She turned to look and felt her heart skip a beat. There was a something lying in the snow, and when she looked at it more closely, she realized it was definitely a body.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
"FIN!" There was Olivia's panicked cry. Fin turned on his heels and started running towards her. When he saw Olivia, she was on her knees on the ground, and when he saw her expression, his stomach turned into a knot.
"Did you find him?" He panted.
"I…" Olivia sobbed. "I don't know. I… I found someone."
Fin glanced at the bundle in front of her. It was clearly a body. However, the body was faced down, so he couldn't tell who it was.
"Okay… We can't be sure it's Elliot. We have to turn him over."
"Can you do it? I can't…" Olivia's voice was begging. Fin nodded.
"Okay… Here we go…"
Olivia closed her eyes and pressed her head to her knees. Fin slowly turned his gaze to the body's face, and took a breath. Hearing this, Olivia began to sob inconsolably.
"Liv, Liv!" Fin shook Olivia's shoulders as she sobbed and trembled uncontrollably and heard nothing. "Liv, listen to me! It's not Elliot."
"What?" Olivia looked up at Fin. "I don't"
"It's okay, you can look at him. It's not Elliot."
Eventually Fin's words hit Olivia's consciousness, and she turned to look at the body lying on the ground. A sob of relief escaped her lips.
"See? It's the co-pilot."
Olivia took a breath and scrambled up to her feet. However, trying to take a step, she collapsed back to the ground. Fin knelt in front of her and gently grabbed her shoulders.
"How about you sit for a moment and take a deep breath and so the strength will return to your feet. I'll keep searching, okay?"
Olivia hesitated but then nodded. Fin smiled encouragingly at her and started to walk in the other direction. She took a deep breath, fighting against the voices inside her head. Then she stood up carefully and this time managed to get her legs moving. However, she was no longer sure if she wanted to find anything anymore. If Elliot was here, he was dead. But if they didn't find him… Yes, he was probably dead even then, but there was still a small spark of hope that he had survived the crash and found shelter. And it was a thought that Olivia wanted to hold on with all her might.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
After a few hours, Olivia and Fin returned to the cottage. They had eventually found the captain and the air hostess, but Elliot and Brown had spirited away. They had also collected the wires of the plane, and tied them to the trees on the way to the cottage so that those who might return to the scene of the crash could head in the right direction. Exhausted, they dragged in through the door, and the sweet warmth of the cottage greeted them.
"Good afternoon," there was Munch's voice. "Believe it or not, I found dry meat in the closet, so the dinner is ready."
They shook the snow from their shoulders and hung their jackets on the hanger to dry. Then Olivia walked over to Cassidy and sat down on the edge of the bed. He seemed to be sleeping.
"How's he? Olivia glanced at Munch, who frowned.
"Fever is still high," he said. "But he's been awake a couple of times and asked you."
Olivia turned her gaze back to Cassidy and sighed. At the same time, he groaned and slowly opened his eyes. When he saw Olivia, he smiled weakly and reached out to take her hand to his own.
"Hello there," Olivia forced herself to smile. "How are you feeling?"
"Like a crap," he snorted. "Did you find them?"
"No," Olivia sighed. "But maybe better so. If they had been there, they would very likely have been dead."
"Liv, do you still believe Elliot is alive?" Cassidy suddenly sounded frustrated. Munch and Fin fell silent, turned to look at them and the words stuck in Olivia's throat. "I mean, think about it. He and Brown were in the cockpit when we crashed, we haven't seen them in over a day, we're in the middle of the wilderness… It's a miracle that we are even alive."
"Brian…" There was Fin's warning voice.
"For real, Liv. Are you going to stay here for the rest of your life to look for him? When the spring finally arrives, there is nothing left of him but bones. You will not get peace if you do not accept that he is dead. You have to let go."
Silence fell in the cottage, only the fire was crackling in the fireplace. Fin and Munch glanced at each other and then looked at Olivia while holding their breath. She sat quietly, staring at Cassidy in complete disbelief. Then she opened her mouth:
"I… I don't…" She muttered.
"What?"
"I can't believe you!" Olivia snapped. Tears of rage sparkled in her eyes. "You're unbelievable!"
"Liv," Cassidy started with a low voice.
"No, don't "Liv" me!" Olivia's voice rose. "My partner is somewhere over there, and whether he's dead or alive, it's my duty to find him! He has kids, for God's sake!" She stood up and clenched her fists. Cassidy said nothing. "You're right I won't get peace until he's found. It doesn't help that I think he's dead, because if there's even the slightest chance he's alive, my Elliot…" Words slipped out of her mouth unnoticed.
"Your Elliot?" Cassidy frowned. At that time Olivia realized what she had said and bit her lip. Cassidy suddenly looked angry. "I think it's pretty odd that when your boyfriend is lying sick in bed, you leave as soon as the first opportunity comes to look for your Elliot. What if I would have died at the meantime?"
Olivia's hands trembled in anger and she slowly shook her head. "Elliot is out there somewhere, his chances of surviving are practically zero, and you're offended because I go looking for him instead of stroking your cheek while you're lying under a blanket in a warm cottage?" She paused and then blurted briefly: "I am speechless."
Cassidy was just opening his mouth in protest, but then the words stuck in his throat.
There was a knock on the door.
