On A Wing And A Prayer Part 1

ON A WING AND A PRAYER.

BY.

kd bard.

Character or name resemblance to 'real' people currently living or dead is completely coincidental. Download it, print it out and share it if you'd like, but be sure to include the disclaimers.

SUBTEXT: This story is alternative in nature. If you don't know what that means, then you really need to find out before you start reading. The ladies in this story meet and really like each other ... I mean ... they REALLY, REALLY, REALLY like each other. This story does contain some mildly graphic s.e.x scenes. If you're offended by this statement, then you'll be offended by the story. If you're not old enough to be here, then please go find some Disney stories to read. If love is illegal where you live, I strongly suggest you move.

VIOLENCE: Domestic violence plays a focal part of this story. If you are currently in an abusive situation... please get out now! Abuse is a crime that can not be tolerated... stop the cycle with yourself or someone you love.

TIME LINE/CONTINUITY: This is a brand new alternative fan fiction, set in modern day time, starring a couple of new leading ladies. This story can be found on my home page at

http://homepages.together.net/~warriorx/WebPage.htm.

along with a host of other good stories. Enjoy!.

AUTHOR'S NOTES: I strongly believe that love is love, regardless of how it is packaged, so please don't flame me for believing in something so wonderful. All flames will be immediately extinguished by a tour through the city's sewer pipes, however, I do beg for constructive criticism.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS: A very big thanks to those of you who took the time to find my b.o.o.boo's ... Mom, Marn, Mel, Ili, Beck, Rosa. I really appreciate it - you've saved me once more from looking like a literary idiot! Thanks to Little Warrior for listening to my disjointed rambling while I worked through the hard parts, and for helping me practice... ah... ah... I mean, proof the really 'good' parts (^^). Special thanks to Ili for providing the Spanish translations (the English versions are provided in brackets []). Finally, a warm thank you to MQ and BG for their technical wisdom and spiritual guidance.

SPECIAL THANK YOU TO READERS: I want to thank all of you for your patience while I have laboriously worked out this story. I know it has been customary for me to post stories on a more frequent basis, but my life has gone through drastic changes over the past few months... changes that are largely good, but traumatic, nonetheless. A new love has entered my life ... a love that has given me the courage to express my true heart ... a love that will endure for the rest of our lives. I love you my Little Warrior. An old love has left ... the end to a lesson well learned. Family illness, and unprecedented family love ... all of this has worked to change my life in ways I can not describe.

Thank you all.

ON A WING AND A PRAYER.

CHAPTER I.

"NOW, LET'S SEE, Alien Insurrection, Planet of Lost Souls, Galaxy Ten ... Hey, what's this?" Ca.s.s commented as she removed the volume in question from the shelf and read the t.i.tle. "Stargazer II, humph, interesting t.i.tle," she said as she opened the book and read the inside sleeve. "Sounds like the name of a s.p.a.ce ship. Let's see what the cover says ... 'Part II of a tale of bittersweet love ... human meets alien ... falls in love ... yadda, yadda, yadda, struggle to fit into each other's worlds ... for more information on the author, see the back sleeve and cover'," she finished reading before opening the back cover of the book. "Roxanne Ward, native New Englander, living on the seacoast of Maine, author of several best selling science fiction novels, including Starflight and Stargazer. Ms. Ward brings her own brand of romance to the science fiction arena ... must read novels ... romance interlaced with mystery and intrigue."

Ca.s.s closed the book and looked at the cover once more. It was black with stars shooting outward from the center. Stargazer II was listed in bold silver letters across the top of the page. Sounds interesting, Ca.s.s thought. But not much good without Part I. Holding the book in her hand, she searched the shelf for Stargazer . After ten minutes, she came up empty. "d.a.m.n!" she said under her breath. Oh well, she thought, reaching forward to return Stargazer II to the shelf. I'll look in the bookstore in San Jose tomorrow, she thought.

As she was returning the book to the shelf, the back cover caught her eye. Retrieving the book once more, she turned it over in her hands and looked at it. There, staring up at her, was the most magnificent pair of emerald green eyes she had ever seen. Ca.s.s felt her heart lurch in her chest. The nearly translucent eyes were set in a wholesome face, framed by a pixie cut mane of red-gold hair. The eyes smiled up at her as she took in china doll features, slightly upturned nose, full lips bent into a crooked smile, rosy cheeks, and bright sparkle emanating from the depths of green.

"Wow!" Ca.s.s said out loud, oblivious to the odd looks she was receiving around her. "Be still my beating heart!" she commented audibly, as a flush rose into her face.

She stood there for several long moments staring at the picture, until she was shaken out of her trance by a firm hand on her arm. "Hey lady, if you ain't gonna buy it, then hand it over. I've been lookin' for that sequel for some time now," the voice said.

Ca.s.s looked at the man. "Ah ... Yes, I'm buying it, sorry," she said as she forced her feet to move in the direction of the register.

Ca.s.sidy Marie Conway, what are you getting yourself into this time? What good is this book without Part I? Acting on impulse again, aren't you, girl? You know that leads to nothing but trouble! her inner voice, which Ca.s.s had affectionately nicknamed "the Enforcer" or "E" for short, scolded as she handed over $23.95 to the clerk and accepted her bagged purchase. Ca.s.s walked through the mall, having an internal conversation with herself, her hands gesturing as though she had a visible conversant in front of her.

Look, I know it seems like impulse, but the book looked too good to pa.s.s up ... I'll find Part I in San Jose tomorrow, she reasoned.

Like h.e.l.l it looked too good! What looked too good was the picture of the author ... always a sucker for a pretty face, huh, Ca.s.s? Enforcer egged on.

Ca.s.s' inner voice first made its appearance during the trouble with Patti. The voice was a protector of sorts, always looking out for her, especially in matters of the heart. Sometimes she listened, but today, she shook it off as she made her way to her rented car and drove to the Dallas airport.

Upon landing in San Jose, Ca.s.s went directly to where she had left her car parked in the employee's parking lot. Opening the door, she threw her bags into the front seat and climbed in behind them. It was sweltering hot again, temperatures were in the low 100's, and her car felt like a kiln. It had been locked up in this heat for the past two days, and the heat build up in the car made it smell like it was about to ignite ... it certainly felt that way to Ca.s.s.

"Okay, Ca.s.s, time for dinner," the woman said to herself as she started the car and threw it into gear after first turning the air conditioner on high.

Ca.s.sidy Conway seldom ate at home. In fact, she never ate anything she had to cook -- always afraid she would poison herself ... afraid of dying alone from her own cooking, so she was a familiar sight in the diners located within a five mile radius of her condo.

"Hey Ca.s.s!" Angela said as Ca.s.sidy entered the establishment and went directly to her usual table.

"Hi Angie!" Ca.s.s replied, a comfortable camaraderie having long been established between herself and the proprietor.

Angie automatically brought a cup of coffee to Ca.s.s' table and placed it in front of her. "Tough flight? You look beat," Angie said.

"I love you too, Ang ..." Ca.s.s said, reaching up to touch the side of the woman's face. "You sure know how to make a girl feel good, my friend!" she added.

Angie chuckled and walked away, thinking to herself that Ca.s.s' beauty was in a cla.s.s all itself -- all six feet of her. Ca.s.sidy Conway was indeed a beautiful woman. Her regal height gave her a commanding presence. One of the most notable features were her long, shapely legs and hips --'legs that go on for miles' as Angie was fond of saying, that led to a finely tapered waist and generously firm b.r.e.a.s.t.s. Her face was exquisite -- finely chiseled features, great bone structure, and eyes so startling blue, they looked surreal. The package was topped by a mane of long and flowing black hair. The effect was breathtaking.

"What can I getcha tonight, Hon?" Angie asked, holding her order pad in front of her.

"Oh, I don't know, Ang ... Why don't you bring me the clam chowder and chef salad ... light Italian," she said, closing the menu and handing it back to the waitress.

"Okay, Sugar ... it'll be right up," Angie said as she went to place Ca.s.s' order.

Ca.s.s sat there waiting for her meal, drumming her fingers on the table and looking around with a bored reticence. Finally, her mind drifted to the package she had purchased earlier that day in Dallas. Rising to her feet, she called out to Angie that she'd be right back, and went to her car to retrieve the book. Returning to the table, she laid the book down and off to the side, with the back cover facing upward, the emerald green eyes staring right at her.

"She's a pretty one," Angie said, startling Ca.s.s out of her trance.

"Huh?" Ca.s.s asked, embarra.s.sed at having been caught daydreaming.

"I said she's a pretty one. Good writer too. Can I see the book?" she asked.

Ca.s.s reluctantly handed over her prize to the woman, and watched nervously as Angie looked the cover over. "Stargazer II, Hey, I just finished Part I of this series. You'll have to lend it to me when you're finished. Roxanne Ward is a very good writer!" Angie exclaimed.

"You just finished Part I?" Ca.s.s asked, suddenly very alert.

"Yeah. I a.s.sume you read it, since this is Part II?" Angie asked.

"Well, actually -- no. I was going to try to find it in town tomorrow. Would you consider lending it to me?" Ca.s.s asked.

"Sure, I'll give it to you when you come in for breakfast tomorrow morning, okay?" Angie offered.

"Ah, Ang, is there any way I can get it tonight? I'd kind of like to get started reading it as long as I've got a couple of days off," Ca.s.s said.

Angie placed her hands on her hips and looked closely at her customer and friend. "What is it about this book that you are in such a hurry to read it, Ca.s.s?" she asked, handing the book back to her.

"Noth.... Nothing in particular," Ca.s.s stammered, her attention focused on the back of the jacket cover once more.

Angie followed Ca.s.s' gaze. "Oh, I see," she said, a knowing smile crossing her lips. She had known for a while now about Ca.s.s' inclinations toward women.

"What?" Ca.s.s said innocently, blushing at being caught.

"Well, like I said, she's a pretty one ... you've got good taste, Ca.s.s," Angie observed, causing Ca.s.s to blush even more.

Ca.s.s returned to the diner that evening at closing time and followed Angie home. After two cups of coffee and more conversation than Ca.s.s really wanted, she left for home with Stargazer tucked securely under her arm.

Turning the faucets on, Ca.s.s filled the tub with slightly hot water and fragrant bath oils, intent on spending the next hour relaxing and reading. Tying her hair into a knot on top of her head, she slipped into the warm water, sliding her long frame under the surface and placing a rolled up towel between her neck and the edge of the tub. Reaching over to the stool she had pulled up beside the tub, she grabbed Stargazer and started to read.

Six hours later, in the wee hours of the morning, sitting in a tub of cool water, she snapped the book closed -- finished. Ca.s.s leaned her head back into the towel, feeling the stiffness in her spine from sitting in that position for so long. Her b.u.t.t cheeks and legs had long since lost all sensation as her skin shriveled up on her feet. She sat there in solitude, tears flowing down her cheeks at the dilemma the lovers in the novel faced. One human, one alien, faced with the prejudices of both worlds, star-crossed lovers, destined to live in each other's hearts and minds, but impossibly separated by s.p.a.ce and time.

Ca.s.s reached out and placed the novel on the stool, then wiped the tears from her cheeks. Very carefully, she maneuvered herself into a sitting position, knowing she would dance around like a fool when the p.r.i.c.kly feeling finally returned to her b.u.t.t and legs. Reaching out, she grabbed the towel and methodically dried herself off as she stepped out of the tub. Sure enough, the feeling returned, bringing with it, an insatiable tingling that lasted for several minutes. Ca.s.s clung to the towel rack in agony for the duration, until finally, it subsided and she was able to walk around normally again. Then, still totally naked, she picked up the book and headed to her bedroom where she placed it on her dresser and threw a T-shirt over her head, before climbing in between the sheets of her freshly made bed.

Sleep was a long time coming. Ca.s.s laid there staring at the ceiling, thinking about the lovers, and thinking too about the woman who created them. "Roxanne ... Roxie ... Rox," she sounded the name out on her lips, liking the sound of it. "Roxanne Ward, native New Englander ... seacoast of Maine," she mumbled as she finally drifted off to sleep.

Ah, Sat.u.r.day morning, Ca.s.s thought as she stretched herself awake. Ca.s.s loved the weekends. As part of her contract with the airline, she didn't fly on the weekends. As a result, she was seldom booked for a flight that kept her away from home for more than two days. Due to her bilingual abilities in Spanish, she covered a great deal of the flights into Mexico and Central and South America, and occasionally, a flew domestic routes. It just so happened, that yesterday's flight to Dallas needed coverage, and she was available, so in order to enjoy a change of pace, she accepted. Lying there in bed, she thanked her lucky stars that she had accepted the flight -- otherwise, she may not have found Stargazer II.

Climbing out of bed, she reached her arms high above her head and pressed her palms toward the ceiling, then clasped her hands together and leaned her torso side to side, stretching her abs and shoulders. "G.o.d, that feels good!" she said, returning her arms to her side and shaking them out before moving into the kitchen to set up the coffee pot with 'Raspberries and Cream' flavored coffee.

Slipping a pair of boxer shorts on under her T-shirt, she stepped out into the hallway of her condo and sprinted down the stairs to retrieve the morning paper from her mailbox. Unrolling it, she scanned the front page as she made her way back into her apartment. Finding nothing of real of interest, she threw the paper on the kitchen table and poured herself a cup of the fragrant coffee.

"Nothing like a good cup of coffee to start the morning," Ca.s.s said, savoring the raspberry flavor as she carried her 'morning cup of ambition' into the living room and sank into the overstuffed chair in front of the TV. Reaching for the remote, she clicked the TV on to the weather channel, just in time to catch the local forecast. "d.a.m.n! Rain today. In this heat it will be so humid the air conditioner won't touch it," Ca.s.s complained to no one in particular.

Ca.s.s suddenly stopped and realized what she had just done. "Great! Now I'm talking to myself! Ca.s.sidy, you've got to get a life," she said, feeling very alone at the moment. Clicking off the TV, she reached for her coffee and sat back in her chair, allowing her mind to wander back to a time when she wasn't so all alone, but wished she had been....

It was three years ago when it all finally came to an end. She just couldn't take it any more. The abuse was intolerable. She found herself a beaten and battered woman, physically and emotionally. Patti was so loving at first. The first two years they had together were wonderful ... full of love, adventure, travel. There were rarely apart, and the love they had for each other shone on their faces.

Ca.s.s and Patti seemed to be made for each other. Both were six feet tall, and complimented each other in every way. Ca.s.s was dark, Patti was blonde. Ca.s.s' creamy skin covered intricately toned muscles, while Patti was tanned and muscular, having spent many hours in the gym lifting heavy weights. Ca.s.s was friendly and outgoing, Patti was distant and stoic, except around Ca.s.s, with whom she was outwardly affectionate. Both women were strong willed, determined, and independent.

Ca.s.s sipped her coffee, contemplating what had gone wrong in their relationship. After two wonderful years, things suddenly went sour. Patti started coming home late from the gym, turning the stoicism she showed to the world, on Ca.s.s. The silence was deafening for the dark haired, blue eyed woman. Ca.s.s considered herself a communicator, always verbally reinforcing her love for Patti. She cherished the long talks she shared with her love on a regular basis, especially while lying in each other's arms at night in bed, after making love. All that changed during those horribly destructive months.

Patti suddenly became confrontational instead of loving, supplying short, sarcastic answers to questions, making Ca.s.s feel ignorant and small, that is, when she would speak to Ca.s.s at all. Most of the time, Ca.s.s was met with the silent treatment, never really understanding what she did to warrant such abuse. Ca.s.s spent this time starving for loving feedback, but receiving cold, silent, hateful looks instead. Patti was obsessed with working out, putting on more and more muscle and growing meaner and meaner with each inch of muscle gained.

Finally, it happened. Ca.s.s questioned Patti's late arrival one night and Patti struck her, sending her flying over the coffee table, striking her head on the edge of it and cutting it wide open. The drive to the emergency room was tense, filled with apologies and promises never to let it happen again. That was the first of many times. Then, after several months of broken promises, Ca.s.s packed her bags and left. Two days later, Patti was found dead in her car outside the gym, overdosed on a combination of drugs and steroids. Ca.s.s never forgave herself for Patti's death, believing that her actions drove Patti to suicide.

That was three years ago ... three lonely years running away from personal commitments. Yes, she had enjoyed brief encounters with women she met on her flights, but none of them held any promise of permanency ... an arrangement that was perfectly acceptable to Ca.s.s. For the past three years, she had been happy with her solitude. Now, however one chance encounter with a promo picture on the back of a science fiction novel changed all that.

Taking a deep breath, Ca.s.s rose from her seat and freshened her coffee. Standing at the kitchen counter, with her backside leaning against the cupboard, she stared straight ahead, eyes unblinking, as she sipped the brew and tried desperately to chase away the memories of those final nightmarish months with Patti.

Never again, Ca.s.s. Do not give your heart freely, girl. You will only be hurt and disillusioned. protect yourself, Ca.s.s. Build those walls -- they will keep you safe, Enforcer said over as over as she once again established a firm resolve to stay uncommitted and uninvolved in a serious relationship.

Feeling better about her decision, Ca.s.s refilled her coffee cup, then reached for the package she had brought home with her the night before. Reaching inside, she pulled out Stargazer II, and carried it into the living room where she settled herself in the overstuffed chair once more, curling her long shapely legs under her. Reaching up to turn on the light next to the chair, she took one more look at the back cover before opening the book and beginning to read.

Ca.s.s was captivated. Never before had she read a science fiction novel with such emotional impact. Science fiction generally came in two flavors; either highly technical, detailing the operation of a s.p.a.ce ship and fighting with nuclear and laser-based weapons, or they tended to lean toward the horror aspect of monstrous aliens. Ca.s.s loved science fiction, mainly for these reasons. With this genre, she was able to escape into a fantasy world without having to deal with the emotional side of life.

Stargazer had left her emotionally tender as she sat crying in the tub of cold water last night. Stargazer II was no different. She quite literally could not put the book down, even going so far as carrying it with her into the kitchen as she retrieved a container of yogurt from her refrigerator and returned to her seat in the living room. Nearly the entire day was spent curled up in that chair. A rainstorm raged around her, flashes of lightning periodically illuminating the room, while an emotional storm raged within her heart.

Ca.s.s was totally out of control emotionally by the end of the story as the two lovers lay in each other's arms, their last breaths mingling as one, professing their love and devotion to each other beyond the realms of physical existence. Great sobs wracked her body as the lovers died, creating an ache in her heart so intense that she was quite literally unable to stop sobbing. Closing the book and placing it on the end table, she unfolded her long frame from the chair and went to bed. Climbing under the covers, she pulled her knees tightly into her chest, and allowed the pain and suffering from her time with Patti to return. The sense of loss she felt when Patti died was enormous. As abusive as Patti was, she still loved her. Their separation was devastating. Her death nearly killed her. That same sense of loss washed over her as Ca.s.s thought again of the dying lovers at the end of Stargazer II, sending new waves of pain and tears down upon her tortured soul. Finally, physically and emotionally exhausted, she fell into a deep sleep, escaping the horrors that had invaded her heart and soul.

Ca.s.s rolled over and looked at the digital clock on the nightstand. 7:16 illuminated the face in bright red letters. Sitting up, she rubbed her hands over her face and through her hair. Wow, I must have been really tired to have over slept like that. I'm normally up by 6:00 am!, she thought. Climbing out of bed, she shuffled into the kitchen and found a half pot of coffee still on the hot plate. Stopping short, she stared at the coffeepot, a look of utter confusion on the face.

Ca.s.sidy, you're slipping girl. Good thing there was still coffee in the pot. You could have burned down the whole condo by leaving it on all night like that, Enforcer said as she reached over and clicked off the pot.

Her stomach growled loudly, protesting that the container of yogurt she ate earlier was just not enough to sustain it for such a long period of time. "All right, all right, I'll feed you... just settle down, okay?" she said out loud as another rumble rolled up from the depths of her stomach.

Ca.s.s really was a terrible cook, so she depended on pre-packaged foods for the rare occasion that she actually ate at home. Shuffling over to the spa.r.s.ely stocked pantry, she grabbed a package of crackers, then retrieved a brick of cheese from the refrigerator, checking first that it didn't contain any green moldy spots before slicing off several pieces to eat with the crackers. Arranging her treat on a paper plate, she carried it into the living room and sat down in her favorite chair. Reaching over to place the plate on the end table, she noticed Stargazer II sitting there where she had left it, causing a new wave of emotional pain to wash over her. Taking a deep breath, she admonished herself for her reaction. d.a.m.n it, Ca.s.sidy, get a hold of yourself ... it's just a story.

Reaching for the remote, she turned on the TV, which was still tuned into the Weather Channel. "The storm that hit the area earlier today caused extensive damage in outlying regions, with downed tree limbs causing power failures ..." the forecaster droned on.

Ca.s.s was about to turn the channel when the forecaster's words finally sunk in. "The storm that hit the area earlier today ..." Today? she thought. Did he say, TODAY? Clicking furiously through the channels, she found the one that previewed the cable channel offerings and looked immediately to the bottom left corner of the screen where the digital time was faithfully displayed. It read 7:42 pm.

"Holy s.h.i.t!" Ca.s.s exclaimed. "It's still Sat.u.r.day. I must have slept the whole afternoon away," she said to the empty room. "Ca.s.sidy, you are in big trouble here, girl. Talking to yourself, crying yourself senseless over some story, sleeping the day away ... you need to get a grip before you really lose it," she said.

Putting the half-eaten plate of food aside, she reached down and picked up Stargazer II and turned it over to look at the author's picture on the back. "I'll bet you don't have this problem," she said to the picture. "You probably live a very simple, happy little life in your picturesque New England town, surrounded by friends and family ... probably a husband and a couple of kids ... sitting in your little hammock on the beach, lap top at hand, writing away, while the kiddies build sand castles around you, and the hubby is off earning a living for his wife and children."

Sometimes Ca.s.s longed for such a life, but knew in her mind that it would never happen. Beside, she had decided not to let herself fall in love again. The devastation and despair she suffered through with Patti had taught her a lesson about life, about trust ... and she wasn't about to expose herself to that level of pain again.