UNTITLED!

Disclaimer : I do not own any of the characters in this fan fic, they all belong to Channel 7. I am just a dedicated fan writing some fun fan fic.

Author: Pennyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy

 

 

Scott has woken up with a massive hangover and does not feel like getting up to go to work. He drags himself out of bed.

 

Scott : ahhhh! (as he trips over shoes lying on the floor)

Scott : oh god this is not going to be a good day

 

Scott looked at the time and rolled his eyes. He was going to be pushing it getting to work on time. He needed to stop drinking earlier, it was starting to take a toll on his early morning starts. After a shower and coffee he felt a little better and left for work.

 

Alex : Morning, how are we this morning?

 

Scott looked up at Alex bouncing around the ambulance.

 

Scott : [groan] and why would we be in such a good mood this morning?

Alex : (smiles) no particular reason, just my happy self

Scott : right, well make sure it is not contagious, i am feeling like death warmed up

Alex : [laughs] well aren’t we in for a fun day then?

 

Scott and Alex checked that the ambulance was operational and then went inside to have another coffee. Scott spread out on the lounge and after about 5 minutes was casually dozing off. Alex was reading a magazine, he went to point out something to Scott and realised he was asleep. Given the response he received in the morning, he decided to let him sleep.

 

 

WARD 17 : meanwhile on ward 17 everything was particularly quiet. Nelson was sitting down doing some paperwork and Paula was catching up on some of her patient’s charts. Sterlo was wandering around doing mundane tasks and humming to himself. Von was outside having a smoke. Most of the patients were either asleep or eating breakfast. Terri was still on leave. Luke was not in for the morning yet.

 

 

The phone stunned Alex who was engrossed in a crossword.

 

Alex : Scott you lazy bum, you are closer

Scott : (half asleep) I didn’t become a paramedic for no reason, get the phone!

Alex : [groans and mumbles] great, today is going to be just great!

 

Alex answers the phone and looks serious.

 

Alex : (on the phone) Yep, ok no worries, that seems like far away....... Ok no problem, we are on our way

Alex : (turns to Scott) get up, it sounds like a big one

Scott : what have we got?

Alex : its a secret (smiling)

Scott : oh c’mon, no crap like that today

 

Scott drags himself off the lounge and looks at his half empty coffee. He takes a sip and decides that it is too cold and tips it down the sink. Alex is already in the car getting the address of the job.

 

Alex : ok Starlin National Park, off the River St exit

Scott : yeah right (sarcastically)

Alex : no I am serious. She said that we are the closest car and they needed a paramedic car. It is meant to be a child fallen down the cliff there.

Scott : that is horrible terrain, if it is a legit case, we will probably need the chopper

Alex : already alerted them of the job (grins)

Scott : smart arse!

 

Scott can feel his stomach churning. He turns to Alex with a hopeful look on his face.

 

Scott : you know how I am not in a great mood today?

Alex nods

Scott : well I am actually not feeling very well, do you think you could drive?

Alex : (sighs) I suppose but you owe me a drink

Scott : oh god, no talk of drinks please, at least till after lunch

Alex : ok then

 

Alex gets out of the car and into the driver’s seat and Scott moves across to the passenger side inside the car. Alex starts up the car and they head to the job.

 

The trip seems to be taking a long time and the sirens are blaring.

 

Scott : oh can you just turn those things off? There isn’t even anyone up at this ungodly hour, not to mention anyone on the road

Alex : c’mon you know it is proper procedure

Scott : who is the boss here?

Alex : c’mon you wanted me to drive, it will only be for a minute, I think I spot the sign

Scott : thank god (sits back in the chair)

Alex : is this where it says on the street directory?

Scott : I can’t look at it (feels his stomach churning)

Alex : give it here!

 

Scott hands over the street directory to Alex who confirms they are in the right spot. They pull up to the top of a track about 100 metres from the cliff face through rugged terrain. Scott takes one look at it.

 

Scott : I am being punished!

Alex : well let it be a lesson for you

Scott sighs and gets out of the car.

 

Scott : take only the essentials, we can come back for the rest. It is probably a hoax

Alex : don’t be so cynical, it could be a big job

Scott : hmmmmm yeah

 

Alex takes the oxy-viva and first aid kit. Scott grabs the collars, lifepak and level 5 kit. They trudge down the overgrown track. About 50 metres in, the track becomes extremely steep and tree branches begin slapping both of them in the face. Scott is cursing about the whole job.

 

They finally reach the top of the cliff, trees make it extremely difficult to see towards the bottom, the drop is rather large but there are steep access paths down the rock face.

 

Scott : can you see anything? (he drops the equipment at his feet)

Alex : nope, not yet

Alex : Hey it is is the ambulance, can anyone hear me?

 

There is no response, no crying, no shouts for help. Scott rolls his eyes.

 

Scott : see it is probably a hoax. Noone would be stupid enough to go down there.

Alex : I am, I have to make sure noone is hurt

Scott : Alex there is no way you are going down there, we need SCAT for jobs like this

Alex : there mightn’t be time for that, I am going down one of these tracks, you stay here and I will yell to you if I find anything

Scott : you have got to be kidding, no way, I said no!

Alex : and how do you know that the child isn’t down the bottom, do you want that on your conscience? I surely don’t

 

Scott shook his head.

Scott : ok but be really careful, I don’t want to scrape you off the bottom

Alex : ha ha you are very funny

Scott : I am serious, this is dangerous stuff

Alex : I will be fine, in the country we are used to this sort of terrain

Scott : oh of course I forgot!

 

Scott picks up the radio.

Scott : 978 Sydney for a report

Radio : Sydney replying to 978

Scott : we are on scene at the cliff face and unable to locate yet. My partner is going down the side of the cliff to see if we can find anyone. We will get back to you and let you know if we need further resources.

Radio : Copy 978, I have the chopper and a medical retrieval team on stand by should you need them, rescue and the area supervisor are on their way to you

Scott : copy thank you

 

Alex secures the oxyviva to his back and gives Scott a bit of a fearful look.

 

Scott : look you don’t have to do this, you don’t need to be a hero

Alex : its not about being a hero, i have to do it for the sake of my patient

Scott : if there is a patient

Alex : well that is the risk I take

Scott : fine, be careful

 

Alex starts down a narrow gap between the cliffs. Scott sits and watches him slowly descend. Alex loses his grip on a rock and stumbles.

 

Alex : AHHHH help Scott I’m going to fall

Scott : shit! (he jumps up)

Alex : ha ha just kidding big boy!

Scott : that isn’t funny

 

Scott sits back down, he couldn’t bear to watch. He kept an eye out for rescue and the supervisor. He was trying to think of who was on duty today and whether they would grill him for allowing Alex to go down the cliff. Not that he would have been able to stop him, being the determined person Alex was.

 

Scott : are you ok? (yells down to Alex)

Alex : yep slowly wins the race

Scott : good

Scott : can you see anyone?

Alex : nope can’t see anyone at all down here and I have got a pretty good view

Scott : well how about we wait till rescue get here then and let them do a thorough search, we will call it as unable to locate

Alex : no way, you can never be sure

Scott : (to himself) why would I imagine that you would ever give up?

 

Scott was losing visual contact with Alex as he descended further down the cliff. He could hear rocks falling as Alex trod on them and sent them flying down the cliff. Alex was about half way down the cliff and still going strong.

 

Alex : shit!

He lost his footing and grabbed onto a small tree stump above him which held him at bay for a second. The tree stump began to uproot and Alex frantically looked for something else to grab a hold of to prevent a fall. There was nothing. He didn’t have time to scream or cry out. The stump uprooted and sent Alex tumbling down the cliff face where he rested on a ledge about ¾ of the way down the cliff. He fell unconscious.

 

 

Meanwhile at ward 17 –

Luke frantically rushed into the locker room and around the ward.

 

Paula : what is going on? You are acting really frantic today

Luke : I just got a page about a possible child fallen down a cliff at Starlin National Park

Paula : my god, that is terrible, nobody would survive a fall there

Luke : we are on standby at the moment, we are waiting for a report from the ambulance crew on scene, they haven’t been able to locate a patient yet

Paula : oh that is terrible, please be careful

Luke : always (winks)

 

Nelson : Sterlo, where are all the spare straws? Mrs Wilson is complaining she has no straws for her water and she can’t drink out of the cup

Sterlo : oh, i’ll go find some

Nelson : well I made sure there were plenty here this morning, where have they gone?

Sterlo : I uh.....borrowed them (smiles)

Nelson looked puzzled

Sterlo pulled out a dinosaur made from straws from behind his back.

Sterlo : for little Adam in room 2

Nelson started to get angry but then laughed

Nelson : well I guess it was worthwhile

Sterlo tiptoed away from Nelson and back into room 2, laughing.

 

The ward was still quiet. Rebecca came up to the ward with a new patient post motor vehicle accident and fractures to both legs. Nelson placed the patient in Paula’s care. Paula helped settle the man in.

 

Rebecca leaned on the counter.

Rebecca : you guys haven’t heard from Scott or Alex have you?

Nelson : no, why?

Rebecca : nothing really, we had a bit of a fight last night and he isn’t answering his phone this morning

Nelson : no sorry don’t even know if he is at work

Sterlo walks out of room 2.

Rebecca : (turning to Sterlo) have you seen Scott this morning?

Sterlo : oh yeah, he looked like he was in a great mood today, poor Alex

Rebecca : oh yeah, i guess that is partly my fault

Sterlo : oh

 

Rebecca returns to emergency worried that something might have happened to Scott, he never had his phone turned off.

 

 

Back at the cliff –

 

Scott hadn’t heard any comments or noise from Alex in a while so he got up and looked over the cliff. He couldn’t see any movement of rocks or any sign of Alex.

 

Scott : Alex, Alex are you ok?

There was no answer

Scott : Alex this isn’t funny, I am not in the mood for jokes

Scott rolled his eyes but he was starting to get worried, Alex usually didn’t draw a joke out this long

Scott : Alex what is going on? Just let me know you are ok otherwise I am going to come down there and you know I am going to kick your arse when i get down there if you are playing games!

Still no answer

Scott : oh my god!

Scott looked at his phone, no service so he picked up the radio

Scott : 978 Sydney

Radio : Sydney replying to 978

Scott : we need urgent assistance here, we have an officer injured halfway down the cliff, possibly unconscious, i am unable to reach him

Radio : Scott this is rescue, we have just arrived on scene, what is your exact location?

Scott : we are down the track that heads towards the cliff directly in front of our car

Radio : rescue copy that, we will be there soon

 

Scott was agitated now, what had happened to Alex? He could see the movement of people in blue overalls through the scrub heading towards him. 2 rescue officers appeared out of the scrub. He started to feel extremely nauseous.

 

Scott : gee I am glad to see you

Rescue 1 : you are a stupid fool, what made you think that your partner was capable of going down there? Now look what has happened.

 

Scott stood unable to talk. This was his fault and now Alex was hurt. He should have been tougher.

 

Rescue 2 : (pats Scott on the shoulder) don’t worry mate, we will get him out

Rescue 1 : (to Scott) how about you make yourself useful and get on that radio and get the medical retrieval team down here, I think it is too windy for the chopper

Scott : ok

 

Scott gets on the radio and asks for the medical retrieval team to be dispatched to their location. The rescue team start setting up an abseiling system so they can safely get down the cliff to where Alex is. Rescue 1 is looking over the cliff shaking his head.

 

Scott : can you see him?

Rescue 1 : no, he obviously is on a ledge somewhere, because he isn’t at the bottom

Scott : is that a good thing?

Rescue 2 : depends where he fell from and what injuries he has.

 

Scott shuts his eyes.

 

Rescue 1 : (to yourself) get yourself ready, i will go down first then we will lower you down

Scott : what?

Rescue 1 : you are a paramedic aren’t you? This is all your fault so you might as well make yourself useful

Scott : oh yeah sure (Scott’s head is spinning and he feels sick)

 

Scott prepares all the equipment to be lowered down and looks up to see the supervisor storming through the bushes. He is a larger man and is out of breath by the time he reaches Scott and the rescue guys.

Scott : oh shit, im in big trouble

Supervisor : what were you........[breath] thinking?

Scott : I told him I didn’t want him to go, but he wanted to

Supervisor : and are you not the senior officer on the car?

Scott : he is not a trainee, he is an ambulance officer, he can make his own calls

Supervisor : you should have been ensuring his safety

Scott : I did, I believe in him.

Supverisor : you better hope you believe in him

 

Rescue 2 : ok how about we save the grilling for later, we need you here Scott

Scott : no worries, sorry Sir but I have the upmost faith in my partner

Supvervisor : [grunts]

Rescue 2 : ok hook up all these ropes onto this harness

Scott puts on the harness and Rescue 2 attaches the ropes to his waist.

Rescue 2 : ok now just slowly I want you to stand on the edge of the cliff and I will lower you down

Scott : ok (he is shaking)

 

Rescue 1 yells from the bottom

Rescue 1 : he is unconcsious

Scott : oh god

Rescue 1 : what is the ETA of the medical retrieval team

Supervisor : they are on their way, not long now

Scott : thank god

 

Scott is suspended in mid-air and he can feel the harness tighening around his stomach. It is making him extremely nauseous and he knows he is not far off a vomit. There is nowhere to go and Scott just looked down, he could see Alex lying lifeless on a ledge and Rescue 1 hovering around him. Scott couldn’t hold it in any longer, he threw up sending chunks flying towards the ground, partly landing on Alex’s feet and Rescue 1’s back. Scott cringed.

 

Rescue 1 : what in god’s name is wrong with you? You are dangerous!

Scott : sorry, not feeling 100% today

Rescue 1 : well you shouldn’t be here! Remember that in future, but now your partner needs you so cut the crap and hurry up

 

Scott’s head was spinning and he slowly descended. He wishes his alarm had never gone off today and he wouldn’t have been here. Alex needed him and he couldn’t even think straight.

 

Scott reaches the ledge where Alex is lying face up. He tries to move but there is limited space because it is a little ledge. Rescue 1 is already beginning to put a cervical collar onto Alex.

 

Rescue 1 : give me a hand here

Scott : is his breathing and pulse ok?

Rescue 1 : do you think I would be doing this if they weren’t?

Scott : (starting to get uptight) well I am just checking, everyone has bad days!

Rescue 1 : he has a resp rate of 14 and pulse of 110.

Scott : blood pressure?

Rescue 1 : you are kidding, I haven’t had a chance yet. I had to make sure your sorry arse didn’t land on top of us and I didn’t get covered in any more spew.

Scott : cute (sarcastically)

 

Finally Alex is collared and still breathing alright. Scott takes his blood pressure and it is low.

 

Scott : you do a nose to toes examination and I will set up for intubation and fluids

Rescue 1 : no problems

 

Rescue 1 does the examination

 

Rescue 1 : done. It seems he has internal bleeding in the abdomen, there is rigidty. Possibly a fractured right collarbone, possible fractured right wrist and dislocated left knee. Maybe even fractured pelvis. He is bleeding only from small lacerations it seems but there is internal bleeding. He is extremely lucky. He has a big haematoma to the back of his head, right side. Pupils are equal and reacting.

Scott : thanks

Rescue 1 : do you want me to cannulate?

Scott : that would be great. I am a little nervous, I have never intubated hanging off a cliff

Rescue 1 : I am sure you will be fine

Scott : fingers crossed. This is for you buddy (talking to Alex)

 

Scott is starting to feel sick again and vomits one more time, this time missing Rescue 1 and Alex. Rescue 1 gives him a confused look.

 

Rescue 1 : it’s ok mate, don’t get yourself worked up

Scott : (to himself) if only you knew

 

Scott intubates Alex and the cannula and fluids are set up. Scott can hear the familiar voice of Luke up the top of the cliff. He feels relieved that other help has arrived. Scott is in a hurry to get Alex out and to hospital. They place a space blanket over him and monitor his vital signs whilst waiting for the next movement.

 

Luke is the next one to be lowered down to assist the pair, along with the stokes litter stretcher to start preparing him for transport. Luke is able to get down to them very quickly holding a simple medical kit.

 

Luke : guys, what is the story

Rescue 1 : someone decided to let their partner go cliff dwelling to look for a patient which doesn’t appear to be here and he has fallen, still unconscious and several injuries, looks like he is in shock

Luke : right so he is intubated and fluids are running, excellent

 

Luke looks at the vomit.

Luke : so did he vomit before you guys got here or whilst you have been here

Scott : uh...

Rescue 1 : actually that was Scott that has been doing the vomiting

 

Luke gives Scott a strange glance.

 

Luke : ok then, try and maintain your composure for the time being and lets get on with it. Has he got any other medical history that we know of?

Scott : not that I know of, he seems pretty healthy.

Luke : have you administered metoclopramide yet?

Scott : haven’t got around to it yet sorry

Luke : no worries we will do that now then we will move him, how is that hartmanns running, much left to go? I have the haemacel ready to go also if we need it.

Scott : its running good, still not much change in his obs though

 

Luke administers the drug through the cannula and does a final check of Alex.

 

Luke : we need at least another guy down here to help us move him with suspected spinal injuries. Do we know how far he fell?

Scott : not sure, I lost sight of him shortly after he came down here

Luke : ok don’t worry about it then. Hey guys (to the people up the top) I need some more hands down here!

Rescue 2 : yep no probs, another crew has just arrived

Luke : great ok, we will wait for them then we will go.

 

It was becoming a bit cramped and congested on the little ledge with just the 3 of them and Scott was trying to avoid being near the edge, he was still nauseous and just wanted the whole ordeal to be over. He didn’t dare look to the ground.

 

Scott looked up and noticed a female trainee being harnessed to join them down at the ledge. He remembered her from another station close by for being very loud and giggly all the time. Apparently her probation had been extended because she didn’t have much idea of what she was doing out on the road. He knew then he was being punished for something.

 

The rest of the medical retrieval team were setting up the vehicle with everything for transport and helping Rescue 2 up the top of the hill.

 

Megan, the trainee, was lowered down to the ledge. Halfway down she started screaming.

 

Megan : this is too tight, you did up my harness too tight

Rescue 2 : it is meant to be tight otherwise you will slip out of it

Megan : well it is hurting me

Rescue 2 : it will only be for a minute whilst we get you down there

Megan : this sucks, I can’t believe you are making me do this

 

Brad who was Megan’s senior partner got in on the conversation

 

Brad : you wanted to be the one who went down first Megan so just do what you are told and it will all work out

Megan : yeah right it doesn’t always

 

Brad rolled his eyes and apologised to Rescue 2. Megan reached the bottom and Luke looked at her with an eyebrow raised.

 

Luke : ok come over this side, we need to get him out as soon as we can

Megan : oh my god, it is another ambo, what happened? Did someone push him? Why isn’t he going by helicopter? And where..

Luke : (interrupts) can we save the questions for later and just focus on the job?

Megan : yep. I don’t believe I have met you, you are?

Luke : Dr Forlano

Megan : oh wow, I want to be a doctor one day, but I thought I would do ambulance first and see how I go

Rescue 1 : ok this isn’t a coffee break, move across there and listen to what the doctor says

Megan : ha ha yeah just like the doctor ordered.

 

Scott, Luke and Rescue 1 roll their eyes. Megan starts to climb over the other side of Luke, she smiles at him and he just looks at her. She then notices the vomit on the rocks.

 

Megan : oh gross, I am not going on that side, I hate vomit. There is no way I am going near there and it smells, oh so gross.

Luke : just do as you are told, we don’t have time for all your problems

Rescue 1 : you will never get by with an attitude like that

Megan : well you don’t have to sit and smell it

Rescue 1 : what do you think we have been doing love?

Scott  : ok can we just cut the talk about vomit? (Scott could feel his stomch churning again)

 

Brad is being harnessed up the top as the last person to come down and help with the lifting of Alex into the stretcher. He is also attached to the spine board. He has no hassles getting down to the rest of the crew.

 

Brad : ok spine board is here, lets get going

Luke : sounds like a plan

 

Alex is strapped onto the spine board and everyone prepares to roll and then lift. Luke takes the head and prepares to count.

 

Luke : is everyone ready?

 

Most people nod.

 

Luke : ok on my count, on 3

Megan : is that like 3 or just after it?

Brad : Megan for god’s sake, on 3

Luke : right are we all ok now?

 

Everyone nods

 

Luke : ok on 3, 1.... 2..... 3.....

 

They roll Alex on the spine board and strap him on. They then lift him into the stokes litter. He is then strapped in and Rescue 1 and the stokes are attached to a special harness to be lifted out first.

 

Megan : how come that rescue guy gets to go first? I will go up with the stretcher, I reckon that would be fun

Luke : you will be going out last so you might as well sit down and wait

Rescue 1 : (yells to top) ok right to go!

 

Rescue 1 and Alex are pulled to the top of the cliff, very slowly. Luke is next to be pulled up. Scott can feel a lump building in his throat, he is upset that this has happened to Alex and sick of listening to Megan whinging.

 

Megan : it is cold down here, you would think they would hurry up

Brad : just be patient, these things take time

Megan : yeah you wouldn’t want to be dying, you would be here forever

Scott : would you just shut up!!!

 

Megan looked at him.

 

Megan : so what was he doing down here anyway?

 

Scott began to cry, tears flowed down his cheeks and he sat staring into the national park and at the large drop below which Alex miraculously missed. He never answered. He never even looked up until the final rope was dropped down so he could be lifted out from the ledge.

 

Rescue 2 : Scotty, mate c’mon lets get you out

 

Scott wiped away his tears and attached himself to the harness. By the time he got to the top, Alex and the medical retrieval team were long gone on their way to hospital.

 

 

EMERGENCY –

 

Alex is rushed into emergency with the retrieval team. The trauma team are on standby waiting for his arrival and he is soon rushed to theatre. Rebecca looks anxiously for Scott.

 

Rebecca : (to Luke) Where is Scott? Is he ok? What happened?

Luke : Scott is fine, he is coming up a bit later, he helped with the rescue. I am not entriely sure what happened

 

Rebecca notices Brad and Megan strolling into the emergency, but no Scott.

 

Megan : (to brad) so will he die that guy?

Brad : hopefully not, he will go to surgery now and they will do whatever they can

Megan : I reckon I could have done a better job than that paramedic, I think he lost it

Brad : Megan just keep those things to yourself ok

 

Rebecca walked over to them.

 

Rebecca : I was just wondering, did you come in with Alex?

Megan : oh that ambo that jumped off the cliff?

Rebecca : he jumped? (surprised and shocked)

Megan : yep, maybe even suicide

Brad : you don’t know that. (to Megan) We aren’t sure what happened

 

Rebecca is totally shocked. Where was Scott?

 

Rebecca : hey was there another ambo with you, paramedic called Scott?

Megan : yeah apparently he was the cause of the whole thing. I guess he feels a bit bad now that his partner tried to kill himself

Rebecca : my god, where is he?

Megan : dunno he got left at the scene with the rescue guys, I think he has lost the plot

Rebecca : (with tears in her eyes) right, thanks.

 

Rebecca rushes to the phone and calls ward 17.

 

 

The phone is ringing and noone is there to answer it.

 

Nelson : will someone get that phone please?

Paula : flat out sorry

 

Nelson stands up and picks up the phone.

 

Nelson : good morning ward 17, Nelson Curtis

Rebecca : (fighting back tears) Nelson its Rebecca in emergency

Nelson : Bec what is wrong?

Rebecca : its Alex and Scott

Nelson : I will be right down

 

Nelson goes to rush down to emergency.

 

Nelson : I have to go to emergency for a bit, Paula you keep charge ok

Paula : sure along with the millions of other things I have to do!

 

 

Nelson tracks down Rebecca in emergency.

 

Nelson : what is going on?

 

Rebecca bursts into tears.

 

Rebecca : Alex was just brough in after being found halfway down a cliff, they reckon it might have been suicide and someone said that something Scott did might have been the cause.

Nelson : hey slow down, its ok

Rebecca : and Scott isn’t here and noone knows where he is and he was really upset about it

Nelson : are you sure about all this?

Rebecca : the ambos that were on scene with him told me, why would they lie?

 

Nelson puts his arms around Rebecca and tries to comfort her.

 

Nelson : how about we get a coffee and try and call Scott?

Rebecca : I have tried, his phone is off, oh my god, what is going on? We fought last night and now this and Alex is serious and .........

 

Rebecca is sobbing loudly and Nelson leads her out of emergency onto the balcony. She gets her phone out of her pocket and gives it to Nelson.

 

Rebecca : could you please try call him? I can’t see the number?

Nelson : sure

 

Nelson dials up Scott’s number and it starts ringing.

 

Nelson : it is ringing

 

Rebecca looks up in surprise.

 

Rebecca : oh my god, give it here! (grabs for the phone) thank you.

 

TO BE CONTINUED........... 1