Risk it All

by Fiona Price

  "I knew something just wasn't right." He said, before he even said hello, as he looked into her eyes. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into a tight embrace. Alissa then knew the meaning of his visit.

  "I don't think your gut feelings have ever been wrong." Alissa answered, opening up to him slightly that things really weren't fine with her.

  When the hug was over, Matt grabbed the treats and brought them further into the living room and settled down on her couch, patting the spot next to him for Alissa to sit.

  "We don't have to talk, Alissa, but I just want you to know that I'm here." He answered. "I know I'm the type of person to air it all out, but Shane prefers to keep things close to him and he likes to problem solve on his own. I'm not sure how healthy that is for him, but I know we all deal with pain in different ways. Know I'll always listen, and I'll never come empty-handed." He spoke as Alissa settled in.

  She laid on the couch, her head resting on his lap, and he put his feet up on the coffee table. He was holding his coffee with one hand, his elbow perched on the end of the couch, and his other hand was running through Alissa's hair and running gently along her skin. They sat in silence for a long time.

  "I know I should be over it by now." Alissa began, catching Matt's attention. "I know that it's been months since Alex died and I should have moved on by now, but as hard as I try there is always something preventing me from getting over this."

  Matt was waiting for the right moment to pitch in, wondering if he even should, if he should just listen instead, and he let Alissa continue.

  "You know I'm not sleeping, Matt. I don't know how you know, but I haven't slept through the night since she died. I know we closed the case, and that's not what keeps me up, but it was the fact there was a case at all. I loved her so much. I gave Alex every part of me, and I thought she did the same for me, but it turns out the woman I fell in love with really didn't exist. There was so much I didn't know about Alex, she had an entire secret life I knew nothing about. I trusted her so much, but she didn't let me in on the biggest secret I've ever stumbled across. I just keep kicking myself for letting myself put so much love and trust in somebody that I thought I knew that ended up just being a stranger. How am I supposed to believe that anyone around me is genuine? If Alex could lie to me that greatly and get away with it then what's stopping everybody else from lying to me too?"

  There was a long pause before Matt gave any response.

  "Alissa, there is no time limit for healing. Alex was extremely important to you, and that got turned on its head. There's a lot to process here, and just because the case is closed doesn't mean you have to be over it. Take as long as you need. Healing is always going to have its ups and downs, its good days and its bad days. I know from experience. You might never be "over it", and that's okay. You lost somebody you loved. So, do yourself a favor and let yourself heal, no matter how long it takes." He addressed first, thinking about his approach for her second concern.

  "I know that Alex lied to you, and it's completely unfair that it had to happen at all. Your trust was shaken by the person you confided in most, and that too will take time to heal. I know that we say to trust us a lot, and we ask you to put blind faith in us, and I now understand how hard of a task that may be for you to do. I know that I can't just say that you can trust me and have that be it, I know trust takes time to build. I know your trust was shaken, but Shane and I will always have your back. I can promise you that you'll never have to go through the same things you went through with Alex. We're never going to lie to you like that. We'll show you that we've got you, and we'll always trust you in return."

  After a few more moments of silence, Matt spoke up again.

  "If you want to know how I know you're not sleeping, it's because I went through the exact same thing. My old partner, Kelly, died unexpectedly while we were working a case. I spent months lying awake at night wondering what went wrong. I replayed it over and over again in my head figuring out if there was any way to do it again, how I could have changed things and saved her. When she died, Shane did the same thing for me that I'm doing for you, he would call me up in the middle of the night and check if I was doing okay. If I was alone for too long, I'd spiral, and nobody would see me for days. Shane kept me alive. I knew I had him in my hardest times, and I want you to know you have me."

  They laid on the couch together through the better part of the night, Matt stayed awake until he was sure Alissa was asleep. He was grateful she could finally get some rest. He picked her up, trying her hardest not to wake her, and laid her in her bed, covering her with the blankets. He laid next to her in his tee shirt and sweatpants, eventually falling asleep as well. He was hoping with all his might they didn't get another early-morning call for a case because the sun would rise in less than two hours and Alissa needed more sleep than that. Her mind had finally calmed down and he wanted her to get as much sleep as possible just in case she didn't sleep at all during the days that were coming.

  Matt knew he wasn't the same as Alex. He knew that Alissa trusted him, and that she loved him, but it was different than what she had before. Alissa trusted Matt, but she was straying away from trusting him as much as she trusted Alex. She didn't want to find herself in the same place. Even though Matt and Shane would always take care of her, Matt knew that trust didn't happen by saying that she should just do it.

  Matt didn't want to feel insufficient for Alissa, but he knew that there would always be differences. Alissa was going to marry Alex, they were at that level of trust and commitment. Shane and Matt were still so new in her life, and considering her past, it would take more time to build. The good thing was, they were both just as willing to take the time to build that trust with Alissa. They didn't want to have life-or-death situations, and of course they didn't wish for crime, but they knew that nothing would show their trust more than action.

  So, when Shane got word of a drug trafficking operation in the Caribbean jungle, he knew just the person to take with him on the op.

  IX

  Matt and Alissa arrived at the office, and the morning was starting off like no other. Shane had laid out his tactical gear and was prepping for a mission, and he had pulled out the Kevlar vest that Alissa would wear. Little did either of them know that Alissa would be tagging along with Shane on this important mission, which was a surprise when Shane announced it.

  "Shane, want to share with us what's going on?" Matt asked, knowing that something was big, but not what that something was.

  "Come on over, I'll explain in a minute." He answered, gesturing to their computers and whiteboard thinking area they huddled around to solve cases. Alissa and Matt shrugged to each other before walking over to the table, waiting for Shane's explanation.

  "Okay, guys, here's what's up. There is a drug operation with its roots on this uninhabited island in the Caribbean. This island is their main integrations center, if it's an opiate, it's gone through here. We're going to the island to shut the distributions down."

  "Who's we?" Alissa wondered.

  "You and me, Alissa, the operation has to be small since we're going to need to be moving through the jungle pretty fast. We have to get in and out before the operation is toast, this is a highly sensitive mission. We'll have air support, backup and these guys on the line at all times, but it's just you and me on the ground. With your experience in the field with operations like these, I know we'll be able to do this." The Commander explained, pulling up maps of the island and satellite images of the distribution center. Alissa was shocked that she was going on this huge mission alone with Shane, how he trusted her and her skills that much to be his partner in a drug bust in the jungle.

  "When do we fly out?" She asked, still trying to wrap her head around the assignment.

  "As soon as the chopper is ready, and we're geared up. I'm flying us to a nearby island, then we take the raft the rest of the way to sneak on."

  "You're flying us?" Alissa questioned, trying to put all the pieces
together.

  "He doesn't like it when other people fly the plane or the helicopter. The control freak also just wants to use his pilot's license any opportunity he can." Matt answered, knowing Shane well. Shane nodded to confirm Matt's answer.

  "I'm so glad the two people I happen to love most are going to a deserted island in the Caribbean, alone, to face a major drug exporting operation that might get them killed. I should call my therapist and my cardiologist in advance." Matt continued, extremely worried about the risky operation.

  "We'll be okay, Matty. We're both trained in combat and I won't let anything bad happen to her. She'll do the same for me. We've got each other's backs, Matty." Shame reassured.

  "I still don't like this." He protested.

  "I know, babe. But we've gotta do this, you know we do." Shane answered, beginning to get his gear together. Matt nodded, knowing Shane was right. They had to go. The phone was already ringing with Matt's Doctor. Matt always told Shane that he would die from a heart attack that was stress-induced, and that Shane would be the sole cause of it. With each day, that seemed to be a growing reality.

  Shane was filling his pack with an entire survival kit and plenty of ammo. His vest was loaded with every type of grenade imaginable, and Alissa wondered why on earth he would need to pack that many. Shane was a walking battalion by the time he was completely loaded up.

  He wore the closest thing to battle fatigues, which were his cargo pants and a tee shirt laying underneath his button-down shirt and a bandana. Shane was loaded in every possible way, he carried knives in their holsters around his ankle and had his standard two holsters for his thighs. He was carrying so much metal one would think he was Magneto. Alissa felt confident that they wouldn't be caught off guard with their amount of prep.

  Alissa set herself up similarly except she had quite a few less guns, but there was one thing that Shane didn't think of that she slung across her shoulder.

  "Why do you want a bow and arrow?"

  "It's quiet and can critically injure from a distance. The last thing we need, especially if we have to hunt for food, is giving away our position with gunshots. Trust me, you'll be glad I brought this."

  "How accurate are you with that thing?" He asked.

  "Want to find out?" Alissa responded, a little annoyed that the Commander was doubting a weapons choice of hers. She wasn't in love with guns like Shane was, and she preferred to use other methods if she could.

  She followed him out to the helicopter that was all fueled and ready to go. He double checked with Vicki and Matt that their computers were up and running to track their GPS, as well as their communication lines through their earpieces before they left. Alissa nervously boarded the helicopter that Shane was piloting, and he was going through the pre-flight check to make sure everything was up to par. Alissa had never ridden in a helicopter that Shane was piloting, and she wasn’t sure if she was safe, or if she would shit her pants the whole way. Thankfully, Shane was a good pilot.

  It wasn't long before they arrived on the island, since Miami was pretty close to the Caribbean island they were shooting for. Though, the closer they got, the more nervous Alissa became. She hadn't been on a tactical mission since she was deployed, and the jitters never went away. Shane made her feel more confident since he had a rock-solid plan, and he was leading the way as if he had done the exact mission many times before. Just like his plan detailed, they landed the helicopter on the neighboring island and took a dinghy over to their target island for a sneaky entry.

  Alissa and Shane had been hiking all day as they followed Shane's satellite GPS. The conditions were just as expected, hot, humid and disgusting. The jungle might as well have been a rainforest. Shane was cutting through the thick brush with his machete until he reached a point where he stopped.

  "We're about three klicks out from where the center should be, so be on higher alert for danger. The perimeter for the armed guards might extend as far out as we are."

  And soon enough, just as he had predicted, the two had been found out. They were able to stay secret when they were around the edge of the island, but the danger increased the further they marched inwards.

  Gunshots suddenly rang out and bullets whizzed through the dense brush. They immediately ducked for cover and readied their weapons. Shane was on the lookout to estimate the location of their attackers from the trajectory of the bullets. He knew they had to move, and fast. They were being closed in on

  "Follow my lead." The Commander told his Lieutenant as he continued on through the jungle as they were being chased down by members of the gang.

  "We've got to get to higher ground to get the jump on these guys." Shane instructed as they were dodging bullets and forcing their way through the brush.

  "I have an idea." Alissa spoke as they came to a clearing. There was a stream, and Alissa could hear a waterfall not too far off in the distance. She began marching upstream on the riverbank until they reached the waterfall.

  "I think I found higher ground." Alissa smiled before she began inspecting the falls, seeing if it was feasible to climb. It was, there were plenty of rocky outcrops for them to scale and vines to grab hold of. Shane followed her lead. They were certainly making progress in their climb, and though they had gained a lead from the attackers, they were still limited in time.

  "I'm slipping, Liss!" Shane exclaimed as he was unable to find good footing on the slippery rock wall. Alissa, though, was in a very stable place so she reached back to grab the Commander's arm, ensuring he didn't tumble down the rock wall. She pulled him up to stability and safety and they continued their climb.

  "We won't be able to hold them off for too long. This bought us at least a few minutes to get a plan. So, Commander, where do we go from here?" Alissa asked.

  "We book ass back towards the hub of the drug operation. We're on higher ground so we might have an advantage. But we've gotta keep moving if we want to stand a chance against these guys."

  Per his direction, they continued their jog through the dense forest. Suddenly, the ground gave way underneath Alissa and she slid down the rocky terrain into a sinkhole. Shane, who was ahead of her, must have loosened the terrain before she crossed it. She was hiking just behind Shane and he turned around once he heard her yelp and the footsteps cease behind him. Alissa had cuts all over her body from where the rocks sliced through her skin as she tumbled through the dirt. She hit her head on a large rock at the bottom, rendering her unconscious.

  Shane carefully ran down the soft, slippery dirt down to his partner, doing what he could to quietly take care of her. They still had to be wary of their perimeter to the drug relay center. He kneeled down next to her and lifted her head into his lap.

  "Come on, Alissa, come back." He attempted to coax her back into consciousness. Seeing the gash on her head, he grabbed his bandana and tied it as tightly as he could around her head to stop the bleeding. Soon, she groaned back to life.

  "Hey, hey, you're okay. You're going to be fine, Liss. Take it slow, take some deep breaths. We gotta keep moving, though. Don't worry, I've got you." The Commander encouraged softly to his partner. He helped her get up and regain her balance, supporting her as they hiked back up the slippery hill.

  "We have to go back in. We got close before but now we have to shut it down. They're weaker now and we can bring this entire op to a close." Shane spoke, letting her know they had to finish what they started. His strong arm was supporting her as she was regaining her consciousness and balance, protecting her as they were being closed in on. The Commander and the gang members exchanged shots before the coast was clear for them to continue. Shane grabbed one of the radios off of a guard so they would have ears into the camp.

  "How are you feeling, Lieutenant?" Shane asked as they were just outside the drug distribution center. He asked her that to gauge what their attack plan should be, especially because he noticed she had bled through the bandana around her head.

  "I'm feeling okay. A little dizzy still. I think I k
now how we can make our jobs easier before we storm the place." She answered, surveying the nearby trees.

  "What are you thinking?"

  "I get a perch up in one of these trees and we take out the patrol guards around the perimeter so we can go right in and take the rest of them down."

  "Good idea." He answered, giving her five-foot-tall frame a boost up to the tree where she would climb further and situate herself with her bow and arrow. Shane followed her lead, but with his gun. They both had scopes and were able to see inside the camp.

  "They're going to know if they already don't that we're going in to attack them. Once we take out these guys, we won't have much time to go in and make our move. When we mobilize, I'll take point. Are you ready?" Shane asked. Alissa understood and nodded.

  "Listen, if anything happens to me, just keep going. Finish this thing. Don't worry about me, Alissa." Shane spoke out of the blue. "Let's take these guys down."

  Alissa and Shane both began to take down the perimeter guards and then storm the camp. It was two against at least five, but Alissa knew that with Shane on point, they would be more than okay. They were equally powered against the gang and they sure got a run for their money, since it was no easy take down. Shane was disarmed and he had to fight hand to hand for a moment before he could pick up his gun from the dirt. In that moment, Shane took the butt of a gun to his eyebrow, and a fist to his lip. He was quickly bloodied, but he wasn't shaken, and Alissa wondered if he even noticed.

  They were able to move closer to meet the drug boss and his entourage. But, they weren't immediately met with a string of bullets.