Sorry about my mess up for chapter 6 - I edited the formatting, then when to update it- I looked for a 6 at the end of the name (for the chapter) and hit Line Of Sight Chapter 16! Thank you to YHLH and mijo54 (thanks for adding me to fave authors!) for telling me when the wrong chapter was up!
SORRYYYYYYYYYY!
Thank you to SveaR and Xynostaph for adding this to alerts :)
This chapter is dedicated to BethBecker because she's gone into school when she doesn't need to and suffered for it. Proud of you for putting your school work ahead of my suggestion to stay and home and watch Primeval :)
Enjoy this little chappy :)
Jess hung up the phone after the last call had been finished. She ticked the last box on her pristine crisp list, attached to her clipboard. She, for the past two weeks, had been making preparations for the next event and she was finally sure that it was fully organised.
After checking that Lester hadn't noticed her calling people on ARC time, Jess turned her attention back to the ADD, flicking through the security cameras. She settled on the training grounds, smiling to herself as she opened up her communication set so she could listen to the conversation without intruding.
Matt had been rigorously putting Becker and Bounty through their paces. Each ARC soldier was given extra training on the course which was currently set up. It was an obstacle course with all the perks you never got on your school sports day.
Every day for the past month Matt had taken Becker to the course and hassled him through it. To stop the blind man getting sloppy by remembering the route he had a couple of men on call to change the layout. The men did it on their own time, of course. Other than the small number who had found humour at Becker's initial attempts to get back to the standard he was previously, every man was in awe of his achievements. The pride the ARC soldiers felt at knowing Becker and Bounty, the honour, they were privileged to have to assist them was consuming and they all fought over who would be allowed to help next.
As it was, that assisted Lawrence, who made a competition over it. Whoever did their job to the best standard got to be part of Becker's training. The entire ARC soldier team had begun to work harder and better.
"That wasn't fast enough, Becker. We'll have a small break for Bounty and try again."
Jess smiled at the sound. Matt wasn't cutting Becker even an inch of slack. She loved Matt's concern. It made it easier for her to look after him.
"Matt," he panted, "that was three seconds faster than my Personal Best."
"It's not good enough."
"It's faster than you!" Frustration was clear in his voice.
"You have to rely on Bounty-"
"YES! And we're faster than you!"
"It's not good enough. Being reliant on Bounty means that you have less time to react. Information has to be processed by her, given to you and then you have to process it. You two need to be faster if you're ever going to make it out of this building."
Up until the last sentence Jess had been smiling. It was good to see Matt's concern for his friend and that he wasn't going to let anything slide. It was the comment about Becker leaving the building that had her worried. Was Matt really suggesting that one day Becker could go out on alerts when there could be an incursion?
A part of her started to sarcastically ask her why else Becker would be back at the ARC. But the idea of it scared her. There was a difference between getting Becker's fitness up to scratch, making him feel a part of the ARC and sending him out on the field. After all he was blind and that was something that couldn't be ignored.
Jess was distracted from her thoughts when she noticed Matt leaning to pick up a large see-through plastic sack. Freezing the screen and zooming in on the bag she frowned further, then went back to the camera.
"Matt?" She saw him stop moving and lift his head.
"Jess?"
"Yes, it's me. What are you doing?"
"I'm with-"
"-No, no! I can see you." Matt straightened and looked directly up at the camera, having become well acquainted with the security system between the time that Becker left and Lawrence joined the team.
"Then..?"
"Are they tennis balls?"
"Yes. Wh-"
"DO NOT GIVE THEM TO BOUNTY!"
Matt jumped at her shout. "What?"
"She will tear them to pieces. I swear she will eat them alive. Do not introduce her to them!"
"I was only going to use them to-"
"No!" Jess cut him off again. "Do not let her know what a tennis ball is. Just don't. Whatever you're planning wont work."
"Jess, trust me. I know animals, I know Bounty. Relax."
The co-ordinator sighed, giving up on Matt. "Pass me to Becker."
"What?"
"Becker. The guy stood in front of you who's wondering what the hell is going on."
It was true, having only heard Matt's half of the conversation, Becker was extremely confused.
"Jess?"
"Yeah, yeah it's me." Jess spoke flippantly, wanting to get past that bit of conversation before Matt did something stupid. "Don't let Matt give Bounty tennis balls. I promise you: you will never get over it. She will chew and chew and chew. She will want them forever! Please!"
Becker was too confused to realise that Jess was speaking to him as if nothing had ever changed between them.
"Bounty has never chewed anything in her life. It's okay."
Jess frowned at their lack of concern as Becker removed the earpiece and handed it back to Matt.
She continued to watch as Matt produced a ball from the bag.
"You don't want to do it." She spoke in the slightly singsong voice of a person who knows someone else is about to make a huge mistake.
Still, Matt ignored her.
"Here, Bounty." He introduced her to the object and started 'fetch.'
As Bounty ran after the ball and picked it up. Jess was, for half a second, scared she was about to swallow her words. Then, instead of completing her run back to the men, Bounty plonked herself on the floor and started to tear into the ball.
"Told ya so."
Just a little'un to remind you that I'm still here :)
Sorry that Marianne has not be resolved as of yet. I know you guys are keen on it! :)
Let me know what you think.
Thank you my lovelies!
