Old Wounds Ch. 03

********************************************

Author's note:

I'm back! I've read all the comments left since I was here last and just want to say; thank you all for the encouragement and concerns.

I really have no excuse for disappearing like I did, other than life got real busy between some Army stuff, wrapping that up then getting a job driving semi trucks where I was never home, and now going to school for computer programming. I could have and should have found the time to write, but I didn't, and the longer I was away the more I lost motivation... I do apologize to my readers for that.

"It'll never happen" is almost wrapped up in my head, so I'll be finishing that here soon. My question to y'all for this story is; would you like me to keep going with it, or wrap it up in a few chapters and start something new that's fresh in your minds and mine as well?

It's been so long I had to re-read this story to remember all the details, so I apologize for any continuity errors or anything like that while I try to catch up.

To those who are still here, I thank you greatly for all your support and I hope I can do you justice!

P.S: I wrote this in the notes app on my phone then threw it into a google doc to proofread. If the format is all messed up I apologize. It must have got messed up in the transfer. If it's too bad and the paragraphs are sideways I'll delete it and reformat.

******************************************

She didn't say anything after that. I didn't either. Hell, honestly I didn't know what to say, even if I could formulate words. Katie just kissed me. Why? What did it mean? Did it even mean anything?

I'd never thought about her like that. She was my best friend. That was all. The thought of anything happening between us never even crossed my mind. I knew she was incredibly beautiful, hell, everyone knew that, but I still never even thought of it.

Being a male, I knew enough to know that guys always say the wrong thing to make a situation worse, so I did the logical thing and said nothing. I just stood there against that familiar railing staring off into the dark nothingness.

It was a peaceful morning. It seems like every morning in the UP is peaceful, especially this time of year. It was quiet but not silent, dark but not black, with a chill but not chilly.

It seemed like we stood there for hours, but in reality it had to be a few minutes. I figured the kiss was just one of friendly appreciation from me telling her how much she meant to me. It couldn't have meant anymore. Right?

"We should probably get going hey?" Katie asked, still not looking at me.

"You don't even know what time my flight is Katie Kat. It could be six hours from now." I joked back, trying to lighten the somber mood.

"It's not," she laughed. "My guess is it leaves in an hour or so."

"You'd be spot on."

"Throw your shit in my Jeep and let's get a move on," she said with a grin as she turned towards the stairs leading off the porch.

I quick shot Kyle a text telling him I got another ride so he didn't wake up seeing the sun and freak out thinking we overslept or anything and turned back towards the house to grab my two duffle bags.

**

"You're a quick healer Sergeant," the Army Doc mused looking over his charts. "Usually we'd be expecting another few months before the patient reaches this stage."

"What can I say Sir?" I asked, "I don't like being injured."

"I can definitely see that," he laughed, turning to look at me. "I'd say you're about cleared for active duty Soldier."

"Back to my boys overseas then?" I asked with a hint of hope.

"If that's what your command wants, then I don't see why not. Give them a call when you leave here and tell them what I've said. I'll be sending over my report later so they can confirm."

"Thank you so much Doc," I replied. "A clean bill of health is always a good thing."

With that I stood and left the exam room and headed towards the front of the building, not sure exactly what I was feeling. Was I sad I had to go back? Isn't that what I wanted all along? To get back to my unit to be with my men?

Still lost in my thoughts I hopped back in my rental car and drove myself off post to the Super 8 the Army had so graciously put me up in. Seriously though? A Super 8? You'd think they could do better for a wounded soldier. Then again I guess I technically wasn't wounded anymore I thought with a chuckle.

My first instinct was to call Katie and tell her how it all went down since I promised I'd be a better friend going forward, but right before I hit the call button on my phone I realized it wouldn't do me any good to call her before I knew what the Army was going to want me to do, since that would obviously be the first thing she'd ask.

So instead I dialed up my Battalion Commander. Usually you'd NEVER call that guy directly, since it's not just jumping the chain of command, but a full fucking leap, but I knew he was stateside at the moment where the rest of my leadership wasn't. Plus, I considered him a friend after a few nights of having a few too many beer's together on more than one occasion.

"Snake!" He exclaimed after answering, "how the hell are ya? I heard you had your physical today and I was just getting ready to call you to see what the skinny was."

"Clear and ready to roll Sir, just give the order," I replied, laughing at his tone of familiarity.

"That's fucking great. They need you over there. If you say you're ready I can have the orders ready and you on a flight back over in forty-eight hours!"

"Whatever you need Sir. You know that."

"Good shit soldier. I'm headed over there myself then too, I'll get you on my flight. All your gear still over there?" He asked.

"As far as I know I was just sent home with the clothes on my back and my duffles with uniforms from my room so I'd have to assume so."

"Fuck it. Either way we'll get you new gear if yours is gone or given away."

"Sounds good to me Sir. Where are we flying out of?"

"Believe it or not, Drumm. I'm on my way up there in a rental car now. Have a meeting with Brigade in the morning and they chose there of all places."

"Well shit, you know I'm already here and ready to go. I'll call home and let them know I won't be coming home before shipping."

"Were you planning on doing that? Have some things you need to take care of?" He asked seriously.

"Not anything that can't be taken care of over the phone Sir. Besides, short tour right? They've only got a few months left in the shit," I joked.

"That's the spirit. See you tomorrow Kid. Get some rest."

"Will do Sir."

By that point I was already in my motel room sitting on the edge of my bed, so I just turned myself to lay against the headboard and called Katie. Would she be pissed I had to go so soon? Would she understand? Should I tell her it's this last trip then I'm done? Did I really want out? My head was so full of racing thoughts I didn't even notice she picked up the phone.

"Matt?"

**

"Tomorrow?!" Katie almost yelled into the phone, "you said it might be quick but holy fuck!"

She may have been near yelling, but I could tell by her tone she wasn't actually mad. Luckily we'd had the drive to the airport to halfway have this discussion about what could happen, so at least it wasn't a surprise.

"Yea. It probably would have been longer if they didn't need me so bad. Plus it doesn't help that the Battalion CO was already on his way here to catch a flight out tomorrow."

"So I don't get to see you again before you leave?" She asked, the sadness evident in her now quiet voice.

"Unfortunately no Katie Kat... I know it sucks..."

The line went silent for a minute. I figured she was just trying to gather her thoughts so I gave her a few moments. When there still wasn't her voice on the other end I tentatively asked;

"Katie?"

Still nothing.

"Katie?"

The line was still quiet.

"Are you there?"

She still didn't answer but I thought I heard a sniffle. Oh hell... she was crying wasn't she? Before I could ask if she was alright the line was suddenly filled with the saddest yet most sincere thing I'd ever heard in my entire life.

"Please don't die Matt... I need you..."

Then the dam broke, and a mere second after that the line went dead.

**

I tried to call her back but she didn't answer. Straight to voicemail each time. I guess she turned her phone off and needed some time to let it all out. I couldn't figure out why she reacted like that considering she didn't react that way the last few times I left. At least I didn't think she did. Didn't seem like it anyways, but then again I wouldn't know because I was the one who just disappeared.

After a few more try's at reaching Katie, I finally gave up and called my parents to tell them the news, albeit I wasn't sure if it was good news or bad news for them. Understandably my mom was all worked up and nervous, asking me over and over if I was sure I was ready. My dad on the other hand was stoic and understanding. He'd been there, done that, got the t-shirt, and knew the drill.

I did what any good son would do, I said what I needed to say to try and calm my mother down, even if it wasn't completely the truth. Things like 'it's just a short tour. I'll be back before you know it," and "they haven't even been seeing any combat lately, they just need to fill their leadership spots."

I'm pretty sure Dad saw right through it, but if he did he didn't say anything. It did help Mom considerably, as she seemed to be rather calm and understanding by the end of the conversation.

After getting off the phone with my parents I figured I'd call my buddies and let them know what was going on too. Those conversations were rather short and mundane. They all knew I had to do what I had to do. Thank god the guys didn't make drama out of it.

**

With my phone calls done and nothing to do except wait around for my flight, I figured I'd head off post and grab a beer or two to kill some time, so I grabbed my keys from the desk and headed out to the rental car with surprisingly little on my mind. This wasn't anything new for me anyways.

I'd never been to New York before, certainly not the base, so I wasn't sure where to go for drinks, but if there's one thing the Army taught me, is that there's always a little hole in the wall just off any Post anywhere, so I figured I'd just drive until found it.

Like always, it didn't take long before I spotted a bar that looked like my kind of scene, so I pulled in and headed inside to check it out. It was right on the money. The bar had a po dunk feel to it with cracked leather chairs at the lopsided tables, and a long bar along the back wall that looked like it had seen better days.

Feeling satisfied with my find, I made my way towards the bar while casually eyeing the other patrons, not out of any form of malice but just to see what was what. The bar was one of the few left in the country that found a loophole for the brick and mortar no smoking laws, so the air was thick with tobacco smoke, a smell that made me smile and I pulled out my own pack and lit one up.

"What'll it be?" Asked the bartender as I approached, "beer or whiskey?"

"What if I said I wanted a vodka?" I quipped back at him.

"I'd offer you a beer or a whiskey, or I'd tell ya to find a new place to drink," the grey haired, short man with a potbelly laughed back.

"PBR it is," I responded while pulling out my wallet.

"That's a choice," he chuckled. "Can't say it's the best one though."

"It does me just fine old timer," I offered with a grin.

He slid me over my bottle and introduced himself as Jeff, the owner of the bar. We exchanged pleasantries and a bit of small talk for a few minutes until he deemed it necessary to go check on the other patrons.

I was taking a long pull on the beer when I felt the bar top shift a hair and looked over to see what caused it. To my surprise it was a rather attractive woman around my age bellying up next to me, well to my right anyways, since she left a seat vacant between us.

Jeff didn't even acknowledge her save for popping the top on a Busch Light and setting it down in front of her as he walked by. I wasn't usually one to chat up the ladies at a bar. I've always been a believer that love doesn't come from a barstool, but I figured what the hell tonight. Can't hurt anything right?

"I'd ask if you come here often, but judging by the words free service I'd assume that's a yes," I said with a grin, mentally kicking myself for the terrible line.

"Are you calling me an alcoholic?" She asked with a scowl, though a grin quickly replaced it as she turned towards me.

'At least she's not pissed at me' I thought to myself while giving her a quick once over, trying to be discreet.

"Oh lord no!" I answered, leading into my next sentence with a chuckle, "hell I'd probably burst into flames if I tried to cast that label on to someone. Something about the pot calling the kettle black right?"

"No stranger to the suds, three days max of stubble, and a terrible pickup line. Something tells me your work clothes consist of your name and a flag Velcro'd to your shirt." She laughed her musical laugh that made me smile whether I wanted to or not.

"Man it really must be true when people say they can pick us out of a crowd easier than finding a hipster in LA," I joked back.

"Eh not so much, I'm a Brat. Both parents are in. I've got a trained eye."

"Please don't be the Post Commanders daughter please don't be the Post Commanders daughter," I retorted with a smile, miming praying to the sky.

"And if I was?" She asked, that heartwarming smile back on her face.

"Then I'd be taking a big risk with this next question," I replied, hoping my sudden nervousness wasn't betraying my calm demeanor.

"And what would that be?" She questioned, the smile having not faded at all.

"Honestly I'm stuck between asking to buy you a beer or asking you to dance," I offered, hoping the answer would be of the positive nature.

"Hoping to get me drunk then get me your hands on me huh?" She asked, the smile fading from her face even though I swear I could still see a hint of it.

"Oh no, that's not me." I quickly offered, hoping my hunch was right I added, "I'd just like the opportunity to buy a beautiful woman a drink and share a dance."

"Well if that's the case, I think I might take you up on that, but, dance first," she said as she got up from her stool.

Almost as if on queue, "It's Your Love" by George straight came over the speakers. It wasn't loud as the bar wasn't set up for a musical scene, but it was still there. The bar also didn't have a formal dance floor. With that in mind I lead her towards the gap between the tables and the pool table and offered her my hand.

Taking it with a smile, she stepped into my embrace and we started swaying to the music, not performing a formal dance, just sort of doing what came natural.

"I'm slightly ashamed to say," I began. "I never caught your name."

"I'm thinking more and more maybe you are that guy then," she retorted, the ever present grin still on her face. "It's Caitlyn. Everyone calls me Caty though, Caty with a C."

"Well hello Caty with a C," I joked. "My names Matt, it's a pleasure to meet you."

Caty. 'What are the fucking odds of that?' I thought. Here I was worrying about how Katie was feeling when I was dancing with Caty. What a coincidence hey?

"Well hello to you Matt," she sighed. "What's a stud like you doing trying to pick up girls like me at a bar like this?"

"I already told you I'm not that guy," I said, subconsciously putting a little more space between us.

"Never said you were. But let's face it. Nobody asks a girl to dance anymore. Not unless they're interested."

"I never denied I was interested." I said, flashing her a grin, "but I'm definitely not trying to pick you up."

"Pity." She breathed as the song was ending.

Stepping away from my embrace, she started back towards our barstools, giving me a backwards glance over her shoulder.

Not sure what to think, I mindlessly followed, keeping my distance and making a point to not get caught checking her out. That's not to say I didn't look. You see, she had an extremely shapely rear end, and I was a red blooded male after all.

What was I doing? I kept saying I wasn't that guy, but wasn't I? Didn't I want to take her back to my hotel room and spend the night with her? It had been far too long and I'd have to say, she was as close to my type physically as anyone could be. Other than Katie, she was exactly my type.

Before that thought could even take root I shook it off and poured myself into my seat, taking a long swig of my beer to "re-hydrate" as if slowly swaying to a single song was the same physical exertion as doing a PT test.

"Listen," Caty said out of absolutely nowhere. "I'm not sure who you are, or how long you're stationed here for, but I'm not looking for anything even remotely serious."

"You're in luck, because I'm about as serious as a comedy show," I retorted with a laugh. "Plus, I'm only here till tomorrow anyhow."

"Oooo sounds important..." she mused. "Top secret mission overseas? Perhaps a standard deployment?"

"You're a Brat. You know I can't say. OPSEC and all that fun stuff," I chuckled.

Somehow, she only took that as meaning whatever I was here for was important, and that seemed to only draw her interest to me even more. Not that I was complaining or anything. Did I mention she was a knockout?

"Ooo that sounds intriguing." She said as she slid to the seat directly next to me, "you must be all kinds of badass."

I honestly never thought a sentence like that could sound so fucking sexy. Damned if this woman didn't make me do something I'd regret. 'There's worse problems to have' I silently joked with myself.

"I'm not sure where you're staying," she began before I could respond. "But my dads in the field for the week and my mom is visiting family out of town."

Ok, so she wasn't the Post Commanders daughter. Duly noted.

"And that would mean...?" I questioned, mentally punching myself for the question but a guy can never be too sure.

"Follow me back on post and you'll find out." She said with a wink and an oh so sexy lip bite, "I can promise you won't regret it."

I didn't respond. I didn't need to. Without even thinking I called Jeff over to pay my tab, which had her one beer on it as well. Just when I thought I was saddened by having to stay here and ship tomorrow it seemed my world got flipped upside down, and now I was about to go home with an insanely beautiful young woman who appeared to want nothing more than to rip my clothes off and have her way with me.

Tossing Jeff a twenty to cover the tab and the tip, I hopped off my seat and extended my hand towards the lovely young lady to escort her out. After we walked through the door into the parking lot she pointed at her vehicle and told me to follow her.

I started up my rental car and waited for her to back out of her spot, my mind racing with all sorts of dirty thoughts about her, what we were going to do, and everything in between. Sometimes being a soldier on the move had its advantages.

**

The drive back to post was uneventful as it was only a mile or so, and I'd only had the two beers, so I wasn't worried about some chicken shit MP stoping me at the gate. We got through no problem and started town the series of roads that led us away from cantonment and towards the post housing.

Caty pulled into a nice looking single family home, leading me to believe at least one of her parents was upper NCO, if not officer, while I hung back on the side of the road waiting for her to exit her car and tell me where to park. With a hand wave she told me to pull in the driveway, obviously not worried as to what the neighbors would think.