Chapter 8

Hannah couldn't believe what Myles had just told her. Could this day get any worse? she asked herself, her head throbbing in response.

"We're not going to die in here," Hannah murmured quietly, pushing herself stiffly to her feet.

"What?" Myles asked as she leaned heavily against the pile of debris, a wave a dizziness washing over her.

"Can you see the pipe?" Hannah asked louder, gingerly easing her way toward the wall where she threw the brick. The foul odor of the gas already beginning to sting her nose told her she was heading in the right direction.

"What are you doing?" Myles demanded, the tautness of his voice telling her that he was straining his neck to see her. "Come back her, Hannah! It's not safe," he bellowed.

"Like suffocating from this gas is?" Hannah barked back as she threw her hands out to catch herself when she tripped over some fallen bricks. "If I can find the cut off…" she let her voice trail off as she pushed herself resolutely to her feet again.

"But you'll never find it," Myles groaned in frustration. "It's no use."

"I will if you would tell me where the pipe is. I can follow it to the cut off," Hannah insisted as she fell again, landing with a thud on the hard concrete floor. "I can do it if you'd just help me! I don't want to die down here!" she screamed, pounding her fists into the concrete.

"Okay! Okay!" Myles agreed firmly. "But you're never going to make it there if you keep falling," he added sardonically.

From her hands and knees, Hannah glared back in his general direction. Thank you, Sherlock Holmes, she thought sarcastically, hearing him grunt and groan as he shifted position.

"I can see the shut off valve from here," Myles announced, obviously ignoring her fierce look of disapproval. Hannah could hear him moving around, at least as much as his position under the debris would allow him.

"Where?" Hannah stood quickly, forgetting their environment momentarily as she moved again toward the wall. In her haste, she found herself back down on the floor in her original position.

"If you would just slow down, Hannah…" Myles snapped, clearly losing his patience with her.

"We don't have time," Hannah choked, the gas thicker over where she was.

"We don't have time for you to keep falling and pass out before you get there," Myles retorted sharply. "But if I tell you what to do, you'll be there in no time, and we might just have a chance."

Yeah, right, Hannah though, coughing from the pungent odor assailing her. More than likely you'll run me into the nearest wall, she glared, leaning heavily on her hands.

"Trust me, Hannah," Myles pleaded. "Please!"

Something in his voice made her listen. He sounds so sincere, Hannah thought, weighing her options. Not that I have much choice, she realized with a frown. She knew he was right, and she'd make it quicker if they worked together.

"Okay, but hurry up," Hannah coughed finally. Pushing herself to her feet one more time, she waited for his instructions.

"Tear off the bottom part of your dress," Myles ordered, earning yet another glare from the brunette agent.

"Now is not the time to make a pass at me, Agent Leland," Hannah smirked through her coughs. "Save it for when we get out," she advised, her head really starting to swim as the gas continued to pour out of the pipe.

"I'm not…" Myles started, only to clamp whatever retort he had off mid breath. "You need something to cover your mouth from the fumes," he explained quickly through clinched teeth.

"Oh," Hannah murmured, feeling a warm flush tinge her cheeks as she bent over to follow his orders. Fortunately, climbing over the rocks and debris had already torn the train of her dress, so it was just a matter of tearing the material the rest of the way and tying it across her face.

"Okay, now slide your left foot forward until you feel that pile of rocks," Myles directed when she stood back up.

Just listen to his voice, Hannah told herself, shaking her head as if to clear it. Even with the material over her mouth and nose, she was coughing heavily, swaying slightly as she moved.

"Great! Now you're going to have to climb over that. It's not that tall," Myles told her reassuringly. "The cut off is just on the other side."

Hannah grabbed her skirt, lifting it out of the way before raising her foot up on to the pile. Her chest hurt from coughing, but she wouldn't stop as she pushed herself up and over.

Sliding down the other side, she forced herself to her feet. The hissing of the gas escaping the pipe was almost as loud as the pounding in her head as she waiting for her next instructions.

"The cut off is to your right," Myles called to her. His voice sounded so far away, but it pushed her into action. I can't disappoint him, Hannah thought, reaching out her hands searching. "You can do it, Hannah!" he called encouragingly.

"That's it! You've got it!" Myles praised loudly when her hands closed around the valve knob. "Now, turn it to your left," he called, and Hannah moved her hands to comply. The stiff metal resisted at first, but soon gave way under her efforts.

"You're doing it!" Myles called, the relief heavy in his voice as the sound of escaping gas slowly faded. "You did it!" he shouted, almost in disbelief when the valve finally stopped turning, the gas no longer pouring out.

Coughing uncontrollably, Hannah leaned her head against the cold brick wall, closing her eyes. I did it, she thought with satisfaction.

"NO HANNAH!" Myles barked, causing her head to jerk up in surprise. "You can't stay there," he cautioned.

"I can't make it back, Myles," Hannah choked out between coughs. "I just need to rest a minute."

"The gas is too thick over there, Hannah!" Myles shouted, worry tinting his voice. "You have to come back NOW!" he demanded.

"I can't," Hannah cried, sagging against the wall, her lungs feeling like they were on fire.

"I need you over here, Hannah," Myles pleaded a sudden desperation in his voice. "I cut myself pretty bad, Hannah. I'm bleeding. HANNAH! Help me!"

"Myles?" Hannah croaked weakly. I've got to help Myles, she thought feebly, pushing herself away from the wall, and stumbling back to the pile of debris.

"Hurry, Hannah," Myles beseeched. "I really need you!"

I'm trying, Hannah sobbed silently as she struggled to pull herself over the mound of bricks, sliding on her stomach down the other side. Pausing for only a moment, she forced herself to her hands and knees, crawling in the direction of Myles' voice.

The gas doesn't seem so thick over here, Hannah thought absentmindedly, fighting to take deeper breaths, but hampered by her hoarse, hacking cough. Feeling a hand in her hair, she realized she made it back.

"Are you okay?" Hannah creaked, sitting back on her hip as she reached other her hands towards him. "Where are you hurt?" she asked shakily, her fingers touching his broad chest and curly hair.

"I'm fine now that you're back," Myles sighed with relief, his hand pushing the hair back from her face as she coughed. "Just relax and take a few deep breaths. Everything will be okay now," he assured her softly.

Hannah wanted to argue that she didn't need him telling her what to do anymore, but she just couldn't find the energy. Letting her head fall forward, she gave in to the most recent coughing spell as it ravaged her body.

Just give me a minute to catch my breath and I'll…Hannah's thought remained unfinished as her body gave into the enveloping fog that slowly engulfed her mind.