Chapter Text
Charlie Swan knew something was wrong, After about twenty minutes of standing in the small drizzle, and the parked plane that held his daughter did not stir. He shifted and checked his watch again, tapping it absently in case there was something wrong with it. Were they delayed because he had used his small sway to come directly onto the runway, just to pull his daughter from the small plane? Did they have a problem with her luggage? She said she was only bringing a carry-on and a small suitcase. Most of her books and stuff had been shipped about a week ago. Her boxes were sitting in her room, waiting for her. Just like he has.
It seemed like most of her life, he had been waiting for Isabella to come home.
He had few regrets in life, and it was not having Isabella home. Charlie was glad Isabella was coming up to live with him for her last year and a half of high school. Glad, but knowing it wasn’t done with him or herself in mind. He wondered if she didn’t like Renee’s new husband. Phill had seemed fine enough, from what little he had spoken to him at the wedding,
He checked his watch again. No one on the plane disembarked. Maybe he could contact flight control on his radio? Because it stretched on from one minute to two minutes. Thirty minutes and no one was getting off the plane. He shuffled in place. He felt his stomach turn, and he wondered if something was wrong-
Movement.
Automatically, his hand went on his hip, to his gun, even as he rushed forward as the plane door burst open in a clunky, jerky movement as the runway crew perked up.
“Officer!” asked a nervous-looking Flight Attendant, she all but sprinted down the steps. She skidded on heels, on the slick runway.
Charlie feels his heart nearly stop. He holds the woman steady.
“Is something wrong?” He projected as much authority as he could.
A flush comes to the Flight attendant. Tears in her wide eyes. She hiccuped.
“Officer, there has been an accident on the plane.”
“Everything okay?”
“Some luggage fell atop of a passenger, the overhead- it just collapsed. We had the Tower call an ambulance and there’s a doctor on the flight but- She’s- She’s lost consciousness and hasn’t woken up. She’s breathing, but she’s,” At this point, the flight attendant is nearly collapsing into tears, “She’s lost a lot of blood.”
He swallowed.
“A doctor is on the flight, that’s good. First aid. That’ll help your passenger. I’m sorry ma’am, but my daughter’s on that flight-”
“In her teens?” asked the woman, eyes growing wide.
Charlie froze.
“That’s right.”
The Flight Attendant, a quick glance told him her name was Cheryl, covered her mouth.
“Oh god. Sir, Sir follow me.”
When Charlie Swan saw his daughter’s familiar face pale, and drawn, slack and covered in blood, he felt as if the world had emptied out beneath his feet.