GATE (Thus the JSDF fought there): Breakthrough

Bonus Chapter 2

Bullets whizz overhead as the sounds of AKs and RPGs could be heard in the distance, Jackson and his team had gotten pinned down in a ditch, with nowhere to go... all they could hope for was that air support make it in time.

"Hold right! Keep them pinned!" Jackson shouted as he dragged a team member into the ditch, quickly taking off his plate carrier and assessing his wounds.

"I got you buddy, deep breaths for me." Jackson kept the pressure on his wound as he kept his head down from the bullets flying overhead.

"Jackson! We can't stay here! We need to move!" Another one of his team members yells, grabbing his shoulder "Jackson!"

"Jackson!" Delilah's voice snapped Jackson out of his supposed trance, the silence from within the restaurant was enough to have his mind linger.

After the closing of the gate, Tyulle and another JSDF soldier started a restaurant in Japan. Despite her regard for the Bunny Warrior queen, Delilah eventually made up with Tyulle and offered to help the restaurant as the server manager.

Jackson had been stationed in Japan with the help of General Barkley. He was permitted to travel off base to stay with Delilah, only needing to check in at the base every Saturday and be ready at a 24-hour notice in case the gate reopens.

"Huh? Oh-" Jackson shook his head, looking to his right and at Delilah but failing to make eye contact with her.

Delilah gave a hefty sigh, the plate of Omurice had been left there for 5 minutes and he hadn't taken a single bite. She knew his mind drifted off a lot, the two had been dating for two years now and it was common for him to have night terrors. "Your mind drifted off again."

"N- No it's nothing, just zoned out for a few seconds... shouldn't you be serving?" Jackson avoided her gaze as he fidgeted with his hand slightly, clearing his throat and adjusting his seating in the booth.

"Don't tell me how to do my job." Delilah spoke back before sighing, her anger almost getting the best of her before she gently put her hand under Jackson's chin and gently pulled his head to face her. "Everyone else already left, what's wrong?"

Jackson gently moved her hand away with a sigh, moving over for her to sit down next to him. "I'm fine, my mind just drifted off to a firefight a few years back when I was a Sergeant."

"Same firefight as what you told me before?" Delilah took a seat next to Jackson, holding his hand as she slid the plate of Omurice to him. "The food is gonna get cold."

Jackson stared at the plate of food for a second before endlessly staring at the Omurice once again, he always hated the silence, sitting there and doing nothing with just your mind, it was enough to kill a man.

Delilah guessed this was just one of those days for Jackson, he had them a few times every month. Sometimes he woke up sweating bullets, another time he just stared at the TV while he waited for her to get dressed for a date. The two still loved each other through all of it, but it was this obstacle that Delilah knew why Jackson didn't propose to her, or maybe it was because he had one year left on his contract.

"I'll eat soon, just need to get my mind wrapped up." Jackson sighed, trying not to give too much information on how he felt, and just tried to get some space.

"Alright then. How about this." Delilah got Jackson's attention as she moved his hand to his side, looking around to make sure no customers had silently entered the restaurant. She straddled her legs on Jackson, sitting on his lap and willingly teasing the medic. "How about after my shift is done, we'll go for a walk and get some ramen?"

Jackson had been taken by surprise, Delilah often poked fun at him in public and while it was a bit embarrassing he didn't mind it too much, it was just her way of showing love. But still, the tactic she used always varied but always seemed to work against him, blood flowed to his cheeks as he tried to form a sentence. "Delilah- not-"