Page 69 of Reid's Fixation
Xavier pulled his bloody shirt up the best he could, and Reid did what he could with his one good arm -and the other not so good arm, - and tied it around Xavier’s stomach.
Xavier swore when he pulled it tight, knowing they had to put pressure on it to keep it from bleeding more, and then sat back down, he too was breathing hard.
“I hate that fucking man.” He said, pain lacing his voice and Reid nodded, “I do too. Men like that need to be stopped. He has done so much more than we even realized and damn it, he absolutely has to come to justice for what he has done.”
Xavier nodded, “I agree. Tomorrow, we keep going. Keep doing our best to get out here.”
“Agreed. We need to try to get some sleep.”
“I am not that tired yet. You sleep for a while and I will keep the fire going. Then you can watch while I sleep.”
Reid nodded and lay back; grateful his arm was back where it should be.
He fell into a light sleep and when Xavier shook him awake, he sat up and watched the stars.
He wanted to get off this mountain and to his girl. And he would do it by any means necessary.
* * *
Over the next two days, they still couldn’t find their way down, no matter what they tried.
Xavier’s stomach was badly infected, and Reid couldn’t lift or move his arm. Xavier was starting to get a fever from the infection and could barely move.
They hadn’t found any water today and Reid was so thirsty it hurt to swallow.
They were both freezing and exhausted and when Reid went to take a step, he almost fell off the edge of a cliff that he didn’t notice.
Xavier pulled him back before he could fall, and Reid dropped to his knees.
He could feel the tears falling down his face, “I just want to get back to her Xavier. It isn’t fair. I just found her. Just made her mine and I have to give her up? I saved Trace so he wouldn’t have to give up his life and went through hell because of it. This isn’t fair.”
Xavier sat next to him and Reid hated that he had become so broken.
“We can’t give up. Not yet.”
Reid nodded, “Okay.”
Xavier helped him to his feet and Reid wiped the tears away.
Xavier let out a grunt, “I wish I had what you did. A girl to call my own. But I haven’t found her yet. Not even close. We have to get you home. For that reason alone.”
Reid nodded and they kept walking, finding a small waterfall that they stayed by for a few hours, drinking water and washing Xavier’s wound the best they could.
When they started hiking again, a faint sound came from the trees down the mountain side.
They both froze and waited to hear it again.
And sure enough, a few moments later, another sound came.
It sounded like someone was yelling his name.
Reid looked at Xavier in shock and they both yelled the best they could.
Within minutes, a few figures emerged from the trees and they had on bright vests and one held a rifle.
The men looked up at them and Reid waved with his good hand and Xavier did with one as well.
The men went crazy, yelling and screaming in joy and one of them used something that must have been a radio on his shoulder.
