Tegan's head snapped up and she felt a wave of dizziness hit. She blinked hard a few times and thought for a second she must be mistaken.
"Cameron?" she mumbled.
"Hey, this is a coincidence" Cam smiled trying to keep Tegan calm.
Tegan just put her head in her hands and continued to breathe hard and fast.
"Is it okay if I take the open seat next to you for a few minutes?" Cam asked gently with her hand on Tegan's shoulder.
"I guess" Tegan muttered sitting back. She was pale, her skin damp.
Beth and a flight attendant was still standing there looking worried once Cam had taken her seat.
"Could you guys give us a minute, its okay" said Cam. Beth and the girl reluctantly stepped away.
"Just take a few deep breaths Tegan, everything's okay" said Cam softly.
Tegan did her best to oblige.
"I'm sorry, I'm okay… you don't need to…"
"It's alright, pretty boring back there in cattle class anyway" Cam smiled. She looked down at Tegan's hands, they were shaking.
"Tegan, I'm going to take your hand now so I can take your pulse okay"
Tegan nodded, head still spinning and stomach in an uproar. She swallowed hard at the bile in the back of her throat, closed her eyes and leaned her head back.
She felt Cameron gently take her wrist in her hand and she felt and almost instant calm energy spread through her. She took a deep, shuddering breath.
"That's it, you're doing great. Keep taking those deep breaths" Cam said before she started counting the fast pulsing in Tegan's wrist.
"Your pulse is bit fast but I'm sure it's just nerves. I'm just going to check your BP real quick"
"I'm okay" said Tegan, she was still wheezing a bit.
"I'm sure you are, but let's just make sure" Cam smiled kindly.
Tegan didn't have the strength to argue so she just nodded and closed her eyes again.
Cam took a BP cuff out of the medical kit the flight attendant had handed her earlier.
She was so gentle and calm as she took Tegan's BP. Beth looked over from where she was seated next to a snoozing Casey. She smiled at Cam when she mouthed an "it's okay"
"Your BP looks okay, it a bit low but nothing to worry about just yet. You're wheezing a bit so I'm going to have a quick listen to your lungs. Just relax and keep taking deep breaths"
After her brief examination Cameron put away the equipment and gently put her hand on Tegan's thigh. Tegan opened her eyes, Cam's touch felt warm and comforting in a world that was spinning out of control.
"Do you have an inhaler with you?"
"Yeah, I've used it already" said Tegan and tried to take a deep breath but struggled.
"Alright, I want you to try another puff. Inhale slowly and try and keep it in your lungs for a few seconds. It's okay, you're okay" said Cam soothingly.
Tegan's hand was shaking so badly she had trouble bringing the inhaler to her lips.
"I've got you" said Cameron softly and guided Tegan's hand up.
"Okay, deep breath on three" said Cam and pressed the inhaler. Tegan breathed in and held the medicine in her lungs for a few seconds before exhaling and gulping up another breath.
"That's it, feel better?" asked Cam.
"Yeah, I think its opening up" said Tegan.
"Good job. Everything's okay, your safe Tegan" said Cameron, her hand on Tegan's thigh again.
"Thank you… thank you" Tegan whispered.
"No problem at all"
Cameron waved a nervous looking flight attendant over.
"Could you please get her a cup of sweet tea and something light to eat, maybe some cheese and crackers?"
The flight attendant rushed off.
Tegan took another deep, shuddering breath.
"I'm so sorry, I don't know what happened…. I'm just so scared right now. I thought I could do this… I…. I'm sorry"
"That's completely understandable, but I want you to know that you're okay, everything's fine"
"It's not fine… last time I thought things were fine in a plane you had to pick me up at the bottom of a ravine and rush me to hospital in a critical condition. We should have died… we…" Tegan snapped and started almost hyperventilating.
"Hey, look at me" said Cam gently. Tegan turned her head and looked into Cam's hazel green eyes.
"You didn't die…. I think there's a reason you didn't"
"I don't know what the fuck I was thinking getting on a plane again" said Tegan shaking her head. She yanked out a paper airsick bag and opened it in anticipation of the vomiting session just waiting to happen.
"I know you don't want to hear this… but this is probably the safest way of travelling in the world. You're at a lot higher risk just getting in your car or crossing the road"
Tegan just closed her eyes and shook her head.
"I know it's irrational… but it's there" said Tegan starting to breathe hard and fast again. She was in tears now.
After another few minutes of coaching Tegan's breathing and trying to soothe her with kind and comforting words and gently touches, Tegan seemed to finally relax a little bit.
"So, the kids have grown a lot!" said Cam trying to get Tegan's mind off flying.
"Yeah, they're a handful" Tegan smiled still looking exceptionally pale.
"Smart too huh, Casey's got about three books on the seat next to her"
"They are… they both love books. Lindsey used to read to…" Tegan trailed off and closed her eyes trying to keep her emotions inside.
"Tegan… I'm so incredibly sorry for your loss. Lindsey was such an amazing woman and I'm honoured to have known her"
"Thank you" Tegan whispered.
"I'm sorry I couldn't be at the funeral… I only found out after and…"
"It's okay, I got your beautiful flowers and note. Thank you. It meant a lot"
"I wanted to call but I didn't think you'd want to talk to… well a virtual stranger"
"I understand but… You're not a stranger… You were a great friend to Lindsey when she needed it most. I really appreciate that, I know she did too" said Tegan sincerely.
"It was my pleasure" said Cam suddenly uncomfortable. Tegan could read that.
"So why are you heading Boston? Work?" asked Tegan.
"No, I have some time off. I'm going to spend a few days in Boston visiting friends and then I'm going to a little town a couple of hours away to visit family" Cameron didn't tell Tegan what else she was going to do in Boston.
"Oh… that sounds nice. We're vacationing ourselves" Tegan laughed weakly.
"Cool, it's a beautiful part of the country. You staying in Boston?"
"No no… trying to get away from the hustle and bustle, well at least some of it. We're going to a little place called Provincetown"
"No way… that's where I'm going" said Cam suddenly looking spooked.
"Really… that's…. weird" said Tegan and took a sip of tea.
"My cousin's the sheriff up there, her wife's the local doctor. My aunt lives there too"
"Well, I guess I'll meet the local doctor then…" said Tegan suddenly looking dejected.
"How's all that going?" asked Cam but quickly retracted. "I'm sorry, I'm prying. Ignore me"
"No it's okay, I assume "all that" means my health? It's going well… most of the time. I'm still a bit weaker than I'd like to be and my shoulder sometimes acts up but I'm fine all things considered. Finally not cold anymore" Tegan laughed shakily.
Cam giggled. "I'm glad you're feeling a bit warmer"
"I just promised Kate and Sara that I would check in with the doctor every week. Completely over the top but I'd do anything to get them off my case right now"
"It's probably not a bad idea" said Cam knowing full well that she would need to check in at the clinic every week herself. The thought caused a shiver to run down her spine.
"Can we… not talk about that stuff anymore" said Tegan.
"Sure. I guess I better get back to my seat" said Cam, relieved.
"Cameron… don't go… please" said Tegan suddenly breathing faster again.
"It's just… you made me feel… calm" said Tegan, the word she meant to use was "safe".
"Of course I'll stay as long as you need me to. If they'll let me" said Cam looking at a flight attendant.
Tegan waved her over.
"Hi… would it be okay if Cameron stayed here. I just really don't feel right" said Tegan. That section of the cabin wasn't very full at all. Only Tegan's crew and four other people.
"Of course, she's been a great help. Wouldn't have it any other way. Make yourself at home. I'll bring you the menu" said the girl and left.
"Don't feel right? What's wrong Tegan?" asked Cam suddenly looking horrified.
"I'm okay, I just didn't want them to send you back there"
Cam sat back and laughed. "Well thanks for the free upgrade Tegan"
"No, thank you… for helping me stay sane, well maybe not sane but at least not a screaming lunatic" said Tegan. The stress had really taken it out of her and she was exhausted, that much was clear.
"Why don't you recline and try and get some rest" said Cameron.
"I don't want to sleep… last time I slept in a plane I woke up and all hell broke loose"
Cameron took Tegan's hand on impulse and pure instinct.
"This is not like last time. You're safe now. Everything's okay. I promise" she said and subconsciously ran her thumb over Tegan's knuckles.
"Okay" Tegan whispered, her eyes droopy. Cameron reclined her seat for her and a few seconds later she was out.
"Thank you so much. Is she okay now?" asked Beth a few minutes later.
"She's fine. Can do with some rest though" said Cameron standing up to talk to Beth.
Beth looked at the striking brunette with the dishevelled hair. She was gorgeous alright, medium height, lean, muscular body, strong jaw and cheekbones. She noticed that she looked a bit pale though, dark circles under her eyes made her look tired.
"You okay?" Beth asked as Cam joined her.
"Yeah sure, just had a few sleepless nights" said Cam.
"She's out, try and get some rest" said Beth lightly touching Cam's arm.
Cam smiled. "I'm glad she has you with her"
"And I'm very glad you were on this plane. Don't know what we would have done without you" smiled Beth, clearly flirting. Cameron was oblivious, women and relationships the last thing on her mind.
"Glad I could help" she smiled and excused herself to the toilet.
"She's quite something" said Nicky the new security detail on the team to Beth where she stood staring after Cam's tight, though much thinner than she remembered it ass.
"Yeah, clueless or straight though" said Beth laughing.
"I'd put my life savings on the fact that she's gay. I mean look at her… she's got that swagger and… " said Nicky before being cut off by Beth.
"We shouldn't be discussing her"
"Okay, but maybe you should ask her out on a date or something"
"No… I get the feeling that she's got her guard up, she's not interested"
"Pity, because she's smoking hot"
"Stop that, get back to Ryan" Beth laughed.
Tegan was still sleeping when Cam returned to her seat. She looked at her for a few minutes. Suddenly the image of Tegan, still so sick on the plane that took them back to LA shot through her mind and she snapped her head around to stare out the window. Cameron thought of Lindsey, it was still so surreal to know she was gone. The tiredness suddenly hit Cam and she slowly nodded off into a restless sleep filled with strange dreams.
A/N: I know I've been kind of quiet but so have you! Please send feedback. Where do you think the story line should go next?