After two weeks recovering in the hospital, the Rangers could all tell that Gunny was about to come unglued if she had to deal with one more official, one more FBI agent, one more news reporter that wanted a story or one more curiosity seeker to come stare at the woman who survived three violent attacks by the same group of men. Even Izzy commented at supper the night before that he thought Gunny needed to get out of the hospital as soon as possible because she might come unglued at the wrong person.
Matt talked with the doctors overseeing her condition and upon the agreement that she get nothing but bed rest and relaxation for at least another week while her wounds healed further, they'd release her to leave. She was due back at the end of that week for a checkup and the start of physical therapy.
When Matt told Gunny this, she looked unsure about this. "It's not like I've got a place to go to other than the station. It just means that the media freaks will follow me there. You guys have better things to do other than worry about me and the crazy-ass reporters."
Cody sat on the edge of her bed and smirked, "That's why we're going to take you somewhere they can't get to you. Dad's cabin is up in the north quadrant. Only an hour or so by snow mobile from the station."
Crane raised an eyebrow, wondering if he was really serious about this. She looked at Matt who nodded. "We've stocked it with wood and supplies. As long as you take it easy, get lots of rest and minimize your movements for another week, the doctors are going to release you into our tender care." He said with a grin.
Crane simply rolled her eyes, "Greeeat." She said.
Cody chuckled a little, "Besides, it'll be a good place to recover without everyone around to bother you. Someone will come up every few days to make sure you're still alive and bring supplies or get you if you need to get to doctor appointments. There's a radio up at the cabin so if anything happens, you can get in touch with us."
She was silent for a time and then nodded a little, "When do we head out and do you have a plan for getting me out of here without half the media circus following or knowing that I've been released?"
Matt chuckled, "But of course we do. Mac's got one of his guys flying a chopper in some time tomorrow morning. He'll land on the heilo pad on the roof as if dropping someone off and they'll load you up and fly you up to the cabin."
Crane raised an eyebrow again, "Sounds like you're Johnny on the Spot on all of this." She then grew quiet, not sure what else to say about all of this planning going on around her. She looked between the two and finally nodded. "All right…and thanks." She said.
Matt nodded in return and gave a light salute before heading out the door to make plans with Mac and the doctors. Matt would be happy when this was all over and the newness of this whole fiasco had worn off. It would at least be easier to get the kids down for naps if the phone wasn't ringing off the hook. Everyone was getting short tempered a little by the constant interruptions.
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The next morning showed signs that there was something moving in by way of weather and the radar was confirming there was a storm system building to the northwest and gathering force though it wasn't moving very fast which didn't bode well those in Tahoe. The weatherman kept up the warnings of the incoming storm and predicting it would be the first big one of the season. Everyone was busy getting supplies set in and more of the media crowd waiting to talk to Gunny got wise and packed up, getting out while they could.
The Rangers were busy making sure their supplies were fully re-stocked and the equipment was fueled, checked over and prepped for any upcoming emergencies. Most of the rangers were out making last checks on common camping places, finding those that were registered with the park service and getting them back down off the mountain. Mark and Cody had gone up to Jesse's cabin earlier that morning, setting in a large stack of firewood inside incase something happened and they couldn't get to Gunny for a few days. They took extra supplies of canned soup and other things to make meals out of that wouldn't require her to stay on her feet for long. The downstairs bedroom was set up with extra blankets and anything that could get underfoot was pushed aside to give her room to move freely.
It wasn't until noon before the sound of the Sheriffs chopper approaching overhead. Within a few minutes, it was settled in a flat area behind the barn where Cody and Mark were waiting. The blades were slowing down and the engine was winding down. The deputy that was piloting for them from time to time till Gunny was able to resume flight duties came around the edge of the chopper and opened the chopper door, holding it open for Gunny to shift and slip out of the seat and to the ground.
The deputy handed her a crutch that she shoved under her right arm. It was a little awkward for her but she refused to be in a wheelchair when she still had one good leg. The doctors could only shake their heads and grumble about stubborn 'jarheads' and rangers. She looked around and cracked a little bit of a smile at the two Rangers waiting for her. Mark came forward and got the box of stuff from the hospital as Cody grabbed her duffle bag of clothes and laptop case.
Gunny turned to the deputy and held out a hand, "Thanks for the ride. Be safe and don't take any chances with this incoming storm. Strap her down and wait it out."
The deputy took the hand and shook it. "You bet." He said easily enough and then nodded to the other two as he moved around to his side and got in.
Gunny moved slowly towards the cabin, following Cody and Mark. Within moments of them clearing the landing field, the chopper started up again and was air born soon afterwards. Gunny made it to the cabin with relative ease and followed the others inside. She shut the door behind her to conserve the warmth already built up from the fire that'd been started earlier.
The cabin was rustic but had stairs going up to a bedroom and a door leading to another bedroom underneath. The large stone fireplace dominated part of the wall by the stairs and bedroom doors, using it to heat the bedrooms as well. There was a kitchen in the other direction that had an old wood stove for cooking, a sink, table and chairs and a fridge. She wondered what powered the fridge but she didn't ask right now.
Cody came out of the downstairs bedroom where he'd put her duffle bag. He brought out her laptop and set it on the table near sofa and chairs that were in the main room in front of the fireplace. "There's an electrical hookup over there. Place runs off a solar panel and we have a backup set of batteries that store a reserve of power if the panel gets covered by snow or we don't get sun for a few days due to weather."
She nodded as Mark came back out of the kitchen. "I set out your meds on the counter next to the sink and the instructions the nurse wrote out as to when to take what. There's a radio over there that's tuned into our frequency at the station. You'll be able to keep up with what's going on and if you need anything, just give us a holler."
She looked between the two. "Thanks." She said, her cheeks flushing a little. She came to her senses a little, "You guys should get going if you're going to beat this storm back to the station."
Mark nodded, "We need to make sure our assigned 'chores' are done before we turn in for the night. You gonna be ok up here?" he asked, not quite sure himself.
Gunny gave him a look and then rolled her eyes, "I'm sure. This will be heaven compared to what I've been through the past few weeks." She looked between two worried faces, "I'll be fine. I won't hesitate to radio you if I need something."
Mark nodded with a smile and slight salute as he headed out to get the horses saddled. Cody hesitated a moment, looking around then back at her. "This place holds a lot of good memories for me." He stated evenly as he smiled a little sadly, "And a few sad ones as well."
Gunny was quiet as he spoke, watching him carefully. Her heart was hammering in her chest and her palms sweating a little from nerves as she took a hobbled step towards him. "Come here." She said quietly.
Cody moved towards her, coming close enough to smell the fresh scent of soap on her skin. She gently reached up with her right hand and touched the side of his face, then leaned in and kissed him gently on the lips. He responded in kind, his lips answering her kiss. She parted from him after a moment, her heart hammering inside her chest, "Then let that be a good memory to dull the sad ones a little."
Cody saw how flushed her cheeks were and her eyes dilated as if in fear or excitement. She looked at the door, "You better go. Mark will start wondering what's keeping you."
Cody still seemed a little stunned by her forwardness and the suddenness of it all. He had fallen for her the moment she'd introduced herself that night at the restaurant. But he was never really sure how you approached someone of her caliber. It tore him up inside to see her hurt and be helpless to do much more than to sit and guard her bedside. He felt guilty that he wasn't there when Max had tracked her down at the hospital. He knew he had a job to do then but he still felt at fault. To have her suddenly kiss him like that made him want to pick her up and carry her off to the bedroom but he kept himself in check. She had issues with people touching her and she was still wounded with a long road of recovery ahead of her.
He shook himself mentally and nodded, "Yeah." He said, his throat feeling dry. "Get some rest and don't get too wild up here." He said with a slight smirk. As he moved past her, he leaned in and gently kissed her lips again, but it was more of a confirmation that he hadn't imagined it all. When she returned the kiss, he smiled almost shyly and quickly headed outside, shutting the door behind him.
Gunny watched him as he left, then followed him with her eyes as he headed to the barn. When he'd responded to her kiss, it caused her good knee to turn into something closely resembling jell-o and she was thankful for the crutch under her arm to hold her up. Her heart was still beating hard within her chest, causing her face to feel hot. When he'd kissed her as he left, she knew she hadn't been imagining the feelings she felt for him or what she had perceived from him. Her whole body tingled and she could only stand there and stare out the window, letting her mind wander around in little circles until she heard the horses trot by the cabin and saw the guys wave at her.
She raised a hand to wave and then slowly went around the room, just glad to be on her feet, looking at everything on the surface. She hobbled to the kitchen and grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge and tucked it into her sling with her left arm that was still secured to keep it from moving too much till her muscles repaired themselves. Making her way back to the living room, she stretched out on the couch with a few blankets and a pillow. She was tired enough that she knew she needed a nap since there was nothing up here to disturb her for once and no one to bother her.