Disclaimer and warnings:  See part 1

Constructive comments are welcome: pattypat@iname.com
 
 

Tuesday January 13th, 1998 (continued)

A couple of hours later, Rosie startled when the phone broke her concentration. She had been working on that New Zealand contract without finding where the calculation was wrong and she was growing more frustrated by the minute. "If it's Richard, he's a dead man," she grumbled before answering the call.

"Palmer!" she barked ferociously.
"uh... R-Rosie?" the little voice asked hesitantly.
"Gabrielle? Heeyyy... nice to hear you," she said sincerely, feeling a lot calmer suddenly. "Wassup?"
"I... I won't be joining you for lunch... sorry..."
"Why? what happened?" she asked, feeling like someone was using two hands to squeeze her heart.
"I'm going back to the shelter, they can use help I'm sure," Gabrielle said, fighting to keep her voice as normal as possible. But the lump in her throat betrayed her and Rosie realized instantly that something was wrong.
"Gab, honey, what's going on?" she insisted.
"I got fired," she exhaled the answer. "So no point in staying in town. Can't even go to the Unemployment office, it's closed for the week because of the weather. So I'm gonna take the bus and..."
"Hold on a minute here, that s** of a b** fired you?" she fumed.
"Yes."
"He can't do that. There are laws in this country. He has no right to..."
"That's ok Rosie, I didn't like it much there anyway... Just a bad timing..."
"Sweetheart, where are you now?" Sweetheart?!
"At 'Chapters'."
"Come to my office, will you? It's just a block West from 'Chapters'. We can talk and see what we can do... You don't have to go back right now, do you?"
"No but.. you must be awfully busy, I don't want to bother you..."
"No bother. I'll meet you downstairs, the doorman isn't here today, I'll let you in."
"Ok, if you insist but..."
"I do insist! See you in a bit, hon."

Five minutes later, Rosie was opening the building door to her young companion who had obviously spent some time crying before she had found the courage to call the executive.

"Hey!" Rosie said, spontaneously hugging her friend.
"Hi..." the young one answered, giving in the comforting embrace.
"You okay?" she worried.
"Yeah... thanks..."
"C'm'on, I'll show you upstairs," Rosie said keeping her arm around Gabrielle's shoulder as she lead them toward the elevator "Why didn't you call me right away?" she asked softly as the lift started its way upward.
"I.. I needed some time to calm down... and I didn't want to bother you."
"You'll never bother me, Gabrielle. Never."

The elevator doors opened and the two women stepped in the hallway leading to Rosie's office.

"Welcome to my universe, Gabrielle," she invited after passing beside her secretary's desk.
"Niiiice... Nice view too..." the young one said as she looked around.

She noted quickly that there was no personal items on the desk, not even one family picture. It was a convenient office, but no personal touch.

"You're right," Rosie agreed when Gabrielle made the remark. "I don't own much beside my clothes. I never felt the use of getting stuff. This office is rented full equipped, so is the car and so is the house where I live in. I own nothing, it all belongs to the company."
"But if you loose your company..."
"I loose everything, that's correct. Not that it bothers me, though. I'll bounce back somewhere else. Always did. Want some coffee?"
"Sure," she answered, still puzzled by what Rosie just told her. "The lack of security doesn't bother you?"
"Not one bit. This is not a life investment. I built that company to make money so after I could go around the world again. Cream and sugar, right?" she asked before adding the ingredient in the steaming cup. "I never intended to make it a lifelong commitment that my children will inherit some day. I might be the president but I'm just an employee. I have no personal money in this and I don't get the profits of it. I just have a salary. So if it goes bankrupt, I loose nothing of my own," she finished, handing the steamy coffee mug to her friend.
"Thanks.  But then you won't even have a roof over your head."
"I'll go to the YWCA for a while," she laughed. "Really, it's no big deal. And it's not more insecure than your position."
"Thanks for reminding me," Gabrielle grumbled, looking at the bottom of her coffee mug.
"Sorry... I didn't mean..."
"That's ok Rosie. You're right, my position was insecure even before I lost my job. I guess I'm not used to think the way you do, but I can see the appeal of your way too. But why build a company instead of being employed in an existing one?"
"For fun. For the challenge of it. Or simply because I would have had a rough time being a good employee for a couple of years in any company. Here, I don't have report to some incompetent supervisor. I am the supervisor," she grinned.
"Guess it has its advantages," Gabrielle smiled back.
"You bet! So, you're not going to fight for your rights against this former employer of yours?" Rosie changed the subject.
"No. I know I could, but the job isn't worth it. As long as he gives me the papers I need for Unemployment and references for a new job, I don't care."
"Wanna work for me for a few days?" the executive asked, slightly fearing a negative answer.
"Thanks, but I don't need your pity," she said offended, straightening herself.
"What? No no... Nothing to do with that.." Damn...
"Why then?"
"I'm kinda short staffed lately... and you're here... and available... so I thought while I was waiting downstairs that you could give me a hand. It's not a permanent job, but it would help the both of us for a while..." Tell her, dammit! "..And I'd love to have your company with me here!"
"You.. you would?" Gabrielle asked skeptical, her heart beating faster. Calm down girl!
"Oh yes!"

Their eyes met and locked on each others while an expressive silence hung between them.

"I.. uhm.. well.." Gabrielle started trying to focus her thoughts into something coherent. "I'd be glad to work with you..." she finally stated.
"Cool!" Rosie exhaled the breath that she hadn't noticed she was holding. "What was your income there?" she asked, switching to employer mode.
"8.5$ an hour, why?"
The SoB didn't even pay her fairly, Rosie thought bitterly. "I wouldn't want to under pay you," she explained, taking her seat behind her PC and clicking on the keyboard to access the Human Resources software. "There... I... just... put you on the payroll," she continued while typing the information, "at 12$ an hour. Is that ok?"
"You don't have to do that..."
"Listen," she warned, "right now,out there, there is a pretty tough market for accounting clerks because many are needed for the end of the fiscal year, but many are stuck by the ice storm, so if you go out looking for a job right now, you might even get a higher pay than what I'm giving you here."
"You're exaggerating."
"I'm dead serious. If you'd rather have a look and call me back, I wouldn't stop you." Yes I would!
"I'd rather stay here with you," she smiled tenderly. "Your offer is very generous and the boss I'll be working with is the best. Can't top that anywhere."
"You don't know that yet... but thanks," she smiled back. "Shall we start working a little?"
"Better justify that big raise I just got," she teased.
"Here, you can take this desk," she walked to a smaller office next door and turned on the computer. "There... you're logged in... I'd like you to look at this contract. I've been fighting with it and I can't find where the error is. Maybe I've looked at it too much, I can't even see the numbers anymore."
"I'll analyze it and let you know," she answered already concentrated on her work.
"If you need anything, I'll be right next door. Help yourself with the coffee," she added reaching for the door.
"Rosie?"
"Yes..."
"Thank you so much."
"You very welcome Gabrielle," she answered with an ear-to-ear smile. "See you later..."

 "Lunch?" Rosie asked pointing her head through the door.
"Already?"
"Gab, it's 2pm!" the executive teased.
"Wow! really??"
"Yup! Looks like we both got caught in what we were doing. Aren't you hungry?"

The grumble coming for the young one's stomach answered her question and they both burst out laughing.

"C'm'on, we were supposed to have lunch at 'Steerburgers', remember?"
"I wouldn't miss that," Gabrielle answered walking toward her boss and following her to the elevator.  "I think I found the problem in your worksheet," she said while the lift was bringing them down.
"Really? Cool!" Rosie said enthusiastically. "I knew you would get me out of it!"
"Is that the contract you were working on last Friday?"
"Yeah... Deadline was extended until tonight. Last chance."
"From what I understand, it's rather needed to keep your company afloat, isn't it?"
"Definitely. Not that I care if we go bankrupt, but I'd hate to send seventy-five people to the Unemployment office."
"You have a good heart," Gab whispered more for herself than to her companion.
"That's not what most people think of me," she concluded exiting the elevator.

The streets were still rather empty for that time of the day. Many companies had followed Hydro Quebec's recommendation to limit the use of energy and had kept their offices closed until the situation got better. The city had also advised against going in town until the sky-scrapers could be entirely de-iced which would take a few days more. Beside, many employees were dealing with too many personal difficulties to be able to work adequately, so only a limited amount of business were open. Downtown Montreal had a ghost town look that was surrealist and spooky, forcing the rare visitor to think about how little human beings weight in front of Mother Nature, how little it takes to scramble this so-called evolved society.

"Why do people have a bad opinion of you, Rosie," Gabrielle asked softly after they had ordered their lunch.
"I told you, I live and work for my own interests only. I... kinda stepped over many people to be where I am now. I have my share of enemies around the world."
"Does it bother you?"
"Not one bit. That's their problem, not mine. Does it bother you?" she asked, a glimpse of worry in her voice.
"A little," she admitted looking down at the glass of water in front of her. "I'd like people to see you as you really are, then they would like you."
"Maybe they do see me as I really am," Rosie countered, a little harsher than she wanted.
"No they don't," the blonde answered promptly, posing her hand over the executive's forearm and locking her green eyes into her companion's blue ones. "You're worth way more than what you even admit to yourself, Rosie. And I'm glad that I had a chance to meet you."
"I.. I'm glad we met, too," the executive croaked emotionally.

A heavy silence sat between them as they kept looking into one another's soul for a while. The waitress bringing their meal brought them abruptly to reality and they took a more distant position. Although Gabrielle had removed her hand, Rosie could still feel the heat of it on her forearm. Why do I feel like a teenage girl at her first date? she thought.

"You eat here often?" Gabrielle asked fighting to find her normal voice again.
"Sometimes," she answered, relieved that the young blonde had chosen a neutral subject. "I like the fries here, but often my secretary brings me some take-out that I eat at my desk. Do you eat here often?"
"Oh no, I can't afford to eat all the time out, so I usually bring my lunch."
"Things have been more than unusual lately," Rosie thought loudly. More than I can admit in fact.
"Yeah... On the bright side, we wouldn't have been served that fast on a regular day. I guess the ice storm has one good side effect." That and that tall blue-eyed woman who appeared Friday night in my life, she smiled inwardly.
"Not for the owner of this place, though."
"Ah.. true.."

Silence.

"Can I ask you a personal question?" Gabrielle said a few mouthfuls later.
"Sure!"
"How did you end up in the shelter anyway? don't you have relatives who could have lodged you for a while?"
"Nope."
"No brother, sister, aunt, cousin..."
"Nope."
"You're not much of a talker, are you?!" Gabrielle sighed, slightly annoyed by her companion's attitude.
"Sorry.. I can't invent a huge family for the sake of conversation," the executive apologized. "Parents are divorced, mom lives in Florida, dad in Manitoba, never had any sibling. That's about it for my family."
"You don't see your parents often, then."
"No and that's quite fine like that. We do send emails sometimes, that's enough for me."
"How about them?"
"Better be enough for them too, 'cuz that's the way it is."
"You don't like them much, do you?"
"They don't like me much, so I... put some distance between us. Long story, Gab, and one I don't feel like telling right now..." Can't tell you now that they don't want a lesbian daughter, now can I, little one?!
"Sorry, I didn't mean to bring back bad memories or..."
"That's all right, hon. Just not now, if you don't mind."
"Ok." Not now means she lets the door open for later. Cool, Gabrielle thought optimistically.

Silence.

"I have a sister," Gabrielle continued, "and she lives with my parents in the West island."
"How come you didn't go with them?"
"Didn't want to be too far from my place, in case the power comes back sooner than what they said. Mom was disappointed, I think, but she understands."
"No friend who could have help you out? boyfriend maybe?" Rosie asked tentatively.
"No boyfriend," the blonde answered, blushing despite herself. "Friends are in the same situation as us: no power."
"Problems when half of the population is stuck like this, chances are that friends are rowing on the same boat," Rosie noted, surprisingly delighted to know there was no boyfriend in the picture.
"How about you?"
"Too busy to have friends," Rosie answered spontaneously.
"Boyfriend?" Gabrielle asked shyly, hoping against all hopes that a gorgeous woman like Rosie Palmer wasn't engaged already.
"None."
*sigh* "Too busy?" she asked trying to sound casual.
"Not interested." Should I tell you? Would you be ready for this now, little one?

The waitress again interrupted their tête-à-tête by asking if everything was all right and they answered positively, although Rosie was tempted to add it would be better if they could have a bit less interruptions.

"Funny," Gabrielle continued once the waitress had left, "it's actually the first real conversation we had since we've met."
"You're right... we talked more about the shelter activities than anything else before today... This is much more interesting, Gab. I hope we'll do that again."
"I'd love that too," the blonde smiled widely.

Although they retreated on some other less personal topics afterward, they had a good time getting to know one another a little more during their lunch break. It was past three o'clock when Rosie regretfully decided it was time to get back to the office and finish that infamous contract she had to fax later that night.

At 6:30pm, the contract was finalized and all was left was to print it, sign it and fax it to the impatient Richard who was waiting in New Zealand.

"Thank you so much, Gab. I probably wouldn't have made it without your help."
"Yes you would have," the blonde smiled affectionately.
"I wasn't seeing the numbers anymore. Been too much in it for the last week or so. I owe you big time here!"
"Naann.. but thanks for saying it, my ego kinda needed that after the bad start my day had."

They looked at one another, Gabrielle sitting in the chair facing Rosie's desk, the executive sitting on the other side of it. An intense moment passed in silence between them before the blonde broke it deliberately.

"I.. I'll go catch my bus now, if you don't need me anymore. I think I still can have the 7pm one."
I need you, little one, more than I can tell you. "Sure. You coming back tomorrow?"
"Do you have work for me to do tomorrow? I thought your team was coming back Wednesday."
"If you can, or want it, I'll have something for you to work on, yes. My crew coming back is likely but not confirmed yet."
"Then I'll be here, then. Thanks."
"My pleasure," she assured sincerely.
"What time?"
"Whenever you can make it. Office will be open: I'll be here."
"You'll be here all night," Gabrielle laughed. "What time the others arrive, eight?"
"Yes."
"How about I'll come earlier and bring you breakfast?"
"You'd do that?"
"Sure..."
"Ok, only if you take it with me, then."
"Deal! See you tomorrow morning then. Gotta run if I wanna catch my bus now..."
"Ok hon, you take care out there, 'kay?"
"Will do. You have a good night Rosie," she said as she was on the edge of the door.
"Will do, too," she answered, sad to see her new friend disappearing.

As soon as the door closed behind the young blonde, Rosie felt suddenly lonely, her mind urging her to run after her companion and keep her close, her heartbeats echoing in the emptiness of her soul. Get a grip, dammit! She's coming back tomorrow and you've got work to do.

Rosie proofread the printed copy of the New Zealand contract before signing it and slid the pages into the fax machine. No doubt that Richard is sitting beside his fax right now, she smiled at the thought. She made sure it went through properly and then went down to grab some take-out food to bring back upstairs.

It was close to nine o'clock when she sat in front of the tv screen in the conference room to eat her all dressed pizza.  She settled conformably in the sofa and zapped to grab the news channel and get updated on the power situation in the province. Hopefully, they'll have good news, for a change... Wishful thinking, but the situation hadn't changed much since last time she heard the newscaster and there was no hope for power at her place for another couple of weeks. Good thing I like camping, she sighed.

The newscaster went on, reporting all the accidents and injuries due to the weather, mostly people getting hurt while de-icing their roof or improvising themselves pruners, falling from roofs or ladders and ending on a hospital bed. Rosie shook her head a few times at the innocence of many while chewing on her pizza and sipping on her cold Black Label beer.

She stopped chewing when the newscaster reported a fire in an apartment building on the South shore, raising a questioning eyebrow and listening intently. He had not said the exact location, but only that the fire might have started when Hydro brought the power back, because of some tenants having left the stove on when they had evacuated. "How stupid one can be?" Rosie grumbled. The executive had a bad feeling about it, although she tried to rationalize: Relax, there are many apartment buildings on the South shore, Rosie, not only Gabrielle's! But why were her guts telling her to worry, then?

It's only when they switched to the reporter on the spot that Rosie understood what her gut feeling was telling her: it was Gabrielle's building! "Holly shit!" she erupted, dropping both beer and pizza, rushing to grab her coat, car keys and leaving the office in less than five seconds flat.  She was not going home, she was going to the shelter. Please let her be safe at the shelter... I can't loose her now that I finally have found her," she thought as the elevator took her down to the underground parking. Never that elevator had been so slow before. She jumped out of it before the door had a chance to open fully and she ran toward her car. A few seconds later, after leaving a good part of the rubber on the ground behind her, Rosie's car was speeding toward Gabrielle's place.

On her way, between silent prayers for her friend's safety, Rosie's mind was struggling to get a rational explanation to an irrational reaction. Until the realization stoke her. Damn you, Rosie Palmer, you fell in love with her, she admitted with a indulgent smile. You swore you wouldn't walk that road again, but... but you did. Wanna know the exact moment when you fell for this beautiful nymph, Rosie? just check out at what time you registered at the shelter. That's right there, right then. She smiled at the memory of her arrival in front of the woman doing the registration. Her shock and lack of words in front of those magnificent deep green eyes looking back at her, that devastating smile on this gentle face... Please, please let her be safe!

The car had barely stopped in front of the shelter, that Rosie jumped out of it and rushed inside to find Gabrielle. Who was nowhere to be seen. Please... Seeing Pierre, she called him and asked if he knew where her friend was and he explained her that she heard about her apartment and went to see by herself. Rosie's heart sank as she rushed back to her car and sped toward the building.

A few minutes later, she was parking her car a block East of it and ran to find any information. The fire was under control but part of the building had collapsed. There would be nothing to salvage in there once it'd be over. Rosie's heart hurt. She walked fast between hoses, wires, trucks and firemen, looking desperately for her blonde companion.

"Hey, Ma'am," a policeman intercepted her, "you can't go there. Restricted area."
"I need to find a friend who lives there," she explained, her breath short, her heart stomping in her chest.
"If she was around, she'll be with the residents in that bus over there," he kindly showed her.
"Thanks," she said as she ran in the designated direction.

She knocked at the door of the bus and the driver opened it for her.

"Looking for someone, Miss?"
"Yes, a friend of mine, blonde..."
"Have a look," the driver invited, not friendlier than necessary.

She walked between the rows until she spotted a slouched form with golden hair, in shock but safe. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

"Gabrielle," she whispered as she knelt in the alley beside her friend. "Hey... you okay?" she asked taking the little shaky hand in hers, scared to see her companion so distant.
"Ro.. Rosie?" the blonde asked softly, as if she was talking to a vision that would disappear if talked too loud to.
"Yes... Mind giving me some room?" she asked as Gabrielle was taking two seats.

The blonde sat straighter and Rosie dropped in the seat beside her, passing her arm around Gabrielle's shoulders and pulling her close in a comforting embrace. The dam that was holding Gabrielle's fear and tears broke when she felt the warmth of her friend's body against hers and she started to sob heavily, holding Rosie in a strong hug that was almost stopping her from breathing. Not that the executive minded the closeness, though.

"Shhtt.. it's ok Gab, I've gotchya now... you're safe, sweetheart, I'll make sure of that," Rosie whispered while caressing the blonde's hair affectionately.
"I.. lost.. everything.." she blurted out.
"I know... but it's just material, honey. You're safe, that's what's important... It'll be all right, I promise..."

Gabrielle let the tear coming out without fighting them, feeling safe in Rosie's embrace and letting the soothing words reach her mind and heart. She cried for the long minutes before regaining enough inner strength, mostly Rosie's own, to straighten herself and locked her eyes into worried deep blue ones.

"Thanks," she sniffed. "I've ruined your shirt though," she tried to joke between deep sobs still shaking her breathing.
"Anytime you feel like ruining a shirt, just come to me, 'kay?" Rosie teased, happy to see a smile on her beloved's face. "How d'you feel? were you hurt?" she asked, pulling her companion back in a close embrace.
"No. Kinda shaky though.. I was at the shelter when someone talked about it. I was hoping I could save some stuff but when I arrived here, there was already nothing to be done."
"Luckily," Rosie deadpanned, raising an interrogative look from Gabrielle. "I prefer that you arrived too late than knowing you'd rush in a burning building to 'save some stuff', that's all I meant, hon."
"I would have been stupid enough to go in, wouldn't I?" Gabrielle mumbled to herself.
"Irrational maybe, not stupid."

There was a long silence during which both Gabrielle and Rosie enjoyed the feeling of closeness they were sharing.

"What are you doing here anyway?" the young blonde asked, suddenly registering the fact that Rosie wasn't in her office anymore.
"I heard the news on tv. I just rushed here as fast as I can."
"Must have been fast..."
"Want the truth? I have no clue about what speed or what road I took to come here," she admitted honestly.
"Not good..."
"Huh?"
"Not good for you to risk your life for me like that."
"I'll risk it anytime I'll feel you're in danger, sweetheart. And I mean that with all my heart," she said spontaneously.

Gabrielle left the cozy embrace she was enjoying to look deep into blue sky eyes, searching for the truth of those words, making Rosie regretting her last words. Shit! She wasn't ready for this! Your timing sucks, Rosie Palmer! An indescriptible fear of rejection wrapped around her like a dark cloak.

"I... I don't know what to say..." the blonde whispered, touched beyond belief by the raw emotions she saw in Rosie's eyes but unable to answer to its intensity.

As if betrayed by them, Rosie closed her eyes, feeling her heart crushed at the thought that her feelings weren't mutual. There, she doesn't love you. What did you imagine, stupid!  She took a couple of breath before opening her eyes again, finding anxious green ones still staring at her intently.

"You don't have to say anything," she managed painfully. Damn that hurts!... "Do you have to stay here for administrative reasons or can I drive you somewhere else?" she abruptly changed the conversation topic, her voice and manners suddenly becoming cold and business-like as she raised invisible walls around her.
"I don't kno.. I mean... I don't have to stay, I think..." Gabrielle answered puzzled by Rosie's attitude. One minute pure tenderness, the next solid rock... what happened just now? what did I miss? the blonde struggled to understand, but didn't succeed.
"Let's go then," she said dryly, standing up quickly, barely giving time to her blonde companion to release her.

She waited for the weak woman at the front of the bus and held her comfortingly as they walked toward the white Cherokee. The executive opened the passenger door, settled Gabrielle and walked to the driver's side.

"Anywhere you want me to drop you?" she asked coldly.
"Rosie, I..."
"Shelter?" she insisted.
"Yes," she exhaled sadly.

A long, heavy silence lasted almost up to the shelter, during which Rosie was rebuilding the walls behind which she'd been hiding her heart for so many years. At the same time, Gabrielle was struggling to understand what had happened to create such a tension between them. I can't stand her so distant, the blonde thought, a single tear rolling down her cheek.

"Listen," Rosie started on her all-business tone, "you'll be busy tomorrow with the insurance and stuff for the apartment, you don't have to come to the office. I know you'll have your hands full around here."

She's pushing me away... forever, the blonde realized. That can't be happening. Whywhywhy? Gabrielle remained silent, but the lump she swallowed with difficulty made a loud gulp which even Rosie could hear. The executive winced at the sound but tried to ignore it.

"Here's your stop," the executive said while stopping the car in front of the shelter.

NO! If you let her go now, you won't see her again, ever, Gabrielle thought.

"Can... Can we go have a drink somewhere and talk?" she asked softly, at the verge of crying again. "Please?"

Battling the turmoil of emotions raging between her mind and her heart, Rosie remained silent, holding the steering wheel as if her life was depending on it. Finding no reason to refuse the girl's offer, the executive simply engaged the first gear and drove to a restaurant she knew would be opened. Gabrielle sat back in her seat, closed her eyes and sighed loudly. Close call... Better make sure there isn't another one or I'll loose her for sure.

There was very few people in the restaurant and they found a cozy place in the back. Gabrielle ordered a beer while Rosie chose a Bourbon. They remained silent all the time it took to the waitress to go prepare and bring back their drink. Rosie almost swallowed hers in one gulp while Gabrielle didn't touch her beer.

"Please... please talk to me," the blonde whispered to her silent companion.  "At least," she continued as Rosie didn't make a sound, "explain me what happened. What did I say to upset you?"
"Nothing Gabrielle, nothing."
"Something happened back there, Rosie. Something that shouldn't have happen. If you are to disappear from my life forever, I want to understand why. W.. What did I do wrong?" she said, her voice breaking as she started crying.

For the first time, Rosie turned to look at the young one, puzzled and destabilized by the distress she could see on this beautiful face. Could I have been wrong? God, what have I done?... Seeing her beloved friend crying was too much for Rosie to bear and she extended her arms to bring her closer in a fierce hug.

"Don't cry," she croaked, "I can't stand that..."
"W.. what happened earlier?" Gabrielle insisted between two sobs.
"Nothing hon... I'm just being the selfish brat I usually am. I'm sorry..."
"Don't shut me out, Rosie, please..."

Silently, Rosie reveled the sensation of having this beautiful woman in her arms, trying to settle her emotions to a manageable level to be able to express them verbally to Gabrielle.

"Ok," the blonde sighed confronted with the exasperating silence of her tall companion, "if you don't want to talk, I'll try to do it then... whatever the consequences might be..."

She pushed back from the warm embrace to face Rosie, holding her hands to keep a physical link between them, looking her eyes into deep blue ones.

"You are an incredible woman, Rosie Palmer, and one must be blind not to see that," she started calmly despite the tears rolling down her cheeks. "I've seen that the moment you passed the shelter's door. From that moment onward, my life hasn't been the same. The more I spent time with you, the more I wanted to be with you, even if I knew it was hopeless to dream that you would think the same about me."
"But I..."
"Lemme say it, otherwise I'll never get the strength again," she countered the interruption. "Hoping against hope is a specialty of mine," she laughed bitterly. "Why would a gorgeous adventurous goddess like you would want to be with someone insignificant like me? That's a hopeless dream all right!"
"Gab, you're no..."
"I don't know what made you spend time with me," she continued ignoring Rosie's attempt, "but I was too happy to even think of analyzing it. I just took whatever you gave me.  Earlier..." she sighed, reaching deep in her heart to find the strength to continue. "For the first time, earlier, I felt that maybe my hopes weren't so hopeless after all and I was so startled that I was left speechless..."
"Gab, I..."
"I'm sorry that I misunderstood what you said. You were just trying to comfort a friend, nothing more and I'm sorry if I spooked you away with my worshipping love for you. Rosie, I just lost everything I owned, I don't think I can bear loosing your friendship on top of ihmhmm..."

She was abruptly interrupted by Rosie's lips falling on her own in a tender yet passionate kiss.

"Can I say something now?" the executive asked with a twinkle in the eye when she broke the kiss. Gabrielle could only nod her answer, her voice gone again. "Gab, you're the most courageous woman I've ever met. I wouldn't have had the courage to speak the way you did... and I would have lost you. You're right, I was scared. But not the way you think. I was terrified that you would reject me if I told you how much you mean to me... when you said nothing earlier, I thought... I thought you didn't share my feelings. And it hurt."

Suddenly, everything pieces of the puzzle came into place in Gabrielle's mind. Someone had hurt Rosie so much before, she couldn't give her trust to anyone, not even herself. Because what she said took my voice away, she thought I didn't like her, Gabrielle realized before pulling her friend in a tighter hug.

"I love you Rosie," Gabrielle whispered gently in her ear.
"..love you too.." came the soft answer that was reinforced with a stronger hug.

They remained in one another's embrace for a long time, saying nothing, enjoying this newly exposed love they were sharing, erasing the pain, the fears and drawing a better future. Gabrielle pulled back slightly, looking shyly into those deep blue eyes that moved her so much, finding in them the same desire she felt, and she leaned slowly forward to let her lips take Rosie's in a timid kiss that became quickly heated with passion.

"Rosie?" she asked a few minutes later, once their breathing and heartbeats regained an almost normal rhythm.
"Hmm..." the executive answered without breaking the tight embrace.
"Promise me something?"
"Anything, love."
"Promise to never shut me out again, to talk to me even if it hurts, to never come this close of loosing each other again..."
"I promise!"

Another moment passed in silence before Rosie talked again.

"I hate to break the mood, but I think they'd like to close this place," she said softly after acknowledging the desperate waves from the waitress.
"Darn... Can they close with us inside?"
"I don't think so," Rosie chuckled. "Come on, sweetheart, let that poor woman finish her duty hours."

Reluctantly, they released the embrace and left the restaurant, their fingers intertwined.

"What do we do now?" Gabrielle asked, unwilling to be separated from her companion.
"We could both go to the shelter," she started, obviously not thrilled by the idea, "or we could both go back to the office..."
"I don't feel like sharing you with the rest of the shelter tonight," Gabrielle said, blushing furiously.
"Neither do I," Rosie chuckled. "We could go to my place to grab some clothes for you and some camping gears, ya know, foam mattress and sleeping bag.. then go to my office. What do you think?"
"Sounds like a good plan," the blonde smiled. "But I do have some clothes at the shelter, if we could stop to pick 'em up..."
"No problem, hon," she smiled back.

They reluctantly released their fingers and climbed in the Cherokee. Both women needed a physical link between them, like a tangible proof that it wasn't a dream, but on those still icy roads, Rosie had to keep both hands on the steering wheel. She was surprised to feel Gabrielle's tiny hand landing on her thigh and she smiled to her companion's questioning eyes, telling her silently that it was okay. Way more than ok.

The drive toward the shelter and then Rosie's house went without incident. The executive stopped the car in her driveway, unbuckled her seat belt as Gabrielle was waiting, as if she was about to stay in the car while Rosie wandered in the house. Blue eyes flickered with a spark of anticipation when Rosie decided to make a move, leaning over the passenger's seat and stealing a tender kiss from Gabrielle who got over her surprise quickly and answered with passion.

"What was that for?" Gabrielle panted when Rosie backed away slightly.
"I need to reach the glove compartment and you were in the way," the executive explained. "I couldn't resist."
"Remind me to get in your way often, will ya?" the blonde smiled widely.
"You bet!.. In the mean time, could you dig out the flashlight for me? I'll never get to it while you're sitting here."

Giggling happily, Gabrielle undid her seatbealt and reached the back of Rosie's neck to kiss her back with the same heated passion, breaking the embrace only when both women were in desperate need of oxygen.

"You were in my way too," the blonde stated with a smirk.

She finally reached the glove compartment and extracted a heavy flashlight that she gave to the driver.

"Join me in? I'll give you a flashy tour of my place," she said waving the light to underline 'flashy', happy to hear her companion chuckle at her rather silly joke.
"Maybe that'll be enough to shed some lights on the mystery you still are to me, Rosie Palmer."
"I doubt, it's a very obscure case you're dealing with."
"It's worth a try," Gabrielle smiled. "Shall we?"
"Let's go..."

They left the cozy warmth of the car to rush toward the house, trying to avoid as much of the wind as possible, before penetrating in the dark cold house.

"ooff... cold out there," Rosie shivered.
"Yeah.. makes the house feel warm.." Gabrielle agreed. "Waow... nice place," she admired as she turned the flashlight around what was the living room. "It looks like in those magazines..."
"That's how I chose it: in a catalogue! One of those perfect house where nobody lives in, exactly what I needed!" she spat bitterly.
"If you don't like it, what did you choose it?" the blonde asked softly.
"Oh I like it, it's wonderful. I'm just never in here except for sleeping, that's all. But for the prestige of the company, I needed something fancier than the log cabin I'd prefer for myself. It's where I live, but it's also where we receive our foreign guests when they come for a contract, instead of getting them in a hotel. It's fashionable to have them in the executive's house... So I got that 'Martha Stewart style' house."
"Nothing here is yours, though, right?"
"Right. Everything I own is either in the bedroom or the basement. I rarely use the other rooms."
"How long have you been here?"
"Dunno... a year and a half, something like that..."
"And in all those months, you have never had the urge of personalizing this place?"
"No, I won't be here forever, what's the use?!" she asked genuinely sincere.
"See, I don't understand that. To me, it's kinda important to have place where I feel good when I finish working. A place I can call home to go to..."
"Home is wherever you want it to be, Gabrielle. It doesn't have to be material," Rosie countered softly.
"Maybe..." she answered pensively.
"Come on, I'll show you around and we'll grab what we need to camp in that warm office of mine. It's just a tid bit too chilly in here right now..."

Holding Gabrielle's hand in hers, Rosie gave her a quick tour of the house, showing her rooms she rarely went into and rooms she was most often in, like the basement used for storage and the master bedroom. They picked up some foam and sleeping bags, a few clothes and accessories, and went back to the car.  Swiftly, Rosie got back on the road toward the city.

  They found a road block a few street further and they both thought it was for the same reason Gabrielle was now homeless, but a policeman explained them that it was in fact a three storeys building that had collapsed under the weight of the ice on its roof. It was the fourth in the area and many residents of those old building were seriously worried by now. Although Rosie and her companion felt compassion for those people, Gabrielle couldn't stop thinking that they were luckier than she because they would be able to retrieve their souvenirs, photo albums and such... while she would only find ashes in her former apartment. Unconsciously, she let a desperate sigh out.

"You okay?" Rosie asked, gently laying her hand on the young blonde's thigh.
"Yeah.. just bad thinking.."
"I know. You'll be fine, I'll make sure of that. Don't worry too much, okay?" she said, a tender squeeze emphasizing her words.
"I'll try," she smiled back to her friend.

No other incident stopped their way toward downtown Montreal and in no time, they were safely back, carrying the camping gear to the eleventh floor.

"There, you can have the sofa in the conference room," Rosie said, piling up pillow and sleeping bag on the furniture in question. "I've slept there before, it's rather comfy," she added with a friendly smile.
"How about you?" Gabrielle asked softly.
"I'll be in my office. That's why I got the foams too. Don't worry, I'm used to sleep anywhere. I don't mind."
"But...."
"I insist, Gab! And you don't have to worry about colleagues coming in, we'll be up way before their arrival."
"You brought an alarm clock?"
"Yeah... my own body clock," she laughed. "I'm always up around 5am..."
"Oh boy... I must warn you: I'm not an early bird and I'm rather.. er.. grumpy when I wake up. Nothing personal. Just wanted you to be aware..."
"I'll get an armor when I'll need to get you up, then," she laughed. "You'll be ok here?" she asked more seriously, stepping closer from her companion.
NO!  her mind screamed. "Yeah, that's great... thanks..." she answered, troubled by her own body's reaction to Rosie's closeness. "And.. th.. thanks for rescuing me too!"
"Anytime," Rosie whispered, hypnotized by two green eyes locked on her.

There was an awkward moment while they faced one another, close enough to feel the heat and breathing of the other, but unable to move or think about anything else but the intensity of the moment. Slowly, almost shyly, Rosie moved her hand up to caress her friend's cheek, stepping a bit closer as their heartbeats grew faster.

"You're so beautiful," the executive murmured, slowly bending forward until her lips made contact with Gabrielle's, so lightly that it felt like a feather touch.

The young woman's body melted into Rosie's as the kiss deepened and became passionate, tongues demanding entrance, lips crushing, teeth biting. Gabrielle and Rosie moaned simultaneously, communicating their love for each other with their bodies, mouth locked together and hands feverishly seeking a way through the thin barrier of clothes.

"Oh god," the blonde exhaled when Rosie broke the kiss without pulling apart, their lungs in desperate need of air.
"Love," Rosie panted, "we.. we've gotta.. stop..."  She took a couple of deep breaths before answering the questioning look from her companion. "Not here... As much as I want that to happen too, not now..."
"Why?" Gabrielle couldn't refrain herself from asking, strengthening her hold on the executive.
"Because," she started explaining after taking a few seconds to find the right words, "what's happening between us is special, overwhelming too, and I want it to last."
"It will last," the blonde assured firmly, not fully understanding Rosie.
"God, I hope it will," the executive sighed. "Gab, honey, I.. I don't know how to explain myself, but... you're not a one-night fling. I.. I believe that you're the one I've been waiting for, my soulmate... and I want our first time to be unique, a special night which memories will be cherished for all our life together and beyond. I don't want it to be on the floor in my office. Do you understand what I'm trying to say?"
"Rosie Palmer is a hopeless romantic," Gabrielle smiled. "That leaves us both very frustrated, but yes, I understand perfectly. I want our first time to be special too. I love you, Rosie. And I too believe that you are my soulmate. I've believed that since the first moment I saw you."
"Me too... I love you, Gabrielle," she whispered before deposing a tender kiss on her lover's lips.
"You.. you should go lock yourself in your office before we loose the little control we have," Gabrielle warned, moving slightly away from the heat of Rosie's body.
"Yeah... right... sure..." the executive mumbled as she desperately tried to control her breathing and heartbeats. "You sure you'll be ok here?"
"Certain!... Thanks, Rosie."
"No probl' .. Good night then," she said reluctantly stepping back toward her office.
"Sweet dreams..."
"You too, hon'.."

Once on the other side of the door which was left slightly open, Rosie leaned against the wall, trying hard to get her emotions in check. She let herself slide to the floor as her knees were suddenly too weak to hold her up. She let her head against the wall, closed her eyes and worked on regaining control over her body. Get a grip, Palmer! she summoned herself. She realized that she had never felt anything so strong for anyone before. It was both thrilling and scary to be so vulnerable in the hands of one single individual. With one word, Gabrielle could either bring Rosie to Heaven or drop her in Hell. Can I trust again? Can I let her into my heart without getting wounded? She thought about that a few seconds and decided that it was worth trying and she was determined to do everything to succeed.

It took almost ten minutes until Rosie regained her composure and stood up again, setting her bedding for the night. Unbeknownst to her, Gabrielle in the other room was fighting with the same emotions. It took them a long time before finally falling asleep.

The executive was abruptly awaken a couple of hours late by a scream coming from the other room. She jumped on her feet and ran toward Gabrielle who was apparently still asleep but fighting some terrible nightmare. Rosie knelt beside her companion and slowly started to pull her out of Morpheus' arms. Gabrielle suddenly sat, eyes wide open, startling her friend by its rapidity.

"Fire! Fire!" the blonde screamed before realizing that she had been dreaming. She then gasped for air, accepting Rosie's arms around her as the dark-haired woman sat on the sofa beside her.
"'s'okay, 's'okay... just a bad dream..." she whispered, holding her tenderly in a warm embrace.
"I.. I was there," she cried, "at my place, trying to save some stuff from the fire... And you were there too, yelling at me..."
"Yelling at you?" Rosie asked puzzled.
"Yes, yelling how stupid I was to go in a building in flame.."
"Ah, that," she understood, smiling inwardly. You bet I would have yelled at you if you'd done that, love! After getting you out of there, though. "So you were outside?"
"No, we were both inside.. And then, you disappeared in the smoke, and the fire was everywhere. I couldn't see. I lost you. I lost everything," she finished, sobbing even more.
"Shhhhttt... We're both safe. You just had a tough day, hon'...  Relax, I gotcha now..." I was INSIDE too??!

They remained cuddled until Gabrielle's breathing became normal again, both secretly enjoying the embrace.

"Th.. thanks," the blonde finally said, reluctantly pulling apart. "I'll be fine now. Sorry to have waken you up."
"No probl', love. Why don't we have something to drink while we're up? Want some Perrier too?"
"Sure, I'd like that."
"Stay there, I'll bring it to ya," she said, jumping on her feet toward the little office fridge, getting two small bottles out and coming back beside Gabrielle. "There ya go, hon'"
"Thanks."
"I was thinking... Maybe you shouldn't stay alone tonight... I.. er.. We..." she stopped, unable to find her words and blushing furiously.
"...sleep together?" Gabrielle finished for her.
"Er... yeah... Just sleep!" she added quickly, blushing even more.
"You're cute when you blush, love," the blonde teased, caressing the back of her hand on Rosie's red cheek. "I don't want to be a bother. I'm sure I can sleep here by myself..."
"But?" she asked hopeful.
"But if I were to have another nightmare, it would be more practical if you were close by, instead of getting up and all," she teased, feeling much better suddenly.
"Definitely more practical, yes," she approved. "It's gotta be on the foam mattress, though, can't be both on the sofa..."
"Ah yes..."
"So? is that a 'yes we'll be both on the floor' or a 'no we'll stay miserable until morning'?" Rosie asked impatiently.
"I snore!"
"What?"
"I snore!"
"Oh, when you don't scream, you mean," she teased tenderly. "Honey, you can snore, scream, whistle, I don't care. Yes?"
"Yes!" she agreed.
"YESSS!" Rosie joked happily. "Ok, let's go then.. Gotta move the pillows and stuff... And because I really want us to be up before my crew's arrival, we really have to sleep soon!"

A couple of minutes later, they were lying side by side on Rosie's office floor.

"What?" Gabrielle asked when she heard Rosie chuckled.
"I was just imagining my secretary's face if she were to fall on us like that tomorrow morning."
"That worries you?" she asked seriously concerned.
"Not one bit! Don't worry hon', we'll be up before that, I know.  Sleep tight now..."
"Good night, love."
"Good night, sweetheart."

Fifteen minutes later, a loud snore was coming out of Gabrielle's lungs and Rosie was still wide awake. Boy, does she snore!?!  She pushed her a bit, making her turn in her sleep and therefore stopped the snoring. But Gabrielle had turned toward Rosie, one arm over her chest, one leg over Rosie's and her head on the dark-haired woman's chest. That's comfy, she approved with a smile before falling asleep too.

Wednesday January 13th, 1998
Gabrielle woke up slowly, enjoying the softness and warmth of her pillow. Hmmm.. must be early, shelter is still quiet, she thought in the fog of the night. Wait! I'm not in the shelter, Rosie drove me to her office last night. A couple of seconds passed during which Gabrielle tried to pull her mind together with difficulty. What a night it had been... the fire, the dispute, the kiss that followed, the nightmare and then Rosie's comforting presence. A smiled crept on her face at the remembrance of the tender embrace as they lied down together. Then the situation became clear in her mind and Gabrielle blushed from head to toes. Oh God! I'm lying on top of her... oh God... okok.. Think Gabby, think!... She might not have realized this yet and you can move away before she wakes up.. Yeah.. ok.. move sloooowly now...

As Gabrielle turned her head to see if Rosie was asleep, she found herself staring into two profound blue eyes looking back at her. Busted!
"Hey," Rosie's sleepy voice greeted softly.
"Hey," she gulped, trying to calm herself down. "I.. ahhh... I'm sorry, I don't.. didn't.." she mumbled trying to get away from the warm body under her.
"Shhtt.. stay there a moment, will ya? It's comfy," the dark haired woman said, pulling her friend back closer.
"It is?" she asked surprised by Rosie's reaction.
"Yeah! Isn't it?" twinkle blue eyes teased.
"It is, yes!" Gabrielle admitted in a deeper blush. Oh God! I'm soooo busted...
"How do you feel this morning?"
"Much better, thanks to you. How 'bout you? did you sleep well despite my snoring and cuddling?"
"Yup!" she chuckled, "I slept dreaming I was holding you and woke up finding you holding me, ain't that funny?"
"Not sure who's holding who, but... I like it!"
"So do I, sweet Gabrielle, so do I."

Silence.

"I love you, Gabrielle Marchand," the executive whispered, lightly kissing the blonde's forehead.
"I love you too, Rosie Palmer," she answered, raising from her comfortable spot to be able to kiss her companion's soft lips. The kiss deepened for a moment, before they mutually agreed to pull back and resumed their previous position.

Silence.

"Wanna have some breakfast, love?" Rosie asked softly.
"Yeah.. but I don't want to move yet."
"Me neither... but we'll have to if we don't want to be caught like this by my staff," she chuckled.
"Oh! Right!... ok... I'm up, I'm up," she affirmed without moving.
"Uh huh..."

Finally, after some few long minutes of contented silence, they both got up and Rosie showed her friend the way to the gym and shower room.  Half an hour later, they were sitting side by side in a nearby restaurant, enjoying both the company and a strong warm 'café au lait'.

"After all the events yesterday night, I didn't ask you what happened with that contract," Gabrielle said between two mouthfuls of her eggs and bacon.
"I don't know the result yet," Rosie answered. "We have a telecon at 10 with Richard and that's when we'll know if they signed it or not."
"Anxious?"
"A little... I'm not used to loose," she admitted, looking at the bottom of her coffee mug.
"You won't!" Gabrielle assured, emphasizing her words with a comforting hand laying on the executive's forearm.
"We'll see... You'll be busy today, with the insurance and stuff. Margaret, my secretary, will give you a hand if you need help with it."
"Thanks... There isn't much to do, except calling them and waiting for their inspector to say how much they'll reimburse. At least, I'm sure they won't ask for anything to be salvaged, there's probably nothing left!"
"I'm afraid you're right," Rosie agreed sadly. "You'll get new stuff. You like shopping?"
"Usually, yes... but in this case... I don't know... mixed feelings, I s'ppose."
"We'll get you through this, I promise."
"Thanks," she smiled, squeezing the forearm tenderly.

Wednesday, January 14th, 10:30am, Conference room

In the small conference room, a dozen of Rosie's employee was sitting around the table, listening to Richard briefing them about the Kiwi's answer to the contractual offer the executive had worked so hard to finalize. Rosie was sitting at the end of the table, Gabrielle a few seats on her left. The blonde had been presented to the crew earlier and everybody sort of adopted her on the spot. She was overwhelmed to feel so much part of a group that she didn't know a couple of hours earlier.

"..So, to make it short..." Richard's voice said through the speaker phone.
"You've been talking for half an hour already, so it can't be short anymore, Ricky," Rosie teased. "Get to the point, will ya?"
"They signed it."
"They did?" Rosie asked, both surprised and relieved.
"Yes they did!"
"Good work, Richard!" she congratulated him.
"Good work from you, you're the one who made the numbers, not me. I just handed the thing over."
"Well, Gabrielle Marchand helped me with those numbers, though. I cannot take all the credit for it," Rosie admitted, smiling to her blushing friend.
"So, now that you have it signed, when are you leaving around the world and give me your seat? can I have it once I get off the plane?" Richard joked.
"Don't hold your breath right now," Rosie answered, looking at a shocked Gabrielle and feeling helpless in front of the sadness she could see in those green eyes. "Richard, I'll see you when you get here.  Thanks again. Bye.
"Bye Rosie, bye gang, see you soon."
"Margaret," the executive called as everybody exited the room, "could you call some caterer and have a festive lunch brought here? I think that deserves a celebration."
"Sure will do, Rosie. Anything else?"
"No, I'll be in my office and I don't want to be disturbed until I tell you so."

The secretary nodded and left to get to her desk. Rosie was now alone in the conference room, not sure she was ready for the conversation she was about to have with her new friend.  With a sigh, she got up and walked toward Gabrielle's desk.

"Can I see you in my office, now?" she asked.
"Certainly," the blonde answered with a professional tone that betrayed her personal hurt feelings.
"Close the door and sit down on the sofa, there. Please."
"So, when are you leaving?" she asked, sitting where she had been instructed.
"You're upset," Rosie remarked.
"Sorry, yes. I knew that you would go back on the road once this contract was signed, I shouldn't have been surprised. I guess I didn't have time to get used to the idea of you leaving, after all what happened in the last days..."
"Many things happened in the last days," Rosie sighed, bringing some paper and sitting down on the sofa beside Gabrielle. "What was true ten days ago isn't true anymore.  Anyway, here is where we stand now: this is a formal contract for you. Sign this and you are instantly a full time, permanent employee of this society. Three weeks vacation a year, twelve bucks an hour with an automatic three percent increase each year for the increase of the cost of living."
"Generous. A good bye gift?" she asked bitterly.
"Not quite... The way I see it, we have two choices. One: you sign this and the situation remains like now, me as a manager, you as an accounting clerk.  Two: we take the road and visit the world, live an new adventure in each country."
"I always knew you wanted to travel again, I'll b... Wow! What did you say?" she asked, suddenly realizing what Rosie had said. "Did you say 'we'? as you and I together?"
"Yup!" she grinned. "WE can stay here or WE can travel. Your choice, love."
"My choice?" she gulped. "Bu.. But..."
"Relax, it doesn't have to be done right now this minute, we'll talk about it and see what could make us both happy. I just didn't want you to believe that I'd go around the world without you, because there is no way I'd do that. Traveling is fun, but not when you leave your heart and soul behind. And you, Gabrielle Marchand, are my heart and soul. I need you as much as I need air to breathe. No way I'd leave you behind, love," she said, looking straight into deep green eyes.
"Oh God Rosie," the blonde sighed, falling in her lover's open arms, "meeting you was the best thing that ever happened in my life. I love you so much..."
"I love you too," Rosie whispered before taking Gabrielle's lips for a passionate kiss.

Epilogue, two months later, Dorval Airport

"You ready?" Rosie asked, checking one last time for her passport and boarding pass.
"Yeah..." Gabrielle sighed.
"Regrets?" the former executive worried.
"Nope! Just nervous. I've never taken a plane before..."
"See it as a flying waiting room. Nothing to worry. Enjoy the food, the movie and we'll be there before you know it."
"Yeah.. it's only what... 20 hours of travel, not even time to get bored," she teased.
"I'll make sure that you don't get bored," a husky voice whispered in her ear.
"Rosie!!" she blushed at her lover's insinuation.
"C'mon," she laughed, "Australia is waiting for us."

They both passed through the gate leading to the plane that would take them to a new country, to a new life together.
 

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Here are some links with images of the ice storm (one or two will be found in this story...):

 Power Worker Union (USA) - Ice Storm 98 pages  ..the Ice Storm, Ontario side..
 http://www.fl5dmat.com/ice98.htm ..when Florida people came North to bring warmth.. :o)
 The Ice storm - Granby ..history of a blackout...
 http://www.nicholville.com/icestorm98/pictures.htm  ..two pages of thumbs..
 http://www.canoe.com/CNEWSIceStorm/menu.html  ..more pics..
 http://realitytimes.com/pastjournal/stormstory.html ..Ice storm story and pics (Maine - USA)..
 Ice storm in Hemmingford Québec ..multiples pages of pics..
 NOAA satellite image of the affected region...
 http://icestorm.panorama.net/ ..another complete site..