A Bears Hunted Love

Bear POV 18 Months Ago “Siren!!” “Siren!!” “Siren!” I am jolted out of my much needed slumber and almost roll out of my cot. Dreams departing, I see my platoon brothers in similar states of daze and undress. Gunny Peters flings the quarters door open and bounds in. “Hurry up you arseholes!! Camp is under act!! Insurgents at the west gate!!!!” “Get moving!!” Before he even finishes, we are all scrambling to get our boots on. Throwing my t-shirt on I run out, heading to the armoury. The ground tremors as something explodes, I expect it from the west gate but it came from the east. I gear up with more ammo than I can carry. I run back out to the compound, heading for the west gate. My buddies with me. More explosions, they seem like there are all around us now. A hole in the ground, dug out by an explosion becomes my foxhole. Ajax jumps in behind me, covering me from the other side, but weighed down by ammo just as much as I am. Hank follows and we set ourselves up. “Well, my relaxed morning went s@&t pretty fast!” I hola at them. “We warned you, every time you do this something happens” Ajax hits back. “Seriously, you can’t blame me for a flat tire” I counter. “The flat wasn’t the issue, the issue was they needed a two man team for the objective and your morning off meant we got it” Hank clarifies. “We spent 7 hours in the baking heat under cover watching and waiting, then we found the flat, took us two days to walk back at night” Ajax enforces. “Still not my fault” I laugh, it’s still funny six months on. All weapons in place, we take aim and defend our base and our friends. No more jokes. This is why we are here. The three of us met at basic training and have been together ever since. Joining the army was my only chance at a future, but the these two, they saved me. It seems like hours have passed when I realise we are running out of ammo and the enemy are still coming. “We need some options” I shout over my gun fire. They know what I am saying, they know what I am asking. “We need another raid of the armoury!?” Ajax shouts back but his tone says he isn’t sure it’s a good idea. “We don’t have a choice” I say back. I look back, counting our remaining weapons. There’s no point us all doing the run. I’m the biggest, and strongest, I can carry more. “Get back to back, cover me and I’ll be back before you know it” I smile on the end, jump up and head the armoury, hoping it still has some weapons left. Dodging around abandoned vehicles and behind buildings, I make my way to the armoury, thank heavens. I take stock of what’s left, not much but enough for us to keep going a while longer and that’s all that matters. Re-enforcements will be coming. I’m loaded up and heading back, progress is slower but I can’t be too slow. Finally I set eyes on the foxhole. Ajax and Hank are arguing, I can hear them from here. They always do that. I try and get their attention, and the eventually see me. I’m going to need their help to get back in. I wait, and wait. A lull in shots gives me an opening and I dash to them, closer and closer, I’m almost there. Just a few more paces. “You lucky so……………………” ……………………………………………………… GASP GASP GASP GASP “Major!! It’s alright, just breath for me, your wearing an oxygen mask, take some nice slow deep breaths……… That’s it, slow your breathing. You are alright major.” Panic grips me. The room is bright and I don’t know where I am or who is with me but she is speaking English. “I know you are going to be confused, but you are at Landstuhl Medical centre in Germany. You have been here for three weeks. Once you have settled, I will get your doctor who can explain more” It’s takes a few minutes for what she’s saying to make sense. I gradually slow my breathing but I can’t get rid of the weight and pain in my chest. “That’s it, I’ll go get your doctor, he’ll explain the rest” The nurse, I’m guessing, dashes off and I take the time to try and get my bearings. I wiggle my toes and breathe a little easier watching the blanket move. Moving my hands and lifting my arms is more tricky, there a cast on my left arm and my right feels tight and painful. Nothing like my chest but not great. A man walks into my room, his ID says Dr Caleb Wainwright. He is about my age, maybe a bit younger, clean shaven and fairy tall. Has a welcoming face. That’s a good start. “Major Barring, I am Dr Wainwright, I have be looking after these last few weeks, I great to see your eyes finally open. Before we catch you up, can I just do a quick exam” “Sure doc” He gets to work, he’s gentle and thorough. Testing my reflexes and my injuries, which seem to be pretty minor so far. I’m struggling to understand why i am here. “Ok, let chat. Do you know your name?” I can’t help but roll my eyes but I answer him anyway. “Major Koda Barring, everyone calls me bear for obvious reasons” Doc smiles. “Ok Bear, i am going to tell you what I know of how you got here, explain your injuries and try and answer any other questions you have” He pauses and takes a breath, “On February 9th, approximately 0500, your base camp was attacked and you and your men were pinned down in a fox hole. From what can be gathered you went on a supply run for more ammo. As you were arriving back at the foxhole, an incendiary device exploded and you were thrown backwards due to the concussive force.” Another breath. “You were found when reinforcements arrived at approximately 0700, having suffered extensive blood loss and you were obviously unconscious. Honestly, there weren’t sure you would survive being evac’d but somehow you did” Another breath. “6 hours later, you were stabilised to a degree, and flown from Balad Airbase in Baghdad to Ramstein Airbase and from there to here. You have been here for just over three weeks in a medically induced coma whilst the more serious injuries healed” “What are my injuries doc” I interrupt. “Ok, you had five skull fractures that resulted in your brain swelling, we operated and removed a small section to allow for the pressure. Once that receded we operated again and repaired more of the skull. You have a fracture to your Ulna and radius bones. To your chest..” he takes another pause, removing his glasses he dismisses the nurse who I hadn’t realised was still here. “Doc” “The wounds to your chest were extensive, shrapnel from the device was covering you, two pieces of metal pierced your heart muscle, luckily only just, I’m guessing because of your high muscle content. One piece is embedded in your sternum and you’ll likely be setting metal detectors off for the rest of your life. Most of your chest was torn up, your spleen and appendix were both unrepairable and your liver is missing a piece but is still functioning. There will be a lot of scaring, and healing will be a long journey but you’re alive.” “That explains what I’m feeling I guess” “Are my men here doc? I’d like to see them. Ajax and Hank??”