Thanks again for all the reviews. You're all wonderful! I hope this makes
sense. England beat Ireland at the rugby yesterday, and I think I killed
more than a few brain cells celebrating with the alcohol! And I have to
work tonight.
Rolling with the water current, Sara waited for it to die down before trying to move. A strong swimmer, she had grown up at the beach after all, she knew when not to fight water, when to roll with it and wait for the water to relinquish control rather than the other way round.
She came to the surface, feeling somewhat exhilarated by the experience, grinning as Greg popped up two feet away couching and spluttering. They were both wearing P.B.Es, so would have come up eventually, but why Greg had insisted on drinking the water, she didn't know.
Greg, with one last cough smiled back at her. 'Well that was fun. My life just flashed before my eyes. Why is it you won't go out with me, again?'
Sara laughed, as she swam over to the rocky outlet, as Nick and Warrick paddled over to them.
'You guys alright?' Nick asked, looking concerned.
'Yeah, no problem.' Sara answered. 'Where'd our canoe get to?'
'It's stuck in the weeds just over there.' Nick pointed down stream a little.
Sara and Greg swam doggy paddle over to it, and with help from Nick and Warrick's canoe there to help, Sara got seated again, water dripping into the bottom of the boat.
Greg held onto both canoes, and mimicked Sara, pulling up on leg and hooking it round the edge of the canoe. He got his second foot on Nick's canoe, and pulled up.
Then the canoe decided to move, and Greg found himself doing the splits as he went headfirst back into the river.
As once again Greg came up spluttering and coughing, Sara, Nick and Warrick were all doubled up with laughter, as around them, the cops who had congregated to enjoy the show joined in, some even applauding.
Greg pouted.
Sara finally managed to get some control back, and offered out her hand, helping to pull him in head first into the canoe. Not exactly dignified, as half way in he got kinda stuck with his butt in the air and legs kicking in all directions to try and get some momentum. Sara thought she was going to die of laughing as finally Greg managed to get himself over the edge and into the canoe.
Burning a scarlet red, Greg sat himself in the seat, and took one of the paddles Nick and Warrick were holding out to them, that they had rounded up.
'Let's get going.' He said shortly, ignoring Lenny's remark about rat boy swimming. He furiously dug the paddle in, giving Sara no choice but to join in or capsize all over again.
Five hundred metres down the river, Nick and Warrick caught them up, and came along side the canoe. 'What was all that about? We were only laughing.' Nick said.
'Oh yes, let's laugh at Greg again.' Greg muttered, steadfastly studying the river in front of them.
'Oh come on, get a sense of humour.' Nick said.
'Well it wouldn't be so funny if you'd been on the receiving end of so many jokes this week to warrant a slot on comedy night at the local bar.' Greg said.
Nick and Warrick exchanged looks. They had missed something then. Nick looked over at Sara, who had turned round to look back at Greg, her eyes hidden behind sunglasses.
For a moment, nobody said anything. 'Look, if we did something.' Nick started but was quickly interrupted by Sara.
'Leave it. Let's just get going.' They'd already been passed by everyone else, and could see they were approaching another set of rapids.
Nick and Warrick looked like they liked that idea, but Greg spoke up. 'No, we're not leaving it. Sara's had nothing but insults thrown at her on whatever activity she happened to be doing. Everyone seems to take great delight in wondering out loud about my physical ability. And the worst part? You two haven't even noticed anything!'
Nick and Warrick looked uncomfortable, stealing quick glances at each other as if to wonder how they were meant to solve this. Sara had taken up Greg's unflinching glare at the approaching mountains.
For a moment there was just silence. Sara eventually looked over at Nick and Warrick. 'You were too busy trying to compete against each other to remember that this was meant to be team event.' She said quietly. 'Come on, otherwise we're gonna get left behind.' She said with finality, Greg mirroring her paddling as they set off.
Nick and Warrick looked at each other, somewhat in shock. 'Well, we've really screwed this up.' Nick said mirthfully.
'I didn't mean to blame them.' Greg finally said quietly after they had successfully negotiated the next set of rapids.
'Maybe they needed to have their eyes opened.' Sara said. 'It hasn't been all bad, though.' She added.
She could feel Greg's quizzical look on her back.
'I mean, who knew you and I could work so well together?'
'True. Sara?'
'Yeah?'
'You think we were a bit hard on them?'
'Nah. They're big boys, they'll deal. Or have a bet going about it.'
'I've enjoyed this week. I've enjoyed getting to know you properly.'
'Yeah, you're not bad yourself, Greggo.'
'We should have done it sooner.'
'It's funny. I've been dreading this week. And everything I was dreading happened- being the only female, being ignored by Nick and Warrick. But you've really made this week worthwhile. And now we're just descending to mush.' Sara added.
'Come on, let's get to the checkpoint and see what disgusting grub they're trying to pass off as lunch.'
'I heard it was sandwiches.'
'They probably wouldn't know how to make sandwiches.'
Greg and Sara were sprawled on their backs on the river banks, basking in the cool breeze that drifted from the rushing river, when Nick and Warrick came to bank.
'Look, we're sorry if we haven't done enough, or ignored you or whatever, it wasn't our intention.' Nick started as soon as he saw them.
Sara lifted her head slightly. 'He's asleep.' She said.
Nick looked over at Greg, and now that he was looking saw that indeed, Greg hadn't heard a thing, deeply asleep as he was.
Sara sat up as Nick and Warrick dropped to the ground, studying the inners of their sandwiches. 'Do I even want to know?' Warrick wondered out loud.
'I think it would take all the resources of the lab to figure out that one.' Sara said with a grin. 'Tastes surprisingly better than it looks, though.'
Nick had a suspicious look on his face, as he and Warrick hesitatingly took bites of their sandwiches. The suspicious looks gave way as they realised that Sara hadn't been lying to them.
'How long are we meant to be here?' Warrick wondered, looking around at the rest of the group, most of whom were mimicking Greg and were flat out on their backs either asleep or close to it.
'Elliot's gone up to the road to pick up some more supplies, so we have to wait for him to get back.' Sara answered.
For a moment, they sat in comfortable silence, Sara feeling that same lulling sleep coming over her at the sounds of the river.
'Have we really been that bad?' Nick asked, breaking her reverie.
Sara turned her head to regard him for a moment. 'It would have been nice if you'd at least have acknowledged us once in a while.' She finally answered.
'Have you really had a bad time? We didn't mean to spoil it for you.'
'You didn't.' Sara answered, mildly irritated that Nick would assume that. 'I've had fun. Who knew I'd get on with Greg so well?'
'You and Greg?' Nick asked doubtfully.
'Get your mind out of the gutter. I'm just saying it's been fun to get to know him better. I mean, I see him everyday at work, but I don't see him. I rush past, drop off samples, and then pick up results, usually in a big rush on the way somewhere else. It's been cool spending time with someone, getting to know them.'
'We still should have been around more. This is meant to be a team building exercise, after all. I don't think any of us know you that well, Sara.' Warrick said, surprising Sara that he would want to know her more.
'We've still got three days left.' Sara pointed out.
'We should at least try and show Grissom we didn't spend the week arguing and competing.' Nick said ruefully.
Rolling with the water current, Sara waited for it to die down before trying to move. A strong swimmer, she had grown up at the beach after all, she knew when not to fight water, when to roll with it and wait for the water to relinquish control rather than the other way round.
She came to the surface, feeling somewhat exhilarated by the experience, grinning as Greg popped up two feet away couching and spluttering. They were both wearing P.B.Es, so would have come up eventually, but why Greg had insisted on drinking the water, she didn't know.
Greg, with one last cough smiled back at her. 'Well that was fun. My life just flashed before my eyes. Why is it you won't go out with me, again?'
Sara laughed, as she swam over to the rocky outlet, as Nick and Warrick paddled over to them.
'You guys alright?' Nick asked, looking concerned.
'Yeah, no problem.' Sara answered. 'Where'd our canoe get to?'
'It's stuck in the weeds just over there.' Nick pointed down stream a little.
Sara and Greg swam doggy paddle over to it, and with help from Nick and Warrick's canoe there to help, Sara got seated again, water dripping into the bottom of the boat.
Greg held onto both canoes, and mimicked Sara, pulling up on leg and hooking it round the edge of the canoe. He got his second foot on Nick's canoe, and pulled up.
Then the canoe decided to move, and Greg found himself doing the splits as he went headfirst back into the river.
As once again Greg came up spluttering and coughing, Sara, Nick and Warrick were all doubled up with laughter, as around them, the cops who had congregated to enjoy the show joined in, some even applauding.
Greg pouted.
Sara finally managed to get some control back, and offered out her hand, helping to pull him in head first into the canoe. Not exactly dignified, as half way in he got kinda stuck with his butt in the air and legs kicking in all directions to try and get some momentum. Sara thought she was going to die of laughing as finally Greg managed to get himself over the edge and into the canoe.
Burning a scarlet red, Greg sat himself in the seat, and took one of the paddles Nick and Warrick were holding out to them, that they had rounded up.
'Let's get going.' He said shortly, ignoring Lenny's remark about rat boy swimming. He furiously dug the paddle in, giving Sara no choice but to join in or capsize all over again.
Five hundred metres down the river, Nick and Warrick caught them up, and came along side the canoe. 'What was all that about? We were only laughing.' Nick said.
'Oh yes, let's laugh at Greg again.' Greg muttered, steadfastly studying the river in front of them.
'Oh come on, get a sense of humour.' Nick said.
'Well it wouldn't be so funny if you'd been on the receiving end of so many jokes this week to warrant a slot on comedy night at the local bar.' Greg said.
Nick and Warrick exchanged looks. They had missed something then. Nick looked over at Sara, who had turned round to look back at Greg, her eyes hidden behind sunglasses.
For a moment, nobody said anything. 'Look, if we did something.' Nick started but was quickly interrupted by Sara.
'Leave it. Let's just get going.' They'd already been passed by everyone else, and could see they were approaching another set of rapids.
Nick and Warrick looked like they liked that idea, but Greg spoke up. 'No, we're not leaving it. Sara's had nothing but insults thrown at her on whatever activity she happened to be doing. Everyone seems to take great delight in wondering out loud about my physical ability. And the worst part? You two haven't even noticed anything!'
Nick and Warrick looked uncomfortable, stealing quick glances at each other as if to wonder how they were meant to solve this. Sara had taken up Greg's unflinching glare at the approaching mountains.
For a moment there was just silence. Sara eventually looked over at Nick and Warrick. 'You were too busy trying to compete against each other to remember that this was meant to be team event.' She said quietly. 'Come on, otherwise we're gonna get left behind.' She said with finality, Greg mirroring her paddling as they set off.
Nick and Warrick looked at each other, somewhat in shock. 'Well, we've really screwed this up.' Nick said mirthfully.
'I didn't mean to blame them.' Greg finally said quietly after they had successfully negotiated the next set of rapids.
'Maybe they needed to have their eyes opened.' Sara said. 'It hasn't been all bad, though.' She added.
She could feel Greg's quizzical look on her back.
'I mean, who knew you and I could work so well together?'
'True. Sara?'
'Yeah?'
'You think we were a bit hard on them?'
'Nah. They're big boys, they'll deal. Or have a bet going about it.'
'I've enjoyed this week. I've enjoyed getting to know you properly.'
'Yeah, you're not bad yourself, Greggo.'
'We should have done it sooner.'
'It's funny. I've been dreading this week. And everything I was dreading happened- being the only female, being ignored by Nick and Warrick. But you've really made this week worthwhile. And now we're just descending to mush.' Sara added.
'Come on, let's get to the checkpoint and see what disgusting grub they're trying to pass off as lunch.'
'I heard it was sandwiches.'
'They probably wouldn't know how to make sandwiches.'
Greg and Sara were sprawled on their backs on the river banks, basking in the cool breeze that drifted from the rushing river, when Nick and Warrick came to bank.
'Look, we're sorry if we haven't done enough, or ignored you or whatever, it wasn't our intention.' Nick started as soon as he saw them.
Sara lifted her head slightly. 'He's asleep.' She said.
Nick looked over at Greg, and now that he was looking saw that indeed, Greg hadn't heard a thing, deeply asleep as he was.
Sara sat up as Nick and Warrick dropped to the ground, studying the inners of their sandwiches. 'Do I even want to know?' Warrick wondered out loud.
'I think it would take all the resources of the lab to figure out that one.' Sara said with a grin. 'Tastes surprisingly better than it looks, though.'
Nick had a suspicious look on his face, as he and Warrick hesitatingly took bites of their sandwiches. The suspicious looks gave way as they realised that Sara hadn't been lying to them.
'How long are we meant to be here?' Warrick wondered, looking around at the rest of the group, most of whom were mimicking Greg and were flat out on their backs either asleep or close to it.
'Elliot's gone up to the road to pick up some more supplies, so we have to wait for him to get back.' Sara answered.
For a moment, they sat in comfortable silence, Sara feeling that same lulling sleep coming over her at the sounds of the river.
'Have we really been that bad?' Nick asked, breaking her reverie.
Sara turned her head to regard him for a moment. 'It would have been nice if you'd at least have acknowledged us once in a while.' She finally answered.
'Have you really had a bad time? We didn't mean to spoil it for you.'
'You didn't.' Sara answered, mildly irritated that Nick would assume that. 'I've had fun. Who knew I'd get on with Greg so well?'
'You and Greg?' Nick asked doubtfully.
'Get your mind out of the gutter. I'm just saying it's been fun to get to know him better. I mean, I see him everyday at work, but I don't see him. I rush past, drop off samples, and then pick up results, usually in a big rush on the way somewhere else. It's been cool spending time with someone, getting to know them.'
'We still should have been around more. This is meant to be a team building exercise, after all. I don't think any of us know you that well, Sara.' Warrick said, surprising Sara that he would want to know her more.
'We've still got three days left.' Sara pointed out.
'We should at least try and show Grissom we didn't spend the week arguing and competing.' Nick said ruefully.