RESTING UNDERCOVER OF A TREE:
Sara and Catherine were both tired and hurting, against Sara's better judgment Catherin had talked her into resting for just a little while.
Sara sat and kept watch as Catherine dozed. Soon Sara's mind was back in Vegas and the three most important people in her life, her husband, her son and her daughter.
Sara thought of Gil and how much she loved him, she decided that she must have been in love with him from day one. Sara still think's it strange that they both cared so deeply for each other but neither dared say it.
She thought of the last time she was fighting to save her life, it was had to believe that it had been four years ago. The desert was so hot and dry and this place so wet and cold. Sara suppressed a smile, "A happy medium would be nice."
Sara remembered the one good thing that came out of her ordeal, she and Gil were married. Gil had told her that coming that close to losing her made him realize how much she meant to him.
She thought about her babies, her son who looked and acted just like his dad and her daughter who Gil insisted was a carbon copy of her.
She would get through this, she has to, for them.
IN HORATIO'S OFFICE:
Horatio had received a call and after hanging up he said, "All the results are back, judging by the evidence taken from Miss Keller's body and what information Calleigh was able to get from Miss Dawson, the ladies are being held in an area called the Pineland."
"That's good?" Warrick asked, not sure what the significance of this piece of news meant.
"Yes," Speedle said, "The Pinelands are dryer then the rest and it will be easier to find the ladies."
"It will also be easier for the ladies to fine food and a safe place to hide," Horatio.
"Yeah, that is if they can figure out what is good to eat and what is not," Eric said.
Gil looked at Warrick, remembering Sara's kidnapping and her time in the desert he said, "Sara is a survivor."
Everyone was exhausted, as they had been going nonstop since the bus was found. Marisol and Calleigh came in the room carrying sandwiches and drinks.
"Everyone needs to eat," Marisol said, walking up behind Horatio and kissing the top of his head. Horatio gave her his famous half smile, "Thanks. As always you are right. We will be doing no one any good if we can not work ay our peak performance."
Eric pushed the sandwich aside, "Yeah, thanks, I'll eat later." Calleigh placed her hands in his shoulders, "Now," she said tenderly.
Eric smiled, touching her hand he said, "Once you marry them, they think they own you." He pulled the sandwich back and they all ate.
"Shouldn't we be doing something?" Warrick asked, "I mean besides filling our faces?"
Gil touched his shoulder, "Easy, Rick."
"Yeah, it's just so frustrating, not being able to do anything," Warrick said.
"I understand," Horatio said, "But the glades are difficult to maneuver. Everything is set to go as soon as the choppers find something."
Warrick let out a deep breath, "I know you're right. I just keep seeing those other two ladies and ….. all I can see is Catherine."
Gil knew just how he was feeling, from the minute he had heard about what happened he ached to hold Sara in his arms.
BACK IN THE GLADES:
Catherine and Sara had both been running on pure adrenalin. Sara dumped out the back pack on the ground. "Damn," Sara said, just above a whisper, "I wish this bastard had a cell phone or a radio."
"Shhhhhhhh," Catherine said. Standing they could hear the sounds of a helicopter.
A smile crossed Sara's face, "Over there," Sara was pointing to a small clearing. Both the ladies ran to it. "We need to get their attention," Catherine said, as she raised the weapon.
"No," Sara said, "I have a better idea." Reaching into the backpack she took out a lighter, after rolling up a second map Sara started a small fire, and then both the ladies ran back to the undercover and hid. Sara was sure the fire would also draw the attention of their kidnappers too, she only hoped that the ones searching for her and Catherine would get there first.
IN THE HELICOPTER:
"Mash, look at that," one of the men said. "Yeah, it must be from one of the ladies. There are no scheduled burns." The first man got on the radio and radioed in their location. Minutes later Horatio, Tim, Warrick and Gil pilled into a Hummer and were off, followed by an ambulance and another Hummer.
ON THE PATH:
The trail was bumpy and even though they were buckled in, the men were still being tossed all over the Hummer. It was next to impossible to see any thing from the Hummer because of the terrain, they were being guided solely by the helicopter. "Now I see why we were sitting and waiting," Warrick managed to get out. No one was sure if it was Sara and Catherine who had started the fire, but Gil and Warrick were praying it was. "Even if it is not one of your two ladies, maybe they can lead us to them," Eric said.
AT THE END OF THE TRAIL:
They could go no further in the Hummer, so Horatio threw it into park and everyone got out, using a radio to keep in touch with the helicopter the men slowly headed in.
Marsh stayed on the radio and guided the men to the location of the fire. Dodging undergrowth and moving as carefully as possible, the four men headed for the clearing.
Horatio threw up a hand and they all stopped. Horatio had heard a noise in the undergrowth. The four men moved slowly toward the noise which turned out to be a rabbit running from the underbrush.
Gil noticed a foot, pushing back some of the debris he saw Sara. "Sara," he called moving to her, "Call the paramedics."
Meanwhile, several miles away, another helicopter had found what appeared to be a clearing with several huts on it. It landed and members of the SWAT team rescued all the other ladies and two men were apprehended.