Chasing Fire

[Everyone needs] a woman who'll listen, take your side, tell the truth - or not, as you need it. A woman you can count on, no matter what, and who'll love you no matter how much you screw up.

What was that technique you were using on those bastards?" "An ancient form called kicking ass.

I want a beer. I want a giant, ice-cold bottle of beer and shower sex.

When somebody walks out, it leaves a hole in you. Some people fill it up, the good and the bad, and get on that way. Some people leave it open, maybe long enough to heal, maybe too long, picking at it now and then so it doesn't heal all the way.

It's called male bonding. You'll never get it. I believe women are as capable as men, deserve equal pay—and that one day, should be sooner than later, in my opinion, the right woman can and should be leader of the free world. But you can't understand the male bonding rituals any more than men can understand why the vast majority of women are obsessed with shoes and other footwear.

I'm damned if I'm going to be eaten by a bear when I'm naked." "I'm sure it's a more pleasant experience dressed.

Matt's brother and the blond cook spent a good portion of last season tangling the sheets. Historically, said cook tangled many other sheets with dexterity and aplomb." "Aplomb" "It's a polite way to say she banged often, well and without too much discrimination." "That also sounded polite." "I was raised well.

You are wise as well as short." "I can also break bricks with my bare hands." "That's a handy skill if you ever find yourself walled up in the basement of an abandoned house by a psychopath.

Getting a room's not always enough. Sometimes you gotta close the door.

That has not yet been put to the test. I got my fourth-degree black belt this winter. When I make martial arts noises, thousands flee in terror. Don't test me." "Can you hear that? It's my knees knocking." "They're wise to fear me.

I want lots and lots of sex." "You really are the woman of my dreams." "First round, wet shower sex, after we scrape off a few layers of the Alaskan tundra, then a short and satisfying lunch break. Then a second round of make-the-mattress-sing sex." "I feel a tear of gratitude and awe forming in the corner of my eyes. Don't think less of me.

I had to get by the flower beds he's planted, the flowers in vases, candles, the potpourri in the powder room—" "Mother of God! Potpourri in the powder room. We need to get a posse together ASAP, go get him. He can be deprogrammed. Don't lose hope.

Even a good place gets to be a rut, especially if you're standing in it alone... Alone and lonely have the same root.

When the going gets tough, the tough eat ribs.

Let's go have lotsa drunk sex before it hits." "'Kay. Drunk sex for everybody!

So we ate some smoke, so what?” “You lost most of your eyebrows.” Stunned, she pressed her fingers above her eyes. “Shit! Why didn’t you tell me?” “It’s a look.

Alone in her shelter, she allowed herself tears. When her shelter cooled to the touch she called to Gull, “Coming out!” She eased her head out into the smoky air, looked over at Gull. She imaged they both looked like a couple of sweaty, parboiled turtles climbing out of their shells. “Hello, gorgeous.” She laughed. It hurt her throat, but she laughed. “Hey, handsome.

I have to get used to it—to her, but she's put a light in him so I think I'm going to be a fan." "You're a stand-up gal, Swede." "If she screws him up, I'll peel the skin off her ass with a dull razor blade.

You're the answer before I even asked the question.

I've fallen pretty deep in...care with you.

She makes me feel...she makes me feel.

And it's you, Rowan, in the sunlight with preserved beauty at your back. You're the end of the goddamn rainbow. You're the answer before I even asked the question.

I love you. I love everything about you. Your voice, your laugh. Your eyebrows when they grow back. Your face, your body, your hard head and your cautious heart. I want to spend the rest of my life looking at you, listening to you, working with you, just being with you. Rowan of the purple lupines.

Stuck with a beautiful woman who knows me and wants me around anyway. For the life of me, I can't figure out what I did right.

I did this backwards because first I should've said - I should've said, I love you, Ella. I love you.

I know it. Just as I know if you made it a choice between you and me, I wouldn't stand a chance.

You took care of our girl.

I didn't want to fall for anybody. It's so messy. I'm so happy it was you. I'm so happy to love you, Gulliver.