DISCLAIMER I only own Chloe', Sgt. Matt Martin, 1st Sgt. David Wilcox, Jayden, Jerrad and Justin
Chapter 2
Of Medals and Confessions
It feels good to be home again, but it's gonna take some time getting back into the swing of things. I'll be the first to admit that the counseling sessions I attended were very much needed for me to step back into my everyday life. I'm having dinner with Matt in about an hour so I really should get showered and ready. Matt wants to discuss the awards ceremony last week. Hopefully he'll have a good excuse why he missed the ceremony.
FlashbackSergeant Wilcox approached me after our third day back. "Chloe', I need to have a word with you for a moment before the ceremony starts." Was he going to explain to me why I was here? I still had not figured out what I was doing attending an awards ceremony.
"First, I would like to thank you for saving my life. Even though I have several questions about the whole incident, I have decided to just be grateful that I am alive. You are here because I have nominated you as a recipient for the Bronze Star."
"Well why on earth would you go and do something like that," I had asked with a puzzled look on my face.
"Chloe', you are an outstanding officer and the bronze star is only awarded to a select few. As far as I'm concerned, when you risked your own life to save mine, that made you the perfect candidate for the award," he said proudly.
"Permission to address you informally sir?" I had asked.
"At ease sergeant," he permitted.
"David, isn't that an oath that we take upon entering the service, to go above and beyond the call of duty? Wasn't it also my job to see to it that everyone was rescued from the hot zone and brought back safely? I was only doing my job," I had countered.
"Chloe', you are someone who always puts everyone else above yourself and that's why I felt you deserved this award," he had said honestly.
"That means a lot David, to hear those words come from your mouth. We haven't always been on the best of terms."
"Look, I know I pushed you harder than I have pushed other soldiers but that is because I knew from day one that you stood out from the rest. I will be the first to admit that women do not get the recognition they deserve for serving our country! You are always ready and alert. When someone panics or forgets what they are supposed to do, you are right there to help out," he had complimented.
"David, I will accept this award with honor but not without remembering those who we lost," I had said seriously.
"I wouldn't expect anything less out of you," he said, slightly amused.
End Flashback…"Jayden, if you leave, don't forget to set the security alarm. I'm having dinner with Matt this evening and I'm not sure what time I'll be back" Chloe' called up the stairs.
"Sure mom, but can you remind Uncle Matt that we are supposed to go to the beach at sunrise for our run?" her son asked.
"I will but don't count on his lazy ass being up that early! Wait; you can tell him yourself, he's sitting out in the driveway. Hey Jayden, do you think he will ever use a damned telephone?" Chloe' asked dryly.
"Mom, he hates phones, he says it hurts his ears to listen to people talk on them" Jayden reminded.
"That is just the craziest thing I have ever heard!" she exclaimed.
(At Dinner)
"What is your excuse this time? Why weren't you at the ceremony? Your best friend gets a bronze star and you don't even have the decency to show up!" Chloe' ranted.
"Chloe' how many times do I have to tell you that when I get called out on an assignment, I can't always let you know. That is after all, the whole meaning behind Air Force Intelligence! I didn't bring you to dinner to fight with you all night! Can't we just enjoy dinner for once?" he asked, frustrated.
"No!" she said stubbornly.
"What now?" he asked, slightly concerned.
"I did as I promised and went to see the doctor today. And..." She sighed and thought to herself, Okay how do I tell him this, better yet, how do I tell anyone... "They ran some tests today and I should have the results within 24 hours."
"Is it your blood sugar again?" he asked, hoping it was nothing worse.
"No, worse I'm afraid." she sighed.
"Well out with it, it can't be that bad."
"I am being tested for cancer." She admitted
"WHAT!" He exclaimed, taken completely by surprise.
"Yes, they did an ultrasound on my uterus and found some dark masses so they are running tests." she said, sounding depressed
"Oh, Chloe' I don't know what to say!" he said, wanting to give her a hug.
"Just don't baby me okay! I'm a big girl and I can handle this!" she stated assuredly.
"Fine, I won't baby you, but I'm going with you to get the results," he insisted
"Actually, that would make me feel better to know that someone is there," she said thoughtfully.
"Well no sense making yourself sick over it before we know anything, so let's try to enjoy the rest of the evening," he said rationally.
"Oh, I almost forgot, I started to wake you this morning when I came to pick up Jayden but I didn't have the heart because you were moaning some name, something that sounded like "Legolas" in your sleep."
Her eyes got wide and she choked on what she was eating. He pounded her on the back and exclaimed, "Jeez, calm down… You wouldn't happen to be dreaming about that Elf from Lord of The Rings?"
"Just give me a minute to pull myself together. After all, you did just make me choke on my lobster!" Great now what do I do? How do I tell him that yes I really have been dreaming about Legolas? I really don't have a choice, its not like I can pretend with Matt, he always seems to know when something is going on!
"Ah, my little firecracker, before you say anything remember, I am your friend above anything; I already know what you are capable of. Therefore, there isn't much you could say that would come as a surprise to me."
"Oh, stop it! You know I don't like that nickname it embarrasses me! But would it surprise you if I said 'yes,' that I was dreaming of Legolas?"
Matt sat for a second, a thoughtful look in his eye. "No, it wouldn't surprise me, considering the other abilities you have."
"Since this conversation is rather touchy, why don't we pay for dinner and go for a walk on the beach while I enlighten you," she suggested
"As you wish, my little firecracker," he said, purposely using the nickname.
"Will you stop already!" She crabbed, irritated but amused at the same time.
They paid for dinner and set off down to the beachfront. It was a beautiful night. The stars were out, the moon was high in the sky and the waves upon the beach rushed slowly up to shore; high tide was coming in. A light breeze whispered in the long grasses by the shore, whispering of tales to be told.
Matt reached over and pulled the braid loose from Chloe's hair, because he knew how she loved to have the wind blowing through her hair. He then took off his shoes and rolled up his pant legs, waiting patiently for Chloe' to do the same. They had been taking walks along the beach like this since they first met.
Just as Matt was about to say something, Chloe' started to tell her tale.
"He came to me one night while we were overseas. The war had become too much for me and I was at a breaking point. I was having one of my rare crying fits and fell asleep. At first I thought that I was just dreaming about my favorite elf. He seemed to be just as confused about who I was as I was confused about who he was." She sighed, embarrassed. "Oh this is stupid, you don't want to hear this!"
"Chloe' please I am your friend, what more do I have to do to prove that you can trust me?" he asked.
"Sorry, this is just so hard for me. I have never spoken to anyone about this except for him." She took a deep breath and continued. "Anyway, it was the strangest thing. Our eyes locked and it was like my soul cried out to his and I suddenly had to have him near me. I think you get the general idea without my getting graphic."
"Well yes and no. Are you saying that you two just meet and have sex?" Matt asked bluntly.
"No! That's not what I'm saying at all. Well yes we have been intimate but there is much more to it than that," she explained.
"Go on."
Chloe' paused for a moment as she watched a crab scurry from the shore back into the water. She seemed to be pondering how to tell him the next part. What Matt had not yet realized was that she was eternally bound to someone who only existed in her dreams.
"Do you remember the day that the base was attacked?" she asked him.
"How could I forget?"
"Well, I was with him before you woke me up and that's why I was so startled when you blew the whistle," she explained.
"Ah, now I understand why you wouldn't wake," he said, thinking back.
"In that dream, I'm not sure what else to call it; Matt, we bound ourselves to each other for all of eternity."
"Hmm, interesting," he said, pondering.
"I tell you that I bound myself to an elf who is supposed to be a myth and all you can say is 'interesting'?"
"I didn't mean it like that, what I meant was that it is all very interesting."
"How so?" she asked, beginning to get irritated.
"Chloe', do you not realize how special you are?" he tried, using a different angle.
"I am no different than anyone else!" she defended.
"In a sense, yes you are. It's not common for someone to be able to move things with telekinesis, move from one realm to another in their sleep; or better yet, speak to someone telepathically."
"Whoa, hold the phone! Could you explain that last one?" she asked, surprised.
"I have heard your voice a couple of times in my head and honestly I'm not sure if you are aware that you are doing it." He said frankly.
Chloe' just stood there speechless. What is he saying? I recall doing something like that but I thought it was just my mind playing tricks on me.
"What I am trying to say is that you are very special Chloe' and yes I do believe you, just like I can't explain why but I get this strange feeling that there is a reason behind all of this. All you need to do is make sure that you keep this to yourself. For your sake, and for the sake of everyone you care about, including Legolas, please try to control those abilities of yours around others." he advised.
"I can't tell you how much this means to me! At last I feel like a big weight has been lifted from me. Matt, I don't know where I would be right now if I hadn't met you." she let out.
"You know that I cherish our friendship and I always will. I will always look out for you and those boys. I love all of you very much! But Chloe'…" he said, a confused look on his face.
"Yes?"
"I thought you swore to never allow yourself to love another man?" he asked, puzzled.
"Well, he's not a man…he's an elf! Seriously, I know this will sound strange but I really do feel as if I have found my soul mate."
"No, it doesn't sound strange at all, it sounds wonderful, and I'm happy for you!"
"Yeah, now if only I could be with him while I'm awake," she said sadly.
"We never know what is in store for us. Don't give up on hope; if you have taught me anything, it's that anything is possible," he reassured her.
"Yeah I know." she said resignedly.
"We had better get you home so you can get a good night's sleep. What time do you want me to pick you up tomorrow?" he inquired.
"The doctor's office is supposed to call when the results come in, so how about I call you when I know something and you can take me to get the results?" she offered.
"Sounds good, now get in the car before you catch cold!" he warned.
"Yes Sir!" she said, slightly amused.
Chloe' sat back against her pillows pondering on how she would explain Matt to Legolas. She had mentioned Matt a few times in conversation but never really went into detail about what he meant to her. She was exhausted, yet sleep would not come to her so she began flipping through the channels on the TV. Yep you guessed it, TTT were on TV! She was watching the battle of Helms Deep and was getting close to the part where Haldir dies.
"If there was anything I could change in LOTR, it would be to have someone save Haldir," she said out loud to no one in particular. I have always been amused at the arrogance of Haldir. Sometimes I think Matt kind of acts like him. Hah! That's almost funny! I believe I'm actually starting to get sleepy.
Author's Note: Well there you have it! My long awaited chapter! Please be patient and allow me to interpret the events that need to come. It will get more exciting, this I promise! I would also like to let you know that there will be no more essay writing for this story! I had my friend Hannah…Aka: Alatariel Singollo do the beta work on this chapter so that Evangaline-the-Angel would have more time to work on her story as we are all patiently waiting for her next chapter! If you are interested in a good read also check out "In The Blink Of An Eye" by: Alatariel Singollo! Well must go start chapter 3 already! ENJOY!
