Hi everyone! My first attempt at silk fan fiction here - not sure how long this is going to be yet but please review because it really helps me to know whether this ok and I should continue or a pile of rubbish and then I'll stop! I'm sad silk has ended but if Maxine wanted to leave I'm totally fine with it! There's no silk without Martha Costello in my opinion. This fic is just my imagination running wild haha. Enjoyxx
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Clive Reader's head was buried in a newspaper as he exited a quaint, quiet corner shop – a rarity in modern London these days. His lunchtime was nearly over and he was in a terrible rush to return to work. His thoughts of court and criminals were disturbed by an almighty crash.
On looking up he discovered the origin of the dreadful noise. A huge lorry had collided head on with what appeared to be a school bus.
"Christ" said a startled Clive who chucked his paper to the ground and raced towards the scene.
All he could hear was children screaming and banging manically on the windows of the bus. Although the crash had only just occurred there was smoke everywhere. Passers-by like him had already sprung into action. One he could see was on his mobile calling for help. Several others were tending to the drivers of both vehicles, both of whom appeared to be worryingly unconscious. Clive raced toward some children who were racing off a side exit on the bus. They all had to be primary school age.
Their school teachers were clearly in shock.
Clive randomly chose one and said authoritatively "Stand on the other side of the road and me and…"
"Jenny" replied the other.
"Jenny will direct the rest of the kids to you ok?" She didn't respond "Ok?!" said Clive shaking her.
She nodded and led the majority of petrified children to safety.
"Are they all off?" demanded Clive, taking off his jacket and tie and rolling up the sleeves of his shirt.
"There's still a few at the back" spluttered Jenny. She was coughing heavily "Why is there so much smoke?"
"That's what's worrying me. You stay here, they'll need to see a familiar face when they come off" said Clive, heading onto the bus.
He could barely see anything. Smoke was billowing everywhere. He had to use the headrests of the seats to help guide him to the back, where he could hear crying and screaming for help. 3 terrified little girls were at the back of the bus. One appeared too scared to move, the other was inconsolable and clearly the one making all the noise and Clive could just about make out a third tiny body at the window.
"Please help us" wailed the one in the middle "Our seatbelts are stuck"
Clive crouched down to their level searching for the first seatbelt he could find "Everything's going to be fine. My name is Clive and we're going to get off this bus right now you and me. How does that sound?"
The crying continued. Clive was already coughing heavily.
The first two seatbelts became unbuckled with ease. As he started on the third he realised that its owner, the girl at the window was now slumped over. He gently pushed her head back and tried to wake her. She was still conscious – just. He needed to be quick but the seatbelt just wouldn't budge. Clive was beginning to panic. He gave it one last almighty tug before it came free – somebody is getting sued to kingdom come for these bloody belts he thought. He lifted her up and ordered the other two to hold onto his free hand quickly and urgently guiding them off the bus into the arms of their awaiting teacher.
"They were the final three" said Jenny, looking very relieved. That was before she saw the child in Clive's arms.
"Oh my god Grace!" she said her hand covering her mouth. Grace was beginning to stir, her head resting limply on Clive's shoulder. She had a nasty gash on her arm, the blood of which had poured onto his white shirt – they were both quite a sight.
While all of this was happening the police and ambulance had finally arrived.
"What the hell took you so long?" said a furious Clive.
The male police officer ignored him "Can you come with me please?" directing the five of them to a safer place. Clive was still carrying Grace.
"She needs to go to hospital right now" ordered Clive.
"The next ambulance is due in a couple of minutes. The bus driver took the first one. He's in a bad way"
"What about the lorry driver?" asked Clive.
The police officer sombrely shook his head. He quickly changed the subject.
" This one's having difficulty getting through the traffic. The accident has caused a huge pile up. Wait, I see it now" he said leaving mid-sentence to make sure Grace was the first in line to go to hospital.
Jenny and the other two little girls had left and Clive didn't know where they had gone. He was just relieved to have gotten all three off the bus safely. He had however been left alone with Grace who he was now cradling like a baby. For the first time since they'd met she opened her eyes and stared him straight in the face. Her aquamarine eyes pierced right through him. They reminded him of a certain brilliant, northern QC he used to know. He paused to think – no she couldn't possibly be. Could she?
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Martha Costello was nearing the end of an extremely stressful day at work. She was currently in a boardroom giving two male colleagues a stern dressing down. Her tirade was interrupted by a knock at the door. The two men seemed relieved to be given a break from proceedings.
"Can't this wait Alex?" said Martha, annoyance plain to see on her face at being disturbed.
"No I'm afraid it can't" he replied. The worried look on his face made her compelled to listen.
"It's Grace, Martha. There's been an accident"
Martha's face drained of all its colour - her red lipstick appeared pale on her face for once. She was out of the room in a matter of seconds. She needed to get to her daughter.