Mel glanced at her watch and drummed her fingers on the table, OB was meant to have met her an hour ago. She checked the package in her bag for the umpteenth time and allowed herself a triumphant grin, she couldn't wait to see the look on that bitch's face when she played the tape to Max, it had cost a bit to get it copied but it would be worth it when they watched Clare's house of cards tumble. Checking her watch again she realised she could wait no longer, if Warren realised the original was missing it could all go pear shaped and the last thing Clare was going to do was make her lose this job. It had been her salvation, working alongside Sophie, so normal and mundane all the things she craved after the last year. She paid the bill and headed back to the village, OB was probably propping up the bar at the Dog, she was going to have to brave going there to find him, she couldn't do this alone and she wanted him to be there too, this was his triumph as well after all.
Jack and Frankie meandered back along by the river, she felt pleasantly full and relaxed after persuading jack for their first anniversary no less than tea at the Grosvenor wasa vast improvement on Pizza Hut. She looked over at him, not every woman's dream she sighed to herself but always reliable, something Johnno had never mastered and not to be dismissed as a desirable trait in a partner. "Shall we be getting back?" he asked. She could see he was fretting to get back to the pub, still not entirely trusting Jake to be left in charge. "OK!"she replied, tho I can't see what the rush is Saturday afternoons are always dead" She took his hand and smiled and they walked towards the village and home.
Steph woke coughing and choking, something heavy pressed into her legs and her back hurt. The heat was again intense around her and she raised her head trying to get an idea of where she was, she had a fuzzy memory of lying on the sofa but now it seemed to be lying on her. As her eyes focused she realised the ceiling had given way bringing her and the sofa back into the blaze downstairs, she reached out a hand trying to find a way to pull herself out from the weight pressing into her legs and squealed as she met with flesh, recoiling she realised this time it was warm, alive. She pushed herself into a sitting position and pulled at her legs, one at a time working them free. She moved towards the body also covered with wreckage from the downfall, she worked fast pushing and pulling, freeing it from the debris. She turned him over "Justin? Justin! Wake up! Justin!" She shook him but he remained unconscious, blood seeping from a gash on his skull. She looked around, the fire was moving in on all sides, Sam's spin creating a circle of flame fuelled now by the contents of the pub. She sat behind him and putting her arms under his began pulling him inch by inch towards the bar, the last safe haven and the flames licked closer, smoke filling up the breathing space from the floor eliminating their supply of air. She closed her eyes and leaned back against its solidness, but she could feel the heat in it, soon it too would start to smoulder and add to the conflagration. "Steph?" a voice croaked, she opened her eyes seeing through the haze a familiar figure, stood over them, mouth covered with a cloth. "Darren! Thank God! It's Justin, he's out cold, we've got to get him out!" "Here, grab his feet!" Darren instructed, as he grabbed Justin under the arms "C'mon!" he added urgently. They lifted the body and staggered back through the archway towards the back door, here the flames were less but the smoke intense, they tripped and fell among the boxes, Steph losing go of the legs and Darren collapsing with the whole weight. Finally they emerged into the yard and carried him away to the safety of the grass. Collapsing beside him Steph looked in horror at the conflagration, who knew who else was still in their, she shuddered as she remembered the body from earlier. Sirens closed in and figures in uniforms and helmets ran towards the pub reeling out hose, Darren stood up, I'll go find an ambulance, they must be here as well, stay with him I'll be as quick as I can" She gave him a grateful smile and looked at the prone body next to her, she held his hand, "I never thought I'd be saying this to you of all people, but hang in their Justin, hang in"
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