Author Note: ….getting ready for a long winters night…or something like that….

T7S

Chapter 12 - The Long Sleep

T7S

The pillows were resting against the back of the front seat. The suitcases and backpack were emptied of all things wearable. Eric looked a little silly wearing colored toe socks on his hands and a Point Place High School Cheer beret on his head. Jackie reminded him that a body loses most of its heat through the head and feet. The striped socks were protection for her against handsy-ness.

Jackie pulled her bunny slippers out of the duffel and slipped her pink fuzzy socks into the soft material. At some point, while Eric was organizing the front seat, his snow partner had slid into a pair of sweatpants. Those tantalizing tap panties were gone.

That was sad.

Jackie looked at their makeshift bed and smiled. "It's getting colder in here but this should keep us warm through the night. So….if you excuse me, I'm going to step out into the ladies room and I'd appreciate it if you didn't look."

Eric smiled, "The windows are frosted over, I couldn't even see Fez if he was dancing out there in a purple tutu."

Jackie giggled. "He might look good!"

"Seriously though, don't let go of the car. There's a wind out there and I'd hate to think you blew away like a kite." Eric joked.

She pushed against the door, "Quit trying to make me laugh or I'll pee my pants right here!" Eric pressed his hands against his cheeks and pretended to gasp, "You wouldn't!"

Laughing, she opened the door to the freezing cold environment and it nearly took her breath away. As soon as the passenger door was opened it was like all the warmth of the Vista Cruisers interior was sucked out and replaced with a sub-zero refrigerator. Eric deftly slid into the sleeping bag and silently prayed Jackie finished her business quickly. Minutes later, the door creaked open and a snow frosted brunette pushed her shivering body inside.

"If…if y-y-you have t-t-to go….hurry!" The bag was unzipped and she kicked off the bunny slippers and slid up next to Eric's warm body. "Damn Jackie, you are like an ice cube!"

She slid her freezing hand under his shirt and Eric yelped. "I'm cold!" His toe-socked hands pulled those icy fingers off his ribs. "Okay, I'm going out so you be prepared when Iceman Eric comes back in."

Jackie rubbed her hands together. "Use the bunny slippers or you'll get your socks wet." The muffled warning said from inside the sleeping bag. Eric looked at the small lump that was cocooned in the warmth of the fleece.

Bunny slippers?

He managed to get most of his toes in the small slippers and hung onto the passenger door as the wind buffeted the car. On any normal day, it would have been a challenge to write his name in the snow….in cursive….but now it was a matter of expediency. Business finished, Eric struggled to get the door open and managed to dive through the slim gap just as Jackie had done.

She squealed, "You're a Popsicle!" Eric took the opportunity to put his stockinged hand under her Point Place High School Cheer Squad sweatshirt and give the small brunette a taste of her own medicine.

"I'm cold!" he mimicked her explanation from earlier. But seriously, it was luxuriously warm inside the Coleman. Jackie rolled on her side and tugged a pillow under her cheek. Eric did the same and smiled. "I look silly in this hat don't I?" he asked.

Jackie tugged on the beret and smiled. "On any other day I'd say yes, but today you look….handsome."

Eric realized that since they were both warming up and the shivering had gone away….the mood in the back of the cruiser had become more personal and intimate. It was just the two of them and Love Songs with Lisa. All of the former cheerleader's pretenses had dropped and she was looking at him without any of her previous irritability.

Eric felt like he could relax. The satin pillowcase felt great against his skin and while the sleeping bag was Bob's extra large, it was impossible for them to not lay there without body parts touching. Jackie looked at him and lightly touched his face.

"I heard that if you go to sleep….you die." She prayed it wasn't true.

Eric replied, "I'll wake you up every two hours." Wasn't gonna happen to them!

"What if you fall asleep? Then we both die!" She seemed more alarmed but reined in her earlier anticipation.

"I won't let you die. I promise. I'll keep us safe and warm." That was a pledge Eric could keep. Jackie seemed to visibly relax and closed her eyes. "I know this weekend is ruined but if we survive this….this adventure, we'll go on a real date."

Eric propped his head on his hand. "Well….I'll just have to make sure we survive our…adventure. May I ask what you'd like to do on this real date?"

She smiled, her white teeth visible in the dim light of the car. "It's been so long that I've had a proper date….dinner and a movie." She opened her eyes and they were dark, "Not some drive thru and drive in…I mean a nice restaurant and a popular film."

"Damn, so no Fatso Burgers and B-Rated flicks. You are not a cheap date are you?"

Her eyes crinkled. "No I'm not. I want to be wined and dined and romanced. Show me you have imagination. Surprise me."

"This is Love Songs with Lisa." The radio personality's sultry voice came over the cassette. "Before we go off air, I hope that you are with the one you love and cuddling under a warm blanket. It's really chilly out there. To all you lovebirds or aspiring lovebirds…this song is for you." The soft mellow voice of Smokey Robinson filled the speakers.

I don't care what they think of me
And I don't care what they say

Eric looked at his companion's relaxed face and bit his lip. Would she slap him upside the head if he kissed her goodnight?

I don't care what they think if you're leavin'
I'm gonna beg you to stay

After debating the kiss with his conscious, Eric took the initiative and he leaned down, catching her lips with his own. With the stocking covered fingers, he slid a hand through her hair to the back of her neck and pulled her closer to kiss her tenderly. Softly. He ended the kiss before giving her a chance to respond to it. Oh, how he wanted her to respond to it!

I don't care if they start to avoid me
I don't care what they do

Jackie smiled but didn't open her eyes. "Mmmm," she murmured, "I was wondering when you were going do that."

I don't care about anything else
But bein' with you

Eric rolled on his back, bumping shoulders with her. "I was afraid, but I figured I might not get a chance like that again."

"It was good." Jackie admitted. "You'll have to try it again sometime." She rolled over on her side. "Good night Eric." She whispered.

He smiled in the dark as he listened to Smokey's sage advice

People can change they always do
Haven't they noticed the changes in you
Or can it be that like love I am blind
Do I want it so much
'Til it's all in my mind

Kissing Jackie Burkhart's soft lips was the last thing on his mind as his hand slapped the "off" button on the radio. He pulled the sleeping bag over his shoulder as a shapely bottom snuggled against him for warmth. The toe socks were gone as his arm draped over a slim waist.

This was going to be the best night's sleep he had in a long time!

T7S

A/N: Okay, it wasn't smutty and I know what some of you were hoping for...it's a matter of keeping warm and surviving! What would you do? Seriously!