Detour, or a blizzard in a white winter forest

Chapter 5

Bass watched her move the straps of her bra back over her shoulders, when he slid his pants over his thighs. Al he wanted to do was stop her, and get her out of it again, as soon as humanly possible.

When he grabbed his boots from the wooden floor he reminded himself of what this trip was about. Giving her a lift home, and getting her to her family safely. ...and nothing more you moron. Miles words were in his head while he tried not to register how Charlie moved her hips to get into her own pants.

Charlie gave him a quick smile before she disappeared into the small bedroom at the back of the cabin. She grabbed all her stuff and when she walked out the room, on her way back to the living room, she found Bass in the kitchen, a small piece of paper and pen in his hands.

'Apologizing to whoever owns this cabin, for eating almost all of their supplies,' he told her with a grin, when he had finished the short note and placed it on the small kitchen table that stood in the centre of the kitchen.

He might make a joke out of it, but Charlie liked the considerate thought.

She turned her head to the right, brighter but still soft light was streaming in the kitchen from behind the deep red curtains. Charlie walked to the windows and opened them. Bass noticed the smile in her eyes at the sight that lay behind the other side of the glass.

The world out there looked completely different, and Charlie took it all in, when winter had showed its other face. The deadly white blizzard had turned into calm beauty.

The snow had stopped somewhere during the night, leaving the entire forest covered in snow. The brown of the trees and the pure white of the snow were now accompanied with a blue grey winter morning sky. The golden light of the sun was touching the snow, adding little touches of silver when the sunlight hit the snowflakes at the right angle, that found their places on the ground and on the trees.

'Hey,' his voice was low and hoarse, when he placed his hands on the kitchen counter before her, on either side of her. His nose brushed her neck for a second.

'Hey,' she answered, a smile around her lips while she leaned in to his touch, loving the place she found herself in, between the kitchen counter and Bass.

'So, about last night, no complaints?' His words were a bit smug, while the real damn question on his mind had been if there had been any regrets on her part.

Charlie was ready to say something smartass, while she almost rolled her eyes at him. Then she changed her mind. She kept looking at the snow in front of her.

'No complaints Bass. Last night was simply so good.' It had been the right thing to say, because when he answered her, the smugness was gone and she could feel a breath escaping from his chest.

'I am glad Charlie, because I enjoyed every damn minute of you.'

Charlie felt a warm blush go over her cheeks, at his words, when she finally tilted her head back to meet him for one last slow kiss.

When bass had closed the door of the cabin behind them, Charlie felt the snow under her boots. It was nice to feel some fresh air against her skin again.

The sound of the snow under their boots and the scent of the forest all around them made her skin tingle. She had to blink a couple of times to get adjusted to the bright light around her. Now the blinding snow blizzard around them had moved on, they could find the path that led back to the main road without trouble.

She looked back one more time at the cabin behind them, and when she met his eyes, she smiled that bright big smile of hers, her blue's a different colour again now she was surrounded but the white around her.

'Let's get you home,' he said and as he had done before when they had to leave the car behind, Bass slung his arm around her shoulder, only this time it felt so different

Charlie nodded at him, suddenly anxiously wanting to get on the road as soon as possible. She hated the idea of her family worried beyond anything. Home sounded good right now.

They found his car exactly where they had left it behind. The walk over had been shorter and a lot easier compared to last night. The world felt different and the deadly threat that had almost got to her the day before, was completely gone.

Charlie let out a relieved sigh when they found the car and help found them. A police car had stopped not far from the car.

'You all right ma'm, sir?' the police officer nodded at them while he greeted them. addressing the both of them. She nodded while Bass got him up to speed about what happened.

'One of the worst blizzards we have seen in a long time, sir. Glad you both are all right.'

The police officer was kind and helpful and called in help to get their car fixed. Charlie walked a little around the car while Bass talked to the officer. She was looking at the screen of her phone while she tried different spots around the car, and felt disappointment at the fact that she still had no signal. No signal meant no calling home.

Bass walked over her, seeing the worry on her face.

'Good news, he just contacted the bat cave, ' Bass nodded behind him, 'and as we speak, they are contacting your parents to tell them we are fine and on our way soon. Apparently they have been looking out for us in this area.'

Charlie sighed in relieve. Good, that was good. She felt how the tension faded from her body. Bass, on the other hand, did not look as relaxed.

'And you are still looking worried because?' she looked at Bass with confusion in her eyes.

'They are not sure if they can fix my car.' He said, not even trying to hide his disappointment while Charlie caught him actually pouting.

Charlie tried to fight back the laughter that was about to escape. She really tried. Bass, tall and very sexy with that scruff that even got better overnight, was standing in front of her, still pouting. When she was busy trying her best not to burst out in laughter, he put his hands in the pockets of his jeans.

She really tried but she could not hold back anymore. She laughed. The sound was bright and careless. She bit her under lip to control herself quickly.

Bass just looked the other way.

'Bass,' she said, her voice serious right now,while she put a hand on her hip, still some misshief in her eyes, 'I am sure the car will be just fine.'

Bass just looked at his car, and he fucking hoped she was right.

Charlie walked over to the car, crossing her hands in front of her, hoping they would be on their way soon. She heard Bass sighing right behind her. Boys will be boys, Charlie thought. She smiled again, but this time, she spared Bass and kept it to herself.

One more hour and she would be home. She would see the home again, that she had missed so much. She did not even realize how much, now she was so close again. She turned her head and looked at Bass, as they were back on the road. They had managed to make his car, and Bass had found his good mood again.

For a moment she had wanted to ask if she still was not allowed to drive. But driving meant missing out on something. And maybe, letting him drive was not so bad when she looked down. His hand was on her leg for a moment, and she felt the comforting warmth from his touch.

The radio was on, and slowly the energy shifted to what it had been before, before that one horrifying moment the day before.

Bass finally turned the car into the street she knew so well, and stopped right in front of the house Charlie had grown up in. There was snow in the garden and the roof, and little lights were burning behind the windows. There was one candle burning in a white lantern right next to the front door.

Bass moved his hand over the scruff of his beard when he turned towards Charlie, the carkeys in his hands.

'Home sweet home, Charlie.'

Charlie turned his way.

'I guess we better get out of the car then.'

'I guess so.' His voice had reached that low place that made Charlie's body react instantly.

He leaned in to her lips, not being able to resist to touch her one more time. He was just moving his body towards her when a loud noise of a large hand knocking against the window on Charlie's side ripped him away from whatever what was about to happen.

It was Miles' face that appeared on the other side of the car window. Charlie bit her under lip and felt her heartbeat in her chest. If her uncle had waited a couple of more seconds to make his very dramatic entrance, he would have found them in a slightly more awkward position. Bass shook his head and fought back a grin, when Charlie grabbed her bag and got out of the car. Bass followed and went to the trunk, to grab their bags.

'Miles,' she smiled at him in delight when she greeted him and gave him a hug.

'Hey kid, you two idiots had us worried.' He moved Charlie a little bit away from him and watched her carefully to make sure she was okay.

Truth was, he had been keeping an eye on the street in front of the house for the past hours, even after they had found out that both of them were all right. He knew Charlie was in good hands with Bass being with her, but hell, the snow had come down hard and horrible images of what could happened to her, or Bass, had haunted his mind during the long hours of the night behind them.

No one, not Ben, Rachel or Danny had gotten any sleep, until that one phone call that had told him that Bass and Charlie were both all right.

When it had taken more time Miles had believed was very reasonable for the both of them to get out the car, and knowing his best friend longer than today, he decided to check out what the hell was going on.

'I'm okay Miles, really.' She smiled at him to assure him she was really fine. In fact, she felt beyond fine for a whole lot of reasons she did not wanted to share with her uncle.

'Hey man,' Bass had walked over to them and threw his arm around his brothers shoulder, 'good to see you again.'

'You too,' Miles answered him, throwing his arm back around his brothers shoulder. Not for long, because in comparison to Bass, hugging it out was not really his thing. He gave Bass another pat on the shoulder before he turned his attention to both Charlie and Bass.

'So, you guys managed to find some shelter out there?' Miles wanted to know.

'Yeah, we found this cabin and spend the night there, while we waited until the blizzard was gone,' Charlie said looking at Bass for a moment, their eyes locking, both of them remembering exactly what happened during that wait.

Miles was letting her words settle for a second, when he apparently, although slowly, was realising what she was saying.

The thought of Bass, the guy that went through woman so fast that Miles was sure he would run out of woman he had not been with on this continent soon, and his niece in one small cabin, ALONE, just raised his blood pressure in a not so good way.

'You guys did what?' His tone was a little bit more, well, firm, this time. The what the hell- tone close, torturing images of his niece with Bass locked in one cabin filling his mind all of a sudden.

'What the hell...' But he did not got to finish his sentence, because behind him, Charlie's eyes lit up.

'Danny!' she said, happiness in her voice when her brother stood in the doorway of her family home. She dropped her bag in the snow, and walked over to him as fast as possible.

'Hey Sis,' he said, when Charlie threw his arms around her baby brother, ' I guess you missed me?'

'Of course I missed you, you idiot.' her smile warm. Being in College was good, and maybe it was not selfish at all for wanting to have a life on her own. But now she saw him again, she realised she did not have to choose between her own life and him. She would always be his big sister, even when she was away from home.

Bass smiled at the sight of Charlie hugging Danny. He understood how she felt, he knew what it was like having a brother that meant to world to you.

'You have a hug left for your father?' Ben stood next to Danny, smiling at Charlie.

Charlie stepped away from Danny and felt her father's arms around her. 'Glad you are okay, sweetheart.' His hand stayed on the hair on the back of her head while he hugged her, something he had done as long Charlie could remember. The gesture meant home to her. Ben pulled her even closer for a moment before he let her go.

'Come in guys, let's get out of this cold.' Benn said, while he gestured toward Miles, Bass and Danny, 'Rachel is almost done with diner, and there is enough, more than enough.'

Bass grabbed Charlie's bag from the place where she had dropped it. Mile shot him a mocking grin. 'Well, aren't you the gentleman today.'

'Dick,' Bass muttered, before he passed Miles.

'Moron,' Miles shot back.

'Gentleman, would you please come in,' Benn laughed at the both of them, intervening like he had done so many times before. Since he had seen Miles grow up with Bass never far behind back home in Jasper, things between Bass and him had never changed. Both of them were still twelve years old. Or 7 year old. It all depended on the day.

Benn stood on the porch, while he moved out his hand, shaking hands with Bass at the door.

'Good to see you Bass, and thank you for bringing her home.'

'I am so sorry Ben,' Bass felt terrible again.

'Hey Bass, don't worry. The conditions out there were so rapidly changing, It was an accident. And she is home now. Both of you are safe and unharmed. That's what mattered.' Bass only nodded, gratitude in his eyes.

Benn had been right. Dinner had been more than enough, and the evening was filled with food, a table of family and a half empty bottle of had looked slightly disappointed at the sight of all the whiskey that was not in the bottle anymore.

'Sorry man, but it was part of our dinner last night,' Bass shrugged his shoulders while he was not really sorry, 'whatever it takes to survive, right?'

Danny and Charlie had been goofing around the dinner table not long after.

Ben had wanted to know everything about her first months in college, while pride was in his eyes when he looked at his oldest child.

Rachel had kept on telling Charlie she was glad she was all right up to the point where Charlie had rolled her eyes with a little frustration.

Miles had been asking questions every five minutes to figure out what the hell had happened in those hours in that cabin.

And Bass, he tried to keep his eyes of a smiling and happy Charlie , and failed drastically.

Dinner turned into a desert. There was a lot of ice cream and coffee, and more whiskey for Ben, Miles and Bass. During the whole night, Charlie was aware of Bass, so close, constantly around her in the room, but still, too far away because now she could not touch him anymore, all her hands wanted to do was just that.

'Want to watch a really bad Christmas movie? ' Danny asked Charlie. It was their little tradition. Watching it, making fun of it and still loving every minute of it because it was their thing.

'What do you think?' She raised an eyebrow at her little brother and beat him to the best place on the comfortable couch in the living room.

It was late, her parents had gone to bad, and Danny had hugged her goodnight, while he had messed with her air in a playful way which earned him a friendly well placed poke back..Charlie had followed him with her eyes while he left the room. He looked good, he looked stronger. He was doing all right and she was so happy to see him so full of energy. He still looked a little pale though, but she knew, that he never would be like other boys his age. Winter was hard on his lungues, the most vulnerable part of his health.

She looked around the so familiar living room and realised how good it felt to be back home. She had just chosen another movie when Miles and Bass walked in. They had sat down in the kitchen when Charlie had saw them an hour ago, both Miles and Bass were joking around. Both men around the kitchen table, the bottle between them on the table. She did not wanted to disturb them, and had left her uncle and Bass alone for now.

'Can we join you, kid?' Miles wanted to know, looking looking very buzzed. Her father had always some good Whiskey in the house as well, so Miles had quickly recovered from the fact that she and Bass had already started on his bottle.

Bass was not far behind, a drink in his hand. He really wanted to bring one for Charlie too, but he he realised Miles was watching him like a hyena all night. Maybe not the best idea right now.

'Would it make any difference if I said no?' she asked him.

'Yeah, not really,' Miles replied, sarcasm in his voice. He crashed in one of the soft armchairs on her right. Meanwhile Bass casually sat on the couch next to her, but kept distance between them.

He knew he should watch the movie, but he kept on tilting his head towards her, looking at her from the corner of his eyes. He swore she was doing the same. When they heard Miles snoring, both of them fought back a grin. Charlie slowly got up from the couch and found a plaid in the basket next to the couch. She covered her uncle with it. Miles did not even move.

Charlie walked back to the couch, and Bass was not sure if she did it on purpose, but somehow she ended up closer to him than she was at first. The room was dark, the light and sounds of the TV, a couple of soft lamps and some candles burning on the table in front of them covered the living room in a soft light.

Bass was slouched against the back of the couch, when Charlie curled up beside him. She had seen this movie many times before, but it was part of the little Christmas traditions she loved so much, to watch it again and again. She loved the next part and was completely absorbed in the scene.

Bass couldn't care less about the movie right now. He took in her sweet scent, and had to fight an urge to lean over and touch her. He watched his brother on Charlie's right, snoring like a bulldozer. Hey, what the hell was life without taking any risks?

He watched the smile on Charlie's face and he yawned. This time, he did plan what the hell what he was doing. It was an old trick, but hey, it still worked. He yawned, stretched out his arms over his head an slowly placed his arm on the back of the couch, just behind her. Charlie pretended she did not know what was going on, and she kept her eyes on the movie in front of her.

She felt Bass his fingers gently moving over the skin at the back of her neck, while he kept his touch light. His fingers kept on touching her neck and Charlie leaned in a little bit closer. Miles was snoring even more loudly next to her, causing both of her and Bass to grin again. She was home and she felt happy. Light.

Bass' hand moved to her hair. She curled up a little bit closer, while her eyes got a little bit more heavy when Bass was playing with a lock of her hair.

So, a lot of familiar faces in this chapter, and it was so nice to write! The moment where Bass arrives with Charlie was of course a little reference to the moment he arrives with her at Willoughby, Miles' mind was racing at what COULD have happened between them there and well...here, he does that too. Sometimes, I let both of the universes touch and there are these little similarities I love write about.

It made me a little bit sad too, writing the next part, to realise what could have been for all of them. But that's why I love this AU story, to write about those moments. Thank you for reading and your reviews for last chapter, and as always...I love hearing from you! Until the next chapter, Love from Love