Title: Not Leaving Las Vegas
Author: Kathy
Email: [email protected]
Disclaimer: The Magnificent Seven and its characters are the property
of MGM, Trilogy Entertainment, and the Mirisch Corporation.
Category:
Universe: A.T.F.
Rating/Warnings: G, *CCW=carrying concealed weapon
Summary: What happens when JD gets stranded at the airport
6:00 am
Buck showed up at Denver International to collect his roommate. JD
had been sent to a computer forensic seminar in Las Vegas. From the
moment they learned he was going, Buck and Ezra had vied with each
other for Chris' approval to accompany the boy. Buck insisted that
his self-appointed position as JD's big brother required him to go
along to safeguard the young man's morals. Ezra argued that Buck and
JD together always equaled trouble. Chris solved their dilemma by
announcing that JD was a big boy and he felt entirely confident that
JD would comport himself in an adult manner in the big city. JD had
enjoyed a moment of smug pride over that.
Now Buck was looking forward to hearing about the boy's exploits in Sin City. But JD's incoming flight wasn't anywhere on the board. As a pretty but harried-looking employee came within range, Buck stepped in her way.
"'Scuse me, darlin', but could you tell me what happened to the America West flight out of Vegas to Denver?"
Pausing long enough to shoot the agent an impatient glance, she answered, "They've all been cancelled. Air traffic."
"You mean delayed, right?"
"No, cancelled."
"But�"
"They'll have more information at the check-in counter," she cut him off and hurried away.
"Must be losin' my touch," Buck thought. "Nah, that's darn near impossible."
Luckily, a ticket agent was standing by the end of the serpentine line and Buck was able to learn from him that the flight had indeed been cancelled due to weather conditions and the next one wasn't scheduled until 6:00 that evening.
Poor JD, thought Buck. He couldn't imagine the boy sitting in an airport terminal for 12 hours. Buck headed back to the parking garage, determined to use this to convince Chris to send him along next time.
Buck could have saved himself the trip if he had checked his email before leaving the office. JD had been busy at his laptop.
4:30 am
From: JD
To: Buck
Hey, Buck, hope you see this before you leave for the airport. Don't
want to call and interrupt your beauty sleep. Anyway, my flight's
been cancelled and I'm stuck here til 6:00 tonight. Great, huh? Ask
Ezra what the odds are on flights being grounded out of Vegas due to
rain. I mean, it's the desert, for crying out loud. They won't let
me check my luggage so I have to haul it around with me everywhere �
even to the john. Sure am glad I ain't a girl. Can you imagine them
squeezing all their luggage into one of those stalls?
7:00 am
From: Buck
To: JD
Hey, kid. Next time call. Beauty sleep? It's a good thing you're in
another state.
7:00 am
From: JD
To: Ezra
Hey, Ez. I know you won't be in for hours yet, but I just wanted to
tell you I won at roulette. Well, I was winning. That casino must
use a different system than the one Maude taught me.
8:00 am
From: JD
To: Nathan
Nathan, I finally got to see the Star Trek Experience. You were
right, it was pretty cool. They had the usual corny stuff waiting for
the ride (who writes this stuff?) but the exhibits were great and the
rides were fun. The lady in front of me on the Borg Encounter
probably peed her pants.
8:30 am
From: Nathan
To: JD
Sorry to hear you're stuck out there. Remember to drink a lot of
water, flying is very dehydrating. And try to squeeze in some fruit
with the pizza and fries (no, the pineapple on the pizza doesn't
count). Glad you enjoyed the Star Trek Experience. Did you bring me
back a souvenir? I can't put my finger on it but I feel at home
whenever I go there.
9:00 am
From: Josiah
To: JD
Need you to hurry back and keep Buck in line. Hope you're behaving
yourself. ; )
10:15 am
From: Ezra
To: JD
Mr. Dunne, how many times must I reiterate that the odds at roulette
are atrocious? I am deeply offended that you persist in your belief
that Maude's system will ultimately work to your benefit in spite of
my knowledge to the contrary. You have only strengthened my argument
to Mr. Larabee that a lad of your inexperience should not be allowed
to wander the aforementioned gambling halls unattended. Perhaps next
time he will give heed to my warning. I shall print out this missive
for future reference. And I resent your inference that I keep less
than punctual hours.
11:00 am
From: JD
To: Buck
Whoa � it looks like Christmas around here. Seems like everybody's
flight has been cancelled or delayed and people and luggage are
stacked everywhere. There's a huge line outside the one restaurant in
this part of the terminal. Guess I'll wander over before they run out
of food.
12:45 pm
From: JD
To: Buck
Went to buy a magazine. The "Men's Interest" section is all porno.
Tell Josiah I didn't look at anything. Why do they keep "Guns & Ammo"
in the Travel section? Become a mercenary and see the world?
1:00 pm
From: JD
To: Vin
Hey, Vin! They have a Harley-Davidson store here. Send me your
credit card info and I'll get you some boots or a belt or a leather
jacket. I'll get two and then we'll each have one. So I'll just wait
for that number�
1:20 pm
From: Vin
To: JD
Store sounds cool, kid. You still ain't getting' my card.
2:15 pm
From: JD
To: Buck
Found an exhibit on Howard Hughes and the early airport. There's a
flight log with an entry that reads, "Flew four drunks up to get
married. Apparently they deserve each other." A few lines later,
"Drunks called back, they forgot their pants. They asked me to take
care of them." As disturbing as that is, you gotta wonder why the
pilot didn't notice they left without their pants in the first place.
2:30 pm
From: Buck
To: JD
Now, JD, maybe those ladies were so beautiful they just blinded the
pilot to anything else. Speaking of beautiful ladies, I hope you saw
some showgirls. I remember this one time
2:45 pm
From: Buck
To: JD
Whew! That was close. Chris came in while I was typing that last
email. Wanted to know if I'd heard from you. I think he's worried,
now would be a good time to convince him to send me along on your next
trip. Talk to ya later, kid.
3:00 pm
From: JD
To: Buck
Better watch it, Buck. Those ladies will get you in trouble every
time. They finally put up a gate number so I'll head over there. I'm
almost done with the book I brought with me. You know, that one about
a bunch of misfits in the Old West who band together and become
heroes. It's pretty good.
3:30 pm
From: JD
To: Buck
Got pulled aside `cause they didn't like something they saw in my
backpack. Remember that miniature Swiss Army knife you gave me for a
joke? Well, I forgot all about it. It's been in my backpack for
months. Apparently they didn't catch it in Denver, but they did here.
Had me worried for a minute. The last thing I need now is to get
detained. The security guard said I could take it back downstairs and
bag check it. Yeah right, like I'm gonna go through all that again.
I just told her to toss it. Sorry, Buck, hope it didn't have "great
sentimental value" like that watch you won.
3:45 pm
From: Chris
To: JD
You got lucky, JD. Looks like you need a refresher CCW course when
you get back. Roulette? Star Trek? I better hear that you attended
the seminar.
4:00 pm
From: JD
To: Buck
Thanks for snitching on me, big mouth. Now I'm in trouble.
4:10 pm
From: Buck
To: JD
Aw, kid, you know I didn't tell Chris to get you in trouble. It was
just so damn funny. Wish I coulda seen the look on your face when
they pulled the knife out. Hey, that watch does mean a lot to me. I
won it off of Ezra; how often does that happen?
4:20 pm
From: JD
To: Nathan
You should see this place. Everybody is just staring off into space,
faces pale, eyes glazed. You should write an article for the Journal
of Medicine, call it Airport Zombie Syndrome.
4:30 pm
From: Nathan
To: JD
Are you drinking enough water?
4:45 pm
From: JD
To: Josiah
Babies screaming, slot machines playing the same infernal tune over
and over � Josiah, do you think this could be one of those levels of
hell? I almost wish somebody would steal my luggage so I wouldn't
have to lug it around anymore. Get it? Lug my luggage.
5:00 pm
From: Josiah
To: JD
I don't know about babies and slot machines in hell, but those jokes
of yours surely deserve their own place.
5:15 pm
From: Buck
To: JD
How `bout after I pick you up we head over to Inez' for dinner?
5:10 pm
From: JD
To: Buck
Like you haven't been eating three meals a day over there since I
left. I can't believe she hasn't 86'd you yet.
6:01 pm
From: JD
To: Buck
We were supposed to board a half hour ago; heck, the flight was
supposed to leave a minute ago, and there's still been no
announcement. I know they say what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas,
but I didn't think they meant it literally.
6:10 pm
From: Buck
To: JD
Don't worry, kid. You'll be home soon, even if I have to drive out
there and get you myself. Would you believe Ezra's got a pool going
on your exact arrival time? I'll make sure you get a piece o' that or
Chris is gonna find out that Ezra' gambling on office time.
6:20 pm
From: JD
To: Buck
Appreciate that, Buck.
8:30 pm
Text message from JD to Buck
Yahoo! We've finally landed The flight was pretty turbulent; the
poor lady across from me had her head between her knees pretty much
the whole time. I could smell jet fuel through the window; that can't
be good. But the landing was fun. It was like that part in Star
Tours where the `droid yells, "Brakes, brakes!" I sure am glad it was
a little plane, the pilot probably would have driven a 747 straight
downtown. See you soon!
8:50 pm
Buck finally spotted one very tired looking JD making his way towards
the baggage carousel. As soon as he saw Buck, JD's face lit up.
"Hey, kid!" Buck grabbed him in a bear hug. JD laughed as he hugged the big man back. Letting go, he saw that the rest of the gang had come along to welcome their stray lamb. When JD met Chris' stern gaze, he blushed.
"You still packin', JD?" Vin asked.
JD shook his head ruefully as the other men laughed. It was good to be home.
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