The Soldier Who Taught Her To Trust (#2 The Soldier Series)

Chapter Two - Work Together

Chapter Two – Work together

Izzy walked into the small room, in the stone building the smell of stale damp hung in the air, it was strangely comforting like the last time she was here. It had two beds either side separated by two bedside cabinets, dumping her bergen onto the right hand side bed, Izzy started to unpack her kit, hanging up the black combat trousers, jumpers and t-shirts to one side of the double wardrobe at that stood to right hand side of the barn door.  Kyla followed her, and proceeded to pack up her things, then smiling turned to Izzy.

“This was Kermit’s room last time” she smiled wistfully.

“Dirty b***h” Izzy teased and winked

“Nope we just slept that night” Kyla giggled slightly.

As the friends unpacked, the familiar bellow of Tank interrupted them

“Everyone, interview room” he shouted.

Izzy sighed, she had the feeling in the pit of her stomach that he was going to bollock her and Cigs again, still she could not blame him, she wished she could just shut off her brain on all things referring to Steven ‘Cigs’ Benson.

As she walked into the interview room, she saw Tank sitting beside Cigs, the umpire beside him, Kermit stood and kissed Kyla like he had not seen her for a year, not ten minutes, and Izzy took the end seat.

“Okay Listen in” The umpire started

“So, for those of you who do not know, this show is deliberately being aired to try and gain more public support for ‘Woof”

Everyone around the table nodded their head in agreement. Things were heating up regarding the murder charge that had Woof remanded at her majesty’s pleasure, the media were screaming for answers from the government, to confirm or deny the rescue of Izzy and Kyla was a sanctioned operation on British soil.

“Now, we are changing the schedule, rather than film the two weeks and slip it over eight shows, each Sunday, we are going to be filming the day, and that will be aired prime time the night after, for the full two weeks. As this is the second time the contestants have been here, there will be only one admin day, and that will fall on the Saturday, rather than take a break from the show airing, what we want to do, is film interviews with you all regarding Sanchez, you can talk about what it was like on the run, how you felt when the contestants were murdered, but obviously do not mention the help we gave you. Then Kyla and Izzy, they we want you to talk about the kidnapping, what inspired you to fight him, how you felt, and your relief when the team came to your rescue, it is important that you mention the sound of the helicopter as this will put pressure on the government to confirm it was a sanctioned operation. You can also talk about the injuries you sustained, and obviously how the soldier who shot Sanchez saved your life, but do not mention Woof by name.”  The umpire instructed.

Izzy took a deep breath, to talk about that time was difficult for her, and she was still battling her addiction. She had not succumbed to the craving, caused by the kidnap, but only just, and she was more than a little fearful to talk about this would set her off battling her demons once more.  But she owed it to Woof, to all of these guys around the table without them, both Kyla and her would be dead and buried.

Even though it was Kermit who had killed Sanchez, Woof had taken the blame, so that Kermit and Kyla could be together, and after all the s**t her best friend had put up with during her life, she would be forever grateful to Woof for giving her friend  the happy ending she truly deserved.

“Okay, so the other thing, Kermit and Kyla, I want you both to come up with a plan to shock the contestants, they will be expecting some sort of hijack and s**t, so make it good” Tank said

“Roger that” Kermit said, smiling at Kyla

“Now, on day two we have the tower exercise, this is a new one, and more difficult than the previous abseil challenges, they will climb a fifty foot tower up a rope ladder, then abseil frontwards whilst another contestant is in charge of the braking system” Tank Said

Izzy looked at Tank in shock, the braking system was crucial, one wrong move and the contestant could fall to their death.

“What, why are you guys not braking for them?” Izzy asked

“Because, it is a trust exercise, to see which of them still has what it takes, and which of them believed their own bull s**t and fame when they got out last time, one of us will be standing by to take over if need be.” Tank shrugged.

“Now, I was going to demonstrate it with Kermit, but I think Izzy and Cigs should demo it” Tank said with a small smirk on his face

“Are you f*****g mental! we never did that task in our series?” Izzy could not help but shout, how could she possibly demo something she had never done herself.

“We have around four hours of daylight left, and tomorrow morning for you to practice and get it perfect, I will come with you and Cigs now, so you can learn how to do it, Izzy you will be abseiling, and Cigs will be your brake man” Tank continue

“f**k, is this some sort of revenge for me and Cigs fighting?” Izzy asked, only half joking.

“Nope, but it is forcing the pair of you to learn how to work together again, and to rebuild that trust, meet me back here in 15 minutes” Tank smiled.

Kermit let out a chuckle, and Cigs just staired at Izzy, not showing any of his emotions, he understood what he brother was doing, and hell he even approved she had to learn to work with him again at the very least.

As Izzy entered the bedroom with Kyla, she let out a gigantic huff,

“f**k Kyla, I thought I would be shouting move to a few contestants and travelling most of the way up the mountains in the SUV, not be thrown into the s**t again” Izzy sighed shaking her head.

“I know, but you can do it, I suppose to be instructors we do have to prove ourselves in front of the contestants, no doubt Tank will have me do something equally as dangerous with Kermit” Kyla smiled trying to reassure her friend.

Izzy nodded, the old feeling of fear, started to pulse through her veins, she took a deep breath and blew it out, it was time for her to get her game face on, and learn how to do this task so she did not fall flat on her face and look like an i***t on TV or worse die smashed to smithereens because she or Cigs had f****d up.

“What the f**k Tank?” Cigs complained to his brother as soon as Izzy and Kyla left the interview room.

“You two need to f*****g well learn to trust each other again, and this is the quickest way of doing that, oh and you will be working with her for most of the show, so get used to it” Tank’s voice abrupt to the point of being rude.

“This will end badly; you know what she is like” Cigs huffed, for all he secretly agreed this needed to happen, the thought of Izzy climbing the tower filled him with dread, it was not an easy task one that had taken him a long time to master himself.

“Yes, a girl who has survived the depths of hell and come out fighting, now put your emotions in the box Cigs and let’s get out there and teach Izzy how to do this s**t professionally” Tank said, picking up the back of ropes, and harnesses.

The trio made their way to the large tower in silence, when they arrived, Izzy looked up at the brick built fifty foot building, she saw the ladder, it was made of metal, but was akin to a rope ladder, that twisted and turned in the breeze.

“Okay, I am going to demonstrate, Cigs you show Kyla how to scale the ladder, then set yourself up ready to come down” Tanks ordered

Without a word, Cigs got himself into the harness, and had Tank double check it, then clipping himself to the safety line, the started his assent.

 Izzy gasped, as she saw how unstable the ladder was, as it twisted and turned, the rungs were narrow, and she could see you could only fit one foot at a time on it. Concentrating hard on the demonstration, she watched as Cigs stood at the top of the towel, then changed the clip onto the metal rope before putting his arms out to the side the began to walk once he was at a ninety degree angle he shouted “Ready” to Tank, then extending his arms to the side, and standing at a ninety degree angle began to walk down the shear face of the tower.

Tank held onto the ropes, then just in time, he pulled onto the brake, falling backwards, as Cigs feel hit the ground perfectly.

“f**k, you make it look easy” Izzy sighed, her heart beating out of her chest.

Cigs unhooked himself, then turned to Izzy

“Okay, the ladder is the worst, you have forward abseiled before, the only difference is you keep both of your arms out stretched and move a little faster, but the ladder takes some practice, as it can get a little hairy when the wind blows”  

Cigs new Izzy was terrified, he could see it in her eyes, and the small tremor of her hands, he did not agree with her having to do this exercise, it took complete trust in your partner to pull it off and make it look easy, and he knew only too well, Izzy did not trust him, plus everything within him wanted to protect her, he had seen enough fear in her eyes to last him a lifetime, and each time he did he gave her a little bit more of his heart, and that was something he needed to avoid at all costs.

“Take a breath Izzy, try and switch off the part of your brain that is frightened, listen to my voice, when you are going up the ladder, and believe in me, I will stop you in time” his voice low, as he staired into her big blue eyes.

Placing the safety equipment on Izzy, Cigs looked at her, ‘God she is beautiful’ she thought to himself, then giving himself a mental shake, he moved her towards the ladder.

“Pull up with your arms and push with your feet” Cigs advised.

Izzy took hold of the ladder, then began to focus, and began the climb. Cigs watched her as she climbed up, trying to ignore her arse, but failing as it wobbled in her tight leggings just above his face, he felt the siring in his pants, and closed his eyes for a split second to try and control his raging hard on.

Izzy continued her climb, the higher she went, the more she lost her footing, as she grabbed on to the ladder for dear life, the wind blew and twisted her so violently she thought she would catapult into the side of the tower and let out a small scream.

“Stop screaming your supposed to be an instructor” Tank bellowed.

Izzy shut her mouth, annoyed she had shown weakness, then continued upwards, tears of fear, and anger streaming down her face.

“Izzy, you can do this” Cigs began to shout, encouragement to her, tank was playing bad cop, and he needed to be her good cop right now, knowing she would be terrified, especially after that gust of wind.

As she clambered to the top, she sat down for a moment on the top of the tower, trying to calm her fractured nerves.

“Come on Izzy, unclip yourself, don’t f*****g hang about” Tank bellowed again.

Izzy felt like she could cheerfully kill Tank right now, she imagined his face on a target, as she shot it repeatedly. She knew most of it was an act on his part, after all, he was putty in the hands of Vicky his Wife, and his two small boys had him wrapped around their fingers, Izzy laughed a little at the memories of Tank being so out of control, and not having any authority in his household, and that gave her the push she needed to stand, and unclip the safety rope, and clip it to the side of the abseil equipment.

“Arms out Izzy, Widder” Cigs shouted up at her. taking a deep breath, she slowly walked of the edge placing her body at ninety degree’s

“Okay, I got you girl, GO” Cigs shouted

Izzy started to walk down, the momentum gaining, this bit was not as bad as she had thought having done something similar in the last show, but the ground was approaching fast, and she could not feel Cigs breaking.

“Brake you bastard” she began to shout

“Keep going” Cigs bellowed back, knowing she was not as close to the ground as she thought.

“FUCKKKKKKK” Izzy shouted once more, as she could see the grass and stones getting closer and closer.

Just as she thought she would crash to the ground, suddenly she felt herself being hoisted backwards, as she slowed down to a perfect stop as her feet dangled inches from the earth beneath.

“Good job Izzy” Cigs praised her

“Yeah, now do it again with out the screaming like a f*****g banshee” Tank ordered.

The adrenaline taking over, Izzy began to laugh hysterically, then shouted

“Tank you said f*****g, f*****g is a rude word, I am going to tell Matt and Leo” she laughed and laughed

Tank could not help but bellow with laughter as well, as she quoted his two young sons.

“Right, one more go tonight then back in the morning for a few hours, we will do this until you get it perfect” Tank said.

Cigs smiled at Izzy, he could not help the amount of pride he felt seeing her overcome the fear, but damn he needed to not feel anything for her at all, because he would not be able to handle her rejection which would surely come as soon as this was over.