Author's Note:

Hello Gentle Reader. This is a desperate attempt to get writting again. I've had a horrible case of writer's block. I can't quite tackle the mess of the next 10,000 words of "Snowblind" right now. So thanks to Mark Gatiss for posting about his all day Sherlock writing adventure on Twitter. That gave me the kick in the pants I needed. Also thanks to the cast of Cabin Pressure. This show is one of the only things that can make me laugh nowadays. The fact that I have had a crush on Roger Allam since his Javert burst on the stage doesn't hurt either. John Finnemore you sir are a gifted script writer. I'm sorry I came to the Cabin Pressure party late. John you deserve every single award you have received.


Carolyn sighed and walked to her front door. Long used to the eccentricities of her pilots, she agreed that Douglas could come over.

"Douglas, please come in."

Douglas bowed his head and quietly shuffled past Carolyn.

"Douglas, out with it. What is so dammed important that you had to see me at 11:20pm? When you know that we are meeting at GERTI at 10 am?"

"Is Arthur asleep?"

"Yes he is."

Carolyn noticed that Douglas's voice was quiet and a bit strained.

"We need to talk. Please."

Carolyn lead Douglas into the den. Carolyn felt alarm creeping into her thoughts. Douglas was too quiet. Also, he had been hiding his face.

Douglas quietly sat down on the couch and waited. Carolyn offered him tea and then turned up the lights.

"Douglas look at me."

"Carolyn before I do. Let me state this visit is not about me it is about Martin."

Carolyn sat besides Douglas and gently turned his head.

"Hi." Douglas said with a small smile.

Carolyn immediately saw what he was trying to hide. Carolyn was scared and enraged. Douglas may have been smiling but his eyes were still calming down.

At least he really does trust me.

"Douglas. This does have to do with you. Nobody makes any of my boys go to tears. Tell me now."

"Carolyn, this is just me reacting as both a friend and...parent. Believe it or not beneath the Sky God exterior I have a rather soft interior."

"Your telling me that someone hurt Martin and it brought you to tears?"

"Multiple people but that is pretty much it."

"Who Douglas?"

"Martin's father. Martin's somewhat vicious siblings and..."

"Yes, Douglas."

"Carolyn. I'm further risking my Sky God image by asking this but please answer honestly."

Douglas stopped and scrubbed his face with his hands.

"Douglas?"

"Do you consider Martin and I family?"

Carolyn looked puzzled. Carolyn stayed silent for a few minutes. The long silence gnawed at Douglas' interior."

"That pretty much answers it then."

Carolyn saw Douglas sag before her.

"Douglas, I haven't said anything. I have never been asked that before."

"Well, then what is your answer?"

"Crazy as it is, yes I do."

"Second question, have you ever asked Martin about his life outside of MJN Air?"

"No. He never seems keen on sharing. Why does he talk to you?"

"Bits and pieces. We are pretty much inseparable in GERTI. We do more than word games and fight over the cheese tray up there."

"OK. Than why bring this up tonight?"

"Carolyn, I carried Martin out of GERTI after we got back this afternoon."

"Why on Earth would you do that?"

"Because he was too weak to walk."

"I know St. Petersburg was a wearing trip on all of us. Douglas, I don't understand. Where is Martin, now?"

"My house. I'll be dammed if he is leaving anytime soon."

Douglas handed Carolyn his phone.

"What are these pictures of?"

"The attic Martin lives in."


Martin rolled over and didn't recognize anything. He sat up startled. His heartbeat slowed as he looked next to the bed. There was stuffed hawk looking at him from the nightstand with a note around it's neck. The hawk was a gift to Douglas. He never said from who.

"Martin. Make yourself comfortable. My house is your house. Just please don't leave. Give me that courtesy."

Martin stretched and made for the loo.


"Carolyn is it true that you don't pay him?"

Carolyn almost got cross. She then took Douglas' phone and again looked at Martin's lack of substance anywhere in his attic.

"Yes. I thought he was over exaggerating."

"Martin was never supposed to tell me?"

"I never forbade it. Why?"

"He fought telling me. I figured that was why."


Martin nibbled on some leftover takeout and thought about how he had gotten here. He tried to leave the flight deck and nearly fainted getting out of GERTI. Douglas scooped Martin up and carried him to the Lexus.

Martin couldn't recall the ride to the Richardson residence.

I must have fallen asleep.

Martin cleaned his dishes and headed back to the guest bedroom.


"How did you get Martin to tell you?"

Douglas had a smile light up his face.

"Douglas."

"Martin started it. Sir said I was being a worry wart and hit me with a pillow. Sir should know by now not to start a pillow fight with the Sky God."

Carolyn smiled.

"At least it wasn't in a hotel. Where you two sound like your going to kill each other. Is Martin still in one piece?"

"Of course, Carolyn."

Douglas realized his answer came out a bit harsh.

"Sorry Carolyn."

"Douglas. I am a bit lost. You are obviously in pain. Martin is in some sort of trouble. Let me try to help. Was it what happened to GERTI?"

"Yes and no. Remember how we were always worried about Martin "snapping"?"

"Yes."

"Well I believe he just did."

Carolyn put her tea down and gently placed her hand on Douglas'. Douglas sighed and started talking.


Martin snuggled back into the sheets. He flipped back through the hazy details of...

"Oh God."

Martin blushed and hid his head under the pillows. Douglas and Martin had eaten and started talking. Douglas showing him to the guest bedroom. Martin then remembered when it all went wrong.

"Martin. Remember I consider you my friend. You can tell me anything. OK?"

Martin flopped on the bed and sighed. Douglas sat next to him.

"You don't feel like your part of this crazy family?"

"Family! Huh! I don't think so."

"Why? Is it me?"

"No Douglas. You are an annoying Sky God but you mostly have my best interest in mind. I think."

"Oh that makes me feel better."

"Sorry."

"Nothing to be sorry about. Just tell me."

"Douglas. You are worrying over nothing."

Martin picks up a pillow and tosses it at him.

"Oh, you did not." Douglas says with a wicked smile on his face.

The pillow fight took the normal turn of events. Except the bed was bigger and much softer than the motels they normally found themselves in. So were the pillows. Martin, yet again, didn't stand a chance. Martin may be "humping boxes" into his Dad's van to make a living but Douglas was just bigger and stronger.

Douglas stopped after he had Martin pinned.

"I will make a deal with you Martin. I will let you win this one and stop here if you answer one question."

"Yes, Douglas."

"Why do you have to be "A Man with a Van" to make ends meet?"

"No."

"Is someone threatening you?"

"No, Douglas. Nothing like that."

Douglas was hoping it was Martin's colossal pride getting in the way of answering.

"I will give you till the count of five."

Martin tried to put a stern face on.

"One."

Martin just kept staring at him.

"Two. Is it a gambling debt?"

"No."

"Three. Is it any back debt at all?"

"No."

"Four. Are you helping family, friends?"

"I wish I could, No."

Douglas could see the sadness in Martin's eyes. He didn't want to push but he couldn't back down now.

"Martin, five."

Martin turned into a little ball before Douglas could get his hands on him.

"That won't save you. Please just tell me, Martin."

"No."

Douglas' hands gently danced over Martin's body. Martin knew how this was going to go. Douglas would eventually get him laughing.

"Martin. Do you trust me?"

"Of... course. With my... life."

Douglas was pleased to hear Martin's answer peppered with giggles. If he got Martin to laugh, he could get Martin to talk. Douglas then thought of the one question he hadn't asked.

"Martin are you protecting someone?"

Martin's body stiffened.

Ah-ha. Got it now.

"Who and Why?"

Neither Martin or Douglas moved or spoke for about a minute.

"Carolyn and I really don't know why."

Carolyn? What the hell?

"Martin. It will feel better to get it off your chest. I promise it will stay between us."

Martin pulled a pillow over his head and tried to shut out the world. Martin felt Douglas get off the bed and leave the room. Martin wasn't sure if this was a good or bad thing. Martin closed his eyes. Pretty soon he felt something fuzzy brush his cheek. Martin opened his eyes to a stuffed toy bird under the pillow with him.

"Hi my name is Daedalus. Douglas sent me to talk with you."

Martin wanted to become enraged. How dare Douglas treat me like a child!

"Martin. Douglas is worried so that is why I came."

Martin listened to the bad, squeaky bird voice and knew this wasn't meant to hurt him.

"Maybe you can tell me. I'm a very good listener."

"Hello Daedalus. Are you Douglas' bird?"

"Yes, Martin. I am."

Douglas could hear a snort of laughter from under the pillow.

Yes. Ha,ha. The big, brave Sky God has a teddy bear. Come on Martin. I'm doing this for a reason.

Douglas just rolled his eyes and let Martin think.

Why does Douglas have a stuffed animal confident? More importantly, why is he letting me know this?

"Martin, are you still in there?"

"Yes, Daedalus. Just thinking."

"Take all the time you need. We are here for you."

I really must have scared Douglas. Douglas doesn't know how to open me up so he is sharing his bird with me. Dam bloody sod. He really does care.

Martin didn't remember making any noises but he must have. Douglas started gently rubbing between his shoulder blades. After a few moments, Martin emerged from under the pillow and sat up. Martin sat Daedalus in his lap and began to speak.

"Daedalus, Carolyn doesn't pay me."

Martin could hear Douglas gasp at that.

"She doesn't pay me because I was afraid I wouldn't get the job. So I made it easy for her. Make me Captain and I don't need any pay. Because I am a bloody idiot. Would you like to know what else this idiot has done?"

Martin patiently waited till Daedalus answered him.

"Yes, Martin. Anything you want to tell me."

The rest was a blur.

"Daedalus please tell me I didn't just spill my guts to Douglas."

The stuffed hawk just looked at him. Martin grabbed Daedalus and curled into the bed. Sleep soon claimed him.


Carolyn listened as Douglas told her the events of the evening. Douglas was never this open and vulnerable in front of anyone. When he looked like he was about to start crying again Carolyn stopped him.

"Stop Douglas. Let me get this straight."

Douglas took a deep breath and straightened up.

"You took Martin home because you were worried about his general condition. You two shared a meal and talked shop for a bit."

"Yes."

"Then you showed Martin to your guest bedroom so he could take a nap."

"Yes."

"Where you found out that Martin doesn't feel like one of the family. Martin clammed up and then you started a pillow fight with him."

"Yes."

"You two start horsing around. You get Martin laughing which cracks some emotional dam. Then he basically cries himself ragged in your arms during which he tells you everything."

Douglas nodded and cleared his throat. Carolyn just rubbed Douglas back.

"Carolyn. That isn't going to help keep me in one piece."

"Oh yes because that is what is called for right now. Anyway I want to be here for my "Miracle Worker" just like he has been here for me. Please tell me that Martin doesn't hate me."

"No Carolyn he does not. He hates himself more than anyone. Told him we have to work on that."

They exchanged smiles. Douglas somehow landed on Carolyn's shoulder.

"You can't lie to me about how much a divorce hurts. Even if it is your third. Plus you almost lost GERTI to a goose."

Douglas attempted to crush her in a bear hug.

"You may have expertly pealed Martin from the control column and talked him down but you were shaking too."

Douglas was silently cursing her. He wanted to walk in here to save his "family". Instead his eyes were now leaking all over Carolyn's shoulder. Douglas thought about everything and started to laugh.

"What's so funny?"

"I should have realized that I was going to land up like this."

Douglas pulled himself off of Carolyn's shoulder.

"Why?"

"Watching Arthur come apart because of Gordon. Just brought up everything from the custody battle for my daughter."

"Stop right there Douglas. Even at your worst, you were and are light years better than Gordon."

Douglas wanted to argue. Carolyn had, on more than one occasion, come apart in Douglas' arms because of Gordon. Douglas just blushed and let out a quiet "Thank you and your more than welcome."

"And?"

"Oh. We almost lost GERTI and MJN Air. The multitude of problems for all of us that go with that. I guess it was a bit much even for me."

"Douglas you are not Superman. I do have one question though."

"Yes."

"How does having Martin talk to a toy help the situation any?"

"Carolyn. Please don't make fun of Daedalus. He was a heartfelt gift."

"How did you get Daedalus? Douglas please tell me. You never have."

Douglas sighed. After telling his tale Carolyn was in shock.

"I had no idea you were the co-pilot on that flight."

"I don't like to talk about it."

Douglas pulls a picture out of his wallet and hands it to Carolyn. It is creased and faded but still clearly shows a much younger Douglas getting gang hugged by five small children.

"Herc snapped the picture. He presented it to me a few days later."

"That is why you told Martin to talk to Daedalus. That is how you opened up."

"Yes. It was a bit embarrassing having 5 little children crack me open like a Brazil Nut.

"You didn't crack. You look very in control in this picture."

"Yes, Carolyn I did. After I had gotten home and relaxed. Then something snapped and I couldn't stop sobbing. So I was having a good sob and talking to a stuffed bird. Not my finest hour."

"You need to tell this to Martin. Please."

"I will but we need to help Martin."

"You know I can't. We were extremely lucky this time."

"Carolyn I know. I have a plan. If you don't fight me on this it will work."

"What is it?"

"I want you to give half my salary to Martin. I also have a friend who is extremely good at keeping small companies financially viable."

Douglas hands Carolyn a business card. Carolyn is beyond impressed that Douglas even knows a person of this caliber.

"You know him? I'm very impressed. How?"

Douglas takes the picture again and points out the small mouse haired boy.

"So please check him out. He is young but I know he can help."

"Young, yes. One of the best in the country. Thank you Douglas. I will."

"I need to get back to Martin. I don't want him to feel abandoned. He has a big problem with that."

"Douglas. If anything else happens I want you to call me."

"I will."

Carolyn reached for the front door to let Douglas out.

"Carolyn"

She felt herself being turned around and drawn into a hug.

"Thank you for everything. Also thanks for trusting me with GERTI all those years ago."

Carolyn could hear the hitch in his voice. Seemed like both her drivers were falling to pieces tonight. But she could strengthen the one in her arms so he could help the other.

"Douglas you may have yours wings shattered by Air England but I knew I could trust you. Arthur also trusts you. Which counts a lot. GERTI seemed to take to you right away. What else did I need? You have your moments that I would like to throw you out at 20,000 ft but who doesn't?"

Carolyn got a snort of laughter for that. Douglas' breathing calmed after that. Douglas then whispered something so quietly that Carolyn almost didn't hear it.

"There is only two things that I will fight for in my life. One is my daughter. The other is you guys. Thanks."

Douglas was out the door without another word. Carolyn then had a vision of Douglas having the "You break her heart, I will break you." discussion with Herc. Carolyn decided she was ok with that. If it ever got to that point.