An impatient Linka looked over at the control panel for the third time in the last two minutes. "How much longer until we arrive?"
"It's one minute less since the last time you asked" replied Gi from the navigation seat of the geo-cruiser, her patience beginning to wear thin. "And if you don't stop asking I will get Kwame to turn the cruiser around and you won't get to go anywhere."
"Sorry it's just that I have not seen Chelly since I joined the planeteers, we have only been able to keep contact through email." A sheepish grinned Linka replied.
Wheeler leaned across the aisle to smile at the pretty Russian "Don't worry, we'll be there soon. So babe, I was just wondering since were going to France, wanna practice the art of French kissing, I'm an excellent teacher" wiggling his eyebrows suggestively in her direction.
Maybe it was from the excitement of Linka seeing her old friend, or maybe it was simply the fact that ever since the mission three months ago when Linka risked her own life to save Wheeler, the two have been fighting less and have been getting along very well... closer than they have ever been. She almost lost him that day... not that he was hers to loose, but Linka couldn't bear to think what life would be like without him in it.
She seemed to be more relaxed and easy going around the American and in return he seems to have become less erratic in his decisions, much to the other planeteers delight. She would miss him during their time apart, although she didn't want to think too much about why and just how much.
Joining in she flashed a dazzling smile that would make any man with a pulse drop to his knees to do her bidding. She leant towards him inches from his face and spoke softly so the others wouldn't hear her "I bet you are Yankee, but not nearly as good as me." Expecting to be shot down once again Wheeler was stunned and suddenly dry mouthed by her response. It took him a moment to collect his thoughts and he gave her a devilish grin. "Well babe I'm willing to find out who's better if you are."
"I don't think you could handle it Yankee"
He looked her directly in the eyes "Try me babe, I might surprise you". She couldn't tell if he was still joking or if he was being serious and talking about something completely different. For a spilt second there she thought he was about to close the short distance between them and kiss her. She was shocked to realise that she was a little disappointed that he didn't. Before she could respond she was interrupted by a repeated pounding on the back of her seat, as Mati imitated playing the drums along to his favourite song playing on his ipod. The moment gone, Linka ran her hand over Wheeler's cheek then ruffled his already messy hair and with a smile she turned back to ask Gi how much longer it would be.
"We'll be landing in about 2 minutes." Announced Gi as Kwame begun the slow decent of the geo- cruiser. Happy with the answer a smiling Linka sat back in her seat and fastened her seatbelt for the landing and stared out the window.
They landed in a field just outside of Paris where they planned on meeting Linka's old friend. Linka had unbuckled her seatbelt and was waiting to open the door before the geo-cruiser had come to a complete stop. As soon as she could Linka flung open the door and ran over to her old friend who stood restlessly at the edge of the field awaiting her arrival. "I guess she's really excited to see him" said Gi as she climbed out of the geo-cruiser.
Wheeler looked over his shoulder at Gi "him?"
"Yeah Chelly"
Stopping dead in his tracks "Wait a sec... Chelly's a guy!?!"
"Well yeah... his name's Michele. It's French for Michael, only it's pronounced like Michelle. That's where his nickname comes from... Chelly. Didn't you know?" Gi had been dying to tell Wheeler since she found out herself that Chelly was actually a guy. His expression was priceless, just as she thought it would be.
Wheeler all a sudden felt nauseated and uneasy... Linka was going to be in France, the romantic capital of the world... alone... with this French guy... I might come join these guys sooner than originally planned... ma and pops will understand if I cut my holiday short with them... I don't want what happened to Linka when she went home on that temporary break or worse what happened when she visited her cousin to happen here as well... shaking his head to get rid of the memory of both those times. Apart from the kiss he received at the end of her trip home to Russia, he was more than happy to forget the experiences ... someone has to protect her... she needs me here... and it will always be me because that's the way it should be. A man should always protect the one he loves...
****************************************************************************************************************************************** well there you go i finaly managed to post the correct chapter! :) and yes you were right amgine! but come on it can only make it better right? but then again..... ;)