Warming Up (Dakota, Franklin)

[Lovely]

Name: Franklin Downing Aliases: Frank played by: Tripp likeness used: Jared Padalecki

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Name: Dakota Montgomery Aliases: Kota, Dak played by: Lovely likeness used: Alicia Whitten

[Lovely]

December 20, 2008
6:45pm
Outside the mall

Dakota had never been able to drive in the snow, when it was icy, or after dark and definitely not all of those combined.. since the accident. She hadn't been able to leave work on time today because the person for the second shift had been hugely late.

Dakota was nearly in tears as she stood next to her car, her hands shaking so badly she couldn't even unlock the doors, she dropped her keys twice as the panic set in. The wind blew the flakes around the lot and they stung her face more than they should have but it was more an emotional reaction than to the physical. "I can't do this, I can't do this...." She kept whispering to herself, finally sagging against the car, with her arm curled over the roof and her face buried in the crook of her elbow. She wasn't cry, but barely not doing so at this point. She had her cell phone in her purse but once the panic had set in, she didn't think of using it and probably wouldn't be able to dial it if she did. She had tried the house before coming outside but no one had picked up the phone.

"Montgomery Ranch... hello?" Brady was in a fit of half jogging and half spinning, trying to shuffle a bag of gifts out of sight as he caught the phone before the voicemail kicked in. He wasn't sure he got it in time, and wasn't sure he'd get out in time to sneak off with the bag he was going to keep in his work locker. It was starting to snow too, and if he was going to get to the diner before the late after-mall rush, he had to scoot. Where was everyone?

Dakota left a somewhat hurried and slightly paniced message on the voice mail at the house, hoping someone would call her back before she actually had to drive in this.. she couldn't drive in this.

Now she was outside at her car trying not to become a puddle. Her heart was racing and she felt nearly dizzy, her hands shaking and her keys falling to the ground next to the car. "Damnit!" She muttered, feeling the tears glistening and freezing on her lashes as she fought not to totally burst into tears. She dropped down into a crouch, trying not to touch her knees to the ground though one hand was flat down for balance and the other feeling for her keys under the edge of the car. "Carp, crap, crap, CRAP!"

Brady missed the call and didn't have time to check. It probably wasn't for him anyway, nobody called the house for him - they just showed up at the diner if they needed him for anything. It was probably Flo calling actually, telling him to get his a** moving and get to the diner because of the weather. "Somebody's got a message - I gotta split, guys... guys?!" Someone in the house had to have heard him as he left to catch his bus.

"Hey. Are... you okay? Can I give you a hand?" When she looked up or stood up, she'd see the offer came from a tall, army-jacketed young man who stood beside the car in front of hers, about to leave, himself. The cold and wet didn't seem to affect him much other than the snowflakes dripping off wayward curls that made him blink. "You need a jump or something? I mean... are you stuck? I've got cables."

The sound of a male voice startled Dakota slightly and she froze in place for a moment, taking a deep breath to recover. She was wearing a skirt because of work and hoped she hadn't leaned over so far as to show off the white lace beneath it. "I ah.." She put her hand on the car for balance and twisted partway around to see the tall young man. "I can't.. I have trouble driving in the snow.. and I dropped my keys and I can't find them.. I'm just having.. a rough evening.. thanks." She felt the trail of tears that had trickled out freezing on her cheek as she offered the man a soft sweet smile.

"Man, it's freezing out here. Hold on a sec," he said, reaching in to turn on his headlights to help see under her car. He could also see now what she was wearing and how upset she was. "I'll look for them if you want to sit in the car and warm up. Put these on at least." It was a suggestion from a total stranger and he didn't expect her to take him up on it, but seeing what she was wearing he knew she had to be cold. Whether she took him up on that offer or not, he'd pulled out his gloves and set them on the hood of her car then knelt down on the side opposite her to look for the keys in the puddles.

"I.. you don't have t.." She trailed off as he started helping her and got down to look for her keys. He wouldn't see the smile, but Dakota was smiling sweet and soft and grateful for his thoughtfulness. "Thank you." She spoke up a bit, though her voice was still soft naturally, so he'd hear her as she slowly reached out to pull his gloves onto her small hands. His hands were bigger than hers but the gloves were warm on her very chilled fingers. Dakota decided against 'jumping into' the car of a total stranger, one who had height and weight and muscle over her more petite form, though she was strong and toned. "Any luck?" She asked as she came back down to look herself, now that his lights were shining and she might actually see the keys.

He smiled across under the chassis as she looked under from the other side. "I think that's them by the tire on your side, unless it's a rock. Can you reach? Hold on, I can come around. What's your name?" He crawled back and stood up to come around.

She was about to try and reach for the keys when he backed up and in a way she was glad he did so, she probably would have fallen in a puddle trying to get the keys. Slowly she got up and turned to face him as he came up on her side. "Dakota." She held out her hand with the too big glove he'd let her use. He had a really nice smile from what she could see under the car and up close, he was totally cute. How terribly awful to have to meet such a hottie like this... she wondered fleetingly if he liked damsels in distress because right about now, that's what she was.

"Don't thank me til we get your car started," he said, ignoring the hand for a moment as he knelt beside her and felt around the puddle his knees were in for the keys he thought he'd seen. The successful jingle was joined with a 'ha HA!' as he rocked back and stood up, his soggy jeans plastering to his muscular legs beneath. He held out her cold, wet key ring, smiling just a kindly as before, but where she coud see him clearly now. "Fraklin, and you're welcome. I think. If you're not driving in this soup, are you just going to sit in your car all night? Can I call someone for you?"

"I.. I don't have a really well thought out plan right now. My plan was calling for someone to come pick me up, but none of my brothers or sisters are picking up the phone at home right now." Dakota looked over at Franklin with his soft friendly smile, and though she was crying a little she smiled back. "Thank you, for helping with the keys. It was very nice of you.. and you're all wet now.." She tipped her head to the side, her expression telling him more than her words how much she appreciated his efforts. "You should probably get in your car and warm up.. I'd feel really bad if you got sick or something because of helping me."

[Lovely]

Feb 12, 2009
morning
Montgomery Ranch

"Why make your bed? You're just going to get back in it... maybe," he smiled from the door to her room. "Hope I didn't startle you. Brady let me in."

She jumped when he first spoke up. "Crap.. I was thinking out loud again, wasn't I?" She laughed even though she was blushing as she turned to face him and let go of the sheet she'd started to pull up. "Hi.. you did startle me a little. I think I could forgive you.. " She motioned him to come into the room and started to step forward to meet him with a kiss.

Frank looked around her room and how peaceful it seemed this time of day. Glancing back with a smile, he reached out for a hug to sweeten the kiss. "Forgiven that easily huh? I should have really made you jump then," he chuckled. "Were you going somewhere special after straightening up in here?"

"Well if you startled me worse, I might not have forgiven you so easily." She warned him with an arch of her eyebrow even as she tried to snuggle into him more. "Hmm well I was thinking about food before... but now.. I'm thinking of going back to bed."

"Great, I put you to sleep," he scoffed, his eyes rolling as he chuckled. "And killed your appetite."

"Haha.. no." She shook her head and reached around him to try to swing her door closed. "You just made me.. think about how comfortable my bed is. I'm not tired at all."

He gave her a tipped glance as she reached past him to the door and it latched itself quietly closed. "Hmm.. maybe I should have made you think... sooner... So, what else is my fault this morning?"

"What else do you want to be your fault?" She asked with another smile, running her hands slowly over his oh so nicely muscled arms.

"Anything I can get away with. I mean, you're my only witness and if I'm keeping you so you can't talk....?" He teased as she caressed his arms and leaned down for a longer kiss.

"Mmm.. " She sort of hummed into the kiss, gripping onto his arms a little and shifting one of her hands up behind his neck to hold him into the kiss for even longer. Dakota was seriously thinking of letting him get away with anything he wanted!

"You're trouble in a pair of boots today.. and a really good mood. I'm thinking of sneaking into your room more often," he grinned, still holding tight.

"Well.. would you think less of me if I said I'd love you to sneak into my room alot more? and do you like my boots?" She giggled softly as she ended with the bit of a joke, that way he wouldn't get scared off by the offer she was making.

"I like the boots. Especially... when you haven't put them on yet," he said, stretching a little and trying to get past the awkward feeling of being closed up in her room with Brady and who knew who else wandering in the hall. "And no. I really wouldn't. I thiiiink... I think it's sweet. I do!"

"Right.. but something.. is it cause my brother is here? It's a little awkward with me living with my family, huh?" It wasn't the first time she'd gotten the vibe, Frank was totally cool about it but she was well aware of how intrusive her family could be, how big it was and how it annoyed her at times with all the teasing and interuptions. "We could go out somewhere.. though.. that bed is comfy and.. well.. I'd like to.. maybe just.. hang out and snuggle."