Altered States part 3

They open the door and peer out in to the hall.
Bo: I think the coast is clear, come on.
Nora: Wait! Listen!
Bo:What? Oh! Someone calling your name!
Nora: Just forget it Bo. This was crazy.
Bo: No! Come on!
He grabs her hand and they run to the stairwell, run down the stairs and emerge through a ground floor exit in the rear parking lot. They are laughing like teen agers, trying to catch their breath.
Bo: See...(huff huff) I told ya...(huff huff) excitement and adventure...
Nora: oh man! (huff huff) that you did! Whew! Where to now?
Bo: Now, you let me worry about it...(huff huff) man! I never realized what my cadets go through!...
They are walking through the parking lot as the light snow falls.
Bo: (looking at her as they walk) Hey...
Nora: What?
Bo: I know you are going to get real sick of this, but you are so beautiful...I was a total idiot to let you go...
Nora: Yeah? (she grabs a handful of snow off a car they pass) You're right! (she throws the snow at him and runs ahead, laughing the whole time)
He chases her and catches her around the waist and playfully tosses her over his shoulder.
Bo: You think that's funny woman? Well, I'll show you funny!
Nora: Put me down! Bo Buchanan, you let me go!!!
They are at the motorcycle, he puts her down and holds her around the waist.
Bo: I will NEVER let you go again.
He kisses her, puts on his helmet and gets on the bike. She puts hers on and gets on behind him.
Bo: Hang on!
They take off through the silent snow fall.
A figure emerges from behind the dumpster in the parking lot...Rachel smiles approvingly of her mothers daring escape.
After a while the reunited coulple arrive at a tiny out of the way cabin.
Nora: Very rustic...
Bo: You're probably freezing. Come on in.
He opens the door and grabs a flashlight off the wall next to the door.
Bo: Hang on, I'll get the lights.
He goes through a curtain in the back of the dark room. She hears what sounds like a lawn mower start up. He returns with a box of stick matches and begins to light a couple oil lamps.
Bo: I'll start a fire in a second. I have a pump generator for water, so you can shower if you want...
Nora: I'm fine
She walks over to the fire place and starts to crack some twigs and throw them into the kindling.
Bo: (watching her from the kitchen area) Honey, are you OK?
Nora: Yeah...
He walks up behind her and puts his arms around her.
Bo: That doesn't sound very convincing.
Nora: I'm just really tired. A lot happened today.
Bo: Let me get this fire going. Then we can sit and rest. You want some coffee?
Nora: Na, I'm good.
She looks around the cabin. It's small, but comfortable. Basically its a square seperated into four rooms. Living room and kitchen in the front, bedroom and bath in the back. A seperate fire place in the bedroom. The pump generator just off the bath.
Bo: Um...here we are. Pretty wild chain of events, huh? So, you wanna sit down, or how bout the grand tour?
Nora: Na, I think I can find my way around. Nice place. Yours?
Bo: Yeah. I bought the land right after my divor...um, anyway, I built it all myself.
Nora: Built it yourself? Wow! I am impressed! I never knew you were so skilled in the field of carpentry!
Bo: Well, I had a lot of anger, hostility, you know, bad feelings. I had to channel them. Our garage wall could only handle so much of my beating it...So one afternoon, I started and here I am. I've got all kinds of ideas and plans. Expanding and adding on and well...Nora, baby, what's wrong?
Nora: Nothing, really, I'm just tired, and cold.
Bo: You wanna go to bed? Or just lay down?
Nora: Maybe...yeah.
Bo: Lemme go get the mattress. We can lay out here, it'll be warmer. The bedroom gets drafty, even with the fireplace lit.
Nora: Alright. Bo, I...(hesitates) I am really tired.
He runs to the bedroom and comes back with the mattress, flips it down and runs back to get some blankets, pillows and a flannel shirt.
Bo: Do you...um, want to change? (holding up the shirt) I mean, I know its not very attractive, but I have an idea you could very easily improve on that...(he smiles his little devilish grin)
Nora: Na, I'm OK. Just gonna take off these boots...
She lays down on the mattress facing the fire, he covers her with some of the blankets, and goes to sit on the couch. She rolls over and looks at him.
Nora: You don't wanna lay with me?
Bo: I do. But you seem so uncomfortable, almost scared of me.
Nora: Sorry.
Bo: Hey, you don't have to appologize. A lot has happened today. Hey, if you...if this isn't right for you, I'll take you back.
Nora: No!
He moves down on to the floor, sitting next to her.
Bo: I sprang this on you, so fast. I mean, I didn't even think I could go through with it. I never thought you would! I feel now like I forced you to run off with me...
She touches his leg.
Nora: Hey, I chose to do this. I'm just dreading going back to face them. You know I have to. I have to get the marriage annulled. I have to face Rachel, my folks, Suzanne, Clint, Vicki...the list just grows! And Sam!
Bo: You won't be alone. I will be right there with you, forever. I think Rachel will approve, Clint and Vicki too. Your folks and Suzaane might be a little tougher. But we'll handle it, together. Nora, I will take on the world and then some for you. It'll be OK, I promise.
He looks down and notices she has dozed off.
Bo: Sleep baby, sleep.
He kisses her on the forehead and lies down next to her. He props his head on his hand and watches her sleep. He thinks about the days' events. He never imagined, when he woke up this morning, almost twenty four hours ago, he'd be laying here with her. He also thought about how difficult the next couple weeks of their lives were going to be, thanks to him. But they were going to do it together, right next to each other, like they were now. Never would he let her go again. He drapes his arm over her and drifts off to sleep.
When he wakes up the next morning he is alone. First he thinks he was dreaming. But he could not have had that vivid of a dream. Was he crazy? Did he really kidnap and run off with his ex-wife? He panics and sits up, looking around his cabin. The fire is dead. It's cold.
Bo: Nora...Nora!
He gets up and walking around the cabin, is seriously debating his own sanity. He checks the bedroom, the bath.
Bo: Buchanan, how much did you drink last night?
You're losing your mind!
Just then he hears a noise on the front porch. He grabs a leaded crystal eagle statue off the bed table, fully intending on clobbering the intruder. He cautiously goes to the door and jerks it open...
Bo: I'M WARNING YOU!!! I AM ARMMED!!!
Nora lets out a scream as he drops the eagle and it shatters into a million bits. He grabs her and hugs her.
Bo: You're here!! You're really here!!! Oh honey! You have no idea...
Nora: God Bo! Proving your love by bashing my brains in...ah yes, there's the stability I was looking for!
Bo: Awe Red...You don't know...I thought I was crazy, I thought it was a dream...When I woke up and you weren't here...oh baby...
He kisses her as he carries her to the couch and sits down with her in his lap.
Bo: How are you this morning? I mean last night, I was worried. You wanna stick with me, right?
Nora: Hey, last night I was tired. I am sure I want to be here, with you. I am just concerned when we go back.
Bo: Who said anything about going back?
Nora: (frowns at him) I have to go back. I have to talk with Andrew, I owe a lot of people an explaination and appologies, especially Sam. I need my things, my computer...
Bo: Your computer? An adventure as a hacker?
Nora: No, but if we are going to travel, I'd like to stay in touch with Rachel...e-mail you know.
Bo: Oh...so, what kind of adventures are you up for?
Nora: Hmmm...
She gets up and walks around the room, looking out the window.
Nora: It is so beautiful here...so peaceful
He comes up behind her, putting his arms around her, kissing her on the neck.
Bo: Not as beautiful as you. Thank you.
Nora: For what?
Bo: Being here. Taking a chance with me. Wanting us back.
Nora: I guess it has always been there, that feeling. I kept denying it, hoping it would go away. I'm glad it didn't. This is where I want to be. Safe with you. But actually, where I really really want to be...
Bo: Yes?
Nora: Is somewhere there is lots of food! I'm starving! And seeing that I have no idea where we are...
Bo: Oh! Hey, no problem my love! Adventure numero uno, feeding my baby! Do you wanna keep the bike, or should we go get my truck?
Nora: Mmmm...maybe we should get the truck, and some clothes. Have you given any thought as to where we are going to live? Am I moving in with you at the garrett or are we going to get a place? And what about...
Bo: Whoa! Let's worry about all that when it happens. The farthest in the future I want to think is Christmas.
Nora: Christmas?
Bo: Yeah, I want to spend it with you in Aspen.
Nora: What?
Bo: Yeah, you me, the snow, a tree, a menorah. We can use Clint and Vicki's lodge.
She turns around in his arms and faces him.
Nora: That sounds incredible! Adventure number two. Aspen!
He kisses her
Bo: I just love you so much...This is so right...
He kisses her again, a little bit more heated.
Bo: How...uh...hungry are you? Because I was um....thinking....
Nora: I am starving!
She pulls back slightly-he looks hurt, but tries to hide it.
Nora: Bo (she puts her hands on his chest, almost as if to hold him back) I...ah...it's not that I don't want to be with you. I do. I mean, it's not exactally how I envisioned it, but none the less, I want to be with you.
Bo: But...I know there's a but (he lets her go, she walks over to the fire place and stares in to the dark area where the fire was.
Nora: But...oh Bo. My mind is so mixed up up right now. I want to say so much, yet when I try, I just can't get the words out.
Bo: Hey, Red, it's me. You can tell me anything. If you don't feel like you wanna talk...or anything else...hey (he walks over to her and puts his hands on her shoulders) it's fine. In time it'll all work out. What matters now is we are together. Like you said, not how you envisioned it, but together. So as long as you promise you're not going anywhere. I will be here.
Nora: Thank you (she turns and hugs him) That means the world to me.
Bo: Let's go eat.
*************************************************
While at a little truck stop, Bo goes to use the payphone.
Bo: Hank, it's Bo...
Hank: Where the hell are you? Do you realize this whole town is in an uproar? You decide to take a vacation, and Nora is missing! Do you have any idea where she is? Sam is frantic. Andrew needs to speak with her, Asa and Clint have all but called out the National Guard to find YOU!
Bo: Hank...calm down...Nora is fine...she is with me. She just finished eating breakfast. She loves me Hank. She wants to be with me. How's Rachel? Nora will want to know.
Hank: That is the strange part, everyone is all crazy, where's Nora, and Rachel is calm. Bo, what the hell are you doing?
Bo: Hank, I'm a cop, I know this technique. Nora is fine...Bye.
Bo walks back to the table.
Bo: All hell's breaking loose back home...
Nora:...Uh oh...Rachel, how is she?
Bo: She is fine, Hank said she is calm, not even phased.
Nora: And my folks?
Bo: Didn't ask...I would assume they are part of the hell breaking loose...
Nora: It doesn't surprise me. I ditch my husband on my wedding night, to run off with my ex-husband...
Bo: Do you want to go back?
Nora: I don't know Bo. No, I do know, I want to stay with you. But I feel like a total louse for hurting everyone...
Bo: You're a gorgeous louse.
He smiles
Nora: Stop. You aren't making this any easier. I'm gonna call my Dad.
She goes to the pay phone and calls the Palace.
Nora: Dad, it's me...
Len: Nora! Honey! Are you OK? Where the hell are you? What is going on? Your mother is a wreck. Your sister is worried to death. And Sam, well, he's just beside himself. What is wrong with you?
Nora: Daddy, calm down. I am fine. I'm with BO.
Len: What? Are you crazy? You just got married to Sam! Did Bo kidnap you?
Nora: Daddy wait. I can't explain how, or even why, but I can't be with Sam. I want to be with Bo. I have to be with him.
Len: Are you drunk? He got you drunk, didn't he?
She rolls her eyes.
Nora: Dad, I am as sober as you. He did not get me drunk. It just feels right. I need to be with Bo.
Len: But Nora, honey, he hurt you. You cried for three years over him...
Nora: I know. But I can't deny what I've always known.
Len: Do you love him?
The phone disconnects, Nora turns around.
Nora: Bo! Why did you do that?
Bo: Honey, I can guarantee you, Hank has got their phone tapped. We gotta go.

 To be continued....

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