Chapter 2: Dragon 1
When you get shot the only thing you think of is the pain especially when you have Kevlar on. The pain is like getting the air knocked out of you then when you take a breath it is like fire…a searing pain that radiates from the initial PI or Point of Impact. The only thing is you know you're not dead so the adrenaline kicks in it numbs the pain but only a little. I heard Tania calling for the medic; she was on the radio before I could stop her, before I could tell her I was fine. "Dragon 1 has been hit; repeat Dragon 1 has been hit! Need immediate medical attention!" She turned towards me and ripped open my shirt, and her face went from her sun-kissed tan to ghost-white. "Sasha…" her eyes started to well up with tears, "Sasha it's going to be alright." I put my hand on her cheek, she was starting to cry. "Why are you crying? I'm fine. Don't you see the Kevlar?" She cupped my hand and moved my hand to her neck. That's when I saw the blood; it was at the corner of my peripheral vision. The medic rushed in with Vasili. The medic removed the towel from the field stretcher and removed the Kevlar. Vasili turned and got on the radio "This is Cossack 1 to Hellfire 214 we need an emergency pick up…it Dragon 1…he's been hit; I repeat Dragon 1 has been hit!"
The medic turned toward me and asked the most retarded question ever "How do you feel?" "Like shit, how bad is it? Why didn't the Kevlar work?" the medic smiled and picked up the vest for me to see in the center was a bullet as big as my pinkie…he turned it to the other side and there was little metal pieces some of them had blood on them. "It did, you just need stitches for a few days, and you got some severe bruising above your lung but you will be fine, comrade." I relaxed a bit so they could put me on the stretcher, Vasili came over and said "Hellfire is on the way, sir but there is only room for 2 other people besides the patient and the pilots, so Doc is going to ride, someone is also going to ride who do you want, sir?" I looked at him and he knew who I chose already he knew that I chose "Tania," she came over and held my hand "will you come with me?"
She nodded, "Vasili, relay my orders, 'No one moves until I'm back'" He nodded; Doc and Vasili lifted the stretcher and got to the helipad as fast as they could. Once everyone got loaded on the pilot lifted off and made his way back to the hospital. I pulled Tania closer to where only she could hear me. "If…if I don't get killed me and you need to talk, about how much I…love you." She pulled back and smiled leaned down to what I thought was going to be her saying "I love you too." But what happened took me by surprise she leaned over me and kissed me for the entire flight.