Short chapter again, I know. And the penultimate one! last one still needs tiny bit of tweaking so will have to do that before I put it up. And not a cheery subject for this chapter tbh... ah well!
"Why are they pulling out?" Lara cried, as the fire crew dropped back. She made to go back towards the mini bus, and it took both Fin and Josh to hold her back.
"Lara!" Josh warned her. "They know what they're doing."
"He's still in there!" Lara reminded him desperately.
"They'll get him out," Comfort insisted. "They'll get him…" She broke off as the sound of the explosion almost knocked them off of their feet. Lucy found herself stumbling backwards, almost knocking Fin over, who caught her arms.
"Patrick!" Lara screamed.
"Oh my God," Comfort said in a low voice, as she saw the flames ripping through the mini bus.
Lucy looked up at Fin. "He… He could have made it, right?" she asked the paramedic.
Fin didn't reply. As they all stood watching, three figures emerged from the smoke. Two firemen and…
"Patrick!" Lara exclaimed, running over to him, and throwing her arms around his neck. Comfort and Fin hesitantly hugged too. Lucy found herself being patted on the arm by Josh.
Patrick joined them, looking tired and battered but unharmed. "You all look a bit shocked," he remarked teasingly. "Now, I'm hungry. Fancy dinner?"
"I think you should get looked over first," Josh said cautiously.
"I'm a doctor, Josh, I'm sure I'm fine," Patrick insisted. "And I'm really hungry. You coming?"
Lara nodded and followed him.
Lucy felt like collapsing into bed, but she still had to work another four hours. Never again would she suggest paramedics had it easy. Today had been awful, she was dead on her feet.
"Lucy, we've got an emergency coming in," Charlie informed her. He smiled at her weary face. "Only a few more hours. Come on."
Lucy sighed and headed towards recus. Almost immediately the door flew open again, and they wheeled… Patrick in.
"Let me help!" Lara insisted, as Max began firing instructions at everyone.
"Lara, no," Max shook his head, and Lara backed away. "Lucy, take over CPR," he instructed her. Lucy hesitated, then stepped forward. This time she would damn well do everything she could to help.
