Brooke could feel the darkness surrounding her and she gave herself over to it. She could feel herself falling further and further into a darkness that had no ending. As she burrowed herself deeper into it, she could feel consciousness itching its way at her, trying to pull her back to the surface.

Disoriented, she awoke to a dimly lit room. The snow that pooled around her was not snow at all, but a bed with a thick, warm comforter. She allowed her heavy lids to fall close once again.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you." The lids opened a slant, and Brooke saw Lucas standing in the doorway, a mug in hand.

"Hi."

She watched as his mouth thinned as he advanced toward the bed to tower high above her. Something in his eyes told her that he was a tad angry. She stared at him with lazy fascination.

"What the hell were you doing out in the middle of a blizzard? I've seen people do some dumb things, but yours beat them all."

Brooke placed a hand tenderly to her aching head, wishing he would stop all the yelling he was doing, but lacked the energy to tell him so. "Where am I?" Was all she could get out.

Taking a seat on the edge of the bed, Lucas handed her a hot cup of tea, and helped her hold it up to her lips. "Drink this first, then we can talk."

Brooke took a hesitant sip of the hot liquor, only to choke on its content. "What is in there?" She asked between coughs.

"A shot of brandy, here, you have to drink some more, it'll help warm your insides faster than regular coffee or tea." With that, he put the cup back to her lips.

Brooke took another sip of the foul tasting content, and could feel the warmth seep its way down her throat and settling in her belly.

"Now, to answer your question, you're at my ranch." Lucas set the empty cup aside, satisfied that she had emptied its contents.

"Oh."

"Is that all you have to say? Oh?" He started yelling again. He grabbed her shoulders in his hands and shook her. "What were you doing out there?"

"I don't know. It seems so long ago now." Brooke frowned in concentration, closing her eyes with great effort trying to recall the events of the previous day. "It wasn't snowing when I left the ranch." She offered weakly.

"Wasn't snowing?" Lucas repeated incredulously. "Brooke, didn't you look at the sky? Where was your head?"

"You don't have to insult me," she retorted with a small flash of spirit.

"Insult you? Are you crazy? Do you realize what almost happened to you out there?" His hands retreated to his pockets, as though he could barely prevent himself from reaching out and shaking some sense into her. "Out there, in the middle of a storm, half-frozen and hopelessly lost. It was a miracle we found you in all that snow. A little longer, and you would've been buried in it, and no one would've been able to see you. Nathan was going crazy with worry when he finally got through to me to tell me you were missing."

"Haley? Does Haley know?" Brooke asked him, worried she had caused her sister to worry about her in the condition she was in.

"Knows nothing." He whirled around to face her again. "She was asleep when Nathan discovered you were gone. It never occurred to her that you would go out in the middle of a brewing storm." He informed her harshly.

The memory of the snow and the terror of being lost washed over her, and she began to shake. "I'm sorry," she managed through the tears that were threatening to fall.

With a muttered curse under his breath, Lucas made his way to her side as he took her into his arms. "Brooke," he murmured against her hair. "You have no idea what hell you put us through doing what you did."

"I'm sorry," she repeated as she began to sob in earnest. "I was so scared, so cold."

Lucas rocked and whispered words she could not understand, his lips brushing through her hair and over her damp cheeks until they met hers. The kiss mingled with the salt of her tears. "I've gotten your shirt all wet," she said softly after a while.

He let out a deep breath, and she saw a smile begin to spread on his face as he rested his forehead against hers. "That is without a doubt the worst catastrophe of the day." And was satisfied that he was able to get a small giggle out of her.

"It looks dark outside," Brooke said as she glanced out the window across the room. "How long...?" She started to ask him how long she had been unconscious for.

"Too long. What you need to do now is rest."

"The horse?" she began as he lay her down on the pillows.

"Is sleeping off his adventure in the stables." He offered, knowing she would worry.

"Thank you Lucas, for everything you've done." Brooke reached for his hand, only to realize, as the sheets fell away from her, that she was stark naked. "M-my clothes," she stammered, drawing the sheets higher in an attempt to hide her body, which caused Lucas' mouth to twitch in laughter.

"Soaked through and through B." Rising, he stood, rocking gently on his heels. "We had to get you warm and dry, so keeping you in those wet clothes wasn't an option. Not unless we wanted you to freeze to death."

"Who took off my clothes? Your housekeeper?" Brooke managed a sigh of relief at the thought of a maid taking off her clothes instead of Lucas himself. "I seem to have put everyone through a lot of trouble. Will you be sure to thank her for me?"

"Well, B, I'd like to oblige you, but the housekeeper left earlier this week for vacation. Her husband took her to Hawaii for their anniversary." Lucas' grin broadened.

"Then who...?" The question caught in her throat, as realization hit her. "Oh no," she whispered, closing her eyes in mortification.

"No need to be embarrassed Brooke, you have a beautiful body. One that should be admired and one you should be proud of." Lucas began to chuckle as he watched her face turn several shades redder at hearing his comments.

"Oh no," She groaned as she squeezed her eyes tighter and brought her hand to cover her face.

"Now, don't you fret." His tone took on the light insolence of the cowboy she'd met almost a month ago. "When I took off your clothes and rubbed you down, it was strictly medical. I'd do as much for any stray." He patted her hand, and her eyes opened warily at his touch.

"Yes, of course." She said as she licked her dry lips and attempted to look at the situation from a practical and rational side. "I, well...thanks I guess."

"My pleasure, now don't you give it another thought." He moved toward the door, than paused and turned back to face her. "But, the next time I get your clothes off, my intentions will be completely different."

He strolled casually out of the room as he shut the door behind him, leaving a speechless Brooke.

A/N: Sorry to those who have been waiting for an update on this fic. I've been working on another story, Getting There, if you want to check it out. I hope you enjoy this update, I know it's not as long as the other chapters have been, but I promise the next update won't take as long to post, and it'll be much longer. Thanks for reading. Let me know what you think! And thanks so much for the reviews, it's what keeps me inspired to write. So the more reviews, the quicker the updates. Thanks again!