Hazel sat down in the half-light of the darkened ward and braced herself.

“I am not going to cry even a little this time,” She told herself. “And don’t babble!” she added silently.

“Hi Boss, me again” she said to the still figure in the bed in front of her.

“God I’mjustsotired andthetrainingandall thatyou knowhowitgoes hahah”

“Don’t babble I think we said eh? And that laugh was so false it hurt” she thought. She tried again.

“The new pilots are actually learning fast. All sections up to full numbers, new planes all sorted. It’s difficult though, Ruby is up now with half of black section doing fake intercepts, you’d better get a move on – I think she is getting too comfortable and we can’t have you out of a job”

Her eyes felt wet.

“Monkies have been quiet really. They mooch about over the border, never in big numbers, no jamming AWACS to stop us going after them, but you know the rules. Funny really”

She breathed in and held it. “Don’t, just don’t be stupid. Keep your mouth shut Hazel”

Out loud she said -

“Boss, please – this is just, I can’t.” she shook her head.

“Anyway. Gold section is fine and dandy now. God I am such a hard bitch to those poor newbies. Have to be really, I know what it’s like. Help them but stay as detached as possible. Don’t’ want to get too close for some odd reason. Well you know, this is a job right?”

Her head dropped again. Nearly three weeks, too many all nighters here at this damn bed. And he is still out cold.

She gasped out loud and her head snapped up as she felt a hand on hers. Boss was looking directly at her. She opened her mouth to speak but he got there first.

“Get ready Hazel, they’re coming”

“What do you..”

But the rest of her sentence was lost as the station alert/scramble signals blared into strident life.