Introduction/Chapter 1

Well, I'm sad to say that this will probably be the last story I write for roughly a year.  For those who don't know me, I'm starting paramedic school in September and my friends and instructors have already warned me that I will have no life but studying, practicals and sleeping.  So, I wanted to have one last hurrah before it is time to buckle down and become a full-time student for the first time since I graduated college a few years ago.

I will definitely be posting the rest of the stories I have written and posted on the Hockey Fantasy Fiction board since many have expressed interest in that...so no worries.

I only have a few chapters written of this so far and I contemplated on waiting to post it until it was finished, but like any writer, I am looking for feedback!! It will be a chapter or 2 until we learn about my new hockey muse... strangely, he has been someone that I've been attempting to write about for some time now, but nothing ever seemed to work until this time.  I hope you all enjoy and will follow me along on this last adventure before my hiatus!!

Here is the song that this story is named after... Yes, I'm obsessed with Incubus, what can I say? :o)

Chapter One

January 2009

“If it gets any hotter, I’m thinking my clothing is going to melt off,” I breathed, wiping the sweat off my forehead even though it was worthless because it just beaded up as soon as my arm was back down at my side.  It was a dry heat.  People say it was easier to get used to, but being a girl from Canada, I would never be used to it.  It is January, but you could fool me as I stand here in the desert.

“You know Fletch, I’m sure I’m not the only one hoping that would happen,” Kramer immediately piped up.  He smacked me on the back as he walked by and winked at me.

I just shook my head and smiled.  So much for the zero tolerance of sexual harassment in the military; there would be no laughter without it in this sandbox hell.  “You wouldn’t be able to handle what I’m packing, Kramer!” I chirped back, instantly garnering some whistles and hollers from some of the other guys in our platoon.  I looked over to the only other woman in my group who also happened to be my best friend Susie.  She was laughing with the rest and giving me a thumbs up approval.

The world was a whole different place over here.  I thought I knew what to expect when I first signed my papers, but I learned quickly that I hadn’t a clue.  I guess you could say I grew up a happy, naïve Canadian girl.  Thinking back, my parents are probably the ones to blame because they made sure I had everything and sheltered me from everything bad that they could.  They adopted me from Korea when I was only a few months old after they tried several times to have a child together.  They were already in early 40’s, well settled in their careers and lives, so money was never an issue for them.  I always had the best clothing, went to the best schools, and given every opportunity a girl could want.  So when I went to them about my plans of joining the military after I finished high school, let’s just say they were a little more than shocked and upset.

“Alexandra,” my father began.  I still can picture him clearly.  He set the newspaper down that he had been reading and adjusted his glasses as if that would change the words that had come from my mouth.  “You have been accepted to Princeton and Hopkins…”

“I realize this.” I said simply, realizing I was going to have to dig my foot deep into the ground to keep this strong hold.  I was ready for a life of adventure, but with structure, which was exactly what the recruiter promised me and exactly what I wanted.  Being very task and goal oriented, this prospect appealed to me greatly.

“There is no reason to waste your talents and mind on something so…something so brainwashing.”

“I want to be a combat nurse, Dad.”

“I thought you wanted to become a Doctor,” my mother said quietly, finally joining my father in the effort.

“Well, it is what you wanted me to become,” I spoke slowly, not really wanting to offend my parents.  I loved them both very much for giving me everything in the world, but I was ready to make my own decisions.  “I want to serve my country.”

“You can serve your country by becoming a doctor and working here,” my father said plainly, raising his voice a few decibels.

“I’m already signed up.  The Army has already accepted me into their nursing program.”

“So has Princeton and Hopkins,” he reiterated.

“I’ve already been in touch and declined my offers with them.”

“This is absurd!” he exploded.  “You have done some mind boggling things before, Alexandra, but I’m sure this one tops the cake, young lady!  I mean, do you even realize that you still have to go through basic training like the rest of the infantry?!  It’s not like gym class where you run a mile and you are done…”

“I realize this and this is why I’ve been staying after school, running and lifting with the other military prospects,” I informed him, trying my hardest to keep hold of my own temper.

“So you’ve been lying to us about that too?!”

“I’ve been working out instead of getting study help, yes, I’m sorry father.”  I was actually ashamed of this fact because I rarely lied to my parents.  I looked over at my mom who was staying quiet again for the time being and saw the tears rolling down her eyes.  At this I almost buckled and rescinded everything, but I quickly looked away and back up at my father who was now pacing back and forth in the living room.  “You were in the military, why is it such a big deal that I too want to serve my country?” I threw up.

These words stopped my father.  He had been a decorated soldier in the Vietnam War, so I knew these thoughts would affect him somehow.  “I didn’t have a choice,” he said surprisingly quiet, thus ending the debate.  Nothing more was said from that day forward.  I knew they didn’t approve, which in some ways made it a lot worse than if they would have argued with me day after day until I left for boot camp.

There were definitely days that I found myself second guessing my choices, but here I was, 2 years later serving my country and having a good laugh with the people who trusted me with their lives.  I learned quickly that life was not always about getting everything you wanted, it didn’t matter if I had the best education money could by and life was not just about me anymore.  Out here it was all about street smarts, if you could handle what was thrown at you (figuratively and literally), and what was the best for the group.

I finished drinking my 5^th 32oz water before noon and got up to grab my gear to make sure all my supplies were ready for today’s convoy.  It was our turn to take a couple runs around the city we were stationed at here in Afghanistan.  Despite the locals being friendly with us, the enemy was still out there and we had to be ready for the worst.  In fact, I think that was the hardest thing for me to get used to.  When we first arrived over here, it took a lot for me to think about the fact that the women and children who regularly greeted us in the streets could possibly be the enemy.  I had to be constantly reminded that not everyone was as innocent as they looked; something that was a huge stumbling block for someone who always saw the good in people.

Later that night after returning from patrol, I was sitting back at the barracks, writing my weekly letter home to my family.  It was easy enough to write e-mails, but I found that it killed more time if I did the old fashioned communication.  Each minute wasted was a minute closer to returning back to my homeland.  I loved the military and I have never regretted the decision I had made in high school, but I really did not love Afghanistan.  If I was asked about a place in the world I did not want to be, this country would be #2 with #1 being Iraq. 

Well, I guess I could just say that I wouldn’t pick anywhere that had sand without the water.  It just seemed all wrong.  It is immoral to find yourself becoming comfortable with the fact that you were always going to have sand in your bra and underwear; it just always seemed to end up where it didn’t belong.

“Hey Fletch,” Kramer grinned, taking a seat next to me on the floor.  “Tell mom and pops I say “hi!”

“Why would I tell them that?” I asked, turning towards him with a raised eyebrow.  Danny was actually a really, really, good looking guy.  He was built like a MMA fighter.  His biceps were bigger than my neck; this was a known fact because we actually got the tape measure out one evening when we were on guard shack duty together.  He had the picture perfect body and I always made a joke to Susie that his government supplied t-shirts had to be specially made because they always fit him perfectly, accenting his build.  It was hard not to swoon some days, especially the days you were feeling particularly horny; which was probably more often than not due to the fact that there were a ton of male hormones always pulsing through the barracks.  Kramer also had the most beautiful green eyes that if I didn’t watch, I could get lost in them very easily.  Sadly, he knew about this and frequently used it to his advantage.  Add in his chiseled jaw line and buzz-cut dark hair, he was a handsome Gi-Joe.

“Why not?” he smiled, causing my heart to skip a half beat.  “They will be appreciative that their future son-in-law is making an effort in getting to know them before he just shows up at their door, married to their daughter.”

I just shook my head and wished there was some way to stop from blushing.  It was nothing new for Danny to hit on me.  In fact, it was nothing for any of the guys to hit on me, but he seemed to be a little more serious about certain things from time to time.  “I think you’ve hit you’re head too many times on the under carriage of that Hummer, Kramer,” I joked and shook my head, turning back to my letter.  He was the mechanic of our group.

“As soon as we get out of this sand-box and back to the homeland, you’ll see Alex...”

I turned back to face him, finding his face only inches from mine looking as serious as ever.  “Danny, just because we won’t be here anymore, doesn’t mean we won’t be assigned somewhere else together,” I said quietly.  “Besides, once we get back to the mainland, you’ll realize there are a lot more women out there to catch you eye.”

“Well let me tell you something.  My eyes are only set on one woman and I could give to shits about the other women you speak about,” he said sincerely.  I wanted to say something back, but I couldn’t form any words as I watched his green eyes look deep into mine.  He held my gaze, lifted my small hands in his and kissed my knuckles before getting up and walking away.  “Close your mouth Fletch unless you want me to stick something in it,” he laughed, reminding me of the fact that this was still a war zone and boys will be boys.