more of the debris in our determination to get beneath it. To see her, find her safe. It has to be her. It has to be or I’ll die.
“Rogue!” I bellowed and a muffled voice called back to me.
We all froze in the same moment, listening to see if we really had heard anything or if we were all just losing our minds to the desperation of hope.
“I’m here!” Rogue shouted from somewhere beneath us and the crushing sensation in my chest lifted.
“Holy fuck, dig faster,” Luther commanded.
“I’m coming, hummingbird!” Fox called, digging ferociously through the rubble.
We were all forced closer together as Rogue continued to call out to us and we were soon focusing on one small area, our shoulders knocking against each other’s as we tossed tiles and bricks and mortar away from us. I clenched my teeth, my mind set on this one task and the furious intent in my muscles to pull her from the wreckage.
I’m coming, pretty girl, I’m coming.
We reached the top of an iron safe and Maverick kicked away a wooden beam resting over it as her hand reached up to us from the slightly open door at the front of it. I grabbed her fingers, squeezing tight as a flood of relief washed over me and her hands wrapped around mine, a relieved sob escaping her.
Maverick forced himself down into a gap we’d created just in front of the safe and we all worked to move the debris in front of the door before he wrenched it wide.
“I got you,” he said, drawing her out of the safe into his arms and holding her against him as she sobbed in relief, her fingers curling around the back of his neck as she clung to him.
Fox and I reached for her as Mutt barked happily, wagging his tail so fast I was surprised he didn’t take off like a helicopter.
“Pass her up,” I begged, holding my hands out for her as Luther pulled some pipes away from them which were sliding down the rubble.
Maverick reluctantly lifted her towards us and I got hold of her, dragging her against me and feeling the soft warmth of her flesh as she trembled in my arms and buried her face against my neck. I fell back onto my ass, wrapping her in my hold and kissing her hair again and again as my heart beat powerfully against hers.
“I’m here, pretty girl,” I panted. “You’re okay.”
“JJ,” she croaked. “Swear you’re here. Swear I’m out.”
“I swear it,” I vowed.
“Give her to me,” Fox commanded, his hands snaring her but I held on tight, not wanting to let go. “JJ!” he barked and I reluctantly released her, my heart tugging as Fox pulled her against his chest, kneeling down and resting his forehead to hers.
“Are you hurt?” he asked, looking her over as she clung to his neck for support.
“I’m okay, I think,” she said but she didn’t really look it. Her skin was pale and it seemed like the only thing holding her up was Fox. “But Chase. Where’s Chase?”
“We’ll find him,” I promised, moving closer and checking her over for injuries, finding a sizeable gash on one leg that clearly needed attendance.
“Please take my fucking shoes off,” she half sobbed and I reached for them, unbuckling the stupid things and throwing them away. She tipped her head back against Fox’s shoulder with a heavy sigh of relief. “Thank you.”
Maverick climbed out of the gap, refusing Luther’s offer of help before he scrambled his way over to us and tried to yank Rogue from Fox’s arms. He didn’t let her go though, a low growl leaving him as Mutt jumped up at her, licking her arms and she released another sob as she petted him.
“Ow,” she moaned, clutching her hand back against her chest and I moved closer to her, gently examining it.
“I think you’ve broken some fingers, pretty girl,” I said softly, cupping her cheek in my palm, needing to just see those ocean blue eyes shining with life.
“I had to keep banging. I needed you to find me,” she breathed, staring at me like I was the rising sun, but then she gave that same look to Fox and Maverick as they continued to fight over her.
“Stop,” she begged as Luther hurried forward with some water. Fox snatched it from his hand, holding it to her lips and she drank greedily, finishing the whole lot.
“She needs to go to the hospital,” Maverick insisted. The paramedics were