Kate saw the fire way before she heard the call go out. In another time, if she hadn’t bribed the emergency line operator, she knew the call would have gone out to Crichton before anyone could see the first signs of smoke.
There was nothing more she could do then but wait. She stood impatiently, soon joined by a crowd of onlookers as the fire slowly spread. It wasn’t raging out of control—Kate had a hunch that it wouldn’t until members of Crichton’s crew got there and helped the fire grow larger—so she just stood there and waited.
From the direction of the Forest, she heard sirens. Her heart pattered in her chest. They’re going to make it here on time!
From the direction of the other station, not five seconds behind, she heard the faint sound of their sirens as well. And they were
