Danny looked down at Lindsay as Stella screamed. Lindsay laughed painfully as Danny pulled away the phone. "You got it Stell."

"Oh my god! How-How are you? Is Lindsay with you? Is she alright? Are you alright?" Stella demanded.

Danny looked down at Lindsay, who was still smirking. "Sounds like someone's happy to hear from us."

Lindsay nodded. "No kidding."

"Danny, how's Lindsay?" Stella asked.

Danny took a deep breath. "She's pretty beat up, Stell. A beam's got her pinned between it and the stairs. I can't move it on my own." Lindsay pulled on his arm.

"Ask if Flack made it out."

Danny nodded. "Did Flack make it out?"

"Sure did, Danno. You two just hang tight; Mac an' Hawkes are workin' their way up to you." Flack explained.

"Tell him we've reached the fifth floor. We should be there soon." Mac's voice came on the line.

"But the stairwells blocked below us." Lindsay whispered.

"Right and it'll take them time to clear it." Danny replied.

Lindsay's eyes widened. "Time we might not have with this building."

Danny nodded sternly. "Better make it fast Mac, we got the building wantin' to come down on us and Linds is beat up pretty bad."

"Danny, what's your exact location?" Stella asked.

"Uh…we're on the third stairwell between floors six and seven. And the stair case between five and six is blocked off." Danny replied.

"We'll deal with that. You two stay put. We're getting you out." Mac said.

Lindsay exhaled deeply. "Thank god."

Danny nodded. "I'm gonna be doin' plenty of that once we're outta here."

Lindsay smiled. It quickly faded as the building shook again. Danny shut the phone and leaned over Lindsay again. The wall shook harder than the previous tremor, knocking more debris from the walls. Drywall and other debris slammed into Danny's back as he shielded Lindsay from it.

"Danny!" Lindsay cried.

Danny squeezed her hand. "We're gonna be fine."

The walls beside them crept lower to the stairs. The railing beside them snapped from its bolts and clattered below them to the floor. Several beams behind Danny crashed to the stairs, knocking them out entirely.

Danny heard a thundering crash above them. It sounded like another explosion. But he knew very well that it was the roof collapsing in on itself. He looked up at the floor nearest them had begun sinking closer to the ground. They had run out of time.

"Danny get of here." Lindsay ordered.

"No way, Montana." Danny replied.

Lindsay gripped his hand. "Listen to me, this place it falling apart. You don't have to be here. You can still get out!"

"I'm not leavin' you!" Danny looked at Lindsay. "I told you I'd get you outta here and I'm gonna get you outta here!"

More cracks echoed through the building. Metal clattered around them and fell passed them. Support beams gave way and new debris clouded the air. Danny felt the stairs creak downward from the stress. He held Lindsay's hand tighter. He could hear her crying out in fear, something he wished he could do. She had told him to leave her, told him to save himself. But that wasn't something he could do. That was something Danny was never going to do.

The building finally ceased it fall again. Danny leaned up from Lindsay and exhaled. That was close. Another tremor and the building would surely fall completely. Danny released Lindsay's hand and sat up completely, searching around the area.

"That was too close." Danny said. He waited for Lindsay to reply, but she didn't. Danny looked down to Lindsay and panicked.

Lindsay eyes fluttered, slowly closing. Her breathing became slow and shallow. Danny took her hand and held it tight. "Lindsay? Lindsay don't do this! Don't this now, Lindsay! Come on, Lindsay stay with me! Don't do this Linds! Stay wake! Stay awake Lindsay! Come on Lindsay stay with me, baby!"

"Danny? Lindsay?"

"Here! We're over here!" Danny cried. Lindsay still refused to open her eyes.

"We're almost there."

"Hurry, I'm losin' her, Mac! I'm losin' Lindsay!" Danny urged.

Danny could hear the debris below finally dislodged. The footsteps of the paramedics and Mac echoed up the stairs. Danny kept looking between Lindsay and the stairs, waiting for them to hurry. The paramedics made their way up the stairs to Danny and Lindsay. Mac and Hawkes were right with them. One look to Lindsay condition and everyone moved faster.

"We gotta get this thing off her!" Danny ordered.

They moved quickly, all taking a section of the beam in their hands. Two paramedics prepped Lindsay for the move. They placed a collar around her neck and attached a mask to her face. They slipped the orange gurney beneath her. One nodded to the others and they all lifted the beam up, freeing Lindsay's pinned body. Danny was forced to release Lindsay and allow the paramedics to take her through their decent through the building.

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Stella and Flack stood as they watched the rescue team emerge from the building. Six men were carrying the orange gurney that held Lindsay's battered form. Stella gasped at the extent of Lindsay's injuries. Behind the paramedics came Hawkes and Mac, with Danny! Stella and Flack quickly rushed to them. Stella hugged Danny tightly. Danny groaned painfully and Stella let go.

"I'm sorry Danny." Stella apologized.

"No, no, it's not you, Stell. Just got a little beat up. More than I realized." Danny explained. His right arm cradled his chest, most likely his ribs. He watched the paramedics place Lindsay's gurney into the back of their ambulance and close the doors.

Hawkes moved to Danny's side. "Let's get you to the van and check you out."

Danny shook his head. "No, nah, we gotta get to the hospital, Hawkes. We gotta follow them."

"Hawkes, get Danny to the next ambulance heading for the hospital. We'll meet you two there." Mac ordered.

"Mac-"

"Danny this up for discussion. Go!" Mac ordered.

Hawkes pulled Danny's arm, leading him off toward another ambulance. Mac, Stella, and Flack piled into the department van and headed for the hospital.

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yay! off to safety. now for my crappy ending