Last Time: Rebecca learns about Airborne.

"The greatest sacrifice is when you sacrifice your own happiness for the sake of someone else." - Unknown

Now: Rebecca tells a friend her plans.


Chapter 2 - Worry and Woe

Rebecca damn near sprinted back to Hotel Carter where her and a few others from the corps were staying. They had all come here for a much-needed break after graduating and all decided that New York City was the perfect way to blow off some steam before heading to their first assignment.

She bolted into the doors and through the lobby passing by confused guests and employees. Rebecca didn't care how crazy she looked, she needed to get back to her room and talk to the girls.

Rebecca impatiently tapped her foot waiting for the elevator to come and nearly tackled the operator when the golden doors opened.

"Sorry, mister. The eighth floor please," Rebecca quickly apologized to the stunned man.

The short and dark haired man cracked a nervous smile at her. "You in a hurry?"

Rebecca laughed realizing how insane she must have looked to him, sprinting through the lobby with a box of pantyhose in hand. "Is it that obvious?" She panted.

"Well," he began, pressing the button to Rebecca's floor, "Judging by how you almost took me out just now, yes. I hope whoever needed those stockings is in just as much of a hurry as you."

Rebecca blushed and nervously began to pick at the edge of the box. The elevator reached her floor at last. Rebecca stuck her hand out to the operator offering a shake.

"Sorry again," Rebecca smirked at the young man.

He took her hand and shook it, completely forgetting about the past grievance. "No worries, uh." He paused, not knowing her name.

"Becca." She confirmed, continuing to shaking his hand.

"James," He stated. "Nice to meet you, Becca."

Rebecca exited the elevator and waited until the doors were closed again before continuing to sprint to her room. She stopped at the door and shakily unlocked, bursting through once she had opened it.

"Michelle!" She called out.

Rebecca scanned the room and didn't see a sign of her friend.

"Michelle!" Rebecca shouted again.

Not a moment later, Michelle stumbled out of the bathroom, panic accompanying her face.

"Jesus, Rebecca! What's the matter? I was just about to get into the bath!"

Michelle looked at Rebecca like she had ten heads. Her long blonde hair was up in curlers and her tall and slender body was wrapped in the plush, white bathrobe that came complimentary with the room.

"I just figured out what I'm going to do!"

Michelle crossed her arms, waiting for Rebecca's response.

"I'm going to Airborne school!" She beamed. "It pays an extra fifty a month and they're allowing one girl in as part of an experiment." Rebecca huffed, still out of breath.

"You mean they're allowing a girl into combat?" Michelle doubted. "Hold on, Becca. Sit down and explain to me what's going on."

Rebecca took a seat on her bed with Michelle and told her everything that lead up to that moment.

Michelle looked down at the ground, sadness flickering in her hazel eyes. "You could die." She murmured.

"I know but, I have to do this. I don't want to go back home. Applying is the only way I can stay in the Army and send money home to my dad." Her voice wavering.

Rebecca grabbed Michelle's hand holding it firmly and looking into her eyes. Michelle looked terrified. The two had been inseparable since they met in OCS and the possibility of one of them dying scared them both to death.

"You know that I have to."

Michelle took in a deep breath and let out a deep sigh, trying to shake the horrible thoughts from her mind. "Okay, we'll go tomorrow and apply for this thing."

Rebecca cracked a small grin at her friend but Michelle still didn't seem entirely too thrilled yet.

"Before you go and get too excited, you said only one woman gets accepted?" Michelle asked, raising an eyebrow. "What happens if you don't get in or if you drop out?"

Rebecca let go of her hands and became very serious, her eyes falling to the ground. "Then, I guess I'll have to go home."

XXX

Rebecca stared up at the white ceiling of her dark room, allowing every possibility and outcome to boil in her mind. This certainly didn't help quell the anxiety that was brewing inside of her. Rebecca's brown eyes glanced over at Michelle's sleeping form, jealous of the fact that she could always fall asleep so quickly, even with a ton her mind. Rebecca breathed out quietly.

How on earth could she sleep?

XXX

The two woman woke up the next morning, getting dressed in total silence. It felt more like they were going to a funeral rather than applying for a new job. The commitment weighed heavily on both them.

As Rebecca finished buttoning her uniform jacket last minute ideas popped into her head. Thinking of going back home to take care of her father made her stomach flip and thoughts of going into combat made her feel nauseous. Suddenly, buttoning her jacket became impossible as her hand began to shake.

Michelle looked over to see her friend beginning to struggle and walked over, holding her shaking hands. "Rebecca, it's going to be okay."

The sincerity in Michelle's voice helped calm Rebecca's trembling hands but her heart was still thumping out of her chest.

"Come on, we need to get moving," Michelle said, letting go of Rebecca's hands.

The pair grabbed their handbags, locking the door behind them. As they began walking to the elevator Michelle spoke up again.

"I called for a cab, it should be waiting outside. When we get to the recruiting center I'll try to stay with you for as long as possible but you're gonna have to be on your own for the physical."

Rebecca could only nod. Any attempt to talk was only met with a hoarse squeak every time she opened her mouth.

The golden doors of the elevator opened, revealing the same operator that Rebecca barreled into the night before. James stood by the control panel his smile fading when he saw Rebecca's grim look. She glanced at him giving him a look that if he could interpret properly meant "Don't ask."

He figured something bad must've happened and he didn't know the woman well enough to ask if she was okay. James just simply pushed the button to the floor requested by Michelle and continued the ride in silence.

He watched Rebecca enter the lobby when the elevator stopped, wondering about the woman.

- End Chapter -


A/N: I hope you enjoyed this chapter, sorry for it being so late! I'll update weekly as best as I can. If you like changes and the story so far please let me know! :3