John carried her satchel back down the mountain, grumbling about the mobile contraptions weight on his shoulder, then, upon reaching the bottom, she was piggy backed through the enchanted forest that was her backyard. It was bloody gorgeous and he felt winter would have it obviously forlorn and bare but achingly beautiful in a very different, but still attractive, way.

Her body holding his, arms draped around his shoulders and his fingers holding her thighs they were like kids again. Although he would sigh in relief when he put her down, it was moreso from his lack of stamina than her medium build.

She had given him freedom, fresh air and a feeling of calm. But what happens when he's closeted back up in the Dakota apartment, away from the beauty and fun, and light. He didn't want to think of his weakness and, as he dropped Isabelle to the ground, he turned and hugged her in thanks, she gave him a quick sweet squeeze back then escaped to make an early lunch, totally unaware of panic formulating, building rapidly in his brain.

"You broke my door" Issy stared at him half annoyed but more than mildly amused at the way he had panicked at her disappearance.

"What is all that stuff in there?" John finished drying the lunch crockery as Issy let the soapy water from the sink. She turned about and, leaning back against the sink, sighed as she crossed her arms. She waged a war inside and fought down her own demons. Trying to quell the nightmare that had been her life, she lost a smidge of backbone  so turned about and fixated on rubbing the stainless-steel of the sink to a brilliant, but totally unnecessary, shine.

He let her go, gave her her space. Let her clean and rub invisible streaks away as she thought too hard about what she was going to say. He sat quietly, patient for once, til she spun and opened up.

"The equipment? All the stuff... I ... Come on" Tossing the tea-towel aside Issy pushed herself to move, propelling herself toward the once locked door.

"I don't know what to do with it" Issy uncovered the various pieces of medical equipment. A hospital bed, wheel chair and sling. She hopped up and sat on the uncomfortable bare plastic hospital mattress looking at the floor, her legs restless, swinging forward and back.

"Looks like we both have some baggage to me" John grinned thinly, a tight smile of remembrance of his own failings that sat heavy at his own feet too. Issy snapped her head up to stare at him then conceded, nodding in agreement of the point he made.

He joined her on the bed, hands at first behind him, as he leaned back and surveyed the scene, then he sat straighter and placed a friendly palm on her knee, rubbing "So this here was all the things you had to use" Issy leaned to touch the oxygen tank and grasped the mask tightly. "And you are keeping it all for....?" He inquired as he continued to rub her knee gently.

Issy sighed a huge exhale of air from within, darting her eyes toward John sat posted beside her, then dropped them away to the floor.

However, her mettle was to return in an instant, clenching then relaxing her whole body, she returned his steady gaze decidedly determined once again.

This was something she had to save herself from "Remembering John... Remembering never to enter into a situation... with a drunkard again"

"Ouch"

Issy stood and calmly walked across the sterile room, pausing to
toy with the broken door handle; waiting for a sign she supposed. A higher being to tell her it would all be o.k.

John picked up the toolbox.

He was determined to fix the lock- he hadn't a clue how to fix it but Issy figured the adventure of attempting the repair of what he had damaged would serve as some sort of purpose even if it was only symbolic.

"You could sell it, or donate it to the local hospital." John encouraged quietly.

"And you could go to AA"

Issy marched off before he could form a reply.

She fled to her sanctuary, her office, shutting the door, leaning against it as her heart beat dangerously fast.

He did have a problem.

Even the fresh clean air and different environment of her home had him going there, to the liquor cabinet... again and again.

He reached for the bottles, lifting them on the sly, she wasn't stupid and she noticed quickly when he faded toward black. To a darker place and often it was during the middle of the day.

And he, himself, didn't particularly like her, not liking it, either.

Maybe some sort of doctor's help would be beneficial. He grunted as he stripped the handle from the door. Bloody doctors only write scripts and send you packing.

Left alone with his thoughts, the typewriter was once again pound away upon. The room was currently directly above him;

She fled to her story's for hours upon hours...

John fell asleep, snoring on the couch, a while later. Hugging the last bottle of liquor from the cabinet.

***

Issy packed her bag the next morning with all the neccessary clothing and toiletries then placed it neatly by the front door. A few items of spare mens clothing, John seemed to have taken a shine to, sat teetering upon the top.

She did the last minute dash about. Tidying the kitchen, topping up the dogs water bowls, checking the cats, turning off some appliances at the wall; Finally she set about gathering her manuscripts, sliding them with care into large manila envelopes.

His arms encircled her waist.

She closed her eyes, trying to relish his touch. But those soft kisses of his; kisses placed carefully along her shoulder then quickly running upwards toward her ear did nothing but make her cringe.

She had seen the last empty bottle in the bin and smelt the booze on his breathe as he neared...

"Sorry" John pulled sharply away, sensing and feeling her disgust. He stood stoic, watching on as she dropped the packages in a battered brown briefcase. She spun the lock and picked the case up off the desk. All business.

Issy's smile was one of indifference as she turned about.  He imagined he could hear and see her walls erecting as he watched her body straighten to continue about her morning.

"Off you go, have a shower, freshen up. I'll sort some sandwiches for the trip and we'll have some breakfast on the deck. Sound good?"

Ok so she wasn't going to talk about it. He could live with that.

"Yep, sure. Be just a jiff"

Scrubbing himself clean he made mental note to buy new toiletries, his brand of soap and a bottle of aftershave, for the bathroom. Then, as he stood shaving, he stared at himself in the mirror, closing his eyes momentarily, gaining a little more clarity.

He realised the truth.

He would most likely never be back in this home of hers.

Probably only see her on birthdays.

An hour at Christmas over dinner and maybe at Ivy's school functions- 1st day, her formal and graduation.

Like some hallmark card- only for special events would they be flung together, exchange pleasantries then drift back to their separate crap lives.

Well my crap life, she seems to have the book business going for her.

Issy knocked on the door "Have you washed away down the drain, John? We need to leave, your appointment is at two remember" Issys words sounded like an order through the door. Yet even if it was a good ole wifely type nag it was ok and felt welcoming to his lonely ears.

"Coming miss bossy boots" Flinging open the bathroom door with an over done grin he stepped out only to see her rushing past with a cooler, flask and cookie jar under her arm. "Are we picnicking?!"

"If you hurry up. Mug of teabag water and cookies for breakfast on the road now. Your baggy tea is already in the Jeep for you" Issy grinned happily, all forgiven so it seemed, as she made that necessary last minute dash about the house.

Calling the neighbour's daughter to see that she was still alright to check in on the dogs, she topped the feed bowls then finally she stood by the driver's side door as John locked up the house. He wiggled the knob to check it was secure then stood on the top step drinking in the last moments of her paradise.

"I can drive" John offered as he alighted the last step. It was early and the alcohol seemed to be gone but Issy knew better.

"I'll drive til the fruit shop, you can drive from there" Issy smiled with friendly affability as he hopped in beside her "Is your driving any better than all of the things I have read?"

"Well I can drive you up the wall but in the city- no it's not good. I'll drive to the suburbs if that's ok?" John did his seat belt up and accepted the mug of sweet tea, grimacing ever so slightly. They were back yapping ok again "I'll buy you some tea leaves whilst you're in town"

Issy grinned wide, he definitely wasn't a fan of teabags at all.