The Quake (Colby/Callie, PG-13)
Written for the Smart!Colby challenge at savecolby
Title: The Quake
Character(s)/Pairings: Colby/OFC-Callie
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Sometimes the unexpected happens...
Author’s Notes: I started this fic AGES ago for the challenge and then it just didn't seem to cut it. After months of deliberating, mustangcandi finally talked me into posting it. Callie was created by mustangcandi and I thank her for allowing me to use her (and I'm sure Colby does too. *wink). Thanks also for being my beta!
Spoilers: None
Disclaimer: I don't own anything affiliated with Numb3rs. Also, this was a vague idea I had before any of the recent events and horrible earthquakes happened around the globe. This fic is not meant to take away from or in any way resemble those occurrences.
Colby’s eyes snapped open and he coughed as his lungs took in the polluted air all around him. It was thick with dust and who knew what else. He shook his head as he tried to get his eyes to adjust and to assess his possible injuries. After finding only minor cuts and bruises, he carefully sat up and listened for his partner.
After a moment of hearing nothing but debris settling, he called out, “Cal? Cal, where are you?”
He listened again, hearing nothing except his heart pounding and the blood rushing through his veins. His mind reeled with possibilities he didn’t want to imagine and he slowly began to crawl toward the last place he’d known Callie to be.
As he carefully moved pieces of the building that had fallen around them he muttered, “Of course we had to chase a suspect into the one structure in L.A. that hadn’t yet been retrofitted. Unbelievable.”
A god damned earthquake. Who would have thought he would ever find himself in this situation? Of all the things he’d experienced in his life, an earthquake was never one of them and he couldn’t say he was exactly thrilled he was experiencing one now.
His heart went to his stomach when he spotted Callie and he began to crawl faster toward her. The closer he got, the faster his heart raced and the more scared he felt. When he finally reached her, he laid his ear down next to her mouth and sighed in relief when he heard her shallow breathing - but she was bleeding, having been hit in the head with debris. Quickly and expertly he moved his hands over her, checking her for other injuries and cursing when he found that her left leg was broken.
Scouting around him, he rummaged through the debris until he found what he’d been looking for. With that in hand, he took off his button down shirt and easily ripped it into four pieces. He used the first piece to gently clean the wound on Callie’s head and then used another piece to bandage it.
Watching her face for any signs of pain, he carefully used the piece of rebar he’d found to splint up her leg. He just finished securing the last piece of his shirt when he felt Callie begin to stir.
Quickly, he moved so he was next to her and as her eyes fluttered open, he saw that she seemed confused and dazed. Softly, he said her name and waited to see if she recognized him. He watched as her hand went to her head and she frowned before she hoarsely asked, “What happened?”
“There was an earthquake. I know you’re going to hate me for this, but you need to try and relax and just lay still for a while. You were knocked unconscious and your leg is broken.”
Despite his warning, she started to move, as if to look at her leg. He gently eased her back down and smiled, “I splinted you up and it’s going to be fine. I’m going to work on figuring out a way out of here, but I need you to promise me that I’m not going to have to sit here and babysit you to make sure you aren’t hurting yourself more than you already have.”
She scowled at him and it was clear to see that she was unhappy about the entire situation. Looking around then, she asked, “Where’s the suspect?”
He shook his head, “I don’t know. I haven’t heard any movement or any sounds. He wasn’t my priority.”
Their eyes met and Callie sighed, “Thanks for patching me up. Will you at least let me sit up so I can keep an eye out? I don’t trust that bastard. If I were him, I’d be quiet as a mouse too until I knew we had let down our guards.”
Colby just smiled at that. Ever the spitfire. Even when she was trapped in a building, with a possible concussion and a broken leg, she was ready to take on the world. God, he loved her!
Though he knew she would begrudge him for helping her, he reached out and easily shifted her so that she was sitting up against a pile of debris. He then handed her the weapon that had been knocked out of her hand during the cave in.
The dust was still whirling around as the structure settled and Colby reached into his pocket, pulling out a small flashlight. There was a little bit of light coming in from somewhere, but he knew it wouldn’t be long before Callie started feeling closed in. He had to get her out of here before that happened. He knelt down next to her and asked, “Are you cold?”
She shook her head, “It’s a little damp in here, but nothing abnormal.”
He smiled, knowing she was onto him as he tried to figure out whether or not she was in shock. He handed her the flashlight and helped her slip into his suit jacket before brushing the back of his hand across her soft cheek, “Are you going to be okay in here for a bit until I can figure out how to get us out of here?”
Her green eyes studied his for a moment before she glanced over and nodded, “There’s some light coming in over there. As long as I can see that, I should be fine.”
He sighed, “All right. I’m going to check things out. Give me a yell if you need anything.”
He started to move away and then stopped when he felt Callie’s hand on his arm, “Colby?”
“Yeah?” he answered, looking at her expectantly.
She smiled at him, “Be careful.”
He took her hand and kissed it before sighing, “Always am.”
Both knowing it was probably a lost cause, but unable to stop themselves…at nearly the same time, Colby and Callie took out their phones, and checked to see if they had service where they were. Neither was surprised to find that their phones were useless, but knew it was worth a shot anyway.
Colby closed his phone and stood with his hands on his hips, thinking things over for a moment. This was an abandoned parking garage, so logic told him there would be an exit out to the street on every level. He just had to figure out where he was right now, relative to the nearest one. He reached into his pocket and took out his keys, grabbing the Maglight from the key ring. He turned it on, immediately squinting his eyes as the brilliant beam cut through the dust that still hung in the air.
“Cal?”
“Yeah?” she answered expectantly.
“You might want to cover your mouth and nose with your blouse and try breathing through the material, at least every once in a while. There is a lot of dust in the air in here.”
Reluctance laced her voice as she muttered, “All right.”
He knew Callie hated dark spaces, especially when she couldn’t move around and now, telling her that she would have to be careful with her breathing probably only made it worse. He cursed under his breath and willed himself to focus. He had to get her out of here.
He began climbing over the rubble, knowing he had to be cautious because, of course, he was wearing his dress shoes today instead of his tennis shoes. As he moved, he tried to think of just how far they had chased the suspect. He and Callie had split up, but he couldn’t remember what level they had entered on, or how many levels they had scaled since then. Callie would know. She always paid attention to things like that and anything to do with numbers was second nature to her.
He found the door and cursed upon seeing it was completely blocked by the level above that had caved in. He looked around and saw the entire entrance to the previous level was also blocked with debris. He’d have to get to the other side and try going up to see if he could find a way out.
He stood up and used the bottom of his shirt to wipe the sweat and dirt out of his eyes before he began making his way back towards Callie once more. When he finally reached her, he called out to let her know it was him and then he knelt down beside her, “How’s your leg?”
She shrugged, “All right as long as I don’t move.”
He offered her a slight smile before asking, “Otherwise are you feeling okay?”
She chuckled, “I’m bored as hell. Hurry up and get me out of here, will you, Granger?”
He laughed as well, “Yeah, sorry for being such a slackass. I was just over there goofing off at the water cooler.”
She playfully smacked his arm and in retaliation, he quickly leaned forward and captured her lips in a hot kiss. She moaned in protest when he pulled away and he grinned, “That will teach you to play rough with me.”
She just shook her head, “Oh, you’re lucky my leg is broken, pal…or I’d show you rough.”
“Promises, promises,” he scoffed as he leaned in once more and kissed her gently. “I’ll be back. I am going to try and get up to the next level.”
Callie stated, “Just remember to keep an eye out for that suspect. I know we haven’t heard him, but he must still be in here somewhere.”
Colby nodded, “I will. I’ll let you know if I come across him.”
He turned and started to move away from her then stopped and turned back, “Cal…if you start to feel sleepy…just start talking, all right? Don’t fall asleep on me.”
She rolled her eyes, “You worry too much. If I had a concussion, I think we would have noticed it by now. Now, scoot…so I can watch you walk away.”
He shook his head and chuckled as he moved to make his way into the other half of the large area. He slid down over a rather large piece of the structure that had fallen and as he reached the other side, he coughed as fresh dust rained down on him. When it stopped, he looked up and felt his heart start to race. The area above him looked as though it could collapse at any moment.
He picked up his pace and carefully made his way to the incline leading to the next level. He sighed in relief when the way was clear and right in the corner where it should be was an exit. He nearly laughed as he rushed forward and tried the door. It opened and he was blasted with fresh air. He took a couple of large gulps of it before he used a piece of debris to prop the door open and excitedly started back toward Callie.
As he was making his way back down the incline, something caught his eye and he stopped to inspect it. He shone his flashlight and moved in closer, noticing that it was an arm. A distinct tattoo on the forearm confirmed the identity of the suspect he and Callie had chased into the building. He quickly spotted the gun that had fallen out of the man’s hand and easily holstered it before he bent down and moved some of the debris that had obviously knocked him down. He felt for a pulse and smiled when he felt a faint one. “Yeah, you’re not getting out of your punishment that easily.”
Taking all precautions, he cuffed the man and dragged him over to lean him up against a pillar until he could come back for him. First, his priority was to get Callie outside and to call for help.
This time when he came to the large slab of stone, he found a way around it and as he made his way back to Callie, he moved things out of the way so he would have a clear and easy path. The less he jostled her, the less pain she would be in. God, he hated to think of her in any pain at all. He would have gladly traded places with her.
He smiled when he saw her toying with the flashlight and even making shadow puppets before he finally got to her. Standing with his hands on his hips, he grinned, “You really are bored, aren’t you?”
She looked up at him, “You have no idea.”
“I have some good news and some great news.”
She shifted slightly and winced, causing a pang in his chest before she asked, “All right…let’s start with the good news.”
He sighed, “I found the suspect. He’s unconscious, but alive. I cuffed him and propped him up over there.”
Her eyes were curious as she asked, “And the great news?”
He reached down and gently situated his arms beneath her legs and around her waist. “I found a way out. Hold on to me and I’ll try my best not to hurt you.”
She brightened at this news and eagerly wrapped her arms around him, bracing herself as he lifted her. She bit her lower lip to keep from crying out and Colby winced, “God, I’m sorry Cal.”
She shook her head, “I’ll be fine…just get me out into some fresh air.”
He nodded and as he was carrying her through the path he’d cleared for them, he tried to take her mind off of the pain. He looked down at her and stated, “You know, most women would actually find this romantic. Two people trapped together and then the guy heroically carrying his lady to safety.”
She chuckled, “You watch too much television, Granger. Not all women thrive on being helpless.”
He laughed, “Oh, I never said anything about you being helpless. I know better. Even in the state you’re in, I’m more than aware that you could kick my ass right now. I’m just saying…maybe we should have some dramatic kiss or something.”
She shook her head, “Just get me out of this building, please. We can talk about dramatic kisses when you come over later tonight because you know I’m going to need a ride home after they cast my leg.”
He let out a heavy sigh, “All right, but you’re going to think back on this later and really wish you would have kissed me.”
Just then he eased her outside and watched as she closed her eyes, feeling the wind wash over her and the sunshine hit her face. She took a few deep breaths, just as he had and then Colby started walking again, carefully taking her down the steps and crossing the street to get her as far away from the building as possible. He sat her down on a bench and made sure she was comfortable before he turned towards the street again.
She caught his hand and asked, “Wait. Where are you going?”
He nodded to her phone, “You just call David and get some help down here. I’m going to duck back in and bring the suspect out. He’s not getting away with this.”
Callie gasped, “Can’t you just wait until David gets here? He’ll bring some guys and they can go in and get him. He’s already cuffed.”
Colby seemed to contemplate this for a moment, before he shook his head, “I’d rather keep an eye on him and know what’s going on. Don’t worry. I’ll be right back…he’s not far inside.”
He reached down and caressed her cheek, “Last chance…you sure you don’t want that kiss?”
She jutted her chin out stubbornly and smiled, “When you come back out here with that scumbag, then I might think about it.”
He chuckled as he kissed her forehead and then turned to jog across the street. Relief washed over him with the knowledge that Callie was safe and that this was all almost over. He ducked into the building again and easily transcended the decline. He started toward the suspect when he heard a rumbling and felt the earth start to shift beneath his feet. “Oh shit…not again,” he gasped, as he quickly looked for a spot that might be braced to protect him.
The aftershock rocked through the structure and the sound of falling rock and screeching metal around him overtook his senses. He crouched down and closed his eyes tight, focusing on images of Callie and hoping with everything in him that he would make it out of here to see her again.
He flashed back - something he hadn’t done in a very long time. It was a warzone all around him, explosions and shouting and debris raining down over him. He heard shots ringing out in rapid succession and the screams of wounded soldiers. He closed his eyes tight against it and opened them again with the will that he’d been through much worse than this and he’d be damned if this was the way he was going out.
He knew there was still too much left unsaid, both to Callie and to his friends and family. Now that Callie was in his life, he had too much to live for. Holding onto these thoughts, he waited for the earth to stop shaking before he pushed himself up and grabbed the suspect. He slung him over his shoulder, moving through the now unstable debris and using all the strength he had left to bolt up the incline and head for the door.
Just as he slid through, the ceiling above him collapsed and nearly unhinged the stairwell he was on. He waited for it to stabilize before he continued down and he didn’t stop again until he was across the street. Callie was yelling in a panicky voice, asking questions and when he finally shrugged off the suspect and turned to her, she slapped him hard enough that it rocked his head to the side.
He shook his head and scowled, “What the hell was that for?”
He noticed now that she had tears streaking down her dirty face and she cried out, “For scaring the hell out of me! I thought I’d lost you! I told you to wait, damn you!”
She pummeled his chest and he let her hit him until she gave up and leaned into him, crying into his chest. He stroked her hair and held her tight against him as he whispered, “I love you, Cal.”
She stopped crying and he waited to see what her reaction would be. So much had passed between them, but never those three words. He couldn’t let another moment go by without letting her know how he really felt, though. She deserved to know, and now he only hoped she wouldn’t run. It seemed like time stood still as the seconds ticked by before she replied, “I love you too, you son of a bitch.”
He laughed out loud and winced with pain and Callie quickly pulled back, “What is it? What happened?”
He shook his head, “Just a couple of ribs, cracked…possibly broken. I’ll be all right…nothing I haven’t lived through before.”
She narrowed her eyes at him, “Don’t you ever do something like that to me again, you hear me?”
He teased, “I told you that you should have kissed me…what if…”
Fire filled her eyes and she raised her fists again, “Don’t you even think about saying it, Granger.”
He cowered from her just as David pulled up and jumped out. An ambulance pulled in right behind him and Colby smirked, “I hope there’s another one of those coming. Walker here is going to need a transport as well.”
David nodded, “Yeah, it’s right behind us. Where’s the suspect?”
Colby hitched his thumb over his shoulder and David looked at him as if for the first time, “Damn man, you look like hell.”
He chuckled, “Yeah, thanks. Earthquakes will do that to a person.”
David grinned, “Speak for yourself. Callie still looks as hot as ever.”
Callie smiled smugly at Colby before giving David a fist bump. She looked at Colby challengingly before telling David, “Oh yeah…make sure this guy is in the ambulance with me as well. He can’t keep working without getting those ribs checked out.”
She knew he hated hospitals and she was smiling so sweetly at him right now as David urged him up before the paramedics came over to get her. He shook his head knowing this was probably only the beginning of what she would put him through until she felt satisfied that he’d paid his dues for going back into that building and scaring her. But, she loved him and that trumped everything else. He would take whatever she dished out and he would smile all the while.
Today had been a day from hell, but life was good and he had a feeling it would only be getting better.
Title: The Quake
Character(s)/Pairings: Colby/OFC-Callie
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Sometimes the unexpected happens...
Author’s Notes: I started this fic AGES ago for the challenge and then it just didn't seem to cut it. After months of deliberating, mustangcandi finally talked me into posting it. Callie was created by mustangcandi and I thank her for allowing me to use her (and I'm sure Colby does too. *wink). Thanks also for being my beta!
Spoilers: None
Disclaimer: I don't own anything affiliated with Numb3rs. Also, this was a vague idea I had before any of the recent events and horrible earthquakes happened around the globe. This fic is not meant to take away from or in any way resemble those occurrences.
Colby’s eyes snapped open and he coughed as his lungs took in the polluted air all around him. It was thick with dust and who knew what else. He shook his head as he tried to get his eyes to adjust and to assess his possible injuries. After finding only minor cuts and bruises, he carefully sat up and listened for his partner.
After a moment of hearing nothing but debris settling, he called out, “Cal? Cal, where are you?”
He listened again, hearing nothing except his heart pounding and the blood rushing through his veins. His mind reeled with possibilities he didn’t want to imagine and he slowly began to crawl toward the last place he’d known Callie to be.
As he carefully moved pieces of the building that had fallen around them he muttered, “Of course we had to chase a suspect into the one structure in L.A. that hadn’t yet been retrofitted. Unbelievable.”
A god damned earthquake. Who would have thought he would ever find himself in this situation? Of all the things he’d experienced in his life, an earthquake was never one of them and he couldn’t say he was exactly thrilled he was experiencing one now.
His heart went to his stomach when he spotted Callie and he began to crawl faster toward her. The closer he got, the faster his heart raced and the more scared he felt. When he finally reached her, he laid his ear down next to her mouth and sighed in relief when he heard her shallow breathing - but she was bleeding, having been hit in the head with debris. Quickly and expertly he moved his hands over her, checking her for other injuries and cursing when he found that her left leg was broken.
Scouting around him, he rummaged through the debris until he found what he’d been looking for. With that in hand, he took off his button down shirt and easily ripped it into four pieces. He used the first piece to gently clean the wound on Callie’s head and then used another piece to bandage it.
Watching her face for any signs of pain, he carefully used the piece of rebar he’d found to splint up her leg. He just finished securing the last piece of his shirt when he felt Callie begin to stir.
Quickly, he moved so he was next to her and as her eyes fluttered open, he saw that she seemed confused and dazed. Softly, he said her name and waited to see if she recognized him. He watched as her hand went to her head and she frowned before she hoarsely asked, “What happened?”
“There was an earthquake. I know you’re going to hate me for this, but you need to try and relax and just lay still for a while. You were knocked unconscious and your leg is broken.”
Despite his warning, she started to move, as if to look at her leg. He gently eased her back down and smiled, “I splinted you up and it’s going to be fine. I’m going to work on figuring out a way out of here, but I need you to promise me that I’m not going to have to sit here and babysit you to make sure you aren’t hurting yourself more than you already have.”
She scowled at him and it was clear to see that she was unhappy about the entire situation. Looking around then, she asked, “Where’s the suspect?”
He shook his head, “I don’t know. I haven’t heard any movement or any sounds. He wasn’t my priority.”
Their eyes met and Callie sighed, “Thanks for patching me up. Will you at least let me sit up so I can keep an eye out? I don’t trust that bastard. If I were him, I’d be quiet as a mouse too until I knew we had let down our guards.”
Colby just smiled at that. Ever the spitfire. Even when she was trapped in a building, with a possible concussion and a broken leg, she was ready to take on the world. God, he loved her!
Though he knew she would begrudge him for helping her, he reached out and easily shifted her so that she was sitting up against a pile of debris. He then handed her the weapon that had been knocked out of her hand during the cave in.
The dust was still whirling around as the structure settled and Colby reached into his pocket, pulling out a small flashlight. There was a little bit of light coming in from somewhere, but he knew it wouldn’t be long before Callie started feeling closed in. He had to get her out of here before that happened. He knelt down next to her and asked, “Are you cold?”
She shook her head, “It’s a little damp in here, but nothing abnormal.”
He smiled, knowing she was onto him as he tried to figure out whether or not she was in shock. He handed her the flashlight and helped her slip into his suit jacket before brushing the back of his hand across her soft cheek, “Are you going to be okay in here for a bit until I can figure out how to get us out of here?”
Her green eyes studied his for a moment before she glanced over and nodded, “There’s some light coming in over there. As long as I can see that, I should be fine.”
He sighed, “All right. I’m going to check things out. Give me a yell if you need anything.”
He started to move away and then stopped when he felt Callie’s hand on his arm, “Colby?”
“Yeah?” he answered, looking at her expectantly.
She smiled at him, “Be careful.”
He took her hand and kissed it before sighing, “Always am.”
Both knowing it was probably a lost cause, but unable to stop themselves…at nearly the same time, Colby and Callie took out their phones, and checked to see if they had service where they were. Neither was surprised to find that their phones were useless, but knew it was worth a shot anyway.
Colby closed his phone and stood with his hands on his hips, thinking things over for a moment. This was an abandoned parking garage, so logic told him there would be an exit out to the street on every level. He just had to figure out where he was right now, relative to the nearest one. He reached into his pocket and took out his keys, grabbing the Maglight from the key ring. He turned it on, immediately squinting his eyes as the brilliant beam cut through the dust that still hung in the air.
“Cal?”
“Yeah?” she answered expectantly.
“You might want to cover your mouth and nose with your blouse and try breathing through the material, at least every once in a while. There is a lot of dust in the air in here.”
Reluctance laced her voice as she muttered, “All right.”
He knew Callie hated dark spaces, especially when she couldn’t move around and now, telling her that she would have to be careful with her breathing probably only made it worse. He cursed under his breath and willed himself to focus. He had to get her out of here.
He began climbing over the rubble, knowing he had to be cautious because, of course, he was wearing his dress shoes today instead of his tennis shoes. As he moved, he tried to think of just how far they had chased the suspect. He and Callie had split up, but he couldn’t remember what level they had entered on, or how many levels they had scaled since then. Callie would know. She always paid attention to things like that and anything to do with numbers was second nature to her.
He found the door and cursed upon seeing it was completely blocked by the level above that had caved in. He looked around and saw the entire entrance to the previous level was also blocked with debris. He’d have to get to the other side and try going up to see if he could find a way out.
He stood up and used the bottom of his shirt to wipe the sweat and dirt out of his eyes before he began making his way back towards Callie once more. When he finally reached her, he called out to let her know it was him and then he knelt down beside her, “How’s your leg?”
She shrugged, “All right as long as I don’t move.”
He offered her a slight smile before asking, “Otherwise are you feeling okay?”
She chuckled, “I’m bored as hell. Hurry up and get me out of here, will you, Granger?”
He laughed as well, “Yeah, sorry for being such a slackass. I was just over there goofing off at the water cooler.”
She playfully smacked his arm and in retaliation, he quickly leaned forward and captured her lips in a hot kiss. She moaned in protest when he pulled away and he grinned, “That will teach you to play rough with me.”
She just shook her head, “Oh, you’re lucky my leg is broken, pal…or I’d show you rough.”
“Promises, promises,” he scoffed as he leaned in once more and kissed her gently. “I’ll be back. I am going to try and get up to the next level.”
Callie stated, “Just remember to keep an eye out for that suspect. I know we haven’t heard him, but he must still be in here somewhere.”
Colby nodded, “I will. I’ll let you know if I come across him.”
He turned and started to move away from her then stopped and turned back, “Cal…if you start to feel sleepy…just start talking, all right? Don’t fall asleep on me.”
She rolled her eyes, “You worry too much. If I had a concussion, I think we would have noticed it by now. Now, scoot…so I can watch you walk away.”
He shook his head and chuckled as he moved to make his way into the other half of the large area. He slid down over a rather large piece of the structure that had fallen and as he reached the other side, he coughed as fresh dust rained down on him. When it stopped, he looked up and felt his heart start to race. The area above him looked as though it could collapse at any moment.
He picked up his pace and carefully made his way to the incline leading to the next level. He sighed in relief when the way was clear and right in the corner where it should be was an exit. He nearly laughed as he rushed forward and tried the door. It opened and he was blasted with fresh air. He took a couple of large gulps of it before he used a piece of debris to prop the door open and excitedly started back toward Callie.
As he was making his way back down the incline, something caught his eye and he stopped to inspect it. He shone his flashlight and moved in closer, noticing that it was an arm. A distinct tattoo on the forearm confirmed the identity of the suspect he and Callie had chased into the building. He quickly spotted the gun that had fallen out of the man’s hand and easily holstered it before he bent down and moved some of the debris that had obviously knocked him down. He felt for a pulse and smiled when he felt a faint one. “Yeah, you’re not getting out of your punishment that easily.”
Taking all precautions, he cuffed the man and dragged him over to lean him up against a pillar until he could come back for him. First, his priority was to get Callie outside and to call for help.
This time when he came to the large slab of stone, he found a way around it and as he made his way back to Callie, he moved things out of the way so he would have a clear and easy path. The less he jostled her, the less pain she would be in. God, he hated to think of her in any pain at all. He would have gladly traded places with her.
He smiled when he saw her toying with the flashlight and even making shadow puppets before he finally got to her. Standing with his hands on his hips, he grinned, “You really are bored, aren’t you?”
She looked up at him, “You have no idea.”
“I have some good news and some great news.”
She shifted slightly and winced, causing a pang in his chest before she asked, “All right…let’s start with the good news.”
He sighed, “I found the suspect. He’s unconscious, but alive. I cuffed him and propped him up over there.”
Her eyes were curious as she asked, “And the great news?”
He reached down and gently situated his arms beneath her legs and around her waist. “I found a way out. Hold on to me and I’ll try my best not to hurt you.”
She brightened at this news and eagerly wrapped her arms around him, bracing herself as he lifted her. She bit her lower lip to keep from crying out and Colby winced, “God, I’m sorry Cal.”
She shook her head, “I’ll be fine…just get me out into some fresh air.”
He nodded and as he was carrying her through the path he’d cleared for them, he tried to take her mind off of the pain. He looked down at her and stated, “You know, most women would actually find this romantic. Two people trapped together and then the guy heroically carrying his lady to safety.”
She chuckled, “You watch too much television, Granger. Not all women thrive on being helpless.”
He laughed, “Oh, I never said anything about you being helpless. I know better. Even in the state you’re in, I’m more than aware that you could kick my ass right now. I’m just saying…maybe we should have some dramatic kiss or something.”
She shook her head, “Just get me out of this building, please. We can talk about dramatic kisses when you come over later tonight because you know I’m going to need a ride home after they cast my leg.”
He let out a heavy sigh, “All right, but you’re going to think back on this later and really wish you would have kissed me.”
Just then he eased her outside and watched as she closed her eyes, feeling the wind wash over her and the sunshine hit her face. She took a few deep breaths, just as he had and then Colby started walking again, carefully taking her down the steps and crossing the street to get her as far away from the building as possible. He sat her down on a bench and made sure she was comfortable before he turned towards the street again.
She caught his hand and asked, “Wait. Where are you going?”
He nodded to her phone, “You just call David and get some help down here. I’m going to duck back in and bring the suspect out. He’s not getting away with this.”
Callie gasped, “Can’t you just wait until David gets here? He’ll bring some guys and they can go in and get him. He’s already cuffed.”
Colby seemed to contemplate this for a moment, before he shook his head, “I’d rather keep an eye on him and know what’s going on. Don’t worry. I’ll be right back…he’s not far inside.”
He reached down and caressed her cheek, “Last chance…you sure you don’t want that kiss?”
She jutted her chin out stubbornly and smiled, “When you come back out here with that scumbag, then I might think about it.”
He chuckled as he kissed her forehead and then turned to jog across the street. Relief washed over him with the knowledge that Callie was safe and that this was all almost over. He ducked into the building again and easily transcended the decline. He started toward the suspect when he heard a rumbling and felt the earth start to shift beneath his feet. “Oh shit…not again,” he gasped, as he quickly looked for a spot that might be braced to protect him.
The aftershock rocked through the structure and the sound of falling rock and screeching metal around him overtook his senses. He crouched down and closed his eyes tight, focusing on images of Callie and hoping with everything in him that he would make it out of here to see her again.
He flashed back - something he hadn’t done in a very long time. It was a warzone all around him, explosions and shouting and debris raining down over him. He heard shots ringing out in rapid succession and the screams of wounded soldiers. He closed his eyes tight against it and opened them again with the will that he’d been through much worse than this and he’d be damned if this was the way he was going out.
He knew there was still too much left unsaid, both to Callie and to his friends and family. Now that Callie was in his life, he had too much to live for. Holding onto these thoughts, he waited for the earth to stop shaking before he pushed himself up and grabbed the suspect. He slung him over his shoulder, moving through the now unstable debris and using all the strength he had left to bolt up the incline and head for the door.
Just as he slid through, the ceiling above him collapsed and nearly unhinged the stairwell he was on. He waited for it to stabilize before he continued down and he didn’t stop again until he was across the street. Callie was yelling in a panicky voice, asking questions and when he finally shrugged off the suspect and turned to her, she slapped him hard enough that it rocked his head to the side.
He shook his head and scowled, “What the hell was that for?”
He noticed now that she had tears streaking down her dirty face and she cried out, “For scaring the hell out of me! I thought I’d lost you! I told you to wait, damn you!”
She pummeled his chest and he let her hit him until she gave up and leaned into him, crying into his chest. He stroked her hair and held her tight against him as he whispered, “I love you, Cal.”
She stopped crying and he waited to see what her reaction would be. So much had passed between them, but never those three words. He couldn’t let another moment go by without letting her know how he really felt, though. She deserved to know, and now he only hoped she wouldn’t run. It seemed like time stood still as the seconds ticked by before she replied, “I love you too, you son of a bitch.”
He laughed out loud and winced with pain and Callie quickly pulled back, “What is it? What happened?”
He shook his head, “Just a couple of ribs, cracked…possibly broken. I’ll be all right…nothing I haven’t lived through before.”
She narrowed her eyes at him, “Don’t you ever do something like that to me again, you hear me?”
He teased, “I told you that you should have kissed me…what if…”
Fire filled her eyes and she raised her fists again, “Don’t you even think about saying it, Granger.”
He cowered from her just as David pulled up and jumped out. An ambulance pulled in right behind him and Colby smirked, “I hope there’s another one of those coming. Walker here is going to need a transport as well.”
David nodded, “Yeah, it’s right behind us. Where’s the suspect?”
Colby hitched his thumb over his shoulder and David looked at him as if for the first time, “Damn man, you look like hell.”
He chuckled, “Yeah, thanks. Earthquakes will do that to a person.”
David grinned, “Speak for yourself. Callie still looks as hot as ever.”
Callie smiled smugly at Colby before giving David a fist bump. She looked at Colby challengingly before telling David, “Oh yeah…make sure this guy is in the ambulance with me as well. He can’t keep working without getting those ribs checked out.”
She knew he hated hospitals and she was smiling so sweetly at him right now as David urged him up before the paramedics came over to get her. He shook his head knowing this was probably only the beginning of what she would put him through until she felt satisfied that he’d paid his dues for going back into that building and scaring her. But, she loved him and that trumped everything else. He would take whatever she dished out and he would smile all the while.
Today had been a day from hell, but life was good and he had a feeling it would only be getting better.