Near Fatal Addiction

"Argh." Nick Rowen immediately recoiled as the flames of the fire he'd been trying to put out licked at his wrist and hand – scorching the flesh and sending burning pain coursing through his fingers. He felt relieved as he watched the last of the flames – which had been kicked up around the body of the man lying motionless at his feet – starting to die away; cradling the injured limb to his chest with his one good arm as he then tried to access the situation, and struggled to get the wounded suspect into the recovery position.

"You alright Nick?" PC Phil Bellamy asked with a frown, concerned by his friend and colleague's sudden reaction. Nick smiled, letting his injured hand fall stiffly to his side as he struggled to brush off Bellamy's concern.

"Just a little singed around the edges." He explained. "Which is better than could be said for him. Have you called an ambulance?" He asked, frowning at the mess the fire had made of the man, and realising that time was now of the essence.

Phil nodded. "Nick, let me take a look at that hand." He insisted, reaching out his own to take his friend's, determined not to accept no for an answer. Nick however remained reluctant to allow Bellamy to take a closer look at his injuries until they'd successfully secured their first suspect, and got the second the treatment he urgently required.

Eventually he relented, holding his hand out for his colleague to take.

Phil Bellamy gritted his teeth, releasing a sympathetic sigh as he gently manipulated Nick's fingers – which had clawed themselves into a tight fist – to reveal the raw and blistered flesh beneath. Nick flinched as the cool early afternoon air and the smoke of the recently extinguished fire whipped up around his hand – caught in a sudden breeze – and making his flesh sting.

"This looks nasty Nick." Phil observed as he gently examined the wound. "It'll need treating. There's a first aid kit in the back of the car, come on, there's nothing more you can do for him until the ambulance arrives."

Reluctantly Nick followed Bellamy to the back of the unmarked police car where his friend proceeded to dress the wound – albeit rather unskilfully – as the severity of the injury became increasingly apparent. Phil grimaced.

"You'll need this checking out at hospital Nick." He explained. "I've patched it up as best I can for now, but it needs proper professional treatment."

Nick nodded.

"At least there's a positive side to having a doctor at home." Phil Bellamy smiled.

"Oh yeah, and what's that?" Nick asked, forcing a small chuckle. He felt sure that his friend was about to come up with some quick and witty response in an attempt to make him smile and take his mind off his pain.

"You'll have somebody to help change your bandages later." He smiled.