Disclaimers and other Info. in Part 1 - additional acknowledgements will be included in parts where needed.
Thanks to Kas for her encouragement and feedback.
JD is the first to wake up in the morning. He creeps downstairs (it's only 7 AM) and makes a cup of coffee and gets himself a bowl of cornflakes. He turns the radio on and has breakfast.
Lu comes downstairs wearing pyjamas "Good morning, JD. Do we really have to go home and end our adventures today?"
"Yeah, 'fraid so, even though Chris's leg still hurts him he said we have to go today," says JD.
"I'll have to go back to England soon," mutters Lu sadly.
"You don't have to," says JD, trying to cheer her up.
"I live and work there, JD."
Josiah, Nathan and Ezra come into the room.
"Do you think Chris could hire a plane and fly us home - it's too far to drive," says Josiah thoughtfully.
"I don't think Chris can fly the way he is," guesses Lu.
"He can fly but he can't pilot," says Nathan wanting to get home quickly before anyone else gets hurt.
"Who else can pilot a plane?" asks Lu, looking at the group.
"Buck can - he took me for a fly once," remembers JD.
"Maybe we should drive back in the truck instead," says Lu who feels worried about Buck piloting a plane.
Dorothy comes into the room; "Chris said we could keep that truck - money's a bit tight at the moment and that truck could really come in handy."
JD has been thinking and says, "A commercial flight would be too expensive, we'd be better off hiring a plane and one of us piloting it."
"Bucklin's a good pilot, he took me for a flight once. His landings and takeoffs are so smooth," says Dorothy, remembering the great time they had then.
"Where did you fly to?" asks JD.
"We flew to Canada for the weekend."
"See, he IS a reliable pilot," says JD, now Dorothy has confirmed it.
Meanwhile Buck and Chris are talking in Chris's bedroom.
"I don't believe in long distance relationships, Bucklin," says Chris who's angry that Buck's interfering.
"You really upset her last night
"I thought she'd take it well - anyway, it's nothing to do with you," says Chris combing his hair in front of the mirror.
"She's really mad at you this morning - she told me she's not talking to you."
"Good, I don't like tearful farewells."
"She's not even going to watch you leave," says Buck wishing Chris would stop being so horrible.
"I need someone in my own state, not in Tennessee," says Chris, no emotion in his voice, but hurting inside about upsetting the girl.
"You loved her though - you and her were getting on really well," says Buck who can't understand why Chris is being like this.
"That's why I have to end it now before things go too far," explains Chris who didn't want Shirley's heart to get broken at all.
"How're we gonna get home?"
"You, Bucklin, are going to fly us home - I've got some money to hire a plane for us," says Chris, wondering if it's really such a good idea, but knowing it will be a lot quicker to get home that way.
"Needs to be big enough to fit us all in."
"It will be, I've gotta make a phone call and book us a plane now. I'll see you downstairs in a while."
Buck leaves the room and goes downstairs. Chris picks up the phone in his room and calls the number Dorothy found for him yesterday.
Downstairs, Dorothy's kids have joined the guys for breakfast. Shirley still isn't out of her room yet. The kids are happily playing with the Star Wars Lego Buck has finally given to them.
"Hey, Chris is lettin' me fly us home," says Buck excitedly.
"That's great, Buck. When do we leave?" says JD.
"Soon as Chris has hired us a plane and we get to the airport," says Buck with a smile - he can't wait to get home although he'll miss Dorothy.
"How far is the airport?" asks Josiah.
"It's only 10 miles away and I'll drive you in the truck," replies Dorothy.
"Where's Shirley this morning?" asks Buck in concern.
Dorothy answers in an upset voice, "She's not very well."
"Did she tell you what happened?"
"Every detail."
"I'm really sorry for Chris's behaviour. He's being very selfish," says Buck annoyed at Chris.
"I'm sure he'll go to hell when he dies," says Dorothy spitefully.
Buck is shocked at what Dorothy has just said.
"I'm very fond of Shirley and I don't like any man breaking her heart," explains Dorothy, noticing Buck's shocked look.
"We're all mad at Chris for it, he won't have an easy time with us on the way home."
Chris comes down and Buck and Dorothy fall silent.
Chris is oblivious to it all; "I got us a plane with plenty of room for everyone."
"Have you reconsidered letting Shirley come with us?" asks Buck, thinking there's still time for Chris to make things up to her.
"No, we're finished," states Chris firmly.
"Don't expect us to agree with your decision."
Chris answers loudly and very angrily, "I HAD ONE DATE WITH HER AND I'M MEAN'T TO INVITE HER BACK WITH US?"
They finish breakfast and pack their things. They get into the truck and Dorothy drives them to the airport. No-one talks during the drive.
When they get there they easily find the plane Chris has hired for them. They all get on board and it is very posh inside. There are several rows of seats with two in each row.
JD gets two seats to himself. Chris sits down hoping Vin will sit next to him but he sits with Krys instead. Lu sits with Josiah. Nathan sits with Ezra. Buck is up front in the pilot's seat. He starts the process for take-off. He uses the intercom to tell everyone to strap themselves in for take-off. Everyone obeys Captain Buck.
Lu looks out the window and sees the plane getting higher and higher. She starts to feel a bit unwell. "I hate take-offs," she mutters.
"Close your eyes and you'll feel better," says Josiah helpfully.
Lu closes her eyes.
Chris is sitting behind JD. "JD, are you mad at me?" asks Chris.
"Don't talk to me Larabee. Everyone's mad at you. You coulda had a great relationship with Shirley and you threw it away," answers JD.
Chris reaches for his bag and gets some Jack Daniels Tennessee Whiskey out.
Buck speaks over the intercom as if he knows what Chris is doing, "Please be advised drinking alcohol is not allowed on this flight."
Chris shouts at the intercom, "Just 'cause you're the pilot, doesn't make you the rule maker!"
Buck can't hear him though.
"I feel hungry," says Vin, although it hasn't been long since he had breakfast.
"We already had breakfast," says JD, who doesn't feel at all hungry.
"I wish I had some chocolate," says Vin.
"I've got some chocolate," says JD, then he reaches under his seat for his bag and takes out a huge bar of chocolate.
"I think you better share that with everyone, JD," says Vin hoping the chocolate will cheer everyone up.
JD breaks off 2 squares for everyone and passes it around. The only person who doesn't get any is Chris.
Chris secretly drinks some more whiskey.
The plane starts jolting a bit. Chris gets up and goes to see Buck. Chris looks out the front window and sees the sea; "Bucklin, we shouldn't be flying over the sea!"
"That's not the sea, that's a river," replies Buck, sounding very sure of himself.
"BUCKLIN, it's too wide to be a river. I can even see ships that would not be going on a river. How did you manage to fly the wrong way?"
"I'm not flying the wrong way. This is the river we fly over to get home. Those ships are just lost."
"I can see South America, Buck - there's Mexico!" exclaims Chris.
"That's New Mexico," answers Buck, not really believing what he's saying.
"Buckley, it's OLD MEXICO - turn this plane around," orders Chris angrily.
The engine starts spluttering and the plane slows down
"Ain't got enough petrol - we'll have to land," says Buck noncommittally.
Chris sighs, exasperated at his decision to let Buck pilot the plane home.
They approach a jungle similar to the one they were in a few days ago. Buck manages a smooth landing and they get out.
"Damn it, now what are we supposed to do?" asks Vin.
"Buckley, you better start walking and get us some more jet fuel," orders Chris annoyed at Buck, even thinking he did it on purpose.
"How am I meant to find any?" asks Buck.
"I think we should head for the sea and get a ship back," suggests Vin.
"Okay, I guess we don't have much choice," says Chris hoping they can find a cargo ship that could take them back.
They start walking and they haven't gone far when they hear talking. A group of dark-tanned men and women approach them.
A woman in her 30's points at JD excitedly She speaks in a foreign language they can't understand. The woman approaches JD and puts her arms round him. JD looks very puzzled. He tries to get away from her. The woman speaks to him in the foreign language.
"I don't understand," says JD, trying to talk clearly for her.
The woman takes out a comb and combs his hair.
"LEAVE ME ALONE!" shouts the young man at her.
She backs away frightened.
To be continued...