Knight in Shining Armour?

[writer_mel]

Brooke had closed herself off in the smallest conference room, at the very back of the office, because all her coworkers could talk about was the snow. They were acting like it didn’t snow every year around this time. It would suck to get home, but if they were smart and spaced out how they left, drove carefully, it wouldn’t be a problem. They could be spending this time actually getting stuff done instead of standing around bitching.

She had a deadline on Monday and all she wanted to do was get her work done today, Friday, so she didn’t have to work through the weekend. The last thing she wanted was to have to come back here through the slush and stupid people buying toilet paper. Her care had all weather tires and she had a huge bag of cat litter in the trunk. She’d even considered offering the new girl a ride home because they lived close to each other, but the single men were flocking around her to offer, so she didn’t. Maybe she should have, in a show of female solidarity, but she had been much more interested in getting away from all of them.

So she could WORK. That thing they were all being paid to do even though it was snowing like crazy.

When Brooke finished the report, when it was checked and rechecked, she submitted it with a groan of relief. She closed her laptop, stood up and stretched until everything finally felt loose, and finally looked out the window. What she saw surprised her. There were no cars, not even a stray late commuter like her. There were no buses, not even any evidence of buses. She glanced at one of the streetlights to try and gauge the height of the snow and gasped when she realized she could only see the top of the decorative bit at the bottom. That meant almost two feet had fallen.

Two feet of completely unplowed snow stood between her and her townhouse. There was no way. None. Her car could get through it if it had been plowed once, but not through what was out there now. She glanced a the time. It was almost eleven. All the plows were probably done for the night. They’d come back out again at about four am, maybe later since it wasn’t a work day. Brooke groaned and rested her head against the window. She was well and truly fucked.

There was nothing for it but to get her stuff back to her office and figure out her next step. As she walked through the dark halls, she realized that not only was she the only person there, but no one realized she was still there. All the main lights were out. The office doors were closed. She’d been there that late before so it didn’t freak her out. It did depress her. If even one person was there, she’d feel less lonely.

Of course, with her luck, it would be Mitchel and he’d make sex jokes about them being all alone the whole time. The only reason he didn’t get into trouble with HR was that he said the same bullshit to the guys, too. Not a single person thought he meant anything by it and no one was willing to stand up and tell him to stop. She took on projects all on her own, like the one she’d just finished, so she never had to work overtime with him.

She stood at her office window and looked out at the parking lot. It was a view she never took much time to examine, given that it was pretty much nothing but cars and blacktop. Now she noticed all the trees. In the spring they dropped tiny flowers everywhere and people complained about them on their windshields, but Brooke liked them. They were a sign of life after the dark. Now the trees looked sculptural. There were so many smaller branches in the center of the tree that she never noticed when the trees were green. They actually looked much bigger than she expected, particularly against all the white. The snow was so deep that all the parking berms were covered, all the lines gone.

She could have been looking at an oddly regular forest. Or some kind of orchard, she guessed, given the regularity of it all. If the trees were actually in the while, she’d expect some sort of fairy creature to show up. Something that could guide her safely home through the snow. Leaning against the window, she wondered what that creature would look like. Traditionally, of course, it would be some kind of stag. They did have deer in the area, but even with the quiet of the snow, she doubted any would come wandering into this particular parking lot. And certainly not a male with gorgeous horns. She’d be lucky to see a squirrel.

Looking out over the snow decided her. There was no logic in driving home now. She’d be much safer if she stayed until after the plows came. There were plenty of couches around to sleep on. She could use her coat for a blanket. The only thing she wasn’t sure about was food. She never ate from the vending machines, so she had no idea what was in there. The way her luck ran, it would be twinkies and stale soda, but she might get lucky.

She got very lucky. Some time in the last year, there had been a total overhaul of the machines. There were salads and real juice and gourmet pretzels. She ended up getting way more than she could possibly need. Any leftovers could go in her desk. Looking at the haul, she decided to head back to the conference room she’d been working in. She could spread out with her laptop and watch movies while she ate. She also thought if she slept back there, she might hear the plows when they came.
It was almost three am when she heard someone in the main office. Three was no doubt that someone was out there because she heard them swear. Loudly. And possibly in pain. That last bit was what made Brooke rush out there without a weapon. How dangerous could the person be if they got hurt less than five minutes after getting there.

Standing in the main bullpen was a guy in a cleaner’s uniform. He had dropped the bucket, thankfully it was empty, and the basket of cleaning products. All he still had a grip on was the mop, which he held head up. Brooke blinked a little, clearing away the fanciful idea that the mop head was horns. It was just a mom and the guy was lucky it wasn’t wet and dripping everywhere.

He blinked right back at her, clearly surprised to see anyone there. “Uhm….hi.”

She waggled her fingers at him. “Hey. Sorry to surprise you.”

“”You uhm… Yeah, you surprised me. I’ve never seen anyone here this late.”

Brooke laughed. “I’m the only one crazy enough to forget all about the storm and keep working. Now I’m stuck.”

“Stu- Right. Yeah, it’s bad out there. I got here before it got too bad. Figured if I came early, I’d just hang out until the roads cleared again. Better than not coming. Right?” He leaned the mop against a desk and leaned down to clean up his things. She stepped forward to help, surprising him again. “You don’t have to.”

She nodded. “I know. But what am I if I’m the only one here and I don’t help?”

He shrugged. “Like most people?” They got everything righted and both stood back up. “Thanks. I appreciate it.”

“No problem.” She stepped back, intending on heading back to the conference room and her meal. The meal she had could feed at least three, possibly four. She really had gone nuts. “Listen, I kind of raided the vending machines and I got way WAY too much. Whenever you take a break, or get lunch or whatever, why don’t you come join me. I’m back in the little conference room all the way at the back of the office.”

“Oh, no, ma’am, you don’t have to do that. I brought a lunch.”

Brook laughed. “I know. I want to. I really did go kinda crazy. And this place is a little creepy at night. I could use the company, even just for a bit.” He had work. She got that. “Oh, I’m Brooke. I’m an executive here.” She only said that so he would know she wouldn’t get in trouble for having him join her.

“Hershel. Nice to meet you.” His smile was so nice and Brooke blushed a tiny bit.

“Well, Hershel, I’ll let you get back to work now. Come on back any time. Follow the music?”

He gave her a salute, then lifted the bucket to go fill it. Brooke headed back to her little cave. She turned off her movie and put on a streaming jazz station she liked listening too. It would keep her awake and wasn’t obnoxious. She’d finished eating her own meal and was playing online solitaire when he came back for his lunch. Hershel looked over the spread with wide eyes. “Guess you really did go nuts. We could feed at least three people with all this.”

She shrugged. “I was surprised how good it all was and, well…” She made a sweeping gesture. “You can reap the benefits of my brief madness. Enjoy.

He settled across from her and made himself a meal out of the many choices. She would have been fine if he took more, but he made a reasonable meal. It even had courses. When he got to the end, she grabbed herself a wrapped dessert so they were actually sharing at least part of the meal. He lifted his drink and she happily clinked bottles with him. They talked a little. She found out he owned the company. He was only out on such a bad night because it was his company.

“Can’t let my clients down. Come Monday, it won’t occur to them that no one could get around tonight. And it’s just me, not one of my people. This is the only job we’ve got Friday nights.”

That all sounded very reasonable and Brooke felt even more stupid for losing track of time. “Here I am, just trying to get a weekend off and I get myself stuck. So much for my relaxing weekend.”

Hershel looked over the remains of their meal. “I dunno. Probably a nicer meal than you would have made after a long day.”

She laughed. He wasn’t at all wrong. “That’s why a lot of this is going in my desk for the next late night.” She’d watch the weather a little more closely next time, though, that was certain. She looked out at the still unplowed street. “I am seriously glad we have couches here. Sleeping in a chair would suck.”

“Sleeping? You don’t think you’ll be able to get out tonight?” Hershel sounded concerned.

Brooke shrugged. “I have food. I’m warm. I have entertainment.” She gestured to her laptop. Then, with a small smile, she gestured to him. “I’m sure I’ll get out tomorrow sometime. Then I’ll go home and sleep for twelve hours. Which is what I probably would have done anyway.”

He blushed a little at her reference to him. “”What if you could get a safe ride home?”

She raised an eyebrow. “You got a sleigh I don’t know about?” Then it finally sunk in. He’d gotten there in the snow. “You do have one. Or something like it.”

He laughed. “Yeah. My truck is tall and it’s got the weight on it not to slide. And I’ve got great tires."

“Oh, well, great tires. That makes all the difference.” It would certainly help. She really shouldn’t say yes. She didn’t know this guy from Adam. The thing was, she had a good feeling about him. He was just…nice. “How much more do you have to do around here?”

“I’m done. It only takes a couple hours. You guys actually pick up after yourselves pretty well.” He shrugged. “I’ll take the trash out to the bins on the way out and that’s it.”

Brooke looked at the mess all over the table and groaned. “Well, I can’t leave this, so… And I have to pack up my office. I mean, it won’t take long, but…”

“Well, I’ll help you with this. That’s only fair.” He stood and started gathering their garbage. It went into one of the big bags he’d gathered. She sorted things into three piles. One was going home with her, things like the salads. The second went into her desk while she got her purse and computer bag all sorted. The third went into a smaller bag in her purse.

They met at the main office door. Once everything was outside, he locked the doors using his passcode. “No reason for anyone to know you were still here, right?”

She totally agreed. She was salaried so she wasn’t going to put in for overtime or anything. And it would become a big thing with everyone showing mock concern for her. “Thank you.”



Even with Hershel’s great big truck, the drive was harrowing. He was a good driver and his truck stayed firmly on the road. Every other driver out was a moron with a death wish. They were both a little white knuckled by the time they got to her building. Hershel insisted on helping her get everything into the building, but he didn’t ask to come up. They exchanged handshakes at the door and she made him promise to be careful getting home.

It wasn’t until he pulled into traffic that she noticed the logo on the back of his big truck. Hart Cleaning Services. Their logo was a stylized deer with a full rack of horns. She stood there for a long time, until she got cold in the unheated lobby, staring at where Hershel’s truck had been. He was just a guy, right? A very nice, very helpful guy. Those did exist.

Didn’t they? Or was an ancient god stopping by to help out a damsel in distress?

Brooke decided she didn’t care. Either way, she was home safe, she’d had a lovely evening, and she got her work done. She could think about the implications of her knight in shining armor another day.