THE RUN

By: Anna Greenway

Rating: T, mature themes

Category: GSR, Team Friendship

Summary: Grissom and the team partake in a charity hike in the Sierra Nevada mountain range. But halfway through, an accident occurs, and Sara is left missing and injured. Grissom has to find her and rescue her, but as night falls and the weather sets in, it appears that it is going to be a long wait for help …


At the foot of the hiking trail, Sara bent from the waist, tying her shoe. The sneakers she wore were brand-new, and were not actually hiking boots, but they were comfortable and had good grip. She stood, and as she did, caught a glimpse of Grissom standing behind her, with a raised eyebrow as he caught a perfect view of her behind.

Instantly, she couldn't resist. It was too tempting.

"Admiring the view?" she quipped.

She bit down on a grin, relishing the deer-in-the-headlights look on his face, and she watched as he quickly wrestled his professional self back from the brink.

"The mountains are beautiful," he said.

He turned to look at them, a look of pure joy and tranquillity on his features, and she turned to follow his gaze. She had never seen Grissom happier, and she had an inkling that despite some original misgivings about the distance of this hike, that she was going to enjoy herself. He stood with his hands gripping the shoulder straps of his backpack, a wide-brimmed hat already on his head, ready to go, to get back at one with nature.

She cast a brief eye over the mountains, the Sierra Nevadas towering above them, and had to admit that it was beautiful, as far as the great outdoors went. The colours were so vibrant; the pine forest green and lush, the water of the lake nearby crystal clear and pure. And the mountains themselves in the distance, covered in a sprinkle of year-around snow, looked so majestic that she was almost glad she had come, despite being bullied into it.

"They are nice," she offered.

"Nice?" he said, turning back to her, as though he disputed the word. "You're gonna love it."

There was such a look of joy on his face, a sparkle in his eye, that she found herself smiling again. Somehow, this hike had made Grissom look ten years younger, and there was a lightness to his mood that was far removed from anything she had enjoyed at the lab. There, he was a professional, the leader, and weighed down by long, late hours and the stress of everything they saw. Yet, here, he looked happy – so happy that he had not even commented yet about the exact distance of the hike they had signed up for, or for what would they would physically have to endure. Apparently, the joy of the view trumped that.

She then caught sight of Nick, Warrick and Catherine wandering over to join them, and made room in their small space at the edge of the chattering crowd.

"Ready to go?" Nick said, chirpy.

It figured to Sara that he was happy. The whole hike had been his idea. It had been several weeks ago that he had caught word that the detectives were putting in a team, representing the LVPD, and helping to raise money to eradicate poverty. The charity was hike was fifty miles long, admittedly over some of the most spectacular country in the continental US, but fifty miles all the same. The PD teams had not hesitated, but Sara had when Nick had tried to coerce them all into joining. She was fit, but not that fit. Yet when Grissom had surprisingly signed up without hesitation, she had felt herself wavering.

A week later and her name had been on the registration form, and she had been shopping for athletic wear, something she had rarely had cause to wear before. Now she stood at the start of the trail in her form-fitting pants and loose top, her hair in a ponytail and sunglasses on.

It soon became apparent that Catherine was grumpy.

"I still can't believe you talked me into this," she criticised.

She, too, was in her athletic wear, her hair in a ponytail, and although she looked the part her face was tight with disapproval.

"You know it's voluntary, right?" Warrick said, with a sidelong look.

"Next time I'll donate."

Sara bit back a smile. Catherine's thoughts mirrored her own, but apparently the men were not going to let it go.

"You're looking at this the wrong way," Nick offered, a happy smile still on his lips. "This is a once in a lifetime opportunity."

"To do what?" Catherine answered, sceptical. "To climb a mountain?"

"It's more than that," Grissom argued, calmly backing Nick up. "The scenery up there is beyond compare. Nature heals the soul."

"You make it sound like a spiritual experience."

"It is."

Catherine stared at him a moment later, faintly shaking her head, before Grissom wrapped things up.

"We should get to the start line," he said.

He wandered off, and Warrick followed him with his eyes as he went.

"We need to get him a girlfriend," he said.

"Know anyone?" Catherine quipped.

And at this point Sara kept her thoughts to herself, and discretely wandered off to the start line. She had always hoped to be that girl, the one that Grissom might fall in love with, but so far he had not made a move. But at least she would get to spend some time with him. That was something.

This hike had potential.

XXX