Nick Iacoletti (cookedbooks) wrote in shadows_rpg, @ 2019-08-01 14:34:00 |
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Entry tags: | #december 2017, greer, greer x nick, nick |
Who: Greer and Nick
When: Late afternoon, close to 4pm, Wednesday 12/27 - morning, 12/28
Where: Joyland Coffee and beyond
Status: Complete
Spending the holiday with Rost and Dev had been a dream for Greer. It had been a relaxing day of cooking, eating and simply spending time together around the fire without any interruptions or worries. The weather had become colder and there was a lot more snow on the ground now than there had been a week before, but Greer was adjusting to it all right. She was starting to feel a little cabin fever-y though, so she was ecstatic when Nick sent her a text, asking her out for coffee. She hadn’t seen him much since she and Dev moved out of Juniper to Seaview, so she jumped at the chance to catch up with him.
It was a bit of a hike but Greer opted to walk despite the weather. She had some furry boots and a heavy coat now, and her earmuffs and gloves were warm too. Greer was not a big fan of driving, and stretching her legs, even in the cold, felt good.
Nick was already there when she stepped into the coffee shop and Greer’s face lit up as soon as she spotted him. On her way to the table where he was sitting Greer managed to tug her gloves off and take off her earmuffs to shove them into her bag. “Hi.” Her smile widened as she joined him. “I’m so glad you reached out. I was starting to go a little batty hanging out inside all week.”
Nick’s week had been kind of depressing, he had to admit. He was used to spending holidays by himself for the most part, on the road somewhere or just mostly disconnected from family, but this Christmas had been particularly lonely. Madison had broken up with him -- which sounded so high school in his head, but there wasn’t really another good way to say it -- a few days before Christmas. The timing hadn’t really been on purpose, but they’d gotten into a talk that led to ‘why are we wasting time when there’s no future’ and that had pretty much been the end of it. They’d parted on okay terms, but it was still a downer.
He’d laid low for the holiday, drinking in his room at Juniper and farting around online and watching Christmas-themed horror movies, but after that Nick had felt the need for company. He thought Greer would be a good bet, so he’d texted her and invited her to coffee. He’d been pleased with her immediate and enthusiastic answer, so he was feeling a bit better as he sat and waited at Joyland, sipping just a tiny bit on the chai in front of him.
Nick smiled and stood up when he spotted Greer, moving in close for a hug before she could sit down. “Hey there,” he said with a grin. “I was too, so it worked out. ... you feel freezing, did you walk? I could’ve given you a lift.”
"I wanted to walk," she said, dismissing his concern with a smile as she shrugged out of her coat to hang it on the back of the chair. "I'm so used to being able to get out and get exercise, so it felt like the right idea, though I did question it a couple times when that wind picked up. It's terrible tonight." Greer rubbed her hands together to warm them before glancing over at the order station. "Let me grab something hot to drink and I'll be right back." Joyland wasn't that busy so it didn't take her very long to order and receive her hazelnut coffee. She carried it back to the table to join Nick, feeling flushed from both the cold and the pleasure at seeing Nick again.
"How have you been?" she asked once she was settled in her chair. "I feel like I keep running into the same people over and over but not you. I was afraid you had left town without saying goodbye or something."
Nick could understand that restlessness, he’d taken quite a bit of his own out on the treadmills at the local gym. It wasn’t as good as running outside, but it was better than nothing. He smiled at Greer again when she returned, and tried not to wonder how much time she had to spare this afternoon. It was coffee and catching up, he didn’t need to drown his small sorrows in the flesh of a woman right away. “Eh, I’ve been all right,” he answered her question with a shrug of his big shoulders. Nick gave her a rueful little smile. “Got dumped last week, so that was fun. It was amiable, I can’t really give her what she’s looking for, but it still sucks. How about you? How are your gentlemen? Have a good Christmas?” He lifted his steaming mug to take a sip.
Greer's brows rose as she took in that bit of conversation. It was difficult to start gushing about her men after hearing Nick and his lady friend had ended things, and frankly, she was more concerned about that than talking about herself. "I'm so sorry," she said, reaching out to touch his hand. "What was it that she was looking for? You seemed to be enjoying her company a lot the last time we talked." Nick might not want to talk about it but she felt like if he hadn't, he wouldn't have told her it happened at all. Sometimes it helped to have someone to vent to or be sad with, and Greer wasn't more than willing to be that person for Nick if he needed it.
It was really sweet, and for some reason that was unexpected, and Nick grinned in spite of the subject matter. He turned his hand over to give Greer’s fingers a little squeeze. It was nice to touch her again; that lovely tryst they’d had lingered in the back of his mind often. “I was, and she was too, I think,” he said. “But I think she really realized I’m not sticking around long term and ... decided she wanted that instead.” Nick understood, even if it sucked. Both for him personally and for his work, but he wasn’t going to get into that part of it all. Mads did deserve to have what she wanted in life, and at least she realized that before they’d spent a ton of time on each other.
"I can imagine it's hard not to get attached in a small town like this," Greer said, thinking about Rost. Thankfully she knew when the time came for her and Dev to leave, Rost would come with them. It was too difficult to comprehend a future without him in it now. He belonged with them, and vice versa. "I guess the silver lining is that she had enough clarity to realize it before it got too complicated. She must have been developing real feelings for you." Greer squeezed his hand again. "I'm really sorry though. I hope you two will be able to be friends, at least."
That had been Nick’s conclusion too. Feelings were getting involved. Perhaps more on Madison’s side than his own. His secrets seemed to facilitate him keeping a certain amount of distance. He’d liked her though, and they’d had fun together, so there was always that to walk away with. “I’m sure we will,” he told Greer with a little smile. “Thank you though, I appreciate it. It’s not the first time it’s happened and it probably won’t be the last. It’s not an easy life to build a real relationship in, but it’s mine, so.” Nick shrugged again. “But tell me about how you are. I miss seein’ you around Juniper.” His current company was much less fun.
Greer was not the type to tell anyone how they should be living, nor did she pity them if they weren't reaching for the same things that she was. She was happy, and all she wanted was for other people to be happy too, no matter how they got there. If Nick's true desire was his work, then she didn't blame him for wanting to focus on that while keeping others at a distance. The romantic inside of her wanted to believe he would meet his Person, or People, someday, but she wasn't going to push that on him, especially after a breakup. Fate just had a funny way of working, and she didn't think his ex-lady friend had been the right one. "I've been good. We're still in Seaview. I've been meeting new people in town, thanks to some of Rost's friends. I don't know if you've met him yet, the cemetery caretaker? He seems to have an eclectic group of friends and acquaintances. I'm not used to this cold, but I'm tolerating it," she said with a grin. "I've been thinking about getting some part-time work, I'm just not sure with what yet. How is your writing coming along?"
Considering what was actually going on in his life, Nick hadn’t expected anything to get really serious with Mads. Granted, he hadn’t expected to feel much of anything for her either, but he had. Especially on that one day ... but it was over now, and it was probably for the best for them personally. Nick focused on Greer and what she was saying instead. “Don’t think I’ve officially had the pleasure, but I’ve spotted him, yeah,” he answered with a little grin. “And heard about him from other people.” Greer’s new boyfriend had a bit of a reputation as a quack, but Nick found those people to be the most interesting and occasionally the most informed. “Good to hear it though. I’m not used to this kinda cold either,” he added, giving a chuckle. “I was in Atlanta last Christmas, it felt a helluva lot different. As for the writing ... it’s going pretty well. My publisher’s been happy with the outline and first couple chapters I’ve sent, anyway. So that’s progress. All this snow at least makes it easy to stay inside and work.”
Maybe one day Rost and Nick could meet. Greer felt like they would get along, both men being fairly laid back. And she was sure Rost had the kind of stories Nick might find fascinating. Well aware of how many people in town perceived Rost, Greer never let it bother her because it certainly didn't seem to bother him. They were who they were and Greer made no apologies for it. She doubted Rost would either. "At least there is a silver lining," Greer said. "Would I be able to find your books at the library? I think this may be the kind of winter where I stay inside more often than not, and it's been a long time since I sat down to read a book. I would love to read some of yours."
Nick felt flattered, as he always did when someone he already knew and liked wanted to read his work for the first time. In the early days he hadn’t ever been sure that anyone would like it, but he’d gained more confidence over the years, and he knew that his preferred subject matters were right up Greer’s alley. “There are a couple of my titles there, yeah,” he said, then chuckled a bit. “I’m not ashamed to admit I’ve looked when I was there doing research. But there’s a bit more selection at Books and Beer, dunno if you’ve been in there yet, it’s a good little store. ... wow, that sounds greedy, doesn’t it?” Nick laughed a bit. “We’ll go together some time, I’ll pay if you find one you’re interested in.” He grinned crookedly at her.
"It doesn't sound greedy," she assured him. "Writers need to make a living like everyone else." Greer glanced outside at the snow. "We can go after we've finished our coffee, if you want? I can't remember if I've been there or not, but if it's within walking distance, why not? I could use some new books." And Greer had the money to pay for them, especially if it helped Nick out. She was a little disappointed in herself for not having looked for his books at the library earlier than now. They had talked about his novels when they first met and they had certainly intrigued her. Her lips curved as she lifted her cup again. "I might decide to buy the whole lot, if they've got them. But if you have to promise to use me as a character in some future story."
“Yeah sure,” Nick answered about going to the bookstore, sounding pleased. He’d hoped they would find a way to spend a bit more time together than just having coffee. It had been a while since he’d been to Books and Beer, and if Greer was picking a few of his titles out, he could at least point her to the best ones. He laughed a bit at the last part. “I mostly write non-fiction, so ... stick around with me ‘til something weird happens, or give me a good story, and you’ll make it into one.” Some people did claim his books were all fiction, but those were the non-believers. Nick knew better. He took another swallow of his chai and kept smiling at Greer. “So how have things been going for you guys? Make any progress on your man’s family mystery?”
"I am full of good stories, but probably not the kind you write about." Greer grinned. "But I can definitely stick around until something weird happens. You can use my real name and everything." This town seemed to have weird events lined up at the door, one after another. She wondered how and why people stayed here, but then again, home was difficult to walk away from. Or maybe it went deeper than that, and this town wouldn't let them go. She set her cup down and shook her head. "Dev has been doing a lot of research but I'm not sure how much he's found. I think we keep getting distracted by things and people. It's not the worst thing, and we'll stay as long as we need or want to. Other than that, things have been going really well." Her eyes widened a touch as she remembered something. "Oh, you want to hear something weird? Rost and I went to the cemetery last week. Have you been? All of the stone angel statues are now in the same position, if you can believe that."
Nick had no doubt that strange things would happen to Greer in this town. They seemed to happen to everyone, but a lot of people still had their eyes closed to it all. Greer was wide open, he knew that already. That tended to draw even more attention from the strangeness out there. He just hoped it wasn’t the really bad kind whenever it came knocking. He listened and nodded through her update, then raised his brows at the last part. “I’ve walked through there yeah. Before this, obviously ... huh,” he mused thoughtfully. Nick took another slurp from his mug. “I take it they never did that before? That Rost knows of, at least?”
Greer shook her head. "He said they move, but never like they have that day. They're all the same, their heads bowed, like they're praying. But Rost said it felt wrong. He couldn't tell if it was a warning, or what. But it was certainly an interesting visit. I don't know that they've changed back though. I haven't been back since that day. I mean, just thinking about stone statues moving at all is weird. It definitely unnerved him." She supposed she should have asked Rost if he had been back to the cemetery but she figured if he had and things had gotten worse, he would have told her. "Might be something for you to check out," she said. "If that's the kind of weird you're looking for."
It certainly sounded creepy, which was right up Nick’s alley. “Hmm, I took some pictures when I was there, might be worth a trip to go out and take a few more for comparison,” he said, sounding interested. “Thanks for the tip.” He wasn’t sure what would cause that kind of thing -- or what might be making the statues move in the first place -- but Nick didn’t always need the answers. Sometimes things just added to the mystique of a town, and Point Pleasant was a place with a hell of a lot of mystique. It would also be something else to report to Novak and Washburn.
Greer smiled. "I expect a credit in the back of your book if you find anything interesting." She winked at him and sipped her coffee. She still wasn't sure if it was a good omen or a bad one, what happened in the cemetery, but Rost had been unnerved and that was definitely a bad sign. He was simply more intuitive than most and given he had lived there for years, Greer was inclined to listen to Rost if he thought the statue movement was wrong. "So what are your plans for the rest of the day? How long do I get to keep you for?"
“Oh you’ll be in the thanks already,” Nick informed her with a wicked grin that clearly indicated why. He’d had a really good time with her, and he kept having a good time every time he saw her, and anybody who helped keep him sane when he was out on a job like this deserved some credit. He finished off what was in his mug and then gave an amiable shrug as he sat back. “No plans except escorting a lovely lady to the bookstore, so ... you can keep me as long as you want.” Nick flashed her another bright smile. He could say that with no guilt now, at least. There were upsides to every breakup.
"As long as I want? You're tempting me," Greer said. And she loved that she could flirt with him again. Not that she couldn't before but she knew how men and women could be when they were involved in a monogamous relationship, and Greer hadn't wanted to make Nick uncomfortable. But they definitely had fun when they first met, and she thought of him often. She rested her chin in her hand and looked outside. It was cold, but that was okay. She was bundled up, and if she stayed close to Nick, his body heat would probably keep her warm. But spending an afternoon with him sounded appealing. "Why don't we go now? Grab some books and see where the afternoon takes us?"
The afternoon took them to the bookstore for a while, and Nick found himself very much enjoying browsing the shelves with Greer. He’d gotten a beer just to enjoy while they walked around -- something he’d always thought was marketing genius. Greer had picked up copies of all of Nick’s books that were in stock, and he’d found a couple of titles for himself too, so he felt pretty damn good when they walked out of the place. Nick insisted on driving Greer home, so they walked back to the Joyland parking lot to fetch his rental SUV and head that way.
Nick turned some music on and was chatting away about something when he happened to glance to his right and saw the fog coming. It was like a big wall of white bearing down on them, and he hardly recognized what it was until it washed over the car and blotted out everything else. He kept driving for a second or two before his brain caught up and Nick hit the brakes. “Well holy shit,” he murmured, looking around them. “That’s some fucking fog right there.”
Greer had been having a really good time with Nick. Finding his books on the shelves of Books and Beer had been a treat and she couldn't wait to take them home to show Rost and Dev. Given it was still bitterly cold outside and she had a bag of books to carry now, Greer didn't protest too strongly when Nick offered to drive her home. She had no idea if Rost or Dev would be home, but if not, she considered inviting Nick inside to spend an hour or two. It just felt like that kind of afternoon where lazy sex would cap off a wonderful day. But Greer was quickly distracted from those thoughts by the sight of thick fog starting to settle over the town. At first it didn't seem as though it would be that bad. Even when it washed over them and they had to stop, she wondered if it would keep rolling through, creating only a mild inconvenience. But it seemed to just stop and she and Nick were all but stuck in his car for the time being. "I've never seen fog like that before," Greer said. "Do you think we're okay?"
Nick had had similar thoughts that weren’t quite a plan for the rest of the afternoon, but close. Now all he could think about was the weirdness of being surrounded by white like they were. Almost absently, he reached to turn the car’s hazard lights on. After another moment he turned the wheel and eased the car forward, intent on pulling off to the side so anybody behind them who was still driving wouldn’t rear end them. “I dunno, honestly,” Nick told Greer, glancing over at her face. “I’ve never seen fog like this before either. It came on so fast ... and it’s kind of late in the day for this shit, isn’t it?”
"Maybe. But I also thought it was too cold for fog." She sighed and waited to see if any cars passed by now they were out of the way. But if they couldn't see, she doubted anyone else could. "Do you think we should go inside somewhere to wait it out? Unless you want to stay in the car." Greer pulled out her small phone to text Dev and Rost. But she had no signal. "Why is it that in situations where you actually need your phone, it doesn't work?" Greer held up her phone for him to see. "Can you check yours?" If Nick's was working properly than maybe he would let her call Dev.
He didn’t really know the rules of fogs, Nick hadn’t grown up near the ocean, or any huge body of water or anything. But it sure didn’t look right, and it definitely hadn’t happened since he’d been there. He of course thought of the fog he’d missed, the one that made people attack each other, and some extra nerves coiled in his stomach. Nick wasn’t looking at what Greer was doing until she mentioned her phone, and then he glanced over. He was already reaching for his where he’d plunked it down in the middle console when she asked, and he unlocked it with a concerned frown that only deepened. “No bars,” he said. Nick tried to open the internet browser, but the little circle just spun and spun. He tried to text Greer just to test it, but the delivery failed. “Well shit,” Nick muttered. “Uh ... do you remember exactly where we are?” His tone was a bit sheepish.
"Um. A few blocks from Books and Beer?" Greer grimaced. "To be honest, I sort of just... walk. I don't pay much attention to the places around me." She generally went on instinct, more than happy to be distracted by people she met. That didn't help them now. “We're on a residential street so... um..." Greer squinted thoughtfully and then relaxed and sighed. "Honestly, I don't have a clue. Should we stay here?" They could stay or try to walk through the fog. It might be safer than driving. Except she didn't know where they would walk to if they couldn't see all that well.
Nick had a pretty good sense of direction, and he’d been driving around Point Pleasant a lot, but being blind was pretty disorienting. He thought he might be able to find his way back to Juniper if he went extremely slowly and there was nothing in the road in the way, but he was less confident about getting Greer home. He hummed thoughtfully as he weighed options, fingers tapping against his phone. It was uncomfortable to be so abruptly disconnected. “Maybe for a while, see if it blows through?” he suggested, looking over at Greer again. “I’d hate to get out and wandering around and then have it clear off, you know? I’m sure we can entertain ourselves for a while.” He grinned crookedly, figuring she wouldn’t mind the tiny flirt. If nothing else, they had books to read.
Greer nodded. "Waiting it out for a bit is probably the safest bet. We don't want to get caught out in the cold either." They certainly didn't want to get lost in the cold. She set her phone down and sighed before smiling at Nick. "I'm not sure of the most entertaining game to play in a car. Do you have any ideas?" She definitely didn't mind the flirtation, and it came naturally with Nick. She was glad to be in his company when this happened if she couldn't be home with Dev or Rost. If this was something more than fog, at least Nick was aware of how dangerous it could be. Then again, it could just be freaky weather. In any case, she felt safe with him, and that was the important thing.
Nick laughed. “I would say it’s ‘I Spy’, but ...” he gestured at the fog-filled windows. It made everything eerily quiet, even the idling engine, but Nick didn’t feel too freaked out about it yet. It had to pass, right? He knew bad things could happen in a fog like this, but that didn’t necessarily mean they would. The SUV was out of the line of traffic, they were locked in with some heat, Nick felt safe enough. He let his head fall back against the headrest and looked over at Greer, smirking more wickedly at her. “I’m sure we can find some ways to pass the time. It’s not like anybody can see us. ... you wanna fool around?” His tone was a bit teasing, but it totally wasn’t a joke if Greer was into it.
It was just the right amount of humor to make Greer laugh and maybe tone down some of the worry that she had been feeling. Smiling, she rested her head against the back of the seat and nodded. "I think fooling around would be a nice way to pass the time."
And it had been. Only the time that passed didn't do much to ease up on the fog. After awhile Greer could tell it was going to stay, and it was probably getting late. They could stay in the car all night but that wouldn't be fun for anyone and eventually she and Nick opted to try and find their way through the fog to a home or business. "We should hold onto each other to make sure we don't get lost," Greer said. It was probably a silly suggestion, but the fog was thick and felt ominous to Greer and she had mental images of Nick slipping away into it and being gone for good. "Is there anything in the car we should bring with us?"
Nick didn’t think it was a silly suggestion -- he’d read too many legends about people disappearing into blizzards without a trace, how easy it was to get lost when you couldn’t see and just wander until you died of exposure. The heat in the SUV had been running, but it had gotten noticeably colder inside as time went on and the idling engine couldn’t compete with the temperature outside the vehicle. Nick thought it was a good idea to move now, before they completely ran out of gas and got cold. At her question, he looked around the inside of the car. He’d stowed a flashlight and a rope and knife and a few other things in a bag on the floorboard of the backseat, so he grabbed that. It was handy to have a bag of essentials when he was out exploring alone. “Got a couple water bottles and granola bars in here, too,” he murmured as he slid his arm through the bag’s strap. “Sidewalk’s on your side, so I’ll get out and come around, okay? Then we can hold on and try to find a building. Ready?”
Greer blinked in surprise with how readily Nick seemed prepared for this. But that was amazing because she was so unprepared and she probably ought to know better by now, having been in Point Pleasant for a while. She made sure her phone was tucked away inside her jacket, just in case service came back on, and then she nodded. "Ready when you are." Greer watched Nick move quickly from the car and she tried to keep her eyes on him as much as the fog would allow. As soon as he approached her door Greer opened it and climbed out, reaching immediately for his hand. It was bitterly cold and she honestly didn't care which way they went as long as they moved fast. All she could do was hope that anyone who had been outside when this fog rolled in had managed to get inside somewhere safe and warm.
It was cold enough to make Nick tug his knit hat out of his pocket and pull it down over his head and ears. Fuck, that was bitter, it made his fingers and nose burn. He thought it was best not to cross the street, so once they’d shut the SUV door, he led Greer in what he hoped was a straight line away from the car. Stepping out into the fog was disorienting and worrisome, and part of Nick just wanted to go straight back to the car and stay there, but most of him knew better. They needed a place with water and a bathroom and heat. He didn’t move too fast at first, looking down and shuffling his boots until he spotted the edge of the sidewalk and the snow that lined it. “Okay, we’ll follow this,” he said out loud to Greer, turning them to hurry and do that. “Look for another walkway or a driveway or something.” Most houses had some flat surface connecting them to the street, right? They had to find something eventually.
"Okay," Greer said, and then instantly regretted it. Opening her mouth at all just had her swallowing some of that insanely cold air and it nearly took her breath. She clung to Nick's hand but tugged her scarf up around her mouth with the other. Hopefully Dev and Rost were inside somewhere, preferably cozied up together in front of the fire back home. They were only outside for a few minutes but it felt like years with how miserable it was. But Greer finally caught sight of a dark strip to her right and she tugged at Nick's hand. "Driveway," she said loudly, her words still a bit muffled by the scarf. She didn't see a car or anything, but it was something. Maybe whoever lived in the house would be home. If not, she figured they could just walk to the left or right to find a neighbor.
It did seem to take forever, and Nick was just starting to get worried that they were going to follow this sidewalk for forever when Greer spotted what they needed. He tightened his grip on her hand -- at least he intended to, it was difficult to tell with all his extremities starting to go numb -- and picked up the pace, practically jogging up the driveway. It led to a house that loomed over them out of the fog, and after a couple of stumbles and groping along the front of the house, they were up the porch steps and at the front door. Nick knocked urgently and pushed the doorbell a second after. “Please help us!” he called through the door, shivering as the cold air got deeper into him. “We’re stuck in the fog, we need inside!”
Greer was generally a very patient person. But the cold was almost intolerable and she bounced a little on her heels to try and keep herself somewhat warm. No one came to the door and she leaned in, pressing her cold ear to it to see if she could hear anything. "I don't think anyone's home," she said, leaning away from Nick to try and look in the front window, but they had blinds that were currently shut. "Maybe they went out of town for Christmas? Would it be wrong to break in? I guess we could try a neighbor?" She didn't care what they did at this point. Her toes and fingers felt numb, not to mention her face. They didn't need to end up with frostbite, or worse. She would pay for the damages if she and Nick had to break in. Their survival felt more important than anything else in that moment.
Nick had broken into lots of places in the line of duty, but it hadn’t ever been an occupied house. He was a little concerned about there being a defensive resident inside with a gun, but this was really beginning to feel like a life or death situation. The cold was so bad that he knew they couldn’t stay out there too much longer without suffering some serious consequences. And who knew if they would even make it to a neighboring house to try. There were narrow windows that flanked the front door, which seemed like the easiest way in. “No, this has got to be it,” he said to Greer. Nick reached into his back to pull out the flashlight -- it was big and metal, perfect for slamming into glass to break it. So that was what he did, then reached in carefully to feel around for the locks on the door. A few seconds later, it was open and Nick let Greer hurry inside ahead of him. “If anybody’s home, we mean no harm!” he called into the house.
Greer stepped inside, nearly moaning from how nice the warmth felt. She still felt numb and she rubbed her hands together, already wondering where they could look for something to patch over the broken glass so the rest of the house didn't get too cold. "Hello," she called, starting to wander through the lower level of the house. It was clean and empty, the Christmas tree turned off with some opened gifts still piled beneath it. Greer made her way to the back of the house in the kitchen, but there was no sign of anyone having been in there today. But the place didn’t feel ominous to her, and that helped her relax. "I don't think anyone is here," she told Nick as she walked back to the front of the house. "Maybe they're at work? I don't know. Are you okay? My fingers still feel pretty numb."
Nick didn’t think there was anybody there either, as he moved to the base of the stairs to listen for a moment. He gave Greer a wan smile. “Yeah, think we got the place to ourselves,” he said. It was partly a relief and partly made him feel more edgy; Nick had been raised better than to break into people’s houses, but this counted as an emergency, he was pretty sure. “I’m okay, yeah,” he said, impulsively wrapping his arms around Greer to pull her into a hug. “Just need some warming up. And to cover that broken window, probably, so ... I’ll check the kitchen for tape and plastic and stuff.” He kissed her forehead and then let her go. “Did you see if there was a fireplace?”
The hug was welcomed and appreciated. It wasn't like anything terrifying had happened outside, but the fog was disconcerting and Greer also hated that they had to break into someone's home just to get out of it. She planned on leaving a note for the owners promising to pay for the window once the fog lifted and she and Nick could safely leave. Nick was solid and warm and Greer felt infinitely better after he pulled back from her. "There's a fireplace in the living room. I didn't pay much attention to it but it looked as though there was some firewood stacked beside it. Do you think I should get a fire started?" That would at least keep them from turning up the thermostat in the house.
Nick nodded a bit. “Probably ought to, just in case the unit freezes up later or anything ... looks like we're probably staying the night here.” He paused and gave her a teasing little smile. “You know how, right?” Nick had no doubt that Greer did, even coming from California. She seemed to be the outdoorsy, camping sort, all nature-hippie, so he was sure she knew how to handle a fireplace. He needed to cover the hole he’d made before it started leeching all the heat from the house.
Greer pretended to give it some thought by scrunching up her nose. Then she smiled. "Yes, I know how, don't worry. I'll work on that if you get the window patched up." She turned away to head back toward the living room and the fireplace. "Is it wrong to hope that the people who own this home recently went grocery shopping?" She hoped they wouldn't be stuck there very long, but it was always smart to be prepared. If they had to spend the night she wanted to at least have something edible to eat.
“Don’t think it’s wrong at all,” Nick answered on his way to the kitchen. Since he was there, he opened and glanced through the fridge and a couple of cabinets. It felt a bit weird and invasive to do, but it wasn’t like he was hunting through their medicine bottles or anything -- this was an emergency. And if they found out who the owners were, Nick fully intended to reimburse them for the damage and anything they used. “Looks pretty well stocked, I think we’re good,” he called to Greer, then went about hunting down some materials. Nick ended up tearing up a cardboard box and duct taping it over the hole by the door. He then swept up the glass and tossed it, kind of glad to have something to do with his hands at the moment.
While Nick patched up the broken window, Greer settled in front of the fireplace and worked on getting a fire going. At some point she shrugged out of her winter coat and set to the side, feeling far too restricted now that they weren't caught in the cold. When the fire caught she settled back and dug her phone out of her coat pocket to check the service. It was still down. She made sure the sound was on and set it to the side, rather than back in her pocket, just in case service reconnected and Dev or Rost tried to get in touch with her. Greer settled in front of the fire to warm up and then offered Nick a smile. "Under any other circumstances, I would have said this was romantic."
Once Nick was done with his patch job, he went to join Greer in front of the fireplace. She’d done a fine job getting it started, so he just plunked down next to her and started untying his boots. It seemed like they were going to be there for a while, and his feet were cold. As he stripped off his coat, he chuckled faintly at Greer’s words. “Isn’t that like, a sub-genre in romance? Disaster forcing people together?” he asked with a half-grin. Now that they were settled somewhere he could stretch his legs and he knew there was running water, food, and heat, he wasn’t feeling too bad. Granted, he didn’t have anybody out there unaccounted for, but still. Nick wondered vaguely what Novak and Washburn were thinking about all this. What a welcome. “It’s definitely cozy though, thanks for getting the fire going.”
"Catastrophe based romance?" Greer laughed. "I suppose it's more interesting than a swash buckling bodice ripper." She pulled off her own snow boots and then stretched out her legs beside him, nudging his leg with her foot. "You're welcome though. Ideally we would have gotten stuck inside your room at the inn, but this will do. And maybe it will clear up soon." She wasn't sure about that, because she still had an uneasy feeling in the pit of her stomach. But Greer wanted to stay optimistic for the moment. "I... kind of wish I had brought in some of your books with us from your car. Then you could have read them to me."
His room at Juniper definitely would’ve been more comfortable for them -- no breaking and entering involved. But he’d been having a nice time out with Greer, and who could’ve known this was coming? It definitely seemed like more than just a normal fog, so maybe some witches and psychics had known, but Nick knew he could be wrong about that. Weather was just bizarre sometimes. He gave a soft laugh and scrunched his face up a bit. “Damn, I didn’t even think about that either,” he said, then glanced around the living room, idly reaching over to rest his hand on Greer’s leg. “Well they have one bookshelf, so they can’t be all bad. Maybe there’s something worthwhile on it?” Nick patted her, then moved to get up and go check.
Greer settled back, propping herself up with her hands. "See if they have any dirty books," she told him, amused. Despite the weather, and the fact that they had broken into someone's home, she was starting to feel comfortable again. It was probably the heat from the fire on her chilled feet. And the company. Greer was just thankful she hadn't been out in that fog alone. If they had to stay there all night at least it was a decent place with food and water. She just wished her phone worked so she could check in with Dev and Rost.
Nick did find something to read, and while it wasn’t dirty, it passed the time all right for a while. Hours went on and it got dark outside, which was even more worrisome than all the whiteness. Not feeling right about helping themselves to someone else’s bed, Nick and Greer made a makeshift mattress on the floor with couch cushions and blankets they found. It was nicer to stick close to the fire anyway, and Nick found it surprisingly comfortable even if his feet were hanging off the edge of the cushion a bit. He stayed cuddled up to Greer, and soon enough exhaustion got the better of him and he was sound asleep, with vague hopes that the fog would be gone in the morning.
It wasn't the most ideal situation, but the fire was warm and Nick was equally as nice to fall asleep beside. Greer wasn't sure what time it was when she started to rouse. The fire had since gone out and Nick's body heat made her very reluctant to move. Her phone was close so she reached for it and sighed when she saw it was late morning, and service was still down. Worse than that, she only had about ten percent of the battery left. Maybe there was a charger somewhere in the house. Greer decided to get up and look in a moment. Instead she set the phone back down and sighed, closing her eyes as she debated waking up Nick or letting him do it on his own. Greer turned carefully to snuggle up beside him. It wasn't even that cold in the house, but she was dreading taking a look outside. Probably because she didn't know what they would do if the fog was still out there.
Even though it had been years since Nick slept on a floor, having Greer right there beside him was soothing, and he’d slept like a baby. He was naturally an early-morning riser, but he’d been able to lull himself back to sleep the couple of times his consciousness had bubbled to the surface after sunrise. It wasn’t like there was likely anything to do anyway. When Greer started to stir though, it brought him back around, and Nick moved slightly and let out a low hum as she changed positions. He slid his arm around her as she came in closer and cracked one eye open. “Mornin’,” he drawl-mumbled, lips quirking up slightly. He might not have wanted to use the house owners’ bed, but he did already want to use their toothpaste.
"Morning," she said with a sleepy smile. "Phones are still down." She figured they would get up and moving in a minute. Even if the fog was still lingering maybe it had dissipated enough that they could see and make their way home. Greer didn't really care about toothpaste just yet. Nick was warm and she had to resist snuggling into him further. "Did you sleep okay?" she murmured, closing her eyes again. Waking up was a process today and she supposed it wouldn't make sense to rush it.
Nick gave a disapproving little grunt at that news, and craned his head a bit to try and see a window. He couldn’t from where they were lying, so it would have to wait. He wasn’t in any rush to get up. “Yeah,” he murmured, pressing a kiss against Greer’s forehead. It was true -- he’d slept really well considering their stressful situation. Maybe he would make a good criminal. Or all of his years of exposure to the Weird was coming in handy. “How ‘bout you?” Greer seemed nicely relaxed and cozy against him, but it was worth asking anyway.
She hummed softly in her throat before stretching her legs a bit. "I slept fine. I mean, as well as anyone can sleep on some couch cushions. But it could have been a lot worse." Greer smiled and then opened her eyes to look at him. "You don't snore, so that helped." Nick actually slept pretty soundly, and she had liked that he had stayed close to her through most of the night. Nothing bad had happened, and even if the fog was still lingering, she hoped it stayed that way. She could deal with the cold and lack of phones, she just didn't want anything dangerous to occur.
A chuckle rumbled in Nick’s chest and he gave her a lazy half-grin. “One of my few redeeming qualities,” he murmured. “You don’t either, far as I noticed, but with two usual bed partners, I bet you knew that.” He was pretty sure those guys would accept any amount of snoring from Greer without booting her from the bed. He certainly wouldn’t have complained, it was too nice just to have her sleeping close. Nick kissed Greer’s face again, then did a bit of stretching himself, groaning softly as he rolled onto his back. He turned his head toward the window, but couldn’t see much die to the angle and how the curtains were hanging. It sure didn’t look bright and sunny out there, so he didn’t have a lot of hope that the fog had lifted.
As much as Greer would have liked to have stayed there, cozy and warm, this wasn't her house and if they could get home safely now, they ought to try. Then again, she wouldn't know if they could do that until she got up and looked outside. So she sat up and stretched a bit before finally pushing the blanket off her body and getting to her feet. A quick look out the curtains revealed the fog was still there and it hadn't seemed to have cleared at all. "It's still pretty bad," she murmured. "I can't even see the mailbox." Letting the curtains fall back into place, Greer looked at Nick. "What do you think we should do?"
Nick sat up as Greer stood, stretching a bit and scooting backward to lean against the couch. He wanted some coffee and eggs and a hot shower, along with a change of his own clothes, but he knew very little of that might happen this morning. He wasn’t surprised at Greer’s verdict, and scrubbed his hands over his face and through his hair with a sigh. “Well ... if it’s the same as yesterday, we can’t exactly go anywhere,” he answered after a moment’s thought. Nick picked up his phone where he’d left it on the coffee table to verify that it was still just as disconnected as it had been the day before. “So ... just keep doing what we’ve been doing, I guess. Wait and try not to go crazy?” Other than that, he was at a loss.
This was worrisome now and she wondered if there was any firewood in the back. Not that they could see if there was, but maybe it was stacked against the back of the house. "I can make some coffee if you want," Greer said, running her hands through her tousled hair and wishing she had something to tie it back with. "And I can look out back and see if there is any extra firewood. I know the heat is still on, but you never know what could happen. I really dislike feeling so helpless right now. I can't figure out how the electricity is working, but not our phones. This is strange."
“Coffee would be amazing,” Nick said with gratitude in his voice as he picked his bulk up off the floor and stood. He stretched his arms up with a little grunt, then stepped over their cushions and blankets. “The fog must be interfering with the signals from the cell towers,” he reasoned. He’d never heard of that before, but Nick didn’t know a lot about that kind of tech in the first place. “Electricity runs through physical wires, so ...” He gave a little shrug. “But all right, good idea. If it does go out, we’ll definitely need more wood. I’m gonna use the facilities ... don’t walk away from the house out there, all right?” Nick knew Greer wasn’t that dumb, but it still felt pertinent to say. He started toward the downstairs bathroom.
Greer didn't know much about technology either, except she liked using it every now and then. And she was so very aware of how much she depended on her phone now that she couldn't use it to check on Dev or Rost. She could only hope they were taking care of themselves, and each other, if they were together. While Nick used the bathroom, Greer wandered into the kitchen and got the coffee brewing. It was a fancy pants coffee machine and it took her a few extra minutes to figure it out. But once it began to percolate, she got her shoes on and opened the back door to just step out onto the small back porch. It was still freezing and she rubbed her arms as she stepped down to try and spot any kind of wood pile nearby.
She thought she saw what could potentially be a wood stack and started for it quickly but the sound of a whining animal caught her attention. Greer paused and squinted into the fog. The unmistakable of a cat meowing had her completely forgetting about the wood, and she could see the small thing walking toward her. "Oh you poor thing," she murmured, hurrying toward it to scoop it up in her arms. It was freezing and trembling in her arms and Greer had to wonder how it survived in this weather without adequate shelter. Starting back for the house with the cat in her arms, she didn't see, or expect, the searing pain in the back of her shoulder. It felt like her flesh had been ripped apart and she cried out, turning quickly to see something black and sharp slipped back into the fog. But there was definitely a shadow in front of her, darker than the rest of the fog. She had to crane her neck to look up at it and Greer clutched the cat more tightly to her, causing it to hiss. The pain in her shoulder began to throb through her and Greer overcame her shock at what she was looking at to turn and run back for the house. She hadn't gone too far that she couldn't find her way back, and she nearly tripped running up the steps and into the kitchen. Dropping the cat, which promptly took off into the other room, Greer slammed the door shut, breathing hard as she locked it, like that might keep whatever was outside at bay. She barely seemed to realize the warm wet feeling sliding down her back was blood.
In the bathroom, Nick had a private chuckle to himself at the nostalgic feeling of reading the back of a shampoo bottle to keep his mind occupied as he sat there. Nobody even had magazines in their bathrooms anymore, they were all so hooked on their phones. Oh well. He was just finishing washing his hands when he heard come commotion from the kitchen. “Greer?” Nick called with a bit of alarm. He shook his wet hands off and hurried out of the bathroom, his heart suddenly beating hard and fast. He was a big man but he wasn’t much of a fighter, and he hoped to God there wasn’t somebody trying to hurt them. Nick stopped in the kitchen doorway and looked around, but there only seemed to be Greer inside, leaning against the back porch door.
Greer felt like her shoulder was on fire, but she couldn't tell if that was from the pain, or from the adrenaline and the way the icy cold outside had burned her lungs. Looking through the glass panel in the door, she tried to catch sight of whatever had attacked her and she thought she saw a shadow moving away from the house, but she couldn't tell if it was really there, or just her imagination. Breathing hard, she looked over at Nick, suddenly pale and shaky. "There's something outside. I don't know what it is, but it cut me, I think." Greer lifted her hand to her torn shirt, fingertips coming away with blood. "I need a bandage, maybe. Can you check?" All at once she was feeling woozy and sweaty and she placed her hand against the door to keep herself upright.
As soon as Greer turned a bit to look out the window, Nick saw the blood on the back of her shoulder. He quickly moved forward, so he was there to steady her when she got a little wobbly. “Okay, okay, come here and sit,” he said, one hand on her arm and the other settling on her waist. Nick was still trying to process what was going on, and what she’d said. Something scratched her? Clawed the shit out of her was more like it. And from the angle and the side of the wound, it was something big. Once Greer had her ass in a chair, Nick started pulling open kitchen drawers until the found the dish towels. “We need to put pressure on it,” he said as he stepped in close to Greer again. “Can you hold this here?” He pressed the towel against the back of her shoulder.
"Yes." Greer reached up and held onto the towel. It hurt, pressed against the wound, but she bit into her tongue to suppress the pain. "I think there's... wood out there... but then I saw a cat, and I just wanted to bring it in. I don't know what's out there, but it's quiet. Or maybe I just wasn't listening... hard enough." Greer inhaled deep and then released the breath slowly between her lips. "So something is definitely going on in the fog. We can't leave here." They probably wouldn't have anyway, but that just cemented that they were staying put until they could see well enough to make a run for it.
Once Greer had taken over with the towel, Nick moved quickly to the back door to peer through it. He didn’t see anything but fog. No movement, no shadows, no nothing. But that didn’t mean much, since that shit was thick as cotton candy right now. He deadbolted the door and then started searching through cabinets for something to help them. He couldn’t find anything but cooking stuff and cleaning chemicals. “Don’t people know kitchens need first aid kits too?” he grumbled, shaking his head. Nick turned his attention back to Greer and said, “We’re not going anywhere, yeah. Think you’ll be okay for a minute while I run to the bathroom, or do you wanna try to come with me?” He had to find something to disinfect her wound with, but he didn’t want to leave her alone if she was going to freak out, either.
"I really don't want to move," she admitted with a faint, apologetic smile. "I just... it just needs a bandage, right? I can't see it very well." She could feel it though. Acutely. Greer liked to think she had a high threshold for pain, but this was quickly approaching her limits the longer she sat there. As odd as it might be to worry about it when she was soaking a towel with her blood, she hoped the cat found somewhere warm and safe to hide. And what about Rost and Dev? Were they inside, and safe somewhere too? She hoped they didn't try to go out for anything, wherever they might be.
The cat hadn’t even crossed Nick’s mind, he was focused on Greer’s injury and whether or not that thing would try to come through the door and pry them out like sardines. But the chair Greer was in was a good distance from the door or the windows, so he felt like he could leave her for a moment or two. “It needs to be disinfected first,” he told her in even tones. “I’ve got to clean it up before I can see if just a bandage will do.” And if it wouldn’t, if Greer looked like she needed stitches? Nick didn’t know. He’d never given anybody stitches before, but there would be no other option. He just hoped it wasn’t too bad. “I’ll be right back,” Nick said before he rushed out of the kitchen towards the bathroom.
Greer nodded as Nick left the room and she took that moment to lower her head a bit, breathing in and out as deeply as she could to try and ease the throbbing in her arm. It shouldn't hurt this bad. She'd had to get stitches before, when she was younger, but even that particular wound hadn't hurt this much. Knowing what she did about the Other world that bled into this one, Greer was imagining some horrible venom seeping into her. It was a horrible, morbid thought but that thing was out there for a reason. And it could have killed her, she knew that much. So why hadn't it? Greer could feel sweat start to form at her temples and she wished she had her cards with her. Maybe they would reveal something.
Nick moved as fast as he could, bringing an armload of stuff -- a bottle of hydrogen peroxide and rubbing alcohol each, a couple of washcloths, several sizes and types of bandages, tape for all of it, some painkillers. He almost tripped over a ball of hissing fur that streaked past him in the hallway, and cursed softly under his breath. At least Greer had rescued the cat. Back in the kitchen, he dumped everything onto the kitchen table and moved behind Greer. Nick urged her to lift the towel for a moment so he could have a look. “I think we’re going to need to get your shirt off, okay?” he murmured.
Greer sighed. Nudity didn't bother her, but the thought of having to move her arm did. But she didn't want to make this difficult for Nick, so she nodded and set the towel down on the table to work on getting her shirt up and off with his help. "It feels like I got branded with fire," she murmured. "My whole arm feels hot from it. Is that normal?" He probably wouldn't know, not being a doctor, but she felt somewhat better just talking, like she could somehow ignore the throbbing if she spoke over it. "I had to get stitches in my ankle when I was nine. I cut myself on broken glass on someone's porch. It never burned like this."
Nick was very careful as he helped Greer get her shirt off. He made sure her hair was out of the way and really looked at the wound. It looked like a bad scratch -- a slice, more accurately -- but it didn’t look like it was deep enough to do a lot of damage to muscles or anything. “Who knows what’s normal in this situation,” he murmured. “It looks kind of swollen. Let’s just try to clean it up.” Nick got one of the washcloths wet in the sink, then started gently wiping away some of the blood under the wound, making his way upward. He stopped before he touched it, switching that rag out for another he doused with hydrogen peroxide. Nick leaned in to start dabbing at the cut with the disinfectant.
She didn't mind how he wiped the blood from her back, and she kept her fingers curled in her discarded shirt, mentally bracing herself for the slight sting she knew would be coming. What she wasn't expecting was fire and Greer instinctively jerked away from his hand, crying out before she could think to stop herself. "Don't," she panted, tears welling in her eyes. "Don't. It's burning. Gods, that hurt." Greer lifted her shirt to her face to breathe into the material and wipe her eyes. Her back muscles had tensed and Greer suddenly wondered if going outside to roll around in the snow would help ease the unbearable heat. Of course she couldn't do that with that thing outside, but maybe it would be worth the risk. "I'm sorry," Greer breathed to Nick. "It's too much."
Startled, Nick yanked his hands back when Greer reacted badly, and the skin around the wound seemed to get even more red. That probably wasn’t good, hydrogen peroxide was supposed to be the more gentle cleanser. “Shit,” he whispered, looking pained with sympathy and worry. It was an injury from an unknown animal-creature, and Nick couldn’t shake the thought that meant it needed to be disinfected. He didn’t want to hurt her though. “It really probably needs to be cleaned,” he told Greer, his tone apologetic. “But uh ... do you know anything else that might do the trick? Some ‘you won’t believe how useful vinegar is’ kind of thing?”
"Just... soap and water," Greer said between breaths. "Or just water. Not soap. But maybe we can just cover it up until the fog clears? Please?" It wasn't that she didn't trust Nick's ability to help her, but just the thought of something else touching her skin made her want to weep. "It just feels like fire," she tried to explain, looking up at Nick. "I'm sorry, I'm not trying to be... difficult." Greer licked her lips and exhaled again, noticing that the cat was sitting in the doorway now, watching them calmly. She hoped Dev and Rost were open to having a furry friend.
“No, I know, I know,” Nick murmured, aiming for soothing as he passed his hand over the back of Greer’s head. He felt bad for even suggesting trying something else, but he still hesitated a lot over just covering it. What if it got infected? What if this fog lasted a while? But god, Nick couldn’t put her through that if she didn’t want to. “Okay,” he said hesitantly. “Okay, I’ll just cover it.” He put down the rag and picked up the bandage to open it up. He would just have to keep an eye on her, and try to do something if she seemed like she was getting worse or sick or something. He carefully covered the scratch with the bandage and pressed the tape down gently against her skin.
Greer was thankful that he didn't argue with her. Maybe the discomfort would start to ease and they could try to clean it again. Or maybe it would just keep getting worse. All she knew was that she didn't want to suffer through that kind of pain again. It made her feel weak but Greer couldn't help it. She had no idea what it was that cut her, and she had no clue what it was that was causing her so much pain. Greer cupped her face and closed her eyes until it felt like Nick was finished. It didn't feel great, but it was infinitely better than what he had been doing with the peroxide. "I should see if they had any tylenol," she murmured, pushing her hands on the table for leverage to stand. "And then we... I don't know. I don't know what to do now," Greer admitted, giving Nick a pained look. "It feels like we're stuck here. I mean, really stuck."
“Oh I brought some,” Nick was quick to say, moving to pluck the bottle up off the table. He did think they would be more comfortable back in the living room though, so he didn’t urge Greer to sit back down. Instead he moved to her side and offered his arm in case she still felt unsteady. “Come get comfortable though. We’ll figure something out.” Nick knew as well as she did that there wasn’t much to figure out -- they were stuck. But he felt like the more steady he acted, the better Greer would feel too. Whatever had scratched her didn’t seem like it was trying to get inside, so they seemed secure enough in the house for now. He needed to be thinking about some kind of plan if that changed. “Fog can’t last forever, right?” he murmured as he escorted her out of the kitchen.
Greer exhaled with relief when she saw the bottle in Nick's hand. She walked with him to the living room, trying to ignore the discomfort in her shoulder. She felt silly for getting hurt, but Greer also recognized that she couldn't have predicted some fog demon or monster was out there. Then again, maybe she should have. This town was unpredictable. "Let's not jinx it," Greer said with a faint smile. She felt flushed and sweaty, but she didn't want to burden Nick too much with her pain. She reached down to get the cushions to put them back on the couch. "Honestly, it's what's potentially in the fog that worries me now. And if it will still be out there, even if the fog lifts." Greer grimaced apologetically, "I don't mean to be so morbid. That's not fun company."
Nick got busy helping Greer put the couch back together -- he didn’t want her to do too much, she didn’t look well. Being in intense pain could do that to you though. “I don’t want you to worry about being fun company right now, okay?” he told Greer gently. “You just rest.” Once the cushions were back in place, he nudged her a bit to sit down. “I’m worried too, but there’s not much we can do at the moment ... I’ll make sure all the doors are secure as possible and ... I dunno, look for a gun cabinet or something. And some cat food.” The cat was still lingering around and staring at them, so Nick supposed they had another companion in all this now.
Greer didn't have the energy to protest, and she sunk into the couch with a sigh, careful not to press against her injured shoulder. It was still throbbing but felt slightly better with the bandage covering it. "If they don't have any cat food, they might have meat. Cats can eat meat, right?" She had never owned a cat, so she had no idea. But she didn't want the poor thing to starve. Who knew how long it had been outside in this weather. The cat didn't have a collar, so she wasn't sure if it even belonged to anyone. Oh well. He, or she, belonged to Greer now. Assuming this all passed and she was able to get back home safely. "Just don't go outside," Greer murmured. "I know that's an obvious observation and I don't think you would, but... we'll burn the kitchen chairs if we need the wood." The power and heat was still on, so they should be fine for now, but just in case things went south quickly, they would have options.