"Look Sid, I appreciate you help, seriously I do but I can't wait any longer. It could mean the difference between life and death for Stacey."
"Fine. But listen to me and listen carefully. If you stick to the tunnels on the right hand side of the caverns you will avoid the water. All you need is a small downpour for it to rise to dangerous levels."
"Thanks Sid. Come down when the others get here and Mike is under control."
He walked away, lighting the track with his torch. When he got to the entry Sid told him about he flicked on his head lamp. Taking his time he worked his way through the dark tunnels calling out as he went. "Stacey, Stacey are you down here. Answer me baby, please."
Standing still he listened for a reply but the only noise he heard apart from his own breathing was the dripping of water in the dark chasm. Keeping to the right hand side he looked down a hole to the next level. There was something in the shadow just out of his line of sight.
Dropping his bag to the ground he pulled out the rope ladder and connected it by tying the rope to a large boulder off to the side of the hole. Testing his rope skills, Morgan slowly lowered himself down the shaft to the next level.
Lying motionless in the dark was Stacey.
"Oh my god, Stacey." He hurried over to her and slipped his arm under her shoulders but she was unconscious and remained limp.
"Morgan." Voices called out to him and lights flickered up on the next level.
"Down here." He sat on the cold ground with Stacey in his arms stroking her cheek. Her breathing was shallow and the color had left her skin pale and pasty looking. There was a cut and bruise on her cheek and both of her eyes were swollen and weepy.
Ted scaled the rope ladder and jumped down beside him. Taking one look at the woman in Morgan's arms, he called on his two way radio. "He has her. Get the guys with the stretcher ready, we're bringing her up."
Ted kneeled beside them. "Mate, I need you to go up the ladder first so I can pass her up to you, okay?"
He gently took Stacey from Morgan's arms and nudged him over to the rope ladder. Balancing her against his chest he placed one foot then the next on the rungs and made his way up the ladder. Strong arms lifted her from his as he cleared the whole.
Lights had been set up and the offers of a hand to carry her out rang out among the men. Morgan held her close to his chest and carried her out himself, determined not to let go of her until she was safe in the arms of the medics.
Doc was waiting at the entry to the mine shaft with an ambulance stretcher and another doctor and quickly took over. "Put her down so we can check her out."
Reluctantly he lay her on the stretcher and they wheeled it outside to where the ambulance was waiting. Getting her inside they could see what they were doing and check her vital signs. Morgan leaned against the back of the ambulance and listened to every word.
"Blood pressure is very low, pulse weak. Definitely dehydrated, her skin is very clammy. Hyperthermia has set in and there is the distinct smell of vomit on her skin." Doc shone a light on her pupils, trying to pry her eyelids up. There was no response. He looked over at Morgan and shook his head. "I don't like it. Let's get her into the hospital and on some fluids and see how we go for now."
Morgan climbed in and sat on the end of the stretcher, his arm protectively over her belly.
"Listen, um would you mind..."
"Forget it," he growled.
"Okay, well strap her in and we can get going." Doc got out and slammed the door going around to sit in the front by the driver.
As they drove slowly from the mine he watched as the police dragged a semi conscious Mike and threw him into the back of the police wagon. The lights sparkling around the mine entrance slowly faded as they headed to town.
Her hand was cold in his but he massaged the color back into the one he was holding feeling the need to keep touching something he had almost lost. He may still lose her.
When the ambulance backed into the hospital emergency entrance Morgan was ready to step out and walk with her into the hospital. The nurses tried to get him to move into the waiting room but he glowered at them refusing to let go of the grip he had on the stretcher bearing Stacey.
"It's fine, he can stay." Doc soothed over ruffled feathers of the staff and set to checking out Stacey properly.
Nurses stripped off her clothing and attached monitors for her heart and breathing. Another looped a strap around her belly over the baby and hooked it up to another monitor. Morgan kept his eyes on it and breathed a sigh of relief when the line rose and found its rhythm, beeping enough to make Doc smile and nod his head at him.
"Baby is fine. That is one good thing, now to see why this lady is not waking up."
Doc checked for cuts and bumps to the head and announced all clear for head injuries. He drew blood and inserted a canula in her wrist to pump fluids in. "This will help but there isn't really anything we can do but wait for her to wake up."
"Should we get her to Sydney to a major hospital?"
"They can't do anything more for her there Morgan. We may be a small hick town but our hospital is first class for its size."
"No offence meant Doc.
