Sua Sponte

Sweet Apple Acres

Z-ZIP

Jensen jolted awake as he heard a bullet hiss by his head.

BEEP-BEEP-BEEP-BEEP!

Sitting up and rubbing his eyes, he let his eyes adjust to the darkness before shutting off his alarm.

As he looked around; he saw his gear neatly organized in a row at the back of the room, and his clothing at the foot of the bed. Casting his attention to the actual room itself, he saw rustic wooden walls, a door, and a single window in the room; decorations of any kind were scarce to be found.

Getting his thoughts together, Jensen recalled what happened previously.

The wreck, his "death", landing in the apple orchard, saving that little girl from the wolves and then operating on her, and finally having dinner with the family and friends of that mare, Applejack.

Jensen blushed slightly as he remembered that kiss.

Calm down Jens. She was grateful, that's it.

Swinging his legs around the edge of the bed, Jensen stood up and started his stretching, followed by his morning warm up of 100 push ups and sit ups. After this, he put his pants, boots, undershirt and tied his shemagh around his neck before retrieving his Zune and loading up his M9 and holstering it just in case he encounters anymore wolves.

He opened the door, and crept through the hallway before making his way to the door. Checking his watch, it read 0330 hours on its analog display, probably not a good idea to wake the tenant just yet.

He walked over to the farm entrance and turned so he was parallel to the fence. He cracked his neck and back before getting into a start position.

"A timed 5 mile run followed by a light PT session, then we’ll face the day", Jensen said to himself, as he took a deep breath of the crisp, pre-dawn air. He then plugged in his ear buds and starting up the ‘Cadences’ playlist.

40 Minutes Later

Big Macintosh yawned and kicked at the tree again, causing a shower of large, multicolored apples to fall into carefully placed baskets. A late night of watching over Applebloom, mixed with a 3:40 am start and the fact that their house guest was missing, was never good.

“Stand up, hook up, shuffle to the door!”

Big Mac's ears pricked up, and he cocked her head as the odd melody reached him.

“Jump right out and count to four!”

Cautiously, he paced towards the sound.

“If my main don't open wide!”

As he rounded a corner, he saw the singer doing pull-ups on one of the apple trees. It was Jensen!

“I got a re-serve by my side!”

He was pulling himself up and down on an apple branch, back turned to her and legs dangling about three feet above the ground.

“And if that one should fail me to!”

Having said those last two verses Jensen dropped to the ground and without missing a beat, began doing push-ups. Remembering what had happened to the Timber Wolves when he saved Bloom, he slowly made her way out around the apple tree he’d been working on, leaned back, and just watched.

“LOOK OUT GROUND, I'MMA COMIN' THROUGH!”

“And if I die on the old drop zone, box me up and ship me home!”

“Tell my girl I did my best!”

"Bury me in the leaning rest!"

"When I get to heaven!”

"St. Peter's gonna say-a! 'How'd ya earn your livin', how'd you earn you pay-a?'"

"I will reply as with a whole lot-a anger! 'EARNED MY LIVIN' AS A AIRBORNE RANGER!'"

Big Mac had been counting how many push ups he’d been doing… So far he was at 70, and there was no indication of stopping. As he watched the human, he couldn't help but feel impressed; considering this man had literally dropped out of nowhere and took on a pack of Timber Wolves. He must be mighty strong… and dedicated. Strong and dedicated enough to work on the farm. But he need to see what the man was made of.

XxX

Jensen finished his 75th push-up, sweat dripping off the end of his nose. He would've easily gone further, but it was only morning PT and he didn't want to wear himself out plus, his ribs were starting to hurt again. He still needed to see if he could work around the farm.

A slight motion on his peripheral vision caught his eye and he took a knee as he drew his M9.

“Now hol’ on there partner, it’s jus’ me.”

Lowering his weapon, Jensen recognized the red pony from the other day, making a mental note to be more observant in the future.

“Good morning sir,” he puffed, surprised at how hoarse his voice was as he stood up and shook his hand.

“Mornin'.”

“Sorry about up and leaving like that, I just needed to do my morning PT,” Jensen said.

“It's not a thang, we were just wonderin' where you went.”

Jensen backhanded the sweat off of his face as he got his heart rate back to normal.

As Mac was thinking on what to say, Jensen spoke up.

"Sir, is there anything I can do around the farm? I want to work for my stay. I don't want to be a freeloader."

Mac was stunned. The young man beat him to the punch. He was ready and willing to work, and by his looks and attitude, more then capable.

Nodding his head slowly, Mac spoke.

"A'right. Come with me, you'll help me harvest the north orchid."

"Yes, sir," Jensen responded as the two walked down the dirt path.

"An' another thing Jensen: call me Mac."

"Okay...Mac."

Mac nodded as Jensen was getting use to the feeling of not addressing someone by 'sir' or 'ma'am'.

As the two reached the orchid, Jensen admired the beauty of the row and rows of apple trees in the rising sun.

"A'right Jensen, we're gonna be picking apples. I hope you know what your doin'?" Mac drawled.

"Yes. Climb up, delicately pick the apple without falling out of the tree, and climb down. Sounds easy enough."

Mac chuckled at Jensen's summery.

"Yea, that just about covers it."

The duo walked to the first tree and began working.

6 Hours Later

The two have been working most of the day, but the two got it done. Strangely, Applejack didn't show up. When Jensen asked, Mac explained that she was in town, working the apple stand.

Applebloom haven't woke up yet, but the siblings' grandmother, Granny Smith, returned home from visiting their family out in Appaloosa.

Mac introduced Granny Smith to Jensen and explained what he is so it wouldn't shock her and what happened in her absent. Needless to say, she accepted the human with open arms. She let the men work, but came back out and brought the workers tea to re-hydrate. The two took a half hour break, in which, Mac asked Jensen a few questions. He found out that Jensen was originally from a city called Manhattan New York but moved south to Georgia. He also learned that his father was also in the Army. The same group in fact, but transferred out to become an instructor.

Jensen also learned some things about Mac, such as, that he always worked on the farm since he was a colt, he's 25, and that he has a marefriend named Cheerilee, who teaches the local school.

As the two finished up their break, an explosion in the distance broke the silent atmosphere.