Author's Note: Ok

One winter evening…

Victoria.

So, there I was, trying my very hardest to wiggle my butt through a window in the ladies room. And the window in question was not small. Not only did I have to cut out a hole in the screen, I had to shimmy out without snagging my knit dress on the rough screen wire, a task in itself, I might add. It was snowing like the devil. A blizzard more accurate though.

Oh, and I had heels that could classify as a lethal weapon.

But, the date was no good.

The date was on to me.

He wasn't dating me cause of my charms. Nor was he going out with me because I was interesting, or somewhat OK looking, nor even witty. But he wanted to know about Ryan. About the Special Forces. About any way I could put in a good word for him.

I had to get to my car pronto.

Naturally, I had paged Dad.

He needed the heads up and I needed a ride.

But I had bigger problems. I could snag my dress. So I came up with a solution. I slipped it off, and threw it off the second story window. It landed in a heap behind the restaurant. Then I climbed through said window, pulling mightily hard, regretting that extra stick of garlic bread.

I shimmied on through though.

Stiletto heels in my mouth.

The snow fell around me, making the moment almost serene. Very pretty night and all, it would have been the perfect night for a winter date. Had the date not been a loser.

"What are you doing?"

I whipped my head around at the familiar voice.

None other then one Charles Grey. He stood down below, staring up at me in disbelief. Super! He could catch my shoes. Holding onto the window I took them out of my mouth, "Hey! Make yourself useful and catch."

He set his beer down.

I guess expecting to catch me.

But I dropped my shoes down instead, which he caught, thankfully. I really didn't want them scratched. Upon catching them he turned and set them on a dumpster.

While doing so, I pushed myself out the window, did a flip, and landed on my feet.

Quite impressed with myself.

He stared with raised eyebrows.

Haughtily I replied, "Eight years of gymnastics and I still got it. Damn I'm good." Which just elated me to no end. I gleefully ran to my dress in stockings, pulled it on, and then dressed myself. Making myself somewhat warmer. But I had escaped loser-boy. I then put on the heels. And off I went, after of course bidding Charles a fond farewell.

I'd just returned from Brazil with Dad and the guys. Training mission, but I got to go, and I got a nice tan. Opposite seasons, gotta love them.

However, to my surprise, Charles followed me out into the parking lot. Beer in hand, "Where are you off to?"
Hector must have had a date. It was the only logical reason his partner in crime was MIA.

"Home," I reported.

Easily the lady-killer caught up with me. "I thought you had school?"
With a shake of my head I informed him, "Finished up and moved back in with Dad." While it sounded bad. It wasn't, quite the opposite really. Dorm life was so not for me.

The sound of snow crunching beneath my heels amused me. The feeling of cool snowflakes landing on my skin, then melting, was thrilling. I loved the winter. Perfect happy moments.

I just had to ignore Charles.

"You're walking all the way home?"

So my feet would get a little numb, big deal, "It's only three miles."

I tilted my face upwards towards the moon. Catching snowflakes with my face. While I hopped on the sidewalk. Happy and content with the small pleasures in life.

Charles finished his beer and tossed it in a trashcan, then hurried after me.

"I don't need an escort," I told him.

He slipped on some ice, "I do."

While he was certainly charming, he was not the man I needed right now. I needed normal. Civilian normal. Dad promised me normal.

Charlie held out his elbow to me. As if he were going to escort me. But I was neither girlfriend, nor family, so I did not not accept the elbow. I merely smiled, "Don't you have girlfriend's you should be with?"

He ignored that, but still kept his elbow out for me. "You never told me you were a master diver. Ryan never mentioned it either."

He was referring to the training trip, my winter vacation. Ryan had brought me along, especially after my biological father hadn't invited me to the family Christmas Trip. Sarah, my sister, had about lost her ever-loving mind over that. But, it didn't really surprise me. I always knew where I stood with him, and Ryan.

"Or that you had your Captain's license."

I avoided what was obviously ice on the sidewalk, just as a car slowed down. I patted his elbow. "Good night, Charles."

The car stopped and I strolled over, opened the door, and Dad peeked out at Charles, "Grey. What are you doing? Where's Williams?"

Grey jerked a finger over his shoulder, "Took the car and Michelle."

I had no idea who Michelle was, nor did I care. I buckled into the warm car and waited for Dad to tell me to close the door. Instead he told Grey, "Hop in, I'll drop you off at home."

The Next Day…

So, traipsing around in a little knit dress, stilettos, and tights three days before Christmas, not such a great idea.

I was sick.

My nose was running, my throat scratchy, I had a fever and was pretty sure someone had gotten into the house and beat me with a bat. I was sore, hot, and thirsty.

Ryan had left a glass of water, ibuprofen, soup, and the phone on my bed stand. He also told me something. It could have been, "I'm heading to the office, call me if you need anything. Check your fever in a few hours, or I'll send someone to check on you." Or, it could have been, "I'm running away with Jorge and we're going to be transvestites in Vegas."

I had no idea.

But, sometime during the day I got up to use the facilities.

Risked a look at the mirror, and managed to get my dark mane in a ponytail. My great accomplishment of the day.

I then slumped through the house. Got a glass of orange juice, and found the couch. In my sweatpants and tee, there was no need for a blanket. Plus, it was like a sauna in the house. I procured the remote and began flipping through channels.

HSN, Animal Planet, Soaps, Soaps, Soaps, News at Noon, Western Movie, Charmed, MTV, History Channel…jackpot. And something on Robin Hood, this day was looking up.