Author's Note: This is part of a "30 Kisses" challenge. This chapter contains theme '#03 jolt.' Sorry for the delay...the next chapter will be up sooner than this one came, I promise.

EDIT: I noticed while checking the story today, that the xxxxxxx's that denote passage of time, didn't carry over when I uploaded this chapter last night(Bozhe moy! What an oversite!). FIXED!!! Perhaps a few more things will make sense now.

Chapter 2: The Other Girl

The next morning Wheeler and Linka sat alone in the Geocruiser as it headed towards New York City. Neither one had seen their beds since Linka broke the news of Wheeler's father's passing. Wheeler, who usually never was a loss for words when it came to Linka, couldn't find any kind of idle chit-chat to pass the time on their lengthy trip. It only made the trip seem longer.

All of the sudden, Linka felt unusually nervous as she sat silently in the pilot seat, Bozhe moy! What could Kwame and Gi have been thinking when they insisted that I go with Yankee to his father's funeral? She recalled their conversation back on Hope Island:

"But you guys are family to me!" Wheeler insisted.

"And you to us, Wheeler, but it would not be proper. None of us ever met your father," Kwame explained, "However, we would never think of making you go alone. Therefore, I believe that one of us should accompany you as a representative of the Planeteers."

"I nominate Linka," Gi chimed in.

"I second the nomination," Kwame chimed in after.

"The rest of us will be with you in spirit." said Ma-Ti, "And if you need us, we are just a ring's-call away."

Linka already had her doubts, "What makes you think that I---"

"I third the nomination" said a maternal voice appearing onto the scene, "I think that Kwame and Gi are right in this situation, Linka."

"Gaia? You too?"

"Mother knows best," Gaia said gently.

Linka's flashback was then interrupted by Wheeler deciding to break the silence, "Say, Linka, would you mind answering a question for me?"

"Is it in good taste?"

"I'm not sure. It's not something I've heard you talk about much, but all of the sudden I'm curious about."

"Very well, blast."

"I think you mean 'shoot', Babe."

"Da, whatever."

"What were your parents like?"

Linka was a bit perplexed by Wheeler's question, but found the words quickly, "I was only three when my mother died. I am afraid I do not remember her much. Father, as you know, was the foreman for the local mine. He was...a lot of things. It is hard to explain." Linka found herself fighting the lump in her throat. She hadn't realized how painful some of her happiest memories were now.

"How did your father...you know...If you don't mind me asking."

"In a mining accident when I was ten. It was one of the darkest days of my life."

"Was it tough going to your parents' funerals?"

Linka didn't even look at Wheeler, "I do not remember much about my mother's funeral. I was hardly aware of all that was happening. I only remember asking why everyone was sad." Once again she could feel a lump in her throat growing larger, "My father's funeral was a different story. I remember it was on the same day that he and I had planned to go on a special trip to see the new beauty of spring. We would make the same trip every year. Father would show me places where he and my mother used to play as children and tell me stories about their courtship. It was his way of keeping her memory alive for me. But that day, I went to my father's funeral instead. All the time, I did not shed a tear. Somehow my heart still believed that Father and I would still go on our trip as usual. It was not until after the burial when all the mourners had left that I realized Father and I would never go on our trip again. I fell to my knees and bawled. Mishka tugged at my shoulder but I pushed him away and said, 'If Father gets to go away to see Mother then I am going too!' Mishka had to carry me back home that night."

"You and your dad were close?"

"Da. My father was a kind and giving man...I'm sorry, I did not mean to..." Linka said drying fresh tears off her face.

"Nah, I'm glad you had a happy life. Do you think I'd wish anyone the hell I went through? Crap, now I'm crying like wuss."

Linka peered over at Wheeler and took his hand, "I will not tell, if you will not." Linka replied trying to smile.

The two sat in silence for a minute with their hands firmly clasped. "I can't thank you enough for making this trip with me, Babe."

"It is nothing."

"Oh, but it's really something. You going with me to such an important family get-together. It's kind of like we're---"

"Do not even say it, Yankee!" Linka sighed, Even in the face of tragedy, Wheeler has to be Wheeler!

xxxxxxx

"You know, I've always wanted to introduce you to my mom. Kind of ironic how we end up getting our wishes granted," Wheeler mused as he and Linka approached his parents' ramshackle apartment. All of the sudden, he was feeling slightly nervous and he didn't know why. Come on, stupid, Linka's just meeting your mom, what's the matter with you today? he thought as he knocked on the door.

They were greeted by a thin, pale looking woman. Wheeler greeted her with a warm smile, "Hey, Mom!"

"Oh, Honey! I'm so glad you're here." She said as they embraced, "And who is this lovely young lady?"

"Ma, this is Linka."

"Oh that's right," she said shaking Linka's hand, "My son speaks so much about you in his letters. I should have known. It's a pleasure to finally meet you."

"The pleasure is all mine," Linka replied, "I am very sorry about your husband."

"Thank you, Linka, but I have been preparing myself for this day ever since Nick's liver began to fail."

"How have you been holding up?" Wheeler asked his mother.

"Just as well as I can, Honey," Wheeler's mother directed the two into the main room of the apartment, "Come, the others are waiting to see you too."

"The others?" Wheeler's nervousness had returned. What was making him sweat? Had he forgotten something at home?

Wheeler followed his mother to the main room. There he was greeted by a platinum blond who instantly threw her arms around him, "Hey there stranger!" And with that, his question was answered.

"Hi, Trish." Wheeler could feel Linka's stone cold glare piercing right through him. Wheeler politely pulled away and reached his arm over to Linka's shoulder, "Uh, Trish, this is Linka. She's my...uh..."

"Girlfriend," provided a small boy's voice from behind, "Hey, Big Cuz!" The boy leaped out in front of Wheeler and playfully jabbed his shoulder.

"Hey, Little Cuz!" Wheeler said messing the boy's hair, "You remember my cousin Joey, don't ya, Babe?"

"How could I forget?" Linka said laughing off the slight embarrassment of Joey's last remark.

Joey turned around and waived, "Hiya Linka!" He turned back to Wheeler and whispered, "Have you kissed her yet?"

"Mind your own business!" Wheeler whispered back.

"So, Trish, is it?" Linka started, "You are a friend of Wheeler's?"

Oh God! Wheeler thought. I'm dead. If Linka finds out what happened last time I was here...

"Yeah, he and I go way back. Almost thought I'd kill the numb-skull when he disappeared awhile back, but when he was here last year he finally explained everything to me. So, what's the story with you two?" Trish asked Wheeler and Linka. Wheeler's worries were eased for the moment.

"They're going steady!" Joey teased.

Linka's face turned ten shades of red, "It is not like that, really."

Wheeler grabbed Joey in a headlock as if he were going to beat him senseless. "Yeah, I wish," Wheeler secretly whispered to Joey.

xxxxxxx

"Wheeler? Are you going to take all day?" Linka shouted as she tapped on the bathroom door.

"More like a year. Could you give me a hand in here?"

"That depends on what you need help with."

Wheeler finally opened the door, "I could think of a lot of things, Babe, but I'll settle for this." He said pointing to his awkwardly knotted tie.

"Bozhe moy!" Linka said laughing and taking both ends of the cravat in her hands, "Very well."

"If guys are supposed to wear these things why are girls better at tying them? It's like a damn Rubik's Cube."

"Oh, do not be such a baby. It is not so hard."

"Well, it's the least of my worries now." Wheeler watched Linka as she fussed with his tie, "To be honest, I'm kind of uneasy about this. My dad and I didn't have a lot of happy times, but still, I just can't hate him."

"And you rightfully should not. Hating your father would leave you without resolution."

"You're right. It doesn't take all the pain away from the past, but I'm glad he and I were able to bury the hatchet last year. Thanks to Trish..." Wheeler stopped himself.

Linka felt a little jilted at the mention of that name, but she decided to ignore it. She finished with Wheeler's tie and looked up into his eyes, "No matter what, I promise I will not leave your side."

"Thanks, Babe. Is Mom almost ready?"

"Da, she is waiting for you in the living room. It was very nice of your mother to put me up for tonight. She is very kind. You would never know she was..." Linka stopped herself, "forgive me."

"No, it's okay. Sometimes I don't understand it either. He was awful to her--god awful. And yet, she loved him. She loved him in spite of the utter asshole he was to her."

"I guess it is true then. The one you love the most will hurt you the most."

Out of nowhere, Wheeler threw his arms around Linka and held her close, "Now that's one thing I swear I'll never do!"

Linka was a little shy about his advance at first. Wheeler, did you just admit that you... She wasn't sure what to say so she said nothing at all, and returned his embrace whole heartily.

xxxxxxx

Wheeler entered the funeral chapel with one woman on each arm; Linka on the right and his mother on the left.

Presently, Trish and Linka's eyes met as the trio advanced down the aisle. Linka instantly could feel the tension between them, but she quickly shrugged it off. I am here for Wheeler; not for...her.

Linka still felt out of place, but she was positive by now that if it was her father's funeral, she would want Wheeler by her side just the same. She took his hand and squeezed it. Wheeler squeezed her hand back If only this were a happier occasion, he thoughtthis would be the greatest day of my life.

xxxxxxx

One by one, the guests were starting to leave. Linka breathed a sigh of relief. Pretty soon, only she and Wheeler were left in the funeral chapel.

Wheeler realized it was now or never, "So, Linka, not to take advantage of the situation, but you wanna go somewhere tonight, just the two of us?"

Linka was a bit taken aback, "You want to go out on a date on the night of your father's funeral?"

"Don't think of it as that; think of it as me returning the favor to you for being here for me," Wheeler said putting his arm around her waist.

"You are sure this is appropriate?"

"Hey, we're in New York and technically on vacation, aren't we?"

All the sudden, a date sounded nice, "I suppose we are. Let me use the lipstick room first."

"You mean, the powder room," Wheeler said winking.

Linka smiled and shook her head as she got up to leave, "Yankee..."

One step out the door of the chapel and Linka was greeted by an unfamiliar voice, "Hey, Trish! It's--" the speaker quickly realized her error, "Oh my God, I'm sorry! I thought you were someone else."

"It is all right," Linka said walking away. But it wasn't...Trish? Why does that girl's name jolt me so? Linka thought as she entered the outer lounge of the women's restroom. She peered in disapproval at herself in the mirror, and took a deep breath. It is just your imagination. They are old friends and nothing more. But the muffled voices seeping in from the restroom door did not give her the reassurance she needed. Eavesdropping was a faux pas of biblical proportions, but it was too late. Like a moth drawn to a flame she opened the door a crack and listened in.

Linka knew one of the speakers was Trish, "...you might say that Wheeler and I were pretty tight."

"What about now?" said another voice.

"What's it to ya, Diane?"

"Did you see how that russian girl was hanging over him during the service?" Linka blushed at what the other girl had said. How could people possibly think that she was...she was just trying to...did it really look that way?

"No, I didn't and you shouldn't have either. This was a funeral for Christ's sake."

"You can't possibly tell me you're not a little upset by this."

"Why should I?"

"You still got feelings for him, right?"

"Yeah, so what? He was my first boyfriend and he helped me through a really tough time last time he was here."

"There's more to it than that. I can tell."

"Oh, really?"

"Come on, I'm your best friend now. Spill! You say he helped you through a tough time. Did that include a little rebound?"

Trish hesitation to answer the question was causing quite a dramatic pause on Linka's part. Linka's heart began to race. She felt as though it would leap out of her chest cavity. She closed her eyes tight and took deep breaths to calm herself, but it wasn't helping. The suspense was killing her inside.

Trish sighed heavily as if caving in to the other girl's demands for details, "We were caught up in the moment..."

Linka could stand to hear no more. With neither Trish nor Diane's knowledge that she was even present, she bolted out the door and ran into the hall where she promptly found Wheeler.

"Hey, what's the matter, Babe?" He asked when he saw her worried look, "You look kind of pale."

"Come with me, this is hardly the place," she led him through the hall and outside to the corridor where they were sheltered from pouring rain.

"Wheeler, I need for you to answer a question for me. I ask you not to lie, even if the truth is unpleasant."

"Sure, what is it, Babe?" he answered casually.

Linka wasn't satisfied with his answer, "Do you promise not to lie?"

"Sure," he answered in a joking tone, "I swear on my own head. If I utter one dishonest word, may I go bald."

But Linka wasn't in the mood, "I am serious, Yankee."

"So am I, Babe. It would be pretty low of me to lie to someone as important to me as you."

"Promise me."

He took both her hands in his and kissed them both as if to reassure her once and for all, "I promise. Now, what's the matter, Babe?"

Linka cleared her throat. In all her demanding, she hadn't thought of a tactful way to ask what she needed to ask, "Last year, when you visited home, they say that you spent a lot of time with that girl, Trish, Da?"

Wheeler swallowed hard. All of the sudden he knew what her question was going to be, "Yeah, I did. She got involved with a rough crowd, and well...yeah." He said wiping some sweat off of his brow.

"And in that time you spent with her...did you two...did you kiss her?" Linka clenched her fists tightly at her sides. She realized she was afraid of the truth; terrified even.

Wheeler was certainly busted this time, and to make matters worse he could not escape hurting Linka; the one thing he swore he'd never do! The temptation to lie and spare her feelings was high, but he had given his word. Damned if I do; damned if I don't. Wheeler could feel tears welling up, but he shook them off. Come on, Coward, if you're a man do the right thing and tell the truth. The truth will set you free... "Yes."

Linka lost control and did something she had never done before; she slapped Wheeler---HARD. It echoed through the entire corridor, amplifying the sound so many times it resembled a whip cracking. A pair of pigeons who had been roosting on the rafters above uttered a shrieking noise in fright, batted their wings, and flew away.

Having lost her senses completely, Linka turned tail into the crowded streets and ran into the pouring rain. She had no idea where she was going and didn't care. She only wanted to get away from everything.

"LINKA!" Wheeler called as he darted after her, "WAIT! STOP! YOU'LL GET LOST!"

But she refused to even turn around. "WIND!!!" Linka yelled as she held up her ring and blew Wheeler backwards with a mighty force. By the time Hurricane Linka had subsided and Wheeler got his bearings, she was out of sight.

"DAMMIT!!!"

xxxxxxx

The city streets were filled with people, but Linka didn't notice a single one. Too late to save herself from getting lost she just continued on and on. Her emotions built up from her dramatic exit of the hotel were trickling down her face in the form of tears.

Why? Linka thought to herself Why am I crying over that durak? WHY?

Linka was so caught up in her thoughts, she did not see the crushed Starbucks cup on the ground. She slipped on it and fell into a waiting mud puddle below. Never had a single piece of trash brought the planteer of wind so low. Feeling defeated, she cried, "Bozhe moy! You bloody Yankees and your bloody trash! You bloody Yankee...You bloody Yankee...Wheeler..." her voice trailed off as she sat in the mud and sobbed.

"Linka?" Linka knew that voice, but she didn't look up, "Yes, it is you, Linka! What's the matter?"

"Nothing!" she said briskly drying her eyes as if to conceal her emotion.

"Crying over nothing?"

"I got lost, tripped on this blasted piece of Yankee trash and fell into the mud, are you satisfied?" The rain ceased its pouring on her head.

"Hardly," said the man as he offered her his hand, "Allow me."

Linka instantly recognized the face of the man who was sheltering her with his umbrella "Greg?"

"You do remember me then? That's fantastic." Linka did remember. Greg's father owned a french fry factory in Oregon. Linka had met him when the planeteers were called upon by Greg's father to investigate who was sabotaging the eco-friendly renovations to the factory. At first Greg was against the changes, but changed his mind after Linka showed him the error in his ways. Linka also remembered how Wheeler greatly mistrusted Greg and even admitted he was jealous of Greg, but thinking about Wheeler only made Linka angry at the moment.

"Are you hurt?"

"Nyet," she said as she took his hand and he helped her up onto her feet, "Forgive my appearance. I must look like a drowned vermin."

"You, my dear? Never!" Greg took off his coat and wrapped her in it, "Now what's a pretty thing like you doing in a place like this?"

"I was about to ask you the same question."

"I'm here on business for the factory. Just my luck that they booked my last meeting of the day all the way out here in Brooklyn. Now what about you?"

Linka hesitated, "I am...also here on business."

"I see. Are all five of you Planteers here?"

"Nyet just me and..." Linka couldn't even say his name at the moment.

But she didn't have to, Greg seemed to know immediately, "Spud Stuffer? Huh?"

"Da, him." Linka's tone implied that all was not well between them.

Greg saw his opportunity, "Interesting...anything exciting?"

"Not really."

"Then I guess we're in the same boat. All those dull meetings; even the luncheon with the client was pretty mundane. I'm rather delighted I ran into you. Linka, my dear, you are a breath of fresh air."

Linka pushed the saturated locks of hair out of her face, trying to regain her composure, "Why, thank you. The feeling is mutual, of course."

"Of course," Greg said offering her his arm, "Now let's get you back to your hotel or wherever it is you're staying and get you out of those wet clothes. Afterwords, might you consider joining me for dinner?"

"Da, dinner sounds wonderful," Linka said accepting his arm.

"Splendid! TAXI!"

xxxxxxx

Wheeler was frantically combing the crowded streets for Linka. At his side was Trish.

"And you just let her take off like that?" Trish asked.

"She has her ways," Wheeler answered, "believe me."

"Don't panic too much," Trish assured him, "She can't have gotten too far. We'll find her."

But her words didn't ease Wheeler's worries, "what if she got picked up by some--" He was cut off by the sound of a cab horn blasting the two to a halt. Wheeler was not ready for what he saw then. There was Linka---his Linka---sharing a taxi with..."Oh, no! Not him!"

To Be Continued...