Page 64 of Fight
"Nickie."I heard a voice whisper."Nickie, wake up, Babe."The voice was a little louder.I drug myself awake reluctantly.
"Mrumpfh."I muttered moving slightly from my warm spot.
"You've got to wake up, Nick."Devon's voice was soft."We're about to land."
That pulled me back.I remembered we were on the plane to Seattle, and why we were there.I sat up, reluctant to leave Devon's warm, comfortable embrace.I stretched as much as the small space would allow, flexing muscles that were stiff from sitting still for too long.
"How close are we to landing?"I asked.
"A few minutes.They haven't turned on the seatbelt light yet, but they will soon."
"Good, I need to use the restroom."
"I thought you might, that's why I woke you a little early."
"I'll be right back."I unbuckled my seat belt and stood, slipping past his knees and the empty seat beside him as I made my way out into the aisle, and toward the restroom at the rear of the plane.
I returned to my seat and sat down as the pilot announced that we were about to begin our decent into Seattle and asked everyone to make sure their seat belts were secured.I buckled myself in, and leaned back.I tilted my head back until the top rested against the seat and closed my eyes.I took a deep breath and let it out slowly, willing my body to relax against the seat.Devon picked up my hand where it was laying between us on the seat and held it.I opened my eyes and turned toward him, giving him a small smile.
"Watch."He nodded toward the window beside me.
I turned and looked out the tiny window.I saw a lot of green below us, it looked like the earth had cracked and split and that water had filled the wound.Most of the signs of civilization seemed to surround the edges of the water.
"I thought you said Seattle was on the ocean?"I looked to Devon briefly before turning back to the window.
"No, I said it's on the water.Seattle's on Puget Sound."
"Ahh."I nodded, not really understanding the difference.I watched as the city grew closer, larger, until we drew close enough to the ground that I couldn't stand to look anymore.I turned back to Devon.
"So we have a meeting tomorrow morning, then what?"
"I need to call Baker tonight and let him know we're in town.We'll probably get together with him tomorrow, if only for drinks, and we're scheduled for a tour of the sound with Donovan on Friday.The wedding is on Saturday evening, so if you think you can shift Donovan you call Bill Saturday morning and see what needs to be done."He spoke barely above a whisper, knowing I would be able to hear him fine but that no human would.
I thought about it for a second."So we get settled in tonight and maybe dinner on top of the Space needle?That's all for tonight?"
"Yep, that's all for tonight."
"Good."I let my head fall back against the back of the seat.
"What's up?Are you not feeling well?"
"I'm fine, just tired."I said."I'll be glad when this is behind us."
"Aww.And here I was looking forward to seeing you all decked out for the wedding."
"That's not what's getting to me.It's the uncertainty.I don't know what to do when I meet the Anikitos here.I'm scared I'll accidentally insult him and cause problems for Bill.I'm afraid I'll say I can shift this Donovan and then not be able to, and that will cause problems." Devon leaned down and pressed his forehead to mine, looking me in the eye.
"Nick, you're borrowing trouble.You're thinking up problems where there aren't any, at least not yet, and it's only serving to stress you out and exhaust you."
"But-"
"No buts.Stop.Right now.No more worrying about what's to come.You deal with it as it gets here and take it one day at a time.You do what you can now and deal with later when it gets here.Do you hear me?"He face was serious.
"I hear you."I couldn't help but smile.He was right, I knew I was dreaming up trouble that probably wouldn't be there, but what if I failed them all?I closed my eyes and told myself to knock it off, Devon was right, I was borrowing trouble.
The plane jarred as the wheels touched the ground, startling me, and my eyes flew open to meet Devon's smiling face.
"It got you, didn't it?"
