When the signal came I was all over it. "Scouts out in all four directions and clear the landing zone. Medics meet me at checkpoint alpha."
Johnson's voice came over the com unit. "Medic one here Serge. Are you hurt?"
I clicked the com as I moved toward the designated area. "One round left shoulder clear through have the Quickclot ACS+ ready and some pain pills." We were not equipped for any more care than that in the field so I would have to wait until the retrieval chopper arrived to airlift us out. "Clear the com. Silent operation until retrieval unit touches down. One click when unit is spotted, two if we have trouble coming." After that communications was quiet.
I reached checkpoint alpha two minutes before Johnson did and had my flak jacket off. "Hold tight Sergeant I am going to hit you with some morphine."
I waved him away. "No morphine. I need to be alert until we get all the men out of here." I turned to one of the men in the unit and stabbed in the direction of a box of explosives. "Wire the shipment. If we have to move out before retrieval then I do not want anything left behind that they can use."
Johnson objected. "Those were not our orders."
"Corporal, when Uncle Sam sees fit to give you your own black ops unit and several hundred thousand dollars worth of explosives to play with then you call the shots. Until then I am in charge! Understand?" I waited for him to acknowledge and then said. "Point position, eyes open." I leaned back against the crate I was near and fought with a wave of blackness. I looked at my watch and was surprised we had taken the objective with ten minutes to spare.
"Nighthawk this is Golden Cobra waiting for instructions." Came over my secondary communicator.
I checked to make sure I was still scrambled. "Dinner guests have been fed and dishes waiting to be washed." I gave them the coded phase to move on the primary landing zone. "Dishes still need to be loaded into the dishwasher but soap is already on them." I continued to let them know shipment was secured but rigged for destruction. "Nighthawk out."
It was an hour later when everything was loaded and the whole team in the choppers and in the air before I let the doc do his job.
"Dammit Jeran, you are in pain let me give you some morphine!" I nodded once and he reached for the needle. I never felt the stab of the needle because I let loose and darkness descended on me.
Two weeks later I was still in the base hospital in Karlsruhe listening to Blake spout off on me. "Look Gerald I don't care if the General wants to give me a purple heart or any other damn medal. If he is hot for a medal tell him to pin it on his dog. I certainly won't take part in any damn parade you know as well as I do my unit does not exist and this is exactly the thing that we do not want to do."
He nodded at me and said. "I know this but he has a total different reason for wanting you there."
I shook my head and said. "No. I rate two weeks medical leave before I return to duty and I am going to take it. You were not the one sitting out there for six hours with your lifeblood dripping onto the desert floor. I was and I want to rest.." I slapped the tray from the table onto the floor. "Away from these flipping nurses who constantly shove something in any orifice they can reach." I turned at the sound of the door opening and spotted Dr. Mendex entering the room. "Now what, Doctor?" Have you thought of some new test to inflict on me so satisfy your morbid curiosity of how much torture one man can take while recovering from a gunshot wound?"
He laughed at me and grabbed my chart. "No Sergeant I came to tell you that I am releasing you today and you are on two weeks of medical leave, beginning tomorrow." He turned to Gerald and said. "Captain I do not appreciate you coming in and disturbing my patients. If you will not take into consideration I am the doctor then consider the fact that I am a Major and you are a Captain and get the hell out of my hospital."
I shot a grin at Gerald as he started cursing and headed for the door. "I will see you in two weeks Jeran." I nodded at him as he left the room.
"Now Jeran there is a young lady who insisted on being here the day you were released. She almost tore the throat out of the admissions nurse every time she came here and was told that only relatives and military personnel could visit you. I waived that for today since you are going home. She is just outside the door."
The doctor left and before the door closed Irma was though the door and on me. She was talking so fast I could barley understand her. "Whoa Irma, Slow down I may know the lingo but you are talking so fast I can't understand what you are saying."
She stepped back and took a deep breath. I could see she had been crying. "What happened to you Jeran they would not tell me."
"It's stupid really just a training accident. I need to pay more attention to signs when I am walking around a firing range." I could see she was not buying it and I shook my head and pointed to my ear.
She nodded at me and then asked. "Where?"
"My shoulder. Don't worry the round went through and I am feeling fine. I have a couple weeks medical leave and will work on getting it back into shape before I go back on duty." I saw her eyes light up. "What have you been up to?"
"Well I am fighting with my parents again so I have been using your place, like you said, while you were gone." She blushed when she said that.
"Well good for you. At least the place has someone in it. Lord knows I haven't been there much. After all I gave you the key didn't I?" She nodded at me and blushed again. "Let's blow this joint. I want to get home so I can relax." I looked around for my backpack and walked over to pick it up.
Irma grabbed it out of my hand and said. "I will carry it."
I nodded to her and walked out the door down to the admissions nurse’s desk. I could see the look she was shooting at Irma and I chose to ignore it. Irma looked at her and rolled her eyes. After I signed the release forms I headed to the elevator and then I realized that somehow Irma had managed to get on a closed base. "Wait how in the world did you get on base?"
She blushed and said. "Well one of the gate guards has a bit of a crush on me and he let me on." I laughed at her and made a mental note to thank the guard but also to let him know that Irma was indeed unavailable for the duration. "My car is over here." She said and she steered me in the proper direction.
I stopped near her tan/orange Opel Ascona and waited for her to open the passenger door. "You better ride on the way out, it will cause less problems." She nodded and got in the passenger side. She reached over and opened the driver side and I got in and started the car. Before we reached the gate I asked. "Which guard?" She pointed him out and I stopped at the gate. "Hand me your driver's license please." She did so and when the guard arrived I flashed my ID. He looked startled at the clearance code and when I handed him Irma's driver's license I said, "Add it to my access list. I will wait outside the gate."
The guard snapped to attention and said. "Yes, Sergeant Whitemar."
When I parked outside of the gate Irma looked at me and asked. "What was that all about?"
"I should have taken care of this earlier but better late than never. I have a special security clearance that allows me to vouch for multiple local nationals for access to any base I can go on." I flashed a smile at her. "This will be the best I can do until something more permanent can be arranged." I left it at that and waited for the guard to return the license. "I will let you drive the rest of the way Liebling." She nodded at me and we switched places.
We were quiet the rest of the drive home but I could see her peering from time to time out of the corner of her eye at me. I was sure about my feelings for her and about hers for me but I needed the approval of her parents before I even considered what logically came next. I did not want to see her at odds with her parents because of me.
Was I ready to take the relationship to the next level? I knew I was physically, from the moment that I first laid eyes on her but I did not trust a reaction that was governed by hormones. Was I mentally ready to go in a direction I had only gone with one woman in my entire life? I had been out in the world long en
ough to know that the morality I had been brought up with was old fashion and long out of date. Heck these days it was hard to find a thirteen year old who had not already done it.
We parked in front of my place. When I went to grab my backpack she took it away from me. I would have to get my gun from it and unload it and put it in the safe before she ran across it. She opened the door and dropped the backpack in my office. "Tyler brought your mail a couple of days ago so you will probably want to go through that. I will cook us some lunch while you do that."
She went into the kitchen and began to gather the fixings for a lunch. I went in the office and sat down behind the desk. Making sure the desk shielded me, I flipped up the section of the wood where I had hidden the safe and quickly unloaded the pistol and locked it in the safe. I then turned my attention to the mail that had piled up in my three week absence. It was mostly junk but one letter shocked me when I looked at the return address. How had he found me? I opened the letter and began to read.
Grandson,
You might guess how it surprised me when I finally discovered what you had done. Mimi was heartbroken when she found out about Katie. When you escaped from the sanitarium there was nobody seriously hurt and the aide you tied up had no idea what had happened after some mind tampering from Mimi. Dr. Grant and his wife insisted on carrying through on their desire to complete your wedding present and there is now a new home waiting for you when you should decide to return home. Your decision to join the army is an admirable one and the change in your name was not at all necessary. We have taken care of things on this end so that the person ‘Jason White’ is not wanted for anything. I am sure with your skills you will be able to effect the change back on that side.
I have already met the young lady who will in my opinion be the one responsible for healing your heart. Don't be so surprised Pasche, I am an old dog and I have many ways to find out what I want to. Please do not be angry with me when you realize how much of the manipulation you have experienced has been through my hands. The place you are at in your life right now is the way that the grand plan had foreseen for you. Please believe me that Katie's selfless sacrifice was not at all unexpected, by her. She knew she would only be a small part of your life but was happy to be there as long as she was. While she is not in this world be aware her spirit is alive and watching over you. You probably have felt her from time to time.
As for the present stage in your life. You will over the next six years be learning everything you will be needing in your later life. Irma the young lady you are currently with knows what her part is and she loves you Jason and will be with you until the time is right for her. I can tell you now she will not be taken from you as Katie was but will be around for your entire life. Do not press her for any details. When I say she knows, then I mean she will instinctively know what to do when the time is right. Know only this she is the right person for you, Jason. The son you will bare with her represents the next step in the evolution of our line.
Grandson although you are apart from your family and the Circle of Heritage know that the next thirty years of your life was meant to take place outside of the conflict we face on a day to day basis here. The tribe is handling the enemy as we have for generations and will continue to do so. The enemy is not aware of your location and will not know about you until they are supposed to. Live your life to the fullest and know that we love you. This will be my last contact with you or with your new mate for a few years. Don’t attempt to come home before the time is right. You will feel this.
With all the love and pride in this world.
Grandfather Sam White.
"Jeran?" I placed the letter on my desk and looked up at her. I could not help it the tears were flowing freely down my face. "Is there something wrong? Do you need some pain killers.?"
My voice was hoarse as I replied. "No, I am fine." I slid the letter in the drawer in front of me and locked it. I put out my hands to her and pulled her closer to me. "I realized the past couple of weeks that I have failed to do something and I know now it's something I need to do."
"What Jeran? Is there something I can do for you." She asked me with a concern on her face.
"You have done everything you can for me, Irma. You have healed a broken heart without even trying." I caressed her face as I spoke softly to her.
"Why are you crying then?" She asked concerned.
"I am crying because I realized I have hurt you."
"No you haven't, I am happy when I am with you." She stepped back and put her hands on her hips. "Now out with it Jeran before you make me mad."
I smiled at her and pulled her close to me. I stood up so I was looking right in her eyes. "I hurt you Irma because I have never said just how much I love you."
"You do?" Now the tears started flowing from her eyes. "Oh Jason. I love you too with all of my heart." I leaned forward and started the most passionate kiss we had ever experienced together. I poured all of my feelings that had been bottled up since Katie left me into the kiss.
She opened her eyes and accused, “You have been holding back on me Jeran!”
I laughed at her and then sniffed the air. "Is something burning?"
She jerked herself out of my arms and ran toward the kitchen. "Jeran, you made me burn lunch! Now I have to start all over again." I heard her complain from the other room.
"Sorry Love, I didn't want to do that." I looked at the rest of the mail. Most of it were ads. I tossed them onto the desk and left the room. I joined Irma in the kitchen and asked. "What's for lunch?"
"I was going to do grilled cheese but you ruined the last of the bread." She walked to the refrigerator and looked inside. "You know last week I met this old fellow in town who said he knew you."
"Oh really?" I knew what was coming. "What about this guy?"
"He said his name was Sam White and he was your grandfather." She looked at me and continued. "At first I thought he had a few screws loose but the more I looked at him the more of you I could see in him."
I laughed, "That sure sounds like my Grandfather."
She looked at me in surprise. "I wonder how he found out where you are?"
"He has ways that even now I do not understand. What did he tell you?" I asked.
"Well it seems strange to me he gave me a message to give to you." I looked at her and waited for her to continue. "He said the family name is now safe. Do you know what he meant?"
I cleared my throat and said. "It was his way to tell me that Jason White need not hide anymore."
"So I can start calling you Jason now?" She asked me.
"Yes. I will have to get with Blake and have him start the changes needed. I will have to do a little bit of what my grandfather called mind tampering." I waited for the expected question.
"Mind tampering?" She asked as expected. "And this is?"
"It's not something we do often, love because it's wrong. But sometimes is necessary to hide the abilities which are common in our tribe." I levitated a glass over to her and she jumped back in fright. "There are some things you don't know about me yet my love but I promise you will."
She reached out and hesitantly grabbed the glass. "Ok, I think but try not to do any of this hockey pokey around my parents because they would probably blow a gasket." She looked at me with a suspicious look in her eyes. "You haven't done anything to my mind have you?"
I shook my head "Other than to see how beautiful your mind is I will not touch it. It is against everything I believe in. The tampering I am talking about is that instead of Jeran Whitemar, Jason White will be here now."
"Good the other feels like a lie to me so I am happy I won't have to do that anymore." she said as she wrapped her arms around me.
"Have you told your parents the name of the American you are with now?" I asked.
"No, I haven't they only know I am with one." She said.
"Then tonight you will be taking your American boyfriend to meet your parents." I said looking at her.
"Jason
do you think this is a good idea?" She asked with a frightened look on her face.
"Heck Baby I just went through an operation where sixty men with guns were trying to shoot me in a place you haven't seen yet. I think I can handle a father and mother who's most violent gesture will probably be to try to scowl me to death." I laughed at her. "Your father doesn't own a shotgun does he?"
She giggled at me and said. "No silly! Why do you ask that?"
"I was trying to decide if I had to wear my flak vest or not." I laughed back at her.
We laughed together and I hugged her tightly. "Also I am sure your parents will want to help you move your stuff over here and see what kind of place their daughter will be in."
Irma stood still with shock on her face at what I said. "Are you sure about this Jason?"
"Absolutely positive, love, if that's what you want." I said with a twinkle in my eye.
"That's not all I want Jason White." She said in a husky voice.
"Well what are you waiting for woman. Do your best. Or your worst." I leered suggestively.
She turned off the stove and darted out of the room. "You're going to have to catch me first."
I walked out and joked. "Have a heart Irma I was shot remember."
"Your arm is not what I have targeted." she suggested I could hear the smile in her voice. "Don't come in yet."
"Ok." I stood there for a few moments and tapped against the door she had closed on me.
"OK Jason. Lunch is served." I pushed the door to the bedroom open.
Chapter 20 - Trouble that Follows
Rise of the Death Walkers (The Circle of Heritage Saga) Page 19
