Eddie was totally disoriented as slowly he started to drift back into consciousness he could feel the freezing cold water soaking into his tac vest making it start to become a dead weight against his chest, the vital piece of equipment that had on a number of occasions saved his life was now pulling him under constricting his breathing making his lungs burn as he frantically tried to push life saving oxygen in and out, with the deafening sound of his slowing heart beat pounding in his head he was now on the verge of giving up unable to feel his legs, his movements were laboured and heavy, he knew without a doubt his body was slowly shutting down, desperately he tried to pushing himself out of the thick emptiness that surrounded him only to find his efforts were to no avail something was holding him in place and try as he might he couldn't free himself he was going to die here and there was nothing he could do to prevent it, and it was with that realisation he all of a sudden knew he was at peace with it all he had to do was let go but through all the confusion he had the vague notion there was something stopping him he was sure he could hear his name being called, they were telling him to open his eyes. Fighting the tiredness and using the last of his energy Eddie briefly complied trying to get the face that was swimming in front of him into focus and through chattering teeth whispered a name "Sp.i...k...e."

"Hey good to have you back with us buddy" Spike replied still maintaining his firm hold on his shivering Team Leader to stop him disappearing under the murky depths.

"So...co...ld..." Eddie whispered all the while trying to move out of the vice like grip holding him upright in his seat only to have it tighten even more.

"I feel your pain but...whoa...Ed... stop...stop...I've got you...you need to stay still while we get you on a back board" Spike voice full of concern and frustration filtered through Ed's conscious.

"Wh...at...wh...y?"..."nu...mb" Ed managed to say his breaths slowly coming out forming freezing clouds the fog shrouding his brain.

"Hey always with the complaining you're not the only one taking a late night swim here Ed" Spike tried to joke.

"So...r...ry" shivering violently Ed quietly replied his lips blue and the feeling in them having long since passed.

"Oh it's ok buddy but I think this is coming out your pay check what a mess" Spike tired to keep Ed talking "Won't be long now and we'll have you on the way to the hospital"

"Ti...r...ed" was all Ed could manage as unable to fight it any longer his eyes closed and his head slowly lolled forward

"Ed...Ed" Spike's anguished tones rung out against the noise of the cutting equipment and generators "Come on open your eyes for me...no going to sleep," slightly moving his position so the fire fighters could slide the board between the seat and Ed's back they quickly strapping him to it.

"Officer I need to you move we are ready to go" looking at the young fire fighter Spike simply nodded and quickly wiggled his body back through the smashed windscreen and waded around what was left of the SUV and along with the rest of the fire fighting crew and EMT's he waiting to help carry Ed's cold and shivering frame to the shore.

"Jules how's it going?" Greg's and Wordy's questions came in unison through the ear pieces.

"We have Ed out now Sgt but he is unconscious...the EMT's can't check him fully till we get to the shore...we're coming up now" trying to keep the concern out of her voice Jules can't help but ask "How's Sam?"

"They are treating him now" came Greg's strained reply as he stood and watched the EMT's in the back of the ambulance " They're just about ready to take him the St Simon's...Wordy will go with him"

Giving a quick nod Wordy ran towards the ambulance and just as the doors where closing jumped in the back to accompany Sam on his journey.

Pushing out of the darkness that had wrapped itself tightly around him Ed had the strange sensation of floating, his body was numb the feeling of fatigue made the simplest of movements nearly impossible in the distance he could hear agitated voices giving a list of instructions, he thought he could feel hands pushing on his chest in the same regular beat that his heart should be making but didn't seem to be, but with his body temperature so low he couldn't be certain the only thing he was grateful for was that he wasn't in any pain...wait why wasn't there any pain all of a sudden panic set in and his survival instincts went into over drive through the fog of confusion he could hear words being spoken next to his ear the voice seemed familiar he knew he should know whom the disembowelled voice belonged to but it sat just out of his grasp and try as he might he couldn't reach it.

"Eddie slow it down come on breathe...just slow it down just work with the medical team...you're not going out this way" leaning in Greg continued not sure if his Team Leader could hear him or not..."come on buddy stop fighting them your safe...your safe."

"Sgt we need to get him to hospital we can only do so much here, with the extended length of time he was submerged in the freezing water his body temperature is dangerously low which in turn has slowed his heart rate hence us needing to continue with CPR and we are unable to do a full examination to asses what other injuries he may have"

Looking up at the EMT Greg reluctantly stepped back from his best friend "Yes...Yes...sorry...we'll follow along behind and meet you at the hospital the other member of my team is already on his way there."

Moving fast and efficiently Ed was loaded into the back of the waiting ambulance and with what was left of his team following closely behind they travelled the same route that Sam had already taken.

Greg looked at his watch for what seemed to be the thousandth time just as the doors to the ICU department opened and a face he recognised step forward his hand stretched out to instigate a friendly handshake.

"Hello Greg...everyone" he looked around and nodded to the rest of the team "not the best circumstances to met again but how are you holding up?"

"Hey Dr Perry no...no...its not but I'm good how are my men? Greg replied the tiredness and strain telling on his voice.

Gesturing for everyone to sit down Dr Perry continued "We have treated Officer Braddock for a mild case of hypothermia and a broken nose all of which have been done with no problems and although he will be in some pain and discomfort for a while we will keep him overnight just to make sure"

"And Eddie?"

"Ahhhh now Officer Lane was a totally different matter and is the reason that I have taken so long to come and see you to give you an update" before the team could interrupt the Dr continued "He had severe hypothermia and we tried using warm humidified oxygen and heated intravenous saline but we couldn't get his body temperature up quick enough with gave us cause for concern that he was running the risk of a cardiac arrest so we had to perform a cardiopulmonary bypass"

Trying not to freak out Wordy asked "English Dr please?"

"Yes sorry its a medical procedure in which we temporarily withdraw blood from the body, warming it and then returning it, it brings the bodies core temperature up much quicker and before you all panic and I know it sounds terrifying but it went very well with no adverse affects, they are both battered and bruised and decidedly very lucky to come away with the injuries they have."

Waiting for the everyone to take in the information the Dr continued "In fact Edward is awake and asking for his wife and children" as he looked around "are they here"?

"No his wife is away with their daughter at a family celebration Eddie knows that, he was suppose to be taking Clark up there this weekend is there a reason he wouldn't remember?" Greg replied "Actually she is on her way back now."

Raising from his seat the Dr nodded "Edward will be a little confused given the circumstance but this will pass and there is no reason Clark can't be here with his father it will, I believe be beneficial to both of them. Right if there are not more questions I will send a nurse out to get you so you can be with your team members and of course I will check back later."

And as he started to walk away the Dr turned back his voice holding a light hearted tone "Oh Greg one more thing this is the second time I have treated those two after an RTA maybe you should think about not letting them in the same vehicle" with a small smile on his face he finished his flippant remark "Just a thought".

Once the Dr had left Greg turned back to his team "OK you heard the Doc Eddie and Sam are going to be fine so we just need to wait for the nurse and then we can go see how they're doing."

With a "copy that" coming in unison they all returned to their original seats to once again continue the waiting game.

Pulling out his cellphone Greg dialled Winnie and asked her to send a patrol car to pick up Clark and bring him to the hospital and then set himself with the task of relying all the information the Doctor had given him to Sophie.

Across town outside the Lane residence in the stolen patrol car Gabriel looked in the rear view mirror at the sleeping form of the teenage on the back seat, turning around and taking a quick snap shot and pulling up Greg's contact details he attached the photo and a message.

I believe Edward's phone is somewhat water logged and I'm sure you will show him the attached photo of his son. Tell him the game just moved up a level. TICK TOCK.

And with a feeling of accomplishment he pushed the send button.