21 - Flight Home

*That’s a good boy, Tink. You took care of our girl. – Darkness*
The flight back to Louisiana took the standard amount of time. And with as often as she had taken it over the past year, or nearly a full year, she knew how long it took. Camille knew exactly what to expect on the nonstop three-and-a-half-hour flight.
Trigg always booked two seats for the flight – one for and the other for Tink. This ensured two things during the flight going either way. First it guaranteed a place for Tink, and since he was a medical alert dog, no one tried to get her to give up her extra seat. Secondly, she always had a window seat and no stranger next to her.
Without having to worry about someone reading over her shoulder, she could read the BDSM romance without offending anyone. Her e-reader gave an estimated read time on the spicy book of four hours. It would be perfect for the boarding, flight and waiting to disembark.
She settled into the economy seat, put her earbuds in and started her playlist. Karliene’s soft notes gave way to drums and bagpipes as she began to sing about *Boudica* and her battles.
The stewardess gave the in-flight safety briefing that Camille ignored. By the time she graduated, she should be able to give this lecture herself. She already knew that there would be two more flights home this year alone. At least two.
Her flight for Molly’s wedding to his five pretties and winter break were already booked. Sid tried to book flights for Fourth of July, but Gator and Zydeco stated that they wanted to ride up with her. There were several others that wanted to go also.
So instead, she booked hotel rooms in Knoxville, Tennessee and Fairfax, Virginia. Two nights in each city going each way, allowing time for sightseeing and ensuring that they had time to make it to the next city. And it also gave time for recovery from sitting on a bike for up to nine hours a day.
Camille was an old hat at long distance rides. Every September, the Saints headed to Las Vegas for an annual rally. Since she had gotten her motorcycle license at sixteen, she had driven it herself. Before that, she would typically ride with her dad, one of her brothers or many cousins. Or one of her dozens of what she had dubbed her ‘leather uncles’ when she was younger.
The stewardess came around and Camille got herself a Sprite and a bottle of water for Tink. She poured part of the bottle into the collapsible bowl that she always carried for him. When she opened her lunch that was provided by the airlines, she shared the meat from her sandwich and pretzels with her canine companion.
Ignoring the older woman across the aisle who complained about the dog, Camille continued to read her book and eat her lunch. The dessert in the little bag was a pack of Oreo cookies. Cringing at her least favorite snack, she opened the pack and offered a cookie to Tink.
These were cookies that were kept at the swim meets for their sugar rush. Although she would eat them if that was the only thing available, she preferred the Nutter Butters. Tink, however, was drooling at the first scent of his favorite forbidden treat.
The old woman across the aisle called for the stewardess and voiced her complaints loud enough that Camille could hear her over the song being sung by Celtic Woman. When the haggard looking stewardess moved towards Camille, she removed the earbuds and reached for her carryon bag.
“I’m sorry, another passenger has expressed concern over your dog.”
Camille grabbed the pamphlet printed by the US Department of Justice and handed it to the woman in the uniform. “I know that you’re doing your job and trying to keep the peace, however, my medical assist dog is legal. You can provide her with this if you would like.”
“I just want to know why you have the dog.” The older woman demanded. “You don’t look like there’s anything wrong with you.”
“I have him for a medical condition.”
“But I want to know what-“
“Excuse me,” the man sitting behind Camille said as he stood up and she sighed expecting the worst. “Joseph Branson, attorney at law.”
“Oh, thank God. Tell her that she needs to tell us what she has a dog for.”
“No, ma’am.” The lawyer said. “She has provided the information that is required by law. She has him for medical assistance. If she chooses to elaborate, she may, but she is not required to do so.”
“But what if we are at risk? What if she has some disease that is going to kill everyone on the plane?” the woman screamed.
“Ma’am,” the lawyer said touching Camille on her shoulder and Tink growled.
“Please remove your hand,” she advised as she grabbed Tink’s collar and spoke to him in German until the man removed his hand.
Turning her attention to the woman across the aisle, she gave her a cold stare. “First, I bought a ticket for the seat that my dog is in. which, *legally*, I do not have to do.”
“Secondly, I have a condition that can leave me incapacitated and unable to defend myself. I got Tinkerbell, after my ex and two of his friends triggered this and tried to gang rape me. Tink notices when I’m about to have an episode and warn me and protect me. He will also keep me grounded and calm me down when I start to have a panic attack.”
Tink had been pawing and nudging her with his nose the entire time. When she did not start to calm down, he crawled into her lap and put his front paws on her shoulders.
“Third, my tickets have a medical alert notation on them. But if I would make you feel better to have a teenage girl traveling alone be at risk of bodily harm or being raped, let’s accommodate you and forget the damn law.”
Whining, Tink began to lick her cheeks the tears that were spilling out of her eyes. Camille wrapped her arms around his trim body and buried her face in his neck. Her body began to tremble with her soft sobs. She heard the conversation around her resume but did not pay attention to them as she focused on her breathing.
Once the stewardess walked away, the woman and her companion were silent for the rest of the flight. When the plane landed, Camille grabbed her carryon, shoved her kindle and Tink’s now empty and dry bowl into it and let him lead her down the aisle and off the plane.
Just as before, Darkness was standing inside waiting for her. Unlike last time, she went straight to him and wrapped herself around him. He held her close and kissed the top of her head.
“I’ve got you, baby. You’re safe.” He murmured as he shifted her and took the dog lead into his hand. Warily he looked at the man in the suit that approached.
“Joseph Branson,” the man said as he handed over a business card. “She had some trouble on the plane, if you choose to pursue legal actions, call me.”
Darkness nodded and headed to the door and away from an older woman that was making comments about a black man being with a white woman. It was best if he did not engage and simply ignored the situation.
What he wanted to do was go shove the woman’s teeth down her throat. But he was not that type of person. Rarely did he solve issues with his fists. Well, rarely now. He had a reputation, and one that had been earned, for having a short fuse and hard right hook.
Carrying her out of the airport and into the parking lot, he headed straight for her black jeep. He unlocked it with the fob and opened the passenger door. Tink jumped up into the front seat and climbed into the backseat.
Darkness sat Camille in seat and then tossed her small backpack into the backseat with the dog. Cupping her face between his hands, he made her look up at him.
“Are you okay?” he asked quietly.
She tried to nod as she whispered “Yes, just stressed.”
Leaning in, he pressed his lips to hers. “I’ve got you.”
She slid her arms up and hugged him around his neck as she pulled him back for another kiss. “I missed you.”
“Missed you too,” he said against her lips. He sucked her bottom lip into his mouth and then slipped his tongue into her mouth.
When they broke apart, they were both panting slightly as he rested his forehead on hers.
“I don’t know what the hell you’re doing to me.” He whispered.