Chapter 16

Davidson spun around attempting to location the voice he had just heard. The foliage was thick which was absorbing a lot of the sound. His ears were alerted again, this time it sounded closer.

"Is someone there? Please, we need help...." Following the voice he first saw the yellow of the back board, then Brice. His teeth were chattering, and he looked like death warmed over, literally. As he got closer he could see the splints on his left leg and arm, as well as the IV.

"So there you are! You had better come up with an excuse real quick, you know Gage he can be a jealous man! What were you thinking...stealing alone time with his woman?" Brice wasn't known for his sense of humor, however once and a great while it shone through that he indeed had one. Plus, he was hoping to get him talking and redirect his mind from the obvious pain.

"I could take him..." A small smile crept across his face, which unfortunately reminded him of how badly he hurt all over.

"Take it easy, buddy, the cavalry's here. He grabbed his HT, "Cap. This is Davidson, I've got Brice! I am going to need a couple of blankets and a stokes."

"You've got it!" Morgan was relieved to have one of his medics, now they had to find Wolfie and fast, he too had heard the report on her injuries. "Gage, DeSoto, who ever is closer to the squad, go help Brice."

It was Gage who was only a few hundred feet away from Brice. Although of course, his personal mission was to find A.J., he couldn't simply turn away from helping him either. He crushed through vines and brush until he reached Brice.

"Hey, let's take a look at you...." He took note of his shivering and altered mental status as he checked his vitals, which were surprising good considering the situation, they were stable. His broken bones had been stabilized; the IV was keeping him both hydrated and his blood pressure steady. The confusion was probably due more to the cold than anything else.

"Sorry Gage, we're just friends..." Johnny glanced at Davidson, who gave a look of I'll explain later.

"Relax; we can talk about it later. Do you know which direction A.J. went?"

"She's hurt too...I tried to stop her....I think she fell...." The darkness that was calling his name for the last almost two hours was now being persistent.

"FELL! What do you mean fell? As in when the squad crashed?" The terror in Johnny was escalating every second.

"Nooo, she was trying to get help....then some rocks gave way and she slide down towards the canyon."

"Captain 51, A.J. fell while trying to find a way to get help. She could be anywhere in relation to Squad 110." Kevin Davidson's heart also sank at hearing Brice mutter those words. "Dear GOD in heaven, how are we going to find her in the dark?"

Dix froze in her seat, at Rampart. Dr. Morton was on the chopper that had spotted the paramedics and Kel was on scene but what good would any of that do, if no one could find her? Then an idea came to here. "County, tell the rescuers to 'key open' their mics off and on, every minute or so. I'll relay to you if I can here the noise or not." The sound that would be emitted should be a loud, shrill, white noise.

So each of the teams on the ground did as she requested, while the chopper circled above. Each man was becoming more and more agitated, their sense of hope dwindling. How much longer could she last in the plummeting temperatures? What injuries were created or made worse by the biggest enemy to the rescuers....time?

"WAIT!! Tell them to stop, where they are! Look around carefully, the squelch noise sounds like its right next to me!" Had another prayer been answered?

Captain Stanley stopped dead in his tracks. His flashlight danced across yet another area seemingly identical to the last he had scanned over. Then he noticed for a brief moment something glimmered, a reflection! He moved closer, keeping his eyes peeled to that spot.....a watch!!! He dashed the rest of the way and was greeting by a horrific sight, Wolfie, completely still, as if she were....Was it too late?

He knelt beside his friend and made himself feel for a pulse. He almost began to cry when he felt a weak, rapid heart beat. Her breathing was so shallow; it appeared to be non existent. Her chest on the left side was crumpled like a soda can, the flesh grotesquely discolored by the deep bruising.

"County, this is Captain 51; the second victim has been located." Taking a second to catch his breath he continued, "Copter 8 this is Captain 51, can you see my location?" He took couple of flares out of his jacket and lit them.

"10-4 Captain 51; there is an area just south of your location; we'll take her down there." Sitting on board, if he could have Dr. Morton would have jumped mid air from the chopper, in order to get help to his friends.

Roy made it to her before Brackett could. Like the others his adrenaline was pumping on over time. He almost fell and slid the whole way there, the incline was so steep. When he got to Stanley's side, his eyes widen in disbelief. They were immediately drawn to her bloody blue shirt, and the distortion of her delicate torso. Stealing a glance at his Captain, he saw the fear in his eyes that echoed his own.

He went into full paramedic mode, emotions would have to wait. He began his evaluation of her condition and her vitals. Her breathing was labored to say the least; the left side of her chest was not rising with the right. She was unconscious, which for the moment was a blessing. The pain would be almost unbearable, and pain medications were not possible. As he began palpating the abdomen she came around, slightly. She was attempting to lift herself up, "Craig...need to help him....."

"Easy, easy, A.J.....can you hear me?" She wasn't responding to his voice, as if he wasn't there. Captain Stanley was trying in vain to hold her down, without causing further damage.

"Lie down, that's an order, you hear me?" Hank was hoping that would reach her. She stopped struggling for the moment.

"A.J., hang on, we're here now. Brice is being taken care of, you did a great job. He's hanging in there and that is what I need you to do for me, OK?"

"Roy?" The fog was beginning to lift, if only for the moment.

"Yeah, it's me. I know, I know, I am a poor second choice. Johnny's with Brice now." He was trying to get a reaction from her. "Brackett and Morton are here. How do you rate, their doing a house call just for the two of you?"

Her mind was crystal clear when she whispered, "Tell Johnny....tell him.....I'm sorry...." Stanley was watching her face as Roy continued to work on her. She drew in one last breath and then was completely still.

"Roy....she's not breathing!"

Placing his hand against her neck he felt nothing. Frantically searching for Brackett, he sees him coming from a distance and screams at the top of his lungs, "She's in full arrest!"