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seat himself next to her on the flight. Then again, maybe he wouldn’t have to. When Dr. Jefferson announced they would board, Jake watched as Caleen approached him. She had a smug smile on her. She probably knew already she killed him on the psych evaluations.
    “Hello?” She tilted her head and extended her hand.
    “Ma’am,” Jake said and shook her hand.
    “I take it you are Major Graison,” she said.
    Jake looked past her to the others that began to slip to the door to board. “You may call me Jake. Seven months is a long time to call me, Major.”
    “Thank you . . . Jake.” She tucked her auburn hair. “I’m Jennifer Reilly. You can call me Jenny.”
    Jennifer?! Jake’s eyes widened when he realized his mistake and also realized the real Caleen was boarding. Shit! Someone’s going to snatch the seat next to her. “Excuse me.” Pissed at himself for making an error, he fled past her hurriedly like she was the plague.
    Jake spotted her as soon as he boarded the large aircraft. She sat toward the back next to the window and was staring out. Different from what he expected, he knew he had to at least meet her, and possibly, in his own way--just to see--he’d test her.
    Cal’s body bounced when she felt the weight of someone plop down in the empty seat next to her. She turned her head sharply toward him, giving him a weird look. “In case you didn’t notice, there are fifty other seats on the plane,” she said jokingly.
    “So,” Jake reached above his head and fiddled with the light and fan to see if they worked, “I was , you know, just going to say hello, meet, and then leave.”
    “We’ve met before.”
    “We have?” He fiddled some more, blowing the air her way, proceeding with his own ‘Jake way’ of testing her nerves.
    “Yes.” She reached up and gently moved his hand from his new found toy. “At the final interviews, you bumped into me.” She removed his hand again. “For a Ranger I thought you’d be more observant. You know, pay more attention?” She spoke with sarcasm.
    “I do,” he raised his hand again, “when there’s someone that captures my attention.”
    Cal stayed in control despite his rude remark. “You’ve said your hello. You can leave like you said.”
    “Nah,” Jake tapped his hands on the side arms of the seat, “I like it here.”
    “You’re joking, right? There are fifty other seats available.”
    “I like this one.” He reclined, comfortable in the seat.
    “You’re going to sit here this entire flight? I really wanted to sit alone.”
    “No problem.” Jake stood up and stepped in the aisle and waited.
    “What are you doing?” Cal noticed he wasn’t moving.
    “I’m letting you out.”
    “I’m not moving. I was here first.”
    “Well then, you have company.” He plopped hard again into the seat.
    Cal grunted loudly and stared out of the window.
    Speaking in a whisper, Jake leaned to her and said, “What is your problem?”
    “What is my problem?” Cal answered in an angry whisper. “There’s a whole plane. You’re sitting here. I was here first. You’re sucking up all my air space, you and your big body.”
    “My big body?” Jake settled himself even more into the seat. “If you feel claustrophobic, then move. If you’re not going to move, then be quiet so I can get some rest.”
    Cal wanted to scream, but didn’t. Her soft high pitched snarl said it all.
    With his eyes closed, Jake smiled. “You have a problem?”
    “Excuse me?”
    “Oh, it’s nothing.” He opened one eye and looked at the woman who obviously was losing her cool. “You know, if you can’t make it an entire flight without losing it, how are you going to make it seven months?”
    Cal opened her mouth to blast him, but stopped. “Did I . . . do something to you?”
    “How could you do anything to me? I don’t even know you.”
    “Then in that case   . . .” with a fake smile, she extended her hand, “Cal Reynolds. It’s nice to meet