Dixie stood staring at the collapsing building watching fire crews and paramedics running in and out pulling people to safety. She eyed each one of the casualities carefully but none resembled Jeff. Dixie seemed lost, she knew Jeff was in there but she also knew she needed to treat people. Taking a deep long breath she grabbed the medical kit heading into the commotion to help she had to do something, standing around worrying was not her style..
Dixie knelt down beside a small lad who couldn't have been much older than 12, he had a severe laceration to his arm but apart from that seemed OK. Sadness filled her again as she thought of John, Jeff's son, he was about the same age, how could she tell them that their father was dead. Dixie swallowed the lump at the back of her throat 'you cannot think like this Dixie, Jeff will be OK' she muttered to herself before turning to the boy in front of her.
'Hello sweetheart, my name is Dixie and I am going to help you. Can you tell me your name?'
'Thomas.'
'That is a lovely name. Now Thomas where does it hurt?'
'My arm hurts.' Thomas pointed to the cut that Dixie was already dressing.
'OK sweetheart, can I listen to your chest?' Dixie asked pulling out her steth placing it in position.
'Well you seem to be a very lucky lad Thomas. Was anyone with you in there?'
'My dad. He told me to go. I do not know where he is.' Thomas started to get agitated frantically looking around for his dad. Dixie could sympathise with him greatly as there was still no sign of Jeff, it had been nearly 15 minutes now.
'Ssssh, it will be OK darling. Shall we take you for a little ride to the hospital to see a Doctor?' Dixie asked sympathetically while giving the distraught boy a hug.
'I want my dad. I am not going without my dad.'
'OK. Well how about I sit you in my ambulance and we can wait for your Dad there? You can be my helper seen as my other helper has gone and got himself into trouble.'
'What did he do?'
'Something very stupid.'
'Will he get into trouble.'
'Yes he will, but, just between you and me, I won't stay cross with him for long.'
Thomas smiled at Dixie as she helped him up taking him over to the ambulance sitting him in the front seat making sure he was alright. She continually glanced over at the bodies that were being carried out hoping that Jeff will be brought out soon. Each time he was not, her heart sank that little bit further.
'Dixie I need your help over here please.' Polly yelled as she struggled to get a neck brace on her patient.
'Will you be OK here Thomas while I go and help my friend out?'
'Can I come with you please?' Thomas asked looking around him nervously.
'Of course you can.' Dixie held out her hand which Thomas took making her way over to Polly.
Once they had secured the neckbrace Polly noticed Dixie looking around worry clearly written across her face.
'He will be OK Dix, you know what he is like.' Polly tried to give Dixie a comforting smile and hug but it wasn't working.
'I am going to kill him when he comes out Pol, I swear to God I...'
'Daddy!' Thomas interrupted Dixie's flow by pointing at the man who was being carried out by the fire crew. Thomas tugged on Dixie's hand signalling he wanted to go over.
'OK Thomas, let's go and see, Polly is going to come with us.'
The three of them jogged over to where the firemen had laid him down, Dixie stepped forward to assess his injuries before she allowed Thomas to come closer to his father. He was lucky, Dixie could make out a broken leg, a few lacerations and smoke inhalation.
'Daddy.' Thomas said as he came closer getting worried when his Dad did not reply.
'He is asleep sweetheart. I am just going to put this on him to help him breathe then we can get you both to hospital.'
Thomas nodded and before long he was sat in the ambulance once more with his Dad on the way to hospital. Dixie sat in the back with them, she did not want to leave but Polly made her. She was right, if they pulled Jeff out, Dixie would not have been allowed to treat him anyway and if he was badly injured or worse, Dixie would not have that image in her head.
The drive was short and as she opened the back doors she was met by a wealth of people wanting to know what had happened and how many more injuries they would be expecting. For the first time in a long time, Dixie could not answer questions, she just wheeled in her patients worrying about Jeff.
The minutes dragged by as she paced around the ED, she watched each stretcher being brought in just incase but Jeff was not there. Her heart was slowly sinking, time was against her, the likelihood of Jeff being OK was minimal and she knew it.
'Dixie?' She turned around looking down at Thomas who was standing beside her.
'Hello love. How is your Dad?'
'He wants to say hello to you and say thank you.' Thomas looked into her face before taking her hand leading her to cubicles.
'Dad this is Dixie. She helped me and you.' Thomas spoke with pride evident in his voice.
'Hello, I just wanted to thank you for looking after my son.'
'My pleasure, he is a lovely lad. How are you feeling?'
'I have felt better to be honest, it could have been a lot worse but the paramedic saved me.'
'Sorry?' Dixie asked, did he mean her or Jeff?
'Cannot remember his name but he was helping me out when the building came down. He pushed me out the way. Is he here? I would like to thank him as well.'
Dixie could feel herself welling up as she looked to the floor. 'No, he is not here but I will tell him when I see him.'
'Oh thank you. What is his name? I would like to write to him.'
'Jeff. Jeff Collier.' Dixie felt sadness at saying his name, she really hoped he was OK and would come through the doors unharmed.
'Thank you Dixie. I am so grateful to you and Jeff.'
Dixie smiled before ruffling Thomas' hair and leaving the cubicle. She took a moment to compose herself glancing at the patient board. She didn't want to see Jeff's name on there but if she did then she knew he was safe. Her heart sank when it was not there.
She continued walking around to reception noticing how everything had calmed down, still no Jeff. She was surprised as to how worried she actually was about Jeff, they were married but not romantically linked in anyway, but it still did not stop her worrying, being scared of what had happened to him. Dixie wondered over to the vending machine to get a drink leaning up against the wall lost in her own thoughts when the doors flew open at speed.
'Jeffrey Collier 38, prolonged entrapment. Two broken arms, dislocated right hip, severe smoke inhallation, impalment, has not regained consciousness. Had 10 of morphine and that is the second bag of saline going in now.'
Dixie watched on in horror letting the list of Jeff's injuries go over her head as she slowly followed the trolley into resus. Zoe ans Nick took control as Tess came over.
'Dix, go into the staffroom, I will be in to see you shortly OK.'
All Dixie could do was nod numbly as she watched them assess her partner, her best friend, her husband.
