U is for Unconscious

Alex Rider stared at his best friend in disbelief. Tom had just appeared out of nowhere, zooming past on his bike in a blur of red and white. He was looking straight at Alex, a grin stretched across his lips so he didn't even see the car as it spun out of control.

Boy and machine had collided with such force Alex wasn't sure how Tom hadn't been thrown all the way across Chelsea. Now he was sitting by Tom's side, hands moving shakily over his body in search of injuries. He felt numb, disjointed; like he wasn't really here, in this place, in this moment. He could hear gasping breaths and at first he thought it was Tom, struggling to breathe- then he realised it was him, hyperventilating.

He made himself stop and breathed in deeply. Holding the breath and letting it out slowly. In and out, in and out, in and-

"Son, back away now."

Alex startled, head jerking up to look at the voice. His vision swam, his eyes stung and he realised he was crying.

"It's okay son, but you have to let us through, let him go."

The voice was rough but warm; trustworthy.

"Tom..." Alex croaked, voice cracking.

"You know this boy?" The voice asked.

Alex didn't answer, just looked back down at his friend, lying in the gutter, clothes ripped and skin torn.

He wasn't sure how much time had passed before the voice spoke again; it felt like hours but he knew they wouldn't leave him alone for more than a couple of seconds.

"Son," the voice was closer now, right in his ear, and its tone was warmer, kindly. "You have to let us help your friend. Please just let him go."

Alex stared down at Tom and blinked. Suddenly everything seemed more vibrant. A roar of noise assaulted his ears; car horns and alarms, people shouting and screaming. Lights flashed before his eyes and the middle aged, blonde paramedic spun into focus. Alex realised he was gripping Toms' clothes in a white handed grip and he let go stiffly, shoving himself away.

Immediately the paramedic moved forward, checking vital signs.

Alex stared unseeingly.

Another paramedic ran up and the blonde looked up. "The boy is breathing, heart beat's strong, he's stable, go and get a stretcher." He glanced over at Alex. "This is his friend, treat him for shock, he seems pretty out of it." The paramedic nodded and came over, grasping Alex' arm and guiding him over to an ambulance. Alex kept an eye on Tom the entire time, not looking away, even as they loaded him onto a stretcher and into an ambulance. Alex accepted the paramedics fussing with little response, wiping his eyes.

"Alex!" And suddenly he was enveloped in a warm, familiar hug, long red hair blinding him as Jack started speaking too fast for him to register what she was saying.

"Jack-"

"It's going to be okay, Alex." Jack cut him off. "We'll go and visit him as soon as we're able, but first we're going home so you can rest." Jack looked him in the eye. "He's okay, Alex. The paramedics say he's fine, it's only a broken arm."

Alex nodded, breathing in deeply. "Okay, Jack." He got to his feet and allowed her to pull him to her car.

He looked back at the accident scene one last time before getting into the passenger seat. Tom was going to be okay.