Disclaimer I do not own CB Strike. All copyright belongs to JK Rowling -writing as Robert Galbrieth and the production company. No copyright infringement is intended nor should be inferred.
Stranded.
The rain battered the aging Land Rover as Robin swore under her breath. She knew the car would survive just about any conditions but the rain and wind was threatening to push the aging car over the road. Strike smiled slightly as his normally stoic partner began to lose her cool.
"You ok?"
"Its just the weather. We'll be fine." He noted her hands were gripping the wheel so tightly that the knuckles had turned white. He watched her closely knowing she would not appreciate him worrying about her. "What time did we say we would get home?"
"Back by 8 in the morning." He answered. "You can stop for a break if you want. We can get a coffee. There's time."
"When we get to the motorway maybe." He nodded as she wove the car through the country lanes. Her anxiety began to get the better of her as she realised the lanes had no lighting and no way of knowing what was directly ahead of her. Strike realised keeping quiet was probably the best plan. He knew she was fighting to control her emotions as well as control the car. He silently curse himself for insisting they both went to Wales by car, knowing that a train from London to Cardiff would be fairly straight forward. The witness they had visited had been a waste of time, now they were going through some God awful country lanes in the dark in the middle of a storm.
"Bet this is beautiful in the Summer." Robin tried to smile.
"Not now when its pissing with rain." He paused as headlights heading towards them temporarily blinded them. Robin swerved hard to the left, swearing as the car hit the ditch at the side of the road. The 4x4 lurched dangerously before coming to settle a few feet away from the side of the road. It tilted ominously on its side before setting itself back down on its wheels. Robin kept her hands on the steering wheel as she closed her eyes. Breathing heavily she tried to calm herself before checking both her and Strike were still alive.
"Robin." She felt his hand on hers, gently prising the fingers from the steering wheel. "Its ok. We are ok." He spoke calmly. "Just need to get back on the road."
Robin swallowed hard before nodding. "Yeah. Yeah, you sure you're ok?"
"Yeah." He smiled slightly. "I think this Land Rover is tougher than some of the Tanks I have been in." He tried to lighten to mood as Robin shot him a death glare that was hidden by the night.
"Ok." She took a deep breath before turning the key. The engine failed to turn over. "Come on."
Strike glanced at her concerned that the car was not going to start. She turned the key again, once again the dreaded sound of a failed engine filled the air. "Did we hit anything?"
"Don't think so." He turned the torch on his phone on before jumping out of the car. Robin felt her heartrate quicken as he walked around the car and looked underneath it. "Nah, bodywork looks ok."
"Good." She relaxed a little as he got to the driver's side door.
"Unless its hit the engine but I couldn't see anything much. Open the bonnet."
"You have no idea what you are looking for." She smiled.
"Oi, I am trying to be your knight in shining armour 'ere. Open the bonnet." He huffed as she did as he asked.
"Well?"
"I am getting soaked 'ere and I can't see a sodding thing."
"Get back in." She called as he grabbed the door. "I'll just have to call the AA or something." She looked at her phone. "Or something."
"What?"
"My phone just died. You?"
"No signal." He swore. "We are stuck 'ere. Until the storm settles down anyway." He folded his arms across his body as Robin did the best she could to not cry. The claustrophobia of being in the small car with the storm raging around them and the darkness began to get to her. She closed her eyes as she tried to fight the panic. Strike took her hand in his.
"We are ok. We are safe enough here." He spoke gently as he drew imaginary circles on her palm. "As long as we're together everything is ok, yeah?"
"Yeah." She nodded as he reached over to brush her hair away from her face. "I suppose."
"No suppose about it." He smiled at her as she rolled her eyes, her panic momentarily forgotten. "We should get settled for the night. Not likely to get any signal or 'elp while this storm is still going." She nodded as he smiled slightly. "Lets try to keep warm and get some rest."
"You're already soaked." Robin looked over him. "Corm."
"I'll get dried." He slipped his coat off, dumping it on the footwell.
"Get in the back." Robin stated firmly. "You need body heat with no coat on." He raised an eyebrow before jumping out of the car to get in the rear of the vehicle. Robin shook her head before climbing into the rear and settling in the seat. She huddled up to Strike as he wrapped his arms around her. The car rocked in the wind as he buried his face in her hair.
"Go to sleep. Its ok." He hugged her tightly as the rain seemed to get worse. She pulled the blanket she always kept in the car over them both before relaxing in his arms. She had a feeling it was going to be a long night.
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a/n do I go on? Why are they really in Wales anyway?