by TD Webb
JC rolled her eyes. “Bite me, Chris.”
A triumphant smile crossed his face. “Hey, you started it. Sarcasm breeds sarcasm.”
Mike climbed into the driver’s seat. Two of the hostages sat in the back and a third sat in the front passenger seat. JC removed her rucksack and crawled into the very back it was like a cargo area. She used the rucksack to prop up her head.
“Okay, Chris, let’s move out,” Reggie called, as she led the way out.
JC started bleeding again and became light-headed, causing her to pass out about five miles from the house.
Reggie slowed her Jeep down and drove alongside Mike’s Jeep. “How’s she doing, Mike?”
Mike held the steering wheel steady. “I don’t know, Chief, she hasn’t said anything in a while and I can’t reach her from here.”
Reggie leaned over and took a quick look at JC. She could see that her skin-tone had paled. “Pull over, now, Mike.” She stopped her Jeep and leaped over to inspect JC further. Looking down, she saw a pool of blood on the floor—blood was also dripping from JC’s hand. “Shit, she’s unconscious. Everyone, get out of my Jeep, now.” She picked JC up into her arms, laid her down in the back seat, and strapped her in. “Load these hostages in the other Jeeps, I have to get her to the house, quick, I think she might be bleeding out.”
“Reggie, stay calm and take Tom with you, he can hold onto her,” Chris informed her.
“I will, Chris. Tom, get in here and keep her safe. Don’t let her bounce around, and try to keep pressure on her shoulder and side.”
Tom got in as Reggie had instructed. Reggie floored the Jeep—racing the vehicle out of the jungle. Without thinking, she prayed out loud, unaware that Tom was even listening. “Come on Deb, stay with me, you can’t leave now, not when we just got started. Please baby, don’t leave me.” For an instant, her mind flashed back to the day that Deb was killed. Tears rolled down her cheeks, she brushed them away with her forearm, fighting hard to keep her hardened reputation.
JC opened her eyes and lifted her hand. She squeezed Reggie’s side, then groaned, as the pain struck from her movement.
Reggie glanced down at her. “Hey baby,” she said, trying to keep a smile on her face. “Hang in there, I’ll have you to the house in no time.”
Tom didn’t have a clue what was going on. He had joined the team just after a member was killed in action. He didn’t know the soldier who was killed, was a woman. He kept his mouth shut and knew he wouldn’t say anything to anyone else about what he had just heard.
About a quarter of a mile away from the house, JC started laying on the horn. Doug ran outside to see JC in the back seat—she wasn’t looking too good at this point.
“Oh my God, Chief, what happened to her,” Doug asked.
Jumping out of the Jeep, Reggie scooped JC up in her arms. She informed Doug of the situation, while struggling to carry her team member to the house. Doug reached out to take JC from her but Reggie couldn’t and wouldn’t let her go—not even to her own father. Doug saw that Reggie was crying. Raising his eyebrow, he looked at Tom. Tom nodded his head, to tell him he would inform him as soon as they got JC inside.
Reggie carried JC into the makeshift trauma room in the den, where she told the doctor everything that went down in the jungle. Doug stood by the doorway, listening. He grabbed Tom’s arm, leading him into the kitchen. Tom reported what Reggie had said in the Jeep.
Doug knew about Reggie and Debbie. “She had a flashback, didn’t she?”
Tom shrugged.
The doctor checked JC out and got the bleeding to stop. He bandaged her wounds up, after removing a piece of the rifle stock that Chris didn’t see. “I will start some IV antibiotics on her, to help prevent any infection, and I’ll give her some pain medication too.”
“Doug, will you call Bill and let him know what’s happening and fill him in on JC.”
“Yeah, Reggie, I’ll take care of it. You go shower and change your clothes, Tom and I will meet the others when they get back.”
Pat had been in the den, watching the doctor see to her daughter. She walked over to Reggie and hugged her. “Thank you for helping my little girl, Reggie. She’s all we have.”
When Chris and the others arrived, Doug met them at the door. “Are any of you injured, Sergeant?” he asked.
“No sir, just minor cuts and scrapes.” He helped escort the hostages inside, where they were checked over by the doc. Once he was satisfied with their conditions, they were taken to the airport, ready to depart for Canada. They would be flying back air Canada now since JC was injured.
•••
Chris and Doug where leaning against the counter in the kitchen.
“Doug, we had no idea she had even been shot. She never said a word, she just kept on shooting. She even saved Reggie’s life.”
Doug told him that he knew Reggie had a flashback about Debbie. Doug had been on the board that had cleared the entire team of any wrong doing in Debbie’s death.
“Yeah, I know. It brought all those bad memories back for her.”
“Is anything going on between the two of them, Chris?”
“As far as I know, there isn’t anything between them but I think they are just getting to know one another, right now.”
“Thanks, Chris.”
“No problem, Doug. Let’s go see how both of them are doing. By the way Doug, Reggie couldn’t have picked a better one, she hasn’t seen anyone since Debbie.”
•••
Reggie didn’t leave JC’s side. She stayed right next to her, sleeping in a chair, when Doug and Chris entered the den. Doug woke Reggie. “I think you should go upstairs.” He got the staff to carry JC up to her room.
After leaving them for a few hours, Doug and Pat went to check on them. Reggie had fallen asleep next to JC—her arm was placed over her shoulder. Doug smiled, “Don’t they look cute together, Pat get the camera this will make a really good picture.”
As Pat turned, to get the camera, Reggie opened her eyes. “Do it and die,” she joked.
“Come on, Reggie, we won’t show anyone, pretty please, for us,” Pat said.
“Well, okay but if I find it on the internet; you are both in big trouble.”
Reggie closed her eyes and went back to sleep. Sometime during the night, Reggie’s screamed, which startled JC.
“No baby, please don’t leave me, I’m so sorry.”
JC sat up. “Reggie wake up, it’s just a dream, wake up.”
Reggie opened her eyes for just a second and stopped screaming. She snuggled up to JC and closed her eyes again, falling back sleep. JC tried to wrap her arms around her but the pain pulling on her arm and shoulder wouldn’t let her. She gently slipped her left arm under Reggie’s neck, laid back, with her head rested on the pillow and stroked her hair.
The next morning Reggie woke up to JC’s stomach growling. She nudged her playfully. “Do we have to feed the beast now?”
JC opened her eyes and looked at her. She pulled her close and gave her a kiss on her cheek. “Thanks for saving my life.”
“How are you feeling today?”
“Not bad. I’m hungry and I’m really sore. It’s been almost 24 hours since I had anything to eat. What time is it anyway?”
Reggie looked over at the clock on the bedside table. “It’s 0700hours.”
“Reggie, why am I hooked up to an IV?”
“The doctor started you on some antibiotics and gave you some medication for the pain after removing a piece of stock from your wound.”
“Reggie, why are you here with me, were you hurt too?”
“I’m okay, JC. I came in to keep an eye on you and since this is my room too, I slept curled up to you. I also haven’t been out of bed since yesterday and I have to get up, because my back teeth are floating.” She slithered out from under JC, trying not to jostle her too much. “I can’t hold it any longer.” She stood up too fast and almost fell down.
JC jumped up and grabbed h
er, wincing when she felt a jolt of pain from her shoulder and side. “It looks like you need the help getting to the bathroom.”
“It’s okay, JC. I’m just a little weak from not eating. I’ll be okay in a minute. Reggie walked into the bathroom and closed the door. JC propped herself up on the pillows and waited for her to come out, so she could take her turn. What she really wanted, was a nice hot shower.
Reggie came out of the bathroom. “Give me a minute and I’ll help you.” She grabbed her toothbrush out of her bag and went back into the bathroom, leaving the door open, as she washed her face and hands and brushed her teeth and then gave JC her full attention. She helped her into the bathroom, where she stood hovering in the doorway, waiting for JC to do her business.
Once done, they went downstairs.
Chris, Tom, Mike and Doug where sitting at the table. They had just finished breakfast, when the two women entered the kitchen. Chris helped JC to a chair.
Chris served them coffee and some bacon and eggs.
JC decided she needed some questions answered. “Reggie, where’s my rifle?”
“I’m sorry, JC, I had to destroy it.”
Stabbing a piece of bacon with her fork, JC lifted it to her mouth, halting mid-air. “Shit, Reggie, I could have replaced the stock.”
“I don’t think so, JC. More than the stock was damaged and the metal at the base of the rifle was bent.”
“Dad, can you order me a new one and will you have them put a rush on it?”
“Sure, honey, I’ll take care of that right away.”
A few minutes later, Doug hung up his cell phone and told JC that her new rifle would be delivered to the base in Toronto, in two weeks. “They said they would use the same specifications as last time,” he told her.
“Okay, thanks, Dad, I really appreciate it.”
Pat entered the kitchen and without looking at the table, she asked the women what they wanted to eat. Doug told her that the guys had already cooked breakfast for them.
“So how are you both?” she asked.
“I’m a little weak from lack of food, other than that, I’m fine,” Reggie said.
“I’m okay, Mom, thanks to Reggie, my shoulder is a bit sore but it’s a lot better than yesterday.”
Once they finished breakfast, Doug and Chris helped JC into the den. Reggie asked Chris to get the video from JC’s camera so they could watch it. “Doug, you can stay. I think you will want to see it. She hooked up the video to play on the television, with Doug’s help. They all sat down and when everyone was ready, Reggie hit play. The video showed everything JC had done. It even showed her getting shot just after she climbed the tree, then it showed her making the 1475 yards shot, saving Reggie’s life, after she had taken the two shots with a busted rifle.
Doug had tears in his eyes.
I’m so proud of you, honey, and since when did you learn to shoot left handed?
“I didn’t, Dad. I just did what I had to and I didn’t want to let Reggie or the team down.”
Reggie got up on her unsteady feet and gave JC a hug. “Do you also know that you will now hold the world record for longest shot?” She told her.
“Are you kidding me?”
“JC, the longest shot recorded is 1400 yards and no one has done better than that for the last two years, until now,” Reggie informed her.
Doug got up out of his chair. He hugged JC again, then went into the kitchen, to get everyone some fresh coffee.
Chris drummed his fingers on his knee. “So, Reggie, when are we going to head back?”
“Well, Chris, since JC is not allowed to fly for a few more days, we have to wait for another pilot to be sent down, or I can call the Colonel and see if we can just stay here, till JC is healed.”
Reggie looked at Doug, as he walked in with a tray of coffee. She told him what they were discussing, and once he said it was okay for everyone to stay, Reggie made a command decision. “I will call the Colonel and give him the heads up for our return.”
Reggie went to the back door with the satellite phone and called the Colonel. She filled him in on JC’s condition and about her having the flash back. When she got to the part about JC not being allowed to fly for a few days, he suggested that the team stay there and he would fly their spouses down for a two week vacation. Reggie told him that Doug would be flying the hostages back to Canada the next day, since they all lost their passports and couldn’t leave by Air Canada and if he could have the wives and girlfriends there to meet the plane. She didn’t think it would be a problem for Doug to fly them down, since he was coming right back. The Colonel agreed with her and told her he would make the arrangement. The last thing they discussed, was JC’s rifle delivery in two weeks, and the shot that JC had made. Bill asked her to box up the video and the other gauges from JC’s rifle and he would meet Doug at the airport to retrieve them. Reggie finished the call.
She got up from where she was sitting on the ground and went back into the den. She told the team what the Colonel had agreed to and that they were now on vacation for the next two weeks, and that their next of kin would be arriving tomorrow, along with their kids.
Doug entered the den then and told them that they could all stay there. He had just finished speaking on the phone with Bill.
Reggie got up to leave the den. Reaching the doorway, she turned. “You guys did an excellent job with the rescue. Now, make sure that you have a good time.”
“Why don’t you guys come to the casino with me and Pat tonight?” Doug asked.
“Sure, Doug, that would be great. What time do you need us to be ready?” Reggie asked.
Doug checked his watch. “Around 1600 hours, and we can have supper there. Everyone, get some rest, the limousine will be here to pick us up.”
“Doug, I won’t be going, I’m going to stay here and keep JC occupied, since she can't be out running around and drawing attention to her injuries.”
“Reggie, how would you like to do steaks on the BBQ tonight?” JC asked.
“How can you think of food, JC, you just ate?”
“I always think of food, Reggie, I’m an eating machine,” she laughed. “Well I’m going to take a nap now.”
“Would you like me to help you upstairs?”
“Sure, Reggie, I’m ready, so let’s go.”
Everyone laughed, as they left the room. Reggie looked back. “What?”
“You two make such a cute couple,” Doug said.
Laughing again, Reggie smiled at JC. She placed her arm around her waist—they both walked towards the staircase, where Reggie bent down and picked JC up into her arms and carried her up the stairs.
She laid JC on the bed, being careful not to disturb her injuries. She walked around the bed and crawled in beside her.
JC shifted closer to Reggie, wrapping her arm around her waist, she spooned with her, as they both drifted off to sleep.
•••
The next two weeks were spent with Reggie and JC keeping to themselves, taking long walks on the beach, which gradually worked up to jogging, and Reggie spotting JC, while she started to work the kinks out of her shoulder with weight training. They hardly saw any of their team members, or their families.
On Sunday, at the end of the two week vacation, they all headed out to the jet. Doug had filed their flight plan, since he was piloting the plane. Within two hours, they were in the air, heading back to Canada. Since it was pretty quiet, the Colonel told them to report in for a meeting on Wednesday.
JC stayed with Reggie until Tuesday morning. She was doing a lot better with her side and shoulder, so she wanted to go to her own condo. She needed her uniforms anyway, for the morning. “Reggie, would you like to see my new condo later this afternoon?”
“Sure, where is it located?”
“Three floors above us,” JC said laughing.
After lunch, they boarded the elevator to JC’s condo. When JC opened the door she gasped. Mandy and Beth had set the whole place up. JC went into he
r master suit and couldn’t believe they had even unpacked her personal stuff. She knew she would have to do something special for them later. She also knew that Doug had called them, to let them know what had happened, so they wouldn’t worry.
Chapter Six
On Wednesday morning JC reported to the base hospital, to get clearance to return to work. She would have to report to the Colonel after she was finished. After she checked out of the hospital with clearance to return to full duties, she went to the Colonel’s office, where everyone was waiting for the results. The Colonel had a briefing, giving the team a week to get their gear in order. Everyone went out to the hanger, to start cleaning their weapons and gear but Reggie stayed behind to talk to Bill.
“Sir, did you look at the video that I sent back from Brazil?”
“Yes, Reggie, I did. I even sent it off to Ottawa to have it verified. Did she even miss a shot?”
“I don’t think so, Sir.”
Bill offered Reggie a seat and they went through the copy that he made. Reggie hadn’t seen all of the footage.
“0051 hours. All you can here is the angle move and her saying Jesus Christ. That must have been where she took the hit and she switched to her left hand,” Reggie said, shaking her head.
“I can’t believe the second shot didn’t take her out of the tree,” Bill commented. “My god, she saved the entire team, plus the hostages.” He couldn’t believe what he was seeing. He had heard she was the best in Canada but he had just figured it was a rumor.
“Sir, I knew she was good but that shot was amazing and I thank my lucky stars she was able to make those two shots, it saved my ass.”
“Well, Reggie, you know what’s going to happen once this information gets out. They are going to shit bricks that a woman now holds the longest shot record at 1475 yards in the world. I’m glad she’s with us. I think this will blow the USA record out of the water too.” He smiled at that. “Reggie, how are you doing emotionally? I talked to Doug and he filled me in on what happened.”
“I’m okay, Bill. I think I really need this time off to get my head together.”
Just then JC walked in. Coming to attention, she tried to salute with a sling on. Bill looked at her funny, then started shifting papers around on his desk. “Master Corporal Mackenzie, why are you still wearing a sling?”