Having his car break down wouldn't have been so frustrating if it weren't nighttime and raining. Checking beneath a car hood while gallons of water poured over him was not high on his list of things he enjoyed. Adding to the unfortunate situation were his location – practically the middle of nowhere – and his cell phone's inability to get a signal.

The car had sputtered out only moments before, forcing him to quickly pull over. He'd begrudgingly gotten out into the harsh rain to see if the problem was fixable. From what he could see, though, nothing was broken. Of course, he couldn't see much at the moment. His flashlight only provided a small amount of light against the sheet of rain and the drops were beginning to run into his eyes. He blinked to clear his vision as he assessed the car parts.

It was getting late and the weather was showing no sign of clearing up. At this point, he only had two options: take refuge inside his car and wait for a motorist to pass by or scour the area for a home or other form of shelter. Considering he hadn't seen another car on the road the entire night, it seemed to him that the latter would be the smarter choice. If nothing else, he may get into an area where he could get a cell phone signal and call for help.

He closed the hood of his car and grabbed his keys from the ignition, locking it behind him. The wind began to pick up and the material of his coat flapped around his body. His skin was soaked to the bone, making him that much colder when the wind blew against him. He tightened the coat about his body and gave the car one last look before walking off to seek refuge.

Almost fifteen minutes down the way, he caught sight of smoke streaming up. He began making his way toward the smoke and soon he saw a somewhat dilapidated home that stood alone within the wooded area. The windows were soiled, the door looked as though it were about to fall off its hinges, and the sides of the house had spots of mold. Still, there was a pick-up truck parked nearby, and the smoke coming out of the stone chimney indicated to him that someone was home.

From inside the home, he could hear the soft sounds of a television. When he knocked, a dog inside began howling ferociously and a murmured voice ordered the beast to quiet down.

"What?" The door opened to reveal a woman in her mid-thirties. She was rail thin, though she wore a long man's flannel shirt which hung down to her knees, as well as thick, wool socks. Her brown hair was pulled back into a ratty ponytail and she wore no makeup. Behind the woman was a Rottweiler, straining at his leash as he tried to leap at the new person. The canine's teeth were bared in a snarl, his eyes blazing. He pushed himself up on his hind legs, flailing his front legs in the air.

"Uh…my car broke down over on that road back there and I can't get a cell phone signal," he explained, his eyes fixed on the growling dog. "Do you have a phone I could use?"

The woman peered out into the rain, studying him. She slowly shook her head. "No phone, but I've got an extra bed if you'd be interested in staying the night. If nothing else, it'll get you out of this weather."

He hesitated, trying to figure out whether it would be worse to stick it out in the rain or enter a house in which an angry dog resided. A flash of lightening and a crack of thunder caused him to jump. It felt as though the earth was shaking beneath him.

"Yes, thank you," he said finally. He slipped into the house, sighing as the warmth enveloped his body. He shed it soaked coat and, after looking to the woman for approval, hung it on a hook located near the door.

"How about some tea, hon?"

"That would be wonderful. Thank you." He took a seat as she busied herself in the kitchen area. The house was small – what some might call "cozy" – and it really wasn't clear where the living area ended and the kitchen area began. The mouth of a small hallway was in the left corner. The tables, counters, and bookshelf were covered with papers, envelopes, and other knick-a-knacks. The television was tiny and the picture was grainy and faded. Every now and then, the picture would go out, replaced by snow, and come back moments later. Beside it was a fireplace in which a small fire was burning. Aside from the growling dog in the corner, the most stand-out feature in the house was the large array of crocheted items. They were draped over every flat surface and they hung over every window. It was like something out of The Beverly Hillbillies minus the whole Beverly Hills part.

He was pulled from his thoughts by a mug being placed in front of him. The dark liquid inside was steaming and it smelled heavenly. He accepted the mug graciously and gulped down the tea as quickly as he could without scalding his tongue. "Thank you," he said after one of the gulps.

"Oh, it's no problem at all," she said with a large grin.

The tea was practically gone when he placed the mug down harshly. His mind was beginning to cloud over and he felt himself growing weary. His eyelids were gently drooping and his muscles felt as though they were liquefying.

"Can I show you to your room now, Mr. Gemcity?"

The last thing he slurred before passing out was, "Gemcity's my penname..."

AN: Yes, I'm putting Tim in more peril! I just can't get enough of it! The story is complete and I'll post one chapter per day!