Jehovah

Chapter Nine

Josie woke when Connor turned on her bedside lamp. She peeked out at the clock on the nightstand and saw that it was five a.m. She mumbled something about it being too early as Connor brushed the hair away from her eyes.

"Good morning, Doc."

"What's good about it exactly?"

"Time to get back in the game, so get dressed. Your gear is waiting for you downstairs."

Connor took her hand and hauled her out of bed. Josie walked into the bathroom and took a quick shower. When she stepped out of the shower, she saw that Connor had laid some clothes on the edge of the tub for her: black cargo pants, a tan t-shirt, and her black boots. Josie smirked at the thought that he knew her well enough to know what she would want to wear. Granted there was not a lot of variety in her wardrobe, but it is the thought that counts Josie thought to herself as she hurried into her clothes. Josie threw her wet hair back into a French braid so her helmet would fit, packed her remaining odds and ends, and headed downstairs to gear up. She found the team gathered in the living room putting on their own tactical gear. Michael walked over and took her bags.

"Mornin, Doc," he said with a smile. He pointed to her gear laying on the sofa and carried her bags out the door to the waiting Humvee. Josie walked over to the couch and started to gear up. She was tightening the straps on her holsters when Connor walked up beside her, holding her vest and helmet. Josie looked at them oddly, because they were different than the ones she wore the week before but smaller.

"Mossad apparently has made some improvements on tactical gear. This stuff is half the weight of ours but still has the same stopping power. We thought that this might be easier on you since you're still healing, plus it will let you move quicker."

"And it has the same stopping power," Josie asked Alexi as he walked over.

"It does. We've been testing them for two years and haven't had problems yet."

"Cool."

Connor handed the flack vest to Josie who threw it over her head and fastened the straps. It was significantly lighter than her last one, but still provided the same amount of body mass coverage. Connor turned her around and fasted her other holster to the small of her back and slid one of the Glocks into it. Josie put the other one into the holster on her hip before putting her head and arm through her M4 sling. Connor walked around in front of her and gently placed her Kevlar helmet on her head and fastened the chin strap. Both men stepped back with an approving look on their collective faces.

"Are you sure I need all of this?"

"Full battle rattle applies to you as well, Doc."

"She looks ready to rock. Oh wait, you forgot these," Alexi said as he handed her two throwing knives. Josie tucked them into their sheaths, one at her hip and another on her chest. She pulled on her fingerless gloves and looked up to find the team all looking at her.

"You look ready to kick some ass. It's a good look for ya, Doc," Michael said, and the entire group laughed.

Josie smiled, knowing she probably looked ridiculous in all this gear given her small frame. Connor looked around at the team, silently checking to make sure they were ready to go, before yelling 'load up' and leading everyone out of the house. They quickly got into the convoy and started the long drive from Haifa to Paran. Josie was sitting in the middle of the back seat, and before too long, her head was nodding to the side. Connor shifted so her head would rest on his shoulder, but he also caught the concerned look in Alexi's eyes.