***
Two hours later, Jack walked back to the edge of the forest where he had left Jill. Sweat was dripping from his face as a result of hurrying. He wanted to get back to Jill as quickly as possible and see how she was recuperating. Jill was lying there with her eyes closed. I hope that Jill is alive, and just sleeping. She needs the rest.
“Jill, wake up.”
“Huh. What’s wrong?” Jill grabbed her 22-caliber pistol and started looking around the woods.
“Calm down, Jill, it’s just me. I came to get you.”
“Oh, yeah, okay . . . sorry.”
“We have a four mile hike ahead of us. I can carry you if . . .”
“I was hit by an eagle, not a land mine. I will need to lean on you a bit, but if you try to carry me like some sort of male chauvinist Neanderthal man, then you will be peeling potatoes for a month.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Jack smiled. He could sense that Jill’s rest and nap had already started the healing process. At least her sense of humor was coming back.
“One more thing, Jack. We are out her by ourselves, and there are not any other military people around, right?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Well, I noticed that for a little while after the bird strike you were calling me Jill.”
“Oh, yeah . . . sorry. It won’t happen again.”
“Actually . . . I was thinking just the opposite.”
“How’s that, ma’am?”
“I would like you to call me Jill when we are by ourselves.”
“Yes, ma’am . . . I mean Jill.”
“Can I ask one more favor? I like calling you Jack. Would you mind if I do that sometimes?”
“I think that is a fair trade.”
“Good. Let’s get going. We need to hurry so we can start the recon as soon as possible.”
Jill’s progress was slow at first. Jack didn’t rush her. He knew that it would take a while for her to discover all of her sore spots, and then learn to adjust her walk so to minimize her pain. He thought back to the conversation he had with Hope, and how she made him promise to take good care of Jill. I wonder if there will be any more surprises during this mission.
Jack and Jill: Army Page 33