This is a late birthday present for Scherrille. I was hoping to surprise her with a story all of her own on her special day, but alas, life got in the way…again. But it's done now. I did incorporate her prompts: Wine, candles, and high heels, and I took the events of what is happening in Buffalo and wrote a story around it. And this time, Joss is the one with something surprising up her sleeve. Enjoy!

Dedicated to Scherrille. Happy Birthday, friend. May your year be blessed.

Song prompt: "Love songs, Candlelight, and You", by Jonathan Butler.

Love songs, Candlelight, and You

"Hurry!" Joss pleaded through chattering teeth and wrapped her arms around herself to ward off the cold. Snow whipped around her and Reese, and the wind howled and shrieked, as he numbly tried to insert the keycard into the lock on the motel door.

"Damn it!" Reese muttered under his breath. With his free arm he pulled Joss close to shield her from the elements. Again he tried to unlock the door and failed. Finally, he breathed on the card before inserting it. The green light came on and he turned the handle.

The pair literally fell into the room and stood in awkward silence as they tried to catch their breath.

"Are you okay?" Reese asked the snow covered woman standing before him. He took her coat and hung it beside the door.

Joss nodded her head. "Yeah. You?"

"I'll survive." Reese walked to the bathroom and grabbed a couple of towels. "Here," he handed one to Joss.

"Thanks." Joss slowly wiped the moisture off her face. "Where did that storm come from?" she asked.

"I don't know. Good thing we found this hotel," Reese replied. He rubbed the towel vigorously over his head. He looked at the thermostat. 72 degrees. They should be warming up quickly. Then they were going to have to find food.

"Yeah. Good thing," Joss agreed. Her trained detective eye scanned the room. One television, one coffee maker, one lamp, and one bed. "Uh, John…? There is one bed."

Reese looked at the double bed with the cheap comforter. "Yep." His body ached and all he wanted to do was sleep…after taking a hot shower. He took off his heavy coat and hung it on the hook beside Joss's.

"There are two of us."

He nodded affirmatively. "Yep."

"So…?"

"We'll discuss that in a minute, Joss. Nature calls." Turning on his heel, Reese walked six steps to the bathroom and closed the door.

"Well, that answered that," Joss muttered under her breath. Feeling the cold slowly leave her body, she moved to the coffeepot. The coffee grounds were generic, but she needed something hot right now, it was going to have to do. Ripping open the packet, she poured it into the filter. Now for the water.

Taking the carafe to the stand alone sink that was located between the cheap closet and bathroom, she filled it to the suggested line. A minute later the aroma of brewing coffee filled the room.

"Is that coffee I smell?" Reese sniffed the air as he stepped out of the bathroom and washed his hands.

"It's not Folgers, but it will be hot," Joss comforted and rubbed her hands together. She looked around the room. It wasn't anything to brag about, but it was warm and was keeping the snow out.

"Did you get a chance to call Taylor?" Reese wondered and sat down on the bed.

"I'll do that right now. Excuse me." Joss walked to the bathroom and closed the door. Her voice was muffled by the door.

Reese sat and watched the carafe slowly fill with the strong brown liquid and wondered how in the world they were going to get out of this one. Stuck in Texas on a case was one thing, but a blizzard in the middle of nowhere was something entirely different. Not that he was complaining, but if the look on Joss's face meant anything, she probably would want to be somewhere else. He was more than prepared to sleep on the floor. After all, it was the gentlemanly thing to do.

"Finch, where are you when…?" His question was cut off as the room was thrown into complete darkness.

"John?" Joss's voice held just a tinge of fear. "John?"

"I'm here, Joss," Reese assured her. His eyes quickly adjusted to the dark as he went on high alert. "I think we lost power." He clicked the bedside lamp twice. "Yep. It's out."

Joss groaned. "Great. Now what are we supposed to do?" Her hands blindly reached for the wall. Using the light from her phone, she let it guide her to the bed.

"Wait for the lights to come back on, I guess." Reese was at a loss, but that was the best reply he could come up with.

"And when will that be?" she asked rhetorically.

In the darkness, Reese shrugged. He had no answer. "At least we have the room," he offered up as a consolation.

"Heh. I guess it will have to do. At least I got to talk to Taylor."

"How is he?"

"Fine. He made it to my mother's before the storm hit. He'll stay there until we get back." At least she had that comfort. As for the room and the situation…yeah, that was quite another story.

"He's safe. And so are you."

Joss dropped her shoulders. "How long do you think the power will be out?"

"No idea. Where we are…the ferocity of the storm…" Reese pulled back the curtain and looked out at the swirling snow. Yeah, it was beyond bad. "We could be here for a while." A long while, he amended silently. At least they were inside away from the blizzard.

"I'm thirsty," Joss announced.

Reese dropped the curtain and turned to look at her. "You're what?"

"Thirsty. It's been a while since we stopped for anything to drink. And the coffee…well, that's not going to happen," she pointed out logically. "You think you might be able to get us a couple of sodas?"

"You want me to walk out in the storm and get you a Coke?" Reese was dumbfounded by her off the wall request.

"I did go with you to save a number and now I'm trapped with you in a flea-bag motel in the middle of nowhere. I think a Coke is a small price to pay." She clasped her hands together.

Joss does have a point, he argued with himself. "I'll be right back," he said and pulled on his coat and gloves. "Do you need anything else?"

"Whatever they have in the cooler will be fine with me."

Reese pulled the wash cap over his head. "Stay here," he ordered. "Don't open the door for anyone."

"I think I can take care of myself, John," Joss soothed. "I am a cop."

"Just keep the door locked." Counting to three, Reese braced himself for the sharp wind and freezing temperature before opening the door and stepping outside. With a bang, he closed it behind him.

Getting up from the bed, Joss walked over to the window and parted the curtains. She could make out Reese's figure hunched over in the direction of the office. A second later he disappeared.

Yep, she told herself, it was time to put her plan into action. Grabbing the keys to the car, she pulled open the door and stepped outside.