The explosion shattered the still night air, startling flocks of birds from the nearby treetops into sudden flight. As the shockwave rumbled across the sand, debris rained down, littering the beach with broken wooden beams, rocks, dirt, and melted plastic. On the deck of the Coast Guard boat, Aram didn't feel the ground tremble, but felt the pressure in his ears as the shockwave hit them.
Ducking instinctively, he looked back in horror. "No! Oh, no…Liz!" he whispered, slowly rising to his feet and staring over the boat railing. Heart hammering in his chest, all he could do was stand open mouthed and grip the railing as dust and sand billowed over them, turning the air thick and powdery.
"Damn!" Evans exclaimed as the air took on a pale grey hue, illuminated in the lighthouse beam. He poked his head below deck, "Shanks! Get your kit!" then looked back up into the wheelhouse, "Deeks, get the rescue gear ready!"
The medic already had his kit and immediately jumped down into the small dinghy moored to the response boat. Evans followed him, then looked back up at Aram, holding up his hand to assist the FBI Agent.
"Oh, god," Aram murmured before climbing into the dinghy. His stomach was doing flip flops. And it had nothing to do with being on the boat, though that wasn't helping. If anything had happened to Liz or Ressler, or to Mr Reddington how would he ever be able to inform Director Cooper? But as the sole agent on scene now – he'd effectively just been 'promoted' to lead agent – he'd have to carry that weight. His stomach churned, knowing he was going to have to inform his superior very soon of what had transpired and keep him in the loop. But first, he needed to find out more himself.
From the wheelhouse, Aram heard Marshall on the radio, "Base, this is 45637 out on Cedar. Have had an explosion on the beach. Four possible victims under the rubble. Please advise. Over."
But Aram didn't hear what base advised as Evans gunned the motor on the dinghy. Riding the short distance to shore they passed the lifesaving ring still floating in the water. Looking at the orange ring as they zipped by, Aram had the sinking feeling that it was going to take more than a tossed flotation ring to rescue Liz now.
###
Ressler could hear screaming. Laying in that familiar darkness as his brain rested, he listened again. Another scream. And shouting? It sounded like Reddington. But Red doesn't shout.
The scream came again. And this time he knew who it belonged to.
Oh, my God! It's Liz!
Fighting the blackness now, urging himself to wake he struggled to rise to the surface. Liz! I'm coming! Forcing himself upward, knowing he was regaining consciousness by the pain flaring across his midsection again, he clawed his way back up.
As his eyes sprang open to a dust filled, oppressive semi-darkness, he had no clue where he was. Hot and sweaty, in brutal pain and lying on his left side against a wall behind him, he tried to get his bearings. The ground below him was hard and covered in a layer of sand and dirt. Tilting his head forward, activity caught his attention as the distinct sound of falling rocks filled the dense air.
And the sound came again, piercing the air. He hadn't dreamed it. He hadn't imagined it.
Liz was screaming.
And Red was shouting in response. "Lizzie! We're coming to get you!"
Worse than any nightmare, Liz's screams filled the air, striking Ressler to his very core. The terror in her screams was palpable. And as Reddington and Conrad frantically moved rocks from what looked like a large cave in, he finally understood why she was screaming.
She was buried alive.
"No! Liz!" he panted, moving toward that terrible, heart wrenching sound coming from her.
Barely able to stand, he rolled to his hands and knees and dragged himself up the wall. Almost doubled over, he made his way toward the two men. Conrad stepped aside for him as he approached, busy lifting and rolling rocks off the pile as Red yelled to her again.
"We're coming! Please Lizzie! Save your air!"
Red turned as he caught sight of Ressler out of the corner of his eye.
"What happened?!" Ressler asked him, his eyes darting all over the pile of rocks and debris before him.
Pausing only briefly as he answered Ressler, he filled him in on the events that led to the explosion and cave in before resuming his rock pulling from the pile. Covered in dust with sleeves rolled up, his once white shirt and black waistcoat were now a dull shade of grey. "How bad is she?!" Ressler demanded
"All we know is she's alive, obviously," he told Ressler. "And when we're done here, Conrad," he said, addressing the second man who Ressler had barely paid attention to, "then you can explain to me just what the HELL is going on here."
Ressler looked across to Conrad. About Reddington's age, he was dragging rock after rock from the pile, but spared a nod to Ressler. Ressler saw now what had appeared so odd. Under his grey hair, his skin was a dark bluish grey. Even under the dust it was plainly visible.
Standing hunched over between the two men, Ressler was startled as Liz shrieked again, much closer to him. Liz! Reaching for a rock, he attempted to lift it off the pile, straining with the effort and subsequent pain that brought him.
"You shouldn't be doing that, Donald," Red told him before resuming his own rock excavation effort.
Ignoring Red, Ressler reached higher, crying out as he did so and got hold of a round rock about the size of a basketball. His attempt was valiant. The desire was there, but the flesh was weak and he stumbled to his knees.
"Shit," he panted, raising his arms more and trying a smaller rock lower on the pile. Dusty hands around it, he again tried to lift another rock but all he achieved was having it roll down the slope and hit his thigh.
"Damn it!" he berated himself, as Liz let loose with more sobbing screams.
"Liz! Liz, don't!" he called to her. Please don't!
"Lizzie! We're coming!" Red shouted out to her again, but still she screamed.
Sinking to his knees, almost wanting to cover his ears and stop that sound, Ressler again tried to move a rock and failed. Leaning over as his stomach roiled, he thumped the ground with his fist as Liz screamed in the middle of that pile of rocks. She was in full blown panic mode. And he was utterly useless.
Red leaned down to him after tossing a large rock to the ground that almost landed on Ressler. "You cannot be here! Move back!"
Ressler wasn't listening. She was his partner! She was trapped and screaming! Rising up on his knees he again attempted to move a rock, only succeeding in moving it enough that it rolled and hit him right in his swollen belly. Writhing in pain, he slipped to the ground again as tears of pain streaked down the dust on his cheeks.
"Donald! Get out of the way! You cannot help here!" Red shouted to the agent, with no time for pleasantries now as Liz's screams rose to a new level.
"Don't! Don't tell me… what I can't do!" he yelled at Red, clutching his stomach. Her shrieking was infiltrating his brain. Invading his mind. Piercing his heart.
"You're in the way! You will get hurt!" Red yelled at him shortly, as he rolled another large rock behind him barely missing Ressler's knee in the process, effectively proving his point.
Beside them, Conrad continued moving rocks, his hands dusty with the effort and turned to Ressler. "We got this."
Ressler paid him no attention. Gritting his teeth, he again attempted to rise and reach for another rock. Now Red was right in his face. "You want to help? This isn't the way. Conrad and I can get the rocks." Red pointed to the screams coming through the wall of debris. "You hear that?!" he yelled in Ressler's face.
Of course he did.
Reaching down, Red hooked his arm under Ressler's armpit, pulling him to his feet. Hunched over as the pain radiated through his mid-section he glared at Red, a retort ready on his lips.
Close to his ear now, Red spoke to him firmly. "There IS something you can do. But not here under our feet!" Red flung at him, "Talk to her. Keep her calm!" he finished, pressing his phone into Ressler's hand.
Ressler met Red's eyes, glaring at him, until he saw the fear and pain in them that matched his own. And understanding, he dropped his head, nodded and made his way from Red to go sit against the wall a few feet behind the two men. Leaning heavily against the wall, he slid down to the ground as the dust swirled around him. And as Liz's screams filled the dusty air in the enclosed space, he pressed her number on the speed dial.
###
Pulling up on the beach, Evans jumped out of the dinghy, followed by Shanks. As Shanks shouldered his medical kit, Aram jumped onto the sand clutching his satchel with his laptop. Like his own personal American Express, he never left home without it. Not even to the scene of explosion that could very well have left him the sole survivor of their group. As Evans returned the dinghy to the water to retrieve Deeks and the rescue gear, Aram viewed the debris field and destroyed tunnel entrance.
Below the cliff face a man lay bleeding. One of the three who had pursued Red, Ressler and the third gentleman - Conrad Lucas, he assumed. His cohorts stood over him, pointing, gesturing and apparently arguing. On seeing the Coast Guard dinghy now onshore one pulled a gun, as the other held his arms up, preventing him from pulling the trigger. Aram watch, horrified. Surely they weren't going to shoot-
The gunshot rang out.
He'd shot his associate, much to the anger of his companion who quickly checked the downed man before turning on the gunman. Not sticking around to argue, the gunman ran for the rocks in the direction of the lighthouse. Growling in fury, the second man glanced at the dead man at his feet then turned and fled the scene, running back toward the lighthouse and disappearing from view.
Shanks was running for the man on the ground. But Aram already knew the guy was dead. He didn't need to be an FBI agent to know that. There was nothing the medic could do. Feeling the guy's pulse, Shanks stood and shook his head then turned toward the cave in as Aram approached it. In a strange mix of feelings he wanted to both run to his fallen colleagues under the debris, yet run as far from the site as he could, fearing another explosion that could kill them all.
Aram slowed and stood at the tunnel entrance. His heart sank. It would take forever to get through that mess. Rocks and boulders lay about then entrance, and sidestepping them, he stood close to the cliff now. His hand found the surface of a large rock and rested there as he dropped his head and sent up a silent request that his work colleagues and friends be safe. And in answer, he heard something.
A scream. Faint, but he was positive it was a scream. His head shot up as it came again. "Oh my god, Liz!" It was unmistakably her. Turning to the medic, he didn't even have to ask if he'd heard it.
"We got a survivor!" Picking up his two way, Shanks radioed Marshall on board the boat and passed on the news, just as Evans pulled ashore with Deeks, bringing ropes, shovels, lights and safety helmets.
Aram turned back to the distant sound of screaming. Faint though it was, it buoyed his heart somewhat. Liz was alive. He had his status report, and turning from the sound, unable to bear listening to her screams, he walked away as he dialed Cooper's number.
###
"Come on… come on…" Ressler sat on the ground, willing Liz to pick up the phone. What if she didn't have it on her anymore? Or couldn't reach it. Or it was smashed to pieces. Any number of things could stop her hearing his voice right now. The phone rang on and on in his ear as he stared at the wall in front of him. "Come on…" It stopped ringing in his ear.
"Liz, it's me. It's Ressler."
He heard her, loud and clear in his ear as she let out another gut wrenching scream, sobbing in his ear. Oh, God…
"I…I know Liz. Listen to me. Just listen to me. I know you're terrified but concentrate on me." He rested his head back on the wall as he spoke, still hearing her sobbing in his ear. She wasn't listening.
"Are you hurt?" he asked, trying a practical approach.
She screamed out loud again, causing him to hold the phone from his ear for a second or two.
"I'm here Liz. I'm right here," he said, closing his eyes against the sound of her cries. Hearing it both through the phone and in the tunnel was chilling. And sitting on the ground, listening to her frantic cries, he wanted to walk to that tunnel, throw every rock aside, reach down and just hold her tight. He couldn't do that though. There was no reaching her through that wall of debris at this time. And he couldn't walk. And he couldn't lift her. He couldn't reach her. Not physically. But there was another way he could.
His voice softened. No longer fighting to be heard over her screams, he dropped his voice level, willing her to do the same. "I'm here. Listen to my voice Liz. You hear me?"
If he asked her something, she would have to stop what she was doing and think of something else. In theory at least. She sobbed and didn't answer. "Liz, can you hear me," he asked again.
"Yyyessssss!" her voice shook as she screamed.
He had her. "There we go. I'm right here. I'm close. I'm in the tunnel and Red and Conrad are digging you out. I'm here, just feet away from you."
"Rrreeesss!" she called to him, and he clutched the phone harder, needing to feel close to her. As close as he could get. "I know, it's frightening. I know," he told her, knowing he couldn't possibly know how she felt, "but you're not alone."
"Ookkaaayy!" she was still screaming, but she was replying now.
"I'm going to stay here," he told her, then quickly held the phone from his ear and checked the battery. It was down to 29%. But he'd stay with her as long as it took – or until the battery ran out.
"Reess! Heellp mmee!"
"I'm here Liz, and we are helping you. We will get to you," he told her, glancing at Red and Conrad. They sure as hell had better get to her.
His stomach was threatening to let loose again. He ignored it. "You helped me earlier tonight. My turn to return the favor, right?" he asked her softly.
"Reesss" she called to him, raising her voice but no longer shrieking.
His stomach wasn't going to give up, and as he felt the bile come up, he quickly held the phone to one side and dry retched on the other. But his primary thought was on her, and not losing ground with her if he stopped. "I'm... I'm…here Liz," he panted trying to get his breathing and pain level under control again.
The change in her was noticeable. "Aarre yoou okkayy?" she asked him, shuddering uncontrollably in the dark, her words shaking as she spoke.
From in front of him, Red briefly looked back. No longer hearing Liz screaming, he could hear her raised voice. He could hear her talking to Donald and he allowed himself a small smile before resuming the back breaking task.
Unintentionally, Ressler had got her mind off her situation, if only briefly. "Oh, you know me, Liz... I'm always fine," and suddenly he was smiling, hearing her berating him every time he told her "I'm fine," even when he clearly wasn't.
"Sstuborrnn," she answered him and he would like to imagine she smiled, if only for a second.
"That's me, Liz. I've got that stubborn male bullshit down to a fine art, right?" he told her, as his stomach settled a bit. Or perhaps he was doing the same thing for himself that he was doing for her. Getting his mind off his current situation.
"Yoou do," she answered and he could hear her voice calming.
"You wouldn't have me any other way though, right?" he asked, continuing to drag out responses from her.
"Noo… mmaybe a little…" she replied, and he grinned then, closing his eyes and picturing her sitting near him, perched on his desk in their usual spots.
"Ress…it hhurts."
He sucked in a breath, not wanting her to drop back down too far into her immediate surroundings, but needing to get an idea of injuries she may be suffering. "What hurts, Liz? Tell me…" he asked, dreading pushing her back into the dark, screaming hole.
"My back. Legs. Ress, it hurts."
She was staying with him. And he suddenly remembered something. He'd totally forgotten the events that had brought her here until it came flooding back. He found that a little disconcerting, to say the least. "You came with the Coast Guard, right?"
"Yes, Aram and I."
His spirits lifted a little at that. "Which means they are out there now, also working on getting us out of here," he told her.
"Us? Are you trapped too?" her voice rose a little and he sought to keep her on an even keel.
"To be honest, I'm not sure. Red and Conrad are working on the debris pile though, and-" he stopped, looking up at their progress. And was impressed. A sizable opening was in the debris field now. "And they're doing an amazing job of getting to you."
"Amazing…" she said and he knew where her mind had gone.
"Yeah, I'm amazing, right?" he said, remembering the lie. The deceit. And the emotional pain. He couldn't go there right now.
"Ress…don't let me die."
He sucked in a sharp breath, his heart wrenching a little more. "I won't let that happen, sweetie."
It was out before he realized, as his heart leapt in his chest. And once said it couldn't be undone.
"Need you…" she told him quietly.
"And you have me," he told her, feeling tears pricking his eyes now. If he lived through this, of course. Tears filled his eyes. Don't lose it. Keep her calm.
"I know…" she said in his ear.
"Oooww!"
He sat up further. "What? Liz?!" Looking to Red, who had heard her cry out too.
"The support beam moved as we took more rocks out from under it!" Red called back. And behind Red, he could see an opening through to where Liz was and the large 6 inch square support beam at an angle in the pile of rocks.
"Reesss!" she was calling to him. And slowly rising to his feet, doubled over, keeping the phone to his ear he staggered to the opening in the tunnel. "I'm here," he panted. "I'm not going to let you die!"
###
As Aram dialed Cooper's number, he suddenly stopped and changed who he was calling. He couldn't tell Cooper that Mr Reddington and Agent Ressler might be dead under a caved in tunnel. Well, he could but not without moral support. Not without a friend.
He dialed another number and as Samar answered, he could almost see her sitting at her desk, perched on the edge of her chair.
"Aram, do you have them safe?" she asked, her silken voice purring in his ear. Last she'd heard they were leaving on the boat to retrieve Red and Ressler from the island.
"Ah… no. Samar, they're-" he stopped, and she immediately dropped her voice.
"What's wrong?"
Standing on the beach, looking at the Coast Guard vehicle bobbing in the water as the lighthouse beam swept over him, he held the phone tight. "There was an explosion. I don't know if they're all alive," he told her. "I, well I know Liz is alive. Samar! I could hear her screaming!"
Listening to his voice cracking, she moved away from her desk and walked toward the elevator. "Then if she is alive, the others may be too. We can't assume the worst at this point, okay?"
He nodded quickly, "Okay. Yes. You're right." Catching his breath, he looked back up the beach to where the Coast Guard were setting up floodlights, aiming it at the debris.
"I need to tell Cooper," he told her.
Wanting to help, she replied, "I can tell him, Aram."
"No, I'm the lead agent on scene. I need to tell him," he told her, straightening now and walking slowly back to the Coast Guard. "I'll call him right now."
Smiling, she could hear the change in his voice. He'd be okay. "I'll let you go so you can call him. I'll even act surprised at the news when he comes down the stairs," she added.
"Thank you," he told her, then hung up and immediately dialed Cooper.
"Cooper," his boss answered.
Without missing a beat he spoke up. "Sir, it's Aram. There has been an incident."
###
Red and Conrad were under the beam, shining the flashlight up to it. They had to be so close to her now. As the beam angled down through the debris, it disappeared among the rocks about 2 feet off the ground. "The beam is on her back!" Ressler told them, holding the phone away from his ear momentarily.
"We need to support it more, or it will keep dropping on her," said Conrad, and Ressler looked to the man now.
"Pleeeasssee hurryy!" Liz cried and she was so close now that Ressler didn't even need the phone. Dropping to his knees, his stomach shuddering in pain as he did so, he spoke to her.
"We're coming, Liz. Hold on, we'll get you," he panted, trying to keep the fear from his voice as he looked at what was above the support beam.
"Is there anything in this tunnel? Where does it go?" asked Red, quickly turning to Conrad.
Conrad nodded, "I have something I can bring to wedge under the beam!" he called out and tossing the flashlight to Red, he charged off down the tunnel.
Watching the man run down the tunnel he was soon lost to sight in the darkness. He apparently knew the way perfectly well.
"Lizzie, we're almost there," Red told her, listening to her crying, though she wasn't out of control. Yet.
"Conrad has gone to get something to hold the beam," Ressler told her, placing his hand on the rocks near her. "Hold on a bit longer, Liz" he called to her. Please…
Conrad was running back, with two sturdy pieces of wood connected in an X shape. "I got it!" he called to them, and as Ressler managed to scoot out the way, Conrad shoved the support under the ceiling beam, holding it in place.
"Liz, we're going to move the rocks now. Hang on, we're almost there," Red told her, also keeping his voice steady now to keep her calm just a bit longer.
As Conrad and Red started rolling rocks out from under the beam, it held, supported on the X frame. "Please…please hurry!" she cried to them as Ressler kneeled as close as he could without getting in their way. Feeling useless, he kept talking to her.
"Almost there, they're pulling more rocks out now, we've almost got you," he told her, unable to believe they still couldn't see her. And just as he was thinking that, they rolled a large rock away and he saw her dust filled hair.
"Liz!" He couldn't reach her yet but Red could, and as he reached in and touched her hair, she cried out.
"I can feel you! Hurry!"
Trapped in a pocket under the beam the two men rolled the rocks out from around her and slowly she came into view. Horrified, Ressler could barely believe she'd been alive in that tiny space. Right below the beam, she lay on the ground. The beam, while trapping her, had held back the weight of the rocks from above her.
"We need to pull her but not move the beam," Red instructed, as Conrad made sure the wedge was well secured, holding it.
"Donald, it may take all three of us to do this." She was free of rocks around her now, and if they could drag her forward, she'd be out from under the beam.
He faced Red as he kneeled on the ground, holding one of Liz's hands that was visible. He'd do it. Even if his damn stomach exploded with the effort, he'd do it. He nodded to Red.
"Here we go Lizzie. We're going to pull you out," he told her as Ressler held one hand and he held the other. Conrad reached in and between the three of them, they attempted to pull her a little toward them.
"Oooowww!" she screamed as they moved her.
"We need to Lizzie, I'm sorry," Red told her, motioning for them to continue pulling her out.
Ressler couldn't do a lot, but he needed to be touching her as they pulled her out. She slid a little more, crying out as the pressure on her back and legs changed, and he silently begged for her to be okay. "Come on, we've got you," he told her as she slowly came out.
"Conrad!" Red shouted to him as the X cross beam moved slightly.
"Get her out now!" yelled Ressler, seeing the beam ease down a little lower. Liz was sobbing, crying out in pain.
The cross beams on the X support were separating under the weight. Conrad immediately moved to the X beam and wedged it with his feet, stopping it from moving as much as he could.
"Donald! You're under the beam!" panted Red, pulling on Liz's arms. "I need you to help me get her out!
Moving to the side and getting out from under it, he leaned down and grabbed under Liz's arm. And with no more time to ease her out, they pulled hard, as Ressler felt his belly erupt in agonizing pain. As she came free her scream of pain filled the air and Ressler pulled with all his might, seeing spots before his eyes.
Don't stop. Get her out! Now!
His gut threatening to rupture, he pulled her out of the debris pile with Red, stumbling to his knees as she came free. Red reached down to her and hoisted her into his arms as she screamed in pain. Ressler was going down. Conrad immediately came out from under the beam and pulled Ressler up, seeing him collapsing. He felt himself being pulled to his feet, letting the man support him.
As Red carried Liz further down the tunnel, Conrad came behind with Ressler, and between the two of them they dragged and carried their charges out of the danger zone.
"I've got you! Come on Lizzie," Red told her as they headed further down the tunnel. Slowing, they turned and he leaned down, gently laying her on the ground as she sobbed.
With Conrad dragging him, they halted beside Red and Liz. All but falling down beside her, unable to stand any longer, Ressler collapsed to the ground. Red was bending down to her, quickly checking her but not finding much more than large bruises and welts, cuts and abrasions. Remarkably, not one broken bone that he could find. She was crying about her back again, and that was his concern. She wasn't moving, but she had been able to hold the phone, he remembered. Red had Conrad's flashlight and was shining it in her eyes, checking her pupils. Blinking her eyes shut, he had time to notice they both responded.
"Is she okay?" Ressler asked him, panting in pain, and Red nodded.
A loud creaking sound reached them. Then the sound of splintering wood shards cracking as the X support collapsed. And as the X support gave way completely, the beam that had been above Liz came thundering down, dropping tons of rocks into the space they had so painstakingly cleared.
"Damn," said Red, knowing they were safely back from it. They'd had minutes to spare.
"Ress!" Liz sobbed anew at the sound and rush of air and dust over them, reaching her arm to him as he lay collapsed beside her.
"I'm here… right here," he panted, grabbing for her hand. As Ressler held onto her hand, she looked up to the man with them.
"You…you're blue," she sobbed, as Ressler looked to him silently.
"Lizzie, I'd like you to meet Conrad Lucas," he told her. "And yes, he has blue skin. The man does have a proclivity for silver and this is the result," he explained, smiling at her to keep her calm.
Ressler turned his face to look at Liz beside him. Sweat ran down his face, mixing with the dust.
"You were right…" she said, her breath hitching as she still cried, looking at her partner.
"Yeah…I told you we'd get you out," he said, looking into her bloodshot eyes.
"No…I meant, you're not doing so good."
Red chuckled at that. "Lizzie we just pulled you out from under tons of rocks, and Donald's appendix is close to bursting. Neither of you look good," he told her sympathetically.
"And we're trapped here in a tunnel," sighed Ressler, always the realist, lying beside her and feeling like absolute crap.
"Oh, it's not just a tunnel," Conrad spoke up. "It's where I live. There is a cave further down the tunnel. I've lived down here for a very long time."
Ressler was too tired to reply, apart from a couple of words, "To the bat cave…" Hot, feverish and in unbearable pain, with Liz safe beside him he had to rest. Unable to stay awake any longer, he let himself drift off.
Lying on the sandy floor Liz felt him beside her and in pain, bruised and scratched to pieces, she held onto his hand, feeling safe beside him. Closing her eyes, she fell into an exhausted sleep close to her partner.
Conrad watched them sleep, shining his flashlight on the two agents. He looked up at Red, as the criminal sat against the tunnel walls tiredly.
"Where did you find him?" he asked Red, smiling.
Red raised his head off the wall, and looked at Ressler. "Oh, Donald and I go way back. Way, way back," he told Conrad. Tilting his head, he smiled. "I told him you'd like him. Didn't tell him why. Figured I'd make him sweat." And looking at the feverish agent asleep at his feet he figured that probably wasn't a good choice of words.
Beside him, Conrad leaned down and looked at the sleeping agents. "We should move them further down, to my cave."
Red leaned back on the wall. "No, they're each in the safest place they can be right now," he said smiling at the two of them together, then looked back at Conrad.
"But you and I need to talk. I need to know what is going on here."