Tunnel of Love?

Paul, Tragg and Hamilton stood staring at what used to be the tunnel entrance. The extra concrete and dirt that the tremor had brought down now made rescue seem almost impossible. Captain Sheridan was frantically yelling into the radio.

"Grant! Kelly! Somebody answer me C'mon answer me please."

Then came the staticky reply. "We're still here. Our barrier collapsed but everyone was far enough away and there are no other injuries. Except...we think...that is...well...we're pretty sure the lady died."

Hearing this, Hamilton and Tragg just stared at each other. Before they could stop him, Paul was running toward the tunnel. He started pulling at chunks of concrete, scraping at the dirt, not caring that his hands began to bleed. Tragg and Hamilton hurried over, trying to pull him away. They saw the tears streaming down his face, mixing with dirt and grime.

Tragg gripped his arm. "Drake, come away. C'mon." Paul turned and drew his fist back as if to hit the older man. But seeing the grief in Tragg's face, he just dropped to his knees, burying his face in his hands, sobs racking his body.

When the lieutenant started to reach out to him, Hamilton shook his head and waved him away. The older man could only look at the detective, seeing the devastation in his slumped form that Tragg felt in his own heart. He turned and walked back to talk to the captain, hoping something could be done to rescue the remaining survivors.

Hamilton knelt on the ground next to Paul, putting his arm around the detective's shoulders. "Drake? Paul? Paul, listen to me."

Paul raised his head, the tears having created muddy tracks through the grime. "Paul, we all loved Della. If she is gone...well...there'll be time to grieve later. Right now you have to pull yourself together. Perry is still in there and he's going to need you. Paul, he's going to need all of us. So come on. Get up and let's go see what we can do to help get Perry and the rest of those people out of there."

Paul looked at Hamilton for a moment, seeing genuine concern in the man's eyes. He nodded and took the handkerchief Hamilton offered. "Thank you Hamilton. You're right."

Hamilton helped Paul to his feet and they joined the lieutenant and Sheridan. Paul reached out and took Tragg's hand. "I'm sorry, Lieutenant." The older man nodded and turned his attention back to the captain, who had been joined by the chief engineer.

"Captain, we actually got a bit of a break with the collapse. Most of the debris slid to the right side of the tunnel. We may be able to get through on the left without causing any more of a collapse. There's only a small amount of junk that we can clear pretty quickly."

"Then let's get going. The sooner we get in there...". He didn't finish the sentence.

PDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPD

Daniel Kelly knelt next to Della, performing CPR. Marsha Stevens stood behind Perry, using strips of a shirt to cover the large scrapes that bled where concrete had hit him during the collapse.

Daniel had been at it for two minutes. He knew from his training that he only had a couple more minutes before there could be brain damage, but he was not giving up.

Perry was still holding Della's hand, rubbing it, trying to send her his strength. "Please, Della. Please, sweetheart, come back to me. I need you."

Then as Daniel was starting the compressions again, Della coughed and her eyes opened. "Della!" Perry held Della close, whispering to her, stroking her face. "Don't you ever leave me again Miss Street. Oh God, baby. I thought I'd lost you forever. I didn't want to go on..."

Della smiled at him. "Now counselor, you know I wouldn't do that." She coughed and her smile faded. "Why does it feel like someone has been pounding on me."

Perry smiled and kissed her. "Blame Daniel. But please, just save your strength. He looked at the young cop. "Thank you, Daniel. You've given me my life back."

At that moment Grant rushed over. "They've broken through. Emergency guys are coming in."

The words had no sooner left his mouth when two orderlies came in with a Stokes litter between them.

"Sir, we'll take the lady. There's a helicopter waiting to transport her."

As they carefully placed Della in the litter, Perry looked from her to Daniel and Grant. The young officer could almost read Perry's thoughts. He stepped up and shook Perry's hand.

"Mr. Mason, go with your lady. Grant and I will get the others out okay. I'd like to come see Miss Street later, if that would be alright with you."

"Daniel, nothing would give me greater pleasure. I don't know..."

The orderlies were ready to take Della out. "You'd better go. Take care of her."

Perry nodded. "You can be sure of that." He turned and followed the men out.

Once outside, Paul, Tragg and Hamilton rushed over to Perry. Paul grabbed his friend, actually hugging him, before noticing the blood on Perry's back. "Perry you're hurt! We need to get..."

Perry ignored his friend, watching as the litter was carried to the copter. "She's alive. But in pretty bad shape."

They followed Perry as Della was loaded into the helicopter. When the co-pilot told him he wasn't allowed to ride with them, Perry grabbed the smaller man by the front of his flight suit, lifting him several inches off the ground. Tragg and Paul both grabbed his arms, but Perry held tight. "Listen to me very carefully. Where that lady goes, I go. Understand?"

When the man started to protest, Captain Sheridan stepped up and intervened. "It's alright Major. He has my authorization to accompany the patient." Then Sheridan took off his own coat and draped it over Perry's bare shoulders.

Perry set the co-pilot on his feet and climbed into the copter. He knelt on the floor next to Della, watching as the orderlies started giving her blood. Her hand lay limply in his but her eyes were open and focused on him.

"Perry?" Her voice was very weak and he bent his head to hear her. "I hate to fly."

Perry actually gave a small laugh for the first time since they had been trapped. "Sweetheart, I promise you won't even know it. Now just relax and let these nice men help you."

"I love you Perry."

He picked up her hand and brought it to his lips. "I know. Now hang on." He felt her tense as the copter lifted into the air.