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snowed in - Mel and Ellis get trapped in their car by heavy snow on their way back from a conference. Mel, whose been very shy about her feelings for Ellis, opens up as they wait, and event snuggle ("for warmth" says Ellis winking) to wait for help
Parker, in Mels opinion, was driving very aggressively
"gotta bet the weather. there's ment to be some kind of snow storm"
"i saw, but there was a report, its ment to stay the other side of the mountains"
Parker Snorted. "yea right. day i trust the Mountains to keep us safe is the day i buy a bridge"
Parker Ellis and Mel King had been to the Tri State emergency medicine conference. Mel had presented on handling of neurodivergent in emergency situations, a paper she had written recently. Parker and, after her talk, Mel (who had been too anxious to do anything before the talk) had been professional mooching around, visiting talks that they found interesting, making notes, intending to present to the emergency facility of PTMC on interesting developments together.
Mels talk had been successful, Mel thought. she had answered some tricky questions, and she had seen Parker smiling up at her whilst she gave it, which had given her a stomach ache for some reason.
Parker's phone buzzed. "can you look at that for me?" she said, keeping her eyes fixed on the road. "weather alert. route 90 dangerous due to bad weather. recommend shelter where possible." Mel read aloud
"shit" said Parker. the snow they had been driving through was getting heavier already, noticeably. "i don't think we're gonna make it to a motel girl" said Parker, and somehow, being addressed by her like that made Mels tummy…bubble? again "don't worry, i prepared. hand warmers, batteries, some touches, road flares, the works to keep us warm and safe, if maybe not comfortable.
Mel nodded. Parker effortlessly projected an air of confidence, competence.. there was word that the senior resident was gunning for one of the new attending positions and Mel considered her steadiness, how she was a good teacher, calm, careful. Mel was sure there would be other strong candidates, but couldn't deny that Parker would be an incredibly candidate. she wondered if she would get to work with her more. the idea made her smile.
"im not gonna chance it" said Parker, pulling over as visibility dropped further, parking careful on the grass verge in her Subaru, beyond the hard shoulder.
15 minutes of activity later from Parker, and there were bright lights around the car. the air outside whenever she opened the door was fidged and Mel was impressed by how well Parker managed in it. returning for the final time, Parker passed Mel a thick cosy blanket, and hand warmers, before turning on a little battery powder heater.
"this should keep us a little warm but uhh…we should probably keep close. this kind of weather can get really cold, and i know a little about keeping warm said Parker. Mel counter read her face (Mel struggled with reading faces) but she could feel her own grow a little warmer at the prospect of enforced closeness. and it was embarrassment. at least, Mel didn't think it was.
-
they started sitting in front of each other, the back rests of the chairs wound down, wrapped in comfy blankets. Mel clutched the hand warmer, keeping the blood in her fingers warm. the car was tepid. she guessed 14 degrees. not quite comfortable, but she knew it would last
"so" said Parker, looking at Mel, "are you seeing anyone?"
Mel felt like a rabbit in headlights."um, no, im not…not right now"
"really? there's word on the grape vine that you and Dr Langdon…"
"oh, no. i like him. i don't…like him like him. his very kind to me, although…" she trailed for a second. Mel had a lot of complicated thought about Langdon. about the compassion he could show, the kindness he had given her, his sence of justice, but also, the cruelty she had heard about. but also, she wondered how much was him and how much addiction. still. "his a friend. but i couldn't see myself with him, you know"
Parker nodded. "i hear you"
"are you uhh…seeing anyone?"
Parker grinned, self confidence evident. the stomach ache returned. bubbly. "oh, ive got my eye on someone sweetness" she said, looking meaningful at Mel "but im not seeing anyone right now".
Mel considered that this was a slight reference to something. in fact, Mel was sure it was. it had all the hall marks of an inside joke. Mel can feel when she's on the outside, and she felt on the outside, now, just for this moment. with Parker, a rarity. a different tact. "trinity says your a stud, which…i imagine your seeing a lot of women?"
Parker laughed, "Trinity thinks im a stud huh? well she's not wrong, but stud uhhh…it isn't what people mean when they talk about men being a stud, you know"
"oh? it doesn't. I'll…I'll look it up"
Parker looked meaningfully at Mel. "so, no Langdon. any other boys? any other girls?"
Mel shook her head. "no, no boys or girls. i had…i think i had a crush on a girl in high school, but im really bad at noticing flirting. its a…" Mel made a hand motion, struggling to find the words for her frustration, shacking her hands
"its OK babe" said Parker, smiling. "i get it". Parker checked her thermomotor, it was now closer to 10 degrees. "shit, its getting colder". she turned up the little heater. "we should snuggle together, it'll help keep the the warmth, you know"
Mel nodded, and opened her blank, as she and Ellis snuggled together, wrapping themselves in the layers. as she felt Parker's body close, she crystallised the feeling in her tummy.
butterflies. a crush.
Mel felt her cheeks get read. how hadn't she resiled it. she wondered it Parker felt the sae way as they hugged each other close. Mel burred herself in Parker's neck, hoping to hide the embarrassment she felt.
"what is it baby?" said Parker, who had started to stroke Mels hair. Mel realised she could lose herself in the feeling. being close, being petted. she just wished she knew how to ask Parker if she liked her.
"i ummm" started Mel. how did people do this. Mel didn't know. bluntness. wen in doubt, be honest, be clear. "i just realised, Parker, and i hope it doesn't make things awkward…given we're snowed in. its not the best time, so-"
"shhh, its OK. you can say, don't worry. i wont throw you out in the snow, and im a big girl, i can handle it" she said, although her voice sounded a little more…thin? fragile?
"i think i like you. romantically. maybe. and, i understand if you don't like me, but…i just…im not the best at my feelings so it ca-"
Parker laughed. "Mel? of corse i like you. romantically" Mel looked up from her hiding spot in Parker's neck. "ive been dropping…you know what, don't worry". her smile was contagious, Mel could feel her own face pulling it. "can i kiss you?" Mel asked, meekly, anxious, unsure of herself.
"baby, of corse" said Parker, before Mel lent in and stole her first kiss since she had been 17…
outside the car the snow raged, but inside, Mel and Parker snuggled close, and kept warm, and found each other.
Written by a human in Ellipsus.