The sun was hanging low in the sky. Gibbs, Ziva, McGee, and a few other agents were walking through the mountains, searching for Tony and Charity and whomever had them. So far, they had found nothing.
After they had been searching for about three hours, Gibbs' cell phone rang. He answered it. "Yeah, Abs?"
"I narrowed the search area down." She answered. "I've sent McGee the coordinates. It would have to be within a ten mile radius of those coordinates."
"Thanks, Abs."
"Just bring them home safe, Gibbs."
"I will. Don't worry I will." With that Gibbs hung up the phone.
"McGee, what's our new search area?" Gibbs yelled.
"About 10 miles east." McGee answered.
"Then we'd better start moving."
Tony and Charity...
Tony and Charity had been walking for hours. The sun was beginning to set. "We need to be finding shelter, soon." Tony said looking at the darkening sky.
"Yeah." Charity responded weakly.
"We need to get you some medical attention." Tony said.
"I'm fine. It's really just a scratch." She told Tony, with a faint smile. "Besides, thanks to the cold I don't feel a thing anymore."
Another thirty minues had passed when they came upon a small log cabin. They walked up the small steps and to the door. Tony peeked through the small window at the top of the door. "Looks like there hasn't been anybody in here in a while." He said.
"Is the door locked?" She asked.
Tony gripped the door nob and turned. The door opened ith a small creak. He turned sideways so that he and Charity could both fit in the door. The room had no furniture save for an old mattress in front of a fire place. Tony shut the door and helped Charity set down on the mattress. There was a log in the fire place and a few matches sat close by. Tony picked up one of the matches and started a fire.
"How are you feeling?" He asked Charity.
"Okay." She answered, her voice strained.
Tony knelt in front of her. "Let me take a look." He spoke, gesturing to her stomache wound.
Charity nodded and moved her hand. She lifted her shirt just enough to allow Tony to see the wound. "Just be gentle. I'm delicate." She told him, a weak smile on her face.
Tony smiled back at her. He then looked at her stomache. He reached a hand out and began to gently probe the wound. "I'm going to see if I can find anything to clean this up and stitch it up. You just keep pressure on it. Okay?"
Charity nodded.
Tony stood up and walked into the small kitchen of the cabin. He searched the cabinets and found a bowl. He then began to search for anything else he could use. He couldn't find anything else in the kitchen. So he went to the small bathroom. He searched through the drawers and cabinets. He was able to find a few rags, a small sewing kit, and a bar of soap. He put the bowl in the sink and tried to turn the water on. Nothing came out.
He walked back in the small living/bedroom. "I have to step outside for a minute. I'll be right back." He told her.
Charity nodded. "Be careful."
Tony took the bowl outside with him. He scooped some snow into the bowl and then went back indside. He held the bowl over the fire. "There's no water." He told Charity answering the question in her eyes. The snow melted quickly and then Tony got to work cleaning up Charity's stab wound.
Charity sucked in a deep breath as the soap and water stung, but she knew it had to be done. She also knew Tony was being as gentle as possible.
"Okay, you're all cleaned up and it looks like the bleeding has stopped." Tony said. "Time to start stitching you up."
To keep her mind off the pain, Charity decided to focus on Tony's face. He was very focused on what his hands were doing.
Once he was finished, Tony looked up at Charity. "You're all stitched up."
"Thank you." She said.
Now that the shock of everything that had happened that day, was wearing off, the two of them started to shiver. "I'll go see if I can find some blankets." Tony said, standing up and walking to a nearby closet. He opened it up and was able to find a large quilt. He pulled it out and walked over to Charity.
"We are going to have to share." He told her.
"We'll probably warm up faster anyway." She replied. "Body heat and all."
"Yeah." Tony responded, secretly thrilled at the idea of getting closer to Charity. He sat down on the mattress next to her. He put the blanket around his shoulders and then pulled Charity close.
Charity snuggled up to Tony, telling herself the whole time it was just for the warmth.
After a short time, exhaustion took over and they fell asleep.
