"But he wouldn't leave home without it, he never does." She watched as they turned on the oxygen, prepared a nebuliser and held it over Garths face. His lips were tinged with blue and his skin was pasty white.
Tibby reached them and groaned. "Oh no, not the boy. What happened, Mason?"
"I was showing him the vines and he started to struggle to breathe. I didn't realise he was asthmatic. I didn't know what else to do so I called triple 0."
The medics lifted Garth onto the stretcher.
"We need to get him to hospital. He doesn't seem to be responding too well at this stage."
Sami cried out and wrenched from Mason’s grip, lurching toward the stretcher. She wiped her hand over Garth’s forehead and the tears trickled down her cheeks.
"Baby, hang on, I'm with you." She walked beside him as they headed back to the ambulance, her fingers laced through her brother’s. When they loaded him in the ambulance she tried to climb in beside him.
"Sorry, miss, I need to work on him." The medic barred her way with his arm, the look on his face brooking no argument.
"I'll take you in, Sami. Let's go." Mason took her arm and guided her toward the carport.
"Let me know how he goes." Tibby watched them leave, a desolate look on his face.
* * *
"I'll call you." Mason pushed Sami into the car and ran around to his side, sliding into his seat and starting the engine. He whipped the car into reverse and spun the tyres in his haste to keep up with the ambulance. It was already down the driveway, the lights and sirens blaring.
"If anything happens to him you are dead."
Mason looked over at Sami, the quiet words ringing in his ears. She was obviously upset and he turned his attention back to the vehicle in front of them and the trip to the hospital.
When they pulled into the emergency bay, Sami jumped out of the car and rushed to the ambulance before they had Garth out of the door. Mason followed, his earlier good mood gutted. Garth was an interesting young man who knew exactly what he wanted. He was knowledgeable and keen, something Mason was happy to help nurture given the chance.
He was prepared to offer the kid a job if he wanted it and encourage him to do the course in town he was keen on. Fingers crossed he came through this safely without any side effects.
Mason reached Sami's side and slipped his arm over her shoulders. She glared at him and shrugged it off.
The doctors hurried to the bedside and the medics filled them in.
"Asthma attack, Ventolin administered, oxygen levels still low, thready pulse."
"Get them out." The doctor spoke crisply to the nurse who approached Sami and Mason, whipping the curtain closed between them.
"Please go and take a seat in the waiting area. The doctors need to work on your brother and we will let you know how he is as soon as we can."
"No, I'm not leaving him." Sami pushed the nurse out of the way and tried to go back into the emergency cubicle where Garth lay.
Mason reached her in a couple of quick strides and put his arms around her. "You have to listen. They don't need you in the way."
She slapped him squarely across the cheek, the sound reverberating in the room.
I really don't think I deserved that.
Mason rubbed his face and laughed bitterly. "If it makes you feel better, have another go, Sami. Fact is, the doctors want you out of the way so they can work on Garth. You are coming with me, like it or not."
He picked her up in his arms and turned to the waiting room. "Here or outside in the sun?"
She was glaring at him while the tears slowly filled her eyes. Her chin wobbled as they slid down her cheeks falling on his arm. "Take me outside."
"We'll be outside by the door." Mason turned and walked out with Sami shaking in his arms. He found a seat and sat down cradling her against his chest letting her sob until she was spent.
Sami swallowed and took a couple of deep breaths. Mason ran his hand over her hair and she started crying again. After a few minutes she was down to a hiccough every other breath. Soon she was in control of her emotions and slid off his lap down onto the bench beside him. "Sorry. I didn't mean to slap you so hard."
"So hard or at all?"
"So hard. I blame you for this. I meant what I said too, if anything goes wrong you are a dead man." Her eyes were red-rimmed and tears threatened again but Mason could see the spark still there as Sami looked at him.
"Big call. Hardly my fault your brother forgot his inhaler but if it makes you feel any better, I have broad shoulders. We can sort out blame later when he is better."
"If he gets..." Sami broke down again and Mason reached for her.
"Shhh, he will be okay. You have to believe he will and think positively."
"Fuck positive thinking. It doesn't work. I know only too well." She shook her head with a disgusted look marring her face.
"Want to talk about it?" Mason smiled at the glare she shot his way.
"It was all the doctors told us when Mum was sick. Think positively, it helps. They were full of crap, too scared to tell us the truth." She wiped her eyes on the corner of her T-shirt and Mason reached into his pocket for a handkerchief.
"Thanks." She held it to her nose and blew loudly. He lifted a hand and toyed with a strand of hair falling over her face. "It must have been hard for you guys losing your mother with nobody there to support you?"
"Yeah, it was. But what can you do? Life's like that. It's not fair but you kind of have to get over it and
