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‘Lie still. Not too long now before we get you out of here.’
‘Take him...’ Annabel cried out in pain as she shifted slightly and a boy’s dirty, frightened face peered out at Cass.
‘Okay. Okay, we’re going to take you both. Just hang in there.’
The boy started to crawl out from the crevice below Annabel’s body. Somehow, even though she was clearly badly injured, she’d managed to get him into the safest place she could, protecting him in the only way that was available to her. Dust and plaster was floating down from above them and Cass crouched over Annabel, sheltering her and the child as best she could.
Jack was making his way towards her with the medical bag, which had been lowered down after them. As soon as he reached them, Cass let go of the boy, who wriggled free of his hidey-hole and straight into Jack’s arms.
The boy was handed back to the firefighter who had followed Jack down, ready to be carried back up to the classroom where the other paramedic was waiting. Cass held her position, sheltering Annabel, while Jack started to check her over, talking quietly to reassure her.
A piece of something hit the back of her helmet and Jack glanced upwards. ‘Okay?’
‘Yep. Keep going.’ Annabel was injured and defenceless. And she’d already shown such bravery. Cass would keep shielding her with her own body for as long as it took.
Jack gave her the briefest of smiles and then turned his attention back to his patient.
‘Sweetheart. Annabel... I’m giving you pain relief. It’ll kick in pretty quickly.’ He murmured the words and Cass saw Annabel nod.
‘The children...’ She opened her eyes, trying to focus on Jack. ‘You’re Ellie’s dad...’
‘Yes, that’s right. The children are all safe, thanks to you. And Shaun is okay as well—the firefighters are taking him out of the building.’
‘I picked him up and the ground just... My leg...’
‘You did just great, Annabel. You protected them all.’ Jack’s sideways glance at Cass told her that he’d come to the same conclusion she had. Annabel and Shaun must have fallen together and she must have landed awkwardly, trying to protect him.
‘So cold. Don’t want to...die.’ A tear dribbled from the corner of Annabel’s eye and Cass shifted her position so that she could take her hand.
‘You’re not going to die.’ Jack brushed the side of her face with his fingers to keep her attention. ‘Hey... Annabel.’
‘Yeah... Too much paperwork...’ Annabel grimaced.
‘Far too much. I know you’re hurting, but you’re going to mend. Just hold on to Cass and we’ll be getting you out of here as soon as we can. Got it?’ Cass knew exactly what the warmth in Jack’s eyes could do. He could make her believe anything, and she hoped that Annabel would believe him now.
‘Yes...’
News was passed through that the firefighters, working to get through at ground floor level, were almost there. Jack worked on Annabel quickly and carefully, preparing her to be moved. A neck brace and temporary splints for her legs. A thermal blanket, to try and warm her a little, and an oxygen mask.
Annabel’s eyes followed him. Somehow, Jack had managed to become not just someone who could give her medical help but her lifeline. It was almost as if he was keeping her going, just by the sheer force of his personality, that warmth in his eyes. Staving off the shock which made Annabel’s hand ice-cold in hers.
The noise of boots clambering over the rubble heralded the arrival of the stretcher. Jack slid a lifting board under her body and Cass helped him transfer her to the stretcher, quickly securing the straps and tucking the thermal blanket around her.
‘Okay, sweetheart.’ Jack smiled down at Annabel. ‘We’re on our way.’
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
JACK WAITED UNTIL the ambulance had drawn away, carrying Annabel to the hospital. Cass came to stand beside him, watching the vehicle negotiate its way past the fire engines and down the lane.
‘Brave woman,’ she murmured.
‘Yeah. Josie’s going to find out how she is when she goes off shift, and call me.’
‘Do you think...?’ She shrugged. ‘How did she seem, to you?’
‘Shock. One leg broken, and the other is probably fractured. Cuts, bruises, and she’s got a cracked rib and what looks like a broken wrist. I couldn’t find anything else, but they’ll be checking her over further at the hospital to make sure.’
Cass nodded. ‘I hope she’s all right. Are you going off shift now?’
