Page 87 of Cole

"Nope." Cole's lips quirked. "But they're not wrong. You shouldn't be alone after everything that happened. And I..." He paused. "I'm not ready to leave you yet."

Janice's heart did something complicated. "I'm not ready for you to leave either. Although my job here has been compromised. But I need to sort some things out.”

The admission hung between them, heavy with meaning.

Agent Morrison returned with better news. "We're done here, so we can cut you loose. We know how to reach you, Dr. Lynch. You will be called as a witness when this thing goes to trial, but God only knows when that’ll be. But at least the EPA will get in here and get this place cleaned up.”

She finally climbed into Cole’s SUV, and she heaved a sigh. Every muscle ached, and she wondered how she’d stay awake as the adrenaline crash hit her.

“We’ll head to the hotel⁠—”

"No, the cabin,” she interrupted.

His brow lifted in obvious surprise. "Janice, you've been through hell. You need rest, a real bed⁠—"

"The cabin is real," she interrupted, her voice firm despite her exhaustion. "It's been my home for four months. And I need to go back there, Cole. I need to see it again, box up what's left—the kitchen stuff, the meds, whatever I didn't think to grab when we were running—and make sure everything's properly closed up." She paused, then added more quietly, "I need to say goodbye to it properly. Not like this. This feels like I was chased out instead of leaving on my own terms."

Cole studied her for a long moment, then nodded. "Okay. The cabin it is."

The drive back felt surreal. The same road she'd traveled dozens of times for supply runs to Cantwell, but thinking of this being the last time she’d be here, she struggled to define the emotion.

But as they turned onto the narrow track that led to her cabin, something settled in Janice's chest. This place had been good to her. Had given her purpose and peace, and had stretched her professional goals. It had given her the chance to be alone, using that solitude to help solidify what she wanted in life.

The cabin came into view, exactly as she'd left it yesterday. It felt like a lifetime ago.

Cole parked and came around to help her out, his hand steady on her elbow as she climbed down. Her legs felt like rubber, her body heavy with exhaustion that went bone-deep.

Inside, the cabin was cold since the wood stove had gone out the day before. But it was still hers, still familiar, still home in a way that made her throat tight with emotion.

"I'll get the fire going," Cole said, moving to the stove.

Janice sank onto the small sofa, watching him work. His movements were efficient, and within minutes, flames began to catch, and warmth started creeping back into the small space.

"You’re good at that,” she remarked. “When I first came, I had to practice to get the fire to catch on.”

"North Dakota farm kid, remember? If you couldn't keep a fire going through winter, you froze." He added another log, then turned to look at her. "You should eat something. When's the last time you had food?"

Janice tried to remember. "This morning. Before everything..."

Cole moved to her small kitchen, opened the cupboard, and found a can of chili and a loaf of bread. "Not fancy, but it's something."

While the chili heated in a pan on the wood stove, Janice called her parents. Telling them the events of the past day wasn’t easy, but she wanted them to know. With promises that she was safe with Cole and would be leaving soon, she said goodbye. Looking over at Cole, she said, “I want to call Marcus, but I’m too tired today. I’ll deal with that tomorrow.”

He walked over and wrapped her in his arms again. Resting his chin on her head, he said, “I think that’s wise. Too much has happened today for you to process everything. Give yourself some time to rest.”

He moved over to dish up the chili and placed a piece of bread on the side of the bowl. “You should be proud. You have the documentation. You discovered their operation, and they panicked. Grabbed you to keep you quiet, but they didn't think to destroy your evidence."

They ate in comfortable silence, the warmth of the chili and the fire slowly bringing Janice back to something approaching normal. Her body still ached, and her hands still shook slightly, but the tight knot of fear in her chest was finally beginning to loosen.

"It feels weird,” she said as she finished her meal. “I honestly don’t know what to do right now. This place has been where I worked, but now…”

Cole took her empty bowl. "Right now, you need rest."

Janice looked at the small bed in the corner, the one she'd slept on for four months. It looked impossibly inviting. "I am tired."

"Then sleep.”

“Will you sleep with me?"