"Douglas?"
"How long has it been since Metis touched ground? In the timeline?"
"About two and a half hours. At this point in the story Jordan has been in surgery for about an hour and a half. Take off about thirty minutes for restarting him and opening him up. This was exploratory surgery. They had to find the blockage."
"They still haven't gotten you back into an exam room yet?"
"Sure I was with Simon, Will and Matt. But, had they checked me out yet..no. Things just kept happening. When Jordan decided to reset my stomach rebelled. Simon's lungs did the same. So Neal calmed me down. I calmed Simon down. Hector and Neal were trying to keep us all corralled. Then Hector and Neal kept getting calls from David and Nathan. The blackout kept all our families and friends from getting an earful of bad news. Patty and Olivia started gradually calling everyone. They had to. We all had at least one person in our kin that was smart enough to know that we were all late getting home. Basically, every time a nurse started eyeing me, something else would take precedent."
"You were the innocent lamb."
Martin got a face full of pillow.
"Thought so, Douglas. Did you not tell me that you should have been checked?"
"Yes I did. Yes I should have. At the time, I was just getting grumpy and tired. I know now that it was the concussion, smoke inhalation and adrenaline. I really wasn't thinking. The charge nurse put us all in a nice big waiting room with four sofas and six big chairs. Hector was trying to get everyone else to close their eyes for a bit. We all were being lulled into cat naps. He kept waking me up. I know why. It just was not helping my attitude at the time."
"Where are you keeping the airline crew?"
"And you are?"
David West head of Air England.
David hands over his ID. The head of security takes David to the charge nurse.
"How are they doing?"
"Your Captain is still in surgery. "
"Any more close calls?"
"No. They are trying to find the blockage. Jordan is in excellent hands, Mr. West."
"Thank you. The other six wonders?"
Hector had informed the nurses of the crew's nickname.
"The biggest problem is they all inhaled too much smoke. Olivia twisted her back."
"What about Mr. Richardson? According to the kids he looked like a victim from a monster movie."
The charge nurse stops and glares.
"He hasn't been checked out yet. He keeps "getting busy"."
David laughs.
"Let me talk to them and I will hand him over to you personally."
"Thank you."
Martin listens as Douglas recalls all of their reactions to David "trying not to make a big deal" about what just happened. Douglas stops a few times to steady himself.
Now I'm feeling everything. I'm just pathetic. This has to be a record for delayed reaction.
"This is how I should have... been that night. Then, I was just fussy and trying not to get cross. Everyone was starting to notice."
"Did David try to hand you over to the nurse?"
"Yes he did until the nurses were pulled from the room. We all got a bit concerned. Until David came back in."
"Ladies and Gentlemen you have visitors."
"None of us were up for the AAIB yet. We had to face them, sometime. So we all straightened up."
"Ok. David let them in."
A group of five children enter the room each with a small bouquet and a gift bag.
"Not exactly what any of you were expecting."
"Definitely not. We all recognized them from Metis. Three little girls and two boys. Ages from 5-9. We were not entirely sure what was going on."
Simon speaks up first.
"Hello. How can we help you?"
A small blonde girl steps forward.
"Hi I'm Melissa. This is Robert, Lance, Kiely and Ella. We wanted to come and check on you."
"We were all smiling at that point. Melissa had obviously been picked as a spokesperson for the group. I think she was the eldest. We picked up on the fact that they all were told about Jordan."
"We are ok, Melissa. Just waiting to hear about our Captain."
"We understand and wanted to come and Thank you all for...everything."
"The kids started presenting the bags and flowers. Each of the bouquets had a card attached with the meaning of the flowers."
"Each bouquet was made to symbolize what the kids thought each one of you did?"
"Yes they were. Also accurately done. Heck, even Will started tearing up a bit. So they were all reading and getting hugged by the kids."
"What were the bags?"
"They each got a stuffed animal. Will got a meter and a half long Boa. Patty got a Wolf. Olivia got an Orca. Matt got a Grizzly bear. Simon got a Humming bird. They were all laughing. I didn't understand."
"I understand the flowers but what is the meaning of the animals?"
Simon turns and answers.
"Sorry, Douglas. We had a conversation with the kids about what a favorite animal of ours was. You guys actually found a stuffed, toy hummingbird. Wow!"
"All of them start playing with their animals and thanking the kids. Then the kids run to the door and Herc hands them this huge bag and three roses."
Douglas could see Martin beaming and petting Daedalus.
"Your turn."
"Yes but the kids got all serious. I found it a bit unnerving, at the time. Each one of the girls grabbed a rose. I sat on the floor. To be on their level. The girls individually presented them to me."
"Mr. Douglas these tea roses symbolize gallantry and kindness."
"Which you showed during our flight."
"We wanted to ack..now..ledge your bravery and Thank you for keeping us safe."
"You are most welcome. I was just doing my job."
Robert and Lance walk forward with the bag.
"We wanted to give you a guardian to watch over you. Like you watched over us."
Douglas opens the bag and pulls out a rather large stuffed animal that looks like a Harris Hawk.
"This is Daedalus. We named him that because Daedalus didn't fall from the sky and neither did you."
Melissa steps forward.
"When you are having a bad day he will always remind you of what you did and the people you saved."
"Thank you all. It was my pleasure."
Martin now has a death hug going on Daedalus. Douglas digs in the box for a photo album at the bottom.
"Then this happened."
Douglas hands Martin a bigger and much better version of the photo in his wallet.
"Herc snapped a few pictures."
"Awwww. That is adorable."
Douglas gives Martin a smirk and rolls his eyes.
"Sorry, Douglas. Third time?"
Douglas picks up on the meaning and hands Martin a second picture.
"Is a charm."
Martin looks at the picture and immediately tears up. Douglas had all the kids in a collective bear hug. Douglas' face had a blush creeping across it and his eyes had glossed over.
"I lost it for just a moment. First time since this whole thing began."
"No one would have blamed you if you had."
"I know that, now. I didn't understand it then."
"Then why?"
"For two seconds I believed what the kids and Jordan had said. This is one of the reasons that I cracked at my flat. Then the head surgeon walked in."
A few nurses shuffle the kids out of the room. The head surgeon walks in still in his scrubs.
"He explained what had caused Jordan's heart attack. How they were fixing it. What the damage was. Also the fact that Jordan wasn't going to fly again for quite a while. I don't think he had the heart to tell us that Jordan would never fly again. That was the other thing driving my sob fest later."
"But Jordan did fly again. Excellent patient?"
"Remarkable. Jordan was not going to be told he couldn't fly. He nearly gave the rest of us nervous breakdowns becoming airborne again."
"Had a second career becoming retired?"
"Correct."
"Then what happened?"
As Douglas starts to clean up the papers he notices Martin stifling a yawn.
"We couldn't leave the kids not knowing what happened. So I decided to find them and say Jordan would be ok."
"Mr. Douglas?"
"I wanted to find you. Sorry you all were shuffled from the room."
Melissa answers.
"We understand why. Is Jordan going to be ok?"
"Yes he is but it will take a while. A blocked artery and a infection around his heart have to be fixed first. Do you understand?"
"Everyone understood. So I made my goodbyes and went back to the waiting room. We all had about twenty minutes to recover before the AAIB showed up."
"What did they do? What did they ask?"
Martin's endless curiosity was in a battle with his exhausted body. Within 25 minutes, Martin was laying down asking questions through closed eyes. Douglas, armed with parental knowledge, started softening his voice. If Douglas could lull his daughter to sleep, Martin wouldn't be a problem.
Sleepy time Martin. We can finish later. You are doing much better than I was.
Martin was asleep in ten minutes. Douglas gently laid his left wing over him, as an extra soothing measure. Douglas was gently gathering everything back into the box. Douglas leaned up against the headboard and relaxed.
"That's because Martin has you to handle him."
Douglas looked up and Jordan was standing near the foot of the bed.
"I am asleep?"
"Yes, you are Douglas. We need to talk."
"Yes, Sir."
"You need to explain to Martin about his wings. Nothing was more traumatic for me than going into your hospital room and seeing what you had done to yours."
Douglas looked at his wing thrown over Martin. It took a long time for both of them to fill out again.
"Douglas. Don't apologize. I know you understand. It ripped you open finding out that Martin doesn't think he should fly and the fact that he doesn't even know he has wings."
Douglas just nodded.
"Douglas I know tonight has been extremely hard on you. You are doing this for him. It is also the beginning of your healing also. Remember that."
"Jordan stop."
"No, Douglas. You threw yourself into a black hole back then. I kept you at the event horizon. Nothing more. What did I tell you back then?"
"That we were going to get airborne together?"
"Yes and that happened. I just want you to truly feel the joy of flying again. Like what we did together. Martin trusts you with his life. Just because tonight happened doesn't mean your "Sky God" reputation is shot. You two will still want to kill each other."
Douglas cleared his eyes and laughed.
"Now you can really teach him to fly. It will take longer. For for all his pride, Martin has never trusted his flying ability. You always had that spark."
"But.."
"I just fanned it into a bonfire. Stop hogging the warmth. Share it with him.
"Thank you. Jordan."
"Your quite welcome. Martin has you and you always have me."
"Jordan!"
"No. Douglas you never shed tears unless you really feel it. I know that. Can't lie to me."
Douglas just nodded again. Jordan smiled.
"You need to wake up. Martin is gradually awaking. Please talk to him."
"I will. Thanks."
Douglas woke up to find Martin fidgeting under his wing. Douglas spoke softly.
"Martin?"
"Hmmm?"
"Keep you eyes closed."
Martin was still mostly asleep.
"Not a problem."
Douglas removed his wing and Martin whined.
"Why did you do that?"
"The hug felt good. You give nice hugs. I promise I won't tell anyone else."
"Thank you. I appreciate that."
Douglas puts his wing back on top of Martin.
"Better?"
"Much."
"Do you still want to know what Jordan was referring to about "breaking my wings"?
"Yes."
Douglas gently placed both his hands on Martin's arm. Martin's sleepy brain wasn't thinking very quickly.
"Than gradually open your eyes and look at your arm."
"Ok. You are holding my arm with both your hands."
"Don't look up. What am I hugging you with then?"
"Ahhh. I don't know."
Martin sounded confused and frustrated.
"Look up, Martin and don't get scared."
Martin looked up to find a large multicoloured wing over him. It's twin was relaxed against the headboard.
"Douglas... you have wings. Tan, gold, brown with black strips on each feather. Like big owl wings. Am I asleep?"
"No you are not."
"Shared delusion?"
Douglas laughed.
"No. You have them also. I will show them to you."
"How? Can I?"
Martin was starting to babble.
"Every pilot gets them when you learn to fly. Also, yes you can touch them."
Martin reached for the end of Douglas' wing. He gently stroked the feathers.
"Oh my God. I can feel them! These are real!"
Martin wiggled out from under the wing. Douglas was still just calmly answering.
"I've been telling you that."
"How are they attached? Also, I don't have them."
"Yes you do. I have seen them. You can't see them because you have been listening to people say you can't fly. Which is horrible. You fought everything to get in the air. Your wings are well earned."
Martin not only heard Douglas' words but felt them also.
You don't mean that.
"Martin, yes I do. A pilot's wings are connected to this."
Douglas puts his hand on Martin's heart.
"When did you see them?"
"What did you think stopped me crying earlier? I would have gone till I wore myself ragged."
"Like I did earlier?"
"Exactly."
"Are these how you got me to sleep?"
"Yes, they are the best comfort you can give. Works on fussy babies and neurotic pilots."
Martin just laughed.
