Things deteriorated – quickly.
As the sun set the world turned dark and brutally cold, and Grissom could no longer make out Sara's features in the gloom. He felt her sheltering against him, and held her close, but as the temperature dropped she began to shudder, and each blast of cold air that swept the mountain sent ripples of shivers throughout her body. The space blanket, which Grissom had hoped would work better, was now fairly useless, and he longed with despair to rewind the afternoon and chase after his colleagues. At least, then, they would have stood a better fighting chance.
He ran out of words to comfort her, and instead just held her against him, trying to maintain a confident demeanour. It was important that she did not read his thoughts on their chances, whether through his tone or mood, but she seemed to know the facts regardless.
"They'll be at the camp site by now," she ventured.
"They'll have noticed we're missing," he said. "It's just a matter of time now."
"I guess."
She was quiet for a moment, and he felt her breath against his neck. Even that felt a little cold. She gave another shiver.
"How's your head?" he asked.
"I'm managing."
"Is it painful?"
"It's not getting any better."
It was not the information he had hoped for, and a piece of his insides retracted, painfully.
"Just stay still," he said. "Try not to move."
"I got it," she replied. But there was a pause, and he once again heard her tone take on a note of hopeful desperation. "They can't be much longer, right?"
"I'm sure they're on their way."
He had no idea if it was true, but he did not know what else he was supposed to say. Suddenly, lying there the entire night seemed impossible – and dangerous.
XXX
High up on the trail, Catherine turned on the spot, puzzled. They had spent an hour trudging back over the rocky and steep terrain only to find no sign of either Grissom or Sara. Now, they had reached the early part of the trail where they had first left them, but still the trail was deserted. It was odd – and unnerving.
"Where the hell are they?" Warrick asked.
His arms were glistening with sweat now, his forehead shining from the exertion. But Catherine for once put his appealing physique far to the back of her mind. Next to her, Nick also turned on the spot, and as her stunned and confused silence stretched on, he ventured to answer for her.
"No idea, man. We should have passed them by now …"
"You think they stepped off the trail or something?" Warrick posed.
He took a step, and peered off into the trees, but it was hard to see anything now. The sun had lowered on the horizon, the trees now only a cluster of dark shadows, and Catherine knew they had taken a risky gamble in retracing their steps so far back in such bad light. There was no question about it now – they would be caught out here after dark. But even that was a minor concern, compared to the problem of where they even were. The possibilities hardened in her mind, and she didn't like any of them.
"Why would they do that?" she asked.
"I don't know," Nick answered, with a half shrug. "Maybe he had to pee or something?"
"Then where's Sara?"
They stared at her, dumbfounded.
"They must have left the trail," Warrick concluded.
He shone his flashlight among the trees, and then indicated a direction with his beam.
"There's down a stream down here. Let's go take a look."
"You think they got thirsty or something?" Nick asked.
"I don't know. But they left the trail for some reason."
Catherine stepped off the trail, following the two men, unable to help glancing back over her shoulder to fix the direction of the trail in her mind. It felt dangerous to leave it; too risky. They had been warned about that in their safety briefing. And it was getting so dark now.
The thought that Grissom might have wandered off somewhere – against all advice – did not altogether surprise her. He was never one to dwell on the rule book. But the fact that there would be no sign of them was strange. He wasn't stupid – and neither was Sara.
They reached the stream, and Catherine shone her light over the rocks and the gushing water, her CSI mind looking for any clues that someone had been there, but there was nothing. Then she saw footprints, trampled into the mud on the bank, and paused with her light there.
"Footprints," she said.
Nick edged closer, his own beam shining down at the ground, his CSI gaze making him appear almost like he was on the clock – even though he could have hardly looked less the part, dressed in a casual T-shirt and running shorts.
"There's blood on the rock," Warrick said.
In a split-second Catherine spun, switching her attention to the rock he indicated, and sure enough, saw blood dripping down it, though it had partially dried. It was a few hours old.
Her heart knotted. Instantly, she shouted to the heavens.
"GRISSOM!"
The shout echoed around the lonely mountain-top, then dwindled. There was no response.
"SARA..!" Nick echoed.
They turned on the spot, hopeful for any sign of company, for a light among the trees. But it was dark now. And silent.
"I don't suppose either of you remember what shoes they were wearing?" Warrick asked.
He shone his light on the footprints, but Catherine shook her head. She had not paid any attention to their shoes – she had no idea. She didn't even know if the prints were theirs.
"I don't know," she admitted.
She shouted again.
"GRISSOM!"
Silence.
"I've got a bad feeling about this," Nick said.
"Let's look around," Catherine said, and her resolve hardened. "They have to be here somewhere."
Sorry again for the delay. My motivation for CSI comes and goes, but I am determined to finish this one! Thanks to all those who are still reading, and especially to those who left reviews - I appreciate the support and encouragement! :)