Stone McLean leaned back in his seat as the applause from the passengers washed over him like a warm comforting caress. He had landed the plane with little effort despite the blistering rain that took even hardy New Yorkers by surprise.

When the first crack of lightning lit the plane up like a Christmas tree on steroids, Stone didn’t panic. He had to stay calm. He had a rookie in training with him. Great. Kennedy or LaGuardia. The rookie all but wanted to do a coin toss. But it was a no brainer - Kennedy. Anything near water could attract more lightning and risk their safety, not to mention skidding off the runway and into the Atlantic. Yeah, it was a long shot for that, but you always prepared for the worse.

"Fantastic Mr. McLean."

Stone turned around and no less than four of the airline attendants were standing in the doorway of the cabin. "Thanks. Everyone okay?"

"A few crying babies, but everything is A-Okay." The three women behind her began to giggle, then left. "Anything I can help you with?"

"No, just prepare everyone to disembark."

"You seem to have it with the ladies," the rookie said. "I guess it’s true what they say about men in uniform. That’s why I got my wings."

Stone looked at him with borderline horror.

"Just kidding dude."

Lord love a duck. Stone shook his head and began looking over the controls. He then went to unfasten his seat belt and that’s when he noticed it. Spots before his eyes. He rubbed his eyes, blinked rapidly and the spots were gone. Probably allergies. It was springtime and the pollen was doing horrible things to him and his colleagues.

"Come on, let’s get out of here. The rain is coming down harder if you can believe it."

"Right behind you," the rookie said unfastening his seat belt.

As Stone went to stand, he nearly blacked out. Thank goodness the rookie had quick reflexes.

"Dude! Are you okay?"

Sure, I just blacked out and nearly kissed the cabin floor. "I just got a little wobbly there, that’s all. Too many hours in the air. We’ve been circling for three extra hours."

"Okay, are you sure," the rookie looked at him with genuine concern.

"Sure. Come on."

Once his feet were on solid ground, Stone felt a little better - but not much. He didn’t want to worry the kid, but he had been having these blackouts for the past few days. That combined with double vision and blinding headaches. This wasn’t good. Not for a pilot. Even for an ordinary citizen, this wasn't a good thing.

Stone rushed into the terminal to join his colleagues. He wasn’t scheduled for another flight until Tuesday. Great! That gave him two days to rest and catch up on some things.

Once he reached the terminal he saw Jackson, a fellow pilot he trained with years ago. He was talking to some flight attendants and passersby. When he saw Stone, he waved him over. That’s when it really hit him.

Stone slammed to his knees on the hard tile of the terminal floor. The headache was so blinding that it actually hurt to open his eyes. My God, what is happening to me? Am I having a stroke? If I am, get it over with. Stone had never felt pain like this in his life and he wasn’t sure that he wanted to live through this. Before he realized it, a crowd was surrounding him, including Jackson.

"Okay, stand back please. Please get back. Someone call the medic quick! Hey man, it’s going to be all right, I’m right here and someone’s coming," Jackson whispered trying not to upset him more.

"Just don’t leave me." Stone sounded pitiful, but he was scared. All he could do was remain on his knees with his head in his hands.

"Don’t worry man, I’m right here. Okay, here comes the paramedics. I’m going with you to the hospital."

"Thanks."

With that comforting news Stone felt his body relax a bit. Only a bit. When the medic touched his shoulder, Stone wanted to swing.

"It’s okay," the medic said in a soothing voice. "Tell me, can you open your eyes for me?"

Stone did, and wished to God he hadn’t. "Jesus!" He immediately slammed them shut again.

"It could be a migraine," Stone heard one of the other medics say in a droll voice, "Let’s get him on the gurney and take him in."

"Can you stand sir?"

"I’m going to have to won’t I?"

"We’ll help you up," the other medic said. With his eyes still shut, they helped Stone position himself on the gurney. Rolled it to the ambulance and shut the doors.

"You still there Jackson?"

"Right beside ya."

"They said something about a migraine."

"Yeah, I heard. It looks like it. I mean, you’re coherent."

"Barely."

"And you’re light sensitive."

"But they’re going to run tests on me to make sure?"

"Yep."

"Jackson?"

"Yeah?"

"What if it is a migraine?"

There was an eerie silence.

"Jackson?"

"Let’s just pray for the best."

Stone went through a battery of tests. An MRI, EKG, CAT scan. You name it, he had it. Nothing could be found. That was the good news.

The bad news. He suffered a migraine and there could be more to come. Translation: He would be grounded.

"Mr. McLean, I have several pamphlets and booklets on migraines. They tell you everything from causes to treatments," the doctor said as he reentered the room. "I’m going to give you a mild medication. Since this is your first attack, it could be your only one. You did just land through a terrible storm. You were under a lot of stress."

"I’ve seen worse. I didn’t panic."

The doctor shrugged, "Maybe not on the outside," he began scribbling on a notepad. "Here’s your prescription. Follow the directions to the letter."

Stone took the paper and just stared at it for a while. "Do I take this daily or..."

"On the onset. You see, there are symptoms right before an attack. Since this was something new to you, you didn’t recognize them. You probably thought you were suffering from a stroke." The doctor chuckled, then immediately got serious when he saw no humor in Stone’s face. "Ahem...anyway, the typical symptoms are, sensitivity to light, seeing halos, zigzag patterns, spots before the eyes..."

"Oh, Christ! I won’t be able to fly...."

"I’ve sent over the paperwork of your diagnosis to your supervisors already. I’m sorry Mr. McLean, but I’m afraid you’ll have to be grounded for at least a month. You need to monitor yourself. See if this was just a once in a lifetime fluke."

Stone reached for his temple and began to massage it.

"Um, Mr. McLean, I think you should lie down." The doctor cleared away a spot for him on the exam table. He then went to the icebox and took out an ice pack. "Here you go, just put this over your eyes."

He then turned down the lights. "Try not to stress yourself out over this. It’s a very common problem. Besides, stress only exacerbates the situation.

"Since you had such a violent episode, I’m going to get you an injection. Do you have someone here with you who can take you home and stay with you a while?

"Yeah," Stone said warily. What the hell kind of a shot was he going to give him that required an escort and a baby-sitter? Stone hated the idea of drug dependency.

"It will ease the pain," the doctor said as if reading his thoughts. "You won’t be able to drive or make it home on your own. Just have this person watch you for the rest of the day. Try to relax. I realize that this is something new and you’re a bit worried. But I assure you, we found nothing in your tests. This was a classic migraine." The doctor prepared the needle.

"Um, tell me, how long do these episodes last?"

Stone didn’t like the idea of being medicated for the rest of his life. He didn’t know which was worse, the migraine or having to be nearly sedated.

The doctor took off his glasses and rubbed the bridge of his nose. He then looked at Stone, sympathy coloring his expression. "They can last for weeks. Some cases, months off and on." The doctor gave him the shot.

Just kill me. Just put me on the runway and let a 747 run over me. Stone lay on the table like a wounded animal trying to will the pain away. But it only got worse.

Don’t stress. The words rang in his ears.

He then tried breathing deeply and letting it out the air slowly. He did this about ten times. It was then that the pounding seemed to subside.

After about ten minutes, he felt human again. But he kept his eyes closed. Even though the lights were almost off, he dared not take a peak from underneath the ice pack.

He heard the door to the exam room open.

"Okay Mr. McLean. I have your release papers for you to sign. How do you feel?"

"Well, I still feel the effects of the pain, but I can honestly say it’s ninety percent better than what it was when I arrived here."

"Good. I’ll have the nurse walk you to the waiting room where you can meet your friend. As I said, get plenty of rest once you get home. And try not to think about it."

Easy for him to say. He wasn’t a pilot whose wings were virtually snatched from his chest.

When he got to the waiting room, he waved the nurse who was helping him away. Jackson stood and joined him at the reception desk.

"Well?"

Stone turned to his best friend. Jackson knew already. He saw it in his eyes, but wanted to hear it from him. "I’m grounded for a month. I had a migraine and they want to make sure that I don’t have another episode." Stone massaged his right temple. "In fact, they gave me a shot and I’m starting to feel the effects. They suggest that you take me home and watch me for the rest of the day."

Jackson let out a long sign and shook his head. "Man. I...I don’t know what to say."

"There’s nothing to say. My flying career could be over as we speak."

"Look man, it could be a once in a life...."

"And what if it isn’t? Do you think I’m going to risk the lives of innocent people on a fluke? What if I have an attack and can’t find my pills?" Stone looked around the room and noticed at least ten pairs of eyes staring at him. He then braced himself against the reception desk. He was feeling a bit woozy.

He rubbed his forehead. "I am so sorry man. I didn’t mean...."

"Hey, it’s cool. I understand. I’ll take you home. I called Sara and told her what happened. I’m sure she’ll understand if I stay with you.

"Thanks, I owe you one."

"You can pay me back by getting back up in the air with the rest of us."

"Yeah." But Stone wasn’t going to hold his breath."

***

Stone looked at his reflection in the mirror. At this point he didn’t care. He didn’t care about anything. He was depressed, and numb and slightly intoxicated from the pain-killer. This was maddening. To have a condition that you didn’t know when or where it was going to strike had to be the most twisted thing he’d ever experienced.

"You should lie down like the doctor said," Jackson said from behind.

"I’m not an invalid."

"Hey from what I’ve been reading in those pamphlets, which you should read in the morning, people have been known to feel that way after an attack."

"Look, I know..." Stone had to stop himself. He knew Jackson was only trying to help. More than that actually. Jackson went out of his way to come here and stay with him. To come forty miles from home and leave a good meal that he knew Sara had ready for him was a sacrifice for a friend.

To not be cuddling up with her after dinner was martyrdom. Sara was very easy on the eyes. She was the spitting image of Lauryn Hill.

Yeah, I should be more grateful he thought. And he did need to rest. He had a lot to think about.

"Hey man, I’m sorry that I seem a bit..."

Jackson held up his hand. "Don’t mention it. Just tell me what you got in the fridge," he chuckled.

"You ain’t one to ever miss a meal," Stone laughed. "Help yourself to all the microwave fare."

He watched his friend make a beeline to the kitchen. He then thought about all the hours they spent together. Stone was going to need therapy if this didn’t work out soon.

He went back to the bedroom and sat on the edge of the bed. He located the remote on the television. He had to get his mind on something else. Anything else.

Grounded.

That word kept reverberating in his mind. This was going to give him a migraine.

He let out a disgusted sigh and leaned back against the pillows. He began to zone out when a travel commercial caught his attention.

Landing Shores,? Now where in blazes is that? Stone got up and went to his desk where he kept his maps. He rummaged through them, and found the one of Florida. He then took it and laid it out on the bed.

"Let’s see, they said just outside of West Palm Beach...here it is."

Humph. Never heard of it.

But they made it sound so quaint. Maybe it was a new PR move for the county. Maybe they had some new attractions.

Outside of Disney World, Stone never saw a real need to go to Florida---until now.

Tired of the Rat Race?

Looked like he was forced into early retirement, he thought. Stone got up and grabbed his wallet off the end table. The prescription still in it. Well he was going to fill it.

In Landing Shores, Florida.

On to Chapter 2