Two weeks later, three months after Lara left.
"Rescue portable 1 to Base do you copy that Vince"
"I copy that Deano, Heidi and Lachie are ten minutes out."
"We don't have ten minutes Vince…." The next thing Vince hears through the system is a loud explosion.
"Vince?" Michelle says having heard the explosion at base.
"Portable 1 this is rescue base" Vince says and he repeats it several times.
"Portable 1 do you copy over."
For the next five minutes Vince tries and tries again to contact Dean.
"Rescue Base this is portable 2"
"Go ahead portable two"
"How far away are the firers?"
"About five minutes out."
"We're trying to put this fire out but not getting far, still no sign of Dean and our patient, over"
"Copy that Jordan."
Another ten minutes later the firers are working away at putting the fire out when they come across something.
"Rescue over here." The team leader yells at them.
"Chase, Lachie step back go get us some jacks and supports." Jordan instructs to them. "Heidi slowly move anything that is free off this mess.
"Rescue base this is rescue portable 2 over."
"Rescue portable two this is base over, sit rep"
"We have some collapse building here Vince; I have Lachie and Chase getting me gear while Heidi and I slowly make way to see if there is anyone underneath."
"Ok Jordan kept me posted. Michelle and I are on our way down should be there in a few minutes over."
"Copy that Vince." "Chase can you get me some blocks, Lachie make sure we have back boards and medic kits and O2 ready to go."
"Jordan just let me in there I can help."
"No Lachie stay back right now I'm not sure if they are under all this and if they are under here I won't to be able to asses them and decide the best way to get him out without you two trying to make things worse."
"He's right boys, go help the firers we will deal with this." Vince says
"Vince I'm not leaving my brother." Comes from Chase.
"Chase go do as you're told, if things were reversed I would be saying the same thing to Dean now go." Vince says his tone firm and strict and Chase moves off with Lachie beside him.
"Jordan how's it going there any sign that they might be under there?" Vince asks him.
"Vince, Jordan there's a hand over here." Comes from Heidi. For the next ten minutes they work at getting closer to the body and stabilising the unstable structure in the process.
"About bloody time you lot turned up." Comes from Dean once they get close enough to see them.
"Why aren't you answering you bloody portable Dean." Vince says crossly
"Can't reach it and it looks smashed too sorry Vince tell Michelle I didn't mean to break the new one." He starts to cough.
"Dean I'm going to reach in and put some O2 on your face don't take it off."
"Can't move my hands anyway they're pinned like the rest of me."
"Ok Deano we working on getting you both out just hold tight will you."
When Michelle, Lachie and Chase heard that Dean was alive they all were relieved.
An hour later they finally had both Dean and their patient out from under the rabble; Dean was being checked over by the ambo guys while the other one was taken to hospital.
Back at base
"WOW what a day that was." Comes from Heidi
"Sure was Heidi-ho oh and Heidi-ho Michelle has a present for you."
"Oh what is it." Heidi says sounding all excited.
"Well as you all know hey where is Dean?" Michelle asks noticing he isn't with the rest of the group.
"In the shower." Chase says.
"Ok we don't need him for this anyway as you all know after the Lifeblood chopper malfunctioned and crashed there was a review in to rescue choppers."
"Oh no they decided to cancel them."
"No better after an intense investigation Life blood have been fined and also they are no longer allowed to do rescues as they did a full audit and found a lot of short cuts where being made in all areas due to lack of funds. The minister has agreed that Rescue can run a chopper so Heidi you'll be back in the air soon. We get our chopper in two weeks' time. It's going through a full inspection by Aviation authority then it will get fitted out with a couple of new items and then we will be away. But Heidi they have asked to see you they want to go through what you would do in certain situations." Heidi is bouncing around happy as to be able to get back in the chopper flying.
"No problem Michelle tell me where and when and I'll be there."
As Heidi was responding Lara walks up and on to the top part of Rescue where their desks and offices are. Everyone greets her and gives her hugs par Chase and Lachie who just walk away from her.
"What's up with those two?" asks Heidi. As Lara and Michelle walk into Michelle's office.
"So how did your refresher course go?" Michelle asks her.
"Good thanks they passed me on everything today so I'm cleared to be back out and working again." She says as she passes her over the paperwork.
"Good so you going to come back then?"
"Yes I am. Thanks Michelle for what you did for me."
"Lara we're all family here I knew you were making a in the moment decision about leaving. You just needed some time to cool off rethink and gather yourself. So you ok to start tomorrow?"
"Sure am."
"See you then Lara, um no start in two days' time." Lara then leaves Michelle's office.
"You sure?"
"Sure am. Now go." She says to herself knowing dean will have the next few days off why not let the two have some time together before she comes back to work.
"Where's Dean?" Lara asks as she notices he isn't up with everyone else.
"In the shower, he's had a long day so not sure what mode he is in." Comes from Jordan, and Lara heads to the showers.
Down in the teams showers Dean is just standing there with the hot water running over him he has already washed himself but he just can't be bothered moving just get. The day's events running through his head over and over again. He hears the door open and the sound of high heels clicking against the floor.
"Michelle I don't need to talk about, yes I know I was caught in that explosion and was nearly killed but I'm alive, yes I will take a few days off so don't worry about it. I'll go home drink a few beers watch some TV and think of all the things you would love to say to me but won't because you will keep your mouth shut." He says his back towards the person the hot water running over his body.
"Well I'm not Michelle and I'm not going to keep my mouth shut." Comes from Lara.
"Lara what are you doing here?" Comes from Dean as he quickly turns around in the shower, turning it off and puts a towel around his waist. Checking to see if anyone is within seeing distance before placing a quick kiss on her lips.
"Was just in dropping off my refresher course papers to Michelle as I start back in a couple of days. What happened today Dean?" she asks her vice full of worry, and then she sees the bruising coming out on his arms. She walks up to him and places her hands on his arm. "Dean you don't bruise easily how did you get these?" she asks.
"Saving some trap young male in a building when there was an explosion the building collapsed on us trapping us both, it's from a beam landing on me. I'm fine nothing is broken I'll just be sore and tender for a few days. Look I just won't to get changed and go home." He says as he moves past her putting a top on in the process.
"Aren't you going to the pub with the others?'
"Nope I'm just going to go home."
"Do you want a lift?" she asks
"I'm fine Lara I can drive myself home." He says as he finishes getting dressed and leaves the area, leaving Lara standing there thinking. She knows he will won't her around later but that he will also won't some space. She decides to go around in about an hour giving him time to relax on his own before bringing dinner around for him.
An hour later Dean is sitting down beer in his hand TV on when there is a knock on his door, he gets up and goes and answers it.
"Honey I'm fine." He says once he sees who it is at his door.
"I know but I brought us some Chinese thought you might be hungry but couldn't be bothered cooking." She says as she makes her way inside his house, heading to his kitchen to dish up the food. Dean returns to the couch to watch TV the news coming on showing the explosion and the events surrounding today.
"Today one of our own Special Rescue Operations team members was caught in the explosion at the old warehouses down Keepington Street. As you can see from this footage recorded by a bystander and then one of our own cameramen, the team member in question who was identified as Dean Gallagher team leader was busy rescuing a trapped young male adult when the explosion happened. As you can tell from the footage they are extremely lucky to make it out alive and without major injury. As well you can see even when one of their own is trapped Rescue Special Operations can still stay professional and do the job properly without cutting corners." The news goes on showing videos and photos of the events. News had gotten around about Life Blood and their short cuts so this unwanted publicity was good for Rescue and all those involved.
Lara brings over their dinner they both sit and eat in silence both watching the TV, once finished she takes the plates back washes and dries them before returning back to the couch.
"Sorry about earlier back at headquarters."
"It's ok." She says as she snuggles up into his side as the rugby league game is about to start.
"Dean, Chase and Lachie don't know about us yet do they?"
"Nope."
"Explains the cold shoulder treatment I got from them today when I turned up."
"Sorry I just for a change won't to keep my private life away from work and them." He says as he places a kiss on the top of her head. "So when did Michelle say you can return back to work?"
"I start back in a couple of days; she did say tomorrow but changed her mind. I'm pleased she did we get a few days together. You are ok with me going back to rescue aren't you?"
"Babe it's not my choice it's yours. If you won't to go back, then go back don't do it for me do it for yourself." He says as his hand wonders up and down her arm. "As I said to you the other week you have to be happy, if you aren't then don't do it."
"I love working at rescue. I'm pleased Michelle gave me this time out like she did, it give me time to sit and think and work things out."
"Don't you mean time to get your life outside rescue firing on all cylinders." He says before laying a kiss on her lips.
"Yea something like that." She says giving him another kiss, they share several kisses before Lara moves and straddles dean sitting down on his lap, before long the game is forgotten as the two start to explore each other and enjoy the sensations they bring each other.
Once satisfied they curl up into each other, Dean pulled the blanket from the back of the couch over them both as they snuggle down to finish watching the rest of the game. Both happy to be alive and together.
Several hours later both lying in bed together at Dean's house.
"You know we really should tell them and the team at some stage." Lara says to him.
"I know it's just nice having this to us with no one else poking their nose in."
"I think Vince might already know."
"What makes you say that?"
"Just the look he gave me when I asked where you were and also the look he gave your brothers."
"Oh well Michelle knows so if Vince knows so be it the main thing is Michelle is fine with it and that is all I care about."
"Has she heard back anything yet about the test results?"
"No not yet."
"What are you going to do if the results were wrong?" she asks as she snuggles in more to him.
"Well whatever I decide has to be ok with you too."
"Yea but Dean if James is your son are you going to wont to stand up and start being a father to him or will you leave Ian to that."
"I think I should do whatever Michelle wants me to do. She is his mother. I'm just happy to go with whatever is needed as long as it doesn't cause problems for us." He says as his hand gentle runs up and down her exposed her arm the other one around her waist holding her tightly to his body.
"Dean do you want children?" She asks him after a few moments of silence.
"To be honest I'm not too sure. I do know it caused issues between you and Hamish as he wanted them and you had no idea what you could do outside rescue. If you still feel that way that is fine with me. I'm in no rush to have a family and if you don't ever want them that is fine as long as I have you that is all that matters. Why do you ask are you?" He says his voice sounding a bit worried at the end. "Cause if you are and you aren't ready that is fine with me. I will support you no matter what honey." He says before placing a kiss on her head she moves and they kiss again.
One week later
"You two need to cut Lara a break ok, stop giving her the cold shoulder like you are she is one of us so treat her as such."
"Why should we, she left and once she left you turned into a party pooper, you hardly ever come to the pub after work, you always wont to be at home. You love her so damn well tell her."
"And what goes on between me and Lara is our business so drop it and start being nice to her." Dean says as he walks away from his brothers yet again pissed at them for giving Lara the cold shoulder.
"Hey Lara what you up to tonight?" Heidi asks on the drive back to base.
"Going out tonight. Been promised a lovely romantic dinner."
"What you have a boyfriend?" Heidi asks sounding all shocked she is so busy being focused on Lara that she doesn't notice the grin on Dean's face.
"Oh yea I do, I thought you knew?" Lara says back to her.
"Hell no come on details please." Heidi begs her.
"Well he's fit, good looking…"
"Ok Lara I do not really wont to hear about your love life can you leave it till we are back at base." Dean says even though he does won't to hear what Lara is saying about him he prefers not to be around.
"Come on Dean just because you're not getting any doesn't mean Lara can't tell me all about it."
"Hey don't make me put you both on rope washing duty for a month." He seriously says to them both and they laugh in return.
"Ok you two if you want to talk about Lara's private life do it out of ear shot of me please?" Dean says as he gets out of the patrol and heads up top to start on his report.
"Hey Deano you coming to the pub tonight?" Vince asks him when he sees him. He always asks but knows the answer will be no.
"No sorry Vince got a report to finish and a dinner to go too."
"Vince who you taking to dinner?"
"None of your business Vince." Dean replies back.
"Come on Deano you can tell good old Vince here."
"Not going to jinks it Vince so nope not at all."
