Major Patterson was back on board and her squad provided visible military presence in a small town trying to rebuild itself. Jed and Ashlee walked about in full view when multiple shots were fired. Both hid behind building while shots were passing them
Major on outskirts gets fed back her troops were under fire and mobilizes the remaining unit.
Ashlee and Jed stay behind a building laughing.
“this sucks I’m suppose to be on leave as of tomorrow and now this.” Groans Jed
“don’t sweat it, we’ll clean it and you still will make your leave.”
“hope so, got some hotties waiting for me”
Ashlee groans “do you always think with your dick”
“Yeh don’t you” laughs Jed
Ashlee frustrated at being held back by the gun fire “your dick want to meet my knee Jed. Where the fuck is the major. Screw this.”
“Ashlee no”
But Ashlee was out in the open eyeing where the shots were coming from. Civilians had scattered or lying dead. Ashlee returns rapid fire in direction of the opposing shots.”
“fuck I’m going to be so pissed if you get me killed Ashlee” hissed Jed who then jumps out and covers Ashlee.
The skirmish lasted totally of two hours, 30 minutes was Patterson blasting both Ashlee and Jed for not falling back and for taking unnecessary risks.
Screaming could be heard as two soldiers drag a dark dressed man bleeding.
“we got a live one.” Soldier kicked him and the man screamed louder.
“fuck sake shut him up permanently” major yelled at the private
“but”
Major returns to Moore and points to her “I am sick to death of your fucking macho bullshit do you hear me.”
Jed scoffed and major diverted attention “maybe if you kept better hold on your team rather than let them do what they want I could trust you more”
The man was still yelling. Major more pissed walk back towards the yelling man “I said shut him up permanently.”
“but he’s still alive” stammered the private, “I’m not permitted”
Ashlee whispered to Jed “fucking green toads”
The man on the ground pulled a knife from his leg and stuck it deep to the inside of the private’s leg. He let out a scream and the militant disarmed and grabbed the gun aiming it at the gathered group.
“he’s armed he’s armed.” Chorused various voices
The man let off a few shots before his body exploded from multiply shots from different direction.
The events seem to played out slowly to Ashlee. She saw the man raise his gun, she too let off her gun. Ashlee was shocked when she felt something hit her neck and her hands felt wet. She saw blood flowing onto her uniform and dropped her gun. She stagged holding her neck and fell backwards.
The militant was bought down and Jed out the corner of his eye saw Ashlee falter
“Ashlee…….Ashlee…she’s down, she’s been hit” Jed fell next to her and saw the blood pouring. She was kicking and a cry left her lips. Jed grabbed her bleeding neck.
The sound of Jed’s cry sent shiver through Patterson and she turned around. She ran to Jed and looked down at Ashlee seeing the amount of blood knew this wasn’t good. Dust kicks up from her Ashlee’s scrambling legs
“she’s bleeding out.”
“where’s the kit, now” order the major
A Private rummages through his pack, but impatient the major grabs it and empties entire contents and takes what she needs.
She puts thick pad over side of Ashlee’s neck. She notices pale look and Ashlee’s eyes rolling.
“eyes on me private now.” She orders.
Ashlee thrashes and grabs the major tears streaming down her face
“oh fuck she’s going to die, she’s dying” came call from a new recruit. Jed got up and smacked him
“you shut the fuck up”
“I don’t wanna die” spluttered Ashlee, blood filling her mouth.
“fuck….” Growled major “sit her up…. sit her up” panic creeping to Major Patterson’s tone
She keeps pressure on and Jed sits Ashlee up. The blood spewed from her mouth along with another cry
“Ashlee….hey” the major’s voice trying to sooth her.
Ashlee focused “ I don’t want to die”
Major smiled “ok….then don’t die…its your choice remember”
Ashlee started shaking and eyes fluttering
“I'll put it another way” growled the major “you are not to die and that’s an order Private Moore"
The copter landed and medics grabbed Ashlee from Patterson “ stop the bleeding, she needs fluids” orders she gave to them
The medic pushed Patterson away “we got her major, she’ll be right.”
Major watched her leave, she had heard them tell that many times and now her body felt cold, her mind numb. She looked at the ground, at the large stain of blood. She stumbled off behind a building and threw up.
Major Patterson stood in cool tent with only the sounds of machines beeping. A sheet covered someone and Patterson’s eyes fixed on Ashlee’s limp body. The doctor came over.
“she’s still here, why haven’t you moved her to the main medical facility.” Faced the doctor.
“we…waiting.”
“for her to die” growled the major
“no… we need to get her stabilized, she is still very touch and go. She lost a lot of blood Major. We just praying.”
She stared at the lifeless body
“I would like to sit with her a bit”
Doctor acknowledged
She sat next to Ashlee’s pale, limp body. She took in all the tubes and machines keeping Ashlee alive. Nervously picked up Ashlee’s hand and alarmed at how cool her body was.
“Not today Ashlee Moore. I gave you a chance so don’t you dare let me down by dying. You tried that remember and it didn’t work for you back then and it’s not going to happen now.” she sighed “I can’t….I” her hand shaking and felt eyes stinging returned Ashlee’s hand to the bed and promptly left the clinic.
She slammed door to her tent and paced the floor. She leaned against her small desk, grabbing sides. Her body started to shake and she let out a scream and flipped her small desk over. She fell to the floor rested against the tent wall. Dropped her head and let the silent tears fall.
After two weeks Ashlee stabilized and they moved her to better medical facilities.