Title: Mile High (OR) No where to run to

Author: Kay De'Vil

Fandom: War Of The Worlds

Archive: Yes

Rating: PG (Humour)

Disclaimer: Standard disclaimer applies, I don't own Paul Ironhorse (although I'd like to)

By Kay De'Vil.

Paul settled back into his seat, he had just finished his monthly briefing with General Wilson at the Pentagon, it had been an unusually active month meaning instead of Paul's usual single day trip to Washington he had ended up spending the entire weekend.

A weekend which had ended up full of long meetings with various members of the Joint Chiefs, evening functions and long reports, none of which made for a happy or relaxed Colonel.

To top his weekend off the Airforce flight he had originally been scheduled to take had been cancelled so his only method of return to the Blackwood Project was a commercial flight.

Fastening his seat belt he sat watching as the other passengers boarded. He groaned internally at the sight of three children who boarded and headed straight for him, he could only hope that they would not be sitting anywhere near him. It wasn't that he didn't like kids, he did it was simply that he didn't want to spend the next six hours listening to screaming children.

He watched the children from the corner of his eye as they moved up the isle passed him to their seats four rows behind his. Sighing and closing his eyes he tried to relax, to wash away the tension from his weekend in Washington having to play nice with the brass.

A hand touched his shoulder and he cracked open an eye to see a tall blonde female flight attendant stood smiling down at him "Excuse me sir would you like anything to drink?"

"Not right now thank you" he replied once again closing his eye

"My names Cathy if you need anything, don't hesitate to call. and I do me anything, anything at all" she whispered into his ear.

Keeping his eyes closed for a moment he found himself breathing in the alluring scent of her perfume, when he heard her finally move away he again cracked open his eye. This time he turned his head to watch her retreating form, a slight smile playing across his face as he saw the sway of her hips and long legs that appeared to go on forever. Chuckling to himself he settled back into his chair and waited for the plane to take off.

Once the plane was in the air he released his seat belt and pulled a magazine from the pouch in front of him, he knew he had reports to read through but he really didn't feel like tackling them at the moment. As he flicked through the pages of the magazine he was again touched on the shoulder "Sir?"

"Yes?" he questioned glancing at yet another flight attendant; this one however was a brunette and of slighter build than the first.

"You need to put your bag in the over head compartment"

"Sure, sorry about that" he replied as he picked up the briefcase he had set between his feet. Standing he smiled at her and started to move to put it into the overhead compartment but she didn't move, causing him to brush up against her.

He felt her body press against his own and heard her utter a small gasp "Are you all right?" he questioned in concern

"Fine" she replied her voice slightly higher than it had been moments before. Closing the compartment he slipped past her again and returned to his seat, as he sat down he noticed she was worrying at her bottom lip and raised a confused eyebrow. She simply smiled and hurried off to attend to the other passengers.

Shaking his head he returned his attention to the magazine he had been reading.

About twenty minutes into the flight the attendants came around offering drinks, which Paul was grateful, for. The temperature within the plane was at a comfortable level but the air was dry and he was parched. Accepting the orange juice he noticed that the blonde attendant's hand brushed across his, lingering longer than was strictly necessary, but he ignored it.

The elderly lady beside him smiled as she too noticed the attendant's behaviour and Paul's apparent ignorance to the flight attendants attraction to him. "She likes you dear" she stated as she placed her hand upon Paul's arm, which was resting on the armrest between them.

Paul smiled at her "She's just doing her job" he stated before taking a sip of the orange juice

"Oh it's more than that dear, trust me" she stated patting his arm with a knowing smile upon her face

Paul blushed slightly and found himself glancing to where the flight attendant stood talking with another of the passengers. She was certainly attractive, but his job made any kind of relationship impossible, he had learned that lesson with Grace.

"If I where a good few years younger I would probably be trying to make moves on you myself," admitted to elderly lady

Paul almost choked on his orange juice at the woman's admission, as it was he found himself coughing and gasping for air, his eyes locked upon the sparkling ones of the amused elderly lady "Thanks" he replied between coughs.

Again the elderly lady patted his arm "Don't worry son I'm not some dirty old woman who is going to fondle you here on the plane"

"I.I didn't think you where" replied Paul slightly embarrassed

The sparkle within her eyes was quickly replaced by a glimmer of devilment as she added, "I like to do my fondling in private"

Paul grinned and shook his head, it was clear the woman was just teasing him and that his virtue as well as his crotch was perfectly safe around her.

For the next two hours Paul chatted with the elderly woman who had introduced herself as Mrs. Anderson. They found themselves talking about a multitude of things eventually the conversation had turned to the army, apparently she had known from the moment she had seen him that he was in the military.

"How did you know?" he questioned as he took a plastic cup of water for himself and a cup of white wine for Mrs. Anderson the flight attendant, this time it was the brunette.

"Anything else I can get you sir?" questioned the flight attendant trying to catch Paul's attention.

Smiling at her he shook his head "No thank you" he replied watching as the flight attendant resumed her duties then turned back to Mrs. Anderson who yet again had a knowing smile upon her face. He couldn't help it, he actually groaned at that expression on her face and sighed "I know, I know. She's attractive but I'm not interested" he stated cutting off the woman's comment

"Why not, you've already told me you're not married?" Mrs. Anderson questioned

"It's just not viable given the nature of my job" replied Paul before taking a sip of his water

"You know what they say Paul, all work and no play"

He smiled but didn't say anything. Over the last few hours he had come to know Mrs. Anderson pretty well and so knew she would drop the subject, for the moment.

"In answer to your earlier question Paul, your walk gives you away" stated Mrs. Anderson with a smile

"My walk?" he questioned in confusion

"There is just this certain way a man in the military or who has been in the military walks" explained Mrs. Anderson "Both my husband and son had the same walk"

Paul noticed a sadness appear within the woman's eyes and he laid his hand upon hers "What happened to them?" he questioned

"Ken, my husband died a few years ago of cancer. Jason that's my son, he died in Vietnam" she explained.

Paul closed his fingers around her hand squeezing it gently "I'm sorry"

"It's not your fault Paul, Jason died doing what he wanted to do. ever since he was knee high he had wanted to be a soldier, he knew the risks that go with the job and so did I"

Again he squeezed her hand wanting to offer the woman whatever comfort he could.

After a moment Mrs. Anderson held his hand within both of hers "Anyway, lets move on to a less morbid subject shall we?"

Smiling Paul nodded his agreement but made no move to extract his hand from hers. Mrs. Anderson reminded him of his own grandmother and also a little of Mrs. Pennyworth, all three women shared an inner strength.

"I think you have another admirer" commented Mrs. Anderson laughter lacing her voice and bringing that same sparkle from earlier back to her eyes.

Confused Paul glanced up searching for the source of her amusement but all he saw was the male flight attendant moving up the isle towards them pushing a food trolley "Oh?" he questioned looking at her confused.

Mrs. Anderson smiled but didn't elaborate instead she turned the conversation to recent events, but the smile remained on her face.

They continued to chat for a few minutes more until the male flight attendant arrived with their meals, passing Mrs. Anderson her food Paul felt the attendants leg brush against his own but paid no attention believing that it had been a harmless occurrence.

However when it happened a second time and this time as the attendant leaned over to pass the man on the opposite side of Mrs. Anderson his tray the flight attendant planted his foot between Paul's feet. His knee brushing against the soldier's inner thigh in a manor that could only be interpreted in one way.

Stiffening at the intimate contact Paul gulped and shot a glance at Mrs. Anderson, her earlier words coming back to haunt him.

The flight attendant smiled at Paul, no hint of an apology upon his face as he stepped back to retrieve Paul's tray from the heated trolley. Cautiously taking his tray Paul kept a wary eye on the flight attendant as he moved on.

A soft chuckle from beside him drew Paul's attention back to Mrs. Anderson, he tried to scowl at her but the woman didn't appear to notice as her chuckle turned into laughter "I did try to warn you" she said between laughing

"Try to be a little less cryptic in future" replied Paul shaking his head before opening the plastic bag, which held his knife and fork.

For the remainder of the flight Paul found himself watching the flight attendants with a cautious eye, he had had women come on to him before but never to this level, what was going on with these flight attendants he wondered.

As he accepted a glass of water from the male flight attendant the man winke d at him. Stunned the plastic cup slipped from Paul's hand spilling its contents over his trousers.

Instantly the male flight attendant grabbed some paper towels from his trolley and reached towards Paul, clearly intending to aid in cleaning up the mess.

Seeing the man's intentions Paul jumped to his feet trying to avoid the man touching his crotch, as he stood upright his head connected with the over head compartment.

Dropping the cup Paul looked at the male flight attendant that had an expression close to longing upon his face glanced around the crowded compartment and bolted for the toilets.

Once inside the toilets he slammed the bolt into place and stood leaning against the small sink his mind reeling at what had happened as his heart raced.

Putting down the toilet seat Paul settled himself in for the remainder of the flight in the toilet, silently he sent out an apology to any of the other passengers who might need the facilities. No matter what happened there was no way he would be leaving the toilet. Not until they where preparing to land in Chicago for the layover.

Almost an hour later the Captains voice came over the intercom announcing they where preparing to land at Chicago airport and would all passengers please take their seats.

Standing Paul stretched his cramped muscles from being confined in the small toilet compartment. After washing his face he turned to the door, but jumped when someone knocked

"Excuse me sir, we are preparing to land I'm afraid you'll have to take your seat" came the voice of one of the female flight attendants.

He wasn't sure which it was the blonde or the brunette but at that moment in time he didn't really care as long as it wasn't the man.

"I'll be right out" he called out as he checked his appearance in the mirror, running his fingers through his hair he prepared to leave the toilet and return to his seat.

Stilling himself for venturing out of his temporary sanctuary he cracked open the door and glanced around the door, searching for the male flight attendant. Seeing no sign of him, Paul squared his shoulders, stepped out of the toilet, closing the door behind himself and returned to his seat with as much dignity as a man who had fled to the toilet could possibly have.

Slipping into his seat and fastening his seat belt he glanced across at Mrs. Anderson who was grinning at him, her hand came to rest on his arm as she whispered "Don't worry dear, I'll keep an eye out for him"

Paul smiled and nodded his gratitude before setting back into his seat.

The moment the plane landed Paul was out of his seat and grabbing his briefcase from the overhead compartment in preparations to leave. He stood patiently in the cue waiting to disembark but his heart leapt into his throat at the sight of the male flight attendant stood at the door saying goodbye to the passengers.

Keeping his briefcase between himself and the male flight attendant Paul edged his way past the man while he was busy in conversation with one of the other passengers.

He had almost made it out of the plane when he suddenly felt someone grab his ass and pinch his butt.

Yelping he turned to hit the male flight attendant only to see the Blonde female stood behind him a small smile playing across her face. Unsure of what to do he shook his head and continued up the ramp into the main terminal.

Once inside the terminal Paul grabbed his bag from the carousal and headed straight for the car rental stand, he didn't care how long it took to drive back to the Blackwood Project from Chicago there was no way in hell he was getting back on that plane.

The end.