Kaylor: Her

Chapter 1

6 years ago: New York: June 13th 2011

Ironic.

That was the appropriate word to describe this scene.

The soldier had been shot right in the arm. That's what she gets for playing the Good Samaritan even when she's on a leave. Karlie stared at the hole where the bullet was nested and she couldn't help but laugh at the irony of the situation. Indeed she had just spent two whole and tough years in Iraq, running on the battlefield and barely avoiding the mortal gifts sent by their enemies' machine gun. However, she had succeeded in obtaining her first leave and that's why she was currently in a dead end of New York, at the back of a closed crappy bar.

She shredded the bottom of her white shirt, using it to make a temporary bandage for the fresh wound.

The tall and strong woman slowly shook her head, her lips beginning to form a smirk on her exhausted and annoyed face.

"Oh man, make your last prayers. You do realize that you're going to regret what you just did, don't you?"

The man shakily tried to reload the gun, conveying his sudden lack of confidence to his opponent. He threw his useless gun on the gravel with a horrified look and desperately glanced around like a lost puppy to find another weapon.

His eyes settled on a long steel bar, however, before he could even put his dirty hands on it, the soldier threw a punch on his nose, allowing them to hear a loud crack. She continued with a kick to his chin, making him stumble backward until his body crashed on the ground with a long groan.

"What's wrong with you, boys? Why don't you get that a freaking 'No' is a firm 'No'." She sighed and took a look at her bruised hand. "If I ever see you one more time, you're a dead man."

She turned on her heels, casually but confidently walking to her black Icon Sheene and rode to the nearby hospital.

She walked through the sliding doors as the harsh pain began to make her shiver and stopped in front of a woman, sat behind her desk.

Karlie cleared her throat before she spoke.

"I might need some help, ma'am."

"Just like everyone else in this hospital, Miss." The woman replied coldly. Then, she grabbed a form and gave it to the hurt soldier. The employee handed her a pen and pointed in the direction of the waiting room with a condescending look and a quirked eyebrow. The ringtone of the woman's phone broke their short exchange and without a second thought, she answered.

"I don't think it is very wise to make me wait here, Ma'am." Karlie stated, annoyed by the rude woman.

"Go fill your form or else, you won't get a consult." She rolled her eyes and continued to speak with the person at the other end of the line. "Yes, I know! I think I'm gonna die, Janet! This job is way too hard..."

It was Karlie's turn to roll her eyes as she walked to a chair and sat next to a mother and her daughter who displayed an endearing scene. The mother was gently wiping the tears off her daughter's face with her thumbs and then, she softly placed a kiss at the root of her hair. The scene made Karlie's tense features soften. She looked down at the bandage soaked with blood and shrugged. It could wait after all, she thought.

She shook her head and focused her eyes of the form. Or at least she tried until she began to feel dizzy and her view began to be obstructed by tiny black dots. She dropped the pen she had between her index and thumb and felt herself slide until she hit the floor.

*****

Taylor put her white blouse on and walked to the main desk, checking the consults that had to be done, on her iPad. She put the object down and grabbed the hot cup of coffee a nurse had bought for the staff.