The flight attendant pushed the cart slowly down the aisle. "Fish or chicken.. Chicken or fish?"
Carter poked at his food, "Is she telling us we had a choice between the two, or can she not tell the difference either?" He grumbled.
"Carter... It's good food.. I'm sorry it's not filet mignon.. But it's food.. I'm sorry you lost the coin-toss.. We're all very grateful for the tickets. I'm sure Luka is very grateful to you.. This was all very last minute.. He'll pay you back, I'm sure.." Carol smiled at him, poking at her 'fish' and scraping off the 'special sauce'.
He shook his head. "It's not the money Carol.. I don't care about the money.. I care about the fact that I probably was only invited because of the money.. I mean.. I came because I thought Abby would want me to come.. To keep her company."
Elizabeth sighed, kissing Mark on the cheek and switching seats with Benton, seating herself beside Carol and Carter. "Abby is up in first class.. Abby is with her boyfriend.. Abby is with Luka.. Carter, tell me.. Did Abby invite you? Or did you invite yourself?"
"I.. Well.. I.. I thought she'd want me there.. I.. She jumped into my arms.." Carter stammered, sighing heavily. "You're right.. I.. I don't know what I was thinking.."
Elizabeth snorted. "Abby jumped into your arms??! Well.. She always struck me as a colossal flirt.. Running around the hospital with you, and going out with Luka like that.. If you ask me.. This mess is her fault.. Not yours, Carter."
"Abby? The flirt?? Didn't Luka kiss Carol, while Doug was off in Seattle?" Mark pondered. "I'd say Luka's the flirt.. Not Abby."
Carol blushed. "That was a mistake.. It was quick.. And it made everything really awkward afterwards... But we're not discussing me.. We're discussing Carter."
"Carter.. Didn't you tell Luka that you were a farmer?? What in the hell is up with that? You've never been on a farm." Benton sighed.
"I.. I have too! My grandfather owns stables. I've been riding horses my whole life!" Carter protested.
"Yeah, Carter.. But have you ever shovelled the shit afterwards??" Mark asked, trying to keep a straight face.
"Well.. No.. But.. I've seen my grandfather's farm hands do it... How hard can it be?" Carter said weakly.
The group let out a collective sigh. They really couldn't lecture Carter.. They knew about as much about farming as Carter did and they were coming too..
Carter waved down the flight attendant. "Can I have a scotch??? I really need a scotch.." He sighed heavily as the stewardess poured the liquor into a little plastic cup filled with ice. "Thanks.."
It was after about seven of those little plastic ice-filled cups that Carter started to sob drunkenly. "I never been on a f-farm... M-my grandfather's sssstables are on the b-back of his mansion.. I never been in the barn except to get m-my horse.. I never scooped his poop li'e a goo' boy.."
Elizabeth pulled the nearly empty cup from his shaking hands and looked over at the stewardess. "Can I have a few coffees over here?? Thanks.."
****
"I punched him because he drove off and left us there.. I punched him because he damn well deserved it.. He was over here making moves on my wife and acting like the father of my kids, while I was trying to make a life for them in Seattle.." Doug growled.
"I never slept with her.." Luka snuffled pitifully.
"You kissed her though didn't you!!?? You bastard!" Doug yelled, causing several other passengers to jump in fright. The flight attendant rushed to the five seats and tried to make peace.
"Sir?? Can I ask you to calm down a bit?? I don't want to have to ask you to depart at the next refueling station.." Cindy replied as her fellow employees began to get the gear from the back.. This guy was big, but they were well versed in how to deal with them.
Luka sighed and Abby glared at him. "You KISSED HER!?"
"I.. I wasn't with you then.. She wanted me.. I wanted her.. It was just a kiss.." Luka stammered nervously.
Abby grabbed her purse firmly in her hand and started to beat him over the head. "YOU KISSED HER!?"
Dave grinned.. Luka was right. He was having fun. This was better than 'Young and the Restless'.. Not that'd he ever admit to taping it, but he'd started watching Y&R ever since he'd started working at County. It was nice coming home and seeing people with lives a lot more screwed up than his was.. It was good to flake out on the couch with a bag of potato chips and a beer and watch the bad plots and terrible acting.. It was a relief from the blood and tears and pain he had to put up with daily at work. Although, if anyone asked, he was taping the episodes for his aunt in Tulsa..
"I don't love her, Abby.. I love you.. I want to be with you. You don't have to worry.. Please.. Don't be mad.." Luka snivelled, cowering slightly, pinned between an angered paeditrician and a nurse girlfriend with PMS..
"I.. If you loved me.. You would have known.. You wouldn't have kissed her! You would have known that I was the right one for you all along.." Abby wailed.
Luka raised his eyebrows and looked over at Kerry who shrugged, grinning slightly. She was enjoying the show as well.. "It's a losing battle Kovac.. Just nod.. That's all you can do.." She whispered, squeezing his hand.
As the group in first class began to settle down, there was an ear splitting
scream from coach...
**********
"I'm really sorry M'am.. He's just a little drunk. Carter! Stop that!" Carol blushed furiously, trying to stop him from pawing the stewardess.
"Okay.. That's IT!" The diminutive flight attendant squeaked indignantly. Glaring at the group of trouble making doctors.
"First it was those jerks in first class, now you! I warned them.. I warned you earlier, now you're in trouble.." Her bantam frame quaked with fury, her hands balled into tiny fists and her long pink nails biting into her palms, as her mouth disappeared in a tight white line and she ground her teeth.
Teena roared down the aisle, her stubby legs pumping like well-oiled pistons, as she stomped to the cockpit and flung open the door. Turning on her heel, her dark eyes narrowed to slits and her lip quivered, before bursting into tears and slamming the door. Teena shook violently with the tears that she let consume her, before wiping her reddened, sticky face and tapping Charlie on the shoulder.
'Captain Charlie' boomed solemnly over the loudspeaker. "I'm afraid
we'll have a little lay-over Sisak aeroport.. I'm sure you've become aware
of our little problem with some certain passengers and they'll be departing
in Sisak. Sorry for the inconvenience and I hope you enjoy the rest of
the flight. Thank you for flying with American Airlines!"