DISCLAIMER: The copyrighted characters of any TV program, movie, or published work of fiction are the property of their owners/creators. In this case, Law and Order SVU and Dick Wolfe. No copyright infringement is intended and nothing is being made. The original characters, situations, and story are the property of the author.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Feedback is greatly appreciated (good or bad). Single quotes indicate thoughts. The subject is sensitive and I will stick to the medical facts as best I can.
ARCHIVING: Only with the permission of the author.
OUT OF NEW YORK
Chapter 17: We have lift off!
The snake began its way through the opening. Bending around rebar, over concrete chunks.
"Damn it! another dead end." The camera shouted. The group of rescue workings leaning over his shoulder took a few steps away. Quiet a few rescuers had gathered around the monitor. Hoping the snake camera could help in finding the remaining two missing people.
"Let's see if the jaw can pick up some more of the building." The Chief said. Lieutenant Barker waved in the direction of the crane operator.
The beast's engine turned over twice before its roar filled the air and a plume of black smoke spit out. The great arm lurched forward its fingers reaching for the its prey.
'Warm, beautiful. she smells so good.' Olivia smiled. She resisted the urge to touch the sleeping beauty. Gently she peeled back the sheets just enough so that she could get out of the bed. She cringed as her feet hit the cold floor. The cold air wrapped around her sending chills through her naked form. Her right foot began to tingle. The sensation moved up her calf. Alarms went off. She felt it move. Rapidly.
"Agh! Agh! Roach Roach!" She screamed. She danced side to side. Yelling and shaking. A blinding white light filled the room.
"There!" Elliott exclaimed pointing at the monitor. "Go more to the left." Elliott's anxiety was beginning to spill over to the others watching.
"More left."
"Go down. Keep going. Keep going."
"Stop!" The crowd shouted in unison.
Elliott reached for the monitor. His pointer finger traced the burred shape.
"Pull in closer." Abbey ordered. Elliott didn't need a close-up.
'You cant' come with my my darling, Olivia.' Serena brushed the stray strands of hair from Olivia's eyes. 'Why do you hide from the world? You are so beautiful and kind, yet you hide yourself.' Serena placed her hand under Olivia's chin. Gently raising her daughter's face so the two were eye to eye.
'She loves you. Its okay to love.' Serena smile warmly. 'I was not the best teacher, but I do love you. You are precious being I did not deserve, but blessed to have in my life.'
The light behind Serena became bright again. Olivia stepped back slightly and raised her hand to shield her eyes. Serena turned to go towards the light. Olivia reached for her hand.
'You cannot come with me now. Someday.' With that Serena vanished.
'MOM!' Olivia shouted. She felt herself begin to fall.
"How long till you can get people in there safely to get her out?" The Chief asked the rescue squad leader.
Arthur Foley, leads a team of expert search and rescue professionals. The "squad" is comprised of US Army special team members, Navy Seals, US Forest Fire and Aviations officers and a few civilians specializing in various essential skills. Arthur is an optimist working in a world that thrives on pessimism.
"If we use the helicopter, with the firetrucks providing the spray and caution, I'd say," He rubs his chin for effect. He knows exactly how long it will take and how to do it with minimal injury and problems. "Give us an hour and we'll have someone down there."
He glances past the Chief to two of his best climbers, they begin to harness themselves.
"Wait a minute. How the hell are you going to do this?" Elliott is panicking. "How are you going to do this without having the rest of the building collapse on her?"
"See those two over there." Arthur was pointing to the two men attaching cables and small hand tools to their safety harnesses. "Those two are the best climbers in the US."
"So they can go up, but"
"But nothing. When your the best going up, your the best going back down. I would not send them down there if I didn't think they could get her out." Arthur walked away from the group towards his team. Elliott was quick on his heels followed by Abbie.
"You got a lot of unknown down there. If it looks dicey get the hell out of there." Arthur instructed the two rescuers. Elliott stood a far distance away. He was leery of the this "squad".
'These guys are puny they couldn't safe a cat from a tree.' He watched the pair but on thin ballistic jackets. The jackets offer protection from most of the perturbing bits of the building. One of the rescuers took of their ball cap, long dark hair cascaded down landing just below her collar.
"Like to be rescued by her." Abbie said. "Bet Olivia won't mind at all either."
He could save her. He has many times.
"Relax Elliott. Your job is to stay up here and worry. Not be the Hulk and bear your way through this mess." Abbie placed her hand on his shoulder. "They'll get her out. Now that we found her, they'll bring her back."
News of the new rescue attempt was already being broadcasted. Olivia's official officer photo was being flashed on TV. Alex could not bring herself to turn off the TV or change the channel. It would be no use. If she closed her eyes and rested, she'd still see Olivia.
"Diane, they are not sure if the victim is alive, however, the rescue team is sending down two of its best members to at least determine if the assumed body is that of Detective Olivia Benson."
"Tricia, what makes them think it is Detective Benson?"
"Well Diane. Her partner, one Elliott Stabler, Detective Stabler, was able to recognize her when they sent the snake down through the debris. Although it was not able to get very close to her, I have been told her recognized a piece of jewelry that the victim, Detective Benson, wears."
"What was it exactly?"
"That is unclear. But sources say its something she was given by her mother or was from her mother."
"And as we know Detective Benson's mother died tragically eight years ago from a fall down subway steps in New York. Tricia keep us posted."
"We'll do Diane."
Alex yanked the sheets off of her and barely had herself out of bed before she had Elliott's speed dialed.
"Pick up the phone!" She shouted at the ringing.
"You have reached 201-555..."
She pressed redial without moving the phone from her right ear. She was greeted by more endless ringing and voicemail. After the tenth attempt at calling Elliott she threw her phone down in defeat. She began to pace the room, pausing only to look up at the TV.
Abbie debated whether to call Alex or just wait and let Elliott return the call. He had left his cell phone by the monitor when he went to "help" the rescue squad.
"I'd wanna know." She said.
"Elliott, thank God. Do you know how many times"
"Alex, its.."
" I tried to call you? "
Alex! ALEX!"
"You promised to keep me updated and I have to hear..." Alex realized the voice on the other end was not Elliott's. "Abbie?"
"Yes. Elliott is "helping" the rescue squad." Abbie looked over her shoulder to check for progress. "They are sending two climbers down to see if they can reach her."
"So it is her?" Alex's voice began to crack. Tears began to pool in her eyes.
"Yes, we are sure." Abbie braced herself for the next question.
"And is she," Alex caught her breath. Her gentle sobs began to grow stronger.
Abbie closed her eyes. The sound of Alex's crying bent her resolve to hold off her own.
"At this point it's unclear." Her southern drawl waivering. She did her best to gather herself. As she spoke to the 'other woman.'
"How are you feeling? " She tried to sound concerned.
"I feel trapped and helpless." Alex said. She wiped her tears with the back of her right hand.
"I know. Hang in there." She didn't want to give Alex false hope, but she was actually understanding her position. "They said it would take an hour to reach her. Its already been," She looks at her own phone. She had started the timer on it the moment the rescuers began their descent. "20 minutes. Look the moment I know something new, I'll call you."
"You will? Thank you." Alex felt a little less helpless. She started talking before she thought about her words. "Abbie, I know we have not always been the best of friends. Well friends. But that you for letting me not just sit here and worry."
Abbie rolled her eyes. 'Friendemies is more like it.' She did her best to be nice again. "Don't thank me yet. Let's get her out of there first." She pulled the phone from her ear so she would not have to her anymore from the one woman she wished she could be.
"Detective Benson." Sally Min shouted to the figure below. She could see the motionless figure below. "Detective Benson!" She yelled once more.
Above all were listening to here if there would be a reply.
Min lowered herself further. It was difficult. No solid place for footing. Particles falling. Sharp objects. Both She and the other climber, Ben Prior, were careful not to have object hit the woman below.
Min turned her head once more towards the figure below. Her helmet light shined on the body. A clear picture of the body was transmitted above.
"IT'S HER!" Elliott shouted. So loud that Abbie started running towards the rescue site. The climbers below could hear him. The still figure could hear him.
Prior set his foot on a protruding piece of rebar. He tried to stabilize so that he could get a better view. See if any life was visible. He hung just feet above. Moving his head to allow the light to search the body and the area around it.
"Officer Benson. Can you hear me?" Min called softly. There was no response. "I'm going to lower myself closer. Check and see the stability of the surface."
"I'll keep it illuminated." Prior offered. He truly had not desire to land on the small and seemingly unstable surface.
With a thumbs up, Min ascended again. The lower she went the more unstable the remains appeared to be. She stopped ten feet from Olivia. She heard tremors echo through the wreckage. Flipping on her head lamp again, she scanned her surroundings.
"Base." She called.
"This is base go ahead."
"The area is increasingly unstable. We need to extract the body quickly." She looked down at Olivia. Still motionless. "Send the body lift down, I should be in position in 2."
'Copy that."
"Officer Benson. I am going to land next to you.' Min started lower herself again. "Can you signal that you hear me." Nothing. Min landed gently next to Olivia. She quickly pulled her gloves off. A quick sweep of the lifeless woman.
"Base. She has a head laceration. appears to have a broken arm. Cut on her left cheek. " Min reached out and checked for a pulse. "She has a pulse."
"YES!" Elliott exclaimed.
"Hot Damn." Abbey shouted. they moved in for a high five, but thought better of it.
"Its weak, but its there." Min sighed in relief. "Officer Benson can you hear me?"
"I got the stretcher." Prior acknowledged. He slowly made his way down. He kept his light positioned below.
Min check Olivia's eyes. "Pupils are fixed and dilated. Olivia. We're going to move you onto a stretcher. Pull you out of here." Min began to rollup Olivia's sleeve on her good arm. She pulled the medical bag from her back. Opening it, she took out an alcohol swab. She placed a rubber truncate just above Olivia's elbow. Wiped the area of a suitable vein. She then removed the needle end of the tubing and stuck it in Olivia's arm. She and Olivia were now tethered.
"I've started an IV and..." Min felt a tug on her bag. Olivia motioned weakly with her index finger for Min to come closer.
"Its Detective Benson." Olivia did not smile. "Next time, tell me before you stick me."
Almost out!