About an hour later Tina arrived back at LAX. She decided to head straight over to the gallery and surprise Bette. She acquired her luggage and walked out of the airport, turning her cell back on.

She was just about to hail a cab when her cell rang. Tina assumed it was Bette.

Tina: (excited to be on her way to see Bette) Hey, babe, Guess what?

Caller: Sorry to disappoint you Chief.

Tina: (embarrassed) OhHi boss, I thought you were someone else. Whats up?

Captain Barnes: I know youre on personal days, but we have a situation. I called on the off chance you could possibly assist? We really need your expertise.

Tina thought this would be just the thing to take her mind of her parents for a while.

Tina: Sure Captain, Ill come straight from the airport.

Captain Barnes: Thank you, Tina, well see you soon, bye.

Tina: Ok, bye.

Tina hailed a cab and was on her way to the station. She tried to call Bette from the cab but couldnt get through. Bettes cell went straight to voice mail, and the line at the gallery was busy. Tina decided not to leave a message. She would go and surprise Bette when she was finished up at work. Surely it wouldnt take more than a couple of hours.



Bette was majorly stressed. After she got cut off talking to Tina she had been worrying what the comment Tina made, had meant. I cant do this anymore? What did that mean Tee? Bette kept trying to call Tina but couldnt get through. She even called the Crowne Plaza. They told her that Tina had checked out about half an hour ago. Where the ***** are you, Tina? Bette thought. She had no idea how things had gone with Tinas parents and she was worried.

Bette had a meeting at 1pm; with this particularly fussy artist, Jonathan Johansson, who she was trying to persuade to do the gallerys next showing. It was 12:55 and she had to take the meeting with him, if she put it off, it would cost her the show.

Bette left her cell phone in the office and proceeded with the meeting

Ill talk to Tina later, right now I better try and concentrate on work, Bette reasoned with herself.



Tina hadnt even given it a though about her last comment to Bette, seeing as the conversation was cut short, she thought nothing of it. She was totally oblivious to the fact that she had Bette worrying about her.

Tina arrived at the station and changed into her uniform. She swiftly headed in the truck with her team over to the emergency site. She arrived to a scene of absolute chaos.

There were people everywhere, panicking, not knowing what they were doing. There was an out of control blaze on the fifth floor of the Thirty-story office building.
Employees were trapped on five of the floors above the fire. There were 25 people in total unaccounted for.

Tina and her team donned their protective apparel and entered the building. Her and the team managed to locate a way safely through the flames to get to the floors above, in an attempt to locate the employees. They had retrieved 22 victims, quite quickly on floors 10 through to 7. None of them appeared to be injured, just some minor respiratory distress and third degree burns.

Tina ordered one of her colleagues, Richard to stay with her and got the other two
fire fighters to escort the victims to safety. They had 3 more victims to find and then, they were out of there. They found a male and female in a broom closet on the 6th floor that were enjoying a rendezvous, thinking the fire alarm was a false one. Tina could hear the final victim in the distance.

Tina: Ok Richard I will be down in a minute, Ill just grab the last victim. You take these two to safety.

Richard: Are you sure boss, I dont want to leave you by yourself?

Tina: Ive got it covered. Ill be right behind you, now go. Its starting to heat up in here. You gotta get these two out of here

Richard did as ordered and escorted the two to safety. Tina was making her way to the sound of a woman screaming for help. She could feel the temperature rising. She located the final victim. It was a young heavily pregnant woman. She was barely conscious.

Tina approached the woman Are you Ok? Stay with me. Look at me. Thats it. Im Tina. Im going to get you out of here Ok? Whats your name?

Pregnant woman: (hysterically crying) Im Melissa. *sob * Please help me, I dont want anything to happen to my little girl.*sob *

Tina: Dont worry, Melissa. I wont let anything happen to either of you Ok? Can you walk? I am going to get you out of here.

Tina suddenly noticed Melissa was pinned to the floor. A load-bearing beam had fallen from the roof, onto her right leg, obviously breaking her leg and rendering Melissa stuck. Tina called out for Richard to come back and assist her. He couldnt hear. He was nearly out of the building with the other two victims. Tina tried to muster as much strength as she could, but she couldnt move the beam. She called for back up on her 2-way radio, but got no response.

The heat was rising. The paint was beginning to peel off the walls. Tina knew they were in trouble but she wasnt leaving Melissa, or her little girl alone. It was getting increasingly difficult to breathe.

Melissa was starting to drift in and out of consciousness. Tina took of her oxygen mask and put it over Melissas mouth. Tina then opened her coat and got on the floor with Melissa, putting her in a bear hug to try and protect her from the intense heat. Tina was getting light headed. She was loosing consciousness. ..



Bette was still in her meeting with the artist when she got a chill, like when its said that someone walks over your grave. She got this feeling that something just wasnt right but didnt know why.

She managed to get through the meeting with Jonathan and got him to agree to do the show. The Porter charm works every time. Bette thought to herself.

Bette finished with the pleasantries and bidding Jonathan farewell, she returned to her office. Something told her she had to talk to Tina. She tried Tina cell again. It was still switched off. Bette was going crazy. She checked out of her hotel a good 2 hours ago now. Where the ***** is she?



Tina was taken in a serious but stable condition to L.A. hospital. Although she got no response on her 2-way radio, her back up plea was heard and her team immediately re-entered the building. About 20 minutes later, the blaze was under control enough for them to reach Tina and Melissa. Tina was unconscious when they found her, and the paramedics didnt know how bad it was, it depended on how long she was deprived of oxygen.

The hospital called Stephen and Nancy, as Tinas listed next of kin. They immediately jumped on a plane and arrived at the hospital nearly two hours later.

Tinas doctor informed her parents of Tinas condition. Tina appears to have normal brain wave activity, but we dont know how long she was without oxygen. She is unconscious but should wake up in the next 48 hours. She has smoke inhalation and respiratory distress, which is on the improve, as we speak.

The doctor informed Stephen and Nancy what Tina did. He wanted them to tell Tina, when she wakes up, that Melissa, was going to be fine, so was her little girl, thanks to Tina. Tina undoubtedly saved both their lives.

Stephen: Can we see her doc?

Doctor: Sure, shes in ICU at the moment, but is being transferred to Ward 17, you can wait for her there.

Nancy: Thank you Doctor.

Nancy and Stephen just stood in the corridor, after hearing the doctor finish, holding each other tight, crying.



It was now 8 pm, Thursday night and Bette was beside herself with worry. She hadnt heard from Tina all day, and when she tried, her cell always went to voice mail.

Bette decides to call Tinas parents. Thankfully the Kennards number was listed. She dialed the number with no answer either. Bette leaves a message, but doesnt really know what to say.

Bette: Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Kennard. My name is Bette, Bette Porter and I am looking for your daughter Tina. My number is 555 1848. I would appreciate if either you or Tina could call me back as soon as possible. Thank you.

Now Bette was at a complete loss. She didnt know what to do next.

Bette didnt think to call the hospitals; she didnt even know Tina was back in L.A.

She was sitting home alone, not knowing what to think, or what to do next, while the love of her life, was lying unconscious in a hospital bed..