Jack Stratton: Jacks Are Wild Part 8

She'd shown him the picture one night. After too much wine, she suddenly got melancholy.

What had I said? Jack stopped and closed his eyes. I noticed there were no photographs in the apartment. That's when she showed me this.

He looked at the old photo in his hand. It was Marisa when she was about seven. She and a young boy were both hugging an older, short man. Both she and the boy were little chubby kids with huge smiles on their faces. She'd written three names on the back. Angelica, Ilario, and Orsacchiotto.

Orsacchiotto? That can't be a name. Maybe it's like a t.i.tle in Italian? Like Uncle?

He put the photo in his pocket as he walked back into the living room. As he flicked the light switch off, the darkness felt like a punch in the chest.

Jack hurried out of the apartment, and headed for the Impala.

c.r.a.pblizzard When Jack walked into his apartment, all the lights were still on. The chair in front of the computer was empty, and Replacement was asleep on the couch. He glanced at the clock: 4:14 a.m. He gently shook her shoulder.

She opened one eye and grinned. "Sorry," she mumbled. "I tried to stay up. Oh, man. It's after four. What happened? Why are you home so late?"

Jack shook his head. "Nothing. Go to bed."

Her eyes widened and her mouth fell open. "You got fired?"

"No. I didn't get fired."

"Are you okay?"

No.

"Yes. Go to bed."

Jack walked into the bedroom and closed the door. He stripped off his clothes and took a quick shower. Ten minutes later, he lay awake, staring up at the ceiling. In the darkness, the paint hid the cracks, and Jack stared at the void. He could hear a faint tap at the door, but he didn't answer it. After another tap, the door creaked open.

"Jack?"

"What?"

I sound rude.

"Can I come in?"

No.

"Why? Is something up?" His words were still clipped.

Replacement walked over to hop into bed next to him.

"Stay over on that side."

"I will. Why?" she asked.

"I'm in my boxers."

Replacement stuck her tongue out as she started to lift up the blanket to peek.

"Stop." Jack pulled it down.

"What happened?"

"Nothing, kid. Get out."

"Is it about Marisa?" Replacement rolled up on her elbow.

Jack closed his eyes. After a moment he asked, "Did you have any friends when you were little?"

Replacement frowned. Her lip curled up as she shook her head. "My brothers, but after they died...not until Aunt Haddie's. Not until Mich.e.l.le."

"What would you do for her?"

Replacement stared at the ceiling. The longer she stared, the more Jack's resolve grew. After a few moments, she whispered, "Anything."

Jack inhaled. "Yeah."

Replacement nodded and rolled closer to Jack. He listened to her breathing until he finally fell asleep.

"Are you out of your mind?" Chandler asked.

"Shut up," Jack told him.

Chandler glared back at Jack. "Seriously, Jack. The CO is ripping everyone. You're not going in there."

"I know, but..." Jack bit his cheek. "Did you see him?"

"See him nearly take all of our heads off? Yeah. He was ticked."

Jack looked at the end of the sea of tents along with the stucco building that served as their command center. A soldier stood guard outside the front door.

As Jack turned to his friend, he started to explain. "He doesn't drink, but he bought a bottle after mail call."

"So? Maybe he's going to have some guys over. I heard they have a TV in there." Chandler gestured toward the building.

"He looked right at me. It was wrong."

"Wrong?"

"Here." Jack patted his chest. "I know something is wrong."

"You're going to start a c.r.a.pblizzard, and for what? Because you have women's intuition? Maybe it's just cramps." Chandler smirked.

Jack stood up and started to walk.

"I'm not coming." Chandler squared his shoulders.

Jack stopped and then turned to look at his friend.

"Seriously, Jack. You do this, you're on your own." Chandler held out a big hand.

Jack looked back at the building as he started to walk again. As he approached, he saluted the guard.

I don't know him. Same rank as me. Williams.

The man saluted back but raised an eyebrow.

"I need to see the CO, Williams."

The guard rolled his eyes. "He left orders not to be disturbed. No exceptions."

"This is an exception."

"Not happening. Get your superior."

Jack reached past him and pounded on the door.

"Are you crazy?" The young soldier thrust his hands down at his sides as he bent slightly at the waist.

Jack shrugged. "Yeah."

He waited a second and then pounded on the door again.

"STOP." The guard was now looking around, unsure what to do. "STOP." He looked at his gun, and then back at Jack.

"Are you thinking about shooting me for knocking?" Jack asked incredulously, and then he pounded again. "SIR, I NEED TO SEE YOU NOW, SIR."

They both looked back as Chandler jogged up.

Chandler scowled. "Aunt Haddie would kick my a.s.s if I left you alone."

Jack smiled, and he tried the door. It was locked.

"You got a key?" he asked the guard, who now looked puzzled.

He shook his head. "It's not supposed to be locked."

Jack stepped back.

Well, I've gone this far.

Chandler groaned. "Oh, man..."

Jack kicked the door. Pieces of wood and metal flew off into the building.

The guard's hands went to the sides of his head. "Are you out of your mind? What the h.e.l.l is wrong with you?"

"SIR," Jack yelled as he walked in. "I NEED TO-"

The CO had thrown a rope over a beam in the main room; his feet swung a few inches off the floor, and his face was a hideous blue. The guard screamed. Jack and Chandler ran forward. Chandler grabbed the CO's legs while Jack cut him down.

"GET THE DOC, NOW," Jack shouted at the guard, who then turned and bolted.

Chandler started rescue breathing while Jack pushed on the CO's chest.

Breathe. Just breathe. I waited too long... Breathe.

Chandler stopped and then closed his eyes. Jack turned his head away and noticed the scattered pieces of yellow construction paper covered with crayon hearts that littered the floor.

Stick figures. He's got a kid.

The picture was of a little girl holding a soldier's hand on her left. On the girl's right were a woman and a man holding hands. Written in crayon beneath each figure were the words: Daddy, Kylie, Mommy, and my new Daddy.

"Keep going," Jack ordered.

They both turned back to the CO, and then continued to try to save him. Jack pushed down on his chest while Chandler blew into his mouth. After a moment, they stopped; Chandler tilted his head and leaned low to listen.

The CO's chest rose, and a raspy hiss escaped from his mouth.

Chandler looked up at Jack; his eyes narrowed before he hung his head. "If you didn't... If you hadn't..."

Jack woke up, gasping and grabbing his throat. Replacement was instantly at his side.

"It's okay. It's just a dream. It's okay, Jack."

He sat up, panting. Replacement rubbed his back while Jack stared straight ahead.

"Do you want to talk about it?" she asked.

He looked down at his trembling hands and slid them under the blanket. "Iraq. Chandler and me." He arched his back, closed his eyes, and tilted his head up as he gulped in air.

"What happened?"

Jack slipped out of bed and walked over to the bathroom. He stopped at the door and then looked down at the wood floor. When he shut his eyes, he could still almost feel the oppressive desert heat. He ran his hand through his hair as he exhaled.

"Chandler saved this guy. I was just remembering it."

Replacement smiled, but he noticed her eyes glistened.

He walked into the bathroom and then closed the door. When he came back out, Replacement sat up and stretched.

"Are you going out?" She flipped over on her stomach as she looked at the clock. "It's only seven. You got no sleep."