Second Chances (101 page)

“We're going to have problems with this later. Shoddy construction and all that,” Tao warned. “But this should get us going. We can always replace the parts with metal ones when we have a surplus,” he told Mitch.

“I think we're going to have a constant demand; I doubt we'll ever have a surplus for what you have in mind,” Mitch sighed. “But, we'll make it work.”

------*------

Chief Roberts flew in, surprising them. Jamal had come by the Mountain Village to trade, so the SEAL had hitched a ride. Instead of returning to Copper Town, he'd redirected Jamal to fly direct through the mountains to Capital.

They radioed in after they exited the last pass. Jacklynn was surprised when Pete frantically called in. The plane circled the field as Brian, Sam and Mitch got the ploughs and snow blowers out to clear the runway.

The chief nodded as he climbed out of the aircraft. “I'm here for a consult,” he said. Mitch shook hands with him. “Come on, let's get out of this,” the chief said, stomping his feet.

Mitch snorted, watching his breath cloud. They headed for the door to the inside. In the entryway the SEAL stomped off the snow from his boots, then took his jacket off. “Damn, missed this place. We've still got a long ways to go before we're even halfway here,” he said, shaking his head.

“Come to work on some engineering issues?” Brian asked, dusting snow off.

“No, medical,” the chief said, making a face. One hand dropped to his abdomen. “Tina made me come,” he admitted.

“Ah,” Mitch said. “Well, Doc will check you out,” he said, waving him on inside. “Thanks, Brian,” he said to Brian. Brian smiled and gave him a jaunty salute.

Mitch walked with Travis, talking a little about the weather for small talk. When he got to the entrance of the infirmary he paused. “I can take it from here,” the chief said with a smile. “Thanks for walking me dad,” he mockingly teased.

“Just making sure you hadn't forgotten the way,” Mitch retorted. “Certain Marines have made comments about SEALs getting lost,” he said.

“Are you coming in or are we doing this out here?” Dora asked, leaning out the door.

“Um...”

“Doc knows. Tina called it in,” Dora said. Travis winced. “Well, come on,” she said, motioning him inward. Travis shook his head and entered the infirmary.

A checkup, some labs, and colonoscopy gave him a clean bill of health a few hours later.

“So, false alarm. Too much spicy food,” Doc told him after she finished the rather invasive but necessary test. “We've been getting a lot of that,” she said, taking her gloves off as the SEAL sat up. He was uncomfortable, but glad that was over. Also a bit gassy. He tooted and then pulled his shirt on.

“That's a relief. I tried to tell her that. So, when's the next flight back? Not that I don't mind the company, but um...”

“You sure you can sit for that long?” Doc teased. He grimaced. “I've got a pillow, but you've got a long wait.”

“Oh?” He froze, looking at her.

She shrugged. “Storm came in. The planes are grounded,” she explained. He grunted. “From what Piotr said, there is a whole series of storms coming in like a freight train, so better get comfortable. You are going to be here a while,” she said. She turned as Mitch came in. “Ready for your physical?” She teased, holding the endoscope up. He froze and then backed away.

“Shit. Tina...” Chief Roberts shook his head. “Well, coming here was
her
idea, so she can't kill me for it.”

“Wanna bet? You do remember women like to be right all the time? And if not they changed their mind or rewrite history to their point of view?” Mitch asked.

He oofed as his wife slapped him in the abs. “You really are asking me to use this thing on you aren't you?”

“Help help?” Mitch asked weakly. The SEAL snorted as he hopped off the exam table.

------*------

Bored, Mitch joined Chief Roberts, Phyllis, Akira and a crew in hand-to-hand combat training. Chief Roberts broke his wrist in hand-to-hand, but Mitch didn't quit.

“Good,” Travis said. “Sorry about that. I'm a SEAL; we don't pull punches easily. We're trained to go full bore in combat,” he said observing Mitch.

“Not your fault,” Mitch said, gasping as he cradled the wrist. “I knew the risks,” he admitted, fighting the pain. He'd lost the match, but that had been expected. But he hadn't given up.

“It was good that you kept in the fight. You didn't tap out,” Travis said, hunkering down beside him. “You should have tapped out though, not aggravated the injury, but it says a lot that you didn't,” he said, checking the wrist. It was already swelling, turning black and purple where his hand had gripped it.

“You can't hold up a stress card in combat,” Mitch said. He looked at Travis who looked surprised. Mitch forced a smile. “An old friend taught me that. Marine. I had a couple classes in hand-to-hand before I left, obviously not enough,” he said. “I just thought about what if it was a dino or if Sandra or the kids were counting on me,” he said.

“Good motivation, but you are woefully out of practice,” Travis said, taking him by the good arm and helping him to his feet. “But stubborn. You've got a handle on the pain?”

“It only hurts when I breathe,” Mitch said with a wan smile. He cradled his wrist, wondering what sort of luck he had to break the same arm in less than a year. “I'm more concerned about what Doc's going to do to me when I come limping in with this,” he said. “She warned me not to get hurt.”

“You!” Travis said, snorting. “I'm more afraid of what you're wife's going to do to me!” He said. That got both men laughing as they left the sparing mats behind.

------*------

“Fortunately for you, we've got something new,” Sandra said, pursing her lips. He could tell she was annoyed, but she was saving up her spit for later, probably when they were alone.

“New?”

“Professor Lane told me about it. It would have been nice to have tried it earlier when you broke your arm,” she growled.

“I'm not sure what you are talking about...” Mitch said as she scanned his arm.

“Three D printed casts,” Dora said, coming over with a temporary splint. “Professor Lane told us about it in passing when he was here during the conference. When I had some free time I looked it up. It turns out it was in the computer; you just forgot about it.” She gave Mitch a dirty look.

“So I did,” Mitch said, pursing his lips wryly. He shrugged. “Sorry about that,” he mumbled.

“You should be the one who's sorry, getting all banged up,” Sandra grumbled, setting the wrist. Mitch winced. She was tender, but so was his arm. “Well, you get to play guinea pig with the plastic cast once the swelling is down. I've seen it tested; it looks good. With the ultrasonics it should cut healing time by a third,” she said.

“Not to mention feel better,” Dora said.

Sandra nodded. “That too.”

“Good,” Mitch said. “Just don't break my other arm until this one heals,” he said. “Otherwise I'd starve to death,” he joked.

Sandra glowered at him, pursing her lips in annoyance but didn't say anything. He sighed as she walked off, busying herself with other tasks. She did not approve; that was written all over her body language.

Mitch tried out the 3D printed cast with ultrasonic transmitters to accelerate his healing. According to Doc's checkups, the healing was faster than normal, but they weren't certain if the ultrasonics were the reason or some other factor. The open web of the plastic cast was a godsend though. Mitch remembered the plaster cast he'd had as a kid as well as the one he'd had after the ankylosaur attack. Having it open with a web of plastic around his arm made it easier to clean his skin, which lessened the maddening itching.

------*------

Jacklynn flew Chief Travis and some beer back to his home a day after the skies cleared and Piotr reported all clear. “I hope they've dug the landing strip out. I don't want to crash down the mountain thank you,” Jackie grumbled.

“They did, I radioed and checked in,” Mitch said, stomping his feet as he watched them load up. “Now I know why you really came,” he paused as the Chief turned to him. “Beer run!”

The SEAL chuckled, shaking his head as he finished loading up. Jamal shook his head as he listened to the banter. He checked his plane over carefully. He was flying out after Jackie took off, but he was loaded with goods for Copper Town.

“You better buckle up tight navy boy. We're going where angels fear to tread. The direct route. I'm not flying to Copper,” Jackie warned as she climbed in.

“Are you serious?” The SEAL asked, looking at her through the windshield. She put her headphones on. “Oh hell, she is serious. I'm so going to die,” he said, shaking his head as he climbed into the aircraft. He shook hands with Mitch. “Until next time,” he said.

“Yeah, when you'll break my other arm. Or Sandra will,” he said.

“Sandra most likely,” the chief replied, brushing snow off his boots. He flicked it out of the plane.

Mitch chuckled as he shut the door and dogged it. He stepped back and waved as Angie taxied. The Cessna had skis, but Brian had plowed the strip to make it easier for her to take off. Once the aircraft was airborne she spiraled around and then headed for the mountain pass she'd scouted that was the most direct route through the chain of mountains to the large valley beyond, and then to the Mountain Village.

------*------

Just after Christmas Maggie, Ducky, and the farm crew worked on the animals and their breeding program. They carefully planned the mass insemination procedures to allow the animals to give birth in the early to mid-spring. They tried to stagger it so the animals wouldn't all drop at the same time though.

While they were doing that, Hejira and Ivan led Anne and a few green thumbed volunteers to do a turn out on the greenhouses, harvesting the crops and then resetting for the next rotation. They also worked on prep for the nursery.

Hejira needed the help; she was pregnant. She had shacked up with Ivan a couple times much to everyone's surprise. The two were so quiet no one had noticed them sneaking around until Hejira had reported in to the infirmary with morning sickness. She was surly for weeks making Ivan duck and cover whenever she came near.

------*------

Janet’s screech made Mitch look up. “Seriously! You damn cats had to barf right on the mat right where I step??” Mitch smiled. “Ewwww! This is so gross!” Janet said loudly. “Seriously! Like I don't have enough messes to clean up...oh it's all over my shoe! Ground into the tread...oh if I get my hands on a cat right now we'll have violin strings...” she sounded rather exasperated.

Sandra wrinkled her nose in disgusted sympathy then smacked her husband on the chest with the back of her hand. “Stop laughing,” she growled. “It's not funny!”

He shrugged. “Misery loves company,” he said as they heard the click click click of rapidly approaching nails on tile. Mitch didn't care for tile, but Janet preferred it in the entry ways, kitchen, and bathrooms. He slipped on it a few times, especially when he came in from the snow so he had insisted mats be put down. Janet had grumbled about defeating the purpose, but put up with them.

“No Max! Don't you dare!” Janet squealed, trying to fend off the German Sheppard. They could hear the dog slopping something and could just imagine what. “Ewwww! You damn dumb mutt! Stop that! Seriously! Yuck! That's...Max don't!” They could hear her struggling with the dog. “Don't! You're eating....”

Mitch openly chuckled, shaking his head as Sandra made a disgusted face. She hit him again, this time harder. He smiled. “That explains his breath,” she sighed softly as Mitch captured her hand and kissed her fingers.

Mitch chuckled more as she pulled her hand away with mock asperity. “You gotta love dogs; they'll eat anything. Natural cleaning machines. Even poop. The fun thing is when he goes and gives someone kisses,” he said, grossing her out further.

She made a face then coughed. He laughed at her. “You are so wrong,” she growled, eyes flashing at him. He shrugged. She shook her head. “Yeah, remind me not to let him do that anymore,” she said. He chuckled again.

“Tucker likes kisses too,” he said. She made a face and then groaned. He laughed. “Hey, at least Tucker didn't find it first! Remember what he did in the litter box?” he asked, wrinkling his nose as he grinned at her and made mushing motions with his hands. She rolled her eyes at him. He chuckled as she sighed.

Chapter 46

Just when they thought the long winter was coming to an end, a series of late storms pummeled the continent, dropping over a foot of fresh powder every day for a week. It humbled Mitch, making him realize even he had to wait on nature's majesty.

One thing that did come about, Selma's frantic work to produce additional clothes for spring was given a much needed reprieve. The woman seemed bewildered and overwhelmed by all the various projects and learning involved. “It's not just one thing, one machine. It's learning all the equipment, all the steps for all the different designs,” the woman complained to Anne. Anne nodded. “I mean, sure, I worked in a couple places, even a sweat shop. But this is insane.”