Steve sat stonily in silence, tapping his foot impatiently as he waited for Amanda' return. Mark bustled around him, mumbling underneath his breath so quietly that only snatches of his private monologue were audible.

"blankets… a bag for the chest drain…" and so he went, flicking the torch here and there as he gathered together whatever it was he thought necessary to move Jesse.

After what seemed an eternity Steve heard the front door slam shut, and a moment later Amanda emerged from the gloomy hallway, dripping wet, a strange expression creasing her features as she glanced over her shoulder back towards the front door.

Steve stood, and looked at Amanda expectantly.

"Well?"

His voice seemed to snap her from her reverie and she turned back to face him.

"I moved it. The engine didn't want to start but I cleared it of the drive so we can… get out…" her voice trailed off as she turned her head back towards the hall again, frowning.

"Good. We have to move soon…" Mark responded distractedly. He was still flitting about the room, seemingly unable to remain still for any perceivable amount of time.

"Amanda? What is it?" Steve, unlike his father, had noticed that Amanda was unmistakably troubled by something.

"I… I don't know, but… I swear I heard… something from outside…"

"What was it?" Steve asked, although his attention had now been dragged back to his father who was again examining Jesse in preparation for the journey which lay ahead. Amanda too seemed momentarily absorbed in Mark's actions, although she did eventually answer the question, albeit half-heartedly.

"I don't know… it kind of sounded like someone laughing…" She said it sheepishly, it did, after all, sound ridiculous, but Steve looked unconcerned. She wondered for a moment if he had heard her, but decided not to press the issue, instead reassuring herself that Mark's seeming disinterest and Steve's lack of concern upheld her personal belief that it had merely been her troubled mind playing tricks on her. It can't have been laughter – I'd have never heard it above the rain and wind. Satisfied, although not quite contented, with her own reassurances Amanda again returned her full attention to Jesse, who's pallid features seem to have somehow become more hollow in the time it had taken her to move his beloved sports car. His drawn face contracted in pain even in the apparent deep state of unconsciousness which had settled upon him like an all-encompassing shroud of somnolence.

"Right," Mark said, pushing himself up with the aid of the couch before brushing his hands together. "Lets get going." Grim determination was set in his features, a sign of his poorly concealed anxiety.

After taking a deep, reasserting breath he launched into what was an amazingly well planned outline of what he intended to happen in the ensuing few minutes, his mind for detail remarkable, particularly taking into account the grim state of affairs which would almost certainly confound the minds of most people.

"Steve, you're going to have to do the driving. I need Amanda in the back with me and Jesse – he's going to need as much medical support as we can give him. I know your wrist will be a problem," he interjected hastily, pre-empting any objections from Steve which, in all honesty were not forthcoming. Steve had expected as much, his lack of medical expertise rendered his presence almost irrelevant.

"But" Mark continued, "Once we're on the main road you just need to keep the steering steady until we get to the rendezvous point. You can manage that." It was more of a statement than a question. Mark was relying on Steve to carry out the comparably easy task of driving the car, it was really all he was able to do and Steve was determined not to fail in his one capacity to help Jesse. With a nod from Steve Mark continued.

"We have to move Jesse to the car as smoothly and quickly as we can. Any jarring movements will aggravate the wound. Steve, we'll take your jeep, there's more room in the back. Amanda, once we're moving I'm relying on you to monitor Jesse's breathing. I'll watch his pulse rate and keep check on the bleeding. Ok?" Mark looked on expectantly, waiting for any questions or concerns about his plan. After a moments silence it was obvious that no flaws or objections were going to be presented and Mark clapped his hands together.

"Lets do it."

**************

Hi everyone, sorry this is short – I do have another bit which is almost ready, I just need to proof read it! I'll try and post it tomorrow. Hope you're still enjoying the story,

Sarah J