Heathrow Airport … 10:34 AM
Sitting in an airport café, Dani was a visible wreck. She shook at the thought of being in a plane, up in the air several thousand feet. She knew it was the safest form of travel, however images of various plane crashes popped in her mind. She was ready to have a panic attack before the warmth of a hand made her snap out of her delusion. "You alright?" Bond was worried, she wasn't even in Brazil and she was already getting scared. "I'll be fine. Just … fine." Dani's voice barely a whisper, and her hands still trembling under Bond's hand. "Wait here." Dani watched as Bond went across the way to a duty free shop, and rummage around the souvenirs. Dani felt sick and placed her head in her hands, pressing her fingers into her temple and brow until her fingertips were white. "Here," Dani looked up to see Bond holding a Union Jack pillow. "Thank you." Dani grabbed it and buried her head into it. "Now boarding flight 438 TAM Airlines to Brasília International Airport." Dani groaned into her new pillow as Bond patted her back reassuringly.
Dani took her seat, thankfully at least it was an aisle seat, and hugged her pillow tightly. Bond saw how Dani was so out of it; she had forgotten to put on her seatbelt. He buckled her in and tightened the strap. He took his seat and reached into his pocket, pulling out two pills. "Here, take these. It's a ten hour flight, but these will keep you out for at least eight." Dani looked at the pills before swallowing them down in one gulp. Bond failed to tell Dani it took almost twenty minutes for the pills to work. Dani grabbed her pillow with one hand and clenched Bond's arm with the other as the plane took off, the feeling of her stomach dropping, the sound of the engines; she was terrified. Bond placed his hand over hers until the feeling of Dani's clenching loosened up as she drifted into sleep. Bond stood up and leaned the chair back, tucked the flight's pillow under her head, placed her Union Jack pillow in her arms, and draped a blanket over her. She was at least peaceful when she slept, her face, no longer bearing the pain of sadness and fear. Dani was so peaceful; it made Bond feel tired, just looking at her. Not five minutes later, Bond was asleep, still holding Dani's hand; not even the turbulence, sound of young children and babies crying woke them.
"Ladies and gentlemen, we will be landing momentarily and would like for you to return your seats and tray tables to their upright position. Thank you for you cooperation and for choosing TAM Airlines." Bond woke up almost in an instant and began to look around the cabin. The passengers complied as chairs began to move, people returned to their seats, some leaving to use the bathroom. Over the intercom the same voice spoke again. "Senhoras e senhores, vamos aterrar momentaneamente e gostaria de você voltar suas cadeiras e as mesas para a sua posição vertical. Obrigado para você cooperação e para a escolha de TAM Airlines." Bond looked over to Dani who was beginning to wake, she seemed to remember where she was and began to panic yet again. "Calm down, we'll be landing in a few minutes. Put your shoes back on." Dani cautiously bent down and picked up her shoes and, with shaky hands, put them back on. Bond fixed Dani's seat as she put her shoes one, and taking a sip of water from Bond's bottle.
If taking off scared Dani, landing was worse. When the front wheels hit the ground and bounced off, she gripped Bond's arm so tight, it left bruises from where her fingertips dug in. Once the jet bridge connected to the plane, Dani was ready to leave. Once in the lobby Bond chuckled as Dani ran to the ladies room. A few minutes later, she emerges, happy to be on solid ground. Bond led Dani to the baggage claim where after picking up their bags, Dani began asking questions on what different signs said, as she did not know any other language other than English. Bond did his best to keep up but eventually bought Dani a Portuguese-to-English dictionary. Both got into a taxi and headed to their hotel, Meliá Brasil 21.
