Behind Enemy Lines

Title: Carolina Vixen
Author: Cielag
Type: Behind Enemy Lines
Genre: Action
Disclaimer: I do not own any characters from Behind Enemy Lines nor do I own anything from that movie. I have merely borrowed characters and the general setting for the story. Also, I do not really have an AH-64A Apache helicopter (although I wish I did). I am mocking the rivalry between the Air force pilots and the Navy. Please do not have a fit.
A/N: I am the pilot Lieutenant Teri Fallden of the U.S. Air force who comes to the aid of the U.S. Navy pilot (who has been shot down) Lieutenant Chris Burnett. This takes place in Bosnia, 1996.

I sat with my back leaning against the olive side of my fifty-eight foot long AH-64A Apache helicopter. I smiled pleasantly as I gazed at the four-blade rotor sixteen feet above me. My Apache, or as I fondly called her "Lady Bird", was the best thing about being in the Air Force. The second was the flight hours I could possibly want and stand. But one minor drawback to the Air Force fun was being in Bosnia during late winter instead of being back at my home base in Arizona, doing "routine" missions to awaken the chicken farmers at the break of dawn. Well, we were "at war" so I had no choice but to be dragged out here.

Bundled up in a camouflage jacket and black mittens, I quietly tried to write out my "200 Word Self Characterization" for my latest mission. At least this assignment would get my mind off the horrific ordeal I had been through. I uneasily glanced over at the forest. Just five clicks away from the Enemy Line (I was in the "Safe Zone") little action had been seen. That was generally a good thing. I sorely wished to go back to base. I was still mourning the lost of my best friend (who also happened to be the best navigator I've ever had). For the past hour since my initial landing I had repeatedly called out to God, asking him to send someone to help me; but nothing happened.

But what's this? I heard a noise coming through the woods towards my thicket from behind the Enemy Line. It could be the enemy trying to attack me, but why? I had just one helicopter and she wasn't feeling very well. My Lady Bird had suffered several 60mm rounds in her side; one in which penetrated the cockpit and killed my friend. Was the enemy coming to finish me off even though I was not in their territory? At any rate, whatever the source of the noise might be, I had to prepare for a fight.

Reaching into the cockpit, I swiped my sniper rifle I had been perfecting. I squeezed myself under the belly of my bird and peered through the scope into the woods. I saw a figure in an olive Air force gear dashing my way. I saw his name patch, "Burnett" and recognized the Navy markings on his gear. I sighed disappointedly to myself and wondered why God decided to send help via Navy.

I watched the Navy pilot pause briefly, studying my Apache, possibly looking for any signs of a trick. He then crossed through the knee deep grass towards my helicopter, always watching the woods and my bird. He seemed to not have a clue if anyone was here. Burnett came forward, hoarsely asking, "Is anyone here?"

I debated whether or not to answer him. I decided to answer him. Hell, I might even scare him too. I gave a loud, "Hoo-ah!" from my spot and watched with delight as he recoiled from my Apache. I crawled from my hiding spot and stood in front of the pilot. I surveyed Burnett with cynical eyes. I disliked hot shot Navy pilots who thought they were superior than Air Force pilots. This one matched the typical "Fly Boy" I expected from the Navy. Underneath his mask of mud, blood, fear, and exhaustion I could tell that the lanky pilot was cocky and arrogant. In my opinion, just him being in the Navy was enough to say "CONCEITED!" I hid my smile of amusement for momentarily startling the pilot.

The pilot stumbled against the tail end of Lady Bird and eyed me with surprise and quick dislike. I didn't care. He was a Navy boy. Why should he matter to me? There was an awkward pause as we both decided how to judge each other.

Finally, Burnett broke the silence, seeming to have gathered his senses while forcing a fatigued smile, "I'm Lieutenant Burnett."

I did not smile but I replied, "And I am Lieutenant Fallden of the United States Air Force." I puffed with certain Air Force pride at the mere mentioning of it. I wondered how "Fly Boy" would react.

Burnett seemed neither intimidated nor did even seem to care about what branch I belonged to. He seemed tired, shaken, and cold. His short, thick blonde hair was plastered to the top of his head as if he had just taken a quick swim in the Bosnian lake just east of my position. His deep blue eyes left me swimming in his own fears and horrors. Something was amiss. Why was he on the ground instead of in the air?

"Are you okay Lieutenant?" I addressed him respectfully, showing only a slight hint of actual concern.

Burnett nodded slowly, "Yes, I think so."

I raised my eyebrows in doubt. I gently told him, "Take a seat soldier and just relax." He followed my order without complaint. I continued, "Tell me why you're down on the ground instead of in the air."

Burnett sat in the grass and leaned against my bird. He began relating how he was on reconnaissance with his buddy Stackhouse when they flew into the Restricted Area and were shot down. Burnett related how Stackhouse was executed by the militants and how they were now after him. Then he explained how he fell into a muddy trench where he hid underneath dead bodies to escape his pursuers. And then Burnett told of how he fell into a creek as he tried to get away from the horror he had just witnessed to finally where he stumbled into my thicket.

I quietly and patiently listened to him. I could understand how discovering hundreds of bodies (who were executed the Serbian extremists) could be exceedingly upsetting. I too had discovered the mass graveyard and the desperate attempt to conceal the evidence by planting trees there a time ago. The images were still fresh in my mind.

I looked up from the ground and starred at Burnett. I guess I sort of felt sorry for the Navy pilot who had been shot down. Losing your buddy was tragic. I knew that as well. I continued to watch Burnett, still trying to find the "Fly Boy attitude" within him. As far as I knew, if he had any sort of big attitude, it was lost in his desolate face. I comfortingly put my hand on his shoulder. Burnett seemed more like a fellow companion rather than a notorious Navy hotshot.

From the distance I heard the sound of a large group of tanks mowing their way through the woods towards us. I rose to my feet as Burnett did. I gave a hollow laugh, "Well, I knew it was bound to happen."

I started to prepare for liftoff, tossing my "200 Word Characterization" assignment to the side.

Burnett asked me, "We're safe, aren't we?"

I laughed, "I hardly doubt it. I bet those boys don't care what treaties they break." I shook my head sadly at him. "I do not trust those tanks or the people with them. If you want a lift to the nearest Safe Zone you're more than," I swallowed my Air Force pride for a brief moment, "welcome to have a lift there. I don't know how much longer she'll hold though."

I glanced at Lady Bird and knew that our only ticket out was flying. A helicopter, I knew, was more different than flying a plane but just maybe, by some miracle, this Navy Lieutenant was a navigator. I inquired, "You're not a navigator by any chance are you?"

"I am," Burnett replied. He eyed my Apache with slight apprehension. "But I don't know how to fly an Apache."

I rolled my eyes. I thought, "Darn straight you don't! You fly one of those fighter jets!" To Burnett I said, "Climb into the first cockpit and don't touch anything!"

I watched Burnett climb into the First Pilot Seat before taking my position in the Shooter seat. Again I told him, "Touch nothing Lieutenant! Just read the screen and let me know if they're firing at us!"

"Yes Ma'am!" Burnett replied in a respectful tone.

I smiled in slight satisfaction. I then thought of the Serbians coming towards us. I knew that if those Yahoos dared to try and shoot my bird with their tanks I could probably use my own force and fire my M320 30mm Chain gun at the tanks. I doubt that the rounds would even pierce the tanks' tough hides but at least it'll leave the Serbs ducking.

I turned on my controls and with a sigh of relief; Lady Bird came to life with her gentle humming. The rotors began moving faster. I adorned my IHADSS (Integrated Helmet and Display Sight System) and advised Burnett to do the same. In the next moment just as the Serbian tanks were bursting out of the woods, we took to the air.

An immediate surge of happiness swept through me. It had been several days since I had heard my precious rêve to life. I was pleased none-of-the-less to hear her humming, but with long bursts of coughing as we ambled higher into the air. I heard the Bosnian soldiers opening fire upon us with their M16's but I knew those wouldn't have any real affect against my war bird. She was built tough and could withstand their petty machine gun fire.

Ten feet in the air. Fifteen feet in the air. I mumbled out loud to my bird, forgetting Burnett's presence, "Come on Lady Bird, just five more feet higher and we can really get moving. Come on girl, just a little higher."

Burnett informed me, "Twenty feet."

"Roger that good buddy," was my answer. I paused in thought, did I just call him "buddy?" I only say that to my friends! Shaking my head I bunted the joystick downwards, letting the nose of Lady Bird drop to a sixty-five degree angle before pulling her back up as she took off through the thicket. I smiled at the tanks below me, "Good riddance to bad rubbish."

It was then that I realized that I had left my "200 word Character Description" in the grass when I went into "Sniper mode" before I met Burnett. In disgust I cried out, "Aiya!"

Burnett inquired curiously, "What's the problem Lieutenant?"

I cried in frustration to Burnett, "I left my 200 word self characterization back in the thicket!" How could I forget something so important? My CO would be highly upset with my failure to accomplish my characterization

"I wouldn't worry about that right now," Burnett told me.

I knew he was right; although I never admitted it to him. There was nothing I could do about the assignment now. I'd just have to apologize to my CO. Still, that meant I had to rethink everything that I previously had written.

Just then, Burnett became frantic, interrupting my thoughts, "Missile, coming from behind us!"

I couldn't believe those Bosnian militants would actually shoot at my bird with missiles. But then I figured if they had enough guts to try and shoot her down with a 60mm machine gun, missile fire could be expected. But why were they firing at us from the Safe Zone? They were violating the U.N.'s peace treaty! I thought out loud, "Where the hell are we?"

Burnett replied quickly, "We just flew into Enemy territory."

I muttered the only curse I knew followed by, "Aiya." I swung Lady Bird downwards into a treeless gully before pulling her sharply into the air. Burnett kept me updated on the missiles progress and which direction I should head.

"Still behind us! Head left... now right. Dip down into the gully!"

I smiled in a deranged giddiness. Although I did despise Navy pilots and the Navy in general, I did enjoy Burnett being my second. I actually felt as if I had not lost my original navigator on my first crash landing in this God-forsaken country an hour prior.

I saw the gully Burnett was referring to and dived straight into it. I put on immediate brakes and waited for the missile to glide over head and smash into the rocks opposite of us. A second went by, then two. The missile went over head and aimed straight for the rocks opposite of us, just like I anticipated. Then it turned around, and aimed straight back at us. This sucker was not a regular SAM missile like I had previously thought. This was a HSSAM (Heat Seeking Surface to Air Missiles)!

The projectile struck us somewhere in the back as I pulled an immediate emergency flight into the sky. There was a loud bang and a lot of coughing. But then my bird began sounding better than she had before and we shot into the sky. I pulled her level and finally let out a breath of relief.

"How you doing Burnett?" I asked with air of concern.

"That was close," he replied. Then he laughed, "I didn't touch anything Fallden!"

I gave a silent, "haha."

"Are we badly hit?" Burnett inquired. "I heard it hit somewhere near the tail rotor."

"Lady's a tough ol' bird," I reassured him, more to myself, "She can withstand that missile even if it hit her in the tail rotor."

Just then Lady Bird began to cough and sputter. I heard Burnett inform me of smoke coming from the tail end of Lady. More coughing and sputtering. The engine began dying and the two rotors on top began to cease function.

"Don't start with me Lady," I ordered, trying to catch a glimpse of the altimeter. Lady ignored my order and increased volume in sputtering. "Don't start with me, don't. Come on Lady Bird, don't die on me now!"

It appeared that my poor bird wasn't going to listen to me. I whispered loudly, "Come on Lady Bird, don't do this to me! I need you Lady Bird! Come on!"

Ahead I saw a large patch of red and brown soil. A perfect site for a possible crash landing. Burnett announced to me, "The patch of flat land ahead is in the Safe Zone. If we crash here someone can come pick us up."

I slowed Lady down enough to keep us airborne but slow enough so the impact wasn't so great. I silently hoped the militants wouldn't follow the smoke trail Lady was leaving behind her. I began whispering silently, "Give us a soft landing Lady Bird. Pray for a soft landing ol' girl!"

The ground appeared closer and closer. Twenty feet. Fifteen feet. Lady Bird's rotors ceased their function at ten. Five feet. We belly flopped onto the hard soil and skidded for about twenty feet before finally coming to a rest. The initial impact on the soil sent my body forward but my seat buckle caught me just before I hit the dashboard. But, as luck would have it, the dashboard caught my left leg and I felt this sharp snap. Then I was thrown against the side of the helicopter as she began to slide and I felt some blood fall on my face.

I faintly whispered, "Lady Bird, we're dead together."

Then everything fell dark.



I woke shortly after to see that my canopy had been open and Lt. Burnett was calling my name and gently trying to awaken me. During my unconsciousness I thought I had died and was going to be reunited with my fallen friend. I thought of my friend, my bird, and I flying through the Iraqi deserts forever and ever. But not now. God did not want me yet. Burnett had come to tell me that. The pilot sighed in relief and began asking me questions. Unfortunately, I had trouble making out his exact words due to the constant pain in my right leg and the ringing in my ears. Finally I understood:

"Are you okay?" he kindly inquired.

I gave a soft cry of pain and mumbled, "I broke my right leg and it feels as if my left ear has been torn off."

I removed my IHADSS and asked, "Am I right?"

Burnett peered at my ear and replied, "No ma'am. You still have both ears." He gave me an odd smile.

I became aware of a constant beeping from the front of the plane; my radio. The damn thing came back to working order after I crashed for a second time! Why is it that equipment fails to work when you need it and after you've hit rock bottom they decide to work?

"Use the radio and give them our location," I told him. "There's one on your control panel."

Burnett went and picked up the radio and called in. I sighed, resting against the seat and closing my eyes. I heard Burnett saying, "Yes Sir. I ran into Lieutenant Fallden of the U.S. Air Force and she gave me a lift in her Apache helicopter but we were shot down. We were in the safe zone when we got hit Sir."

I couldn't hear the responses Burnett was getting from his CO but I could hear that the CO was not pleased about the Serbian attacks. I knew they weren't directed at either one of us though. A short bit later Burnett came and informed me, "They are fifteen minutes out."

"Thanks," I smiled weakly. I stared into his handsome blue eyes for awhile. I felt a calm that rested in his sea of kindness. I quickly averted my eyes to the low snow-covered hills not far away. I asked, "So what happened with the pictures you took of the mass graveyard?"

Burnett pointed to the snowy hill just a bit away and replied, "Up there in the cockpit seat. That's where Stackhouse and I crashed."

"We'll need evidence to prove that the Serbian extremists are doing genocide up here. Those are military crimes you know."

"I know about military crimes," Burnett replied hotly. He glanced over at the hill, debating whether or not to retrieve the photos. "I would go and get them but I don't want to leave you here by yourself."

"I'm an Air Force pilot," I told him. "I can take care of myself."

He eyed me doubtfully. I continued, "I'm ordering you to go up there and retrieve those photos. Leave me here and go get those pictures! Your fellow comrades will be here shortly and I'm sure by the time they get here this place will be combing with hostile Serbian forces."

Still Burnett looked reluctant to go. He told me, "The last time I left my buddy he was executed."

Frustrated, I replied, "Well, I'm not your buddy so don't feel bad if I get shot."

"Soldiers look after one another," Burnett insisted. He wasn't a coward nor was he afraid of going. But did Burnett genuinely care about my safety?

"Yes, and soldiers protect citizens," I hissed. Then I softened. I didn't mean to take my pain and aggravation out on him. I told him, "Don't be a damn Navy 'Fly Boy'. I'm fine here." My eyes met his. "You're not going to be gone long and I sure can't move anywhere. Go now!"

He held me in his captive eyes for a bit, still deciding. Then without another word he began jogging up to the hill. I lost sight of him when he reached the top and disappeared. For the first time since I had landed in the thicket I became afraid. I had grown used to the "Fly Boy." I feared for him. The hill was beyond the safety of this strip of land. What if the Serbian extremist found him up there? What if they executed him like they did to his buddy Stackhouse? I began to reflect the consideration that Burnett had shown me and my fear worsened; so did the pain in my leg. As I fought my growing anxiety I succumbed to a deep sleep.



I awoke to a brutal slap across the face. I opened my eyes and faced an unshaven man dressed in navy blue Adidas jogging gear. Who was this creep in front of me? Why was he addressing me in a language I didn't understand and why the hell was he pointing a rifle at my head?

Before I could answer any of my questions I was dragged out of my seat. I couldn't quite figure out how "Adidas man" had gotten me out of the helicopter but I knew he wasn't gentle.

"Adidas man" flung me against the hull of my beloved Apache and began questioning me in English. He asked who I was, what I was doing, and if I knew a U.S. Navy pilot by the name of Lieutenant Burnett. I told him nothing. I gave him a dark piercing glare. "Adidas Man" pointed his rifle at me and asked the same questions again.

This time I told him my name and rank, stating that his buddies had illegally shot me down over Safe territory. Wrong answer. "Adidas Man" laughed and told me that no one would know of my death. He aimed the barrel at my forehead. I closed my eyes. My time had come. God wanted me now. I was going to him.

Just then there was scuffling. Shots were fired; my eyes kept shut. Death was coming. But why did death wait? Why were there cries and more angry yells? Why did I hear an ensemble helicopters coming my way? Was death always confusing? I felt hands on my shoulders, gently shaking me and calling my name. I opened my eyes and saw Burnett kneeling in front of me. I gazed gratefully up at him. God didn't want me just yet and once again he had sent Burnett to tell me so. I thought I'd never be so happy to see this Navy pilot again.

Burnett helped me to my one good leg as the helicopters began landing. I noticed the Marines markings on the helicopters and sighed in relief. As Burnett let me lean against his shoulder I realized that he had saved me from my death and for that I was grateful. He was only human with human emotions. More emotion than I ever had; more human than I was. He was a soldier who knew no differences between the branches of the military nor used them against anyone. I had misjudged this pilot and all the pilots before him. I leaned on my good foot and faced him.

Under trembling pain I thanked him, "Thank you for saving me Lieutenant Burnett."

"Please, just call me Chris," he smiled warmly.

"You can call me Teri," I replied with an equally warm smile. I sighed as I tried not to go into shock from the previous events. I faltered; Chris caught me and held me upright in his arms. I laid my head against his shoulder and sighed again. I whispered, "Thank you for saving me. Both times."

"What do you mean?'

"Well, for saving me from 'Adidas Man' and also for rescuing me out of that hell hole of a thicket," I replied. He laughed. It was a kind laugh.

"So what are you going to do about a new Apache?"

I sighed, "The Army will probably assign me another one."

"What'll you call her? Lady Bird II?"

I laughed softly. I asked, "What was the name of your ship Chris?"

"The U.S.S. Carl Vinson, why?"

"I think I'll name my next bird The Carolina Vixen," I replied. The name sounded catchy all right , even if the name didn't match correctly.

The medics reached us and laid me upon a stretcher on the ground. Some checked out Chris while three squads continued on course to secure the area. Chris knelt next to me as I asked him, "So what is 'Fly Boy' going to do back on the carrier?"

"Find a new wingman, eat some Jell-O, and continue serving my country in the way befitting a Navy Officer," he replied in a mock "Admiral" voice.

I smiled at him. There was hope yet that one day the Navy and Air Force wouldn't bicker as much as it presently did. As for the present, there were two pilots who would never bicker with each other again nor would a particular Air Force pilot, me, ever complain or mock the Navy ever more.

I groaned as the two medics picked up my stretcher and began carting me to the awaiting helicopter. The moron privates managed to step nicely on the smooth soil but jostle me around on the rocky terrain. I grumbled agitatedly to them, "Private, if you drop me it will be the end of life as you have come to know it! Do you understand me?"

"Yes Ma'am!" came the response. I smiled, satisfied. I heard a soft laugh. It was Burnett, and he was smiling at me from the door of his helicopter.

He said, "You have a good flight Lieutenant Teri Fallden."

"You too Lieutenant Chris Burnett," I replied. He gave me a thumbs-up. I returned it. Then he disappeared into the helicopter. Then I too was inside the safety of the helicopter. The door shut and we lifted off into the air. Away from this divided country.



I never saw Lt. Chris Burnett again. But I would always remember the Fly Boy's kindness he showed to me and how he had made me realize that I was wrong in judging people solely by what branch of the military he/she served for. So long, farewell. God had answered my prayers. Au revoir to God's angel who had brought me back to life. So long to the past. Hmmm…so long for that 200 Word Character description . . . aiya!

***

NOTE: It has come to my attention that in fact the Army and the Marines fly the Apache helicopters, not the Air Force. I decided to keep the Air Force to only provide for story content. In the future though there will be absolutely NO mentioning of Air Force flying Apache helicopters. ~P.S. Thanks Daddy for pointing that fact out to me!~




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