Title: The City Between Us
Chapter 2 – Mayday!

"There's a few blankets tucked in the side panels near the back for a bit of extra warmth," Sam told them as he fired up the plane.

"Sure…I'll get them," Kelly volunteered as he pushed himself out of his small seat and then carefully made his way toward the back. "Hey buddy…" he mentioned to the pilots dog in his padded crate. "Buddy gets to ride in style."

"Oh yeah…he's used to the trips but always likes to have a bit of extra warmth," Sam replied with a small smile as Erin kept a nervous gaze on the horizon.

"Here…" Kelly offered.

"Thanks," she stated as she accepted the blanket and then wrapped it around her legs.

He couldn't help but notice her hands as they slightly shook when she tucked the blanket and offered her a small frown, something she was quick to pick up on. "Sorry…wasn't meaning to stare."

"Sometimes get nervous in smaller planes," she leaned in and whispered so as not to let their friendly pilot hear. The older man had done them a huge favor and she didn't want him to think she was ungrateful. But the condition of the skies before them as they headed toward the ominous mountain range made her nervous.

"Should be fine," he tried to reassure her. But both would be lying if they claimed they couldn't hear the nervousness and uncertainty in his tone. "All else fails…we turn back and bus it home."

"That would be interesting," Erin retorted as she tried to pull her nervous gaze away from the impending storm. "So…those clouds out there…" she leaned forward so that Sam could hear her.

"Yeah they look bad but we can go around 'em. Nothing to worry about," the older man replied with a small smile. But inside he would have to admit that he too was a bit worried.

Erin glanced back at Kelly who offered her a small nod of reassurance. "So…what do you do back in Chicago?" She asked casually, trying to keep her mind on anything but the skies outside.

"Firefighter. You?"

"Detective."

"Ah…dangerous stuff," Kelly retorted with a small smile.

"More so than running into a burning building?"

"Being shot at? Uh…yeah," he chuckled as she felt some of her nervousness start to ease.

"Thought you would have been a chef like your sister. Usually runs in the family."

"Well…yeah that's complicated. The uh…family stuff," he nervously admitted. "Dad was a firefighter. Works for Arson now so I guess we have that in common but…" he paused as he realized he just rambled. "Who cares right?"

"Well…it's a few hours," Erin shrugged as Kelly offered her a nod in agreement. "Do you like…to cook?"

"I can barbeque a mean steak on occasion. What about you?"

"Cooking? Well…I think I can burn a mean steak on occasion," she replied with a somewhat hesitant giggle. Why am I telling him these things? She tried to inwardly scold herself. But then was reminded that they were the only two on the plane, besides the pilot and it was noisy to hear what he was saying and there was no in-flight movie.

"Hope you have a fire extinguisher nearby," Kelly teasingly reminded her as he felt himself slightly relax. But that feeling was short lived when they hit a pocket of turbulence and the plane jerked down and then up and then quickly levelled off.

"Uh…"

"Just a bit of fun up here," Sam gently replied as Buddy offered a small groan from his travelling kennel in the back.

"Think I'll have earned a couple of beers tonight," Kelly mentioned offhandedly as Erin looked over and tried to offer him a smile but it turned out to be more of a panicked grimace. "I'm a bit nervous too but this guy's a pro and I always tell myself he wants to get home also right?"

"Right…yes…course," she stammered as she pulled her phone to give Voight an update. "Ah damn no service and my last text didn't go through."

"Really?" Kelly replied as he too pulled his phone and then quickly looked at the text he sent Matt. "Damn, mine either. The one before that where I told my buddy the flight was cancelled and I was looking for another way home."

"So…what happens now?"

"I think once we pass the storm clouds he can fly a bit lower and we can get service?" Kelly ventured a guess.

"Really? You Sure?"

"Uh no," Kelly gently smiled and then shrugged. "Just sounded good to say."

She couldn't help but smile at that comment and cursed herself once more for finding herself wanting to drown in the warm sapphire pools a few meters away. "So…your family…will they be worried?"

"Friends will be. Yours?"

"Yeah…same," she answered in haste. Hmm doesn't want to talk about family? Why is that? Someone this handsome has to be taken…right?

The plane jerked upward and then downward once more and this time they heard Sam offer a small curse and instant panic started to set in.

"What's…going on?"

"Storm…." Sam answered slowly as he tried to swallow. "Come up faster…than expected…"

"But you can…go around it right?"

"What's below us?" Kelly dared to inquire as he looked outside into the swirling darkness below and then up at Erin with a heavy frown.

"A million miles of pure ass nature…so basically nothing. Why?" Sam gently smirked.

"Just…curious," Kelly answered as Erin's lips pursed and he shrugged. "I think that…" he started only to feel the plane slightly dive down and then jerk back up. "Whoa…"

"Yeah never been a fan of turbulence," Erin huffed.

"Me either but…" Kelly started as it happened again. This time Kelly looked up to see Sam slow to retake control of the plane and gently nudged Erin and nodded toward Sam.

"Sam?" Erin asked in a panic as she noticed Sam's frame starting to list.

"Sam…hey man you okay?" Kelly asked in concern.

"Sure…yeah…just…" he started with a slow slur as the plane rocked from one side to the other and Kelly had to brace himself with both hands and his legs against the cramped opening to the cockpit.

"Sam!"

"What's going on!" She demanded in a panic as Sam seemed to snap back to reality for a few seconds.

"Sam! You feeling okay? You look kinda clammy!" Kelly exclaimed as the cracks from the thunder outside started to really drown out the talking inside.

"I uh…yeah…." Sam replied with a bit of a slur and then blinked rapidly.

"Sam…maybe we should…turn back?"

"Kelly…what's going on?" Erin asked in a panic as she pushed herself forward so that now both peered at the impending storm through into the rain splattered window of the small cockpit.

"Think we're a bit off course here," Kelly stated firmly. "Shouldn't you try to go around the storm?" Kelly urged the listless pilot. "We're heading for the storm."

"What? Heading for it? Off course…can we go back?" Erin's rushed questions rambled from her nervous lips.

"Sam I think…damn he's not responding!"

"What?"

"I think he might be having a heart attack or…stroke or…Sam…neither of us can fly so…"

"Think we should radio for help," Erin suggested as Kelly nodded and then looked around for the radio controls. But that wasn't to be either when suddenly Sam's hands left the controls and the plane started to plummet to the earth below.

"Kelly!" Erin shrieked as Kelly tried to maneuver himself into the small cockpit and pull up on the joystick. But with the small size and Sam's frame securely fastened to his seat they were going down one way or another. "Sam? Sam!" She tried to call out once more. "He's not responding to touch either!"

"I think he's…SAM!" Kelly shouted. "Or sound!"

But this time the older man's expression remained lifeless.

"No…no this can't be…is he dead?"

"Think it's a stroke or…a heart attack. I can't get him out of the seat!" Kelly grunted as the plane violently jerked once more and both had to hold on before they were knocked off balance. "This is bad," he uttered gravely.

"Kelly, what about the storm!"

"Sam!" Kelly tried once more and then looked at Erin in horror. "I can't fly this thing. Can you?"

"No. Any…parachutes?"

"Good question. Can you look?" Kelly suggested as he tried to keep the plane steady.

"Sure…" Erin replied as she started to frantically look around. "No! Just life jackets and some…supplies!"

They locked eyes for a few seconds and each could see the fright and despair that loomed in the orbs of the other. Outside the storm seemed to get angrier and fixed its sights on the foolish aircraft now at its mercy. "I don't want to die," she uttered a bit breathlessly.

"I don't want to either. I can try to hold it steady but…but I don't know how to fly this thing and I can't get him out of the chair in time. We are going to crash. Strap yourself in…oh make sure Buddy's crate is secure. We're doing down!"

"Oh God…no," Erin whispered in dread as she pulled her phone and tried to send another text and then hurried to check on Buddy.

"Okay…damn radio," Kelly groaned as he tried to keep the small plane steady so he could send off a mayday. "This isn't…" he started and then stopped as the plane was caught in a draft that forced it to jerk suddenly and both human occupants inside were sent crashing into whatever solid part of the plane was nearest. Kelly felt an instant throb in his temple but told himself he had much bigger issues to deal with than a simple bump on the head.

"Try again!" Erin directed as Kelly tried to grasp the radio.

"Mayday! Mayday!" Kelly tried and then pressed the button. "I think the receiver is dead!"

"LOOK!" Erin shouted as frantically tapped Kelly on the shoulder and pointed forward.

"GET TO YOUR SEAT!" Kelly told her as he tried once more to get off a mayday. But to no avail. The receiver had been hit by lighting and they were silent in the storm.

"KELLY!"

"WE'RE GOING TO CRASH!" He shouted as he tried to get at least one more mayday off. However, his eyes opened wide as part of the blackish clouds cleared for a few seconds – long enough to see the top of the mountain straight ahead.

"STRAP YOURSELF IN!" Erin shouted as she tried to brace for what she surmised would be a painful impact.

"Don't think the mayday worked!" Kelly told her as he tried to keep the plane as steady as long as he could before he too was forced to strap himself in and then pray for either a quick and painless death or a miracle.

"I'm…sorry!" Erin told Kelly loudly just before the bottom of the plane struck the top of the mountain peak.

"Me too!"

Kelly instantly grabbed Erin's hand and both could only squeeze their eyes shut and prayed that they'd survive the incoming disaster.

As soon as the bottom of the plane struck the first mountain peak, their bodies jerked forward and back; the contents inside the plane becoming dislodged and Buddy offering a few nervous barks as the plane spun around in mid-air.

Kelly dared to open his eyes just as the plane started to head for the second mountain peak, this one less higher but just as deadly. But he still didn't know what was below the dark clouds and could only fear the worst.

"HOLD ON!" Kelly shouted as the plane start to spin out of control by the winds that lashed it from all sides.

"I HOPE YOUR MAYDAY GOT OUT!"

"ME TOO!" Kelly shouted back as they started to hurl toward the foreboding structure. "HOLD ON BUDDY!" Kelly shouted as the frightened dog continued to bark anxiously.

"Oh God…help us," Erin offered a small prayer as her eyes watered slightly and she tried to keep her breathing under control. She was glad she wasn't alone at what she thought was her end but still hoped and prayed that it wasn't…that they would survive – somehow.

"BRACE FOR IMPACT!"

"NOOOOOOO!"

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

Time seemed to slow and their world around them blur into black oblivion as the angry storm raged around them, obvious to the plight of the insignificant object now caught up in its hungry fury. The pounding in their hearts gained momentum and started to wage war with the pounding outside so that the noise inside was deafening and anything verbal between them – last words, prayers, curses, were lost in the storms fury's.

Their hands squeezed together tighter as both held their breath and waited for the painful impact.

And it didn't disappoint.

The plane crashed.

The storm raged on around them.

Darkness fell and

silence followed.

A/N: and….exhale! anyone got any nails left? Hehe well I hope this page jumped to life at you all with the action packed crash. Would love your thoughts on it and of course how our couple of course couldn't help but bond a bit more but who will survive this crash and in what condition? Please do review before you go and thanks so much!