***
Thank you Jessi84 for your input. I cannot express how happy I was to receive such a notification.
Oh, and I'm thinking about changing my update schedule to every Wednesday and Saturday... but more on that later.
***
Chapter Two: Into the Snow.
It was nearing nine in the morning, the ball room was filled with CSIs digesting breakfast and engaging in small talk. Horatio and Mac were racking their brains over several crossword hints while they worked on and off at the Sudoku. Horatio raised his pen to write 7 into one of the Sudoku boxes when suddenly the piercing sound of microphone feedback filled the room. Both men winced and turned back towards the buffet, where a small stage had been erected.
A young and petite woman with short black hair fumbled with the microphone and gestured at someone in black to turn the amplifiers a different direction. The feedback died down, the room was silent. She blushed and ducked slightly. "Sorry", she murmured into the microphone. Horatio and Mac exchanged glances before turning back to her.
"Quite sorry about that," she started again, "But thank you for all being here so early for the games. Now, as you all should know by now, all pairings and events are chosen for every one of you by random lottery. And, as some of you may notice, each of your jurisdiction's IAB agent is here too. This, let it be for the record, is to reduce tension. You will be able to see, if the lottery permits you to, the demands put on each other; perhaps managing to soften the growing hostility that has been observed by both of your superiors".
"Not bloody likely," Mac sighed. The day was beginning to look pretty grim already.
"Without further ado I shall announce the names of the CSIs and IAB agents who will be going out to our toughest course. Where they must find a marked cabin and spend the night there. Catching or hunting all of their food. The refrigerators have been stocked with water, milk, wine, lemon, some baking essentials and that's about it. They will be expected back here tomorrow at 5 pm. No cell phones, no internet, nothing. But your sacrifice will be rewarded, I assure you. Now, keep in mind that of course all of you can't be going, just 5 teams of two will be hiking up the mountain. Don't worry though; we had plans for the rest of you too."
"I wasn't worried," Horatio whispered.
"CSI Gary Rightson and CSI Maria Soto, you two shall be taking the red trail. IAB agent Kent Scully and CSI Yao Mu, you will be taking the blue trail. CSI Lennox Macdorren and CSI Antonio Schmaltz will be taking the green trail. IAB agent Terry Cohen and CSI Mark Westheimer will be taking the black trail. And CSI Horatio Caine-"
Horatio perked up and looked hopefully at Mac.
"-and IAB agent Rick Stetler will be taking the orange trail."
Horatio and Mac's jaws dropped at the name. They sat there for a few seconds, stunned.
"What are the odds?" Mac stammered.
"Slim," came a voice from behind them, "but increasing with every turn".
They turned and saw Rick Stetler standing behind them, the burning light reflected off of the snow outside played elegantly on his deep brown hair. His soft brown eyes flashed at Horatio before he spoke again "Join us at the stage, Caine".
Horatio slowly stood and began to make his way to the stage, but not before shooting back over his shoulder, "Lieutenant Caine". Rick scoffed and lightly chuckled to himself.
"Show some respect," Mac hissed at Stetler. Rick smirked and followed Horatio to the stage.
A little man with wavy grey hair approached the two. "I hope you two are able to appreciate this as much as I did," he said with a chuckle.
He handed Stetler a map of their course, written on it was a copy of the instructions for the night. Rick eyed it over before stuffing it in his coat pocket.
The man pointed towards the lobby, "You best get a move on, a timer has been installed in the cabins to record how long you two have been there".
Horatio stared blankly at the man, wondering if it was possible to hack into the system and ditch the whole thing.
"The ones who get there first and are most prosperous in their search for food and warmth will get a hefty raise" the man said with a smile.
Without further cynicism or questioning the two of them made their way into the lobby and looked out upon the ocean of snow set before them.
***
The two men stood in the lobby with the other eight people who were put on the same mission. Some were making small talk amongst each other, but most stood in stony silence. They had to wait for everyone else to leave before they could start. Stetler had buried himself in a newspaper he plucked off the front desk. Horatio stood across the room, leaning against a column and mumbling to himself. He swore under his breath as he realized that he had forgotten something.
Everyone in the ball room began to file out in groups of about forty. Horatio stood alert, scanning over the crowd. After a minute or so Horatio saw the familiar figure of Mac, he grabbed his arm and pulled him out of the steady stream of people.
"I'm so sorry about this H," Mac sighed, a concerned look across his face, "what a horrible stroke of luck".
"It won't be easy, but I should be fine," Horatio turned away, trying to hide his anger and frustration, "that fucking Stetler".
Horatio slammed his fist against the column to vent a bit of rage that was beginning to boil in him. He breathed heavily before turning back to Mac.
"But I digress," he continued, calming himself down, "I'm expecting a very important call from Yelina late this afternoon, it's about Ray Jr."
"Is he alright?"
"He crashed the car and hasn't shown up since last night".
"Oh God," Mac whispered his eyes widening, "no wonder you're so on edge today".
"I'm sure he is at a friend's and is too shy to call home. I am positive he's fine, just a little scared. He just doesn't realize how much people care about him. He's like his father in that respect…" Horatio's voice trailed off. Mac watched in silence as Horatio remembered his late brother, not quite sure what to say.
"Anyways," Horatio said breaking the tension, "I need someone to answer the phone, I don't want Yelina to believe that I don't care".
"I don't think she would feel that way," Mac said soothingly.
"Well thank you," Horatio smiled, "But just to be polite I think it best if you could answer it for me, tell her I'm okay. She worries too much".
"Where's your phone?" Mac asked.
"That's the problem, it's in my room," Horatio dug into his pocket and pulled out his room key, "I'm in 943, the phone is on the nightstand, she should call around three".
"How do you know that?"
"Because I thought this damn bonding day would be over by then, so that's when I told her to call me. Please Mac; I need you to do this for me".
"Of course, H. No problem. I'll run up and grab your phone at lunch".
"Thank you," Horatio murmured.
Mac nodded politely as he slipped back into the river of people who swept him out of Horatio's sight.
***
After everyone had left, the ten were given the go-ahead to start their march up the mountain. Horatio and Rick obviously had the most tension between them, unlike the other pairs who began their introductions as they walked out the door into the snow-filled wilderness. The two from Miami were the last to move.
Rick Stetler and Horatio stood there silently for a few moments, not speaking or turning to each other. Horatio dug into his coat pocket and fished out a pair of white wool gloves and earmuffs. Rick wrapped his deep red scarf around his head a second time and slipped on his black leather gloves.
"Let's go 'lieutenant'," Stetler said coolly, "get this over with".
***
A light snowfall dusted the mountains and the hikers as they made their way to their respective cabins around noon. Horatio turned up the collar on his coat and buried as much of his head into it as he could. Rick shook some of the freshly fallen snow off of his hair and blinked some flakes off of his eyelashes.
"Hold on," Rick Stetler called to Horatio. Horatio spun around, gravely irritated.
"I need to triangulate our position," Stetler explained, "I think we might be lost".
If Rick's cheeks weren't already so red he would have been quite visibly been blushing. This was about the fifth time he did this in the past two hours. Impatiently Horatio watched Stetler once again look at the map, then look at a tree, then look at the map, then look at the river, then look at the map, then look at the mountain, then look at the map, then look at the sun, then look at the map, and then point in a direction perpendicular to the direction they were headed and say "that way".
"Let me see that map," Horatio said, trying his best, although not successfully, to remain calm.
"No need," Stetler assured him, "I'm positive that this is the right way".
"Just give me the map, Stetler," Horatio whispered as he began to hyperventilate.
"I'm sure this time, Caine. Now if you don't hurry we're going to lose that raise".
"Stetler".
"I can practically see it I'm so sure".
"Just let me see it".
"We can't be far now".
"Give me the fucking map!" Horatio shouted, unable to control his temper for a moment longer. Rick was taken by surprise; he had never heard Horatio swear before. In Rick's moment of shock Horatio snatched the map from him. He looked at the map, he looked around, and the pointed in the opposite direction of Stetler.
"It's this way you idiot" Horatio snapped. He then trudged his way into knee deep snow and off the beaten path. "And if we're not there in twenty minutes, we go your way. But this is the right way". The redhead no longer cared if Stetler was following him or not, he just wanted to sit someplace out of the snow.
Stetler shook off his initial shock and quietly began to follow Horatio. And in his mind he began to fully examine the fine view he was now with. His heart began to pound as he watched Horatio's strong legs lift and then beat into the receiving earth; like a stallion, really. He looked up at the lieutenant's brilliant red hair, shining in the afternoon sun. A few wisps of snow fell from the trees on to Horatio's shoulders. Those strong firm freckled shoulders that Rick would love to hold on to as that gorgeous man mounts him and…no. He couldn't think of Lieutenant Caine that way. But he knew that he did, and that nothing anyone could do could possibly tear those thoughts from his mind.
Stetler tried to shake the thoughts away, afraid that he may lose control of his impulses. He was sure that what he felt for Horatio was nothing more than a physical attraction. He was sure that once they got to know each other that he would plainly see that he and Horatio have nothing in common. Or, at least he thought he was sure of that. He wasn't quite so sure of anything anymore. Lately he had been abusing his powers of IAB agent: following Horatio everywhere, delving deep into his past, making copies of file photos and hiding them in the drawer of his nightstand. He well knew that he could be fired for such behavior, and possibly arrested for harassment. But in all honestly, seeing Horatio was one of the joys he had found in life. Every night he dreamed about what it must be like to be in the lieutenant's arms, how strong and comforting they must be. He would wait for hours on end just to hear the sound of his love's voice. He sees that beautiful redhead every time he closes his eyes-
"-Just ahead there. Do you see it?" Horatio said pointing, interrupting Rick's fantasy.
A little log cabin, two rooms and a shower at most stood in a quaint manner a little ways ahead. Next to it was a pond where Rick assumed that the two of them will be catching dinner. The two of us, Rick thought; the images that those words brought for him were so perfect. And now for it to be so close to happening, it was almost too much for him. He wanted to just grab Horatio and throw him against one of the cabin walls with a hard passionate kiss.
Rick stepped lightly, trying to look as suave and presentable as possible considering how many times he just got them lost. He pulled at his crimson scarf, wanting to throw off all his snow-soaked and stuffy outer garments. His eyes lazily scanned the woods, absently wondering there a good place to trap dinner would be. He did this while trying to pull himself together and fall back into his role.
Remember, you are IAB sergeant, you do not tolerate Horatio's questionable actions and you never will. You are upset that he has accelerated to the rank of Lieutenant, despite you being better at interrogations and investigating. Remember these points and he won't suspect a thing… but don't be too much of an ass because you want to get laid. …that won't happen, never mind; in fact, forget I said that. But you still don't want to be too much of a jerk. If anything, maybe he could end up being a bit more understanding of the positions he puts you in. …I really don't care if you take that as innuendo or not, just don't make a fool of yourself. You're hyperventilating now, stop that. Don't be afraid of him, for Christ's sake. This will be over before you know it.
Horatio half tore half stumbled his way through the snow to get to the cabin, anything to get out of his wet clothes. But what into? No matter, all he really needs is a shower, a nice warm shower. Finally he reached the door; hoping that the water was heated and that he could somehow, someway, spend as little time outside or with Stetler as possible.