Title: The City Between Us
Chapter 6 – Operation: Descent

That night Kelly awoke suddenly as Erin cried out which made Buddy whimper. "Erin?"

"Wha…hmm…?" She mumbled as she jerked awake and then looked at Kelly who shone his small flashlight into the air so that it bounced off the top of the plane and back down on them. "Kelly…what's going on?"

"You cried out…you okay? Your leg…or nightmare?"

"Combination of both," Erin huffed as she slumped her head back down on the back of the seats that Buddy was laying.

Kelly's fingers touched her forehead as her brow instantly furrowed. "Warm…but not feverishly. How do you feel? Sick?"

"You thinking it's the meat?"

"Wondering."

"No I feel fine. My stomach is okay. Yours?"

"Yeah I feel good too. I mean I don't want to throw up. What happened?"

"Nightmare," they both said at once as she settled back down.

"Didn't mean to wake you," she told him with a small yawn as they settled back into place.

"Think you woke up Buddy," Kelly smiled as he patted the beloved dog who looked up with a contented expression. "How's your leg?"

"I think it's okay," she gently huffed as she reached forward and gingerly touched it. "The swelling hasn't gotten worse so I'm guessing that's a good thing."

"It is right now because in a few hours you'll be putting some pressure on it," he told her in a serious tone as he pulled the blanket back over them. It didn't take long before they were both back asleep; pressed together until the sun would bathe them in golden hues early in the morning.

XXXXXXXX

This time it was Erin's time to awaken first. As she did she cast a sleepy glance at the man on her left and couldn't help but smile warmly at him. He risked his life for me…nearly died…and then went to face a wild animal…as much as she told herself not to compare Kelly to Jake should couldn't help but do it and for some reason he just fell short of the brave Firefighter. But when you get down the mountain…he goes back to his life and you go back to yours…separate ways…but what if I don't want to go sep…

"Morning," Kelly greeted as Erin looked up in haste; her thoughts instantly broken. But she didn't mind. As soon as he smiled, she felt her core warm and despite their bleak situation, she felt somewhat settled. "Feeling better?"

"Actually…yes. Which seems kind of odd in this…situation," she replied with a small stretch as Buddy started to gently thrash, wanting to get up.

"Think someone needs to get up and stretch his legs a bit," Erin smiled as she took Kelly's hand as he helped her up and they both helped Buddy off the chairs and then looked down at the dog as he looked up, barked and then turned and trotted toward the entrance and then outside.

"Think he's okay?" Erin asked as Kelly peered out the window and watched as the dog sniffed around the cold cooking area, lifted his leg and relieved himself.

"Yup…he's fine," he chuckled as he looked back at her with a warm smile. "How's the leg?"

"Throbs…but I'm not staying behind…we're all walking out of here this morning."

"Okay…if you need to…you know go then I'll wait in here and gather up what I can find and then we'll head out."

"Good thing I left my dignity in Chicago," Erin slightly groaned as her lips pursed. "I'll uh…be right back."

Kelly watched her turn and head toward the front of the plane and as much as he wanted to ask if she needed help, he knew she needed her privacy and told himself that Buddy's senses were a lot better than his so she'd be fine out of sight for as long as she needed. With that he set about trying to salvage anything else they could use but paused as he looked at the cockpit and felt his heart sink into the bottom of his chest. He knew the old man meant well and never intended them harm or this outcome and wished that he could go back and rethink their decision so they all ended up alive. But at the same time he reminded himself that Sam was going to fly out anyways and then it would just be buddy all alone up here.

"Hey…"

Kelly's somber gaze finally pulled away from the empty space and then looked at Erin with a tight lipped smile. "Ready?"

"Yeah…you?"

"As I'll ever be. Gathered up as much useable stuff as possible. Now it's just…what we can find."

"Anymore flares?"

"No just the two," he told her in truth as her frown deepened. "We'll be fine. Alright…time to leave this place."

"Can't believe it's been three days."

"Can't either," he agreed as Buddy bounded back to their side. "So glad he seems to be okay."

"Me too. Silly mutt can't leave us now," Erin smiled as Kelly fixed the backpack on his back and then extended his arm for her to take. She tightened her grip around it and then looked at him with a nod. "Let's get off this damn mountain."

XXXXXXXX

"Sleep at all?" Olivia Benson asked Hank Voight as she neared him with a steaming cup of coffee, very early that same morning.

"Not much. You don't have to be here," he told her with a small frown as she offered him a tender smile.

"If it was one of my team…I'd be telling you that and you'd give me the same look I'm giving you now," she replied firmly as he turned and looked at her and nodded. "The pilot…Sam Wallace, usually kept to the same path. They're starting the search again this morning this time same path but to the left…using the wind data from NASA."

"Erin's a survivor," he stated simply.

"And Kelly Severide? What do you know about him?"

"I know his old man. We go back. Good at his job…I'm sure his boy's the same. He'll keep her safe."

"From what you've told me…they'll find a way to survive until help arrives and I think that would mean trying to get back to civilization in any way possible," she told him in truth.

"Agreed," Hank replied with a heavy sigh as he took another sip of his coffee and kept his gaze fixed on the map of the large mountain range on the wall before him. A few seconds later he felt a hand on his forearm and looked at Olivia's inquiring smile.

"Erin sounds like more than just a subordinate."

"She's…special to me," he confided in truth.

"Tell me why," she entreated as his brows gently raised. "We have time right now and it'll keep your mind off waiting."

XXXXXXXX

"How's your leg?" Kelly asked after they had slowly walked away from the plane; an hour having passed slowly by.

"It's…throbbing but I'm okay…gotta keep going."

"We can take a few minutes to rest up a bit…it's been a few horus of straight walking," Kelly told her in concern as he spied a large rock and then gently steered their way toward it. Buddy ran ahead to sniff out the area and before they arrived, he lifted his leg and marked his territory.

"Thanks," Kelly deadpanned as Erin laughed and Buddy barked and wagged his tail. "Well glad he's feeling better."

"Next rock is mine," Erin declared as she ruffled Buddy's head. "But I'm not going to mark it."

"Well if you need to Buddy and I will turn the other direction," Kelly teased as her face slightly warmed from embarrassment. She paused and turned to look back in the direction of the plane which was just a speck now and then looked at Kelly with a heavy frown.

"Suddenly I'm wondering if we made the right decision," she remarked as they slowly made their way toward another rock and then Kelly helped her sit down to rest her leg a few minutes.

"Well we used what we could salvage to make the arrow but if they aren't looking in this direction…Erin…"

"I know, we couldn't have stayed there any longer," she reluctantly agreed as Buddy sat down beside her. "How is he?"

"Doesn't feel warmer than normal and was told that as long as a dog's nose stays cold, he's doing okay," Kelly smiled as he gave the affectionate lab some loving.

"Think we'll find anyone all the way out here?"

"Doubt it. I just hope we can find a logging road that'll either take us to the highway or their camp. Even if the camp isn't in use they usually have a radio or phone or something we can use to call for help. Or drive ourselves out."

"Hope you're right," Erin huffed as she raised her hand that he took and helped her to her feet. She allowed his strong arms to hold her close a few seconds so she could steady herself on her injured leg and looked up at him with an appreciative smile. "Could really go for one of those scooters right now."

"How about a working phone?" He asked with a smile as he gently pushed a stray strand off her forehead and let his fingers linger on her cool cheek for a few seconds. "We should…keep going."

"Okay," she agreed in a soft tone as she held her place a few seconds longer; not wanting to move from her location in his arms. When she looked into the warm sapphire pools before her, she felt the world around her start to slow and the anxiety that coursed through her veins, slow to an almost imperceptible flow. Somehow being her with him just felt right – just the two of them without a care in the world.

But a cool breeze and a bark from Buddy snapped her back to reality and she offered him a somewhat embarrassed smile and then slightly pulled back.

"We should…keep going."

His lips drew into a thinner line but his look of warmth lingered and that settled her heart and the nervousness she felt inside that impelled her to pull away in a bit prematurely.

"Okay…this seems like a good path to keep on…let's continue."

She took his arm once more and with Buddy at their side, the two of them pulled away from the rock and slowly continued on their path down the mountain.

"Wonder if they figured out which way Sam decided to fly?"

"Hopefully someone there would know his habits…he sounded like he was a creature of habit so maybe someone got to know his routes and would show our teams which way to look. They'd still have to factor in the winds and stuff because when we were up there…doubt we held the same course we were originally on."

"Hope that doesn't delay any efforts…on their part," Erin chatted back as they continued to descend.

Kelly heard the gasp and quickly stopped and looked at her in concern.

"I'm okay…"

"Okay hold up a sec…Buddy!" Kelly shouted as the dog bounded back to them and he pulled out the small pair of binoculars that he had found in the plane.

"Anything?"

"Yeah I think I see…a small glint…"

"What? Really?"

"Yeah…take a look…" Kelly told her as he handed her the binoculars and once up to her face he placed his hand on hers and then directed her to look in the direction he thought he saw something that gave him hope. "See anything?"

"Yes!" Erin exclaimed as she tried to see exactly what it was. "But I can't see much else. Think it could be one of those logging stations you mentioned?"

"Maybe…or it could be just a rusted out truck mirror or something."

"But at least it's something…" she mused as she handed him back the binoculars. "Seems so far away."

"Well if there is one sign of civilization there could be more. We just gotta find a safe way down," Kelly cautioned as he helped her down a small ledge and they continued on their way.

"So you were saying about fixing up the cabin?"

"Yeah. Dad always talks about getting up there but something usually comes up and it just sits there. Katie and I talked about it but then she got this new job offer and I can't blame her for wanting to take it. Wish it was closer but it's her call."

"There were no other openings in Chicago?" Erin inquired innocently.

"Ah…it's complicated. There's some personal history there for her and it wasn't all good," he answered with a tightly drawn smiled as Erin nodded.

"Got it."

"No it's just that…"

"Kelly you said it was personal and not all good…I don't think she'd want you sharing her life story with a stranger."

"Well…you're not that strange," he gently teased as he fist balled and playfully hit him on the shoulder. "But that's okay…I'll do. Surviving something like this…puts life into perspective you know."

"Sure does," Erin agreed as she felt the snow beneath her soften and she started to slip. But once again, Kelly's strong arms reached out and quickly held on as she looked up and gently laughed. "This is starting to become a habit."

"Don't tell anyone."

"Scout's honor," she held up the sign as he just grinned in response. "I mean if it had been in the reverse…" she started with a small smirk. But that was all she managed before the ground started to soften beneath him and he found himself slipping. "KELLY!" Erin shouted as Buddy started to bark.

She grabbed his hand and yanked back with all her might as his feet scrambled to get a better foothold. There wasn't much for him to grab onto and with her broken leg she knew if he didn't get a better grip they'd both go over. Buddy rushed into the fray and grabbed the edge of Kelly's jacket and also started to pull back.

"COME ON!" Erin shouted once more as she fell backward but thankfully Kelly came with her; Buddy at their side, barking anxiously. "Thank…God…" she whispered in gratitude as he looked down with a relieved expression.

"You…were saying," he stated a bit breathlessly as he looked down at her a few seconds longer; their bodies pressed together and melting the snow beneath them.

"I saved you…" Erin stated as his lips lingered a few inches above hers. "You can't…leave us."

"Not planning on it," he whispered warmly.

Her heart started to race at the thought of them being pressed together with the handsome man above her but her mind reminded her that her leg was broken, they nearly died – again and it wasn't the time or place to get intimate.

"I owe you one," Kelly told her warmly as he planted a soft kiss on the top of her nose and then rolled off and rested beside her a few moments before he sat up and then looked forward. "The shelf just gave way…coulda went over the slippery edge."

"That was too close."

"You okay?"

"Aside from the shot of adrenaline which is making my leg throb a bit," she confessed as she leaned forward and gently touched it.

"The cold will keep the blood from flowing too much so that's a good thing. But we should get going. Will be dark soon and we need some place to find shelter."

He helped her up and the two of them continued on their way for about another hour until they could hear water below them.

"Wonder where it goes?"

"We'll find out but…" Kelly paused as he spied something a head that made him stop.

"What's…going on?" Erin countered as she followed his gaze and let her gaze rest on a darker patch of rock ahead. "Is that…"

"Yeah looks like a cave opening."

"But…what if there is a bear or another cat in it? Our noise might have scared them away but…what if they come back? My gun was busted in the crash and we used up the two flares."

"I have a small knife but…okay wait here. Buddy and I will check it out."

"I'm coming too," she told him firmly as he shrugged in agreement.

"I've learned not to argue with you," he smirked in return as the three of them neared the mouth of the cave. Kelly gingerly stepped inside and pulled his small flashlight. It was a shallow cave and didn't smell nor held any signs that any large predator lived there.

"Think we should be okay in here. And…it's dry. We'll make a fire by the opening and that'll keep it smoke free and anything from coming in."

"Am definitely not going to argue with the fire king," she retorted as he grinned. The three of them headed inside and Erin started to gather whatever little bits of moss and wood she could find while Kelly started to arrange a small pit for the fire and then stepped outside one last time as the darkness started to envelop their area.

About ten minutes later both were seated on one of the blankets they brought with them, pressed close together while they ate some of the cougar meat and some trail mix and Buddy lay beside them gnawing on one of the bones Kelly had brought for him.

"Think we'll find people down there?" Erin asked as her head rested on his shoulder.

"I hope so…your leg needs medical attention."

"Yeah…and we could use some real food."

"Yeah this plane crash diet isn't working for me," Kelly chuckled as she couldn't help but offer him a laugh.

"Me either," she replied softly as her eyes finally closed. He glanced over at her and then squeezed his eyes shut as he recalled the few seconds he spent looking down at her beautiful face and how his heart skipped several beats in just those few seconds. It had been so long since he felt that actual spark…that instant connection…that carnal attraction. But he also reminded himself that she hesitated and once they were back in civilization they would be going their separate ways.

As much as he was hopeful they'd find help very soon, he couldn't help but wonder what life would be like when they finally had to part ways. But as his mind reminded him they first had to get down the rest of the mountain safely; without further physical incident. Would that happen?

A/N: Well…out of at least one danger but as you know I love my danger so…there's a few more out there before we get our couple rescued hehe but that must means these little dangerous moments will def draw them closer together! So…think they'll make it down to the bottom without further incident? Please do review with your thoughts before you go and thanks so much!