Disclaimer: I don't own anything except for the storyline I guess...

Rating: PG

Author's note: Fear of Flying is my 3rd ER fic, and deals mostly with Susan's fear of flying, but also how (in my imagination) Susan and Chuck got to know each other. I don't know how Susan got really rid of her fear of flying, and if they mentioned it on the show, I forgot about it. Anyways, in my story, she's still afraid of flying. Set is in Season 9, right after ‚The Advocate' where Susan and Chen want to fly to Las Vegas for some days. I wrote this story from Susan's point of view because I can really really really relate to this topic. I'm afraid of flying myself. However, it's gotten better lately.

Strangely enough, I wrote 2/3 of this story on a plane, LOL. I got the idea for this story while waiting for take-off (when I was NOT on tranquilizers). As soon as we reached the cruising altitude, I grabbed my notepad and began to write... A lot of this story is based on my own experiences ;)

And as for the flight time, I calculated it on my own, so they might be wrong. The whole plane info is from the UA homepage, so it's supposedly correct. Unfortunately, I have never been to O'Hare airport in Chicago and I haven't been to McCarron in 6 years, and I have no idea what the look like... doesn't really matter, though...

CHAPTER 1 - TAXI

God, why did I decide to FLY to Las Vegas?" Susan asked herself when she climbed into the car and sat down next to Jing-Mei Chen. "O'Hare Airport, please, "Chen said to the driver. Then she looked at Susan, who was already pretty nervous. "You ok?" She asked her friend.

Susan shook her head. "Not really..." "After all, we're on our way to the AIRPORT"

"I love flying."Chen said and smiled. "Don't worry, it'll be alright" "In less than 5 hours, we'll be in Las Vegas," she added, trying to cheer Susan up. Susan nodded quietly. She was really looking forward to that trip. She wanted to go there really badly, and going by plane was the one and only option since they just had 3 days off, and taking the train would have taken way to long. "I really want to go there...Las Vegas....Las Vegas...I really want to go there," Susan repeated over and over again in her head. No matter how often she told herself that a 3,5 hour flight wouldn't be so bad, she was still scared and regretted her decision to fly to Nevada.

"Come on, it's going to be fun," Chen said when she saw the the expression on Susan's face.

„Once we're there, yes."Susan replied, trying not to think of the upcoming flight. She'd had this fear of flying for as long as she could remember. Mark had always told her to get professional help for her problem, but Susan didn't have the time, nor did she have the patience to work something out. Whereas most of her friends and colleagues traveled by plane all the time, Susan avoided flying as far as possible. She preferred going by car, by train, by bus – basically everything that wasn't an aircraft. She had made her plans of going to Las Vegas with Chen one night at a club, when too many Strawberry Margaritas had made her very self-confident. The next morning, Chen had booked the flight and everything was set, so Susan didn't want to cancel their plans anymore. But right now, as she leaned back in her seat, looking out of the cab window, she just wished she had indeed cancelled.

Susan's anxiety grew the closer they got to the airport. The thought of being on a plane for the next few made her heart go faster. She shivered a little and tried to think of possible reasons, why she „couldn't" board that plane and would have to stay at home, but nothing appropriate came to her mind. Chen didn't really notice how nervous Susan really was, since she was happily chatting with the cab driver.

"You're lucky...no traffic jam today...Interstate 190 is pretty crowded usually, "said the taxi driver with a thick foreign accent as he took the exit to the airport. "Which terminal?"he asked the two women.

"Um...wait, let me see." Chen searched her purse for her tickets. "United Airlines. Terminal 1," she said after she'd found it.

A couple of minutes later, the taxi pulled up in front of Terminal 1 at O'Hare airport. They quickly paid the driver and got their luggage out of the trunk.

"We'd better hurry, boarding time is in one hour, " Chen said as they headed to the entrance of the airport.

"I don't think I can really do this..."Susan said weakly and slowed her pace. Her knees were weak, and the closer they got to the sliding doors, the more she slowed down.

"Of course you can! Hey, it's just a flight...You'll be fine..." Chen assured. She didn't quite understand Susan's reaction, because she had always enjoyed flying and she couldn't relate to Susan's feelings at all.

"I can't go. I have to work tomorrow, " Susan tried.

Chen glanced at her and raised her eyebrows. "Stop that now!" "You don't have to work tomorrow..." "Now come on, otherwise we'll be late for check in..." Chen grabbed her arm and pushed her towards the entrance.

„I wouldn't care..."Susan thought, but eventually, she gave in and followed her friend into the departure lounge.

...TBC....

The first Chapter is a bit boring since nothing really happens, but the upcoming chapters will be more exciting. Chapter 2 is coming tomorrow, I just have to put the finishing touches to it. Any kind of feedback is appreciated... so please review this story...I really live for reviews ;)