Little Charlie's cries were getting more plaintive.

"He's probably hungry." said Bianca. She was now sat on the sofa opposite Cara, kneeling on the floor wasn't easy with her lame left leg.

Ryan was putting new logs on the fire when he realised the implication.

"I'll… um… go and check to see what the weather's doing." He said before quickly getting to his feet and moving to the window, giving Cara the privacy she needed. Eventually Charlie's wail ended and a soft suckling sound could be heard.

As he peered out of the French windows, Ryan realised it looked a lot brighter outside.

"You know I think the storm is letting up… finally."

…

They could hear the chopper before they saw it.

Ryan still stationed at the window spotted the searchlight on the horizon.

"It looks like the cavalry has arrived." he cried.

Bianca joined him at the window in time to see the helicopter as it swept over the lawn looking for a place to land.

"A chopper." she said nervously.

"Rescue." said Ryan cheerfully, before noticing the worried expression on Bianca's face.

"It's just I've not had a good past experience with helicopters, storms and new born babies." explained Bianca.

Ryan put a comforting hand on her arm.

"It's going to be fine."

"I know… I know that." Bianca sighed before pulling herself together.

One of the paramedics stepped from the chopper as soon as it landed, his medical kit clutched in his hands. He ducked to avoid the slowing blades, before hurrying up the garden path towards them.

"Where's the new born?" he asked as Bianca opened the doors for him.

Ryan pointed him towards Cara and her son, both of whom were dozing peacefully. Charlie was now tucked into Ian's old basinet. Bianca had rescued it from the playroom where it had been filled with her daughter's dolls.

Bianca waited by the door as two more paramedic hurried in from the chopper, pushing a gurney ahead of them, with an incubator balanced on the top.

While one of the new arrivals joined the first paramedic checking Charlie and his mother, the remaining medic looked from Ryan and Bianca, clearly taking in Ryan's bruised nose, and Bianca's crutches and battered face.

"I should probably check you two out." He said. "How bad was the car crash?"

"No we're fine." said Ryan. "These are old injuries."

The medic looked to Bianca for confirmation.

"It wasn't really a crash, more a pirouette in a car." she said. "The bruises are old."

"You should probably get your leg checked." Cara advised, calling out over the paramedic's heads. "You've been doing a few things you shouldn't like clambering in ditches and kneeling for a long time…"

"Yes, doctor." Bianca called back giving her a playful salute. "She's probably right." she said forlornly turning to the medic.

Ryan looked down at her leg, suddenly guilty.

"Why didn't you say anything?" he asked, putting an arm around her waist to lead her back to the couch.

"I'm sure I'm fine. It's just I don't want Frankie scolding me again." she said jokingly.

"Are you in pain?" asked the paramedic as he eased off Bianca's shoe.

"That's the problem. I wouldn't know; I've no sensation in my left leg."

The medic felt along Bianca's calf and thigh, but then looked stumped.

"I can't feel anything wrong, but you should probably be examined by a doctor."

The paramedic looked back to his colleagues. Cara was now secured to the gurney and baby Charlie was tucked into the incubator. He bit his lip as he thought.

"We can probably fit you on the chopper as well. Take you straight to Pine Valley hospital just to be on the safe side."

"Sounds like a plan." said Ryan encouragingly.

"Sir I'm afraid we don't have room…" began the medic.

"I understand. I'll be fine here. I can wait a bit longer to be rescued."

"Ready to go." called one of the other paramedics.

Bianca's medic nodded.

"Ready, miss?"

…

As the helicopter took off from the lawn, Bianca looked down to see Ryan waving goodbye from the doorway to Kendall's house.

Bianca waved back.

As the helicopter climbed higher into the sky she could clearly see the devastation left by the storm. The road out of Kendall's house was flooded with water. Then she spotted Ryan's car, or what was left of it. The tree that had lost the branch in the storm had finally given up its battle with the wind, and toppled onto the road. All that was still visible of Ryan's car under the fallen tree trunk was the red bonnet partially submerged in the sludge brown flood water.

They had had a very lucky escape.

…