‘Something like that,’ said Gio.
Vik had run over from the helicopter, and he and Brad took charge of the scoop and upped their pace back to the aircraft.
‘How does it feel?’ Bess asked as she picked up the extra kit bags to follow Vik and Brad, staying at Gio’s side as they walked.
‘My knee? Bit rubbish, I knelt beside him for a while.’ He wasn’t bad on the crutches even in the snow, until they got to the deeper bit which slowed him down further.
‘I meant how does it feel to have helped?’
The familiar smile appeared. ‘It wasn’t the same as being back at work, but man, it felt good. I felt alive again doing something useful today.’
‘I thought it was you when we got the call. I thought you were hurt.’
‘Me? You thought I was stupid enough to go sledging?’ He laughed when she didn’t answer. ‘I was out for a walk. I was pissed off. I walked all the way here and yes I was stupid enough to ask to borrow Lionel’s sledge like he said. But he was using it. I watched him go off at a terrifying speed. The next thing I knew, he’d come off and the screaming had everyone else’s attention.’
‘How did you get down the hill?’
‘I didn’t have any choice but to grab the sledge next to me. I needed to get to him, to help. I kept my bad leg up and on it, used my other one to steer, brake, whatever I needed to get down there. The girl whose sledge it was came down with my crutches soon after. Anyway, I knew we needed help when I saw him lying there. I got his friend to call the emergency services and tell them we were at the bottom of Wildacre Meadow – there isn’t much coverage here and it was better for him to do it than have me trying to hobble anywhere. He must have dropped my name in the conversation and I assume he was panicking, which meant he confused you all.’
Bess said nothing but she knew he was watching her while trying his best to keep up.
‘You were worried about me,’ he said.
The others had reached the helicopter and were transferring Lionel onto the litter.
‘You wish.’ But this time, there wasn’t anywhere near as much denial behind her words before she hurried her pace to reach Hilda.
Up in the air, Bess was in the front seat, so couldn’t see Gio inthe back but she was acutely aware of his presence, so close, his voice every now and then reaching her as he and Brad kept Lionel’s spirits up on the way to the hospital.
Bess and Brad managed the handover to the staff on the helipad at the hospital, away from the snow up here, but the view reminded them that at ground level, it was a different story. Hilda had, once again, allowed The Skylarks to get their patient medical attention which otherwise would’ve been next to impossible via road.
Back at the airbase, Vik and Gio made their way inside while Brad and Bess unloaded everything. Bess had wondered whether Gio might have left by the time she went inside via the hangar. But he was sitting in the kitchen with Nadia, a steaming mug of tea in front of him and one of her shortbread biscuits.
‘For the shock,’ he smiled as Bess picked up her mug of tea.
‘Help yourself to more,’ Nadia prompted him and pushed the tin of shortbread his way before she left the kitchen.
Vik came in for a mug of tea and took his and Brad’s and after Bess said she’d join them soon and catch up on paperwork, she sat opposite Gio.
‘Lionel will be fine, thanks to you.’
He’d put his crutches in the corner, leaning up against the side of the fridge. ‘I’m glad I could help. I didn’t think about my injury so much when I saw the young boy was hurt; I grabbed a sledge and knew I had to get to him. I was in a terrible mood before that but I kind of forgot all my own problems for a moment.’ He met her gaze. ‘I needed that.’
‘Norm told me you went to the doctor and it didn’t go so well.’
‘He’s got a big mouth.’ But he smiled as he said it. ‘A big, caring mouth. It’s not his job but he likes to think he keeps the team going and motivates us all.’
‘They all want you back.’
‘I want to go back.’
‘You’re doing everything you can, Gio.’
‘I know… except being patient. I was gutted after the doctor visit. Annoyed that nobody will ever say for sure that I’ll go back to full duties. But nobody has said that I won’t and after today, I don’t know, maybe my head is in a better space.’ He turned down the offer of more shortbread when she pushed the tin closer to him. ‘Nadia has already made me have a few of those, no more.’
‘They’re good.’
‘They are.’ And he locked her gaze. ‘So, you were worried about me.’
