Page 22 of Gator's Gambit
The sun’s barely up when I report to the medical station at Cherry Point. An unaccustomed nervousness settles over me. Yes, I’m disappointed that I have to leave so soon after my heartfelt conversation with Fancy last night, but this career is the only thing I know. What if the doctor heredoesn’tclear me for active duty?
The waiting room is small and fairly empty this early in the day. It’s just one guy at the reception desk, another soldier, and myself there. As I fiddle with my phone to keep myself occupied, the medic at the desk calls the other guy, and I’m left to wait my turn.
Not long after he goes in, the door to the doctor’s office opens, and the soldier heads over to the desk. “Next,” the doctor calls. I get to my feet reluctantly and follow him into the small room. We swap pleasantries, and he indicates for me to take a seat in front of his desk.
“I’ve had a request from your commanding officer for a physical to see if you’re fit for active duty again. After receiving your file yesterday, I’ve reviewed the details of your injuries, your rehabilitation regime, and your doctor’s notes oneverything. So, before I examine you and put you through a fitness test, let’s start with how you’re doing.”
“I’m currently home on medical leave, have been since we returned from Africa, but I’ve continued the physical therapy the doctor suggested. I’ve been working with a trainer who specializes in body injuries. She’s actually a trained physical therapist.”
“Excellent. And how’s the rehab been going?”
“Well. Stiffness in the shoulder joint, muscle pain, all the other issues I’d been experiencing from the injury are much better. Mobility of the joint is vastly improved, and pain has all but disappeared. It’s only on days when I go too hard that I have some mild discomfort – pretty much like when you overtrain at the gym kind of discomfort.”
“Good. That’s what I like to hear. All right, well, let’s have a look and see what’s going on then, shall we?”
I go over to the examination bed and take my shirt off. The doctor puts me through my paces, manipulating my shoulder and arm every which way, looking for weakness or any kind of adverse reaction from me. When he’s satisfied, he continues, “I’ve got some basic exercises I want to put you through, and then we’ll see where that leaves us.”
We head out to the obstacle course on the base, and for the next hour, he puts me through a workout that is designed to test my endurance to the maximum. By the end of it I’m exhausted, dripping sweat, and praying I don’t throw up on the good doctor’s boots. But for all of that, I’m proud of myself for having made it through without tapping out.
Once back in his office, we sit in silence while he makes copious notes on my file, before turning back to me. “Well, young man, I’m happy to declare you fit for duty. I noticed some slight discomfort while performing some of the routines I putyou through, but not so much that you failed to complete the task, so I’m comfortable sending you out on a mission.
“I’ll notify your CO and submit my notes to your medical practitioner back home – what to retest in a couple of months, things to keep an eye on, and what to strengthen and improve. But overall, you’re in pretty good shape, so I’m happy.”
Thanking him, I make my way back to the car, my thoughts and emotions rioting through my brain. I’m thrilled to have been declared fit and healthy and able to go back to work. On the other hand, I’m not so thrilled to be leaving Fancy after we’ve just kind of found each other, so to speak.
This is, however, what I’m trained for, what I live for – the only thing I know how to do. I also want to be with Fancy, see where this thing between us can go, and explore what the future potentially holds for us. I just don’t know how to make it all work together.
I’m worried about the current threat to her, on top of everything else too. This psychopath who’s been stalking her for the past few months. As soon as I get back to Riverton, I need to have that chat with Knight about it, see if he can help me come up with a way to help Fancy out of her situation. All this crap is circling in my brain, and I need it not to. I can’t afford to be distracted while on the mission. Distraction equals disaster. Not ideal, in any way, shape, or form.
Thoughts of Fancy stoke a sudden urgency to be with her. Needing to hear her voice, and unable to wait, I put a call through on the handsfree system in Em’s car. I listen to the sound of ringing as I pull out of my parking space, and then her voice fills the car.
“Good morning, Bean. You’re calling early.”
“Yeah, just leaving the base after my checkup.”
“Oh, that’s right. How’d it go?”
“Good. I got the all-clear, so I’ll – uh – I’ll be returning to Riverton tonight. There’s a staff transporter heading out at twenty-one hundred.”
The silence on her end is deafening. To be honest, I know how she feels. Everything in me is rebelling at the idea of having to leave her.
“Oh – thatisgood news. I’m happy for you.” The words she’s using are at odds with the tone they come out in, and I feel for her. I’m experiencing similar emotions.
“Thanks, Pooks. But the reason I’m calling is to ask if you’d like to spend the day together before I have to head out?”
“Yes, I’d love that,” Fancy replies, zero hesitation, and my heart sings.
“Great. I’m leaving the base now, so I’ll head straight to your place to pick you up.”
“Okay, I’m about done anyway. See you soon.” Saying goodbye, I turn my thoughts to planning what to do with our day. I don’t care what it is, I just want to be with her.
By the time I reach her parents’ house, I have a working plan. I’m not sure she’ll be onboard with it, but I’m going to do my level best to convince her. There’s a beautiful bed and breakfast out in Morehead City, right on the water. Yeah, seduction’s on my mind, but if Fancy’s uncomfortable with the idea, I’ll nix it. Bottom line is, I just want to be alone with her, even if conversation is the only thing on the cards.
After the obligatory small talk with her mom, we get on the road. Fancy’s expression can only be described as melancholy as I point the vehicle in the direction of our destination, thirty minutes away. She sits quietly, her gaze firmly set outside the window.
Without turning her head, I hear her ask, “So what’s the plan for today?”
“No particular plan. I thought we could hang out and talk, catch up on each other’s lives over the last few years since we last spent any quality time together, and see where we go from there.”
