MOJAVE DESERT : PRESENT

Nick and four search and rescue members slowed their ATVs, the five staring at the mine entrance. One of the SAR climbed off his ATV, starting toward it.

"You sure we want to look here?" Nick asked.

The man turned to him. "If you were wondering in the desert and saw this nice, cool, inviting hole, wouldn't you think was a good place to stop?"

Actually, Nick wouldn't have even considered going into a place that took him underground. He and the other SAR climbed off their ATVs and walked up to the entrance of the cave. They pulled flashlights off their belts, switching them on as they walked in. Nick swallowed back his fear, reminding himself he was with other people and there was no one lurking in the darkness waiting to grab him.

They came to a tunnel branching off and he stopped, shining his light down it.

"We should check down here," Nick said.

"Go ahead. This mine has a lot of tunnels we need to check."

Nick looked up, watching them go deeper. He didn't want to go into the tunnel alone but they weren't stopping. Nick inhaled a deep breath and started down the tunnel. Intense silence closed in around him and the light of day faded fast. He stopped when his light flashed across a piece of cloth. It made him forget his fear and walk toward it. He crouched next to Ryan Wolfe, laying his fingers against the CSI's neck. Ryan's left eye was swollen shut. Something had bitten his left cheek puffed up. His right forearm was swollen tight, red and hot to the touch. Nick pressed his fingers hard against Ryan's jugular to feel the CSI's faint heart and irregular heat beat.

"Ryan?" Nick said.

Ryan didn't answer. Nick ran to the main tunnel.

"I found him! Someone call for the helicopter." He waited until a SAR appeared in the main tunnel. "Tell them to hurry. He's in real bad shape."

The man nodded as he ran past. Nick went back into the tunnel, crouching next to Ryan.

"Ryan, if you can hear me, we're going to get you to the hospital. I need you to hold on, okay?"

Softly he whispered, "Okay."

Nick laid his hand on Ryan's arm. "You've got some worried CSI back in Las Vegas, so don't you give up. Stay with me."

"Horatio?" Ryan whispered.

"Yeah. He's waiting for you. You hold on for him, okay?"

Ryan whispered something else before slipping back into his nightmares.