Chapter 24

Darcy

We’re right down at the head of the fire, making use of the wide break the bikers had made. Around us the fire’s still raging, rearing up into the tree canopy and spreading out on the flanks as it’s forward advance here has been halted. The bikers have done well, and we’re reinforcing what they’ve already done, pulling up roots and digging out a dozer line. Fleetingly, I realise it’s our job to protect life, whosesoever it might be, but we’ve also got an interest in keeping the compound fire free. Apart from protecting the bikers, it’s going to be our refuge as well. Seeing the fire looping around on either side, there’s no other escape route for us now.

Anything combustible is burning, pockets of scrub they were unable to remove keep catching alight, and we attack fast to put those out. Above us, burning ash carried on the fierce winds is heading straight for the compound.

“Hey, Hammer. You’re needed.” I hear Slade’s voice on the radio, and anxiously turn around fast. A call for the EMT normally means someone is hurt.

“Yo, Captain. What is it?” Hammer’s immediately on the alert.

Slade appears through the smoke, jerking his head back toward the compound, and for a second I have an irrational fear something’s happened to Peg. “One of the women at the bikers’ place has gone into labour. We can’t get her out, as the fire’s got the compound surrounded.

Relieved no one’s been hurt, then I realise it must be Marcia, and warn him grimly, “It’s twins, Ham.”

Hammer puts a hand to his chin as he gives me a sharp look followed by a nod as he digests my additional information. Then he stands straighter. “Christ, I’m no obstetrician. Are we sure we can’t get her out? What about a helicopter?”

Slade points to the fire that’s surrounding us on all sides. “The wind has increased again. It’s well above twenty-five knots.” We’d been lucky there’d been a lull to get Nicole out. The captain’s shaking his head, showing how little he likes the situation. “You better go too, Flash. If you know her it will do her some good to see someone familiar. And Hammer will need all the help he can get. Bad fucking timing.”

That’s putting it mildly. I don’t even want to think about all the problems we might face.

Hammer rubs his chin again. “I’ve handled births before, but not a multiple birth. Fuck, I hope it’s a false alarm.”

We exchange glances, both knowing how much is riding on this, the life of a woman and her two babies. Without having to speak, we waste no more time, pointing our feet in the direction of the compound behind us. As we head through the gate we pass bikers, all looking concerned. I see Peg, and he raises his chin toward me and throws me a weak smile. Sam, who’ve I met before, is hovering close by with a scarf wrapped around her face. Seeing us, waves us down the slope in the direction of the clubhouse.

Inside we find Marcia, who’s breathing heavily. Her man, Heart, has his arm around her and they’re surrounded by a group of concerned women. An old woman I don’t recognise is barking instructions.

Taking in the scene quickly, Hammer immediately steps up and takes charge. “Can you give us some space, please?”

The women step away, Heart stays where he is. Hammer throws him a nod, then speaks to Marcia. “You’re having contractions?”

“I think so, yes.” She gasps and clasps her stomach as another one hits.

“Can you do something to help her?” Heart sounds panicked.

Hammer takes hold of Marcia’s hand. “We got this, okay?” he tells her in a confident voice. “Not the way you planned it, but we got this.”

As the contraction passes, she raises her eyes to meet his and gives a little nod of determination.

“Good girl. Now, can you give me the name of your doctor?”

Heart provides the information on Marcia’s behalf. As Hammer steps away, he takes out his phone, frowning when he sees there’s no signal.

“Phones are out,” another man says, his hair and features giving away he’s at least part Native American. “You’ll have to use your radio.”

“I’ll be back in a minute, Marcia. Flash, can you start to time the contractions?”

Nodding, I take out my own phone and select the timer.

After a few minutes, Hammer returns and pulls me to one side, speaking quietly so no one else can hear. “Right. Got good and bad news. The bad is that due to her medical history she was going to have a caesarean. She’s got another three and half weeks to go, and the good is that babies should be fine to be delivered now.”

“What we looking at here, Hammer?”

He takes a deep breath. “The caesarean was going to be a precaution, but now she’s got no choice. Those babies want out, and she’ll have to have a natural birth. We treat it as we would normally. After the first baby comes out the second should follow quickly. The doc’s going to keep in close contact to talk us through any complications. How far apart are the contractions?” He pauses to smile confidently at Marcia, who, out of earshot, is looking at him, worried.

“Four minutes.”

“Shit. It’s getting close.” He lifts the radio and relays that piece of information, and then we move back to Marcia’s side.

Sam’s hovering. “What can I do to help?”

Hammer answers immediately. “I need a room. Preferably with a bed. Have you got a plastic sheet?”

Heart overhears. “Got sheeting up in the storeroom.” Without missing a beat, he yells out, “Prospect!”

“On it, Heart.” Everyone seems to be eavesdropping today.

“We’ll also need clean sheets, towels. Whatever you can find.”

Sam frowns. “It would be best if we could get her up to her suite.”

Hammer shakes his head. “Have you anywhere inside the clubhouse? There’s too much smoke outside, and I don’t want her breathing more in than she has to, it’s already bad enough in here.” He’s right. The doors and windows are shut, the power’s gone off, and the room’s stifling, but overheating is better than the poisonous air.

“Then we’ll set up one of the crash rooms,” Sam says without missing a beat, then beckons to the other women, and they all disappear.

One of them takes the handles of the wheelchair and takes the strange old woman along with them. I see her bending down and saying, “Ma, how about you and I sort out some food. Gonna be a lot of hungry people here soon.”

I don’t hear a reply, getting back to the matter in hand and seeing Hammer looking at Marcia. “Let’s get you up on your feet. Walking around will be better for you.”

Heart helps Marcia up, and slowly they start walking around the clubroom. Hammer moves away, and I hear murmuring as he talks to the doctor on the radio. In a very short time the prospect is back, and Heart sends him on back to where the women are preparing a room.

“Room’s done.” Sam reappears.

“Heart. Can you take Marcia back there, and I’ll join you in a moment?” Hammer waits until we’re alone, and then looks at me. “The twins each have their own gestational sac, but it looks like they share a placenta.”

That’s one bit of good news at least. If they were in one sac, there would be a danger of the cords getting tangled during the birth process.

Hammer’s on his radio, switching frequencies. “Slade. How’s it looking? I’d still rather we get this woman to the hospital.”

“Still not possible for the helicopter to land?” When he gets the answer, I can see his hand clenching. “Damn. Okay. We’ll do what we can.”

Hammer closes his eyes as if summoning up strength for the ordeal ahead, then when he opens them, speaks with new resolve. “Come on. Let’s do this.”

As he marches away in the direction Marcia had gone, I follow behind, hoping to God we’ll not lose either woman or babies today. That we’re in for a challenging time is certain. I glance over to where Heart’s still encouraging Marcia to stand and keep moving, her face twisting in pain, and sweat running down her face, which isn’t all from the heat.

“How are you doing?” Hammer asks in his best bedside manner, but only sounds a little gentler than his gruff firefighter self.

“Like I want all the drugs going.” Marcia chokes back a sob. “I’m sorry. It hurts so fucking much.”

“Marc…”

“Heart. Don’t you fucking say anything.”

Hammer ignores her outburst. “Can you lie on the bed, Marcia, and let me take a look at you?”

Moving awkwardly, she does. When Hammer goes to remove her leggings, Heart pushes him out of the way, pulling them off, then stretching her long top down. Hammer covers her lower half with a sheet, then gently moves her tee back up and moves his hands over her stomach, which I can see is rock hard.

Marcia’s eyes are wide and worried as she suffers his examination, hardly daring to breathe.

When Hammer looks up, he’s smiling. “First baby’s head seems to be in the right position. We’re going to do this, Marcia, okay? Now, I’m sorry, but I want to examine you to see whereabouts you are.” He slips on gloves.

Heart growls when he sees Hammer’s intention. “Can’t you do this, Darcy?”

I shake my head. “Hammer’s got far more expertise than me.” I know how possessive these bikers can be, so I lay it on the line for him. “You want your children born safely, Heart. Let Hammer do what he has to.”

It’s easy to see Heart’s torn between watching what Hammer’s doing to his woman and being unable to look.

“I can feel the head crowning. These babies want out, Marcia. I know it hurts, but it won’t be too long now.”

“It shouldn’t be this way.” Marcia howls, and then as her body goes taut once again, pants through another contraction. After what seems to be a lifetime, it passes.

Hammer keeps in touch with Doctor Cassidy by radio, updating her on how Marcia’s doing. We get updates on the fire, which is still burning fiercely, but the efforts of the bikers and firefighters are proving successful in keeping it away from the compound. The woman on the bed is suffering bravely, and as Heart takes her hand I see his turning white as she tries to cope with the pain. From the look of anguish on his face, he’d do anything to be able to suffer for her instead.

An hour passes, and I keep timing those contractions. A particularly strong one has Marcia screaming out.

“How long was that?”

“Two minutes,” I tell him.

“Right, Marcia. If you feel the need to push, do.”

My heart bleeds for her, she’s trying so hard. Beads of sweat run down her face from effort and pain. Heart’s wiping her forehead, speaking words of encouragement, and at last Hammer tells her, “I can see the head crowning. Next contraction I want you to push really hard.” He places his hands gently on the baby’s head, and I see him checking to make sure the umbilical cord isn’t wrapped around it. “Everything’s looking good, Marcia. Now, push.”

She does, and for the next one, she clenches her fists and grits her teeth.

“Baby’s coming. Once again, Marcia, give it all that you’ve got.” Then to me, “There’s a scalpel in my bag. Can you get it? And pass me a towel.”

As I do, it looks like the baby’s covered in cellophane. Hammer quickly breaks the sac and wipes its face.

“Shoulders are out. And baby is too, Marcia.”

Hammer wraps it in a towel, but not before telling the exhausted woman, “You’ve got a boy, Marcia.” Holding the baby with his head facing down, he takes the sterile cloth that I’m holding and gently wipes the mucus away. His fingers are resting on the baby boy’s chest, then he looks at me and grins.

“Baby’s fine, Marcia.” The baby screams proving Hammer’s right.

Marcia’s totally worn out, but the most beautiful smile I’ve ever seen creeps across her face as she turns to Heart. “We’ve got a son.”

Heart’s looking almost as shattered as her. He’s shaking his head as if he can’t quite believe it. “A son, Marc. We have a son.”

Hammer passes the baby to me to hold, who quietens in my hold, and then goes to check on Marcia. “Baby two isn’t quite in the right position, Marcia. I’m just going to see if I can move him around.” He places his hand on her stomach, and gently manipulates the baby inside while Marcia again clenches her teeth, breathing a sigh of relief when he steps back and tells her, “There, that’s it.”

“I want to push.”

“Go right ahead. Shouldn’t take long now, as you’re already stretched.”

It doesn’t. Only fifteen minutes after the first, Marcia gives birth to a baby girl. But she’s not breathing. Unfazed, while the worried parents look on and exchange concerned glances, Hammer efficiently gives her mouth to mouth, and then with a cry she starts taking in air all on her own.

Hammer updates the doctor and gets his next instructions. He cuts the umbilical cords, and hands one baby to a stunned Heart, and one he puts into Marcia’s arms. “See if they’ll latch on and suckle.”

She tries, Heart helps her. It seems like he’s done this before and knows what he’s doing.

Hammer is still watching carefully what’s happening, and as Marcia pushes again, the placenta comes out. She’s bleeding. It’s not unusual, but we have to deal with it.

“I’ll go and see if any of the women have a sanitary pad.” I go to the door, then turn back. “You want me to tell them the good news?”

Heart’s got the biggest stupid grin on his face as he looks up and nods. “Sure, let everyone know.”

In the clubroom all the women are waiting around, along with Fergus, the prospect. For the first time today, I’ve got something uplifting to say as all eyes land on me. “A boy and a girl. Both look okay.” When they’ve digested the news, I ask for what I came out for.

Sam nods. “Marcia’s got a hospital bag prepared in her room. I should have thought of it earlier.”

“I’ll go,” Fergus offers. After Sam describes it, he pulls up his bandana and disappears into the smoke-filled air.

“Can we see them?” Sophie asks.

“Let’s get her cleaned up and sorted first, okay?”

I return to the room to find Hammer smiling. “The wind’s dropped, and they’ll be able to get a helicopter here soon. Hear that Marcia? You and the babies will be able to be checked out.”

She’s trying to get both babies to suckle. Two little mouths are rooting around. She seems so intent on the miracles in her arms that she hardly hears what he’s telling her.

Heart does, though, and lets out a deep sigh of relief. He looks over to us and holds out his hand. Hammer shakes it first, then when I go to take it, he pulls me in for a hug. “Thank you, thank you both. I don’t know what we’d have fuckin’ done without you.”

Hammer grins. “This was one of my most pleasurable day’s work, man. Don’t sweat it man. It’s what we do.”

A knock at the door, and I take the bag from Fergus. Manoeuvring the babies between us, Heart helps Marcia out of her sweat-laden top and into the nightie she had in her bag. Then I help her with the more intimate products. With Heart’s help, Hammer takes the dirty sheets off the bed, and we replace them with the spares Sam had helpfully provided.

“You’ve got a bunch of eager women out there. Want to let them come in?”

“I think it’s too early for that…”

“Heart.” With one word, Marcia stops him. “If I’m going to the hospital soon, let them come in for a moment.” There’s a glow of pride on her exhausted face, and it deserves to be there. She did well.

They must have been hanging around outside. As I open the door, Sophie, Ella, Sam, Carmen, and Sandy come in, immediately crowding the small room. Fergus pushes the old lady in the wheelchair in, then backs away, his head peering around the doorway as if he doesn’t feel invited but can’t help having a look.

Marcia looks up at them, that proud, beatific smile still on her tired and drawn face. She nods at Heart and says, “Meet Jacob and Isabel.” Heart’s hand’s resting gently on the head of his son as he gives a small nod to his woman.

“They’re tiny,” gasps Sandy. “What do they weigh?”

“Whoa.” Hammer laughs. “We’ll let them sort all that out at the hospital.”

At that moment, a grey furry bundle pushes past Fergus and comes bounding up to the bed. “Grunt. Down boy.” Heart laughs.

“I got him.” Sam rests her hand on the dog’s collar and pulls him away. “He just wanted to see his new family, didn’t you, boy?” Grunt’s tail’s wagging furiously, and as large as he is, he’s getting in everyone’s way.

Hammer’s quick to notice it’s getting too much for the new parents. “Ladies, can we give them some space?”

“You done good, girl.” The old woman nods approvingly as Fergus reappears to wheel her out. I must find out who she is. But my curiosity will have to wait. Marcia’s my priority.

Reluctant to leave, the other women blow kisses at Marcia, and then go, Sam dragging an unwilling Grunt away.

Hammer’s back on the radio. He listens to what he’s being told, sucks in air, then blows it out, then answers, “Okay.” He nods toward Heart and Marcia. “The helicopter’s coming in. Should be about twenty minutes. It can’t hang about for long. The fire’s not as bad as it was, but it’s still burning. They’re designating a helispot in the area you cleared at the back of the compound. We need to do what we can to protect the babies from inhaling too much smoke.”

“Will this do?” I pull out some gauze from his bag.

We fashion some makeshift masks while Heart helps Marcia swing her legs off the bed and slips her feet into some sandals. “I’m a bit underdressed,” she tells him.

“You’re going to the hospital,” he replies. “Not out on the town.” His eyes flick to mine. “Will I be able to go with her?”

Hammer answers with a frown. “Depends on the helicopter. They’re bringing a medic along in case they need medical attention on the way. I’m sorry, man, but possibly not.”

By his expression, Heart doesn’t want to be separated from his woman and babies so soon. But it can’t be helped. I try to reassure him. “Heart, despite everything today, Marcia’s done an amazing job, and the babies look like they’re doing well. But it’s important she gets to the hospital as soon as she can. I know you don’t want to be parted, but hopefully it won’t be for long.”

He nods. Marcia stumbles as she tries to stand.

“Heart and I will carry the babies,” Hammer announces. “You help Marcia along.”

But Heart’s got other ideas, sweeping her up into his arms and carrying her outside to a Jeep. He carefully puts her in the back seat and takes the baby Hammer carried out and gives her son to her. I sit beside her with her daughter in my arms. As I give her a sideways look, I see her staring down into the bundle she’s holding, a look of disbelief on her face.

I nudge her. “You doing okay?”

“I just can’t believe they’re here. And that they’re alright.”

“I meant how are you feeling?” I smile.

“Sore, but that doesn’t matter. Look what I got for my pain?” She laughs softly. “But I do feel I could sleep for a week.”

That’s par for the course for any new mother and I suspect a full night’s sleep won’t be in the cards for a very long time.

As Heart slowly and carefully drives up the compound, I stare at the baby in my arms, feeling a pang inside. I’m not getting any younger and have always expected one day to have a family of my own. A family that I know Peg would be only too happy to give me. Then bite my lip as I realise the chances of that happening now are slim to nothing.

Taking advantage of the moment of peace in the mayhem I’ve been embroiled in for the past three days, my mind flits over what’s happened since I last saw him. The initial call to the fire, sitting in the engine not immediately knowing what we were being dispatched to, but being prepared for anything. Being so scared for Nicole, and the relief when we found her, my own life being at risk when the fire caught up with us, and now the exhilaration that I was able to help Hammer deliver these beautiful babies.

Instead of dampening my enthusiasm for my job, these past few days have enhanced it. I don’t want anything to put that at risk. Which, I have to accept, is at odds with a relationship with an outlaw biker.

Especially one who treats the women as he and his brothers do. It hadn’t escaped my notice that while I’d be in the clubhouse every woman was staying safe while their men were out protecting the compound from the fire. Cooking up food to provide sustenance, comforting and encouraging them when their men when they came down for a break. If I was here as an old lady, would that be my expected place? Peg’s look of concern that I’d been in the midst of the firefighting hadn’t escaped me, and neither had I missed his expression of relief and approval that for a time I was going to be out of danger and doing a job more appropriate for a woman. Delivering babies. He hadn’t had to say one word, it was all written on his face.

I couldn’t be cocooned like the rest of the old ladies, I’d soon suffocate. Peg and I are oceans apart. Coming here today, seeing how the women are corralled and protected, had been an eyeopener for me, and had brought home that being with an overprotective man is not what I want. I want an equal partnership, not one where I’m smothered and kept off the front line.

Fighting this fire has reminded me what I live for. Knowing I’m making a difference, when structures are threatened, saving peoples’ homes or livelihoods. A life of being pampered isn’t one I’d enjoy, but already knowing what I do about Peg, I’m convinced that’s what he’d have lined up for me.

I can imagine his reaction if he knows I might have to give up my job in order to be with him. He’d be delighted. Especially now when he’s seen first-hand what I go up against. Could I see Peg happily waving me off each time I go on shift, after having got up close and personal with what I deal with every day? Knowing the danger and risks that we take. For the past three days, I’ve had no real sleep and no thought of anything but tackling the force of nature in front of me. It put everything else out of my mind. My priority to play my part in stopping its ferocious advance. Now I’ve an interlude of relative calm, it’s put everything into perspective and confirmed what I suspected.

Peg and I have no future. I’ve got my team around me, people who understand what I do. Much as I might envy Marcia and her babies, I can’t see how that can fit into my world. When I realise I won’t give up my career for Peg, I also must accept there’s no middle ground. I was stupid ever thinking there was. My department would frown on the relationship, and I’d be fighting Peg every day that he believes I’m putting my life at risk.

We’re passing through men and going out of the rear gate, coming to a halt as the helicopter appears above us, giving it space to land. The spinning rotor stirs up dust and fans the flames of a small fire, which one of my team runs and puts out. Ash is still falling around us like snow as Heart pulls the Jeep in as close as he can get.

Things move quickly. Marcia’s helped inside, then the babies are secured. Hammer has a brief word with the medics, and within minutes the helicopter is taking off again, Heart staring after it until it disappears from sight.

“She’ll be fine.” I put my hand on his shoulder. “You’ll be able to go to her soon.” It’s clear to see the fire has lost its intensity, with the wind having died down and becoming only a gentle breeze, it’s gradually consuming the fuel that’s already alight, but no longer such a hungry beast ravenous for more.

“Flash.” Slade appears at my side.

“Yeah. Where d’you want me, Captain?” Looking at him is probably like looking into a mirror, bags showing under his red-rimmed eyes, lines etched on his soot-laden forehead, reminding me we’ve been here more than eighty hours straight, a couple of insufficient naps sleeping in one of the engines, just enough to keep us awake.

“You need some down time. Drummer’s offered us the use of his clubroom for firefighters to take a break.”

I give myself a shake, trying to rid myself of the overwhelming exhaustion, feeling both mentally and physically drained. “I’m fine to go on, Slade.”

“That’s an order, Cavanaugh. Hammer, Truck, and I are standing down too. Take a couple of hours, get some food and have a rest.”

Actually, that sounds good, as long as I’m not being given preferential treatment. As my crew members come to join me, we walk back through the gate. Heart comes running up. “I’ve got to get the Jeep moved back anyway. Want a lift?”

As we gratefully agree, Peg appears.