The streets of Barnes Hollow were empty, all windows and doors closed, most even still heavily boarded up, even though the storm had already been over for more than 24 hours and the air was cold but calm, the sky blue and bright. What had started as a simple and familiar health-and-safety-measure against the forces of nature, seemed now to have turned into a desperate attempt to build a line of defence against the forces of evil. Cho couldn't really blame the people of this small town at the foot of the mountain for doing so. It was what people did. Improvise. Adapt. Make the best of things. And in a few days, they would calm down, start talking about how no one saw "that" coming or how the sheriff had always seemed "odd" and they would take down the boards and turn them into a defence against the cold by burning them in various fire-places. Circle of life. Without talking lions or baboons wearing make-up. Somehow a lot less creepy, Cho thought.

The sound of a door closing and the crushing of boots on ice-covered concrete cut through the silence and Cho's thoughts. He looked up. Pike came over, overnight-bag over his shoulder, car-keys in hand.

"Ready to go?"

He tossed the keys to Cho and turned around, when more boots carefully crossed the ice-covered pavement. Since they'd already discussed everything case-related, exchanged details, comments and complaints about their various travel-arrangements during, and said their good-byes after breakfast, there was no need for further discussion or small talk. Which was good. Because all of them wanted to get out of here as fast as possible. For various reasons. So Jane and Lisbon just smiled, waved at them and headed for the second car. Cho waved back. Pike just nodded. And even that had taken some serious effort.

"I'd be smiling, too, if I was them", Cho said.

"What?"

"Getting last direct flights back home?"

"Oh, that", Pike said.

"I don't even want to know how Jane managed that", Cho said.

"Hm", Pike replied, his attention clearly not focused on his vocal cords, but on the two people further down the street. He watched Jane lean closer to Lisbon, gesturing with his hands and apparently telling her something funny, because she started laughing and shook her head in amusement. Pike looked at them walking to the car side by side, comfortable around each other, laughing, relaxed.

Teresa. Laughing, relaxed, comfortable.

Nothing like the woman he had last seen in front of the sheriff's office standing in the cold, an awkward and painful silence enveloping her, eyes tired and cheeks pale. Suddenly he was angry. He rammed his hands into his pockets, then pulled one out again to point an accusing finger at Jane.

"He's reckless. Look at him. Joking as if nothing has happened. They could have gotten killed. He could have gotten HER killed! Talking her into going into that ravine in a freaking snow-storm! That man…"

Cho looked at Jane and Lisbon, not acknowledging the pleading stare asking for agreement Pike gave him right now. He didn't want to encourage the man to throw a fit. But he had a feeling that any form of encouragement was, unfortunately, not really necessary anyway. And was proven right.

"I don't know, what they all see in him, Cho. He's nothing but a liability. I don't get why she sticks with him. Why anyone sticks with him. And what was this cryptic "maybe" about the missing computers? If he knows something about the case he needs to tell us."

"He will."

"When?"

Cho shrugged.

"When he's ready to. When he's sure, he's right about this."

"And you are okay with this? This is nuts!"

"This is Jane."

Pike raised his hands above his head in a dramatic gesture.

"Exactly!"

Cho kept his eyes on Jane and Lisbon and just said matter-of-factly.

"I'm okay with this. We'll solve this in the end. We always do."

Cho blinked and crossed his arms in front of his chest. Which was the equivalent of a deep sigh. He had a feeling that this was going to be a very long and very annoying drive to the airport. But then again, he'd had lots of experience ignoring external monologue from upset travel-companions while navigating winter roads.

He cast a reproachful look at Jane's back.

And blinked.

He watched Jane putting his hand on the small of Lisbon's back in order to steer her towards the driver's side. As usual, Jane's hand fell from her back, once directions of travel had been confirmed by her starting to step around him. But then, just as Jane's arm was back down by his side, in the very second Lisbon went past him, he saw their shoulders brush, saw their hands touch and saw her fingers curl around his, just for the fraction of a second.

"Cho? Are you listening to me?"

He slapped Pike's shoulder.

"Sure, man. Lets go."

While Cho watched Lisbon and Jane drive off into the bright snowy day, he heard Pike toss his bag on the back seat. It hit something with a dull clunking sound. Both bag and the unknown item tumbled to the floor.

"What the hell did he *do* in the backseat of this car?"

Cho looked up into the white winter sky and took a deep breath.

He slid behind the wheel and felt the car shake, when his current travel-companion dropped heavily into the passenger seat. Pike made a sniffing sound, then groaned. Cho ignored it and started the car. It came to life with a growl and a roar and a chuckle.

"God, Cho, I hate the smell of cold tea."

Awkward. Long. Drive. Ahead.

Cho sighed.

And smiled.

Because it was worth it. Every awkward second of it.

A/N: Done. This is it. The end. As sad as I am that this is over, I am also relieved I finished it now, because I won't have a lot of time to write in the coming weeks. But there will be a one-shot related to this, probably next weekend or so. And if I get a few days off over easter, I hope to start a proper sequel to this story. After all, there is still a case to solve…

There is so much more I really want to say, but I think I've pretty much used up all the good words I had. Also a bit teary now, because just three months ago I thought I could never write anything ever again. And now look at this… mountain of words *lol*. I hope you enjoyed this and thank you so much for coming along on this slightly weird winter journey. And thanks to my best friend for making me do this and being there. Every step of the way. It means more than I can ever say.