Ashlee was heading to her commanding officer quarters when Jed caught her up.
“Nice to see you’re up. Only a week impressive” scoffed Jed
“Jed you’re a wanker, you know it and so do I”
“I’m sorry about Kelly, she was”
Ashlee stopped and nodded “yeh, well that’s the way life plays out, you’re here, then you’re gone.” refusing to acknowlege his sentiments
She waited in Major Patterson presence while the major reads Ashlee's doctor's report.
She looks up and turns head to the side “so you good to go”
“yes major”
Major stands and moves next to Ashlee “I’m sorry about Kelly I know you two”
“friends Major, nothing more. If there isn’t anything more I like to return to active duty.”
“that keen”
“not afraid to die for the cause”
Major faced her “that’s the second time you have told me that and again I’m alarmed.”
“I mean I’m not hiding behind any wall. You want someone to go over it, I’ll go, you want some thing cleaned out, blow up, torn down then I’ll do it. Don’t stop me from doing what I was trained to do, maam.
It was a long gruelling 4 weeks, the nights were the hardest because every time Ashlee would close her eyes she could see Kelly’s chest explode. So rather than sleep she would work out and catch naps during the day on transports.
This particular day Major Patterson was shifting part of her unit to another sector. The convoy consisting of 4 vehicles was moving on the semi isolated track. Ashlee resting her eyes when her transport stopped suddenly followed by biggest explosion she had ever head. That then was followed on by screams.
The team in the truck jumped out and took cover behind their truck
“fucking hell what is that smell” asked Ashlee
Jed walked out behind and “fucking catasophies, that smell is burning flesh.”
When Ashlee got her senses she walked out and saw to the front 2 vehicles wrecked, the front vehicle unrecognisable.
“suicide bomb, fucking how did that make it through check point” breathed out Jed
Ashlee mind snapped to alert “major” she whispered “the major was in the second vehicle”
They ran to the vehicle and looked inside. The driver hardly distinguishable and no sign of Major Patterson
Ashlee looked about “Jed this is a disaster, we need to get those fires out….before they realize we’re stranded. And the wounded, we need to see to them.”
Jed grabbed her “identify the major in this and I’ll take care of the fires.”
Ashlee ran around the other side and saw someone tried to get up and fall over. Ashlee grabbed her
“major, lets sit you down”
“the fires, put the fires” Major collapsed
Ashlee looked her over and saw a wound in her leg bleeding out quickly. She immediately clamped her hand over it
“fucking hell” major grabbed Ashlee’s shoulder
“I’m sorry maam need to control the bleeding.” Ashlee notice chunk of metal embedded in her forearm. A private ran passed and Ashlee called him back
“find me a medical kit now, back transport truck under seat.”
Major looked Ashlee “the sergeant needs to take over, find Sergeant Bell first private.”
The private looked in the vehicle and nodded sadly to Ashlee
Ashlee applied the pressure bandage and tied it tightly causing major to scream again.
“need to radio base, tell of situation. Its getting dark Moore, need need.”
Ashlee rubbed major’s uninjured arm. “Its under control major.”
Ashlee leaves another private in charge of her and went to find Jed
“man this is such a fucking disaster, I’ve never, people dying around and that smell”
Ashlee grabbed Jed “man I need you to hold it together for me ok. Its getting dark where are the copters.”
Jed stamped foot “no ETA as yet. They know we are here and we are on our own for a while. We only have 20 or so able soldiers.”
Ashlee thinks and instructs Jed on the next set of tasks. Ashlee returns to the Major with a blanket and wraps it over her, kneels down in front.
“here have a sip” holds water canteen “how you doing”
Major teeth chattering from shock and pain “you need to get visual perimeter behind and in front, night vision goggles”
“its ok, its organised. The flares ready to go as soon as the copters are in range. You need save your energy”
Pain ripped through the major again and she grabbed Ashlee for support
“ok ok, stay with me, we need our commanding officer focussed”
“you’re doing a fine job Private, you really have come along way from that skinny, messed up kid.”
“yeh, can I ask a personal question”
“not like I can go anywhere private”
“how old are you” then shifted uncomfortably
Major rest her head back “how much money is riding on you knowing this Moore”
Ashlee surprised umm
“I’m 35.”
“really….” Ashlee’s tone surprised then closed her mouth
“yeh…. That old… and just wait you will be there one day” she laughed through the pain
“I doubt that”
Major grabbed Ashlee by the collar and pulled her closer “if you think you are going to die, then you will. It’s your choice. You didn’t choose that path that night on stage, what has changed since then.”
Ashlee growled “I don’t want to talk about it”
The copters landed and collected the wounded. Ashlee walked with the medics carrying the major. Ashlee hand drifts across Major Patterson’s hand accidentally and Patterson grabbed it for a brief moment. Ashlee didn’t react just helped load her in
“take good care of this one boys, she’s our CO” Ashlee sees her off.
Major Patterson was back on the job after 6 weeks rest and commended her troops. She made extra praise of Ashlee’s taking charge of the situation and keeping a cool head during that day of carnage and a medal will be issued for that act of valour.