Title: Personal hero

author: Cindy Ryan

Notes and summary: See part one

Abby fought to stay conscious. She'd tried standing up and walking around but that had made the nausea worse. Abby knew from her first aide training that staying awake was paramount. She knew from Buck's text that they were on their way possibly here by now. As if to prove her point Abby heard a lot of noise from above. Footfalls, voices, metal on metal. Abby forced her groggy mind to pay attention.

"Abby!"

Abby started it was so strange to hear Buck's voice in person. She blinked staring at the ceiling.

"Abby! It's Buck can you hear me?"

A floor above already strapped in a repealing harness Buck strained to hear a response. To hear a familiar voice.

"Yes, I'm here."

Buck let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding.

"We're coming down to get you"Buck said as he motioned for Bobby to lower him."Anyone else with you?"

"No."Abby replied.

Buck closed the space quickly. They'd already seen the broken cable when they'd prided open the doors. The car itself was wedged at an angle. Buck landed lightly on the roof grateful he could still access the escape hatch. He had a feeling they were going to have to move quickly. A minute later Buck had the hatch open. He poked his head in almost forgetting that they hadn't met. Standing below was a thin woman with long reddish brown hair she wore wire rim glasses. Abby smiled up at him.

"Have to say not how I pictured meeting you."Buck said as he dropped through the hole.

"Ditto."Abby said weakly.

"How's the head?"Buck asked with concern as he walked over to her.

"Pounding"Abby muttered.

"You've got a good knot probably have a nice bruise too."Buck stated as he ran his right hand over Abby's forehead.

"Mmmm."Abby agreed her eyes drifting closed.

"Hey."Buck called shaking her gently. "Can you stay with me a little longer?"

"Yeah."Abby replied as she stepped away and grabbed her phone and purse.

As Abby moved the elevator adjusting to Buck's added weight shifted from it's brace on the wall and dropped a few inches.

Abby screamed she couldn't help it. With the concussion all her equilibrium seemed to vanish so when the elevator dropped so did she tumbling ungracefully into the nearest corner She was vaguely aware of Buck being snapped upward and slamming against ht ceiling because of his harness. Abby heard the fireman curse at the impact.

"Buck!"Bobby shouted from above as the elevator stopped once more. "You guys okay?"

"I am."Buck replied. "Give me some slack so I can check on her!"

Instantly Buck felt himself drop and soon his feet touched the floor. Abby was still a crumpled form in the corner. He ran to her.

"Abby?"The young firefighter called.

"That hurt."Abby muttered as she struggled to force herself into a sitting position.

"Anything broken?"Buck asked as he reached Abby.

"Don't think so."Abby responded as she grabbed her purse and phone once more. "Let's get out of here."

"Put your arms around my neck."Buck instructed.

Abby stepped towards her friend doing as she was told and wishing she was ten years younger. Buck slipped his right arm around her waist pulling her close. With his free hand Buck tugged on the rope signalling his superior officer

"Bobby, pull us up!"Buck called.

"Copy that."Nash acknowledged.

Abby inched closer to Buck as they were lifted up and through the elevator's roof hatch. The experience made her head swim and she closed her eyes resting her head against the young firefighter's chest.

"You okay?"Buck asked quietly.

"Touch of vertigo."Abby responded not opening her eyes.

"We're almost there."Buck informed.

Minutes later Abby felt her legs hit the side of the elevator shaft. She heard voices and felt Buck tug her onto solid ground. She knew she should open her eyes but suddenly she was just too tired to care. Darkness closed in and she didn't fight it.