Disclaimer: See Ch 1.
Spoilers: Season 1, Between "Camera" and "Meow."
Reviews: Please! Thanks to all who've taken the trouble.
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She started yelling as soon as she saw him. From the final bend of the boardwalk, she had scanned her surroundings and seen him clinging to the side of the ravine in the distance. She held nothing back now, running flat out, testing even her limits. At the sight of the wheelchair, half hanging over the side of the hillside she stopped motionless, before angling her body sideways down the sharp incline.
Her feet hit the big pine first, in an effort to control her descent. Then she was scrambling downward again, headed for the spot she had pinpointed on the hillside, utilizing her feline abilities to maintain any semblance of balance. Finally, she could see him a few yards down and to her left. His forehead rested against his extended arms, and his long fingers clasped the exposed tree roots. He lay still, totally immobile, while the world around him danced in a frenzy. She restrained the urge to call out to him; afraid a sudden movement on his part might break his tenuous hold.
As she started to close the gap between them, she noticed the motion immediately. Fingers straggled lifelessly over the gnarled roots as his body began to slide. Before his fingertips had completely cleared the wood she pounced, clutching the back of his jacket with one hand and grabbing for the roots with the other. She had him securely in her grasp but the other hand closed on nothing. All she could do was hold on to him as they fell toward the water tearing through the valley floor below.
The impact slammed his body into hers, knocking the air out of her lungs. Desperately, she wrapped her arms tightly around his waist from behind and used her legs to try to find some purchase on the riverbed, but her strength was no match for the torrent that swept them along.
The muscles along the side of her body screamed as she lurched upward with her left arm, grasping for the tree branches overhanging the stream. Her legs and other arm wrapped around Logan's body securely as she focused on a large limb jutting out ahead. As soon as she felt the contact she closed her hand, ignoring the pain as the rough surface of the pine sliced through skin. She held steady as the branch bent with the force of the water and swung them toward the side of the valley wall. Bringing her feet up against the bank, she pushed as hard as she could, while at the same time pulling up on the limb with her arm. Moments later they landed in a tangled mess by the side of the stream.
Max lay there on her side, legs aching from the exertion and her body finally registering the intense cold. In the sudden stillness, she realized her arms, still securely wrapped around Logan's waist, were shaking violently. Within seconds, she was sitting up and had rolled him gently onto his back. He was shivering uncontrollably and, even in the semi-darkness surrounding them, she could see the waxy pallor of his face.
"Max." His voice was weak and unsteady, but she smiled into the deep blue eyes squinting to bring her into focus. His glasses were nowhere to be seen.
"Come on, we've got to get you inside and warmed up." She hooked her right arm under him, helping him to sit up.
"I can do it." He tried moving his arms to support himself, his efforts stiff and uncoordinated. Under other circumstances she would have been rolling her eyes at his stubbornness, but Manticore medical training had covered the effects of hypothermia on the genetically unenhanced, and she knew she had to act quickly. Scanning the slope above them, she was relieved to see the hillside was gentler here and had some vegetation she could use to help pull them up to the trail above.
She felt him trying to resist, and hesitated as she caught hold of him in preparation for carrying him in a fireman's hold. "Logan, just let me do the driving for once." Her voice was as uncompromising as the look in her eyes. If he continued to fight her she couldn't tell, his movements were too weak and she was halfway up the side of the valley before she even thought to worry.
She was making rapid progress, under the circumstances, her every movement precise, efficient, and controlled. Within minutes, they were back up on the trail and headed for the cabin. The farmhouse wasn't an option; she was unwilling to risk taking the extra time to get there. When she came across the toppled wheelchair she swung him gently into it, almost wishing he was still griping at her. Instead, he seemed confused, barely registering the movement. Settling him back carefully into the seat, she noticed how shallow his breathing had become.
She stumbled a couple of times before they made it to the boardwalk. Taking a deep breath she resumed her mission, ignoring the fear threatening to engulf her, letting instinct and training take over, putting all other thoughts aside.