Chapter Text
Aaron looked at Liv who seemed completely groggy and disconnected from everything. Clearly the bang on the head was effecting her. “Liv, can you talk to me?” he said, fighting to stay calm.
“Want to sleep…” she said, voice slurring.
“You can’t go to sleep,” Aaron said. “You need to stay awake, keep talking to me.”
“Why? You’re boring at the best of times,” she said, a slow smile creeping onto her face. Aaron smiled, pleased she was able to jibe like this. “Robert?”
“He was at the pub,” Aaron said. Please let him be safe at the pub. He coughed viciously, the dust and grit filling his lungs, making them feel like they were burning. Aaron took his phone back out and called him. “Come on Rob, be okay,” he begged under his breath as the call went through. It only took two rings for it to be answered.
“Aaron,” Robert breathed, and even Aaron could hear the relief in his voice. “Oh, you’re okay.”
“Not really,” he said, voice faint and choked. “Not doing great. The house… I don’t really know what‘s happened.”
“Tell me you’re not in that building,” Robert begged, looking down at the sink hole, fear filling him. The relief on hearing Aaron’s voice, that he was alive was fading fast. “Please, just… tell me you’re winding me up.”
“Yeah, I’m in the house,” Aaron said, looking around him. “Or what’s left of it.”
“Oh God,” Robert said, shaking his head. Vic was looking at him, wide eyed and waiting for news. “He’s down there,” Robert said, his throat thick with emotion. But he couldn’t let himself fall apart. Victoria looked at the mess of a house, her hand flying to cover her open mouth
“Liv?” he asked into the phone.
“She’s here,” Aaron said. “But… she keeps drifting in and out of consciousness. She’s had a bang on the head.”
“How’re you?” Robert asked. “Are you in one piece?”
“For now,” Aaron said. “Is someone going to try and get us out of here any time soon?”
“They’re on their way,” Robert promised. The phone line fell silent as the house let out an ominous creak, rubble shifting very slightly. Enough that Victoria and the other bystanders could see it moving. “Go and find Chas,” Robert told Victoria. She nodded and left.
“Aaron, talk to me,” Robert said into the phone line.
“Is it just me... or is it moving?” Aaron said, swallowing uncomfortably as he looked up into the wreckage of the house. Robert could hear the fear in his voice.
“It’ll be fine,” Robert said. “Helps on the way. Listen, Vic’s getting Chas. If you want to talk to her.”
“Oh God!” Aaron breathed. “It must be bad then,” he said. “What, you’re getting my mother for some kind of twisted goodbye conversation?”
“I’m getting your mother because you know as well as I do that she would never forgive me if I didn’t. Like I need to give her another reason to hate me.” Aaron laughed quietly, forced but it was there.
“Rob?” Aaron said quietly. Robert knew where he was going and shook his head. He didn’t want to hear that right now, Aaron saying goodbye to him. He wouldn’t be able to bear it.
“You know…”
“Don’t,” he said quietly, interrupting him. “I know.” Robert was trying to keep a grip on his sanity, getting more and more difficult as time passed, the minutes ticking away. They could both hear sirens approaching and Robert let out a breath he’d been holding for minutes. Help.