Kassidy's mind woke up before her body. She knew she was in her bed alone and when she finally opened her eyes, she realized that it had to be really late. She could hear the television playing on the other side of her room divider. After sitting up in bed and stretching, she went to her living area to find Jackson asleep on her couch. Her television was playing The O'Reilly Factor... ugh.
"Jackson," she said, walking over to him. He was in a deep, troubled sleep, groaning and moving, "Jackson?" He slept through her calls, sweat pooling on his forehead...
"Captain," a young Private said breathlessly before stopping and saluting him.
"Private," Jackson said, returning the salute.
"Captain, we have a lead on the whereabouts of Sadiq Zahir Bishara... Majid started talking a few minutes ago," Private Hall said.
"I don't trust him," Jackson said, simply, "I don't trust anything that any of them have to say."
"Yes, Sir," Private Hall said, saluting again and walking away. Jackson knew he was going to have to speak with him but he had no desire to. Qadi Khalis Majid was by far one of the most notorious Afghan assassins in military history. Needless to say, Jackson could not see him having a change of heart...it was definitely a set up.
Jackson walked into the prison, nearly gagging at the smell. The intense heat amplified the already nearly unbearable odor. He returned the salutes given by several enlisted soldiers before stopping in front of Majid's cell.
"Majid!" he shouted, rattling the bars of his cell.
"What do you want?" Majid said in his thick accent, briefly looking toward Jackson.
"I was told that you had some information for me," Jackson said, clearing his throat.
"I have very valuable information for you," Majid said, smiling, "I can tell you where to find Bishara."
"Why would I trust you?" Jackson pressed.
"I have failed Allah. He has already forsaken me. Why should I not help you?" Majid asked, getting to his feet and scratching his full beard. Jackson rolled his eyes. This fucking guy.
"Where is he, Majid?" Jackson asked, sighing.
"He is hiding outside of Sar-e Pol," Majid said, leaning in.
"I don't believe you," Jackson said, turning his back on him and walking away.
"It is the truth, use it as you wish," Majid said, sitting back down.
Jackson sat at his desk and pondered his next move. He couldn't trust Majid as far as he can throw him. He knew not to lead his troops to Sar-e Pol because it would either be a wild goose chase or a set up and he refused to have senseless blood on his hands. There was a knock on his door.
"Enter," he said and watched as an NCO entered the office.
"Captain, Majid killed himself, snapped his own neck," Sergeant Childress said after saluting him. Jackson nodded and Childress said, leaving the office. 'Fuck, now what?" Jackson thought.
~*~*~*~*~
The next day, Jackson and a platoon manned two humvees to safely detain a few belligerent failed suicide bombers. As soon as they passed an outskirt checkpoint, a few IED's exploded, flipping both humvees and ejecting Jackson and two other soldiers, instantly killing one. It took awhile for Jackson to get his bearings, he couldn't hear and his mind was reeling. He blinked several times before focusing on the burning vehicles. He got to his feet, clumsily. He had broken ribs, it was excruciating to breathe.
"We've been hit! We've been hit!" he shouted after pulling out his radio. The humvees were burning and after his hearing returned, he heard the men screaming... burning to death. He would never forget the screams... the screams of the men he failed.
"Captain!" Jackson heard from his humvee. It was Private Hall, he had to only be about 18 or 19... He had to save him. "Captain, please! I don't want to die!" Hall sobbed, looking at him with terrified eyes. The smell of burning flesh was nauseating. Jackson pulled out his knife and proceeded to cut him free. The fire began to spread over Hall's body, causing him to scream in pain. Fire licked at Jackson's hands as he continued to cut through the young Private's safety straps, blistering them. Soon, the screaming ceased.
"I'll get you out! Stay with me, Private!" Jackson shouted, ignoring the burn of his hands as he cut Hall's final strap. The Private's lifeless, burning body fell to the ground. "No!"
He hobbled to the other humvee, checking for life but found that no one was alive. He finally walked to the ejected bodies. One was dead with a crushed skull, the other was barely hanging on. "Am I gonna die, Captain?"
"No, Corporal, you'll be fine, you just have a few broken bones," he lied, propping his rucksack underneath the bleeding soldier's shoulders. "I called for help, they should be here any moment."
Jackson waited for help next to the wounded soldier but he could still hear Private Hall's pleas in his head...
~*~*~*~
Jackson opened his eyes and was drenched in sweat, his throat was dry and sore. He looked around and saw Kassidy looking at him with tears in her eyes. What the fuck did he do?
"Kassidy? Did I hurt you?" he asked, cautiously. He had absolutely no control of his actions while he was asleep. One time he had even woken up with bloody knuckles.
She shook her head, still looking at him in silence. "What's wrong, then?" he asked.
"Nothing," she said, getting to her feet.
"No, come here," he said, his deep voice sending chills down her spine.
"What is the matter with you?" he asked, raising his eyebrow.
"You screamed, Jackson. Your eyes shot open and you screamed... you didn't even see me," Kassidy said, her bottom lip trembling.
"I'm sorry, I was just having a nightmare," he explained, hoping his calm attitude would rub off on her.
"About Afghanistan?" she asked, sitting next to him.
His throat went dry thinking about his dream. It felt so real. "Yes," he said, exhaling heavily.
"Are you okay, Jackson?" she asked, concerned, "Can I get you anything?"
"No, Babe, I'm fine," he said, wiping the remaining sweat from his brow.
"I'm sorry that whatever happened to you over there, happened, Jackson," she said, kissing his lips.
"It's fine," he said, quietly. He knew that she would never understand the ghosts that haunted him whenever his eyes closed, but he knew that she meant well and she cared about him and he cared about her as well.
~*~*~*~
Kassidy sipped her lemonade as she waited for her best friend to show up at Buffalo Wild Wings. Today was the day of the big UFC fight and it was tradition for them to watch UFC fights together at BWW.
At first, Kassidy was afraid that Jackson would have a problem with her spending time alone with her ex-friend-with-benefits but Jackson was too confident to be insecure which is one thing that Kassidy found incredibly sexy about him...
Halfway through her drink, she saw Sean walk inside. She waved to get his attention. When he saw her, he nodded and began to walk over.
"Sun-Sean!" She said, jumping to her feet and into his waiting arms, "I missed you!"
"I missed you, too, Kass," he said, relishing in the feel of her perky breasts pressed flush against him. Were her nipples hard?
"Um, Sean," Kassidy's voice crept into his filthy thoughts, "You can put me down, now."
