~Five~

A canopy of branches overhead helped shield most of the rain and sleet, but dripping leaves kept the team wet as they moved up the side of the mountain. McGee gripped a sapling to pull himself up the trail. At least the hike was warming him up and had stopped his teeth from chattering.

His boot slipped on slick undergrowth and he went down on one knee. Keeping the growl of frustration locked in his throat, he glanced across at Tony, ignored his gleeful grin, and struggled back to his feet. When this was over he was going to enjoy a hot shower, then enshroud himself in flannel and revel in the comfort of being warm again.

Keeping his eyes on the ground to avoid roots and other snares helped him keep his footing, but probably wasn't the safest way to approach the cabin. A brief glimpse ahead revealed what appeared to be a stack of deadfall; probably caught there after the last big rain. Dead tree trunks, branches and underbrush created a wall too thick to see through. Blackened with age, dark and wet, the whole pile looked like it would take a bulldozer to break through. McGee paused, both feet planted firmly, and searched for Gibbs. Should he circle around this obstruction, climb over it - what?

A man's voice cried out. McGee recognized it as Tony and took a step toward his position. An instant later the deadfall in front of him exploded. He had time to shield his head with his arms before the avalanche overtook him. It caught him just below the knees, flipped him up and over, and he found himself rolling with a dark mass of deadfall. He discovered that although those tree trunks looked dead and harmless, they were as solid as a brick wall. It tossed him around, punching and prodding, then dumped him on his back and left him breathless as it rolled on down the mountain.

Morrison heard the noise of the avalanche. His mind drifted to the memory of him, Rodney, and Jason building it; dragging old dead trees, stacking all the branches they could find, stuffing bushes in between. He smiled when he remembered the boys talking of surprising their enemies; their imaginations filled of battles with German soldiers, or aliens, whichever seemed to have their interest at the time. Their laughter echoed in his head, then died away, and the smile that curled his lips faded with the memory. That time was past. His time with Rodney was past. Rodney was gone.

He drew in a deep breath and released it, wishing he could release the tight knot of pain in his chest as easily. He needed more time; he wasn't ready to face people yet. He just needed to work through his brother's death, and Jason's part in that death, before moving on. He needed a button he could push so that everything would stop - just stop - so he could think. But that booby trap was less than fifty yards from the cabin; and if whoever was coming after him half knew what they were doing, they had someone circling around to cover the back. His time for thinking was over; he had to move now if he didn't want to be caught.

Shoving the last water bottle in his bag, he zipped it, then double-checked his weapon to make sure it was on safety, and tucked it inside the back of his jeans. Tugging on his parka, he wordlessly grabbed Jason's arm and pulled him out of the cabin with him. There was more than one path back down the mountain, and even though it would take some time, he knew the one that avoided the obvious trail and would take him back to just below where they'd built the trap. Besides, he'd taken the time to lay a false trail earlier this morning, and if his luck would hold, that would throw them off once they discovered he'd already left the cabin and buy him some time.

If he could get back to the trail undetected, they'd have a clear path to the parking area. He was willing to bet a car would be there, driven by whoever was coming for them. He knew how to start it, and they'd be on their way. Then he could deal with Jason.

His vision swam in and out. Gibbs leaned over him, his mouth moving, but McGee couldn't make sense of what he was saying. He hurt; everything hurt. It felt as if he'd been through a giant blender, and his body was still being tossed around. Then suddenly, all of the different sounds and images melded into one, and his focus cleared.

" -Gee, can you hear me?"

Tony joined Gibbs in leaning over McGee. "My fault, Boss. I didn't see the tripwire until after I'd - tripped it."

Gibbs ignored him and touched McGee's face. "McGee?"

"I - I hear you."

"Can you move?"

McGee braced himself. When the others saw his struggle, Gibbs slid his hand to his back while Tony did the same from the other side. McGee froze and sucked in a quick breath. Gibbs and Tony held him steady.

"Is it your back? Your head?"

"Your ribs?"

McGee shook his head. "My - my leg."

Tony shifted behind so McGee could lean against him while Gibbs moved to check out his legs. It was immediately apparent which leg was injured; McGee's right pants leg had ripped, revealing torn skin already mottled blue with contusions. While no bones were protruding, Gibbs was fairly certain McGee's leg was broken. Gibbs sighed and sat back on his heels. He did a visual search of the woods while Ziva joined them, quiet as a shadow.

"What happened?"

"Morrison set a tripwire on the north side of the trail that triggered a trap on the south side." Gibbs glanced up toward the cabin. "He knows we're here." He turned back to McGee.

McGee read the expression on Gibbs' face and knew the dilemma he faced. He decided to make it easy on him. "Look, we're nearly there, and if Morrison escapes there's no telling where he'll take Jason." He pointed toward some of the deadfall that had stacked itself against some trees, creating a natural shelter. "Just help me get out of the rain and keep going. I'll be fine."

Gibbs waited, eyes piercing through McGee and judging his offer. "You sure, McGee?"

McGee nodded. "You said it yourself, Boss: Our main objective is to save that kid. This may be our best chance to do that."

Seconds passed where McGee didn't dare look away, afraid any hesitation on his part would change Gibbs' mind and they'd be headed back down the mountain toward the car. Finally, Gibbs seemed satisfied. "Tony, hook under his arms, I've got his legs. Easy, now, take it easy."

Despite their care, being carried that short distance woke every ache and pain in McGee's body. Ribs, shoulders, back, belly, hips - everything cried out for attention. Then Tony slid and nearly fell and the move Gibbs made to compensate jostled Tim's leg, which nearly sent him screaming into oblivion. A weird buzz started in his head and his racing heart kept time with the throbbing pain shooting through his leg. He knew they must have reached their destination, because he wasn't moving anymore, but for the life of him he couldn't answer when he heard Gibbs' call his name.

Locking his teeth together, McGee forced his breathing into a more steady rhythm. "I'm okay - I'm good."

A rare grin tugged at the corner of Gibbs' mouth and he reached to pat McGee gently on the face. "Not yet, McGee, but you will be." Sliding his hand around to cup the back of McGee's skull, he gently forced McGee's head back and looked into his eyes. He seemed satisfied with what he saw. He drew back and moved away.

"Tony, wrap up his leg. Ziva, help me build up this deadfall and keep a little more rain off."

Tony appeared beside him, backpack in hand. He began pulling out supplies. "I'll find a way to make this up to you, McGee."

McGee tilted his head back to rest on the fallen tree behind him and closed his eyes. "Forget it, Tony. I'm sure if our situation were reversed, I'd be doing the same for you." He straightened abruptly with a sharp cry and reached for his leg.

Tony sucked in his breath through clenched teeth. "Sorry!" Gently, he loosened the bandages he'd wound around Tim's leg. "Where's the autopsy gremlin when you need him?"

Tim's eyes snapped open. "You think I'm dying?"

Tony froze. "No - no, that's not what I meant." Carefully, he tended to McGee's injury. "I just meant that Jimmy's or Ducky's first aid skills would be useful right about now."

Tim collapsed back against his tree. "Yeah, and a roof over my head and a bed wouldn't be too bad, either."

Gibbs rejoined them, Ziva just behind. "Finished, Tony?" Seeing Tony stuff supplies back into his bag and zip it closed, Gibbs gave a quick nod. "McGee, this shouldn't take long. We'll come back for you as soon as we have Jason. Just sit tight and stay quiet."

"Yeah, Boss."

With one last look at McGee, Gibbs directed Tony and Ziva to take up their positions, then they started back up the trail.