Chapter Text
So they have just put ER out on that well known streaming channel, and I for one have really enjoyed watching a very good series from my childhood. Giving away my age there. So I am a die hard early season lover, and this is set early season six maybe end of season 5. I have changed a few things to suit my time line, but those things will become clear as the story unfolds, but really it has limited impact on this tale. To be honest this is self indulgent and I just couldn't get it out of my head so I wrote it down.
ICE BOUND
Kerry Weaver was going to kill Robert Romano, it was just that simple. The little bullet head had really out done himself this time. Not only had he ambushed her, and somehow railroaded her into going to this dog and pony show. Otherwise know as an inner city ER donations gala, but in Yellowstone of all places, and too boot in January. January, where the snow was almost 4 foot thick and still falling.
She had been sitting at the admit desk, minding her own business, finishing up some paperwork, and only ten minutes from going home. Carter was due off at the same time, and she was hoping to catch a ride with him as she had taken the EL this morning, as her car was playing up again. She ought to have a word with Malucci about that since he had insisted that he had fixed it. It could wait though for now, the snow was starting to fall outside and she didn't fancy the walk in all the slush.
Mark had appeared over her shoulder however just as she was thinking about her lodger. Not that she thought about him often, but more than she used to. His presence startled her, and she almost dropped her pen as she clutched at her pounding heart.
"Mark, are you actively trying to kill me now?"
"Of course not, then I would have to work doubles for the rest of my life."
He grinned at her, as Kerry let a small smile play across her lips before turning back to her paper work. The last six months had been somewhat of a turning point in her life. She hadn't got the job as ER chief, Dan Litvac, the star they wanted had. Useless posturing idiot that he was. Carter had somehow managed to become one of her closest friends, and Mark and herself were now starting to act like a cohesive unit. Bouncing ideas off one another, and finding common ground, one of witch was their hatred of Romano.
"You heard."
"Heard what?"
Kerry replied putting down her pen and turning to look at Mark, getting slightly excited at his conspiratorial look, as he lent in close to her so he could keep his voice to a whisper.
"Litvac wants to get some sort of sponsorship for the ER, some rich guy up in Montanan, or something, and has got Romano tickets to a gala or something, bet that went down like a cup of cold sick."
"There is no way that's going to happen, anyway why can't Litvac go himself?"
"Probably because he's about as interesting as a paper bag, and he knows it. I mean Roberts not exactly Mr popular, but he is at least entertaining." Kerry suppressed a laugh, and waited for Mark to move back so she could carry on with what she was doing, when he didn't immediately stand upright she paused, turned her head slightly, and caught him in what only could have been him sniffing her hair. Before Kerry could either ask him about it, or get embarrassed by it however Carter chose that moment to appear, and drop his paper work down on the desk.
"You done, i'm done. Thought you might like a lift, since I noticed your car was still at home when I left."
"Umm yeah that would be great thanks Carter." Kerry tried to keep the confused tone out of her voice but she only half succeeded. She saw Carter's eyebrows close slightly together, but before he could say anything, Robert Romano's voice rang out across the ER.
"Are Dr Weaver, just the woman I was coming to see."
"Robert always a pleasure."
"I know but before we get into out usual back and forth, I need you to do something for me."
Kerry was about to reply when Romano held up his hand and stopped her, barreling straight on through his speech.
"I have to go to this Gala for inner city ER's in two days time, unfortunately, I neither want to go, nor have to go when I have you just sitting here with nothing better to do. So you will go in my place and secure funding for the ER.
"What why me?"
"Umm now look at you then look at me, who would you rather spend time with, close call I know, but I would also look pretty silly in a dress now wouldn't I. May I suggest something low cut and off the shoulders."
Roberts eyebrows wiggled in such a way that made Kerry want to gag, as she knew right at that moment, the slimy little toad was picturing her in just such an out fit.
"Oh and take Lorral and Hardy with you, something about saving this guys life a few months ago. Here its all on the memo, oh and that one, he could do with some culture, there are four tickets i'm not paying for an empty seat, your flight leaves at seven, so you might want to get a move on."
With that he was gone, almost as if he hadn't been there at all, except for the fact Kerry's quite night off had just turned into a logistical night mare.
"Me why me." Dave Malucci said coming over to where the three stunned Dr's now sat stood and leaned against the admin desk.
"Wrong place wrong time my friend." Carter said giving Dave a pat on the shoulder and pushing back off the desk.
"I can give gamma a call, see if the car is available to take us to the airport, if you two could get to Kerry's house in a hour that should give us enough time."
"I got my bike, ain't no way I can make it across town in that time." Dave replied as Mark turned form his positing next to Kerry who had neither gotten up, nor moved since Romano's exit.
"I'll give you a lift, we can swing by mine on the way and i'll pick up some things."
"Ok cool, umm where are we going again?"
"I'll fill you in on the way, Kerry you ok?" Mark said touching her on the shoulder and making her jump for the second time that day.
"I will be once I get my hands round that little weasels neck." She said with a frown but got up from her seat and headed towards the lounge to fetch her things.
Mark, Dave and Carter just watched her go, the angry clack of her cane disappearing as she went through the doorway, and yet they did not move.
"I have a feeling we are not going to enjoy this." Mark said with a light chuckle, as he turned and pulled Dave along behind him, knowing they would have to get a move on if they were going to make their flight.
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Kerry had packed so quickly she barely knew what she had thrown into her suitcase. She had put most of her things into the laundry that morning, and was now left with a verity of things she rarely wore. She shook her head she she slammed the trunk of what was to be there car. The rental place only had a few, and none of them had been suitable for the weather. When Kerry had looked at the tickets and found that instead of flying into West Yellowstone, only a few miles from there hotel, they were flying to Bozeman airport, nearly a hundred miles from there destination. It was going to be a long night.
"Look I can't fit in there, I'd have to chop of my legs." Dave complained as Carter tried to climb in the front seat next to Mark, who had been insistent on driving, and Kerry wasn't in the mood to argue.
"I'll get in the back." Kerry said, quickly realising that the small hatch back wasn't big enough for her taller companions to fit in, at least not behind Mark who had to push the seat pretty far back so he could drive comfortably.
"Oh fine, that's great Chief, umm, I'll go in the other side." Dave said scratching his head as snow started to fall on it.
"Hey you wanted the front you're welcome to it." Carter then said, shifting his weight over to stop Dave from climbing in beside Kerry. Carter wasn't sure why all of a sudden he didn't want Dave sat next to his land lord and boss, or perhaps he did, he just didn't want to even admit it to himself, but he quickly opened the door and folded himself into the back seat.
"You sure you're ok there Carter I don't mind swapping?"
"I'm fine, shall we get this show on the road, the map says we have a long way to go."
Kerry reached out and patted Mark on the shoulder, they had been driving for what felt like hours, and it was time to be honest they were lost, and the weather was getting worse. Dave had managed to find a local radio station, that had said a storm would be rolling in tonight and to try and stay off the roads wherever possible.
"Ha bit late for that now." Dave said as Mark kept his eyes firmly fixed on the road, but could barely see thirty feet in front of him. The light smattering of snow that had begun their journey had now turned in to a flurry, and the well plowed roads,had now turned in to slippery slush.
"Mark we need to find somewhere for the night, this is getting dangerous now." Kerry's voice was soft, almost a whisper in his ear, and in any other circumstances it would have been nice, but his white knuckle grip on the steering wheel, and his rapid heart rate, over rode any feelings of pleasantness, as he rounded a bend and urged the small car up the incline.
"You're not going to here any arguments from me. Carter any idea where we are?"
Carter got out the map, apologizing to Kerry as his hand bushed her thigh in doing so. She waved it off and Carter moved on, looking at the map until he found a place he reconised.
"Here I saw a sign for this only a few miles back. It's called Rogers pass. I know that name for some reason." He mused as Dave sat up a little straighter, and pointed out of his window.
"There look lights."
It was just a smattering, but enough to let them know there were people down there, and perhaps even somewhere to hold up for the night at least until the storm passed.
Mark took the next turn and headed into town. Once they entered the edge, Kerry noticed that the place seemed pretty shut down for the night. It was almost ten thirty however, and this place did not look like a hot spot for tourists. Mark drove slowly through the snow covered streets, until Carter spotted a inn on their right hand side.
"Come on, hopefully they will have a room." Kerry said climbing out of the car and stretching her stiff limbs. The cold however hit her almost immediately and she quickly retrieved her coat from the trunk of the car, handing out everyone else's as she did so.
"Jesus it got to be 10 degrees out here, if not colder." Mark shouted over the sound of the wind, as they made there way up the steps to the small inn. Carter opened the door, and helped Kerry negotiate the steps, as they were slippery from all the snow. Her crutch had slipped several times, and as much as he knew she hated to be helped, or seen in anyway as incapable, he couldn't just stand there and watch her fall either. He took hold of her waist quite firmly and virtually lifted her into the carpeted foyer of the inn.
Kerry did not dwell on Carter virtually carrying her into the warmth, nor did she linger on the fact of his hand tight around her as he did so, well not much anyway, as a man behind the desk asked if he could help them.
"Umm yeah we got kind of lost in this weather, wondered if you had a place for us to stay for the night." Mark said moving forward as the door closed behind them, shutting out the cold.
"Oh now I would love to rent you a room, looks like you folks have had a bit of a night of it. You see the second floor is currently out of commission, broken roof, and in this weather ain't no way I could send you up there. Ground floor is full i'm afraid, plenty of folks trying to get out of here before the storm hit and didn't manage it."
"You know anywhere else we could go?" Kerry said shaking out the snow from her hair.
"Well Cooke city's about 20 miles from here, if you've got a good off-roader you might make it."
"We have a tin can with wheels." Dave uttered and Kerry almost threw her hand over his mouth to shut him up, but on this occasion he wasn't wrong.
"Then I wouldn't recommend it Miss. Hey you know if its only the night you need, till the road is clear like, I could rent you the cabin."
"Sounds great where is it?"Kerry replied as the man behind the desk seemed more interested in interacting with her than her male counterparts, and for once she wasn't going to argue about her being a Dr not a object for this man to stare at. He was after all about to do them a favor.
"Oh like five miles up the road, up into the woods, you see Hank was there only the other day, said he stocked it up with some wood, and left a few things in the pantry. It ain't much but its better than being out there."
"Yes that sounds fine, how much do we owe you?" Kerry said reaching for her bag as the man turned around, and held up a set of keys.
"Oh I couldn't charge you for it, ain't nothing much but a place to lay your head for the night, you get out of this storm now, little thing like you catch your death." Kerry moved forward and took the keys from the man who's hand lingered just a little too long for her liking.
"Oh can I have your names for the record, just in case there is a problem."
"Dr Kerry Weaver, Dr Mark Green, Dr Dave Malucci, and Dr John Carter." Kerry said a slight smile on her face as the inn keepers face turned into a broad smile.
"Four Doctors A well that might come in handy, this storm gets any worse, you folks have a good night now, but not too good if you know what I mean."
The man's wink gave Kerry the creeps as they turned and made their way back to the car.
"Hey you might need this."
"Thanks." Mark said as he took the piece of paper from the inn keeper and glanced at it before climbing back to the car and starting it up.
"Here Dave take this think it's a map to the cabin."
"Aye boss, year looks like we got back the way we came, and in about half a mile, hard left, then just follow the road.
It had been hard going up the winding road, but they had eventually made it, the cabin came out of the darkness almost all of a sudden. No lights were on and for just a moment Kerry felt like she wanted to simply turn around and get as far away from that place as possible. She shook her head telling herself not to be so silly and, opened her door.
"Well its not home sweet home, but at least its not the car." Mark said quickly moving to the door and opening it. He felt around for a light switch, finding it quickly on the right hand side, the cabin was suddenly bathed in a soft glow, and he quickly ushered everyone in.
"Damm it's cold in here." Dave said rubbing his hands together, and watching his breath linger on the chilly air.
"You know how to get that fire going?" Mark asked him pointing to the open fire place and the small stack of wood that sat beside it.
"Yeah think I can manage that boss, just got to find some matches, or a lighter." Dave went off looking around for something to light the fire with, as Carter and Kerry made plans to get their things in from the car.
"You're not going, I know what you're going to say, but it's too dangerous, you can't be carrying suitcases, and your crutch in this, you will get hurt." Kerry looked at Carter like he had suddenly grown two heads. Sure he had called her out on things before, especially at home, where he would find her frequently on a chair, or balanced on a sofa to clean something or reach something, and he would jump in and get it for her. But now he sounded down right angry.
"Carter I am capable of carrying some bags twenty feet." Her voice was clipped, but not harsh, she just didn't know how to react to this sudden outburst.
"Yes and if it wasn't deep slippery snow I wouldn't stop you, but If you get hurt up here, no help is coming, we have no supplies, and I just couldn't..." His voice drifted off then and Kerry wanted to make him finish his sentence, but Mark then stepped in.
"Carter and I will get the bags, do you want to see what there is to eat around here i'm starving."
Kerry nodded, she didn't have the energy to argue, and she too was hungry. They had not had time to eat when they had got back to the house. Carter had gone immediately to shower and pack, as had Kerry. Carter had managed to arrange his Gamma's car to pick them up at five thirty, it gave them just under an hour, and so food had been an after thought.
the flight had only been ninety minutes, and had not served food, and whilst they had grabbed sandwiches for the car, Kerry was now running on empty. She made her way into the kitchen, It was galley style, big enough to get two people in side by side but not much more. The oven sat in the center, she quickly figured it was gas lit. Flicking on the pilot light and turning the dial the gas ring on the lower left sprang to life. She turned it off quickly, unsure as to how much gas was in the tank. it might be mains fed, as the place did appear to have electricity, but she wasn't about to take that chance. Moving along she quickly found the pantry, right next to the back door. Tempted to open it, Kerry resisted the urge, knowing she would only blow more cold air into the already freezing cabin.
Opening the door to the pantry she pulled the cord to the naked overhead bulb it sprang to life, illuminating what the inn keeper had described as stocked, too which Kerry generously thought of as at least they wouldn't starve. She sorted though several cans of soup, about eight in total, then about the same amount of beans. She also found six jars of hot dogs, a bag of rice, some spaghetti, and even two cans of tomato paste. There was also a spurious looking loaf of bread, but she decided not to touch that, after seeing the green edges on the see through bag.
"Spaghetti and hot dogs it is."
It took a while to get all the suit cases in and to check out the cabin. There was only one bedroom, it was king sized bed and was at least clean. Dave had found two oil heaters, one in the corner of the living room, and another in the closet of the bed room. he had fired them both up in the living room, and it had at least taken the chill off the place. Mark could no longer see his breath, but no matches had been found, and none of them smoked so they didn't have a lighter either.
"Close all the doors, get those curtains pulled, we will have to keep as much heat in this room as possible." He said as Carter and Dave did as he suggested, now all he would have to do would be to convince them they would all have to sleep on the same bed. Probably just the mattress, which they could put in the living room. He would save that one for later however as Kerry called out from the kitchen.
"Hey if you could find something to set alight you could use the gas burner to light the fire."
"Yes hey John pass me that note pad would you." Dave said as Carter handed him the pad from the round table sat just off the left hand side of the fire, close to the kitchen. Dave then took several sheets and twisted them in to a tightly, so it was a long thin piece sticking out of his hand.
"Ok here goes nothing." Carter watched as Dave ran across to the kitchen, and returned only moments later, his tightly wound paper alight, but burning slow enough so Dave could get it under his kindling. A few moments later the wood began to catch, until the glow from the fire started to warm him.
"Nice job, so all we need now is some food and I guess we are all set, we can try and get out in the morning."Mark said moving closer to the fire, trying to warm what felt like his very bones at this point in time.
"Dinner will be ready in a minute, if you want water you will have to come and get it, I've got my hands full at the moment." Kerry called as she put the pre-cooked spaghetti, plus the tomato paste, and some season all, which she had found in the pantry in to a pan. She was attempting to open a jar of hot dogs when Mark came in on a mission to get water for them.
"Here let me." He said watching her struggle for a moment before he offered his assistance. Kerry didn't argue, she handed him the jar admitting defeat. Mark got a grip on the cap and pulled a few times before it gave way. He couldn't help but grin at her as he handed back the now open jar, and Kerry just shook her head, as she pulled out the hot dogs and cut them up in to small chunks, adding them to her mixture, and stirring to make sure it was all heated through.
Mark watched her for a moment, imagining what she would look like standing in his kitchen cooking him a meal. Maybe wearing that purple blouse she had worn the other day, a few buttons undone. He shook his head, forcing the image out of his mind. It was true after the Chief thing had fallen through, and Litvac had turned out to be like a second Romano they had gotten closer. Kerry had changed, it wasn't overnight, no defining event had occurred, where she had stopped yelling at people, or flying off the handle about proper procedure, but in small increments. She smiled more, laughed more, touched him more. Just little things like a pat on the arm. Or giving Lydia a hug. Or not ripping Dave's head off for he usual brash commentary. Only a raised eyebrow, or perhaps a growl of his name. Maybe it had something to do with Carter, like he had become her human credential, someone she could trust and use as a buffer for her too quick temper. Mark didn't know why he was only glad it had happened. Almost. Kerry Weaver was not just someone he now found mildly attractive, but someone he actually liked, and that was all just a little bit dangerous.
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Kerry had called to them to take a seat, she then presented them each with a bowel of spaghetti and hot dogs, and she had never seen three people eat such meager fair with such gusto.
"You know what, this is pretty good Chief, you know what would be even better though, a nice cold beer, or wine, i'm not fussy." Dave said through a mouthful of food, as he looked at Kerry who simply raised her eyebrow and shook her head.
"Well whilst there isn't much food in this cabin, there is plenty of booze." Dave looked suddenly very interested, and he put his fork down and quickly left for the kitchen.
"Holy hell, they trying to get a bunch of Irish men half cut or something." Dave called from the kitchen, as several clanks of glass could be heard before Dave re-emerged with two bottles of wine, one red one white, and four glasses.
"I'm not sure drinking would be wise, we will have to drive tomorrow." Kerry said as she peeled off her coat not the fire had warmed the cabin.
"A glass or two won't hurt besides this is Romano's fault really, why should we play by the rules when he clearly didn't." Mark said taking the red wine and unscrewing the cap.
"Fine, pour me a glass, I could use one after today." Kerry said taking the now full glass of wine from Mark, but choosing not to say anything about the measure, for now at least. Carter also accepted a glass and ran his finger round his now empty plate.
"You know i think you could make a good meal out of just about anything." He said raising his glass towards Kerry. She returned his gesture before going back to her own meal. Carter looked at her for a moment, trying not to notice that her shirt was perhaps a little tighter, and a little bit more revealing than she would normally wear. He hadn't really noticed in the car it had been dark, and she had been sitting side on to him. He shouldn't even be thinking about things like that. She was his boss, his landlord, his best friend. The last thought made him drink almost half of his wine in one go. When had Kerry Weaver become his friend, he didn't know, It had just happened, over nights spent on the sofa watching movies. Over times spent around the kitchen table with a glass of wine, simply taking. Over wonderful meals she cooked for them. Now in the fire light her hair looking like flaming embers, he couldn't remember a time when he didn't think of her as his friend.
"So I don't know about you guys but I am wondering where we are all going to sleep tonight." Dave said finishing his glass of wine and then pouring himself another.
"Well I did have a thought on that." Mark started before they were all suddenly plunged into darkness.
TBC....