She heard Rayah laugh as she shot towards the ambulance.
Alex wasflat on his back, a mask on his face. Abby saw grazes and smeared blood. The sob she’d been trying to choke back force itself out and she wiped away tears that were pouring onto her cheeks.
Alex’s eyes opened and she saw him try to smile. He raised a hand and pulled his mask away. “It looks worse than it is.”
“What happened?”
“No answer at your sister’s. The back of the house looked like someone had been in or they’d left suddenly. We entered and must’ve triggered an explosion.” His hand reached out for hers. “They were checking for more explosive devices. I don’t know if your sister’s in there.”
“She isn’t.” Abby gripped his hand and then told him about the call. “I was trying to phone you, but reception round here is terrible. It was better on Mount Everest.” It was only half a joke.
The paramedic who had been with Rayah got back into the ambulance and closed the doors. “Your friend’s okay. We’ve advised she gets checked out and she’s phoned her partner to get her. We’re going to head to the hospital now.” He looked at Abby. “Wife? Fiancée?”
“Fiancée.” It was Alex who answered the paramedic. “You find out anymore if anyone was inside?”
The paramedic shook his head. “They found another device. We’ve been told to get everyone shifted and anyone in nearby houses needs to evacuate.”
“They’ve found another device then. How’s Loneghan?” Alex had pulled the mask off completely now.
Abby wanted to scold him but was drowning in relief that he didn’t need it.
“Not good. Unconscious. He should be at the hospital by now.”
Alex didn’t say anything, but Abby saw what he thought as the fear was written on his face. She’d heard it; the start of the explosion, and it had terrified her, but he’d been there. Seen it.
She’d been on one climb where one of their party didn’t return. It was Everest and they were descending, the adrenaline from reaching its peak not quite enough to fight the exhaustion on the way down. Jimmy, a mountaineer and climber with years of experience had taken a fall and they’d lost him. Search parties had looked, they’d done what they could in conditions that weren’t ideal, even for Everest.
They’d returned to base camp without one of their own.
She’d seen a counsellor, talked it through, met with Jimmy’s wife who’d assured her that he wouldn’t have regretted the climb. It was a risk they all took.
It was a risk Alex took every time he went out to work.
“You need to stop crying.” He tugged at her hand. “This is just superficial and I’ll be sore for a few days. Loneghan’s tough. He’ll be okay.”
“I hope so.”
It turnedout that Alex did not like hospitals. This calm, mild mannered, dirty talking man that she knew she was in deep with turned into a cranky-arsed, impatient boy-child when faced with a white coat and clipboard.
“I’m absolutely fine to go home.” The words were out of his mouth before the doctor had even spoken. “It’s a few scrapes and bruises. Nothing I can’t take care of myself.”
The doctor glared. “Where did you get your medical degree from?”
Alex huffed.
“You’re got blood coming through your shirt and you need at least one stitch on your face, so unless you want me to give you a black eye to go with that, I suggest you shut the fuck up and let me do my job.” The doctor almost growled the words then turned to Abby. “Don’t worry. Alex unfortunately knows me.”
“Small Dick Sam here was search and rescue until he moved to Birmingham. When did you move back?” Alex winced as Sam started looking at the various scrapes. “You know, a nurse could do this.”
“You’re almost a friend and I’m at the end of the shift. Besides, I don’t want to inflict any of the nurses with your shitty attitude. Three stitches should do it.” He went to the station where he had equipment laid out. “Got back two weeks ago. Feels like I’ve never been away. I see you’ve got a fiancée?”
There was a mumble that neither of them could decipher from Alex as Sam started to clean up the cut.
“I’m guessing she might friend-zone you after this though.” Sam looked over at Abby. “You realise he was such a wuss?”
Abby managed to laugh. “Never seen him like this.”
There was another mumble from Alex. “Have you heard how Loneghan’s doing?”
