My Best Friend
Author: Kara Murphy
Rating: PG
Summary: Set when Bron is still an Ambo but she hasn't fell through
the floor of the warehouse. Pretend that it never happened. An
incident makes Bron re-think her relationship with Ben.

My Best Friend

Bron was on her way back from the cafeteria with two coffees in her
hand, she felt a strong grip on her elbow. She was used to this, it
was a traditional Ben move. She turned around and she had a look on
her face that Ben had seen a thousand times. This look was famous in
the Ambulance bay and up on ward 17. It even had its own
name, `Bron's what ya doin' look'. Ben let out a laugh and said

"C'mon we've got a call out." They walked in silence back to the
Ambulance, Ben taking one of the cups from Bron. She knew that no
matter how much he tried to hide his feelings Bron could tell that he
was still grieving the death of his wife. As they jumped in the
Ambulance Ben told her that they got a call out to Cowper Wharf, a
beam had come down and trapped one of the workers in the basement.
The entire trip was silent, as they flew down streets and through
traffic lights Bron got the chance to think. Things had changed with
Ben lately, after Steph's death of course he was a wreck then things
seemed to be getting better. Now he was totally withdrawn he did talk
to anyone about anything other than work, when his shift was over he
just went home. Sure he could have been tired like he told everyone
when they asked him to go out after work but Bron knew that there was
more to it. They didn't talk anymore the two of them; their friend
ship was almost non-existent. Bron didn't even notice that the
Ambulance had stopped moving until Ben interrupted her

"You coming?" He asked

"Yep" was all she said as she jumped out and walked around the back
to get the stuff and they were met by a guy in his late 20's that ran
up to them.

"He's in here, he looks like he is going out of it." The guy told
them as soon as Bron and Ben walked in they could tell that they
would need back up. Ben and Bron exchanged looks as he grabbed his
radio off his shoulder and she went to try to calm down the guy stuck
under the beam.

"Hi my name's Bron, what's yours?" she said as she kneeled down to
calm him.

"Why the bloody hell does it matter what my name is, just get me out
of here." At this moment Ben came over to kneel beside Bron. He
address the nameless man

"Ok buddy hang on Backup is on the way. What's your name?" That would
be right Bron thought. What is it with men talking to other men and
not women? But this was not the time to worry about it maybe when
they got him out she would write a book called Men on Me-What's Going
On. C'mon Bron she told herself your supposed to be saving this mans
life.

After a few minutes Rescue came and started to get the guy out when
the electrical fuse box in the corner of the warehouse started
spraying sparks, they ordered all of the workers out. The guy that
first meet them on the scene refused to leave his friend even when
rescue reassured him that they would get him out he wanted to stay
with his mate. There wasn't much that Bron or Ben could do so they
decided to leave only after checking with the other boys that they
didn't need help.

The drive back to the Ambo bay was just as bad as the drive out to
the warehouse Ben was silent and after Bron's failed attempt at
making small talk she gave up and rode the rest of the way in silence.

When they arrived there was two Head Ambulance officers' talking to
each other and as Bron and Ben walked past one of them said to
them "Did you hear?" Ben wasn't really in the mood for guessing games
at the moment but he thought that because in a way this was sort of
his Boss he better be nice.

"Hear what?" Ben asked in a forced polite tone. Bron had now stopped
to listen to this news whatever it was.

"Cowper wharf had some sort of Electrical fire and the whole
warehouse burnt down. Two or our Blokes from rescue and two workers
died in the fire." The Boss informed a stunned Ben and Bron. Someone
else had called the Boss and Ben and Bron were left to their own
thoughts.

"Wow um can you believe that it burnt down the whole warehouse." Ben
asked Bron breaking the silence and shaking their bewildered
expressions.

"Ben they died we were the last ones out… we should have stayed!"
Bron was now starting to look angry.

"Bron If we stayed we would most likely be dead too." Ben reminded
her. He could tell that she was very upset that those people died. He
was too but it was part of the job, there was always a risk of
danger.

"Not necessarily…maybe if we stayed… then they wouldn't have died
and…" The tears now flowed down her face as Ben held her I his arms
until she calmed down a bit. "God" She said loudly after a few
minutes with a new found energy "I cant do this anymore this has to
stop!!"

"What this job? You can't do this job anymore?" Ben was not only
confused but he was also worried about Bron and how angry that she
was with all of this. If her knew her as well as he thought he did he
would swear that there was something else bothering her.

"All of it the job and this… you and me… I can't do it anymore…" She
snapped and walked away leaving a very confused Ben standing there
wondering what was wrong with "them". Had he heard her right that she
couldn't handle her and him. Man he was confused.

Bron didn't show up for her next two shifts, she called in sick and
then when she finally did show up she seemed different. Distant
somehow. Finally Ben couldn't take it anymore she only spoke to him
to snap at him and he was starting to think that he had done
something wrong.
"Look Bron I cant take this anymore. What's going on? Have I done
something to upset you?"

"No" She replied

"Well if you don't tell me what's going on I will have to tell the
Boss that we can't work together." He told her. Sure he said it but
he didn't mean it he would never tell him that they couldn't work
together. They made a great team. They were best friends.

"Too late. I all ready told him and I'm quitting the service, I'm
going back into nursing, this is my last shift.

"Why are you quitting because you can't do it anymore? And what does
it have to do with us? Why can't you do us anymore? C'mon Bron what
the hell is going on?" if he thought he was confused before then he
hadn't seen anything yet.

"Ben just drop it what's done is done and that is it so why don't you
just forget about it!" She snapped and walked away to let him think
about what had just happened.

The shift ended and they hadn't spoken to each other and then she was
gone with just the contents of her locker and he would never work
with her again. Ben thought that now he wouldn't be able to tell her
how he really feels about her. He wont be able to tell her that he
loves her.

Ben walked to his locker long after Bron had left and as he opened it
a letter fell out. As he turned it over her recognised Bron's
handwriting and opened it.

Dear Ben,
I couldn't say this to your face cause you know me I'd find a way to
stuff it up so I thought that I would write down what I had to say to
you. I had to let you know why I left and the reason is because it
became too awkward coming to work every day, working along side my
best friend.

I never meant to love you,
It happened quiet by chance.
I wanted just to be your friend,
Not share a new romance.
But something happened suddenly,
Before my heart could know.
I came to know a side of you,
Which caused my love to grow.
The tender way you touched me,
I prey will never end.
A miracle of circumstance,
I'm in love with my best friend.

Love Always Bron Craig
XXXX

Ben didn't waste anytime; he left straight away and headed over to
Bron's house, he had to tell her how he felt.

Bron got up from the lounge and went to answer the door. When she
opened it she saw be standing there holding her letter and before she
could say anything he said "I Love You" and stepped inside her house
and took her up in his arms and kissed her. This is something that he
has wanted to do for a long time and now he had her in his arms and
he wasn't going to ever let her go. Bron pulled away only to
mutter "I love you" and the resume their kissing. This time it was
Ben who pulled away and looked deeply in Bron's eyes and said "I'm in
love with my best friend!"