly on the other side of the room.

“Mom? Pop?” she croaks, her eyes widening in disbelief. “Gavin? What are you doing here?”

Her father steps forward, his weathered face etched with a mix of worry and relief. He looks like he hasn’t slept in days, his usually tidy hair disheveled and his clothes rumpled. Gavin is still in his uniform; he must have come straight from a shift at his own station.

“We came as soon as we heard about the crash, Hallie-Pallie,” Pop says, approaching her bed. “It was a little touch and go for a while there.”

When he reaches her side, he raises a large hand to rest on Hallie’s shoulder with a gentleness that belies his size. Hallie leans into the touch, feeling some of the tension drain from her body at the comforting warmth of her family’s presence.

“Thank you for coming,” she whispers, a single tear slipping down her cheek. “I’m sorry it had to be under such shitty circumstances, but I guess I should introduce you to Kaia.”

Pop shakes his head, a smile tugging at his lips. “You have nothing to apologize for, my love. We’re just grateful you’re okay.”

He glances at Kaia, his eyes twinkling with something that looks a little like mischief. “And we’ve already been getting to know this lovely young lady while we waited for you to wake up. She’s been filling us in on all your heroic escapades together.”

Hallie feels a blush creep up her neck, her gaze darting to Kaia, who is gazing back at Pop with warm affection.

“Oh really?” Hallie asks, a hint of playfulness creeping into her tone. “And what kind of tales has she been spinning? Did she tell you what a pain in the ass she can be?”

Kaia’s dark eyes snap to Hallie’s, glinting with humor. “I only told them the truth, Lieutenant. That you’re the bravest, most badass firefighter this city has ever seen. I left out the parts where I wasn’t on my best behavior.”

Hallie chuckles, warmth blooming in her chest at the admiration in Kaia’s voice. But the laughter quickly turns into a cough, her ribs soon aching with the effort. Kaia immediately reaches for the cup of water on the nightstand, guiding the straw to Hallie’s lips with a tenderness that makes her heart clench.

As she sips the cool liquid, Hallie catches her mom’s eye over the rim of the cup. Her mother gives her a small nod, a silent acknowledgment passing between them.

“We’ll give the two of you a minute,” she says softly, jerking his head towards the door. “Come on, Sandy, let’s go see if we can track down Hallie’s doctor. And maybe some coffee while we’re at it.”

Pop nods, giving Hallie’s shoulder a gentle squeeze before following her mom and Gavin out of the room. As the door clicks shut behind them, Hallie turns back to Kaia, her heart racing with sudden nerves.

This is the moment she’s been both dreading and longing for in equal measure. The chance to finally say the words that have been burning on the tip of her tongue for weeks.

But before she can even open her mouth, Kaia beats her to it.

---