Going Under

A/N: This is just a story I wrote as the idea presented itself to me. I did research this story as best I could. It is a stand alone story completely borne out of my vivid imagination. I do hope you enjoy it.

Chapter 1 :

Mike and Steve watched in horror as the young police officer discharged his weapon at the speeding taxi heading towards him as they chased it towards the docks.

"What does he think he's doing? There's a woman and child in the back of that car!" Mike thundered and Steve glanced over at his partner briefly and saw his temper flared.

It had all started off as a normal days work. While on their way back from a crime scene a call had come over the radio. There had been an armed robbery at a jewellery store on Geary Boulevard. Two police officers had been in pursuit of the perp on foot but things had taken a turn for the worst when the armed robber had hijacked a taxi, pulling the driver from the vehicle at gunpoint and took off at high-speed with an innocent woman and her young daughter in the back. When Steve and Mike received the call the taxi was being pursued and all vehicles in the vicinity were requested to help out.

Mike had immediately got on the radio and alerted all vehicles to pursue with caution due to the fact that hostages were now involved and also issued a strict "no fire" order until further orders were given. Then placing the flashing light up on the roof Steve had pulled out of the traffic and set off weaving through the oncoming traffic and down the connecting streets towards the last sighting of the taxi.

A police car that had managed to get directly behind the taxi had gotten side swiped as it came through a red light junction and lost sight of the taxi but having given the license plate over the radio and the direction the car was heading in, Steve's excellent driving skills meant that he had managed to take two shortcuts and had come out right behind the target vehicle two blocks away and approaching the docks. While Mike had held on to the dashboard tightly as Steve had careered up alleyways and side streets in his determined desire to catch up with the fleeing taxi, Mike marvelled at how Steve had managed such a feat and beamed proudly over at his partner who never took his eyes off the chase.

"That's some driving buddy boy! I'm impressed! Just don't spook him too much now. Just stay with him. I reckon he's trying to head for the Golden gate" and getting on the radio again he requested for a blockade to be set up accordingly.

Mike and Steve could both see the terrified faces of the woman and child through the back window of the taxi from their vantage point as the woman seemed to look pleadingly at them almost silently begging them to save them. Mike and Steve exchanged a concerned look between them as they saw the little girl crying hysterically in the arms of her mother. She only looked around six or seven years old Steve reckoned.

"Mike, how are we going to play this?" Steve asked not taking his eyes off the road but Mike could hear the anxiety in his voice.

"Carefully, buddy boy. Very carefully! We don't know yet what this guy is capable of. We do know though that he's armed. Our first priority is to get those hostages out safe and sound. I don't want civilian casualties on this one!" Mike answered with distinct worry in his voice.

However things had gotten worse as they had entered the docks area. A black and white had gotten ahead of the chase and blocked the road as a young rookie officer discharged his weapon at the driver. As Mike fumed at his flagrant breach of a given command the officer to everyone's horror fired a second time and before their eyes they saw the driver slump over and the yellow taxi drove straight off the side of the dock and landed in the sea! Steve slammed on the brakes in shock, jumped out of the car and raced to the edge in time to see the front end of the taxi submerged and the back-end sinking fast. The terrified faces of the woman and child were visible in the back window. Steve's heart almost stopped and without a second thought he knew what he had to do. Mike had joined him and arrived to see the last of the car fully submerge.

"Dear God!" Mike gasped.

"MIKE! Get me a crowbar from the boot! Hurry! That car is going to fill up fast. We don't have long to save them!" Steve exclaimed as he quickly discarded his jacket, his gun, the items from his belt and his shoes.

As Mike raced back to him with the crowbar in his hand he began to worry about the enormous and dangerous task his partner was about to undertake. Handing him the tool he placed a hand on Steve's shoulder.

"Be careful down there buddy boy. You hear me? Oh and give me your watch this time!"

Steve removed his watch and handed it quickly to the older man and although he smiled at the older man Mike could see how uneasy he was.

"I will. Wish me luck!" and without further conversation Steve turned and dived straight in and swam to where the car went down. Mike watched helplessly as his young partner took a large deep breath and dived under. Other police cars arrived and Mike barked out orders for paramedics to be on standby and for the police marine unit and dive team to be called although everyone knew at the scene that the lives of the woman and child were most likely firmly in the hands of the young detective as the next ten minutes would be crucial to their survival. Mike next shouted for someone to find a rope and as one young police officer brought it to him he carefully unravelled it ready to throw it to Steve when needed.

Another car then pulled up and Lee Lessing and Norm Haseejian got out and raced towards Mike. Lee reached Mike first and he spoke worriedly.

"We heard what happened over the radio and we were nearby. Is Steve down there?"

Mike was almost in a trance staring at the sea almost willing Steve to surface, deep concern etched on his face.

Lee placed a supportive hand on his shoulder and spoke again.

"Mike? Is Steve down there?"

This time Mike looked at him and swallowing hard he answered shakily.

"Yes. He should be back up soon. He's a strong swimmer but I don't know how long he can hold his breath for. That car sank like a stone!" and without further conversation Mike resumed his search of the sea surface.

"I'm going to help him!" Lee stated worried about his colleague and good friend and started to remove his shoes however Mike reached out a hand and stopped him from continuing.

"NO! Not yet! It's bad enough I have one detective risking his life. I don't need two. Hold on until we see if he needs help. If he doesn't resurface or he calls for help you can go in. Ok?"

Lee nodded and the two men exchanged a look of mutual worry and concern for the young man they cared about. Just then Haseejian let out a shout and brought their attention back to the task at hand.

"THERE HE IS !"

Everyone gathered on the dockside looked at where Haseejian was pointing and saw Steve resurface briefly and take a few more deep mouthfuls of air before diving again.

"WHERE IS THAT DIVE TEAM?" Mike roared to no-one in particular and Norm immediately snapped to it and racing back to his car he called back to the Lieutenant.

"I'll go check their ETA."

Mike and Lee exchanged another worried glance briefly and then still with a hand on the older man's shoulder he spoke reassuringly.

"Well I guess that answers your question. He sure can hold his breath down there longer than I ever could! "

However despite Lee trying to keep Mike in a positive frame of mind about the situation just then a dock worker arrived behind Mike.

"He shouldn't stay down there too long! The bay water is pretty cold this time of year. It's also pretty murky down there. He's going to find it tough to see what he's doing."

Lee almost scowled at the dock worker as he saw Mike's expression change at the man's words. Looking terrified momentarily at Lee, Mike then turned in the direction of Haseejian's police car.

"Norm! Any word?"

Norm's bulky form emerged from the car door and shouted back.

"ETA ten minutes Mike!"

Lee studied Mike and could almost see the toll the worry and tension was taking on the older man. He saw Mike's lips move silently and in that instant realized that Mike was praying for the safe return of the young man he regarded as a son and the two innocent victims. A lump rose in Lee's throat and he started removing his jacket and gun holster so as to be ready to assist if and when he was needed. Lee was an ok swimmer but not as strong a swimmer as Steve. He wasn't sure how much help he would be if called upon but the bond of friendship was strong enough between himself and Steve that if the need arose he would help Steve anyway he could.

Seconds turned into minutes and still Steve hadn't resurfaced for the second time. The minutes felt like hours to Mike as dread started to wrap itself around Mike's heart almost constricting his breathing. For the first time in a long time Mike felt panic grip him as he realized that being in charge here at the scene meant every other officer was waiting for his next command but all he could think of was his partner risking his young life somewhere down below in the cold seawater, fighting to save a woman and child and with the dive team not at the scene yet, he couldn't think of what command he should give next!