"The ambulance is on the way." said Ryan putting down his phone. "But they warned that it might take them a while to get to us. I'm sure this storm has done a lot of damage. That won't be the only fallen tree."

Cara was definitely going into labour but with the car balanced on its tail there was no way for her to get comfortable or for Bianca to get to her to help.

"We have to get out of this car." said Bianca. "They could find us just as easily at Kendall's. We haven't come that far along the road."

"You want us to walk to Kendall's in this." asked Ryan, "It is raining stair-rods out there." A strong gust shook the car once more and the rain hammered into the windows.

"It's that or Cara has the baby in the car."

"I vote for the house." said Cara in-between her panting breaths.

"You think you could make it all that way."

Cara sighed.

"I'm going to have to aren't I!"

She began panting her Lamar's breaths again as the urge to push returned.

"I guess we all are." said Ryan. "Watch yourself, Bianca."

Ryan turned himself awkwardly in the enclosed space, back into the driver's seat. It took him a few efforts to push the car door open. The force if the wind kept slamming back. In the end it was the wind that helped him out, almost ripping the door from his hand as a strong gust caught it. Once he had hopped to the ground Ryan walked around the bonnet to help Bianca out her side. She passed her crutches down first before letting him pull her out into the driving rain.

The biggest challenge was how to great Cara from the back seat. The back of the car was resting in a muddy ditch the rain had turned into a river.

"It looks like I'm going to get dirty." called Ryan having to yell over the sound of the rain.

"What can I do?" asked Bianca.

"I'm not sure." said Ryan.

Ryan let out a gasp as he squelched into the ditch, a freezing torrent of water rushing past his thighs. Once more the wind was playing cat and mouse, fighting against him trying and keep the door open. Bianca tried to help by grabbing the door but a strong gust overbalanced her and she almost joined him in the ditch. Finally Ryan braced his back against the door to stop the wind fighting him for it and carefully lifted Cara into his arms. Then he realised he was stuck, the mud sucking at his shoes, the door pushing at his back.

"Don't drop me." cried Cara as Ryan awkwardly tried to pull his first leg out of the mud. He wasn't sure how he could do this without putting Cara down. Ryan was suddenly aware that the car door was no longer pushing against him trying to knock him down. Bianca was kneeing on the bank on her bad leg, her right leg plunged into the ditch water; and so braced she had a tight grip on the car door. Ryan nodded his thanks before carefully manoeuvring his way to the bank. After resting Cara on the asphalt he extracted himself from the mud and collapsed onto the road beside her. Bianca meanwhile let the car door slam shut and pulled herself back onto her feet.

"Well that was disgusting." said Ryan, with a laugh.

"At least the rain will wash the mud off." Bianca joked.

A rumble of thunder joined instantly by a stark lighting flash reminded them how dangerous it was to stay out in the open.

Ryan lifted Cara up into his arms, despite her protests.

"It'll be quicker this way." He said, striding back along the asphalt.

He stopped when he realised Bianca couldn't keep up.

"Don't wait for me." called Bianca, several paces behind. "Get her into the dry as fast as possible. I have to follow at my own speed."

Ryan paused in a moment if indecision. Then Cara gave an agonising groan, gripping tightly to his collar. This prompted him into action. He hurried off towards the house at a jog.

…

Ryan burst through the door into Kendall's house, Cara still in his arms. He laid her carefully on the couch and then moved to turn on a lamp. There was no power.

"Great that's all we need." said Ryan as he flicked the switch on and off a few times.

"At least it's dry." said Cara through chattering teeth.

"Oh, god." cried Ryan, grabbing the throw off of the back of the couch and tightly wrapping it around her. "Is that better?"

"Much." said Cara with a nod.

"Well let's see about lighting this fire." He said moving to the hearth. As he set about getting a good fire going, he kept looking towards the door.

"Do you think she's alright?" he asked, wondering what was taking Bianca so long.

"I think you should go and get her. The weather is getting wilder and wilder out there."

"What! I can't leave you here, alone." cried Ryan.

"I'll be fine," said Cara, she was attempting a smile but to Ryan it looked more like a grimace. "It's just a case of mind over matter."

Reluctantly Ryan nodded.

"Just don't have that baby until I get back." he said, before grabbing a torch from the closet. He pulled his collar tight around his neck before stepping out once more into the storm.

…