Meanwhile, at the airport

Doe’s flight landed smoothly and he stood up in the aisle. He had to give it to her… first class flights to San Diego was certainly unexpected. But the extra leg room was appreciated. His mind tried to wrap around the fact that he had just gotten on a plane half a day ago and crossed the country. He had waited years to come to California for her and now that he was here – well, it was just hard to take it all in.

He thanked the flight attendants and nodded at the pilot as he exited. John had instructed him to check his bag at the plane door and so now he stood in the jaunty walkway waiting for it. It did not take long before he stepped out into the round room of Terminal 2. Sunlight falling in from every window. Palm trees swaying their fronds outside. How much different could one coastal beach state be than the other? From gate 15, it was easy to follow the signs towards the sky bridge. He never went more than five feet without seeing a few more soldiers and wondered how he would spot the person sent to pick him up.

It made him nervous that John herself would not be fetching him. But he knew she would take care of him. Half way across the sky bridge he paused to look over the roads and watch the pedestrians leaving the airport. There was a soldier standing at the end of the bridge and Doe could not help but notice the soldier that was noticing him. “Eh… Surely I do not appear to be a threat or a terrorist or… maybe I should just keep walking.” He thought self-consciously. As he approached the escalators down to the ground, the soldier perked up. Then, to Doe’s astonishment, he was saluted.

“Corporal Drake, Mr. Doe. I am here to transport you to the base where you will meet with Sergeant Bo… McKell. Excuse me. Let me take this for you.” He picked up Doe’s bag and gestured towards the exit route.

“You don’t have to take that, you know. I can carry it.” Doe offered him. But the Corporal just shook his head.

“Yes, sir, I do have to take it. I’m sure you have had enough of carrying this around. All the way from Florida?”

“True. It is pretty heavy…” Doe cursed inside, this macho Marine would think he was a wuss for not carrying his own bag and then to say it was heavy? “How far is the… base?”

“It will take us about 50 minutes to get to the camp. We will make up time with the highway and interstate.”

John had not talked too much about the base she went to and the arrival at a humvee transport was enough to make Doe laugh out loud. “Do you always pick up friends like this?”

“No, sir. Just the Sergeant asked for me to make it quick. She must be excited to see you. How long have you known her, if you do not mind my asking?” Drake opened the door for him and loaded his bag into the back.

Doe waited for them to both be seated inside before responding to his question. “I forget. Nearly a decade.” As they drove along, Doe looked out his window towards the city and then would gaze left towards the water. Drake hopped onto the Interstate 5 exit and took off. It seemed they were just following the coast line. He read some of the attraction signs. Sea World being one of them and wondered if John had been there. But surely she had. She lived here. Eventually the city turned way to less populated land and even empty seeming stretches. But at last they exited the interstate for Las Pulgas.

Minutes later they were pulling up the security check and was handed an ID card to attach to his shirt and one for holding on to. The Corporal had referred to him as an authorized visitor. That sounded fancy. He was surprised there was no searching of him or his bag. Or was the entire vehicle one giant x-ray? Was his pulse being read thru the back of the seat or where his hands rested? Entertaining though the thought may have been, he rested his hands on his knees, just in case. The bulky ride continued through to El Camino Real and turned at Homo Canyon. They were heading further inland, he noted to himself.