A/N All characters belong to HiT Entertainment
The commotion at the quay had drawn quite a crowd of Pontypandy residents. As Wallaby 2 disappeared from sight the gossip and chatter started up as people speculated on Penny's condition. It wouldn't be long before the whole town had heard one version of events or another even though Sam had been the only witness to the incident.
Charlie and Bronwen, Sam's brother and sister-in-law, had been brought out of their seafront cafe by the noise of the helicopter. As Penny was evacuated to hospital Charlie spotted Sam still standing alone in Neptune. He made his was down the stone steps of the quay to where Neptune was moored and stepped aboard. Sam still stared at the sky. As the two brothers stood side by side Station Officer Steele's voice came over the radio. "Come in Sam. This is Station Office Steele requesting a situation report. Over". When Sam made no move to reply Charlie reached for the handset. "Erm, this is Charlie. I'm with Sam but I think he is in shock." "Ok Charlie" came Steele's voice, a little more kindly "What is happening down there?". "I don't really know" Charlie responded, "Tom has flown off with Penny and taken Ben and Nurse Flood with him but I can't get a word out of Sam". "Do you need assistance at the quay?". "I don't think so. I'll make sure everything is secure here and then bring Sam back to the fire station". "Thank you Charlie. With Penny out of action I'm glad to be able to keep Ellie here in case any calls come in. Let me know if anything changes".
Charlie turned to his brother. Sam was still in his wetsuit and beginning to shiver. Charlie gently put his hand on Sam's shoulder and the younger man jolted in surprise, he had barely registered his brother's presence before. "Come on Sam, lets get you ashore and into some dry clothes". Charlie helped Sam onto the steps and handed him across to Bronwen. "Sam's kit must be in the Ocean Rescue Centre. Can you make sure he gets dry and then get something warm into him. I need to get Neptune back into her berth". "Of course, love" Bronwen replied "I've got some soup going, I'll see if I can get him to eat some of that".
Charlie piloted Neptune round to the doors of the Ocean Rescue Centre and got her safely moored. He looked at the tangle of scuba kit on the floor of the boat. He wasn't too sure what to do with the tanks and air lines so he lifted them out of the boat and piled them in a corner out of the way. He then went to find his wife and brother.
Charlie found Sam and Bronwen sat in the cafe. Sam was dry and dressed and was protesting that he needed to get back to the station. As Charlie entered he heard Bronwen putting on her sternest mother voice. "No Sam. You got freezing cold out there. You are going nowhere until I've seen you eat some hot food. You will be no use to anyone if you get ill." Charlie smiled to himself. "Come on little brother. You know there in no point arguing with her. The quicker you eat that soup the quicker you can get back to work". Sam grimaced and picked up his spoon. He knew his family was right and hot food would do him good. He dipped the spoon into the steaming bowl of soup that Bronwen had placed in front of him. The image of Penny kept playing behind his eyes and he felt sick. Sam forced down three spoonfuls then stood up. "I'm sorry Bronwen, I know you mean well but I just can't. I need to get Venus back and I need to give my report and…" Sam faltered, "…and let them know what happened to Penny".
Evening had fallen and the whole crew had gathered at the fire station waiting for news. At 6pm a buzzer sounded to mark the change of watch but nobody moved. Arnold and Elvis had arrived as soon as they heard the news, long before their shift was due to start, and Sam and Ellie were in no hurry to leave. As the fire station was manned round the clock they knew any calls from the hospital would be received there. Noone wanted to be alone. Even Station Officer Steele had left his office and joined the rest of the firefighters in the rest area. He had brought the control tablet of the Map Screen-700 through in case any emergencies came in but everyone was hoping for a quiet night.
The crew kept a silent vigil. Cups of tea were made and left to go cold. Each firefighter was lost in their own thoughts. Shortly after midnight the phone rang. The shrill peal startled the firefighters from their brooding. Station Officer Steele jumped to his feet and lifted the extension handset in the kitchen.
Steele: Pontypandy Fire Station.
Helen: Hello Station Officer Steele, it's Helen Flood. Ben and I are still at the hospital with Penny. I wanted to update you before we head home.
Steele: Just a moment Helen, I'll put you on loudspeaker.
Helen: Are you sure?
Steele: Yes, whatever you have to say the team will want to hear it too. They wouldn't want me to keep anything from them.
Everyone had been staring at the phone during this short exchange. Station Officer Steele pressed a button on the handset and the line was amplified. There was a pause before Nurse Flood spoke again as she composed herself to break the news.
Helen: I can't give you any definite news, it's just too soon to say. The doctors have managed to stabilise Penny and have put her in an induced coma. She is suffering from acute hypoxia, oxygen starvation, so she is being ventilated with enriched oxygen. The doctors want to monitor her for a few days before before they bring her round. Only then will we have a better picture of her condition. We don't know how long she was without oxygen for and patients respond differently to these things. She might...she might have permanent brain damage.
Steele: I see. Thank you for calling, Helen.
Station Officer Steele replaced the phone in its cradle and hung his head. A heavy silence filled the air. The relief that had washed over everyone on hearing that Penny was alive had been snatched away upon hearing that she might never fully recover. Elvis put his head in his hands and in doing so knocked a mug off of the table with his elbow.
The crashing sound as the mug hit the floor seemed to waken the Station Officer from his thoughts. He turned to face the assembled firefighters. "You heard Nurse Flood. We won't know any more until they bring Penny out of her coma. In the meantime we still have a service to maintain. Anyone that is not meant to be on duty is to go home and get some sleep." Ellie stood up to go but Sam stayed in his seat. "That was an order Fireman Sam" barked Steele. Sam looked as though he was going to argue with his superior officer but then thought better of it. He looked into the Station Officer's eyes and saw the same emotion etched there that he himself felt. "Yes Sir" he answered quietly as he stood up. Penny had been stationed at Pontypandy for almost as long as Sam and Elvis. The four of them had worked as a unit for many years and Sam realised it was only natural that the Station Officer was also hit hard by the news. Sam looked back before he left the room "If anything changes please call me straight away". Station Officer Steele answered with a slight nod of his head and Sam left, satisfied that he could do no more.