The Pilot

Chapter Twenty Seven

ok, let's go then

Danielle gave Andrew and Gee a hug before heading out of the bar. "Andrew, I'll phone you later" she said as she walked out the door. The others all did the same. Stefania was the only one left. She also hugged Gee and Andrew good bye. Before she got to the door though, Andrew called her back. "I don't want you to think I'm overstepping and Danielle would kill me if she knew that I'd said anything to you but, she really likes you, you know. I don't know what your history is, or if what Cooper said is true, or even what your intentions towards D are but please, Stefania, tread lightly and be gentle with her heart. She's broken and I truly believe you'll be the one to put her back together again but you'll need to be patient with her" the dark haired man said. "Thank you Andrew. I appreciate you saying something. I know there's still a lot she's keeping from me and I might never learn it all but I do hope one day she'll be comfortable enough to let me in completely. I have no intention of hurting her, please believe that. I'm not usually in the habit of fixing broken people but she's different. I've only known her a few short days and she already means a great deal to me. In fact, I could really see myself falling for her and marrying her one of these days. I'm glad she has you in her corner too though, both of you. I'll make sure she phones you tonight. We're only flying to San Francisco so we should be at the hotel by 8pm." "Thank you Stefania, we'll hopefully see you soon." He replied smiling. She nodded and left.

Once again, she climbed into the passenger seat of the car. The atmosphere in the car was tense. No one was speaking. In fact they were barely even looking at each other. Stefania looked at Danielle. She was staring out the front window, knuckles white from gripping the wheel so hard. Stefania could also see that her jaw was clenched tight and she was sporting a frown. "Danielle, are you ok?" Stefania asked the blonde. She didn't respond though. "Danielle?" Again, she didn't respond. "Bambina, can you speak to me please?" Stefania said as she reached for Danielle's hand. Still, Danielle didn't speak but she did allow Stefania to hold her hand. "You need to get this hand looked at Bella, you're starting to bleed through the bandage." Finally Danielle reacted. She looked down at her hand briefly before returning her eyes to the road. Then she spoke, "we should have time for me to see the medic at the airfield." "Ok" was all Stefania said but she continued to hold Danielle's hand stroking the back of it with her thumb. Danielle relaxed ever so slightly at Stefania's touch and laced their fingers together. They drove the rest of the way in silence but a slightly more comfortable silence now.

They arrived at the airfield with plenty time to spare. "Can someone take the car back to the drop off point for me please while I go to the medical centre?" Danielle asked. "Sure, I'll take the car back for you Dani" Kevin offered. "And I'll come with you to see the medic" Stefania chipped in. Danielle dropped her gaze to the floor, not wanting to look at Stefania, "Um... actually, Kevin, I was going to ask if you would come with me to get my hand checked out?" "Of course I will, if you want me to?" "Thank you" Danielle nodded. "Ok, Chandra and I will take the car back then," Jason said. "And I guess we'll go check us in to the departure lounge then?" Caterina asked Stefania. "Si, I guess so." Stefania shrugged. She was a little hurt that Danielle didn't want her to go with her.

Danielle and Kevin walked to the medical centre in silence until Kevin spoke. "So, how come you wanted me to buddy you and not Stef." He asked. "Pffff, fuck it" she breathed out "you're bound to found out sooner or later... Stefania and I are... uhm... we're eh... we're sort of a thing." "Since when??" He asked with one raised eyebrow. "Only last night really but we had sex this morning. And that's kind of why I wanted you to come with me. You and Caterina is a pretty new thing too right?" "Yeah, I guess you could say that. It's only been a few weeks really but we only slept with each other for the first time this weekend. Why do you ask?" he responded. Danielle took another deep breath, "well it's about what Coo..." "about what Cooper said" he cut Danielle off. "Yeah, that one took me by surprise too. I'm not sure it's exactly as he made it sound to be honest. I just know they have a bond stronger than steel. And you know, I was thinking about it the whole car journey over here and I don't care if they were together or not. Cat is most definitely with me now and Dani, Stef is all in for you kiddo. I can tell by the way she looks at you. I've known her a really long time now and I've never seen her with so much adoration in her eyes as she has for you. I intend to talk to Cat tonight about it all and maybe you and Stef should do the same. Don't let it fester or you'll let that prick win! They're just friends Dani, don't let it bother you."

They arrived at the Medical Centre where a Doctor had a look at Danielle's hand. "It's quite a deep cut so it'll need some stitches and I'll also prescribe some antibiotics to stave off any infection but it should be completely healed in 2 or 3 weeks. Any problems just pop to a hospital or medical centre in whichever city you're in at the time" 4 stitches later and the 2 of them were walking back towards the departure lounge. "Hey Kev, maybe the 4 of us should try a double date some night?" Danielle asked. "Yeah I think that would be a great idea. But why not the 6 of us? What about Jason and Chandra?" He replied. "Oh... uh... I kind of told Stefania that I didn't want people to know about us yet. Not until we figure out what we are exactly. I kind of want to keep us wrapped up in our own bubble for as long as possible. You know? And to be honest, if it wasn't for what Cooper said and the fact that Caterina is your girlfriend, I wouldn't have told you today either." She answered honestly. "Ah ok, I get it. No worries. Secret is safe with me." He winked.

Meanwhile in the departure lounge Caterina and Stefania were having a very similar conversation.

"So about what Cooper said..." Caterina started. "Yeah?" Stefania looked at her. "I wasn't really ready to tell Kevin about us but I guess I'm going to have to now." "Yeah and I'm going to have to try and get through to Danielle too which might be easier said than done. I can't believe that asshole has put me back 10 paces with her. Just when we were finally getting somewhere and she was letting her guard down slightly. She gave me the best orgasm of my life this morning and now she can barely look at me or want me near her" Stefania said with furrowed eyebrows. "Oh Great! Thanks very much!" Caterina laughed. "Sorry, no offence" Stefania smirked. "The thing is, it wasn't even anything with us... Cooper's just a jealous prick! I hardly think you can constitute a couple weeks of sex as a relationship! I just hope she actually listens when I tell her." Stefania said sadly. "She will. Maybe not right away but tonight when we're settled in the hotel, she'll come round. Don't worry about it. I just hope that Scottish temper of Kevin's doesn't get the better of him" Caterina said rolling her eyes. "We'll all be fine though" she said pulling Stefania into a side hug. Stefania let her head rest on Caterina's shoulder.

Just at that moment Danielle and Kevin walked in to the room. Danielle took one look at Stefania & Caterina. She turned to Kevin and asked "how sure are you?" Once again she walked straight passed Stefania and made her way in to the Pilot's lounge. "Hey babe" Kevin said sitting on the other side of Caterina. "Hey" she said giving him a peck on the cheek. "What did Danielle mean just now?" She asked. Kevin just shrugged not really wanting to get in to it right now. "Kevin, is Danielle ok?" Stefania asked. "Well she got 4 stitches in her hand & she's got antibiotics to take but aye she'll live" he said grinning. "Oh that's good. But, I actually meant..." "is she in a spin right now?" He cut her off. "Yeah she is. She told me about you two" "she did?" Stefania asked somewhat surprised but also thought that maybe there was still some hope that things would be ok. "Aye she did. She might not realise it yet Stef but she's got some pretty big feelings for you & she's scared that it'll all come crashing down any minute. Her nervous system is in fight or flight right now and you need to convince her that fight is the option worth sticking with." "How can I do that when she will barely even look at me?" Stefania asked feeling frustrated with the situation. "Just give her time. We had a good chat just now & she agreed that she needed to speak to you about it. The same as I intend to have a conversation of our own" he said switching his attention to Caterina. "Ok" she mouthed giving him a quick kiss.

10 minutes later, Danielle appeared back in the lounge where Jason & Chandra had also rejoined the group. "Right, paperwork all filed. Shall we get boarded?" The little blonde pilot asked. "Si" Stefania said offering a nod. The 6 of them climbed the stairs of Stefania's jet. Danielle swiftly taking up her position in the flight deck while Stefania and the others made themselves comfy on the white leather seats. Kevin and Jason sitting at one table to play cards. Chandra & Caterina going over the details for tomorrow's meetings. Stefania took a seat towards the rear of the plane but never taking her eyes off the door where the blonde was.

A few minutes later the speakers kicked into life with an announcement "ladies & gentlemen this is your Captain speaking..."