I couldn't help it. I started listening to Metallica's "Trapped Under Ice" while I was writing this, lol. I made this chapter a lot shorter, and yes there is another one coming. I don't know why, but I felt the need to break it up into more chapters. Maybe to keep you in suspense? Who knows? I'm just following my muse's orders. You know how Nazi-Nuns are. They're relentless! x] Anyway, enjoy!!

The sensation reminded her vaguely of a scene from Titanic. If she weren't submerged in practically below freezing water, she might laugh at how ridiculous that was.

But the cold really did stab at her like a thousand knives. She couldn't breathe, she couldn't move, and could only think Oh please, please, someone get me out of here.

The shock gave way to persistence and instinct to survive, and she forced her numb body to move, to find oh-so-needed oxygen.

Her head broke through the surface of her chilly underwater prison, and she gasped loudly.

"Mary! You okay? Jeez, hold on!"

Through the fog clouding her mind and vision, Mary recognized Rudy's voice, and wondered where Marshall was. Then someone was pulling her out with surprising strength.

Oh, there he is.

Marshall laid her down on her back, hovering worriedly. "Mary, are you alright? Can you breathe okay, are you hurt?"

"I'm fine. Fucking freezing, though." Mary managed to say between shivers and chattering teeth.

He nodded in understanding. "Okay. Come on, let's get you out of here."

Marshall and Rudy helped her up and walked her back to the SUV. Rudy got into the passenger seat, and Marshall helped Mary into the back.

Without warning he said to her "Okay, strip."

Mary blinked. "What?"

"Mare, you're soaked, and we're in a goddamn blizzard. You can get hypothermia and die. Now strip."

Mary begrudgingly did as she was told, shivering.

With a slight smirk she joked, "You just wanna see me naked."

"Mostly naked." he countered. "I'm letting you off the hook undergarment-wise."

Mary watched while, as he spoke, still out in the middle of a snowstorm, he started removing both his jackets. She smiled despite herself, feeling like a dumb girl to be moved by his chivalry.

When she was undressed, he helped her put on both jackets (avoiding looking at her too long), pulled a pair of sweatpants from Rudy's suitcase, and helped her put those on as well.

"Won't you be cold?" she asked, her tone concerned. With the jackets now on her, he was only in his dress shirt and pants.

"I'll survive. I've had worse. Besides, when I get back, I'll have the heater to warm me up." he said with a smile, closing the door to the backseat.

Mary rolled down the window. "Get back? What the hell are you talking about?! Are you leaving me?" Mary didn't mean for her tone to sound so desperate, but it couldn't be helped.

He poked his head through the window and said "There's a car coming. I'm gonna check it out, see if they're a threat, and then ask for directions because the GPS isn't telling me anything useful."

"But-"

"I'm only going to be gone a few minutes, but then I'm coming back. I'm not going to leave you. I promise." His shining eyes bore holes into her own, and from his expression, his tone and his words, suddenly she knew. She just knew.

She nodded and said quietly, "Okay. I'll hold you to that."

He smiled, and studied her face silently. For just a second there Mary thought that he was going to kiss her or something, but he turned and left.

Next chapter out soon! Hope you liked, reviews are more than welcome!