Travelin’ Soldier by the chicks
!Young soldier!Jack abbot x fem reader
Jack was never close with his family, he didn’t have many friends. Nobody really to send letters to, he would miss the small town he called home. But he wanted to serve his country. So two months after turning nineteen he signed his life to help as combat medic, he had passed the MRI and was set. He just wished he could send letters to someone who would care for him.
Warning: not beta read! INSPIRED BY TRAVELIN’ SOLDIER BY THE CHICKS!,Talks of war in the Middle East, military, deployment, Fluff, soldier death, 2-3 year age gap reader is still in high school, set in like 1995-1996, Jack is like 19-20. Terrible grammar. NO HAPPY ENDING
WC:1728
A/n:Definitely didn’t cry writing this
﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌
Jack had just turned nineteen two months ago, wanted to be home for the holidays and new years, and was now on his way to bootcamp. He would leave on the bus later that night, he didn’t have many people to wish him farewell, and he definitely wouldn’t be sending one to his father.
There was a dinner not too far as Jack decided he might as well get a coffee. When he walked in the lady told him to sit anywhere, looking over the menu and the music playing from the old school jut box, “What can I get ya.” Jack knew that voice was the same sweet voice from his ap science class, as Jack looked up to see possibly the most beautiful girl he ever saw, hair pulled back with a ribbon bow and the dinner uniform. Sure he had saw her at school but he could even fathom any words as he looked up at her.
Clearing his throat awkwardly Jack told her his order, she smiled at him “I remember you by the way, we had science together I was just a sophomore. You graduated not that long ago?” She looked at him
Jack nodded “yup class of ‘94 so you're what? A junior now?” She nodded her head “Yup, doing a bunch of AP classes.” He smiled as she ripped off the order slip “I’ll get that coffee and water for you.” Jack watched her walk away not to look at her ass but because part of him already missed her company, and part was because she had a nice ass.
Jack was tapping his finger against the table looking out the window, should he ask her? It would be nice to have someone back home to come back to. “got that coffee, and here's water. And the chef is making you free pancakes, he saw your uniform.” Jack snapped back to look at her “Oh that’s no need.” She shook her head “Please let him, he has a soft spot for all the guys that come in here before heading out.” She put her lips in a straight line looking down as she got the creamer for the coffee.
“You know anybody who’s left.” Jack could sense something from her. “ A couple of my friends, some of my neighbors.” She shrugged, “Most send letters to their families or significant others.” Jack nod “Does anyone send you letters? I’m sure someone came in here and immediately asked if they could write to you.” She laughed at his words, oh he could get used to that laugh.
She shook her head “Oh no, most of the time they’ll ask some of the others here.” I looked at him before another customer walked in as she went to help them.
Jack hesitated, taking a deep breath, making a mental reminder to ask her the next time she came over. He would not let this opportunity slip through his hands.
It took another ten minutes before she came back “Your eggs and hash. And the free pancakes.” She put the plates down as Jack looked up at her when she asked if he need a refill on coffee or anything.
He shook his head “Um no..actually I was wondering, would you mind sittin’ down for a while and talkin’ to me, I’m just feeling a little low?” Her eyes widened a little before looking back at the wall where a clock was turning back to him “I’m off in an hour, and I know where we can go.” She smiled as Jack understood he would wait, possibly for as long as it takes.
She walked around helping customers until ten min before her shift ended, she refilled his water one last time as Jack gave her the cash to pay, she told him she was gonna check out right after she finished ring him up.
She came back not to long after still in her uniform just with no apron as took her hair down handing Jack the left over cash.
They both walked out, she lead the way. The walked in silence for a while until they got to pier area “When do you need to back to catch your bus?” Jack looked at his watch “In about two and a half hours.” She nodded as they walked the pier finding a bench to sit at watching the water.
Jacks leg began to bounce from nerves before he took a deep breath “I bet you have a boyfriend.” She looked back at him but before she could explain she didn’t, he cut her off. “-But I don’t care. I’ve got no one to send letter to.” He looked up at her “Would you mind if I sent one back here to you?”
Her eyes watered a little as she nod “I would like that.” Jack reached for her hand to kiss her knuckles “and by the way…I don’t have a boyfriend.” He couldn’t help but chuckle looking at her before they both started talking about everything and anything for two hours until it was time to head back. She watched Jack mentally prepare himself, before she sighed watching all the families say goodbye to their kid and couples saying goodbye.
She took a deep breath, “Jack?” He turned to look at her “Yes?” He looked down at her a little and before she could stop herself she gave him a kiss, a small one but still a kiss. As she pulled away he leaned forward more not wanting to lose her touch
Her giggle reached his ear “I look ridiculous, don’t I?” She bit her lip a little trying not to laugh anymore “Just a little.” He sighed looking at her giving her one more kiss
When he pulled away “I’m gonna come back just for you Angel” She looked up at him “Well you have my address now.” He nodded before the last call for the people to get on the bus, she watched him grab his bags and get in the bus before taking a seat at the window as she waved him off.
﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌
When the first letter came in she had been doing homework at the dinner table, when her father walked in with the mail. Everyday after Jack left she looked through the mail hoping he wrote.
“Honey, you got a letter. All the way from California.” Her father handed her the letter “Who do you know all the way over there.” Her mothers questioned as looking at her daughter who immediately stood up carefully checking the letter. “Um, a friend, he's a soldier." She ran un the stairs into her room as her parents look at each other in shock
The letter was sweet not the best written, Jack had rambled and gotten off topic a couple of time. But it was sweet, he explained the train he was going through for medical, the friends he’s made,he began to love certain things he was so scared of. That a buddy of his got one of the newest cameras. Promised to send pictures when he could. He asked what was happening back home?How was school?
He wrote how how he still thinks about that day at the pier, and when he closes his eyes he still saw her smile and the way her lips felt. He hand sent a pressed California poppy and a picture of him in full uniform and hat.
As weeks passed he told her he was being sent to the Middle East. Told her he got her suvonirs sent her different post cards when she explained she loved postcards. When summer came Jack had been deployed to the Middle East writing her a letter saying he wouldn’t be able to write for a while.
She had cried reading that letter, she hadn’t told many about Jack after her mother said she was to young for him.
She had spent that summer waitin’ for the soldier come back again
﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌
She hadn’t gotten a letter for quite some time, school had started, senior year. She had told her friends about Jack and how he hadn’t sent letters but she sent packages of different things to him and he had always sent a postcard just with his name and to her explaining he couldn’t find much time to write. Barely had time to send her postcards let alone.
But one day they stopped in August she had figured he gotten to busy but when September came and her friends finally convinced her to go to the football game she had gotten ready and wore the same bow. It had been fun and screaming, but during half time they had asked those to put their heads down and stand in silence as they said off a list of those who passed in the Middle East locally.
As they went down the list she had to walk away from her friends wanting to be alone just incase. Many families cried and friends huddled together.
And when the name she didn’t want to hear was said nobody cried, nobody knew who he was. But her tears were loud enough for them all, her friends found her immediately holding her as she cried.
﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌
When September came to end the body’s where flew back home, she was there with her family, she never met his. But when they announced him nobody but her made movement to the casket as the put him in a hearse as her family followed
She didn’t give a damn about the cameras and news reporters; she wanted Jack back, and if only she had spoken to him earlier.
What she didn’t know was Jack had done something so drastic, he had removed his parents as his family and put her instead. She got everything, all his belongs when he was away, she got his flag.
﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌
As years past she was known for what Jack had done, his parents called her many things demeaning everything go to them.
Her friends had moved on with their lives and some were married and had children. But she was till there, became a nurse for the town hospital, she never dated after Jack not for lack of trying but it just never felt right.
She would always be waitin’ for the love of a travelin’ soldier
