The World at Her Feet

[Kelle Lindsay, EMTP]

"Right on the edge." Eyes widening, Kelle leaned toward him, her voice dropping a little. "You know, a hammock right on the face of the cliff, gives a whole new meaning to 'getting up on the wrong side of the bed'! Oops! Plummet three hundred feet, land in a pine tree, free helicopter ride to the hospital!"

Laughing, she sat back. "Nah, depending where, the worst you have to worry about are raccoons...or the tent collapsing. Oh, or Calavaras Annie, but she only steals children."

Grinning, she munched on a bit of sandwich, then explained. "Dad used to scare me and my cousins about some old woman who lives in the woods and steals children at night...then the adults would all zip themselves into tents and leave us to sleep outside, so we could (air quotes) 'see the stars'! But in the morning we were always all there."

Then her eyes took on a distant look. "Funny, how the monsters can be closer than you..."

Shaking her head, she focused back on Scott, grinning. "Anyway, even as kids we knew it was just fun, and if you want to hear more stories you're going to have to go camping with me!"

Scott Cooper,

[Scott Cooper]

Scott smirked and chuckled though he couldnt honestly tell if she was joking or not, “Ouch, yeah it would have to be right side and I’m sure i’d need to staple myself to the cliff just to make sure.” He said with a grin, hospitals were bad place to be and hanging off a cliff, a worse place to be but then hanging off a cliff with Kelle, he could make some compromises in his life for that.

He listened to her explain about the Calavaras Annie, well camping was sounds better and better each moment though at least it was only children she stole. Adults and he would be out of the forest and back at the nearest place where a door locked shut. “Glad to hear you made it through the night, I think I’d be terrified.” He said before he realised what she had said about the monsters when he saw the distant look in her eyes.

He tried his best to keep the smile on his face as he knew he was the monster sitting across the table from her. Better not to give a brief history of his family or he wouldnt make it back to the airport fast enough. “Some monsters can be misunderstood or at least not as bad as thought. Take the cookie monster for example?” He offered with a grin as he nodded. “Oh I’d love to hear more stories so sure I’d love to go camping with you. Just need to make sure it’s not near any cliffs.” He joked deciding that it would probably be the most fun camping he might have.

[Kelle Lindsay, EMTP]

"Deal, no cliffs!" She'd heard about the crazy people who camped on cliff-sides, but honestly, that was a bit too much for her constitution, she was content with a tent on good old Terra Firma. "I got plenty of stories and I can make up plenty more." She had a vivid imagination and with the wild nature of her job, there was a lot of fodder to work with.

Giggling, she took a drink of tea, her pinky stuck out 'properly', then she shrugged. "I guess you're right about monsters...some can have good sides." After all, the man who had 'recruited' her help had stuck to his word and not done anything to harm her. And then the twinkle returned to her eye as she added, "After all, look at Shrek...or Edward!"

She laughed, pushing back unpleasant memories that she still hadn't really talked to anyone about. Sure, she'd told Severide some, and Steven, and there'd been the mandatory de-briefs, but she'd managed to hedge and tell them what they wanted to hear. Yes, she would have to talk about it, but she wasn't really ready yet to go into detail about her feelings.

And this wasn't the time or place, this was having fun and she wasn't going to ruin it. "So, what's the agenda for the rest of the day?" Despite being exhausted she was still riding high on excitement, ready for whatever he had planned.

Scott Cooper

[Scott Cooper]

“Well that is great, cant go camping without the stories. Just don’t make them too scary, I dont want to go running off into the woods in the darkness after hearing something go bump.” He joked with a grin, so most things didnt scare him well the one thing that did was Kelle finding out what he had done not just to her but in life in general. It wasn’t like he was Madonna and could make a comeback from it though camping sounded like great fun to have.

Scott chuckled seeing her drink her tea then found he couldnt stop himself from laughing when she mentioned Shrek and Edward. He could see the twinkle in her eye as he laughed, “Yeah, that Shrek... who wouldnt want to dance in a swamp like he could and sorry but team Jacob here.” Scott had heard a lot about those books and movies, Shrek he could live with but the vampires although fun to read Scott was a firm believer that getting attached to a vampire was seriously a bad life choice, then again a werewolf it was really a loaded choice.

He felt guilty about what had happened to her, she was the first person in a long time not to be scared of him that night. To fight and answer back when she had no idea what he was capable of or what he might do to her. She made him feel like a human being which he hadn’t felt like in a long time, a person who was present and not just in the shadows. Someone who could do some good in the world and not just the bad that he so frequently saw and did.

Scott glanced toward her before he took a drink of tea, “Hmm well agenda for the day. Food obviously, then we can do some shopping if you want to? Have a wonder around the city, see the castle? Unless you had something specific in mind?” He asked her knowing that the trip was hers to do with as she wanted. If she wanted to go sky diving then he’d make it happen but they had most of the day to play with so all ideas were welcome.

[Kelle Lindsay, EMTP]

"Nope, nothing specific, but just easy," she answered, leaning back in her chair, feeling a little more revived now that they'd had a decent meal. "I'm still kind of tired, not that I don't want to waste the day, but just something...slow." Her smile was a little crooked as she shrugged. "Depends, too, when we plan to go dancing, if we are...I'd need a dress before then, and this might be the best place for finding that?"

She didn't want to sound greedy, but the topic had come up and when it got to it, she could pay herself. But she'd let him decide on that, he knew the place better!

Scott Cooper

(Sorry it's short, I'm a bit frazzled atm)

[Scott Cooper]

“Okay easy it is.” He said with a grin, flying was a sport in itself at times and long haul or really anything over a few hours could be enough to knock a person. “Yes the dancing, well we can do that any time you want even tonight if you are up to it?” He offered as he grinned about the dress, “And the best places depends on what you are looking for, not that I’m an expert in this area but there are a few dress shops around.” So he was an entire novice when it came to women’s clothes.

He wasn’t the wear it over the weekend in the privacy of my own home type, no he was a yeah that looks great type once he knew what he was looking for. “Besides it’s my treat, not that I dont think you can or anything like that it’s just something that you can keep.” He offered deciding that again it was the least he could do for her to try and take her mind off of what he had done before.

(No worries at all)

[Kelle Lindsay, EMTP]

Kelle gave in to his offer, and once they were finished with tea they headed to a dress shop up the street on the Royal Mile that the waitress had recommended.  It was one of those swanky places, you didn't browse so much as being whisked behind a stage-type area where an overly-thin woman with a dramatic walk and up-turned nose stuffed Kelle into things she never would even have looked at.

Still, it was actually so over-the-top that it was funny, and that, combined with the champagne that they were pushing at her and Scott, hand her giggling hysterically as she put on an impromptu fashion show.

It wasn't until the red dress that Kelle sobered a little, suddenly feeling like a princess.  As she stepped past the curtain, she did a small pirouette, then grinned shyly as she looked at Scott.

"What do you think?"

Scott Cooper,

[Scott Cooper]

Scott had no idea what to expect from dress shopping, recommended by the waitress well women knew what they were talking about when it came to dresses because he certainly didnt. The place looked push though once they were inside it wasn’t the kind of place he had expected at all. No browsing just Kelle whisked away behind a screen and he was left to simply wait and see what was going on.

He didnt mind at all and then suddenly there was champagne being pushed at him, well no wonder women loved shopping. It would make shopping for socks and underpants so much easier with a glass of champagne while he did it. Not that he was fussy that way but this was a whole other shopping trip he was learning about. The impromptu fashion show was great, her giggling and he was trying to work out the different styles, colours and if people wore them. It had to be the dress with the hat he thought then the pink frills, maybe it was the champagne but he couldnt hide the smile on his face.

The great part was to him she looked great in them all until that dress. She was beautiful in the others but in that red dress his breath was taken away in one look. He watched her staring openly as she did a small pirouette, he felt like he would have to pick his jaw up off the floor and then she spoke. A simple question as he spluttered for his answer. “I...yes...wow... I mean it’s, you’re yes.” He said falling over his own words as he shook his head for a moment.

“Champagne on full stomach.” He said motioning to his glass, “You look gorgeous, beautiful, better than that amazing. Just like a princess.” He said managing to find something more to say than the one word wow though she was wow. There was no denying it as he tried not to stare at her though really there wasn’t a woman in the room more beautiful than her and she didnt even need the dress for that.

[Kelle Lindsay, EMTP]

Kelle smiled shyly, her cheeks going nearly as red as the dress. "I feel like a princess," she admitted. Indeed, this was like a fairy tale, a stark contrast to to wallowing in blood, barf and death, or even the dust and paint of home renovation. It was a good feeling, but admittedly not one she would want full-time...then it wouldn't be special.

"So, you like it?" She didn't even know the price, the clerk hadn't told her, and she suddenly felt a little pang of guilt, hoping that it wasn't too much.

"The young lady needs accessories," the clerk pointed out, "shoes, evening bag, jewelry..."

"Tiara," Kelle added to the silly list with a grin, "and no, shoes, maybe, but..." she looked at Scott, a bit desperate, hoping he would understand that she wasn't being ungrateful, "I'm sure we can find something somewhere else...no heels, the only 'heels' I wear are on my combat boots...I'd fall off stilettos and then dancing wouldn't be much fun!"

And lord, a purse was just something to lose. All she needed was a credit card and passport, and she could let Scott carry those. No, she didn't need make-up and whatever other junk women toted around in saddlebags.

Then she looked back at Scott with a shy smile. "You sure?"

Scott Cooper

[Scott Cooper]

Scott nodded to her, she looked like a princess too not that he didnt think she was gorgeous and beautiful before but in that dress she could steal any mans heart he was sure. When she asked if he liked it he nodded again, “I love it, yes... well you know... it’s wow, you’re wow.” He said still not sure what the correct set of words were for it but he couldnt stop himself from gawking at her. “Do you like it?” He asked just to make sure, it didnt matter the price to him if she liked the dress.

After all it wasn’t as if he didnt have it he simply wanted her to be happy. She deserved to be after all that had happened to her so far. When it came to dresses and bags and shoes Scott had no idea what was needed and what wasn’t, it was one of those moments in life where he realised he had no clue about any of it.

Scott chuckled as she spoke about her combat boots, they were comfy and practical and outside of dress shoes he practically lived in them if he could do. “Then just the dress and a tiara for the lady.” Scott said grinning, “Though if you want shoes feel free to get some or like you can say we can go elsewhere, might even find sequined combat boots?” He offered knowing that anything could be made if you wanted it to be though how they would get it there in time that was a problem for another time.

Usually Scott just used his pockets for everything it was far easier and a guy carrying a bag wasn’t exactly the done thing. Scott grinned seeing her shy smile, “Yes I am very sure, couldnt be more sure about it. Honestly you look amazing Kelle you really do.” Scott said nodding to her as he smiled.

[Kelle Lindsay, EMTP]

"Sequined combat boots?" Now there was an idea! Pink laces were one thing, but sequins would be cool! "Man, if you could find those you'd be my friend forever!"

The clerk gave her a slight glare, and Kelle shrugged. "Back to being just Kelle for now." Not that 'just Kelle' was a bad thing, after all, she was in Scotland on an amazing trip with an amazing man, she had a great job, a house and critters she loved...life could be a lot worse!

She was whisked back behind the curtain, and a few minutes later 'just Kelle' emerged, grinning brightly. "It will be delivered to the hotel," she told Scott. And she'd left instructions and some money with the assistant to get her some simple black Mary Janes to go with the dress.

"Thank you so much." She'd never felt like this before and it was a little disorienting, but in a good way.

Her hand slipped back into his as they started for the door, and the rain outside didn't bother her one bit!

Scott Cooper,

[Scott Cooper]

“Oh challenge accepted.” He said grinning though where he had no idea but if there was a will then there had to be a way. Even if he spent half of the knight with sequins and a glue gun sticking them all on. Scott smirked at the clerks slightly glare, “Nothing wrong with being Just Kelle.” He said deciding that just Kelle was the best and only Kelle to be.

He waited for a moment when she was whisked back behind the curtain though he couldnt hide his smile when she emerged. “That’s great.” He said glad that she had found a dress she liked and everything with it was working out. “No, thank you so much for making the trip with me.” He said smiling happily, he’d never been happier than when he was with her and in a strange way it wasn’t something he was used to feeling.

Cold and distant, harsh and mean were more his style yet he was smiling and happy and all thanks to the woman who had managed to challenge him when he hadn’t expected it and agreed to go on holiday with him. Holding her hand as they started for the door he noticed the rain and how it didnt bother her in the slightest. “See cant beat the good old Scottish weather, cant beat the rain.” He said knowing that even taking a walk in the rain was like starting a fresh. It was the one thing that could fix a bad day in his mind, rain made it feel like a fresh start could be reached even if the world didnt make it easy.

[Kelle Lindsay, EMTP]

They were going to be wet by the time they got back to the hotel, but it wasn't as if they couldn't dry out, and she didn't need to worry about her make-up or hair, she wasn't too fussy about that sort of thing, so long as the time was casual.

And for now, she was happy just to walk along with him, gawking at the sights like the tourist that she was, taking it all in, murmuring at the beauty and age of everything, imagining the history and people who had passed this way...

And then it was getting dark, tourist places were closing, time to go back and regroup, and after that, she didn't know, she'd leave that up to him, because so far he was doing a great job!

Scott Cooper

(Not sure when they were going to go dancing? I kinda figure this is the first day so they didn't do much...she'll probably fall asleep in her soup at dinner! I'm open to jumping around a bit, too.)

[Scott Cooper]

Scott was enjoying his time with her, she made being back in his home country actually feel like home for the first time in a long time. The excitement of being there and the fun of looking around with her simply made the day that much better. Walking around and seeing the sights was enough for him.

The fun of watching her gawking at it all, murmuring about it put a whole new light onto things for him. The places he had been taught about and the things he had long taken for granted seen through someone else’s eyes. It gave it new life, a new way of looking at things and better yet the feeling that he was enjoying himself.

Heading back to the hotel it had been the best first day, a day that he found himself openly smiling about and wanting to happen all over again. “So what would you like to do? Dinner and an early night ready for tomorrow?” He asked not sure how much energy she had left given the time difference, flying and what they had done so far.

Tag: Kelle Lindsay, EMTP,

(I can see them not doing much with being tired but feel free to skip to where you want to be with it. They can go do their dancing another night, so feel free to jump to where you want to be.)

[Kelle Lindsay, EMTP]

There had been plans, within the perimeters of not actually having plans, for dancing after dinner, but between the travel and time change, and the fact that Kelle was pretty much a light-weight when it came to drinking, by the second glass of champagne at dinner, it was all she could do to stay awake.

Scott was a gentleman, of course, and made certain that she was settled in her room for the night before retiring to his. In the morning, Kelle had only vague recollections of the later part of the evening, but she did remember that he'd told her to 'dress casual'. Of course, with her, getting any more casual that usual would mean wearing her jammies!

Feeling considerably refreshed, Kelle had quickly showered then pulled on jeans and a simple shirt before slipping on her coat and going out into the hall to meet him, curious for what the day would bring.

Scott Cooper,