Author's Notes: A short little chapter to get the weekend started. Reviews are always welcomed and appreciated. gasp Three chapters without the wisdom of my awesome beta-reader. I'm surprised I've made it this far without her guidance! Lol. Happy reading! Have a great weekend!

Jenny

Chapter Three:

"We need to get someone in there, now!" Grissom demanded, standing on the curb as the house where Greg and Sara were being held collapsed. His once worried expression was now blank as he tried to block the surge of emotion that had flooded through him as the explosion occurred.

Catherine stood next to him, pulling her jacket tightly around her as a chill passed through her body. Tears stung her eyes as she watched yet another beam break in half, crashing down on top of the pile of rubble. "If you would have let us in the house 3 hours ago--"

"Miss Willows, you know that we have to ensure the safety of the building before moving into this type of situation. We're doing everything we can to get to your CSIs."

Catherine shook her head, her face filled with disgust as she glared at the police negotiator who had been trying to make a deal with Victor Michelli. Quietly, she hissed, "If those two CSIs die, it will be your ass."

"Catherine, that's enough." Grissom sighed, "Arguing isn't going to help Greg or Sara."

He turned to the bomb squad coordinator, asking quietly, "Can you clear the house now?"

"We're working on it." The coordinator replied, "Has the excavation crew arrived yet?"

Grissom looked towards, Catherine, who nodded solemnly, "I'm on it."

"Gris!" Nick called out, jumping out of his SUV and rushing to his boss. His face paled as he looked at the destruction in front of them, and he turned to Grissom with wide eyes, "Please tell me they aren't in there."

"They're in the basement." Grissom replied in a hollow voice, staring sadly at the dirt and ash still fell onto the pile of debris, "Michelli set off a bomb before escaping through the back. He was in contact with Stewart, who was treating this as a hostage situation, and informed Stewart of the device. Bomb squad went in to try and disarm it, and before they could locate it, it detonated."

"Any contact from Greg or Sara?" Nick asked worriedly, his eyes haunted by the sight before him. It wasn't too long ago that he was the one on the inside, wondering if he'd be found in time. Shaking his head, he rubbed his forehead and tried to focus on the present. Sara and Greg needed him, and he wasn't going to fall apart. They had worked to save him when he needed the help, and the least he could do was return the favor.

Grissom shook his head, glancing down at his phone, "Not since before the explosion. I wish they could just clear the area for the excavation team..."

"How long will it be?" Nick murmured, cringing as a few more boards collapsed, slamming onto the rubble, causing a cloud of smoke and dust to balloon out. "Oh God."

"No idea."

"Bomb squad guys get out?"

"They're in that mess too." Grissom replied solemnly.

Catherine rushed back over to Grissom and Nick, her sad eyes now containing a bit of hope, "Engineers and excavators have arrived. Bomb squad says they think the bomb originated from the second floor interior, near the north wall. The Engineering team is going to assess the chance of further collapse, and once they give the go ahead, they're going to start search and rescue."

"How long will that be?" Nick groaned, visibly frustrated. He could only imagine how Greg and Sara felt, if they were even alive, being trapped under all of this debris. Taking a deep breath, he tried to steady his nerves. They were alive, they were going to be okay. They had to be okay. Their team wouldn't be able to survive a loss this tremendous.

--

"Greg?" Sara moaned, struggling to open her eyes. The moment she did, they began to burn with dust that was fluttering down from above her. Her chest ached with nearly unbearable pressure and she struggled to take a deep breath.

She weakly coughed, attempting to lift her head, "Greg?"

"I'm here." Greg replied, his head merely inches from her own. "You okay?"

"Define okay." Sara murmured, realizing that Greg was laying practically on top of her. "Where are we?"

"Victor Michelli's basement. What do you remember?" Greg asked worriedly, trying to see through the thick dust and smoke enough to check her injuries, "Does anything feel broken? Does your head hurt? Do you feel sick? Cold? Is anything poking you?" He paused, bracing himself as the boards above them creaked, "Sara? Answer me!"

Sara moaned weakly, reaching out in the darkness to take Greg's hand, "I think my left arm's broken. Maybe a few ribs. I remember fighting with Michelli, but what happened after that?"

She coughed weakly again, whimpering in pain. "My chest hurts. My whole body hurts."

"Try not to move," Greg replied softly, his mind racing with possibilities of the extent of Sara's injuries. First and foremost, at this point, was a punctured lung from broken ribs. While he knew it was unlikely, he couldn't help but worry about his girlfriend. For Sara to admit that something was wrong...it had to be pretty serious. "Anything else?"

Sara was silent for a moment before whispering, "No, are you okay?"

"I think so." Greg replied, mentally assessing the injuries he had gotten from the blast. Wiggling his toes and fingers, and moving as best as he could, he was sure nothing was broken, although there was a wooden beam trapping his leg. "Am I crushing you?"

"I'll be okay. Don't move, you may jar something loose." Sara said softly, wincing as she tried to turn her head to the side, "Do you think they know where we are?"

Greg tiredly replied, "I contacted Grissom over your cell, good call by the way, and they said they were sending help. I'm sure they'll be here soon."

Sara noticed that he didn't sound as optimistic as he words were, and she frowned worriedly. Greg was one of the most positive people she knew...if he was losing hope, their situation must be worse than he had let on.

He remained silent for a few moments, before muttering softly, "Why is it that we're both present whenever things blow up?"

"Tell me about it." Sara replied weakly, letting her eyes fall closed once again. Both were silent for a few minutes before she said worriedly, "Greg? Don't fall asleep. You could have a concussion."

"I won't. You either." Greg mumbled, his hand finding her hair and stroking it gently, "I love you Sar."

"I love you too, Greg." she replied with a yawn, moaning as the simple action caused her already sore body to ache even more.

Despite promises that they'd remain awake, both drifted back into unconsciousness within a few moments, unaware of the chaos just a few feet above them.

--

"We want to help!" Warrick insisted to the excavation crew, "Isn't there anything you can let us do?"

The coordinator shook his head, "Sorry, man, but it's too dangerous for anyone not trained to get into."

"How long do you think it will take to get my people out?" Grissom asked, the tension evident on his normally emotionless face, "They were already injured before the blast, they need medical attention."

The coordinator shook his head sympathetically, "I know, but we're working as fast as we can. My workers start from the outside and work their way in, and only in stable areas of the structure. It could be hours, it could be tomorrow, there's just no way of knowing."

"Has anyone tried calling Sara's cell phone again?"Nick asked, looking from Grissom to Catherine, "Do we know anything about their current condition?"

Catherine sighed worriedly, "Not a word."

"What do you think the chances of finding them alive are?" Warrick asked to no one in particular, "In the basement of a collapsed two-floor house? Even if they're alive now, will they be by the time anyone can get down there?"

The group remained silent as Grissom and the excavation coordinator stared intently at the remains of the house.

TBC