Chapter Ten

Ellie had received word from the museum that the professor had approved of her idea. He stated that he would need to talk to the City of Cardiff about closing off their historical district for the event." James smiled. "that's good. I'm glad things are finally working out for you." Ellie sat down by James. "I can't wait to get everything started." She chided. "I really would like for this to work out." James put a hand on her shoulder. "I'm sure it will." Arnold looked up from his laptop. "the Professor picked a good place to do the fundraiser. Cardiff is full of history." The alarm sounded. "Fire at Joe Sparkes' garage." Came Sam's voice over the PDA. Elvis quickly ran out from behind the counter. "Ellie and Arnold your with me!" Ellie nodded. "I'll be right back James!" she called over her shoulder. James sighed leaning back on the couch. Penny scooted closer to him. "this is a first." James gave a nod of his head. "I had a nice time hanging out with your family." Whispered Penny. "it's been a while since I've hung out family." James smiled. "I'm glad. I hope my brother gets well soon. It would be nice to see him back home." Penny nodded. She heard James' phone buzz quietly in his pocket. James answered his phone.

James: hello?

Bronwyn: hey James. I was just calling to let you know that your brother has been discharged from the hospital. The doctor has determined that he is strong enough to come home.

James: yew. That's good.

Bronwyn: though I'll be worried about him being antsy. The doctor doesn't want him to go back to work just yet.

James: you may want to talk to Ben about letting him do some light work.

Bronwyn: good idea James. Did Penny enjoy herself last night?

James: yep. She enjoyed herself.

Bronwyn: I'm glad. Well I'll let you get back to work love. Don't work too hard okay?

James: (laughs) I won't. Bye mom.

Bronwyn: love you sweetie. See you when get home.

James smiled. "that was my mom. She says Hoshi is strong enough to come home." Penny hugged him. "that's great." James and Penny sat there looking at each other. There was an air of silence between them. James suddenly started to lean in closer to her. Penny knew immediately what James was going to do. She started to lean in closer to him. They began kissing on the couch. James leaned back allowing her to have more access to him. Penny held James close to her as they made out on the couch. They pulled away when they heard Sam cough at them. "I don't think that's very dignified behavior." Said Sam sternly. He had a light tone of amusement in his voice. "sorry Station Officer Sam." Apologized Penny. They couldn't look Sam in the eye. "if you guys are done having your little Public Display of Affection, there's some chores around the fire station you both could be doing."

The rest of the day was fine apart from one final rescue. "Mandy is stuck up on PontyPandy Mountain and the cliff she's standing on is threatening to let go at any moment." James quickly dropped the sponge he was holding. He ran over to Mercury climbing onto it. Penny climbed up into Venus with Ellie. They followed in behind James as he took off from the station. He made a run by the Mountain Rescue Center. He quickly got changed into his Mountain Rescue Uniform. "Tom, we need your helicopter. Mandy is stuck up on a crumbling cliff on PontyPandy Mountain." Urged Penny. Tom nodded. He ran out to his helicopter starting it up. Penny then turned to James. "James, I want you to go with Tom in his helicopter. Ellie and I will follow you two in Venus." James nodded. He clipped on his helmet. He raced out to Tom's helicopter. He climbed up into it. "welcome aboard mate." Came Tom's voice over the radio. "let's get moving Tom." Tom flew the helicopter away from the Mountain Rescue Center. He turned on the search light to help them see. James sat close to the edge of the helicopter. He couldn't make himself look down but he knew he had to for Mandy's sake. James suddenly realized something. He got on the radio. "Penny, you'll need to take Bessie. Venus wouldn't be able to make it up the mountain trail." He heard his radio crackle. "rodger that James." James looked down at the mountain path again. "finding anything on your radar yet, Tom?" he asked. He slightly raised his voice over the sound of the helicopter engine. "not yet. Don't worry though. We'll find her." Tom got close to the mountain. He detected a small heat signature off to the right of the mountain. "I've found her. She's on the West Cliffs." James quickly slid into the harness. He let out a nervous sigh. "get me as close as you can." Tom nodded. He lowered James down next to Mandy. Mandy smiled at James. "man, am I glad to see you." James slid the other harness over her. Mandy quickly grabbed onto it. Just then the clifface above James and Mandy cracked. A part of the sharp rock gave away. Tom tried to move away from the cliff. The rock came down severing the harness that held James. James screamed as he was sent falling. His radio had been knocked off his chest so he couldn't hear his teammates. That was the last thing James remember before his world went black.

Penny heard Tom's voice suddenly start to get frantic over the radio. "Penny! Ellie! You guys need to come over to the cliffs quick! A rock came down severing the harness that was holding James up. The young boy has fallen somewhere and I can't find him. He isn't responding to his radio." Penny paled. "we're hurrying as fast as we can. I'll contact Sam and Nurse Flood." Penny's hands were literally shaking. Oh god…what am I going to tell Bronwyn? She wondered. They soon arrived at the scene. Penny alerted Sam over the radio. Penny saw Tom shine a bright light over where James was last seen. "James!" shouted Penny. She hoped that the young firefighter was still conscious. "James!" Her foot made a soft crunching noise. She looked down to see James' hand held radio laying in a sad, broken state on the ground. She put a hand over her mouth. "James!" she yelled again. "James?!" shouted Ellie. She helped her friend try to find him. Tom shined the light again. He spotted something laying amongst the rocks. "I think I've spotted him." Came Tom over the radio. "check the rock pile down in the ravine." Penny raced ahead of Ellie. Her heart racing in her chest. Tears threatened to break the very fabric of calm she had left. Ellie stopped her from going the edge. She shined a flashlight below. She spotted James laying on a pile of rocks. She immediately felt sick. She didn't move from where she was freezing in fear. She knew it was against her training to do this. "Penny?" Ellie gently touched her. "Penny, this isn't a good time to go into shock. Come on." She tried to encourage her teammate to snap out of it. Sam quickly arrived at the scene with Nurse Flood. He took control of the situation. "Ellie, you get Penny back to the Mountain Activities Center. I'll take over. Ready Nurse Flood?" he asked. Helen nodded. He set up the absailing equipment. "Tom, lower the stretcher." He ordered over the radio. Helen carefully made her way down the ravine. She quickly rushed over to James. She put two fingers to his neck. "he's got a pulse, Sam but it's very weak. His wounds look nasty." Sam nodded to her. He helped her lay James down on the gurny. He slid the other harness onto him as they were airlifted upwards.

Helen went by the Mountain Activities Center to check on Penny. Penny was in the corner of the room crying. She held her head in her hands sobbing loudly. Helen knelt down next to her. "Penny." Penny looked up at her. "Sam is with him now. His wounds look really serious." Penny hugged Helen tightly. She sobbed into her friend's neck. Helen rubbed her back. "Ellie, take her home and stay with her. I'll have to break the news to Bronwyn." Ellie nodded. She helped Penny to her feet. "no. I have to be the one that does it." Sniffed Penny. Helen nodded. "alright but break it to her gently." Penny leaned against Ellie. Ellie was the one that drove the three of them down on Bessie. Penny couldn't bring herself to drive Venus so she let Ellie take control again. She leaned her head against the window. Guilt took over her whole body. She put her head against her hands praying that James would make it. Bronwyn didn't take the news too well. "my baby!" Hoshi held his crying mother. Penny kept her gaze down. "he should have stayed at the station!" Penny winced at Bronwyn's words. "I know, Bronwyn. Sam is with him now. All we can do is wait to hear word on how he's doing." Said Helen. Hoshi rubbed his mother's back rocking her back and forth. Penny quickly walked out of the café. "Penny!" shouted Ellie. She chased after her friend. Penny took off running. Ellie lost sight of her on the beach. Ellie panted slowing her pace. "Penny!" she knew she had to find Penny and fast. She didn't want her friend injuring herself.

Ellie heard sobbing coming from behind the rocks. She carefully crept around them. She spotted Penny laying on her side. She was huddled into a ball. Ellie got down on her knees next to her. She pulled Penny into a hug. "hey, his accident wasn't your fault." She whispered. She let Penny rest her head on her shoulder. "we're firefighters, Ellie. Our job is to save people." Sobbed Penny. Ellie held her tighter. "I know, Penny." She wiped away Penny's tears. "he'll be okay. He's in good hands. You know that Sam won't let anything bad happen to him." Penny dropped her gaze. Ellie smiled kindly. "the best thing we can do right now is to hope for the best. He needs you to be strong for him now." Penny sniffed softly. "Bronwyn, she needs you right now. You have to be strong for her too." Penny nodded. Ellie helped Penny to her feet. "thanks Ellie." She whispered. Ellie smiled. "any time. Now get back in there." She herded her friend back into the café.