Chapter 8

I completely healed in a month. I went back to work after a week, and I had so much fun with Eve. Red also came to check on me regularly and I was really looking forwards to seeing him each day and have a chat with him. A month and a half after my accident (or should I say after a patient beat the shit out of me), the navy announced a self-defence course. Partly because of what happened to me and since the situation in the country was getting more dangerous, they wanted us to be able to protect ourselves. After all, we were the easiest targets apart from our patients. So, Eve and I were wearing our exercise outfits and went to the military gym. All the medical staff could attend if they wanted to but as I predicted, it was mostly women. I spotted Siobhan who was standing close to Red. LT explained that we will be paired up with soldiers to practice a few self-defence moves.

- This is a safe space for practice. We don't want anyone to get injured and if you need a break, our safe word is stop.

- I never thought I would need a safe word outside the bedroom –Eve whispered to me. I could not help but giggle. When LT looked at me, I pretended to cough.

- Is there anything you two want to share with the group? – he asked.

- No, it's dirty – I said. He looked a bit taken aback and I heard some people, including Red, chuckle.

- Alright, get into pairs – he said in the end clapping his hands. I saw Siobhan going towards Red but without even giving her a look, he walked up to me.

- Okay, let's do this Araminta – OMG he was smoking hot in a tight black t-shirt, let me tell you this much.

- You and me?

- Yep.

- Okie dokie – God I don't know how I am gonna concentrate. I looked at Eve who was with Zee and they seemed to have a good time. Well at least Zee was, looking at Eve's feeble attempts to fight him off. Then I looked at the other side and saw a soldier slam another on the floor.

- Yeah, can we skip that bit? – I said pointing in their direction.

- I don't slam women on the floor. Plus, you look like you weigh less than a sack of potatoes. Okay so first I am going to put you in a choke hold – he stepped behind me.

- Great. Loving it already – I heard him chuckle. Suddenly I felt his arm around my neck and I was pulled against his chest. His face was next to mine and his scent was intoxicating.

- Don't worry, I will be gentle on your neck but let me know if I am hurting you.

- Sure. I know the safe word – I could feel him grin behind me.

- Minty you are supposed to try and get out of my hold – I realized that I was just standing there like a log.

- Oh yeah sorry – I said and tried to weasel my way out.

- Yeah, that is not gonna help you. It will only make them hold you tighter – He tightened his grip a bit. God why is this so sexy? I was defo not going to use the safe word.

-Now tuck your chin into the crease of my elbow. Grab my arm and pull it straight down as much as you can to relieve the pressure – I did as he said – Good. Now try to step your right foot behind my right foot. Bend your knees and turn towards your right foot in a 180 degree angle. Keep your hands on my arm and pull diagonally across to throw me on the ground – I did exactly as I was told but nothing happened. I did it again with all the power I could muster but nothing.

- Alright try to kick me in any vital areas.

- You want me to kick you in the groin?

- If you can – I could feel him grin again. Listen, I tried everything. Kicking, stepping on his foot, which I actually managed to do without success, but nothing. After a while he let go of me.

- Okay maybe I should try this with someone else. Like someone my size – I said when we were face to face again.

- I don't think we have any spare 10-year-olds.

- Hahaha very funny.

- Alright try to attack me. Freestyle.

- What?

- Come on. Imagine I am a rebel coming towards you and you have nowhere to run. What do you do? – Fucking scream mate. He started to come closer to me, his chest almost touching mine. I attempted to push him away but before I realized I was pushed against the wall. His face was dangerously close mine and neither of us moved. I subconsciously slightly parted my lips and moved my head to the side a bit, exposing more of my neck. I don't know how much time passed but I suddenly heard Ronald's voice. He was an older man in his 60s. He used to work for the navy and now he was helping them with some operational stuff that I didn't really understand. His wife, Karen was also at the mission and she was working in the hospital with me.

- Just get a room you too – we quickly separated from each other.

- What are you doing here? – I asked – Isn't this a bit too dangerous for you?

- Ohh just because I am old? Yesterday, I ate a bigger burger than you – and with that he left. Me and Red turned back to each other and continued practicing. By the end, I was getting better but we both knew I was not gonna stand a chance if someone attacked me.

I was chilling outside later when Red approached me.

- Hey

- Hey

- Come with me – I raised an eyebrow but I was curious, so I went after him. It was dark and he led me into the jungle. Suddenly, he stopped and turned to me with a gun in his hand.

- Ummm you know if you wanted to kill me you could have just done it back there – He extended his arm towards me.

- Take it – I hesitantly approached and took the gun. It had a silencer on it. I was confused.

- There is a rebel army not far away from here. We are going tomorrow to stop them but we both know you are not really great at physical fighting so…if we do not succeed, I want to teach you how to use a gun to defend yourself.

- I know how to use a gun – he raised both his eyebrows – Yeah, I am also a decent pickpocket and quite good at forging signatures– he raised his eyebrows even higher.

- These are the only useful skills I learned growing up in a dirt-poor village– I took the ammo that was in his hands, loaded the gun, charged it, and shot at a nearby tree. He looked impressed.

- Not bad.

- It is fucking amazing. That's what it is.

- Alright, alright – he said laughing – now shoot at that branch – I did as he said and I hit it perfectly. It snapped and fell on the ground.

- Now aim at that one – he pointed at a branch further ahead. I aimed and hit that one as well.

- Yeah, so remind me never to piss you off with a gun in your hand – I grinned. We continued to practice for a bit more. On our way back we were silently walking next to each other.

- Thank you - I said – I really appreciate you trying to keep me safe – he cleared his throat.

- It is my duty – he said without looking at me.

- So, you are teaching all the other nurses how to shoot?

- I don't need to. All the other nurses are much better at self-defence than you – he teased me – but from what I have seen you are perfectly capable to defend them with a gun – We arrived back, and he turned to face me. He handed me the gun. I knew he was leaving tomorrow, and I really wanted to say something but didn't know what.

- Please take care of yourself – He smiled and caressed my cheek with his thumb. I almost melted at his touch. I was longing for more. I wanted to feel those strong hands all over my body.

- I will – I could see him hesitate a bit – But if I don't make it back, promise you won't cry for me – obviously, I started to cry.

- Shhh…..I haven't even left yet– he whispered.

- You cannot expect someone who cares for you not to cry when you say something like that – He gently wiped my tears.

- In that case, I have no choice but to come back – he smiled, gave me a kiss on the forehead and left. My legs began to shake as his lips touched my skin. Fuck friendship, I wanted to kiss him so bad. I could feel my heart breaking when I was watching him go and I knew I had feelings for him. Big time.