Smithy felt a searing pain as a paramedic tried to clean the cut on his forehead and he found his vision was blurring. Andrea, there was something about Andrea, and DI Manson… Everything was becoming blurred, but in an enlightening flash of clarity he remembered the DI running into the burning building. Was he back?

Frantically Smithy tried to look around him, every turn of his head bringing a dangerous wave of nausea. The paramedic started muttering about shock, begging him to stay still.

"You don't understand! It's the DI, I told him Andrea was in the station and he went back in." The paramedic tried to make out the incoherent ramblings of his increasingly anxious charge.

"Someone went back into the station?"

"Yes, the DI, the DI and Andrea," Smithy's eyes were widened in innocent entreaty and at that moment he looked more like a lost child than an ex-soldier. Suddenly, the paramedic was running full speed towards the fire crew. "There's a man who ran back into the station."

The fire chief turned sadly to the paramedic, "There a lot of men – and women, in that station, and for most of them, it's already too late." It was brutal, but it was true, this man had seen too many fires to harbour false hopes.

"This man just went in, he may still be near the entrance," The paramedic tried to reason away from the inevitable, he was used to people dieing, but to give up on them before even trying.

The fire chief sighed and gestured to one of his men. It was hard enough to put out fires without having to risk men for crazy people who ran into burning buildings. The man he called was married with a family of his own and two small children, but that was their job.

Inspector Gold made a cautious line for her Sergeant. She would never admit it, but he was like a son to her and somehow, she had come to care for him. He was sitting there, all alone and although his injuries didn't look life threatening, his eyes were vacant and Gina felt something pull inside her chest.

"Smithy," Her voice was soft, but commanding, pulling his focus to her. "You ok?" It wasn't the best of questions. Never one to admit weakness, Dale Smith was not likely to start now, but at least he was focusing on something real.

"Andrea's in there," He nodded helplessly towards the station. He knew he shouldn't care, they had never been together. She had been careful, kindly truthful with him, but somehow his mind was drawn back to Kerry, and he couldn't help the overwhelming sense of pain that filled him.

Gina could see the tears gathering in the corners of his eyes, but what do you say to someone watching the girl they loved die. Instead, she squeezed his shoulder and sat down. They would wait together.

"I told him." Smithy's voice croaked and Gena broke her silence in confusion.

"Who?"

"Manson. I told him and he went back for her. If he dies, it'll all be my fault."

"Manson went back for Dunbar?" Gena would never have guessed it of him. Maybe he did have a heart after all and as the seconds passed she too started to regret every harsh word she had ever uttered about the DI and every scathing comment she had ever dealt the PC. "It's not your fault. If he gets her it'll be thanks to you."

At that moment, a choking Gabriel Kent stumbled into the yard. Paramedics ran forward to help him as he leant on the waiting shoulders, making a slow path towards the ambulance.

Smithy couldn't help grimacing at the coincidence of it all, that Gabriel should have been so close to the women he felt for – not that he felt for Andrea. But if he didn't, what was this? As he watched, Gabriel turned, oblivious to the medics fussing around him, and his eyes also focused on the door.

With suspicion, Smithy's eyes darted back to the entrance, and at that moment a medic ran through, Neil Manson in his arms. At that moment, his heart could have broken: it was too late, if Neil hadn't found her, no one would. Gina seemed to realise what he was thinking and as his head fell, she pointed.

"Smithy look," Together, they watched in amazement as a fire-fighter ran into the yard. Behind him, the very entrance crumbled and his silhouette was outlined by a blinding flash of flame. In his arms, he held the limp form of Andrea Dunbar.