Chapter 38

Flashback – Jack – A new battle

There was never a dull moment with Banzai! The more we worked together, the happier I was that we were a team. If there was ever someone who thought outside the box, Banzai exemplified that person. The current prime example was Banzai's baseball bat grenade chucker. Who would have thought? Hell, only Banzai would have thought of something like that. And the more grenades I pitched to Banzai, the better he got and was smacking the air burst grenades right over the top of the Chechen bastards. Yeah, they were getting their asses handed to them - thanks again to one of Banzai's crazy schemes.

The only problem was, we'd make a hell of a progress on getting the fuckers to retreat but then Banzai would have to stop when Elena hauled someone new out of the busted to hell BTR 80. I came up with an idea and suggested, "Captain, instead of standing around with your ass in your hands, why don't you haul the men out of the BTR 80 and let Elena triage and treat them? That way Banzai and I can continue the grenade fusillade."

Banzai added, "Yeah, that would sure help."

Elena chorused, "That would be an excellent idea."

Masha threatened, "That would be the only worthwhile thing he has done all day."

With all the prodding, the Captain relented with a complaint (of course), "I will do this, but I still don't think you should be abusing the grenades like that. They were never designed to be hit with a stick."

Banzai laughed, "Hell, they're fucking grenades! If they can't be hit then they sure as hell wouldn't be safe to carry on your tactical vests. Besides, I make sure I miss the fuse."

Then I pitched him one and something terrible happened...

Flashback – Masha – A new battle

Just when things were going excellently, Ben yelled, "Son of a bitch!"

I observed that Ben finally hit the fuse on one of the grenades and instead of it flying into the air, it became embedded in the stick of wood. I was certain we were going to die and was amazed when Ben had the presence of mind to continue the swing of the stick of wood around his head, completed a full circle and released the stick of wood with the grenade stuck to it. Thank God it traveled outside of the Church before it detonated.

Ben continued to swear (I was thankful Jack didn't swear as much), "Shit, that stick was almost perfect! Jack I need a new grenade bat."

With the grenade bat gone, the Chechens again began to advance on our location so I offered, "Jack, continue to fight and I will search for a stick that will meet his requirements."

I left to locate a stick but ended up finding something unexpected...

Flashback – Jack – A new battle

What a hell of a woman! Masha fought like a wildcat and then when Banzai needed a new grenade bat, she instantly offered to go and find one. I didn't worry when Masha took off to find Banzai a new grenade bat since she left the main sanctuary and was in a different part of the church. Suddenly I began to hear gunfire from her direction. She yelled, "Jack, my Jack! I need help!"

My heart was in my throat as I yelled, "Masha, I'm coming."

I ran toward the sound of her voice and prayed I wasn't too late...

Flashback – Ben – A new battle

The next to worthless captain was still tending to the wounded with Elena. Without a grenade bat, I took the next to worthless AK and began to fire at the fucking Chechens. Damn, why were these AK's so damn inaccurate? If I had a decent sniper rifle I could have kicked major ass. Suddenly Masha yelled that she was in trouble, Jack took off like his ass was on fire (hell I would have done the same for Tatiana - that reminded me, where the hell was she?) and I crawled as best I could after him. It was humbling as hell crawling like a fucking baby. While I hated that damn wheelchair, it was at times like this I could really use the mobility.

I reached a corner, began to pie it the best I could in the prone position, and saw what the trouble was. The fucking Chechens had infiltrated this part of the church! Damnnnn, we were lucky as hell that Masha found them or they would have kicked our asses. Then I saw something I sure as hell didn't like...

Flashback – Masha – A new battle

One of the Chechens began to run toward us. He wore a huge vest and I yelled at Jack, "He's a suicide bomber. We need to leave."

I began to run back to the main part of the church, Jack followed me until we reached the corner and saw that Ben had come to help. Ben continued to fire at the Chechen, Jack yelled, "Masha we need to help him."

We stopped, grabbed Ben and then...

Flashback – Jens – At the military hospital

Even though they caused my body to hurt like hades, I continued my stretches! Katie ran back into the room and complained again, "You shouldn't be out of bed by yourself and what are you doing in those tights and bodysuit."

I ignored her stupid complaints while I continued my stretches and yoga poses and snidely remarked, "I told you before I am a prima ballerina and I don't have any time to waste."

She came over, found the port on my IV, gave me a pain injection and continued, "If that body suit and tights stick to your burns..."

I was annoyed about the stupid hospital gowns that showed everyone practically everything and interrupted, "Who gives a fuck! I'm not going to exercise in that embarrassing hospital gown. You need to get the hell out of here because you are distracting me."

Katie tried to complain more but I stood up, put my hands on my hips, glared at her and in my best prima donna ballet voice ordered, "You're the one that motivated me to do my best and that is what I'm trying to do. Move my fucking bed up beside the wall so I have more room to practice and unless I call you, leave until it's time for my pills."

She wisely left (this prima ballerina stuff was working great!). I finished my stretches and yoga and then began to practice Swan Lake from memory. Of course without my pointe shoes I couldn't do the en pointe work I really needed to do. That reminded me so I took a break and decided to call Daddy...

Flashback – Glen

The phone rang and woke me out of a hell of a dream starring Scarlet Johansson. Then Evelyn swore and ruined it even more, "Damn my head!" I grabbed the phone and answered, "This is Glen."

I felt much better when I found it was Jennifer and she very nicely asked, "Daddy, would you please bring me my laptop when you come by the hospital today. I really need to research some things. And please don't forget my pointe shoes."

I looked at the time, realized I had overslept, smiled and answered, "Honey, I would be happy to bring both of those to you, but what are you doing up so early?"

She answered but I couldn't believe it! However, I promised her I would be sure to bring those items along with a few other things I figured she could use. When I hung up the phone, Evelyn screeched, "Glen, who the hell was that at this time of the morning?"

I hated talking to her but figured this would get her goat so I answered, "It was Jennifer..."

Evelyn (being a royal bitch) interrupted, "I should have known. What was she doing, crying about being hurt?"

Once again she was wrong. This happened more often than I chose to count. I smiled falsely and informed her, "No, she had just finished her stretches and yoga and asked if I would bring her laptop computer and her pointe shoes."

Evelyn still half asleep and still partially drunk scoffed, "I doubt she needs either one of those."

I challenged, "Well, why don't we get our morning SSS¹ done, deliver the items she requested and see how she is doing."

¹SSS – Shit, Shave and Shower. But for Evelyn probably just SS.

Flashback – Jens – At the military hospital – An hour later

My focus was totally on my dance routine for Swan Lake. I had just finished one of my dances when I heard clapping so I looked over and it was Katie the nurse. She applauded, "Jennifer that truly was a beautiful dance. I wish I could have seen you do it in your pointe shoes."

I answered and complained, "My shoes will be here later with my Daddy. But why are you here because your accolades have ruined my concentration?"

She smiled and explained, "Jennifer, it's time for your pills and I need to assess your condition."

I was thankful for the pills but still complained vociferously, "Thank you for the pills because the pain was becoming unmanageable. However, I cannot tolerate all these distractions. I have serious work to do and will not tolerate your interruptions! You and the other nurses need to work around my practices."

She gave me an angry look and countered, "Young lady, you may have work to do, but I also have work to do and making sure you're healed for the ballet is more important than anything. Now get back into bed while I do my assessment."

I still fought and grumbled, "You need to figure out some way to not interrupt me so much!"

Katie countered, "And you need to stop playing the prima ballerina card! You forget I know what it's like and you can't fool me!"

Katie began to look at my wounds and complained, "I was worried those tights and the bodysuit would give us problems. Now they have both bonded with your wounds..."

She pulled the body suit and tights which pulled on the burns and the pain made me realize what she meant. I got ready to ask her what she was going to do when...

Flashback – Glen

As we walked into Jennifer's room, Evelyn immediately saw Jennifer on the bed and complained, "See, I told you she wasn't doing her stretches and yoga. It looks like she's still in bed."

Jennifer's nurse gave both of us a dirty look and defended her, "Excuse the hell out of me! She has not only been doing stretching and yoga, she was also performing some of the dances from Swan Lake. They only reason she is in bed now is because I needed to perform her physical assessment. To be truthful I'm glad I did because we have some issues with her body suit and tights."

Evelyn staggered, snorted and challenged, "How could she do the dances without her ballet shoes."

The nurse became even more defensive and tried to explain, "You don't always have to wear your shoes, especially at the beginning of practice."

Evelyn got on her high horse, glared and demanded, "And who the hell are you to teach me about ballet!"

Jennifer had her fill of this bullshit drama (and so did I) and complained...

Flashback – Jens – At the military hospital – An hour later

I was pissed as hell with Katie and Evelyn fighting in my room so I yelled, "Geez Louise, will you two stop fighting! Mother, Katie was the prima ballerina for the New York City Ballet and is going to help me."