Peter can make out the sound of their voices above him. He knows what they're saying is true. He knows he has to try. But he's already scared -- everything that happened in the ventilation ducts back in Europe paled in comparison to what was happening right now.

Maybe he could fearlessly push himself out of this if it were just him. But it wasn't just him. And his fear of being crushed extended now to a fear of Liz being crushed -- and if something happened to Liz, he'd never be able to forgive himself.

But he knew -- he knew that he wouldn't be able to keep this up forever.

"Okay," Peter says to himself. "Okay."

Peter looks down at Liz. He isn't even sure she can hear him right now, but he has to say it anyway. Just in case he can't do it.

"I love you."

He takes a breath and then another one, and pushes back and up with all the force he can manage. True to his worry, as the rocks shift above him, a few tumble down on top of Liz.

He braces one of his arms, his muscles tightening painfully as he wraps an arm around Liz to pull her to him; he knows that this is just going to make things more difficult, but she's less likely to get hurt if she's pressed tightly against him.

And when Peter pushes back this time, it's with more force than any of his previous attempts. He can hear the sound of rock and Earth moving above him, not just around him.

Just a little more.