Detour, or a blizzard in a white winter forest

Chapter three

6:30 pm

The darkness around the cabin was now complete. All Charlie felt, at first, when she sensed how the coldness slowly started to retreat from her body was relieve. She had been exhausted up to the point where she had wanted to give up and let go and she had not been sure how to absorb the cold punches from the snow or cope with the cold and the never ending blinding white around her outside.

It had been disorientating and nauseating. It had been Bass his determination and her hand firmly tucked in his, that had got her through. His drive to keep on going was something Charlie never experienced before, the intense look on his face almost primal. His mind set on one thing, and one thing only: to survive.

The sound lingering outside and around the cabin was almost a deafening nothing, while the soft cosy sounds of the fire filled the room. It gave the wood inside the cabin a soft glow.

At first, his body, his defined arms around her, had been a warm hiding place and nothing more. A remedy against the numbness. She had trusted him, when he had slowly removed all of her clothing and wrapped her up in a blanket and pulled her close.

But when her body felt more l alive and less numb that had changed quickly. She slowly got to know his body which seemed never ending tall and well trained.

With every more minute she spend up curled up against his side, she became more and more aware of Bass. And in which state they were both lying here. The sounds of the fire had mixed with her own heartbeat and his. And now his skin was getting more warm as well, she could take in his rich spicy scent. His body seemed to be everywhere and she was all of a sudden conscious of her own, almost very naked, body close to his.

Was it okay she loved how his hand was still slowly going through her hair? Come on Charlie, this is Bass. He just wanted to keep you safe and warm, and since you acted like a total five year old , he is just comforting you. She told herself to snap out of it, while she felt a hint of shame at the way the freezing temperatures and snow had almost floored her. At the memory how Bass had to take care of her. She had felt taken care of, yes, but now she got a little distance from in, she also felt kind of stupid.

Bass was not sure what to say when he realised Charlie was probably just as aware of the state they were both currently in. Now they were warm, he could think of no damn reason he should have his arms around her smooth curves. He was thankful she was slowly untangling herself from him, because if she had waited a little while longer, he was not sure if he had been able to control certain parts of his body. Fuck, come on man, you are not sixteen anymore, he told himself, closing his eyes for a moment.

Charlie slowly sat up and felt slightly dizzy. She wrapped her blanket securely around her, and saw Bass from the corner of her eyes. She put her feet on the rug en tried to get up. She got dizzy again and had trouble finding her balance.

'Take it easy,' Bass said to her, his voice reaching that low so very insanely good tone.

Charlie refused to listen at first, so he tried again, this time with more force since she was not listening, 'Hey, take it easy.'

Charlie knew she had to take it easy, but she also knew she desperately needed to find some clothes. She gave herself some more time before she got up, but this time slower and felt how the dizziness slowly faded away.

'Charlie, your body has been through a lot.'

She did look at him for a moment. It had been the first time she was able to look him straight in the eye, the memory of his body still very close, just like Bass himself. She nodded. Then she felt a new weave of worry go through her at the thought of her family, worried sick about where they would be. They should have been there by now.

'I just wished our phones worked, I am sure they are all so worried by now.'

Bass shared her concern. But he also knew that until there was daylight again they could not move. They had to be patient for now.

'I know,' he let his breath out through his teeth, 'first thing in the morning, and if this blizzard calms the hell down, we will leave. See how it is out there okay? And I am sure, knowing your family and Miles, there will be a giant search party for us waiting first thing tomorrow at the other side of that door.'

'Well, in that case, I better put on some clothes,' Charlie said, trying to smile back at him.

Bass grinned at her.

She grabbed her bag from the floor and noticed how there was a small hallway at the other side of the living room. She found an open door that led into a small bedroom.

'Will be right back,' she said to Bass over her shoulder, trying to keep her voice as normal and casual as possible.

7:30 PM

At the other side of the hall, she had found a small kitchen. Charlie had just left the bedroom and was now going through the cabinets. She told herself it was to find a solution for her growling stomach, but the truth was she needed more time to come to her senses.

And she really hoped Bass was wearing something, anything, when she would walk back into the living room. To be on the safe side, she decided to give him a little more time. She herself had found a simple pair of jeans in her bag, a soft sweater and another pair of boots. Only these were knitted and covered her feet and ankles in a soft grey fabric.

The cabinets were a deep green and there was a small kitchen counter. There were deep red curtains before the windows, just like in the rest of the cabin. She found lanterns with candles still in them and some matches as well. She made sure there was a lantern on the kitchen table as well in the bedroom, to cast away some of the dark. The light was soft and in a way, comforting.

She did not know who made sure they were not going to starve tonight, but she thanked them in silence when she found some eatable supplies.

When she walked back into the living room, her hands full with what was going to be their improvised dinner, her eyes fell on his jeans and a black sweater. Bass was kneeled down in front of the fire place, adding some more wood to the fire and she noticed that it looked like he did this on a daily basis. It looked like he was build for this, she smiled at herself.

When Bass looked up again from his work, he laughed at the sight of Charlie who apparently had found dinner.

'At least we are not going to starve here,' he said with a grin. Charlie let out a small relieved sigh. Things felt more relaxed.

He quickly got up and walked towards her. He noticed the simple sweater that fell from one of her shoulders, exposing a little bit of her shoulder and a simple black strap. The jeans followed her hips and the knitted little grey boots were adorable. Damn, he liked it.

When he grabbed the crackers that were about to fall out of her hands, their hands touched for a moment. Their eyes locked. Then Charlie unlocked her eyes from his and got on her way again.

'We have crackers, potato chips, a box of chocolate Christmas trees...'

'Chocolate trees?' Bass interrupted her, while he frowned at her, in the same way Miles could look at her when she talked about chick stuff, Miles words of course.

Charlie laughed at him. 'Yeah, I found them at this little market in the city, they were supposed to be a gift but hey,I stuffed them in my bag and I think we could use them right now. Of course, if it's too girly for you, I gladly eat them all.'

She grabbed the box from the table, opened it without hesitation and started her dinner.

'Hey, never get between a woman and her chocolate,' his tone low, with that hint of flirtation in it, while he tossed his hands up in surrender. He joined her, while he put his put his bottle of Whiskey with everything Charlie found in front of them on the table.

Bass swore he were was not looking at her fingers, when she licked some melted chocolate of them with soft full lips.

'I think I will start with some whiskey,' he growled.

10:15 pm

Bass stared into the flames, a drink in his hand. Charlie had left the room, remembering she had seen some tea in one of the cabinets and she had decided she could use some.

He let some more whiskey burn through him, while he was taken back to that one moment a couple of hours ago.

One fucking moment, that oncoming car, the moment he lost control of the steering wheel, Charlie next to him. Headlights beaming through the snow, before the car flew by them. The asshole had not even stopped to make sure they were okay. Anger filled his veins.

And then the memory of a day so many years ago that had been close again.

One drunk driver. One car crash.

If Miles had not been there , he would not have been either.

The memory of the day he had almost lost them all. His parents and little sisters on their way to something as normal as a movie. One drunk driver, one bad decision from a complete stranger. Bass had never felt such intense rage, when he heard the news, hate and dark rage spreading through him when all he wanted to do was rip that stranger apart.

He had spent weeks in the hospital, sitting by their bed sides. Miles had been there for every agonising hour. They had managed to get through it all, although his dad had never been the same. But they were all here. Here.

What happened today on that winter road, had brought it back with a force that overwhelmed him for a moment. The dark fear that held him in its grip the whole plane ride back home, hoping they would all be there when the plane touched down.

His eyes went to the tattoo on his arm. It was the M for Monroe, it was the M for Matheson. It was something he wore on his skin, an echo from their childhood as a reminder for his parents and sisters and the man, the friend, his brother, that had been there as long as he could remember. Family was everything. He would go to hell and back for them. For them all.

He took another swig from his drink.

He had not even heard her coming back in the room.

Charlie could see his hands shake. She almost missed it, because he had straitened his back when she had walked back in. She put the warm cup of tea out of her hands and walked over to Bass.

Charlie knew what was on his mind. Now they were safe for the night and the adrenaline had slowly faded from their bodies she had seen old hurt wash over his face. And today must have brought back that old hurt. That nagging feeling what could have happened. The car. The sudden stop. The oncoming car.

That one moment when they had stopped in the snow next to the road, she had read his face. Read his face and saw him pushing it away, his mind into survival mode.

Both her uncle and Bass did not talk much about that day in the past, but unlike Miles, Bass his emotions were always so written all over his face. She knew where his mind must have gone to in those moments she had left the room.

She slowly touched his upper arm when she stood next to him.

'We are okay Bass,' she squeezed his arm lightly, when she spoke, 'we are all okay Bass.'

When he finally turned her way, she read something deep and warm in his eyes that reached her all the way through.

She realised there, that they both did not needed words to understand each other. Blue meeting blue and the unspoken words between them could be enough.

01:00 am

They were both losing track of time. Not that it mattered. On the small wooden table in front of them were the remains of their very unique dinner.

Charlie had replaced the tea from earlier for a drink as well. After all, she was a Matheson and Bass had gotten his hands on some really good whiskey. She felt how the drink warmed the back of her throat and the rest of her body. She told herself that one was going to be enough tonight.

She was surprised how easy it was to talk about Bass, about anything. She had always liked it when he came over when she was younger, but this, this was new. She loved to see him talk, his hands making gestures along with his words.

Charlie sat in front of the couch, on the soft rug that was placed in front of the fireplace, her back against the couch while Bass sat on it. His legs were close, and when it had gotten later, she had ended up very close against the fabric of his jeans. Neither of them seemed to mind.

In fact, there had been many moments now when there had been contact. A small touch, a gentle poke between the ribs when one teased the other.

Bass watched Charlie. Damn, she was smart, a sense of humour that immediately reminded her of Miles although she was so very much herself too, fast and not afraid to speak her mind. It was refreshing. And totally adding to the attraction he had felt for her the moment she had walked up to him this morning. Focus, you idiot. He was thankful for the drink in his hands.

They were asking each other questions, revisiting memories and with every hour they spend in this cabin, a little bit more teasing or flirting seemed to reach the surface.

It was quickly turning into one hell of a sweet torture, having her close to him in this small cabin.

'You went to college?' Charlie asked him, her legs stretched out in front of her, while the warmth of the fire softly touched her feet.

'No, can't say I did. After High School I enlisted with Miles. Somebody had to watch that moron's back.'

He grinned at her. Charlie smiled back while she took a little bit more whiskey, refilling her glass.

'So, tell me, what do you like most of the whole College thing?'

Charlie looked into the flames, avoiding him all of a sudden. A grey shadow falling over her face. Bass felt the chance in her, his eyes darkening while he watched her.

She nervously tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. When it fell back again to its original position she felt how Bass tucked it back behind her ear for her.

'Talk to me, Charlie,' he encouraged her.

'It's...' Charlie started with hesitation. She could lie, make something up, but there was something about Bass that made her open up, that made her want to tell the truth. 'It's mine. It's all mine.'

She almost sounded ashamed.

'I know it sounds selfish and stupid but Danny, he has been so sick as long as I can remember. So many years of worry and hospitals. I love him with everything I have and I would do anything for him. But going to College, it gave me space. Space to live the life I want to live.'

Bass knew about the worries for her younger brother, he knew how much of Rachel's and Ben's time had gone and still went to Danny. He was a great kid, and he was very much loved. But he had also always seen Charlie, strong, the big sister.

It was not the first time had seen that shadow fall over her face, he had always tried to give her some fun when she was still so young. Take her to the park, get her out of the house and her little world with Miles.

Without truly thinking it trough, he kneeled down next to her, and sit down next to her on the rug.

His words were low and deep when he spoke

'It is not selfish Charlie, not at all. You deserve that, that time for yourself. I know how much you love your brother, but don't feel bad for wanting your own piece. Don't feel bad for going after what you need.'

Charlie felt something in her chest. She had never told anybody this. His reaction had touched her beyond anything but she stubbornly pushed back tears.

When she finally looked up from the fire to meet his eyes, his look was gentle. There was so much of his strength in the silence between them. She nodded at him with gratitude before she watched the flames again.

3:00 am

So, yeah, it had seemed like a nice idea, sitting down next to Charlie. It had started in a relaxed way. He had found a place next to her, enjoying her company and the fire. Somewhere in the past half hour his arm had found a place on the couch behind them, while he had pulled one knee up. He had rested his elbow on it, drink in his hands.

He had not meant it as a smooth move, but somehow here they were. She did not seem to mind.

But he fucking wished he thought this through before he left the couch. Not acting on an impulse had never been his strong suit. She was way too close, sitting into the hollow of his body under his lifted arm. He could smell the soft sweet scent of her hair. He felt her body against his, their legs touching.

He also felt his body reacting to her.

When they both reached for the bottle in front of them on the low wooden table, their fingers met.

Charlie had told herself she would only get one drink, but somehow Bass made an excellent drinking buddy and she was really needed something to keep her from not exploding right next to this gorgeous men. They had shared fun stories, memories, asked each other questions and challenged each other just a bit.

She pretended not to notice when Bass stretched his arms over his head with a lazy yawn. She pretended not to notice when one of his arms stayed behind on the couch behind her and she somehow ended up closer to him. She also pretended she did not like it as much as she did, Bass close to her again.

She had dated, she had been with guys. She had enjoyed that. But Bass, he was a perfect mix between casual and a hint of arrogance, boyish and oh so very grown up, between familiar and so excitingly new, between letter her guard down and feeling things stir deep inside of her that made her head spin. She honestly could not remember if she ever felt like this. If she ever wanted to touch lips so bad, if she ever wanted to feel a body at work so very much under her, over her, against her.

The pull between them had been there, there from the moment she had seen him leaning against his car.

So when their fingers met close to that bottle of whiskey and their heads seemed to turn automatically to each other Charlie lost whatever resolution she had to not give in.

In his eyes she found a deep hunger, so primal, so intense, that she forgot to breath for a moment. The amount of desire that was there for her, left her breathless.

Bass moved in closer and waited. Waited for Charlie to push him away. Waited for Charlie to make a joke, and blame it on the booze, telling him she would need some sleep before she would walk away from him. Hell, she did none of those things. Instead she leaned in a little bit closer, parting her mouth, her lush red lips so damn close to his.

He did not want to push her but when Charlie leaned in closer and turned her body slightly towards his, while she closed her eyes just before her lips reached his, he closed the distance and let his mouth land on hers.

Their kiss was slow, gentle. Lips exploring each other. When their kiss got filled with more heat, he moved his arm from the couch and around her shoulders. Her hand found his chest and grabbed his sweater, the other going over the stubble of his beard.

When Bass pulled her close,he heard how Charlie let out a small gasp of air. He let his fingers dissapear into her hair, the taste of whiskey on both of their lips. Bass matched her gasp of air with a low grunt on his own.

Because the chapter was getting so long, I decided to pause here...but, I promise, of course...in the next chapter there will be more! I decided to change some things, because in this AU story, I wanted to not let Bass loose his whole family. The accident is still there, and the prompt, when I read it, reminded me of that one hard moment in his life, so I kept it, but in a different way. It was a moment that made the bound between Bass and Miles even stronger. Also, this chapter was about the pull they experience towards each other, but also getting to know each other a little bit better. They are all alone, snow, coldness outside, and when time moved along this night, they got closer and closer. Thank you for reading and your sweet reviews, I love them! More in next chapter! Love from Love