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A/N: I don't own the rights to the movie, plot, concept, or characters. I only own a copy of the movie, which I've watched at least 20 times since buying it last month. Don't sue me. Please.
Chapter 1 – Love, and Lack Thereof
Somewhere above the Atlantic Ocean, en route to Portugal
Alex looked to her right at Van Zan, trying to mask her face. She had denied her feelings to herself for years, knowing how hopeless it was. Falling for Van Zan was the biggest mistake of her life. She knew that her feelings clouded her judgment, and tempted her emotions to disobey her common sense, but she'd been trying for years without success. Nothing could make her heart let him go. Not even the thought of his rejection, or even worse, indifference. She was in far too deep to turn back. Even if she took this secret to her grave, there was no more will left in her to fight them any longer. Her infatuation, as she called it, was like a dragon that she couldn't slay. A fierce and terrible one that reared its ugly head without notice, burning her from the inside out slowly and painfully.
Ever since she was hand-picked by Van Zan to fly the chopper in his team of dragon-slayers, she had been struggling with herself. In flight school, where she was one of only five women in a school full of men, she had had too much self-doubt to rise above the ranks on her own. She was modest about her flying skills, but luckily one of her professors wasn't, so he had pushed her to go as high as she can, literally and figuratively. There, her expertise and natural ability to maneuver aircraft had caught Van Zan's eye, and his guidance and confidence had caught her heart.
Northumberland, England
Quinn looked over his shoulder and smirked, knowing that nothing irked her more than being second best to him. "Her" being Jack, who happened to be hot on his heels, but falling back gradually. Her stallion, Hades, who was usually tough competition for Quinn's horse, Hermes, hadn't been able to train every day, and as a result his skills had become quite rusty. Of course, Hermes wasn't in much better shape, but Hades was headstrong, and needed to be closely watched, unlike mild-mannered and obedient Hermes. Hermes was much easier to handle than Hades, although Jack's horsemanship was remarkable.
Turning the last corner, Quinn hopped off his horse and grinned, glad that he'd taken Creedy's advice. His best friend had seen him restless and overworked, and practically forced him out the door, telling him to take a walk or something. Even though Quinn hated taking orders, he had meekly obeyed, secretly thankful that someone had noticed his high-strung nerves. He had headed for the stables as usual, knowing that it gave him release and a sense of peace that was unattainable in any other part of the castle. There, he had run into Jack, who was apparently saddling up Hades for some much needed alone time. Seeing her wasn't a shock, as he knew the stables where her favourite place too. She went there to talk to the horses, and pamper them in little ways. She was the unofficial caretaker of these animals, and even though there were only three horses left, she devoted almost all her spare time to them. There, he had challenged her to a race. A race he'd just won. While rubbing down his horse and whispering in his ear, Quinn heard Hades approaching. Straightening, Quinn looked up to see Jack swing a booted leg over and slide off her horse.
Taking the reins that had been wound around the saddle horn, she lead Hades towards a water bucket, glaring at Quinn in silent defeat. Her green eyes flashed as she saw the mocking look on his face.
"You know, maybe if you learned control your horse, not to mention your temper, you might beat me someday." Quinn remarked snidely at the scowling figure.
"Maybe if you weren't such an arrogant wanker you'd know that it wasn't your skills that won this time, it was your horse, which, I might add, is smarter and more amiable than you." Jack snapped.
"Well aren't you a little ray of sunshine today." Quinn said, fully enjoying Jack's foul mood. "A friendly piece of advice. Call me for a rematch when you've learned to ride properly, Jack." Walking away after putting Hermes in his stall, Quinn threw another mocking smile behind him, catching Jack's glower. Quinn was referring to Jack's particular style of riding. Instead of using the reins, she had taken to controlling the horse by using her feet, and using her hands to hold onto the animal's mane. It was strange, but Jack claimed that yanking on the bit only made Hades' temper worse. Feeling much more relaxed, Quinn went to look for Creedy. He had an inkling that his good mood was going to last all day, whatever the generators or boilers did. Strange that only hanging out with Creedy and being the cause of Jack's displeasure put him in such a positive frame of mind.