Rifiuto: Non Miriena

"Promise me you'll be okay, little sis." I nodded, burying my face in Luca's shoulder. The airport was packed with people waiting to board; I was just one of several there waiting to leave for deployment. "You be careful and watch out for that pup. Hear me?" I nodded again, struggling to hold back tears.

"Sergeant, it's time to board." I pulled away from my brother, nodding to my commanding officer- a Major William Shaw, a tall, commanding African American with intense dark eyes and a rich, deep baritone voice. With one last glance towards my family, I followed Shaw down the terminal towards the plane.

"So, where are we going, Sir?" He didn't look back at me, didn't blink as he spoke.

"Afghanistan." I stopped.

"But... but I was... I was told that... that I'd be going to Iraq..." It was now that he stopped and turned to me.

"Orders were changed at the last minute."

I nodded. "And... and Ash? I... I can still take her with me?" At this, he turned and continued on.

"You will use your dog to search for IEDs, to assess bomb threats, and-"

"So..."

"So?" He glanced back at me. I shook my head.

"Nothing, Sir."

Dust. Everywhere you looked, was dust. Dust and sand and heat. I'd grown up in every place imaginable, but nothing compared to the heat and sand of Afghanistan. Those first few weeks were training and patrolling, searching for explosives with Ash at my side. My little husky mix proved to be quite the charmer in those first few weeks, attracting the attention of the other officers, to the point that at night, I would often find a cup of instant coffee or a roll waiting for me, with a bit of chicken for Ash as well. It was no surprise that my little pup thought she could play matchmaker, especially concerning Eric.

Major Eric Brogan was on his fifth tour of duty, after having been in Somalia for four months. He was six years older than I, and from my neck of the woods- Jersey City. He'd lost a brother-in-law on September Eleventh, one of the firemen of House Three-Four-Three, and had felt it was his duty to enlist in the 'War on Terror' as the president had called it. I won't deny that there was an instant attraction between us, and that we spent the majority of our nights on watch talking and getting to know each other, always with Ash laying comfortably between our feet.

"So how old's the pup?" I took a sip of my coffee, glancing down at Ash.

"Little over four months. Husky-Newfoundland mix. My dad got her for me for graduation." He nodded, reaching down to scratch her ears.

"She an IED dog?" I nodded.

"Yeah. She is. So far, we've had a pretty good run." We'd found six IEDs today on patrol, each time sending my heart into my throat for fear one of them would go off and kill us both. "So how long you in for?" He looked up at me, turning his grey eyes to mine.

"Six months, at most. You?" I shrugged.

"Not sure. First tour." I reached down, stroking Ash's soft fur. "Kind of scared, to be honest. Never... never been in combat before. My dad and my brothers all have-"

"Yeah, Colonel Lupo, I... I know of him well." I looked up at him. "And your brothers. Didn't know you were related to Ricco and Davie and Luca, but now... now I see the resemblence. Although you're ten time prettier than they are, I must admit." I blushed, glancing down at my coffee. "How old are you?" My teeth found my lip, and I thought a moment.

"Eighteen. Just a kid, right?" He shook his head, reaching out and taking my hand.

"Not at all." I don't know what possessed me, but I set my cup down and grabbed his chin, tugging until our mouths connected and I tasted the sweet richness of coffee on his lips. After several minutes, I pulled back, realizing I'd made a mistake, and moved to stand to do a quick scan, when he grabbed my arm, pulling me back to him as his mouth crashed onto mine. As his tongue slipped between my lips, I slowly reached up, digging my nails into his hair as he pulled me closer. So far, our nights had been quiet; the small outpost on the furthest reaches of the city was well enough away from the major chaos bound to erupt soon, that we could have silent moments like these. He deepened the kiss, tugging gently on my lower lip with his teeth. It as only when Ash sat up that I pulled away.

"Ash? What is it? What's wrong?" I climbed to my feet, turning my head towards the ground hundreds of feet below us. Though I could see nothing in the darkness beyond the floodlights, I felt rather than heard or saw the gunshots. Voices soon followed; frantic, calling for backup. Without a second thought, I grabbed Ash up into my arms and rushed down from the roof, towards the sound of gunfire. I heard Brogan behind me, and as I reached the ground floor, Ash leaped from my arms, rushing out towards the shots and- what I soon realized- explosions. "Ash! Ash! Don't! Get back here!"

My feet led me out of the compound, into the darkness that surrounded our outpost, and as I struggled to get my bearings, I searched for any sign of my pup. My heart leapt into my throat; Ash's frantic barking and yipping soon sent me some twenty feet ahead. Eyes now fully adjusted to the night's darkness, I saw what Ash had found- a turned over automobile, smoking and riddled with bulletholes. And there, out of the corner of my eye, I caught sight of Ash, laying near the front passenger side wheel, like she'd been trained to do. "I need some help over here! We've got an IED!" Shuffling feet began to come my way, and I was soon pulled away. "No! I need- Ash! Ash, come here, girl! Ashland!"

The feel of the IED going off threw me onto my back, and my last thought was of my pup, killed on her first and only mission.