Whoo, here's the next chapter. This is where it starts to get good/ interesting. Don't want to give too much away, so i'll just hush. And let you read. Enjoy :)

And a special thanks to cupcake89 for favoriting the story! You rock! :D


Chapter 35

A month after his phone call with Allison, he was told he was being sent on a mission. There were a number of soldiers that had been severely injured in an accident. A trip mine had gone off a half of mile in front of them. They were in an open field, miles from the nearest city and one of the soldiers had radioed, asking for help.

It was Ben's job to fly one of the helicopters with the medical team ready to get the soldiers and begin working on them immediately. As soon as he got news of what had happened, he got his uniform on, ready to go. It was the first mission he had been sent on in several months. He went down to the hangar where the emergency teas and other pilots were waiting.

At the rate they flew, they reached the field where the soldiers were in about fifteen minutes. A couple of the helicopters that accompanied them landed in the field and rushed to help the soldiers. While they were helping them on the ground, Ben and the other pilots in the helicopters stayed in the air and the medical teams were getting the basket ready to lower down and raise the soldiers up to help them.

While they were waiting up in the air, Ben happened to look forward and saw two planes flying towards him that he didn't recognize. He picked up his radio to notify the other pilots, but someone was already coming on the radio,

"Hey guys, are we seeing these planes up ahead?" Ben picked up his radio

"Yeah, I just spotted them; I don't recognize either of them, do you?"

"No, I don't recognize them." Ben picked up his radio again, getting a feeling that something wasn't right.

"Guys, I have a bad feeling about this, I think we need to hurry this up and call for backup."

"Ben, chill, it's probably nothing."

"No, I have a bad feeling about this, we need to get out of the air and get these soldiers and medical teams to safety."

"Well, where do you think we're going to hide them, Ben? Huh? We're in a freaking field!"

"I don't know! We don't have time for this!" He looked up and the planes were getting closer. He shook his head and said, into the radio,

"Do what you want, but I'm helping these people." He slammed the radio back into its holster and flew the helicopter a couple of feet ahead, so the medical team and soldiers were not below him. He landed the plane and a pilot came over the radio,

"Ben, what are you doing?"

"I'm helping these people! Are you going to stay up there or are you going to get down here and help me?" He didn't wait for a response and one of the medical team members poked their head in the cockpit,

"What are we doing?"

"Get everyone out and help as many soldiers as you can; get them underneath the helicopter, okay?" He ordered. The medic nodded and Ben got out, knowing he didn't have a lot of time. He immediately began running towards the two teams of medics, with his own medic team behind him.

While he was running, he looked up in the air and began to hear the planes approaching. He began to run faster and, while he was running, he heard someone call out to him. He looked to his right and saw a soldier lying in the grass. He knelt down and, by then, his medic team had reached his side.

"Go on ahead and tell them to move underneath the helicopter, now! I'll get him, one of you help me please." The medic team rushed ahead, going to warn the others and Dustin stayed behind to help him carry the wounded soldier. Dustin knelt down with Ben and they put each of the soldier's arms around both of their necks.

By the time they had gotten to their feet, the medic team had already reached the other teas and had relayed Ben's orders to them. They immediately began helping and almost dragging the soldiers to Ben's helicopter. Ben and Dustin turned and began to run as fast as they could to the helicopter. While they were running, the two planes were very close and Ben's suspicions were confirmed when they began firing.

They didn't fire at the ground but, instead, in the air where the two helicopters had remained. They made contact with the helicopters and both immediately exploded in the air. Ben and Dustin had just reached their helicopter and they dived for protection as the helicopters in the air exploded. They put both hands over their heads and the medic teams and some of the soldiers that were still in the field screamed.

The debris immediately came raining down and they screamed and ran faster. Ben and Dustin watched and heard one of the medic's yell that they couldn't life one of the soldiers by herself. Ben looked and she was still in the middle of the field, alone. The planes had flown away, but Ben knew they would return. He turned to Dustin,

"Take care of this soldier and make sure they get underneath this helicopter."

"What are you going to do?"

"I have to go help that woman get that soldier."

"Ben, that has to be a half a mile away! The planes are going to come back!"

"I know! That's why I have to go help her!"

He didn't give Dustin a chance to respond and jumped up and ran out from underneath the helicopter, sprinting towards the medic and the soldier. He ran past the other medics and soldiers and ran as fast as he could. He dodged the debris that was raining down and he looked up and saw the planes approaching again. He ran faster and finally reached the nurse and the wounded soldier.

She was trying to put his arm around her shoulder and pick him up and Ben knelt down and got his other arm. Together, they picked him up and began running as fast as they could to the helicopter.

When they got about halfway to the helicopter, they heard the engines of the planes and, since the planes were behind them, Ben couldn't see how close they were. They ran faster and they heard the planes begin firing, this time on the ground.

As much as they tried, they couldn't outrun the planes and, as Ben stuck out his arm to protect Kendall, the nurse's back, he was clipped in the hand. He screamed, but continued to run, trying to protect Kendall and the soldier, as well as himself. The planes continued firing, but no one else was hit and they passed over once again.

They reached the helicopter where everyone was huddled underneath and they jumped as we into the group of medics and soldiers. The soldier was immediately catered to and Kendall turned to Ben and threw her arms around his neck,

"You saved my life!" She pulled away and kissed him on the cheek as he grabbed his hand and said, panting,

"It was nothing; do you want to take a look at my hand, though?"

"Of course!" She immediately ripped off a piece of her shirt and wrapped up his hand. He grit his teeth and Kendall asked,

"Where did the planes go? Are they coming back?"

"We found a radio and called for emergency backup." One of the doctors said. En continued to grit his teeth as she wrapped up his bloody hand.

"There's something still in my hand, I can feel it."

"I know it's probably shrapnel. I can't get it out right now; we don't have the proper medical supplies." They then heard engines once again. A couple of nurses put their hands over their heads, but Ben knew they were not the same planes that had just attacked them.

"Don't worry; I think our backup is here."


They heard F-15's fly by and then saw emergency helicopters begin to land in the field. Everyone sighed a breath of relief and medics began to get out of the copters and rush over to them. His hand was throbbing, but he got up and began to run with many others to the medics. With his other arm, he and Kendall lifted one of the soldiers and ran with him to safety.

There were a total of seven emergency helicopters, including the one Ben flew. He didn't fly it back, of course, and rode in the back of one with the soldiers and a medic team. After many attempts, they finally got all of the shrapnel out of this hand. There were four pieces and Ben had to hold a rag and squeeze it, helping him push through the pain, as they dug through his hand to remove the shrapnel. They stitched up his hand and wrapped it up with a bandage.

Since they were flying with injured persons, they had to fly slowly and it took almost forty-five minutes to reach the base. When they got there, the soldiers were airlifted to a local hospital to get proper care. Ben got out of the helicopter and thanked the medic team for helping with his hand. As he was walking, he heard someone yell his name He turned around and saw Kendall running towards him. He stopped and she slowed down as she got closer,

"Hey, I'm glad I caught you!"

"Yeah, I was just headed back to my barracks. What's up?"

"I just wanted to say thank you, you saved my life back in that field; me and that soldier's life." He smiled and nodded,

"You're welcome. Me getting hit in the hand was way better than you getting shot in the hand." She smiled and hugged him. He hugged her back and she pulled away and told him thank you one more time. She turned and headed back towards the hospital ward and he walked to his barracks. While he was walking down the hallway, he saw Ethan and their friend, Dylan. Dylan waved,

"Hey, Ben, how was that mission?" As they got closer, they saw that his hand was bandaged up. Ethan motioned to it,

"What happened to your hand, man?"

"I got hit. They had to dig four pieces of shrapnel out of it."

"Wow, what happened?"

"It's kind of a long story; let me change clothes and let's go grab a beer."


He changed into a pair of jeans and an Air-Force t-shirt. He headed to the bar with Ethan and Dylan and, when they got there, they each ordered a beer. While they were waiting, Ben told them about what had happened. He told them what their initial mission was and what had happened when Ben and the other pilots saw the two planes.

"I didn't tell anyone, but it was one of the few times where I was truly scared."

"Is it true what they say?" Dylan asked. Ben looked at him,

"Is what true?"

"That your life flashes before your eyes."

"Umm, I don't know, it didn't happen to me. I didn't think I was going to die; I promised my girlfriend, and myself even, that I wasn't going to die out here. And I don't plan to." Dylan nodded,

"I'm being sent on a mission. That's why I asked; there's people harassing and killing villagers and we leave in a couple of hours?" Ben looked at him and put his hand on his shoulder,

"You'll come back. Tell yourself you're not going to die out there and, most importantly, as the Lord to protect you."

"Ben's right. You'll be okay, Dylan, we'll be seeing you when you come back."

"Okay, and thanks guys." Ethan nodded and Ben put his arm around him,

"Alright guys, let's head back to the base; Dylan has to get ready to go."

They walked back to the barracks and Ben talked with Ethan and Dylan for nearly thirty minutes before Ethan brought up Ben's relationship.

"So, Ben, you talked to your girlfriend recently?"

"Yeah, I got a letter from her a couple of days ago."

"How about on the phone?"

"I don't know, just over a month, I think."

"What? Dude, go call her. I know you miss her like crazy." He smiled,

"Yeah, I do. Alright, I'll talk to you later."


He walked down the hallway to where the phone was; no one was on it so he sat down and dialed her cell number. It took a couple of rings, but she finally picked up. When she picked up, he could immediately hear loud background noise.

"Hello?" She answered, yelling. He held the phone away from his ear,

"Hey!"

"Who is this?"

"It's Ben!"

"Ben?" He smiled and she said,

"Hold on a minute, I can't hear a thing." He heard scrambling and, a few minutes later, he said, in a normal voice,

"Sorry, it was so loud in there. But hi! I'm so glad you called, I needed to hear your voice." He smiled,

"I needed to hear yours, too. Where are you at? It nearly blew my eardrum when you picked up."

"Oh, I'm just downtown with my friends, just singing a little karaoke." He smiled again,

"You should be winning that pretty easy, huh?" She laughed,

"Yeah, my friends are getting pretty jealous. I don't know why, they've heard me sing at the church millions of times. I think they're mad that people are cheering more for me than for them." He laughed and she asked,

"So, how are you? How is it over there?" He debated whether he should tell her about the mission he had gone on. He didn't want her to worry about him, especially when he was fine. He decided to go ahead and tell her, he didn't want to hide it from her and she would see the stitches in his hand eventually.

"Well, I just got back from a mission."

"Oh, what kind of mission?" Though she asked casually and calmly, he knew, and knew her so well that he could hear it in her voice, that she was concerned,

"It was a rescue mission; there were soldiers that got hurt. A trip mine went off about a half mile in front of them and they got hurt pretty bad. I flew one of the emergency helicopters with two other men and we went down there to help."

"That's wonderful! How did it go? Did you help them?"

"Yeah we helped them, but we had a few unexpected visitors show up while we were helping them."

"Who? Did something happen?" Once again, he heard the concern in her voice and he second guessed his decision to tell her. But, he had already told her this much, he might as well tell her the whole story.

"Well, a couple of other emergency helicopters landed in the field where the soldiers were and the medical teams were helping them while me and two other helicopters were up in the air. While we were in the air, I saw two planes coming towards us. I immediately got a bad feeling about them and I radioed the other pilots, but they said not to worry.

I knew something wasn't right and I landed my helicopter to go warn the medic teams on the ground and to get them to safety, along with the soldiers. The other pilots radioed me and told me that I was crazy, but I knew something was wrong. When I landed, we went to go help the other medic teams get the soldiers, and themselves, to safety.

We were all going to hide underneath my helicopter and, while me and my medic team were running, a soldier called out to me. I saw true terror in his eyes; his face and arm was bloody and I immediately bent down and picked him up while the medic team went and told the other teams to come get under the helicopter. Me and this guy Dustin helped the soldier and got to the helicopter before anyone else. By then, the two planes had reached us and they," he sighed and shook his head,

"They shot both of the helicopters down."

"Oh my goodness, do you know who they were? The two planes that shot down the helicopters, I mean."

"Not exactly, but I know that they sure didn't want us there. While the medic teams were running to the helicopters, there was a nurse still out in the middle of the field. She couldn't get one of the soldiers by herself and I immediately told Dustin that I was going to help her. He looked at me like I was crazy; the two planes had already shot down two helicopters and they were coming back for more. I couldn't leave that nurse and soldier out in that field though.

So I got up and ran out from underneath the helicopter and started running towards them. When I was about halfway to them, I could hear the plane's engines again. I ran faster and finally reached them. I knelt down and me and the nurse put both of the soldier's arms around our necks and started running back to the helicopter. While we were running, the two planes were right on top of us and I lifted my arm to protect Kendall's back and head." He shook his head and looked down at his bandaged hand,

"But, when I did, the planes began shooting and they got me in the hand."

"What? Are you okay?"

"Yes, I'm fine, and everyone else is, too. Back up came and I heard that they shot down the planes. Emergency helicopters came and took care of me right away. They got the shrapnel out and stitched it right up; it's as good as new."

"Shrapnel? Oh my gosh, Ben, how bad is it? Tell me the truth."

"I am telling you the truth; it's fine, I'm fine, I promise. The soldiers were air-lifted to a hospital and they bandaged my hand and everyone is fine." She sighed and was quiet for a minute,

"Okay, I hope you're telling me the truth."

"I am, Allison, I promise."

"Okay." He shook his head,

"I don't understand, I told you I was fine, do you not believe me?"

"Of course I believe you, Ben. I just don't understand why you ran out into a dangerous situation where you could have gotten killed." He raised his eyebrow,

"Allison, if I wouldn't have run out there, Kendall and that soldier would be dead. Would you have wanted me to just sit under that helicopter and watch them get shot?"

"Of course not, Ben-"

"Then what should I have done?"

"Ben, calm down-"

"No, I'm not going to calm down, I mean, I'm over here trying to do my job and protect my men and I'm trying to maintain a relationship with you and protect my own ass so I can come home in one piece. I try to help and I saved almost thirty lives today and all I can get from anybody is criticism for running out when I could've gotten killed."

"Ben, what are you talking about?" No one is criticizing you, I'm so proud of you. I'm glad you helped those people, you're so brave and I couldn't imagine making the decisions you made. All I'm saying is that you don't have to be the hero all of the time, you have people here at home and soldiers there, I'm sure, that love you and want to see you make it home alive." He shook his head, suddenly not wanting to talk to her anymore,

"So I'm supposed to just watch someone die so that I can live and come home safely? Well, I'm sorry; I'm not going to do that. What about Kendall and that soldier's family? What if I had been lying in that field? Wouldn't you want someone to come out there and help me? Try looking at it through someone else's perspective."

"What is your problem, Ben? Why are you so angry and upset? I never said you shouldn't have saved them; I just told you that I was proud of you! If you would stop yelling and actually listen, then you would have heard me say that." He scoffed and shook his head,

"I'm not yelling. I don't get why I'm being criticized for saving someone's life."

"Are you even listening to me? I told you no one is criticizing you. I don't know what your problem is, but my friends are probably wondering where I am, so I better go. But know that I am proud of you; I couldn't imagine having to make those decisions, I don't have nearly the courage and strength you do. I love you and I'm sorry you're so upset. I couldn't imagine having to go through and see what you've seen. I hope you feel better and I'm glad that you called." He sighed, already regretting arguing with her,

"Thank you and I love you, too." She waited to see if he would add more but, when he didn't she sighed,

"I've got to go; bye, Ben."

"Bye."


He hung up the phone, not knowing what had just happened. He had called in a good mood and was so happy to hear her voice and talk to her; the next minute, they were arguing and yelling back and forth. He didn't know why he had suddenly become so angry; she didn't really say anything that made him mad.

He knew where she was coming from and he knew she wanted him to come home safely, it just suddenly made him angry and he just didn't want to talk to her anymore. He got up and walked to his room and changed into a pair of sweatpants and a sweatshirt. He got into his bed and replayed their conversation

He regretted yelling and arguing with her, especially on the phone. He rarely got to talk to her and he definitely didn't want to spend their time arguing. He figured, the next time he wrote to her, he would apologize. He eventually fell asleep, praying that him and Allison weren't drifting apart, but somehow knowing that they were.


He woke up early the next morning and continued his morning routine by jogging around the base with Ethan. After they had jogged for about an hour, they headed to the weight- lifting center. They lifted weights for a couple of hours and Ben told him about his argument with Allison the night before.

"I don't know why I got so angry with her, I just started yelling and everything she said made me madder." Ethan stopped lifting weights and sat up. He wiped his face with a towel and said,

"Well, look at it from her perspective; she's home probably worrying herself to death and, when she finally gets to talk to you, she finds out that you ran out into a field, where you could've gotten shot. Do you think she wants to hear that kind of stuff?"

"No, I know she doesn't, but she asked me to tell her everything. She knows how dangerous this job can be. Am I just supposed to tell her that I go to classes and jog around the base?"

"I don't know, Ben, but if she doesn't want to hear about your missions, I don't think you should tell her anymore." Ben nodded and took a sip of his water and Ethan said,

"But she loves you; if she didn't, she wouldn't be so concerned and worried about you."

They worked out for a couple of more minutes and they went back to their barracks. Ben went and took a shower and put on a pair of jeans and a sweatshirt and heard someone knock on his door. He went and opened it and Ethan said,

"Hey, the mail is here, I'm about to walk down there, do you want to come with me?"

"Yeah, hold on a second." He went and slipped on his shoes and walked with Ethan down to where the mail carrier was passing out the letters. There were other men there, of course, waiting to see if they had a letter from their loved one.

They waited for about five minutes and the mail carrier called out Ben's name. Ben moved through the crowd of men and thanked the mailman and went back to where Ethan was. They waited to see if Ethan got a letter, but he didn't. They walked back to Ben's room and Ethan said goodnight as he walked back to his own room. Ben went in his room and saw down on his bed and looked at the envelope. It was from Allison and he opened it up and started reading it,

Dear Ben,

Let's see, it is December 1st, which means that we have fifteen months left. These past three months have gone by pretty quickly, for me anyways. I've still been hanging out my friends and going and singing at church like always. I've been interning at the hospital, too, of course, and I've helped quite a few patients while I've been here. I absolutely love the feeling of helping people. They come in this hospital, some fighting for their lives, and doctors and nurses, people just like us, save them. I talk to a lot of the patients and it's the best feeling in the world. I think that me, and the other nurses too, are like a little piece of home for them. We're more than just doctors and nurses and I think that when we talk to them and have a connection, I think it makes a world of difference.

But, enough about me, how are you doing over there? I miss you more and more every day. I've started having dreams with you in them but I don't know what they mean. I'm at church and I come out crying. I have no idea why and I just sink to the ground, outside the church, in the parking lot. There's no one out there and I'm crying and crying and I finally get up and I'm walking to my car and I see you.

You're standing in your uniform and you're just standing there, looking at me. I don't know why, but I'm surprised to see you. You start to run towards me and I start crying even harder and, when we get close enough to each other, you scoop me up in your arms and I have the most overwhelming sense of peace and joy and love, all at the same time. And that's it; I've had it twice, all within the last month. Like I said, I have no idea what it means.

All I know is that I think about you every day and wish that you were here with me. I love you and I hope you're keeping safe; I hate worrying about you. I'm worrying a lot and I've actually had to start taking medicine for it. You probably don't want to hear about all of that though. Well, my class is actually about to start so, until next time, I love you so much, Ben. Keep safe.

Allison

When he finished reading, he put it down. He liked the beginning, and even the middle, but it was the end that concerned him greatly. She had to start taking medicine because she was so worried. He didn't like that at all, not one bit. He put the letter down on his end table and changed into his pajamas and climbed into his bed, now very concerned.


Uh oh... what's going to happen? I'll probably update before I go to bed. Because it's 10:48 and I usually don't go to bed till like...oh... 4 in the morning. shouldn't take me 5 hours to update. So see you soon!

Btw, this is totally off subject, but since I said earlier that I picture Leighton Meester as Allison, I wanted to mention this. I watched The Roommate this morning, where Leighton Meester plays a psychotic roommate, hence the name, and let me just say, she was wonderful in that movie. If you haven't seen it, rent it/ buy it/ go to the redbox and get it. It's so good. Alright, enough ranting, I have to type the next chapter!