SNOWSWEPT

by CuddleFae

Dr. Lauren Lewis has been assigned to oversee the opening of a new hospital. Overwhelmed by all there is to know and learn in an unfamiliar land, she crosses paths with a mysterious woman with a dark past - a past that has caused her to live by one rule. Trust no one. Thrown into a desperate struggle, can they overcome the barriers between them in their fight to survive?

12. Chapter 12: Land, Sea and Sky

A/N: Here's a quick (short, for me) chapter but wanted to keep this moving along… and then stop suddenly just to keep ya'll on your toes. Thanks so much for the reviews and messages! They are always greatly appreciated!

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CHAPTER 12: Land, Sea and Sky

Bo and Lauren had departed directly from the clinic to the Talkeetna Hotel where Kenzi and Vex had prepped one of Bo's bush planes and set up her flight plan with the local aviation officials.

"Why are we going with the Beaver, Kenz?" Bo asked.

She could feel Lauren's hand stiffen on her arm, "Is there something wrong with the plane?"

Bo smiled, "No, Lauren. This one is just not as fast, although it's definitely faster than a typical DeHavilland Beaver with the modifications I've made to it with Kurt. That boy is a genius with a wrench." She turned to Kenzi, "But I'll ask again, why the…"

Kenzi shrugged, cutting her off, "It was Vex's idea. You have both DeHavillands parked back here and he figured since you were taking your lady love up, the Beaver was more appropriate than the Turbine Otter."

Bo shook her head at Vex, "Perve."

"Beaver." Vex replied.

"Grow up, Vex or at least grow some class. Either would have the same result."

"And what result would that be love?" He asked, smirking as his eyes traveled over Lauren's form. Bo stepped between him and the blonde and led her to the plane,

"A cure for your foot in mouth disease." Bo spat, before turning to her best friend, "Now, is my flight filed?"

Kenzi nodded, "All taken care of, BoBo. Oh yea, and I talked to Noah and Liam up on the hill. They're nearing the summit with a group of semi-experienced climbers. They asked if you could keep an eye out since you're going to have a doc with you."

Bo nodded, but Lauren was suddenly concerned, "Do I need my medical bag?"

Shaking her head, Bo placed a hand on Lauren's shoulder, calming her, "I assure you, if they need us, everything you could possibly need will be in their packs or in my plane's medical kit."

Bo took the map from Kenzi, opening it and propping it up on the side of the plane. She followed the red line that Kenzi had drawn,

"Good flight pattern."

Kenzi nodded, "It's not my first rodeo designing a perfect tour for you."

Bo smiled, "Thanks, Kenzi. It's perfect."

"I thought you'd like it. When did my two favorite boys leave?"

"Just over 2 weeks. Maybe a day or two?"

Bo nodded, "So how are they not at the summit by now?"

Kenzi shrugged, shaking her head, "There was a lot of static on the radio, so I'm not really sure. I mean, it's clear up there now, so hopefully they're finishing up. Maybe they're even on their way back down?"

Lauren poked her head out of the plane, "Bo? Where are we going?"

Bo smiled, "I want it to be a surprise."

"Well, with what you two are saying, it sounds like we're going up to a mountain?" Lauren asked, nervous.

Vex closed the engine hatch and wiped his hands with a rag before stepping between the two friends, "You two just keep yammering on and on and on. Too bad you have to spoil your own surprise."

"Shut it, Vex." Bo said, pointing her finger at the man as he loaded some boxes into the plane.

"These are for Ace and the boys. They arranged your little fly by." Vex said.

"I hope it's the good stuff this time." Bo said, hands planted on her hips.

Vex tossed his rag over his shoulder as he walked back towards the hotel, "Oh, it's the good stuff all right. Wait until you get my bill."

Kenzi stopped Bo before she had a chance to reply, "Don't worry about the bill. He owes you guys for getting the Board of Health off his back. Speaking of our little water dilemma, you got my text?"

Bo nodded, "Hard to believe."

"I'll take that as a yes. Tamsin will need…"

"To talk to me, right."

"Bo…"

"It's okay, Kenzi. I'm okay - for now, anyway. I've got other things to focus on. It just feels like this thing will never end."

"It'll end, Bo. Our favorite blonde federal agent is very persistent." Kenzi replied.

Bo nodded, "I don't know that I'd call her my favorite, but… well, let's just say… she's growing on me."

"Like fine wine." Kenzi smiled.

"More like mold or weeds." Bo corrected, sarcastically, "Well, I'm burning daylight here…"

Kenzi nodded, giving her friend a hug, "Have fun and radio when you want me to light up the runway."

Bo nodded, "It depends on how crowded things are… peak season and all."

She walked around the plane and climbed into the pilot's seat while Kenzi stepped back to watch the takeoff. Bo pulled on her headset and pointed to Lauren to do the same. She gave the blonde's hand a squeeze, speaking into the intercom,

"Can you hear me?"

Lauren smiled, "Yes."

"Nervous?"

Lauren shrugged, "Honestly, a little. I was never a big fan of little planes, but I feel better knowing you're at the helm."

Bo talked Lauren through some general things she wanted the blonde to know about flying in Alaska as well as some emergency details. Of course, Bo had assured her that they wouldn't have need for emergency procedures but had also explained that 'shit happens'.

Lauren watched as Bo pushed the throttle forward, the plane's tail skidding just a bit before they were rushing through the spray of white that glistened across the windshield. The trees that lined the field seemed to rush by in a blur and before she knew it, the doctor felt weightless as the plane lifted into the sky. They climbed quickly, Bo smiling as she saw Lauren's hand and face find the window.

Shortly after take-off, Bo began pointing out the sites below while Lauren just grinned and took it all in. It was amazing… incredible… beautiful… awesome… and then some. After about an hour, the doctor had confessed that she had run out of words to adequately describe what she was seeing. Bo understood exactly how Lauren felt. Even though she was native to these lands, she had long ago decided that she would never tire of the view.

"So where are we going?" Lauren asked, staring down at the open land below, "The snow hasn't melted here yet?"

Bo shook her head, "Well, I was going to take you out on the three-rivers boat tour, but then I thought that maybe you'd like to zipline back in Talkeetna. Of course, you would have had a blast, but…"

"I would have said no because you would have been in too much pain with the bruises you still have on your ribs."

Bo shrugged, "It was just a risk I would rather not take considering we have all summer to do the zipline – more than once if you really like it."

Lauren cringed internally for what felt like the tenth time today as she replied, "So we ended up in a plane to…?"

Bo smiled, "All of this. I decided I'd give you the same plane tour I give the paying customers out of the flightseeing company I usually work for."

"I take it that's where Noah and Liam come in?"

Bo shrugged, "I do most of the flights now. They're handling most of the climbs before and after peak season. I'll do some during peak because it's when the weather is best."

"Is Denali dangerous to climb?"

Bo paused, choosing her words carefully, "It's a high-altitude climb of 20,310 feet, so things can definitely go wrong. It's not the most difficult climb – that would be Everest or K2 – but as I've explained before, Denali has its own weather system and it's unpredictable for even the most experienced native Alaskans."

Lauren nodded, her eyes trained on Bo's profile as the brunette traveled through her memories of the mountain,

"It's special to you, isn't it?" Lauren asked.

Bo smiled, "The first time I climbed it, I did it solo with my mom's gear and map. It was her favorite thing to do before she had kids. She worked as a guide in the summers when her family would come down from the North Slope. When I was little, she would show me pictures of her climbing friends and clients. Her idol wasn't a musher as you might think – it was a climber."

She looked at Lauren, "It was a native Athabascan named Harper who first topped Denali."

"Oh, Bo."

The brunette teared up, "It's why…"

"You named your first dog Harper." Lauren finished, wiping the tears from Bo's right cheek, "That's very special."

Bo nodded, taking a deep breath, "No one else knows that. I don't usually tell people the real origin of her name and I rarely explain things in my life that I associate with my mom."

"Well, I feel quite special that you would share that with me."

"You are special, Lauren. Very special." Bo smiled, leaning over and kissing the blonde softly on the lips and then her forehead as she leaned in and placed her head on Bo's shoulder.

"As much as I would love to cuddle with you right now, you really need to look out your window… there she is in all of her glory."

Lauren looked up to see the most majestic sight she had seen since she'd arrived in Alaska. She'd seen many mountains that she had referred to that way since her arrival. She'd even seen Denali from the ground in Talkeetna and on the train, but seeing it like this…

"My… Bo… it's… it's… magnificent." Lauren said, her voice barely a whisper in Bo's headset.

"I wanted to be sure you saw it before I do the rest of the tour. There's no guarantee it will stay visible the entire time. We'll be going much higher and, weather permitting, we'll circle the summit but first I want to show you a glacier. Open that little compartment and you'll see a stack of tiny envelopes. Pick one and open it up."

"What's this?" Lauren asked, doing as she was told.

"You'll see."

Lauren grinned, staring at the envelopes she had fanned out like playing cards, "I'm so nervous. Which one should I choose?"

Bo chuckled, "Lauren, they're not filled with infectious diseases you have to cure. They're potential landing sites. They're all beautiful. I just wanted you involved in the choice."

"You call this a choice? This is torture." She replied, still staring at the envelopes in her hands until she saw Bo's hand come to rest on the wrist of her left hand. She looked up to see her lover's eyes staring back at her, the aviators she'd been wearing hanging from her shirt collar,

"Not everything has to be planned and carefully thought out, weighing the pros and cons. Sometimes, you just have to follow your gut. Make a choice and enjoy the journey."

Lauren smiled, exhaling the breath that had caused her to stiffen with worry, "Just take a chance?"

Bo grinned, "Just take a chance. I promise, it'll be okay no matter what you choose."

Lauren lowered her eyes, "But what if I choose wrong?"

Bo turned her eyes to check the horizon before turning back to Lauren, her hand moving to her cheek. She saw the watery eyes and knew that they were now talking about more than choosing an envelope. Bo didn't want Lauren to feel this way. She wanted her to know that she was always going to support her – to be there for her no matter where her life took her on the great path.

"If you choose wrong, then you'll readjust your sails and try again."

"But what if it's too late?" Lauren said, before turning her lips into Bo's palm and placing a kiss there.

Bo smiled, "It will never be too late, Lauren. Some things just have to happen in their own sweet time. I'm not in any hurry. Are you?"

Lauren shook her head, "I feel…" the truth was, Lauren was in a hurry because Evony had unexpectedly stepped up her timeline. As each minute ticked away before her departure, she could feel a sense of urgency building inside of her. She just wanted to hold onto Bo until the last possible second. She didn't want to leave her… she just didn't want to leave her, "I love you… I just… love you."

Bo's eyes softened, "I know you do, Lauren. And no matter what choice you make, you'll still love me, and I'll still love you. No one… nothing… no amount of distance can ever change that." But Bo was realistic, "But distance can change love and that's okay too. Change is a part of life. Choice is a part of life. We always have some choice in those changes."

Lauren sighed, "Sometimes outside forces impact your ability to make choices."

Bo nodded but Lauren's words only confirmed her earlier suspicions. Something was up and she'd bet dimes to donuts that Evony had something to do with it. According to Carolyn and Shannon, the boss had been calling Lauren relentlessly while she was recovering, and it had put a great deal of stress on the lone doctor. She smiled,

"That may be true, but we can always choose how we respond to those outside forces as well. There's always a choice, Lauren. I suspect you know that better than anyone. Think about it - how many times had you been told a patient that you ultimately saved couldn't be saved?"

Lauren chuckled, "Too many."

Bo smiled, "Exactly. And yet, you made the choices that led to proving them wrong. You see? There's always a choice. You could have heeded their warnings and those patients would all be dead, but you didn't. You always believe there's another way… another path… another choice along the path."

Lauren smiled, "I hope you don't take this the wrong way, but for a girl who never finished school, you are certainly brilliant."

"I'm super smart." Bo chuckled, "Other kids may have a diploma from a traditional version of school, but I have a doctorate in life choices."

Lauren nodded, looking down at the envelopes in her hand. She closed her eyes and pulled one of them free from the rest. She opened the envelope and read aloud, the card inside,

"Let's drop down and land on Harper Glacier." Lauren grinned at Bo before looking out across the massive mountain range, then back at Bo, "Which one is Harper?"

Bo chuckled, "She's due east. Hang on, lover. I'm banking right."

Lauren gripped the frame near the door window as the plane dove right, "Bo!"

She looked at the pilot, the grin on her face clearing demonstrating that she was having a blast… at Lauren's expense,

"That was mean!"

"Nah… I'm just getting you loose."

"Loose? I'm stiff as a board!"

"Relax, Lauren. This is no different than riding on a sled with me."

"Uh… other than the fact that we're in the air over a mountain of rock, snow and ice?"

Bo chuckled, "I thought you trusted me."

"I do trust you. It's the man-made contraption we're flying in that I don't particularly trust."

"Vex and Kenzi did a full check before we left…"

"Oh, and that's supposed to make me feel better?"

Bo laughed, "They're the best! More importantly, they love me and would never let anything happen to me. Hold on. This could get a bit bumpy. There will be wind sheers."

"Great. I'll just start watching my life pass before my eyes now." The blonde said, sarcastically, leaning back in her seat with her arms folded over her chest.

"Lauren, I promise you we're fine. I've landed her at least a hundred times."

Bo radioed her position, letting ground control know she was going to be on the glacier for a bit just in case another flightseeing company was planning on landing on the same glacier. Kenzi had carefully timed her trip to be between the usual landings, but they were just a bit behind schedule.

The plane was tossed off its parallel axis quite a bit on the approach, but as promised, Bo made a perfect landing on the glacier. She shut down the plane and turned to Lauren,

"You okay?"

Lauren nodded, "I'm fine."

"All that worrying for nothing, right?"

Offering a tight smile, Lauren nodded, "I'm sorry I doubted you."

Bo reached behind the seat, pulling out a backpack, "In this pack is a GortexTM jacket and pants, gloves and a hat. There are also crampons, two walking sticks and an oxygen tank."

"We need oxygen?" Lauren asked, eyes wide.

Bo smiled, "You're breathing without it right now, correct?"

"Yes." Lauren replied.

"Then do you need oxygen?"

Lauren sighed, "No."

"However, the air is definitely thin up here. I've landed us about three thousand feet below the actual glacier, so as we go up, you may feel quite winded. I wanted you to have the oxygen just in case you feel the need to use it. Otherwise, it's for emergencies when we fly around the top because you will want oxygen at the summit. I'm required to wear it as a pilot once I'm above 15,000 feet. I prefer to strap it on a little sooner just to be on the safe side… not to mention more comfortable."

Bo stopped adjusting her gear and looked at Lauren, "You okay?"

She looked up at Bo, "I don't know why I'm so tense. I just… I'm being silly."

Bo leaned forward, "Look. I don't know what's going on with you, but it's clear to me that something is bothering you. I know you don't want to talk about it right now and that's fine, but I want you to know that I'm here for you and you don't have to be afraid to tell me…"

"Evony's forcing me to go back to Boston next week. I don't have a choice. I have to go."

Bo pulled back, sitting up straight in her seat as Lauren's words replayed in her head several times before she fully understood the meaning. Then she connected the dots and realized that Lauren was upset… truly upset to be leaving.

"You're upset because you have to leave?" Bo asked.

Lauren's eyes filled with tears, "Of course I am! You have to ask?"

Bo shook her head, "No… I mean… I wasn't really asking, I was more… concluding… a thought that was happening in my head finished out loud. Sorry… I just… so… you're worried about how I'll react?"

"Aren't you mad at me?"

"You? Hell no. You're not leaving voluntarily before January, are you?"

"No! Of course not!"

"Then we should both be mad at Evony, right?"

"Yes!" Lauren replied, "Wait… you're not mad at me?"

Bo smiled, "Of course not, Lauren. I am furious with Evony for all she's been putting you through."

"Shannon and Carolyn told you?"

"Of course they did. They love you to pieces, Lauren and dare I say, those two would follow you to the end of the world."

Lauren smiled, "I am aware. They're staying though."

Bo nodded, "So Evony's going to fly in another doctor to work with the nurses and emergency staff she's built up here so that you can go back to Boston to do what?"

"Apparently there's another hospital making the move to number one in Boston because I'm not there."

"What?" Bo asked.

"It's complicated."

"I'm sure. So, dumb it down for me so I can understand." Bo replied.

"Hospitals build their reputations on the backs of the top doctors who work there…"

"Right. You are the best in your field, but if you're not there, then they go to the next best doctor available."

"Michael Snood. He totally fudged his research when we were in college, but somehow, he made it through med school and his hospital is making him the poster child for cardiothoracic surgery using the Lewis Method for repairing heart valves and transplants."

"So, if Lewis returns…"

Lauren shrugged, "You buy your sleds from Kyle because she designed her sled with you. Other people buy their sleds from Kyle because she's selling you sleds. If you started selling sleds of your own, would people still buy them from Kyle?"

Bo smiled, nodding, "I get it."

Lauren sighed, "I haven't published a paper in years, so people I'm no longer in medicine."

"Evony wants to show you off to boost her ratings."

"Basically, yes."

Bo nodded, "For how long?"

Lauren hung her head, "She won't give me an answer to that question. She just says… until further notice."

Bo shook her head, "I know what this is about."

"You do?"

Bo nodded, "She told my foreman that production was down ever since I started getting… well… being intimate with you. Of course, I called Evony yesterday to tell her how inappropriate it was for her to talk to my foreman about my personal life, but she said that my personal life was interfering with my ability to meet the terms of my contract. She complained that I'm never on the job site. She's got a point, but I wasn't going to tell her that. After all, I'm rarely on a job site since I have many other jobs that pay the bills for my construction company until I'm paid for a finished job."

Lauren nodded, "I understand."

"I'm sorry, Lauren."

The doctor shrugged, "She's separating us to get the best result for her two biggest investments." Lauren smirked, "She's not expecting any resistance."

Bo paused, looking at the expression on her doctor's face, "Should she be expecting some?"

Lauren released her harness and pulled the GortexTM jacket from her bag, "Let's go see this glacier, shall we?"

Bo watched as the blonde pulled on her gear, before holding up the metal crampons, "What do I do with these?"

Deciding that letting the topic go for now was best, Bo sighed, "They go on your feet."

The brunette pulled on her gear, pulling on her goggles last, "Goggles, then we go out and put those on." She said, referring to the metal spikes used for the bottom of boots on an icy terrain. Lauren watched Bo strap hers on before following her lead to put on her own.

"There's first aid gear and water in the packs, so put that on as well. I thought you might like to summit a small peak just to get the idea of what it's like to climb. You game?"

Lauren smiled, "Definitely! I mean… as long as you'll be okay."

Bo smiled, "I'll be fine, Lauren. Come on, you're gonna love this."

They exited the plane; Bo showing Lauren how to extend the poles and use them for leverage before they began their ascent up the glacier. They walked in silence for some time, each mulling over their thoughts about Lauren's departure and Evony's role in it. Bo was definitely curious as to what resistance Evony was planning. She was sure they needed to coordinate their efforts, otherwise the sharp businesswoman would undoubtedly cause problems for the other.

It was Lauren who spoke first, pulling Bo to a stop so they could face each other,

"Okay. I'm just going to say this and then we're going to get on with our day. Evony is a bitch. We both know that. She just has to have her way. She's interfering with our lives to get what she wants for herself. There's nothing more selfish than separating two people you know damn well are in love, but that's exactly what she's doing. She can hire another construction company, but as she's learned from your employees, no one is going to go against an existing contract for an outsider. Your people are more loyal than that. It would just delay her construction project. The easier thing to do is to get me away from you so you dive into your work."

She shrugged, "The problem is, there is only one me and if she breaks my contract, she'll lose me to another hospital. If we stand together on this, we will win, Bo. We'll figure it out. I've already started doing some research on my options. Carolyn and Shannon are helping. I'll explain more when I have a plan fully in place so that we can discuss next steps."

She moved towards Bo, pulling her closer and wrapping her arms around her waist, "But for today, I would just like to make sure that we focus on us and why you brought me all the way up here to this beautiful place."

Bo smiled, "That is the more important item on our to-do list today, right?"

"Right. So, are you going to show me your mountain or what?"

Bo leaned in, "First, I'm going to kiss you on my mountain. Then I'm going to show you my mountain."

The brunette was true to her word, kissing the blonde squarely on the mouth before pulling back, a grin plastered on her face. Lauren playfully slapped her shoulder,

"Come on then. Lead the way." Lauren smiled, stepping back and taking her poles in hand once again.

Bo turned and headed forward up the glacier with Lauren close behind, still at a loss for words over the beauty that surrounded her.

"So, what can you tell me about this glacier or glaciers in general?" Lauren asked.

Bo smiled at Lauren's scientific curiosity, but complied with her need to know, "Well, right now, we're about four thousand feet from the top of Harper Icefall which is the descent side of Denali."

"So where do you go up?"

"West of here over those mountains.

Lauren looked up at the top of the mountain, "Maybe… someday."

Bo grinned, "Depends on how I'm traveling. My usual route by plane is from Talkeetna past Kahiltna Glacier on to Mount Foraker, Mount Hunter and up to Denali. I go around the summit of Denali if the weather is clear, then down through the pass and around the West Buttress before showing clients Wickersham Wall and Harper Icefall before flying through The Great Gorge and landing on Ruth Glacier. I get them out of the plane there so they can walk around and get some pics at a lower altitude."

"Is that what we're going to do?" Lauren asked.

Bo nodded, "Yup, right after this little walk."

Lauren nodded, "The air is definitely a little thin up here."

"Do you need your oxygen? There's no shame in using it. Remember that I've been doing this most of my life, so I'm used to it. People respond differently to altitude."

Lauren nodded, "I usually do okay. I mean, I was fine in Denver at a medical conference, but I suppose this is higher."

"I suppose." Bo chuckled, turning up a mountain pass, "Okay, here comes the trickier part. Just be sure to keep your hands in front of your pole tips."

"Got it. I love these little spikey things on my feet."

Bo smiled, "They are a great invention."

"So, can you just throw our random facts about this mountain so that I have something to focus on while we climb so I don't have to use my oxygen to talk?"

"Random facts, huh? Well, let's see… my ancestor, Harper, climbed this before it was cool to do so. Between 1913 and 1950, not many people climbed Denali. This guy named Bradford Washburn climbed it in 1951 and that led to larger groups coming up. He climbed it by way of the West Buttress, so it was kind of a big deal back then. Now, it's the highest mountain in North America, so a lot of people climb it every year. They have a 50/50 chance of making it to the top. Over a hundred climbers have died trying to hit the summit."

"It's big." Lauren commented, looking up at the summit towering above her.

Bo smiled, "And that's just the top of the Harper Icefall. Denali is over that and up higher. You'll see what I mean when we're in the air."

"You mean Denali is higher than that?" Lauren asked.

Bo stopped, looking up above her, "Makes you feel pretty small, huh?"

"Completely insignificant, as a matter of fact." Lauren commented.

Bo nodded, "I know what you mean."

They both continued to walk, "So the mountain tops out at 20,310 feet, but she's gaining size every year. She's 18,011 feet from base to summit which is the steepest elevation gain in the entire world."

"When you were doing the Iditarod, I just remember thinking the Alaska range was so big, but when you see it up close, it's even bigger."

Bo nodded, "Actually, this is part of the Yukon Mountain Range. There are five total glaciers around the mountain and a bunch of different icefalls. This one just happens to be my favorite at this time of year."

"You have a favorite at other times of the year?"

Bo shrugged, "It's spring, so there's a lot of people up here… well, a lot by my definition."

"Meaning one person is too many?"

Bo smiled, turning back to look at the blonde, "You've helped me with that and talking to Doctor Gray has helped me with that. Now, I can handle a group of five or so being on my mountain."

"Oh, so it's your mountain, huh?" Lauren laughed.

"Fastest woman alive on this big girl."

Lauren smirked, "And the men?"

"Only Noah's faster, but we're going to race again next month."

"You race up a mountain?"

Bo shrugged, "Well, we'll go together for safety, but the last two thousand feet or so will definitely be a battle."

"Well, good luck with that. I hope there will be pictures or video."

"Kurt will probably fly Kenzi around the summit and try to get it on tape for Vex."

"For Vex?" Lauren asked.

Bo smiled, "He and Kenzi will definitely have a bet on the climb."

Lauren smiled, nodding as they reached a particularly steep section. Bo turned, opening her backpack and pulling out a long rope,

"Okay, so now you're going to be attached to me for this last stretch. Just keep on moving. If you feel yourself slipping, try to shout out 'falling' before you fall so I can have a little warning to brace myself."

"And if you don't brace yourself?"

Bo shrugged, "We slide back down to the bottom."

"Are you sure…"

Bo placed a hand on Lauren's shoulder, "You're the strongest woman I know, Lauren. Don't overthink this. You've got it. Remember those workouts I've been putting you through at my house from my deathbed?"

"Ha. Ha. Yes, I remember."

"Those were all climbing workouts. You can climb a rope from floor to ceiling six times without hands. You can handle this."

"But your ribs…"

Bo smiled, "I'll be fine, Lauren. Just trust me and trust yourself more. We've got this. Together, right?"

"Together." Lauren smiled, placing a kiss on Bo's cheek.

The blonde watched as Bo tied several knots on the rope between them, hooking in metal clips and pulling things tight. As she worked, she continued sharing facts with Lauren,

"Denali is mostly igneous rock granite. It's formed beneath the Earth's crust as part of a batholith. Do you know what a batholith is?"

Lauren searched her memory, "I'm not sure, but I seem to recall it having something to do with magma?"

Bo smiled, "Very good, Doctor Lewis! It's a bubble or mass of magma within the Earth's crust. Despite erosion hitting most of the coasts of the world, Denali is still growing at a rate of about half a millimeter a year."

"So, a kilometer ever two million years."

Bo shook her head, "You are scary smart."

Lauren smiled, "Yes I am."

"Okay smarty pants, let's get going before the weather closes out the view."

"Bo? I'm pretty cold now."

Bo nodded, "Do you want to turn back?"

Lauren shook her head, "Just curious. How cold is it?"

"We're probably at about thirty degrees or so here."

"So how cold is it up at the summit?" Lauren asked as they began to climb the steep ice.

"This time of year, it depends on the weather. It can go anywhere from 38 degrees to minus 75 degrees Fahrenheit."

"Wow. That's really cold." Lauren replied.

"Yup. You okay?" Bo asked, driving her two axes into the ice to be sure she had a good grip in case Lauren slipped.

"I'm fine. I think I got my second wind."

"Good timing then. I'm super out of shape." Bo moaned, "It feels good to be out here doing something, though."

"This is sort of fun."

"I'm glad you're having a good time."

"Maybe I will try climbing all the way to the top."

Bo smiled, "Well, that can certainly be arranged. We'll be doing a bunch of smaller climbs first, though."

Lauren nodded, "Probably a good idea."

It took about another thirty minutes, but they finally reached the summit of the Harper Icefall. Standing atop the relatively smaller peak, Bo pointed over their heads,

"There she is in all her glory."

"Oh my… Einstein, she's… massive… I mean… majestic."

Bo chuckled, "Majestic is the word and you are now more than halfway to the summit of Denali. I think it worth noting a little known… or discussed… fact. That when Washburn topped the mountain, his wife Barbara was with him. A woman's place is on top of the mountain, Lauren. Which woman depends on how hard she's willing to fight. I'd like to stand atop any mountain you choose to climb. I'd like to do that for the rest of my life. I realize you may have other plans, but any time you call, I'll be there at your side."

Hearing a plane in the distance, Bo smiled, "It seems we have company."

"A flightseeing tour? Will your plane be in the way where it's parked?" Lauren asked.

Bo smiled, "Nope. This one is just passing by."

"But how could you possibly know that?" Lauren asked, as the plane came into view, it's wings tilting up and down, "Why's it doing that? Is it going to crash?"

Bo laughed, shaking her head, "Nope. It's just Kurt and Kenzi letting me know it's them. You should look up as they fly by."

Lauren turned and looked up at the plane, watching as a large streamer fell from the passenger window.

"It's a sign. What are they trying to tell us?"

Bo smiled, waiting for Lauren to read the message,

"Bo loves Lauren." Lauren said, her face morphing into a smile, "Oh my goodness. Bo…"

She turned to find Bo smiling at her, turning her axe over to unscrew the bottom of the handle,

"Lauren, I realize you sometimes have moments where you're not sure about us. I also realize you have no idea whether you will be returning to Alaska or not. I realize that you've gone through a hellish marriage and are unsure about any type of commitment – marriage or otherwise. I realize that you feel like I've got shit to overcome and work through. I realize you think I'm a raving lunatic sometimes. I realize you may choose to stay in Boston. And, unfortunately, I also now know that you are going back to Boston much sooner than either of us had planned, but despite all of that, I am sure that I want to walk side by side through this life with you. Now I realize, you may never feel the same about me, but until you tell me for sure, I will be here, waiting for you to say that you want to commit to a life with me."

Bo stood, finally flipping open the end of her axe, "I hollowed out my axes long ago so that I could carry valuables and identification inside. For this trip, I put this inside…"

She pulled out a long gold chain that held a small gold nugget with a white and gold stone mounted on it.

"This small gold nugget was the first gold I ever mined as a child. I've had it my entire life, waiting until the day I would find a special use for it. I thought knowing that I have held onto this for over twenty years, it could serve as a symbol to you that I am a very patient individual… that time moves differently for me. I don't live by a countdown clock. I live moment to moment and I most love my moments with you. While other women have certainly made advances over the years, I've never even considered pulling this out… until you. This little nugget represents my version of time. You see… I can wait, Lauren. I don't need marriage or rings – not that I'm opposed to those things, but life in a village as a child was always focused on the moments of a day, so if there's a moment where you want to say that you'll never want to be with anyone else, I'll take it when you can say it. I can wait, Lauren. I can wait longer."

Bo could see Lauren's mouth twist, unsure of how to respond, so she continued,

"The stone embedded in the nugget is called Gold Quartz. Alaska is one of the few places in the world you can find it. It's left in its natural state – just as you should be… just as I plan to love and live my life with you. I don't want to change you, Lauren. I don't want you to change for me. I want you to live your best life. I just want to be able to love, cherish and appreciate you as we walk through this journey of life together… if I'm the one you want to walk it with. If the time comes, we can put this all into a ring if you want, but for now, I just thought you might need a reminder of this land and the woman who is waiting here for you."

She took Lauren's hand and dropped the stone into her palm, wrapping the chain around her hand, "I don't need any sort of answer or discussion. I don't need an explanation or reassurance. I just need you to accept this gift and carry it with you in any way you choose." Bo looked up at Lauren, her eyes brimming with tears, "When you look at it, I hope that you'll remember this moment… remember what we accomplished together on this glacier and all that we have yet to do. I hope you'll think fondly of me and of your time here in Alaska. I hope that you'll remember the life you built here and the people you left behind and know that even when you're quite literally half a world away, we're all thinking of you…" Bo lowered her head as the tears began to fall, "… and we're all missing you… loving you… me especially."

Lauren placed two fingers under Bo's chin, brushing away the frozen tears on her face, "Thank you, Bo. Please know that every word you've said is carved into my heart. I'm going to miss you more than I can ever say. I do love you, Bo and I can't imagine how I'm going to wake up in the morning and not think of you. I've grown accustomed to sharing my moments with you."

She smiled, pulling Bo's goggles back over her eyes before covering her own, "And if Evony ends up dead in a ditch somewhere, please don't tell anyone that you know I'm the one that killed her."

Bo could help but let out a laugh that came straight from her belly, "Not if I kill her first."

Lauren launched herself into Bo's arms, squeezing her tightly as the winds swept across the peak. Bo pulled back,

"As much as I don't want to leave your arms right now, I have to consider your safety. I don't want to be stranded up here if the weather suddenly locks us in."

"That could happen?" Lauren asked, tucking the necklace into her breast pocket before following Bo down the peak.

"It could, but I would have no problem keeping us alive up here, Lauren. I'm an experienced guide and brought more than what I would normally have if I were leading an expedition to the summit."

"Okay." Lauren replied.

They worked their way back down the mountain in silence, leaving the worst of the winds and weather behind at the higher altitude. It was strange to Lauren that after walking just a few thousand feet, it was like they were in a completely different land. The sun was warm, and she could see the snow melting on her jacket. She was warming up quickly and felt a need to open the ventilation zippers on her jacket.

She looked back up the mountain, again seeing the larger peak. She was curious,

"Bo?"

"Yea?"

"How do you usually climb Denali?"

"Depends. Am I climbing as a guide, with a partner or solo? If I'm with a partner, are they as experienced as I am, less or a total rookie?"

"How about all of the above?"

Bo smiled, "The West Buttress is the most commonly climbed route with a guide. The West Rib is much more difficult, so if I'm working as a guide with someone who wants more of a challenge but is not a professional, I'll take them up that way. With Noah and Liam, I'll take the Cassin Ridge. It's one of the hardest alpine routes in the world."

"What makes it so hard?" Lauren asked, now seeing the plane down below.

"Well, for one thing, my ice axes are a must, it's a very technical climb and it's high altitude so I have to carry dex with me and worry about altitude sickness. Of course, Noah and Liam want me to do Everest with them. I just don't want to… you know…"

"Leave Alaska?"

Bo shrugged, "Of course, things change… I've changed."

"Have you had to use Dexamethasone?" Lauren asked, a bit surprised, though she had heard of climbers using the emergency drug at high altitudes.

Bo shook her head, "Not on myself, no. I'm very careful about listening to my body when I climb. Of course, if you carry Diamox, you can usually stay ahead of any pulmonary edema that would require dex. I just don't see the need to risk death to climb a mountain. Honestly, I'd rather try to navigate a route no one has ever tried on Denali than climb Everest and risk death because of altitude."

Lauren exhaled, relishing in the sense of comfort that came from hearing Bo's climbing philosophy. She hoped she would never venture onto Everest, but she certainly would never stop her if she really wanted to go. She watched as Bo moved ahead of her, leading the way to the plane. Lauren decided she would chance the exposure to the cold and pulled out her phone. She snapped a picture of Bo heading to the plane before turning and taking several pictures of the mountain. She zoomed in on the summit of Harpers Icefall and smiled. She had actually just climbed to that very peak. It was dwarfed by the height of Denali, but still, she felt a sense of pride and accomplishment just the same. It warmed her heart to think that she had done it with Bo and the gesture the brunette had made atop the peak.

She put her phone back into her zippered pocket and opened the one on her chest, pulling out the necklace. She pulled back her hood and wrapped the gold around her neck, fastening the clasp quickly before her fingertips grew too cold to perform the task.

She turned back to see Bo lifting the engine compartment. She pulled out her phone and snapped a few more pictures, trying not to panic over the thought that there was something wrong with the plane. When she got closer, she asked,

"Everything okay?"

Bo smiled, "Ship shape. Just want to have a look to make sure we don't run into problems up at the summit. You ready to see the big girl up close and personal?"

Lauren smiled, "Any adventure with you is one worth having."

Bo grinned, opening the door for Lauren and helping her into the plane. She then ran around, hopping into the pilot's seat, ready to show the doctor the summit and check on her friends. She turned the plane around and headed down the glacier, picking up speed while Lauren held on for dear life.

"Bo?"

She smiled, "It's okay, Lauren. We go down to go up in order to get lift. We'll be on our way in a second. Remember what I said about oxygen? It's time for me to put mine on as required by law. You can choose not to. Just remember it's there if you start to get a headache or feel like breathing is difficult."

Lauren watched as Bo put on her mask before they did, indeed, lift into the air, hovering over what Bo pointed out as the mountains of The Great Gorge and Ruth Glacier below. Turning a wide circle, Bo pushed the throttle, gaining speed before accelerating up and over the tall peaks and glaciers of the western face of the mountains' base.

"Okay, so I'm going to show you the landmarks I mentioned before."

"The ones you pass when you take out your flightseeing clients?" Lauren asked.

Bo nodded, "So we're at about fourteen thousand feet and west of that range of mountains below us is Kahiltna Glacier. It's the longest glacier in the Alaska Range and runs right near the pass. Its main channel runs between Mount Foraker just northwest over there and Mount Hunter in the northeast."

Lauren pulled out her phone and snapped a picture, but Bo shook her head, "There's a camera with a telephoto lens that Kenzi packed for you just beneath your seat."

Lauren grinned, "Thank you, Kenzi! I owe you a bottle of the good stuff."

"I'll circle until you're ready." Bo said, turning the plane due south to buy Lauren some time.

"Okay, I'm ready." Lauren said, popping off the lens cap and looking through the viewfinder, "Wow! Denali is so big!"

Bo laughed, "Okay, let's get shots of the glacier first."

"Right. Glacier. Enjoy the little things."

She smiled, as Bo flew low over the glacier before beginning a climb into the distant mountain ranges ahead,

"Now we're climbing to 16,000 feet to circle Mount Foraker to the west of Kahiltna."

"Whoa." Lauren said, "How big is that?"

"Foraker tops out at 17,400 feet. Look ahead and that's Mount Hunter on the other side of the glacier. It's at 14, 573 feet."

"Wait. It's closer to Denali, but it's smaller than Foraker?" Lauren asked.

Bo nodded, "Yup. And there's the big girl. Denali tops out at 20,310 feet and growing. I'll take you around the peak twice so you can see Denali Pass on the east side. What's below us right now is the West Buttress. I'm going to slow down a bit to see if I can find Noah and Liam's group. Can you use the lens to have a look?"

Lauren looked through her lens, fine tuning the image so that she could get a better look, but everything seemed blurry,

"I can't focus the lens. It's all blurry."

"It's snowing. Shit. Keep looking. We're going to head up to the Summit."

Lauren nodded, "Do you want to look? I'm not sure what I'm looking for, Bo."

"I've got to fly the plane, Lauren. If they're in trouble, they'll put something out to make themselves noticeable. They're experienced climbers."

"Could they be in a cave or something?" Lauren asked.

"There's no shelter up there but the shelter you bring. Their tents are orange and yellow." Bo explained.

On the second pass around, Lauren shouted,

"There! There! I see tents!"

"Great! Is anyone waving? Doing anything unusual with their arms? We have signals."

Lauren watched as she passed them by again, "Crap. Can you go around again? I saw one hand up and one hand on a head maybe?"

Bo nodded, "That's a head injury. Did you count heads?"

Lauren closed her eyes, "There were five in all, plus the guy signaling. One of the five on the ground was in all orange."

"That's the injured member. I hope it's not Liam or Noah."

"Aren't they experienced?" Lauren asked, snapping a few pictures of the mountain when Bo pointed.

"Yup, but most injuries that happen to guides are when they have to save a client. They do unexpected things that get us hurt. Here we go again. Ready?"

Lauren focused the camera again, determined to read the signals for Bo, "Okay, hand on head, arm up, now hands crossed over chest, moving straight down to thighs, now hand making winding motion overhead."

"Great, Lauren. Turn on the flash and take three pictures of them. Quickly before I'm out of range again."

Lauren quickly clicked the lens three times in succession before turning back in her seat and blinking several times quickly,

"Dang. Damn near blinded myself."

Bo shook her head, "Sorry about that. I forgot to mention the reflection in the window. You okay?"

"I'm fine. What now?"

Bo grabbed the radio, "Mountain Rescue, this is DeHavilland 77701 declaring an emergency on behalf of Noah and Liam Riley of Denali Peak Experience."

"Bo? Is that you?"

"Hey, Parker. Yea, it's me."

"You up flightseeing?"

Bo sighed, "Yea, a private tour. My boys had a chat with Kenzi on the radio this morning, but there was too much interference for her to pick up anything other than a check in request. I'm on my third pass. It looks like they've got one climber down, four others appear to be in satisfactory condition."

"Roger that. How's the weather up there?"

"They've got snow, but wind speed is reasonable. They're on the descent about four thousand feet south of the summit."

"They did the West Buttress climb?"

"That's affirmative, Rescue."

"Can you land, Bo?"

"Whoever is signaling me down there requested a chopper. Liam and Noah both know what I can do in a plane, so if they're saying chopper, I wouldn't want to chance a landing."

"Agreed. We'll find them. Rescue is on the way."

"Thanks, Parker."

"You bet. Good to have you back on the mountain, Bo."

"Good to be back, Parker."

There was a long pause before the woman on the other end said, "You sound different, Bo."

She smiled, "Oh? And is that a good thing?"

"Sounds like it."

Bo nodded, "Yea, I think it is, Parker. I'm going to make another pass and then finish up with my client. I'll signal the boys that help is on the way before I go. I'm not hearing anything from them on the radio, so something must be up with their communications."

"Sounds like it. Thanks, Bo. Those guys owe you again."

"Yea, I keep telling them I'm their business partner, not their mother, but they don't seem to get it."

The woman laughed, "Safe flight, Bo."

"Thanks, Parker. DeHavilland 77701 out."

"Mountain Rescue Base out."

Bo made a steep descent, before making a wide turn to make a direct approach to the group. She tipped her wings back and forth several times until Lauren told her the person signaling was waving his arms back and forth over his head like when you do jumping jacks.

Bo smiled, "What are jumping jacks?"

Lauren chuckled, "I'll show you when we get back on the ground. So, do we just keep circling until help comes?"

"Now, we continue your tour. By the time we finish, we should see a helicopter on the way in. Mountain Rescue is at the base. They'll be here in a few minutes. Get your camera ready."

Lauren felt a bit of a headache coming on, so she pulled on her oxygen mask. Bo watched, taking a moment to be sure she was okay before circling around the mountain once again.

"It's incredibly beautiful… and quiet. It's so quiet up here."

Bo smiled, "Unless there's weather. It gets pretty windy up here. I'm guessing that's what happened to those guys. They're on their descent, so something must have gone wrong at the summit or on their way down."

Lauren snapped a few more pictures as Bo pointed out Denali Pass and Wickersham Wall. Bo started a steep descent and pointed straight ahead,

"There's your first climb - Harper Icefall." Bo grinned.

"Ooh, I want a picture to commemorate our first climb together." Lauren smiled, turning in her seat to snap the perfect picture, "Look! You can see where our plane was!" Zooming in on the snow, Lauren exclaimed, "Bo! I can see our footprints!" She snapped several pictures before her eyes drifted to the beauty of the snow-covered mountains.

Bo laughed, loving Lauren's playful excitement. It was good to see her enjoying something outside of the town she had rarely left unless it was for work. Lauren was built for Alaska, Bo was sure, but she'd never seen her in Boston. Bo knew that it would probably feel more comfortable back east, but could it really feel like home after the time she'd spent here? She really wished that Lauren had more time, but one thing was for sure, Bo was going to cram as much fun into her remaining days with the doctor as she could. She wouldn't let her go back to Boston burned out on work. Evony would make sure she had enough of that when she got there.

"What are we doing now, Bo?"

The pilot looked over at the doctor, unable to help the smile that stretched across her face when she saw how happy Lauren was,

"I'm hungry. How about you?"

"I could definitely use some food! Where are we going?" Lauren pointed out the window, "Is that the helicopter for your climbing friends?"

Bo smiled, "Yes, it is." She tipped her wings and gave the pilot a wave as they passed each other, "That was Jerry. He'll find them."

"I wonder how long they've been up there."

"Could have been as much as two days, based on when they left, but hopefully less." Bo replied, banking left to make her turn to the north.

"Where are we going?"

Bo smiled, "Fairbanks."

"Ooh! I've been wanting to go there! That's an alternate start for the Iditarod, right?"

Bo nodded, "It is, but that's not why we're going there. I thought maybe you'd like to do at least one tourist attraction while you're here. This one is fun because we can eat, catch a comedy show about how your ancestors came to be in Alaska, play miniature golf, listen to live music… there's a lot to do and there's a place for me to land, refuel and park."

"Sounds like fun. I'm game."

Bo smiled, "Great. You can take a nap if you want. It'll take us about thirty minutes to get there."

"Nap? How can I nap! I'm too excited!" Lauren smiled, just realizing she hadn't taken a picture of Bo flying the plane. She snapped two pictures of her profile, "Turn towards me."

"I hate having my picture taken."

"Oh, come on! It's for me! Don't you want me to have a picture of you for my desk? You have one of me!"

Bo grinned, turning towards the blonde, "But you looked good when LJ took that picture. I'm a mess because we were climbing."

Lauren just snapped away as Bo talked before leaning in and kissing her cheek, "You're always beautiful to me, Bo. I love you."

"I love you too, Lauren. Are you sure you don't want to take a nap?"

"Can I lean on your shoulder?"

Bo nodded, "Certainly. This is a full-service flight."

"Really now? I get all the services?" Lauren said, suggestively, running her hand down Bo's thigh and up into the space between her legs.

"Lauren, I'd rather not have to explain why I crashed my plane to the FAA."

The blonde chuckled, "You're a professional. Do you mean to tell me you can't fly a plane and enjoy my touch at the same time?"

Bo groaned as Lauren's hand moved beneath her jacket to rub her breast through the thin cloth of her polyester under layer.

"Lauren…"

"Bo. You don't want to join the mile-high club?" Lauren smiled.

The brunette turned to Lauren, "Are you a member?"

She really didn't want to admit it, but she couldn't lie to Bo, "Yes."

Bo nodded, "Nadia."

Lauren shrugged, sitting upright in her seat, "Wow. That was like a cold shower."

Bo smiled, "It's okay. Besides, I'd rather join the club when my hands are free so that I can give you an upgrade to gold card status in the club."

Lauren giggled, "Gold card, huh? Now that sounds tempting."

The blonde smiled, leaning back over against Bo's shoulder and closing her eyes, "Wake me up if there's something I'll want a picture of, okay?"

"Okay." Bo smiled, kissing the top of Lauren's head.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Fairbanks, Alaska

"Can I open my eyes now?" Lauren asked, holding her eyes closed tightly while Bo led her through the parking lot to their destination.

"Not yet."

"Come on, Bo. We have to be there by now."

"Okay. Now." Bo smiled, watching as Lauren opened her eyes to see the large archway sign overhead,

"Pioneer Park?" Lauren asked.

"Yup! The premiere stop for all things Fairbanks tourist. Come on, I'm starving." Bo smiled, leading them through the archway.

"How does this bracelet work?"

Bo smiled, "We don't pay a dime with that bracelet on. The owner gives these free pass bracelets out to special clients."

"Oh? You're a 'special' client? And how did you get that status?"

"I won the Iditarod. It's this little dog sledding race…"

Bo flinched as Lauren swatted at her arm, "Hush."

"First stop, Salmon Bake!" Bo said, "Not only do they have unlimited wood-grilled salmon, but they also have this juicy slow-roasted beef, perfectly crisped beer-battered Alaskan Cod and Wild Alaskan Crab. Of course, there's also salads, sides and beverages. Then, you finish it all off with a visit to the dessert cabin."

"Okay, so all I heard was salmon and crab. Lead the way." Lauren smiled, following Bo as they quickly walked to the smoke above the outdoor dining space.

They at until their bellies were stuffed full, then played a round of miniature golf before catching the show. Bo grinned so much her cheeks were sore from watching Lauren laugh her way through the musical comedy. They walked back to the plane and flew back to Talkeetna under guided by the stars.

"What a beautiful end to an amazing day. Thank you so much, Bo. I couldn't have asked for a better date. It's been so long since I took any time off, I just can't remember having so much fun."

"I'm so glad Lauren. I had a great time, too. So, what's your plan for the evening? Do you want to go back to your place or are you coming out to mine? No pressure. I can do either."

"Will you stay with me if say I want to go to my place?"

"If you're sick of me, I can go home, Lauren. We don't have to stay together every night if you don't want to. I'll understand."

Lauren leaned over, placing her head on Bo's shoulder, "I love falling asleep in your arms whether we make love or not, Bo. I don't just stay with you to have sex."

Bo smirked, "I'm not just a sex toy?"

Lauren chuckled, "You're a pillow too."

"I feel so used." Bo feigned dramatically making Lauren laugh out loud.

"Seriously though, I want you in my bed, woman. The problem is, I'm out of clothes at your place and I must check in at the clinic early tomorrow to make sure my least senior staff member shows up for work on time. It would just be easier if I could just run downstairs."

"You don't trust that guy Sam to be there on time?"

Lauren laughed, "It's not Sam I'm worried about."

"Kelly." Bo smiled, "She and Kurt are really inseparable, huh?"

"They are. She's going to be a mess if Evony sends her back to Boston." Lauren replied.

"Do you think she will?"

Lauren shrugged, "You just never know with Evony. I'm a perfect example of that. So, are you okay with staying at my place?"

Bo smiled, "That's fine with me as long as you don't mind me taking a quick run into the hotel to grab a pair of jeans and a shirt for tomorrow. I promised LJ I would cover at the kennel tomorrow morning so he could sleep in for a change. I've got to radio Kenzi."

Lauren nodded, watching as Bo flipped on the radio controls,

"This is DeHavilland 77701 calling Talkeetna Hotel Base, requesting runway lights."

"This is Talkeetna Hotel Base, confirming request for runway lights. Safe landing, Bo."

"Thanks, Kenzi. See you soon."

Bo flipped off the radio and looked up to see the lights going on in the field behind the hotel grounds. Lauren sat up, allowing Bo freedom of movement,

"What are the big red X's?"

"They're the hotel train cars. We put lights on them to make sure planes avoided them."

"Good idea." Lauren suggested, "Makes me kind of glad I'm not staying there."

Bo smiled, "They're very safe. I mean, a plane could just as easily hit the hotel. It's not marked."

"There's that." Lauren nodded as Bo dropped to the ground, making another perfect landing, "You're very good with landing."

"Well, thank you, Ma'am and thank you for flying Bo Dennis Air." She grinned.

Lauren leaned over and captured Bo's lips in a fierce kiss. The brunette gripped her face, deepening the kiss before gathering her libido and slowing things down.

"Sorry. That was a long hold over." Lauren whispered.

"I know how you feel." Bo smiled, placing another soft kiss on the blonde's lips, "I've been waiting all day for that. Thanks."

Lauren smiled, "You know, you don't have to wait for me to kiss you, Bo. I do welcome kisses from you. I wish that you felt how much I want to be with you. I know that my leaving gives you reason to doubt that, but I'm truly hoping that life leads me back to you, Bo. I can't imagine wanting what I've found here in this land and with you with anyone else. I just… I want to be absolutely sure."

Bo chuckled, "So, you're sure, but you're going to be absolutely sure if and when you come back."

Lauren sighed, "I'm sorry, Bo. I still feel like going home before making any decisions is the right thing for me to do. There were strings left dangling from my former life and I just want to be sure I go home and tie those up. If I find that I do that and don't feel a need to stay, then I'll be back. If there is something keeping me there, well… then I did the right thing in going home."

"Is that still your home, Lauren?" Bo asked.

Lauren shrugged, "I don't know, Bo. Right now, I feel like wherever you and I are together, it's home. But before I met you, I enjoyed my time alone… more than that, I welcomed it. Maybe it was just because of the crap I went through with Nadia, but maybe it's better for me. Either way, I don't want to allow you to invest in a commitment with me only for me to want distance down the road like I did with Nadia. I need to make sure it's not me, Bo. I don't trust myself not to hurt you that way."

Bo sat up, looking down at the dash of the cockpit controls thinking about what Lauren had just said. She'd never told her that before… never told her she didn't trust herself. It did shed a light on the blonde's thinking. Regardless of the contradictory train of thought, Bo had to support her path… no matter how painful it might be for her to be here without her. Still, her words stung. Bo took a deep breath and plastered a smile on her face, wanting to keep her promise to Lauren,

"As I said up on that mountain, Lauren – whatever you need."

Lauren sat up, placing a hand on Bo's shoulder, "I'm sorry, Bo."

The brunette turned to look at the blonde, the light of the moon and runway lights illuminating her features, making her glow,

"Don't do that, Lauren. Don't apologize. It's not necessary. You're entitled to your feelings. We all have to deal with things that don't go our way sometimes. If things don't work out for us, it will be one of those things I'll have to handle, but for now, we'll just take one moment at a time… remember?"

Lauren smiled, "One moment at a time."

Bo sat staring out at the field, her mind conflicted. Finally, she began pulling her flight papers and backpack together before she looked at Lauren,

"You ready? You've got to be tired."

Lauren nodded, "Are you okay?"

Bo smiled, "Sure. Come on. You can go sit in the truck if you want. I'll only be a few minutes."

"It's okay. I'll come in with you. I can say hello to Kenzi and thank her for the fly over."

Bo nodded and exited the plane. Lauren followed, the pair walking back to the hotel. When they arrived, they found Kelly, Kurt, Shannon and Carolyn seated at Bo's table and Kenzi behind the bar while Vex downed a beer. The couple approached the table first, saying hello. Bo excused herself, stopping to greet Kenzi and give her the paperwork from the flight before heading up to her apartment to gather some clothing. Lauren stood talking to her nurses and Kurt, telling them all about the highlights of her day off. To say they were envious was an understatement as the poor young pilot was instantly being pressured by Kelly into taking her and her friends up the next day.

Kurt explained that he was not as familiar with all the details to give an appropriate tour, but he did know how to handle a plane at that altitude and did have experience flying the route. That was all the ladies needed to hear, scheduling a trip up for the weekend. Kurt just shook his head when Kelly stated that they could read the rest from a book or learn it from Lauren and Bo.

True to her word, Bo was back in the dining room and ready to go moments later. She and Lauren said their farewells and politely excused themselves to get some sleep. The drive back to the clinic was quiet, as was the trip up the stairs to Lauren's new apartment. It was a cozy space and Bo never minded staying there, but tonight was just a bit awkward after what Lauren had confessed in the plane. Honestly, the brunette wished they had just exited after the kiss, but for whatever reason, Lauren felt it necessary to emphasize that while she loved her and felt like she might want a life with her, she still wasn't sure.

"She could just let me live in my own little fantasy world. No need to bring reality into it all the time." Bo whispered to herself from the couch.

She stood, two antsy to sit still. She walked around the now larger space and for the first time, noticed that there was no wall art, none of the small gifts and knick-knacks patients had given her were out and she still only had the basic furniture Evony had provided.

"I guess she decided not to bother since she's leaving soon." Bo remarked, but then realized that Lauren had only just found out that her departure date had been moved up. It had been months since the fire. It sure looked to Bo like she'd made her decision about staying here. There was nothing but clothing, food, linens, personal hygiene or professional items. There was nothing sentimental, nothing that connected her heart to this place… not a single picture of Bo or the two of them together… not even Lauren's dogs.

She walked into the bedroom, deciding she might as well get ready for bed when she noticed that Lauren had tossed her keys and backpack on the bed. Deciding to help her out, she picked up each item to hang them by the door but froze when her eyes caught a flash of gold on the bed. Apparently, Lauren had tossed it on the bed with her keys and bag. She sighed, picking up the necklace and carefully hanging it on the jewelry stand that sat atop her dresser. She slid her fingers down the chain, holding the stone at the end in her hand. It reminded her of panning for gold with her mom. She missed her more than she could ever express. Maybe when Lauren left, she would resume her search for her. Tamsin seemed to think she might be alive, so why not?

She shrugged, thinking of how she could handle her businesses while away from Talkeetna. She could sell them and go back to living off the grid. One thing was for sure, Bo Dennis didn't need money and if she did, what she could get for her construction business, her kennel, her helicopter and plane would keep her funded for at least a decade.

As she looked around the apartment, she suddenly felt like a stranger here… no, she felt like she'd fallen in love with a stranger. This was the home of a woman who was avoiding connections – why she was doing that remained to be seen. Maybe she needed a little space to sort that out before she left.

Bo felt a sudden urge to head back to her house for the night. As much as she didn't want to let Lauren down, she was wondering if Kenzi wasn't right…

FLASHBACK…

"Bo, are you sure you want to make this grand gesture?"

The pilot gritted her teeth, sick of Kenzi trying to change her mind about Lauren. She signed off on the flight plan and slid the papers over to her friend,

"Yes, Kenzi. I'm sure. I've never been surer about anything in my life. Why is it that you can't be happy for me? You've always wanted me to be with someone - commit to someone. Now that I have, you want me to break things off."

Kenzi shook her head, wagging a finger at the brunette, "I did not say that. I'm happy that you're happy. I'm just not particularly happy that you're willing to sacrifice your heart for her when she doesn't seem willing to sacrifice anything for you."

"She's sacrificed, Kenzi. She's here, isn't she? She took care of me for almost a month, living off grid… no running water, no electric heat, no…"

Kenzi interrupted, "Bo, that's not what I'm talking about and you know it. She's not willing to sacrifice her heart for you. You're putting it all out there and she's all 'I love you, but I don't know if I want a relationship'. I just hate to see you martyr yourself for her. And before you say anything, I would feel that way about any woman who did this to you."

Bo shrugged, "She's not doing this to me. I'm a big girl and I know where I stand. If anything, I'm doing it to myself."

-End Flashback –

"Doing it to myself." Bo whispered, "I'm doing this to myself. Here I am telling Kenzi that I'm trying to spend as much time with Lauren doing things that didn't involve work, so I could be truly sure that Lauren fit into my own lifestyle, but…"

Bo shook her head, realizing that maybe she was lying to herself as much as she had been lying to Kenzi. She stood, staring at the door that led downstairs to the clinic, unable to take the steps towards the door that her mind was telling her she should take. Her heart didn't want to hurt Lauren like that, so she turned back towards the couch only to see Lauren standing there, watching her,

"Something I should know?"

Bo shrugged, unsure of exactly what to say, "Nope."

Lauren moved to her small kitchen, "Want some tea?"

"Sure." Bo replied, taking a seat at the small L-shaped breakfast bar that wrapped around the kitchen while the doctor set about making two cups of tea.

"You're upset by what I said in the plane."

Bo stacked her fists on top of each other before placing her chin on top, "Upset? Not really. I guess… well, we had this great day and then this fabulous kiss. It was the perfect day."

"And then I ruined it." Lauren concluded.

"Nope. That day and that kiss will always be perfect. The conclusion was just – in my opinion – unnecessary. You said what you felt you had to say. I listened. When it was all out there, I was simply left to wonder why you felt you needed to say it, knowing that I know all of it. It's just like all of the times you felt a need to tell me you were going back to Boston. I think somehow you feel like you always have to add a disclaimer to our time together, sort of like voiding a warranty so that somehow, if you don't choose a life with me, you won't be to blame because you warned me."

"Bo…" Lauren began, but Bo waved her off with a chuckle,

"It's okay, Lauren. I get it. You want to be sure I'm hearing the uncertainty you feel. What you really want to say is, 'Bo, we had the best day ever, but be sure to read the fine print because this in no way means I'm fully committing to you, so don't go getting all caught up in the moment fantasizing about a life with me', right? See? I get it. It's all good."

Bo laughed… and laughed… she laughed until tears were falling from her eyes, she was laughing so hard. She stood, walking to the bathroom for a tissue,

"Oh, wow. I crack myself up." She looked up to see Lauren frowning and sighed,

"Sorry, but you did ask. It just… it hurts me, Lauren. I'd just like to have a good time with you and fall asleep with those memories. It's my choice to be with you knowing that you may not stay. I'd rather have one more week with you than never have had this at all. If you walk away, I may never find another love like this. I think I deserve to have this while I can without you constantly putting a damper on the best days we share. Why can't you give me that? I'm not asking for anything else. I guess no matter how little I'm willing to accept, it's always going to be more than you're willing to give, huh?"

Bo grabbed her jacket, "I had an amazing day with you, Lauren. One of the best days ever. I will never regret it. I will cherish every image, every laugh, every step we took up that mountain. I'd love to give you more of those days, but if you really want to have these last days with me, I need you to have them free of guilt, free of conditions, free of disclaimers. It's going to hurt enough when you leave and, well – you're the one who suggested I see Dr. Gray."

Bo laughed, "Now there's a woman who knows how to commit. She came to see me once a week every week while I was injured."

Bo chuckled, "She's single, too. A little old for me, but still… single."

"Bo…"

The brunette shook her head, "You got what you wanted, Lauren. I went to see Dr. Gray and got the help that I needed. Over the past month, she's taught me self-worth. She's taught me that I'm a good person who deserves to be treated with respect and appreciation. So, if we're going to spend time together and you're going to tell me you love me, then I'm not going to pretend I don't expect to be treated as such."

Bo moved to the door. As Lauren tried to speak again, she cut her off once more, "I'm going to head home for the night."

"Bo, it's late…"

She smiled at Lauren,

"And I've been traveling under the skies my entire life, Lauren. It's my world out there… my home. You keep forgetting… I don't need to be taken care of… I just need to follow the path I was born to walk every moment, every day of my life. Right now, in this moment, I can't be here, and I think you need some time to think as well. We haven't been apart for over a month. Maybe a break is a good thing for tonight. We can have plenty more moments tomorrow and the next day and the next or whenever you want. I've got to work at the kennel tomorrow. You can stop by if you'd like, maybe run your girls or… well, whatever."

She opened the door, "I love you, Lauren. I'll be thinking of you. Sleep tight."

Lauren watched as the brunette exited her apartment, the door closing quietly behind her. As the tea kettle whistled on the stove, she stood staring at the door. She shook her head, her throat tightening as her eyes filled with tears. She whispered,

"I love you, Bo. I'll be thinking of you, too. I'll miss you more than you know… more than I'm willing to admit. You see, the problem is, I'm afraid to commit to you because I'm pretty sure that I'm the problem. And you're wrong, Bo – you do need protection… protection from me. You see, my problem is that I'm fine on my own because if I let myself, I'll turn my heart off like I did with Nadia and spend the rest of my life alone. You've finally learned how to let people in. I won't be responsible for you shutting them out again. If I leave… if I stay away… well, at least your heart will be safe."

"You know, that's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard."

Lauren spun towards her bedroom door where Tamsin was standing, arms crossed in the doorway. The blonde took several steps back, her eyes moving quickly between the door where Bo had just exited and the Special Agent,

"H-how did you… w-what do you want from me… wh…"

"Oh, relax, Doc. Kenzi sent me here. I snuck up the fire escape and through the window." She pulled off her jacket, "Since Bo left, mind if I crash on your couch?"

"Wh-what?"

"Great. I've been sleeping in my truck for weeks." Tamsin walked past the doctor to the refrigerator, Lauren still standing there, stunned into silence. The agent pulled out three slices of cold pizza, grabbed a couple of paper towels and made herself comfortable at the counter.

"Gee. Can I heat that for you?"

Tamsin chomped down a large bite, "Nah. Got any beer?"

Lauren sighed, "No. Tamsin, why are you sneaking into my house at almost midnight? Why are you here at all?"

"I was about to leave before I noticed Bo put on her coat." She took another bite.

Lauren shook her head, "So you were going to talk to Bo?"

"No, I was going to talk to you, but then she was here, so I was leaving, but then she was going, so I stayed."

Lauren's head was spinning. She was upset that Bo had left, she was upset that she had again opened her big mouth to tell Bo she wasn't sure about them, she was upset that she was going to have to let go of a woman she was in love with so she could avoid hurting her and she was upset that Tamsin had broken into her apartment.

"Okay, Tamsin. Bottom line this. I'm tired and I want to go to bed."

"No, you're upset that you screwed up with Bo and if any of that shit you were saying to yourself is actually what you think is true, you're an idiot… a smart doctor, but a total idiot when it comes to love and Bo."

"Wow. So, you broke into my apartment to insult me?"

"No, I broke into your apartment because Bo loves you and I need your help with Bo."

"Okay, that makes absolutely no sense, so I'll ask you again. Why are you here?"

Tamsin smirked at Lauren, "I found Bo's mom…" She licked her fingers, "…alive."

Lauren gripped her chest, falling back onto the barstool. Tamsin put her foot on the bottom rung, steadying it so the doctor didn't fall backwards. She returned to her pizza as Lauren lowered her head to the counter with a thud.

"I know, right?" Tamsin laughed.

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