"Brooke?" I wake to someone stroking my head, whispering. "Hey.. I don't want to wake you but I need to say bye before I go to work." Chap smiles. I was supposed to be going with him. I try to pull myself up as my arms fail. "Stay there Brooke. You don't need to come. I'll get someone to come check on you later." I shake my head, pulling myself in to him. I can't let him go on his own. "Brooke.. Okay.. We both know I don't want to leave you on your own.. Whip's working and I'm not leaving you with Jake.. Right.. You can sit in the Tower with me? I'm only there a few hours anyway. But you're taking the chair." I nod slowly, knowing he won't be convinced. He goes out to get it as I try to make myself look more awake. I'm sure I can just wear the same clothes that I've slept in as changing takes more energy. He arrives back, smiling and lifts me into the chair.
"I can do it." He laughs.
"Somehow, I don't think that would work. It's okay Brooke, everyone can have bad days. You'll enjoy being waited on anyway." He grins.
"Hurry." He laughs as he kisses the top of my head.
"Alright. We're only there about three hours, just so they can see how we go. We'll grab some food on the way in. Which shoes?" I point at the lightest shoes and he slides them carefully onto my feet. "Let's go to work!" He laughs as he lifts me into the car before getting in the driver's side.
"I can walk." I tell him.
"You can't really though can you? Come on, it'll be fun having everyone look after you." He grins as we pull up outside a cafe and he runs inside. He arrives back minutes later with coffee and a scone. "Apparently this is English and you'll like it." I nod as he hands it to me. "It was all free too!"
"Why?" I ask as he grins.
"We saved the owner's sons a few months back. She's apparently repaying us and won't take no for an answer so, free food!" It's amazing how many people these guys help and they're all so blasé about it. "Eat up then Brooke, we've got a beach to save." He laughs as we drive away again. His excitement is infectious and soon enough I almost manage to forget the pain. "I have a very important job for you." Chap says as we pull up outside the Tower. "You are the Keeper of the Coffee."
"I don't think you need any." He laughs.
"Maybe not but it'll be fun to rub it in their faces that they don't have any." He gets out the car and grabs the chair before lifting me back into it. "Serious though, just for a second, you need to tell me if you feel worse. We can sort something but not if you don't tell me." I nod. "Right then, off to work for us!" He pushes the chair towards the Tower and opens the door with a flourish. "Morning guys!"
"Ugh Chap, we were out last night." Maxi groans before he looks over. "Hey Brooke, you stuck up here with him all day?" He asks, barely looking at the chair. I nod as Chap pulls me closer.
"You want to sit on a proper chair or in this?"
"Chair." He grins and lifts me again before placing me carefully down.
"Everything okay?" Gonzo asks as he sees us.
"Brooke is joining us today but she's tired." Chap forgoes a more complicated explanation.
"Right well if you're okay I'm off now. Hop said he'd be over later." Gonzo says as he leaves. Chap picks up two pairs of binoculars and passes one to me.
"Make yourself useful, hey Brooke?" He grins. He seems so excited to be back to work. The radio is constantly crackling as we watch rescue after rescue.
"There's a group out back on the sandbank. Keep an eye on them Matt." Chap radios, pointing them out to me.
"We've got a dislocation just coming up to you now guys." Whip calls as I watch the Rhino make its way up the beach. Chap looks to me calmly.
"You want to see normal people's reactions to dislocations?" He smiles as he opens the door. Whippet practically carries a young boy who is practically in tears with a dislocated knee. "You want to sit up here and we'll grab the green whistle for you."
"You okay if I go back? We're busy down there." Chap nods as Whip leaves. Hoppo arrives, obviously hearing the commotion, and goes to help Chap. Maxi calls for an ambulance as Hop comes up to the top of the Tower.
"Hey Brooke, is he doing okay?" I nod, smiling slightly at the fact he asks me and not Chap. "Maxi, run down and help the guys out back." He instructs as the group fall off the sandbank. About five tourists are now near drowning with only two lifeguards to save them. As Maxi reaches the water, Matt has brought two in and Mouse has another three balancing on his board. Maxi takes two and Mouse brings the third before we see them shouting to each other. Another group have fallen off the same bank and don't seem to be able to swim. Matt is immediately in the water and the others drop their patients off and race back out.
"The ambo's just arrived." Chap tells us as he sends his patient off and comes back to the window. I can see his calm demeanor fall as he realises he can't actually help the guys in the water. Hop's face is also serious as we watch the guys bring another 6 patients back. They're immediately out again to collect another group. Mouse gives the resus signal and Hoppo audibly sighs. "Chap, can you run it down? I'll send back up in a second." Chap grabs the stuff and starts to jog down to where the guys are. Hop picks up the radio, "Yatesy, Deano can you both get down to where Matt and Mouse are. Resus." I watch another Rhino speed down the beach before realising the gravity of the situation. There is a person dying on the beach and these guys are going to try to save their life. I watch in silence as Hop tries to keep an eye on the rest of the beach. I can't see what's happening but a group of people surround them.
"Hop, is the ambo on the way? 32 year old male from Ireland. We've got his pregnant wife here too."
"Copy, ambo is coming." Hop turns to me cautiously, as if only just remembering I'm here. I nod once, hoping to convey that I'm fine as he goes back to monitoring the beach. It feels like hours pass before another response comes over the radio.
"We've got him back. We'll wait here for the ambo."
"Good going guys. Ambo is just arriving here now." I watch as the paramedics are directed down the beach to their new patient. Handover is quick and soon enough they're making their way back up the beach. I close my eyes for a second, resting my head on the desk, trying to slow the thoughts of what could have been. "Brooke..?" Hoppo sounds cautious, "Chap is on his way back up now.. You're okay.." I feel as though my energy is sapping away in my thoughts.
"Hey Brooke, you're okay. I'm here." Chap says as he lifts my head for me.
"You guys want to get home? It's almost time anyway. Well done for today." Hop smiles.
"Thanks mate." Chap says as he lifts me again, carrying me out to the car. "Just rest here Brooke. I'm gonna get the chair then we can go." I know he'll actually have to reassure them that I'm okay but it's nice that he's trying to calm me down. He comes back after a few minutes. "I thought you'd be asleep. We're coming back for debrief tomorrow and I have a surprise for you. You need to sleep so tomorrow comes faster!" He grins but I can see that the resus has taken its toll on him. He kisses me softly as I close my eyes and sleep.
