"Duke can you take this?"

Duke turns to the angelic voice giving a gentle smile as he takes the bag she has in her hands. It is only when he looks down does he recognize the bag. His head snapping up to hers as she continues packing things in a different bag. 

"Tala, where did you find this?"

She takes a second to look back at the bag in his hands. It was his bag from the flight. He had no idea she had found it. His heart was drumming in his ears thinking if she opened it. He was not proud of the alcohol bottles he was sure were inside... or the remains of them. He couldn't imagine any of them surviving the crash. 

"I found it on the trip I took for the captain."

He looks down at the bag as his mind drifts back to the man who did not survive. Feeling a gentle touch to his arm, he blinks looking back at her warm coffee eyes. Those eyes holding the silent understanding of where his mind had went to. She gives his arm a firm squeeze and a reassuring smile before going back to the bag. 

With a heavy sigh, he puts the bag on the counter top and opens it up. The strong smell of whiskey wafts in the air. He finds his clothes strung about, a travel case that he doesn't remember packing, and then he found it. The remains of a broken bottle littered near the bottom. He leans closer and carefully picks up a piece of it. His mind once again lost to the deafening memory of the plane. 

He is drowning in his own thoughts when a pair of soft arms encircle him from behind. Her hands laying flat on his stomach as her head leans against his spine. He drops the piece of shard glass and lays his hand on top of hers. He closes his eyes trying so hard to not crumble. After a moment, Tala begins to wiggle behind him before she rounds him to take the bag. He continues to look at her as she walks it over to the sink. All Duke could due was lean against the counter and watch while she carefully takes out each article of clothing shaking it gently just in case of any glass before setting it aside. She continues to do so until all that remains in the bag is what his life revolved around. He can see how her complexion has changed and she gulps before walking over to the trash can and dumping out the remains. The sounds of the glass tinkering all the way until they sit at the bottom of the trash. Duke felt a lump in his throat as she turned to him. 

Neither of them say anything as their eyes continue to speak volumes. Duke's holding the sorrow and self loath for all the pain those remains remind him of. Tala's showing she is worried but more importantly she is concerned. She places the empty bag back down on the counter before walking up to him and wrapping her arms around his neck pulling him down to her. He drops his head to her shoulder and holds onto her like his life depended on it. He didn't want to go down that path anymore. She turns her head on his chest gently kissing him through the material of his shirt. A wave of emotions come crashing down onto Duke. He crumbles and cries, he won't admit it but he is terrified. He wasn't kidding when he told Rick he needed her. His angel, his savior. 

After some time, Duke collects himself and straightens himself letting Tala know he is okay. She releases him and gives him a quick look over before stepping away. It is only then they notice Bear sitting next to their legs. Both chuckle gently as they reach down to rub the dog affectionately. His tongue lulling out in a happy manner.

"I'm going to pack a few things in the back room, could you go make sure Rick is ready?"

Duke nods and gives Bear one more good rub before walking off doing as he was told. He knocks on the door hearing Rick holler a come in. He opens the door to find his friend sitting up in the bed. His face holding so much color then previously. Tala has taken excellent care of both of them and it clearly shows. Rick beams him a smile. "Is it time?!"

Rick sounded like a kid at Christmas time making Duke chuckle and nod. Rick's smile went into a wide grin. Duke walks over to the wheelchair and rolls it beside the bed. He locks the wheels while Rick begins moving the blankets aside. Duke walks over to grab Rick's shoes near the bed before helping him put them on. The man still couldn't lean forward properly which resulted in him needing help with certain chores. He however has been more able to use the facilities on his own using the wheelchair that Duke once relied on. 

"You alright man?"

Duke pauses tying the shoestring looking up to find Rick studying him. Duke drops his gaze back down focusing on the boot. "Hey.."

"I am just scared man.."

He doesn't further elaborate and the room falls into silence while Duke finishes the other boot. It is only when he is done and he stands does his eyes finally meets Rick's. His friend's pair holding understanding. 

"You are not the man you were a month ago Duke."

Duke inhales sharply praying to the heaven's that he is not. More than anything, he no longer wanted to be the drunken stupor he once was. Everything has changed since the crash, or more precisely... since Tala. Her home, her touches, her care... it made all the difference. He just prayed to the heavens that it wouldn't change with their departure. 

He nodded his head and stepped up to Rick helping slowly maneuver him into the wheelchair. A knock from the front door made Duke sigh. He knew Roger was making the trip out today to help gather them. Only a handful of people knew the location of the house, something he was internally grateful for for the last few weeks. It was a welcome reprieve. 

Rolling Duke into the living room the find the jolly old man talking lowly to Tala in the kitchen. Both heads snapping to meet his gaze as they step closer. Tala's eyes holding a warmth that practically seeps into his bones. He inhales deeply having faith from her gaze alone that he will be strong enough to over come his demons. 

"You must be Rick?" Roger points at the man in the chair. 

Duke's gaze going down to Rick who is still grinning ear to ear. "Yes sir, are you Roger?"

"Yes young man I am... I understand you are ready to head home?"

"Absolutely!" Rick answers quickly making everyone chuckle at his excitement. 

"Well I believe you will be riding with the Doc so that means Duke... you're stuck with me."

Duke pouts slightly earning the most euphoric sound come from Tala. She walks over hugging his waist in a hugging manner. His arm on instinct coiling around her waist as she pecks his chest through the shirt. He relaxes aware that she told him in advance that she would have to be driving Rick due to her knowing the layout of the land and can react quicker to the jolts and bumps. He wasn't happy about it... but he understood. 

"Alright everyone it's time." Roger says with a warm smile and nod. 

Rick not waiting for Duke begins to roll himself towards the door. Roger steps aside to help him as Duke holds Tala back for a moment. Roger seems to understand and gives a nod of his head stepping out of the house. His angel's gaze going up to him as he is not ready to say bye to all of this. A soft touch to his cheek makes his gaze drift to meet hers. 

"I will be with you."

He nods his head and leans down to peck her lips allowing them to stay their momentarily longer absorbing her strength. The clearing of a throat makes his eyes snap open and their lips detach to find an amused Roger standing at the threshold. 

"Dear, I have the young man on but I need you to make sure the bags are strapped on well. Bear's already running about out there."

Tala nods and steps away picking up the final bag off the counter before heading to the door. She looks back over her shoulder taking one more final sweep of her home before exiting. Duke's eyes couldn't help but dance around the cabin as well. 

"This goes without saying young man but I want it to be perfectly clear... Hurt her, and I will find my to your front door step. Are we clear?"

Duke's eyes snap to him never hearing Roger's voice ever be anything other than sweet. His eyes told a different story and he understood. Tala was their daughter in his eyes, he loved her. Duke understood and nodded his head. The old man's face relaxed as he looked around the home. 

"It really is quite something ain't it?" Duke nods agreeing with him. "Can't believe all the work Tala put into this place."

"What do you mean?"

"This place was abandon for quite some time. Tala practically rebuilt it from the ground up." Roger's eyes meet him again. Duke was not expecting that. His eyes running over the details of the cabin again. "I plan on keeping it for her."

"COME ON DUKE!" 

Duke couldn't help but chuckle hearing Rick. He takes one more final inhale and walks to the door with Roger in tow. They step out and the man locks the place up. Duke's eyes drifting to the ice box fully aware of what had lied in their until earlier this morning. Tala had made a trip to the store this morning to drop off the remains of the captain. It was probably the only time he was lucky he wasn't with her. It was hard to imagine what all would be taking place in regards to him but Tala had called the most local coroners office to help in the transportation of getting him home. 

"Climb on young man, let's get you home."

Duke walked over finding everyone else already on their snow mobiles. He nodded and went behind the old man. They all now had helmets, he took his from Roger's hand putting it on before his gaze drifted to his brown eye doe beauty. Her gaze already set on him as she gave a jerk of her head. He returned it before the engines roared to life. As they began to move, he couldn't help but look back at the house that revived him one last time. 

His thoughts consuming him and the itch for drink began to claw at him. He gulped it down and turned ahead focusing on the snow mobile driving in front of theirs. A since of relief flooding him as the continued to drive. A shadow of black caught his eye and he could see where Bear was running along side of them. He smiled knowing that ball of fur would be coming with. He had grown to love that dog as his own and only hoped the climate change didn't hurt him. 

They arrived at the store in no time and Duke made quick work of helping Rick up off the snow mobile before another wheelchair thanks to Sue was rolled outside near the door. Duke gave a nod of thanks to Sue who looked to the young men with tender affection. He stood up and rolled Rick in as Sue patted his back. She stayed outside for a moment as the two men passed to go into the warmth. Rick smiled showing his happiness or possibly exhilaration from the rush of the drive. Duke chuckled and stood up straight looking outside the door to find the older couple gathering Tala in a group hug. His angel was holding onto the pair tightly and in that moment realized just how much she was giving up for him. 

He wouldn't let her regret this decision...

Author's note:

Long time, no see everyone. If you saved my book in your library, I want to thank you... it means more than you know that you like this work. I mentioned prior that I had been battling some personal issues and I presumed by now it would have dissipated but unluckily it has not. I can't describe all the emotions I have for not posting right at a month. I deeply regret it but struggled to write and still do... 

I will attempt to right more regularly now but do not wish to guarantee anything. Thank you again to all those who support me and my works. It means more than words can express. I hope you enjoyed the new chapter.