Chapter Four: A Palm Tree a Dozen

I woke to see the blue sky. Cerulean blue. I think. I could never tell what writers meant when they described something as Cerulean, anyway. A cloud floated across. It looked like…a bird? a plane? No, a bald head!

"…Ugh." My employer…that stupid Luther…oh yeah…we crashed, didn't we? I sat up straight, checked my body, stood, jumped around. Everything seemed to be in working order, no real aches except for a headache and a few bruises. Understandably. Just to make sure, I hopped a little more, waving my arms and rotating my torso like some deranged aerobicaholic from L.A.

Speaking of deranged rich people, where was Luther? I looked around me. How did we even survive, for that matter? I shrugged. Dumb luck, I guess. But again, where was Luther? If it was dumb luck that saved us, you'd think he'd be prancing about completely untouched.

I had been lying in the aisle of the plane. It looked like the flight people had been crushed with the cockpit while trying to land. I tried to think as little as possible about their fate. I hoped Luther hadn't gone the same way.

"I hope…what?" I questioned, shaking my head. I wasn't as over my whole kind-hearted girly girl thing as I'd thought if I was still worrying over the well-being of some aloof, spoiled poncy boy.

Luther had been seated a few rows away. I walked down the aisle, looking in each row, squinting through the grainy light the cracked windows provided. "Luther? Luther? LUTHER? LUTHER, YOU IDIOT, WHERE ARE YOU!" I called, making my way through. Where was he? He couldn't have just disappeared into thin air! What if he was dead? Oh no, what if he was dead. I'd never -

"Uuuuuhhhhnnn…" I snapped to attention. A sound! Was it…? I quickened my pace, searching more hastily now. And then – a foot encased in leather, followed by a leg, followed by a torso, followed by…Luther's drooling, sleeping face. Disgusting.

I walked up to him and poked him on the arm. "Luther." No response. "LUTHER, WAKE UP!" Nothing. I prodded him harder, then whacked him in the chest. He flinched, coughing, and his eyes flew open.

"Wh-who…?" He whispered, searching my face with questioning eyes. I blinked in response.

"Uhh…" Great. Brilliant, Faith. But I couldn't help it. He sounded so different when he wasn't being all sarcastic and busy. I cleared my throat and tried again. Clearly I was more traumatized by the crash than I was willing to admit. "You know, your body guard."

"Ah…" He closed his eyes again.

"Dammit, Luther, if you go to sleep on me -"

"Faith. Ms. Faith." His eyes were on me again. I stopped accusing and nodded.

"Brilliant deduction, Sherlock."

"Brilliant security check, bodyguard."

"Yeah. You're welcome." I glared at him. If he was going to be that way…well, he'd learn just how crappy I could be.

He held his stern gaze until suddenly he burst out laughing, tipping his head upwards, neck convulsing, chest heaving, with no sound actually escaping. "Oh what's the point?" I stared. Was he having some sort of breakdown? He abruptly stopped laughing and resumed staring at me with his glassy eyes. "So."

"What." I gritted. He was going to put me down again, I knew it.

"Any others survive?"

"Doubtful. The cockpit looked a bit crushed to me." He closed his eyes.

"Where are we?"

I thought for a minute. "Good question."

He laughed his soundless laugh again. "Great. Is there any way out?"

"Out of where?"

"Out of this plane. This death trap." His eyes reopened as he craned his neck to look around.

I shrugged. "Another good question. I'll go check." I wandered towards the nearest exit and tried to raise the bar. It lifted with a creak, and the door slid open a few feet before stopping. Good enough. I leaned through the crack and looked out to see…

Palm trees. Shade. Forest. Everywhere. And was that…water? I peered through the gaps in the trunks, a far-off glitter catching my eye. I'd seen that type of glitter before. Not on Mardi Gras, not at a disco, but…at the sea.

"Hey, can you help me out here?" Luther's voice came from within, muffled.

"What? Why?" I yelled in reply.

"I can't stand." Came his flat response.

Great. Now I had to carry him like some sort of new bride. Through a plane wreck. By a beach. With no civilization in sight. The birds, making a racket up in the foliage, laughed at me.

Great.

A/N: Hey, look! I UPDATED! Now, don't think this is some sort of trend. I honestly don't know if I'll be able to do this again until summer or beyond. But if the plot strikes again and I just have to write, well, then, until then! Hope you liked it! Please let me know. It would be nice to hear from anyone still following this story, or from newcomers.