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From: "Bill Morgan" <morg105829@hotmail.com>
Subject: {Morgan} Susan Jennings 2 of 7 M/F Rom
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Author's note: If you are looking for wall-to-wall sex, look elsewhere. 
This book is a romance with a military setting. Beyond that, the sex is 
comparable to - or less than - what one would find in almost any work of 
popular fiction.

Permission is granted to post on any free site, as long as the copyright 
statement is included. Please advise the author of any such postings.

This story - or novella - was posted earlier in the year. Subsequently 
I've learned more about posting in the interest of downloading and 
readability. This is Chapter 2 of 7.

Comments are welcome and encouraged. Please address me at 
morg105829@aol.com.

Susan Jennings

Copyright by Morgan 1992, 1998; All rights reserved.

Chapter 2

Rick Jackson was passing his secretary's desk when he heard her say, 
"I'm sorry, Miss Jennings.  Mr. Jackson is not taking your calls..."

He stopped short and screamed, "Don't let that person hang up!  Is that 
Susan Jennings?"

"Yes it is," Annette Richardson replied in a bored tone of voice.  "The 
silly thing has been calling for weeks.  All she says is that she knew 
you in Vietnam, but she would not tell me what she wanted to speak to 
you about.  I told her you had no interest in talking with her."

"You're fired!" Rick exploded.  "Collect your pay and get out of here 
now!  And if you lose the girl on the end of that line, I'll not be 
responsible for your safety.  Am I making myself clear!?" he screamed.

Miss Richardson was stunned.  Holding the receiver in her now-shaking 
hand she said, "Miss Jennings, Mr. Jackson will take your call.  Please 
do not hang up!"  She uttered a small prayer with the last words.

Before she had finished speaking, Rick, who had dashed into his office 
and picked up the phone, was on the line.  "Sue, is it really you?  
Where are you?"

The voice at the other end of the line sounded tired and defeated.  
Speaking as if by rote she said, "Mr. Jackson, I don't think you 
remember me, but we met in Vietnam.  Would it be possible for me to make 
an appointment to see you someday?  Miss Richardson has already told me 
how very busy you are..."

"Susan, my darling, where are you?" Rick interrupted.  He had remembered 
her voice instantly even though it had been over four years.  But 
something was very wrong.  It was almost as if she did not hear a word 
he said.  Susan sounded like she was reciting memorized lines.

"I'm... I'm downstairs at a pay phone..."  Just then Rick heard the 
characteristic sound of the pay phone collecting its initial deposit.

Before the connection was broken Rick yelled into the receiver, "Susan, 
I'm on the fortieth floor.  Please come up immediately.  Please!"  The 
connection clicked off and he did not know if she had heard him or not.

Rick immediately called the reception desk on the floor.  Although he 
didn't even know the receptionist's name, he did know she was like 
Cerberus at the gate.  No one ever got past her.  She answered his 
direct line instantly, "Yes, Mr. Jackson, how may I help you?"

"A Miss Susan Jennings is on her way up to see me.  First, you are to 
escort her in to me personally regardless of how she may look.  Second, 
call security downstairs immediately.  Alert them to Miss Jennings' 
presence.  Have them bring her up here if, by some chance, she did not 
hear my invitation."

After taking a deep breath he continued, "Miss Richardson has just been 
fired.  She has been screening Miss Jennings away from me for weeks.  
There is nothing more important to me than seeing that girl again!  Am I 
clear!?"  He could hear the receptionist swallowing very hard and then 
saying that he was being very clear indeed.  Then he called Personnel - 
Human Resources, these days, he thought with a grimace - and told them 
to send up a new secretary for him immediately.  He also informed the 
director that Annette Richardson had been fired for cause: gross 
misconduct.  He slammed down the phone again as the receptionist 
escorted a girl into his office.

Rick's heart did a somersault.  He met Susan at the office door, thanked 
the receptionist and told her that he was not to be disturbed under any 
circumstances.  Meanwhile Susan was just standing at the threshold 
looking bewildered.  When he finally focused on the girl, he was 
shocked.  Although it had been over four years, she looked little better 
than she had in Vietnam.  Her clothes were rags.  As he looked at her he 
couldn't even talk.  All he did was gather her into his arms and hold 
her tightly.  As he did he realized how frail her body still was.  It 
felt like he was embracing a skeleton.  Still he tilted her chin up and 
kissed her gently.  At least it was supposed to be gentle.  Instead, the 
instant their lips made contact he again felt the same incredible 
electricity flowing between them.

Releasing her finally, he helped her over to the sofa and then picked up 
his phone.  A girl answered when he buzzed his secretary's line.  He 
told her to have his car brought around immediately and to cancel all of 
his engagements until further notice.

As he was speaking to the woman, he saw Susan slump over on the sofa.  
Gathering her up in his arms - she was now unconscious - he carried her 
out to the elevator.  He was only dimly aware of the shocked looks in 
his direction coming from company employees to whom he had always been 
the soul of propriety.  Here he was now carrying a ragamuffin - a 
homeless woman of the streets - in his arms.  When his private elevator 
reached the basement garage his limousine was at the door waiting.  
After gently putting Susan into the back seat, he told his chauffeur to 
take him back to his apartment as fast as possible.

As the big car started to move, Rick picked up a car phone and called 
his private physician, Tony Burke.  When the doctor was on the line he 
said, "Tony, it's Rick.  I'm on my way to my apartment and unless you're 
in the middle of open-heart surgery I need you right away.  Can you 
come?"  Tony was hearing a tone of concern in Rick's voice that he had 
never heard before.  Sensing that something was very wrong he said he 
would be right over.  After canceling the rest of his morning 
appointments he ran out to his car.

When Rick and Susan reached the apartment, he carried her to the bedroom 
and gently lay her on the bed.  As he did, he was again astonished at 
how little she weighed.  She was as light as a feather and apparently 
not much heavier than she had been after starving herself in the POW 
camp.  He could not understand it.

As he began to strip off her clothes he found that she was wearing next 
to nothing.  There was a ratty coat, a worn dress several sizes too 
large - and nothing else!  There were no underwear nor shoes.  Her bare 
feet were filthy from walking the Los Angeles streets.  From the 
callouses on them it was apparent she had been doing it for some time.  
Both garments appeared to be Salvation Army rejects.

After disposing of the clothing remnants, Rick went into the bathroom 
and ran the tub.  As it filled he had his first chance to look at the 
girl he loved - and he was appalled.  The scars on her body from the 
whipping were still prominent.  But now, in addition, he saw signs of at 
least three bullet wounds in her right shoulder displaying the 
characteristic inward pucker.

After checking the temperature of the water he carefully carried her 
into the bathroom and gently lowered her into the water.  The contact 
with the water caused Susan to begin to revive.  He held her as her eyes 
blinked open and she asked softly, "Where am I?" as if being naked in a 
bathtub was an everyday occurrence.

"You're in my apartment, Susan Jennings," Rick said softly.  "I'm Rick 
Jackson.  Do you remember me?"

Instead of immediately answering, she just held out her arms to him.  
Kneeling on the floor he again held her close and softly kissed her.  
Again he felt the same electricity but now that she had regained 
awareness, it had far more power than it did earlier.  After feeling her 
lips move on his he could hear a warm murmur from deep in her body.  
"How could I possibly forget?" she replied softly.

"Do you feel better?  Would you like to wash your hair?"  Rick was 
beside himself, not knowing what to do.  "I'm pretty sure I have some 
woman's shampoo and stuff," he added.  "I was going to try to do it for 
you, but I'm sure I'm even worse at washing a woman's hair than I am at 
cleaning out cuts.  Would you like to try yourself?  Can you?  Are you 
strong enough?"

"Thank you so much!" she exclaimed.  "It has been *so* long.  But I'm 
sure I'll be able to do it."

After getting the shampoo and conditioner Rick started draining the tub 
and then turned on the shower.  When she began to wash her hair he left 
the bathroom but listened carefully at the door fearing she might faint 
again.  He heard the shower shut off and the hair dryer start when the 
doorbell rang.  It was Tony.  Rick quickly briefed him on what little he 
knew of Susan's background and then took him into the bedroom.  As they 
entered Susan was just emerging from the bathroom wearing a terry robe 
that had been hanging behind the door.

"Susan," Rick said brightly, "I would like you to meet Tony Burke.  Tony 
is my personal physician and I asked him to come over to examine you.  
Will you permit him to?"  Sue just looked at him in a strange way, let 
the robe drop to the floor and then stood up straight with her arms at 
her sides.

Tony took one look at the revealed body and pulled the covers back from 
the bed.  "Get in here, young lady," he ordered.  "Now!"

Susan was startled by the tone of his voice but instantly obeyed.  Lying 
on the bed, she looked up at Rick sorrowfully.  He didn't understand the 
significance of the look she was giving him.  What she was trying to 
communicate was that it wasn't her idea to dirty his beautiful bed.

Tony gave her a thorough examination, inspecting her body very 
carefully.  Then he asked her to roll over on her stomach because of 
what he had learned from Rick about her scars.  The five on her back 
were nearly as prominent as those across the front of her body.  Susan's 
skin color was shocking.  She appeared jaundiced and was sickly pale.  
After completing his examination he made sure the drapes were drawn to 
darken the room.  After pulling the covers up over her shoulders they 
withdrew from the room quietly closing the door behind them.

Sitting in the library, Tony just shook his head and said, "Rick, never 
in my professional career have I seen a girl in as bad shape as she is.  
She is suffering from dangerous malnutrition.  She has wasted away to 
just skin and bones."  Looking at his friend he said, "Rick, I have 
never seen you react like this in my life - to anything.  You really 
care about her, don't you?"

"Tony, I wouldn't be alive if it weren't for that girl.  She saved my 
life - twice!  And in less than three weeks.  I have never met a finer 
human being in my life."  Rick paused and then continued in a very quiet 
and near-reverent tone, "And I love her more than life itself!"

"Ah, hah!  A mystery solved.  Rick, you've done nothing much the last 
few years except make money - in enormous piles!  I have never seen you 
socialize - ever.  And you sure as hell aren't gay.  What happened?"

"Tony, I was shot up in Vietnam.  You know that.  You've seen the scars.  
What do you think of my leg?"

"A competent surgeon extracted the bullet.  It's no big deal for a 
modern hospital.  But why do you ask?"

"Because she's the competent surgeon and the 'hospital' was a cave in 
the jungle.  She operated by lantern light, while running a burning 
fever and weighing about ten pounds less than she does now."  Shaking 
his head, Rick continued, "You see those scars across her body?  They 
were open wounds that day.  The one across her breast was nearly half an 
inch deep.  And she operated by herself.  There was no one there except 
the two of us.  She is a Navy nurse.  Then beginning the next day she 
started to play Amazon.  I was the commander of a Marine Ranger unit.  
But I just watched while she set demolition charges and land mines while 
being in even worse physical condition than you see now.

"After I took a mortar hit, my men tell me she absolutely went berserk!  
Although she took three bullets, she absolutely wiped out the attacking 
enemy force.  My men counted seventy-seven dead, but that's incomplete.  
My sergeant carried her out along with me.  I was still unconscious when 
I was evacuated back to Pearl Harbor.  That was the last time I saw her 
until today."

He looked intently into Tony Burke's eyes, seeming to force the man to 
understand.  "Seventy-seven enemy makes Sergeant York look like a piker.  
Do you understand, Tony?"

"I understand," the doctor replied softly.  "Look, Rick, there's a guy I 
want to get on her case.  His name is Mike Chapman.  He's the finest 
plastic surgeon in the world.  I want him to operate on those scars."

Then Tony looked puzzled.  "There's one thing I don't understand, 
though:  Those wounds are from enemy action and our military people are 
very good at treating that sort of thing.  Rick, I don't think she was 
ever treated.  In fact, from the way she moves, I wouldn't be surprised 
if she's still carrying some enemy metal in her body.  Whatever 
happened?"

Rick just shook his head and said, "That's the problem, Tony.  I don't 
know!  I've been thinking of her every waking moment for years, hoping 
against hope that she was still alive.  This morning I fired my 
secretary.  She had been told repeatedly that I wanted to see or talk 
with anyone from Vietnam in hopes of getting some word about Susan.

"Apparently I didn't make myself too clear because this morning, 
entirely by accident, I find out that Susan herself has been trying to 
reach me for weeks but that idiot secretary was intercepting her calls."

He just shook his head and then continued, "I think I know Mike Chapman.  
I'll call him.  But what about right now?  What should we do?"

Tony checked the phone book for a number, placed a call, ordered, gave 
Rick's address and hung up.  When Rick looked at him quizzically, he 
grinned and shrugged.  "Rick, aside from surgery to handle the scars and 
the apparent slugs, Susan needs to be built up.  I just ordered a gallon 
of Jewish penicillin, otherwise known as chicken soup with matzo balls."  
He shook his head and added, "And you know what?  I was reading an 
article a short time ago that reported researchers have found 
significant medicinal properties in the stuff!  Anyway, it can't hurt 
and will probably help.  That girl needs to regain her strength before 
anything else can happen."

Tony's face became serious as he continued, "Rick, can you leave Susan 
alone for a while?  The operations on those scars are going to be very 
time-consuming and painful.  Beyond that, though, she'll look a lot 
worse before she looks any better.  What I'm suggesting is that you get 
her on her feet and then leave her alone for a while - possibly as long 
as a year.  Could you do that?"

Rick looked crushed.  "My God, Tony!  I've lost her for over four years 
already.  I don't even know where she's been.  Why do I have to leave 
her now?  She's going to need care.  You said so yourself."

Tony looked very unhappy with what he had to say.  "Rick, I'm assuming 
you're in love with her and she's in love with you.  It's obvious that 
she has no regard for herself at all.  She acts like her body is a trash 
can.  I think it would be much better if you could stay away until she's 
back together.  I think she wants to be physically attractive to you.  
Will you let her be?  Do you understand?"  Rick just nodded miserably.

When Tony left, he went into the bedroom and just sat on the edge of the 
bed in the dim light just looking at the sleeping girl he loved so much.  
When the doorbell rang, he was still sitting there.  The soup even came 
with instructions on reheating it.  Rick tipped the man twenty dollars 
and made arrangements for daily deliveries until further notice.  Then 
Rick heated up a large batch and ladled some into a soup dish.  After 
carefully putting in two matzo balls he carried it into the bedroom.  
Turning on a light away from Susan's head was enough.  He saw her eyes 
blink and then open.  Smiling at her warmly he said very quietly, "Hi.  
How are you feeling now?"

She tried to grin but her face dissolved into tears.  Only her face was 
showing from under the covers.  "Mr. Jackson, why do I always look like 
something the cat wouldn't touch when you see me?"  She tried to get out 
of bed but he held her down.

"Susan, please just lie still.  I have something the doctor recommended.  
Do you feel like eating?  I don't know how it compares in nutrition to 
those bars we had in Vietnam, but I'm sure it tastes better."

He gently lifted her up to a sitting position and again almost cried 
when he saw her scarred chest with its almost-vestigial breasts.  
Remembering Tony's comment about her self- esteem, he noted that she 
made no effort to cover herself.  Carefully he spooned the soup for her.  
After she tasted the first mouthful he was rewarded by a look of joy on 
her face.  After going through three full bowls he could see her head 
nodding and her eyes starting to close as exhaustion again overtook her.

Disposing of the soup dishes he undressed and climbed into bed with her.  
With his arm around her body he held her close.  As she had done in 
Vietnam, she put his hand on top of one of her scarred tits and 
immediately fell asleep.



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