After a moment composing herself, Jill gingerly rose. Using her knees to grip the roof of the dormer window, she leant forwards, her hands coming into contact with the terracotta tiles in front of her. Then, with her weight resting mostly through her hands and torso, she moved her right leg, scraping it painfully until her shin lay upon the top edge of the triangle. Weight was then put upon that shin, pain shooting through her as tiles pressed against the bone; the thin covering of skin doing little to protect it. She then heaved her left leg up, placing her foot upon the roof just in front of her right knee. This allowed her, after a moment to regain her balance, to bring her right foot onto the triangle of roofing, and eventually rise into a standing position. From there, she could reach the chimney stack. She skimmed her right hand up towards the stack, reluctant to break contact with the tiles.
"No! Doctor stop!"
She froze at hearing Ken's voice. She didn't dare reply, for fear of disrupting the precarious balance she held.
"Don't touch the chimney. It's not safe."
Her eyes widened, a physical visualisation of her fear as it registered what could happen if she did indeed touch it. Her hand quickly slid down the roof towards her. "What shall I do?" She called, her gaze fixed on the orange brick in front of her; she didn't dare look down.
"Over to your left, at the very end. You go up there."
She glanced across, seeing a right angle in the roof where the hospital edged round the courtyard. She made her way over, seeing it looked easier. There even seemed to be tiles positioned which created hand- and foot-holds. She reached the top without too much difficulty, though she had to steady herself, the breeze catching her off guard.
The view in front of her was off the road running alongside the front of the hospital. Shuttleworth Garden was behind that, and she could even see the nurses' home, a few of the blue-clad figures wandering towards the building. If she was not in such a perilous position she would have been able to enjoy it.
Turning her attention back to the roof, she glanced along until her gaze fell upon Alun. He was to the right and below her, wedged between the chimney and two dormer windows.
It was surprisingly easy to reach Alun, and once she was balanced beside him, she proceeded to examine him. She checked his eyes, finding the pupils equal and reactive to the light. His strength was also equal on both sides of his body, and his memory seemed fine. He wasn't dizzy, and his only other injuries were a few grazes and bruises.
"Well I'd say you're fine Alun." She smiled at him. "Although when we get down, I'd like to keep you under observation for a few hours as you were unconscious for a period of time."
"Thanks Doctor." He returned her smile, easing himself into a standing position. "Shall I go first, I know the best route after all."
She nodded, gesturing for him to lead the way, grateful she didn't have to navigate the roof on her own again. He took her back the way she'd come, helping to steady her over the more perilous areas, until they reached the dormer window. Alun vaulted it quite nimbly, obviously well practised, but she took her time, levering herself up as she had done before. She eased herself down the other side as she had done previously. However, her foot, upon which most of her weight rested, slipped, sending her sliding downwards. She scrabbled desperately at the tiles. Her hands gained no purchase; there was just nothing to cling onto.
"Jill!"
"Doctor!"
Both Gordon and Alun shouted simultaneously, accompanied by gasps from the gathering crowd.
After what seemed like an age, but was in fact only seconds, of sliding, her feet came into contact with something, stopping her descent. Then, a firm pressure was placed on her back, preventing her from spiralling backwards and downwards.
"You okay doctor?"
"Erm, yes... yes." She whispered, breathing deeply, trying to force her heart rate to change from the speedy thundering it had adopted. It took her a moment to realise her feet were lodged firmly in the gutter, and that the pressure on her back was Alun's hand.
"Come on, just a few more steps then you can down the ladder."
She nodded, shuffling gingerly sideways, stopping only when she reached the ladder.
"You go first. I'll bring your shoes"
"Thanks." She replied softly, glancing briefly at her shoes where she'd left them in the gutter. Alun placed a hand on her arm, steadying her as she placed her foot on the metal rung and began a slow climb down. She reached the bottom with such relief, never so glad to have her feet firmly back on the ground. She thanked Ken, then walked away from the ladder.
"Jill." He took her elbow, stopping her in her tracks.
"I'm fine Gordon." She uttered before he could speak, smiling reassuringly at him.
He pulled her a few steps away from the ladder as Alun neared the bottom. He took her other elbow, looking at her with concern. "You're shaking." He whispered gently. His thumbs glided back and forth over her arms in a comforting motion.
"I'm fine." She repeated, smiling again. "I must see to Alun." She placed a trembling hand on his arm briefly, then led Alun into the hospital, pausing only to slide into her shoes, slightly scuffed from all the activity.
