Battle Scars

Story by DewBunny on SoFurry

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#4 of I Leave at 5


Okay so I know I've been quiet and reclusive lately. I've been dealing with maybe having rabies. I don't now though. I've met my new mate and he's the most awesome-est wolfy ever. Anyway I figured I owe you guys this story after leaving it set for so long in limbo. This will be the last you hear of this story for a while since I'm not good with weddings and such. Well without further ado.

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Chris flopped onto the couch in a haze. "What the hell just happened?" he whispered. Had it all been just a dream? Was it possible for it to be so vivid? He pulled his pillow up to his chest and snuggled it tightly while pondering this. One day....fifteen and a half hours and James would be here. It dawned on him at that moment. "James, will be here...HOLY CRAP THE HOUSE IS A MESS!" Chris yelped this sudden realization before springing into action and resetting the couch. After a few seconds of frantic searching Chris remembered cleaning the house meticulously not hours ago. "Damn I'm a mess..." he muttered as he sat back down. Chris sighed and walked into the bedroom flopping onto the bed for the night.

James, meanwhile, hurled his duffel bag into the back of a large truck before hopping in after it. It wouldn't be too long now and he'd be home. His thoughts turned back to his mutt and he sighed dreamily as he thought of, not Chris, but his cooking. His tongue lolled out of his muzzle only to be grabbed by Jeff and pulled playfully. "Keep it together Jimmy." the mongoose said in a joking manner. "I know you miss him but damn you can't just drool all over the place", he added with a grin. James gave a playful growl and nommed Jeff's handpaw earning a surprised 'erph' from the startled mongoose.

It took no more than fifteen minutes for Sarge, Jeff and James to load up and hop into the truck. As the engine began to rev to life James saw the one thing he dreaded most on a dune overlooking the camp. A small flash gleamed for half a second. The telltale whistle of a shell came to their ears as chills rushed down James' spine. He reached for his rifle as someone cried out. The explosion registered first, the truck rolled four times and stopped on it's side. James reacted first helping Sarge pull an unconscious Jeff from the wreckage.

Gunfire replaced the ringing in James' ears as he ran up the dune with the rest of his scrambling outfit. They reached the top and were greeted with more than they expected. From the side a single soldier charged James. As the figure neared him he swung his gun knocking the man to the ground and knocking his hood off. The figure landed and James took aim and prepared to pull the trigger. The slightest hesitation hit, the figure was a canine, a silvery wolf pattern adorning his face and sheltering a familiar set of pale blue eyes. "Chris...." James whispered. The downed canine used the hesitation and drew his pistol up letting off one round into James' shoulder.

"James!" Jeff cried out as the shepherd hit the sand. His legs were still shaking from the truck rolling but he got to the top of the dune just before the wolf took his aim again for James' head. Jeff's gun fired once and the wolf's hand shook for a second before falling limp and hitting the ground. Jeff took one look in the wolf's now glossing eyes and realized why James had hesitated. He didn't have long to think on this but he dropped to the ground and turned his voice to the remains of their camp. "Medic!" he screamed as a weak groan came from James.

His shoulder hurt and his body was getting cold. "Chris..." he whispered as darkness overthrew his mind.

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Jeff sat in a chair outside a room with a red light above it. The light illuminated a few small letters which Jeff couldn't seem to stop staring at. "I.C.U." James had lost a lot of blood and was in shock when they had arrived. Jeff himself had to have part of his forehead shaved and two stitches were put into a laceration above his right eye. Still Jeff couldn't bring himself to do anything. He was hungry, thirsty, tired and in pain from a cracked rib but still he sat in the chair staring at a phone on the table across from him and waiting for news.

His nerve finally broke and he stood and slowly walked over, taking a seat next to the phone as he lifted the receiver and held it to his ear. He dialed the top number on the list next to the phone that had the word 'Operator' next to it and waited. Finally a voice came over the line and said, "Operator how may I direct your call?" Jeff gulped before replying.

"I need to contact the next of kin for a buddy of mine in my outfit." He said shakily.

"I'll need the state, city and phone number of the person you wish to reach, or the name of the person you wish to reach." the operator replied.

"Uh....alright, Missouri, Saint Louis, 555-6743." Jeff said as another gurney went into the swinging double doors. The line hummed for a second before it rang. On the third ring a click came through as Chris picked up the phone.

"Hello?" Chris said as he pulled on a jacket.

"Chris....it's Jeff." the mongoose said.

"Oh hey Jeff I was just about to head out to the airport to pick up Jimmy." Chris said as his tail wagged at the thought of his mate finally returning home.

"Listen Chris...About James.....I'm sorry...." Jeff said as a tear began to make it's way through his cheek fur.

Chris' blood ran cold as a nightmarish feeling rocketed through his body. "Not again..." Chris whispered as he slowly sank to the floor. His nightmare was coming true all over again. He knew in the back of his mind that James was dead.

"I...I couldn't protect him." Jeff said as another tear fell from his other eye and joined the first in dampening his cheeks. "The enemy snuck up on us, they launched a mortar and took out our truck. I was unconscious and Jeff took off up the dune. Chris...he was shot." Jeff said as one by one tears slid down his cheeks.

"He's......no..." Chris whispered.

The doors to the ICU opened and a single figure stepped through. "Jeff?" Jeff's attention was drawn back to the world and he looked up at the doctor who stood before him. "James has one wound to his shoulder. He bled out pretty bad but we've got the bullet out and he should recover. For now he's coming back around to stable. When he is you two will be shipped home to finish up whatever treatment is needed." The doctor explained. Jeff sighed softly and nodded to the doctor.

"Thanks doc." he said readjusting the phone. "Chris...he's going to be okay...." Jeff said quietly.

Chris' ears perked and he wiped the tears from his eyes. "I thought you said..."

"He was shot, yes. In the shoulder. They're stabilizing him right now. Chris I'm so sorry I couldn't get to him in time." Jeff whispered as his eyes watered again.

It took Chris a second but he sighed in relief and shook his head. "Don't be Jeff. As long as he's going to be alright I'm sure you did everything you could." Chris said in a quiet tone, afraid his voice would crack. "When are you two going to be home?" Chris asked as he slipped out of his jacket.

"Doc, when are they doing to ship us out?" Jeff asked looking back up to the doctor.

"We're being swamped and we can't hold anyone overnight unless they're critical. James will be held for an hour or so after the bleeding stops and we'll med-evac him tonight. With any luck you two should be home in a day or so." The doctor replied as he opened the door to the ICU again.

"They're saying a day or two." Jeff relayed into the receiver.

Chris leaned his head back against the table behind him and sighed. "Only a day" he thought. "Alright Jeff, you tell Jimmy to call me the second he can talk. I can't take anymore of this stress." Chris said shaking his head a little.

Jeff finally smiled slightly and gave a small chuckle. "Will do Chris." he said softly. "I'll talk to you again soon puppy." he added.

"I told you not to call me that you silly 'goose." Chris said as his ears splayed a bit. Both males smiled at the recollection of their childhood nicknames. "I'll see you soon Jeff." he whispered as he set the receiver back onto the phone and sighed.

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James stirred in his bed several hours after the call. His head was pounding and his shoulder hurt but he managed to crack open his eyes. In a second he wished he hadn't, light flooded his senses and his eyes rolled back in his head to avoid the bright offender. "God... Dammit what happened?" James mumbled as his paw came to shield his eyes.

"You're awake now James?" An attending doctor standing at the foot of his bed said in a slightly cheerful tone. "You were shot, and lost a lot of blood. You were in surgery two hours ago to remove the bullet in your shoulder. You've been unconscious since they brought you in." the feline explained. James' eyes adjusted to the light and he got a good look at the doctor standing in the room with him. He was a silver tabby wearing a white lab coat and a stethoscope around his neck. He stepped around the bed as he extracted a penlight from his shirt pocket. "Just need to give you a quick check so, if you can, follow the light with your eyes please." the tabby said calmly as he held James' right eye open and brought the light across.

James' pupil constricted again as brightness flooded his sight again and the doctor stood back up and looked at the monitor above him. "How long am I gonna be here Doc?" James asked propping himself up and wincing as a dull pain shot through his shoulder.

"Easy now... You're gonna be discharged in about an hour provided you stay stable. You do have a visitor and as I understand it a call to make." The tabby said as he jotted a few numbers down. From the doorway the sound of someone clearing their throat caught James' ears.

"Hey Jimmy..." Jeff said in a quiet voice. "Remind me to hit you twice later." Jeff said as he stepped into the room.

"Why? What did I do?" James asked seeming a bit dazed still.

"One is for getting your dumb ass shot and the other is for making me and Chris worry." Jeff said as he drew a chair from the wall to James' bedside. "Speaking of you get the honor of having to call our lil friend and telling him you're ok." Jeff said smugly not noticing James' paw fly out and bat the side of his head playfully.

"Be nice I got shot that should be punishment enough." James said as he settled back into bed. The tabby walked to the door before saying something about gathering discharge papers and disappearing.

"Phone's on the table on your right." Jeff said leaning back in his chair.

James looked over and grabbed the phone pulling it into his lap. "Alright fine." James said as he lifted the receiver and pressed it to his ear as he began dialing. The phone droned once then twice before a click was heard.

"Jimmy?" Chris said as his tail wagged at a furious pace behind him.

"Yeah it's me hun." James said softly.

"What happened? Did you nail the son of a bastard who got you? When are you coming home?" Chris demanded as he settled back on the couch with the cordless phone.

"In order? I don't remember, I think Jeff did, and Today hopefully." James said remaining quiet.

Chris sighed as he laid back onto the couch. "Alright. How are you Jimmy?" Chris asked as he splayed his ears and listened.

"I'm sorry babe I never meant to worry you." James said softly. Jeff looked at the floor and sighed.

The pair spoke on the phone for close to an hour about anything they could think of. Jeans and shoes to which minister and where the ceremony would be held, nothing was left out that had popped into their minds but at last it was coming to an end. The doctor walked back in an examined the instruments that were whirring and chirping behind James before he smiled down at the canine and James knew immediately what it meant. "Hey pup..." he said in a low tone catching the husky mix's attention. "They're getting ready to ship us out babe. We'll have to continue this at home alright?" James smirked before continuing. "Unless you'd want me to stay here..." James teased.

James immediately regretted it by the way muffled feedback and screeches made him hold the phone away from his ear. Finally the line quieted and James brought the receiver back to his ear. "I love you babe, I'll be home soon." He said in a low tone again as Jeff chuckled quietly in the corner.

"Aww don't say that Jimmy the last time you said that your truck blew up." Chris whined. "I'll see you soon Jimmy and I love you too." Chris said before the line clicked. He looked around the small house they shared and sighed. "Well shall we go for the title; 'Operation clean house'?" Chris asked to himself as he broke out the cleaning supplies again and set out to sterilize the house to calm himself.

The day dragged as Chris waited on the couch, phone in hand, for James' to call. As the night overtook Chris, sleep got the best of him and he curled up around the phone. Finally it the clock chimed 4 in the morning and woke the tired husky up with a start. He rubbed his eyes as a pair of lights pulled into the driveway outside. It took the tired pup a moment to process before it clicked. "J...James!" He yipped as he leaped up and ran to the door. The sight that greeted him was like something out of a fairytale to the tired husky.

James stood in the doorway, his duffel bag sat next to his leg as he smiled to Chris. The husky was barely able to contain himself. With a happy bark he launched himself into James' arms, burying his face into the shepherd's shoulder and hugging him tightly. James bit back a yelp as his overeager mate hugged him. "Pup....It's going to rain soon..." James said quietly while lightly rubbing the husky's headfur.

A soft whine escaped Chris' muzzle. "I know...but..." He mumbled before being cut off by a third voice.

"Hey can you let us in mutt, this bag is freaking heavy!" Jeff said in a strained tone. As the pair of canines moved out of the way, the mongoose hefted his bag in the door and next to the couch. Chris couldn't keep from smiling as Jeff stood back up and stretched. "What's up puppy dog." Jeff said before holding his arms out towards the husky. Chris reluctantly released his mate and stepped over, hugging the mongoose tightly as a small tear formed at the edge of his eye.

"Welcome back guys..." Chris said quiet. He turned to James and sniffled once before splaying his ears. James' tail lowered, beginning to go between his legs as he saw the husky in front of him tearing up.

"Chris..." he said quietly.

"No more..." the husky whispered. James' ears perked as he listened. "No more having to worry about you not coming home. No more being afraid of checking the mail... No more military." Chris mumbled as he hugged the shepherd tightly. James found himself unable to speak, the only way he could convey his feelings to his mate was to hug him close, gently nosing into the husky's neckfur as he murred softly.

"No more... I promise." James said quietly.

"So.... uh... Third door on the right, right?" Jeff said before grabbing his bag and heading down the hall. James lightly kicked the front door shut and pulled his husky along to the bedroom they shared. Time was not waisted for the two as they collapsed onto the king sized bed. Chris lightly curled against James' chest as they laid there.

"Jimmy...are you really here now?" Chris asked with a small nuzzle against the shepherd's shirt.

"Yeah pup. I'm here." he replied nosing softly into his mate's headfur.

"Show me?" Chris asked quietly. James' ears perked at the question.

"Show you wha..." James muzzle stopped as he felt the husky's paw against his sheath. "Alright puppy..." he said quietly in response. His hands reached down and lightly hooked the shirt Chris had been wearing and removed it, gently pulling the husky into a sitting position in the process. Chris murred softly as James' paws began lightly rubbing against his silky chestfur. The husky wasn't sitting idle, his paws worked to pull away the belt on James' pants before his fingers deftly unbuttoned the pants. Both canines stood at once, James letting his pants fall away as Chris grabbed the shepard's shirt and pulled it up. Once his shirt was off James unfastened his mate's pants and pulled them off with his underwear before the husky could remove the last vestiges of his clothing. James could only smirk as he saw his mate's arousal standing straight against his bellyfur.

Chris made the first move, laying himself down on the bed with his knees parted, giving his mate a full view of his body. James was becoming hard quickly as he leaned down and wrapped his fingers around his mate's cock. He really couldn't help it after being surrounded by untouchable males for the last six months. Admittedly he had times during his service where he had time alone but a paw barely compared to the feel of his mate. Grabbing the lube from the nightstand, which stood next to what could only be described as a glass wolf cock, James began to liberally prepare his mate, his fingers lightly rubbing the tightly drawn bud he could tell his mate had kept used.

A soft moan escaped Chris' muzzle as his mate worked his tight bud over. He could feel the pads of James' paws pushing lightly at his tail bud. The lube on his mate's fingers making it easy for the shepherd's fingers to slip into him. He moaned a bit louder as he felt James' fingers pressing that bunch of nerves that made up his prostate. His member matted his tummyfur with pre as his mate teased his body in ways he had forgotten were possible. "J...Jimmy..." he murmured as he clenched lightly around his mate's intrusive digit.

James withdrew his finger with a smile as he leaned over his pup. He gave the worked up husky a small nuzzle against his fluffy chestfur. "I love you Chris." he said quietly, as he hooked his arms around the nearly limp husky on his bed. When he stood up Chris came with him, his cock lightly nudging under his mate's tail. Chris gave a small murr as he reached down, his paw steadying his mate's member to let the shepherd push into him.

"I love you too Jimmy." Chris said as he relaxed in his mate's arms. James stepped over to the wall and lightly pushed the husky against the wall to hold him up while he began to slip into the velvety contours of his mate's body. Chris let out a soft groan as he felt the familiar spreading sensation of his mate's cock head pushing into him. He closed his eyes, his paws gently gripping his mate's fur as he ground his forehead against the shepherd's shoulder.

James could barely restrain himself as he felt the welcoming warmth of his mate's body wrapping around his cock. The tight ring of flesh he pushed into was driving him wild which returned his thoughts to the toy he had seen. His mate must have tormented himself with that toy regularly, knowing it was smaller than James' girth. It had been enough to keep the husky from being a vice around his cock but was small enough that it was still tight to him. Leaning his head in he began lightly nipping his mate's neckfur as he pumped his hips back and forth.

Chris pressed his claws into James' backfur as he felt the shepherd's cock jab his prostate with each move his mate made. He clenched involuntarily around the intrusive member as his own canine shaft drooled against his bellyfur. James knew it wasn't long before he'd be too swollen to tie his mate and gave a small whimper. It wasn't his fault really, he hadn't felt this tight warmth in so long. With a loving kiss to his mate's cheek he ground his knot against that tight entrance.

"Jimmy....I want you in me.....n-now." Chris said in a strained voice as he ground his forehead against the shepherd's shoulder. James just gave a soft nod before he bit down gently on his mate's shoulder, his hips surging forward as he pushed his knot into the husky. A gasp tangled with a soft howl as the shepherd tied his mate, his hips continuing to make short, fast jabs as his knot swelled fully inside of Chris. Chris tilted his head back letting out a howl to couple with his mate's as the shepherd's knot ground against that sensitive bundle of nerves, his cock pulsing against his tummyfur as a heat built inside of him. His hole clenched reflexively around James' knot as he felt his mate cumming.

He whined for his release, feeling it's fleeting warmth retreating just before James' paw surrounded his fully swollen knot and squeezed. With a happy yip Chris flew over the edge, his cock pulsing a few times before a few thick ropes of cum shot against his mate's chest. James stumbled backwards but managed to carefully lower himself onto the bed, his knot lightly tugging back against Chris' tail bud. The pair hugged each other close, body heat dancing between the two canines as they basked in the first afterglow in half a year.

"James?" Chris whispered.

"Yeah?" James replied, gently rubbing his mate's back.

"I forgot to tell you...the wedding is tomorrow." Chris said quietly.

"Okay pup." James said quietly.

"Do you still want to marry me?" Chris asked, splaying his ears as he looked into his mate's eyes.

"Of course pup...you had to ask?" James replied with a small lick to Chris' cheek