"Next time we take the train," Andy said as he fiddled with the defrost controls on their rental.

"The train didn't go where we needed to go," Sharon responded.

"Then we don't go."

"Right, Lieutenant. You be the one to tell the chief we refuse to attend the conference."

Andy glanced over and grinned for the first time in hours, "Nah... not my job. I can just tell my Captain, and she will deal with the brass."

Sharon snorted. How had they gotten themselves into this mess? "Eyes on the road, please."

"Yeah, yeah..." he grimaced, and then turned back to look at the sheets of freezing rain and snow falling all around them. They were driving at a snail's pace, both of them knowing what snow covered black ice meant and neither wanting to end up in a ditch, or worse.

Silence again descended on the pair, as they strained to see out the front window for anything that spoke of civilization and a way off the highway. They had been traveling for hours after leaving the airport, their flight having been rerouted. The mix of tropical storm and arctic air had changed travel plans for thousands of people heading across the continent. At the time it had seemed a no-brainer to give up their seats on their alternate flight for a mother traveling with two small children. In retrospect, they both would have still given up their seats, but deciding to rent an SUV and travel themselves needed a serious review.

"You wanna tell me again what's so all fired important that we get to this thing, Captain?" Conversation had been stilted for most of their journey, but Andy was starting to get tired of the silence. They didn't know each other well, and certainly not enough to be chatty, but something had to give, and if it wasn't the weather, than it was going to be the company.

"Well, Lieutenant, as you know, the LAPD has made some significant changes in dealing with criminals by working towards deals rather than convictions, and other police departments across the country are starting to take notice of the money saved. Assistant Chief Taylor felt it best to hear from the people who did this regularly than from those who managed the budgets."

"Yeah, I get the part where Taylor wanted less work and we are the grunts."

"Lieutenant..." she started with a tone of rebuke.

"Don't even bother," Andy cut her off, knowing what she was trying to say. That brought a giggle from her and another smile from him. So Captain perfect was a giggler. That he needed to file away for another time.

"Oh, Andy, you know the way things are" she finally gave up the pretense, "It was you or Lieutenant Provenza, and quite honestly if I had to do this I wanted someone who would at least talk to me, even if you didn't really like me."

How could he explain that he hadn't disliked her for months now. He was even getting used to her style of doing the job. And quite honestly, he liked their new system just as much as she did. Less time in a courthouse worked for him. He knew the rest of the team was still struggling with the new dynamic, but he was all about catching the bastard, not telling the story for years afterwards.

"I like you just fine" he responded.

Sharon sighed, "It's okay, Lieutenant."

"Nah, nah Captain, I mean it. You get the job done and you give us a lot more rope to work with than I thought you would. It's going okay."

"Really?"

Andy wasn't used to hearing anything but complete confidence from the woman sitting beside him, and he felt bad for all the years he had given her grief. She was always right, and he hated that part, but now that they were on the same team, her always being right meant he could relax and just do his job.

"Look," he gestured quickly before returning his second hand to the wheel, "you came from a department that had to point out what we did wrong. When you're on the receiving end of that, it's no fun. But now, you know... you've shown me a thing or two about working inside the system, and it's not all bad."

Sharon smirked, pulling her confidence around her again like a cloak, "Don't hurt yourself with the compliment, Lieutenant," she said sarcastically.

Now it was Andy's turn to chuckle. A giggler and sarcastic, and not a bad travel companion. This could be a good thing. "The rest will come around. And Provenza will get his head out of his ass."

"Mmm..." she hummed, and said no more.

"You know, this could be worse," he attempted to lighten the mood some more.

"How?"

"Well... we could have Provenza with us."

Sharon let out a full throated laugh. "Oh my god," she started, as she tried to catch her breath, "can you imagine how bad that would be? He would be complaining the whole time. The road is bad enough. Oh god..." she took her glove off and wiped under her eyes before returning the glove to her hand, "if I have to pick one of you to be in this situation, you are my only choice."

Andy grinned and let the comment slide. He had to agree, there was no contest. As much as he like his other teammates, too much of a good thing was too much. His Captain, on the other hand, was more to his taste in traveling companions. Always on time, light packer, never complained, asked what she could to do help rather than telling him what to do, and he didn't have to fight over who drove. And she always travelled with snacks. Healthy stuff. She wasn't on the lookout for burgers and fries.

Truth be told, if the weather wasn't such a crap show, the trip would be really enjoyable.

They drove in silence for a while, then Sharon grunted, shivering against the cold. Everything the SUV's heater could produce was aimed at the windshield, and none of it at the floor. They were dressed for some snow and cold, but not this long extended stay on the highway.

"What does the map say?" Andy asked, more than a little concerned.

"I stopped looking at the map a while ago. I've just been looking for any place we could stop."

"Yeah..." Andy sighed. "Anything else we can use in that emergency kit?"

Although they lived in sunny and warm California, neither of them were new to driving in snow, so when they rented the SUV, they made sure to take the emergency kit with winter sleeping bag offered by the dealer. At the time they had checked the weather and road conditions and thought they could manage. Now Andy was having serious doubts they would make it somewhere safe and warm.

There was no direct Interstate between where they landed and where they needed to be, so taking a lesser highway that reminded him of the Oregon Trail, they set out, map in hand since the GSP wasn't reliable with all the hills.

"The kit, right..." Sharon shivered again, then turned to rummage through it. "Emergency blanket, fleece blankets, flairs, tea lights, matches, sand, granola bars that feel like bricks of ice, I wonder how long those have been in here."

"If we get desperate, we'll find out."

"Mmmm, true. That's it. I don't think the flairs will do any good in this weather."

Just then a gust of wind blew through and pushed their vehicle to the middle of the road.

"Andy!" Sharon raised her voice in panic.

"I've got this. I've got it." he replied, trying to hold the vehicle steady as he directed it back into what he thought was their side of the highway. "Captain, we have to get off the road."

"I know" she replied, fear replacing some of the panic.

The fields they were passing were out, as far as Andy was concerned. One good gust of wind, and the SUV would be toppled. The wheels might have been a better choice for the road, but the height made it easy to knock over.

"Andy, look."

He squinted and leaned forward to see what she was pointing at. "You see something?"

"Those trees. Do you think we can get into those trees? They will block the wind and some of this sleet."

"That far off the road, we won't be easy to see."

"I know, but I don't like our odds of being rescued. I think we have to minimize the danger on our own."

"Good point," he agreed, and slowed down even further, hoping there was a turnoff that was not covered in snowbanks.

"It looks like a logging road," she said, pointing to what appeared to be a used train cut into the trees.

"Logging, this time of year?"

"Christmas trees maybe?"

"Maybe, all right, let's see where this gets us."

Slowly, almost at a crawling pace, Andy turned them onto the side road and into a groove beside the trees. The land underneath wasn't as solid as he would have liked, but he didn't want them to be in the middle of the road if an eighteen wheeler full of logs decided to muscle through.

"I have to turn this off. We are getting stuck in here."

"I know" she shivered, then put her hand on his arm to reassure him. "We had no choice."

"I know. Alright, time to get us organized before we lose all our daylight along with the heat."

Pushing the front seats as far up as they would go, Sharon and Andy climbed in the back and started to arrange what they had for emergency supplies. Andy was very aware that Sharon's skin was turning red, and he didn't like how often she shivered. "Ski jacket's aren't parkas, I guess," he tried to make light of the situation.

"No, and my blood is too thin for this kind of weather."

Andy grunted, "Old wives tale, Captain."

Sharon lifted her head and looked at him, "Science, Lieutenant!"

"Seriously?"

"Seriously."

"Huh... I always thought that blood thing was an excuse."

"I don't do excuses, Lieutenant."

"No Captain, you don't," he chuckled again. "You tired at all?"

'"Not yet, why?"

"Well, we have two fleece blankets, an emergency blanket, a seat that folds down flat and one winter sleeping bag. Fold the seat, emergency blanket, wrap ourselves in fleece, then the winter bag open on top. Unless you have a better suggestion."

Sharon looked uncomfortable for a moment, then resigned herself to common sense. Of course they would have to share the one bag, and it was too small for them to climb into together and still have it zip.

"Listen, Captain..." Andy started, trying to ease the situation once he realized she was uncomfortable with his being so close.

"No, no Lieutenant, you are right. We are both adults and I want us to survive this ordeal. Body heat is all we have." She shivered as she was speaking, wrapping her arms even tighter around her body.

"Not to be personal, Captain, but what do you have on under that jacket?"

Sharon looked him in the eye for a minute, then answered. "Satin bra, silk shirt, wool cardigan, and if we are talking about clothing I think the 'Lieutenant' and 'Captain' will have to stop."

Andy nodded, "and your legs?"

"Silk stockings and dress pants, and before you even say it, I know the bra and stockings are keeping too much moisture close to my body and making me colder."

"You got anything better in your luggage?"

"No, I was prepared for a flight and hotel room, not this. What about you?"

"Suit, extra shirt, sleep pants and a pair of wool socks that you're putting on when you get those other clothes off."

Sharon closed her eyes and took a deep breath between shivers, then nodded and opened her eyes. Andy was suddenly very grateful for his extremely practical commanding officer.

After he lit one of their tea lights, he pulled his bag closer and rummaged through the contents. "These are old, but they're better than you're wearing," he said as he offered her the socks.

Taking them gratefully, Sharon bent over to untie her boots. "I can't, she said in frustration."

Andy lifted her hands and took off her gloves. They were splotches of red and white, sure signs of frostbite starting to settle in, and extremely cold. He held her hands in his palms for a moment, trying to infuse them with warmth, then reached down to grab her foot. "Let me" he said as he pulled one of her legs onto his lap. "These knee highs or thigh highs, or do the go all the way up?" he asked when he felt the nylons in her boot.

"All the way."

"Right," he replied, reached for the sleeping bag, then unzipped it and spread it open. "You got sleep pants?"

When she shook her head, Andy pulled his pajamas out of his bag and passed them to her. "Everything is coming off, and we have to be quick."

Sharon watched him as he blew on his hands, rubbing them together quickly to get them warm.

"Ready?" he asked, knowing he had to give her as much control and dignity as he could manage, since she couldn't use her hands to help herself.

"As I'll ever be having my bottom half exposed to these temperatures."

"Climb on me," he offered.

"What? Why?"

"I'll keep you warm while we get you changed, and you hold the sleeping bag over the two of us. We will both stay warmer that way."

"Good point," she said, moving to settle herself on top of him.

Andy tried not to comment on the cold of her body as she sat down on his lap. Once she pulled the winter sleeping bag over the two of them, he reached around to undo the fastener on her pants and began to pull them off. He expected firm muscles under her clothing, he'd certainly stared at her enough times to know she worked out and kept her body lean, but he wasn't prepared for the softness of her skin as his hands grazed over her hips. "Lift yourself a bit" he said with a slight gruff to his voice, when he realized either she had to move off him, or his hands were going to skim along the fullness of her ass and thighs as he pushed the fabric away from her freezing skin.

"How, I've got the sleeping bag?"

He thought for a second, then bent over slightly so he could pull both boots off. "Put your feel on my knees and push up."

It was awkward, but they managed without too much cold air slipping in around the sleeping bag. The nylons clung to her skin and had to be peeled away. He hoped her shivers were from the cold and not because he was hurting her. Once her legs were bare, he fumbled to get the pant legs of his pajamas over her feet and pulled up. Getting her dressed was more work than getting her naked, but they managed. Once the socks were on her, and her feet were tucked into the bottom of the sleeping bag, Andy held her close.

"I'll be okay. I'm warmer already."

"I know, but just stay here for a bit. You're too cold and those cotton pants won't do you any good on their own. This jacket has to come off too."

Sharon nodded reluctantly and allowed Andy to unzip it, then pull it down her arms and push it out from the confines of the sleeping bag.

"Do you want to wait to warm up to get your bra off? Your hands should be better in a while."

Sighing Sharon leaned her head back onto his shoulder. "The sooner it's gone the faster I can warm up. Just help me get it off, but no comments."

Andy chuckled, "Wouldn't dream of it. You are going to have to pull your arms out of your shirt and sweater, though, or take it off and put it back on. The silk and wool are good enough to keep you warm."

"I thought of that already. One arm at a time, okay? And the clasp is in the front."

"Right," Andy said as he reached around to begin unbuttoning her shirt. This time it wasn't only the feel of her skin that caused him to respond, but also the smell of her warming body. She was not a heavy person, but the weight of her rested in places he was trying not to acknowledge. Now was not the time to be aroused.

"You will have to unbutton the cuffs, too," she said.

Cuffs were easier, and once undone he was able to tug one sleeve down her arm and pull the elastic over her shoulder and off her arm. Once he pulled the sleeve back up her arm, he reached over to the other side to repeat the process. Cuff unbuttoned, shirt and sweater sleeve yanked down her arm.."

"Ow..." She hissed.

Andy reacted immediately by raising his hands to her chest. "I hurt you?" he asked as he placed his palm over one of her breasts. He could feel the firm peak in his hand and couldn't stop himself before his fingers encircled her breast and squeezed gently. "Sorry, sorry..."

"It's okay," she said, her breath hitched, "it's not you. The clasp scraped me, that's all. I'm okay."

"You sure?" he asked again, his thumb lightly caressed the skin above her breast.

Sharon nodded and let out another shiver. That was enough to remind Andy he had to dress her again, and not to get carried away. She was in his lap for her survival, not his pleasure, and she deserved more respect from him.

The smart thing would have been to wrap the sleeping bag around her and lift her onto the seat beside him. The smart thing would have been to let her warm up on her own. But Andy found himself struggling against the smart thing.

"Sit up just a bit," he asked her.

"Why?"

"I'm going to undo my jacket and see if I can help you get warmer," he said.

Agreeing, Sharon leaned forward while Andy unzipped his jacket and pulled apart the sides to give her better access to his chest.

"Now lean back," he encouraged, and as she settled on him, he started stroking up and down her arms.

Sharon pulled the sleeping bag closer to the two of them and squirmed a little before getting comfortable and relaxing into his body.

"You are being very good to me, Andy."

"You make it easy" he said softly.

Sharon turned her head into Andy's neck and hummed. His arms automatically pulled her closer, reaching around to hug her tightly to himself. He realized he hadn't buttoned up her shirt again when his hand rubbed along her pebbled nipple. This time there was no hiding his reaction. She wasn't cold enough to slow his response.

Andy knew he had crossed the line, and could feel it in how ridging Sharon became in his arms. Then he felt her relax, and felt her hand on his arm pushing him back towards her breast. He didn't know what to think. "Sharon?"

"Just touch me, Andy... please?" she said in a quiet voice.

"Are you sure?" he asked, but he was already cupping and kneading her breast, and tilting his head to cradle her closer to his neck.

"Mmm... very sure. You feel so good."

"That's my line," he replied, and they both started to chuckle.

Andy continued to knead Sharon's breasts, first one, then the other, pinching her nipples then tweaking them, then tracing around their edge. His other hand held her stomach, pressing her back into his chest.

"How far do you want this to go?" he asked, kissing the edge of her head as he spoke.

"How far do you want it to go?" she responded, breath hitching as he pinched her again.

"I'm a baseball fan, I always want the home run."

Sharon laughed. "We are in a car on an isolated road, in the middle of a winter storm, no one for miles and we're not sure if we will get out in one piece, and you are speaking in euphemisms?

"Well..." he dragged it out, "if I told you what I wanted in plain English, you might be disgusted enough to tell me to stop."

"I doubt it. Tell me." she said, turning just enough to see catch his eye.

He'd already pushed them this far. If he was going to lose, at lease it would be with a bang and not a whimper, he decided. "Alright... I like this, touching you. You are so soft and now that you've warmed up, your smell is driving me crazy. I want to keep touching you, I want to finger fuck you until you scream my name, and then I want to drive my dick so far into your cunt that we'll never get it out."

This time he wasn't sure if the shiver was from the cold or something else entirely.

They sat silently for a minute or two, Andy not sure if she was really ready to hear him after all. It was a ridiculous notion, and he hoped when this was all over they would chalk it up to the situation and not let it damage their working relationship. But she'd asked, and he'd answered, and she didn't play games... at least as far as he knew.

"No one has ever..." she started.

It was on the tip of his tongue to apologize.

"Andy, you could warm me up with your words," she groaned, leaning further into his chest.

"You like that?" he was dumbfounded.

"Do you think I'm a nun?" she chuckled at his reaction.

"Ah, no... but..."

"If this is the last thing I'm going to do, I'm going out feeling good, not stuck on a shelf thinking I might break, okay?"

He wasn't sure what else to say, so he let his hands to the communicating. Gently he lifted the weight of her breasts in his hand and tweaked the tip with his thumb. He could her ear soft groan in the back of her throat, and ever sound made him hard.

"You like it when I talk dirty," he hissed into her ear, no longer a question.

She squirmed on his lap.

"You want me to put my hand over your skin, pawing you like this?"

She was getting warmer.

"You want my big fingers tracing down past your stomach and finding out if you're wet yet."

Her stomach muscles clenched.

"You like it when I stick my hand in the opening of your pants, and start running my fingers up and down your slit."

Her legs spread open and she groaned again.

"You're begging me to push my fat fingers into your hot cunt and slowly pump in and out."

He couldn't believe how wet she was. His fingers slipped in easily, first one, then two, curling as he went. As he stroked he could feel the ridges and bump inside her warm channel, sucking him in deeper each time.

"A nice slow finger fuck, or you want me stroking your spot as hard as I can, I wonder..."

He was losing himself in her, whispering and hissing into her ear, seeing how far his words could push her to her climax. He could hear the short pants and feel her head lolled against his shoulder.

"Oh yeah, you like it when someone else takes you where you want to go. You want me to hold you down and give you a ride."

He could feel her muscles clenching his fingers and knew she was close.

"And when I do this," he breathed horsely into her neck as his thumb put pressure on her clit, "you're gonna cum for me."

Sharon screamed out her release, her body seizing so sharply that he had to hold on tight to keep her from moving. He had no idea how she kept the edges of the sleeping bag clenched in her hands and still covering them. Gently he kept stroking her as her breathing calmed and her muscles relaxed, careful not to touch her anywhere that she might be overstimulated and too sensitive.

"Oh my god..." she finally breathed out, her head still lolling against his neck.

"So that was okay, then?" he smiled, sounding a little more arrogant than he normally would, given what they had just shared.

She gave a deep throated laugh, and rolled her head into his neck. "Someone is feeling cocky."

Andy laughed with her and hugged her tight.