Page 102 of Pallas & Kawehi

Pallas held it by the grip and handed it back to Buck. "Axl?"

"Here." He moved into Pallas' sight and got down on his knees. "I'll take him. Go."

Pallas waited until he was sure that Axl had the man under control before he got up and turned toward the water.

Maile was wading into the water as he made it to her side.

Pallas caught her arm, holding her back.

"Get the fuck off me, or I'll kick your ass!"

If he wasn't so worried himself, Pallas would have laughed at her threats. "Just wait a second."

Maile looked at him with murder in her eyes, but as she lifted her knee, probably to kick his leg, the smooth surface of the water exploded like a fountain.

He felt Maile's arm go slack in his hold as two heads emerged, and Pallas saw the most beautiful sight he'd ever seen.

"Holy sh-"

Pallas moved out into the water and met Riptide halfway as he worked to pull Kawehi out of the water. "Here," Pallas reached out his arms, "let me take her."

Riptide gave her over without a fight.

As Pallas moved up toward the grassy bank, he worked to keep his feet squarely under him.

Riptide called out from behind him. "She sucked in water going under. I tried to give her air beneath the surface, but I think she's got too much in her lungs."

Pallas nodded his head knowing that Riptide probably couldn't see it.

He got Kawehi down on her back and leaned over to listen near her mouth and nose, his fingers feeling for a pulse.

She had a pulse, but she wasn't breathing.

Okay, he told himself. You've done this before.

He shook her shoulder. Held her face and gave her a shake. "'Wehi? Baby! Look at me, honey. Open your eyes!"

She lay still beneath him, but he wasn't going to stop then.

He wasn't going to stop until he had her back with him.

"Come on, baby. Look at me!"

Riptide dropped down beside him. "You want compressions or breathing?"

He'd rather do both, but it made sense to have help.

"Compressions." He needed to keep his hands busy, or he'd wrap them around Nick's throat and choke the life out of him. He easily found her breastbone and used his fingers to position his hands for compressions. Without a moment of hesitation, he started compressions.

Maile sat down beside him and took Kawehi's hand in his. "Come on, Cuz. Don’t you do this to me!"

Buck called out from somewhere in the dark. "Emergency personnel are on their way."

Riptide gave her a rescue breath twice before EMTs took over and Pallas reached out to put an arm around Maile for comfort. "She's going to be okay."

"She has to be!" Maile's hand gripped his arm like a vice.

"Pallas!"

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