Is only short but I couldn't leave you hanging all night.

And, completely off topic, I move into Uni in 10 hours!

x x x x

Chapter 13

Bitter cold water splashed up his legs and back, but he didn't notice as he crashed though the lake. It was shallow at the edges, but by the time he reached Sara the water was up to Nick's waist. He lifted his friend up, supporting her limp body against his own. Behind him he could hear Warrick splashing towards them. Scooping her into his arms, he started back towards land. Dark strands of her damp hair clung to her face, and her arm draped itself loosely across his shoulders. The rest of the team waited with baited breath at the water's edge. Grissom was stood up to his ankles, while Sofia was pacing with her phone, presumably trying to call an ambulance.

Warrick stopped where he was and waited for Nick to reach him. The Texan, now a little sluggish due to the water soaking into his clothes, passed Sara over, and Warrick carried her to solid ground, while Greg helped Nick struggle the last few steps and the pair of them collapsed onto the grass in a heap.

Warrick placed Sara gently on the floor, and Catherine immediately dropped to her knees and felt for breathing ... a pulse ... anything!

Getting nothing, she tilted Sara's head back and started mouth to mouth. Brass crouched down as well and, remembering as much of his first aid training as he could, started chest compressions.

Sofia was still pacing, trying to get enough signal on her phone to dial emergency services, casting anxious glances at the unconscious brunette every few seconds. Ecklie was twitching nearby.

All anyone else could do was stand and watch their friend cling onto life. Tears sparkled in Greg's eyes as he willed his best friend to hold on. Nick and Warrick held each other up, panting breathlessly but not caring. At least they could still breathe.

"Come on Sara, breath!" Catherine begged, forcing air into her lungs. "Don't you dare leave me." She sat back on her heels, tears streaming down her face, watching Jim put his whole energy into saving Sara. Not knowing what else to do, she prayed. She closed her eyes and she sent silent prayers to a God she didn't think she believed in anymore. One glance at Grissom showed that he was doing the same thing.

And somebody must have been listening.

With a cough and a splutter, Sara's dark eyes blinked open.

Catherine almost howled with thanks, as she wrapped her arms around Sara, clinging to her with every ounce of strength she had left.

"Don't ever scare me like that again!" She sobbed into Sara's drenched skin.

Slowly, stiffly, Sara lifted her arms and returned the embrace. And that simple action was enough to convince the team to release the breath they didn't realise they had been holding. She was bruised, and she was scared, and she was cold.

But she was alive.

X x x

It was only when Catherine was finally prised free from Sara, and the brunette managed to sit up and be wrapped up in several jackets, that they noticed the stream of blood creeping down the side of her neck.

"What happened Sara?" Grissom asked, crouching next to her. She tried to talk but the attempt nearly made her throw up. Cath rubbed her back in soothing circles until she calmed down enough to stutter one word:

"Woman."

Her eyes were wide and startled as they darted around fearfully. The guys glanced through the trees, but the light was fading fast and they couldn't see much.

Sofia had given up calling for help. It seemed her phone did not want to work right now.

"Come on, we need to get her inside." Catherine insisted. She took one side and Nick took the other, and between them they got her on her feet. She swayed for a moment, steadied only by their hands on her sides. Her arms were draped around their shoulders and they half-walked, half-carried her back towards the house. Catherine had a tight grip around her, and kept nuzzling the side of her face, peppering kisses on her cheek and mumbling reassuring words in her ear. Nick gripped her carefully with his strong arms around her waist. Though he was more focussed on walking in a straight line then Cath was, he couldn't resist planting a kiss in her hair, just to check she was really okay.

Grissom and Ecklie led the group, casting anxious glances over their shoulders every now and then. Brass, Sofia and Warrick kept lookout for the 'woman' as they made their way through the woods, but as far as they could see there was no one in sight.

They never saw her step out from the shadows.