A Little Snow Chapter 6

Andy pulled the car to the side of the road and shifted it into park. Learning forward he gestured to the other vehicles front tire, "It looks like they must have hit a rough patch of ice. They probably lost control back there just passed the bridge, but see the wheel? That does not look good, there is no way they are getting out of that." The car's tire was rotated at a ninety-degree angle and the wheelbase was bent in around the rim, otherwise the car was undamaged.

"At least they lost control over here rather than a few yards back," Sharon sighed leaning forward to look into the rear view mirror. The tire tracks were barely noticeable under the still falling snow. "They could have slid further down the embankment after the bridge we just crossed. We would have driven right by and never seen them."

Andy nodded as he took off his seatbelt, "Yes, I guess it's their lucky day."

"Indeed," she hummed, rolling her eyes at the phrase and facing forward again in her seat.

Andy unbuckled his seatbelt and reached into the backseat for a pair of gloves. "I'll go check on them." He pulled on his gloves and tucked his phone into his pocket. When Sharon shifted forward and zipped her coat up to her chin he glanced over, "You should stay in the car." Andy opened his door and shuttered slightly against the gust of wind that tugged on the doorframe. "There is no need for both of us to get out in this if we don't have to. Besides, I have better shoes for traction and a warmer coat. The idea is to help them, not get stuck ourselves." Andy got out of the car and braced himself to walk around the front of the car.

In her seat Sharon rolled her eyes. Ignoring his reasoning she unbuckled her seatbelt to get out and help the other car. As she reached to open her door she heard a thud and the sound of something large swiping across the hood of the car. She looked up quickly to see that Andy had slipped on the icy road. Holding back a smirk at the fact that he was the one to fall, Sharon got out of the car. Carefully she opened the door and slowly glided along her side of the car to make sure she did not slip as well. "What was that about better traction? Not needing help ourselves?" She mocked standing firmly above his prone position in the snow. "It seems to me, Lieutenant, that you have a strange habit for falling… perhaps you should have let me handle it after all, hmm?"

Still on his back Andy rolled his eyes, "Ha-ha, very funny, Captain." He laid there for a couple seconds going over a mental inventory of his body. Once he was sure it was just his pride that was injured he slowly moved to sit up. "And I don't have a habit for falling. Last time I happened to fall, I was stabbed, so not really my fault… this time I may have been trying to walk too quickly to check on and to help the people stranded on the side of the road. Excuse me for caring."

Sharon raised an eyebrow in his direction and reached down to help him up, "Sure, that's what it is then. You were caring so much that you almost injured yourself in the process." Once he was standing, he brushed the show off of his clothes and nodded toward the other car.

The driver of the vehicle noticed the fall and opened his door to call out, "Are you two all right?"

"We were going to ask you the same thing," Sharon replied as she walked gingerly across the iced over tire tracks. Alongside the car, she pulled her jacket tighter and leaned forward to use the door as a shield against the wind. "Do you all need any help?"

The man shook his head, "I don't think so, ma'am. We were able to get a call out for a tow truck. They said it might be a while before they could get someone out this way. We are at least on the list."

"How long is a while?" Andy asked trooping up next to Sharon and leaning against the open door frame. "It's pretty cold to have to sit on the side of the road, even if your heater is on in the car."

The other man shrugged and looked around, "I know, sir, but they didn't give us a solid time frame; busy day for them. They said they would be out here as soon as they could."

"It's our fault for trying to make the drive," said the other person with a somewhat bitter tone. The young woman in the passenger seat looked over to the driver and smirked dryly. "I mean what was it you said to me this morning? It's just a little snow." The man turned in his seat and gave the young woman an unimpressed look. She leaned farther forward to make eye contact with Sharon and then Andy, "I'm sorry you two had to stop, my brother over here thought it was a good idea to start the drive first thing this morning... and then an even better idea to assume the road conditions were not that bad and that he could go close to the speed limit."

Sharon let out a soft laugh at the looks the two siblings exchanged, "It happens. You two are lucky you slid off here and not back there." She turned slightly with her arms wrapped around her body to give Andy a questioning glance, "Do you think we can spare a little time to get them to the next stop?" Andy nodded in agreement and she returned her attention to the inside of the car, "I bet it would be warmer at a diner or something and you could call the tow company to let them know where you are. Or if you're not going too much farther we could drop you somewhere. I'm not sure how you feel about riding with strangers... we are police officers if that makes you feel any better about getting into our car. Not local ones though, but I mean we can help you out. My name is Sharon and this is Andy."

"I don't want to inconvenience you guys. It's Christmas and I am sure you have plans. Plus, it's my fault for getting us stuck," Jeff reasoned. "A truck should be out here soon. Hannah and I will be fine."

Andy shook his head, "It's not an inconvenience. Like you said, it's Christmas, you shouldn't be out here in this. Did you call your family to tell them where you were and what was going on?"

The younger woman leaned forward again, "No, because someone didn't want dad to yell at him for wrecking the car, right Jeff?" Her brother pressed his lips together in an effort to hold back his frustration, but said nothing.

Sharon laughed again, "I don't want to tell you what to do, but it may not be a bad idea to call and let them know that you two are safe, and that you may be a little late." Hannah swatted her brother's shoulder with an, 'I told you so,' look as Sharon continued. "In the meantime why don't you two grab your things? You can make your calls while we drive. It's too cold to be sitting here on the side of the road."

The siblings nodded and gathered their bags to change cars. Andy helped carry the small box of gifts from the backseat while they moved their things into the back of the rental car. As he walked back around the front of their car Andy glanced down and saw his phone tucked into a pocket of snow next to where he had fallen earlier. He grumbled to himself and bent down to pick it up. Noticing his movement Sharon stepped around her open door and called over the wind, "Is that your phone?"

Andy glanced up with a pained expression, "Yeah, but I am not going to check it right now." He took a breath to control his sudden flash of irritation, "It won't do me any good to worry over it at the moment. You have yours if we need to call anyone in the near future. I will check it after we get these two situated." Somewhat surprised at his mostly calm reaction Sharon nodded and ducked into her seat.

Once everyone was situated in the car Andy looked up into the rear view mirror, "So, how far away from the house are you guys?"

"On a good day, our parents live about half an hour from here," Hannah gestured out the window. "I flew in last night so I could drive up with Jeff. I'm sure we can call and have someone meet us up ahead. That way we can also arrange for a tow truck to get the car somewhere closer to the house. My parents would probably rather it be at a shop nearby."

From behind the wheel Andy nodded, "That will be good. Call and let them know where you are now. Then we can stop off and wait for someone to drive in to get you. It's not ideal to have more people out on the road, but if you were my kids I would not want you to sit out anywhere for too long." He shrugged, "Even if you are adults, speaking as a parent, I would worry. Always."

Jeff pulled out his phone and called his father. After assuring him that he and his sister were all right they decided to meet at a truck stop and diner a few miles away.

"How long were you two waiting?" Sharon asked after the young man retuned his phone to his pocket.

"Not long," Jeff shrugged before his sister nudged him again. "Well," he amended rubbing his side, "maybe like an hour, or two."

Sharon let out an uneasy breath. She knew that if these were her children she would have a few words to say to them about being safe and knowing when to call her. However, since they were not her children, she held back. Instead she turned in her seat to face them, "Two hours? I am really glad we drove by. That's quite a long time to be sitting and waiting out here on the side of the road. I'm sure you are tired, or at least hungry. I don't have much, but maybe something?"

Jeff and Hannah looked at each other before Hannah turned back to Sharon. The young woman shrugged, "I mean we may be a little hungry…" Sharon smiled and turned back around. Leaning forward she dug a small plastic container out of the tote bag sitting on the floorboard by her feet.

"What are those?" Andy wondered momentarily taking his eyes off the road to study the container.

Ignoring his curious gaze, Sharon turned to the backseat and lifted the lid. "They're Christmas cookies," she offered holding the box in front of the others.

"Where have you been hiding those?" Andy droned, "I'm hungry too."

She looked at Jeff and Hannah and rolled her eyes playfully before she answered, "Well, they aren't for you, Andy. I was saving them for Emily. They are a tradition and a surprise for her."

Hannah sat forward and took a cookie from the box, "Emily? Is she your daughter? Are you two driving north to spend Christmas with her? I'm so sorry my brother and I are keeping you two from your family."

Sharon gave the girl a gentle smile. "It will be all right. I'll make it up to her. But, yes, Emily is my daughter," Sharon explained. "I'm going to visit her for Christmas."

Jeff took a bite of his cookie and gestured between Sharon and Andy. "Just your daughter? Your visit? You two aren't, um," he mumbled as he chewed, "together?"

In unison both Sharon and Andy clarified, "No, not..." Hearing him beside her Sharon shot him an awkward shrug before returning to face the others. "No, we aren't together. We are just, um, well, we do work together, I guess, but um, no we are not spending the holiday together. At least that was not our plan." She turned back around in her seat and snapped the lid on the container to return the cookies to her bag.

"Yeah," Andy shrugged, "we are just friends."

At the word friends Sharon furrowed her eyebrows slightly and zipped the bag. She returned her attention to the backseat and explained, "Yes, I guess, I mean mostly though we work together. We just happened to be on the same flight out of Los Angeles yesterday. That flight then got diverted, due to the weather, so we decided to drive the rest of the way."

"Oh," Hannah reasoned, "well that was lucky for you two then. I mean that you were able to travel together. That makes the trip a little easier, especially in this weather."

Andy shrugged, "You could call it lucky, maybe. Of course the real luck will be finally getting to New York. It's been a long trip full of travel inconveniences and ridiculous coincidences."

In the passenger seat, Sharon nodded, "It will be nice to finally get in to the city, but we will wait with you guys until your father is able to pick you up. It isn't a bad time for us to stop either."

"Yeah," Andy mumbled, "especially since someone was hiding snacks since breakfast."

Facing the front window Sharon smirked to herself at the comment, but said nothing more. The group road in silence for the next few miles each watching as lighter snowflakes continued to fall around them. By the time they reached the exit the snow seemed to be almost over, but it was still gusty and overcast outside.

When they pulled into the parking lot Andy dropped the others off at the door so he could top off the gas tank. Standing by the pump he tucked his hands into his pockets and felt his phone. Remembering the potential damage he decided to go ahead and check the device. While they drove it had both warmed up and dried off in his pocket, but it was not powering on. He could not tell if it was simply a depleted battery, or completely damaged. Resolving to charge it when he could, he tucked it back into his pocket and drove the car back over to the diner and parked.

Inside Sharon, Jeff, and Hannah were seated at a booth by the window. There was one other table taking a break from the conditions, otherwise the restaurant was empty.

"I ordered coffees for everyone," Sharon acknowledged as Andy slid into the booth beside her. She slid his mug closer to him with a soft smile.

"Sounds great," he nodded taking off his gloves. He looked across the table to the siblings, "Do you two know if your parents are close?"

Jeff pointed to his phone on the table, "Dad called as we walked in. They were about ten minutes away. Thank you guys again for taking the time to help us."

"Yes," Hannah interjected, "Thank you so much. I do not think I could have sat in that car much longer. Sure it was cold, but my god it was boring."

Sharon laughed, "I can only imagine, but you two do not need to keep thanking us. We could not have let you sit out there in this… Although, maybe next time you are waiting hours for a tow truck you should go ahead and let someone else know as well."

Jeff nodded his head, "Yeah, not my best decision today."

"Not your worst either," Hannah teased. "I mean going sixty in the snow would probably be where you really went wrong." Jeff turned and gave her a sarcastic smirk, but once again held back from sniping at his sister in front of the others.

Across the table Sharon shook her head at their banter and took a sip of her coffee.

"You two remind me of my kids," Andy hummed as he looked out the window. "They are always making fun of each other."

Hannah reached for her mug, "Are you traveling to the city to see your kids as well, Andy?"

Andy returned his eyes to the table, "No. They are spending it with their mother. I am visiting my sister up here this year."

Noting a bit of sadness to his tone, Sharon worried her teeth over her bottom lip and decided to change the subject. "So, Hannah, you said you flew in?"

"Yes," the young woman responded excitedly. "I am a freshman at Emory. So, I flew up here to meet Jeff. I thought it would be a fun way to spend some time together. The weather may be annoying, but at least this whole ordeal is something else to talk about after the break. My friends will love this one - How Jeff thought the laws of physics did not apply to him." She laughed to herself at the idea.

Jeff pushed his shoulder into hers and whispered, "Stop, Hannah. It's not funny, okay?"

"I think it is," his sister replied still smirking. "Don't worry, they already think you're weird. This won't change a thing."

He bumped her again, before he lifted his head to a sound at the diner front door. A man and woman walked in taking off their gloves and looking around. Hannah followed his gaze and jumped up from the table. She skipped to the front door to greet the new arrivals. "Hi Mom!" She exclaimed wrapping her arms around the woman before turning to the man, "Dad! Merry Christmas!"

The man pulled his daughter in a quick hug before stepping back, "I don't know how 'Merry' it is at the moment. You two are very fortunate that it's Christmas. I mean driving so recklessly in these conditions…?"

"Well," Hannah began, "at least we are safe now, that is the important part. Let's focus on that." She reached for each of their parents' hands and pulled them to the table. "Mom, Dad, this is Andy and Sharon they're on their way to New York. Andy and Sharon, meet our parents, Mike and Theresa."

Theresa leaned forward, "Thank you for helping the kids. This whole situation could have been quite horrifying. Truly, thank you."

"It is not a problem at all," Sharon assured the woman. "We were headed this direction anyway, barely a set back."

"Well," Mike stepped in, "still we appreciate it. Now, I don't want to keep you two from your drive any longer. The snow has at least let up. You should be able to make decent time the rest of the way north."

Andy turned to look out the window, "Yes, maybe we will finally catch a break."

A/N: Thank you once again for your feedback and follows. I appreciate all you for following along with this adventure. I hope you all have an amazing weekend!