Fireman Sam held the firehose firmly as he fought to tackle the great field-blaze before him.
"We must get this fire out before it spreads to the woodland!" Penny called urgently.
Jill stepped forward, just a little, to let her stream of water hit the blaze further. "How's the water level?!" she called over her shoulder to Station Officer Steele.
Steele called back after a few seconds. "Jupiter's half full, Mars is quarter full!" he called back.
"Cachu…" (S**t) Sam cursed in his native Welsh language, "This fire isn't even CLOSE to being put out…and there's no water source nearby to fill-up our tanks!"
David and Jill looked concerned as Mars's tank stopped providing water altogether. "We're out, Sir!" David told the Station Officer.
Soon, Jupiter followed suit.
"Uuuuhhh N-now what…?" Elvis asked, looking at the fire that still blazed, "I-it's already starting to spread, Station Officer Steele, Sir…!"
"Yes, I can see that, Cridlington…" Steele replied.
"What in blazes are we to do…?!" David groaned.
Sam let out an exasperated sigh. "Uffern waedlyd, this is no time for puns, boy…" he said, firmly, "We've got to do something and FAST! I know we've got at least twenty minutes but it'll take longer than that to find water!"
Sam tried to think. No water…and fire-beaters would be like someone throwing a tiny gravel-path stone at an iron fortress.
"We could try and smother the flames!" Penny suggested, "If we get some dirt and rocks!"
Steele nodded. "That's a very good idea, Firefighter Morris." He said, approvingly, "But will we get it here in time?"
Sam thought and thought. Just another twenty, or so, minutes and the fire would reach the woodland. Then, he had an idea. "I know, Sir…!" he said to his chief, "If we go around the fire, there's some large rocks on the other side. We can create a wall to slow the fire and give us time to fetch water."
Steele nodded, "Right, but take care…those rocks are heavy." He turned to David and Trevor, "Take the Fire Engines and find water." He commanded.
Being Firefighters, they were all physically strong. Some tossed rocks without help while others worked together. Soon the flames began to struggle to get passed the wall that was being created.
"It's working!" Jill called, "Just a little more…!"
At last, the fire was slowing down.
"They'll need to hurry still…" Sam frowned at the flames, "The fire might have slowed but it's not stopped completely."
Jupiter and Mars arrived with full tanks. The Firefighters began to dowse the flames again. With a final, angry hiss, the blaze went out.
Everyone was very relieved. They wiped their brows and Station Officer Steele congratulated them all on a job well done.
Elvis went to inspect the wall…which was more of a pile. "What an eye-sore…" he said sadly, "We should move these now that the fire is out…" He began to pick up some stones and branches. Suddenly, just as he was moving a particular branch, the pile began to shake.
"Elvis!" Sam shouted, "The pile's falling, get away before you get buried!"
Elvis was slow to react. In flash, Penny was there, pushing him out of the way. Just in time, Elvis was saved. But, a Penny fell due to the momentum and was unable to get up before some heavy stones crashed down on her. She cried out as rocks, stones and branches hit her legs. The rest of her body stayed clear, miraculously, but her lower back and legs were trapped.
"PENNY…!" Elvis gasped.
Everyone rushed to get the pile off Penny.
"I'll pull her clear…" Sam said, grabbing Penny under the shoulders. As soon as enough had been removed from her legs, Sam pulled her away. "Penny…?" he asked, looking at the blond Firefighter's terrified face, "Does it hurt?"
Penny was trying to breathe calmly but it was hard. "No…" she replied, her eyes wide with fear, "Oh, Sam…I can't feel my legs!"
Sam looked up. "Someone, call an ambulance IMEDIATELY!"
"What's the problem, Fireman Sam?" Station Officer Steele came over to them.
"Penny's legs, Sir…" Sam replied, his face as pale as Penny's, "She says she can't feel them."
Steele looked worried, "We'd better not move her until the ambulance arrives."
The ambulance arrived, quickly, and Penny was taken to the Newtown Hospital. After doing some tests, the Doctor came to them with bad news. "Penny's legs are badly bruised and there are one or two fractures in the bone…" he told Sam, Elvis, and Steele, "But it's her spine that's presented the worst problem. The lower spine was broken, most likely by a particularly heavy stone or two…We'll try all we can but I'm afraid it's possible that she will never walk again…At least not properly."
Elvis began to cry.
Sam clenched his fists. "Uffern Waedlyd…!" (Bloody hell!) he said through gritted teeth.
Station Officer Steele just let out a long sigh. "Thank you, Doctor…" he said, looking at Sam and Elvis, "May we see her?"
The Doctor said they could see her soon.
When they were able to see Penny, they all went in together. Elvis was covering his eyes. Sam put a hand on his shoulder.
"Elvis…" Penny's voice was sad and desperate, "PLEASE look at me…please…"
Elvis shook his head and said shakily, "No…I-if I look at you, I'll see the damage I caused…It's all MY f-fault!"
Sam went over to Penny but turned to look at Elvis. "Listen, Elvis, boy…It was an accident. These things can happen to those in the Service, you know that." he said kindly, "Penny needs our support. If you love her, you'll look at her…"
Elvis looked…and burst into tears. He fell to his knees and buried his head in Penny's neck. "I-I'm so…sorry, Penny…" he whispered.
Penny took him in her arms. She didn't say anything…she just held him.
Penny had to go through weeks and weeks of physiotherapy. Sam was glad that, since David and Jill had joined, having Penny off duty for so long wasn't as big a blow as it would have been. However, it didn't make any of them feel better about the situation. Penny was greatly missed at the Fire Station. Miraculously, Penny began to walk again…Not at full capacity yet, but it certainly surprised everyone in a good way. Sarah, James, and Norman visited her at her house often. Elvis had temporarily moved in with Penny to help her around the house.
One day, the children were on their way home from visiting Penny. They came across the field where the fire and accident had happened. They decided to see what it looked like as they hadn't been there in a while.
"At least the grass is growing back…" Sarah said, looking at the ground.
Suddenly, Norman pointed. "Cor…!" he exclaimed, "Look over there…! A man…and what's that he's holding?"
They all looked. The man was holding something long. Sarah gasped. "I think…I think it's a rifle…a GUN!" she gasped.
Everyone's eyes widened in shock. A gun? Who would have a gun…? Who was this man?
"He's not from around here…" James frowned, "No-one in Pontypandy uses or even OWNS a gun…"
The others agreed. "He's probably here to shoot rabbits or maybe other wildlife…" Norman said, looking glum. He was rather fond of animals, despite his mischievous nature.
Sarah and James looked at each other, their faces pale. None of them wanted animals to be shot. Besides, shooting wildlife wasn't allowed in Pontypandy.
"We should go and let him know he's not allowed." Sarah suggested, "He probably doesn't know it's not allowed."
James and Norman weren't sure.
"It might be dangerous…" James shuddered.
"Yeah…" Norman chimed in, "He might not be very friendly to us about it."
But Sarah was determined to try at least. She ran toward the man, calling to him. "HEEEEY! Excuse me…!"
Startled, the man spun around…and in his surprise, accidentally fired the gun…James and Norman covered their ears as the deafening crack split the peace of the countryside. The boys took their hands away from their ears. "Everyone okay…?" James asked, his face pale was fear and both boys were scared to open his eyes.
A sound, halfway between a whimper, a sob, and a scream, made them both open their eyes. They looked at Sarah…She was lying on the ground, letting out high-pitched gasps and sobs.
"Sarah…?" James gulped and knelt by his sister, "Are you hurt…?!"
The man was shaking. He dropped his gun. "What have I done…?" he groaned, "What…what have I done?!"
As James and Norman tried to comfort Sarah, another man came out from the trees. "You coming or what…?" he asked gruffly.
"Bill…I shot the little girl…I SHOT her!" the first man sobbed, "I need to help her!"
But Bill looked at Sarah with distain. "Stupid brat should've minded her own business…" he sneered, "Come on, Henry, those deer ain't gonna shoot themselves! Leave the kids, I don't have time to bother with them!"
Norman blurted out, "You HORRIBLE man! The Police will get you!"
They watched the men leave. Henry looked back. He seemed afraid to disobey Bill.
"What do we DO?!" Norman cried, "Sarah's bleeding BADLY!"
James took Sarah's handkerchief out of her pocket and pressed it against the wound in her stomach. "Penny says that's what you do if someone's bleeding." He explained, "Go and phone our uncle!"
Norman ran off to the phone box. It was lucky there were so many phone boxes scattered around Pontypandy. It meant he didn't have to go far.
Station Officer Steele jumped in surprise as the alarm went off at the Fire Station. He went to check the message on the automatic printer. "Child shot—" he muttered before realizing what he was reading, "SHOT?! On the DOUBLE, men! A child's been shot in the field near Pandy Lane Farm!"
No-one spoke. Sam didn't even waste time says "All present and correct, Sir" like he normally did. He, Jill and Steele just jumped into Jupiter, belted up and drove off.
"Please be alright, Sarah…" James begged before looking up at Norman, "When are they coming?!"
"If I know Fireman Sam…" Norman said, offering to take James's place holding the handkerchief over Sarah's wound, "He'll get here, quick as a flash."
The Fire Service Headquarters had already notified the Police and an ambulance. Sam brought Jupiter to a stop at the field. James, who had seen the Fire Engine approach, had run up to meet them. "Uncle SAM…!" he cried, "Sarah…a man shot Sarah!"
Sam raced across the field like a cheetah. Not Sarah…! He begged, Not my little niece! PLEASE not my little niece!
But when he reached Sarah, Norman was crying. "She's not breathing…!" he screamed, "Oh, 'eck, she's not BREATHING!"
Sam fell to his knees and took Sarah into his arms. "Sarah, love…?" he said, tears pricking his eyes. Sarah didn't answer…she didn't move. Desperately, Sam checked her pulse…nothing. "Come on, Sarah, my love…" he begged, "Don't do this to your Uncle Sam, now…come on, sweetie!"
Nothing…no breath…no pulse. Not even a twitch. James and Norman were silent in shock. Sam begged and begged for Sarah to wake up…to do SOMETHING…ANYTHING.
Station Officer Steele, his face as pale as everyone else's, put a hand on Sam's shoulder. "She's…she's gone, Sam…" he said, trying to maintain his usual composure…but his voice was shaking.
"No…" Sam sobbed, holding Sarah's body to his chest, "NO…! Cachu…CACHU! Where's the person that did this?!" he roared, "Byddaf yn ffycin lladd y mab hwnnw o ast! (I'll f*****g kill that son of a b***h!) I'll snap his neck!"
James and Norman trembled. They had NEVER heard Sam say such things before. It shook them up terribly.
The Police and ambulance arrived. They were devastated when they saw they had arrived too late.
The Policeman asked if they knew where the gunmen had gone.
Norman shakily pointed in the direction Bill and Henry had headed.
"Follow me, men!" the Policeman in charge commanded his colleagues.
Jill came to talk to the boys. James couldn't speak so Norman told her everything…though it was hard because he was sobbing. "We TOLD her it could be dangerous!" he wailed.
Jill put her arms around Norman and James. "We're here now…" she soothed, "The Police will catch those men."
"H-Henry w-was…very up-upset that…that he….sh-shot…Sarah…" James whispered, still trembling.
"Yeah…" Norman nodded, "I don't think he was as mean as that Bill fellow."
Sam had taken Sarah back into his arms. He didn't want to let her go. "Sarah…" he sobbed quietly, "Oh, Sarah…" His chest began to feel tight. He began to hyperventilate. "I…I-I can't…" his sobs turned to panic, "I can't…can't b-breathe…! H-help…!"
"He's having a panic attack!" the lady Paramedic said urgently. Sam could SWEAR her voice was just like Penny's…
The Paramedic did something strange…she put her hand over Sam's mouth…but instead of struggling to breathe further, his breathing became EASIER. Confused, he blinked and when his eyes opened again, Sam found he wasn't in the field…He was in his living room. Something was covering his face. It took a moment for him to realize it was an oxygen mask. He looked around, for, as well as the mask on his face, he could also feel someone next to him and they had their hand on his shoulder. It was Penny. "Penny…?" Sam asked, feeling confused, "How'd you get here?"
"In Venus, like always…" Penny's frown was that of concern, "You're lucky I was passing…Sarah came, rushing out, just as I was approaching the house, saying you were gasping in your sleep."
Sam noticed Sarah and James were in the room. Their faces were pale with worry.
"You had a panic attack, by the looks of it." Penny went on.
"What's a panic attack, Penny?" Sarah asked.
"Will Uncle Sam be alright?" James chimed in.
Penny smiled at them, "Of course…Panic attacks are caused by stress or extreme fear or worry…Sam's breathing calmly now."
The twins were confused. "But Uncle Sam doesn't get scared…" Sarah said.
"Everyone gets scared, love…" Sam replied.
Penny looked at him. "What triggered your attack, I wonder."
Sam looked at Penny, his niece, and his nephew…It was a dream…he thought to himself, A horrible, HORRIBLE dream…but, a dream nonetheless. He turned to the twins. "I need to have a private talk with Penny." He told them, "Why don't you two go out and play in the garden. I'll call you back when we're done."
Sarah and James agreed but kept looking back at their uncle. Once they were out of earshot, Sam told Penny all about his dream.
"How AWFUL…!" Penny gasped when Sam had finished, "I'll bet it was that news report you watched on Monday…"
There had been a news report about an incident in Spain. A woman's legs had been crushed in an industrial accident.
"But…the part about Sarah…" Sam shuddered, "Where did THAT come from?"
"That, I expect, was triggered by your fondness for your niece and nephew and the devastation you would feel if anything DID happen to them." Penny answered, "Dreams are crazy sometimes."
Sam agreed. "I can breathe fine now, Penny." He said, taking off the oxygen mask, "Thanks for the help."
Penny smiled. "What are friends and Firefighters for, eh?" she chuckled.
Sam called the twins back in. He told them his attack was caused by a bad dream. He decided not to go into detail, he just told them it scared him. He remembered, now, why they were there. He'd been given the morning off. It was Saturday and Sarah and James had come to visit their uncle before he went to work that afternoon. He had fallen asleep on the sofa. "Sorry, I've not been much fun today, Kids." He smiled apologetically, "Falling asleep and then worrying the life out of you with a panic attack."
The twins sat either side of Sam and cuddled up to him. "We're just glad you're alright, Uncle." James sighed.
"Yeah, we thought…" Sarah looked like she was about to cry.
"Don't think things like that, Sarah, love…" Sam said, putting his arms around them both. Then he smiled, "Since your visit today hasn't been so great, I'll take you swimming on my next day off…and that's a promise!"
"Megabrill!" James exclaimed.
"Oh, thanks, Uncle Sam!" Sarah grinned, hugging him tighter.
Sam smiled.
Penny said "goodbye" and left. It was time for Sam to head for the Station. He caught the bus with Sarah and James and waved to them when he was dropped off at the Fire Station.
"Bye, Uncle Sam!" the twins called.
"Bye, you two!" Sam waved and, then, he headed up the drive to the Station to begin his firefighting duties.
The End.