Chapter Nine: Not Quite Ready
Greg didn't move when he came to stop, only lay there, blinking as he drew in a deep breath. Flat on his stomach, he curled the fingers of his good hand in the snow as he waited for the world to stop spinning around him. Truth be told he was more stunned than hurt.
Finally, shaking his head as if to clear out the ringing in his ears, he pushed himself to his feet, moving over to Sara carefully. He was relieved to find a pulse, as he rested his fingers against her neck; he could also see her short breaths, the moisture disappearing into the snow, melting it just a tiny bit.
Spinning on his heal, Greg ran over to where his backpack lay, now white from the fall. He had lost it on the way down, and was glad that it hadn't snagged on a tree. Pulling out the walkie talkie he had packed earlier, he switched it on carefully, moving back over to Sara.
"Can anyone hear me?" Greg asked, once switching it to the main channel. He had no idea where the signal went, but only hoped someone was there. "I need medical attention roughly three miles west on Dubles Trail, is someone there, please answer me."
He gritted his teeth when the only response he received was static. Sara was still unconscious, and Greg was afraid to move her, unsure of what damage she had taken in the fall. He could see she had taken a few blows to the face, small scratches around her mouth and upper cheekbones were beginning to bleed, but they didn't look deep.
"This is Gregory Sanders, I'm three miles west on Dubles Trail, we have had an accident, and are requesting medical aid immediately, is anyone there?"
Still nothing, Greg was beginning to get irritated. They had brought them along because Detective Stiles had issued them, told them it was the only way to reach the main cabin from the trails. And now, when they needed it the most, no one was around to answer their call.
A soft groan brought Greg's attention back to Sara, as she let out a pained sigh, her eyes opening just a little. Greg had a hand on her shoulder, watching her closely. "Take it easy," he told her gently, "I'm calling for help, or at least I'm trying."
Sara's eyes snapped open, as she sat up quickly, despite Greg's efforts to keep her lying down. He was able to keep her sitting, at the very least. "I'm fine," she muttered, rubbing her face, "I'm okay, really," she continued to stammer.
"Just take it easy, you had quite a fall," he grimaced, seeing the cut on her forehead that had begun to bleed. Reaching over with the thumb of his good hand, he flicked away the snow that clung to the open wound. Sara winced, reaching up with her own hand to cover it, as if feeling the cut for the first time.
"Is anyone there?" Greg called back into the walkie talkie, desperate for someone to answer. He was relieved when he received one.
"This is Detective Stiles, who is speaking?"
"Greg Sanders, I need some medical aid, three miles in on Dubles Trail, my partner's taken a fall and she needs to be looked over."
"I'll send some aid out now, we'll be there when we get there, just hold on."
Greg thanked the detective, crouching down next to Sara. He hadn't a high favor for the detective, but he was grateful that help was on the way. "It shouldn't be too long," he convinced her, "They know these trails really well, and they can also use snowmobiles to get her in over half the time it took us."
Sara didn't respond, she was staring at something, Greg thought perhaps she was in a trance. After calling her name again, and still receiving no response, Greg followed her gaze over to what looked like a pile of leaves. Greg frowned, turning back to Sara.
"Those are leaves right?" Sara asked him softly. Greg wanted to agree, but he knew the same thing she did. It was in the dead of winter, leaves didn't grow in the dead of winter, and if there were any leaves, they would be under the three feet of snow, not on the top of it.
"I'm going to check it out," Greg told her before standing up, "Stay here."
He walked slowly, taking his time as he made his way over there. His nose wrinkled as the smell hit him, a smell he knew by heart, one that no one could pass by without knowing. The smell of death.
Greg coughed, covering his mouth and nose with one hand as he came closer, the smell getting stronger. He grimaced as he came to a stop, looking down on the form of a young man, who couldn't have been any older than he was, if he were still alive that was.
He glanced up as Sara came next to him, surprise lining his features. "Sara? I told you to stay there, you shouldn't be up," he chided her, turning her away.
Sara wasn't paying any attention to him, only staring at the body, her face pale. Her mouth was slightly ajar, as she breathed in heavily. Greg watched, concerned as she didn't move, then suddenly turned away quickly. Sara had only taken a few steps before hunching over, her stomach heaving.
"Sara?" Greg called after her, concern filling him even more now. The only thing he was able to do was hold her hair back as she continued to heave, her heavy breathing evident. After a final heave, she hastily wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, straightening up. He could see tears in her eyes as she shook slightly in his hold.
After making certain that her stomach wouldn't act up again, Greg walked her away from the body, sitting her down on a log. He reached for the walkie talkie again, pressing the button once more.
"This is Greg Sanders still requesting medical help, we also have a 419, does anyone hear me?"
"This is Detective Stiles," the walkie talkie came to life almost immediately, causing Greg to roll his eyes. Couldn't get help for the living, but no one was willing to pass up a DB.
"Are you stating that you have a crime scene?"
Greg nodded, even though the only who could see him was Sara, and she seemed as though she wasn't paying any attention.
"Yes sir, a DB about fifty feet away from us."
"Don't touch anything," Stiles' demanded, causing Greg to roll his eyes. "Help will be there soon."
Greg put the walkie talkie down, turning back to Sara. Letting out a sigh, Greg reached up, wiping the edge of her lip. She looked at him for the first time, the tears still evident in her eyes.
"You okay?" Greg asked softly, watching her.
Sara started to nod, only to stop and end it with a violent shake. "I…haven't gotten sick like that, in years," she told him softly, rubbing her eyes as she shed a few tears.
Greg smiled at her, taking her hand in his, hoping to lighten the mood, "Well, you did just take a one way trip down memory lane, or should I say hill? Maybe cliff would fit better. Besides that, I told you that you needed to stay sitting down."
She pushed his hand away, looking back into his eyes. "You and I both know that's not the reason why," she turned away, "I told Grissom that I was ready. I really thought I was."
Greg moved her hair back from her face, rubbing his hand against her cheek, among all the scratches. "Hey now, you took quite a hit to the head," he told her, placing his hand against the cut. Once again, she turned away, pulling from his touch.
Greg let out a sigh, wanting to comfort her, but unsure how. "Listen, you just need more time, we both do."
"Right, I didn't see you puking your guts out," Sara told him.
Greg fidgeted, looking down at the snow, "I really didn't get a good look," he responded.
She laughed coldly, her eyes searching the area around them, unwilling to focus on him. "You are such a horrible liar Greg," she commented.
Greg laughed to himself, closing his eyes. "Yeah, I know," he told her, earning a small chuckle. It was start. "Just give it time Sara, that's all you need."
"How much time Greg," she asked, "how long do I have to spend working like this? Doing these type of things, I want things to be how they were before. I mean, we survived, we should be stronger now, but I feel, weak, it's so unfair, it's like I've taken a step backwards. I don't know what to do. I can't live like this Greg," she pleaded.
Greg bit his lip, looking down, then back up again. "I don't know what to say Sara, or what you want me too say. Maybe we need to go back into therapy, maybe we need more counseling, maybe you need to talk to someone else besides me. Perhaps we need to open up to our other friends, they can help us, you know."
Sara shook her head, "I can barely talk about it with you Greg, you can't expect me to tell everyone else. I rather them not know, they pity us enough already."
"No one pities us Sara," he started, but she cut in.
"Yes they do, that's why we are here, that's why we've been doing nothing but lab work since, they feel sorry for us, they think we're made of glass. Maybe you like being treated that way, but I don't!"
"Hey," Greg said softly, not willing to get into an argument with her. "They care about us, they just want to make sure we are okay. They don't realize what they are doing, all we have to do is tell them that. Maybe talking to the others will help get this thing behind us. What's the worse that can happen?"
Sara shook her head, "No, no talking, to anyone, I'm sick of therapy, I'm sick of everything…I just want things to be normal. But with each passing day, I feel less and less like normal. I've become a different person."
She let out a sigh, dropping her head against her chest. Greg was saved from answering as several motors hummed, splitting through the air. Greg smiled at her, even though he felt sick inside. He didn't like the way Sara was talking. "I told you they would be long," he said, standing to wave them down.
It took them only a few minutes to find a path down, the group consisted of Detective Stiles himself, along with the doctor that had helped Greg a few days ago. Larry pulled him to the side after he had caught the doctor up on what happened.
"Portland CSI has been notified, they're flying in to take the case, they'll want both of your statements."
Greg nodded, watching Sara as the doctor looked her over, talking to her quietly. "How long?"
"Not much longer here, you two okay?"
Greg nodded, "Yeah, I think everything will be fine."
Larry nodded, as the doctor finished, coming back to Greg. "Mild concussion, scratches and bruising, but nothing to really worry about. Plenty of rest, and easy go for the next few days."
"Thanks," Greg told the doctor, relived. The older man smiled.
"How is your hand?"
Greg shrugged, "Hurts, but that's a given."
He nodded, saying his goodbyes as he left the area, they had come in on separate snowmobiles. Larry had walked back to his, handing Greg a blanket, in which he draped over Sara's shoulder. Sitting behind her, he let Sara lean against him, rubbing her arms gently until the CSI did arrive.
It was near an hour later that one of them finally made their way over to them. The older man, short yet skinny was already going bald. He shook both their hands, crouching down to their level so Sara wouldn't have to stand.
"I'm CSI Tom Parry, I'm just going to ask a few questions here, and then you can be on your way."
Greg nodded, still holding Sara as the man continued. "When did you find the body?"
"Just over an hour ago," Greg told him quietly. "Sara fell down the hill, and I followed, of course. The body wasn't too far away from where we ended up."
Tom nodded, scribbling on a piece of notepad paper. "Did you touch anything, move the body?"
"We are certified CSI agents," Greg told him, "We know better than to touch a scene before it's been cleared."
Tom nodded, sympathizing with him, "I know, but it is protocol, just doing my job."
"I know," Greg said fighting off a sigh.
"Did one of you get sick?"
Greg nodded, "Yeah, Sara got up too quickly after hitting her head, and her stomach disagreed."
Tom continued to scribble on the note pad; the questioning went on like this for some time, Greg answering them all. Sara didn't speak once, her head against Greg's chest as she fought of the sensation of sleep. Finally Tom stood, nodding his thanks.
"If we need anything further, we can find you back in town, correct?"
Greg nodded, "For the next two weeks yeah, after that we return to Las Vegas."
Tom smiled, "Thanks, you're free to go now."
Larry met with them as soon as Tom had left. "I have room for one person," he said, "if you don't want to walk back, I'll send another snowmobile out for you, but we can at least get her back, so she can rest."
Greg nodded, helping her stand up. "Yeah, I'll just walk, it'll go faster."
Larry agreed as he mounted the snowmobile, waiting for Sara to get on behind him. Greg helped her on, ignoring her mutterings that she could walk back just fine. "I'll meet you back at the cabin," Greg told her, smiling as Larry took off slowly.
Greg watched until they had disappeared from sight before moving. He felt very much alone now, as he collected both his backpack, and Sara's that had been forgotten in all the rush. He was about to head on his way out when Tom called to him.
"We're packing up now if you want some company," he told him. Greg welcomed it, knowing that it would be safer as well. For the first time in a long while, Greg wanted nothing more than to see Sara, a sickening feeling rising in his stomach as everything began to sink in.
TBC
Mellaithwen- Long chapter yeah, I'm trying to get into long chapters, this story is going to be on the longer side already, not sure how long, but it's looking around the twenty chapter range. But things change, so who knows, I mean, On the Edge was only supposed to be five chapters…oops:P
Yes, both teachers, as well as the fall down the hillside, personal experience. Trust me, watching a friend fall down a hill like that isn't very much fun. Telling their parents what happened was even worse. Had one teacher that loved giving notes nearly every day, and another teacher I had to put up with every day for a year that felt the need to explain every little detail about everything. And yes, cooking a bag of popcorn in the microwave was our first assignment, and she did take twenty minutes explaining how to do so as well.
Work hasn't been so nice lately, and the next few weeks are even worse. The next few weeks consist of me running the lab while my boss is a few thousand miles away attending meetings, two business dinners, which will be my first ever, and several ppl coming to watch how we work in the lab. And I do actually work longer than I get paid for as well, most of my time this weekend has been spent on paperwork, no pay included, worked from 11 to 8 today, and it looks like it'll be that way tomorrow. So not too much writing for me, unless it's late at night as it is now, err…morning I should say…:D
Ms. Elizabeth Granger- Sledding is so much fun! Would you believe that I have lived only two hours away from the mountains my entire life, and went sledding for my first time just last year? Way too much fun, I nearly even killed myself one time, nearly crashed into a tree…hehe. You are very nice to leave Sara and Greg hanging like that as well, but then again, I'm no better.
LuvinNickyStokes- So many thoughts, so little time ey? I probably should get them some signs to hang around their necks, 'bad luck follows us' or something along those lines, that is, when I write about them.
SLynn- I'm not evil, or malevolent for that matter. Demonic? Maybe just a little, I'll give you that one. Hum, and angst competition, that would be really interesting to see, though I doubt Greg and Sara would enjoy it very much…where did they go by the way? glances over shoulder
And of course, thanks to all my wonderful reviewers, you are the ones who keep the story a posting! Read and enjoy, and as always, review!