Burning Trepidation
Author: Jen
Email:   jenny@blue-unclouded.net
Disclaimer:  Not mine, never will be.
Classification:   Ben/Bron. Set during 'The Heat Is On' (2001 premiere).
Summary:   Bron suffers as Ben is caught in a raging bushfire.
Feedback:   Yes please. =)

Ben. Trapped in the fire.

The words bounced around uncontrollably in Bron's already aching head.

Closing anguished eyes, she massaged her temples with shaking fingers, willing herself unsuccessfully to think of something, anything else.

This wasn't how it was supposed to happen, a loud voice in Bron's head screamed. Ben was much too experienced to let himself get fenced in by the ever advancing flames.

This thought led Bron's mind to wonder who was out there with him. Inexplicably, despite the obvious risk to her life, she found herself wishing she was out there in the truck with Ben where she belonged, not stuck in the stuffy ward, worrying about the endless possibilities.

Belonged.

Bron's mind turned over this interesting choice of word contemplatively.

Did she consider herself to 'belong' with Ben?

A few moments passed as Bron mentally studied several 'with Ben'/'without Ben' scenarios. The petite redhead uncomfortably made a halfhearted attempt at suppressing the yawning sense of isolation inspired by the thought of life without her former partner. Then, failing in this, she changed tack, trying instead to attribute the sensation to her recent departure from the ambulance service.

Unhappy with the lack of success achieved by both methods, Bron forced her mind back onto her work for a few seconds, allowing herself a momentary reprieve from the stabbing fear she felt deep in her belly whenever her thoughts drifted to Ben, stuck out there somewhere in a raging bushfire that had effectively already claimed at least one innocent life.

"Any word?" Connor didn't need to elaborate on his brief, low-voiced question.

"No." The single syllable was all Bron could manage. Her mind was too preoccupied to be capable of forming more complex sentences, and unwilling to risk the possibility of tears if the conversation continued, she forced herself to stare blankly at the patient files in her hand.

Connor shared a look with Jodi before glancing helplessly at Bron and moving on with his own work.

The low trill of the phone startled Bron into attention, and every nerve in her body waited on high alert as Jodi took the call.

The blonde ward clerk had only to turn slightly and offer Bron the phone before the latter jumped into action.

Trembling in a combination of anticipation and trepidation at what the voice at the other end of the line wanted to tell her, Bron brought the receiver to her ear.

A moment later, relief flooded every cell in her body, and Bron thought she might collapse as her muscles, which had been so tense all day, suddenly relaxed.

He was alright.