Chapter 1: Climax
The war was now at a standstill each side had taken a short break regrouping and rearming each other forces. But that didn't mean the military had nothing to do and stood around doing nothing each soldier busied themselves with simple to complex tasks of all kinds to remain sharp fit and ready for action at a moment's notice. Jager was pushing a cart with ammo boxes to be delivered to the quartermaster. Since he was on the other side of the base he still had a long way to go, so he stopped for a minute and took off his patrol cap, wiping the sweat off his forehead with his hand. Wondering how his fellow SOG soldier, Liz, was doing at the moment, since he hadn't seen her for quite a while, and blushing slightly at the thought, as he realized that he was, indeed, missing her.
And as if the universe had heard his unexpressed wish, he suddenly spotted Liz. She was leaning against the wall, with her arms crossed, and observing her surroundings
Jager's eyes immediately lit up at the sight. He put his patrol cap back on and made his way toward her with a big smile on his face.
“Hey, Liz!”
She turned her head in his direction and smiled as well.
“Nice to see you, Jager.”
After having exchanged greetings and asked for each other's well-being, she suggested accompanying him for a while during his delivery to talk a bit more. Jager was more than happy to agree.
As they were walking side to side (Jager had to constantly remind himself to keep his eyes on the road, since he couldn’t stop staring at Liz), He wanted to know whether everything was alright at work.
Since they were partners on duty, but confidants off duty, he felt an obligation to check on her.
"haven't been able to catch up lately," Jager commented, making small talk as he pushed the heavy ammo cart along.
Liz nodded, "I know, it's been busy here. I've had to take on a few extra duties lately to cover for some of the newer soldiers. But, it's all good. I don't mind the extra work," she added with a shrug.
Jager glanced at her, he had seen her working harder than anyone else, "I still hate you have to take on so much responsibility."
She just smiled and said, "It comes with the territory, I suppose."
As they continued their walk, Jager couldn't help but feel grateful for her presence by his side.
It was in these quiet moments that he realized how much she meant to him. More than just a partner, more than a comrade in arms. She was his rock, the one he could always rely on.
But just when he thought they would have this quiet time, unbeknownst to them, two other figures had emerged from the shadows. Both Alice and Molle walked into the alley, smiling when they recognized Liz and Jager.
"Hey there!" Alice greeted them, "I see you two lovebirds found each other again," Alice teased, as she and Molle came to stand beside them. Jager's face went bright red at the comment, and Liz gave her a playful jab in the ribs.
"Thanks for finding us, you guys We were just catching up," Liz greeted with a smile, always friendly even towards her teasing comrades.
Molle greeted Jager "Hey, Jager, how have you been? Haven't seen you around much lately," she observed.
Jager was stuck between his devoted attention to making sure he and Liz had time together and also ensuring that work didn't suffer because of it. "You know how it is," Jager answered Molle, while still pushing the ammo cart to its destination. Liz added, "We've all been busy around here, but that just means we have to make our own fun when we can, right?" she said with a wink.
Alice and Molle both chuckled at that, each knowing full well the importance of such diversions in the face of the hardships of war.
The four of them continued to make their way along the alley together, chatting casually.
Alice and Molle filled Liz and Jager in on the latest gossip from around the base, while Jager updated them on his duties, and the progress of the delivery.
After a while, they reached the main building where the quarter master was located, and Jager handed over the ammo supplies.
Unload his massive cart of ammo cans of various calibers from small pistol calibers to anti aircraft gun calibers carefully lifting the ammo cans by himself Liz and her companions watch on from a far in admiration as Jager worked with determination.
“You always did work hard, Jager," Liz thought in her mind, Alice noticed Liz starring at Jager and elbowed Molle "someone got a crush on him for sure".
Molle glanced back at them and saw Liz gaze trailing Jager as he worked, she smiled and whispered back “I knew it." and they both shared a knowing smirk. “So you two are that close , eh?” Alice giggled, nudging Liz playfully.
Liz simply ignored
her friends’ comments and focused her gaze back on Jager, who was walking back towards them with a satisfied grin as he was done with his duties.
”alright!” he greeted them as he approached.
”How did it go with the delivery?” Molle asked.
”Good, good! I finished it ahead of schedule, so we got a little more time before we have to head back,” Jager said, looking at Liz.
She smiled at him, her eyes sparkling.
“Good to hear,” Alice said, breaking the silence. “I could go for burger right now” molle said her mouth drooling at the thought of a burger Alice pinched her cheek “your minds always on food , Molle” she laughed and then nodded “we could grab a quick one before our night patrol”.
“Hell yeah!” Jager chimed, excitement creeping into his tone. “A burger sounds great right about now.”
“Alright then,” Liz said, a knowing smirk playing at the corners of her lips. “Let’s head to the mess hall before we lose our chance to get food.”
As they made their way to the mess hall, the four of them chatted amiably, catching up on the events that had occurred at the base since they had last seen each other.
Upon arrival, they found that the place was bustling with activity as soldiers, officers, and workers of all sorts bustled about, grabbing meals and conversing.
The four of them sat at an empty table in a corner, the perfect vantage point to observe the rest of the crowd without drawing too much attention to themselves.
They ordered their burgers and watched as the workers carried trays loaded with food to other soldiers.
As they waited, Jager glanced at Liz, and their eyes locked for a brief moment.
A warmth spread through his chest, a feeling that he had grown accustomed to over the time that they had been together.
It was then that he realized just how much he cared for her, and how empty his life would be without her by his side. It wasn't just their shared experiences or their camaraderie – he loved Liz for who she was, and he couldn't imagine a future without her.
But he knew that expressing his feelings for her would be a delicate matter. They were both soldiers, with their lives on the line every day, and the last thing either of them needed was a distraction.
But at the same time, he couldn't keep his feelings bottled up inside forever. So, he resolved to wait for the right moment, when the tension of the war had eased up and they could spend some real time together.
As they finished their burgers, Liz glanced over at Jager, her eyes thoughtful.
He looked back at her, and she reached over to squeeze his hand. The touch was brief but meaningful, and Jager felt a jolt of electricity shoot up his arm.
"Thanks for this," Liz said, her voice low and husky. "I needed it."
Jager nodded, unable to find the words to respond. He didn't need to, though. The loaded look they exchanged spoke volumes.
Before things could get too intense, Alice broke the silence. "Hey, you guys, we should probably head back to our posts.
Wouldn't want to be late for our night patrol, right?" Alice interjected, her voice barely masking her excitement. Molle nodded in agreement. Liz and Jager shared a brief glance before reluctantly nodding as well. It seemed as if the moment had passed, but Jager couldn't shake off the flutter in his chest.
As they walked back to their barracks, Liz and Jager walked side by side, their fingers brushing against each other every so often. Alice and Molle walked ahead, chattering away like excited schoolgirls.
Liz took this opportunity to pull Jager into a secluded dark passage between the building walls.
When they were out of earshot and sight of their comrades, she stopped and turned to Jager, taking a hold of his broad shoulders “listen to me, Jager” she said in a soft low voice, her fingers digging into his jacket. “I need you to do something for me.”
Jager bristled slightly at her warmth but was intrigued by her unusual request and continued to listen. “I need you to survive this war one way or another,” she murmured, her gaze locked with his icy blue. “Promise me that you will do what it takes my dear soldier.” She whispered persuasively.
Jager felt a rush of adrenaline surge through him at her earnest plea. It was unlike anything he had ever experienced and his heart leaped in his chest. He was taken aback, but he held one thing above all else and it was his loyalty to Liz.
So he knew that above all else he would do anything, including keeping his promise to her, to ensure their bond would not be lost.
"Of course, I'll do whatever it takes to survive," he promised her, his voice thick with emotion. The intensity of the moment wasn't lost on Liz. She could see the determination in his eyes and felt a wave of relief wash over her.
With the promise made, Liz smiled at Jager, leaned in, and embraced him tightly, whispering "Take care of yourself, okay."
He just nodded, giving her a small smile in reply.
And with that, they returned to their group, back to their reality, back to the war.
As they went back to their barrack, Jager’s heart was pounding in his chest.
The moment they had shared had left him feeling more alive than he had in weeks.
He couldn't stop thinking about it the rest of the night.
He couldn't help but wonder what she had meant by her cryptic request earlier. What was it that she needed him to do to survive? And why did she seem so determined to make him promise? Jager couldn't help but mull over these thoughts as he settled into his bunk. But as he lay there in his bunk
, feeling the cool and hard surface beneath him, he couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. There was still a lingering uncertainty about the conversation with Liz, and he couldn't shake it off.
The next morning brought new duties, drills, and needs for the soldiers. But despite all the noise and chaos around him, Jager found himself unable to focus. He was restless, fidgety, easily distracted, and his mind kept wandering back to the events of the previous evening with Liz.
The more he thought of her and the conversation they had in the secluded alley, the intense emotions and questions that it evoked, the more he realized his feelings ran deeper than just as a fellow soldier and partner.
"damn it now I can't sleep," Jager muttered to himself trying to fall back to sleep