'Is anyone hurt?' Patrick asked sprinting to Sister Evangelina. 'Where's Shelagh?'

'She's getting them out. We've got everyone. She was just behind me doing a final check of Bow. She's coming.'

'Thank you.' He let the nun go past to unload her cargo to the respective parents. Briefly Patrick placated a few panicking patients but it soon became clear to them that his heart just wasn't in it. He could hear Nurse Franklin attempt to shepard the crowd away but everyone stood stock still as they watched the place they had trusted to keep them safe burn. With every passing moment the light in the windows got brighter and brighter and the plumes of smoke that bellowed out of any place available got thicker and darker. And there was still no sign of Shelagh. Suddenly a scream came from behind him.

'IVY?! HAS ANYONE SEEN IVY?' It was Mrs McKay-he remembered her well-a little boy born only yesterday, she was due to be discharged today.

'IVY?!' Her husband joined the panicked shouts. 'Has anyone seen my daughter? She's 9, blonde hair in pigtails , about so high, carrying a tatty old bear?'

'I saw several youngens run off that way but I don't know if your lass was one of them Martin.' A bystander called out as the fire crew turned up.

'Thank you!' Mr McKay ran off. Sister Evangelina and Trixie walked over having conversed briefly with the head fireman.

'Doesn't look like this lot will shift until the excitement is over. I must say I take back everything I said about wasting space by keeping the gas in a fireproof room.'

'Shelagh's still in there.' Patrick remarked absently, his focus centered totally on the door before him. 'Are you sure she was just behind you Sister?'

'Positive. She said she'd just do a final check to make sure everyone was out of Bow and follow me out.'

'Bow? That's not too far in. I'm going in to look for her!'

'You can't! The building is too unstable! The firemen have banned anyone from entering.' Sister Evangelina grabbed his arm and pulled him back to face her.

'But Shelagh's in there!' He begged her, unsurprised to see understanding in her eyes.

'I know Patrick.'

'I can't lose her Sister. I just can't.'

'I know. I'm scared too. I'm scared but the Lord will look after her. We must trust in Him, and the fire service.'

'We can't risk anyone else getting hurt, just wait until the firemen say it's okay.' Trixie added, barely veiled panic in her voice.

'I'm going to speak to them!' He rushed over to them. 'Look my wife is in there. She was doing a final check. I know where she is I'm just going to get her.' Patrick turned to the building and began to run towards the building before the fireman grabbed him.

'Sir you can't.'

'It's my surgery I know it like the back of my hand I can be in and out in 30 seconds.' Patrick promised.

'I'm sorry Doctor but I can't let you in. It's not safe!'

'But-'

'IVY!' Mrs McKay screeched running past them. Patrick spun around to see a small child appear through the smoke billowing out of the door.

'Mummy! Tommy! Where's-'

'Princess!' Mr McKay joined his wife and children in the fierce embrace. Patrick strode over hurriedly.

'Ivy did you see Nurse Turner in there?' He asked carefully. Ivy nodded.

'Yes. She got me out. She was just going to get Barney because I left him on the ward.'

'Ivy why were you still in there?'

'I'm sorry Mummy' Patrick walked back to the midwives leaving the family to their reunion.

'She's definitely still in there. Ivy here saw her. She's just com-' There came a thunderous crash from inside the building. Silence fell over the crowd as the hauntingly familiar sounds of a building that was rapidly losing integrity echoed around the courtyard.

'Oh Lord please spare her.' Patrick heard Sister Evangelina begin to pray desperately under her breath as Trixie began to sob gently into the nuns shoulder and they clung to each other. He ran straight for the door before being tackled by a fireman.

'Doctor Turner no! You can't go in! Especially now.'

'MY WIFE IS STILL IN THERE! DON'T YOU UNDERSTAND? SHELAGH'S IN THERE AND SHE COULD BE TRAPPED OR INJURED OR WORSE! YOU HAVE TO LET ME GO IN!' He roared promoting gasps from the assembled mass that had mostly not noticed Nurse Turner's absence. Several women began to cry, many man removed their hats and clutched them against their chests. Patrick ignored them. He refused to accept any possibility aside from her complete rescue and recovery. 'SHELAGH?' He bellowed at the building, desperately hoping that somehow she would hear him though he knew the fire would almost certainly drown out his voice. ' SHELAGH CAN YOU HEAR ME? SHELAGH? DARLING? SHELAGH?!'

'Sir I understand you're concerned about your wife but you have to let us do our jobs! I promise you as soon as we can get in without the risk of it collapsing on us we will go straight to her. She will be our absolute number one priority okay? You do a fantastic job here but so do we. We know what we're doing. Okay?'

'Okay.' Patrick nodded reluctantly wilting in the firemans arms as he stopped fighting against him.

'Good. Now I'll get Sister Evangelina to look after you alright? So I can go help my colleagues work out the best way to help your wife?'

'Thank you.' The fireman turned and rejoined the others as Sister Evangelina wrapped an arm around his shoulder. 'Sister?' He stared at the building.

'Yes Patrick?'

'If this goes badly tell the children I love them, tell Tim I'm proud of him, tell Angela I'm sorry I didn't get to see her grow up.' He turned and ran back towards the building, effectively dodging the few desperate grasps that reached for him as he entered the inferno.