What Happens in Aspen Lasts in Reefside

"Here you go," Tommy said to Anton when he saw him in the hotel lobby, handing him his room key card. Handing Cassidy hers next.

"Thanks, Dr. Oliver," she told him. "I think I'll go with Kira and unpack."

"Aren't you hungry?" Kira asked her.

"I can eat later. Right now I just want to change my clothes and get ready to record the competition."

"I think Cassidy's right, a change of clothes does sound good," Anton agreed.

"Well then I guess I'll go let the others know we're all back safe and sound," Tommy suggested.

"I guess I'll get something to eat then, some of us skipped dinner," Trent said as he began to head off."

"So what was it like being at that cabin all night with Mercer?" Kira asked Cassidy once she had showered and gotten changed.

"I had a long night, Kira, okay? Can we just not talk about it?" Her tone was serious and she didn't want anyone else to know about her previous night. How she had embarrassed herself, realized what she wanted most now would be what she couldn't have, not to mention not wanting to see the possible disgust her friend could have for her at the realization.

"Cassidy?" Kira asked as she looked closer at her, concern now entering her voice. "Did Mercer say or do something to you?"

"Why does everyone think he's such a bad guy?" she nearly snapped, losing a bit of her composure. "He didn't do anything to me. He kept me calm and warm. He was the one who found the cabin and the matches. We just talked until we fell asleep, that's all."

"Cassidy?" was as much as she could ask then. She could tell Cassidy had wanted more to have happened, she just couldn't believe it.

"What time is it?" she asked suddenly, needing a change of subject almost as much as she felt the need for fresh air.

"Almost eleven," Kira answered as she glanced over to the bedside clock.

"The competition starts in two hours, I need to find Devin and get ready," she said as she pulled the sides of her blonde strands back into a slim ponytail.

"Cassidy," Devin breathed when he saw step out into the hallway. "I'm really sorry about yesterday. I just -"

"It's okay, Devin. Last night actually wasn't half bad and I have you to thank for it. So right now let's just get all our stuff together and get ready to record the snowboarding competition."

"Of course. After all, that's what we're here for, right?" he asked with a smile as he led the way to his room where the rest of the equipment was along with their press passes.

Cassidy nodded, but was silent. That had originally been the plan, but now she wanted nothing more than to spend another night with Dr. Mercer. Even if he did no more than hold her just as he had done the night before.

Hoots and hollers could be heard even long minutes before the competition began, growing loader as the students made their way down to it.

"Why isn't your dad joining us for this? I thought he was kind of into snowboarding," Kira asked Trent.

"He said he had some work to do," he answered with a shrug.

Cassidy felt a slight sting at that. All she could think was that he was avoiding her. She couldn't really blame him, she had on a little strong the night before. She also knew he had to be embarrassed about not only having called her beautiful, but her having heard it.

"Ready when you are, Cass," Devin said a second later as he held up the camera.

"This is Cassidy Cornell, Reefside channel three, reporting live from ground zero on day one of the Amateur Snowboarding League here in Aspen, Colorado. As you can see behind me the competitors are gearing up for their first round on this first day. The temperatures here may be freezing, but there's no denying just how hot this competition will be."

Cassidy knew most people would be surprised by how well she was keeping it together despite how hurt she actually felt at the thought of Anton avoiding her, but being in front of the camera like this helped her to forget. Even if only momentarily.

"Let's watch now as our day here truly begins," she said to the camera next. Soon the blue and white clad blonde stepped aside so Devin could record the action without her in the line of sight.

"Hey, Dad, I thought you were working," Trent said a moment later as Anton was walking up to join the others.

"I was, but I managed to finish early," he replied with a slight smile. He had been working, but he still couldn't shake the memories of the previous night. Certainly not enough to concentrate on anything resembling figures. He needed to see her and given what today was, he knew there was nowhere else she could be.

"Where's Dr. O?" he asked him.

"He isn't here?" Anton asked them as he glanced around.

The Rangers all shook their heads, Devin far too focused on the competition and Cassidy still having not yet noticed their former substitute teacher had arrived.

"I suppose he's still in his room then," he told them with a disbelieving smile. Even he had known Tommy wouldn't have been able to truly have a vacation without Kim being able to join him for it. Instead he was intent on being on the phone to her every chance he got.

The others each laughed slightly as they knew he was right.

"Don't know, we're kind of far from it," Conner replied.

"How's the newscast coming so far?" he asked as he glanced over to Cassidy again.

Not a second too soon as Cassidy's eyes met his. Only she turned her head almost immediately when she realized. She couldn't tell if he wanted her to see him and couldn't face his rejection right now if he hadn't.

But he couldn't take his eyes off her just then. Part of him wanted to, the part that didn't want his former students and son to know he was attracted to her. But too much more of him couldn't ignore all he felt for her.

Sensing that and knowing her own attraction towards him wasn't fading, Cassidy turned her attention to his direction again. This time she saw him smile to her and she smiled back. It was polite thing to do, after all. No one would think twice about it, would they?

"I guess I should see how they're doing. Maybe I could get them closer if they need a better view," he told the others as he began to make his way over to Cassidy and Devin.

Truthfully they were as close as the rest of the press were and as close to the action as they were allowed to be, but it was all Anton could think of to justify why he was going over to her just then.

"Dude, is it me or is your dad acting a little weird?" Conner asked Trent.

"He's had a lot on his mind lately, I guess the vacation's just agreeing with him," he told him, but even he had to admit his father had seemed a little different ever since the flight.

"Enjoying the competition thus far?" he asked once he'd made his way over to Cassidy.

"Yeah. I mean, I haven't heard of many of the snowboarders, but the action's been good so far and I'm pretty sure Devin's gotten most of it on tape," she said with a slight laugh. She couldn't be sure why she was even slightly nervous, but with so many people so close she couldn't help but feel it.

"I'm glad then. It's good to know that so far today has been an improvement."

Cassidy felt her heart sink slightly. An improvement over what? Of being alone with her. Or of not being able to be alone with her? "What do you mean?" she managed to ask.

"This time yesterday we were all wondering if we would even make it here, now we're here and able to relax."

"Yeah," she agreed with a smile. "I'm not still the only one who's thanked you for this yet, am I?"

He laughed. "Come to think of it, I think Devin thanked me as well. But I can't think of any others."

"Not even Dr. Oliver?"

"I think he's angry with me, actually. Choosing now to do this while his fiancée is still in Reefside, having to work."

Cassidy laughed. "Well then at the risk of sounding redundant, thank you again, Dr. Mercer. It's been great so far."

"Aside from last night, I assume?" he asked with a sigh.

"Actually, I kind of enjoyed it. Not exactly the way I would've expected to get an exclusive with you, but I'll take it," she told him with a laugh.

"I see. So last night's snow storm was an elaborate way of ensuring an exclusive with me?" he asked with a slight laugh.

"Of course," she answered with as much of a straight face as she could muster before nearly bursting out laughing.

"Are Cassidy and Mercer laughing again?" Ethan asked Conner.

"This is getting too weird," the red and white clad brunette told his teammate.

"I thought she came here for the competition, but now she's not even watching it," Ethan replied.

"You could say the same about Dr. Mercer," Kira commented as she looked to them.