The night wore on. They sat around the fire for a while, and Grissom kept a hand on Sara's waist, holding her through the blanket. She was tucked into his lap, and he tried to use his torso to shelter her from the wind, but she still trembled, intermittently.

The shivers ran the length of her body, and though she curled her knees up to promote warmth, the trembling did not stop.

He became concerned.

"You can move inside, if you want," he suggested, motioning to the tent. "You might be warmer there."

"I can manage," Sara replied.

She stared dead ahead into the fire, largely ignoring them. Her face was stoic.

He lifted a hand and laid it to her forehead. Her skin was cool.

"You're freezing," he said.

Catherine wriggled over and stretched out her own hand, checking.

"Her temperature's dropping," she warned.

In a flash, Nick moved, and though he stretched out a hand to check as well, Sara huffed and snatched his hand halfway, holding his wrist.

"Stop fussing," she ordered.

"Stop fussing?" he repeated, with a laugh. "You have a head injury and hypothermia. It's appropriate to be a little concerned."

"And we're two hundred miles from help," Warrick added, looking worried about this above all else.

But Sara ignored them. She sighed, and for a moment stared out beyond them to the fire and the flames. He could see she was conflicted. But typically, she did not give in easily.

"You guys can go," she said, softer now. "If you want. You don't have to stay here. It's going to be a horrendously long night."

"Longer if you argue," Catherine said, fed up.

"Stop being a martyr," Warrick said.

"Just get in the damn tent, Sara," Nick said, kindly. "It's not a big deal, okay?"

She huffed again, but after a long moment reluctantly eased up. Grissom helped her, steadying her with both hands, and once up, she sat there a moment, wavering.

The colour drained from her face.

"Ooh, you look ill," Warrick said. He winced.

"Come in the tent," Grissom ordered, kindly. He massaged her shoulders, trying to inject some reassurance. "C'mon."

She moved, and the entire group helped her stand. Nick picked her up, and carried her a short way to the tent. He deposited her in the doorway, and helped her sit down.

Grissom edged past him, taking over.

"Just lie down," he said. "Stay horizontal. Try not to move."

He urged her onto the camping mat – the blue one that Warrick had brought with him – and she slumped there on her side. Her eyes closed automatically, almost as if she was in too much pain to focus.

Grissom threw the blanket over her, and tucked her in.

In the doorway he saw Catherine briefly look to Nick and Warrick, momentarily catching their eyes.

"Give us a minute," she muttered.

The two departed.

"I'll radio the drugs squad and homicide," she said. "They both have teams here, they should be at the campsite. I'll see if they can bring us some blankets and supplies. Enough to at least last us the night."

"Okay," he agreed.

But Sara piped up in a small voice, from the under the thin blanket.

"They're two hours away," she said. "That's a big ask after a day of hiking."

"Then we'll owe them a beer," Catherine replied, with an indifferent shrug.

Evidently she felt the situation far outweighed the comfort of their PD colleagues, and Grissom privately agreed. PD were used to search and rescue missions; this was inconvenient but well within their capability – and probably more so than that of the race officials, who were mostly volunteers, untrained and overwhelmed.

"Do it," Grissom agreed.

He expected her to leave, but found as he spread the space blanket over the top of Sara's blanket that she was still rooted in place. A flicker of hesitation passed through her eyes.

"What is it?" he queried.

"I don't want to embarrass you," she began, "but you do know the first aid treatment for hypothermia? In a remote area?"

"I do," he agreed.

He knew what she was getting at.

"If her temperature falls any further …"

"Then we'll consider it," he agreed. Oddly enough, the thought did not bother him. They were well past that. "We'll cross that bridge if we get to it."

"Okay."

Grimly, their eyes met for a moment. She nodded to herself.

"I'm going to get under the blanket," he said, unashamed, and knowing the situation demanded it. "Some extra body heat might help."

"All right."

She went to stand, but he called her back.

"Catherine."

She popped back into view.

"Thank you."

"Thank me when we're out of here," she said. She then stood, and moved outside. "Yell out if you need us."

"I will."

Thank you so much to everyone who has been leaving feedback. You guys are amazing! I never expected such a response to this little story, and it's a bit overwhelming (in a good way!) Glad to see there are still so many out there enjoying the Grissom/Sara relationship and CSI, and that I'm not the only one. Cheers!