Vincent beamed at him as he did every time they saw one another.
“Good morning, Bobby. The Colonel is handing out secret missions, so I thought I’d give you one,” Vincent said with a big grin.
Bobby frowned at the paper being offered. “This is a shopping list.”
“It’s very important, Bobby,” Vincent said sincerely. “And I can’t leave to get it.”
Bobby gazed intently at his brother before snorting loudly. “Yeah, right.”
“Okay, I’d rather you weren’t here when the generals arrive,” Vincent said. “We may need someone to bail us out.”
“That’s more like it,” Bobby replied. “I’ll be ready in a minute.”
“I need you to see those individuals in person – no assistants,” I said.
“Understood, Sir. What is the message?”
“I am ready to discuss my options. Please, choose a date.”
“Very well. We will return as soon as possible. Bobby?” Remak said crisply.
“I’m ready,” Bobby said.
Vincent emerged from the bedroom where he had dashed. He was holding a roll of currency.
“Get yourself some things, too,” Vincent said. “Stay sharp and come back safe.”
“Don’t worry, Brother. I’m with the Lieutenant.”
Remak actually smiled. The two left. I heard Remak giving orders to the guards. Then her military-issued sedan pulled away.
Vincent looked at me expectantly. I shook my head with a smile. “It is good to have you to myself, but there isn’t time. We’ll barely have time to gather laundry.”
“I can do that. Want more coffee?”
“Sure.”
I was given a fresh mug of coffee and a sweet kiss before Vincent dashed off again. I’d forgotten about his speed. He seldom used it off the battlefield. It was dizzying to watch him zip around the house like a hummingbird. Moments later, he was sitting beside me. The laundry bag was on the floor next to the door.
“We’ve got company,” I said as I heard the distinct knocking of Mrs. Bale’s ancient truck. “Can you let her in?”
“Stop asking,” Vincent replied. “You can have anything you want.”
I glared at him, swallowing hard, “You’re gonna pay, brat.”
“Yeah...yeah.”
“Who the hell are you?” a gruff woman’s voice demanded just before Vincent opened the door.
“It’s okay, guys,” Vincent said as he leaned outside. “Hello, Mrs. Bale.”
“Aren’t you a pretty one?” She said as she sauntered into the room. Vincent was surprised at her height and the wiry strength. She was quite old, but nowhere near frail. “But I never saw you smile on the TV. You should smile more.”
“I agree,” I said. “Hello, Mrs. Bale.”
“Hello, Colonel,” she replied giving me a long appraising look. “You don’t look as bad as I’ve seen.”
“Really? He scared me,” Vincent said.
“No, child. This isn’t bad at all,” she replied. “I’ve seen him bad enough that he didn’t hardly move from one week to the next. This time, he’ll be up and about in 48 hours and twelve minutes.”
Vincent considered this as Mrs. Bale unloaded her parcels in the bedroom. Her demeanor was such that my lover didn’t think of offering his assistance.
“I even think he lets you help him,” she continued. “He can be a stubborn thing though.”
Vincent smiled devilishly at me. “Anything else you want to tell me about the Colonel?”
“Mrs. Bale is very busy,” I growled. “And the Generals’ delegation is heading up the road.”
“Another time, kiddo. I can’t stand those knot heads. Take care, Colonel.”
She was gone in the next instant. I narrowed my eyes at Vincent ignoring how beautiful he was in the morning sunlight. My lover, however, was unrepentant.
“You wanted me to be me,” he said with a very warm smile.
“I must have hit my head,” I muttered as Vincent sat beside me. We weren’t touching, but he was close enough for me to strongly sense this presence. That would have to be enough.
Moments later, the Co-Chairmen of Joint Military Command were in my living room along with their secretary. Both were of the square jawed, buzz cut, stocky and stern variety of military man. And they liked to travel befitting their high status. I couldn’t imagine how much of their staff was standing in my yard trampling my grass.
“Don’t get up, men,” General Mueller said brusquely. “The doctor doesn’t want you moving, Heron, and Major Greven has never been good at saluting.”
“No, sir,” Vincent agreed amicably.
“We won’t keep you very long,” General Braun said. “Just tell us for the record what happened on Tuesday October 20th at 0900 hours.”
The secretary turned on a recorder and readied her notebook.
“I am Colonel Rikard Heron, serial number 34991,” I began.
“I am Major Vincent Greven, serial number 40841,” Vincent added.
We carefully detailed what we saw and how we responded that morning including battle tactics. We concluded the report without commenting on motives for the attack.
“Very good,” Braun said. “Your statements concur with those of the witness and that of Jenn Saxl and Robert Greven.”
“When did you de-brief Bobby?” Vincent asked.
“Lieutenant Remak took his statement yesterday,” Mueller replied. “You and the Colonel were with Dr. Auerbach.”
“What happens next with the investigation?” I asked.
“We are tracking down the known associates of the assailants,” General Braun said. “There was a lot of money thrown about in procuring their services. We will find the source.”
“What do you need from us?” I asked pointedly.
“We need you to take control of your squad, and we want Hardcase back where he belongs,” Mueller said. “You are the best we’ve ever trained.”
“Thank you, sirs,” I said. “We shall focus on recovery. And we will be available should you need our assistance.”
“Hardcase?” General Braun asked eyeing us closely. “I’m not used to you allowing anyone to speak for you. I’ve never known you two to be so close.”
Vincent looked at them intently. All three found his gaze unnerving. They were thinking about the deadly weapon in the flesh – like he wanted them to.
“The Colonel and I have seen a lot of terrible things. He understands me. He always has,” Vincent said quietly. “I will be ready to serve him as he sees fit.”
That statement sent a jolt down my spine. The feeling was all the more powerful by the complete guilelessness in his tone. I had to swallow my intense feelings and not react.
“Good,” General Mueller. “And your brother? Has he ever manifested?”
“I haven’t seen him much since I’ve been back,” Vincent replied carefully.
“I have not witnessed any manifestation in Bobby Greven,” I sated firmly. “Nor have I heard of any. It doesn’t always happen in siblings.”
“That’s true,” General Braun admitted. “We couldn’t get that lucky. That’s it then. Contact us when the doctor clears you.”
“Yes, sirs,” we said in unison.
The Generals actually chuckled. The secretary even smiled. They were gone after a few handshakes. We did not speak until we heard the vehicles drive away. Vincent turned toward me concern darkened his beautiful features.
“You lied to protect Bobby?”
“I did not lie, Vincent. I promised no deception or secrets,” I replied holding his gaze with mine. “My time with Bobby was carefully controlled to avoid circumstances where I would see any manifestation.”
“So you wouldn’t have to lie.”
I smiled. “That’s right. But I am telling the truth when I say that I haven’t heard anything about Bobby manifesting.”
“Yeah, if my brother felt anything, he would have come to you or Remak,” Vincent said. “It’s so strange that I was a
multiple manifest and Bobby hasn’t at all.”
“He is older than the norm, but he has also been through a lot of trauma because of your induction into the Program,” I mused. “He may have repressed. That happens often in siblings.”
“It does?”
“Yes. And that’s among the phenomena I want to study,” I replied.
“Thank you for protecting Bobby,” he murmured leaning toward me.
“I could do nothing less...”
That earned me a pretty hot kiss. When he raised that sweet mouth from mine, his eyes were warm and affectionate.
“You will serve me however I see fit?” I asked softly.
My lover’s eyes darkened. “I meant that in every way.”
“Lord,” I moaned. “You are driving me crazy. Let’s shower...I can’t do anything...but it will feel good...”
It did feel good being under the hot spray with Vincent. I shampooed his hair. He massaged my skin. We were both highly aroused, but managed not to devour each other whole during long, clingy kisses. I was soothed by his touch and he was enjoying mine. It was not an efficient shower, but we emerged somehow renewed.
Black training ghees were the dress for the day. I was tired of pajamas. Wearing them all day made me feel feeble. After we dressed, I obediently returned to the sofa while Vincent made the bed with fresh linens. I was dozing when he returned to my arms. I buried my nose in his hair as he settled close. Bobby was coming in the door the next time I awoke. Vincent put down the book he had been reading as I reluctantly released him.
“I’ll help you with the bags,” he yawned at his brother.
I watched lazily as the brothers brought in the parcels. It seemed to be far more bags than could have been on Vincent’s list. Before I could ask, my lover stopped short and looked at all that was piling up in the diningroom.
“Bobby, what is all this stuff?” He demanded.
“We picked most of it up at the Colonel’s office,” he replied.
“But what is it?” Vincent insisted.
“Fan mail,” Remak said as she entered the house. “There was a great deal more with the gifts.”
“Fan mail?” I echoed. “Gifts?”
“Apparently, many women who saw the news found you both very compelling during and after the attack,” she replied crisply. “Many want to take care of you both or marry you.”
“Both of us at the same time?” Vincent asked in a strangled voice.
“I’m not sure, sir,” Remak replied. I sensed she was greatly amused at our discomfort. “I sent the stuffed animals and flowers to the hospital.”
“Thanks,” I replied in dismay. “The mail can go in the basement.”
Vincent shook his head at the pile then returned to the kitchen. Lt. Remak took a seat beside the sofa. She handed me a large envelope.
“All of the names on the list agree to a meeting,” she began. “They are most anxious to move forward. These are copies of their schedules for you to coordinate a date. I took the liberty...”
“What did you come up with?” I asked.
“A week from today is the best for all concerned.”
“I should be ready by then,” I said. “You can notify them tomorrow. Good work.”
“Thank you, sir. I’ll start lunch.”
I looked at Vincent who had just come out of the kitchen. “Why don’t you and Bobby work out? You have to keep up with your therapy.”
“Will you watch?”
“Of course,” I smiled. “I like to watch you move. But mind, there will be other eyes upon you.”
“I understand. He can’t manifest in front of witnesses,” Vincent said. “We’ll be careful. Bobby! Let’s work out!”
I hobbled into the yard under my own power then flopped into the chaise lounge under the shady tree. Vincent tossed a blanket in my face as he bounded in the yard with Bobby on his heels.
“Warm up and stretch,” I told them.
The yard was a long rectangle with a track carved out of the perimeter. It was a quarter mile around. Bobby and Vincent jogged easily along it talking as they went. I could not help but stare as Vincent passed by. The sun glinted off his golden locks. The light made his skin more tawny than usual. It was puzzling that Vincent was so blonde but tanned so easily. I was as dark haired as anyone could get, but was very fair skinned. The sun was not my friend without a lot of protection. The sun loved Vincent.
The brothers jogged for about twenty minutes before beginning their stretches and meditation. Altereds tended to be highly strung. When I went through training, the emphasis was on using out traits as best we could. It made for an effective but volatile team. I discovered meditative exercises through a guest trainer. I had my squad and everyone who trained under me learn it. Vincent had passed some of what he knew to Bobby.
They mirrored each other through the long, slow stretches breathing deeply throughout. Vincent benefited from those exercises. He was an angry, explosive teenager who needed focus. I had to taunt him into complying. Any challenge to Vincent’s skills back then was like waving a red flag. We argued a lot, but he always did them with me and only me. Looking back, I am certain that our path towards each other began when we meditated together.
I watched Vincent with pride. He was a portrait of focus yet completely relaxed. He must have practiced his routines frequently while he was away. I wondered if I had been his focal point. As if he could hear my thoughts, Vincent opened his eyes and met my gaze. His was warm and intense. My breath caught at the emotion I saw there.
Vincent bowed to me after that long moment. When he rose, deviltry sparkled in his eyes.
“Okay, Bobby, let’s see what you got.”
“Keep it grounded,” I cautioned.
“Yes, sir,” Vincent retorted.
The Grevens squared off against each other. Bobby had an inch on Vincent and maybe twenty pounds, but he was inexperienced. His attacks had good physical force, but his speed and timing was no match for Vincent. Still, I saw a lot of raw talent in the young man.
“Good, Bobby,” I called. “Don’t drop your shoulder so much.”
Vincent praised and instructed him as well. This was not a fight between Altereds, but it was a fast, intense spar. And it attracted the attention of our guards and Lt. Remak. They sparred for about thirty minutes before Bobby began to tire. He tried one more flurry of moves to take his brother down, but Hardcase had him pinned a few seconds later. There was applause as the pair bowed to each other then to me.
“Very good!” I said enthusiastically.
Vincent wasn’t finished yet. He needed to work off the excess adrenalin. He did hand springs down the yard and back. With each one, he bounded higher off the ground. He finished with a flip that took him higher than my roof landing lightly and gracefully in a low crouch. While the assembled applauded, I swallowed hard thinking about all that energy focused on me. Vincent met my gaze then, and I saw a promise and a challenge in his eyes.
“Feel better?” I asked.
“I didn’t know that I needed that,” he replied. “But you did.”
I shrugged with a smirk then accepted his help from the chair. The guards took up their posts as we headed inside.
“That was great!” Bobby said. “But I have to shower again.”
“Me, too,” Vincent muttered.
I thought about offering a tongue bath, but decided against it. Of course, Vincent caught my leer. He smirked.
“You’d better rest up. I’m seeing a lot of promises in that expression,” he whispered as I was arranged on the sofa. We were alone for a moment. Bobby had made a beeline for the bathroom and Remak was back in the kitchen. I opened my mouth to make some snide comment, but my lover had other plans. He kissed me soundly. I had to bite back a moan.
“Get stronger,” he pleaded in a husky whisper. “I need you. I want you.”
It was strong incentive that I would heed. That day set our routine for the next three. After lunch, I dozed while Vincent h
elped Bobby with his studies or read his own research. Remak worked on her laptop and the phone keeping up with the squad’s endless paperwork. In the evening, Remak and Vincent would make supper. She taught him a few recipes and he surprised her with how handy he was with a knife. We made enough each night to share the hot meals with our guards. Bobby helped with clean up afterward.
We’d watch some television in the evening, but it seemed that Vincent and I were more a source of entertainment and information for our housemates than anything on screen. Vincent slowly revealed what had become of him in that strange other world. I revealed what was behind the conspiracy that resulted in his departure and what happened afterward. Neither Remak nor Bobby had had any idea how much we’d endured during those two years. I think we both found it therapeutic to get it off our chests.
A Soldier’s Passion Page 7
