X-Sammii-X, Louise does have an attitude, but she's also very loyal and protective - those would be good qualities to have if she becomes a mum. Ethan has only been interested in Alicia for a few moments, but nothing strengthens your emotions like a near-death experience! You should update your Zoe fanfic! Thank you for your review.
Bonnie Sveen Fan, thank you for your review. I'm glad you like the Lily and Louise scenes. Alicia is in a bad way and so is the baby, but they do have a couple of brilliant doctors to look after them - and Louise is a pretty good nurse when she drops the attitude!
InfinityAndOne, thank you for your review. Rita might have trouble chasing a full-strength Iain, but as it is, she definitely has a good chance of catching him! Alicia is looking slightly more alive than she did a minute ago, so perhaps things will improve. I'm really happy you enjoyed the chapter.
Tanith Panic, Lofty is so lovely - I just know he'd be thinking of everyone else! I was a bit worried about why Zoe and Max weren't making a bit more effort to escape, but then I had the idea that this is probably the happiest they've been for months; the only time things have felt 'right'. I'm so glad it works! I really wanted to give Lily a positive storyline and it's lovely that you (and others) like it. You could be right about Iain... Thank you for your review.
Guest, thank you so much! I've read a few great fanfics based on the crash so that really means a lot. I hope you continue to enjoy it. There's no Alicia in this chapter, I'm afraid, but she'll be in the next three at least. Thank you for your review.
20BlueRoses, I love reading your reviews, but I'm so happy you're reading and enjoying the story.. Alicia probably is the least healthy at the moment, but that could change. I'm really glad you like Lofty's storyline - it is quite difficult writing about someone who can't move and has no-one to speak to, but I don't want the readers to forget the poor man too! It's impossible not to worry about Cal and Ethan sometimes! Thank you for your review.
Louise was right. The baby's breathing didn't sound right at all and lips and earlobes had a slight blue tinge.
"It might be a problem with her airway," said Lily. She looked into another bag and felt close to tears of relief when she realised it clearly belonged to the baby. She took out a pink blanket and laid it on the ground.
Louise gently lowered the baby onto the blanket. Lily noted the care she took over it; the light, comforting touch to the baby's cheek.
"Is it my fault?" said Louise, her voice trembling. "Was I holding her wrong?"
"No. You were holding her correctly." Lily opened the baby's airway. As she mentally went through possible causes of the problem, she realised with shock that she'd neglected to check the baby for injury. She'd assumed the baby was safe from harm because although she'd been buried, she'd had her own little cavity.
But what if Lily was wrong and she had been crushed?
Lily gently touched the baby's chest. Slowly, she ran her fingers along her clavicles, ribs and sternum. There were no obvious fractures, though she couldn't be sure without a scan. She listened to the baby's chest but could hear no crackles. There were no problems with the breathing other than the rapidity and a slight gasping quality. But there could be internal bleeding.
And there was something else odd too... just a whisper in the back of her mind that something wasn't right...
She felt so powerless – but she couldn't dwell on that now. She though instead of other possible causes of hypoxia. There were nothing visible to suggest the airway was blocked and no red puffiness about the face, but again, she couldn't be sure without a scan. The other possibility that came to mind was inhalation of fumes…
"Do you know what kind of fuel is used by helicopters?" asked Lily.
Louise stared at her. "No idea. Why?"
"I'm wondering if she might have inhaled fumes from the helicopter," said Lily.
Louise looked confused. "But the problem wasn't with the engine, was it? It was the missile."
"Yes, but it's possible the engine was damaged on landing," said Lily.
"Shall I google helicopter fuel?"
"Yes, please," said Lily with a nod of approval. "The fuel might contain carbon monoxide – which we obviously wouldn't be able to smell."
Louise typed busily into her phone. "Helicopters use diesel..."
"Carbon monoxide poisoning from diesel is not common, but it does happen," said Lily. "And a baby would be particularly at risk."
"We'd better clear the area," said Louise. "And alert Charlie too."
Lily didn't want to move the baby given the possibility that she might have suffered a crush injury, but Louise was right. Lily carefully lifted the baby, supporting her head and back. "We'll take care of the baby first. Bring the bag, please."
Louise picked up the bag and followed Lily.
"If she was exposed to a high level of carbon monoxide, that would explain the hypoxia and the breathing difficulties," said Lily. "If that's the problem, we need to call for an ambulance and get her to St James'."
Louise glanced uncertainly to the ED. "Or we could take her inside. I know Charlie said to close the ED, but if we just have a couple of patients…"
It was more difficult trying to assess your injuries when they were your own.
It was also more difficult when you could perform neither a visual nor a physical examination. All Lofty had to go on was the pain.
His chest hurt and the pain increased slightly when he breathed in. A couple of fractured ribs seemed likely, though his breathing appeared even. He didn't think it likely that his ribs had punctured his lungs.
Despite everything, Lofty felt relieved about that. He knew that eventually, his friends would find him and he knew the moment would be distressing. He had a feeling it might even be distressing for Dylan, who either hadn't seen the text or hadn't acted on it.
It would be bad enough for them to find him alive. Lofty didn't want them to find him dead.
Lofty felt his breathing quicken, but he did his best to calm himself down and continue his assessment. His arms felt bruised, but they didn't feel as it had felt when he'd broken his arm as a child. His legs felt the same.
I'm not badly hurt, he thought, but the relief didn't last.
He wasn't hurt and he was a trained nurse. If the incident was half as bad as he was imagining, they would need all the trained medical professionals they could get.
But I can't help, thought Lofty as tears pricked at the corners of his eyes. There must be people out there who need me, but there's nothing I can do. All because I wanted to surprise Dylan.
The trolley was heavy and the ED seemed strangely airless as Cal helped to push Grace through the deserted corridors. It not only looked different but felt different: silent and still and almost eerie. Cal heard the quiet hum of the wheels as the trolley was moved swiftly towards Resus. Grace lay on the trolley, looking pale and tiny, the injuries to her face rendering her almost unrecognisable.
Even now, his mind was partly on Ethan and as they pushed Grace through the corridors, Cal found he was looking around, hoping for a sight of his brother or even Alicia – but his main focus was on getting Grace safely to Resus.
He wanted to be out there, looking for Ethan, but he knew that all his fears for Ethan were exactly what Connie and Jacob were feeling right now. They were both worried about a member of their family. Cal had to do what he could to help him.
Looking at Jacob, Cal could only admire the way the nurse was holding it together. Even when Cal had saved Ethan's life, he'd needed Connie there to guide him and encourage him and make sure he didn't give up.
And that was another reason why Grace was important. Cal might have performed the lifesaving surgery, but he couldn't have done it without Connie. He owed her to do what he could for her little girl now.
At last, they arrived. Cal let go of the trolley and went to hold the doors open. He stumbled slightly on the way and felt a sudden, sharp pain in his head, but he ignored it. He watched as Grace was taken to a bay and then let the doors swing closed.
Robyn took his arm "Come on, Cal."
"What?" said Cal, trying to brush her off. "I can't leave now!"
"Cal, I don't think you can really help," said Robyn apologetically.
Jacob spoke from his position close to Grace's side. "We need all the help we can get, Robyn."
"Cal has a head injury," said Robyn. "It might be nothing, but he's collapsed at least once. I don't think he's well enough to help in Resus."
"It's not serious," said Cal. "I'll be fine."
"Robyn's right," said Dylan. "We can't take any risks. We'll manage. Though if you happen to know where Ethan is…"
Cal's eyes fell closed as he shook his aching head. If only he knew where Ethan was.
Rita needed all her nurse's training to keep herself calm. Iain's head moved this way and that as he muttered to himself. Rita had thought at first that in his head, he was still in the helicopter with Grace, but now she wasn't sure. Iain hadn't mentioned Grace's name for some time and he wasn't behaving as though he was caring for a patient.
She stroked his shoulder gently. "Iain. Please listen to me. I need you to listen. You're at the ED. You've just been in a helicopter accident. We need to get you inside and get you checked out. Okay?"
There was no sign that Iain had heard. He didn't seem aware of her presence at all. "I've got to… I've got to… no. Wrong. Other way."
Rita took Iain's face in her hands and looked into his eyes. The feeling of his skin under her fingers made her quiver, but only until she looked into his unfocused eyes. "Iain. Iain, listen to me. It's not real. You're at the ED and I'm with you."
Iain stood up so suddenly, Rita fell backwards. "NO!" he shouted, backing away from her, his hands held in front of him as though to protect himself. "No, no, no!"
Max was surprised by how calm he felt. He didn't like thinking that Zoe could be about to die, but he realised there was nothing he could do about that. If these were their last moments together, he wanted to make the most of them.
He smiled at Zoe and saw an answering tilt to her lips. "I suppose we could always have our chat now," he said.
"Well, if we don't have it now…" said Zoe.
"Then let's do it," said Max, trying not to think of something else he'd like to do with Zoe. "But there is one rule. We've got to be completely honest."
Zoe glanced over at the carnage behind them. "There doesn't seem much point in being anything else."
"Okay," said Max. "So, how's America?"
Zoe looked at him in disbelief. "That's it? That's what you've been dying to ask me?"
"It seemed like a good place to start," said Max.
"Okay," said Zoe. "America is… good. The same and different. The emergencies are the same; so are the patients. But it's different. Different words. Different protocols. The doctors there are good and I think they're starting to respect what I bring to the table - but it's not the ED. I don't feel like I'm part of a family. I miss that."
Family… a husband and wife are a family.
"That's something that's always made the ED special," said Zoe. "Connie's the mum. Charlie's the dad."
It wasn't what Max had hoped she would say, but he smiled anyway. "Now, that is a disturbing image. I'm really not sure Jacob would go for that."
Zoe's face lit up. "So, they have got back together?"
"With Grace's blessing," said Max.
They both smiled.
Until they remembered.
