So I figured I should maybe get back to this. I do have another story in process right now (if you like The Hobbit you should check it out), but I think I'll try to focus on this for now since it's been so long since I've updated (which I apologize for). Well here's chapter 6! Enjoy!
Two days later
I met up with the GHI team at TAPS headquarters in the wee hours of the morning (about 5 am I think it was) to go to the airport for our flight at 8:30 that morning.
"Morning Josie." I heard an overly enthusiastic voice say behind me. I looked and saw Robb walking up to me with his luggage in tow.
"Someone's in a good mood this morning." I said sarcastically, not wanting to be awake that early.
"Well, we are headed to France. I think that's a good enough reason to be in a good mood." Robb said and I could tell he wanted to laugh at me.
"Yeah, right. Because going to France at 8 in the morning is a great reason to be in a good mood." I said even more sarcastically than before.
"Sure, why not?" Robb said, laughing slightly, and walked by me to the conference room.
After about ten minutes, the whole team was in the conference room and Robb was going over logistical stuff.
"Okay everyone, our plane leaves at 8:30, so we're going to head on over to the airport now. Let's go get all of our personal luggage into the vans, then come back and get the gear." Robb said and we all headed out to the vans, put all of our personal luggage in one van, then went back in the office, got all of the gear, and took it out to one of the other vans. Jason and Grant met up with us outside at about 6 and we headed to the airport.
"Hey Josie, come here." Jason said to me when we got to the airport and had all the luggage and gear taken care of and were just waiting around for the time being.
"Yeah?" I said and followed him and Grant away from the rest of the group.
"Think you'll be okay on this first trip?" Jason asked me.
"Yeah, of course. You know I've been to France before." I said, confused as to why he asked me that.
"Has Robb told you where you all will be investigating?" Grant asked me and clearly they knew something I didn't.
"Yeah, the Palace of Versailles." I said, still confused.
"That isn't all. Robb just got a call to go back to the catacombs under Paris. There have been more things happening since we went." Grant said.
"Oh. Well that changes things a bit." I said, trying to let that sink in. What most people didn't know is that I have really bad claustrophobia, and that plus being underground in the dark, well I wasn't sure what would happen.
"So are you going to be okay?" Jason said again, concern in his voice.
"Yeah I think so. Should I tell Robb about the whole claustrophobia thing?" I said.
"That might be a good idea." Jason said.
"Yeah. And probably having the whole team knowing that would be a good idea too." Grant said.
"Okay, I'll be sure to do that." I said.
"Okay. Come here." Grant said and pulled me into a hug, which I accepted gratefully. When he let me go, Jason also gave me a hug, but it was longer than Grant's.
"You be careful now, all right? And call us when you get over there." Jason said while he hugged me.
"Okay, I will." I said as he let me go.
"Josie. Time to go." Robb said from behind me.
"Okay, I'm coming." I said to Robb. "I'll be sure to call you guys once we get over there. Bye." I said, and walked away from Grant and Jason.
"What was that all about?" Barry said, walking up beside me as we headed out to board the plane.
"Just the fact that no one informed me of having to investigate the Paris catacombs too." I said, a little too harshly.
"Oh. Why? Is there a problem with it?" Barry asked, confused about my harsh tone.
"Maybe. I'm sorry. I don't mean to be so harsh. I just happen to have a fairly bad case of claustrophobia. And the fact that it'll be completely dark down there doesn't help anything either." I said as we walked toward the plane.
"Oh. I had no idea. I'm sure if you tell Robb you won't have to do the investigation if you don't feel comfortable going down there." Barry said.
"All right gang. Here's our seats. Let's get settled in for the flight." Robb said and sat down with his carry on in his lap and Dustin sat beside him. Brandy and Joe sat in front of them, leaving the last two seats behind Robb and Dustin for me and Barry to sit in.
"You know, I honestly really want to try to do that investigation. I don't know if it's necessarily a good idea or not, but I want to try." I said once we sat down.
"I guess it's really up to you." Barry said.
"What about an investigation?" Robb asked from in front of us, turning to face us.
"Oh, just the one in the Paris catacombs that Jason and Grant told me about." I said.
"Oh, yeah. Is there a problem with it?" Robb said.
"Claustrophobia." I said simply.
"Oh. Well, if you think you can do it, then come on the investigation, but if at any time you need to get out of there, let any of us know and we will get you out of there." Robb told me.
"Okay, will do." I said and we all settled in for the flight, hopefully to get at least an hour more of sleep.
"Hey, Josie. Wake up, we landed." I heard someone say while being lightly shaken.
"I don't wanna." I whined, opening one eye to look at Barry, which made him laugh.
"Oh come on, it's not that bad." He said.
"Fine, fine. I'm awake." I said, sitting up a little better.
Once we were all off the plane and in the airport with all of our luggage and the gear, Robb went to check on the rental vans that were supposed to be waiting for us. While Robb was doing that, I went to order coffee for everyone.
"Six cafés s'il vous plaît." I said to the barista at the coffee shop in the airport.
"Tout de suite" he said and began to make the coffees. "Qui aura dix euros." He said, putting the coffees on the counter.
"Merci." I said, picking up the two cup holders with the coffees in them and heading back over to the GHI team.
"Wow, you really are very fluent in French, aren't you?" Dustin said as I handed him a cup of coffee.
"Oui." I said with a smile as everyone else got their coffee.
"All right guys, the vans are here. Let's load everything up and head on to the hotel. Thanks, Josie" Robb said as I handed him a cup of coffee and we all got our luggage and the gear and headed out to the vans.
Okie dokie! Here's part 6! Hope it wasn't too terrible. Let me know what you think! :)
Translations (that may or may not be completely correct, it's been a while since the last time I had to use French for anything):
Six cafés s'il vous plaît - Six coffees please
Tout de suite - Coming right up
Merci - Thank you
Oui - Yes
