Never Flick a Tick

And...It Had To Be You, Too....

The meeting had finally come to an end and Chris decided to make his way over to the campsite since no one had seen or heard from either Ant or Dec for almost an hour but that wasn't cause for concern so he took his time getting to the area. He quickly glanced around the campsite and didn't see the boys then remembered that both had wanted to head to separate destinations so he radioed those at Fright House to see if Ant was still there but was very surprised to hear that the younger man hadn't even shown up. He shrugged then headed up toward the bathtub area to see if Dec was there and if he knew where Ant may have headed to. As he walked up the trails, he had to stop a few times to answer his phone. There were still some bugs and kinks that they were trying to work through with various props and he answered questions and gave suggestions then would end a call only to have to answer another one. This pattern continued for about 10 minutes before he finally decided to let everything go to voice mail. With a shake of his head, he continued up the trail and made it around the bend only to be surprised when he didn't see either young man from where he was standing on the path, well below the tub. With a frown, he glanced about and was deciding whether or not he needed to start back down the trail to search for them when he heard a very low moan coming from somewhere above him...then horrible and distinct sounds of retching.

Scrambling up the rest of the trail, Chris was horrified to find Ant on his hands and knees throwing up at one end of the seesaw and Dec's crumbled figure at the other end. He immediately pulled out his radio and called for help, watching as Ant moved a bit away from the puddle of vomit before collapsing in a heap...no longer moving. Moments later, Jared Kingston trotted up the trail in search of Chris. He had been told that the director was on his way over to the seesaw and he needed to discuss a few matters with him.

"Ant...Ant..." the director's voice sounded quite panicked and the medic quickly reached the top of the trail and was immediately assualted with the odor of sickness just meters away. Taking in the scene before him, he went over to Dec's crumpled form only to discover that the younger man was wheezing...his breathing labored, shallow and rapid. Chris turned and felt relief wash over him at the sight of the medic.

"Jared...I don't know what happened here," he said in a voice that was slightly raised and panicked. "I saw Ant throwing up then he passed out."

"Here," Jared said, tossing his own radio to the distraught man. "Radio Bob as Med 3. Tell him we have two unconcious and one is in respiratory distress," he said as he checked Dec's pulse to find it rapid and weak in his right wrist but stronger at his neck. He then carefully rolled Dec from his side to his back before slightly tilting his head back in order to open his airway. As Jared continued to work all the while speaking quietly in reassuring tones to the still figure, Chris's hands slightly shook as he radioed for help.

**********

Medic Bob McCarren walked across the clinic floor to his desk where he had last lay his radio which was going off.

"Med 3 to base...Med 3 to base...do you copy? Over." Bob picked up his radio then pulled a pen and pad of paper out of a drawer in preparation to write any notes down.

"This is Bob...over...is that you, Chris?" he said, sitting down and waving at Bert Hemsley and Ashton Bates to get their attention and they walked over to the older medic to hear the call.

"Yes, it's Chris and I need help at the tub...over."

Hearing the near panic in the director's voice, Bob spoke in calm tones as he asked who the potential patients were and what had happened. He was instantly on his feet when he was informed that both patients were unconscious due to a head injuries, and one was experiencing a severe rash and difficulty breathing. The next statement caused Bob's stomach to drop...the first patient was Declan Donnelly which meant, without even needing confirmation of his suspicions, that patient number 2 had to be Anthony McPartlin. His first thought...of course, it was...it had to be Declan Donnelly before adding Ant's name in the next breath.