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Untangling herself from Jerry’s hold, she grabbed Patrick’s phone. ‘Fucking asshole!’ she shouted as she flung it as hard as she could. It plopped into a nearby water trough that would be used to dampen the flames later.

She didn’t bother to listen to his swearing at her, too focused on the horrible scene unfolding in front of her. Caleb kicking and screaming, being dragged away by Jackson and Lucas from the open doorway. They were shouting at him, but he was like a wild man, desperate to get away and back into the burning building.

After a moment, he stopped struggling and then he turned to look back at the crowd – following the line of Lucas’s hand to where he was pointing at her. The terror on his face was quickly replaced by relief, and his legs buckled beneath him. Jackson and Lucas had to help carry him as Franco screamed furiously at them to get out of the shot.

She and Zach ran forward; thankfully, they both had their medical kits with them. She grabbed a water bottle and began pouring it over Caleb’s blistering hands and arms. His jacket was smoking a little at the wrists, and Zach poured his water on top.

‘Water, I need more water!’ she yelled, and several crew members rushed to offer their water bottles.

‘Shall I get ice?’ asked one of the ADs.

‘No, clean, lukewarm running water is best.’ She began by checking his eyes, which were in focus. ‘Have you burnt anywhere else?’ His poor hands were already beginning to blister.

‘I-I thought you w-wer-re in there,’ Caleb stuttered, his teeth chattering with shock.

The leather jacket was too tough for scissors, so she ordered for people to pour more water over the jacket.

Zach must have gone to get the stretcher because he was plonking it down and ordering people to help him move Caleb onto it. Hannah plunged his hands into one of her pop-up buckets full of lukewarm water while she rummaged through her first aid supplies. She needed to cover the wounds fast and got out her dressings and wrapped his hands quickly before they moved him.

‘I-I-I’m fine!’ said Caleb, as he was shifted onto his back. Thankfully, everyone ignored him. Lucas and Zach lifted the stretcher and hurried to the medical office, while Hannah jogged by his side.

‘I’ll be the judge of that,’ she snapped, although her heart was hammering with fear and adrenaline, and her mind was slowly realising that he’d been screaming her name as he’d fought to get inside the temple.

He was badly hurt and it was all her fault.

A short time later, they were settled in the medical office.

‘Foolish boy,’ said Kirra with a shake of her head. ‘But the visit to the hospital will hopefully be quick. Lucas and Zach have gone to arrange a car for you to take you there. They shouldn’t be long.’

‘There’s no need. I’m honestly fine!’ Caleb sighed, holding up his bandaged hands as he sat on the gurney in the tiny medical office. He gave Hannah an imploring look which she seemed to deliberately ignore. No help there, then.

Kirra simply raised a weathered brow in amusement. ‘That’s not your call, big fella. I reckon they’ll send you home with antibiotics and pain relief, but it’s better to be safe and get you checked out by a doc. I don’t think you’ve done any lasting damage.’ She glanced meaningfully towards Hannah. ‘As long as you’re careful.’

He had the feeling she was talking about more than his injuries.

His costume had been cut away with very sharp scissors – the wardrobe department would be furious about that, but they’d wanted to check him over quickly. Now, he was dressed in some spare clothes Lucas had in his trailer.

‘Right, I’m off to fill out accident forms. Thanks to you,’ said Kirra grumpily, and she left the office, subtly closing the door behind her.

‘Are they going to sack you?’ asked Hannah nervously. ‘For ruining the shot.’

Now that the adrenaline and shock was beginning to wear off, Caleb felt like a complete idiot for freaking out like he had. He wanted to pull Hannah into a hug and never let go, but currently his hands were bandaged up like a boxer’s, and he wasn’t sure if she’d be able to forgive him – especially after the way he’d treated her.

‘I don’t know,’ he replied, but honestly, he didn’t care.

Hannah’s safe! The words had been shouted over and over in his ear by Lucas and Jackson as they’d pulled him away. The only thing they could have said to stop him from running back into the flames.

Now, he couldn’t stop staring at her, his whole body still shaking with the echoes of his pounding heart – the sight of her reassured him a little, and he pushed aside some of the nightmares he’d envisaged when he ran towards the fire. No stunt had ever frightened him like that, and he’d done some crazy shit over the years.

‘I’m so sorry,’ she whispered. ‘None of this would have happened if I hadn’t been so focused on bloody content.’

‘Your content is good.’ He sighed. ‘No. More than that, it’s important. I’m sorry I made you feel like it wasn’t. I’ve been a complete ass.’

‘Did you hit your head?’ she asked gently, shining a light in each of his eyes as if she thought he might have a concussion.

‘No.’ He chuckled.

She nodded, but he suspected his irises contracting had reassured her rather than his denial.