JAA Ch. 01: Aftermath

"Sky one-one-six to base," Sue said into the radio.

Static, then silence.

"Sky one-one-six to base."

"Sky one-one-six this is base," came the response.

Susan looked at the radio, then at Len. Len shrugged his shoulders as he too stared at the radio. Rudy growled at the voice.

"That's not base. I don't recognize that voice, do you?"

"Nope."

Sue switched the radio to the second channel.

"Sky one to Betsy five."

"Betsy five go."

There was no mistaking Waylon's voice.

"Drop down to channel one and listen. If you can hear what's going on, try to get a lock on where the transmission is coming from."

"Okay, switching channels."

Sue switched her radio back to channel one.

"Sky one-one-six to base, come in."

"Sky one-one-six this is base do you copy?"

"Ah, there you are. Yes, yes I can hear you now base. Lost you for a second but, I have you now."

"Great. What do you need Sky one-one-six?"

"Need transport, grid coordinates three-one-two stroke five-four-seven lima."

"Negative Sky one-one-six, transport not available."

"Mark says Waylon has a fix. Half a mile ahead of us bearing one-three-oh," Len, told her.

"Base, one-one-six, go to hell, you chink mother!"

Sue switched her radio to channel six, the emergency frequency that base also listened on.

"Sky one-one-six to base, come in."

Static, then silence.

"Sky one-one-six to base, come in."

Static and silence.

"Sky one-one-six to base, come in base."

"Sky one this is base, over."

Susan smiled and tears began to leak out of her eye and roll down her cheeks.

"Base, we need transport ASAP. Old Fallon Road and the service trail. Copy?"

"Copy. It will be there in thirty minutes. Is that soon enough?"

"I hope so. Sky one out."

"Base out."

As Sue had been talking she saw three Chinese soldiers creeping over the hill behind which, they had disappeared earlier. One of them had a radio to his mouth speaking into it. Sue slipped her radio back into her pack and shouldered her M4.

"Do you think that's wise?" Len asked, even as he was ready to back her up and trying to hold Rudy back at the same time.

"No, but, it sure would feel good," Sue said lowering her weapon and taking Rudy's collar from Len.

"Rudy, no, Scout," Sue said pointing downhill.

She turned and headed back down the road at a quick pace. Len hurried to catch up with her, looking back over his shoulder at the three Chinese soldiers. The pace that Sue set though would keep them far ahead of the soldiers if they even followed them at all.

Waylon and Mark had just lowered Cappy's stretcher to the ground when three hummers came flying up the road and stopped in front of them. Standing in the turret of the lead vehicle was Jenny. When the hummer stopped, she ducked down and jumped from the back of the vehicle. She ran full tilt to where her husband lay.

"Jenny, he'll be fine once we get him back to base," Michelle comforted her.

"Not without Sue," Linda said quietly.

"How far back are they?" Jenny asked.

"Not far, they should be here in ten minutes or so," Waylon told her. "Maybe even by the time we get Cappy loaded in the hummer."

Waylon and Mark picked Cappy up and walked to the second hummer, where they slid him into the back of the vehicle. Linda and Michelle along with Jenny hopped up into the back with him. Waylon stood there scanning the road they had just come down for any signs of Sue or Len.

Mark went to the first hummer and jumped up in the turret also scanning the service road they had just traveled. He caught movement about two hundred meters up the road. It was two people and a dog retreating one by one down the road, close to the wooded side, taking cover as they went. Then gunshots rang out as three men dressed as soldiers came over the slight rise in the road.

"Here they come and they have company," Mark shouted as he pulled the bolt back on the 'Ma Duce'.

Mark lined the sights up on the three men as they knelt to shoot at his wife and Len. He gently pressed the trigger bar. Rounds the size of a man's thumb screamed uphill to strike the ground and men kneeling there. The explosions of the bullets as they struck the ground echoed through the woods.

Susan and Len jumped up and ran down the road to the hummer's position, Rudy was right behind them. When she saw that, her husband had saved her from the Chinese she jumped up in the hummer, pulled him down out of the turret, and kissed him soundly.

"All right let's mount up," Jenny yelled from the turret of the second hummer.

Sue looked up at her and winked as three men scrambled into the first hummer. The engine fired up and it lurched forward as it turned onto the service road to turn around. The other two followed at a safe distance. Mark was back up in the turret as Sue lay in the back, exhausted and feeling good. Rudy jumped in the hummer with Sue at the last moment and started licking her face causing her to laugh at his antics.

The trip back to the base was uneventful. Susan and Doctor Ventel were able to reconstruct Cappy's shoulder to a point that he would have almost the full use of his arm. Jenny sat by his side after he came out of surgery. Susan sat with her as Cappy recovered from the surgery.

All was well with the world, Sue could hear Mark and the kids playing outside with the dogs. She heard Michelle in the next room, seeing patients. Everything was good. Until next time, that is, until next time.

Chapter 27

Cappy was laid up for three months. They had his whole right side immobilized. They only allowed him to read. Susan had Mark design a special bed in a room in the infirmary for Cappy. There was always a doctor and nurse on duty so she thought it would be the perfect place for him. Jenny stopped by each day for four or five hours in the afternoon to sit and talk with her husband. She would bring him books she thought might keep his mind off his injuries.

Either Rudy or Sunshine accompanied Jenny when she came. They would say hello to Cappy then be on their way out of the infirmary to somewhere around the valley. Several times Susan brought one or another of her children by to see Uncle John. Cappy would smile and forget that he was in pain for the short time they were there telling him about all the wonderful things they had done the day before. Michelle too, brought her youngster around when she was not on duty and sat with Cappy listening to some of the most outrageous things her daughter had ever told anyone.

"How do you do it?" Michelle asked Cappy one day.

"Do what my dear?"

"Get the children to open up like Kacy does when she is here. She never tells me or George stories like that when we talk with her."

"Ah, well, first of all, don't treat her like a child. Ask her adult questions and you will receive adult answers or what she perceives as adult answers. The rest is just letting them talk. You'll notice that once I ask 'how was your day' I never interrupt her. I listen to her intently and nod or shake my head in the appropriate places, just like adults do."

"I see. I thought myself and George did that. But now that I think about it, we do have a habit of interrupting her during her stories."

"That's another thing to her they aren't stories. They really happened, just as she is telling it to you. Never call her out on that regard and she will keep you entertained until she is an adult."

Michelle smiled at Cappy as she took his blood pressure and checked his heart and lungs. She was then called away to assess an injury in the clinic. Cappy rolled over and went to sleep.

They removed his cast three months later, replaced it with a smaller one, his right arm still immobilized. They moved him to his home and allowed him to walk around a little bit each day. They also allowed him to go into his office for a few hours a day three days a week.

Susan or Michelle stopped by every day to check on him. Once in awhile, Linda would be the one to stop by, as Michelle and Susan were both out assisting others on a patrol. Jenny was there every day smiling and checking on Cappy. She was so happy to have him home and not going out into the hostile countryside. The dogs were happy he was home too and spent more time close to the house than usual.

When he was in the office, Waylon was usually there, never hovering but there if needed. The two of them had some long discussions about the coming years and what they should do and not do. For Cappy, it was difficult being in the office when his friend was not. After another two months, Cappy longed to go on patrol.

One day Michelle came to get him. She took him to the infirmary where Susan and Dave waited. It was time for his cast to come off. They had not told him when only that it would be soon so he was not anxious about getting it removed. The cast saw buzzed as Dave moved it along Cappy's shoulder cutting through the plaster with ease. Soon the cast was open enough to slip off.

Susan held Cappy's arm in the position that the cast had kept it. She started to rotate it up and Cappy winced in pain.

"That hurts?" She queried.

"Not really, just a twinge."

Susan continued as she could feel the joints moving freely without grinding. Cappy took over and moved his arm around and around, back and forth, to and fro.

"Easy there slugger, those muscles aren't used to being moved so much. It will take time for them to regenerate, don't overdo it or you'll be back in a cast fast."

"Roger that," Cappy said smiling, as he lowered his arm into the sling that Susan was fastening around his neck.

"You will come to the infirmary every day for therapy on that arm, one o'clock sharp. Linda or I will be here to administer your therapy. Clear?"

"Crystal, Doctor."

"Jenny, take him home. He can go anywhere in the valley. He can sit in his office as long as he wants. He can't use that arm more than two hours at a time."

"Right Sue. Let's go, mister."

"Coming dear."

Jenny walked out of the infirmary willingly followed by Cappy.

Chapter 28

Jenny, Michelle, and Waylon, along with three marines, were trudging back to the compound after a visit to a little town that needed medical help. Their humvee had quit on them a quarter mile out from the town. They had plenty of daylight left and it was only a six-mile walk so Jenny had made the decision to walk back.

Sunny had tagged along on the patrol and was out on point. Jenny smiled to herself as she watched the dog work. Michelle nudged her in the ribs as she walked beside her.

"What's the smile for?"

"Just watching Sunny, she is such a smart dog, John has trained her well."

"He has, hasn't he? He's also trained us well."

"And we, him." Jenny smiled knowingly at Michelle.

Michelle laughed at Jenny's quip and silently walked next to her. As they walked, Sunny suddenly froze. Pure instinct made Jenny and Michelle drop to their knee and pull their rifles to their shoulders. As they watched Sunny, Waylon and the Marines stood behind the women as they crouched, also with the rifles to their shoulders.

Sunny lunged into the grass at the side of the road. The group could hear a high-pitched scream. Then several gunshots and the yipping of a dog, as different screams echoed in the distance.

Jenny got up and started running down the road toward where Sunny had disappeared into the grass. She could hear footsteps behind her as she started to slow down. She did not want to overrun the spot in the grass. The three burly marines passed Jenny and disappeared into the grass where Sunny had entered.

Jenny was so worried about Sunny she plunged into the tall grass without hesitation. She slowed to a walk with her rifle to her shoulder. First, she encountered the dead body of a man whose throat was ripped out. Several guns lay at his side. Next, she stumbled over another man's body. He appeared to be alive but in bad shape. His arms and face had bite marks on them. His neck was bleeding from several bite wounds.

Jenny stepped over him and continued through the grass toward the sounds of a snarling, growling dog. Sunny sure did sound mad as Jenny's concern for the dog grew. Several rifle shots caused Jenny to squat. Several bullets whizzed past through the grass. Then a loud burst of automatic fire ended the single shots.

Jenny got up and continued through the grass. Within ten steps, she was in a clearing. Two marines stood over two bodies as Sunny lay not far away with the third marine trying to keep her calm.

"Michelle, get over here please," Jenny screamed as she noticed the blood on Sunny's coat.

"We're here," Michelle said, as she broke through the grass into the clearing.

Michelle rushed over to Sunny and began checking her over. Jenny started to move toward them when a hand pulled on her shoulder, spinning her around to face Waylon.

"Don't you ever, do anything, like that again! Is that clear?" Waylon was not exactly shouting but the volume of his voice shook Jenny's bones.

"Yes, it is Waylon. However, if I do anything like that again, it will only be because someone I love is in trouble. Is that clear?" Jenny was not shouting. She was talking calmly and quietly, yet the look on Waylon's face showed she had made her point.

"It is. Let's just hope I'm there when you do?"

"Why, you going to stop me?"

"No, I'm going to watch your back." Waylon smiled at Jenny.

Jenny, up on her tiptoes, kissed Waylon on the cheek, then turned and ran to Sunny's side.

"Don't worry, she's not too badly hurt," Michelle told Jenny as she knelt down beside Sunny.

"Good girl," Jenny cooed at Sunny.

Sunny's back end started to wiggle as she was without a tail. The marine had to hold her down as Michelle worked on her.

"It's just a scratch, she'll be fine. I just need to clean it before she gets infected."

"Lay still Sunny, lay still." Jenny caressed the dog's head as Michelle cleaned the wound and spread antibacterial cream on it, then placed a sterile gauze pad over it all. Michelle then wound some gauze strips around Sunny's body and tied them off as tight as she could.

"You can let her up now." Michelle started to gather her things and push them in her pack.

Both Jenny and the Marine let go of Sunny who quickly rose to a sitting position and started to try to lick Jenny's face.

"You're such a good dog, yes you are." Jenny hugged the dog to her, being careful not to touch the wound on her side.

Jenny rose and hugged Michelle then turned to head back to the road. A single shot rang out. The bullet struck Jenny in the left upper chest. As Michelle watched, everything seemed to happen in slow motion. Sunny, like a bullet herself, ran toward the shooter. Jenny started to fall backward from the force of the impact. Waylon was in the process of bringing his rifle to his shoulder.

All this took place in the first split second after the shot rang out. In the next split second, Sunny reached the shooter and attacked his neck and face. Waylon had completed bringing his rifle to his shoulder and sighting it on the shooter. Jenny was almost on the ground. The marine that had been holding Sunny for Michelle had his arms outstretched to catch Jenny before she hit the ground.

The sound of Waylon's rifle broke the spell. Jenny hit the ground with a thud. Sunny's jaws stifled the screams of the shooter even as the bullets from Waylon's rifle impacted his body. Michelle just stood there looking down at her friend in shock as the Marine felt for a pulse in her neck.

"Michelle, help her," Waylon's voice ripped through the fog in Michelle's mind.

"Oh my god," Michelle cried as she knelt down beside Jenny.

The blood from her wound was spurting into the air. Michelle reached out and stuck her finger into the wound.

"The bullet pierced the heart...there's nothing I can do for her," Michelle cried, as tears welled up in her eyes.

Jenny's eyes opened.

"Tell John I love him," she whispered.

"I will," Michelle, sobbed.

"I love you guys too. All of you."

"We know."

Jenny's eyes stayed open as her last breath escaped from her lungs. The shine in her eyes went dull and cloudy as Michelle pulled the lids down over them. Michelle bowed forward, placing her head on Jenny's chest and started to cry uncontrollably. Waylon was kneeling at her side tears rolling down his cheeks. The three marines stood silently behind the two, sobbing. Sunny lay at her mistress's side, her head on her stomach.

The five, with Sunny leading, entered the compound carrying the stretcher with the lifeless body of Jenny. People stopped, with eyes wide in shock. Waylon, his arm around Michelle, assisted her in walking the final few meters. The two marines carrying Jenny stopped in front of Cappy's office. Sunny barked once then went to lie next to her mistress.

Cappy opened the door to the silence of the compound. As he stared at his wife's body, lying on the ground before him, he noticed that word was spreading quickly. More and more people were walking up to the front of his office and standing silently. Some were crying, others praying. Cappy noticed this all within the split second that he came to realize that his wife of thirty-nine years was dead.

He stepped off the porch to stand beside his mate. He dropped to his knees and started to sob uncontrollably. Michelle wrapped her arm around his shoulders, to comfort him. Susan came running up to stand behind Cappy, staring down at her friend on the stretcher. She too dropped to her knees, draped her arm across Cappy's shoulders and started to cry.

Soon Rudy was beside Sunny and the two dogs started to croon over the loss of their mistress.

Jenny's funeral was two days later. They cremated her by Cappy's orders and placed her ashes in a bronze urn. All her friends gathered at the spring up the valley where Cappy had placed a stone marker. On the marker, he had inscribed these words...'To my beautiful mate of 39 years...I love you." No other words marred the surface of the stone, just a niche the size of the urn.

Cappy knelt down and placed the urn inside. He then took what looked like a glue gun and started to fill the hole.

"Once this dries, almost instantly, it will be crystal clear," he said to the crowd.

When he had filled the niche, Cappy rose and stepped back. He stumbled slightly but Waylon was there, tears streaming down his face, to catch him. They all stood there quietly. Then Reverend Libby stepped forward.

"Dearly beloved we are gathered here today to lay to rest, the remains of our sister Jenny Abernathy, beloved wife to John, dearest friend to Michelle, Susan and so many of us here. We give unto the Almighty her soul for safe keeping until we all meet in the blessed sweetness of heaven. Amen."

Susan stepped forward and dropped three rose petals in the stream, then turned and went to Cappy's side. Michelle followed Susan's example and stood by Cappy's side. Waylon then stepped forward and dropped three rose petals in the stream, turned to face the stone, bowed his head and dropped to one knee.

"I will look after him for you Jenny. Until the day I die I will look after him for you." Waylon rose and walked to stand behind his friend.

An hour later, the stream ran red with rose petals and all those present were standing behind Cappy. Cappy took a knee, bowed his head then rose and started back to the village followed by the rest.

Chapter 29

After Jenny's death, Cappy kept pretty much to himself. Waylon would see him on the occasion he came into the office but he pretty much stayed at home. After two weeks, Susan came around to the office one day after Cappy had made an appearance.