A/N: Hey Everybody! I'm back from vacation, and I even found a little time to scribble a few letters from Jasper and Bella - they are UNBETAED, just to get them to you asap. I hope you'll forgive any mistakes anyway :-)
Also, I should mention that I know very very little about the actual education for Naval Aviator (I am relying on Google for the information, so bear with me) but I try to keep it as realistic as possible.
Huge thanks to my pre-readers, who once again have to read this for the first time after posting. Sorry Loves, but I promise you get the next chapter before anyone else!
Don't own, SM does. I just own an empty bank account :-/
Chapter 9
To: The_Org_BS(at)gmail com
From: The_Whit_Man(at)gmail com
Subject: Planning
Date: September 24, 2010, 08:32 PM
Hi my sweet Jelly-Belly,
So, the days are nearing where we see each other again! I can't wait to hold you again, laugh with you again, just being with you again. Seems like time is slowing down, the closer I get to the weekend. Why is it always like that? It feels like being 10 years old and waiting for Christmas or the summer vacation all over again.
I've been investigating flight possibilities, and it looks like I can catch a flight out of San Diego at 4.30 pm on Friday, so I'll be needing you to pick me up at 6.30 pm at Sea-Tac, is that okay with you? I know it's in the middle of dinnertime, but I was hoping we could grab a bite together, if you can survive that long? On that note – I hope you make sure to eat enough, you skinny little thing. Wouldn't want you to waste away on me completely! I myself have lost at least 10 pounds since coming here – the food's terrible in the mess hall, and I have no taste for McDonald's anymore, I'm fed up with it after a couple of months here. As a good consequence, I can actually count my abs now ;-) Six of them, proudly on display! *LOL*
Back to topic – can I convince you to make some dinner reservations on an Italian restaurant? I crave something Italian, and I have eaten way too much crappy pizza lately, so that doesn't count. And I want to have some undisturbed friend time with you, please, before we get sucked into the whole 'friends and family' reunion thing. Just you and me, Darlin', that's what I crave the most. I hope that's okay.
Today's musical interlude is of course 3 Doors Down; Here without you. It expresses my feelings for you at the moment perfectly.
Always, yours
Jazz
3 Doors Down, Here Without You:
A hundred days have made me older
Since the last time that I saw your pretty face
A thousand lies have made me colder
And I don't think I can look at this the same
But all the miles that separate
Disappear now when I'm dreaming of your face
I'm here without you baby
But you're still on my lonely mind
I think about you baby
And I dream about you all the time
I'm here without you baby
But you're still with me in my dreams
And tonight it's only you and me, yeah
The miles just keep rollin'
As the people leave their way to say hello
I've heard this life is overrated
But I hope that it gets better as we go, oh yeah yeah
I'm here without you baby
But you're still on my lonely mind
I think about you baby
And I dream about you all the time
I'm here without you baby
But you're still with me in my dreams
And tonight girl it's only you and me
Everything I know and anywhere I go
It gets hard but it won't take away my love
And when the last one falls, when it's all said and done
It gets hard but it won't take away my love, whoa
I'm here without you baby
But you're still on my lonely mind
I think about you baby
And I dream about you all the time
I'm here without you baby
But you're still with me in my dreams
And tonight girl it's only you and me, yeah oh yeah oh
Love – J.D.W.
To: The_Whit_Man(at)gmail com
From: The_Org_BS(at)gmail com
Subject: Re: Planning
Date: September 25, 2010, 7:30 AM
Hi Jazz!
Oh, I'm so psyched that you're actually coming here soon! Of course I'll pick you up at 6.30, and don't be ridiculous; of course I'll have dinner with you! Wouldn't want it any other way – I've been waiting to see you again for an eternity, so every minute with you will be enjoyed to the max.
And Yes, I'm making sure to eat right – DAD! *snickers* I have actually gained three pounds, so I'm well on my way to the freshman fifteen already – phew. My jeans are getting tight and soon I'll need to bow down and either go shopping for clothes (YUCK!) or lose some pounds again. Argh for you, I'll go clothes shopping – but don't get your hopes up, I have no plans of gaining anymore weight! I'm perfectly happy being slender, thank you. Even if you think I should turn into a fatty, just so your nick name for me would actually fit.
When was it you were going to get airborne again? And how does that work – are you going solo, or with an instructor to take over, like when you're in Drivers Ed.? God, I hope you won't crash and burn, excuse the pun. My stomach revolts when I think about you up there, managing an airplane for the first time! I can imagine all too well what could happen if something went wrong. Please don't do anything stupid! I would be devastated without you. I am so frightened by the thought of you being gone.
Sorry for being such a Debbie Downer – I'm excited for you! I know it's your dream come true. I just can't help worry about you. My life would be nothing without you in it. I'm sure you'll excel though – you already drive like a maniac, so flying won't be much different – just an adjustment in altitude! *LOL* Are you going to get on an aircraft carrier as well, or will you start out from solid ground? Sorry, I can't help but hear the soundtrack from 'Top Gun' in my head, imagining you in flight gear – do you already have a call sign, like in the movie? Or will you have to wait till you graduate for that?
Love ya lots! –
Your Jelly-Belly (soon literally)
To: The_Org_BS(at)gmail com
From: The_Whit_Man(at)gmail com
Subject: Re:Re:Planning
Date: September 25, 2010, 06:37 PM
Hey Love,
Just a quick note to confirm that I'm landing in Sea-Tac at 6.30 on Friday – can't wait!
Thanks for agreeing to dinner with me – it means a lot to me, and I can't wait to catch up. I'll probably talk your ear off, but what do you expect! *laughs* I've printed a lot of pictures so I can tell you all of our stupid soldier-stories including imagery. Brace yourself, 'cause stupidity ensues, and you'll laugh till your sides split, with guarantee.
To answer your questions; Yes, I'll be flying with an instructor until I'm deemed safe to fly individually – at least 20 hours of flight time with an instructor is required before I'm allowed solo-flights, so rest assured that I'm not let loose as a cannonball waiting to crash. I won't be stupid or reckless – it's not just my own life, but the life of my navigator as well on the line, not to mention ground crew and a 30 billion dollar aircraft. Don't worry, Jelly-Belly – I'll do my damndest to come home to you.
We start out with flying from the airbase, but when we start our solo-flights, we'll get assigned to a carrier and work from there. Here we'll also get paired up with our navigators, so we will be a team, training together. I've got a call sign already – as you probably guessed, I'm 'Jazzman' – my drill sergeant has no imagination! I would much rather be called something cool like 'Killer' or 'Rampage' – but when I suggested that, he just laughed and said he could have called me 'Jazzy Jeff' and called my navigator 'Fresh Prince', so I guess I lucked out (not to mention the guy who would have been stuck with Fresh Prince!).
Today's music selection (since you mentioned Top Gun, I found this very appropriate) is by Berlin; Take my Breath Away. Lyrics included below, since I am NOT singing that with my baritone voice – I would sound like I took a kick in the balls!
All my love,
Your Jazzman.
Berlin, Take my Breath Away:
Watching every motion in my foolish lover's game
On this endless ocean finally lovers know no shame
Turning and returning to some secret place inside
Watching in slow motion as you turn around and say
Take my breath away
Take my breath away
Watching I keep waiting still anticipating love
Never hesitating to become the fated ones
Turning and returning to some secret place to hide
Watching in slow motion as you turn to me and say
Take my breath away
Through the hourglass I saw you, in time you slipped away
When the mirror crashed I called you, and turned to hear you say
If only for today I am unafraid
Take my breath away
Take my breath away
Watching every motion in this foolish lover's game
Haunted by the notion somewhere there's a love in flames
Turning and returning to some secret place inside
Watching in slow motion as you turn to me and say
Take my breath away
My love, take my breath away
Love – J.D.W
Review please! Next time, the moment you've all been waiting for - you get to meet our sweet Jasper in person!