go into the woods. But another text
came, "We will find you." So she went.
Wind bucked the helicopter and Nick had trouble
keeping it level.
"The gusts up here are dangerous," he shouted to
Alex. Alex shook his head looking grim, they both wouldn't stop
because of the danger ... not when Clare needed them so badly.
"We are right on top of her," Alex shouted to
Nick.
Nick nodded, but below was thick pines. "We have to
find a clearing," he yelled to Alex.
He found one two miles away, but when he went to land
the wind kicked up and pushed him toward the trees. The blades hit
one and the copter crashed a few feet into the snowpack. Neither of
them was hurt but the copter was out of commission.
"Let's go!" Alex shouted, grabbing gear and flinging
open the helicopter door. "We have to get to her."
Nick looked at the broken radio, cussing under his
breath, and then he followed Alex. They could try to fix the radio
after they found her; time was too precious now to wait.
Two hours later they found Clare shivering against a
tree. They both dropped down beside her just as snow started
falling. Clare's eyes were closed and her skin looked fragile and
so white, while her long tawny hair hung in wild waves across her
shoulders.
"Clare, baby," Nick uttered, grabbing one of her
ungloved hands.
Nick saw Alex grab her other hand and Clare barely
stirred. "Clare, sweetheart," Alex said rubbing her hand.
Nick kept her hand as he lifted his other hand to his
mouth. Using his teeth he tugged his glove off, then he pressed his
palm to Clare's temple. "Too cold," he muttered.
Clare's eyes didn't open, but her head moved away
from his touch, as she mumbled, "Run away."
"Shit," Alex cussed. Nick watched Alex looking at the
snow, then Alex looked over at him. "I'm going to set up a tent.
We'll dig in."
Nick nodded, saying, "Part of it's she's
drugged."
They both looked deadly at the mention their sweet
Clare had been drugged. Alex went to set up a tent and get the
sleeping bags into it, they did extreme sports any chance they
could. Then from their military days, they'd learned to keep their
gear packed and ready. Now it might save them, and Clare, because
it looked as if it was going to be a white-out any minute as the
snow fell faster.
Nick unzipped his thick winter parka and scooted
around Clare, until he had her between his legs and leaning against
him. He pulled his parka over her as best he could, however he felt
how wet she was. Her winter coat was more fashionable than
practical.
"Nick," she murmured, and then she mumbled Alex's
named as her head turned in the crook of his neck.
"We got you, baby," he uttered, holding her tight,
worried as hell about her condition. They couldn't lose her. He
realized just how much they couldn't.
When Alex came to carry her into the small tent, she
woke up enough, to look up at him. "You came," she whispered.
Nick brushed back her hair, falling over Alex's
shoulder. "We'll always come," he said.
"For you ... always, "Alex added, then they dipped
inside the tent. It was a tight fit.
Right away, Nick informed Alex, "Have to get her
undressed."
"Aren't we going home?" Clare whined, then her head
fell against Alex's shoulder.
"Might have to do more than that to get her warm,"
Alex muttered looking at him gravely.
They undressed Clare trying to remain gentlemanly,
then quickly putting her under a sleeping bag. However, Nick knew
neither of them missed seeing her taut pink nipples or the trim
tawny hair above her slit.
Clare barely woke up to protest, and soon she was
shaking.
Alex looked over at him from rubbing her small feet.
"This isn't working."
Nick nodded from where he held Clare's quivering body
with the sleeping bag between them. "We can't manage the night out
of the bags anyway."
They both knew they had to get undressed, share body
heat, and get the two sleeping bags they had zipped up around them.
Then throw their parkas over the top.
"I just wish we could explain to her,"