Weathering the Waiting: #5 (Where Sage Meets Sky Series)

The rescue call broke through their midnight - three climbers stranded in sudden weather. "Routine," Sarah had said, kissing Ash before heading out. "Back by dawn at the latest."

But dawn came and went. The storm intensified. No word.

By noon, Ash couldn't stand the silence. She drove to the rescue station, the book of mountain poems Sarah always carried still sitting on their kitchen counter where she'd forgotten it in her hurry.

The station was quiet except for radio chatter. Other team members' partners were there too - this was apparently part of the unspoken protocol, gathering together during long calls. They offered Ash coffee and understanding looks.

Hours crawled by. Ash read every rescue manual in the station, memorized every weather pattern, watched every change in the mountains through the station windows.

When the radio finally crackled with Sarah's voice - "Base, this is Redhawk. Mission complete. All secure." - Ash's knees nearly buckled with relief.

She was waiting in the parking lot when the rescue vehicles pulled in. Sarah emerged looking exhausted but whole, her eyes finding Ash immediately. They met halfway between vehicles, Sarah's arms wrapping around her with familiar strength.

"I'm sorry," Sarah murmured into her hair. "Radio died. Couldn't let you know we were okay."

They ended up in Sarah's rescue vehicle, holding each other while the storm continued outside. Sarah's kisses tasted of mountain wind and apology, her hands gentle as she wiped tears from Ash's cheeks.

"I couldn't bear not knowing," Ash...