Disclaimer: All characters belong to HiT Entertainment.

Chapter 3

"Okay, Sam," Helen said kindly. "I want you to breathe in and out slowly."

I did as Helen instructed. She moved the stethoscope around on my back as I concentrated on my breathing. After a moment, she removed the stethoscope, and she moved around in front of me. I tucked my shirt back into my trousers.

"Well, the good news is that you don't appear to have done any permeant damage to your lungs," Helen reported. "But they will probably be rather sore for the next few days, so I'm going to have you restricted to light duties for the rest of the week."

I sighed despondently. Then I rubbed my forehead with the thumb and fingers of my right hand. "Okay, Helen. Uh, can you please define what you mean by 'light duties'."

Helen smiled. "I knew you'd ask that. I won't restrict you to office duties this time, but I think you'll be able to figure out your own limits. It might be best if you avoid smoke for now. Even with your BA equipment, you might find it a struggle."

"Understood. Are you going to make this restriction official?"

"No, but I will be advising Station Officer Steele of my decision."

"Okay. Can I go now?"

"Yes. And Sam? I know you're 'just doing your job', but even heroes have their limitations. Remember that."

I nodded. Just them, a warning alarm started to sound. I knew from the tone that it meant that Neptune was being brought back up the launching ramp. I went over to the control panel to assist in the tricky manoeuvre.

Once Neptune was back inside the Ocean Rescue Centre, I pulled the lever to close the roller door. Ben and Elvis climbed out of Neptune, and they removed their life vests.

"Hannah is now safe and sound," Ben told me. He frowned when he saw Helen packing up her equipment. "How about you, Sam?"

"I'll be fine, thanks to you," I replied, smiling slightly. "I really appreciate your help."

"You're welcome, Sam. I'm just glad you're all right."

I gave Ben's shoulder a friendly pat before I made my way out of the Ocean Rescue Centre. The quay was still a hive of activity, but this time everyone was swarmed around Joe's submarine, so I was able to quietly make my get away aboard Mercury before anyone spotted me.

When I arrived back at the fire station, I found Station Officer Steele waiting for me on the landing outside the Control Room.

"I've just had a call from Helen…"

"I know. I'm unofficially restricted to light duties. Sorry, sir."

Station Officer Steele shook his head slightly. "You have nothing to be sorry for, Sam. You were carrying out your responsibilities as leading fireman. You do remember what that responsibility is, don't you?"

"To ensure that the public and my fellow firefighters are safe at all times, sir," I replied spontaneously.

"And that's exactly what you did. Even though it meant risking your own life."

I sighed. "Could we go into your office please, sir? There's a few important things I need to discuss with you."

"Oh, okay."

Once we were alone in the privacy of the Control Room, I began. "There are two things I need to talk to you about, sir. The first is that we really need to train someone else as a qualified scuba diver. That way, if Penny does require back-up, or we need a scuba diver on her days off, we'll be fine."

"I quite agree, Sam. I was rather hoping you'd be willing to do the training."

I sighed. That's exactly what I was afraid of… "With all due respect, sir, I think maybe Ellie or Arnold should have the training. Scuba diving isn't something I'm sure I'd be good at."

"And yet free diving is?"

"Eh…" I couldn't really think of a reply to that. "Well… You see… I, er… It was an emergency…"

Station Officer Steele chuckled, and he briefly placed a hand on my shoulder. "It's okay, Sam. I understand. Time to sit back and let the youngsters learn a few tricks, eh?" And he chuckled.

I glanced at a photo of the old fire station that was hanging on the wall. "I wouldn't say that, sir. I just have my reasons for not wanting to learn. Anyway, I have something else to tell you. While I was rescuing Penny, we found an old shipwreck, sir."

"Yes, Penny's already told me about it. I suppose I'd better inform Newtown museum…"

"Actually, sir, I was wondering if we might be able to salvage some of the items from the wreck first? They might be able to help us identify the wreck."

"Hmm… Good idea, Sam. But I'll have to ask the museum about that first, to see what they think. There might be a special method of retrieving the items."

I nodded thoughtfully. "Yes, of course. I didn't think of that. I'll leave you to it then, sir."

…

About half an hour later, Penny and I were busy cleaning some of the rescue equipment inside the garage, when Station Officer Steele joined us.

"How are you both feeling now?"

"I think we've both recovered now, sir," Penny replied, and she winked at me.

"What did the museum say?" I asked.

"They want us to retrieve whatever objects we can from the wreck," Station Officer Steele replied. "The President of the Newtown Museum is coming here tomorrow afternoon to examine the items we find. So, you'll have to dive for them early tomorrow morning. You two are more familiar with the history of Pontypandy than I am. Which wreck do you think it is?"

"Well, sir, there haven't been many unsolved wrecks off this stretch of coastland," I replied. "So, I believe it is the wreck of the Pontypandy Pearl."

"What makes you so sure, Sam?" Penny asked.

"The pirate flag. How many other pirate ships do you know about that were wrecked off our coastline?"

"Uh… None."

"Exactly."

"Well, until we know for sure, please keep this to yourselves," Station Officer Steele warned.

"Yes, sir," I agreed. Everyone will go crazy if they knew we'd possibly found the wreck of the Pontypandy Pearl.

"Of course, sir," Penny also agreed.

"How would you like us to co-ordinate the salvage, sir?" I asked.

"Why don't we go upstairs and plan it over a cup of tea?" Station Officer Steele suggested.

Before long, the three of us were gathered around the kitchen table, planning out how we were going to salvage items from the wreck. Elvis was in the kitchen, cooking our lunch. All of a sudden, we heard the alarms going off.

That's strange, I thought. There's no one in the Control Room. Unless Norman's playing a trick on us…

"This is Chief Fire Officer Boyce," our boss announced over the loudspeakers. "Turnout drill, now! And I am timing you!"

Penny, Elvis and I immediately dashed across the room to the fireman's poles, and we slid down them in an orderly manner. Turnout drills were common in city fire brigades, but they were rare out here in the country. In the city, they happened on an average of once a month, but here we were lucky to get one turnout drill a year. Basically, we had just twenty seconds to get downstairs, put on out firefighting uniforms and get into the vehicles. We had to behave as if we were leaving for a real callout.

"Penny, take Venus," I instructed as I put on my uniform. "Elvis, you come with me in Jupiter."

Penny and Elvis did as I'd instructed. I clipped on my helmet just before I leapt into Jupiter's cab and started her up. I didn't bother to activate the siren because just as Penny and I were about to drive our respective vehicles out of the garage, Chief Fire Officer Boyce appeared, and he held up his clipboard to stop us.

"All right! Stand down, firefighters!" he ordered. "And fall into parade."

Minutes later, Station Officer Steele, Penny, Elvis and I were lined up and standing at attention in front of the garage. Chief Fire Officer Boyce paced in front of us, inspecting each of us in turn. He was ensuring we had our uniforms on correctly, and that nothing was missing. Finally, he turned to face Station Officer Steele.

"Where are Firefighters McKinley and Phillips?"

"They're on a rostered day off, sir."

"I see… Well, congratulations on passing the turnout drill exercise. You completed it in just eighteen seconds. I'm impressed. What I'm not impressed with, however, is the disaster that happened this morning. Yes, I know all about it, and that's why I came straight down here. Station Officer Steele and Leading Fireman Jones. Fall out, and go and wait for me upstairs in the Control Room."

"Uh, oh!" I heard Elvis mutter.

Station Officer Steele and I promptly spun ninety degrees on our heels and we fell out of the parade. Inside the garage, I quickly removed my firefighting uniform and I put it back on the uniform rack before I hurried upstairs.

"How did Chief Fire Officer Boyce find out about what happened this morning so quickly?" I asked Station Officer Steele when I joined him inside the Control Room.

"I had to phone him to tell him that my two most senior officers were potentially unfit for duty," Station Officer Steele replied. "Prepare yourself, Sam. I know Boyce means business when he's like this. He's going to try and intimidate us. Just stay calm, and everything should be okay."

At that moment, Chief Fire Officer Boyce joined us. He almost slammed the door shut. I cringed when he slammed his clipboard down on the desk.

"Stand at attention, Leading Fireman Jones!"

I obeyed. Chief Fire Officer Boyce sighed as he slumped down into the chair behind the desk.

"I must start off by saying that if what Station Officer Steele reported is true, I'm bitterly disappointed in you, Sam. I want you to tell me exactly what happened this morning."

I hesitated for a moment while I gathered my thoughts. "Well, sir, we were called out to rescue Joe Sparkes after his homemade submarine ran out of power. Penny…I mean, Firefighter Morris, and Coastguard Hooper are the only members of the watch who are qualified in scuba diving. Since Fireman Criddlington is not qualified to drive Titan, Coastguard Hooper had to stay at the helm. We managed to get the submarine to the surface, and Joe told me that Firefighter Morris was in trouble. I made the decision to free-dive down to rescue her. Firefighter Morris shared her oxygen with me, but we'd only just made it back to the surface when her oxygen ran out. We've both been assessed by Nurse Flood, and she's declared Firefighter Morris fit for duty, while I'm unofficially restricted to light duties for a few days to ensure I make a full recovery."

While I'd been speaking, Chief Fire Officer Boyce had written down the important notes. Once he'd finished, he looked up at me again.

"I have some questions, Sam. As leading fireman, you're aware that you're responsible for the safety of your colleagues."

"Of course, sir."

"So, why did you send Firefighter Morris down to rescue Joe Sparkes without any form of back-up? Ben Hooper could've dived with her. You're qualified to drive Titan, so you could've been at the helm until they returned."

I groaned inwardly. "In hindsight, sir, that would've been better. I wish I'd thought of it."

Chief Fire Officer Boyce slammed his fist down on the desk, making Station Officer Steele and I jump in surprise. Chief Fire Officer Boyce leapt to his feet.

"I wish you'd thought of it too, Leading Fireman Jones! This is YOUR failing, and it nearly cost you your life, as well as that of Firefighter Morris! You cannot keep doing reckless acts like this! You might have managed to get away with it in the past, but things are different now. Coastguard rules state that all scuba dives MUST be carried out in pairs, just in case someone gets into difficulties. I understand the limitations of this brigade, but that's no excuse for blatantly ignoring the rules! What have you got to say for yourself?"

"I apologise for not carrying out my duties and responsibilities properly, sir," I replied humbly. For once, I couldn't make eye contact with my boss. I felt so guilty as the full implications of what could have happened finally hit home. Helen's words came racing back to me even as I spoke. 'I know you're 'just doing your job', but even heroes have their limitations.' I sighed sadly. "I can now see what I've done wrong, and I promise to never repeat this lapse. I'll also accept whatever punishment you feel is appropriate for my actions. This was entirely my own fault, and I accept that."

Chief Fire Officer Boyce nodded his acceptance of my apology. "Of course, I have every right to demote you as leading fireman. Officers have been sacked for less than this, you know. However, you are one of the few firefighters I have on my books who has a clean service record, so I'm going to go easy on you this time. I'm going to issue you with an official warning from the fire service, and I'm going to fine you a quarter of your wages for the next four weeks. Do you have any questions?"

"No, sir," I whispered.

"All right, you may go now, Leading Fireman Jones. I hope that we never have to have this discussion again. Stay right where you are, Station Officer Steele. You're next."

I saluted Chief Fire Officer Boyce before I walked quickly out of the Control Room. Penny was waiting for me on the landing.

"You made it out alive then?" she quipped.

"Only just," I muttered. Then I exhaled deeply. "I've never seen him so furious in my life!"

"I heard the shouting. It wasn't your fault, you know. I know the risks of scuba diving."

Penny and I started to head upstairs together. "I know, but I'm still held accountable for whatever happens during a callout. It's my job to look out for you, and I didn't. I'm really sorry."

"Look, it's okay, Sam. You don't have to apologise to me. Did he punish you?"

"Yes, but it wasn't as bad as it could've been. I was lucky not to be demoted."

Elvis overheard the last of what I'd just said as we entered the kitchen area. "Who's not being demoted?"

"Sam," Penny replied.

"Chief Fire Officer Boyce gave me an official warning and a fine for not carrying out correct health and safety procedures this morning. Now he's laying into Station Officer Steele."

"Oh, no!" Elvis gasped. "What do you think will happen to Station Officer Steele, Sam?"

"Nothing, I hope. He'll probably just get a scolding for not having enough of us trained in scuba diving."

"Should we listen in, Sam?" Penny asked with a wink.

"No, Penny. And I think it would be best if I'm not around when Chief Fire Officer Boyce leaves. You should probably stay out of sight when he leaves too. Otherwise, he might just decide to scold you as well."

"Point taken, Sam."

"Would you like anything to drink, Sam?" Elvis offered.

"Just a nice strong cup of tea, thanks Elvis."