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***
An explosion sounded and as everybody fell to the ground to avoid the burning branches, Catherine rolled over and saw a branch above her begin to crack. Immediately, she rolled away from Grissom, picked herself up and shoved the group near her to the right, away from the branch.
Resting temporarily on a solid rock, she caught her breath and as she searched to screaming crowd for the friends, s feeble scream caught her attention and she turned her head to see a woman trapped under a fallen branch. The good news was that the branch was not on fire, and the bad news looked as if the heavy branch had at least broken her leg.
"Are you alright?" asked Catherine.
"What does it look like?" replied the woman.
"Can you walk?" asked Catherine.
"No. Just leave me. I can't make it." She paused to groan. "My name is Amber, Special Unit."
"Catherine. CSI," Catherine replied.
Ahead of her, people had started to pick themselves up and begin to flee. Catherine snagged a bulky guy and together they pushed the branch of Amber, ignoring her cries of agony.
"Come on, let's move," the man shouted.
He easily picked Amber up and ran, Catherine beside him.
"I'm Jonathan. My buddies call me Big Joe. SWAT," he yelled.
"Catherine, CSI and that is Amber, Special Unit!" shouted Catherine. Where are Grissom, Sara and Warrick?
"Cath!" a familiar voice panted beside her and she turned, motioning for Big Joe to continue on.
"Nick! Thank God you are alright! Let's run!" she yelled, Nick almost stumbling to catch up with her. "Did you see Greg!"
"No! Didn't see him since the fire started!" he called back.
It was not until she saw the burns on Nick's arms and legs that she realized her own skin was hurting like hell. She bowed her head and for the first time in her life, she began to pray for her safety. Pray for the safety of her loved colleagues. Pray for the safety for Amber and Greg. Pray that all the 48 people around her made it out safely.
___________***___________
***
The crowds of people running for their lives were madness. Even though lives were teetering on the brink, many stopped to help the injured, carrying them further towards safety. Lies, fights, arguments were forgotten and everyone was family.
For 20 minutes, they ran, occasionally fleeing horizontally when branches and trees threatened to fall on them. They finally reached the gate and by then, the fire had spread only leaving a path clear enough for three to pass through. Firemen greeted them with sprays of water. Helicopters buzzed overhead sprinkling water down below to the burning trees. Paramedics rushed to threat the wounded and the wail of the ambulances sirens met the dirty, sweaty and tired people.
The firemen had managed to put out the fire at the Utilities and now concentrated on leading the people out safely. Rescue teams prepared to swarm into the forest in case any was left behind. Water sprinkled the whole courtyard, cooling the people down. For a moment, it was a joyous wet happy moment until everybody started to look for their friends.
The Captain, looking shaken carried a clipboard. Army trucks stood aside, prepared to bring the people to the nearest hospital for checkups.
"Form a line! Form a line! I want the LVPD here! LVPD!"
The LVPD made the run and not one was missing. Brass and another officer suffered first-degree burns and was transported in am ambulance.
"I want the FBI! The FBI!"
Two didn't make it and the Captain solemnly circled to names on the clipboard and motioned for the rescue teams that they would need to swarm in.
"The CSI! CSI!"
Sara screamed as Nick appeared, stained and black and they both hugged fiercely. It turned out that Greg was still missing, and the team refused to leave until the bought Greg out.
"We can't go in right now!" the Captain of the Rescue Team members jogged to the Captain. "The path is closing and there is not enough helicopters! Backup copters' are 15 minutes away!"
"Fifteen my ass!" shouted the Captain. "My men will be all burned to crisp within fifteen!"
"We can't just swarm in!" he shouted back. "I can't risk the safety of my men!"
"So we are just going to leave…" the Captain consulted his clipboard. "Eight of my men in there!"
"I can't do it, I'm sorry! Not for another 15 minutes when we go by air!" he replied angrily.
The atmosphere was tense and both the Captain and the Rescue Captain did the battle of stares.
The Captain glanced at the other's nametag. "Anderson! Your Head will hear about this!"
"Sir, we are trained and told not to go in when there is such a situation! I hope you'll understand that I can't risk my men's life!"
"Are you going or are you not!" shouted the Captain.
"It told you, sir! Not for another…" glance at the watch. "10 minutes!"
"Captain Anderson!" another rescue team member ran out. "Copters' have been headed to the South! There's a flood over there and Colonel Hendrickson directed them off! Only one is coming!"
"One?" exploded the Captain. "That means two men per ride! To hell with you!"
"I'm going in," announced Nick.
Both captains turned to glare at Nick.
"You are not, young man!" shouted Anderson. "I am not having to rescue another person!"
"My friend may be injured or dying and I can't leave him in that burning hell!" said Nick angrily.
"Nick…" Grissom began.
"If he dies, I die," stated Nick quietly. He turned and ran towards the forest.
"Damn you! Stop him, stop him!" Anderson and the rest of the CSIs started to run after Nick.
"Either you let me in or you go in!" shouted Nick angrily.
"I'm going with you!" cried Sara.
"No you are not!" Nick shouted back. "You wait here, I'll be back."
He ran into the forest without any further interruptions.
"Damn you, Nick!" screamed Sara.
"I'm going after him!" shouted Warrick and disappeared along.
Grissom gave a stare at Catherine and then followed.
The Captain pushed the gaping people aside and prepared to follow.
"Captain Josephus! Not you!" shouted Anderson.
"Watch me! I'm not standing here while they burn in that pit hole!" shouted Josephus.
"No! I'm sorry!" yelled Anderson. "I have already violated the rules by letting three of them in! I am not, I repeat, I am NOT letting you in as well!"
"Captain Anderson, I suggest you stay out of my way!"
"What's wrong with you people!" screamed Anderson as the other captain ran into the forest after the first three. He pinched the bridge of his nose. "I am going to catch hell after this!"
"Captain! The others want to go in to find their friends!" called a rescue team member.
"Ask them to go to hell!" replied Anderson.
"They are! Into the forest, that's hell!"
Anderson snatched the speaker from a fireman and hollered, "Listen! Listen to me! I know you are all dead worried about your pals! But a helicopter is on its way here and you do not need to go in and make us suffer by having to pull 20 men up! Please be rational!"
"You don't care because you don't give a damn about those people dying there!" someone yelled.
"All you care is your own safety!" someone jeered.
"We are all being unfair!" another shouted. "We must also think of the Rescue Teams' safety!"
"Then let them stay safely here in their own heaven and let us in!" another yelled.
"You think I'm selfish! You think I don't give a care in the world as long as they are not my pals?" Anderson screamed. "I was trained to keep people safe and to endanger myself! But now everyone is fighting to be the hero! Why did you run out in the first place! You must have well stayed in there from the beginning to roast with your buddies! Let me tell you why you ran, because you wanted to stay alive! Your life is your own! Why do I care if you die! Let's just all fire the Rescue Teams! Because we don't give a damn care about you! Go in if you want to! And stay in there!"
The chief fireman quietly led everyone from the scene and into the army trucks. Anderson turned away; he had a headache already. "Where is the copter?"
"I don't know. We lost radio contact. But they should be here soon," answered one of his team.
Anderson looked at the fire that had begun to close the path. "I'm going in. Tell the pilot that this will gonna make his damn day."
____________***___________
***
"Greg!" yelled Grissom. "Greg! Can you hear me!"
"Greg Sanders!" hollered Warrick.
The heat from the fire was unbearable and the heat seared into their skin, leaving scorch marks. Everywhere hurt and the fire was closing on them.
"Hey! Run to the end!" yelled Captain Josephus.
"It has almost covered the whole forest!" yelled Nick.
"This is stupid!" shouted Grissom.
Above, the helicopters concentrated on putting out the fire near them, and water poured down mercifully on them.
"Hey!" Anderson ran up. "Get in! Get in! Don't just stay here!"
He held a fire hose and he began spraying the trees with it.
"What are you doing in here!" yelled Josephus.
"Trying to protect your smooth butt from being seared!" answered Anderson.
"That hose isn't long enough!" yelled Nick.
"Then I'll just leave it here! Who knows whether your friend needs to be put out!" shouted Anderson.
"The fire is clearing!" yelled Warrick.
"Greg!"
"Anyone! Can you hear me!"
"Here!" Josephus bent down. "Anderson! Spray here!"
Anderson yanked on the hose. It was not long enough. He twisted the hose on to full blast and sent the powerful stream of water to the man lying motionless, nestled among branches and scorched leaves.
Nick felt his pulse. "Faint but it's there!"
"That's second degree burns," said Anderson. "He'll be lucky if he lives."
"Captain Anderson!" four Rescue Team members ran to them.
"What are you doing here?" asked Anderson angrily.
"Maybe you'll need help!" yelled a man whose name tag read Frederick.
"What is Tara doing here! She's a girl!" yelled Anderson.
"I want to help!" shouted Tara.
"The fire is cooling down!" yelled Josephus.
Anderson motioned two team members to carry the hurt man out. "Tara and Jefferson! Go!"
"Winds changed directions again, captain," Frederick said. "Me and Lance thought that we could make it out before it changes again!"
"Shut up!" called Nick. "I think I hear something!"
"That sounds like Greg!" called Grissom.
A week voice penetrated the roaring sounds of helicopters, water and fire.
"Greg!"
"Over there!" called Grissom.
Greg was cowering further in the forest, and he was waving at them.
"Come on!" yelled Josephus. "What are we waiting…"
Grissom, Nick and Warrick had already rushed forward.
"Lance! Over there!" yelled Frederick.
Anderson shouted as the fire died down then just as fast, leapt up again. "What kind of fire is this!"
"It's…" began Josephus.
"I know what it is!" yelled Anderson.
Josephus ran towards the rest.
"Captain!" Anderson yelled. "Above you!"
A tree, already slanted and the bottom burning started to fall slowly.
"Captain! Move!" yelled Lance in front, starting to run back.
Anderson ran to the confused man and shoved Captain Josephus forward, the tree missing them by inches.
"C'tain! Are you okay!" shouted Lance as he approached the pair.
"You okay?" asked Anderson to Josephus.
"Yeah. Thanks," said Josephus as he accepted Lance's help to pick himself up.
"I got him!" shouted Warrick.
Nick and Grissom together helped shift Greg, who had a broken leg and fractured ankle. He groaned every second but nonetheless glad that he was finally found.
"The copters' captain!" yelled Lance.
Everyone looked up, and saw 5 helicopters hovering, searchlights dancing, the bright lights adding to the glaring brightness of the fire.
"I thought only one was coming!" yelled Anderson.
"Those are birds from another station!" shouted Thomas.
"They are becoming smarter by the second!" answered Anderson as he released a pointer into the air.
"What about the other six?" asked Grissom.
"They will find them by air!" said Anderson. "It's too dangerous here. Trees are falling."
Three helicopters stationed themselves above the six and rope ladders were slowly let down. Together, they climbed up, Anderson, Thomas and Lance were last making sure everybody got on board safely.
The pilot saluted and Anderson returned it. They headed back to the yard and curses rained down on them but all ended with embraces and tears. Greg was shipped to the hospital and the rest received outpatient treatment on the field for minor burns.
"Okay, people, everyone on board!" yelled Anderson as the five helicopters touched ground. "Two each, tow each!"
"Captain!" Josephus managed to catch Anderson before he leapt on board again. "You are the most bravest person I have ever met, and I'm sorry for not realizing it earlier." He stepped two steps behind and saluted.
Anderson smiled, stepped on board, and as the helicopter rose in the air, saluted and answered, "So are you!"
__________***__________
***
"Two dead, four recovered," Grissom entered the hospital room holding the newspaper.
Greg snorted and then realized his mistake because he choked on the spoonful of soup both Catherine and Sara was trying to feed him since this morning.
"This is the last time I'm going camping," vowed Nick.
"Ditto," replied Grissom.
Warrick grunted as he sat on Greg's bed beside Nick.
"Apparently the fire was started by a cigarette butt, but no culprit's been caught," said Grissom still studying the paper. "And the person with the 'I' letter was a FBI. Okay, obviously. The other was from the Navy. Both men."
Greg squealed as Nick slapped his cast.
"And old Greg's still alive," Nick grinned.
"Yeah, I love you too," growled Greg.
Grissom smiled. "We all love you too."
END