As Jill clung to Frankie's hand, his silhouette was joined by Gordon's, who too held his hand down to her.
"Doc, you're going to have to let go of the rope now. Grab Doctor O's hand."
She clenched her hand tighter around Frankie's as tight as she could, as her other hand loosened its grip on the rope. She'd almost let it go completely, when she swung slightly, feeling herself drop a fraction. Her fingers scrabbled desperately, bringing the rope once more against her palm, pressing it there.
"Doc, you have to let go."
She shook her head desperately, almost crying. "I can't!"
"Listen to me." Frankie said, his voice too, holding a note of desperation. "I've got you, the rope's round your waist, and Doctor Ormerod is going to help you as well."
"Jill, come on, you can do it."
Despite her precarious situation, she was still shocked at the encouraging words Gordon uttered. Knowing he wasn't completely angry at her gave her a boost of energy, made her that little bit stronger.
"On three okay, Jill."
"Okay." This time, she spoke with determination.
"One."
"One." She echoed quietly, loosening her fingers.
"Two."
"Two." She breathed shakily, readying herself.
"Three."
"Three!" She shouted, thrusting her arm upwards, her palm connecting almost immediately with Gordon's.
"Got you!"
It didn't take long for her to be pulled up out of the shaft, and for her finally be out, standing in the open moorland. Well, she wasn't really standing, more propped up by Gordon and Frankie. Her whole body was quivering, and the sudden rush of relief at knowing she was safe made her weak, unable to support her own weight.
She felt Gordon's thumb stroking her hip softly where one of his hands lay. She breathed in deep lungfuls of the cool, clean air, trying to calm herself, when her legs suddenly shook quite violently and she lent more heavily on Gordon and Frankie.
"What's that?" Gordon questioned, sounding quite nervous to her.
Her legs gave out again and she felt both Frankie and Gordon tighten their grip on her.
Frankie stepped away from the hole and started speaking frantically. "I think it's going to give way!"
And then she realised it wasn't her legs that were shaking, it was the land upon which they were standing.
She tried to move in the same direction as Frankie but her legs refused to cooperate and she would have crumpled to the ground had Gordon not pulled her up. "Help me Frankie!" He commanded loudly; the voice that always captured the required attention and response in hospital or at emergencies.
Gordon, on her right, wrapped his left arm around her back and his right arm beneath her leg. Frankie did the same only with his right arm around her back. Once they had her off the ground, they ran, her clinging on tightly to their shoulders, large fistfuls of Gordon's beige mac and Frankie's navy uniform in her grasp.
Once they were a few metres away, she was set down and they turned to look. Both Gordon's arms surrounded her waist, holding her trembling form close to him, whilst her right hand still clung to his shoulder. Her other arm rested upon Frankie's, and his hand was laid on her back. Despite the fairly mild day, she felt chilled. She could feel the warmth of their hands through the thin, torn and stained material of her blouse.
She couldn't prevent a small sob escaping her as they saw the land they had stood on a few second ago sag, then suddenly drop, disappearing down into the blackness with a great billow of soil and coal dust. They choked and averted their faces, holding their breaths as long as they could to prevent themselves from breathing in more of the damaging particles.
Gordon tugged her closer to him, their bodies pressed tightly to one another, his arms encircling her protectively, supporting her to an extent, and bearing most of her weight. Frankie too, had moved closer, his hand pressed a fraction more on her back.
The dust slowly diffused into the air, blown gently, spiralling away in the breeze. And still the three remained in the same position, not moving and for a few moments, connected through the events that no one else would be able to be.
And then Steve called to her, and they sprang apart, the moment passed, the connection lost and their responsibilities intruded, pulling them to the ambulance and to the little girl within.
