Glad to see some faithful followers sticking with me for this story.

I have taken a liking to Lt. Norsgard, too, earthdragon. And, ah...I'm sure Tim and/or Tony wouldn't have passed up on the chance of taking some souvenir snaps of each other as well as of the Arctic wilderness. ;D Who wouldn't?

Chapter 4: Dancing Lights

He sighed and decided this was the time to ask the Danish officer why he didn't seem overly concerned, considering the current situation. Really, this man was way too chipper.

"Aren't you ever worried?"

The other regarded him quizzically before replying.

"Should I? Trust me, I've been in situations far more threatening than this. In the morning, when we're rested, we'll walk out of here and find our way back in the direction of the base. Provided the weather improves, of course. I've already come this far and, from our encounter, I can see I was on the right track."

Tim didn't look entirely convinced.

"Really," Birger continued, a tad miffed at Tim's incredulity. "I know this world of ice and I'm quite at home in the snow and the cold. I can safely say I understand the Arctic. And I know where I'm going and that's out of here and into the open where we can at least be seen from up above…and in this case, I'm not talking about our Good Lord. But sometimes, we need to take a rest and shelter for the winter storms."

"How come you got separated from the others of your team, then?" Tim asked.

The lieutenant's countenance darkened and suddenly Tim understood; Birger knew full well there was more behind his getting into this situation and that it was no accident any more than Tim's own mishap.

"What happened?" Tim softly yet urgently asked.

"The truth is, I don't know. The last thing I remember was David, Lt Bennett, lagging behind when we were on our way back to camp and so I waited for him to catch up with me to continue together. This year's been particularly bad with frequent gale force easterly to southeasterly winds giving us a hard time literally blowing snow drifts in our faces. I knew he lacked some experience for this climate and I couldn't possibly leave him behind, could I?"

Birger spread out his hands before letting them fall into his lap again as he went on. "Little did I know what was about to happen next."

He shifted for a more comfortable position before continuing. "How could I ever know what he was about to do next! I waited for him to catch up before picking up our trek again and join the others again. When he caught up with me, he started a row. I was literally thrown! I honestly hadn't the faintest clue he'd been holding such a grudge against me"

"Why was that?"

The Danish lieutenant thought about it and then went on: "My only guess is that he was dismayed… Well, he apparently blamed me for his wife's death and resented that the leadership of the research team fell to me."

"His wife's death?"

"Nora. Dr. Nora Bennett-Styles. It was an unfortunate accident. We, she and I, went out on the glacier, last summer, and she went down one of the hidden moulins…" Here, he stopped at Tim's questioning eyes, to explain. "Glacier mills. They're roundish, vertical shafts worn in the ice by water or debris. They often go all the way down through the ice, right to the bottom where the melt water is drained from the glacier by a sub glacial stream." He gave a dismissive shrug and a rueful smile.

"I could go on and on on this subject. A bit of a hobby horse, you might say," he grinned sheepishly and then he was serious again.

"Okay, back to the story, though. As I said, Nora fell down one of these shafts to wash up on the beach a couple of weeks later. We both knew the risks and there truly was nothing I could do to save her. It went all so quick. Nonetheless, David apparently decided I was responsible for her death." He bit his lower lip in vexation at the memory. "Damn it! How could I've missed that! Why didn't he confront me about it sooner? Talk about it! At least then we'd have stood a better chance of fixing this… Anyway, I turned around and started walking, thinking and hoping he'd see sense and follow me to try and catch up with the others. The next instant, I was on the ground, face planted in the snow as he'd given me a push from behind. When I was down, he was upon me crushing my head deeper into the snow and all I could do was breathe in the stuff! I know I struggled but then, it was as if the lights suddenly went out and – God! – did it hurt!" He frowned as he rubbed the back of the head.

"So he struck you down…" Tim muttered, ever so carefully leaning closer to his companion and, taking off his glove with his teeth, ghosted the fingers of his left hand along the back of Birger's skull. And yes, there it was, an unmistakable lump consistent to a hefty blow to the lieutenant's head.

"So what did you do then? I mean, when you regained consciousness? Since you're sitting here, with me, in this ice cave, you must've got up to make it here."

"Yes. Gah! This flipping headache!" Birger hissed, annoyed. "When I came to, there was no sign of Bennett. He was gone and I was left to my own devices in an effing Condition Delta storm. So I started digging a trench, covered it and rode the storm out. When the skies had cleared, I started walking back towards the camp." He frowned. "I think my head must've taken a bad hit, though. Never seemed to get my bearings right. And then I had more bad luck when I twisted my ankle rather badly. The way I was feeling with that extra mishap! Thought I'd never get back to safety! And then, when I was about to give up, I was standing atop the ridge, looking down at the mouth of the glacier! It took me another two hours to get there and it was pitch dark again. Didn't feel my foot anymore. And I was so exhausted I had to force myself to stay alert and fix myself a decent place to rest without sleeping right into…death with hypothermia. And I needed to check my ankle. By the time I had more time to do so, it had swollen to such an extent I couldn't take my boot off to see how it was. So I decided it was maybe wiser to just leave it at that. Didn't want to run the risk of being unable to put that boot back on! Besides, I felt quite okay by it, as my other foot seemed just fine when I checked it. No signs of frostbite. Of course, as it always goes, the pain in my ankle was back with a vengeance when I awoke the next morning!"

"Keeping on walking also kept circulation going. Quite common."

"I know. Anyway, I couldn't stand on it, so I stayed put. I would try again, later."

"It wouldn't have made much difference, really."

"Yeah… I know. But then, I'd have forced myself up and marching. Hiking poles are no superfluous luxury, let me tell you that!" He said, pointing to his set resting close-by.

Leaning back, Tim closed his eyes to think.

Suddenly, he struggled up, face scrunched in a grimace at the flaring pain in his shoulder – he'd almost forgotten about it – and wordlessly pointed to his backpack.

The Dane stretched out an arm to retrieve it and, casting a questioning look towards the agent, started to zip it open.

"There's a file in there. Please hand it to me."

Birger obliged and Tim started to search the sheath of documents on the case until he found the one he'd been looking for. His eyes ran swiftly over the list in his good hand until one name stood out.

"Styles…" he said, slowly turning his head to look at Birger who first looked at him with puzzlement to subsequently nod in recognition.

"Nora! Nora Bennett-Styles. She's…was…she was in charge of the research team."

"Project Blue Ice," Tim acknowledged.

Birger nodded.

"Project Blue Ice. I trust you did your homework and already know what the project is all about?"

"It's a biomedical research program on military clothing materials and equipment, more specifically testing for total insulation under extreme ambient conditions."

"In this case, Arctic conditions," Birger concluded.

"Go on," Tim prompted, effortlessly falling into interview modus.

"The Blue Ice Research Unit was our field camp where we conducted all research and ran all necessary tests. For the testing phases, we had volunteers, midshipmen mostly, from both the Danish and US Navy spending any lengths of periods at the camp under the leadership of the camp commander; for this season, Lt Bennett was in charge. I admit it's quite uncommon to have both man and wife working on the same project, but…yes…well, there it was. There was no complaining, as the project ran like a well-oiled engine, really. That is…until…"

"Uhm…US CDR Styles…The US Training Officer…Are they, Dr. Bennett-Styles in any way related or is it a mere coincidence they share the same name?"

Birger's face was quite telling.

"I see. His sister?"

"Yes. A small world, isn't it?"

"No kidding!" Tim sighed. This was getting better and better!

But then Birger had a question of his own. "Why did you bring up the name Styles? Did something happen to the commander?"

"No. It's rather the other way round; something happened to me and my suspicions that he had anything to do with my ending up here in the middle of this godforsaken white hell have just become stronger than ever," Tim said, annoyed. "CDR Zeb Tyler had volunteered coming with us to investigate what we decided was to be a crime scene."

Tim's face had suddenly become hard.

"Oh, it all makes sense, now. It would be too much of a coincidence when I saw him 'checking' my ski-doo. It sure explains why mine broke down on our way back to the pick-up site!" He snorted.

"Looks like we now have found out about his intentions…"

"He bloody well tried to kill me! Just think about this! What were the odds I'd make it out of this alive? As things stand – and, please, let's be realistic about this! – we're still not out of the woods!"

Tim angrily shifted his position as his bad shoulder, stiffly wrapped against his torso, was throbbing.

The Dane chuckled, but there was nothing merry about it. "Woods… We would've had a better chance had we been left there."

The NCIS agent couldn't add anything more to this but a low grumble.

"So, what are the plans, then?"

"Okay. We rest. Then, at first light, we head west, away from the glacier into the open where at least we stand a better chance of being spotted. The wind has died and the skies are clearing as you can see," Birger dipped his chin towards the entrance of the cave.

"And, look, you're lucky, Tim. The aurora borealis!

Tim turned towards the glacier snout and, yes, a surreal green light was filtering inside even if he couldn't see the opening as such from his place.

Birger helped him up and together they, treading carefully, made it towards the entrance to admire the results of a strong bout of solar activity offering them what could easily be considered one of the most beautiful natural wonders to behold.

The northern skies were alight with dancing green curtains of a very active aurora borealis and they were right beneath it !

"There are many legends and folktales surrounding the northern lights," Birger said as he gingerly sat down atop a large and flat boulder which had been polished smooth by the glacier. Tim did likewise.

The agent remained silent, too much in awe by the glorious sight.

"The Inuit believed they were spirits in the sky or ancestors illuminating the way to heaven. It is also said that babies conceived under the northern lights will be gifted and very intelligent."

Birger turned to get a better look at his companion. "Do you have…you know…someone?"

"Well,…uhm…" Tim blushed, evident even in this light.

"You do! Tell me about her!" The Danish officer insisted, eager to hear about it.

"Her name's Abby. She's our Forensic Scientist, back in Washington DC. And she's one quirky lady, let me tell you this," Tim smiled.

"How long do you know each other?"

"Oh, quite a couple of years, actually. Let me see. It must be going on 10 years."

"What? I take it you've married her?"

"No. I haven't. So much has happened. Our relationship's known a few ups and downs. She wasn't ready to commit, yet."

"But do you love her?"

After the barest of hesitations, Tim replied. "Yeah…"

"And? Is it mutual?"

"I…I think so. Actually, I think she does as she can act quite jealous."

"Then, what are you waiting for? Why don't you give it another shot? Who says she won't be ready to…to…tie the knot?"

Tim laughed. This somehow reminded him of Ziva. At least, Birger got the idiom right.

"Who knows, indeed…"

He thought about it. If he made it out of here alive… Life was too short and they both weren't getting any younger. Birger was right: he should give it another shot before it was too late.

Tim looked up at the magical spectacle. It was too beautiful for words.

"What's this sound?"

"Eh?" Birger seemed to have emerged from his own private thoughts.

"This…faint hissing and crackling…like static electricity. Oh, and now it's sounding more like…whistling… That's not the glacier again, is it?"

Birger listened and then laughed. "You don't often hear it as clear as you do now, you know? You have no idea, have you?"

"No?"

"It's the aurora you hear."

Rather unconvinced, the agent turned his eyes towards the lieutenant. "Yeah right."

"Really! Not every outburst generates sound but this is a particularly active aurora. It's actually very rare. I mean, it's rare to hear them with the naked ear. They're caused by the charged particles from the sun which collide with molecules in the atmosphere, same as how the northern lights are made and akin to thunderstorms. And…"

He shushed Tim, indicating he should listen carefully.

Tim's eyes went wide and he felt his heart thud in his chest, as if he were an exulted school boy.

"Are they…are they…waxing and waning with the movements of the aurora ? I…think I heard more popping…muted but…popping." Tim couldn't quite believe the sounds his ears were picking up.

"You got it!" Birger smiled.

"Woooowwww..."

"According to the Inuit, it's their ancestors talking to them from beyond… Few can hear it, these days : too much ambient noise. It's like watching the stars… In some places, you can even hardly make out the Milky Way!"

"So, correct me if I'm wrong, but since the aurora borealis ionizes air, and the aurora's caused by moving magnetic fields, I'd say the ionized air molecules produce the sound, provided they're close to ground level? How close, exactly?"

"About 70m, consistent with triangulation outcomes.» Birger nodded approvingly. «You're quite good!"

"The frequency would then be…"

"Quite high, yes. And, no, it's not the tinnitus you might suffer, as the more sceptical minds believe. Yeah, I've heard that one before, believe me. Rather often, in fact. Those people don't know what they're talking about. Just the same as seeing the elusive green flash."

"Well, I know for a fact I don't have tinnitus ; as a Federal Agent, you get annual medical check-ups. And, yes, one has to see – or hear – this to believe it. Still…Abby would LOVE this!" Tim smiled, forgetting the cold at the dazzling and dancing display. Now, this was something he would miss when he would be back in DC.

Eventually, they both went back inside and clambered back onto their spot. They huddled close together, sharing their warmth.

It was vital to be rested for their big hike next morning so they would sleep.

At least, that was what they'd wanted to do, except that both men knew sleep would elude them for the better part of the night. Their sleep was going to be interrupted as they'd keep vigil, closely watching for changes in vital signs in the other in the event of a hypothermic state. There was the very real, if unwelcome, thought they might not wake up again. Neither wanted to slip into the freezing arms of death.

So, we didn't (well, I didn't!) get to see the northern lights but at least I hope you've enjoyed reading about them.

As for the sound they may make (I've never heard an aurora, let alone see one!), I trust the accounts by people who claim to have heard them. Tinnitus? Nothing as annoying as that but you always hear this irking sound when all's quiet and I believe it's hardly the same thing.

That 'green flash' I mentioned in the story really does exist as I've seen one with my very own eyes and even got a picture of it! Oh, it's not really that special, you know?