Title: A Little Bonding Goes a Long Way

Authors: Jay-Jay and Sydney

Rating: T

Summary: Title says it all.

Disclaimer: We own nothing. It's not ours and it isn't fair, but that's life.

Later that night Miles rolls over in his chair and looks at Stephen. "You asleep?"

"Nope." Stephen whispered back.

"He snores worse than my dad."

"He snores worse than MY dad."

Miles gets an idea and gets up. Grabbing his pillow he heads for Eva's room. He tries the knob and it opens. He looks back at Stephen who has already gotten up too.

Miles quietly walks in and shuts the door behind him. Something soft and fluffy smacks into his head. "AHHHHHHHHH! What the hell?"

"Ah ha. Busted." Eva was victorious, and Miles' ear hurt.

"What did I do?" He asked quietly.

"You snuck in here after I made it very clear that I didn't want you in here."

"Do you hear him?" He points outside. "I swear a bear is going to come break down the door and kill him for disrupting his sleep."

"A bear is not going to break down the door and kill Frank, or you. Now out!"

"Eva? Please. I haven't slept in 24 hours."

"Then go sleep outside."

"Then I will get eaten by a bear."

"You're worse than a child you know that?"

"Please." He pleads, giving her a puppy dog face.

"Fine, but you're sleeping on the floor. And if you snore I'll find that bear and personally feed you to him."

"I don't snore."

"That's what Frank says." She climbs back in the bed.

"Yeah, well I'm not lying. And if I do snore record it because I want my family to have solid evidence that I was killed because I snored."

"I'll remember that."

"Thank you." He lays down and pulls that blanket over him. "Night Eva."

"Night Miles."

Meanwhile Stephen opens the door to Natalie's room a little and looks inside. Nat was curled up on the bed, her back to the door. He opened the door all the way praying that it wouldn't creek. Once open he stepped inside and shut it behind him. He dropped his pillow and blanket on the floor and followed them. Laying down and hoping that it would be quieter in here. He had only been laying down for fifteen minutes when he heard a loud shrieking sounds coming from the bed.

He sat up straight and saw Nat holding a lamp. Since there weren't any lights on he assumed that she couldn't see him. "It's just me Nat."

"Get out or I will kill you."

"Nat. Be quiet or you'll wake the others."

"Stephen? What the hell are you doing in here?"

"Frank snores and that is the most uncomfortable chair in the world."

"Oh. Sorry I yelled so loud. You scared the hell out of me."

"That's okay. Sorry for waking you up."

"You didn't."

"What then?"

"Nothing." She sets the lamp down. "Are you going to be okay on the floor?"

"Why wouldn't I?"

"No offense Stephen, but your not that young anymore."

"Funny. And come to think of it. The chair was more comfortable, but I have no other furniture to use so this will work."

"Get in the bed Stephen."

Stephen blinks a couple of times. "What?"

"You are not sleeping on that floor, and you might die if you go out there with Frank. Get in the bed." She scoots over and pats the space next to her.

"You sure?"

"Now get you ass up here before I change my mind."

Stephen stands and walks over to the bed. He Lays his pillow down next to hers and lays down, pulling his blanket over him.

"Better?"

"Much. Thanks."

"No problem. And stay on your side of the bed."

"Yes Ma'am." She chuckles and lays down with her back to him. "Goodnight Natalie."

"Night Stephen."

Eva wakes up halfway through the night to the sound of the floor creaking. Thinking that someone else is trying to come into the room she sits up and turns the light.

"UGH! Turn the damn thing off Eva." Miles growled.

"I keep hearing someone move around." She whispered as she looked down at him.

"It's just me. Now turn that light off."

"Why do you keep moving?" She turns the light off and lays back down.

"Because I'm freezing and the ground is hard and cold."

"Then why don't you go back to your chair?"

"I tried, but Frank is talking now."

"Poor Baby."

"Your mean and I don't like you." He turns around and buries himself under the blanket.

"You're such a baby."

"Bite me."

"Come on."

"What?"

"Do you want to sleep with me or not?" Miles was stunned, he blinked and coughed, hoping something would make the tingly feeling go away.

"That so did not come out right."

"I would love to," Eva just stares at him. "share the bed with you."

"Jerk!" She hits him with her pillow. "Now get up here and shut up."

"Sure thing." He climbs in next to her and they both lay there on their backs and stare at the ceiling.

"Its cold in here."

"I think it's snowing."

"You're kidding right?"

"I'm pretty sure it is."

"Great. Just our luck."

"I think its kind of fun actually."

She turns to look at him. "You're crazy you know that?"

"Well it is. I mean, when else are the five of us going to be stuck in a cabin in the middle of nowhere. I mean, we work together every day and we never spend any time together outside of the labs and hospitals. It's kind of nice."

"Yeah it is."

Miles sits up and lifts his blanket up and puts half of his blanket over Eva. She just gives him a funny look. "You said that you were cold."

"You're so sweet."

Miles lays back down and looks at her. "Don't let anyone else know that."

"Our secret?"

"Yep. Our secret." He says as she lays her head on his shoulder. "Goodnight Eva."

"Night."

Stephen wakes up about the same time as Eva to the feeling of something warm curled up against his side. He looks down and sees that Nat had not only managed to roll over, but had managed to attach herself to his side. Not wanting to wake her but really needing to get the feeling back in his arm he moved it around her shoulders, pulling her closer.

She stirred, mumbled something, snuggled closer and then settled down again. He just shook his head and smiled. She was really cute when she slept. He pulled his blanket over her a little more when he noticed how cold it was outside. She stirred again, but this time she cried instead of mumbled.

Stephen didn't want to wake her, but when she started struggling against him he knew that he had too. "Nat, wake up." He gently shook her shoulder and she awoke instantly.

"Stephen?"

"Yeah, it it's me."

"Sorry." She starts to pull away from him.

"Stay."

"Huh?"

"Its like ten degrees in here, you're not going anywhere." He pulls her back to him and she snuggles up to him.

"Okay."

"You okay?"

"Yeah. Just a bad dream, but I'll be okay now." She wraps her arms around him as she says this.

"Good. Now get some sleep. Hopefully there won't be any more interruptions."

"Hopefully." Stephen brushes back some of the hair off of her forehead and places a kiss on it. "Sleep tight."

"You too." And they both fall asleep dreaming of each other.

Stephen was right; the temperature in the room didn't allow them any room to move. Natalie woke up first, toasty. It took her several seconds to realize that she had her arms wrapped around him and he had his around her. How awkward. She took a quick glimpse out the window, what she saw made her smile (more then she already was) Snow...and lots of it. Barely containing her excitement, Natalie shook Stephen awake.

"What?" It was groggy, and disheartening. Natalie sighed and shook him again, "Get up, Stephen!"

It was amazing how fast his eyes flew open. One of the hands that was on her waist moved to his face, where he used it to rub the sleep out of his eyes, "What's wrong?"

"Nothings wrong. But we've got snow!" Natalie smiled at the weary look he sent her. "Come on, Stephen, when is the last time you've made a snowman?"

"I don't do snowmen," He said sitting up. Natalie followed suite and let her arms fall to her side. "Okay, then. I have a better idea."

Miles awoke to a bright light coming through the window. Not really wanting to get up he rolled over to bury his face in the pillow, but instead he came face to face with his very beautiful, very sleepy looking co-worker.

"Morning sleepyhead." She smiled at the look on his face. "You do too snore by the way."

"I do not." He rubbed the sleep out of his eyes and looked back at her. "What time is it?"

"8:30." She smiled when he reached over and pulled the covers up over her shoulder.

"How long have you been awake?" He asked as he ran a hand through his hair. "And why is it so damn bright in here?"

"Since six, and you were right. It did snow last night." She smiled when he wrinkled his nose and rolled over onto his stomach, burying his face in his pillow.

She gently ran a hand over the back of his head and shook it gently. "Get up!"

"Go away evil woman." He then yanked the covers over his head and tried to go back to sleep.

"Come on Miles, you were the one that said that this would be fun." She pulled the covers back and he turned to look at her.

"That's before it became 10 degrees in here."

"Come on Miles, please." She gave him the puppy dog look that he had used last night.

He rolled over onto his side and just stared at her. "Fine." He gently got up out of the bed, wrapping the blanket around him tightly.

"YAY." She climbed out after him and did the same with her blanket. "Damn it is cold in here."

"Yeah, well you had two layers over you last night, unlike some of us."

"That was your fault, but thanks." She smiled at him and he smiled back. He opened the door and was greeted by the sound of Natalie and Stephen arguing over something. Which was obviously not serious because they were both smiling.

"Stephen, put down the snowball!" Natalie shouted with a smile, oblivious to their audience.

Stephen chuckled and shook his head... "You got me now I can get you. It's only fair." Natalie's eyes grew wide, and before she could respond she had a face full of snow.

She was blindly rubbing the snow off her numb face, pleading to kill Stephen over his laughs. When all was visible she looked around and found his retreating figure. Growling she raced after him.

Stephen didn't even have a chance, within seconds of hitting Natalie in the face with the snowball and running, he felt someone barrel into him from behind. With a wild yell he fell to the ground. He rolled around just in time to have his shoulders pinned to the ground. "You're dead!"

It became aware to him that Natalie Durant was going to burry him under the snow...one handful at a time. Starting with his face.

And the fact that she was sitting on his stomach didn't help his cause much. Natalie was getting frustrated, the snow on his face was melting...her handfuls became armfuls.

When Natalie couldn't reach anymore snow she admired her work. A very red faced Stephen Connor, who had no use of his arms.

But somehow, even if she had him pinned, Natalie found herself lying on her back on the cold ground. Stephen looking down at her from his kneeling position.

Miles just shook his head at the sight of Natalie and Stephen. Eva pushed past him and made her way to the kitchen. He followed after her and was glad he did when he received a very loud grumble from his stomach.

"There is food here right?" He asked as he sat down at the table.

"Yeah. What do you want?" She asked as she looked through the cabinets.

"Sleep, but thanks to you I can't have that so, pancakes." He laid his head down on the table and yawned. "Would someone shut that door?"

"I'll make pancakes, but you're closing that door."

"Okay." He got up to close the door and just as he got up there he saw Stephen flip Natalie over and kneel over. "You better be careful Stephen. She's mean."

Nat stuck her tongue out at him and turned back to Stephen. He chuckled and shut the door before returning to the kitchen.

"Need some help?" He walked over to where Eva was and leaned against the counter.

"Yeah, but only if your not going to burn the house down."

"You know. That's being sexist." She looked up at him and raised an eyebrow. "Assuming that all men are going to burn the house down and that they don't know how to cook."

"Most men don't. Are you telling me that you actually know how to cook?" She looked up at him with a smile.

"Let's see. I lived in a house with between eleven to six women for the 18 years I lived at home. You take a guess."

"Eleven women?"

"My mom, her mom, five older sisters, two younger sisters, my dad's sister, and her daughter."

"Damn. Poor you." She turned back to the stove and watched him out of the corner of her eye.

"Yeah, it was only me, my dad, my mom's dad, my two younger brothers, and my dog."

"Did you live with enough people?"

"Well my aunt and her daughter only lived with us for two years, but yeah, it was a little crowded." He pulled some eggs out of the fridge. "No move over and watch a pro do this."

She giggled and moved over as he sat the pan down on the stove. This is going to be fun. She thought to herself as he elbowed her in the side and she elbowed him back.

Natalie groaned and then sighed; "My butts numb," Stephen shrugged and smiled, "This is my way of torturing you."

"It would be a good method if I could feel anything!" She struggled then gave up when he laughed.

He shrugged again, "Fine, if this isn't working." A few seconds later she wished she wouldn't have said anything. He was tickling her...and she couldn't stop laughing. "S-stop! Ha! Stephen!" It was no use he continued and she was laughing herself into tears.

Stephen's own laughter was drowned out by her howling. This was torture. How did he know that she was ticklish? "Stop!" She pleaded in between fits.

Finally, when both were in tears, he stopped. Natalie's body instantly slumped and she felt like she would never be able to move again. But she did, taking a hand full of snow she threw it on him, "When I get up -"

"-I'll tickle you again."

"You wouldn't!" She said, sitting up quickly. Grabbing her stomach, guarding it from another assault. He fell into another fit of laughter. She hadn't seen him laugh this much since... well...never. Smiling, Natalie shoved his shoulder. "Shut up!"

Nodding, he wiped away the tears trailing down his cheeks. Natalie smirked, "Are you sure you're not a snowman person. It could be fun." He studied her for a moment before responding, "Natalie, you already tried making me a life-size snowman. Ones enough."

She clasped her hands in front of her chest and gave him a puppy dog look, "Please, pretty please!" he raised an eyebrow and smiled, "later." Natalie squealed with joy (much like a five year old) and jumped to her feet. "Come on; let's go find someone to throw snow at."

Making breakfast had been fun, eating it had been better. After they were done they just loaded all the dishes in the dishwasher, both surprised that there was even one there. Now it was time to decide who got the shower.

"This is stupid. First they expect five people to share two beds and a couch, now they expect us to share a bathroom." Eva growled and threw a piece of her toast at Miles.

"Just go take a shower and be quiet."

She threw another piece of toast at him. "Don't talk to me like that." She stood up and grabbed his blanket from around his shoulders. "And I think I will do just that."

"Hey, come back with that." He jumped up and ran after her.

She was almost to the bathroom door when he grabbed her around the waist with one hand and yanked the blanket off with the other. "Give it back!"

"NO!"

"Please."

"You have your own blanket."

"But yours is warmer." And smells like you. She thought as she smiled at him.

"I don't care."

She gave him a pouty look and crossed her arms over her chest.

"Fine." He took the blanket off and wrapped it over her shoulders. "But you better save me some warm water."

"I will." She walked into the bathroom and shut the door behind her. And he falls for that look again.

"Stephen! When I said find someone to throw snow at I didn't. Mean. ME!" She ducked dodging one of his many flying snow balls. "This is unjust...I was just tickled by a mad man five minutes ago and now I am dodging his balls." she paused for a minute, "that came out wrong."

Stephen just flung more snow at her. "I know what you meant." He stopped long enough for her to roll her eyes.

"Please stop throwing snow at me!"

He stopped.

Natalie smiled, "Good doggy."

"Thanks." He said lightly as she walked over towards him.

"You're welcome," she replied merrily. "Let's go in, I'm cold, tired, and hungry."

Stephen agreed and they both trekked up to the door.

He opened the door for her and Natalie smiled. Stomping the snow off her boots, Natalie walked in and stripped off her coat. Stephen followed her in and did the same.

Natalie looked over at miles, "Where's Eva and Frank?"

"Eva's in the shower and Frank was gone when we got up." He laid his head back down on the table, hoping to get some sleep.

Natalie yelped when she realized that Stephen was attempting to tickle her again, "Oh, god!" She ran behind Miles.

"What?" It was now very obvious that he wasn't going back to sleep. "Get away from me."

Natalie ignored him and Stephen laughed. Using Miles like a shield, Natalie made her way to the room ran in and locked the door behind her. Leaving Stephen and Miles in the hall. Stephen shrugged at Miles look, "You saw nothing."

"Sure, what ever you say."

Miles had attempted to go back to bed after taking his shower, that was three hours ago and he hadn't been able to close his eyes for more then a minute without hearing Natalie scream or Eva throw something.

Deciding that he was going to give up he threw the covers back just as soon as Eva came running into the room, actually, more like came sliding into the room. She slammed the door behind her and locked it.

"What the hell are you doing?" He asked as he looked at her. She was leaning against the door, wearing a faded pair of jeans, socks, and his sweatshirt. Wait a minute, where the hell did she get that? I've been looking for that thing for weeks. Thief.

"Stephen is trying to throw snow at Natalie and Frank is trying to throw snow at him." She took a deep breath and looked up at him. "Get any sleep?"

"No, I didn't. And why the hell did they bring snow in the house?"

"Stephen started it."

"I'm putting an end to this." He unlocked the door and got ready to open it.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you." Too late. The second he opened it three huge snowballs came flying right into his face.

"OWW." He slammed the door and locked it.

"I told you so." She smiled and grabbed a towel off the chair, wiping the snow off his face with it.

"When do I ever listen to you?" He walked over to the bed and flopped down on it, closing his eyes.

"Never, but maybe you will now."

"Shut-up." He reached up and grabbed a hold of her waist, pulling her down next to him and tickling her.

"Hey! Stop that!" She squealed and tried to wiggle free, but it wasn't working. So she did the only thing she could think of. She tickled back.

"Okay, not cool." He tried to tickle her back, but it wasn't working. So he used his last resort. He reached up and grabbed a hold of her head, pulling her face down to his and kissed her.

She was surprised, to say the least, but it worked, she stopped tickling him. Moving one hand to his cheek and the other to his chest she kissed him back. The need for air finally broke them apart a few seconds later, but it didn't last long.

Natalie let out an ear piercing scream. She was nailed by two snowballs, one on either side of the head. Not knowing who to kill first she looked around wildly. Grabbing what was left of the snow she stormed over and shoved it into Frank's mouth.

Frank stumbled and landed on the couch. Natalie laughed but soon screamed again when she found her self being lifted off the floor. In one quick moment she found herself draped over Stephen's shoulder.

"Let me go!" She said at a half laugh, beating on his back.

Frank swallowed the snow, "Dump her outside!"

"NO!" Natalie yelled increasing her attack on Stephen's back. "If you do that I will kill you... give you CPR and kill you again, do you hear me!"

"That could be fun," Stephen said, lightly tossing her on the couch, "Sit, stay."

She jumped off the couch and squealed as two pairs of hands grabbed either arm and pulled her back. "Damn it!" she said. "I want a lawyer... This is assault!" The humor in her voice betrayed her angry face.

Stephen shrugged, "Frank do we have any duct tape." Natalie's eyes grew wide and she was up again, running outside...bare footed.

Frank shook his head and walked into the kitchen, "She's your problem not mine."

Smiling, Stephen slipped into his boots and set out after her... it was hard...since it was pitch black.

He didn't get far. She may have been bare footed but that doesn't matter in the art of tripping. And by god she was good at it. Stephen didn't even see it coming.

He was up in seconds though, chasing a laughing Natalie...who was still barefooted. But he didn't plan on tackling her like she had done to him that morning.

Natalie either a. grew tired or b. lost all feeling in her feet because she stopped. Stephen, knowing very well, that she didn't know he was behind her, slowly placed his hand over her eyes, "Guess who."

"Frank," Natalie said, not serious at all.

"No, not quit," He said laughing. Shaking his head he dropped his hand and turned her around, "The least you could have done was put on shoes. We don't need you getting sick, we came here to get away from work, not bring it with us."

Natalie grinned, "I didn't have time to put shoes on. Besides, you're carrying me back."

"I am? I don't remember saying that I would." His grin matched hers. Natalie hit his shoulder,

"Don't make me hurt you Connor."

"What could you possibly do that could hurt me?" He said stepping foreword and placing a hand on her hip.

"There is a whole list," She said softly. She pressed a finger to his chest, "I'm a doctor remember?"

Stephen raised a brow, "So am I, Hun." His other hand rested lightly on her shoulder.

"Oops, I guess I forgot." She whispered, eyes on his mouth.

"Natalie, if we don't get inside then you will become one of the snowmen you are dying to ma-" She cut him off with a soft kiss. Stephen, who had been expecting this held her to him tightly, pulling her feet off the ground.

They made an odd couple, clinging to each other passionately and stumbling across the snow covered ground. Natalie was right; he was carrying her...with some difficulty since they weren't coming up for air, but carrying her all the same.

Good doggy indeed.