Twenty minutes later he returned to his seat with a guilty smile for Nezha and Julie. The cockpit had been as fascinating as he’d thought it would be and Richard and Jerry were delighted to give him the tour. They took some more selfies with Ben as well which they promised would not be seen outside their specific circle of friends as they would be in the ‘shitter’ if the bosses found out.
Ben stood in the aisle and Julie got up from his seat and smiled up at his face.
“I’ve kept it warm for you,” she said with a smile and she gently pressed her body against his as she moved past.
“Thank you,” he mumbled.
“Oh! I never got you that juice! I’ll be right back!” she exclaimed softly.
Ben slipped into his chair and turned his burning face to Nezha who was smiling at him.
“She’s determined,” she said with a wry grin.
He nodded uncomfortably.
“She was telling me how exciting it is to have you on the flight. I have to admit I had no idea I’d been rescued by such a renowned hero,” Nezha said watching his expression change. “You don’t like being thought of that way?” she said in surprise.
He looked over and shook his head. “I don’t. I don’t want to be famous. I just do what I do because it needs to be done. All this fame crap is a nuisance.”
“But it’s true that you rescued those girls from the slave ring?” she asked.
He nodded. “But I was just in the wrong place at the right time. I didn’t expect to be there but once I was… I took steps to free them,” he finished quickly as he saw Julie returning with his juice.
“Would you care for anything stronger?” Julie asked, holding his eyes with hers.
“No, this is great thanks! I don’t drink.”
“Oh!” she exclaimed softly. Another passenger signalled her on the other side and she glanced over distractedly.
“Duty calls,” Ben said with a smile. She flashed him a dazzling smile and rushed away.
“Not a drinker? That’s nice to hear. Alcoholism is a problem in the neighborhood I work and live in. Getting away from that even for this brief time is a welcome break.” Nezha said.
Ben nodded with a slightly pained frown. “Yeah, I spent a few years in that trap but with the help of my friends I got out. I haven’t had a drink since.”
“Those were good friends.”
Ben smiled warmly as he thought of Gabriella and Catherine, his original saviors. “The absolute best.”
Nezha was watching his eyes and saw the love there. “More than friends?”
He looked over but saw she wasn’t trying to pry but was just curious so he nodded. “Just one of the reasons I don’t do casual affairs.”
He heard a squeak and turned his head to see Julie rushing back into the front galley. The glass of juice was sitting on the table before him. He closed his eyes and sighed. “She heard that, didn’t she?”
The doctor could see the pain on his face. She’d caught the expression of surprise on the attendant’s face so she was certain the woman had heard Ben quite plainly. “I believe so but it was something she needed to hear.”
He nodded slowly then drank some of the juice. He sighed, closed his eyes, tilted the seat back a little and tried to get as comfortable as he could with the too low headrest.
Ben woke from the gentle touch on his shoulder. He opened his eyes and saw Julie biting her lip nervously. He came awake immediately and glanced over at Nezha who was blinking the sleep from her eyes. He then looked back to see if the man was returning but the aisle was clear. He looked back at Julie.
“Sorry, we are landing and I need you to raise your seat,” she said quietly.
He immediately relaxed. “Oh… sure.” He sat forward and brought his seat up.
She smiled and moved on.
Nezha smiled at him. “You are traveling on to Melbourne?” she asked and he nodded. “What arrangements have you made for the layover?”
“Layover?” he blinked.
She looked at him in surprise. “The flight continues on tomorrow at 10AM. There is a twelve hour layover. You don’t have a hotel room reservation?”
He scowled. “No, this is my first flight to Australia. It seems I really screwed up my ticket this time.”
“Is there a problem?” Julie asked gently as she heard his comment on her way by.
“Ben did not prepare for the layover. He has no hotel room,” Nezha explained.
“Oh! Finding one at the last minute could be a real problem but Rich and Larry would let you bunk with them! There will be a fold out couch in one of their rooms you can use.”
Ben looked at Julie and saw her earnest expression. “I- I wouldn’t want to intrude-” he began but she grinned and patted his shoulder as she moved away to make the call.
He looked over at Nezha. “Thanks for coming to my rescue. I would have probably slept in the airport until my flight.”
“Not a comfortable night,” she remarked with a grin.
“How about you? You said you’re going to get a flight back to London immediately,” he said curiously.
She frowned and nodded. “I’m going to go see my parents. To say goodbye.”
It was Ben’s turn to frown. “Are you going to be safe? You said that guy took care of your parents. If we’re not going to put him in jail and it looks like the plane’s crew doesn’t want the headache, he’s going to be out there too.”
She hesitated and Ben frowned in concern. “Can I help?”
She looked at him in surprise. “You’ve done so much already!”
“No, I just did what was needed. How far from the airport is your parent’s place?” he asked.
“A thirty minute taxi ride.”
“It’s settled then. I’ll go with you… unless you don’t want me to,” he finished as he thought he might be intruding.
She smiled at him as she covered her hair with a scarf and wrapped it around her neck. Only her face was left exposed. “I would appreciate the company and yes, I would feel safer. Thank you.” She rolled her sleeves down.
Ben watched her preparations curiously.
“The dress code for women in the UAE is not the same as it is in the UK or the USA,” she said with a smile.
“Should I be dressed differently?” he asked.
She looked at him. “You might want to put on something a little looser. Showing off the body is frowned upon.”
“Showing off? I’m not…” He sighed in frustration. “Finding clothes that fit me is a challenge.”
She smiled as she tilted her head. “I think you would look very smart in a thobe. Very smart!”
“Thobe?”
“The garment Emirati wear in Dubai. With your coloring you would look very handsome in the white,” she grinned.
“Yes, he would.”
Ben turned his head to see Julie smiling at him.
“It’s all set. The flight crew is staying at the Holiday Inn Express overnight. You can sleep on the pull out couch in Rich’s room and come back to the airport with us tomorrow for the continuation of our flight,” she explained with a smile.
“That’s really generous! Thank you for arranging that!” Ben exclaimed.
“Just part of the above and beyond service we are renowned for!” she smiled happily.
“Uh, I’m going to accompany Nezha to visit her dying parents to make sure she’s safe…” he turned to face her. “Where are you staying tonight?”
“I have friends from London who live here now. I’ll give them a call when we land and stay with them after I see my parents,” Nezha explained.
“Good, ok… so after I drop her off at her friends place I’ll come back to the hotel. How do I find Rich’s room?”
Julie nodded. “Just go to the reception and let them know who you are. They’ll give you an extra key to the room. If you’re late don’t worry about it. The room will be ready.”
“Wow, I have to say this is exceptionally nice of you guys!” Ben said and she soaked up the praise. She glanced down the aisle as the other attendants were signalling it was time to prepare.
“Make sure your seat belts are fastened. We’ll be landing shortly.” Julie moved back to the front galley to return to her station.
Nezha looked out the window at the lights below.
“Have you been here before?” Ben asked.
“No, I’ve spent my entire life in London. I was born there,” she said wistfully.
Ben settled back and relaxed as the plane settled down smoothly on the runway. After a long time taxiing they finally stopped at the gate and they were able to disembark. He collected his carry on and got Nezha’s for her. As they walked out through the front Ben looked but the cockpit door was closed. The captain and co-pilot were still inside so Ben couldn’t thank them but he did thank Julie as he went by. She gave him a smile and a nod.
Once they were in the terminal they made their way through the processing with the other passengers and picked up their luggage. Nezha called her friends and from the smile on her face Ben assumed they were happy to hear from her.
“Mary said she and her husband Kamal will meet us at my parent’s house,” she said with fondness in her voice.