LBJ

Notes: The people invloved are mine and mine alone, although some of them resemble peeps I know. This is not completed, I have had writer\'s block on it for three years now. I\'m hoping to maybe get some feedback on it, so I can finish it. Any mistakes are on me, as no one beta\'s for me. Please leave some feedback.
Thanks,
AD


~*~


“Reveille! Reveille!” Dawn Miller awoke with a start. She blinked and peered through the darkness. After a few seconds, she realized where she was. She was lying in her rack aboard the USS Lyndon Johnson (CVN-80), affectionately known as the “LBJ”. Dawn knew that it was coming close to the time for all hands to wake up and prepare to muster. It was 0400, and all hands woke at 0500. She got out of her rack and reached above her, gently shaking her longtime friend and rackmate, Kellie Masterson.
“Kellie, wake up man, I need to talk to you.”
Kellie woke easily as she threw her legs over the side of the rack and climbed down. “Morning Dawn, what’s up?”
Kellie and Dawn met four years earlier in boot camp at Great Lakes, IL. They were from different parts of the country and totally different lives. Kellie hailed from the cities in New York, and Dawn from the rolling farms of Indiana. But, they were the best of friends.
“Just a bit unnerved about the 1st class test today. I can’t wait to see Jackson. I miss seeing him every time I wake up.”
Kellie yawned, ”Don’t worry Dude, you are good with medicine, you’ll pass. You’ll be all right. I would bet money that Lee can’t wait to see you today either.”
Dawn was a 2nd class petty officer, an HM2, with a surgery specialty. Kellie worked in the ship’s reactor systems, as an EM3, an Electrician’s mate 3rd class petty officer. The two headed off to the head to get ready for another day.
The LBJ was on deployment to the Med for 6 months, then to return to homeport in Norfolk, VA. Right now, was only the fourth month in, they had already stopped in Italy, Crete and Greece to name a few of the ports. Both women quickly showered, and dressed in working dungarees, and applied a light base of makeup. Kellie had to do Dawn’s makeup for her, she never had use for that kind of thing on the farm. Not too far away in male berthing, Jackson Lee Miller woke. His deep blue eyes opened slowly as he threw his legs over the side of his rack, half-rolling, half-falling out of it. At 6 ft 6 in, he usually had to curl up in a ball to fit in his rack. He smiled, and realized that he would see his wife in the galley in just a few minutes. He dressed quickly and headed up the ladder and out into the passageway.
Jackson looked down the passageway and his heart stopped. He had her seared into his memory, he knew every curve of her body, her scent and the softness of that long red hair she kept underneath that LBJ cap personally. His wife was walking with Kellie, her partner in crime, talking most likely about him. Jackson walked quickly and quietly, something he learned to do when he was learning to hunt with his Grandpa back on the farm as a young boy in Wyoming.
“Shit!” Dawn jumped about a foot in the air and smiled. “Morning wife” EM1 Jackson Lee Miller whispered softly in her ear as he removed his hands from the small of her back. “Morning Jackson” Kellie was laughing as she said it.
“Going to breakfast ladies?” Mark McKnight appeared out of nowhere and flashed his cocky little grin. Kellie groaned, ”Oh no, not you.” “Yes my darling, it is me.” Mark was still grinning. Jackson and Dawn were talking quietly between each other as the foursome walked toward the galley.

Jackson was leading the pack in the galley line. “Anyway, like I was saying Kel we need to hit port soon, I am dying for a piece of Jackson. We live as husband and wife back in Norfolk, this shit sucks.” Kellie laughed, ”Yeah, I know. Ever since we went underway, Tim has been such an asshole towards me, and it seems as if all he wants me for is sex when we hit port. I’m trying to get rid of him, but it’s really hard. Thank God I work in 2 plant and he works in 1.”
Dawn happily followed Jackson to a table and sat down next to him, putting her free hand on his leg. McKnight and Masterson sat across from them. Just a few minutes later, MM1 Tim Newcomb stormed over, looking pretty upset. “Outta my seat McKnight” Mark looked up at Tim and shrugged his shoulders. “Alright Newcomb, I’m moving. Who pissed in your Corn Flakes?” Mark moved over to another table and began talking to EM2 David Galloway, a close friend to all.
“Morning hon.” Newcomb addressed Kellie. “Yeah whatever Tim. That was really rude of you to be that way towards Mark.” “Well, you belong to me, not that pretty boy” Jackson and Dawn looked over, ”Tim, let it go guy, you need to treat Kellie better than that.” Jackson’s soft accent spoke the harsh words, as Dawn nodded in agreement.
They never had problems like that; Dawn and Jackson had grown up in totally different states, but both came from a farm background. They met on LBJ by accident one night, literally. Jackson had injured himself on watch, Dawn just happened to be the corpsman on duty that night. When she looked into his deep blue eyes and heard his accent for the first time, she was hooked. After she cared for him that night, Jackson made appearances into medical, just to see her. The romance bloomed off the ship for nearly 6 months when Jackson asked Dawn to marry. He took her out to dinner, then to the beach, and it was there that he dropped to one knee and asked her, Dawn couldn’t say no. Three months later they were married in a little church up in Wyoming in front of his family and friends.
Kellie had met Tim through Jackson; he thought that they would make a good couple. For a while things were going well, and it seemed it was working, but lately Tim was getting really weird. The Miller’s noticed it, as did Galloway and McKnight.
“Oh geeze, sorry all I gotta go, I forgot about an early removal this morning. See y’all at lunch.” Dawn got up and pushed her chair in. Jackson knew the drill all too well, clean up after her because she had to go. Dawn leaned over close to his ear, nipping it and his neck, “Love you baby” “I love you too baby” Jackson whispered in her ear. And she was gone. Jackson could still faintly smell the cinnamon and apples shampoo that she used. It sent shivers down his spine. She was the only one to excite him that way, none others before her compared.
Jackson watched as she walked away and sighed. “Man, don’t worry we’ll be in Israel pretty soon, then you can take her to the Lodge and have her. She’s probably dying to have you too.” Mark said between mouthfuls of biscuits and gravy. “I know, but this really isn’t fair to her or me. I have to wait weeks for ports, and 4 more months to love her the way I should. No marriage should go through this. It’s not fair in the least.” Jackson was right.
“But Jackson, you have been together with Dawn since a little over last year, almost two years, look at what you guys have made it through so far. She gets out in December this year and you next August, you’ll make it you guys have a very strong love.” Kellie did have a point.
This was Jackson’s first Med deployment, Dawn’s second, their first together. It was great to share Italy with her, see some of the sights and each other. They spent Greece hanging out with Galloway, McKnight and Masterson, and made love on the beach in Crete. Crete was special; it was the anniversary of him asking her to marry him. Their wedding anniversary was after the cruise; he had special plans for it.
“Petty officer Miller, good of you to finally join us.” HMC Watkins growled. “Sorry Chief, it won’t happen again.” Dawn was scrubbed and gloved as the HMC began removing the localized airman’s staples. Dawn was only to assist and cover the wound, and then she would sit down and take her test. She had in just enough time to take the HM1 test, but if she passed, she would only be 1st class for seven more months before her enlistment ended. “Finish him up Miller.” HMC Watkins removed his gloves as he stepped away. “Yes sir.” The chief left and Dawn began cleaning the wound.
“Petty officer am I going to be ok?” She looked up at the young man, he was an airman striker, and he looked so awful young and scared. “Yes son, you’ll be fine, just keep it clean and if you have problems, you come see me right away ok?” “Yes ma’am, thank you ma’am.” And the airman hopped off her table, exiting out the hatch. Dawn hated it when they called her petty officer or ma’am; she was human just like everyone else.
Jackson looked up from the mess of paperwork in his hands to see Newcomb yell at Kellie, but he couldn’t hear what about. Galloway moved quickly in that direction, “Newcomb! What are you doing? What did Masterson do?” “She dropped a fucking screwdriver on me and didn’t even blink!” Newcomb was red with rage. Kellie was standing there white faced and scared. “Masterson, ok, tell me what happened.” Kellie took a deep breath and began to explain how she was working overhead on the burned out light and did drop a screwdriver, but not on purpose. Galloway stayed levelheaded. “Look, Newcomb, it was an accident. You shouldn’t even be in this work center, carry on and go back to your place and let me run mine.” Newcomb just growled and cussed Galloway under his breath, as he strode away. Jackson walked over toward Galloway and Masterson, “Dave, hey, he’s been a real asshole lately, shouldn’t we say something to the chief?” “Yeah Jackson, you are right, we should. I’ll do a write up as soon as I can get into the office. Kellie, go back and help Mark sweep the deck.” “Sure Dave.” Kellie disappeared as fast as she had appeared. Jackson returned to hiserwoerwork and thought about what his wife was doing.
Dawn sat at the infirmary office desk and opened her test. She was the only 2nd class on the LBJ qualified to take the 1st class test. Her nerves were going to kill her if she wasn’t careful. She took a deep breath and thought about Jackson, her skin began to tingle and suddenly became warm. If she thought about sex while she took the test, it would relax her enough to keep her thoughts on the test. “Question 1: When receiving a sucking chest wound what do you do?” Dawn groaned as she read the question. The whole test was fill-in-the-blanks; it would really test her intelligence. She hated that, she was only a farmkid that was interested in medicine and was a little smart. All she really wanted to do was live on the farm and raise kids and livestock. But that was all a dream for now. She began scribbling the answer and settled in for a few hours of brain draining.
“So, Kellie, how are you? I can’t believe you let Tim treat you that way.” ”Listen here Mark, you’re a nice guy, but keep your damn nose to your damn self and out of my business!” “I could treat you so much better. Wine, dine, dancing and loving in port. Let me try ok?” “Dammit! No! You just don’t understand what I am going through. Leave me alone!” “Maybe I do, you just don’t know it. Try me.”
Kellie dropped her broom near the bulkhead and walked away. McKnight got on her nerves; he was too cocky, too nosey and especially too good-looking to be a sailor. What was his story? And why was he so interested in hers? Kellie Masterson held a secret that she couldn’t tell anybody, not even Dawn Miller.
Dawn was struggling with the last question and it was 10 minutes till noon. “When given a cadaver that has been drowned, is it possible or needed to perform an autopsy to rule out strangulation or foul play?” She jotted down a short answer concerning that it was never wrong to rule out all possibilities. Dawn closed the test and walked up to the LCDR’s door, knocking firmly three times.
“Enter” she heard LCDR Adam Metcalf call. Miller took a deep breath, opened the door and stepped into his office, standing at attention. “Are you finished with your test petty officer Miller?” “Sir, yes sir.” She handed him her test and returned to attention. “And how do you think you did Petty Officer Miller?” “Sir, it tested my knowledge and tact. I am not sure how I did sir.” “You’re honest Miller, I have always admired that about you. Dismissed, carry on.” “Sir yes, sir.” Dawn turned, going out his office door and closing it behind her.
She leaned against the bulkhead and took a breather. Metcalf had always been hard on her, from day one, always pushing her to do her best. Sometimes she thought that she was his favorite because he let her get away with so much. She was smart, quick thinking, strong headed, and very sexy. Metcalf knew this and that alone made her an equal partner for him, he wanted her. But she was married to EM1 Miller, no difference to Metcalf, he wanted her, he would get her. He always got what he wanted, no matter the cost.
Dawn turned and headed for the galley. She spotted Jackson and Dave at a table and made a beeline for it. “So how was your test?” Dave asked as she slumped down in the chair, and Jackson chewed something that resembled cow in gravy. “Exhausting. I’ve never taken a test that hard before. I should pass though, I gave really thorough answers and bullshitted the rest.” Jackson laughed, as did Dave. “Then you should pass my love, you are the only person I know who can bullshit meuff.uff.” She squeezed his hand underneath the table, he knew she was tense.
“So how’s Leanne?” Dawn had been wondering about her, she had come down sick about a month after they left Norfolk. “She’s doing ok, as she tells me in emails. She was going to go see a doctor here today or yesterday. I’ll probably get an email today with the results thereof. I really should call her. I don’t know, I have so many things to do.” “It’s good to know that she is doing better. I’d hate to see her get down sick real bad.” “Me too.” Jackson agreed between mouthfuls of mystery cow.
Dawn grabbed the orange off of Jackson’s tray and his Gerber tool out of the pouch attached to his belt, and began peeling it. Jackson just smiled and she grinned as if to say, “well, you know….” “Farmkids go figure…” Dave laughed as Jackson got up to get Dawn a glass of milk. She drank it slowly; she still had about 10 minutes before she had to be back at work. “So babe, what do you think about getting some cows and horses?” her eyes lit up and she grinned “ That sounds great Jackson, but don’t tempt me, you know we can’t have critters until we get back home.” Jackson laughed, “ I know that Baby, I just wanted to see you smile.” She smiled again, leaning over and passionately kissing him on the lips. Dawn whispered against his lips “ I love you Jackson Lee Miller, for now, forever, for the rest of my life.” He smiled. “I know.” And once again she was gone. Jackson had to stretch out underneath the table. Her scent faintly lingered, this time not only her shampoo, but also it mixed with the scent of her. It created some serious problems for him. A month had passed since Crete.
Crete was something really special. He closed his eyes and drifted back to the memory. She looked like a dream; Dawn had bought a bikini, let down that long red hair and curled it, and dressed to kill. Jackson had gotten a message onboard the ship to meet her in a secluded cove on the beach. As he reached the coast, he removed his boots and rolled up his Wranglers. It was still light outside but near sunset. Dawn was stretched out on a blanket with a cooler of beer next to her.
“Hi” was all Jackson could say. “Hi, figured you could use one of these” Dawn smiled as she tossed a beer up into his hands. He caught it. “Thanks, can I sit down?” “Sure.” Jackson sat down next to her and removed his T-shirt, using it to open his beer. “How are you?” she looked over at him. “Good, ain’t seen you in two days.” “Sorry, I got stuck in the NavHosp. I couldn’t get away until today.” “It’s ok, I been beating Mark around, but it just isn’t the same without you.” Dawn snuggled into his chest; Jackson wrapped his arms around her, holding her tight against him. She stretched up and kissed him, “I’ve missed you terribly.” Her voice was soft and low. “ I missed you too. Let’s talk about it later and make up for it now.” Dawn smiled “Oh, are we going to try to work on getting a Jack jr.?” Jackson grinned his sexy little farm boy grin, “Maybe.” His eyes reflected the lasting sunlight as he laid her back on the blanket.
Jackson kissed her tenderly; it had been a long time since they had been together this way. Dawn reached up and touched his face, lovingly stro it it and then running her fingers down his back. Jackson’s eyes closed and he drew a deep breath; her touch sent fire down his back, tingting him even more. His fingers wrapped around her back, untying the bikini top and pulling it free of her body. A smile touched her lips, as he kissed down her neck, collarbone and then her breasts. Small electrical charges ran through her body, and she shivered. “Are you cold babydoll?” Jackson looked up at her, “No, it’s just been a long time since we were this way. Please help me…” the words came out in an almost whisper. Jackson smiled and continued onward. His fingers delved inside her, causing her to take a sharp breath and moan gently. Dawn stripped him out of his clothes and gently began to glide her hands over his most sensitive parts. Jackson couldn’t handle what she was doing to him, he couldn’t wait any longer. He eased himself between her legs, inch by antagonizing inch. He only remembered hearing his wife moan his name, as her body shuddered deeply underneath him.
Coming together as one person on that beach was indescribable. He had never felt such passion in her touch, or such energy in her body. She had never felt him love her that way, as if he would never get to do it again. It was calm and passionate in one sense and in another it was crazy and savage. It was as if two people became one and breathed as one. One breath for one soul. She saw forever unfold in his eyes and knew that he was the one, the only one she needed. He needed her; she was his only need. This was what love was, what they always dreamed about, right here right now.
Jackson opened his eyes to Galloway telling him that it was time to go back to work. “Jackson, man get your head out the clouds and get up, we have to get back to work.” “Alright Dave.” Jackson got up somewhat stiffly and headed out the hatch that his wife had gone through not 15 minutes earlier. All the while he was thinking of her. It would be a couple more days until they hit Israel. They would be there 4 days and again, just like Crete, he would be lucky to see her one of those days.
Meanwhile...Back at the plant, Kellie and Tim were having problems of their own. Their angry voices could be heard over the hum of the generators.
\"Dammit Kel, she is such an arrogant bitch. I don\'t know why you hang out with her. I know that she\'s been cheating on Jackson. That night when she was supposedly at work, she was at Bar of Norfolk picking up guys.\"
\"That\'s damn funny thing, because I don\'t know how she could be at the bar, if she was at Lynhaven mall with me that night, and if you call her a bitch one more time, I guarantee that\'ll it be the last thing that you ever say.\" Kellie\'s eyes burned with anger. She couldn\'t tolerate having anybody talk bad about her friends. Her words, however, only added to Tim\'s anger.
\"That\'s another thing that I don\'t like either. Ever since you\'ve been hanging out with her, you\'ve been getting awful lippy.\"
\"Look Tim, let\'s just talk about this later when you\'ve calmed down a bit.\" Kellie turned around and started to walk away, but Tim grabbed her arm and shoved her roughly against the bulkhead.

\"Let her go.\"

McKnight\'s words were sharp and clear, and packed with enough venom to kill a horse. He looked liked a dark angel as he stepped out of the shadows and into the filtered light. She could see the firm intensity of his jaw as he deliberately gritted his teeth. Her eyes fell to his flexing biceps in a curving silhouette outlined tightly beneath his shirt. The eyes that were once a warm and inviting sky blue were now cold and icy. Kellie didn\'t know who to be more afraid of.
\"This is none of your business McKnight, so I suggest that you just turn around and walk away.\" \"Make me.\" Just as McKnight had spoken the words, Newcomb whirled nd and and swung. His first punch hit Mark\'s side, but McKnight barely even flinched. The second connected with his jaw, but McKnight still stubbornly held his ground. Newcomb had only succeeded in adding to his anger. After a few swift punches from McKnight, Newcomb hit the deck, with a steady stream of blood running from his nose and lip.
\"What the hell just happened in here?\" EM2 Galloway shouted. But when he saw Kellie shaking like a leaf next to the bulkhead and Newcomb on the decth Mth McKnight towering over him, he put the pieces together quickly. \"McKnight, your lip is bleeding. Go to the infirmary and have Dawn fix you up. Kellie, make sure that he gets there. Oh, and have Dawn send someone over who can scrape this dipshit off my deck.\" Masterson and McKnight said nothing as they walked through the passageways. When they reached the infirmary, they were greeted by the sound of HM2 Miller\'s booming voice.
\" Jesus! What the hell happened to you Mark? Did you make another smart ass comment to Kel?\" \"Mark here had a close encounter with Tim\'s fist.\" \"Fuck. If Mark looks this bad, then I\'d hate to see what Tim looks like.\" \"That reminds me, Dave wanted you to send someone to scrape dipshit off the deck.\" \"Damn, no problem there. I\'ll get someone right on it.\" \" Hello? I\'m bleeding here, so would you ladies please discuss this later. I don\'t want to get blood all over my clothes.\"
\"Geez Mark. It\'s just a little cut.\" Dawn dabbed a piece of 4x4 gauze soaked with peroxide on the wound none too gingerly. It sure did sting, but Mark was not about to show any pain in front of Kellie, because she would surely use it as ammunition to tease him with later. She had already told him enough times that he was a pretty boy. As Dawn finished cleaning up the wound, Mark\'s eyes met Kellie’s. \"You didn\'t have to do this,\" she sounded almost apologetic. \"Yeah, I did. He would have hurt you.\" McKnight’s voice was soft and even, touched with a bit of unspoken love. Miller, sensing what could be another fight, left the room. She was smart enough to know not to get caught in the crossfire.
\"I can handle myself.\" Kellie’s blue eyes flashed as she spit out the icy words. \"Well you sure as hell weren\'t doing a good job of it out there.\" \"Go to hell.\" She turned her back on him and started walking to the door. Mark grinned sheepishly, \"So I guess this wouldn\'t be a good time to ask you to go out dancing with me?”
Before he knew it, Kellie had crossed the entire length of the compartment and punched him in the ribs, right where Newcomb had earlier. The punch wasn\'t hard, just enough to leave a good sting. He recovered just in time to catch a final glimpse of her golden hair as she passed through the doorway.
Miller winced when she heard the slamming of the door. She re-entered the room and sat down next to McKnight. \"What\'s up with her?\" he quietly asked Dawn. \"I try to help her out and she isn\'t even the slightest bit thankful.\" \"Take the worst thing that\'s ever happened to you, and multiply it by infinity and you won\'t feel what she feels. She has secrets that she won\'t even tell me.\"
Mark McKnight was determined to figure out all of these secrets.

Out in the passageway, Masterson was leaning up against the bulkhead and sobbing. She was grateful that she could hold it in long enough to get away from McKnight. There was no way in hell that she would ever let herself cry in front of him. The incident had shaken her up and she was thankful that McKnight had been there to help her out. But, her pride prevented her from telling him that. She quickly dried her tears and hurried back to her berthing before McKnight could catch her sobbing.

Jackson finished taking the readings on the console in front of him just in time to start his watch. God, he hated watch, but then again, so does every sailor. He got up off the deck and stretched, heading for the office. He’d pretty much be doing some office work there and answering the phone.
Masterson entered female berthing and crawled into her second story rack. She didn’t even bother changing out of her utilities, she just hopped in and laid down on her stomach and starting cursing Mark McKnight. Berthing was empty; no one would hear her words in anger.
“Dammit Mark! Why do you have to be so good-looking, so irresistible, so charming. I have to fight with myself everyday to tell you no, to make you think I don’t like you, but I am so in love with you. I can’t lie to myself anymore and I can’t lie to you anymore. I have to tell Tim that it’s over between us, if he doesn’t already figure after the beating you gave him.” She quickly dried her eyes, and went to the head to blow her nose. She looked up in the mirror, only to realize that her makead rad ran, and her eyes were red as red could be. “Dammit! I guess I can go without makeup for the rest of the day.” She quickly washed it off and ran down the passageway and into 1 plant‘s work center. She looked around trying to find Tim, but he was nowhere to be found. She saw Chief Diaz cor cornered him.
“Chief, where’s Newcomb?” Diaz turned and looked at her and said ”Don’t you know?” “No, Chief, I didn’t know whether or not he would be here, sick bay or berthing.” “L Mas Masterson, I don’t have time for this crap. I have to go check tagout’s and log them in. If you want him go look where you think he might be.” With that Diaz left, leaving Mason son standing there feeling dumb. Chief Diaz was always that way, a hard nose at work, but a really fun guy to be around outside of work. Masterson turned and left 1 plant, heading towards 2 plant to find McKnight and tell him the truth. It would make her feel better, now that for once she could tell someone the truth about something in her life.
McKnight was checking the readouts on the generators when he heard someone walk up behind him. He turned around expecting to see Newcomb, but saw Masterson. She had tears in her eyes and was trying to smile, but her lip could only quiver, as a tear silently fell down her cheek. Mark walked over to her, looked in her deep blue eyes and whispered “Meet me in the shaft alley in 20 minutes.” and walked away. Kellie nodded and headed towards the shaft alley.
Half a world away in Virginia Beach, VA, Leanne Galloway awoke. “David, I pray you can hear me at night,’ she choked out through tears. “It’s so lonely without you here,” she managed to sob as she slowly forced her limbs up to her chest beneath the sheet in their now cold bed. She felt as if her whole body was quivering; her body shook as she sobbed. She felt she could feel her heart shaking from the daily blow of his absence. “ Lord,” she mouthed, struggling to regain her voice if only to hear something echo in the stillness of the empty house. “What am I going to do?” The question reverberated in the auditorium of her mind, still not finding audibility through her voice. “ I don’t know anyone here and my David took my life with him when he left.”
Back aboard LBJ off the coast of Israel, “You don’t understand I need it reactivated, my wife hasn’t heard from me yet” Galloway said barely controlling his frustration. “Look Galloway, you know how many of you guys come here to whine about this. You should have thought ahead and reactivated it earlier. We got officers in line you have to wait till we get down to your rank,” the Webmaster said with a decided sneer. “ I got you on the list, now back off I got to get a line open for the XO.” Galloway quickly turned away and pushed out the door. “She’s so worried by now, I know, she is Lord, what am I going to do…she needs me and…” The next thought resounding. “ I haven’t been able to hear her sweet voice each night.” Angry at the thought that followed next, “ Why didn’t I find the time? But time has been so short.”
“Lord, I never regret marrying him now. But why Lord? Why must our time be so short?” Leanne asked wiping away at the tears that formed and threatened to stream down her already tear stained face. She couldn’t bear to tell David the news she held in her heart in an email, only hearing his voice could bring her to tell him news that would change their lives forever.

Jackson Miller heard the office phone ring, he picked it up

“Petty Officer Miller speaking how can I help yir/Mir/Ma’am?” His voice sounded tired to his own ears, and he placed a safe bet that the person on the other end could tell the same.

“Petty officer Miller, this is HM2 Miller up here in sickbay, I’m just calling to make you aware that MM1 Newcomb won’t be returning to duty the remainder of the day, he has some internal bleeding that we are trying to get closed off. He should be back to duty in 3 days, maybe less depending on the bleeding. Other wise, you need to inform Chief Diaz that he won’t be back today. And you need to come up and see me so I can check you over for your mid-deployment physical.”
Jackson was grinning on the other end. ”Yes, ma’am, what time do you want me to report?” Her voice came over the line quiet and sneaky sounding, “Midnight tonight. I’ll let you in.” “Aye Aye” and he hung up.
He sent an email to Chief Diaz and about Newcomb, then kicked his feet up onto the desk and laid back into the chair. He fiddled with his flashlight and when grew bored of that, logged back onto the office computer and began writing his wife a very long overdue email. He wished that they would have gotten stationed to different ships after their marriage, but then again he was glad to have her close to him. It was just harder to be with her, being on the same ship. He was hoping that they would have been put on different ships in the same battle group, but with him being a Nuke and her needing a surgery setting, the best place for both of them was on the flagship of the battle group, the mighty LBJ. There was no other option for her other than shore duty at Norfolk. But, she would have been angry that he was out seeing the world with out her.
The shaft alley was dimly lit as Kellie stumbled down the ladder to the catwalk below. She was afraid of falling into the darkness, afraid of what she was going to tell McKnight, genuinely afraid. She slowly climbed through the darkness, only to have a pair of hands reach up and grab her and pull her into the darkness. She screamed, but a hand quickly clamped down over her mouth stifling out the rest of the scream. The hands were big and strong, she almost couldn’t breathe because she was so frightened. “Look, it’s me, just settle down.” Mc Knight whispered in her ear. Why would he be pulling her down the ladder? He set Kellie down on to the desd std stood in front of her.
She looked up at him through her tears, ”Mark, I have been meaning to tell you this for a long time but I couldn’t find the courage or the words. I have been in love with you ever since I got to the ship. And there’s a lot of things you don’t know about me that I need to tell you.” Her tears flowed freely, “ And I wanted to tell you thanks for protecting me from Tim.” He reached out and removed her ball cap, then pulled her hair free from the bun it was in. Her long blonde hair spilled down onto her shoulders. “It’s okay Kel, I knew if I waited long enough you would come around. I have watched you from afar, and found myself falling for you. I want to be with you.” Mark took her in his arms, gently kissing each of her tears away.
Kellie turned her face to his, and tentatively touched his lips with hers. It felt as if a thousand stars exploded in the night sky, it filled her body with electricity, her senses filled to overflowing. Mark felt as if he was falling into the darkness of her being, losing himself inside her. They had waited so long, and now it felt like a long awaited drug, taking them higher and higher. Mark kissed her deeper, with more passion, and she hungrily accepted his kiss. Kellie’s hands slid down his work shirt, unbuttoning each button with trembling fingers. She pulled the shirt free along with his t-shirt, running her hands over his bare, muscled chest. Mark groaned, it had been a long time since he was last with anyone. “Kel, I don’t know if I can do this right here right now. It’s been a long time for me.”
“It’s okay, Mark, let me do all the work.” Kellie whispered in his ear as she nipped at his earlobe. She leaned back on the desk, unbuttoning her shirt, pulling it off her shoulders. She reached behind her and unhooked her bra. Mark’s eyes nearly popped out of his head as her breasts came free from the restriction. They were just the right size, firm, and perky, with gorgeous pink, erect, nipples. He reached over and began kneading her breasts in his hands, gently teasing her nipples with his fingertips. Kellie moaned under his touch, arching her back up to meet his hands. Mark was tg hag hard to control himself, but she wasn’t making it easy at all. Her kisses were full of heated passion, making them both melt into one being. She seductively crawled over the desk, sitting up on her knees, pressing her light pink nipples into his mouth, Mark couldn’t fight the urge to nibble her nipples even if he tried his damndest. She was melting in his arms; the fire was unashamedly engulfing them both.

Kellie snaked her hands down to his belt buckle, and Mark pulled away.

“ Listen, Kellie, I want to be with you, I want to experience every piece of you, but not here, not now. I can’t do it here.” Kellie looked over at him as he began putting himself back together, and pouted “Why not?” “Because the shaft alley is a place to go when you want to be alone. For some people it’s a place to fuck, but not me. I prefer a soft bed and a warm shower when I am in a love making mood.” “When Mark? When will we be together?” “I’ll take you out in Israel here in a few days, I’ll show you love, I’ll show you everything there.” Kellie hopped off the desk and kissed him one last time, as she regained her composure and re-dressed. “I’m holding you to that promise sailor.” “You can count on it” He called after her as she climbed the ladder.
Jackson Miller looked down at his watch, it was getting close to midnight and the person who was supposed to take over the watch hadn’t arrived yet. Jackson shuffled through the papers on the desk and found the watch bill. It just so happened that McKnight was supposed to relieve him at midnight. Jackson grumbled to himself, “Mark may be my drinking buddy, but he is never on time for watch. Where could he be right now? Either asleep in his rack or eating in the galley.” Jackson tossed the watch bill down on the desk and headed out the hatch to find him. He headed towards berthing first, and walked into the head, finding Mark there splashing cold water on his face.
“Hey, Mark, you know you’re supposed to relieve me right?” Jackson asked not even caring why Mark was looking flustered. “Yeah, I was just on my way there.” They left the head together, Jackson looked over at Mark “You alright bud? You look a bit red.” “Oh, I’ll be ok after awhile, just not feeling the best. The galley food must be getting to me again.” Jackson just shrugged and let it go. Mark assumed the watch from Jackson, and Jackson headed towards Medical.
It was quarter past midnight, Dawn would be upset, and she was a stickler for punctuality. He gently knocked on the door, and it cracked open just enough for him to sneak through. “Took you long enough farmboy.” a somewhat upset sounding voice came through the darkness. Jackson smiled; he couldn’t see her because his eyes hadn’t adjusted to the darkness yet. “Sorry honey, Mark was being slow at relieving me.” He nearly jumped out of his skin when her hand reached out and grabbed his arm, pulling him through the darkness. It was almost pitch black medical, except for the LED’s lit up on the machines.
Dawn pulled him into a room and closed the door, as she shoved him down on to the floor. Jackson hit the floor back first, almost knocking the wind out of him. “Jesus woman! Love me don’t kill me!” Dawn laughed at him, “It’s ok baby, and I’ve seen you take harder hits on the farm.” She laid down next to him and began stroking his face with her fingertips. “God, Jackson I miss you so much. I miss lying next to you and touching you when I sleep. Please take me out in the next port. I need you.” “Aw baby, I know. I’ll get us a hotel room, and we’ll spend the whole liberty there. I promise. But, for now, I just want to be with you.” Jackson turned on his side and started kissing his wife, her fingers digging into his back. She had unbuttoned his work shirt and slid her hands inside just to be closer to her husband’s skin. Time was no issue between them; they were lost in their own world inside each other until the worst thing in the world happened.
“General Quarters! General Quarters! All medical, fire and salvage teams report to the flight deck. Tomcats down, repeat 2 tomcats down!” The 1MC came to life in the silence, scaring them both back into the real world. Dawn was always on call for the medical teams. “Dammit! We gotta go!” Jackson quickly buttoned up his shirt and helped his wife up off the floor. Dawn grabbed a shoulder bag of emergency supplies and ran out the hatch into the passageway. Jackson ran the opposite way towards his berthing, trying hard not to knock anyone over. Dawn was trying her best not to trip over anything on her way up the flight deck. When she hit topside, there was fire and debris everywhere she looked. Two tomcats had collided on the way down to the flight deck. Her heart started pounding, was she ready for what she would find?
She ran over to what resembled isteisted hulk of a cockpit, the whole run her heart pounding, hoping beyond hope that the pilot or RIO was alive enough that they could be saved. She almost fell as she tripped over something, looking down; she saw that it was a severed arm. Dawn almost got sick, until she heard a familiar voice yelling orders.
“MIL GET GET YOUR ASS OVER HERE NOW!” Dawn ran over to where LCDR Metcalf was tending one of the RIO’s. “Get me some O2 on her and get the fucking Corpsman over here to get her down to sickbay. The secondary surgery team is waiting.” She put an O2 mask over the RIO’s nose and mouth, setting it to 15 LPM. LCDR Metcalf was trying to check her wounds, as Dawn shot morphine directly into the RIO’s system. “Looks, like some major avulsions and contusions on the legs and Lower Left Quadrant, what are the eyes? “ Metcalf was doing the primary triage, with Miller assisting. “Eyes are PEARL sir, I think we might save her yet. Lieutenant! Ma’am! Can you hear me? Blink if you can.” It was almost impossible to be heard over the commotion, without yelling. Dawn watched the RIO’s eyes, slowly, ever so slowly they blinked. “Good. Ma’am, we’re going to get you to sickbay ASAP.” The RIO blinked again in recognition. Metcalf, seeing that Miller had control of the situation moved on to other casualties. “CORPSMAN! Don’t just stand there with your thumb up your ass, get this woman down to sickbay now!” The young HN looked at her with fear in his eyes, he wasn’t even a 3rd class yet, fresh out of HN school.
“COME ON OR WE’RE GONNA LOSE HER!” Dawn yelled again and he rushed over with a 1st class Aviation electrician’smate and eased her onto the litter. As soon as they had the young LT in their hands, Dawn scurried on through the wreckage searching for the other cockpit. After stumbling and falling a few times she found it, but there were no bodies. She ran around the area near the island and located the pilot. She reached out with trembling fingers and felt his carotid artery. Nothing, not a damn thing. He was clearly dead, a piece of plexiglass from the canopy was imbedded in his chest, and he was bleeding from all points in his head. ‘ Must’ve tried to punch out and hit the canopy going up’ was what she thought to herself as she hurried on. One pilot was still missing and one RIO, God only knew where they were and what kind of shape they were in.
She looked around her as the fire teams were dousing the flames out with water; salvage crews were dumping wreckage over the side. After searching the flight deck for over two hours, the teams gave up. No signs of either pilot or RIO were anywhere to be found. They were somewhere in the sea, their souls with God in the heavens above, committing their earthly bodies to the sea. Scuttlebutt going around was that the ATC on duty was fresh out of school, and miscalculated the landing for the two jets.re sre seemed to be a lot of new people on board, more than usual, and that made Dawn nervous. Either they would freeze in combar thr they would mess up and get someone hurt or worse yet, killed as in this situation. No doubt the ATC would get court-martialed, but past that, there was no telling what would happen.
Beyond tired, beyond exhausted, Dawn stumbled down the ladders, through the hatches and into sickbay. Her utilities were covered in blood, her face smudged with grease and dirt from searching through the wreckage. She looked terrible. “Petty Officer Miller, you did well tonight, I want you to check out of here and hit your rack. Take a few days off.” LCDR Metcalf was being generous, and Dawn was not going to argue. “Aye Aye sir.” She went to the watch desk, signed out and stumbled on towards berthing. It was going to be a very short night, but at least she would get some rest during the day.
Upon finding her rack in the dark, she stripped out of her clothes leaving them in a bloody mass on the deck. She hauled herself up into her rack, laying on her side and thought about what she had seen tonight. Nothing she ever saw back home had prepared her for this, nor had anything she had learned in her schools. No, this was something that you could only learn in times of war. Hell, they weren’t even at war, but the Mediterranean Sea was a hotbed for war, anything could happen. She knew she would see this, she knew people would die, but not like this, not for a kid’s mistake. She closed her eyes and tried not to think about it, sleep finally came as her body shut down the adrenaline feed. It was fitful and without dreams, only horrific nightmares.
Reveille sounded, and Dawn cracked an eye open. She wasn’t going to move unless someone made her. That someone just happened to be Kellie. “OH MY GOD!” was the exclamation out of Kellie’s mouth. Dawn could only imagine that Kellie hopped down of hef her rack and into the bloody clothes. Kellie ripped open Dawn’s curtain, “Dawn! Are you alright? You’re not hurt or nothing are you?” Dawn rolled over to her other side and peered out at Kellie. “I’m alright asshole, just let me go to sleep. While you were sleeping, I was picking up blood and guts. Go away!” “Geeze! Don’t bite my head off. I’ll come check on you later. Go back to sleep.” With that, Kellie closed the curtain, picked up the clothes and threw them in the trash. Dawn rolled over and went back to sleep. It was going to be a short day for her, because they were pulling into Israel later that afternoon. ‘Sleep now, go out later. Sounds good to me’ Dawn told herself as she fell back asleep.
Jackson ventured into the galley, searching the faces inside for his wife. He didn’t see her anywhere. Kellie Masterson came walking through, looking tired and cross. She sat down next to him and took a glass of milk off his tray, holding it in both hands, drinking slowly. “Hey Kellie. Where’s my wife?” “She’s asleep. I guess she had a really hard night last niwithwith that tomcat crash.” “Oh, do you think she will be up later on? I was hoping to get out of here as soon as we had everything tied off and squared away. I was looking forward to spending these four days with her in the port, before we got back out to sea. You know this is our last port before Rota. Between here and Rota we’re just going to be sitting in the water doing flight ops and qualifications.” Kellie nodded her head, there would be nothing exciting going on the next month and a half. Maybe she would have more time to spend with Mark, getting to know him better.
Kellie sat and snacked off of Jackson’s tray until he got up and left. He headed towards the work center, dreading the work ahead of him for the day. He would be doing a lot of cleaning, before the liberty bell rang for Israel, and Jackson hated being a janitor. He was a nuclear chemist for God’s sakes; he shouldn’t be pushing a broom. He went and picked up a broom and began sweeping the deck. It would be a long day till 4:00.
Kellie went back to berthing, she had the next four days off, and as soon as liberty call came she would be on the quarterdeck waiting to get off the ship. She was hoping to spend that time in a hotel room with Mark, and just a few hours shopping out in the town. She stuck her head in Dawn’s rack, onlyfindfind it empty. She headed for the head, and heard a shower running. Kellie poked her head in the shower, knowing that it was her best friend in there by the Nike sandals on the small feet inside. Dawn was sitting on the seat, head down, face in her hands. Kellie tentatively ventured “Dawn, you alright?” Dawn looked up, eyes red and bloodshot. She had been crying, it was clear to Kellie with the look on her face and in Dawn’s eyes. “Jesus! What happened to you?” Kellie shut off the shower and reached inside to help her friend out.
“Last night was just too much at one time. Severed limbs, fire, smoke, the smell of burning flesh, almost losing a patient. I was never prepared for this in all my training. This was something you just had to experience in a time of war.” her voice came out shakily, as she stood in front of the mirror in a towel, washing the dirt and grime off her face.
Kellie couldn’t find the words to comfort her best friend; she walked up and hugged Dawn tightly. “Jackson was in the Galley earlier asking about you. I told him I would come and find you. He is looking forward to spending some time with you here in Haifa. You know there is only one port left, Rota. Then we go home. It will do us all some good that we go home. Jackson loves you Dawn, he’ll make everything better.” With that statement, Kellie left the head, leaving Dawn alone with her thoughts.
Dawn snorted, and laughed, “Nothing can fix what I saw. Trying to forget for a few days with Jackson might be a great idea.” She went back to the shower to finish getting cleaned up; it was going to be a long day.