By the time he had his shower and lunch, it was almost noon and he knew it would be a good solid hour yet before he got back. He called into the station to check in and let them know he was on his way back. When the negative came back on his question if there was anything they needed him to check on or look into while he was out in this area, he gave the affirmative that he'd be back soon. As he was getting his gear on, she came up to him to watch him prepare to leave. "Tell the others I said hello. I'm kinda hoping I can go to the station after my doctor visit just to see everyone for awhile."

Cody looked at her with a strange look on his face but then smiled, "I think they'd like that. It's been quiet around there and I know they are already sick of cooking for themselves. If they found out that I got some of your homemade stew for lunch, I might have to fight them off for who comes up here next time." He joked softly. He was actually quite happy to hear that she wanted to be around the crew. They still weren't sure if she was ever truly going to fit in but now it looked like the distance and time of having the quiet around her was letting her get her thoughts together some.

She looked at him, her eyes almost level with his. She reached out with her right hand and touched his face and then very gently brushed a piece of hair out of his eyes. Her eyes followed what her fingers were doing as if marveling at the fact that she was able to touch him. Her hand moved down the back of his head and she gave him a little tug to pull him closer before kissing him with a feather light kiss on the lips. It was the type of kiss that left him wanting more but afraid to go farther because he felt like he'd become a puddle at her feet. He knew he'd promised himself to take it slow but if she kept doing this to him and vice versa, he didn't know how long he could hold off.

She pulled away and put a folded piece of paper in his left jacket pocket before zipping it shut. "For you to read after your work is done." She said quietly, almost as if afraid he would read it.

He nodded and held out his hand to her. She looked at it for a moment then put her hand in his. He lifted it to his lips and kissed the back of her fingers. "As you wish." He said quietly before heading out the door. He'd seen the old movie 'Princess Bride' and wasn't ashamed to use a little line from it if it brought a smile to her face like the one he'd just left her with. He got back to his snow mobile and headed back to the station, the note in his pocket burning a proverbial hole in it. But he promised himself to do what she asked and would wait until his work was done for the day.

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That afternoon proved to be one disaster after another. He got a call ten minutes away from the station to meet up with them at the scene of a snowplow and car wreck. It wasn't a pretty picture and after organizing the cleanup with tow trucks and the sheriffs department, it was on to the next thing. He and Mark got half buried in a pile of snow when a snow shelf slid off a roof of the cabin that they were digging out to get the stranded skiers from three days earlier.

By the time they got the skiers down to the station it was dark and both he and Mark were soaked and cold. Matt ordered them to get warm showers and get something in them to eat. Cody forgot about the note in his pocket for the time, simply hanging his coat up on the rack to dry and pulled off his wet boots before heading upstairs to get his gear for a shower. Mark had beaten him to the showers so he simply wrapped up in a blanket and fell asleep.

Mark woke him when he returned and he staggered to the shower that did nothing but warm him up and make him just as sleepy. He dragged himself out of the bathroom and went over to his bunk where he crashed hard, unable to put one thought in front of another. When Mark tried to wake him for supper, Cody only managed to grumble something and half-heartedly wave him away. Mark chuckled all the way back to the kitchen to enjoy some hot soup and biscuits.

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Robin who had come into the bunkroom that Cody shared with Mark and sat on the edge of his bed, shaking his shoulder gently, waked Cody gently. He'd been sleeping hard for several hours and was able to wake up to some extent. He looked up at Robin with sleep filled eyes but he slowly sat up some, "Huh?" he asked, wondering if there was an emergency or something he was being woke up for.

Robin held out a folded piece of paper to him. She pursed her lips together. "I went to dry your coat and when I was searching through your pockets…." She didn't finish before Cody quickly took the note from her.

He was awake now. "Crap…I forgot." He said. Then he looked at Robin, "Did you read it?" he asked.

Robin pursed her lips together. "I opened it and saw it was Gunny's writing. I thought at first it was a list of things she needed taken care of but after realizing its…something personal for you, I folded it back up and brought it to you. I didn't think it would be wise to have it anywhere the guys could get a hold of it." She said, her cheeks flushed.

Cody swallowed, "She asked me to read it tonight when I was done with work…but it was so crazy and I just crashed…I forgot." He said, looking sheepish.

She smiled at her brother-in-law. "I promise not to say anything but I think you should read it now that you're awake." She smiled, "I kept you out some soup if you want something for a late supper."

He shook his head, "I'm ok. She fed me stew for lunch." He said with a grin.

Robin rolled her eyes, "Better not let the guys find out." She teased.

"They won't unless you tell them…" he said, trying to look serious.

Robin only laughed, "No I won't tell them…but you owe me 'Ace'." She said, pointing to the paper.

Cody chuckled, "Fine…I owe you." He said with a grin.

She leaned forward and kissed his forehead, "Good, I'll remember that when I need someone to watch Jeremiah and Jimmy." She said with a grin.

Cody flopped back on the bed with a mock groan as she got up and left.

Cody waited until she left before unfolding the paper and turning on the lamp he kept over the head of his bed. As he slowly progressed through the letter, it wasn't long but the words delivered a message that was only truly understood by him.

'Cody, don't think for a minute that I don't see what you're doing. I've gentled enough wild horses that I recognize all the tricks.' His heart almost stopped at the end of that sentence. He was almost afraid to read the rest, but he continued…

'I personally think your nuts. What you'd want with a used up female retired jarhead is beyond me to understand. I grew up in a mans world with only my mother to be a feminine influence in my life, which isn't saying much since she could ride, spit and rope as well as any of the ranch hands. I was a soldier, commander and drillmaster. There was no room in my life for relationships and to be honest, who'd want me anyway, especially after what happened six years ago.' Cody stopped reading for a moment. He knew it was Gunny writing but he was reading more about her in between the lines then he ever figured she'd let on to.

'So now I find myself sitting here with more injuries, trying to see into my future and what it holds for me, other than aches and stiff muscles on really cold or damp mornings. When I think of spending it alone, keeping myself distant, everyone at arms length, I can't see myself growing old and what I do see, scares me. I know that I'd be miserable, cranky and cold hearted.' Cody had to stop reading again. He had spent the last year getting to know Gunny a little better and he had to reread that paragraph again to get the full meaning behind her words.

'But when I think about what it would be like to have someone in my life, my mind drifts constantly to you. I find it hard to speak or show my feelings, but in the past year, you've been there for me. Your words, your actions and manners have made me rethink and try to work through my fears of letting anyone near me.' His heart started to beat a little faster and his eyes moved to the last paragraph.

'From the moment I saw you enter the restaurant that night a year ago, I felt something for you. When you offered me a beer, I was scared at how fast my heart was beating. Every time I've been around you, you distract me…in a good way. I can only hope you feel something in return.' Cody's face flushed for a moment and finished reading the rest of the letter. 'I love you. There. I've put it in writing so it's documented and official. I'm always unsure of what my next step should be around people. But with you, I never have to wonder, I just know. Let me know if you feel anything for me so if not, I can move on. I'm at the crossroads in my weary life. I can't stand here forever waiting for a sign in which direction I should turn. I can't promise you anything other than it won't be boring.'

It wasn't signed and it wasn't addressed but he reread it three times before folding it up carefully and tucking it into a 'hidden' pocket in his logbook. He had to keep himself in bed almost physically or he knew he would jump on a snowmobile and ride up there tonight. But she knew he had an obligation to be on call tonight and wouldn't appreciate him shirking his duties.