A/N: Alright. Since I was in the ER on Friday night (freak accident when a fleck of paint fell in my eye and I couldn't get it out), I needed something to cheer me up a little. I thought I'd give this story another try. If you people don't let me know what you think, then there will be no more story! I've completed it and would like to share it, but if I don't hear from a few people, then...f it, basically.
So, it's all up to you, the reader. Be cool and review for me. Thanks.
"Could I have some water, please? It feels like something is caught in my throat," she asked me.
"Of course. I'll be right back," I smiled.
I went back to the galley, grabbed a cup, filled it with water, and took it back to the woman as quickly as I could.
I always hated it when something itched my throat, so I made it quick.
"Here you are, ma'am," I said, handing her the glass.
"Ah, thank you," she coughed.
"You're welcome," I said with a small smile, then headed back up to get that coffee I set out to get before.
I got up to the front and was finally able to pour two cups of coffee the way both men liked it. Picking up the cups, I went over to the flight deck door, and leaned my back against it. I lifted my heel to knock, then backed away from the door.
Within a few moments, Rich opened the door, and I walked in; he closed the door behind me.
"I come bearing coffee for you two," I said, holding up the cups.
"What? No tea?" Rich jokingly complained.
"It's a long flight, and I know you didn't sleep well last night, so drink it," I told him, handing him one of the cups.
"How did you know that?" Rich asked, frowning.
"What? That it's a long flight or you didn't sleep?" I smirked, being a smart-ass.
"That I didn't sleep, smart-ass," he grinned, quietly.
"Because every time you moved, you would hit me in one way or another...mostly kicking, and you only do that when you can't sleep," I replied, also quietly.
"I'm sorry," he apologized.
"It's all right. I've run on less sleep than what I got," I reassured him, putting a hand on his arm briefly.
I then took Lars' cup of coffee over to him before it cooled too much.
"Danke, Jo," he said, as I handed it to him.
"Bitte schon, Lars," I replied with a smile. "Wie geht seine Frau?"
"Es ist 'deine Frau' nicht 'seine'. You just asked 'how is his wife?'," he corrected me.
"Ah, of course. I knew that," I said.
Both he and Rich gave me an 'I don't believe you' look.
"Seriously. You both know it's been a while since I've taken a German class. You can't expect me to remember everything," I defended.
"Well, that's true," Rich said, taking a drink.
"Anyway, you didn't answer me, Lars. Wie geht deine Frau?" I asked.
"Sie is gut. Sie liebt ihre neue Stelle," he said.
I had to think about that for a moment, but still couldn't figure out what he said.
"She what?" I asked.
Lars chuckled. "She is good. She loves her new job."
"Oh...that's good to hear," I said, then turned back to Rich so Lars could fly. "Are you going to be okay?"
Rich set his cup down next to his chair, then pulled me back a bit, away from Lars.
"Yes, and if I get tired, I'll take a nap. You don't have to worry," he said, wrapping his arms around me, but still looking me in the eye.
"You're my husband; I'm allowed to," I said softly with a grin, tossing his words back at him from the other night.
He smirked, then tilted his head down to kiss me soundly. When he pulled back, he kissed my cheek before resting his forehead against mine.
"Did you get to meet the new attendants yet?" he asked.
"Yes, both of them. And they're both very polite," I answered.
"Good, I'd hate to have impolite attendants on board," Rich replied, then kissed me again.
I pulled back first this time.
"I better go. Let me know if you guys need anything," I said, stepping out of his arms.
"What if I need you," Rich whispered seriously.
"Then I'll come for a little bit, but don't call for me every hour or anything like that. I'll send Latricia in if you do," I warned, with a half grin.
"Understood," he replied, then pulled me back into him for another kiss. "I love you."
"Love you, too," I responded, reaching around my back to unlatch Rich's arms from me, then walked to the door.
I mouthed a 'soon' to him as I opened the door and exited the flight deck. Going back to the galley, I got a drink of water for myself before returning to the passengers.
About two and a half hours later, Fiona asked me to help her with getting a cart ready, so I did. I'm not one to let someone go without help. Once I finished helping Fiona, Latricia asked me to help her with the food distribution in first class (she said she didn't want to deal with Katerina for a while). Again, I helped. I pulled the cart, while Latricia pushed, making her closer to the galley and me closer to the flight deck.
We were half way down the one side of plane, when the same woman I saw sleeping in the back of the plane opened the curtain, attempting to get through. She stopped when she saw Latricia, though, and backed up. Latricia closed the curtain again, then looked at me questioningly. I shook my head and shrugged a shoulder, knowing no more than she did.
Once we finished on one side of the plane we moved to the other; this time Latricia was closer to the flight deck and I was closer to the galley. Just as we were serving the food towards the end of the rows, Stephanie came over the PA system.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I'm sorry to interrupt but we've got a first here to report. Its seems our aircraft is big enough to loose a child in. Her name is Julia Pratt. She's six-years old and wearing a navy blue jumper. If she's anywhere near you or perhaps playing with one of your kids, please press the call button now. We've got an anxious mom up here. Thank you," she announced.
Sounds like something I would do...
The announcement was then re-announced in German.
Latricia pulled me out of my thoughts when she nudged the cart into me. I shook my head and with a thanks to her, we finished serving, taking the cart back into galley. When we walked in, I saw the woman again and assumed it was her child that was 'missing'. Fiona and Stephanie were also there with her, watching the call button chart.
"Any takers?" Latricia asked as we rolled the cart in.
Both Fiona and Stephanie came over to help.
"We gotta search the plane," the woman said. "I don't know how to organize that."
"Miss Pratt, I'm sure she's perfectly okay," Latricia said.
"No. No she's not," Miss Pratt said, looking back at the call button chart. "She's been through something. She's...she's not herself right now."
Latricia looked over her shoulder at Fiona, then shifted her gaze to me before looking back at Miss Pratt.
"Can we get the seatbelt signs on?" Miss Pratt asked.
"I think we're getting ahead of ourselves," Latricia said calmly.
"There's nine closets on this plane. There's four up and there's five down. And nobody's checked any of them. There's, uh, seven galleys, there's the crew quarters, there's the holds, and kids can find places like that," Miss Pratt responded.
And I thought I knew planes...well, the E-474 doesn't count since it's newer and I've never been on it before.
"I just need...I just need the aisles clear so I can look, okay?" she continued, tears in her eyes.
"Okay," Latricia sighed, then paused briefly. "I'm gonna have to ask you to return to your seat."
I stepped out from behind the cart and stopped slightly behind Latricia.
"You know what? I will speak to the captain and tell him of the situation. See if he can come talk to you, okay?" I said, thinking quick.
Miss Pratt nodded and I immediately went to the flight deck. Knocking on the door, Rich let me in after a moment. Looking into my eyes, he knew something wasn't right.
"Jo, what's wrong?" he asked.
"Miss Pratt, the woman they made the announcement about, is kinda freaking out. I told her I'd talk to you about it and see if you could help out somehow. She's practically in tears trying to find her daughter, Rich," I told him.
He looked down at the floor for a moment.
"At least think about it. She's desperate," I added.
"I'll think about," he said, looking back up at me.
"Okay. Thank you," I said with a sigh. "I'll try to keep an eye on her until you decide."
Rich probably had the feeling that I would freak out, too...if this were James.
A/N: If any of the German is wrong, please bring it to my attention and I will fix it. (After 5 years of German classes, including 2 semesters in college, I still mess up the simple stuff...)