Author's notes: Thanks for the reviews. Please note there is some swearing in this chapter. Some offensive things may be said.
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The drive back into Las Vegas was quiet, each man lost in their thoughts. David's face was stony as he looked at the lights out the window, a muscle in his jaw worked as he tried to keep himself from shouting out in frustration.
Charlie was sitting beside him; his face was illuminated by the faint glow of the laptop computer. Reworking his math for the hundredth time, the young professor was searching for anything he might have missed. He could feel the pressure, no the responsibility for Colby's rescue resting heavily upon his shoulders. No one would ever say it, but he knew that they were counting on his math to bring Colby back to them.
With his eye's closed, Don appeared to be the only one in the vehicle who was sleeping. This couldn't have been further from the truth. Don's mind was continually turning over the scant information they currently knew and was trying to find something that they might have missed. It was inconceivable to Don that once again he had managed to have a member of his team in danger.
The Las Vegas strip was going full tilt; partiers filled the sidewalks and often the streets. Nick flicked on the red and blue lights and cleared a path for the vehicle. Pulling up in front of the hotel, Nick watched as the three men climbed out. After making arrangements to pick them up in the morning, Nick headed towards his own house, hoping to catch a little sleep before he needed to return.
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The man under the tree hadn't moved for a while; the time might be right. Keeping to available cover and eyes unblinking, the figure crept closer.
A rustle from the right halted his progress. Stopping and waiting he decided that it had been a small creature, perhaps a rabbit that had disturbed the quiet. Blinking once, he started forward again. Looking around he could see the outstretched legs. The tang of blood caught his attention. Perhaps the man was dead. Feeling that this was his chance, he rushed forward, ready to attack.
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They were on the elevator and on their way up to the rooms when Don's cell phone rang.
"Eppes." The elevator door opened and they moved out into the foyer. Don held up a finger to stop the others from leaving. "Ok. About how long until we can speak to him?" A lengthy pause was punctuated by Don's face contorting into a scowl. "So how long until it wears off?"
Charlie and David exchanged a glance. It appeared that Don was finding out information about Carter's condition. Hope blossomed in each man. Perhaps they would get the location of Colby from his abductor.
"Alright, call me then." Don snapped the phone shut. "He's out of surgery, but is so heavily sedated he'll be out of it for hours. They said he's got a broken spine, head trauma and a variety of other broken bones." Don sighed wearily, "Lets get some sleep. Nick said he would be back to pick us up at 6:00 a.m.."
David opened the door to his room and with a backwards glance he bid the brothers a good night.
Swiping the magnetic key into the slot, Don pushed it open after the metallic click of the lock releasing. Sensing his older brother's mood Charlie tried to reassure him. "You've said it before Don. Colby's a survivor."
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Warrick had finished at the crash site and had headed back to the lab with a variety of evidence backs. There had been lots of blood to swab, but being a betting man Warrick laid odds on it being from Carter. The remaining emergency workers had said that the condition of the man had been critical.
Carrying his box into the lab he stopped to hand off the samples to a technician. Warrick could see Greg over in another room. Setting down the other items, he made his way over.
"Hey Greg. Any luck?"
"This GPS unit was pretty smashed, but I've been about to locate some data. I'm still working though."
"What have you got so far?"
"Locations in two different parks. I'll pass the information along in the morning and get someone checking them out. Maybe his being at Humbolt-Toiyabi was just an attempt to throw us off the trail?"
"I don't know about that. Seems like him being there would indicate that is where he dumped the agent. Besides, their math genius said that this place had the highest probability."
"Yeah, but how many times have we seen people do the unpredictable?" Greg bent back over the crushed electronics and continued to work.
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Colby didn't hear the movement of his attacker, but woke suddenly when he felt the mouthful of teeth closing in around his leg. Yelling out more in surprised than pain, he kicked his leg in reaction.
The teeth released and over the pounding of his heart he could hear the hurried retreat of the coyote. The pain in his lower leg flared as the initial rush of adrenaline faded.
"Son of a bitch." Colby yelled again; the pain, frustration and hopelessness exploding from inside him. "God-damned, mother fucking son of a bitch. Keep the fuck away from me. I'm not fucking dead yet you bastard. Not fucking dead yet." Colby's head rested again on the tree as he fought to control his emotions; wetness escaping from closed eyelids. "I'm not fucking dead!"
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Don had slept fitfully and after rolling over and seeing the time for what had to be the thousandth time he finally decided it was early enough that he could go ahead and get up. Climbing into the shower, he let the hot water pound against him. He would have stayed until the water ran cool, but he heard Charlie flip on the television.
Shutting the water off, he ran his hands over his head to squeeze as much water out of his hair as possible. He toweled off and then wrapped the damp towel around his lean hips and opened up the door. Steam billowed out into the cooler room and he felt the cool rush against his skin.
"Morning." Don spoke to his brother who was seemingly engrossed in the cable news. "I left you some hot water."
"Thanks. The story hit CNN and FOX. They are reporting the crash and the manhunt. I'm surprised they haven't mentioned anything about the spying."
"I think that the Department of Justice has tried to keep that pretty hush-hush. Can't let the public realize how much of a threat there is."
"I guess." Charlie stood and headed to the bathroom. "I'm going to take a quick rinse."
"Take your time, we've got half an hour before Nick gets here." Don pulled off the towel and slide into his briefs. Walking over to the window he pulled back the heavy drapes to revel the brightly lit Strip below; the glow of the lights illuminating the early morning sky and giving a false illusion of an approaching dawn.
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In her Los Angles apartment, Megan Reeves found herself unable to sleep as well. Having done all that she could do from the office, she had went home and poured herself a glass of wine. The bottle had been three-quarters gone when she realized how much she had drunk.
Carrying the remaining to the kitchen, she dumped it down the drain and headed off to bed. The taste of Crest toothpaste and Merlot were an unpleased combination so she quickly brushed her teeth and then climbed into bed.
The sheets were cool against her flushed cheek and she closed her eyes hoping for sleep to find her. Aided by the wine, she soon slipped into a fitful sleep.
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His leg felt like it was on fire. He couldn't see the full extent of the injury because of the low light and the angle, but was glad at the limited protection that his jeans had provided. It was bleeding, that much he knew, but how severe the damage was he couldn't tell; it sure hurt like hell. "I'll need rabies shots. Assuming I even get out of here."
Author's note: Take heart Colby, morning is just around the corner!