The plane was going to leave at ten o'clock. The gang squeezed what they could into the Monkee mobile and headed out about nine. Everyone brought enough clothes
for two days, three at the most. Most everyone had one suitcase, except for Davy who had two.
"You tell him one, he gets two." Mike muttered as he tied the extra cases to the roof. "We oughta have enough room now." He said.
"We could have tied Davy to the top, or at least be the driver." Chea said. "Maybe Micky wouldn’t get lost this time."
"Lost? What do you mean? We never get lost when I drive!" Micky protested.
"Then how come on our way to Disney land we somehow ended up in Mexico?" Mike asked.
"Beats me." Micky said. "I thought they had a new branch down there." He shrugged. Chea laughed. He was so cute when he was defensive.
"I would prefer Mexico." Chea thought. "At least I wouldn’t have to get on a plane."
"I love planes." Brianna said as they got in. "So quiet, so comfortable. The only way to fly...actually there is no other way to fly anywhere unless you sprout wings and fly."
"Everyone set?" Micky asked as Mike got in.
"Ready!" Karen said strapping her fiancée' in.
"I'm set." Brianna said.
"All systems go." Mike said.
"All right. We're off." Micky said. He pulled out into traffic.
"And no playing with the radio this time Chea!" Mike warned as Chea moved forward towards the radio. She sat back and pouted.
Minutes later they were at the airport.
"Da plane, boss...da plane!" Chea and Micky called out.
"Okay that’s gonna get old real fast." Mike said.
Gate 18
The guys embarked on their flight after waiting a half an hour. Mike chose to sit next to Karen on the left side of the plane. Micky and Davy were no where to be seen, but Chea and Brianna sat together on the opposite side of the plane. Peter sat one seat ahead reading a newspaper he had brought with him.
"I can hardly wait to get in the air." Brianna said as they found their seat. "Would you like to sit by the window?"
"No way." Chea said.
"I'd hate to take that wonderful view from you." She continued.
"Oh go right ahead." Chea said. "This seat by the aisle is fine enough for me."
"Okay." Brianna sat taking the seat.
"Have you even been on a plane?" Karen asked from across the aisle.
"No." Chea replied. "I was going to fly to Maine once and kinda broke my ankle." She said. "On purpose."
"It'll be fine." Karen reassured her.
"Yeah, as long as the plane doesn’t go down." Brianna said. "Like in the first Airport. With a guy on board with a bomb."
"Brianna..." Karen said.
"Or the second one where a plane hit smack into the cockpit and the cross-eyed girl had to call Charlton Hesston to help..."
"Brianna!" Mike said.
"Or the third one where Jack Lemmon has the save the plane after it went underwater with art thieves..." She continued unabated by Karen and Mikes looks. "Or fourth one..."
"Brianna!" Chea said speaking up. "Don't do that!"
"Uh oh." Brianna said. "She’s got a weird look in her eyes, like the guy in Final Destination, where he had a dream the plane blew up. He was totally burnt to a crisp..."
Chea covered her mouth and tried to unbuckle her seat beat. She got it off, then bolted to the bathroom.
"Course he turned out ok. Just everyone but five went boom!" Brianna said making a boom noise. She cackled with evil delight. She looked at Mike and Karen who were giving her a dirty look. "What? You knew I liked disaster flicks when you met me!"
"Next time we're leaving her home alone." Karen got up.
"Wait. Micky has to be around somewhere. He'll see how she is." Mike said. "Its getting close to takeoff. She'll come back to her seat."
"If she does, its changing places with me." She said referring to Brianna who was staring out the window. "What now?"
"I don't want to alarm you but SOMETHINGS ON THE WING OF THE PLANE!!" Brianna said with fake alarm.
Karen rolled her eyes. "Its gonna be a long flight."
Chea ran past Micky and Davy in the next section of the plane. The only bathroom close enough to Cheas seat was in that section. Chea blew by them, then slowed down. This wasn’t another coach area like she thought, this was first class! She turned and went back to where she saw them. She looked at them both. They were sitting comfy with a drink in one hand and a magazine in another. Chea made a weird noise. The guys looked at her.
"May we help you Madame?" Micky asked her.
"Ah! I can't believe you two! First class seats?" She scoffed. "How did this happen?"
"Well there were only two left, and since Micky is me best friend..." Davy trailed off.
"Thanks pal." Micky said.
They clinked their glasses.
"You two are unbelievable." Chea sighed. She thought for a minute. There was a potential problem solver. "But I thought you would like to sit with your girlfriend." Chea said lightly touching Mickys arm.
"I do?" He asked as she made a pouty face. "I do!" He said. "But I don’t want to leave first class."
"That’s ok." Chea said. "But I guess I have to go back to coach, alone, to sit with Brianna....I guess I'll have to fly my international flight with Brianna. Fun fun Brianna, who must be missing her guy too." Chea said slowly walking away.
"Hmm." Micky said. "Hold it." He reached out and took her wrist. "Davy do you mind going to sit with Brianna?"
"Mind? No way. You don't even have to ask me twice!"
"Thank you." Micky said. Davy got his stuff and clamored out of his seat. He switched tickets with Chea in case a stewardess happened to ask for them.
"Thank you Davy. You're a peach." She said.
"Enjoy the flight." Davy said. Chea tightened up as she remembered where she was.
"Here." Micky said bringing her to the seat Davy had just vacated near the window. She looked fearfully out of it. "Don't worry." He said. He grabbed her hand and looked into her eyes. "I will be here besides you all through the flight. You won't know where I'm going and how long I'll be unless I tell you." He said. "You'll be fine. Once we're in the air, it will be fine."
Coach
Davy put his stuff over his seat. He sat down next to Brianna. "Were you really terrible to her?" Davy said after Karen let him in on the details on what led Chea to bolt into first class.
"I was." She said. "I'm a little bit sorry now but I can't help being who I am. Maybe Micky will help her conquer her fear."
"Fat chance." Davy said. "This is his first plane trip in a couple of years. I think he forgot how."
"Huh." Brianna said. "Want a magazine?"
"Sure." Davy said taking a magazine from her. They settled in and read.
A stewardess stopped by their seats. "Would you like a drink?" She asked.
"Pepsi." Brianna said.
"Coffee for me." Davy said.
"And would you like to see the cockpit little girl?" She asked Brianna as she passed Davy a coffee.
Briannas eyes lit up. "Little girl??? I am not a little girl! I will have you know that I am a doctor! I am so far from not being a little girl its not funny! Its cause I'm short, right?" She started to get up in her seat, but her seatbelt kept her from doing so. She tried to unclip it but Davy kept her in her seat.
"Easy there luv, let this one live." He said while taking a Pepsi from the now frightened stewardess. The stewardess grabbed her cart and ran to the next section of the plain. Davy held on to Brianna until she calmed down. She relaxed and fell back into her seat. "Crud, I wanted a straw."
Mike and Karen looked at them from across the isle.
"Just imagine. They might be the ones who get married after us." Karen said.
"Man, those two are gonna have some interesting kids." Mike concurred. They sat quietly as the plane went through the motions of taking off. Karen leaned forward as far as she could and tapped Peter on the shoulder.
"How you holding up Peter?" She asked him. He had a look of deep contemplation on his face.
"I'll be fine." He said. "I just want to see her again." He said he looked at her. "I keep trying to keep my mind off worse case scenarios about what could be happening to her over there. About what might happen once we find her again. What if she doesn’t like me as much anymore? What if heaven forbid she met someone else?"
"I don't think that could happen." Karen said. "I saw you two. I believe you had something special." She sighed. "Had the situation been different, if she came from the future instead of the far past it might be different." She squeezed his shoulder.
"We should get some sleep." Mike said to her. "Its gonna be a long flight."
"Right." Karen said. "That sounds like a good idea, Peter."
"If I sleep, I'll only dream of her." Peter replied.
"Those are good dreams to have. Of love, and springtime and meadows stretching as far as the eye can see." Karen said.
Peter nodded and turned in his seat. They could soon hear soft snoring.
Liverpool
Livvie was confused. She knew the inn she was staying at was somewhere around here. It was just about the gilded lily, someone had told her. She knew better to go out sightseeing after dark, but she needed to get some air. After an interminable flight from the states, she wanted to see something other than four walls. She had gone looking for a place that sold post cards. She wanted to sent one to Peter, and let him and the gang know she was all right. She knew she was getting closer, however. The buildings started to look familiar. She looked at the sign of the gilded lily. It was just down the street now. She sighed a big sigh of relief and headed for the inn. She then heard some steps fall behind her. She went slower in response. Was it another tourist out at this time of night? She hoped it was. She started to walk faster as a man came up from behind her and grabbed her purse. It was an ugly oversized novelty purse she saw at a flea market. It looked like a poodle. She fought. No one was taking her purse from her, no matter what it looked like. But the purse snatcher was tougher than she thought he was. She fell to the ground, the thief hovered over her like a menacing presence.
"Help!" She yelled. "Someone help me!"
Livvie could barely see in back of the man with the purse but there was a man slightly taller than she was. He hit the thief on the back with a rock. The thief let go of the purse and spun to look at his assailant, her hero as far as she was concerned. The man stumbled back a little bit, then took off running. Livvie picked up her purse. She staggered onto her feet.
"Thank you." She said slowly as the man came into the light. Her legs felt weak. She stumbled forward. The man caught her, almost falling to the ground himself.
"How can I thank you....Mr....Mr..." Livvie said as she felt herself growing faint.'
"Richard." The man said. "But my friends call me..." Livvie blacked out before she heard the rest of the name.
The plane
Peter felt himself suddenly awaken. He looked all around the plane. Everyone was asleep.
He took his seatbelt off, and stood up. Karen was awakened with all the noise Peter made getting up.
"Whets wrong?" Karen asked.
"I just get the feeling something bad just happened." Peter said. "I don't know why, but I know Livvie was just in trouble."
"We'll be there soon enough." Karen said. "Go back to sleep. I'm sure everything is fine."
Peter nodded. "I hope so."
