Disclaimer: All characters belong to HiT Entertainment.
Chapter 2
"Sam? Sam? Can you hear me?"
Bronwyn's soothing voice penetrated through the fog in my head. She sounded so far away. I tried to ignore it. I felt so comfortable in the darkness, despite the cold air around me…
"Mum! Do something!" I heard Mandy exclaim.
"Do you have a first-aid kit?" Helen's voice sounded so far away.
"Of course!" Penny replied. "I'll just go and get it for you."
"Stand back, everyone!" Helen instructed. "I know you're all concerned, but the best thing you can do right now is to not crowd him, so he can get plenty of air."
Helen knelt in the snow beside me, and she gently touched my cheek with her hand. "He's freezing! Bring a blanket too, Penny! Elvis, help me get him into the recovery position."
"Okay!"
I felt Helen and Elvis carefully roll me onto my side.
"I hope Uncle Sam will be okay," I heard James say, just as I shivered violently.
"Hurry with that blanket, Penny!" Helen called urgently.
I heard Penny's soft footfalls in the snow as she ran over to us. Then, I felt her and Elvis wrap the blanket around me. I groaned softly.
"I think he's waking up," Elvis said hopefully.
"I think so too, Elvis," Helen agreed. "Sam? If you can hear me, I want you to try and move your fingers."
I slowly pulled the fingers of my left hand into a fist. With another groan, I blinked open my eyes, and I looked around.
We were still out on the cliffs. Judging from the light, I guessed that I hadn't been unconscious for long. Maybe about ten or fifteen seconds at the most. Feeling my strength returning to me, I attempted to sit up, but Helen promptly pushed me back down again by my shoulders.
"No, Sam! I know you're cold, but you haven't recovered enough to stand up yet."
"Can't I at least sit up?" I argued.
Upon hearing my voice, a collective sigh of relief arose from everyone.
"Oh, thank goodness! He's going to be all right!" Dilys exclaimed.
"He's not out of the woods just yet, Dilys," Penny said.
I attempted to sit up again, and this time, Helen let me.
"Put your head down between your knees, Sam," Helen instructed. "As soon as you're no longer feeling dizzy, we'll get you over to Venus."
I did as I was told, and Helen adjusted the blanket over my shoulders. My thoughts turned to how we'd get everyone back to Pontypandy. "Elvis, you'll have to drive Mercury back," I muttered.
"Never mind about Mercury!" Helen scolded me.
"I'm just trying to figure out how to get you all home," I retorted.
Helen looked up at Penny and Elvis. "Who's next in charge after Sam?"
"I am," Penny replied. She knelt in front of me, and she placed a hand on my shoulder. "Sam? I can ensure that everyone gets home safely."
I nodded. "Yes. I know you can, Penny. Is everyone okay though?"
"Everyone's fine, Sam, thanks to you," Penny assured me. "You got everyone out safely. Only the bus was lost."
I breathed a heavy sigh of relief. "Okay then. You're in charge now, Penny."
I didn't like having to relinquish my authority, but I knew that the safety of the public was far more important than my own pride.
Penny went over to Venus to radio for help. I didn't bother trying to listen to what she was saying. Looking up, I saw the worried faces on Sarah, James, Mandy and Norman. Not wanting to upset them further, I cast them a reassuring smile.
"Helen?"
"Yes, Sam?"
"Can I talk to the kids, please? I just want to reassure them."
"Of course. That's a good idea," Helen agreed. "Sarah, James, Norman and Mandy? Come over here. Fireman Sam wants to talk to you."
The children ran over to me. Sarah and James put their arms around me in a tight hug.
"We were really worried about you, Uncle Sam!" James sniffled.
"Why did you fall over?" Norman wondered.
I'm going to have to be really careful about what I tell them… "It's nothing, kids. I just have a tendency to faint during extremely stressful situations." I looked at Sarah and James. "Do you remember the time when I was helping Penny with her garden, and the ground opened up beneath me?"
My niece and nephew nodded. Mandy gasped.
"Do you remember what happened after Station Officer Steele and Elvis pulled me out?"
"You fainted," Sarah replied.
"Exactly. But I recovered from that, and I'll recover from this in no time. Providing I don't catch a cold first."
Helen placed a hand on my shoulder. "Point taken, Sam. Let's get you over to Venus now."
With Helen's help, I got to my feet. She escorted me over to Venus, and I climbed in through the passenger side. Feeling the warmth of the heater, I held my gloved hands in front of the vents.
Before long, I saw Mike arrive in his van to pick up Helen and Mandy, followed shortly afterwards by Tom in the 4x4, to collect everyone else. I smiled, knowing that Penny had done exactly what I would've have done.
As soon as she'd ensured that everyone had a ride, Penny climbed into Venus' driver's seat, and she closed the door.
"How are you feeling now, Sam?"
"Warmer," I replied.
Penny smiled. "That's good. You had us worried for a moment."
During the drive back to Pontypandy, I couldn't help but notice Penny glancing at me every so often. Finally, I decided to find out why.
"What? Do I have snow in my hair?"
Penny gaped. "No! Sorry, I didn't mean to keep looking at you like that. I've just been thinking about how…erm…h-how…handsome you looked when you were unconscious."
Feeling the colour rise in my cheeks, I turned my head to look out the side window. "Penny, I-"
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that," Penny quickly apologised.
I took a deep breath. "That's okay. But, that is exactly why I've never asked you out."
"I can't believe we're having this conversation," Penny muttered under her breath.
I wasn't sure if I'd heard her correctly. "What was that?"
Penny thumped the steering wheel with her left hand, venting her frustration. "I know we've never said this to each other, Sam, but both you and I know that, if it wasn't for our careers, we'd probably be married by now."
"That's true. But we're not, because we can't let personal feelings block our judgement during emergencies. Like what happened just now. If we'd been married, I would've insisted on Elvis driving Venus, while I secured the winch, because I wouldn't have wanted you to be in any danger."
"And then I would've argued with you, because you would've been stopping me from doing my job."
"And then during our argument, Trevor's bus would've…" I let the sentence hang, knowing I didn't need to finish it. I sighed tiredly. "I guess the only way we could be a couple would be if one of us left the fire service."
"And since that's never going to happen, we'll be much happier if we remain as colleagues and friends," Penny finished.
We smiled at each other in silent agreement. At that moment, the radio crackled to life, and Station Officer Steele's voice sounded through the speakers.
"Station Officer Steele to Fireman Sam. What's the situation? Over."
Picking up the handset, I brought it up to my mouth. "Fireman Sam to Station Officer Steele. All passengers are safe and well, and we're making our way back to Pontypandy now, over."
"Excellent! You can fill me in with the details when you get back. Out."
I put the handset back in its slot. "You might have to do most of the talking, Penny. I'm exhausted!"
"I'm not surprised! The way you leapt into the air to attach the winch was incredible! I'm surprised you didn't hurt yourself."
"The snow was nice and soft. It was very easy to roll on, although I'm sure I'll pay for it tomorrow." I rubbed my right shoulder, which was already starting to stiffen up.
Penny chuckled. "I know the cure for that! I nice hot shower, and some ginger tea."
I smiled, knowing that Penny was right. I know we make firefighting look so easy, but the physical strength it takes on us each day means that we usually end up collapsing into bed every night.
Upon our arrival back at the fire station, we found Chief Fire Officer Boyce and Station Officer Steele waiting for us outside the office. As I climbed out of Venus, I saw Station Officer Steele's jaw drop in surprise.
"Why didn't you ride Mercury back, Sam?"
Penny jumped in before I could even draw in a breath. "Sam collapsed from shock after the rescue, sir. Nurse Flood looked after him, and she said he'll be fine, but he does need to rest."
I discreetly rolled my eyes. Thank you, mother.
"Oh! Well, in that case, Sam, I think you'd better go home now," Station Officer Steele decided. "Penny and Elvis can give me a full report on the rescue."
For once, I wasn't prepared to argue. "Very well, sir. I'll see you tomorrow then."
I'd just turned to go, when Chief Fire Officer Boyce cleared his throat. "Uh, Norris, haven't you forgotten something?"
"Oh, yes… Uh, Sam?"
I turned back around. "Yes, sir?"
"I'll need you and Elvis here early tomorrow morning. You're to go to Newtown in Venus, to collect the Mobile Command Unit. You'll have to drive it, since you and I are the only ones qualified to drive such a large vehicle."
"I see…"
"I'm not sure if that's a good idea, sir," Penny interjected. "I mean, just because Nurse Flood said he'd be okay, that doesn't necessarily mean he'll be okay to drive tomorrow."
"Oh, dear!" Chief Fire Officer Boyce exclaimed. "I see what you mean, Firefighter Morris."
"I'm sure I'll be fine by tomorrow, sir," I insisted. "I'm not silly enough to get behind the wheel if I'm not feeling up to it. But, if it'll help to calm Penny's concerns, I'm happy for Nurse Flood to check up on me again in the morning."
Both of my superior officers nodded in unison. With that sorted, I bade them goodnight, and then I headed on home.
So, now you know why I'll never put Sam and Penny together in a relationship. It's a sad reality, but it is extremely rare to find married couples working alongside each other in the emergency services.
On a happier note, I'd like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas! I hope you all have a wonderful day celebrating with your friends and family.
