Dead Shot

by Erik Schubach

  She grinned. “Congresswoman West? She's an ity bity woman with a smile to die for. A badass?”

  I smiled back. “Yup. That little redhead took on the city government and won, fighting for what was right. She never stopped and has never flinched in her battle to institute change, and champion so many good causes. Like LGBT awareness, teen suicide hotlines, anti-discrimination laws, and the like. And she's done it all with kindness and respect. Look at where it has landed her, Congress, and I don't believe for one second that she's going to stop there. In my hometown, they called her the Unstoppable Force. Watching the fire that she had as she fought for what was right and showing me that one person really can make a difference, were what helped me make the final decision to enlist.”

  She tilted her head at me with an assessing look and a cute grin before turning her eyes back to the road. “Yeah, she is pretty awesome.”

  I leaned over to her and spoke in a low tone like I was sharing a secret with her. I don't know why, it just seemed appropriate. “I met her once you know.” I smiled hugely, “It was like fate or something, telling me I had made the right decision. It was on a plane flying to the East Coast for Basic Training. My girlfriend from back then, Monica, was accompanying me for the moral support when we saw Anabella West and Mandy Fay Harris on the flight. We ran over and got our magazines with Anabella's picture on the cover signed by her. It was surreal, like my personal hero was shepherding me into the next chapter of my life.”

  She smiled an almost sad smile that I couldn't interpret, then turned into a convenience store parking lot and said, “Be right back.” I sat there and watched her hips sway into the store. About five minutes later she came back out and hopped back in. “Miss me?”

  I smiled in spite of myself. “More than you'll ever know.” I winked and she chuckled cutely, then she tossed a box to me. I caught it and looked at it, I raised an eyebrow. “A cellphone.”

  She got an imperious look and spoke in a regal tone that made her voice sound that much more like ambrosia to me, “I prefer to think of it as a burner phone.” She crinkled her nose and stuck her tongue out at me then said, “Just one of those prepaid jobbies. So we can contact each other while you are here. I programmed in my number in the store.”

  I cocked an eyebrow. “Burner phone huh?” Then grinned at the fact that she wanted to contact me again. Then I softened. “Thanks, Katie.” Then I tilted my head. “Katie, short for Kathrine?”

  She looked appalled. “Eww... no, Katie, short for Katie. Katie Althea DeLong.”

  I pursed my lips. “Althea?”

  She cocked an eyebrow as we pulled back onto the road. “Watch it soldier girl, about face.”

  I held my hands up in surrender then slid the phone out of the box and looked at it then slipped it into a pocket. When I relaxed back into the seat and laid my hand on the center console, I stopped breathing when a warm, soft hand rested gently on top of mine.

  Come on Kenz, you can stare down the barrel of a gun while under enemy fire. Woman up here. I almost timidly moved my hand so that I was gently engulfing her fingers. I was suddenly acutely aware of the thick callouses on my hands, hoping it wasn't a turn off for her. When she gave a reassuring squeeze, I relaxed a bit and started breathing again.

  She glanced down at one of my pockets. “What's that?”

  I followed her gaze down to the thick envelope sticking out. I tugged it out and stared at it. “I don't really know. Still working up the nerve to open it. Dad instructed his lawyer to give it to me. I exhaled and stuffed it back into my pocket. Katie just looked at my pocket for a long moment then turned her attention back to the road.

  When we pulled into Nana's we just sat there a minute in a comfortable silence. “Come in? Meet my grandmother?”

  She looked happy and sad all in the same instant. “I really wish I could but I promised my parents I'd have dinner with them tonight. Mom has been harping on me for days about it.”

  I smiled at her. I could see it wasn't as tedious as she was portraying it, she had love in her voice for her parents. A piece of my heart twinged. Then she added, “I can give you a ride in the morning to get your car.”

  I smiled again, I seem to do that a lot around her. “That would be nice. I do my run at Zero Five Hundred. So anytime after Zero Six Thirty.”

  She was rolling her eyes. “It will definitely be after Zero Six Thirty soldier girl. Way after, like when normal people are awake.” She gave my hand one last playful squeeze then grasped the steering wheel.

  I gathered up my courage, then almost like we had choreographed it, we both leaned in and shared a long delicate kiss. Her tongue gently tracing my lips and mine doing the same. Oh, good God I was getting aroused. I hadn't felt that way in damn near twenty years. I wondered if I should be getting involved with someone I work with like this? Oh, shut up and kiss her idiot! Always one to follow orders... mostly... I followed my own instructions.

  We finally broke the teasing make-out session and we both chuckled. She was blushing profusely and it looked awesome on her face. She mouthed, “Wow.”

  I cleared my throat and said, “Well... I guess I'll call then.”

  She called out after me as I got out of the car, “You better soldier girl.” Which made me chuckle as I almost skipped to the door, turning back when I reached it to give her one last longing look. She smiled back and pulled away. I sighed and opened the door and walked in.

  Nana was sitting on the couch with a grin on her face, reading a magazine, apparently upside down. At her giggling, I paused and shook my head saying, “Oh shut up you,”

  Chapter 8 – Funeral Service

  The next day I called her after my run and I had got ready for the day in my civvies, jeans and a t-shirt. I was trying to be funny, waking her up early like that, but she had just laughed out that she was already on her way with a “Just hold your horses soldier girl.” I don't know why, but I liked it when she called me that.

  I got her to come in to meet Nana Zatta, who fawned over the woman. I mean, who wouldn't with her looking all sexy all the time. She had blinked at me a couple times when I had opened the door. “You civilian up real nice.” She had said to my eye-rolls. She kept glancing over at me, mostly at my stomach and my arms. I grinned and flexed for her almost subconsciously.

  I introduced her awkwardly, “Nana, this is Katie, she's umm... I...”

  She slapped my shoulder lightly and said, “I'm a big bad wolf who is sniffing around miss Red Riding Hood here.” This got a good chuckle from my grandmother.

  Nana insisted, “Now you girls aren't going anywhere before you have a good breakfast.”

  I knew it was futile to argue so I said what any sane person would, “Yes Nana.”

  Katie gave me a teasing look and I defended myself with, “What? You try saying no to her.”

  She smiled and leaned in chest to chest with me and gave me a quick peck on the lips. “I withdraw my judgment sugar.” Good God almighty, this woman was going to have me walking funny before the morning was over.

  After breakfast, where I thought for sure Katie was going to have a foodgasm, and we helped with the cleanup, we went through the process of retrieving Crystal's car.

  When we got back to Nana's, we leaned against Katie's car, not wanting to say goodbye. She finally broke the tension by turning to me. “Hang out with a girl? I took the time off and don't know what to do with myself.”

  Her hands were at my sides by my waist, lightly brushing. The smile that she got as her fingers started tracing my obliques was mesmerizing. I was full of heat and desire as she moved to my belly and started tracing my well-defined abs. I just nodded dumbly as she looked down at her hands as she placed her palms against my stomach, feeling the contours of my abs. Then she whispered, “I knew it,” She bit her lower lip in want.

  I almost panted. “You like your muscles don't you?”

  She giggled and walked away toward the driver's seat leaving me panting. She corrected me, “No
. I like YOUR muscles.”

  I closed my eyes and chuckled and she called out the window, “Coming soldier girl?”

  I thought, “Really close to it,” but was smart enough not to voice it. I took a shuddering breath and ran around and got into the car. She made no hesitation to grab my hand as she pulled out into traffic and we were on our way.

  We wound up in Issaquah, at the Cougar Mountain Zoo. She liked the animals and it was a fun time. I had never even knew there was a zoo there, I thought the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle was the only one in the area. She teased and flirted with me the whole time. We wound up at her place that afternoon.

  Now, don't judge us. We were two consenting adults who technically had just met each other officially. And I hadn't been intimate with anyone for eighteen years. I do believe she tore my shirt a bit while ripping it off of me. A short time later she had me mewling like a kitten as she licked, kissed, and nipped at my abdomen muscles on her way down to her target.

  I realized something after my brain started working again a couple hours later, as we lay in a tangle of sweaty limbs on her living room floor with my arms around her and our fingers intertwined. Being with a woman was entirely different than being with a girl like Monica. Katie did things to me I wouldn't have believed possible, and it made me feel... sexy.

  I leaned in and whispered hotly in her ear from behind, “Valkyrie One, Bugbat One.”

  She grinned and replied, “Valkyrie One.”

  I smirked. “Holy Shit! I mean crap... mission complete.” I curled my toes into little balls.

  She leaned back with a smile and captured my lips with hers. I inhaled her hot scent. Then she laid her head on my chest and said almost in embarrassment in a whisper, “Please, don't think that I always...” She stopped then started again, “I mean I don't normally...” Then it turned into a satisfied smile and she almost purred. “But have you seen you? I mean, it almost isn't fair to my self-restraint sugar.” Her fingernails lightly brushed along my biceps before they drifted down to my abs, leaving goose-flesh in their wake.

  We showered together, which was another new experience for me. I could almost feel all the sins of my life being washed away as we scrubbed each other's backs. I marveled at the soft curves of her body. Then we got dressed and headed back to Nana's. When we arrived, I didn't want to get out of the car.

  We exchanged grins and finally I leaned over to give her a goodbye kiss. She had called out before I shut the door. “Umm... you... do you want to do something tomorrow?”

  I paused, holding the door and the reality of my situation and the reason I was back in Seattle struck me again. All my euphoria of being with Katie was swallowed up into a black pit in my stomach. I shook my head. “I can't tomorrow. My father's funeral service is in the morning.”

  I don't know why I did it, but the look of empathy she was giving me made my mouth work on its own. “Come with me?” She nodded once with a sad smile that told me I didn't need to ask. I closed my eyes and said, “Zero nine hundred?” Then opened them again. She nodded again and I shut the door and watched her drive off.

  Nana had a shit-eating grin on her face when I got to the door and she opened it for me before I could grab the handle. I looked down at the woman who met my eyes with humor glittering around in hers. I got flustered. “What? She's gorgeous Nana, I can't help myself around her.”

  She chuckled and bobbled her head and tutted, “Of course not Kenzie girl.” I shook my head with a smile on my face as I watched her totter off to the kitchen where the divine smell of fresh coffee was wafting from. I tilted my head as I realized just how accepting Nana has always been about my sexuality. For someone her age that was quite rare and I loved her so much more because of it. I followed her for a cup of that mouth watering coffee and no doubt another helping of teasing.

  We made dinner then chatted in the living room as we ate and watched the news. There was a news report on yet another successful iFork children's festival. It had been an annual event for underprivileged children for darn near twenty years now. This year it was a Viking theme. Then my slow brain put two and two together and I looked quickly at my grandmother. “Crystal, as in Crystal McKay of iFork?”

  She nodded with a proud smile. “The very same.”

  I shook my head. “You know some famous people Nana.”

  She waved it off. “They're all my girls.” I smiled back at her. In this world now, without Dad, all we had was each other as family. I was so happy that she was surrounding herself with other people and forming her own pseudo-family. I understood, I did the same with the men in my unit.

  After a bit, we bid each other goodnight and I hit the rack with anxiety over what was happening in the morning. The nightmares came to punish me with a vengeance that night.

  I woke with a yelp with someone calling my name, my hand grasping for my ka-bar in the non-existent leg sheath. Nana was standing there a couple steps back from the bed, concern in her eyes and coloring voice as she said, “Kenz, you were having a nightmare.”

  My skin felt cold and clammy from the sweat. My eyes caught the time on the alarm clock on the nightstand, just a couple minutes from zero five hundred. I looked down in embarrassment. “Sorry.” Then I took a deep breath. “I have to get up and do my PT anyway.” She stepped up to me as I swung my legs over the edge of the bed and prepared to stand.

  She laid a hand on my shoulder and gave it a single reassuring squeeze and she smiled. “I'll have breakfast ready when you get back.” I nodded once and she left the room. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath and re-centered myself, then dropped to the floor for push-ups.

  When I returned from my run and cleaned up, we ate. She didn't say anything though I could see the questions circling around in her mind. Questions I didn't want to answer. I promised myself that I would keep her insulated from the awful things I have had to do in the line of duty, doing what was right.

  We had cleaned up the table and moved to the living room to watch the news in that awkward silence when a soft knock on the door saved me. I grinned, she was early. I hopped up and walked quickly to the door then calmed myself down and reached for the door, Nana was grinning again at my excitement.

  I opened the door and stopped breathing. Standing there in a plain knee length black dress, low black heels, holding a small black clutch purse, was a goddess. She looked embarrassed. I tilted my head and said quietly, “Wow.”

  She blushed and swung side to side shyly as I smiled at her. I started when my grandmother's voice chimed out from behind me. “For goodness sake, invite her in already Kenzie girl.”

  I blurted, “Oh! Sorry, come on in Katie.” Then added quickly, “You look great!”

  This caused her to return the smile and her shyness was replaced with playfulness as she pushed past me, stopping long enough to show my lips why they missed hers so much. Then she left me there grinning, holding the door while she stepped up to give Nana a greeting hug. “Hi Mrs. Z.”

  Nana responded with a smile. “Good morning Katie. Have a seat. Kenzie and I have to get ready.”

  She took a seat and I watched her sit and cross her legs at the ankle. She winked at me. “You gonna shut that thing and get ready or what sugar?”

  Oh! I blushed and closed the door and just rushed off to my room. Come on McKenzie, she's just a girl. Yeah, a girl that get's your heart beating double time. I took a deep breath and grabbed the garment bag that was hanging off of one of the hooks mounted on the back of my door, beside my father's coat. I laid the bag on the bed and reached for the zipper and paused, then unzipped it to reveal my Class A dress uniform.

  I hated this thing, and I hated the reason for me donning it now. Everything had to be prefect for Dad. I made sure all the service ribbons and qualification bars and badges were in order. Straightened the nameplate and ran my fingers across the distinctive unit insignia.

  Then I looked at my duffle bag. Hesitated, then dug out my shame from it, the medals I have been awarded for my
time in the service. I fastened them in the appropriate places, making sure everything was straight.

  Then I stared at the skirt and low heel shoes that were part of the uniform. They were always so uncomfortable to me. I took another deep breath and then started stripping.

  When I was dressed, I looked at myself in the mirror. I felt like a charlatan with the medals on my chest. That and I was a soldier, why did the dress uniform include a skirt? I shrugged, I guess I looked ok. I opened the door and walked out into the living room feeling extremely self-conscious. I was looking down at my feet in the silence.

  Then I hear that wonderfully raspy, syrupy voice grind out, “Oh... my... God!”

  I looked up, blushing. Nana, now in a black dress, had a proud look on her face and Katie had a decidedly hungry look on her's as she looked me up and down. She smirked and said, “I think my new favorite thing in the world is a woman in uniform.”

  She stepped up to me and placed her hands on my chest as she tilted her head and smiled at me. Then she pulled back a bit to inspect the uniform. She reached out and ran her fingers along the Silver Star and the two Purple Hearts.

  She tilted her head back to Nana and said in a cheeky manner, “I guess she'll do.”

  My evil, evil grandmother just sighed and expressed in a bored manner, “I guess.” Then she broke into a grin.

  I chuckled out. “I hate you both.”

  They shared a laugh with each other and Nana said, “No... no you don't.”

  I did what any good soldier would do and stuck my tongue out at her and said, “No, I don't.” We all laughed and I checked my watch. “Shall we?”

  I went to usher them out the door, but Katie beat me to it and opened it for us and she said to me with a sparkle in her eyes, “Ladies first.” In a manner that just heated me up in an inappropriate but pleasant manner.

  A moment later Katie was pushing past me growling under her breath so my grandmother couldn't hear. “Damn, soldier girl.” I grinned and put on my cover as she spoke up in a normal tone. “Let's take my vehicle.”