“How bad?” I asked.
He laughed sadly.
“He made Tony Montana look clean.”
I gasped a little bit. I’d never seen Scarface, but I got the reference. I didn’t want to say I was sorry, because I hated when people said that to me. Pity was what I hated the most.
We didn’t say anything for a long time, and I started to realize that maybe running out into the cold with nothing but a bikini on under my parka and sweatpants wasn’t the best idea. The ends of my hair were still wet if not frozen, and the rest of me might as well be an ice cube.
“I’m a dancer,” I said finally, shivering through my teeth. “Or, I was.”
He seemed lost in thought, but turned to me with a slightly delayed response.
“What?” His eyes still seemed far away.
“Something true about me,” I said, balling myself up to try and contain my own warmth.
He opened his mouth, and then shut it again before responding.
“What kind of dancer?”
He turned to face me.
“Classical ballet,” I told him softly.
“I could see that.”
He nodded and seemed like he was impressed.
“Are you shivering?” he asked, and I focused on how his breath hung out in front of him. It was definitely getting colder in here.
No shit, Sherlock. It was my fault we’d been trapped by an avalanche.
Who does that? Only really, really stupid people.
I nodded, keeping my face tucked into my jacket.
He pulled himself up from where he was sitting and looked around. It was still incredibly dark, but the snow outside created a strange, eerie glow that somehow made it so we could see a little bit on the inside.
I followed him with my eyes as far as I could see him, but when he disappeared out of my line of vision, I tucked my head further into the neck of my parka and just listened. I heard him opening doors and moving things around.
I was just so cold and so tired. Maybe I could just nap for a little bit, and I would wake up and we would be rescued. I let my eyes shut, thinking to myself that I was still in control as they fluttered open and closed.
Seconds later, I was met with a loud voice. Why was it so loud?
“Lauren,” he said close to me, and I heard the panic in his voice.
My eyes shot open, and his face was hanging over mine, full of what seemed like concern.
“Hi,” I said softly, somewhat annoyed because I knew he wouldn’t let me sleep.
His eyes searched mine again, and then he set something on my knees. I pulled my hands out of my jacket to look at it. It was a packet of food.
“I found a survival kit in that closet,” he said, ripping open a package for himself. “It’s not much, but it should get us by for a bit. There’s also a bathroom and the water’s running, but I wouldn’t count on that for long.”
“Thanks,” I said softly, my voice coming out scratchy.
“Also,” he said hesitantly, “I don’t want to scare you, but I found the phone.”
I shot up.
“Wait, that’s good! So we can call for rescue!”
Thank god.
His face was grim as he picked up something beside him.
“It’s dead.”
My heart sunk to my stomach. If it was dead, so were we. This was literally the worst case scenario. And I was probably going to hell, because not only was I going to be dead, but I’d also be responsible for Dean dying too. Electronics were turning out to be my personal nightmare.
“I’m so sorry,” I said softly, my eyes welling with tears. I was already shaking from the cold, and I could barely keep myself calm when I started to panic.
He moved to sit beside me.
“Hey,” he said, acting strangely calm. “We’re going to be okay. Between Kenzie and Jed, they’ll find us and have us out of here in no time.” He smiled, but knew he was trying to convince himself just as much as he was trying to convince me. He was right. Kenzie must have seen the avalanche since she was following me out the door when I left, and Jed would stop at nothing to free us once he knew.
His hand went to rub my back in a generic comforting gesture, but he frowned as his hand ran over the material.
“What?” I looked up at him.
His mouth was set in a grim line as he studied my face. His other hand went to my hair, and I heard a soft crunch as his hands pulled the ice out of my hair.
“Fuck, Lauren.” He looked genuinely concerned.
His hand on my back stilled.
“Don’t take this the wrong way, but are you still wearing your swimsuit?”
I gulped.
“Yes.”
“Are you wearing anything else?”
I frowned.
“No.”
He cursed again and I knew he could feel the knot of my suit underneath my jacket. It wasn’t a fluffy, down jacket, but more of a windbreaker, and therefore not as warm.
“Is it still wet?” He asked next, clearly trying his best not to make me uncomfortable.
I laughed completely inappropriately.
“It’s probably half frozen by now, but yes.”
I didn’t want to reach under to check. My entire body felt like an ice cube, and I wondered if this was how Rose felt in Titanic when she was floating on that stupid door. There was totally room for two.
Screw science.
He immediately stood up and unzipped his jacket. Underneath, he was wearing a short sleeved T-shirt over a long sleeved one. He pulled them both off, and I was about to ask what he was doing, but in my semi-delusional state, he looked even better than he had with all of that steam rolling off of him. I mean, Stacia had been blocking my view before.
Oh god. Stacia. I hated that mental image.
I groaned and grabbed my head, and the vibration made it hurt even more.
He leaned down immediately, looking concerned. He was too close.
“Stop, stop, stop,” I whispered, and although I meant my head, he thought I was talking to him. I kept my eyes shut and the pain subsided after a while.
“Here,” he said softly, his face close to mine again. He had the short sleeve shirt back on, thank God, and was holding out a navy blue shirt to me.
“I’m going to go over there,” he motioned where he had found the food. “You have to take that suit off,” he said seriously. “Put this on and then put your jacket, You’ll be a lot warmer.”
I smiled weakly and took the shirt.
“Thanks.”
I waited until his footsteps had stopped, and then I started the task of unzipping my jacket. It was actually stuck in a few places because the water had frozen the metal shut. It took longer than it should have, but I got it off. I shuddered with cold when the air hit me. My fingers couldn’t undo the knot in the suit from behind me, so I just tugged it over my head until I had worked it off. Then I pulled Dean’s still-warm long sleeve blue shirt over my head and immediately felt better that it was dry, and not encrusted in ice. The smell that hit me reminded me of the DMV, and whatever cologne Dean wore.
I shoved that thought out of my head, and my shaky fingers managed to zip my jacket back up. I leaned against the wall, feeling much better, but still not great. I was exhausted.
“Are you good?” I Dean called out.
“All clear,” I said as loudly as I could manage.
He came back around and sat down next to me.
“Better?” He asked.
I nodded slightly. “Better. I’m still freezing though.”
“Me too,” he said sadly. “Can I sit here?” he motioned at the floor next to me.
“Best seat in the house,” I joked, patting the floor beside me. God, I really must be concussed.
He smiled and sat down next to me. As if it were a habit, I let my head lay against his shoulder. I was a little shocked at myself, but I was too exhausted and cold to move.
“Hey Dean?” I whispered.
&
nbsp; “Yeah?” I felt his chest rumble when he spoke.
“Is it bad if I fall asleep?”
“It’s not good, but you can’t stay awake forever.”
“Okay,” I said softly, a little scared.
“I’ll wake you up and make sure you’re okay in a little bit,” he said reassuringly. I was glad. Something about him made me feel safe, regardless of the way we had both acted all weeken.
“Okay,” I said, my teeth chattering. “Hey Dean?”
He chuckled. “Hey Lauren?”
“How did you even have time to put on two shirts?”
“When you ran out, I just grabbed what I was wearing earlier and they were still attached to each other.”
I grinned.
“So you mean you were all sweaty in this shirt earlier, and now I’m wearing it.”
I felt his chest rumble again.
“Yes Lauren, I was all sweaty and disgusting, and I gave you that shirt because it was by far more gross than the one I’m wearing.”
“You’re hilarious,” I said sarcastically, and I knew he was trying to humor me. “But really, thanks.”
“Are you warmer?” he asked seriously.
I nodded against his shoulder.
“Good,” he whispered softly.
I remember reaching my hand out and feeling the freezing air hit my skin. I remember his hand covering mine and the cold subsiding. I don’t remember anything else after that.
WHERE AM I?
I wanted to cry.
I was walking on clouds that were covered in spikes.
I was trapped.
I couldn’t get out.
I felt hot tears rolling down my face.
“Hold on, Annabelle. Hold on.”
“Okay,” I whispered, knowing whoever was calling me Annabelle would keep me safe. No one ever called me Annabelle unless they loved me. No one else knew.
Except that the only person who called me Annabelle was long gone.
My poor, fevered body couldn’t make sense of it, so I let sleep take me back into the nightmarish land that had become my new reality.
“Get out while you can, man, you don’t know how long she’s going to be out.”
“No, I want to be here when she wakes up.”
“You gonna hold her like that?”
Movement. I hated it. It jarred me to the core and I wanted to throw up, but I couldn’t move. My head was on fire.
“Suit yourself. The ambulance is on its way.”
I was so cold, but burning up at the same time.
I hated everything. I’d never felt so awful in my life.
“Help,” I think I gasped, my mouth dry and cracking. I needed water. I needed someone to douse the flames that covered my body.
“Just hold on.” There was that soothing voice in my ear again.
I whimpered like a child. I felt like a child. I was so helpless.
“Just hold on,” I heard it once again.
An oasis in the inferno.
I knew I was dreaming. If I wasn’t dreaming, I was dead.
The geometric clouds reappeared and I wanted to run away from them, but I couldn’t. I was already trapped and running for my life, away from calming hands and voices.
Three Days Later
SOUND CAME FIRST.
Everything was faint. I heard a rushing, as if there was a waterfall in the distance.
Next came sight.
It all hit me at once. The bright light and the screeching in my ears was too much.
I squinted my eyes and tried to get my bearings, but everything was spinning. I quickly shut them again, unable to adjust to the brightness.
I felt someone move next to me. I didn’t hear them, I didn’t see them, I felt them. Someone touching my hand moved.
Why would someone be holding my hand? Who would be holding my hand?
I tried to open my eyes again and my mouth moved at the same time. I tried to swallow, but my throat wouldn’t work.
“Water,” I gasped, and it barely came out.
Seconds later, I felt something against my lips. I tried to drink what was slowly being poured down my throat, but I kept sputtering everywhere. It was so tiring, and I felt like I was going to drown.
I opened my eyes further and the room spun. Oh god, this was awful.
Someone helped me sit up, and I blinked a few more times before my vision started to clear.
Kill. Me. Now.
Dean Powell was wiping water off my face. Maybe it was drool, even. I had no way of knowing.
I groaned.
“No,” I managed to rasp, wanting to climb under the pillows and never come out.
I looked down and found I was wearing a hospital gown.
Super.
Where were my clothes? Why was Dean allowed out of a hospital bed? How had we been rescued?
None of these questions were answerable at the moment, especially when my stomach churned and I wanted to throw up for several reasons.
“How are you feeling?”
Kenzie! Oh good. I hadn’t been left alone with Adonis himself while I was drooling and wearing a hospital gown. Except that now there were witnesses. I groaned again. Maybe not so good.
I puckered my lips and tilted my head to the side in response.
Wait, I was definitely going crazy.
The sick feeling was wearing off, and instead it was replaced by a strange, bubbly sensation that took over my entire being. I was no longer angry, just complacent and unable to control my motor functions.
Great.
Dean was staring at me.
I giggled.
Whoops.
I shouldn’t be giggling at him. I put my hands to my mouth to cover it and realized I had an IV hanging from my arm.
“Ew, guys, why would you let them do this?” I was so sad. They should know I hated needles.
I put my arm back under the blankets and started to cry.
“Should we call someone?” Dean said, leaning over to try and support my head as it fell back against the pillow. I started to wail.
Kenzie nodded and ran out of the room.
“No, don’t leave me alone with you,” I said, blubbering.
I didn’t look at him to see his reaction.
“Please don’t be mad at me,” he said, rubbing my back. “I can’t tell if this is you being serious or not.”
I opened my eyes and pouted again.
“Oh I’m super serious,” I said, not seriously at all.
His lip quivered as if he was trying not to laugh, but I quickly burst into a fit of giggles two seconds later.
Wait, he smelled really good. This wasn’t real life. Dean Powell wouldn’t want me to not be mad at him, and he definitely wouldn’t be sitting at my bedside right now. It was a dream! Cool. I could do dreams. Maybe I could even control it.
Kenzie came back in, followed closely by Jed and a pretty nurse who looked way too young to be doing this job.
“Ms. Lindsay,” the nurse said a little too loudly. “Glad to see you’re up.”
“Oh I’m wide awake now,” I said, brandishing my good arm. I nearly hit Dean in the face. I giggled again.
Everyone in the room looked at one another.
“Okay,” the nurse said slowly. “Do you feel like you can answer some questions? We did everything we could while you were asleep, but I just have some final questions. They might be a bit personal, do you want anyone to leave?” She eyed Dean and Jed.
“Nope, it’s cool.” I said, trying to imitate Snoop Dog. Snoop Lion. Whatever. You can’t just change your name.
“Alright then,” she said, looking down at her clipboard. “Do you feel any pain?”
Oh this was funny. I shook my head.
She started creeping on Dean instead of writing on her clipboard, and I caught her.
As if on cue, the machines that were attached to me went crazy.
I hated the beeping. It was awful.
“Here, let me take those off
,” she said, coming over to the other side of the bed. “Sometimes if you move, it thinks you aren’t breathing anymore and thinks I need to be alerted.”
She pulled the wires to the machines off but left the IV in. I laid my head back down on the pillow and immediately started laughing again. If this was a dream, I could say anything I wanted.
“Nope,” I said, closing my eyes. I should probably go back to sleep. That sounded like a good idea. “I’m pretty sure it’s Dean’s rugged sexuality interfering with the machines.”
I heard someone clear their throat, and then stifled laughter from across the room.
“Oh my god,” Kenzie said, acting embarrassed on my behalf. “Is this normal?”
“Sometimes the anesthetic is hard to come out of,” the nurse said, still too close to me.
I waved my hand out in front of me to make her go away, then felt with my other one for Dean’s hand. Then I snuggled against it. I liked this dream.
“So then, are you family?” the nurse said, gesturing her pen at Dean. Then she put it in her mouth suggestively.
“Oh my god,” I complained, because this nurse was in love with Dean. Kenzie cut her off.
“Is this relevant?”
The nurse looked shocked.
“Stop it,” I whined. “He’s just my friend or something.”
“Or something,” he said softly.
Then he cleared his throat, and so did Jed.
Oh right, Jed was here.
“Anything else?” he asked, immediately shocking the girl out of her Dean-induced reverie.
“My mouth tastes weird,” I announced loudly.
Dean handed me the cup of water and I noticed a hospital bracelet tacked to his wrist. I held my IV arm up.
“Hey, we match.”
He nodded sadly and helped me take another sip.
“Guys, can we go home now?” I asked.
The nurse fumbled with some paperwork.
“I just need some signatures, and then you’re all clear. Dr. Evers will come in and debrief you.”
I started giggling again.
“What?” Dean whispered in my ear, and I could tell he was smiling.
I shivered from his breath on my skin.
“Debrief. It’s just funny,” I closed my eyes again, feeling the pull of sleep.
“If you can keep her awake, that’s probably better,” the nurse’s voice was so loud. She looked at me like I was some sort of invalid.
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