Shane peered over the edge of the second-story floor to see a terrified Carmen dangling in the air, nothing supporting her from a horrible plunge except for Shane’s grip. 

Carmen was slowly swinging back and forth.  Shane tried straightening her own arm, attempting to stop the movement and keep Carmen’s weight from jerking her arm around.

“I’ve got you, honey,” Shane said, her voice strong and steady despite the fear she felt and the slightly woozy feeling in her head.

Carmen looked up at her and their eyes locked.  Blood trickled down from Shane’s nose and a drop fell through the air, landing onto Carmen’s shoulder, staining her white shirt.

“Sorry,” Shane apologized, immediately feeling like an idiot after doing so. 

“You’re hurt,” Carmen said, sounding dumbstruck.

“I’m okay,” Shane promised, not sure if that was even true.  Regardless of her other injuries, her arm was killing her and sweat had begun to slide down her back.  Her hands were also beginning to become sweaty, making it difficult to keep her hold on the dangling Carmen.  Shane spied a wooden pool nearby and shifted her weight somewhat, managed to inch across the ground on her stomach until she reached it.

Feeling the movement, Carmen called up worriedly, “Shane, what are you doing?”

“Trying to get to this pole for support,” Shane grunted, managing to wrap her free arm around it.  She wished she could switch arms, but she knew that if she did, she could likely lose her grasp and send Carmen tumbling down to the ground beneath them.

“What’s below me, Shane?” Carmen asked.

“Why?” Shane asked, trying to ignore the fact that Carmen was worried about what she might land on should she fall.

“Just tell me,” Carmen demanded, trying to look down but only pulling on Shane more, causing more beads of sweat to pop out on Shane’s forehead.

Shane glanced down below them.  “A lot of debris and rubble.  Boards and stuff.”

Carmen paled visibly.  “Sharp?”

Shane nodded in reply, trying to keep the grim expression off her face.

“So, basically, if I fall, I die?  If the impact doesn’t kill me, then one of those boards could stab through me,” Carmen stated.

Sweat was dripping into Shane’s eyes, stinging them, and mixing with the salty tears that had begun to form.  “Or get very seriously injured.  But that’s not going to happen.  I’ve got you.”

“Shane, I’m going to fall,” Carmen said simply, fear in her dark eyes.

Shane grunted softly as she felt a pop in her shoulder, sure it had just went out of place, or possibly dislocated.  Her arm hung nearly useless, yet she fought the pain and her sweaty grip remained tight, somehow keeping Carmen from plunging toward the floor.

“Your shoulder, Shane.  I know it’s hurt.”  Carmen took a deep breath and a tear escaped from one eye, making its way down her cheek and sliding off her chin, falling silently to the ground below.  “You have to drop me, Shane.  Just let me go.  Save yourself.”

Tears nipping at her eyelids and her nose running from the effort of keeping the tears in, Shane resolutely replied, “No.”  Speaking again quickly over Carmen’s protests, she said, her voice cracking, “I’m never letting you go, Carmen.  If you fall, I fall.”