Rachel had first met Jack when she was fifteen and he was twenty-eight. He had been so handsome in his dress uniform that she had fallen in love with him at first sight. Her father had a habit taking young Doctors that showed promise under his wing and guiding their progress. Colonel Edwards had been very taken with Jack from the word go, and Rachel could remember hearing him say that if he had had a son he would have wanted him to be like Jack.
He could not have been more proud when Jack made Major.
Surprisingly, Rachel was never jealous of Jack, she was as smitten with him as her father was. He was simply the one, and she had never tried to hide it from either her father or Jack, but almost thirteen years was a big age difference, and eventually she realized, as she watched Jack bring different girlfriends to dinners and parties, that she was hoping in vain.
When it came time for her to go away to college she had been relieved, and had chosen a college on the other side of the country in hopes that the distance would make her heart less fond. Her father had never shown disappointment at her choice to become a nurse even though she knew he had hoped she would follow his lead and become a Doctor, but Rachel had watched the hardship that her father's chosen profession had caused her mother, and she had decided that if she ever married and had a family that she would want to spend more time with them than being a Doctor would allow.
The five years that followed, while she was at school, were hard for her. She missed her father who had been her best friend after her mother's death. She would go home for as many visits as she could, but Jack had been sent overseas shortly after she had left, and he did back to back tours that kept him away for long periods of time.
She could still remember the first time she had seen him after her graduation and her return home. It had been for her father's sixty-fifth birthday party. She had changed a lot in the five years she had been away. Twenty-three seemed a long way from eighteen.
Rachel had been sitting next to her father watching Jack in the mirror, so he hadn't noticed her. Taking her time to study him she realized that he had only grown more handsome and at thirty-five, he wore his experience well. He had a beautiful redhead on his arm, and she looked like the cat that had gotten the cream as she circulated through the room with him. She watched as Jack made a beeline for her father eager to wish him a happy birthday, and Rachel couldn't take her eyes off of him, he was dazzling. The redhead spotted her before he did, and her eyes narrowed as Rachel slowly stood.
She had taken great pains with her appearance. The dress she was wearing was vintage 1940s chiffon in emerald green that matched her eyes. It was strapless with a heart shaped bodice that made the most of her new curves and stopped just below the knee, and she had chosen a pair of killer high heels to accent her legs and make her taller. Her thick chestnut hair had been pulled back into a chignon so that she could show off her long neck and small shoulders.
Her whole body was trembling as he approached and her heart was racing, the five years and long distance had not made her feelings change.
"Jack," her father greeted him with a handshake as he rose from his seat. "When did you get back?"
"This morning, and I couldn't miss this party."
Colonel Edwards had been in Washington D.C. forever, was highly regarded, and had very powerful contacts that had taken him years to cultivate, and to Rachel they were all just family friends because she had never thought of her father as the powerful man that he was.
"Look Rachel, Jack's back." Her father turned and motioned for her to join him.
Jack's head turned, noticing Rachel for the first time. His eyes met hers then slowly traveled the length of her making her heart leap. She swore she saw something more than just friendship in his look, but she wasn't sure if it was wishful thinking or not.
"Rachel?" his eyes did another sweep before he looked at her father then back at her.
"My little girl is all grown up." Rachel heard the pride in her father's voice.
Jack gave his heartbreaking crooked grin then pulled Rachel to him for a quick kiss in greeting.
It must have been quick because no one looked on as if something odd had just happened, but for Rachel it felt as if time had stood still. She felt his hand grab her waist and pull her towards him. She watched as his shocking blue eyes crinkled at the corners as they got closer, she noticed the stubble on his jaw, the dimple on his cheek, and she could even smell him as her hands went to his shoulders.
Then his lips were on hers and she stopped breathing and her heart stopped beating. His lips were warm and surprisingly soft. Then, before she knew what had happened, he had pulled away.
Rachel swore she caught a confused expression before it was quickly masked and he brought the redhead forward.
Rachel didn't remember much else after that because with just that one little kiss her whole world had tilted on its axis and she was hopelessly in over her head.
*******
Rachel was jolted from her reverie by the sound of foot steps behind her.
"Ray?" Jack was suddenly standing beside her as if she had conjured him from the dark.
She looked at him. How could she do it? It had just about killed her last time. How would she be able to see him every day, loving him the way she did, and knowing that he didn't return that love? She was just about to voice that very thought, still a little lost in her memories, when there was a shout and sounds of someone running from the jungle behind them.
Instantly on alert, Jack stepped in front of her, but what was coming at them wasn't a threat but a medical emergency. The man coming from the road was shouting in French. Rachel looked at Jack to see if he understood and he obviously did as he sprang into action. There was no need for her to translate.
"A bush taxi had overturned a mile up the road, there are serious injuries, and they need help now," Jack said before he raced towards the medical building where he disappeared.
Rachel approached the man telling him that they were getting additional help and supplies, and would be on their way shortly.
When Jack returned he took a moment to watch her as she conversed with the man. He had brought Dr. Lancaster and another nurse named Sally with him and when a jeep and a large van pulled around front they jumped in quickly then Jack drove the jeep towards her. "Get in."
She jumped in the jeep with the African man not asking any questions and held on tight as the they peeled out of the yard. It took them only minutes to reach the accident and the scene that greeted them was terrifying. The minivan, that had been full of people, with a high likelihood that some may have been on top, had overturned.
Rachel raced out of the jeep and immediately headed for those that were the furthest from the van, checking to make sure no one had life threatening injuries while the other three headed for the accident.
"Nurse Edwards!" Dr. Lancaster called out to her.
Rachel patted the lady she had been helping while giving her a word of assurance before she hurried over to where Lancaster was waiting at the van.
"Translate," she ordered.
The next hour was spent in a blur as Rachel ran from patient to patient making sure that every patient was understood if needed. By the time they made it back to the compound word had gotten out about the accident and there were people all over the place taking care of the injured.
Sally and Dr. Lancaster had ridden ahead with other patients, so she and Jack returned together in the jeep with a few of the minor wounded in the back.
"Be sure you check yourself for scratches. There was a lot of blood, and if you think that there is even a chance that you were exposed to anything let me know."
Rachel nodded silently.
"Where did you learn French?" he asked, looking at her oddly.
"My mother was half French, and she used to take me to my grandparent's house in France every summer when I was little. How about you?"
During the past few hours she had learned that Jack's French was faultless as well.
"I picked it up along the way. Can you read and write it as well?"
Rachel nodded and then was surprised at his sudden outburst. "How the hell did I not know that about you, Ray?"
"Perhaps it was because it was always about father when we were together," she said softly.
"No, not always," he said just as softly, and they both remained quiet until their arrival at the compound where he parked the jeep and left her so he could attend to the patients that needed him still. She watched for a moment as he hurried into the medical building and she wondered what would have happened if that man hadn't made his appearance when he had. Would she had said what she was thinking? How would he have reacted?
She let herself dream for a moment that he would welcome her declaration of love, say he felt the same way, and sweep her into his arms. "That's the same fantasy you had when you were fifteen," she chastised herself. "You haven't grown up at all you're still that same awkward teenager who wants nothing more than for the handsome Jack Cooper to notice you."
She gave a weary sigh as she turned to her patients. One thing was for sure. She knew they would be up the rest of the night taking care of the wounded, and she was right, but by the time she had showered and fallen into bed she was too tired to think and fell into a deep sleep.