Cold.
        Damp.
        Silent.
        Rollie brushed a tear that threated to stain his cheek.
        Cold.
        Damp.
        Silent.
        Pressing a muddy, sweaty palm against a wall, Rollie Tyler stared at the doorway.
        “Mr. Tyler? Sir?....”
        “Huh...”
        “Mr...”
        “Sh-sh-she needs a blanket. She... its so cold.....”
        “Mr. Tyler. You need to come with us...”
        “So cold.... so”
        Warm, strong hands grasped at Rollie.
        “NO! G’way!...” Rollie threw his arms in the air.
        “Rollie?”
        That voice... Rollie knew that voice.
        “Come’n buddy... let ‘em look at you....”
        “Nooo...” Rollie wimperd.
        “They are doi-”
        A harsh squeel filled the air.
        “NO! NO! NO! NO!!” Rollie Tyler looked like a man possesd. He threw his body towards the door. Strong arms caught him.
        “NO! NO! NO! NO!” His body thrashed, kicking,screaming. Screaming.... his voice broke. Someone yelled. The terror in Rollie's face vanished, the terror in his eyes remained.... Darkness enveloped him.
 

        “Spring hath sprung!” Rollie laughed. A devilish grin lit his face. Grabbing the water hose in both hands, Rollie ducked behind a crate. Angie Ramirez appeared. Screeching to a halt, Angie bent down and adjusted her skates. She paused.
        “Hello?!”
        “YEEEEEEEEEEE-HA!” Rollie yelled, squeezing the handle on the hose,releasing a fridged spray.Angie sputtered, falling. “ROLLIE!!!!”
        Soaked. Angie was soaked. Cold. A great peal of laughter filled the air.
        “Happy Spring” Rollie laughed and laughed.
        “That was -NOT- funny.” Angie squeezed her shirt,sending a pool of water to the pavement.
        “Oh yes it was.” Rollie laughed “You should’a seen your face.”
        “I outta....” Angie began to stand up. Rollie reached over to help.
        “SO! We have to set up the lot today.” Rollie winked “Don’t worry about your clothes... they’ll dry.” Rollie smiled.
        Angie glared. “Ho-ho, you are soooo funny. ‘They’ll dry....” Angie looked down at her muddy shirt. “Well, at least its white...” Angie couldn’t help but laugh, finally collapsing into a hysterical Rollie.
 

        Light.
        Bright, harsh light.
        “Mr.Tyler?”
        Rollie mutterd.... it was so... foggy, bleary, bright.
        “Mr.Tyler. Can you hear me?”
        The light moved, a large.... nose? The nose pulled back to reveal a concerned face.
        “Mr.Tyler.”
        “Ungh...” Rollie closed his eyes. Too much. It was too much.
        “I’m sorry Mr.Tyler. You fainted. Your going to be alright.”
        Rollie slowly opened his eyes. He was in a hospital room.
        “ Everything is going to be alright.” A nurse smiled at him.
        “An..” Rollie croaked.
        “Yes... you have lost your voice. Don’t worry.... it will come back. You just overused it.” The nurse smiled.
        Rollie slowly sat up. Forming his words carefully, he managed a ragged whisper. “Angela.. Where’s Angela?”
        The nurse froze.
        “Where?” Rollie wisperd.
        The nurse stared.

        “This place is huge..” Angies voice bounced on the walls. creating an echo.
        “We have to set up the powder here.” Rollie pointed at a circle centred in the middle of a very large and empy warehouse.“I tweaked around with it. It makes a louder boom,and the flash is brighter.”
        “Why is the floor coverd in dirt?” Angie cocked her head towards Rollie.
        “Well, we need to make it look like an atomic bomb. With the powder the way it is,it should kick up the dirt and create a bloom.” Rollie looked up. “The thing is, you need to get up there...” Rollie pointed to a wide beam that was suspended thirty feet above there heads.
        “Why me?” Angie rubbed her chin.
        “Very funny.” Rollie muttered.
        “Well, come on Rollie... I’m always..”
        “Ange? Whats wrong? You’ll be in the harness.”
        “I know, I know”
        “I’d let you work the powder but since I’ve tweaked with it I’m not sure how stable it is. I mean I won’t blow us up or anything...but” Rollie let out a chuckle.

        An hour later, Angie was secure in a “climbers” harness. The harness, much like the ones used by mountain climbers, was attached to a beam and an extremly sensitve motor on ground which, if the need be, would stop the “climber” from falling.
        “Alright Ange..” Rollie adjusted his headseat.
        “I’m ready” Angie’s voice sounded tinny and far.
        Rollie bent down and lit a fuse. He quickly ran behind a large steel shield and crouched low. “One..Two...”
        An emense Explosion filled the warehouse. The sound shook the windows and made Rollie’s teeth chatter. A mushroom cloud lifted high above.
        “Yes!” Rollie jumped up.
        “Ange..? ANgie?”
        “Rollie that was incredible!”
        “Why thank you. You get it?”
        “Yea. But this damn beam is so wobbly.”
        “Eh thats alright Angie. Lets try that again.”
        “Why?”
        Rollie lifted his head. The small form of Angie Rameriz looked down. “Two’s the charm.”
        “Ugh. You know I’m cold and wet up here?”
        Slight concern brushed Rollie “Your ok though?”
        “Yea, yea” Angie let out a sneeze.
        “Ange?”
        “I’m ok Rollie. Just promise me this is the last one for now.”
        “It is, after this we’ll take you to get changed and I’ll treat you to a warm lunch. I’m real sorry. I thought you’d be dry’d up by now”
        “Whatever. Lets go.”
        “Ok” Rollie raised his arm and waved.
        “Wait!”
        “Whats wrong?” Rollie looked up again.
        “Lets try out that new Italian place. Francis said ‘it rocks’ “
        “Rocks?” Rollie smiled
        “You know, really, really good.”
        “Oh.Sure” Rollie shook his head. Turning around, Rollie reached for a small jar. Carefully lifting it, Rollie slowly unscrewed the top, peered at the contents and then poured them into a tin plate. He then carried the tin plate to the center of the large circle, and placed a small fuse on the top. “Ready” Rollie wisperd, and then lit the fuse. Running behind a large shield.
        “One,Two...” Rollie yelled
        The explosion was larger this time. Much larger. Hot air forced the shield to fall and sent Rollie flying. Moments later, Rolle stood, trembling.
        “Angie. You ok?” Rollie lifted his head towards the beam, a large dirt cloud hung in the air. “Angela..” Rollie walked towards the center of the room.
        “Oh god.” The color ran out of Rollies face. He swayed. “No.”
        Hanging mid-air, half in,half out of her harness was Angie. Tearing towards the motor, Rollie seized the rope in his hands and pulled with everything he had. Within seconds, he placed Angie in his arms. Unable to speak, he ripped the harness from Angies body. He placed a shuttering hand to the base of her throat. The pulse was weak...but it was there. Her breathing was ragged and shallow. Rollie blinked unable to comprehend the moment. With tight, mechanical movements Rollie took his phone from the back pocket of his jeans. He dialed for an ambulance, and hung up seconds after being told that help was coming. Slumping against the  wall Rollie Tyler cradled the head of Angie Ramerez in his lap. She was cold and damp. Rollie shook. Silence filled the room.
 
 
 

        The nurse smiled. A doctor enterd.
        “Where is An..” Rollie’s voice falterd
        “Ms.Rameriz is in guarded condition.  She has a broken leg and arm. Three of her ribs are broken Mr. Tyler, once of those ribs pierced her lung. Although this is serious, we expect that with time she will be alright."
        Rollie shook. “Is she going to live?”
        The doctor blinked. “Yes,I expect as much. Her heart stopped as you know, but we have placed a temporary pace-maker in, she is strong,she is young.”
        “Can I see her.” Rollie pleaded, his voice barely audible.
        “You were lucky Mr.Tyler. You only sustained some minor injuries. A few bruises.”
        “Can I see her.” Rollie's voice began to raise.
        The doctor paused. “I don’t know you very well Mr.Tyler but if I did, never forget I wouldn’t hesitate to tell you how fool-”
        “Doctor!” The nurse snapped.
        The doctor sighed. “Yes, she is on the third floor. ICU. Tell them that Doctor Rigson sent you.” The Doctor stalked out of the room.
        “Now don’t you worry.” The nurse smiled.

        The pump and wheeze of the respirator created an almost ocean like sound in the small room. The steady beep of the heart monitor created a strange comfort. Rollie stared at the red light of the oximeter attached to Angie's finger. Stumbling towards her, Rollie fell in a crumpled heap beside Angie. Fingering the covers of the bed, Rollie let out a long, wavering sob his body
shook, the bed trembled.