Dixie began CPR while Nick held Zoe's hand.
"Don't leave me Zoe. I love you so much." Tears were streaming down his face now while he looked at her sleeping body. "I was going to propose to her later." He confessed to Dixie as he wiped his eyes.
"You will still get the chance." Dixie said. "Maybe just not tonight."
"This isn't working." Nick said. "Lets start cardiac massage."
"Are you sure we should?"
"Its her only chance Dixie." Nick said. "I can't live without her." Seeing the pain in his eyes, she agreed.
"Okay." She said, as Nick got a scalpel ready. He lifted the tissues that was being pressed on her chest and made an incision.
A few minutes into the massage, Nick felt her heart begin to beat under his fingers.
"Oh thank god." Nick said, sitting down and wiping his forehead.
"She isn't out of the woods yet." Dixie said.
"How's she doing?" Jeff shouted from behind the wheel.
"We got her back." Dixie said. "Can you go any faster?"
"Sorry but no. There is a lot of people about today. I would if I could though Dix."
"We need to get her there fast Jeffrey."
"I'll try my best." He said back and she turned her attention to Nick.
"Nick, you know my paramedics hunches to be right, don't you?" She said to him, walking around and sitting next to him. She put her arm around his shoulders. "She will be fine. Trust me. It might take a while for her to recover, but she will be fine."
"I hope you're right." He said, wiping his eyes and getting blood on his forehead. Dixie tutted and wiped it off for him.
"Look. We are nearly here." Dixie said. "And I promise you that she will be fine."
"I believe you." He looked into her eyes and she gave reassurance.
They arrived at the ED and Sam, Tess, Linda and Tom were waiting outside for them. They all looked relatively worried.
"Okay." Nick said, as they got her out of the ambulance. "Zoe Hanna, penetration to the chest, possible spine or neck fracture, broken left wrist and had a cardiac arrest en route. Was down for fifteen minutes, but was brought back after cardiac massage." They wheeled her in as everyone looked over at her injuries. Nick was about to walk into Resus after her, but Charlie blocked his way.
"No you don't." He said, and Nick tried to push past him. "It will be best for everyone if you wait out here."
"But I need to be there with her Charlie! I nearly lost her once. Im not about to do that again." He argued.
"Nick." Yvonne said, walking over after hearing the conversation. "She's not your patient. She's your partner. Please come with me, and I will buy you a coffee."
"Okay." He said, trying to hold back more tears. He took one more look at her and the team frantically work over her.
"Here." Yvonne said as she walked over to him in the hospital canteen. She gave him his coffee, and he was greatful.
"Thank you." He said, even though his mind was on Zoe.
"Nick, I know this is hard for you, but I want you to know that i'm still here for you." Yvonne said. "If you ever need help or anyone to talk to, i'll be here."
"Thanks." Nick said. "I appreciate it. Did you hear what they said? She might have a broken neck!"
"She might well do after that fall, but she is a tough woman Nick." She said. "She will recover."
"She could be paralysed." He said, disgusted that someone could cause someone that much pain.
"But she might not be. You know its possible that she isn't paralysed."
"I hope thats the case." Nick said. "I don't know what this ED would do without her and her extremely high high heels."
"I can guarantee you even if she can't walk, she will still wear those heels. And i'm pretty sure she will be walking. As I said, she is a tough woman." Yvonne said, making Nick smile for the first time since the accident.
They finished their coffees in silence, and he stood up to leave once he had finished.
"Do you want me to take that?" Yvonne said, pointing at his empty cup.
"Sure." He said, smiling at her. He was glad she was there.
"Nick." She said, and pointed behind her. Tess was stood there.
"Is Zoe alright?"
"The CT came back showing she has broken a vertibrae." She said sadly.
"Will she be paralysed?" He asked, feeling Zoe's pain for her.
"We don't know yet but we think there is a good chance that she won't be." Tess explained. "She is going to be airlifted to the specialist hospital just outside of the city tomorrow morning."
"Is she stable enough?" He asked, keeping the tears back.
"Yes. She will be able to stand the journey." Tess said.
"Im going to go with her." He said, walking out of the room.
"I thought you might want to." She said. "The helicopter will be here around seven ish, so be ready for it."
"I will be. Im staying with her all night."
"Make sure you get some rest." Tess said. "We have sedated Zoe pretty well so she won't be feeling any pain or be aware of her surroundings."
"Thanks again, for everything Tess."
"Its no problem. Its my job." She smiled as Nick hugged her.
He went into Zoe's room and saw her with the brace and still attached to the spinal board. He finally let the tears roll down his cheeks as he sat there and held her hand. He was going to be with her every step of the way, starting from now.
The next morning, Yvonne got up to the hospital early to see how he was doing.
"How is she?" She asked.
"They are getting her prepared for the flight right now." He was on edge, and he didn't look too well.
"Did you have a rough night?"
"You could say that." He admitted. "I couldn't sleep. I was so worried."
"Anyone would be." She said, looking at him with deep sympathy. "I can hear the helicopter."
"Me too." He said, and Zoe was being wheeled out of resus. "Time to go."
"Ill wave you off." She said, and they walked out of the ED together.
"I wish her all the best." She said as the helicopter started up. "Can I come and visit?"
"I'd like it if you did. I'm sure Zoe would too." He said.
"I will come up some time in the week." She said. "When I can get off work."
"I'll be waiting." He said, and he held out his hand and she took it. She looked as if she was about to cry, and he felt the tears well up in his eyes.
He took her into a hug and held her tight, letting a tear fall. He heard her sniff as she held him, and aftera few seconds he had to let go as they were waiting for him. She wiped the tear off of her face as she did the same for him. He took one last look at her as he ran towards the helicopter. He hopped in and Yvonne could see him in the window. She blew a kiss at him and waved as they took off, and he blew one back. He continued to wave, as did she, until they were out of sight of one another.
He looked at Zoe as they flew. He wasn't interested in the nice views, but only interested in the girl he loved. He looked at her peaceful face, but the intubation tube was there, as was the neck brace and the spinal board. He didn't care. All that mattered was that she was his. She would be fine, and he would be there every step of the way.