Chapter 9

Fear gripped his heart. Oliver kept his hands firmly around the edge of his seat.

"Are you alright doctor?" Major Doss asked, having never seen the doctor look so pale. Frozen in place, Oliver could only nod half-heartedly. They had hired a car first and had driven towards the small military airfield where Captain Johnson had a helicopter. Jenkins would be headed for his own family, not New York, but they'd be at least partway there.

Doctor Crane had called his wife, and she'd said that according to weather forecasts, they'd be lucky if they'd even get the doors of the airport open tomorrow. She'd been surprised to hear her husband was no longer at the airport but trying an alternative approach to get home for Christmas. She'd expressed her doubts, and told him to be careful. It had made the doctor more determined to get home, but now that he was sitting in the helicopter, he started having some doubts again. Very big doubts.

"Major? Everything ok back there?" Jenkins' voice came over the headsets they were all wearing. Eyeing the doctor doubtfully again, but eager to get home to his wife, he said, "Yes Captain."

"Ok, Sir, taking off now."

"Roger."

The helicopter slowly freed itself from the ground, which was covered lightly with snow, and Oliver closed his eyes tightly again. 'Oh boy!'

The door closed behind them, and Nancy briefly leaned against it, before remembering Tippy.

"You can change in here or in the bathroom – that's through that door," she said, waving in the direction of the bathroom. She tried to keep her mind from going back to that moment just now where she and Clint had shared a look that had released so many emotions. She knew she loved Clint… and she suspected he felt something more than friendship for her – especially after this moment… but she'd also seen something else in his eyes… confusion? Or was it doubt? She really didn't know.

What had been different? They spent so much time together, but this had never happened… right?

Oh, she knew she'd drowned in his gaze a few times… and she knew that some people – ok, quite a few – had mistaken them for a couple, dating, engaged or married. She'd even once said that she was his girlfriend, just to keep a man from attacking him for allegedly stealing the man's wife.

All that, and nothing strange, like the moment they'd just had, had happened then.

Well… Clint had given her this odd look that she'd never really deciphered, when she'd said she was his girlfriend. But that was a totally different look! It might have been a little similar… very similar, but not the same. The look they'd just shared had been more… more… just more.

"Nancy?"

"Huh, what?" Nancy awoke as from a daze, and looked straight into the worried yet slightly amused face of Tippy.

"Are you ok?"

"Yeah, yeah, just fine," Nancy said with a smile. "I eh, I'll just leave you to change. Holler if you need anything."

Tippy nodded. "Ok, thank you."

As Tippy turned towards the bathroom, Nancy closed her eyes briefly, telling herself she was just reading too much in things because she had only recently admitted to herself she loved Clint Cassidy.

Hoping that if she'd tell herself that often enough, she'd at least get through the evening, Nancy turned and opened the door again, entering the living room.

Hearing the door open and close, Tippy allowed the huge grin to spread on her face. Something was happening alright.

Clint tried to focus on getting supper ready, but his mind kept wandering back to the moment Nancy and he had just shared.

Watch your fingers, Cassidy, focus on cutting the vegetables!

He loved Nancy. He had always thought he'd loved Samantha at one point, but his feelings for Nancy far outweighed that what he'd ever felt for Samantha. It confused, as well as excited and him. Confused, because – how could he not have known he was in love with the most incredible woman he'd ever met?

Ok, perhaps he should rephrase that. How come he hadn't realised it sooner? There had been plenty of moments where he'd felt the attraction to the nurse, not only for her outward, but especially for her inner beauty. He'd always pushed those thoughts aside though – almost unconsciously. Perhaps he'd been afraid of losing her friendship? He couldn't imagine having to live without her friendship. He hated it every time they argued, which luckily didn't happen very often. They always talked it over though.

The situation with Richard Black had hurt him – to see her go out and interact so intimately with a man he couldn't stand. Although he had to admit, part of it was that she was with someone other than him.

Clint shook his head. He should have realised then. Even Derek had seen it, had pretty much spelled it out to him that he thought Clint was jealous of Richard, and that that was why he was against the takeover.

But he had pushed away those feelings again. In the aftermath though, Nancy and he had grown closer than they ever had been before. He couldn't pinpoint when he'd started loving her as more than a co-worker and friend, but he knew his love for her had grown significantly past that point. They shared their deepest pains and their happiest moments.

He took a deep breath. Ok, he had now firmly established that he was head over heels in love with Nancy Nichol. What about her though? Did she love him too?

Remembering the look she'd given him, he thought he could answer that with a 'yes', but… he had been wrong before. What if she did love him? What if she didn't?

Suddenly the door opened again, and Clint looked up to see Nancy walk back into the room. Was it his imagination or did she seem a little shy? Nancy gave Clint a hesitant smile, taking a few steps, her hands moving restlessly without real purpose. The tense silence could be cut with a knife.

Speaking of which… Nancy's attention was drawn to the kitchen counter and immediately a smile broke out on her face. "I'd say that's enough vegetables, even considering your appetite," she said, nodding towards where Clint's hands now rested. Clint followed her gaze and saw the big pile.

His mind may have been miles away, his hands had kept busy apparently. He chuckled, and looked up to meet Nancy's amused gaze. "Ya think Tippy's hungry?"

That had them both laughing heartily.

"Here, let me help," Nancy said, getting a pan and putting it on the stove. Clint let her, knowing that she'd started feeling cooped up. They soon settled into a familiar routine. Cooking together was nothing new to them.

Everything went fine, until they both reached for the salt at the same time. Their hands brushed, and the spark that jumped over between them, had them both lock gazes. For a moment, neither said anything. Then they both started talking at once.

"Nancy, I-" "Clint, wh-"

Immediately they both stopped, and they grinned. "Nancy," Clint started again. Suddenly the door opened, and Tippy walked in. Noticing she had interrupted something, she was about to apologise, and say she had forgotten something in the room – a tactical retreat is what Steven would call it – when the doorbell rang.

"I'll get that," Tippy said, berating herself for interrupting her two friends. "Hi Mr. Nichol," she said as she opened the door, and let Nancy's father in.

"Hello Tippy – and it's Paul, remember," Paul Nichol said, as he walked in, and took off his coat. Tippy took it from him to put away, while he went over to greet his daughter.

"Hey Nancy, you're looking pretty good for someone who's been sick the past few days," he said as he hugged her.

"Thanks, Dad," Nancy smirked, "Nice to see you too."

Clint quickly cleaned his hands to greet Nancy's father.

"Hey Clint," Paul said, smiling at the other man.

"Paul." Clint nodded, and smiled in return. "Good to see you."

"Likewise. Smells good by the way," Paul said, trying to peek into a pan. Nancy immediately took her father by the shoulders and turned him towards the couch.

"You'll see later."

"Ok, ok," Paul grumbled good-naturedly, as he and Tippy sat down on the couch and chatted. Clint and Nancy turned back to the kitchen counter, and briefly shared a look. Whatever they had wanted to say, it would have to wait till another time.

TBC