It was just after 8am when she came downstairs and found everyone else up and having coffee. The hopeful faces looked at her and Michelle was smiling like an idiot.
Catherine as always was the first to pipe up "So did you guys sleep well?"
She was treated to a very shocked and then confused face from Katie, "What are you talking about? What did Greg say?"
It was everyone else's turn to be confused now.
Michelle eyed her "Didn't you and Greg patch it up last night?"
"Hell no, we didn't talk. I asked him to get out of my room straight after you went downstairs. Why? Where is he? Oh crap, has he left?"
Nick was the first to run out to the hallway and check the bags, "Greg's stuff is gone, he must have left and we never noticed."
Every one of them looked out the porch windows to see the storm furious and wild ripping through the forest. Katie grabbed her coat and was out the door in a shot cursing him under her breath.
Everyone followed her out and brought flashlights because it was dark even though it was daytime. It was hard to walk in the storm, the wind was so strong, but Katie was frantic.
Michelle caught up with her and linked her arm, "Are you okay Katie?"
"How could he do this to me Shell and his friends? I don't care if he was upset yesterday, the storm is horrendous and he spent the night out in it. He could be really hurt or worse. I hate him." The tears were pouring down her face and Michelle didn't know what to say. He had been gone so long but Katie had never gotten over him and though she swore she hated him Michelle knew well that Katie was still in love with him.
"Come on Katie, don't panic I'm sure he is just fine and we will find him in no time." Michelle didn't even know if she meant that but had to make Katie stop crying.
Nick passed them out and on the way gave Katie's hand a squeeze, he could see anxious she was, he was going to kick Greg's ass for being so stupid.
"Katie we will find him okay."
"We better and when we do I'm going to kick the crap out of him before any of you get a chance" This little outburst made Nick and the other's laugh a little.
Six hours passed and there was still no sign of him, and Katie was starving since she had no breakfast. They had gone as far as they could before the river stopped them. The flooding had gotten worse so there was no way he could have gone further. They decided to head back to the cabin and call for help, Katie refused point blank to leave him out there and informed the gang that she would go for another hour or so. Nick and Warrick tried to stay with her but she wouldn't hear of it, they were hung over and slow and she knew the place like the back of her hand so she had no trouble finding her way back on her own. Reluctantly they let her go since Michelle seemed okay about it.
"I'll be back shortly guys a couple of hours tops."
So she took off with her flashlight and Nick handed her his one before she went just in case.
About an hour later she was out near the side of the mountain on the rocky side when she saw a flash of red through the rain. The team had red raincoats so she hurried towards it. There she found Greg huddled under a tree soaking wet and really angry looking.
He spied her coming towards him, " Of all the people that could find me why did it have to be you." He shouted at her, the anger evident in his voice.
Katie stopped suddenly all the hurt and worry slipping away as she heard him talk to her like that. She tried to hold it in but it was too late and she screamed at him " What the hell is wrong with you? You were the one who took off with out anyone knowing you idiot. Coming out in a storm like this on your own, are you crazy? The reason I found you is because everyone else headed back to the cabin to call for help. We were all out here at 8am when we realised you were missing" She pulled up her sleeve and checked her watch, " Its 4pm Greg, I haven't even eaten yet, I have been beside myself with worry and refused to go home and this is how you thank me for finding you. You really are a worthless pig Sanders. I don't know when you changed but I hate the new you."
They were both crying now, Katie from anger and Greg because he hated the way he made her feel. He hadn't meant to be angry with Katie but he was an idiot, embarrassed for acting like a child and he didn't want Katie to see him like that.
"I'm sorry Katie" Greg's trembling voice got Katie's attention as she turned to leave him there. "Please stop, I'm sorry for everything, I truly am. I love you more than life Katie and I've hated my life without you. I didn't mean to shout just now I just feel so stupid and like such a failure in your eyes. When you told me to get out yesterday I wanted it all to end. I thought you hated me and all I want you back in my life, for you to love me again. I shouldn't have left that was stupid of me."
He was still talking as Katie sat down beside him and told him he was an idiot. "I just wish you would stop messing up Greg, you have always been the one I love but I can't deal with the pain that comes with it. Anytime something happens you treat me like crap and hurt me. And I can't go back to that life. When it's good it's so good but when it's bad it's just too awful to bear. Now get up I want to get back before it gets really dark and they have a search party out here." Katie grabbed his arm and pulled it over her shoulder and helped him start walking, his ankle was sprained pretty bad but they managed between them, barely talking, both too upset to really get into conversation.
They finally got back to the cabin and Catherine who had been by the window spotted them and the guys ran out to help Greg in. Michelle rang the local police station to tell them he had been found and Catherine was the one who bandaged his ankle and helped him elevate it.
He was looking around for Katie as he was getting an ear bashing from Nick, Catherine who had noticed the atmosphere and tear marks shut Nick up and gave Greg a hug.
"You shouldn't have done that but you know that so I won't waste my breath. What happened with Katie?" Catherine was genuinely concerned because she knew that until now even if Greg was in a bad mood or annoyed he would slap on a smile and make jokes. But right now he looked like he had given up and Catherine was worried about him.
"She hates me. It's that simple. All I want to do is get her to give me another chance and show her I can make her happy." Greg shut his eyes and curled up tight in the blankets in front of the fire, he didn't want to talk anymore unless it was to Katie.
Meanwhile Katie had gone straight upstairs and Michelle was hot on her heels.
"Katie, are you okay? I know none of this can be easy."
Katie looked exhausted when she answered, "I'm fine. I lay in bed all night thinking things through, I decided that maybe Greg and I could keep in contact, you never know we could work things out and get back together. I still love him but then he goes and does this and he acted like such an ass when I found him."
Michelle pulled her into a hug and held her for a few minutes, " I don't know him Katie but I talked to Nick last night. Greg is still in love with you and Nick thinks you guys would make it work if you gave him another chance. Think about it, you have nothing to lose by trying again and if it doesn't work out at least you can say you tried."
Michelle left her to think and headed back downstairs. Greg was on the couch curled up and the rest of the guys were in the kitchen talking.
Nick was the first to notice Michelle come in "Hey, how's Katie?"
"Oh she's okay, a bit upset but she will be fine. How's Greg?"
"Cold and sore and a little despondent" Catherine replied.
Nick shook his head "I just wish they would sit and talk properly. Greg is a good guy and he really loves her. He admits he messed up in the past and is sorry and he's adamant that he would take good care of Katie and make her happy."
No one saw Katie standing near the doorway as they discussed her and Greg. She turned her back to the wall as she listened and watched Greg sleep. She knew the only thing stopping her from sorting things out now was her pride. With that she went upstairs and took out a pen and paper and wrote. It took an hour but she tried her best to get everything on paper.
It was easier than speaking to him, she knew she wasn't ready for that, so this was the only way.
