Page 11 of Operation K-9 Brothers
Chapter Four
The pain was intense.Jack had hoped that by now his arm and shoulder would feel like they were healing, but it wasn’t happening.Sweat dotted his forehead from the exercises his physical therapist put him through.Hewouldget full use of his arm back, and hewouldreturn to his team.He just had to work harder.
“Three times a week isn’t cutting it, Heather.Start booking me in for Tuesdays and Thursdays, too.”
“You’re already pushing yourself too hard, Jack.You run the risk of doing even more damage.”
“Then make sure that doesn’t happen.”She didn’t get it.His team needed him.He knew no other life outside of the military.
“No additional sessions.”She sighed.“Look, I know how badly you want back with your team, but risking further injury isn’t the way to go about it.Have you made an appointment to see a doctor yet since coming home?”She shook her head when he didn’t answer.“You haven’t, have you?”
He didn’t need to see another doctor.He knew his body, and all he needed to be able to do was hold an assault rifle in his shooting hand without trembling.A little girl could hold seven pounds without shaking, and that he couldn’t made him want to put his fist through a wall.
“Five days a week, Heather.Either with you supervising or two days on my own.”He was already doing some of that anyway.
Heather Matthews was a ballbuster physical therapist, and he liked her for that.She worked him until he came close to begging for mercy.Not that he ever would, but she was exactly what he needed.Except when she didn’t fall in line with his plans.Her husband had been Delta Force, so military dudes pushing their weight around didn’t faze her.
“No to both.Not five days a week, or you going off on your own except for the exercises I gave you to do at home.”She glanced at her watch.“Wait here.I’ll be right back.”
While she was gone, Jack tried to lift his arm above his head.It refused to cooperate.“Damn,” he muttered as he rubbed the offending appendage.
Heather returned and handed him a card.“You have an appointment with Dr.Patel next Thursday.Be there.”
When he glared at her, she laughed.Not the reaction he was going for.
“Give it up, Jack.If a Delta Force guy can’t intimidate me, a SEAL doesn’t stand a chance.”
He snorted.“If I didn’t know I was badass, my feelings would be hurt.”
“Uh-huh.Just badass yourself to that appointment if you don’t want to see my mean side.”
“Yes, ma’am.”Maybe.
They walked out together, and her eyes lit up when she saw her husband in the lobby.“Hey, babe.This is a nice surprise.”
Jack had met Deke before when the man had been waiting for Heather to get off work.As he watched Deke slip his arm around his wife’s back and give her a quick kiss, the envy he felt surprised him.
What was that about?He’d be leaving soon and wasn’t looking for a relationship.An image of him on deployment, a smile on his face as he read a letter from Nichole, flashed through his mind.With his parents gone and no siblings, the only mail he got was from his grandmother.That hadn’t bothered him before, so why did the thought of getting letters from her please him?A lot.
He shook his head, getting that picture out of his mind.They wouldn’t be writing letters to each other.When he was gone, she’d forget about him.He frowned, not liking the idea of that.What was with all these stray thoughts going on in his head?He barely knew the woman, shouldn’t be thinking past the day he would leave, after which he’d never see her again.
“Jack, good to see you,” Deke said, offering his hand.
“You, too.How’s it going?”Jack wondered if he’d adjusted to life outside of the military.He wasn’t sure what the man did for a living.He thought he remembered Heather mentioning something about law enforcement, a cop maybe?
“Great.Just dropped by to say hi to my girl and bring her a treat.”He reached behind him and picked up an iced coffee from an end table, handing it to Heather.
“Aww, aren’t you sweet?”
“There’s not a sweet bone in my body, but you just keep on believing that, sweetheart.”
Jack took his leave.It was Friday, which meant that he would get to see Nichole.He had three hours before he could knock on her door, more than enough time to go home, take Dakota for a walk, and then jump in the shower.Maybe he’d take Dakota for a ride to use up more time.
“Jack, wait up.”Deke jogged toward him.“I got an hour to kill before Heather gets off.Want to go for a beer?”
Perfect, but...“Did your evil wife send you on a mission to get my promise to keep the doctor’s appointment she made for me?Without my permission I should add.”
Deke laughed as he slapped Jack on the back.“She is evil, isn’t she?But no, she didn’t send me on a mission, and I know nothing about her plans for you.”He held up a hand.“Swear.In your place, though, I’d be very afraid.Which is why you should let me buy you a beer.”
