05-26-2014, 08:58 AM
A moment of attention, a series of clicks, and Smitty had the seat laid back. Jay managed to climb in the SUV, but every second Smitty was in danger because he was helping his broken ass made Jay ache with regret.
"Alright cripple, let's see what the damage is."
A snap of latex gloves and Smitty poked at the back of his leg. But not before tossing the confiscated machete on the seat next to Jay's face. Thanks, man. He glared at it.
The beat of rocks and the occasional gunfire peppered the vehicle. But the only thing Jay hated was that he wasn't able to see out the windows. That and the fact that he was compressed into a weird-ass prone position so Smitty could jab at the back of his knee.
"Just don't get any ideas while you're back there."
He muttered and fixed Smitty a look of mock warning in response. "Save the probe for later, Smit."
After winking, his gaze fell to the open med-kit that the Legionnaire was rummaging through. Jay's tone deepened. "No morphine in there I take it?"
Smitty ignored him. Despite twisting, Jay couldn't see the damage for himself, but by the look on his brother's face, he guessed Smitty wished he had morphine to give. Unfortunately they both knew only a corpsman could deliver the good stuff.
Jay let his forehead fall to the car floor. It smashed the front lip of his beret, so he pushed it back from his head as he felt the pant leg being cut away. Might as well keep some part of the uniform in good shape. Besides, the beret was his favorite part.
The adrenaline rush of earlier's firefight was leaking fast from his veins. As was the euphoria that he had to attribute to the tourniquet and the pretty lady touching his shoulder. There was no need to bring Natalie up no matter how much he thought of her. Every man with a pulse knew exactly how gorgeous she was. But none of them would say it while on the job. And the way she protected that kid. Almost like the butcher boy was her own flesh and blood.
Jay grabbed the machete to examine it, and as his fist closed around the handle, he almost forgave the kid for stabbing him in the fucking knee.
Smitty spoke up, like he knew exactly what Jay was thinking. "The kid thought he was protecting her. From us. Ironic, but noble in a way."
The sounds of an aerosol can being shaken were immediately followed by the most soothing spray of finest mist to ever touch a man's skin. "There,"
Smitty said, "I'm no fucking doctor, Hollywood, but your hamstring is a baseball in your leg now. At least the red smile's all sealed up."
Jay swallowed. The tourniquet was popped and the reperfusion of blood into his calf tingled heat of shooting stars. He gasped, and his fist tightened on the machete like he were hanging on to his pride instead.
The remainder of the drive was a blur. The liquid bandage sealed up the wound, but it'd need cleaned and attended by a corpsman at the Embassy. Assuming one was going to be there. The corporal's request for one was acknowledged by the battalion, but Legionnaires were all over Freetown and the surrounding area. Who knew what kind of heat the other guys had seen.
Jay was a little light headed by the time they arrived at the Embassy. That or the car booked it down the highway. And as there were no fucking highways in Sierra Leone to speak of, Jay had to assume staying still for so long was finally getting to him. He loathed surrendering to the mercy of fate.
"Made it, boys."
Picard spoke as he shifted into park and turned off the engines. From where he lay, Jay could see the roofline of a two-story building looming near. Until the second Escalade pulled up and blocked the view.
The idea that Natalie was going to be taken inside was the best motivation he had to get out of the car himself. That and in this heat, the SUV would soon become an oven without air conditioning. Then there was that pesky little thing about abandoning his brothers while they all forged on without him. That might have had something to do with it.
He used the handle bars on the car's roof to monkey-bar his way out. Rifle dangling from his neck, Smitty met him at the side of the door as Jay slid the beret back in place. Smitty shook his head mockingly, "Come on. We'll get you crutches later."
Jay smirked and popped his sunglasses on his face.
The Morraccan flag waved in the air atop the building. There was a wall surrounding the building like a good, reliable compound it was. The state seal and all sorts of official signage were plastered every where else, but what felt the greatest was seeing other Legionnaires posted about. What was also the greatest thing was also the worst. The first time one such brother, a 1ere classe standing sentry shot the wounded guy hobbling on his brother's shoulder a sympathetic look, Jay's guts wanted to curl up and die inside.
Before ducking indoors, he stopped and turned. Heart caught in his chest. "Where's Natalie?"
He needed to make sure she was safe. Smitty pat him on the shoulder. "Relax. She's inside already."
Jay blinked. "Ah. Okay then."
Of course she was. Why hadn't he thought of that?
Smitty frowned like something was wrong. Strange. Jay was of a mind to think they were in pretty good shape given the circumstances.
Edited by Jay Carpenter, May 26 2014, 08:59 AM.
"Alright cripple, let's see what the damage is."
A snap of latex gloves and Smitty poked at the back of his leg. But not before tossing the confiscated machete on the seat next to Jay's face. Thanks, man. He glared at it.
The beat of rocks and the occasional gunfire peppered the vehicle. But the only thing Jay hated was that he wasn't able to see out the windows. That and the fact that he was compressed into a weird-ass prone position so Smitty could jab at the back of his knee.
"Just don't get any ideas while you're back there."
He muttered and fixed Smitty a look of mock warning in response. "Save the probe for later, Smit."
After winking, his gaze fell to the open med-kit that the Legionnaire was rummaging through. Jay's tone deepened. "No morphine in there I take it?"
Smitty ignored him. Despite twisting, Jay couldn't see the damage for himself, but by the look on his brother's face, he guessed Smitty wished he had morphine to give. Unfortunately they both knew only a corpsman could deliver the good stuff.
Jay let his forehead fall to the car floor. It smashed the front lip of his beret, so he pushed it back from his head as he felt the pant leg being cut away. Might as well keep some part of the uniform in good shape. Besides, the beret was his favorite part.
The adrenaline rush of earlier's firefight was leaking fast from his veins. As was the euphoria that he had to attribute to the tourniquet and the pretty lady touching his shoulder. There was no need to bring Natalie up no matter how much he thought of her. Every man with a pulse knew exactly how gorgeous she was. But none of them would say it while on the job. And the way she protected that kid. Almost like the butcher boy was her own flesh and blood.
Jay grabbed the machete to examine it, and as his fist closed around the handle, he almost forgave the kid for stabbing him in the fucking knee.
Smitty spoke up, like he knew exactly what Jay was thinking. "The kid thought he was protecting her. From us. Ironic, but noble in a way."
The sounds of an aerosol can being shaken were immediately followed by the most soothing spray of finest mist to ever touch a man's skin. "There,"
Smitty said, "I'm no fucking doctor, Hollywood, but your hamstring is a baseball in your leg now. At least the red smile's all sealed up."
Jay swallowed. The tourniquet was popped and the reperfusion of blood into his calf tingled heat of shooting stars. He gasped, and his fist tightened on the machete like he were hanging on to his pride instead.
The remainder of the drive was a blur. The liquid bandage sealed up the wound, but it'd need cleaned and attended by a corpsman at the Embassy. Assuming one was going to be there. The corporal's request for one was acknowledged by the battalion, but Legionnaires were all over Freetown and the surrounding area. Who knew what kind of heat the other guys had seen.
Jay was a little light headed by the time they arrived at the Embassy. That or the car booked it down the highway. And as there were no fucking highways in Sierra Leone to speak of, Jay had to assume staying still for so long was finally getting to him. He loathed surrendering to the mercy of fate.
"Made it, boys."
Picard spoke as he shifted into park and turned off the engines. From where he lay, Jay could see the roofline of a two-story building looming near. Until the second Escalade pulled up and blocked the view.
The idea that Natalie was going to be taken inside was the best motivation he had to get out of the car himself. That and in this heat, the SUV would soon become an oven without air conditioning. Then there was that pesky little thing about abandoning his brothers while they all forged on without him. That might have had something to do with it.
He used the handle bars on the car's roof to monkey-bar his way out. Rifle dangling from his neck, Smitty met him at the side of the door as Jay slid the beret back in place. Smitty shook his head mockingly, "Come on. We'll get you crutches later."
Jay smirked and popped his sunglasses on his face.
The Morraccan flag waved in the air atop the building. There was a wall surrounding the building like a good, reliable compound it was. The state seal and all sorts of official signage were plastered every where else, but what felt the greatest was seeing other Legionnaires posted about. What was also the greatest thing was also the worst. The first time one such brother, a 1ere classe standing sentry shot the wounded guy hobbling on his brother's shoulder a sympathetic look, Jay's guts wanted to curl up and die inside.
Before ducking indoors, he stopped and turned. Heart caught in his chest. "Where's Natalie?"
He needed to make sure she was safe. Smitty pat him on the shoulder. "Relax. She's inside already."
Jay blinked. "Ah. Okay then."
Of course she was. Why hadn't he thought of that?
Smitty frowned like something was wrong. Strange. Jay was of a mind to think they were in pretty good shape given the circumstances.
Edited by Jay Carpenter, May 26 2014, 08:59 AM.
Only darkness shows you the light.