Disclaimer: See Part One
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Lucas leaned back against the pillow on the back of his seat on the plane that he and Doctor Westphalen had boarded only a little over 15 minutes ago. They had no sooner gotten to the island than they took a cab to the airport and boarded the plane. "How long is the flight doc?"
Kristin looked over at her young travelling companion and said, "A little over 3 hours Lucas. Would you like a pillow or something why I'm up here?"
"No thanks doc, I'm not tired."
She nodded and sat down beside her friend and fastened her seat belt and looked over at Lucas who was staring with fascination out the window at the ground crews getting ready for take-off. Closing her eyes she felt the plane begin to taxi down the runway and pretty soon she felt them level off and begin their travels.
Lucas watched the clouds speed by and was fascinated. Spending most of his life under the waves it was a big thrill to travel in the air for a change. Turning slightly he noticed his friend just kind of staring off into space. He gently touched her arm and she came out her reverie. "Yes Lucas is there something you need?"
"No doc, just wondering who this friend is that we're meeting in Honolulu. Or if you would rather not tell me that's okay."
Kristin gently squeezed his hand that was still on her arm. "No that's okay Lucas, her name is Doctor Joann Henderson. She's the head of emergency care at Honolulu General Hospital."
"If you don't mind telling me how do you know her? You said she was a friend of your and Cynthia's."
Kristin leaned her head back and closed her eyes a moment then opened them again. "She is a friend of ours and a colleague of mine. Cynthia and Joann attended the same pre-med and some other classes before Joann moved on to medical school. It has been at least ten years since I've seen her."
Lucas nodded and returned to looking out the window. He was hoping that it would turn out this person was just a colleague of Kristin's and not a friend. He hated to be in the way while the doc caught up with a friend and she would be so busy watching him that she wouldn't get much else done. For some reason Lucas knew she felt some kind of motherly thing when it came to him. Deep inside he really liked it, since his own mother had been anything but motherly or caring. Kristin hadn't told him anything but he also knew the real reason for this trip was the permission slip for his physical. When he got on the Internex to find out if anyone he knew would be at the conference he found a listing of the presenters and it was then that he saw an announcement about an awards presentation that was taking place at the conference. Normally he wouldn't have paid any attention to it but something told him to look at it. When he did he found out his father was going to be at the conference and was being presented an award for overall scientific growth and achievement. Lucas suspected that was the main reason that Kristin had asked him to this conference. A big part of him didn't care as he knew sooner or later she would find a way but another smaller part of him was somewhat upset that she only wanted to spend time with him because she had to.
Kristin opened one eye and saw Lucas looking out window but he didn't seem to be paying attention or care what was going on out there. He seemed pensive and suddenly withdrawn. Kristin own thoughts were also filled with pensive ideas. She hated lying to Lucas and deep down she knew Nathan was right, Lucas would understand but at the same time she hated lying to him. No matter how good her motives or outcome would be it was wrong and went against everything the friendship she and Lucas had built was based on. Neither had purposely lied to the other and why technically she hadn't lied, since he hadn't asked any questions she hadn't had to lie to him. However a lie of omission was still a lie. She had to tell him the truth no matter what happened and if that meant that they turned around and went back to the boat without attending the conference that is what they would do and she would find another way to get in touch with Lucas' father and get the paper signed. Leaning over she gently touched the young man's arm and waited until he was paying attention to her before she started to speak. "Lucas we need to talk about the conference."
That's as far as she got before a flight attendant came over the intercom. "Ladies and gentlemen we have a small situation and I need to know if there is a doctor on board. Please raise your hand so we can contact you."
Kristin and Lucas waited a moment and turned to look around the plane in silent hopes that someone else had raised their hand but no one had. They turned and looked at each other and Kristin slowly put her hand in the air and smiled at Lucas. He smiled back as they both watched a young girl begin to hurry up to the raised hand.
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Lucas leaned back against the pillow on the back of his seat on the plane that he and Doctor Westphalen had boarded only a little over 15 minutes ago. They had no sooner gotten to the island than they took a cab to the airport and boarded the plane. "How long is the flight doc?"
Kristin looked over at her young travelling companion and said, "A little over 3 hours Lucas. Would you like a pillow or something why I'm up here?"
"No thanks doc, I'm not tired."
She nodded and sat down beside her friend and fastened her seat belt and looked over at Lucas who was staring with fascination out the window at the ground crews getting ready for take-off. Closing her eyes she felt the plane begin to taxi down the runway and pretty soon she felt them level off and begin their travels.
Lucas watched the clouds speed by and was fascinated. Spending most of his life under the waves it was a big thrill to travel in the air for a change. Turning slightly he noticed his friend just kind of staring off into space. He gently touched her arm and she came out her reverie. "Yes Lucas is there something you need?"
"No doc, just wondering who this friend is that we're meeting in Honolulu. Or if you would rather not tell me that's okay."
Kristin gently squeezed his hand that was still on her arm. "No that's okay Lucas, her name is Doctor Joann Henderson. She's the head of emergency care at Honolulu General Hospital."
"If you don't mind telling me how do you know her? You said she was a friend of your and Cynthia's."
Kristin leaned her head back and closed her eyes a moment then opened them again. "She is a friend of ours and a colleague of mine. Cynthia and Joann attended the same pre-med and some other classes before Joann moved on to medical school. It has been at least ten years since I've seen her."
Lucas nodded and returned to looking out the window. He was hoping that it would turn out this person was just a colleague of Kristin's and not a friend. He hated to be in the way while the doc caught up with a friend and she would be so busy watching him that she wouldn't get much else done. For some reason Lucas knew she felt some kind of motherly thing when it came to him. Deep inside he really liked it, since his own mother had been anything but motherly or caring. Kristin hadn't told him anything but he also knew the real reason for this trip was the permission slip for his physical. When he got on the Internex to find out if anyone he knew would be at the conference he found a listing of the presenters and it was then that he saw an announcement about an awards presentation that was taking place at the conference. Normally he wouldn't have paid any attention to it but something told him to look at it. When he did he found out his father was going to be at the conference and was being presented an award for overall scientific growth and achievement. Lucas suspected that was the main reason that Kristin had asked him to this conference. A big part of him didn't care as he knew sooner or later she would find a way but another smaller part of him was somewhat upset that she only wanted to spend time with him because she had to.
Kristin opened one eye and saw Lucas looking out window but he didn't seem to be paying attention or care what was going on out there. He seemed pensive and suddenly withdrawn. Kristin own thoughts were also filled with pensive ideas. She hated lying to Lucas and deep down she knew Nathan was right, Lucas would understand but at the same time she hated lying to him. No matter how good her motives or outcome would be it was wrong and went against everything the friendship she and Lucas had built was based on. Neither had purposely lied to the other and why technically she hadn't lied, since he hadn't asked any questions she hadn't had to lie to him. However a lie of omission was still a lie. She had to tell him the truth no matter what happened and if that meant that they turned around and went back to the boat without attending the conference that is what they would do and she would find another way to get in touch with Lucas' father and get the paper signed. Leaning over she gently touched the young man's arm and waited until he was paying attention to her before she started to speak. "Lucas we need to talk about the conference."
That's as far as she got before a flight attendant came over the intercom. "Ladies and gentlemen we have a small situation and I need to know if there is a doctor on board. Please raise your hand so we can contact you."
Kristin and Lucas waited a moment and turned to look around the plane in silent hopes that someone else had raised their hand but no one had. They turned and looked at each other and Kristin slowly put her hand in the air and smiled at Lucas. He smiled back as they both watched a young girl begin to hurry up to the raised hand.