Water under the Bridge

by Sherryl Hancock

  “Where’d you get her?” Jet asked.

  “Iraq,” Shenin said.

  Fadiyah looked up at Shenin, and Jet looked shocked, “Seriously?” she asked.

  “Yeah,” Shenin said, nodding, her look at the dog fondly.

  Muffit was always there, it was the thing she focused on when things were at their worst and most desperate. She would lie on the floor of the cell, and put her hand through the bars and Muffit would lick her hand and nuzzle it to get her to pet her. It was the only bright spot there…

  Later at the club, Jet noticed that Shenin had a few shots of Absinthe, a drink that was almost one eighty proof, and then started drinking beer. Jet exchanged a look with Skyler and they made a silent deal to keep an eye on the red head. When Shenin made her way to the dance floor alone, Jet nodded to Skyler. Skyler walked out to the floor, moving to intercept a woman who was zeroing in on the red-headed Air Force captain.

  Shenin was dressed in snug fitting black jeans and an emerald-green silky tank top that showed off her curves alluringly. The black heels she wore only enhanced the fit of the jeans. Her makeup was dark enough to make her gold eyes seem to glow. She was undoubtedly a beautiful woman; Jet and Skyler knew they were going to have their hands full all night, especially with her getting obviously drunk. They also knew that they needed to protect her.

  Cat, Natalia, Jovina, and Raine moved to join Shenin on the floor, doing their best to help protect the newest member of their group. They’d seen Skyler and Jet doing their best, but knew that since neither danced other than slow songs, they could only do so much. Even so, Jet and Skyler took turns standing near the women to keep an eye out. Butches on the prowl had already seen that Shenin wasn’t with any of them, so thought she was fair game, even though she wore a wedding ring. Her wife wasn’t in evidence.

  “How does this always happen?” Jericho asked as Zoey and Xandy went to join the group. “We lose our women to other women…”

  “Still a nice show…” Quinn said, grinning as she watched her girlfriend dance.

  “Indeed…” Jericho said.

  “You two ogling the girls?” Devin asked as she walked up with another drink in her hand.

  “As any good butch would,” Quinn said, grinning.

  “Hey, my butch is out there protecting another woman…” Devin said.

  “Yeah, that’s ’cause the one that she belongs to isn’t here to do it,” Jericho said.

  “That sucks,” Devin said, sadly.

  “Yeah,” Quinn said. “But we gotta do our part… Aw crap…” she said, seeing a big butch moving in on Shenin and seeing both Jet and Skyler moving toward her. “Goin’ in,” she said, pushing off the table and walking toward the dance floor.

  “And there she goes…” Jericho said, grinning. “Guess I’ll just stay here and protect you two,” she said, looking over at Fadiyah and winking.

  “Or not…” Devin said, as things started to get out of hand.

  “Or not,” Jericho said, moving toward the dance floor as well.

  The tall butch was not taking “no” for an answer and Jet was now holding Shenin away from her as Skyler and Quinn tried talking to her. The woman was very obviously drunk and was trying to push past Skyler and Quinn. Jericho walked up, flashed her badge at the woman and started pushing her back.

  “What’s going on out there?” asked someone from behind Devin.

  “Oh, a friend of ours is a bit drunk and we’re trying to keep her safe.”

  “Safe?”

  “Yeah, her wife isn’t here, so the girls are trying to keep the riff raff away,” Devin said, glancing at the person she was talking to. “Oh… you’re Tyler,” she said, looking surprised.

  Tyler looked at the smaller woman, shocked that she knew her. Then she located Shenin on the dance floor being held by a black-haired butch.

  “Son of a bitch…” Tyler growled as she strode toward the dance floor.

  “Wait!” Devin yelled. “Crap, shit, son of a bitch!” she muttered as she took off after the new comer.

  “Get your hands off my wife, now!” Tyler said from behind Jet.

  Jet and Shenin turned together, both stunned by the statement.

  “Ty?” Shenin said, her voice reflecting her shock.

  “Tyler…” Jet said, grinning, as she let go of Shenin and held up her hands. She was not interested in getting into a fight with the security force Captain she’d heard so much about.

  Shenin launched herself at her wife, and Tyler grabbed her up in a hug.

  “I got you, babe… I got you…” Tyler said, holding her wife against her.

  “Now that’s more like it…” Skyler said, walking up to stand next to Jet.

  “I’d say,” Jet said, grinning.

  “You see that?” Jericho said to the woman she was still dealing with. “If I’m not mistaken, that’s her wife, and that’s a particularly lethal member of the Air Force Security Force, and I don’t think you want to deal with her, do you?”

  Tyler was still in uniform, and she looked every bit the soldier, even as she held her wife. The woman looked at Tyler and decided between what she’d heard and seen, maybe it was a better idea to find someone unattached.

  Jericho nodded as the woman walked away, and walked over to the group, who were now watching Tyler and Shenin’s reunion with fascination.

  Shenin pulled back just enough to look up at Tyler, her eyes shining.

  “Are you really here? Or am I so fucked up I’m hugging someone I don’t even know?”

  “You better not be,” Tyler said, grinning, touching Shenin under the chin and guiding her lips up to hers to kiss her.

  Shenin sighed against her lips, wrapping her arms around Tyler’s neck and pressing against her. Tyler picked her up in her arms, Shenin wrapped her legs around her waist and everyone cheered as they continued to kiss. After the horror of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell had been abolished, any reunion of a service person with the love of their life was always met with cheers from the gay community. This moment was no different.

  When Tyler and Shenin finally finished kissing, Tyler let Shenin down carefully. Shenin grabbed her hand dragging her over to Skyler and Jet and the rest of the group. She introduced her to everyone. Tyler shook hands and nodded to the people in the group, her eyes continually straying back over to Skyler and Jet.

  The waitress came by at one point. “Everyone wants to buy you two a drink,” she said winking at them. “What are you drinking?”

  “Shock Top,” Shenin said. “And water for me, please, I need to sober up here a bit,” she said, grinning.

  She was sitting on a bar stool, with Tyler standing next to her, Tyler’s eyes still scanning the room.

  “At ease, captain,” Shenin said, seeing that Tyler was mentally patrolling.

  Tyler looked over at her, grinning. “So what was that I walked into?” she asked.

  “Hell if I know,” Shenin said. “I was dancing with my friends, and the next thing I know some woman’s trying to grab me. I wrenched away from her, which pissed off my back, and then Jet’s there grabbing me and holding me away from the woman while Skyler, Quinn and eventually Jericho go at her… It was crazy!”

  Tyler nodded, then looked her wife up and down. “And it couldn’t have had anything to do with how hot you look right now, right?”

  Shenin looked back at Tyler, her look amused. “You think I look hot?”

  “Wasn’t that my point?” Tyler countered.

  “No, I think your point—” Shenin began, stopped by her wife’s lips on hers.

  When their lips parted, Shenin smiled up at Tyler. “How long are you here for?” she asked then.

  “I’ve got four days,” Tyler said. “Do you have time to spend?” she asked.

  Shenin grimaced. “Unfortunately, tomorrow completely sucks,” she said. “We’re wall to wall with ops, but after that…”

  Tyler nodded, trying to hide her irritation and disappointment that Shenin had other things
to do. She knew it wasn’t fair of her to show up and expect Shenin to be completely free, but she had hoped that since part of the time was on the weekend, she’d at least get the first couple of days with her. At this point, though, she was just happy to be with her wife again.

  A slow song came on then and Shenin took Tyler’s hand, taking her out to the dance floor. Tyler took Shenin in her arms, holding her close and danced with her. Oddly enough, the song that played was one they’d danced to years before, and before they’d gotten together as a couple. It was “Kiss the Rain” by Billie Myers.

  Tyler remembered listening to the words and thinking the lyrics were far too close to home then. Shenin was leaving to go to Officer Training School the following day. Shenin was straight and she’d discovered months before that her extremely chivalrous best friend was gay. Tyler had been the one that had come back from a date to hold her during a thunderstorm, and the one that had wanted to kill a member of the Thunderbirds for trying to force himself on Shenin.

  They had danced at a party in Shenin’s honor way back then, and Tyler, who had been desperately trying to ignore the fact that she was in love with her straight best friend, had been saddened by the lyrics. She’d known that everything had been about to change for her and Shenin, and that she might never see Shenin again.

  She’d wanted so much to hold on to that night. In the end, Shenin had tried to get her to kiss her, because she’d wanted to know if what she’d been feeling for Tyler was something. Tyler had refused, not wanting to condemn Shenin to the life of hiding who she really was from everyone, especially the military during Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. It had been a particularly rough time for both of them.

  “You remember this song?” Shenin asked as they danced.

  “I do,” Tyler said, nodding.

  “That was so bad that night…”

  “Yeah,” Tyler said, shaking her head. “I wanted you so much and it just felt like the whole world was coming to an end…”

  “But you wouldn’t kiss me.”

  “Because you were straight,” Tyler said, smiling.

  “Because you were scared,” Shenin countered.

  “Yeah, that too,” Tyler said, nodding.

  Shenin sighed, leaning into Tyler. “It’s so hard sometimes, remembering all that… When you were hurt…”

  “When you were shot...”

  “Oh yeah,” Shenin said, nodding.

  “That was the first time I realized I was in love with you, you know?”

  “Was it?” Shenin asked.

  “Yep, when I just about passed out at seeing you hurt, I knew I’d fallen for you.”

  “Oh Ty…” Shenin murmured. They’d been through so much before they’d even become a couple, and it never seemed to end for them.

  She lay her head against her wife’s shoulder, just wanting things to be right again, and knowing it wasn’t possible. She would, however, enjoy this time with her wife.

  Tyler showing up in Los Angles this way reminded Shenin of the time she’d shown up in Eielson, Alaska at the air base there. Tyler had been injured in Iraq, nearly killed by an IED. Shenin had been beside herself with worry. Tyler had gone through three surgeries to repair the damage her body had sustained. They had been in contact as often as possible during that time, but one day Tyler had shown up at the base, surprising her. It had been the most incredible thing Shenin had ever had anyone do for her.

  It had been the beginning of their physical relationship. Although they’d been in love with each other for much longer, the distance had kept them separated. Much like distance was doing now.

  Jet and Skyler watched the two dance together.

  “And all is right with the world?” Skyler asked Jet.

  “Dunno,” Jet said, looking perplexed. “She almost looks sadder now…”

  Skyler shook her head slowly. “Something’s goin’ on there,” she said wisely.

  “Yeah…” Jet said, curling her lips in worry.

  “Guess we’re gonna have to figure this one out?” Skyler said then.

  “Probably,” Jet said.

  Both Jet and Skyler understood what underlying tensions could do to people, Skyler more than anyone. It had almost cost her relationship with Devin a few times. They both really liked the sexy little red head and could easily sense that she had a lot of demons inside of her. Being the type of people they were, they wanted to help.

  Tyler drove Shenin back to the apartment she was renting. She noticed that Shenin was quiet, but she didn’t want to say anything, not wanting to cause any tension. Shenin opened the door to her apartment and Muffit greeted her, and then went crazy at seeing Tyler again too. Tyler sat on the floor of the entryway to give Muffit a proper petting as Shenin looked on smiling.

  “She seems to like it here,” Tyler said, smiling. “Of course, she’s with you, so naturally she would.”

  Tyler moved to stand. “I need a shower,” she said.

  “Okay,” Shenin said, taking her into the bedroom and showing her where the bathroom was.

  “I’ll be out in a few, okay?” Tyler said, leaning down to kiss Shenin’s lips softly.

  “Okay,” Shenin repeated.

  When Tyler emerged from the bathroom she was dressed in a tank top and shorts. She walked into the bedroom setting aside her toiletries bag and glancing at the bed. Shenin was lying on her side, completely naked, but her look was faraway. Tyler stood looking at this woman she was married to, taking in the smooth skin, the lean muscles in her legs and arms, the curve of the hip her forearm rested on and the curve of her breasts. She really was the stuff fantasies were made of and Tyler felt fortunate that she was the one person that got to see her this way.

  Walking over to the bed, Tyler knelt down to get down to eye-level with Shenin’s gaze. Shenin’s eyes shifted to her and she smiled softly. Tyler reached out her hand touching Shenin’s cheek, her blue eyes searching Shenin’s.

  “You with me here?” Tyler asked softly.

  Shenin nodded, looking tired.

  Tyler moved to stand and walked around the bed, getting in behind Shenin, and pulling her back against her chest, wrapping her arms around her. Shenin snuggled against her, sighing.

  “I love you…” Tyler said, nuzzling Shenin’s temple with her lips.

  “I love you, Ty…” Shenin said, her tone soft.

  “Are we okay, babe?” Tyler asked then, keeping her voice gentle.

  Shenin turned over in her arms, looking up at her. Instead of answering she moved to kiss Tyler’s lips, sliding her hands up her body, making her shudder. Shenin pushed Tyler onto her back, moving her body to cover Tyler’s as she continued to kiss her. Tyler’s hands held her back, holding her close as their lips met over and over.

  Shenin pulled at the tank top, removed it and pushed off the shorts as well, removing all barriers between her and her wife’s skin. Tyler gasped as Shenin touched her, her lips moving lower to her nipples and making her writhe. Crying out in her release, Tyler grasped at Shenin’s shoulders, then pulled her up to fasten her lips to Shenin’s again, moving to push Shenin back, taking the dominant position to make love to her wife.

  Once they both lay sated and trying to catch their breath, Tyler pulled Shenin into her side, her arm wrapped around her, her hand at Shenin’s waist, stroking her skin. Shenin’s hand rested on Tyler’s smooth lightly-muscled stomach, her thumb brushing back and forth gently. Her head rested in the hollow of Tyler’s shoulder; they fell asleep that way.

  Tyler woke the next morning early, since she was still on East Coast time. Shenin was curled up next to her, with her hand still on Tyler’s stomach. Tyler put her hand over Shenin’s, stroking her fingers lightly. She saw that Muffit had joined them on the bed somewhere during the night and she lay behind Shenin’s knees. Lying in the semi-darkness of the room Tyler thought about her first meeting with Muffit.

  Tyler had finally gotten permission to go to Iraq with the rescue team being sent for Shenin and the others in her
team. She was told that under no circumstances was she going to be on the team that went in, but that she could be there for when the team arrived back with the soldiers being rescued. It went against everything Tyler wanted, but she also knew better than to argue too much, because she knew they could make her wait back in the States for Shenin to come home and no one knew how long that could be.

  As it was, they weren’t completely sure that Shenin and her team were still alive. The terrorists had claimed they were, but even if they were alive, there was no way to know how they’d been treated or if they were wounded. Tyler was dying a little every day that she didn’t know how Shenin was. They’d been in captivity for two weeks. Fortunately the terrorists had wanted to bargain, otherwise Tyler knew she’d have never seen Shenin again, and she didn’t want to begin to think about what Shenin’s death would have been like. Middle Eastern terrorists weren’t known for their gentle treatment of American women, especially not soldiers.

  As the team left to meet the terrorists, Tyler paced. Every instinct she had screamed at her to go after them, but she knew she’d be in direct violation of her orders, and it could get her thrown in jail. The last place she wanted to be when Shenin got back was in jail for insubordination. It was an agonizing two hours; Tyler was fairly certain she was going to go out of her mind. Then she heard the Humvees on the way back in. She stood at the flight line, waiting. Each of the members of Shenin’s team got out, they were all skinny and dirty and there looked like a few injuries. Then Shenin got out of the Humvee and Tyler ran to her.

  Shenin was crying immediately as Tyler picked her up gently, cradling her and kissing her forehead, just thankful that her wife was alive.

  “I got you babe… I got you…” Tyler said against Shenin’s forehead.

  She turned following the team leader’s direction to take Shenin into the medic to get checked out. That’s when there was a ruckus and suddenly there was a loud barking and Tyler could feel something tugging at her BDU legs.

  Glancing down, she muttered. “What the hell?”

  “Muffit, stop!” Shenin ordered.