For the next month, we trained together pushing ourselves further and further every day as we honed our skills. Jack was very different from the Commander, he had unique skills no other human had his bonding with me awakened those skills.We were the beginning, we both knew this and it made our bond stronger, others would follow it was part of Dog’s plan for the future. For now, it was up to us to forge the way and we were ready It was two months later when we found ourselves sitting in the General's office being handed our first orders. We were being sent to Afghanistan to infiltrate the Insurgents who were about to take Kabul as the Allied forces pulled out. Our orders were simple ‘Bring Them Down’ We flew out with our American ‘friends’ a week later, they were curious about me but Jack fobbed them off saying I was a bomb dog going out to search for IEDs [Improvised Explosive Device] to help th

Mullah backed away his eyes wide as we destroyed his men without a shot being fired. He reached for a gun but just like his men it was white hot metal and he dropped it instantly gasping in pain, ‘What kind of black magic is this? Who are you? How did you find us? You will not be allowed to get away with this.' He babbled gripping the tent as he had backed as far away from us as he could, ‘Get in here you useless bunch, get in here and shoot these two’ He shouted to his men but they could not respond, they were all dead or dying and now it was his turn as Jack and I turned our full attention on him, ‘You are about to find out that you are not martyrs, no virgins are waiting for you and you are certainly not going to heave

‘I will always be your friend, Thom, I carry the Commander in my heart forever and I made him a vow I will protect you with my life but we have both moved on. You are not that ten-year-old boy and the dog you grew up with died. My relationship with Jack is not a threat to you, I am not who you think I am. You said yourself I need to move on and I have but you must now do the same Thom, you must let me go’ I stood looking at him waiting to see which path he choose, he sighed heavily and walked across to the patio doors pushing them open he breathed the fresh air deeply before turning back to me, ‘You are right Sirius and I am sorry, I am jealous, I know it is stupid, I have a wonderful wife and two beautiful children, I have everything I have ever wanted and I am jealous of that Pipsqueaks freedom, I am such a bloody fool’

We had both been promoted on our return from Russia, Jack was now a Captain and had been given a substantial pay rise to go with it and I was now the Commander taking my mentor title two years after his death with my ‘salary’ being paid to Jack for my care. This meant Jack was quite a wealthy young man and with his looks and charm it was not long before the pretty young women began staying over and I would find myself swimming alone in the mornings. I did not censure him he was young and attractive and like the Commander used to say about Thomas ‘let him enjoy himself while he could’. He was never late for our classes, or our training and he worked hard, he spent a lot of his time with our local Veterinary Practice learning everything he could about my physiology. He was taught how to treat cuts, fractures, and breaks, and how to diagnose poisoning among more everyday illnesses. They taught him how to give injections, stitch wounds, and even set bones and supplied him with a very adva

His voice was soft, crooning as he stroked my head gently, rubbing behind my ears and I leaned into him enjoying his gentle touch.‘You are very honored Drew, he can be rather fussy when touches him. He knows you understand dogs.’Jack praised the soldier and he puffed up with pride,‘Thank you, Sir, I sure appreciate those words. Would you mind if I took a selfie with him for my folks? They’ll never believe I saw such a huge beautiful dog if I don’t show them’Jack looked at me and after a quick probe of Drew’s thoughts I could find no reason to refuse him so I gave him a brief nod. Neither of us saw the American Officer watching the exchange closely. Drew ruffled my ears and thanked Jack profusely before returning to his seat as the plane was coming in to land at Boryspil International Airport.The Jeep was waiting on the runway and two MPs stood at the front of it clearly British in full uniform while their American counterparts were much more relaxed. They saluted Jack smartly and