“Okay.” Nick sat upright, his voice cracking despite his resolve. “Let’s do this.” 17
John knelt by Dean’s head; his friend’s pulse jagged beneath his shaking fingers. The moment a stark testament to both human frailty and determination. He had many questions, chief among them? How could an average workday go so wrong?
He mouthed a silent promise to Dean. However this played out, John would take care of Dean and his family. This may not have been John’s fault, but the accident happened on his watch.
Nick helped him pull Dean’s unconscious body as far away from the wall of debris as possible. They made a small V of cleared space. Enough room for Nick to kneel, hunched over and surrounded by their improvised tools.
“You ready?”
A foolish question. One Nick thankfully ignored.