Kensi dragged them both from the ice, though the snow seemed little better. She'd called the local emergency and Nell, her hands trembling the whole time, from a combination of cold and fear. The ETA was 20 minutes, which was a terrifyingly long time.
Stumbling through the snow, she dug through their bag until she found an extra Northface jacket and wrapped it around the boy after stripping off his coat. Both his and Deeks' clothes were already half frozen. It wasn't nearly enough but it was better than leaving him in just his soaking shirt.
"Kens?" She spun around, dropping to her knees next to Deeks. He lifted his head a few inches off the ground, entire body shaking uncontrollably and looked around desperately.
"Didn't, did-didn't," he stuttered out, his voice so hoarse and quiet that Kensi had to lean closer. She cupped his hands between her, concern growing as he started to grow agitated.
"Baby, it's ok. You both are ok, and an ambulance is coming. You'll be alright," she assured him, gasping in between on the cold air. It felt her lungs were burning and simultaneously crystallizing at the same time. She could only imagine what it felt like to Deeks.
He nodded, letting out a relieved sigh that left a fog of white in the air, letting his fall back to the ground, snow sticking to his icy hair. Assured that he was conscious, Kensi moved back over to the boy.
There wasn't any place that provided more shelter or at least warm from the air and snow, so she pulled him into her arms. Her coat was half-soaked, but it seemed better than leaving him on the frozen ground. She tucked his head against her side, beneath her coat, and hoped that it was enough. She brushed stiff strands of hair back from his cheek and looked back up.
Deeks had rolled on his stomach and was attempting to push himself up on shaking arms.
"Deeks, what are you—?"
"We need to at least try to head back to the resort," he replied, dragging in a ragged breath as he staggered to his feet. "There's no way an ambulance can get down here and who knows long air rescue will take."
"Are you able to walk?" she asked, knowing that he was right and there wasn't any point in trying to change his mind.
"I'll manage." Accepting that was the best she was going to get, Kensi wrapped the boy up as snuggly as she could. She found a few extra pairs of gloves and shoved them over his hands, the fingers far too long for him. Then she wrapped her scarf, which had somehow survived the water, twining it around his head and face.
"Here, put these on," she told Deeks, tossing him the last pair of gloves. He caught them against his chest. Kensi pretended she didn't see how long it took him to maneuver them, his fingers obviously clumsy with the cold.
Then she struggled to her feet, the boy held tight against her chest. He was lighter than she expected, but Kensi knew she would grow tired quickly, especially since he was completely limp in her arms.
Deeks led the way back to the path, only moving a little faster than her. As they moved forward, Kensi finally registered the cold as the initial adrenaline began to where off. They'd been walking for a few minutes, when Deeks stumbled, narrowly catching himself on a tree stump.
"Deeks!" Kensi moved towards him, even though she couldn't do anything to help with her arms full.
"I'm good," he insisted, resting on all fours for a moment while he dragged in ragged breaths. Kensi could see how much the effort cost him, but he found his footing again and pushed forward.
His movements continued to grow more uncoordinated, his feet shuffling, and catching on snow-covered roots and sticks. The third time it happened, he fell again, landing face first in a pile of leaves and snow. Kensi rushed towards him, heart racing when he didn't move or make a sound.
She laid the boy down on a relatively clear patch of ground and rolled Deeks over.
"Deeks," she whispered, cupping his cheeks and feeling for a pulse. It was sluggish and slightly uneven. "Hey, Sweetie, open your eyes." His forehead wrinkled, but he didn't show any other reaction. "C'mon, don't give up yet. We're almost there." Licking her lips, she cast a desperate look between Deeks and the boy, judging how long it would take her to carry him to safety and then return for Deeks.
She knew he was her priority; as much as she wanted to care for Deeks first and the thought of leaving him behind killed her, she knew what he would want. Blinking back tears that froze in the corners of her eyes, she shrugged her coat off, covered as much of his body as she could, and cupped his cheeks.
"I'll be right back, Baby, so don't you even think of giving up," she whispered, pressing her lips to his cold, mouth. Pulling back, Kensi pressed her lips together and quietly sobbed as she gathered the boy in her arms once more and started trudging her way through the snow.
There was no sun to warm her like when she'd walked down to the pond with Deeks earlier, carefree and laughing. Just the wind and cold, a constant reminder of how she'd left the most important person in her world behind.