Many thanks for all the reviews and story alerts. :) and to those that commented on hating snow believe me so do I. I live in Wisconsin

Title: Life Blood
Author: Cindy Ryan
Spoilers: Everything
Timeline: Set while Sam's undercover

Halfway through the shift and Oliver was already counting down the hours. They had dropped the college student off at the barn and spent half an hour doing the necessary paperwork.
By one thirty they were back on the road and the snow was coming down hard enough to make it difficult for the plows to keep up.

"You want me to drive for awhile?"Oliver offered as he took a sip of soda.

Andy shook her head. "No, I'm okay, thanks."

"Okay."Shaw acknowledged and pulled out his cell phone to see if he had any text messages.

As Oliver glanced up from the phone everything seemed to happen at once. A vehicle slammed into them hitting the left rear passenger door sending the squad into a steep spin.
Andy cursed and fought to control the car. Just as they spun the vehicle that hit them collided with another sending that car into the squad. The impact of that hit propelled the police car through a busy intersection.
Oliver braced himself as he saw that they were headed straight for a street lamp on the left side of the intersection. Andy struggled to slow the squad but with the combination of ice and snow it was of no use. The car jumped the curb and hit the street lamp head on. The impact caused the squad to land on the driver's side.

The airbags deployed and Oliver had just enough time to bring an arm up to brace himself. Still the airbag grazed his head causing dark spots to appear in Oliver's field of vision. With a groan Oliver blinked to clear the spots and fumbled for the latch of his seatbelt. He managed to undue the belt and held onto the seat back to avoid falling on his partner.

"Andy!"Oliver called as he reached to get vitals on the young woman.

Andy was unconscious and bleeding from a nasty gash on her forehead. She was pinned between the door and the steering wheel. The airbag made his movements difficult but Oliver managed to find a pulse on Andy but it was thready and weak. From what Oliver could see from his vantage point it looked like Andy was having trouble breathing as well.

"Shit."Shaw cursed as he took stock of their situation.

The dashboard radio was crushed. Oliver reached for the radio clipped to his shirt and was relieved to find it still operational.

"1503 to dispatch involved in accident with three other vehicles at the intersection of Wyatt and Paulson. Need an ambulance ASAP."

Oliver had never been happier to hear dispatch.

"Acknowledged 1503 EMS is enroute."

"Copy."Shaw acknowledged. "Tell them to hurry my partner's in bad shape."

"Understood 1503 will advise."

Oliver released the radio and turned his attention back to McNally. Her face seemed paler if possible. Shaw maneuvered hoping to grab the first aide kit out of the back. However just as he did Oliver heard a haunting screech of metal. Oliver knew it could only be one thing.
The lamp post they had hit.
Oliver risked a glance out the cracked windshield and saw the post was nearly severed leaning dangerously in the strong wind.

"That's so not good."Shaw muttered grimly.

There was no way he could get Andy out of the car before it fell.
There was no way he was leaving her either.
When Oliver had heard Sam had gone undercover he'd made a silent promise to his friend that he'd look out for Andy no matter what.
Today he wasn't doing very well on that promise.
Grabbing the first aide kit Oliver cautiously moved back to the front seat.

"Hang in there, Andy, help's coming."

Twenty minutes passed and there was no sign of the ambulance. Oliver saw the people in the other cars were either out of the vehicles or moving inside. Oliver had torn off part of his shirt combing it with some gauze from the kit to use as a compress against Andy's head wound.
She moaned when Shaw applied the compress but didn't wake.

The lamp post hadn't crashed on them yet but was dangerously close. It swayed with every wind gust. The snow had gotten thicker in the last half hour. Oliver knew that was the reason for the delay of the paramedics. Shaw had asked dispatch about sending a medivac helicopter and was told the storm had everything grounded.
Andy was shivering. Oliver let go of the compress long enough to shrug out of his jacket and place it around his partner. Thankfully none of the windows had been damaged in the crash. So there was a little bit of warmth trapped in the squad.

Oliver activated his radio. "1503 to dispatch do you have an updated ETA?"

"Ten minutes out."

"Thanks."Shaw acknowledged as he fought to stay awake.

Oliver knew he most likely had a concussion. Plus being at the strange sideways angle they were at wasn't helping. He looked down at Andy becoming more worried by the minute of her being susceptible to hypothermia. She was wedged against the door which was in direct contact with the snowy ground.

"Stay with me, Andy."Shaw pleaded. "Sam will kill me if you die on me."

Sirens could be heard in the distance and was music to Oliver's ears.

"You hear that, Andy? Paramedics are here."Oliver stated as he looked out and saw the familiar flashing lights making its way through the snow. "Docs will have you good as new in no time."

Oliver sent off a silent prayer that the storm would ease up enough for the firefighters to do their jobs.
He had a feeling it wasn't gong to be that easy.