WINCHESTER AND YOUNG – CHAPTER 14 – AFTERMATH
FEATURING JADE YOUNG AND CAPTAIN LAMONT CRANSTON
DISCLAIMER: I DON'T OWN ANY OF THE SAILWEAVER AND SUPERNATURAL CHARACTERS, THEY BELONG TO THEIR RESPECTIVE CREATORS. DON'T SUE ME PLEASE.
Jade arrived at the practice field as instructed at eight bells in the morning watch. Lamont was standing there, looking at his watch. He saw her approach. "You actually showed up," he said, glancing at her with a frown on his face. "Pity, I had hoped you'd be a no show so that I could get out of training you."
"Sorry to disappoint you. I, for one, do not want to have Muher chew my backside out again," Jade replied. She saw the bandage on his arm, "Did you get that changed recently?"
"Medical insisted that I see them before I came out here today. They said too much movement in the shoulder will start the bleeding again, and that I was lucky I didn't bleed more," Lamont shrugged with his other shoulder.
"They're right, you know. I'm sure you are already aware that there are vital arteries in the shoulder, I'm surprised you actually managed to get us back to the compound in one piece," Jade said, stretching. "Since the doctors don't want you doing anything too strenuous on your shoulder, what did they say you could do today?"
"The doctors said I can do anything I want, as long as I don't overwork the shoulder. That means I'm going to have you start throwing that knife at the target over there," he said, first pointing to the knife on a nearby table, and then pointing to the target fifty yards away. "I'll have you start with a close-range target. As you improve, I'll have you aim at targets further out."
"Fine, let's get started. I don't want you reporting to Muher that I'm not doing what I was instructed to," Jade said, picking up the knife, standing at the line Lamont had marked with chalk. She aimed, and threw the knife, hearing Lamont snickering as it landed to the right of the target.
"This is what I have to work with?" Lamont said, shaking his head. "This is going to take longer than a couple of weeks, that's for sure. I predict months, and if this is how your aim is with a knife, I shudder to think how your aim will be with the pistol."
"You know you could always ask Muher to find another instructor for me, Captain," Jade said, glaring icily at Lamont.
"Unfortunately, I also have no wish to have Muher chewing me out for a second time. You don't have to enjoy my company, but you will learn how to use those weapons," Lamont said.
"You're right about one thing, I don't enjoy your company. If you reopen that wound while you're training me, you will drag yourself back to the medical wing," Jade said, going to get the knife.
"That's fine, because I don't need your help, I do just fine on my own," Lamont called after her. "I can't believe I have to put up with her."
"Everything okay captain?" Muher's amused voice asked.
"No, everything is not okay, she has terrible aim," Lamont replied to Muher. "What can I do for you, sir?"
"Nothing, I'm just coming to check on the two of you. It looks like you have everything under control, Lamont. Yes, I'm sure this will work out just fine," he said, grinning at Lamont before moving back to his own group of trainees that were waiting at a different practice field for his arrival.
"Just fine? Is he serious?" Lamont said, frustrated at the current state of affairs.
"It looked like he was dead serious to me," Jade interjected, returning with the knife in her hand.
"Fine, the first thing we're going to do is work on your aim," Lamont said, coming over and adjusting her arm. He told her how to sight along the knife blade, before throwing.
By the time the clocks rang out eight bells in the forenoon watch, Jade had noticed her aim had improved slightly. She was only able to hit the outer ring of the target, but at least she was now hitting the target. Her right arm was very sore from the repetitive action. She was very glad when Lamont called an end to their training for the day. "What time are we meeting tomorrow?" she asked, trying to ease the soreness in her shoulder.
"How is your shoulder?" was all Lamont said in reply.
"It's fine," Jade lied.
"I see," Lamont said, as he touched the muscle gently, causing Jade to wince in pain. "You will ice this shoulder down tonight, and we will decide tomorrow morning what we will work on. Be out here again at eight bells in the morning watch."
"Yes, sir," Jade said, starting to head back into the compound.
"I would also advise a hot bath or shower," Lamont said, calling after her. "I have found it also helps."
Jade didn't reply, it wasn't that he was saying anything wrong, it was just that she didn't want to give him the satisfaction of being right. "He doesn't care about me anyhow, we both just want this over with so Muher's off our backs," she muttered, arriving back at her quarters.
Later, Lamont had returned to his quarters, after sending his report to Muher. Jade wasn't the worst person he'd trained, but she was the first person that Muher had asked him to train one-on-one. "I hope she takes care of that shoulder, or she's going to regret it in the morning. Lamont followed his own advice, taking a hot shower. Afterwards, he sat in his bed, thinking about Jade. She's a pain, I can't stand her, but at least she's not the Navy.