Chapter 14
Same disclaimer applies. Starborn77…I haven't forgotten about you!
And guys, I would like some feedback on how time is flowing. If it's moving to slow, let me know. I can bump it up a bit! Oh yeah, and at the end, there is an adult situation. (NOT SEX, but I'll mark it with a *, so if you don't want to read it, DON'T! It is part of the story, so you might as well…)
2 weeks later…
Jake stared out the window. It was a beautiful day, as usual. It was kind of nice that his hospital room overlooked the parade ground. The sun shined brilliantly on the perfectly manicured lawn. Every now and then, Jake would see soldiers drill and pass in review. But not today. It was just a crisp lawn with the sunlight casting a beautiful glow over the field.
Staring out the window kept him occupied, when he wasn't watching TV, getting visited, or sleeping. He didn't realize how much his medications made him sleepy. He was out of it nearly half the day. When he wasn't in the room, he was at Occupational or Physical therapy. He had to learn how to take care of himself all over again. It was hard and frustrating. He could barely put his own shirt on, and forget the rest of his clothes. It was like he was a big baby.
No, even Rae probably knows how to dress herself by now.
Not to mention that his eyesight was shot in his right eye. He could only differentiate between light and dark. It was better for him to wear the eye patch the hospital gave him, otherwise, he got dizzy.
He sighed, taking a deep breath.
Aaah, pain…
Ironically, his broken ribs were supposedly healing nicely, and his collapsed lung was almost fully inflated. In fact, today was the day that he was scheduled to be hospital, and the Army.
The end of my all-too-long military career.
The Army had no use for a soldier in a wheelchair, even if that soldier happened to save the universe not once, but twice.
It figures. No one has any use for me anymore.
He hated the stares he got from other people. They acted like he had some sort of disease. They didn't even have the courage to look him in the eye.
People only see the wheelchair, they don't see me.
Some days, it was hard to believe that he was paralyzed. He would wake up, and try to sit up, or go to the bathroom. He wouldn't be able to. That's when reality usually hit him.
He wanted to morph but a lot of the time he was too tired or in too much pain. When he could, he enjoyed soaring as a falcon, or roaming around the base as Homer, his old dog. Otherwise, he sat here and watched TV. Or stared at the parade ground.
He heard a rap on the door, it was a nurse.
"CPT Berenson, I have your full dress uniform ready. We're close to starting the ceremony, Sir."
"OK, Lieutenant."
_________________________________________________________
About 15 minutes later, Jake was dressed up in his full dress uniform, thanks to the lieutenant. He had his captain's bars gleaming on his shoulders, and his medals pinned to the left side of his uniform jacket. He had not only his medal of honor, but his Grandpa G's medal of honor as well. Jake insisted on it.
"You look good to go sir," the nurse said.
"Thanks, lieutenant."
Marco and Tobias came into the room, along with his parents.
Damn, do they really have to be here?
Jake had done his best to avoid talking to his parents since the blowup. He would pretend that he was sleeping whenever they came to visit, and if it was a surprise, he would just mutter and make small talk.
Just adding to their thoughts that I'm a helpless psycho.
Already, they had their fake smiles plastered on their faces.
Another Captain walked into the room. "General on the deck!"
Everyone who was in the military snapped to attention.
Two sergeants walked in with the Commanding General of the base.
Jake tried his best to 'sit' at attention in his wheelchair, but he wondered where were Cassie and Rae? IN his last phone conversation with them, he told them about what was happening today. He wanted them to be here…
The general's voice snapped him out of his thoughts.
"Captain Jacob Adam Berenson, U.S. Army, Special Forces. Almost three years ago, you commenced on a mission to save one of our Andalite allies and his crew, War-Prince Aximili-Escagarrouth-Isthill from imprisonment within 'The One'. This action was not approved by the U.S. Army or the Andalite Fleet. However, your willingness to go above and beyond the call of duty is commendable. You, as I was told, were willing to sacrifice your life and your life alone to free War-Prince Aximili and his crew. The Army has decided to look past it non-recommendation of your actions and award you the highest honor that a soldier can receive, the Medal of Honor for the second time. Son, what you did took guts and heart. You displayed bravery above and beyond the call of duty at a grave risk of life. You will also be awarded the Legion of Merit, as well as the Purple Heart for being injured in battle. You are a damn fine soldier, Berenson. It's only a shame that we don't have more men and women like you serving in the armed forces."
"Thank you sir," Jake said as his mother put the Medal of Honor around his neck and kissed his cheek, as was military tradition. The other soldiers pinned the new medals on his chest.
Jake saluted the General, and the General saluted him back.
"Captain Berenson, you are hereby granted a medical discharge with full military honors. Good Luck son."
"Thank you sir,"
Outside, five black hawk helicopters were flying in V-formation. To honor Jake. But Jake wasn't in the mood to honored. Cassie and Rae never showed up.
There's no honor, because THEY aren't here…
______________________________________________________
Earlier that day…
Cassie was tousling her hair in the mirror. She wanted to look very nice for Jake's ceremony. The Mousse that she tried to put in her hair was unsuccessful in getting her curls straight.
Doggoneit!
At her feet, Rae was half-dressed, running through the halls of the house.
"Rae! Come back here! I need to put your dress on!"
Rae shook her head and ran down the hall, disappearing to her room, and then peeking out with a smile."
I swear, this girl NEVER wants to get dressed!
"Rachel, come on. Don't start with me today. WE'RE GETTING DRESSED. We have to go see Daddy today."
"NAHHHH!" Rae screamed.
Cassie tried to talk to Jake at least twice a week. He let her know that he was going to get discharged today, and receive some honors. It was the first time that he sounded remotely happy about anything lately. Jake especially wanted Rae there. He wanted the General to give the medals to the baby.
If only we could get ready…
Ronnie's reflection in the mirror startled her.
"Ronnie? What are you doing back from work so early?"
"I heard your last conversation with him. When were you going to tell me about this ceremony?"
Huh? What is he tripping about?
"Ronnie, I'm going to see one of my friends get discharged from the Army. I didn't think you needed to know."
"Didn't think? DIDN'T THINK?" Ronnie started to get mad," Your supposed to be my WIFE in six weeks, for God's sake. We're supposed to be honest with each other and tell each other everything." He looked down the hall to Rae's room. "But you're not so good at that, are you?"
"Now wait just a second. DO NOT
bring Rachel into this," Cassie said, hurt that Ronnie would use her child
against her." Yes, Jake is her father, but he is just a friend. JUST A FRIEND.
God, stop being so paranoid."
Well I'll make this easy for you. You're not going to see that white boy. Not
now and not ever again."
Now Cassie was angry?
"WHAT? DON'T-"
*
Ronnie grabbed Cassie by the arm and pushed her against the wall.
"YOU. AREN'T. GOING."
Cassie was shocked and scared. Ronnie had NEVER laid a hand on her before.
Ever.
What has gotten into him?
She shook against the wall, defeated.
"Fine, Ron, I won't go."
"That's right. That's goddamn right. I'm the only man in your life. Remember that. I'll be in the kitchen making lunch."
Cassie slunk to the floor, as Rae came running down the hall, with a hair clip.
"No Rae, put that away. We aren't going to see Daddy today."
Rae's smile turned to a frown and she started to cry.
"Ssh, baby, it's ok. Everything is
going to be ok."
She flipped up her cell phone and called Marco.
"Hey Marco, it's Cassie. Yea, about the ceremony…No…I won't be able to go…Yeah…it's the baby…she's not feeling well…send Jake and his parents our regards…thanks."
She kissed Rae's head.
"It's ok Rae, Everything will be fine.'
I hope…