***1. I don't own these characters, this show, or CBS (obviously, or
Season 3 would have been very different). 2. I'm not making any cash at
all out of this. 3. Word to all the UtB people (especially
freak_of_nature who was SOOOO nice to beta this for me weeks ago!! Thanks
so much!!) Also, any references to other persons/or places in Nevada are
completely contrived and have no basis in reality!***
Chapter 5:
"I'm expecting the roadrunner and coyote to show up around the next bend," David quipped quietly, shifting the empty body bag on his shoulder.
Sara laughed and Grissom paused to look around. Indeed it was a remarkable place. Thousands of years of wind and sand had carved eerie knobs and swirls in the rocks around them. The feet of the mountains were like jagged teeth, jutting from a red skull. Stiff bursts of wind made the sand hiss through the crevices, but it brought them no relief to the heat. Neither did the sip of lukewarm water that Grissom swallowed.
He turned around to face Sara and felt his temperature rise several degrees. As he passed her the bottle, he tried not to watch her breathe, her chest glistening with each inhalation. Her right arm reached over her head for a stretch, revealing an inch of smooth skin at her waistline. Grissom reminded himself to breathe. When she licked her lips and brought the water to them, he twisted his head to the ranger, desperate for a reprieve.
"How far now, Thomas?" he asked, but his eyes wandered back to Sara. Her eyes were dark and her cheeks were flushed. He needed to think of something else.
"We're just a little past half way," Thomas said and Grissom nodded. Mr. Rhonesby was the only one of the group who had not broken a sweat. He adjusted his hat again and waited patiently for the group to catch their breath.
Sara handed the water back to Grissom with a grateful smile. He shoved it in the deep pocket of his pants and turned back to the path. His neck was growing stiffer with every breath she took. His body was pissing him off. He had sought out every woman that attracted him in the last three years. He had indulged in deliberate flirtation, with attractive professionals; even one wanton seductresses, but with Sara, a simple drink of water could make the hairs on his neck stand on end.
He turned to David who was damp but smiling, pulling heavy drinks from his own bottle of water.
"Are you going to be able to get this body back down?" Grissom asked, realizing a young man would soon fill the translucent plastic.
"That's why I brought Gary," David said. Gary moved forward and waved with a tentative grin. His arm was roughly the size of Sara's waist. He could probably carry David and the body and a small car down, if necessary. Grissom raised his eyebrows and nodded, noticing that Sara took little notice of Gary's features. Perhaps after Hank's stunts, she was leery of the muscle-bound type.
Sure, she now prefers them middle aged with a spare tire.
"Right," he said more to his self than the others, "Let's get moving."
"This is Red Rock Canyon," Thomas said as they passed between two immense russet behemoths. "We're close now."
The cliffs thrust up left and right like twin blades guarding a sacred path. The group marched in single file, silent under the watchful glare of the immeasurable walls. Thomas took a moment to adjust his boot and the group scooted to a stop at Grissom's heels. Somewhere in the canyon, an eagle cried; its voice echoing again and again off the jagged rock.
"Wow," Sara whispered, and he could feel a trace of her breath cooling the back of his neck. His eyes went wide and he waved his hand at the ranger, encouraging him to move on quickly.
This is lunacy.
Chapter 5:
"I'm expecting the roadrunner and coyote to show up around the next bend," David quipped quietly, shifting the empty body bag on his shoulder.
Sara laughed and Grissom paused to look around. Indeed it was a remarkable place. Thousands of years of wind and sand had carved eerie knobs and swirls in the rocks around them. The feet of the mountains were like jagged teeth, jutting from a red skull. Stiff bursts of wind made the sand hiss through the crevices, but it brought them no relief to the heat. Neither did the sip of lukewarm water that Grissom swallowed.
He turned around to face Sara and felt his temperature rise several degrees. As he passed her the bottle, he tried not to watch her breathe, her chest glistening with each inhalation. Her right arm reached over her head for a stretch, revealing an inch of smooth skin at her waistline. Grissom reminded himself to breathe. When she licked her lips and brought the water to them, he twisted his head to the ranger, desperate for a reprieve.
"How far now, Thomas?" he asked, but his eyes wandered back to Sara. Her eyes were dark and her cheeks were flushed. He needed to think of something else.
"We're just a little past half way," Thomas said and Grissom nodded. Mr. Rhonesby was the only one of the group who had not broken a sweat. He adjusted his hat again and waited patiently for the group to catch their breath.
Sara handed the water back to Grissom with a grateful smile. He shoved it in the deep pocket of his pants and turned back to the path. His neck was growing stiffer with every breath she took. His body was pissing him off. He had sought out every woman that attracted him in the last three years. He had indulged in deliberate flirtation, with attractive professionals; even one wanton seductresses, but with Sara, a simple drink of water could make the hairs on his neck stand on end.
He turned to David who was damp but smiling, pulling heavy drinks from his own bottle of water.
"Are you going to be able to get this body back down?" Grissom asked, realizing a young man would soon fill the translucent plastic.
"That's why I brought Gary," David said. Gary moved forward and waved with a tentative grin. His arm was roughly the size of Sara's waist. He could probably carry David and the body and a small car down, if necessary. Grissom raised his eyebrows and nodded, noticing that Sara took little notice of Gary's features. Perhaps after Hank's stunts, she was leery of the muscle-bound type.
Sure, she now prefers them middle aged with a spare tire.
"Right," he said more to his self than the others, "Let's get moving."
"This is Red Rock Canyon," Thomas said as they passed between two immense russet behemoths. "We're close now."
The cliffs thrust up left and right like twin blades guarding a sacred path. The group marched in single file, silent under the watchful glare of the immeasurable walls. Thomas took a moment to adjust his boot and the group scooted to a stop at Grissom's heels. Somewhere in the canyon, an eagle cried; its voice echoing again and again off the jagged rock.
"Wow," Sara whispered, and he could feel a trace of her breath cooling the back of his neck. His eyes went wide and he waved his hand at the ranger, encouraging him to move on quickly.
This is lunacy.