Chapter 2

Chapter Two

Drew

T he recent encounters with the doctor, Lieutenant Colonel Isabel Oakley kept replaying in Drew's mind. Ever since they crossed paths at the medical center, she hadn’t been able to dismiss her face.

She knew their conversations had not been exactly friendly, as Lieutenant Colonel Oakley seemed like a strict disciplinarian while she, on the other hand, was carefree and jovial.

She liked to think, though, that they were progressing in sorting out their differences. She had intervened when the lieutenant colonel least expected it, and Drew knew she was impressed. The apology that came later was icing on the cake, although it was shocking.

Superiors barely apologized to their subordinates, but the lieutenant colonel did. There was something sizzling between them, but Drew couldn't draw conclusions yet.

Sadly, after speaking briefly that night, they didn't have a real conversation again.

There had been a moment that night when Drew thought they were close enough to kiss. And she had wanted to, so very badly. But, she couldn’t kiss a higher ranking officer- no way. So, she had held herself back. But as Isabel’s beautiful eyes had looked into her own, skeptical and ever thoughtful, Drew thought she had seen something there. Some spark of mutual connection.

Drew hadn’t crossed paths with her since until Isabel suddenly appeared in the field during the morning drill.

She watched as Isabel’s tall frame approached. Her dark hair glistened in the sunrise, and her brown eyes were focused. Her uniform was well tailored, as always, fitting her beautiful body like a second skin.

Drew was surprised to see her because she thought she'd be making her regular rounds at the medical center, but Drew saluted her regardless. “Good morning, Lieutenant Colonel,” to which Isabel nodded in approval.

“Officers”—she turned to the soldiers in their smart uniforms—“is this field training a joke to you?”

“No, ma'am,” they replied in unison.

“Then why do I see the same boring routine from yesterday? No new challenge, no critical task, no rigorous exercise?”

“Excuse me, Lieutenant Colonel,” Drew said, trying to explain, but Isabel interrupted her.

“Surely, you are responsible for this lifeless routine.”

Drew's eyes bulged. She was confused and lost for words.

“These training sessions are meant to equip them for the tasks ahead, not turn them into sluggards. I expect better from you next time.”

Turning to the rest of the soldiers, she barked, “You're all dismissed.”

“Yes, ma'am,” they chorused as Lieutenant Colonel Oakley walked away, leaving no room for Drew to utter a word or explain herself.

Drew watched as Lieutenant Colonel Oakley paced aggressively away from her.

Drew hated being so worked up. Her passion and years of experience and dedication to work have always enhanced her confidence in her job. She was a good major, and her training routines were never boring.

The officers usually started with stretches, push-ups, and light cardio before getting to the real deal. Lieutenant Colonel Oakley must have known that and decided to spite her regardless after the defibrillator saga, but Drew quickly dismissed those thoughts. Isabel couldn’t be that petty.

“Unbelievable!” She punched the air in frustration.

She couldn't believe the lieutenant colonel had outright challenged her in front of her subordinates. “She had better be good at her job.”

From the moment Drew had arrived at the FOB Eagle, she had stayed grounded, doing her work diligently, researching unnecessarily, and even helping out in other fields. There had been no slugging, no complaints, and no mischief—up until now.

Drew admired Isabel’s passion, resilience, and dedication to work. It was something she knew they both shared.

Just as she resigned to the fate of the incident, an officer came with an urgent summons from the lieutenant colonel.

The moment Drew stepped into Isabel’s office, she also saw Lieutenant Colonel Patel and Sergeant Lewis. She felt the situation was grave, but which situation wasn’t grave in their line of work?

Lieutenant Colonel Oakley spoke first. “We had an emergency call. Our intel is anonymous but reliable. The point is we're going in for an extraction. Gather the team for a situation report right away.”

“Yes, ma’am!” Drew saluted and activated the alarm.

A few minutes later, the soldiers gathered in their uniforms and stood with rapt attention in front of Lieutenant Colonel Oakley.

“We have an emergency. In a village not too far from here, humanitarian workers and villagers have been held down by insurgents.”

She paused to scan the grim faces of the men and women.

“The plan is simple: We move in and out undetected. I want the medical team to be on standby to treat and rescue people who are ready to leave. Am I clear?”

“Yes, ma'am.”

Drew was switched on to the task ahead of her, but also entranced by the woman in front of her and her sharp brown eyes.

“Major Mitchell, I trust you to use the best pilots we have. Mitchell, you will fly with me. The rest of you, load as many supplies as you can into the planes. We're leaving at 1100h.” She checked her wristwatch.

“You're all dismissed. Let's get to work!”

Drew organised her pilots and aircraft for an imminent departure. She was in the cockpit ready. Her radio crackled. Lieutenant Colonel Oakley, “Let's move this thing,” she commanded.

Drew had been waiting for this moment. She loved flying, and it was her favorite part of every mission. One of her favorite lines was, “When you're on air, you're always there.”

But this mission was a very dangerous one, and she needed to be extremely careful to not sabotage her team.

Drew easily took the control panel and their take off and flight was smooth.

She was a little pensive as they approached the village. It seemed calm and quiet from afar; no one would think anything was amiss. Everyone's eyes were down, studying the terrace carefully.

The village appeared as a cluster of tiny roofs, a mosaic of golden-brown earth blending seamlessly into the surrounding landscape.

Meandering roads, like tiny ribbons, weaved through the village, lined with tiny trees and bushes. As they drew closer, one could see the boxes taking the form of an actual house.

“There are things poking up,” Sophie, a first lieutenant, said naively.

“Yeah, some men set up cameras to welcome us. We're celebrities,” Drew chipped in sarcastically. Lieutenant Colonel Oakley threw her a look.

“There are about three machine guns up front and two missile launchers, ma’am,” Jonescalled over the intercom.

“I can see that. It's best if we enter from the north. Low and steady. Smith, are you with me?”

“Affirmative, ma’am. I hear you loud and clear.”

Drew circled to the back, flew a few feet, and landed in a small area of bush. Smith followed suit. Lieutenant Colonel Oakley stepped out of the plane and scanned the environment.

“We're clear,” she said, and the rest of the crew gathered behind her.

“Mitchell and Smith, you're to move not more than 10 feet from the craft. Stand by and be ready to take off as soon as possible.”

“Sergeant Thompson and the medical team, you're with me; Jones and half the team will be on the lookout; the rest of you, get as many supplies as you can carry and head into the village.”

“Let's do this quickly and quietly," she said, and everyone shuffled to their various positions. Everything seemed to be going according to plan. The villagers were given water, snacks, energy drinks, and antibiotics.

The medical team, led by Lieutenant Colonel Oakley, checked the children and women first before administering first aid to those who needed it urgently.

Each family was given blankets, basic supplies, and words of encouragement. Drew heard Isabel’s voice on the radio- passing messages, giving commands.

Then all of a sudden, Drew heard gunshots from the eastern side of the village. Isabel’s voice crackled through the radio immediately. “We’ve been compromised. I repeat, we've been compromised. Fall back and head to the take-off point immediately. Ready the aircraft for take off.”

The soldiers jumped into the craft and were about to take off when they heard an explosion from the other side. Drew heard Isabel groan. “I need to ascertain where the missile is coming from. Hold up, Drew and Smith.”

“We can't wait, Lieutenant Colonel. We need to leave right away or we may not be able to. Jones and the others can shoot them down.”

“We are already low on…” Her voice was lost to the heavy gunfire from the insurgents.

Drew took off slightly from the ground and moved toward some of the enemy combatants.

“What are you doing?” Lieutenant Colonel Oakley screamed at her. “They’re coming from the front. I command you to turn back now.”

“It's more dangerous back there, ma’am,” she shouted over the flight deck and flew toward the machine guns. The soldiers fired back as much as they could.

Drew skilfully maneuvered through the approaching insurgents and attacked as she went. She knew that was their best chance of making it through. but luckily made it through the village and headed for base.

“Smith, are you there? Do you copy?” Lieutenant Colonel Oakley asked over the intercom, clearly agitated.

“Affirmative, ma’am. We're safe and good. We believe there were some explosives at the back of the village. If we had gone through, we wouldn't have made it,” Smith replied, breathing heavily.

Drew glanced round at Isabel in triumph but was surprised by the stern look she received. The Thunderbolt was quiet, as everyone was trying to calm themselves after the near-death experience.

When they arrived back at base, Isabel alighted from the plane and pulled off her helmet. Her medical team shuffled behind her.

“You’re all dismissed. Major Mitchell, to my office, now!”

They had barely made their way into the office before she slammed the door. Drew could see the anger blazing in her brown eyes which now looked almost black.

She looked sexy when she was angry- Drew couldn’t help but notice.

“You had no right whatsoever to defy my orders and put us in danger. I understand you were trying to defend and protect your comrades, but what if we had missed the targets or were shot down?”

Drew kept her head down. Aside from the fact the question was rhetorical, she was angry too. She had just saved the day, but instead of gratitude, she got this.

“I took a risk, sure. But it paid off.” Drew said, standing firm by her belief.

“If you or anyone had missed the targets, we would be dead, and that includes everyone on our plane and the other comrades too. Everyone you were trying to save. Safety comes first, next time, understood?”

Drew knew she had to bow to Isabel’s rank but she didn’t like it. Isabel was close to her now and imposing. Drew felt electricity crackling in the air between them.

She wanted to kiss her, but she certainly didn’t dare.

“Yes, ma’am!” Drew replied, bowing her head before she did something she might regret.

“You're dismissed.”

Drew walked away in shame with heavy thoughts. She had never thought her spontaneity could cause harm. She knew she was reckless sometimes, but it wasn't like she hadn’t contemplated other options.

Isabel had made her feel thoughtless and uncertain, as if she were nonchalant about her troops safety. But she wasn't. She cared about them deeply, which was the sole reason behind her decision.

Maybe it was because she wasn't used to being corrected often. Most of her superiors had trusted her wholeheartedly, and she needed to gain Isabel Oakley’s trust too.

Later that night as she lay down on her bed, she wondered if she was thinking too much about the lieutenant colonel. Why did she care how Isabel Oakley perceived her? Why did it matter so much to her?

Every time Isabel looked at her with those intense brown eyes, she felt too self-conscious and too seen. Like the whole world could disappear, and it wouldn't matter.

She wanted to lose herself in Isabel Oakley’s fierce stare.

Something was building up within her, and it wasn't just a spark. It was something deeper, something more, something warm. She shrugged off her thoughts; she'd better catch some sleep before dawn.

A few hours into the night, Drew was jolted awake by a loud crash. The room was pitch black, the air was heavy with the scent of sand and dust, and her nostrils flared. She immediately groped for her flashlight, alerted by the sound that woke her up.

Soon, a cacophony of howls and a deafening roar echoed. Without stepping outside, she knew it was a sandstorm. It was ironic that even though she was adventurous usually, she detested sand storms. They kept her awake and afraid.

“The storm must have caused the blackout,” she muttered to herself. She rubbed her eyes, shaking off the grogginess.

As she stepped outside, she realized the storm was even more intense than she’d thought. Although she wasn’t particularly keen about being outside, she needed to check what was wrong with the power supply.

And with that, she ran along the path that led to the power plant, covering her nose and mouth as she raced.

The wind whipped through the electric poles, causing them to light up and sway ominously. Sand particles danced and twirled vigorously. She picked up the pace and soon arrived at the power plant.

There was someone inside, and Drew wondered if they had tampered with the power supply. Slowly but tactically, she tiptoed behind the figure and captured them, trapping them and eliminating any chance of resistance.

The figure elbowed her, and her flashlight tumbled from her grasp.

Drew winced before looking up to see Lieutenant Colonel Oakley . She seemed to be staring through her or probably checking her out. Maybe both. She swallowed before apologizing. “I’m sorry. I thought it was an intruder.” Isabel’s voice was silky and smooth.

Drew winced again, grabbing her ribs in exaggeration. “I'm sorry too. I thought the same thing.”

“It's alright. The storm woke you up?”

“Yes, it did. When I saw the power outage, I decided to come and check it out.”

“Good job, Major.”

“Thank you, Lieutenant Colonel.”

“Tonight, you can call me Izzy.” Isabel narrowed her eyes at Drew. She was in what looked like a light sleep shirt and Drew could see the outline of her nipples through it.

“Okay, Izzy,” Drew said, stifling a smile. “Did you find out the problem?”

“Not exactly. My guess is the wind hit the power lines hard, damaging insulation and disrupting the power flow.”

“Most certainly.” It made sense.

They worked to together to try and resolve it.

While they were in there, the storm worsened. Something had fallen a few feet from the plant, barricading the path, and the wind tugged at them fiercely. Drew’s fear heightened; she couldn't imagine going back to the dorms in the chaos, but it was also unsafe to sleep in a power plant.

Isabel noticed Drew’s discomfort. “We can't go back out there. It’s too harsh and destructive.”

“It’s not safe to sleep in here either. We could use the veranda instead?” They could create shelter there- it seemed the best option. Drew knew they would have to just wait out the storm and it made sense to sleep.. if they could, that was. “Let's find something to sleep on.”

And with that, Drew rummaged through a small storeroom while Isabel checked the main building.

“Anything?” Drew asked from within.

“Just ropes. Nothing much!”

After a few minutes, Drew found a tarp and blanket and rushed toward Isabel. “Look what I found.” She grinned.

“I think I can make something out of those.” She took the ropes she had seen earlier and divided them into two parts. Isabel tied the first rope from the pillar to the window and repeated the process with the other rope, stretching it to the other side of the window.

She then threw the tarp over the structure, creating a makeshift shelter.

Drew watched in awe as the shelter took form. She laid a blanket under the structure, and they lay down. The nearness of Isabel was intense. The brush of her hand as they rigged up the tarp was intense. Drew felt a heat building deep inside her. A burning sensation deep in her core. She wanted her. She wanted Isabel Oakley badly.

Their makeshift tent was quiet for a while and safe under cover of darkness until Drew cleared her throat. “I'm a bit afraid of storms,” she said, surprising herself and Isabel. She had never told anyone. You didn’t admit fear in the military. It never felt safe to be vulnerable and yet here she was admitting her fear to her superior. The superior whose clothes she wanted to rip off, no less.

“Is there a reason why?”

“My uncle died in a rainstorm. We were very close. He wanted to visit the day before my birthday, so he flew down, then took a car. Everything seemed okay.” Drew paused to keep her voice steady. She hadn't shared this story with anyone before.

“On his way, a heavy storm caught up with him. The car was wrecked, and he...”

Isabel reached out to hold her and rub her back and Drew felt her heart leap as Isabel caught it. “It's okay.”

“You're one of the bravest people I've ever met,” Isabel continued. The sacrifices you make for the team, including the one you did today. Reckless? Yeah, but still very brave. It is ok to have fears.”

Drew laughed. “I know I can be a little much sometimes.”

“Not too much for me, hopefully.” Isabel’s hand on her body felt electric. Drew felt like she might combust there and then.

“I think I'm just enough.” Drew pulled herself together. “And I understand your point concerning safety. I have thought through my actions from earlier. I will try my best not to be reckless. I know you're worried about the troop, and I admire your love and genuine concern.”

“Am I not overbearing?”

Drew could see the outline of her face in the darkness. Her elegant eyebrows arched quizzically. Drew wanted to hold her beautiful face and kiss her.

“Trust me, you are.” She laughed briefly, and her body vibrated against Isabel’s. They were pressed close now, for warmth, or something. The desert was cold and the sound of the storm loud. Thunder rumbled loudly, and they both drew closer to each other for warmth and comfort.

“I like the way you laugh,” Isabel said, her voice thick as she grabbed Drew's face and planted a feathery kiss on her lips.

Drew was shocked, but before she could respond, Isabel had already pulled away.

“I’m sorr—” Isabel had barely completed her apology when Drew pulled her in for a deeper kiss. She plunged her tongue into Isabel's mouth, deepening the kiss. It felt like the most intense kiss of Drew’s life. She felt desire flooding between her legs.

They kissed for a while until Isabel pulled away to catch her breath. Drew couldn't believe she had just made out with her superior officer and so passionately.

The tent was tense with emotion. Drew wondered what Izzy was thinking and hoped this would not worsen matters between them and ruin her professionalism.

Amidst her concern, Drew savored the taste of her.

“So…” Isabel cleared her throat.

“So.”

“What just happened between us shouldn't interfere with our job. We are two adults, and we can manage our feelings accordingly. This should never have happened.” Isabel said.

“I totally agree with you. I suggest we keep things strictly professional.” Drew was relieved to have spoken about it.

“That being settled, I wish you a good night, Drew.”

The sound of her name on Isabel’s lips sounded different. Drew inched closer to her.

“Goodnight, my able lieutenant colonel,” she joked and Isabel laughed.

As she drifted towards sleep, she felt Isabel's lips pressing against her forehead. She hoped she could tame her feelings for Isabel and concentrate solely on her work without ruining her chances at happiness and their newfound friendship.

She wanted so desperately to take things further, but Isabel was right. It was a really bad idea. They needed to stay professional.