Jack was slightly out of breath when he reached the river but he didn't let himself rest, instead he pushed on, scanning surface of the water for the stepping stones Danny mentioned. Within seconds of finding them, he was making his way across the river eager to get to the victim… but more eager to ascertain the situation, in particularly Danny's situation.

He had informed Viv of the situation, she was ready to guide the destination. Martin and Sam were at the office after being assured everything was under control. J

Jack was now across the river, making his way along the bank to the right as directed. He paused for a second as he approached the tree calming himself and making sure his work manner was in tact.

He rounded approached the tree, making a wide angled right turn so that he could see Danny, and Jackie but she couldn't see him. Making eye contact with his younger officer, he mouthed an, "Ok to approach?"

Danny shook his head once, before turning to the girl infront of him.

"Jackie, a co-worker of mine is here, is it ok if he approaches? We want to get you the help you need ok?"

Exhausted physically and emotionally, all she managed was a nod of the head. Jack saw this movement and approached, squatting beside Danny's seated frame taking in the condition of the teenager before looking at Danny right in the eyes trying to get a sense of how he was doing.

Danny held Jack's gaze, he knew what his boss was doing and instead of being frustrated, he was grateful – grateful that the man cared so much in his round about kind of way.

"I think we should carry Jackie back to the car park, the ambo's would have a hard job getting their gear across those slippery stepping stones and it will only take longer," Danny said to Jack.

Jack agreed, noticing for the first time the hold Jackie had on his younger officers hand – Danny had established a connection with this girl and from the look of the blood soaked material torn from Danny's work shirt, he was glad. He also noticed, as he was looking at Danny, with blood over his shirt, that his sleeve was pushed up revealing the scars beneath. Jack remembered the day they found him sitting in his car, every day he was so thankful that they hadn't been too late.

Danny carried her in his arms as she clutched his neck with her right arm, her left lay lying limply in her lap. He was treasured her warmth as he made the 1.2km walk… so grateful that she was alive, that she would see another day.

He thought back to the day that he fell apart, to the day when so many things changed… "You're going to be ok," he reassured Jackie, whispering it over and over, rubbing her back with his hand.


Vivian sat in the car in front of the trail entrance waiting nervously. She always hated when Jack assigned her to do the waiting and watching and this case was no different, in fact she was quite anxious…. Danny was back at work so she hoped he was ok, but a case like this… it could shake anyone up. She looked down at the clock in the car watching as the minutes ticked by… sighing heavily.

A while passed before she looked up and when she did she was met with the sight of Danny carrying a young teenage girl – Jackie Stounder, in his arms with Jack by his side. She swiftly got out of the car, pushed her seat forward and opened the back door before looking to the approaching Danny, her gaze met with a smile from the young officer. His smile said so much, and at once, Viv relaxed.


She sat on the stretcher propped up by pillows, an ambulance officer attending to her wrist, while another was checking her vital signs. She felt so incredibly empty and exhausted but she noted she also felt grateful. Jackie looked around for the man who had come to her, come when she thought nobody would. She spotted him leaning against his car, looking at her, their eyes connected and Jackie mouthed the words, "thank you," as a lone tear traced the contour of her cheek. The man smiled at her, walked over and told her she was more than welcome before handing her a card with his number on it, "Just in case you need finding," he said.