Page 4 of Confessions of an Apache Pilot

We were just lining up with the runway and beginning our approach to land. Laura’s helicopter was in front of us, flying low over the runway.

Suddenly flares started shooting out of her helicopter. “Oh no, I forgot to turn my flares off,” The voice was new, it must have been Laura’s copilot.

“Oh bullshit!” Nick shouted angrily, making me jump. “Every time with these assholes.”

My eyebrows shot up as I glanced over at him. He was glaring at Laura’s Apache, his face turning as red as an over ripe tomato. I had a feeling I was seeing first hand one of the issues between the old crew and these guys.

When you land at an airfield you’re supposed to deactivate your flares. On occasion, the radar equipment on the ground caused them to inadvertently activate, shooting flares into the grass, and starting a fire. Watching Laura’s helicopter fire off dozens of flares, it was clear this was no accident. They were hitting the dry grass next to the runway and already flames were licking across the ground.

“Oh oops, they just keep firing off.” The man’s laughter was barely contained. An area the size of a football field was burning now.

Nick sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose as he tried to get a hold of himself. “Every time the grass grows back these assholes light it on fire. It’s always when I’m landing. Fucking pricks. I swear they just did it to try to pull me into the arguments.”

“You stayed out of them?” I asked, curious.

“Yeah, I didn’t see the point in causing trouble with the guys who’re supposed to watch our asses out there. Unfortunately, the rest of our crew didn’t see it that way and the Apache guys are always up for a round or two of fighting. Just the way they are.”

Sounded logical to me. No wonder Nick was the only one who was still here while the rest had been shipped off. If he kept his head around these guys and did his job, I was glad to have him on board. I didn’t comment again, choosing to remain silent. It wasn’t the right time to mention to him that Laura was my friend. Best friend. This deployment is just getting better and better. The sarcasm in that thought was thick. It was only our second day in country and I couldn’t seem to catch a break.

We flew over the burning field, landed, and shut down our helicopter. I reached for my bags as we all unloaded our gear and I silently prayed that Laura wouldn’t come rushing out here. I wanted to make a good first impression with Nick, and clearly the history between these Apache guys, Nick, and the previous MEDEVAC team was still fresh and unfriendly. As excited as I was to see Laura again, I’d rather have our reunion happen inside, away from everyone else. It didn’t matter that we were taking over for the old team, Nick and the previous commander were still here, I needed time to smooth things over.

I looked over to where the Apaches were parked, trying to find Laura. My search was interrupted when I caught sight of Sheppard tying down his aircraft. I didn’t mean to stare, but the sight of him in his combat shirt made my mouth go dry, again. His muscles bunched as he worked, it forced me to stop short and take notice. I shook my head, reminding myself that he nearly started a fight with my ex over, well, I don’t know what, and that his team just set the airfield on fire in front of me, and was likely a big contributor to whatever ‘problems’ the last MED crew had out here.

The squeal that bounced off the pavement and echoed around us had me whirling around in time for Laura to toss her Amazonian body into my arms. I wasn’t a tiny woman at five-ten, but she was still a little bigger and the move had me staggering backward into the side of our Black Hawk, even as I wrapped my arms around her. I winced as my body slammed into the metal, but couldn’t help but laugh at her enthusiasm.

Her legs locked around my waist and she pulled her head back so she could grin down into my face. “I can’t believe you’re here! That we’re here!”

My gaze slid over to Nick, whose eyes were narrowed on us. The smile I gave him was equal parts apologetic and sheepish. Oh well, the cat was out of the bag.

“Me neither,” I replied to her with a laugh. Over her head, I saw the Apache guys she’d been flying with standing next to their aircraft, watching us with grins on their faces. Rolling my eyes, I nodded toward them. “Get off me before they think we’re going to give them a show.”

She snorted, but hopped off me and back onto the ground. “I have to finish up out here, but then we’ve got so much to talk about.” She took a few steps toward Sheppard, then stopped and spun on one foot. “I heard something happened over in Bagram with Scott…” She trailed off, looking angry. She hated him almost as much as I did.

“Ho-how did you hear that?” I asked, shocked that somehow the news had already made it here. I knew gossip spread as fast as the fire out on the runway while deployed, but this had to be a new record.

She shook her head and smiled. “Apaches communicate faster than anyone else.” She winked, with a mischievous look on her face. “One of the guys mentioned that Sheppard handled it.” One of her brows arched up. “I can’t wait to hear all about that.”

I turned around quickly before my blush gave me away, though her laugh told me it was too late. Somehow she already knew there was an attraction there. At least on my side. How did she always know?

We were polar opposites, but God I loved her. She was closer to me than my own sister. I turned and gave Nick another guilty smile. He just shook his head in disappointment, his mouth puckered, looking like he’d been chewing on a lemon, and went back to unloading the aircraft.

So much for that first impression.

Sighing, I hefted my bags over my shoulder and dropped them off in the container that would serve as my room. I eyeballed the space. It was more than enough for us. According to Nick, I’d be sharing it with Laura. That was fine by me. It would give us more time together between missions. There wasn’t much time to settle in. I was grateful Laura was still out at her aircraft because, before I did anything else, I needed to go see the Colonel that was in charge of our base and check in. Laura and I had a habit of losing track of time whenever we were together. I was hoping we’d kicked that bad flight school habit, but only time would tell.

“Colonel Ortiz is more relaxed than you might be used to, but don’t let his easy nature make you complacent. He will eat you alive if you get out of line,” Nick said as I joined him back out in the hallway.

He showed me to the Colonel’s office. The door was open, but he still knocked as he walked in. “Sir, this is Captain Walker, our new Pilot in Command and Commander of the MED detachment.”

Colonel Ortiz stood up and stretched his arm out. I grabbed his hand and shook. I was grateful that Nick had warned me because the Colonel’s easy smile would have confused me without it. Most Colonels usually tried to show what hard asses they could be right out of the gate and then would loosen up over time. They didn’t normally shake hands.

“Welcome Captain, we’re glad to have you up here. We’re short-handed as it is.” His deep velvety voice didn’t fit with his tall, lanky stature and I had to work to keep my jaw from dropping.

“Well, Sir, I’m looking forward to helping,” I replied, respectfully.

“Is this your first deployment, Captain?” he asked me. It was a courtesy question. I didn’t have a combat patch on my right arm, so it was easy to see that this was my first.

“Yes, Sir.” This was actually nice. I’d been expecting a spiel about the way they do things here. One that was delivered like an ass chewing, even though he knew nothing about me. A dressing down that would hint—without being subtle at all—that I was expected to conform to the way they ran things, without thinking I was special enough to change anything. It's how most introductions with Army Colonels went.

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