"Counselor... Pam come on wake up honey..." said a voice seemingly from a distance, annoying Pam slightly.
Pam groaned as she opened her eyes. Blinking a couple of times to bring her vision into focus, she saw Bill looking back at her.
"Bill," she said trying to sit up. She felt the world spin around and grow black...
Bill lowered Pam back down to the floor and covered her with the coat again. He elevated her feet, placing them on a stack of books he wrangled together and shook his head. "Counselor, don't do that again," he ordered gently. "Don't need ya to faint on me. Can only do so many hero acts in one day."
Pam frowned at his comment. "Funny. What about the earthquake..."
"Lasted about a minute, but we got thrown into the classroom," said Bill as he gently checked her ribs. "I found ya huddled under the teacher's desk, out like a light. Moved ya out here to lie you flat on the ground. Started checkin' you for injuries when you came around."
Pam groaned loudly in pain when he checked her ribs. "How long was I out?"
Bill checked his watch. "About three-four minutes most. Looks like you have a coupla fractured ribs. Now, can you tell me how you feel?"
"Like I was run over by a teacher's desk," she said wryly.
"Ya know what I mean, Davidson. Your complexion looks a little pale, but all right otherwise. Now, I've seen ya move your arms and legs so far, but are you feeling cold or numb?"
"No," she said. "But, I do feel real tired..."
Bill frowned, realizing she might have a concussion as well. "I know you're not going to like this, but you gotta stay awake. Ya can't go to sleep, not even for a moment."
Pam grimaced, realizing that Bill didn't order her in that tone unless it was important... and serious. "Let me guess, a possible concussion?" When he nodded, she groaned. "OK, should be easy with you here to argue with me. Have you heard from Ralph? I mean he's got the suit on..."
"Not yet. Haven't tried to use the communicator, and if Ralph's..." he paused, not wanting to think about the possibility, suit or no, of him being dead, "... been hit over the head and is out cold, he won't be able to respond."
Pam, realizing that possibilty too, frowned. "Bill, you got to try. And, if he asks about me, just say I'm hurt, but all right. He's got students to take care of as well, and I don't want him taking risks in the suit that could hurt all of us."
Bill nodded and thumbed the communicator. "Ralph... kid, can ya hear me?" he said.
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Ralph was in the classroom, checking Tony's pulse when he heard Bill's voice coming out of his coat pocket. Retrieving the item, Ralph pressed the button on it. "Yeah, Bill, I hear you," said Ralph.
Cyler blinked at the item. "What is that Mr. H?" he said.
Ralph coughed, realizing that none of his students knew about it. "Cyler, don't tell anyone else this, but it's a walkie-talkie that Bill gave me in case of an emergency..."
"Like this?"
"Yeah, like this and only for these things," said Ralph. It wasn't quite the truth, but close enough. "Bill, what's up?"
"Listen, are you anywhere near the kids? This is kinda personal."
Ralph grimaced. "Sorry, you're going to have to tell me anyway."
Bill frowned. "Why?"
"Cyler's helping me take care of Tony. He was knocked unconscious and injured when a bookshelf fell on him," said Ralph bluntly.
There was pause before Bill continued. "Geesh, sorry kid ..."
Despite the well-known animosity, Ralph could tell Bill was truly worried about Tony. "Don't worry about it, you didn't know. Now, what do you need?"
"Have you been able to see any way to get out or anything dangerous outside? Any pictures?" said Bill, hoping Ralph understood he meant holograph.
"No, but I haven't been in contact with anything to see anything. I'll try as soon as I can and let you know" said Ralph quietly. He paused, dreading this next question. "Bill, are you and Pam all right?"
Bill froze, knowing this wasn't going to be easy. "Ralph, I'm fine, but the Counselor is hurt," he said softly. Hearing Ralph's breath catch, Bill continued. "Now, I'm sitting right by her and keeping an eye on her. It looks like she has a mild concussion and a couple of fractured ribs. I've already told her she's going to stay awake."
"Yeah, he ordered me," said Pam's voice faintly in the background.
Ralph chuckled in relief when he heard her voice. "Bill, you know better than that. She'll start debating you on the pros and cons of that issue."
"Listen kid, right now, I don't care if she calls me every name in the book if it keeps her awake until the paramedics arrive," said Bill chuckling softly. Ralph could tell Bill was worried as well.
"Yeah. Listen, I'll keep you apprised on what I know and if I can get over to you, I'll let you know," said Ralph.
"Gotcha kid, just be careful."
"You too, Bill," said Ralph as he pocketed the device.
Cyler noticed Ralph's frown. "Come on Mr. H, if Mr. Maxwell's there, you know that she'll be all right," he said.
Ralph nodded. "I know Cyler, but she's hurt too, and it makes me wonder how many more students are. Right now, we need to find a way to get you guys out of here and hope the paramedics arrive soon," he said as he checked Tony for any signs of the teen regaining consciousness. He frowned when Tony didn't stir.
"Still out huh?" asked Cyler, frowning.
"Yeah, and it's starting to worry me..." he said, frowning more. "If he stays this way too long, he might have some long term problems, or..."
Cyler cleared his throat, not wanting to think of that possibility. "You know, Mr. H, Tony and I we fight, but we do get along. And, this stays between us, I'm scared too and I don't want him to die."
"I know Cyler, none of us want that. I'm worried too, but were going to get out of here soon," said Ralph, remembering a time a few years before he had the suit when he was charged at at basketball game. His head struck the floor sharply, so much so it bounced off the asphalt. He had been out for two hours, and the doctors were concerned that he'd suffer from epileptic seizures as a result.
While he beat the odds and suffered no lingering effects, with all the other things Tony might be dealing with... Ralph was more than worried, but was going to keep that from Cyler. He realized that they might need more than just the fire department. 'At the rate this is going, the suit's going to have to help out, even if it means you find out about it,' Ralph thought.
