A/N: This is my third update today, like I said the story is really flying now that I have direction that I want to go with it, I just hope that my motivation keeps going. As always thanks to those who keep reviewing and keep pushing this story forward.

Blue Grey Skies

Anna and Carter made it with few troubles the rest of the way to the airport it seemed as if they had managed to leave Max behind and lost him somewhere in the city. Anna breathed a sigh of relief when they got checked in and headed thru the security, unless for some dumb reason Max had an airline ticket once they were thru security he couldn't get to them. Anna also knew that even if he did there was no way that he was getting up to the concourse or near the boarding gates with a gun. He was not talented enough to get that thru security. Anna hoped that the security at the airport was good enough that someone, mainly Max could not get thru, all the checkpoints that they had put up.

"We made it." She said as they stood now in front of the boarding gate for the United flight from Chicago to Seattle.

"That we did Anna," Carter said smiling as he put his arm around her. "A few more hours and we will be in Seattle and you can leave this behind."

"Yeah I can." She said, "I didn't think it would be this hard. You know I mean leaving Max is one thing but I have to leave my family too, all 7 of my brothers behind, sorry but I am just an overprotective older sister."

"They will be okay with out you for a bit Anna." Carter said trying to reassure her, "you are doing the right thing, and you know you need to do this. What Max was doing to you was wrong. You deserve so much better than what he was doing to you. Anna you are a beautiful, intelligent woman."

She smiled bashfully now at Carter, "you've always thought that." She said softly, "you are so funny Carter," Anna touched his arm not softly, "but I believe you and I thank you for saying it. Abby is a lucky woman to have you."

Carter smiled as he handed her the airline ticket. "Glad you think that." He said laughing a little now, "I feel pretty lucky to have her."

"Well you know what they say," She said laughing.

Carter smiled at her, "what now?"

"Behind every great man is an exceptional woman." She said smiling a little more between her giggles.

"Yeah, sure," Carter said softly hitting her arm, "joke it up now there beautiful cause you're going to be outnumbered when we get to Seattle. It's going to be just Doug and me and you."

"Oh but there's Carol and the girls so see, it's still 4 to 2." She said hitting him back; it almost felt like old times between them right now rather than them trying to flee the area now with out being caught.

"Well okay you got me there." Carter said, "That's our flight they are calling."

"It doesn't seem like we have been here long enough for them to be calling our flight already." She said looking wishfully out the airport window again.

Carter took Anna's hand into his and softly let her towards the boarding gate. "I know and someday you'll get to come back I know you will. It's going to be hard I won't lie to you there but you will get to see your family again Anna."

"I hope you are right." She said looking at the gate. Anna forced herself now to move toward the gate, telling herself that this was the right thing to do. That this was the only the only course of action she had left right now. Granted she could have gone to the police and gotten their help but she did not think that Max would really respect a restraining order. He obviously held no respect for her life if she was not with him.

"I know I am Anna." Carter said softly as he handed the gate agent his ticket and waited for Anna to do the same before leading her down towards the plane. "Hope that you are the kind to get airsick."

Anna laughed, "not that I know of, it hasn't happened yet." She said softly, "Are you telling me that you don't want a traveling companion who has to use the airsick bag in the little seat compartment that a normal person couldn't hit because they are as small as those ones that we are supposed to have people puke in, in the ER?"

"Okay you have a good point there." He said laughing. "I'll make sure that if you ever come into my ER again with gastroenteritis that I make sure you get one of those big basins to barf in." He said as he kept laughing. Carter held out his hand, "our seats ma'am."

"Carter this is first class, aren't we flying coach or something don't we need to be further back in the plane?"

"Not that I know of," Carter said looking at her, "are you telling me you'd rather be back there in those cramped seats with no leg room rather than up here with plenty of leg room nice comfy fluffy seats, a pillow for your head."

"Well uh if you are going to put it that way." She said laughing as she slid inside next to the window. "I think I can handle this." She slipped the seatbelt around her waist pulling it tight, as they had nothing to do but wait for the flight to take off. They were due to land in Seattle in about four and a half hours.

They settled into the flight getting off with out any troubles. Anna closed her eyes settling back into the seat getting comfortable. They might have had trouble getting to the airport with Max but it seemed like there was almost nothing that could go wrong now. Well she probably should not say that while they were cruising at thirty-three thousand feet now. For once in several weeks, Anna actually felt as if she was safe and was not going to be hurt again. Max had done the worst that he could do and now she was flying far away with out a care in the world.