A/N: I don't own the wrestlers or their families. I do own the OCs. Zzyzx road is a real place, out in the middle of the Mojave Desert in California, though I'm pretty sure it isn't anything like the place in the story. ;)
Zzyzx Road
Chapter 10: The Landing
Punk was relieved when the plane's PA came to life and announced that they would be landing in Portland in the next fifteen minutes or so. He started to gather his things, his gaze falling momentarily on the girl, who had somehow managed to commandeer his MP3 player. "You want me to get it back for you?" Jericho asked.
"No," said Punk glumly. "She may as well keep it. I'm not going to need it for the next few days, anyway."
"Okay," said Jericho with a shrug. The plane banked sharply, causing the girl to gasp and renew her death grip on the armrest. Jericho tapped her, making her jump. She used one hand to yank out the earbuds. "You going to be all right, Sarah?"
"I'll be fine, as soon as we're on the ground. God, I hate flying!"
"Really?" said Punk. "We couldn't tell."
"Shut it, Phil," the girl grumbled.
"Such a sweet girl," Punk said to Jericho.
"Yes, she is," Jericho said, grinning. "Do you want us to walk with you off the plane, Sarah?"
"I'll be fine," she said again. "My dad's supposed to meet me at the gate. No one's going to bother me once we're on the ground. Although that flight attendant has been shooting me dirty looks this whole flight."
"Well, you did almost delay the plane," said Punk.
Sarah made a face at him and turned back to Jericho. "You know, Phil does sort of grow on you after awhile, doesn't he? I mean, he's kind of a jerk…"
"Hey!" Punk said.
"…but it's more like when you have a cranky neighbor who's really kind of sweet underneath."
Jericho laughed. "She's got your number, Phil."
Punk grumbled. "Children should be seen and not heard."
"Funny, I have an aunt that says the same thing. She's way more cranky than you, though." The plane shifted again and Sarah's grip on the armrest tightened again. "Damn it, I hate this."
"You probably shouldn't cuss," said Jericho. Sarah shot him a glare. "Sorry," he said sheepishly. "It's the dad in me. We should be on the ground soon."
"Thank God!" She turned off the MP3 player and held it out to Punk.
"Go ahead and keep it," he said.
"Seriously?" Sarah asked. "This is way too nice a player to be giving away to some girl on a plane."
"I'm not going to need it," Punk said.
"Thanks." She tucked the player into her pocket. "You're okay, Phil. Though your taste in music is a little dated."
"What?" Punk said.
"Come on! None of these songs are new. They all came out ages ago. And you like Punk, but you don't have any Spinning Monkeys? What is that all about?"
"Who?" asked Punk blankly.
Sarah appraised him. "You don't know who the Spinning Monkeys are? Where have you BEEN? They're only like the best Punk band ever!"
"Good question," Punk muttered. "When did they first hit the scene?"
"You even talk like an old person," Sarah sighed. "But they've been around probably a year and a half. Why?"
"We've been out of the country for the last two years," Jericho said. "So we've missed a lot."
"Oh. Huh." The girl leaned over and rummaged through her bag. After a moment, she pulled out a CD, which she held out to Punk. "Here."
"What is it?"
"A CD?"
"I know that," said Punk, annoyed. "I mean, what's on it?"
"I put it together to play in the car on my way back to my dad's," she said with a shrug. "There's some Spinning Monkeys on it. Track two and… um, I think six? Anyway, you can keep it, since I can hook your MP3 player up to the car stereo instead."
"Thanks," Punk said, taking the CD.
"Sure. And just so you know, your taste in music is pretty good, if a bit classical and outdated. But you listen to that CD and you'll be back on track in no time."
Punk slid the CD into his bag. "I'll be sure to remember that."
The plane tilted sharply, making Sarah close her eyes tightly. "Oh God."
"It'll be okay," Jericho said soothingly. "Just a few more minutes and we'll be on the ground."
"As a crushed wreckage," Sarah muttered.
"Come on," Jericho said. "You're fine. We're going to be touching down in a second." The plane bumped, causing the girl to squeak. "No big deal, Sarah. It's just the landing gear coming out. I can see the airport from here."
Sarah moved her grip from the armrest to Jericho's arm, causing the man to wince. Her eyes were huge and luminous. "I don't want to die."
"You're not going to." He patted her hand. "I promise, you're going to be fine. The wheels should be touching the ground any moment now." He paused, then nodded as the wheels found the runway. "Now it's going to be loud, but it's okay." The afterburners kicked in, causing the girl to wince and her grip to tighten. The plane slowed and finally came to a stop. "See? No big deal."
The intercom crackled to life. "Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Portland," the captain said.
"You can let go now," Jericho told Sarah.
Sheepishly, the girl removed her death grip from his arm. "Sorry."
"Don't be," he said. "Flying can be scary. Especially if you're not used to doing it."
The plane taxied to the gate, and Jericho and Punk gathered their things. "Maybe it'd be okay if you walked out with me after all," Sarah said after a moment. "You know, because we're friends and all. Not because I need you to."
"Sure," Jericho said. "It's been an interesting trip, thanks to you."
Sarah smiled. "Thank you, I think."
"Oh, Chris likes interesting trips," Punk said. "He likes having things to talk about and ponder over."
Jericho shot Punk a look. "We're on the ground now," he said. "You can take off the hat."
"Wonderful," Punk said, watching the people file out of the plane. "But you know, maybe a little bit longer wouldn't hurt. Just until we're past… everybody."
"You guys are the weirdest missionaries or whatever I've ever heard of."
"Missionaries?" Punk said, puzzled.
"Well, you did say you were out of the country for a couple of years and you're completely out of the music scene. To me, that screams missionaries."
"Right," Jericho said, frowning. "That makes sense."
"So are you not missionaries?"
"We're… kind of missionaries?" Punk said. "But not exactly. It's more like the Peace Corps or something."
"You look too old for the Peace Corps," Sarah pointed out.
"He doesn't sleep well," Jericho said. "And building churches and homes in other countries can age you considerably. Especially if there's no running water or indoor plumbing."
"Huh. Point taken," Sarah said.
By now, the plane was clear. "Shall we?" Jericho asked, indicating the aisle. "After all, I'm sure you're anxious to be home and I know we're anxious to tie up our business here so we can go back where we belong."
"Where is that?" Sarah asked.
Jericho smiled, a little sadly. "I don't know any more," he said. "But maybe we can figure it out while we're here."
^%^
Sarah's father was waiting at the gate, his expression anxious. When she stepped off the gangway, he went from nervous to annoyed. "Sarah," he said, "I was starting to think you didn't make the plane again."
"Sorry, dad," she said, smiling sheepishly. "I got into a conversation with my seatmates and we kind of ended up waiting until everyone else was off. I hate fighting the crowds anyway."
"Well, at least you're safe," said Sarah's father. "And you were her seatmates?"
"She's a good kid," Jericho said.
"Just a bit sassy," Punk added, smirking at the girl.
"Whatever, Phil," Sarah said, smirking back.
"Sarah!" Her father looked horrified. "Please excuse my daughter, Mr…." He paused, squinting at Punk. "I'm sorry, but you look familiar. Do I know you?"
"It's doubtful," Punk said. "We're just visiting someone and we're not from around here."
"Plus we've been out of the country for the last two years," Jericho added.
"Still, you look very familiar. Both of you. What did you say your last name was?"
"Uh, I didn't. But it's Brooks," Punk said.
"I see." The man mused on that a moment, then shook off the thought. "Well, anyway, thank you so much for keeping an eye on Sarah. She's not much for flying…"
Jericho chuckled. "I'll say. She almost took my arm off when we were landing."
"That sounds about right," her father agreed. "Anyway, Sarah, we'd better get going. Dahlia was starting dinner when I left. It's going to be a good one tonight."
"All right," Sarah sighed. "Thanks. Chris, Phil. It was nice meeting you."
"You too," Jericho said, smiling at the girl. "Thanks for the interesting conversation and the CD."
She grinned. "Make sure you listen to it!"
"We will, as soon as we get a rental car," Jericho promised. "Come on, Phil. We'd better get going, too. I have no idea how long they'll hold our rental for us, and we still need to find ourselves a map and a hotel."
"Of course," Punk grumbled, readjusting his hat on his head. "See you around, kid," he told Sarah before he and Jericho walked off.
"I swear I know them from somewhere," her father muttered.
"I know, right?" Sarah said. "I spent the entire plane ride trying to figure it out, but I still don't know who they are. I'm sure it'll come to me in the middle of the night or something."
Punk sighed as they walked away. "I'm glad that's over," he muttered.
"I liked Sarah."
"Me too, but I swear, I kept thinking she was going to clue in on who we are."
Jericho shrugged. "What are the odds that a teenage girl like her watches WWE? Or that she watched it two years ago, anyway?"
"They're never in our favor when you say crap like that."
Jericho chuckled. "Come on, sourpuss. The car rental is this way. I'd like to make it to that town tonight and find us a hotel."
"And once we're in the car, the hat comes off," Punk said. "Because somehow, I think taking it off here is a risk."
"Aren't you the same guy who complained about the hat in Florida?"
"I did, but now I see your point. Someone's going to recognize us, Chris. It's only a matter of time."
"I know, Punk," said Jericho with a sigh. "But there's nothing we can do about it, short of wearing ski masks everywhere we go, and somehow, I think that will get us noticed even quicker than us looking like dead celebrities."
"Being dead celebrities, you mean."
"I don't feel dead," Jericho said.
"Good. Because trying to do this with a dead guy's help doesn't sound like fun to me."