Chapter 25
Jack managed to smuggle himself back to base and into his billet undetected that night. Apart from the scowl Higgins gave him at the gate, no one knew how late he'd crawled into bed. Despite the late night he'd had, Jack was up and about at 05:45am, staring at his bruised reflection while he tied a Windsor knot around his neck, which hung smartly over his pale blue shirt.
Catching sight of the pebbled colours of purple and blue surrounding his left eye and his jawline, he sighed, knowing that if the C.O caught him today, he'd have some explaining to do.
Reaching back to the hook which usually supported his dark blue issued jacket, he found himself grasping at thin air. Jack released a mixture of a chuckle and a grumble at the thought of it still laying on Harleen's bed. He'd have to fish out his spare one for today. Snatching it out from the small cupboard which sat in his equally small room, he slipped it on, grabbed his peak cap and left. Hoping to get out early and secure the use of the aircraft he was going to take Harleen up in later that day.
As he weaved through the corridors and out through the side door of his billet, Jack inhaled a deep breath of fresh country air. He cast his eyes out to the hazy dew which lay on top of the short cut grass and tarmac runway. Everything was still and silent for a moment's the sun switched places with the moon and the burnt orange cast shadows of the aircraft hangars against the ground. Jack smiled, completely content with himself. He reached down into his pocket and pulled out a cigarette along with his personalised lighter. Striking it up once, he placed the smoke in between his lips and lit the end, sucking through as the tip of the cigarette inflamed red.
Jack closed his eyes and relished the feeling of his first morning smoke along with the memories from last night. He was soon pulled out of his vivid thoughts of Harleen strewn across her bed by the sound of the hangar doors opening opposite him. The morning light moved in and illuminated the squadron of Spitfires which had been lying dormant for the duration of the night.
As the engineers hitched up the aircraft to a small vehicle and pulled them out of the hanger, Jack caught sight of the little double winged gem sitting at the back, of course the aircraft which would be Harleen's chariot for the afternoon. With that thought in mind, Jack slipped on his peak cap, stubbed out his cigarette and made his way over towards the hangar.
"Sir!" One man in coveralls shouted. "Pilot Officer Napier!"
Jack raised his hand up in acknowledgement and walked towards the man. "What can I do for you Davis?"
"Flight Lieutenant Richards was looking for you last evening. He was vexed I can tell you." Davis replied, wiping fresh aviation oil from his knuckles with a dirty cloth. "Something about inappropriate behaviour in the village. He told old Wing Co and he's on the wall path. I'd keep your head down Sir."
Jack rolled his eyes and nodded. "Richards never disappoints does he?" He asked rhetorically.
"Well by the state of your bruises Sir, your defence won't be a strong one." Davis said, trying to glance back at the Spitfires rolling out onto the grass.
"I wanted to ask a little favour Davis, they'll be something in it for you if you can make it happen?" Jack grinned raising his brow.
"All depends on the favour and the reward Sir." Davis replied, chuckling.
"I don't have much to offer you Davis, but I'll owe you a favour in return. You have my word." He assured him. "Now the favour is tricky one...I want to take the Tiger out around noon. See that she's primed and ready to go by 11:45?"
"Sir...the whole squadron could be on call out today. You'll be needed on the station, not in the air flying a Tiger Moth." Davis explained. "I'd need the Wing Commanders permission, or we both know I'd be dismissed."
"Leave the jumped up C.O to me, he's bringing hell's fury no matter what I do. We're not fully operational yet, we're still waiting on the new recruits to get their wings." Jack said, still watching the Spits roll out one by one. He then turned to face Davis fully. "If we can't have the little perks, what is this all for?"
"Alright Sir, I'll get her fired up but nothing more. You can deal with the Boss, I'm not getting involved, not worth the risk if you ask me." Davis muttered.
"It's definitely worth the risk." Jack replied, his smile bigger than the sun peeking up over the horizon.
"This doesn't have anything do with your 'inappropriate' actions last night does it Sir?" Davis asked politely.
"Now that would be telling." He grinned. "I'm grateful to you Davis. Now if that's all, I better find that stuck up rich kid with a commission."
"One last thing before you go Sir...I took a look at your Spit yesterday afternoon as you requested and your landing gear appears to be sticky. She's in the workshop as we speak. Can't land without an undercarriage."
"No" Jack chuckled. "The last time I did that, the air traffic control guys shot a flare right at me, the walk of shame after I landed for the second time is not one I wanna repeat."
"Ah one of the new lads tried that old trick yesterday, quite humorous." Davis laughed. "Oh and by the way, your friend Pilot Officer Dent arrived last night, he went straight to the medical bay and got his dressings changed. He's on bed rest for the next couple of days then he should be back into the fold in no time. He asked for you."
Jack nodded slowly. "I'll make the effort to see him tonight, maybe sneak a doughnut back from the mess hall. Thank you for the updates Davis, you're truly a gent."
"No matter, just get yourself sorted and inform me if anything changes. If I'm caught with a primed Tiger without permission, I'm taking you down with me Sir."
"Sounds like a fair deal Davis. I'll help you pull her out. There might even be a doughnut in it for you too if we don't get caught." Jack teased.
"This is all for a girl isn't it Sir?" Davis chuckled. "I only see men like you do things like this for a girl."
"Men like me?" Jack asked, raising a brow.
"Men who keep themselves to themselves and don't have any attachments, but when they see something they want, they'll do anything to get it." He explained.
"Am I that predictable?" Jack smiled. "She's one of a kind, I've never seen anyone or anything so beautiful. I've never felt this way about another person before Davis, I'm not letting her realise how much of a step down she's taking by seeing me, so I'll just have to blind her common sense with bad jokes and flights."
"She's the one eh?" Davis said rolling his eyes. "Every yank or Canadian that comes over here falls for a English rose, but the garden isn't always in bloom y'know, nothing wrong with a passing fancy."
"No, this isn't like that. I can't stop thinking about her. It's driving me nuts!" Jack replied firmly. "It' only been a few days but it's like I've known her for years."
"You'll say that about the next girl you meet with a pronounced accent and a sweet smile I assure you." Davis grinned.
"There's no chance of that. I'm not letting her slip through my fingers." He said softly.
"Well, if you say so…" Davis took an inhale of fresh country air and turned back towards the hanger. "I best get on before the mess opens for breakfast. Come see me at noon and I'll see what I can arrange for you."
Jack nodded with a small grin. "I owe you one." He added before turning on his own heel to face the opposite direction. Jack squinted his yes as he walked away, leaving Davis to carry out his morning duties. His eyes focused in on the small building in front of him, growing closer and closer with each step.
He marched towards it with determination, reading the words 'Commanding Officer' in white writing standing out against the black sign mounted on the door. As Jack got closer he raised his right fist to tap against the door, waiting patiently for a response from the other side.
"Who is it?" A deep voice snapped in irritation.
Jack rolled his eyes behind the cover of the door and gritted his teeth. "Wing Commander Wayne, it's Pilot Officer Napier."
"Napier, come in." He replied, more firmly than before.
Jack steadied the peak cap which sat proudly on top of his head and reached out to grab the door handle. Already predicting the thrashing he was about to receive from his Commanding Officer, Jack still remained determined to escape quickly with full permission to take the Tiger Moth up and give Harleen an experience of a lifetime.