by TD Webb
“JC, I know you have already won but continue if you want to just do it for yourself. I’m proud of you, no matter what you decide.”
Reggie was helped back over to her chair and JC lowered herself to the ground and prepared to fire. When she was ready, she turned her head to the range safety officer and nodded yes, she would continue.
“Sergeant Mackenzie, will continue to fire. Next target 1800 yards. Only Sergeant Mackenzie will shoot, ready, prepare to fire, and fire at will.”
JC fired two quick shots. Snap, snap.
“Mackenzie hit both shots dead center. Next target 1900 yards. Mackenzie, fire at will,”
JC stood up and switched to her left hand, again, firing two quick shots. The crowd cheered, they knew she had hit both shots.
“Mackenzie shot both dead center again. Sergeant Mackenzie, do you wish to continue?”
Over the radio came her answer. “Yes, Sir, I will continue.”
“That’s my girl, keep going, babe,” Reggie hollered again.
“Next target 2000 yards. Mackenzie, change to rapid fire. We want two shots to the head, three to the chest, if you please.”
JC changed to a thirty round magazine and switched from bolt action to rapid fire, this was the reason she had her rifle especially made.
“Yes, Sir five shots confirmed.”
“Ready, prepare to fire, fire at will, Sergeant.”
Five quick shots rang out. Both sides went nuts. History was being made today.
“Mackenzie five shots, three in chest, two to the head, all kill shots. Mackenzie, do you wish to continue, the next shot will be 2100 yards.”
“I’ll fire again, Sir.”
“Mackenzie ten rounds required. Five to the head, five to the chest. Ready, prepare to fire, fire at will.”
JC fired two sets of five quick shots (for a sniper, they were quick. She had practiced so much, when she sighted the target she didn’t require to make any changes).
“Sergeant Mackenzie five shots dead centre and five shots to the head. All kill shots.”
The crowd went nuts. Both Canadian and American were cheering her on.
“Sergeant Mackenzie, do you wish to continue.”
“No, Sir, I’m done. I’m coming down the range.”
JC was cheered all the way down the range. First in line, waiting with congratulations for her, was Reggie, who walked towards her, out of nowhere. JC heard the zing of a shot coming from her right. The first shot missed but the second took out her left leg. When she hit the ground, along with everyone else, she raised her rifle, flipped on the night vision scope and searched out the sniper. He was in the bush, about 2200 yards or more. JC never checked her range finder. Reggie slithered over to her on her stomach and flipped her camera on, as she lined up the shot. Zing, and then a scream. JC hit the target. No one knew she had even been shot, until she didn’t get up after the range safety officer gave the all clear. Reggie got up with the help of Linley, she looked down at JC.
“What the hell was that, why would someone take shots at you, JC?”
“I have no idea, Linley, but could you get Reggie out of here before the crowd starts bumping into her and, Linley, keep it quiet and send the nurse over to me, he got me.”
“Fuck, JC, there’s no way Reggie’s going to leave your side once she finds out.”
“Okay, Linley, send her over here, then you two can help me up.”
Just then, JC passed out. Since Linley didn’t know where she got shot, she hollered for Doug and the team. The closest to her was Chris.
“Chris, get over here now, JC’s been hit and she’s passed out. I need to take her rifle and get Reggie back here, plus get the range safety officer to radio for an ambulance.”
“You got it, Linley.” He bent down, picked up the rifle, slung it over his shoulder and ran toward the rest of the team. When he got to them he hooked the Colonel’s arm and told him what was going on and then he fetched Doug. He ran over to JC.
The nurse and Reggie went to her side together. The nurse bent down to check out JC, asking Linley if she knew where she had been hit. When she got a no, she started running her hands down her body, looking for blood, while Reggie shifted her head onto her lap and started talking to her, asking her to wake up and tell them where she was hurt. She woke for a minute and whispered, “Leg.”
The nurse felt down her legs, until she found blood flowing from her left thigh. She put pressure on the wound and tied a belt around, to put more pressure on it. She thought the artery in the leg was nicked.
The range safety officer ran over and told them that the ambulance would be there in five minutes. Reggie and Doug were holding it together really good and Doug let Reggie go with JC in the ambulance.
JC went straight into surgery, while the rest of the team were meeting with the military police in the officer’s mess. They requested that JC’s rifle was to be brought with them. When the Colonel arrived, the questions came from all directions.
“Listen up everyone, I’m only going to say this once, so no questions. JC was shot by a DEA agent. The members of the American personnel at the range had no idea what was going to happen, so it was not a set up to get back at JC by them. We found out he acted on his own. Now JC did kill him with one shot between the eyes. And yes, the range was 2415 yards, thanks to Reggie for flipping on the camera, we have proof of the shot and yes he was aiming to kill her, so the shooting was justified. The military police want the rifle, only for a few hours, so the Americans can view the range finder and the video of the kill. Master Warrant Officer will be accompanying the rifle to the American side, so it will not be tampered with. And last but not least, JC was rushed into surgery. The bullet nicked her femoral artery but thanks to the nurse, who was at the range with Reggie, there is no permanent damage and JC will make a full recovery. Also we will be delayed on leaving, because we are not leaving anyone behind and the Americans want to make a presentation to JC for her skills. There will be a party afterwards but this will have to wait until JC is cleared to leave the hospital.”
Reggie stayed with JC when she came out of surgery. The Canadians and Americans came by every few hours to check on her. Reggie kept everyone updated on JC’s condition.
The afternoon of the next day, JC finally opened her eyes. Reggie was snuggled up to her when she stirred.
“JC, wake up, honey, let me see those beautiful green eyes.”
“I’m up, Reggie. I really need to pee though. Damn my left leg hurts, can you tell me how much damage was done and did I get the bastard?”
“First, you got him, second, the leg isn’t too bad, he nicked the artery and third, you are going to have to use a bed pan, I already buzzed the nurse.”
The nurse walked in and helped JC with the bed pan. She told her that she could use the wheelchair but she wasn’t allowed to put any pressure on her left leg for a few days. So after she went to the bathroom, she got them to put her in the wheelchair. She wanted to go to the officer’s mess, to get something to eat. Reggie got dressed in shorts and a tank top and helped JC dress, then they went outside.
JC was like Reggie, she couldn’t stand being laid up for long periods of time. Everyone they passed on the way to the mess wanted to know how she was doing. In the mess, the team were there and cleared a place for her and ordered her breakfast. Rumour went around the base that she was awake and in the mess, so her dad and the Colonel went in to see her.
“JC, honey, how are you feeling?” Her father asked.
“I’m fine, Dad. Can anyone tell me who the guy was and what is going to happen?”
“Well, JC, the man was a rouge DEA agent who tried to have you arrested and figured he was above the law. He took things into his own hands. No one else knew what he was up to and there’s to be no charges brought against you. The Americans want to have the party for the team on Saturday, if you’re up to it and we can fly home on Monday.”
“Where’s my rifle?”
“JC, I have you
r rifle and the rest of your equipment locked up on the plane with Reggie’s gear. It’s in the safe and security is 24 hours a day on the plane, till we take off,” Doug told her.
“Well then, if the doctor says its okay, we can do the party tomorrow night but I won’t be drinking, the rest of you can drink one each for me.”
JC ate her lunch and Linley pushed her back, with Reggie walking beside her. Reggie was still weak from her injuries and she hadn’t slept well the night before, so they agreed to take a nap. Linley hung around for a bit, then she left to let them rest. The two women were snuggled up and fell asleep almost immediately.
A few hours later, they were woken up by the nurse who brought a late supper for them. Over coffee, they talked about what they were going to do, once they were home. Reggie said they could get a couple of the guys to help her move some of her stuff into JC’s place. The doctor said she could go to the party but had to be back in the hospital at a decent hour. She could also use crutches but still couldn’t put pressure on her leg. They wanted to make sure all the stitching was secure, before she could put any weight on it. The crutches would add extra support and she could switch to a cane, once she got home.
Saturday night, JC was escorted to the officer’s mess by her father and the Colonel escorted Reggie. When they entered the mess, the wall of people parted and a special table was set up for the winning team, with JC positioned at the head. After everyone was seated, the range safety officer took center stage.
“Would Sergeant Mackenzie please come to the stage?”
Reggie helped JC get up the few steps to the stage and Linley carried a chair for her to sit on.
“JC, it’s with great pleasure that I present you with this little token from the USMC for holding the record for the longest kill shot confirmed at 2356 yards.”
Everyone clapped, as JC stood to accept the plaque from the range safety officer. She had a look on her face that told everyone she had no idea how far the shot was when she took out the DEA agent.
“Sergeant, please take a seat, before you fall down and I will explain.”
JC let the safety officer help her back to her chair.
“JC, when you made the shot, after you were shot yourself, it was recorded on your rifle at 2356 yards. You hadn’t turned off any of your equipment when you were coming down range?”
“I did turn it off but Chief Warrant Officer Stone turned it on before I made the shot when she crawled over to me.”
“Well, thanks to you, Chief, we have the record holder in front of us,” he said as he bowed his head to Reggie.
“So, my last words to you are, let the party begin.”
JC was helped off the stage and back to her seat. A waiter bought her a glass of orange juice that Reggie had ordered for her, and they all sat around talking. The only thing JC didn’t want to talk about, was making that shot. She didn’t want to relive taking a man’s life.
“You are something else, woman. That’s why I love you. I wish you were able to dance with me, so it looks like I’ll have to settle for having a few dances with Linley,” Reggie teased her.
JC had her arms around Reggie’s neck, while Reggie had one arm around JC’s waist, while her left leg was propped on her thigh and her foot resting on the next chair. Staff Sergeant Johnson looked at Chris, wanting to know if they were a couple”
“Yes, they are a couple,” Chris told him.
“How come no one is saying anything about them sitting like that and holding hands?”
“Well, Mike, it has been legal to be gay in Canada since around 1993. They can even marry if they choose to.”
“Wow that is so cool. I have a few friends who are gay but hell, they can’t even come out anywhere. I wish it would change in the States. To think that we’re one of the most powerful countries in the world and yet we are so far behind on a few issues.”
“I know, Mike, it’s hard to believe that even some third world countries have moved with the times.”
Both JC and Reggie cared not what anyone thought. They continued to hold one another close. It felt like it had been weeks, since they had made love and if Reggie had her way, that’s what they would be doing instead of just cuddling.
Monday was coming and they all couldn’t wait to get back home. Around midnight, JC and Reggie went back to the hospital, both women undressed crawled into he bed and cuddled into each other. There was nothing better than sleeping double in a single bed.
The team were going to make sure that both of their personal belongings were loaded on the plane, so they would only be released from the hospital just before takeoff. Doug Mackenzie had spent Sunday morning having the plane checked and made sure it was flight worthy.
Sunday morning came early for everyone in their team. Some of the guys were hung over but that didn’t stop them from doing their jobs. After packing all their gear, then loading it, it was already supper time. Take-off was scheduled for 0800 hours, so Reggie told Linley to make sure everyone got a good night’s sleep. She made the mess off limits to her team. She and JC spent the evening talking and snuggling, both went to bed early. Reggie had made arrangements to see the doctor at 0700 hours, to get the okay for both of them to fly. The medical team would be flying out later in the day on a Hercules with their equipment.
Getting up at 0530 hours, Reggie and JC met Linley in the shower. The nurse had made sure everything was in place for them. She even helped with their kit and clothes, and waited outside when the three women went into the shower area. Both woman where still pretty sore and it would be quite some time before they would be at one hundred percent, neither of them minded the extra help.
“You know, Linley, you still owe us dinner, once we get home,” Reggie told her.
“How’s about Thursday? I have to go to Calgary first thing Wednesday. I need to take care of some personal business there.”
“Linley, you can take the jet. I’ll have it refueled and waiting for you first thing Wednesday morning and it will wait for you to return.”
“That would be great, JC. I really appreciate that and it will make things go faster and I could be back by late Wednesday night.”
“Are you bringing Sean back with you?” JC asked her.
“I’m hoping to but it’s really up to her. I know she doesn’t have to work if she doesn’t want to, so I’m hoping she’ll take a leave of absence until I go back.”
“Well, when we get home, come over tomorrow. You can drive me to get a new cell phone and I’ll make sure you get the number and you can use my jeep, while you’re here. We will use JC’s car.”
“Damn, Reggie, I wanted to drive the Porsche,” Linley joked.
“I really don’t think JC would let you. That’s her pride and joy, it’s the only thing that shows she has money. She doesn’t flaunt it at all.”
“I’ve noticed that. Well, except for the plane but really, no one knows it’s hers. I wonder why?” Linley asked.
JC hobbled in on her crutches. “Well, Linley, I want people to like me for me, not for my money. It’s simple really. At least this way I know all the team like me for me and not for what I can do for them, or what they can get out of me. It also makes life a little easier. I usually don’t live beyond my paycheck but if I need it, it’s there and it’s all mine,” she laughed, being a smartass.
Reggie smacked her with a wet towel. So there you have it, three naked top ranking females of an elite unit in the Canadian Armed Forces, playing and joking with one another like kids.
Come Monday morning Reggie and JC received the all clear to leave. They walked to the jet, the team, including the Colonel were sitting in their seats, smiling, as they entered hand in hand with one of JC’s crutches under Reggie’s arm, while JC used the other.
Bill laughed. “Took you two long enough. Did you stop for a coffee on the way?”
“No, Sir but if I have to see another doctor soon, I’m going to scream,” Reggie laughed back.
“JC, tell your dad we ar
e ready. All personnel are here and accounted for. Let’s get out of this damn desert and let’s see some green grass for a change.”
Everyone laughed at Reggie, as JC went to the cockpit. She was also riding co-pilot for this flight.
“Ladies, and gentlemen,” JC stated on the PA system. “This isn’t your pilot speaking but the co-pilot. I get to fly when we are all tired,” she giggled. “So sit back, enjoy the flight, until we change pilots.” She giggled again. “And the bar is open in the rear of the plane. I’ll be out for a few in a minute. The flight will take sixteen hours. I wanted to go first but the Major won’t let me.” She could hear them all laughing behind her. She looked at her dad and winked. “Well a girl has got to have some fun.”
“I’m going to go back to get a few hours’ sleep before I have to fly. Love you, Dad, be careful.”
“I will, honey, sleep well.”
JC went to the back and took a seat next to Reggie. “Real cute announcement, sweets. You had us all in stitches, did you enjoy yourself?”
“Yes, as a matter of fact, I did and at least I didn’t scare anyone yet.”
She snuggled into Reggie’s shoulder, saying, “I need to get some sleep. I want to be wide awake when it’s my turn to fly. Dad is going to announce when he gets tired.”
“Okay, honey, you sleep and I’ll make sure the guys keep it down, I’ll wake you up when it’s time to get up.”
She pulled JC tighter and pulled a blanket over them as JC wrapped her arm around her waist. Five hours later, Reggie woke up JC. “Babe, time to move. I think your dad is tired and we are about eleven hours out, till landing.”
JC got up, used the washroom and then went to relieve her dad. She stashed her crutches in the corner. “Hey, Dad, put it on auto pilot and let me take over. Send Reggie up here and get you some sleep.”
“Sure thing, JC, I am starting to get tired.”
Ten minutes later, Reggie sat down in the co-pilot’s seat. “Are you on auto pilot, JC?”
“Yes, why do you ask, Reggie?”
“Well, I’m feeling great and was wondering if you wanted to join the mile high club with me,” she knew neither of them was in any shape to try and do anything in such a small area let alone a big bed..