Disclaimer: I do not own Escaflowne

No One to Help

One of the enemy snuck up on us, somehow "That was a touching tale but hand over the girl and she wouldn't get hurt. We have you surrounded, if you hand her over may-be we wouldn't kill you." Ten more of the enemy popped out. But as he was talking, Van took five of the freezing grenades from me. I knew what I had to do and Van nodded as we carefully stood up.

Van gave me a quick "good luck" kind of hug around the shoulders and whispered "I don't want another partner." And let go. As I walked forward they grabbed me. "Let's go back to base." Their commander said. "I would stay were you are and we wouldn't kill you."

"Get your filthy hands off of me. I don't want my pretty uniform contaminated by your gross germs. I can walk on my own, thank-you very much!" I told them disgusted by my pitiful job to survive. But I knew Van would save me.

When I finished telling them my disgust, the captain slapped me. "That is no way a lady should act or talk. You also starting right now have no right to speak to a man like that. You will never serve in any kind of military and will be a devoted wife." He commanded.

"I will never be a devoted wife to the likes of any of you. I will flirt and use my charm on other men, make you have the hardest time in the world, when I cook, I will leave your food cold, and will never bear your children." He went to slap me again, I blocked it and took a hit from behind and fell down.

I heard a bang and saw a big flash. I tried to move, but I was frozen. At that moment I knew that Van could not take any more of their crap and also realized why girls were never allowed in the front lines until now.

Because men that knew who they tortured and that they had some morals could not watch a woman get beaten in front of them, without doing anything. "Are you hurt?" Van's soft voice asked, "You really need to learn when to shut-up. But that was pretty harsh and awesome what you said. You are a very brave girl. Don't look if you do not like men getting killed that can't defend them selves, but they could tell their commanders that there are Americans out here." I closed my eyes. I really hated to see defenseless people die, but they meant us harm so I understood his doing.

I heard eleven gun shots and winced at all of them. When that was over I opened my eyes and Van picked me up. As he ran I felt sorry for him. He had to run while carrying me, my gear, and his gear. Finally we stopped. When he put me on the ground he told me "I got a little carried away and threw two grenades." He looked at the ground.

"So that is why I still can't move. How long has it been?"

"Well, I threw them one hour ago and they each last a 45 minutes so you have 30 minutes left frozen. I want to stay here for the rest of the 30, I mean 20 minutes. I miss counted the time I threw it. "

"How come you got all mad at me for not looking at you?" I asked him.

"Think about it Hitomi. When you are giving someone the best advice they can get from you and their not looking at you, it's kinda' rude."

"I'm sorry Van. Will you forgive me?" I looked at him with my mocking sorry eyes.

"Oh, just stop that." He gave me a little shove. I fell over.

"Now I know how it feels to be frozen." Laughing I looked up at him.

"Indeed you do. Indeed you do." He sort-of gazed out into nothing.

"What are you thinking of?"

"How I even got in to this mess."

"I thought you always wanted to be in the army?"

"I did and still do."

"So what's the big deal?"

"Five months ago I got asked to be in the CIA. And refused it."

"You what?" I yelled at him.

"Let me explain." He told me sitting down next to my temporarily limp body. "When I was your age I always wanted to join the CIA. But then last year I changed my mind. And it was because of you." I tried to get up when I noticed that I was no longer frozen any longer. "We should get going." He said getting up.

"No." I grabbed his arm pulling him back down. "It is my fault you are not in the CIA and I want to know why."

"Not now. I promise to tell you later, but remember we are in enemy territory. We have to get out."

"But why? Can't we just stay here a little longer?"

"Not now Hitomi. I promise when the time is right I'll tell you. And don't go bugging me about it either. OK?"

"Fine!" I got up and started running away from him. I had no idea where I was going, but it seemed right.

I guess I was right because I got to base a full 2 minutes ahead of Jeff. But what do I care. It was my fault he was not fulfilling his dream.

"It is about time you showed up."

"Don't be mad at me Hitomi. Please not now."

"Well sorry I get in your way all the time." And stormed off.

I heard a knock on my door, "Hello."

"'Tomi, it's me open up." It was Van.

"I'm not here, but you can leave a message at the beep. Beeeeeep."

"Stop this Hitomi. It is about what I said. I-"

"Do you want to blame me some more. Well no. I don't want to hear it. I don't need you. I can make it on my own. You can just leave!" I screamed at the door.

"Please, Hitomi, Please. I need to tell someone this."

"Go tell someone else then." I yelled.

I heard a sigh and then "But it is you, who I need to tell this to."

"Sorry! I don't want to hear it."

Just then the door opened. Van came in. He shut the door and sat on the chair next to my bed. "It is hard to explain, but here I go. I ended telling you that, you where the reason why I did not join the CIA. That is true in many ways. Just hear me out. Then you can get a new partner. OK?"

When I did not answer he continued, "'Tomi, one day before I got asked to join the CIA, they told me was finally getting the partner I wanted, you. I was like, great a girl. Then they gave me all your info, like picture, how well you shoot, how fast you run, and your specialty. After I looked at that I thought wow! How can such a pretty girl, who can out shoot most guys I know and could run like the wind, be in the army? When I was waiting with all the other people who just got a new partner that was when the CIA guy came up to me. When he was talking to me I was looking for you. That was when I saw you and Carrie walk out of the airplane laughing. We are in a war against France and to girls not even 20 yet were having a blast-"

The door flew opened and Carrie came in, "Van, Tomi. They are ready for your report. Go to the Commander's room. Me and David will also give our reports. Then we should get a little break."

I jumped off the bed, getting away from Van. I was still mad at him. "OK. Let's go." I walked next to Carrie telling her how I almost got captured.

We finally reached the commander's room and knocked on the door. "Come in." We all went in saluted the commander and sat down, Carrie and I sitting next to each other and David and Van next to each other. "I have read your reports and am very pleased. Van and Hitomi did a superb job in finding about two hundred enemies soldiers. And David and Carrie did a fantastic job finding the village. But what you are really here is because I am giving you all a one year vacation, sort-of. You will go to D.C. and train men and women how to work together, got that? You have one week to pack up. Dismissed!"

We all got up, saluted the commander and left. "Yes! Vacation all we ever wanted. Vacation, yes we are getting one. Vacation finally comes at last." Carrie and I song, skipping down the hall.

"Girls!" Up ahead was our captain, Captain Walt. "So, finally leaving, I heard. We will miss you greatly. Now whose ganna be the fun around here?"

"Well Walt, it is only for a year. You will make, sir." Carrie told him.

"Oh! Is it that long?" He whined.

"Only a year, Walt. You will be fine. We will write to you. How about it, sir?" I asked him. Carrie and I were flirting with Walt.

"Waltsir! You flirting with our girls again." David fake punched in the arm.

"How many times do we have to tell you, lay off? Waltsir!" Van fake punched him in the stomach.

"Our heroes!" Carrie and I ran to Van and David.

"That's right, young ladies. Us cowboys just doing our job." Van put an arm around my shoulders. David did the same to Carrie. Looking at the really in shape, black hair, brown eyed captain, I say he was laughing. Looking over at Carrie (who by the way has black hair, teal eyes, and about 5'5"), to see her laughing so hard that she was about to fall if David was not holding her up. Then a good look at David, he is HOT! He has blond hair, hazel eyes, and is 6'. But I would prefer Van over David any day. Then I looked up at Van, to see him looking at me.

"What?" I asked. Dang! It was real hard to stay mad at him.

"You still mad at your hero." He asked softly. Stop Van. You are making me fell guilty now.

I stiffened up and told him, "Yes, as a matter-of- fact I am!" He let go of my shoulder eminently, I moved away. Everyone looked at us. "I'd better go pack." I walked to mine and Carrie's room, opened the door, went in, and started to pack.

jennierbts

f-zelda- I will try to update as fast as I can. Thank you for your review. And don't worry the romance level between Van and Hitomi will rise soon.

Meline- Thank you for you input. I will try not to repeat to much. Thats a bad habit that I have. I will review soon.