She strained her eyes, trying to catch the first glimpse of the Julia's means of escape descending towards her. She went over and over what Frankie had told her to do. It wasn't much, but one small mistake could cost the child her life.

Finally, it was lowered over, the shape blocking out most of the small amount of sunlight reaching her. She turned to Julia, and knelt down beside her, the torch once again casting light over the fragile form. Pulse and breathing were both the same as when she'd last checked. That, at least, provided some for of comfort.

She stood back up, and reached upwards, her fingers enclosing around the object, steadying it, and bringing it towards Julia as more of the rope tied to it was fed from above. Eventually, it was level with her feet, and she was able to bring the canvas stretcher to lie beside the child.

Two ropes were tied to it, one around one of the poles, and the other on the pole diagonally opposite it, giving the most possible stability on assent. Each of knots were tied expertly to ensure the stretcher was held securely.

With extreme gentleness, but in one rapid, fluid movement, Jill lifted the young girl slightly and slid her onto the stretcher. There was however, still the danger that even the slightest movement could make any injuries worse. Still, it was the only choice they had.

With deft movements, she secured the straps Frankie had sent down, pulling them tight so Julia was securely held on the stretcher, but not too tight so as to crush her.

"READY FRANKIE!" Jill called, checking the straps once more, then holding her breath for any response, and trying to distinguish it from her own voice echoing from the walls of the shaft.

Finally, she heard a response. "Going up."

She stepped back, directed her torch beam at the stretcher, watching as it slowly ascended, moving higher and higher above her. She clenched her fingers around the plastic cylinder tightly, various scenarios filling her mind, each so much worse that the last.


Thankfully, Julia made it up safely, and as far as she was aware, the young girl was being loaded into the back of the ambulance.

And so she was alone. She swallowed, her throat tight as she awaited orders from Frankie. Nothing else was needed to be done down the shaft anymore, so the only thing left to do was get her up.

A few moments later, a single rope dropped down in front of her, along with Frankie's shouted instructions. She picked the end up and looped it around herself tying it twice to form a thick knot against her stomach. She'd perhaps tied it too tight, as the binding pressed against her bruised ribs, and the already torn skin where the blood hadn't been strong enough to hold her skin together at her side, whilst she'd descended.

She tugged at the rope, trying to ascertain if it was strong enough to bare her weight. Her hands shook as she did this, fear engulfing her as she wished she'd asked Frankie to teach her how to tie the most suitable, safest knot whilst she was at the top.

Resigning herself to the fact that this was probably the best she could do, she shouted up that she was ready. Within seconds, the rope pulled, sliding a fraction upwards, creating pressure on her ribs, and chafing her skin through her torn blouse. Eventually, the rope could rise up her body no more, and she felt herself beginning to lift, she stretched her feet, keeping her toes in touch with the floor for as long as she could, as if to put off the inevitable. And then they lost contact, and she was suspended, her life dependent upon the two men above, and one length of rope.

She clung on tightly to as she was pulled up, higher and higher, towards the sound of Frankie's voice. Though she couldn't hear, she imagined him to be replaying commands to Steve. The fact that she was in their hands made her slightly less frightened than she perhaps otherwise would have been had it been someone else. She trusted the pair. She knew they worked well together, had seen them in action many times trying to help a patient, occasionally putting their own lives on the line in the process. But they were never rash, they always took the time to assess the situation, come up with the safest solution, not just for the patient, but also for themselves and any of their colleagues. And this was what she concentrated on as she ascended, trying to distract herself from the ever increasing distance between her and the bottom as the seconds passed.

It was only when she could clearly see the mud and the grass lining the edge of the gaping mouth, and hear Frankie's actually words, that she stopped concentrating on her being in safe hands. She felt partial relief that she was nearing the top, nearing the time when she could get out of the dark, damp, dirty and stuffy enclosure, and out into the cool, clean fresh air. However, she also felt increased fear, knowing that the last stint would be the most difficult and the most dangerous.

After a few minutes, she'd reached the end of where she could just cling on and let the rope take her up. She raised she eyes from where she'd been focused on the dark coal and mud as she'd ascended, and squinted at Frankie, partially silhouetted above her. She saw his head and part of his torso, which then lowered towards her slightly as he knelt down beside the opening.

"Okay doc, you're going to have to let go of the rope now. You need to give me your hand."

Jill nodded vigorously, making sure he could see she understood, but regretted it as this caused the rope to swing slightly, bouncing her off the side.

She closed her eyes briefly, readying herself. Slowly, she loosened the grip her left hand held on the rope, all the while her right hand tightening further. Suddenly, with a swift motion, she released her hand, and shot it upwards, fingers outstretch in desperation to find the fingers of another. With relief, she felt Frankie's hand take hers, and his other engulfing her wrist. She wrapped her fingers tightly around his, being calmed slightly by the softness, but also the firmness, but not harshly so, unlike the rocks that had been her company for the past few hours.

Neither of them did anything for a moment, just making sure the grip between them was secure, then Frankie called. "You're going to have to help me here doc!"

Jill was about to reply with an indignant, rather haggard and slightly panicked assertion that she was in fact doing all she could to help, when a different voice reached her ears. A voice that was unequivocally Gordon's.