A/N All characters belong to HiT Entertainment
Ben woke with a stiff back and a crick in his neck. The first rays of morning light were coming through the window. He realised he must have slept through the whole night on the sofa. Slowly he eased himself up and tried to stretch out his aching and protesting limbs. Checking his watch Ben realised he still had a couple of hours before he was due at work so he took the opportunity to grab a long shower.
Dressed and refreshed, Ben headed to the kitchen. The fridge was almost empty and the last inch of milk had gone sour in the bottom of the bottle. Shopping hadn't really been a priority he mused as he drank a black coffee, the bitter taste making him grimace. Ben decided to abandon his coffee and headed out for the quay. The weather was cool with a stiff breeze. The fresh air had worked up quite an appetite in him by the time he reached the Wholefish Café so he popped in to grab a bacon roll.
Once inside the Ocean Rescue Centre Ben started on his usual duties. He was examining the day's weather charts sent through from the National Weather Centre when he heard the door opening and closing on the floor below. He expected it to be Charlie; the fisherman often popped in before heading out to sea. Previously Charlie's visits had just been to check the forecast and tide charts but more recently he had also been bringing a lunch parcel from Bronwen. Charlie called out a welcome without leaving his desk in the control room. He was surprised when, instead of Charlie's voice, it was Sam that answered. The fireman soon joined him in the control room.
"Hello! What brings you here today? Your brother is usually my only visitor".
Sam looked at Ben in surprise. "Have you forgotten? The Marine Accident Investigation Branch are due at 10am to start their investigation. By the way, Station Officer Steele passed on the news about Penny. We are all hoping that she will be up to having a few more visitors soon."
Ben looked up at the clock and hurriedly stated re-rolling the maps and weather charts that were strewn across his desk. Sam realised that the Coastguard had indeed forgotten the appointment with the MAIB. As the two men tidied up the room Ben gave Sam a more detailed update on his visit to Penny the evening before. He had tried to be positive on the phone the night before but now, alone with Sam, he opened up about his fears. Sam soon realised that while Penny was no longer in an induced coma the prognosis going forwards was still very uncertain. It looked like his friend was not going to be back at work any time soon, if ever.
Twenty minutes later the office was tidy. The pair were sat at the table still discussing Penny when they heard a knock at the door. Ben headed down to open it while Sam stayed upstairs. Ben soon re-entered the room followed by two MAIB officers. Introductions were made and the officers outlined what would be needed.
"Good morning. I'm Amy Wilkinson, I've been designated as lead officer for this investigation. My colleague here is Steve Cook".
Steve smiled and gently nodded his head.
"I understand yourselves and Miss Morris comprised the full diving party. We have already been in contact with South Wales Fire and Rescue. They have shared the statements you made to their own internal investigators so there is no need you to recount everything again. Please can you reread the statements you gave and sign at the bottom if everything is accurate".
Ben and Sam exchanged a relieved glance as Amy pulled some papers out of the bag she was carrying. The whole incident was still very raw and neither had been looking forward to going over all the details again. As the incident had happened while the fire fighters were on duty, and as part of a planned training exercise, they had already been interviewed by someone from Headquarters. They silently read through the typed statements and signed at the bottom of the page.
"Now", said Amy, "as well as getting the narrative version of events we also need to take copies of some of your records and check your equipment set up."
Until this point Ben and Sam had barely spoken two words between them. Now that the investigators had shifted on to the technical data Ben felt more in control of his emotions. He started bringing out files and log books. He dug out the weather charts for that day before leading the investigators downstairs to where the scuba kit was stored. Amy and Steve looked appreciatively at the neat and tidy lockers. Four sets of kit were clearly labelled and grouped into full sets. There would be no mistaking which equipment had been used.
Ben had already stowed the equipment used by Sam and Penny back on their respective hooks. He had also placed large, red 'Do Not Use' notices on these sets. The equipment log book was in a holder on the side of the locker. Steve took out the book and flicked through it. Inside was detailed the entire history of each piece of kit. Every time something had been used or serviced was meticulously detailed and the number of dive hours clocked up by each item was clear to see. The oxygen cylinder levels before and after each dive were also clearly recorded. As well as the equipment log Penny had also instigated a detailed system of individual dive records. The personal log books kept the training and certification history of each member of the Fire Service, plus a book for Ben. The personal and equipment files were written in such a way that they could be easily cross referenced. Steve passed the books to Amy.
Sam explained that the equipment belonged to the fire service. They provided the equipment and Ben hosted it at the Ocean Rescue Centre.
"These records are incredibly detailed. Who maintained the record books?" Amy asked.
"Penny is the lead diver so most of the entries were made by her" explained Sam. "She also arranged for the equipment to be serviced and requested new equipment from Headquarters if it was needed".
"I see. And who wrote the records on the day in question?"
"I did. The purpose of the dive was for me to have a training refresher and keep my certificates in date. I completed the log before we set out and Penny checked it was correct as part of her assessment."
"The last entry is mine." Ben interjected "After I got back from the hospital I came back to the Centre to check that Neptune was moored safely. Neptune was fine but the scuba kit was in a heap on the floor. I stowed it away and also took the air cylinder readings. You can see that the last dive duration is only approximate, when Sam surfaced with Penny I'm afraid the dive log wasn't really in my mind".
"That is understandable given the circumstances. Even an approximate time helps us to build a picture of the day. Are you sure these oxygen readings are right? I medical report I have received stated that Miss Morris was starved of oxygen but your log book states that there were still plenty of air left in her tank".
"I'm positive. I expected her tank to be empty myself so I checked everything twice. I also had to release air to take the pressure back down to the normal levels for safe tank storage. Whatever happened down there it definitely wasn't her cylinder running out of air".
"Thank you. We will need to take both sets of equipment with us for forensic analysis and comparison. Until the cause if the incident is determined we recommend that you do not use any of the other scuba equipment sets. I will also notify Fire Service Headquarters so they can decide whether to supply additional equipment or suspend underwater activities."
The two investigators started gathering up the files they wanted to take. Ben and Sam helped them carry the two sets of scuba gear to their car which was parked outside. Before they left Amy handed over a couple of business cards.
"Our preliminary report should be ready in the next two weeks. Due to the dual involvement of both the Fire and Coastguard Services the report will be copied to both the Fire Service Headquarters and the Ocean Rescue Centre. The log books will also be returned to you once we have taken copies of any information we find relevant. If any other information comes to light please get in touch."
The MAIB investigators drove away leaving Sam and Ben stood outside the Ocean Rescue Centre. They were both pleased that they had not had to relive their ordeal beyond reading the statements they had given to the Fire Service. Sam turned to Ben.
"I guess there is nothing more we can do except wait. Are you going back up to the hospital tonight?"
"Yes. Before, I didn't want her to be alone while her condition was unstable. Now I don't want her to be alone in case she wakes and panics again. As soon as my shift is over I'll be heading back to Newtown".
"I understand. I feel the same about her. I didn't want to intrude before but I'd like to visit at some point soon. Penny means a lot to me, she feels more like family than a work mate. Whenever you think she is up for it please can you let me know".
"Of course. I'm sure she would like to see you too".
With the meeting with the Marine Accident Investigators over it was time for Sam to return to the fire station. He had travelled over on Mercury. Now he returned to the quad bike, grabbed his helmet out of the locker on the back and headed back to work.
As Sam rode away Ben reflected on how he had once been jealous of the popular fireman. Sam and Penny worked so closely together and were so at ease in each others company that to an outside observer it was easy to mistake them for a couple which is exactly what Ben had done. His work at the Ocean Rescue Centre meant that he regularly came into contact with Penny and the more he got to know her the more he admired her. In Ben's mind through there was just one problem blocking any chance he had with Penny, and that was Sam. Ben was not one to muscle in on a relationship and so instead he had brooded over the situation until he had become quite morose. Thankfully a chance conversation with Charlie one day had set the record straight. Charlie had assured Ben that his brother was nothing more than good friends with Penny and the rest, as they say, is history.
As Ben returned to work his thoughts turned from the past to the future. He'd had so many hopes and dreams and now only time would tell if the future he had dared to dream of was even possible.