Kelly had been gone 5 months with only few letters, short emails about what was happening. Kelly always wrote she was thinking of her heaps and couldn't wait for her to get over in on the action. She signed off always with ‘the world I change one bullet at a time.’
In a surprise turn about a few months on Ashlee got her orders to join the fight in Iraq and she finally felt at peace now she was leaving behind the misery of her life as AJ.
The days were hot, sand blowing around, teeth gritty. Paradise in the sand was not on the brochure. The central base was one large tent city that stretched on. Soldiers bustling about, helicopters, tanks, transport vehicles, and constant beat of music. It was different, a culture of its own.
First two weeks Ashlee was packing and unpacking equipment, supplies and the worse duty that was the carrying of the wooden boxes that was their fallen soldiers.
Day was almost over, Ashlee finished loading up supply truck and sent if off when she was tackled to the ground. She rolled over and about the give a mouthful and laughed
“Kelly, well fuck me dead”
Kelly helped her up “you be careful of invitations like that out here”
Ashlee gave her a hug “I never thought I’d see” her voice disappearing
“hey now, don’t go getting all that on me. Wow you have filled your self out, like the new body. Lean, strong.” Kelly rubbed Ashlee’s arms and side of her body followed by low whistle
“still weak as piss Moore” came Jed’s voice behind. He kicked his leg out behind Ashlee’s knee causing Ashlee to go down.
“fuck off dick head” said Ashlee
Jed grabbed Ashlee “excuse me private” growled Jed
“Jed let it go” growled Kelly
“I mean team leader Jed….. fuck off dickhead”
A scuffled broke out between Jed and Ashlee which was quickly broken up and alternative duties was given to Ashlee as a reprimand for fighting.
Kelly and Ashlee could only grab small moments of time together for the two weeks they caught up. On a small cot Ashlee rested her head on Kelly’s shoulder. Kelly entwined fingers with Ashlee. “they ship us out few days, we have to clean up a few towns.”
“I know, I’m going to be alone again” whines Ashlee
Kelly pulled Ashlee up and kissed her “your never alone”
Ashlee each more gave in to Kelly “I keep telling you, I’m not that way.”
“I know, so you want me to stop. No more affection” replied Kelly sadly
Ashlee looked into Kelly’s eyes “I don’t want that, I don’t know what I want to be honest.”
“well I tell you what I want. I want us to go to Major Patterson and ask her to transfer you to my unit.”
“Major Patterson is here, now….oh I don’t think she thinks very much of me” groans Ashlee
“nonsense, come on lets go”
Kelly drags Ashlee to the Major's tent
Major calls in the knock and locked eyes with Ashlee.
“Private Moore.” Surprised tone “When did you get to our sand castle paradise”
“ummm 2 weeks ago maam”
“really, I was under the impression we were expecting new recruits for another year.”
“I dunno, I was told to come and I’m here.”
Major listens to Kelly requests and folds her arms
“You’ve seen any action”
“No, haven’t left the base maam”
“you are already 6 months behind, not battle wary, reflexes”
“I can help her with that, keep an eye on her” but stopped when Major looked at her
“Out Travis want to talk to Private Moore alone”
Major paces around Ashlee “you miss your friend”
“I miss the team I started out with maam”
“you and Kelly are close”
“umm kinda”
“intimately close”
“umm I don’t”
“are you having sex with her”
Ashlee looked at major in disbelief “absolutely not. I’m not having sex with anyone. I’m not into”
Major put hand up to hush the private and hid a small smirk “it was a simple yes/no answer private. It’s hard enough to watch your friends die around you, but when it’s someone you’ve become a little more closer to. Well it’s just dangerous to have soldiers that are intimate on the same team.”
“I understand”
“I’ll talk to your commanding officer and see what I can do, dismiss Private”
Ashlee was transferred to Major Patterson and it was first day on patrol. The girls sat in back of transport. Ashlee kept adjusting and readjusting her helmet. Checking her gun and rechecking it.
Kelly kicks Ashlee’s foot “hey you be alright, stay close to me”
There wasn’t much left of the town sustaining heavy damage. No one seemed to be around. They walked up and down each road, in and out each building. There was a call over their radios followed by sporadic gun fire. Ashlee froze, could not make out where the gun fire was coming. Kelly grabbed her and threw her behind a wall.
“when you are told to take cover, take it Ashlee”
“I… didn’t”
“shhhhh”
The gun fire got louder and closer. Kelly looked around wall and pulled head back.
“Ashlee look around corner, top wall”
Ashlee looks and falls back from gun fire and rocks, dirt ricocheting, let out a yelp. Kelly pulls her aside and eventually behind her. Kelly leans around firing off shots. She was yelling to Jed and more volley of shots.
After 1 hr it was over. Kelly looked Ashlee over and wiped blood from her cut chin. “you’ll live”
They ran to voices yelling and stood around a wounded militant
“should we call for medic” asked Ashlee
Jed scoffed “you want to give aid to this piece of shit. You fix him up, send him back and wham.” Slammed the butt of his gun into the wounded mans leg “he be another suicide bomber. He probably killed dozen of our soldiers and you want to fix him up. Don't be so fucking stupid.”
He looks at Kelly and she nods “Private Moore, put this piece of shit out of his misery” ordered Jed
“what are you saying…. We are not allowed to do that. There are regulations.”
“Ashlee” pleads Kelly “rules of engagement apply”
“but we not engaging,….. its over”
“Ashlee, get it out the way. The first one is the hardest. You get him or he will get you.” encourages Kelly
Ashlee looks at her gun and at the wounded man chanting, pleading for all she knew. “I can’t”
“fucking green toad, finish it Kelly” barks Jed
Ashlee looks away as Kelly ended the militant’s life.
On the way back to their camp Ashlee didn’t say anything. She couldn’t even look at Kelly let alone come to terms with the happiness of her fellow soldiers.
Back at their base camp Ashlee and Kelly were still arguing over the situation
“Ashlee….will you listen, it’s the way it is honey”
“No its not and I’m not your fucking honey, you shot him in cold blood”
Kelly muffled Ashlee’s mouth “shut up, I can be charged. You think about this, if he had a gun on me would you let him go.”
“no of course not”
Kelly grabs Ashlee’s face “this is not training any more this is the real thing. You shoot or you will be shot, you shoot or I could get shot it's as simple as that.”
After a few weeks Ashlee was fitting into the routine, most times they were grounded due to shortages. Another night of boredom, Ashlee crept into Kelly’s bed and they talked about what they missed of home. Before long Ashlee let Kelly slip on top and kiss her. Their passion rising before Ashlee pushed Kelly up
“stop please , I’m sorry…getting too carried away.”
Kelly sighed “I don’t understand. Sometimes I think you want me, then you stop just when.”
“I know, I want to…with you I just. It don’t feel ready, Kelly please don’t be angry.”
Kelly lies next to Ashlee and strokes her face “I’m not angry” whispers into Ashlee’s ear “I’m just so god damn horny and you are so incredibly sexy. You drive me crazy.”
“I don’t mean to”
“yes you do…you love teasing me.”
Ashlee leans in and initiates the next kiss “I know what I feel for you Kelly, I’m just not ready give it up.”
Kelly kisses Ashlee’s cheek “promise me one thing”
“sure”
“you know how I feel about you, so please….please when you are ready, be me the one you choose, because I’m holding myself back for you Ashlee. My feelings.”
Ashlee kisses Kelly with more feeling before climbing out “I promise"