Walker, Trivette and Captain MacIntyre of the RESCUE squad peered over the edge of the ravine. "I can't risk my men going down the loose dirt. If another landslide breaks loose then my men will be stranded, too. We have the RESCUE chopper on the way though, ETA 8 minutes."
Gage was wondering why RESCUE wasn't descending down the ravine. Then it occured to him why they hadn't. The loose dirt. In the distance, he heard the welcome sound of rotor blades. Beaming, he said, "Listen Syd, here comes the chopper. They're gonna have to do an air rescue, because the ground is too loose for them to come down on foot." Sydney nodded slowly. Gage placed Angela in Sydney's arms and covered them with his shirt to keep flying debris off of them. While the helicopter hovered above them, the rangers watched as a man descended toward them on a steel cable. "Is everyone okay?" he asked. Gage gave a report of Sydney's possible spinal injury and the baby's scrapes. While purposley avoiding describing his own injuries.
The paramedic nodded and radioed back to the waiting helicopter. "Three victims. One with possible spinal injury. One infant. Minor injuries." Within seconds a flat backboard and a medical kit were lowered to the ground on a second cable.
Angela looked up at all the excitement, wide-eyed. Gage pulled the baby up into his arms as the the paramedic secured Sydney's neck for transport. Gage grabbed Sydney's hand and an unspoken understanding was relayed. I'll be right behind you.
The paramedic placed her on the backboard and strapped her down. Gage released her hand and pulled Angela closer. The paramedic gave the word into the radio, then hooked himself to the backboard to keep it stabalized. He looked at Gage. "We'll be back to get you next." Gage understood and waved them off. Angela waved her little hand. "Come on, Princess." Gage took Angela over to the boulder and watched as the helicopter carried his partner - and his heart - off to the top of the ravine.
Walker, Trivette and Alex were listening to Captain MacIntyre's radio. "We are coming in with one patient. Possible spinal injury." Alex gasped again. "Who? Oh, God, Walker, is it Angela?" Tears rolled down her face as the backboard was lowered to a stretcher behind the ambulance. Braving the swirling wind from the hovering chopper, Alex approached the stretcher with a knot of fear in her stomach. She couldn't help the wave of relief that instantly washed over her when she saw it was Sydney on the stretcher and not her baby. Just as quickly, that relief was overcome with concern for her friend. "Sydney!" she cried. "Oh, God, Walker, she's hurt!"
Sydney reached for the grieving mother's hand. "Angela is fine. Gage has her." Her words were slow and laced with pain, but they meant more to Alex then all the money in the world. "Thank you," she cried to her friend as the paramedics lifted her into the ambulance.
Trivette watched as the helicopter flew back down the cliff. He said a thankful prayer.
Gage slowly stood up as the cabled man descended to him. The paramedic explained the harness system to Gage and reached for the baby. Gage shook his head and pulled her closer. "I've got her. Let's go." The paramedic gave the word and the chopper flew up the hill again as the cable pulled all three of them into the aircraft. Angela enjoyed the closeness and the event. She giggled all the way to the top.
Walker and Alex ran to the chopper with Trivette behind them. Alex reached for Angela, taking her from Gage's arms. "Thank you, Gage" she cried, taking the baby to the ambulance. Unstrapping his harness and turning to Walker, Gage had one thing on his mind. "Syd. Is she okay?" The Senior Ranger said nothing. He took one look at the bruises on his friend and guided him to the ambulance.