Lucy thankfully took a big gulp of coffee and then yelped.
"Ah, that's what we call paramedics tongue," Nikki informed her, sipping her own cup daintily. "Trying to gulp down too much in one go. You okay?"
"Fine. I just didn't know it would be this tiring."
"Today's quiet." Nikki shrugged nonchalantly. "You wait until we get a big shout -"
"Nikki." Josh frowned at her. "We don't want a big shout. I'd be perfectly content with a few minor cuts and bruises or…" His radio crackled as he spoke. He groaned. "Oh great." He walked away to answer it.
"We better get the ambulance ready." Nikki rolled her eyes. She waved to Jack as they went past. Josh soon followed them.
He looked deathly white. "It's a big one," he said gravely. "Big traffic accident up on the ring road. Petrol tanker. Comfort and Fin are already up there, a rapid response unit are on their way. Look, Lucy, maybe you should stay here. They're going to need help when we bring the casualties back."
"I'm supposed to be shadowing you though," Lucy reminded him.
"But not on something like this," Nikki insisted. She exchanged a worried glance with Josh.
"Look, it sounds like you need as much help as possible at the site," Lucy pointed out. "We're wasting time here, we should get going."
"She's not wrong there," Josh agreed. "Get in."
Lucy clambered into the back and slammed the doors shut.
"Seat belt on, Lucy!" Nikki reminded her as they switched the sirens on.
Lucy obeyed instructions. She twisted round so that she could see out the front almost as well as Nikki and Josh could.
"Is it far to go?" she asked, as Josh whizzed up a side road.
"Not that far." Nikki shook her head. "Ten minutes maximum. You said there was petrol tanker, Josh, are the fire crew up there?"
"I assume so." Josh nodded, as several cars gave way to them and they shot through a red light. "But it's still unsafe by the sounds of it. I don't think we can get that close to it."
"How many casualties?" Lucy asked above the noise of the sirens.
"A number," Josh replied. "Quite serious, I think." He glanced in the rear view mirror. "You don't have to be involved, Lucy, if it's too bad."
"It's fine," Lucy insisted. "Honestly."
Lara stared at Josh uncomprehendingly. "I'm sorry? You've what?"
Josh laid a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Patrick's car. It's in the ditch over there."
"What?" Lara made a move to run towards it.
"It's empty, he's not in it." Josh kept hold of her. "The door's open, but there's no sign of him."
Lara looked around at the mess on the road. "Well, where is he then?"
Lucy was treating a young girl in the back of one of the ambulances. She finished dressing her minor head wound and left her momentarily with her mother, who was virtually unmarked.
"What's happening?" she asked, joining Josh and Lara.
"Patrick's car is over there." Lara pointed. "But he's not."
Lucy looked at Josh for clarification. Josh nodded. Lucy took a moment to digest the information before speaking. "He'll be fine, Lara, he's probably around somewhere, maybe even helping."
"Helping where?" Lara demanded. "He hasn't helped any of the cars we've looked at, and we've looked at them all!"
"Josh!" Nikki was calling him.
"I better go and see what she wants," Josh said. "Lara, calm down, Patrick will be fine, I'm sure." He moved swiftly off to speak to Nikki.
"Lara, I'm sure he's fine," Lucy insisted. "Just calm down."
"He hasn't been answering his mobile for hours," Lara said. "What is he even doing here? He's supposed to be in London!"
"Maybe it's not his car," Lucy suggested.
"Who else do you know who'd be stupid enough to drive that old thing?" Lara snapped. She shook her head. "Sorry, it's not your fault. Is that girl okay?"
"Fine. I think everyone's okay, apart from the driver of the petrol tanker. Not as bad as we first thought."
Nikki suddenly rejoined them. "Lara, we need your help," she said quickly. "There's some more casualties."
"Where?" Lara began walking with her.
"In the back of the lorry," Nikki said hesitantly.
Lara did a double take, but then continued towards it. "How badly injured?"
"There's also a mini bus." Josh joined them. "And…"
"And what?" Lara asked.
"Patrick's in it."
