Rusted Metal

By: Liv-x-Case-Benson & dcmasters

1. Disbelief

"Lindsay, honey? Is that you?" Catherine asked as a soft cry was heard down the phone belonging to Eddie, her ex.

"Mommy," she said, shaking, "s-someone sh-shot Dad and the car's filling up with water. I'm chained in a-and h-he's not moving... I can't get out!" she cried.

"What?!" Catherine managed, running from the lab and into her car. "Ok baby, I'm on my way. Can you see any buildings? Do you know where you are?"

"I can't see anything above the car."

Catherine sighed inwardly. "Do you know where you guys were headed?"

"Umm...he didn't really say anything, but I think there was a casino on the way here."

"Ok good. Do you know what it looked like? A castle? A pyramid?"

"Castle I think... What's going on, Mommy?"

"It's ok. You just have to be a brave girl now ok? I'll be there soon, ok?"

Sniffling as she cried a bit, she nodded. "Ok."

"Lindsay, I love you honey, ok?"

"I love you too, Mommy."

"I'm nearly there ok? Just hang on sweetie, promise me you'll hang on?" Catherine asked, wiping tears from her face as she drove erratically.

"Yes Mommy."

"Good girl, just a few more minutes..." Catherine said seeing the skid marks in the road as she quickly pulled up, "ok, I see you..."

Lindsay struggled to get her seat belt off as the car continued to sink like a stone, scratching at the windows. "Mommy!"

"It's ok, I'm going to call for help..." Catherine said, frantically pressing the last call in her phone. Sara Sidle.

"Sidle," Sara answered without checking the ID, ducking into a building as shelter from the rain.

"Sara, it's Cath. I'm about two blocks from you at the river. Lindsay and Eddie have gone in. I need help..." She spoke quickly.

Sara nodded. "Nick, take the scene!" she said, handing him her evidence as she grabbed everything else, jumping in her car and speeding off. "I'll be right there."

Catherine threw her phone onto the bank, quickly diving in as she saw the car sink a little more. "Lindsay!" She called, banging on the window.

Sara pulled up minutes later, shedding her jacket and phone, diving in after Catherine. "Cath!"

Lindsay was trying to unbuckle her belt and hold her breath and it wasn't easy. The water was almost over her head.

Catherine fought to smash the window as she dived back under water after coming up for air, ignoring Sara's calls. She moved around the car to try the side closest to Lindsay, smashing the window finally as she took Lindsay's hand, trying to free the other.

Lindsay held her mom's hand tightly, trying to undo the belt, bubbles of air rose to the surface, as she was barely hanging on.

Sara was under with them seconds later, trying to undo the belt.

Catherine held her breath with determination as the pair tried to free her daughter. Catherine pulled her hand from the seat belt as Sara took over, stroking her daughter's cheek.

Lindsay leaned into her mom, falling unconscious.

Quickly, Sara pulled her pocket knife from her jeans, trying to cut her free.

"Lindsay!" Catherine screamed beneath the water as the belt finally came free and the pair surfaced. She quickly dragged Lindsay onto the bank beginning mouth-to-mouth. "Come on, honey, breathe! Please!" She said desperately.

Sara started chest compression. "Come on!"

"Breathe for Mommy, Lindsay..." Catherine begged a few minutes later as sirens from the paramedics could be heard.

Sara pressed harder to start the girl's heart. "Keep...going... Come on."

"Please, baby, I love you," Catherine whispered by her ear.

Slowly, Lindsay let out a ragged cough, water sputtering. Her eyes opened slowly before she clung to Catherine. "I...love you...too..." she said weakly.

Catherine held her daughter tightly in her arms. "Good girl," she smiled, stroking the hair from Lindsay's face as tears ran down her cheeks, "we're going to take you to the hospital and get you checked out, ok?"

Lindsay nodded, hugging her tighter. "I'm cold."

Sara ran over to her car, grabbing her jacket and raing back over. "Here, you can wrap up in this, ok? It'll keep you warm."

Catherine smiled at her gratefully as she held it around her daughter. "It's going to be ok, Lindsay. Hey, listen, you were great in your play, I was so proud of you," Catherine said softly, kissing her forehead.

Lindsay smiled. "Y-you w-weren't early, but y-you still came," she said, shivering.

"I promised I'd be there, didn't I?" Catherine smiled, rubbing her daughter's arms trying to warm her up.

Sara turned around as the paramedics arrived.

"I love you so much!" Catherine said softly.

Lindsay smiled. "I love you too, Mommy."

"You're so beautiful," Catherine smiled, watching her, "Hey, did I ever tell you about... Lindsay?! Sara! Sara, she's not breathing again!"

"Lay her back down!"

Catherine quickly lay Lindsay back down as the paramedics frantically worked on her daughter. "Please be ok. Please breathe... Come on Lindsay," she repeated for what seemed like an eternity.

Sara walked over, wrapping a supportive arm around her. "I've got you, Cath. Come on, Linds..." she said under her breath.

Twenty minutes later the paramedics shook their heads. Nothing more could be done. Catherine knew exactly what that shake of the head meant and she moved to pull her daughter into her arms. "NOOOOO!" She screamed at an ear-piercing volume, as tears flooded her cheeks.

Sara walked over, standing a little ways behind her, knowing nothing she was feeling was even a percentage of what Catherine was as tears fell down her cheeks. "Linds..."

Catherine sobbed uncontrollably as one of the paramedics pulled Sara aside. "We need to take her..."

Sara nodded. "Don't try to pull her away," she said, wiping her eyes, "I'll do it," she said, sitting beside them. "Cath?" she asked gently.

Catherine's eyes stayed fixed on Lindsay. "Yeah?" She managed.

"Th-they need her sweetie. I-I can't even begin to imagine the pain, but they need to take her. Okay...?" Sara asked, wrapping an arm tightly around her.

Catherine's arms slowly loosened on her daughter, her heart breaking even further when Lindsay was lifted from her arms. "Be careful with her..." she whispered.

The paramedic nodded. "We promise."

Sara pulled Catherine as close she she could. "I'm so sorry."

Catherine went to bat her away. "Don't... Just leave me alone..." She said, standing with all her strength as she got into her car and sped off.