NYTM Chapter 7

Vic tried her cell phone again and was not surprised that she still had no signal. The truck radio was not an option. Walt suggested an area about 2 miles over a rise, just passed where they had stopped, where Vic could make a call. In optimal conditions a 2 mile hiking distance would take Vic about half an hour. She didn't think, walking the steep incline of the rise and going 2 miles, especially with Walt still cold with wet soggy boots, and all the gear was a good idea. She asked why he was so sure she could get a signal over the rise or how she would know the right spot.

Walt gave her an impish grin, "I don't know if you can get a signal there, but I know you can make a call. My cabin is just less than 2 miles the other side of that rise."

Vic still refused to let him go claiming the gear was too much to add to the trek.

He countered by suggesting they leave it and come back for it with the bronco.

"No, I can make better time alone and be back with the bronco faster than if you and your soggy boots try to make the hike with me." When he started to pull 'big Sheriff boss' tone and posture. Vic stepped into him and placed her hands on both sides of his face and kissed him soundly. She broke the kiss, sighed, and then whispered a plaintive, "Please Walt?"

He simply nodded, and handed her his keys.

Vic made the distance in about 45 min. When she reached the cabin the first thing she did was open the bronco and radio Ruby, after updating her about the situation, Vic asked her to send a tow truck and explained she was going to take Walt to the hospital just as a precaution against hypothermia. Next she used his house key and went in to get him dry socks and boots. She decided that even though his clothes were drying she should just take him a full change of completely dry clothes. Locking the cabin, Vic quickly worked on returning to where she left Walt, by way of the shortest route possible. She threw the bronco four-wheel-drive into service and speed back over the rise. Walt had dressed and managed to pack up all the items except for one of the blankets. He had wrapped the blanket around himself again, from mid chest to his ankles, after he had dressed. Walt sat with his coat on over his shirt and top of the blanket. He was seated near the fire with his bare feet propped up closest to the heat as Vic eased the bronco to a stop at the base of the rise. She got out, opened the back, and went over and grabbed the duffel bags. After throwing the bags in the back, Vic pulled the dry socks and boots from the bronco and took them over to Walt. While he pulled the dry footwear on she related her conversation with Ruby and how she was taking him to the hospital.

When he started to protest Vic stopped him with, "Look at it this way, Doc's probably gonna send you home to a nice warm bed to rest. And I'll have the perfect excuse to stay and make sure you suffer no ill effects from your ordeal."

Walt stood and began folding the blanket. She raised her eyebrows in a challenge and Walt stared at her for a moment, "Two questions."

Vic tilted her head in a go-ahead move.

"Will I be alone in my 'nice warm bed'?"

"Not unless you wanna be"

"Nope."

"Okay. Next question?"

"Do we have to sleep?"

"Walt?"

"Hmm."

"Get in the truck."

"In a minute."

Vic avoided a sigh she asked, "What?" she was trying to be especially patient with him, she could tell he was feeling better, but she still wanted to get him to the hospital. Fearing he was going to continue stalling, she opted for increasing her patience in hopes of persuading him to comply with her wishes. If not she knew it would not be beyond her to demand, beg, or seduce him into capitulation if patience didn't work.

Walt dropped the blanket on the rock he had been sitting on and turned back to her. He reached out and wrapped his fingers over the top of Vic's belt buckle and tugged her to him. Her hands landed on his chest and she smiled at him wryly, "What are you doing?"

Holding her gaze he simply said, "I have my clothes on now."

Vic stared back a moment and blinked at him just before his meaning clicked in her mind. She pushed her hands gently up to his shoulders and smiled sweetly at him, "Yeah you do, huh?"

Walt slowly enveloped her in his embrace and pulled her to him. He lowered his head and tentatively kissed the corner of her mouth before he breathed, "Yeah, I do."

His lips caressed hers as he moved his head the tiny distance necessary to claim her mouth. As their mouths melded together Vic slid her fingers into his hair and curled them to hold his head to her. Walt braced an arm up across her shoulders and nearly mirrored her grasp on his hair; after working her ponytail lose enough to accommodate his fingers. He deepened the kiss and Vic was in step with each of his movements. She moaned faintly and he instinctively pulled her closer; his hand slipping below her waist to cup her gently and lift her slightly. Walt allowed himself the pleasure of concentrating his focus completely on Vic. The soft sweetest of her mouth against his and challenge in the tangling dance of her tongue. The strength of the hold her small hands had on his hair as she took what he offered and gradually demanded more. The firmness of her body pressed against the length of his. His senses were reeling and he couldn't think of anywhere he'd rather be, anyone he'd rather be with, or anything he'd rather be doing. When Vic moaned again he was tempted to take her straight to the cabin. Walt knew that would not be happening without the detour by the hospital first. He knew Vic well enough to know when she was utterly determined to see something through and today that something was a visit to Doc. They broke briefly for air, and he scanned her eyes quickly, seeing her desire for him reflected back. Walt knew then her pleasure was matched to his and delaying said medical detour was something neither of them would mind for the next little while.

He leaned over and scooped up the blanket, holding one edge in one hand he shook the blanket open, "You said you had Ruby call a wrecker?"

Vic watched him in curiosity, "Mmm hmm."

Walt draped the blanket out on the ground, near the fire, "So how about we wait her for the tow truck and when they get here, we can head over to the hospital?"

She gapped at him, "You're not gonna fight me on that?"

"Nope." He sat on the blanket.

"No argument?"

He mimicked her gapping, "Do you want me to?"

"No! I just can't believe it."

Walt reached up and grasped her hand, "Come here."

Vic dropped to the blanket and kneeled next to him.

He pulled her to him and lay back with her across his chest, "Not a single protest. I promise."

Walt started to kiss her again but Vic lifted her head back and looked at him suspiciously, "You're up to something." She accused lightly.

"Nope, just figured with all I've gone through today, I should be judicious with where I expend my energies." He tightened his hold on her, his arms up her back with his palms pressed to her shoulders Walt drew her down to him. When her lips were just inches from his, he breathed in the space between them, "Kiss me, Vic?"

She was suddenly very clear on his meaning and wanted nothing more than to accommodate his request. Vic smoothed his hair on either side of his head with both of her hands and closed the short distance between their lips. She pressed a series of soft kisses to his lips before claiming his mouth. An action that elicited the most delicious sensual moan from deep within him; she felt the tremor move through his body, as he lay underneath her, as the moan journeyed up through him. The subsequent vibration against her mouth spurred her into a more intense exploration of his mouth. His tongue sparred and dueled with hers; the tenderness that enveloped and modulated his passion seemed to fuel hers. She had never known a man to be so reserved, yet willing to please; the incongruity of the sensations rolling off of Walt was almost mesmerizing. Vic was torn between slowing her pace, trying to watch him, and diving headlong into a frenzied make out session with him. She fought the urge to follow the make out idea, they had a wrecker coming for the truck and she really did want to get Walt checked out; although he did not seem to be dealing with any after effects of his dip in the freezing ravine. Vic settled into Walt's embrace and decided the slow, gentle, distinctly intimate kissing they were sharing was just the right exchange of affection and exploration; for the time being.