Chapter One Hundred and Twenty Two
Hope watched in fascination while the plane slowly headed towards the runway. She put her hands against the sides of the window and watched while her mother rubbed her back. Behind them, the triplets were also leaning in trying to get a good look while Christopher looked out the window on his side. The others, already veterans of plane travel relaxed and waited for the plane to become airborne. When the plane reached the end of the runway, it waited a moment and then it started down the narrow asphalt, picking up speed until the nose of the plane lifted in the air. The moment the plane went up, Hope gasped and Rain grasped her shoulder when she slammed back into her chair, her eyes wide with fear.
"No, it's okay, Baby. The plane's going up in the air, that's all," she said while the Doctor rubbed her leg.
"Cool!" the Doctor heard Namid saying behind him while he and Rain continued to comfort their daughter.
Across the way, Rose and Alan were giving Hope concerned looks when they saw the panic on her face. Christopher, meanwhile, was looking out the window, ignoring everything as he stared at the scenery in awe while it became smaller and smaller. Alan reached out and stroked his daughter's mind and the Doctor did the same until the plane leveled out and she calmed down. But almost as soon as she calmed down, the plane turned and her fear came back when their side of the plane tilted down. It didn't last for very long and once the plane straightened out, Hope lost her fear again and went back to looking out the window. Alan tapped his foot impatiently.
"Come on; make the announcements about no seatbelts. I need to get up and annoy Rain over there," he muttered.
"You do and I'll punch you so hard, you'll end up in the cargo hold," Rain said.
"Come on," Amato muttered, "make the announcements about no seatbelts. Peri and I have to go to the loo."
"Not if we get there first," Shilah said while Alan sniggered.
"No, actually me and the misses will beat you all," Alan replied.
"Not if we beat you," the Doctor said.
He flinched when he felt the laminated card hit his head again.
"Could you not talk about that?" Sokanon said behind him. "I don't wanna vomit."
"Now wait a moment," the Doctor said, turning his head while Rain laughed, "why am I the only one that gets hit? I didn't start the whole conversation."
"You're the only one I can reach right now," he heard Sokanon say.
"Oh, so as soon as the no seatbelt announcement happens I can get up and smack you senseless then," the Doctor said aloud.
There was another thwack as Sokanon hit him again on the top of the head followed by her and her sibling's giggles. The Doctor looked at Rain who was chuckling softly.
"I have half a mind to tie the child to the top of the aeroplane but I think I would get sucked out the moment I opened a window so I'll think up another punishment instead," he said to her.
Rain laughed when there was another thwack when Sokanon hit him again.
"You know, I never raised a hand to any of you but better late than never I always say," the Doctor said. "Especially if you insist on continuing to hit me with that pamphlet."
"I'll be good, Daddy," Sokanon said.
"Mmm, I'll believe it when I see it," the Doctor said.
"No, you have to wait until they tell you to take that off," Rain said to Hope when she noticed Hope was trying to take her seatbelt off."
"I wanna stand up, Mummy."
"I know but you have to wait till they say it's okay to do that. They're still trying to steady the plane and make it safe to walk around in. Just wait a minute, it won't be long."
Everyone fell silent when they suddenly saw Alan in their mind's eye. Mental Alan took off his seatbelt and stretched.
"Ah!" Mental Alan said, "don't know about you lot but I'm going for a bit of a walk. See ya later!"
They next saw the outside of the jet from an overhead view. They watched while Mental Alan walked out onto the right wing and pumped his fist.
"Wooo-hooo! I'm outside the aeroplane! I'm defying not only gravity but the airline staff! I'm king of the plane!"
He walked back towards the plane and walked up it onto the top. He turned towards the tail and walked along it, pumping his fist while he whooped and hollered and crowed about how he was walking along the outside of the plane without being blown off. He continued to do that for a few minutes. Then suddenly, the Doctor appeared on the wing. He turned back and walked up the side of the plane to the top. He came up behind his brother and grabbed him from behind.
"Lullaby and good night…" he sang as he rocked Alan.
Everyone giggled when mental Alan's head dropped onto his chest and cartoon Z's floated out of his mouth while he snored. The Doctor gathered him up in his arms, went down the side and took him back inside the plane.
"There you go, Brother, much safer in here," the real Doctor said to Alan.
"No, I want to go out and explore," Alan said with a pout. "I hate being cooped up here. I want to unbuckle my safety belt and…"
"This is your captain speaking. We are turning off the fasten your seatbelt sign. You are free to get up and move about the cabin."
"Oh! Never mind then," Alan said as he, Rose and Christopher took theirs off along with everyone else.
The moment the Doctor took his off, he leapt up, spun around and stared at Sokanon who was sinking down in her seat while she giggled nervously.
"So, now I am free to retaliate," he said.
"Yeah, Daddy, get her!" Chaska said while Sokanon sank down even lower in her seat.
He glanced over when Hope came around him and came up to Sokanon's side.
"Hi," she said.
"Um, hi, Sissy. Can you play with Daddy so he doesn't beat the snot outta me?" Sokanon said to her.
Hope looked past her towards the back of the plane. She hesitated a moment and then wandered off.
"Ooopsie, I'll get Dora the Explorer," Alan said, jumping up from his seat. "Continue with the threats of bodily harm to Soki."
"Gladly," the Doctor said, eyeing Sokanon.
"I'm sorry?" Sokanon said hesitantly.
"Oh, I bet you are now that I'm able to move about and punish you for hitting me on the noddle with that pamphlet. Prepare to die, youngster."
"Love, the stewardess is coming down the aisle with the beverage cart," Rain said.
"Consider yourself lucky that you were saved by the beverage trolley, little imp!"
Sokanon stuck her tongue out and he gave her head a playful smack before he sat back down in his seat. He requested some tea and Rain took some tea and gave some milk to Hope. They drank their beverages while they relaxed. While Hope sipped her milk, she continued to look out the window.
"She's fascinated, yeah?" Alan said, gesturing to her. "She doesn't get to see this sort of view riding in the TARDIS. Must be why she's hooked on the view."
"Yeah, well take a dekko at your son," the Doctor said.
Alan glanced over at Christopher who was also looking out the window while he sipped his Coke.
"Well, this is why we took them on this flight, isn't it? To introduce them to the wonders of flight with windows?" Alan said with a shrug.
"Yes. Give them a chance to experience all that Earth has to offer and…"
Alan and Rose laughed when another thwack landed on the Doctor's head.
"Of course, some people will not live long enough to experience all the wonderful things Earth has if she doesn't knock it off back there!" he said while Sokanon giggled, stood up and patted his head.