Before I start my story I would like to say that I was inspired by facepalmer123's story cold. I did ask to use the same idea and was given permission, so don't get mad and say that I stole the idea.
The time period is during the second season, Jimmy is alive but he and Ben aren't friends.
Quick note... not bold – talking
bold and italic – thoughts.
Enjoy.
It was unusual running patrol alone, we had lost a lot of our best fighters on the attack on the mothership. I found it very unsettling to be walking through the woods alone, never know what I might find. This was m third time doing patrol alone, Captain Weaver didn't really want me going out alone, but we just didn't have enough man power to double team like we used to. Ever since that damn skitter attack back at the school, Weaver's been looking out for me. To tell the truth when I hugged him and he hugged me back saying everything was ok, it was the first time since the invasion that I felt safe. The sound of a twig snapping brought me out of my thoughts. I pointed my gun in the general direction of the noise, things began to move all around me, if this was a skitter there was defiantly more than one. They approached from the front, stepping forward I could see four pairs of eyes staring straight at me. I had my gun raised and a clear shot, but I was frozen. I knew I couldn't take on four skitters, so I did the next best thing, I ran and I ran fast. Knowing I couldn't go back to base with skitters on my tail, I decided to run to the nearest person also on patrol. I didn't make it very far before I was flying through the air. I landed on something hard, I felt something running down the side of my face knowing it was blood. I don't know if it was just the fact that I hit my head on a rock, or there were now eight skitters standing in front of me. One began to approach me, reaching down to grab me. I tried to stand up, but collapsed back down to the ground. Its like they were toying with me, thinking im weak. The skitter continued to walk towards me, I began to crawl knowing there was no way I could get away. I felt the skitter grab my back, making me face it. Just like the last time I faced a skitter alone, I was scared, wishing praying that someone would come rescue me. I knew I wasn't going to be that lucky again. I am a goner. My vision began to get fuzzy, probably from the amount of blood im loosing from m head wound. Before I knew what was happening, I was tossed through the air again. This time landing on something a lot colder.
Weaver's Pov
Sir all the outer patrols have reported in... except Jimmy.
I look up at Dai, he stood nervously in front of me. It seems like everyone knows how close Jimmy and I have become.
He may just be running late, you know how he looses track of time.
He tries to comfort me, I nodded and dismiss him. I couldn't help but think he was lost, and freezing to death. The weather had gotten a lot worst the past few nights.
Jimmy where are you.
Jimmy's Pov
I could tell that I landed on ice, looking around I see the skitters standing 30 feet away from me.
Why aren't they coming after me?
A large cracking sound answered my question. I realize im laying on the frozen river we crossed over earlier this year. I push myself up into a sitting position, over the protest of my ribs. I figure if I stay on the river without it breaking I can last till morning, someone should come looking for me, right? I watched the skitters for a couple minutes before they left. I began to crawl to the closest side of the river, which was on the wrong side of the river. I froze when I heard cracking coming up from under me.
Please God don't let me die.
I prayed, but before I could blink I went crashing through the ice. It took me a few seconds to get back up to the surface. I tried to find the hole, but it was covered by the pieces of broken ice. I started scrabbling around, trying to push the ice away. I finally got m hand through the ice. I bean trying to find something to grab on to, to no avail. I used all my strength to push myself upward. I got a few inches, when my hand found the edge of the non broken ice. Some how I wad able to get a grip in it enough to pull myself up the rest of the way. I grasped for a breath, but was only able to choke on the water I had swallowed.
Weaver's Pov
Jimmy's not back yet, and he is over due for checking in. I want you to go out and look for him. If you find him get him to Anne right away, I don't care if he saids that he is ok the temperature is dropping. Good luck.
I had gathered a few fighters who were willing to go out and look, Tom and his two oldest boys, Dai, Anthony, and surprisingly Pope offered to go out as well. I would have gone out, but Tom gave a convincing argument that I should stay. I dismissed them.
Come on Jimmy, be ok.
Jimmy's Pov
I had been in the water for only a minute or two, I was able to start breathing again but not very well. I knew I had about 15 minutes till I pass out. I remember reading a book in school about hypothermia, it said if the water was under 32.5 degrees then I'd have 15 minutes till I became exhausted and passed out, which would lead to drowning. I know by now Weaver would have somebody looking for me, I was over due for check in.
Help!.
I tried to yell, but it came out as a whisper.
Please, help anybody.
I was able to say a little louder, but nobody was around to hear me. I could tell that my body would be giving out shortly. There was no escaping death this time. I was too cold, weak, and too scared to even try and pull myself out of the water. I never thought I die by drowning, I always thought old age, car accident, after the invasion I thought an alien would kill me. Everything was numb, I was so cold. All I wanted was to be in Weaver's grip, his warm gentle hug. I hated that I was weak, I always felt weak, I was weak when they killed my family and I'm weak now.
Help!
My voice was louder, but still not loud enough for anyone to hear. It hurt to talk, it hurt to breathe, all I wanted was to die I was in pain. I had been in the water for a little more than 10 minutes, if I was reading my watch right. My eye sight was still blurry. There was blood frozen to the side of my face, well at least it stopped bleeding.
Ben's Pov
I was running along the outer border, hoping to find Jimmy just turned around in the dark. I got to the edge of the outer border and was about to turn back, but something in my body told me to keep going. I decided to go with my instincts and ran passed the stopping point. I yelled Jimmy's name as I ran, this was one of the times that I was thankful to be "super human" as Hal put it.
Help!
It was a quiet cry for help almost silent, I ran towards the river.
Jimmy!
Jimmy's Pov
Jimmy!
Yeah I'm here.
I didn't have enough strength to day another word.
It's nice to know that they cared enough to come looking for me. Too bad you wont find me.
I could feel my arms begin to slip.
Jimmy! Where are you, please make a noise, anything!
I wish I could.
I tried, tried to speak, move my arm, head. But I couldn't, I was frozen. I couldn't hold on any longer. And I was gone, one last short grasp for air before I sink down to me death bed.
At least it came peaceful, I don't feel a thing.
Ben's Pov
I neared the river and called out to Jimmy again begging him to make a noise. I stood on the river bank looking back towards the woods waiting silently.
Please Jimmy, where are you?
As if on cue, there was a sharp gasp for breath coming not from the woods but the river. I ran out as fast and carefully as I could. Reaching the middle of the iced over river, I found nothing. No holes or cracks in the ice, he was gone.