Chapter 1

When Bodie started to master his senses again he found himself shaking uncontrollably. Some instinct had made him nestle on his seat before the somersault and it took a moment before he could ease his muscles and let his feet down. He realised the huddle had probably saved his brain. He wasn't able to sit straight, ceiling was pressing down on his skull when he tried to straighten himself. Still shaking he wiped his face, finally getting his vision clearer.

Stunned, Bodie tried to regain his wit. Breeze of air came in, chilling his wet face. Wet? He looked at the hand which was likewise feeling the chill. He was still hanging, barely staying on the seat and his legs... it took a breath before he got it. Really got it.

Capri was in water. And... Christ...

"RAY!"

Bodie's own yell pierced his brain and his sudden turn almost made him pass out again.

His partner was hunched against the seatbelt, passenger door partially open, face in the water.

"Ray?" He already stretched his arm to yank Doyle back when the pain in his own head reminded him to mind Ray's. But there was no time to waste, Ray could drown any second if he already hadn't done that, no time... oh god... and the fucking door was jammed, hell it wouldn't open! "You shitty piece of garbage..."

Bodie turned back towards his mate and thought only for half a second. Then he pushed his left knee against Doyle's seat's side, propped his right foot against the floor as heavily as he could, and eased his seatbelt as far as it would let him as he needed the support it could give. He stretched as far as he could, his good arm farther to get a grab of those curls and support the neck. Swearing, he managed to force his right arm stretch enough to get a hold of Ray's jacket, and pulled and lifted, carefully, evenly, tears of agonizing pain breaking down his face as he tried his best to cause as little move as possible to his mate's neck, and his shoulder and upper arm were screaming of the strain. And just when he thought his grip wouldn't have lasted a heartbeat longer, his mate's head was against the headrest.

Bodie was breathing heavily. "Now fucking what?" he muttered to himself. He could feel pulse when he stretched his fingers to Ray's throat, and that made a surge of relief go through him. But he didn't see Ray breathe and panic tried to flood over him again. "No" he whispered, trying to get his mind clear again. He needed to... yes. Bodie opened his own seatbelt now, leaned over his mate's seat and cursing searched the lever. Then he manouvered himself kneeling on Ray's seat, banging his pounding head against the ceiling, and he eased down the backrest carefully as low as it would go, controlling the motion holding the bar of the headrest. How damned heavy even half a Ray could be when all that weight had to be handled by one arm... fuck that water! Bodie himself was chilled waist down and groaned for Ray's sake, but he just had to get his partner breathe before he could use any time for getting them the hell out of the car.

Luckily on Ray's side the roof of the car wasn't bashed. Still his door was jammed too, but Bodie didn't waste any time on it now. He hastily searched the least uncomfortable position for starting CPR, and the pressing of Ray's chest made him curse for the pain it caused again to his shoulder. He knew Ray might well have some broken ribs. "Sor-ry – mate - but - if - you - don't -start – breath' - in – fast – that – makes – no – fuck – in' – diff – 'rence" and then he wiped away the water from Ray's lips and pressed his mouth on Ray's, blowing a couple of times as long and as hard as he could, hoping the air wouldn't come too late. While getting back at the pressing he tried to think. He had no idea how long he had been knocked out before waking up, but since the car had made the last slide and fall, in reality that couldn't have been more than only a few minutes ago although it felt like an hour. How long do you survive without oxygen? Bodie tried desperately remember what the first-aid instructors had said. Surely it had to be more than mere minutes. But what he remembered clearly was the instruction: If the heart is beating, don't stop. And he wouldn't. "As – long – as – it – takes – Ray" he hissed. And he filled his lungs again, trying to will every atom of oxygen from his whole system to reach Ray's.

He didn't know how many times he had repeated the drill already when while blowing he felt a sudden resistance, and in a spasm of cough water surged into his own mouth. Ray coughed. The bloody miserable mutt was breathing! Bodie suppressed a sob, hearing his mate wail softly after the spasms of cough had subsided. That sound brought him back to reality and reminded him that Ray was hurt, maybe real bad, and he would have to get them both out from the car and water now, and quickly at that. But first he had to check if Ray was hearing him.

"Ray? Ray, mate, can you hear me?" He tapped Ray's chin as briskly as he dared.

"Sunshine, do you hear me?"

Another wail.

"Mate, I know you hurt. I'm gonna get us out, but I need you to stay quiet. Real quiet. Ray, are you listening?"

To Bodie's great relief Ray opened his eyes for a moment. "Bodie..." he murmured faintly.

"Yeah mate. Now listen. You need to be quiet. Don't try to move. Got it?"

"Bodie I can't feel me legs."

Bodie felt an iceberg settling inside his stomach.