Fizz had found Cooper’s hand and she threaded her fingers through his. Had Cooper never been able to express his grief at losing his brother because he’d been trying to protect his mother? She could believe that about him. He would protect anybody he loved to the nth degree. But how sad was it to have felt the need to hide his own emotions like that?
‘It got so that it was easier to avoid being at home,’ Cooper added. ‘It was such a relief to get away to university and then to have my career to focus on.’
Had he become even better at hiding his emotions by focusing so completely on his study and career? Fizz knew how well that worked. She barely thought about any of those heart-breaking regrets these days—like never being able to create the kind of family she’d desperately wanted as a child. A ‘real’ family.
‘Your parents must have been very proud of you, taking up a career that was going to save lives.’
‘My dad died just before I graduated. And Mum seemed to fade away over the next few years. Every time I went to visit, she was thinner and sadder and there didn’t seem to be anything I could do or say that would help. Her doctors couldn’t find any way to help her, either. I think she just gave up on life.’
Fizz squeezed his hand but didn’t say anything for a long moment. Curiously, it felt like something was shifting in her chest. A piece of her heart? As if a door was being opened somewhere when she had believed that the key had been lost long ago, because the connection to this person was so strong she couldn’t keep Cooper out.
This friendship was special.
It felt...
Well, it felt a bit like family. One of those ‘real’ ones.
* * *
There was a lot to be said for the philosophy of living in the moment, making the most of every one of them and not trying to think too far into the future.
That day off a week or two ago, when Fizz had taken Cooper to see the small town where she’d grown up and then taken him on that wild drive to that beautiful beach, was a shining example of that philosophy.
They’d made the most of that day. Looking back, it had been an extraordinarily intimate conversation, unlike any Cooper had ever had. Was that because he’d never had a friend like Fizz? Someone that could understand how profound the effect of losing someone so close could be? He’d had no idea how much of a release it could be, just telling someone about something, either. He’d never spoken to anyone about how hard it had been after Connor had died but, then, he’d never had someone like Fizz to talk to, had he?
It had certainly brought them closer and Cooper was making the most of every moment he had with Fizz, along with all the other good things his new life was offering him. Within the space of just a few short months his old life in Scotland was feeling like a lifetime ago.
He knew his way around this quirky, hilly city well enough to be able to speed to any emergency he was dispatched to if he was crewing one of the vehicles, and he’d discovered how lucky he’d been to find a place to live in such an interesting part of town. The atmosphere of the rambling old house he was sharing with Maggie, Jack, Laura and Harrison was relaxed enough for no comment to be made when he was out very late, or quite often didn’t come home at all.
The Mexican night with tacos and beer had been such a success that it had become a weekly thing, with each flatmate taking turns to provide the meal for whoever wasn’t on a night shift. Cooper found opportunities to kick a ball around the back yard with Harrison, whose broken wrist was completely healed now, and there were always occasions to share the kitchen or some housework, along with work stories, with Jack or Laura. Maggie was rostered on the same shift at the rescue base often enough for a real friendship to be developing but, if she’d guessed that Cooper had something going on with Fizz, she wasn’t saying anything.
That ‘something’ that had started as a fierce and irresistible sexual attraction was quite a different ‘something’ now. It had changed the day of that case when they’d stayed to support Sarah as her husband had died in her arms. And it had changed again that day on the beach when they’d shared how hard life had been after losing the people closest to them. There seemed to be a level of trust now, on both sides, that might have otherwise taken a much longer time to develop.
In its turn, that level of trust had taken their sexual connection to a new level. Cooper didn’t have to remind himself to make the most of every moment when it came to the intimate time he and Fizz managed to find at least once or twice a week when their rosters co-operated. It was, without a shadow of doubt, the best sex he’d ever had in his life and he suspected that that had a lot to do with Fizz’s philosophy on life.
There was no pressure to put a label on what they had found with each other and there were no expectations that whatever it was was ‘going somewhere’, which had got in way of a lot of previous relationships for Cooper. He’d been dumped in the past because a relationship was apparently ‘not going anywhere’, or he’d had to walk away from someone himself because of the building pressure to take a relationship seriously enough, but that wasn’t going to happen with Fizz. He was with someone who was in exactly the same place he’d always been as far as relationships were concerned, even if he’d never really analysed that reluctance to commit.
Maybe he could see his attitude to commitment changing at some point in the future but he certainly wasn’t ready to settle down yet and take responsibility for someone else’s happiness. He was even less ready to consider having a family and taking responsibility for the health and safety of vulnerable children.
He’d told Fizz that his parents hadn’t blamed him for his brother’s death any more than he blamed himself and that was true but it didn’t mean that there wasn’t an element of blame to be found. He’d been the older brother. Only by thirty minutes, admittedly, but he’d been expected to be the responsible one. To take care of Connor and make sure he didn’t do anything stupid.
He hadn’t managed that very well, had he?
Even now he would have that terrible recurring dream sometimes. When he was shouting at Connor to tell him to come down off the rocks because they were too slippery and it was too dangerous but no sound could emerge, no matter how much effort he was making to force the words out. Even worse was reliving that moment when he got close enough to touch his brother’s crumpled body at the base of those rocks and to feel the fear and grief exploding within his chest as if it had just happened all over again.
Whoa... Cooper shook that thought off with practised ease, taking note of what had prompted it so he could try and avoid it in the future. Thinking about having a family and children of his own, that’s what it had been. He’d told Fizz that he wasn’t looking for a relationship because he wasn’t ready to settle down. Given how his brain had just hijacked him with no more than a passing thought of having children of his own, Cooper had to wonder whether he would ever be ready to settle down like that.
He’d also told Fizz that enjoying something like this while it lasted and then moving on with no regrets when it stopped being fun was every man’s dream and he’d meant every word of that as well. And now he was living that dream and it was perfect.
The fact that he was on the same page as Fizz at the moment, as far as settling down or having kids went, was a good thing.
It meant that they could just carry on. Enjoying every moment.
Work was pretty close to perfect, too. Cooper wasn’t sure if Fizz had said something to Don or that someone else had noticed how well they worked together as a team but he was finding himself crewed with Fizz on one of the helicopters every time she was on base, and that was another aspect of his life that he was making the most of. The challenge of keeping up with how fast this young doctor thought and worked was a joy and there were always new things to learn. Fizz was learning from him as well. He was helping her prepare for her upcoming winch training course and, because she’d also signed up for the
high country and mountain rescue course in Queenstown, he was sharing some of his knowledge in that area as well.
‘We’ve only got a couple of weeks before we head to Queenstown,’ he reminded her as they were airborne on the way to an incident that was a thirty-minute flight away from Wellington. A slightly hysterical call to emergency services had said a large vehicle—maybe a truck or a bus—had gone off the road and into a gully but the crew were still waiting for information on how bad it was and how many people were involved. They had been dispatched because the location was isolated and there was the potential for serious injuries and an unknown number of victims, but it could turn out to be less than serious or even a hoax. ‘Did you read that article I sent you the other day?’
‘The one about hazards? Yeah... I had a quick look.’
‘So, what are they?’
‘The hazards?’ Fizz raised an eyebrow. ‘Weather, mainly. Storms, lightning, risk of hypothermia. Oh, and there’s avalanches and rockfalls, of course. And river crossings and white water. Hey...do we get to do an actual river crossing on this course, do you think? Where you can tackle a swift current by linking arms?’
‘I think we might. We’re expected to take quite a lot of outdoor clothing.’
‘Layers.’ Fizz nodded. ‘I read that bit, too. Lightweight clothes that can wick moisture away from the body, insulating items for the middle like a top made of merino wool and then a waterproof layer on top. I might go to one of those tramping supplies shops after work today and get some new thermal stuff. Want to come with me?’
‘Sure.’
‘We could go somewhere for dinner afterwards.’
Fizz wiggled her eyebrows this time, as she held his gaze, and Cooper had to stifle laughter. It was just as well Andy couldn’t see into the cabin of this helicopter or he’d know instantly that he and Fizz were a lot closer than simply friends or colleagues. The longer it took for anybody to guess, the better, as far as Cooper was concerned. It was nobody’s business but theirs and it didn’t interfere with how they worked together. If anything, it just seemed to be making them a tighter team.
Yep. Things were pretty much perfect on so many levels.
CHAPTER EIGHT
COOPER AND FIZZ could hear Andy talking on a different frequency as he flew them towards this new emergency of a large vehicle accident and then his voice came through the headphones built into their helmets.
‘Okay, guys... First police and fire vehicles are on scene. It’s a school bus that’s crashed.’
Cooper and Fizz exchanged a brief glance. This was serious. It could be the worst job they might ever face. It wasn’t a long glance but it was enough for a silent message of support and strength to be transmitted and received in both directions. They were in this together. They could cope.
‘Nobody knows how many kids are on the bus,’ Andy continued, ‘but it was heading to school so it could be full. It’s down a steep gully. Broke a few trees on the way down, which probably lessened the impact, but it’s on its side and access is difficult. They’re trying to get ladders down and make sure the bus is stable.’
Cooper saw a reflection in Fizz’s face of his own increase in adrenaline levels and focus. This could be a Mass Casualty Incident that would be a real challenge to handle, especially when the victims might be young children.
‘Comms said they’ve called for more backup for scene control. As you’re qualified in disaster management, Cooper, they’re putting you in as scene commander. You know where the vest is?’
‘Roger that.’ Cooper was already leaning towards the window, waiting for his first sighting of the scene. Getting an aerial view would be an advantage in deciding how to manage this disaster. As they circled the scene, coming down to land on the road a few minutes later, Cooper could already see how chaotic it was.
There were cars backed up in both directions and people running to where the bus had gone off the road on a bend, crowding the firies, who were trying to do their job. An ambulance was having trouble getting past the cars and closer to the scene, thanks to a tractor that was blocking it.
On foot, and moving swiftly towards a police officer who was trying to move people back from the edge of the road, Cooper realised that this crowd was mostly made up of the parents of the children in that bus. Women were crying. There were toddlers and babies in the crowd and the farmer who’d arrived on his tractor was arguing with the policeman.
‘It’s my kids down there. You can’t tell me I can’t go down and help.’
People turned to stare at Cooper and Fizz as they arrived. They could all read the lettering on his fluorescent vest that designated him ‘Scene Commander’. Cooper knew his physical size helped give him authority in situations like this but he also knew it was more about confidence and giving frightened people the reassurance that he knew what he was doing.
The ambulance and its crew had finally got close enough to park and open its back doors. Cooper quickly spoke to the chief fire officer, surveyed the scene and then gathered the paramedics and police officers.
‘They’re going to get access to the bus any minute now and they’ll start bringing the children up. From what they can see so far, they don’t think there’s major injuries. The kids were all wearing their safety belts. We’ll use the space beside the ambulance as the triage area. Dr Wilson will assess any serious injuries and we’ll get another chopper on the way if it’s needed. Given their age, everybody will need another check at the nearest hospital but we may be able to use road vehicles for transport, including the parents’ cars.’
He turned to speak to the group of frantic adults and urged them to step back and give all the emergency service personnel room to work. Police officers reinforced his message and people were listening now. Some went to shift their cars and make sure there was room for more emergency vehicles to get through.
Cooper turned back to brief the paramedics on what their roles would be, but when he saw Fizz at the top of one of the fire service ladders he shook his head and strode towards her.
‘No,’ he said. ‘Not this time, Fizz. Stay up here.’
‘But...’
‘No “buts”.’ He shifted his gaze to the fire officer beside them. ‘There’s no one unconscious in the bus, is there?’
‘Not that we can see.’
‘What about the driver?’
‘She’s been keeping them calm. She’s trapped by her lower legs under the dashboard but she adamant that all the kids are taken out first. And she’s told them all to stay still and keep their safety belts on until someone comes to get them, which is just as well what with the broken windows and sharp metal around. The smashed tree branches are another big hazard, like I was just telling the doctor, here.’
‘She could be bleeding badly,’ Fizz said. ‘So could one of the children. I need to get down there...’
The fire officer was peering down the slope. ‘First one’s on its way up.’
‘I need you here,’ Cooper told Fizz, ‘to assess each one of these children as they get brought up.’
He could see her frustration. She was determined to get down that slope. Her adrenaline levels were high and what Fizz wanted to do was to get into that wrecked bus as fast as possible.
Cooper kept his voice calm. ‘You outrank me in medical matters,’ he told her, ‘but I’m the scene commander here and it’s my responsibility to manage this scene as safely as possible. We’ve got people who know what they’re doing, handling the extrications.’
‘You’re telling me I’m not allowed to go down there?’
Cooper nodded. ‘Not unless there’s a good medical reason for it. And, even if there is, I’m going to be the one who takes that risk, okay?’
He saw the flash of rebellion in her eyes but, as he held her gaze, Cooper also saw the moment that she accepted his authority and that felt like an even bigger step towar
ds total trust. Tightening the bonds that were there between them as a professional team. Fizz’s focus shifted as soon as a fire officer appeared at the top of the ladder, a small, sobbing child held against his chest. It was Fizz who reached to take the young girl, who barely looked old enough to have been heading to school.
‘Come with me, sweetheart,’ she said. The child wrapped her arms around Fizz’s neck and buried her face against her shoulder. ‘It’s okay...’ Cooper heard Fizz say gently as she moved towards the ambulance and the blankets that had been laid on the road as a triage area. ‘You’re safe now...’
‘Jenny...?’ A woman with a baby in her arms broke away from the group that was now gathered at more of a distance and ran towards Fizz. ‘Oh, my God... Are you hurt?’
* * *
It took over an hour to get more than twenty young children safely out of the bus and up to road level, where Fizz was checking each one as thoroughly as she could. A dislocated elbow and a greenstick arm fracture seemed to be the most serious injuries amongst many bumps and bruises and a few grazes and lacerations, but, once each one was bandaged or splinted and comforted, they were taken to the nearest hospital for observation and another check-up. Cooper used a second ambulance that arrived to take the eight-year-old with the elbow injury and his mother to hospital and the well-splinted arm fracture got transported in a police car, much to the small boy’s excitement.
The first girl who’d been rescued, Jenny, was still on scene as the final victim of the accident was brought up the side of the gully. Cheryl, the bus driver, was Jenny’s grandmother and she was far more worried about the children she’d been driving than the badly broken ankle that had kept her trapped.
‘They’re all okay, Mum,’ her daughter reassured Cheryl. ‘And that’s thanks to you making sure they always wore their safety belts.’
Resisting Her Rescue Doc Page 11