Desperate Situations

by Holden, Abby

  "Meg, Razorback coming up hard." Cowboy's head was cocked back to look in the direction of the oncoming convoy.

  "Got him."

  He hit the channel button. "Razorback, see the parking lot of Toys near the road. Looks mighty suspicious." They hovered farther away watching the other helicopter swing in for a closer look.

  "Could be an old accident, Death," the pilot said back.

  "Do you want to take that chance?" Cowboy asked.

  "What do you suggest, Death?"

  Cowboy looked at Megan.

  "Blow it."

  Cowboy nodded and relayed the reply.

  "Can't determine if there are any civilians. Negative," Razorback responded.

  "And what happens if it's a welcoming bang for them boys back there?" Cowboy countered.

  There was silence for a few seconds. Both pilots knew that they were too far for radio communications with the military base.

  "I can't fire on a nonbelligerent target," Razorback finally said.

  "And?" Cowboy asked back turning to look at Megan.

  "That's all I'm saying, Death. I need to return to the convoy. I'll advise them of the situation. Razorback out." The military Black Hawk flew off.

  Megan glanced at Cowboy. "Well?"

  "Got me, Darlin'."

  "Damn." Megan chewed her lip. She hated these split second decisions. Once more she looked at Cowboy. "I hate this."

  "What to do?" he asked, already arming a missile. If they fired one of these babies, there'd be a lot of paperwork. They were extremely expensive.

  "Fly by." She tilted the rotors and in a flash flew close enough to almost read the serial numbers off the dashboards.

  "Easy, Meg. Too close," he said softly.

  "Take a couple pictures Kelly―I don't see any bodies."

  Cowboy grabbed a digital camera and quickly snapped several pictures as she hovered.

  "See the cover over something in back. Could be boxes of explosives."

  "Could be," Cowboy said still snapping pictures.

  "Eyes," Megan said as she flew the area again.

  "Nuthin' and nobody."

  "Me either." She backed the helicopter away then glanced at him. "Fireworks, Cowboy."

  "Yee-haw," Cowboy said as he hit the button.

  From under the aircraft a Stinger missile released. Within seconds, the four trucks were no more. The explosion sent a shock wave that buffeted the helicopter. The blast was too large for just the four vehicles.

  Megan smiled broadly. "Jackpot."

  "I love my job," he said with an equally huge smile.

  "Some days, me too."

  Cowboy hit the channel button. "Razorback, this is Death."

  "Go head, Death."

  "We have determined that there is no longer a threat to the site." He glanced at Megan to see her eyes dancing bright.

  A chuckle came back on the radio. "Affirmative, Death. And thank you."

  "Ya'all welcome," Cowboy said.

  "Have Cupcake investigate from the ground," Megan ordered.

  "Death to Cupcake."

  There was static on the channel for a second, then background noise of wind and road. "Go ahead, Death."

  "In about five miles, ya'll come across a big scorched area where the road narrows. It's still smoking, so ya can't miss it. Check it out. Quickly. Get a ground eyes look-see. We'll cover ya'all from the air."

  "Affirmative. Out."

  Megan smiled. "Some days it just all comes together."

  Within minutes, the convoy passed the burned out remains of the trucks. One Hummer swung to the side of the road and Megan watched as Jake jumped out, followed by Tiny. He and Tiny quickly eyeballed the sight. Both of them bent over a couple of times then hurried back to the running vehicle. Fisher was standing on the hood of the truck, gun out, scanning the area.

  A wave from Jake to the helicopter as he entered the Hummer sent both of them flying back to the convoy. Within seconds of it pulling away, the radio crackled to life.

  "Death, this is Cupcake."

  "Yeah, Cupcake?" Cowboy replied back.

  "Toast. Not much left of it. I picked up a couple of pieces of metal. Looks like there might have been a trip wire across the roadway. Looks similar to things I saw in Iraq. What did you hit them with?"

  Cowboy chuckled in her ear.

  Megan glanced at him, smiling.

  "Just a little ol' match, Cupcake."

  "Well…" There was a smile in his voice. "That was one hell of a match."

  ***

  The next day they were returning from another supply run to a small village in the mountains. They had been delivering boxes. Unmarked boxes.

  Cowboy nudged Megan and pointed down.

  Megan glanced over his arm then frowned. She swung the helicopter around to take another look. Two vehicles were smoking on the road, and from their angle, it was a major accident. One had apparently run headlong into the other. There were three bodies lying in and around two brightly colored trucks. One man stumbled out of the truck and fell several feet away.

  She hovered watching. There was no other movement along the deserted road or in the immediate area. Her eyes flicked to Cowboy. "What do you think?"

  "Who are they?"

  The intercom buzzed. "Looks like they need help down there, Ghost," Jake's voice called out.

  Megan's frown deepened. She glanced at the fuel gauge then back to the road.

  "Gotta be soon, Darlin'," Cowboy said, also eyeballing the fuel gauge.

  "Yeah." Megan tilted her head, thinking fast.

  "Ghost, people are dying down there," Jake's voice insisted.

  "Do you see any indication of what tribe they are from?" Megan asked as both strained to see anything to ID the people, colors or maybe a turban wrapped a certain way. She moved the aircraft into a different position.

  "Nope."

  "Ghost?" Jake's voice asked. "What're we waiting for?"

  Megan scowled as she hit the intercom button. "ID Cupcake. This could be a trap."

  "How would they have known that we were…?"

  "I've seen it before," she growled at him.

  "At least two are dead," Jake informed her. "The two near the burning truck. One's neck is at an odd angle. The other looks like he hit that huge boulder near by and bounced."

  Megan moved the helicopter for a different look.

  "The other guy is still moving. The one near him may or may not be dead. I think we should get them."

  "When I want your opinion, I'll promote you to co-pilot, Cupcake."

  "It's just that they are…"

  "This is not a democracy, Cupcake. Do not speak again. That's an order." Megan clicked off the intercom.

  "That one guy is moving," Cowboy agreed.

  Megan was already turning the helicopter around 360 degrees for a total view of the area. "Something's not right. I feel it in my bones."

  "Or it could get us in good with the local warlord," he suggested.

  Megan nodded. She bit her lip. With an angry swat of her thumb, the intercom came on. "Listen up. We don't have the fuel for this but… Two guys, Cupcake and someone else. Not Gunner, you get a gun ready. I'll settle close to the ground. Hop out. Check those guys fast. Guns at the ready. This could be a trap. We'll cover you from here. Be ready to run. Leave the wounded. Ready?" She didn't wait for an answer but dropped the chopper.

  As soon as Gunner called clear, she pulled up and hovered several hundred feet above the area. Both pilots scanned nearby hills and valleys.

  "Tiny, report on below," Megan ordered. Her eyes panned to Cupcake and Fisher who were moving fast, checking out the four bodies.

  "I think two are dead. Cupcake is… the moving guy is alive. So is the one near him."

  "Damn, we got company," Megan called out even as she lowered the chopper.

  Cowboy glanced in the direction she was looking. Sure enough, four white trucks were quickly approaching on the road. "We got seconds, Girl."

&nb
sp; "Damn it." Megan's eyes panned to the two crew members struggling to carry the hurt men back to the hovering aircraft.

  Two more of the crew hopped out to help. Before the four and wounded were near the aircraft, Gunner began firing in the direction of the approaching trucks.

  A couple shots ricocheted off the side and two plunked into the windshield, one right near Megan's head. Famine jerked a couple inches but still the helicopter hovered.

  "Shit. Come on," Megan whispered.

  Almost immediately, Tiny's voice sounded, "Go."

  The helicopter shot straight up and away. Megan glanced back to see that the four trucks had emptied of men, all of which were firing at them. A couple more bullets hit the helicopter but appeared to do no damage.

  Cowboy finally let out his breath. "Gray hair. I'm gonna leave this place with fuckin' gray hair." He smiled at Megan then it faded. "Meg?"

  "Fly," she said softly. Her face contorted in pain.

  "Got it." Cowboy took control of the aircraft. "How bad?"

  Megan let go of the controls with both hands and moved her feet back from the foot pedals as she felt him take control. She grimaced as her left hand grabbed her right upper arm. She pulled her hand away to see blood on it. Moaning, she flexed her right arm.

  "Meg?"

  Megan shook her head. "Painful, but I've had worse."

  "Shoulder?"

  "No, arm I think." She turned her arm as best she could with the pain. "Yeah. Damn it hurts." She closed her eyes and leaned her head back.

  "You gonna make it, Meg?"

  "Yeah. Just don't break my bird."

  Cowboy chuckled nervously.

  Megan flicked on the intercom. "Okay, talk to me boys."

  Gunner's voice came on. "Two men. Badly bleeding. One is awake. One is… not awake. Man say he with Tashir village."

  Cowboy let out his breath. "Thank God."

  Megan nodded. "Do first aid."

  "Doing it."

  "Gunner, will they make it?"

  There was a pause before he answered. "Don't know."

  "How bad?"

  Jake's voice came on. "The unconscious one has head injuries. Pretty severe head injuries, I say. The other one has lots of cuts and bruises, maybe internal injuries. He's fighting us and keeps repeating something." Jake must have leaned forward toward the injured man because the man's weak voice sounded over the intercom speaking Dari.

  Megan grimaced again before speaking, her hand pressing hard into her arm, blood beginning to leak around her fingers. "Cupcake, repeat these words to him as best you can…." She spoke slowly and deliberately. Megan heard Jake repeating them over the intercom right after her. "It means we're friends."

  There was another pause on the intercom. "Thanks. That seemed to settle him down."

  "Do the best you can, Cupcake." She clicked off the radio. "Oh God!" She bent over in pain. "Damn, this hurts."

  Cowboy flashed a look her way.

  "I'll make it. One lousy, little bullet isn't sending this Ghost to heaven." She tried a smile for him.

  "Heaven? Woman, you're going to hell for sure. In two days, you'll be running the joint."

  Megan chuckled and grimaced at the same time. "Well, I'll save a spot up front for you."

  "Do that, Darlin'. Just hold on. We'll be at the military hospital lickety-split."

  "Yee-haw," Megan said softly.

  ***

  Megan worried as she waited in the emergency room of the military base. Right before they landed, Famine began acting up, which meant that another of the bullets had hit something vital. Cowboy had gotten on the runway with only minor cursing, but she had no idea what the problem was.

  The three injured had been transferred to a waiting vehicle, which immediately headed to the hospital. With only one doctor on duty, she had to wait, since the two guys were in far worse shape than her. A male nurse checked her out and proclaimed her 'not likely to die.' His attempt at humor. In reality, it was a minor wound. And now that she had taken painkillers, she was only worried about her aircraft.

  A knock sounded on the door. Jake stuck his head in. "Hi."

  Megan scowled.

  "Okay, so you're still mad." He walked in and stood just inside the door. "I came to give you a report on Famine."

  "Yeah?"

  "Bullet nicked one of the linkages. It'll be stranded here for a day until Corn can make it over to repair it. Cowboy said to tell you not to worry, there was no other damage."

  Megan let out her breath. "Good."

  Jake smiled. "You look good."

  Her flight suit was off down to the waist, her body armor sitting next to her on the bed, and her T-shirt, which was partially blood-soaked on the right side, cut off at the shoulder. She glanced at her bandaged wound and grimaced. "Flesh wound, I believe is the Hollywood way to describe this."

  "Does it hurt?" His blue eyes betrayed concern.

  "Not any more." Megan smiled. Painkillers had dulled the pain.

  Jake glanced down at the floor then shifted on his feet. "About what happened, I know I was out of line, I just hate to see people…"

  "Special Forces hero," Megan interrupted him. "We'll talk about it tomorrow when the painkillers are out of my system and I can be the bitch I need to be. You caught a break, Cupcake."

  Jake chuckled. "Have you heard how they are?"

  "Yeah. The conscious one, Abdul Jameel Daud, has multiple contusions and a slight concussion. The other is in critical condition. As you said, he has multiple head wounds. They're not very hopeful in his case." She looked Jake in the eye. "The village and his whole tribe are now indebted to White Pine."

  "Really?" Jake crossed his arms and cocked his hip in a more comfortable position. "How's that?"

  "Abdul is the son of the local warlord. He was the target of the 'accident,' according to my sources. The guys in the other vehicles were chasing them trying to kidnap him. My contact is not sure why, probably to get control over his father to influence him into agreeing to concessions. The other injured guy is his cousin. Abdul's father has expressed his tribe's thanks and many prayers. So over all, it's a good thing we stopped the kidnapping."

  Jake merely nodded. "And you?"

  "What?"

  He pointed at the wound. "How long will you be out of commission?"

  Megan shrugged her good shoulder. "It depends on a lot of things. The flight surgeon on base will have to certify me. Not that big a deal. The paperwork on this and the, uh, match lighting will take a good deal of my time. I was wondering how I was going to squeeze them in."

  "What about the crew?"

  "Well, you'll be leading them under Cowboy on the actual missions. I'll still be in command. I might even ride shotgun if necessary. Think you can handle the pressure?"

  Jake made a face.

  Megan laughed.

  Jake glanced at his watch. "Cowboy wants me back with a status report on you. Guess I'd better get going." He looked Megan in the eyes. "Glad you're still with us, Chief." He gently massaged her good shoulder.

  "You say that now. Just wait until tomorrow when I ream you a new one," Megan replied as Jake exited the room chuckling.

  Megan shook her head with a smile. She stared at the door for a minute longer then rubbed her lips, remembering the kiss and more importantly, the basketball game. A heat settled in her loins again. As soon as he gets a nod from the executives, I'm doing some nodding myself. The smile broadened. Yes, I'll have my way with him. For one night.

  ***

  A week and a half later, Jake absentmindedly shuffled the crew reports as he walked down the hallway. They had been playing security guards on the runway again and these were the boring reports that reported how boring it was. Right before he got to Megan's office he heard her voice. Pausing he frowned. She sounded upset.

  "Yes, I know. But I already told you that I think he's a mistake… Look, if you want my opinion, and you did just ask for it, I think that he's wrong for the… I didn't say that… Damn i
t Bill, you asked, so listen… I did as you asked. I evaluated him. In my opinion, I think it's a mistake to offer him the position… Yes, I know I'm not always right, but in this case I think I know more than…"

  Jake knocked lightly on the door frame and stood in the doorway. Megan cursed slightly at the person on the phone. Her eyes racked over him. Damn, she's so beautiful.

  "Yes, Bill. When?" Megan motioned for Jake to sit down. "Is the link back up from the damage done on that last attack?"

  Two days before there had been a successful attempt to take out White Pine's satellite uplink. At the same time, someone had sent several rounds of mortars into the military encampment and did damage to their links too. So far the only thing affected was weather reports and some communications. Nothing extremely serious. More aggravating than anything.

  Megan frowned. "By ourselves? Isn't that a bit unusual?"

  Jake laid the papers on her desk and got comfortable, his eyes studying her as she spoke on the phone.

  "When do they want this done by?" She grimaced then made a mocking face at Jake, mimicking the speaker talking on the phone. Her eyes suddenly flew to the calendar hanging on the wall. "So, it's at my discretion?"

  Jake crossed his arms.

  "Why?" She made a face. "And the reason for that would be?… Because I have the right to know. If they can wait, I can do it myself…" She sighed softly. "Fine. A test for him. Got it. Right. Before then. It'll be done…" She shook her head. "I said it'll be done." With a mad look, she threw the phone into the cradle.

  "Problem, Chief?"

  "No." She rubbed her face as her phone rang again. "Cartwright… Good. Yeah, I can be there tomorrow. Ten o'clock. Thanks." She made a note of the appointment as she settled the phone back into the cradle.

  Jake looked over the desk and saw her write 'doctor' next to the time and date. He raised his eyebrows.

  "Check up with Doctor Himbert on the military base. Hopefully he'll re-certify me to fly." She rubbed at the still sore shoulder.

  "Are you ready?" Jake asked, his eyes taking in her painful expression.

  "This?" Megan smiled indicating her arm. "I've just sat too long." She frowned, looking at the phone. "Close the door." She waited until he complied. "We just picked up a new mission. To be executed within the next several days. The sooner, the better."