Duke groaned as he attempted to open his eyes. Pain surging through his leg and head so immensely causing him to wake from his slumber. He continued trying to open his eyes for a few minutes before finally succeeding. He blinked allowing for his eyes to adjust finding a ceiling with logs and a ceiling fan slowly rotating. His mind trying to process where he was at. Did I go to another party? He hissed as he attempted to rotate his body slightly. The pain in his leg coming forth ten fold. His hand shakily moving down to his leg finding a blanket laying over it. 

As his hand finally touched the wound did the memory of the crash snap through his head. He couldn't recall anything after the freezing cold gripped him. A pair of soft brown eyes zapped to his memory making his hand jerk away from the wound. He began to move his head around slowly feeling the pounding in his ears. He couldn't recall anything else making him wonder how the hell he got here. 

His mind stops instantly as his eyes settle on a woman. She appeared to be asleep in the chair she was sitting in. Her brown hair covered her face not allowing him to get a clear view of her. He attempts to speak but his throat is so dry that he begins to have a coughing fit. He drops his gaze gripping his throat trying to swallow. A straw is placed in front of him and he greedily sips from it allowing the water to run down his scratchy throat. He only stops when no water remains making him release the straw and open his eyes. 

He was not prepared to find the woman's brown eyes already looking at him. She is fucking beautiful. Her hair a perfect match to her eyes. Her nose was small matching her lips. Her face reminded him of a pixie. Very soft, and delicate features. It was her eyes however that captured him. Her emotions were clear as day, he could see the worry and slight fear in them. He wasn't sure what exactly for. Her forehead having a slight crease as she lifted her hand bringing it to his forehead. The coolness of it making him sigh making her eyes snap back to his once again. 

"Wher- Where am I?" He could barely speak but luckily the woman seemed to understand. 

"You are in Montana in the Beartooth Mountains. We are about an hour away from Nye city. Your plane crashed near my home."

"Ri-Rick?" He asks as he begins trying to sit up remembering his best friend. 

The woman begins to help lift him when his eyes fall on the kitchen table where he can see Rick lying. His heart freezing at the sight, fear constricting his lungs. 

"The other man is stable however his injuries are more severe."

He is alive. Duke released a strangled breath feeling tears swell his eyes. His friend was okay. He began to cry not even realize it until the woman squeezed his shoulder. His eyes going to her. She gave him a small smile before rotating him so he was sitting upright before leaving him to walk over to Rick. He watched her as she began to check him over. 

The sound of whistling made him turn to find the large window displaying a blizzard raging outside. An unconscious shiver ran through him as flashes of the accident replied in his mind. He shook his head turning his attention back to the woman who was now cutting through the wrap on Rick's torso. 

"What ar-are you-" His throat goes dry again making him turn to find a pitcher of water along with the cup. He reaches for it pouring the liquid while the woman answers his unfinished question.

"His dressing needs to be changed to avoid infection." The woman says gently completely concentrating on the work at hand. 

Duke continues to drink slowly while watching her. It is clear that she has some kind of medical background with the ease of movement as she diligently tends to Rick. After a few more minutes of silently watching her, she finishes placing the blanket back over his friend before lifting her gaze to him. The big doe eyes showing her nervousness in the situation. The opposite of how she was a mere minute ago when she was in her zone. 

Hearing a low growl snaps Duke's attention forward. He slightly jumps finding a husky standing right in front of him. The dog had a pair of electric blue eyes and his mouth was set in a firm line. His eyes only leaving Duke as the woman walks around the couch. The once deadly predator now wagging his tail and relaxing at the mere sight of the female. 

"Come here Bear," he heard her say gently making the dog instantly listen. 

He watched as the husky went to her side while she grabbed a pair of boots and began putting them on. The action drawing his attention instantly wondering what she was doing. His eyes momentarily glancing outside to find the snow still coming down heavily outside before going back to the woman. 

"Where are you going?" His voice still sounding hoarse but thankfully not broken anymore. 

Her eyes looked into his for a moment before she answered. She stood going to grab a jacket, "We need more wood if I want to keep the fire going and Bear needs to go out. I'll be right back."

Before he could protest, she was already out the door closing it gently behind her. He took a moment feeling stunned that she just left him here. He then took the time to look around. The cabin wasn't very big but you could feel the coziness and comfort it had. There wasn't very many personal items lying around. No photos hung on the walls but some art work, pictures of scenery. The fireplace was beautiful and a clear feature of the room. He noticed she didn't have a television in the room which seemed odd. Looking around he then also noticed no landline which wasn't too uncommon anymore. 

Hearing a whimper makes his eyes snap to Rick who's forehead seemed to be scrunched up as his head slightly jerked in discomfort. Gritting his teeth, he attempted to move his body to stand. A surging pain shot through his banged up leg as he finally stood straight putting all of his weight on the good leg. The blanket fell and he realized he no longer had his pants on. Disregarding that, he wobbled the best he could over to the kitchen table. It took a few extra minutes but he finally made it putting both hands on the kitchen table for stability as he tried to regulate his staggered breath. 

"What on earth are you doing?!"

He couldn't turn but knew that voice. He gritted his teeth hearing the movement behind him. "He was jerking his head."

He feels a pair of gentle hands on his back as a chair scrapes the floor. He is then helped down into one of the chairs before using a different one to elevate his leg. He curses lowly gripping the hell out of the edges of the chair while she slowly moves his leg into position. His hand once to come out to rub it but as it makes contact, he jerks his hand back finding it more painful to touch. A second later, he finds a needle going into the side of the injured leg making his nerves sky rocket but before he could ask, she pushes the plunger shooting the medicine into his leg. A moment goes by before the pain subsides and a feeling of numbness takes over making him sigh in relief. 

The sound of whimpering making his eyes revert back to Rick. The woman once again is already checking him over. Her forehead creased in concentration as she feels his temperature. She turns to the kitchen finding a washcloth and wetting it before placing it on Rick's forehead. She then begins inspecting him all over before stopping while looking at his upper thigh. Duke couldn't see from where he was seated. 

"What-" He hisses trying to lift enough to see. "What is it?"

"Your friend has something lodged in his leg." She says while leaving the room making his nerves spike once again. He unconsciously reaches for Rick's hand. The woman walks back in now with a black leather bag. He watches her intently as she begins removing certain objects from it. Her eyes eventually snap to his. "He may jerk, I need you to help keep his leg down."

He nods sliding over farther on the chair so his hand lies on Rick's opposite knee. He gave her a swift nod and she began. A loud groan coming from Rick as his leg attempts to jerk away from the intrusion she is causing. He is able to see her working swiftly but still is unsure what she was doing until a moment later she is holding up a piece of crystal between the teeth of tweezers. She places it down before beginning to sew a needle in his skin. More sounds of discomfort falling from Rick's mouth who doesn't seem to be waking up but his body continues to jerk. Duke using all the strength of his arm to keep the knee in place while watching her work and glancing at Rick's face. 

"There!" 

His eyes watching as lifts her hands that are now stained red. Duke feels bile coming up his throat however gulps it back down. She moves to the sink before he hears the water running. He closes his eyes momentarily trying to get that image out of his mind. Hearing movement, he opens his eyes to find her removing the washcloth and rinsing it before returning it to his forehead. She leaves Rick and rounds the table to come over to him. She lifts the hem of his boxers just enough to see the top of the bandage. Duke just now noticing it is stained red. 

"You ripped open your stitches."

He cursed squeezing his eyes shut before the feeling of cold metal was placed on his legs. He opens his eyes to find her cutting through the wrap making him finally see the damage. The cut he felt reaching right above his knee. He couldn't stand the sight of his blood so he screwed his eyes shut. Not even a moment passes before he feels her pinching the skin however he refuses to look back down once again. 

"You're lucky your leg is numb for this."

"Not enough" he grits out still recalling the feeling of walking on it. 

"You shouldn't have been walking."

He doesn't say anything and only reopens his eyes feeling a fabric being strung around his leg. He finds her arms rounding it as she circles it a few times before cutting it off. He rubbed the side of his leg making sure to stay clear of the damage. The sound of rustling bringing his attention back to the woman. 

"Wh-what's your name?" His voice scratchy yet again. The woman doesn't lift her gaze while still picking everything up. 

"Tala... Tala Young." 

She begins to move out of the room, "Thank you Tala."

She momentarily halts mid-step. She gives him a nod, confirming she heard him but doesn't say anything further. She resumes walking away making Duke turn his attention to his friend. He reaches for his hand once again bringing him a sense of comfort. They were alive. A few minutes later the woman returns stopping at the entrance to the room. Duke turns his eyes onto her. She seemed to be in a state of discomfort. He figured it was her knowing who he was.

"The storm won't be letting up anytime soon."

"I won't bite."

Her face screws up at his comment making her look more adorable. Her next words stopping him dead in his tracks. 

"I didn't expect you to but it doesn't mean I know you nor do I trust you."

He freezes for a moment letting her words sink in. He looked at her intently for any trace of a lie but found none. She really had no clue who he was. He had to swallow momentarily looking at his lap before raising his chin to her. 

"My name is Duke, Duke Tucker. This is Rick Dean."

She nods her head in acknowledgement. He waits to see if recognition occurs but it never happens. She walks over to him kneeling down beside before lifting his arm over her shoulder. There faces a mere few inches apart. Her large brown eyes looking directly back into his own. 

"It's nice to meet you Duke, looks like your stuck here for now."