Introduction: A hero falls, and a request is met. ,
Author’s note: This story is based on real life events that occurred to me. The names have all been changed to protect the innocent, and not so innocent. Some dramatization has been added to match the themes of this site, but otherwise I have tried to remain true to the original experience.
This story does not have a lot of sex for its length, but considering it is based on reality. . . Well, you’ll see why as you read it.
For those coming to this story from my dear friend’s, Dark_Brother, stories, I hope this answers some of your questions.
This wasn’t easy to write, as it brings up a lot of hard memories, but I think I am stronger for having done it.
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Chapter 01
“Sergeant,” I say, “I don’t think that’s a good idea. Our orders are to stay and guard this road.” I’ve got a bad feeling about following my Staff Sergeant’s orders. Nothing I can put my finger on, just a feeling of dread, and I usually follow my instincts.
“Sergeant Baker,” (that’s me, by the way), Staff Sergeant Anderson says with derision, “We have two gun trucks,” (a gun truck is a HUMMV with either a .50 cal machine gun, or a MK-19 Grenade Launcher on top). “One can stay and watch the road, but we’re only a couple miles from where that IED went off a couple nights ago. We’re going to clear the route.” (An IED is an Improvised Explosive Device, or roadside bomb.)
Looking up to the half-moon in the night sky, I don’t like this idea. Don’t get me wrong, I’m no coward, but orders are orders, and smarter people than Anderson gave us our commands.
“I’m going,” Sergeant Barton, my best friend since third grade, pipes up, and I groan. The guy is a good soldier, but if I’m not around to look after him, he tends to get into trouble. If he’s going, then I am too.
Anderson sneers at me, knowing what my choice will have to be now. I can’t stand this guy! “Why don’t you be the gunner?” He asks me. “Maybe holding such a big weapon won’t make you such a pussy.”
Alright, since I haven’t mentioned it yet, I’d better let you know I’m a guy. Don’t want anyone getting confused from the ignorant Staff Sergeant Anderson’s statement.
Michael Barton knows how I feel about being the gunner. “Forget it, Prick, I’m gonna gun,” he says, and then starts crawling into the back door, and pops his head out the top, behind the .50 cal. We’ve been friends long enough, that I’ve long ago gotten used to him calling me prick.
“Fine,” Anderson says. “Then you can drive, Baker. I was afraid you’d end up shooting us anyway.” I know he’s just trying to get under my skin, but it’s still working. “Garrett and Bertke, you’re coming too. The rest of you stay and guard this road.”
Stowing my M-16A4 rifle by the driver’s seat, I start the diesel engine, and wait for everyone else to get situated.
* * *
“Wake up,” a voice says next to me, and I rub my eyes to clear them of sleep. “We’re landing.”
“Thanks,” I say to Specialist Garrett.
“Dreaming about the attack again?” he asks me, and I just nod, not wanting to think about that night. “You gonna talk to the VA about it, after you see your family?”
“No, I’m no wimp,” I tell him. “I’ll get over this on my own.”
The ebony skinned man shakes his head, but looks past me out the windows, as we descend. Following his lead, a feeling of homesickness washes over me as I recognize the mountains surrounding the valley where my wife and daughters are waiting for me.
Despite not wanting to think about that night, I remember having a conversation with my friend, Michael.
“That’s kind of perverted,” I’d told him, after he revealed to me what he’d been working on so hard during his free time. We were standing in his half of the room, over his laptop.
“I know, but I don’t think it’s completely finished. I had to rush it, before coming out to this stinking country,” he tells me, defensively.
“I don’t mean that you are writing erotic stories,” I informed him. “I’m referring to what’s in them.”
He grimaces at me, but I just chuckle. We’ve been friends long enough that I know I’ll get away with the laugh.
The captain comes over the intercom, interrupting my thoughts and telling the stewardesses to strap in as we get closer to the airport. I pat the two letters in my pocket, both afraid of them, and reassured by them. The next few minutes seem to drag on forever, as we land, taxi to our gate, and then wait to deplane.
Conversely, the walk down the long hallway and out to baggage claim is over before I know it. Stepping out of the secure area, I can’t hide the smile which breaks across my lips as my three women rush to greet me. My wife’s blue eyes sparkle with tears of joy, after we’ve been separated for over a year. My legs are wrapped in small arms. Tears start to stream down my own cheeks, as I hug my family tight to me. I know I missed them, but until this moment, I really had no idea how much.
“We’ve missed you so much,” Ashley, my seven year old daughter cries on my right leg.
“Don’t ever leave again,” Kally, my five year old daughter cries against my other leg.
My wife, Karrista, just cries happily. We don’t want to let go of each other as the baggage comes out.
Suddenly, there’s a loud noise behind me, and I dive for cover, tearing out of the arms holding me. It only takes a few seconds for me to realize that someone had just dropped their bags, and I feel foolish as I slowly stand back up, my heart still racing. Thankfully, I notice I wasn’t the only one to take cover.
Unfortunately my wife and kids are looking at me with a concerned expression. I wonder what that must have looked like to them?
“Are you okay?” my wife asks in a whisper. I can’t look at her right now, ashamed, and just nod.
Thankfully the mood lightens as we start talking about Ashley’s grades, and Kally’s first year in school. Karrista offers to drive, but I tell her I’ve been missing driving anything smaller and faster than an up-armored HUMMV.
“Are you sure, you don’t want me to drive?” Karrista asks again, this time in fear, as I blow through an intersection. The light was more pink than red.
“Go VROOM VROOM, dad!” Kally cries from her car seat, excitedly. At least someone is enjoying this. I just wish the other cars wouldn’t drive so close to me.
Don’t they understand that it’s dangerous to stop at a red light? Someone might pull up next to us, and shoot us.
I don’t see the cop, until his lights are flashing in my rearview mirror. I only debate for a second on pulling over, then shake myself, as I realize what I’ve been doing.
I’m home, dammit. I’m safe. Why can’t I act like it?
The cop returns a moment later with my license. “Are you part of the unit that just returned?”
Laughing weakly, I reply, “Yeah, just landed. Guess I’m not used to the safe streets yet.”
“Well, I’m going to let you go with a warning, but under one condition: you let your wife drive.”
“Yes, officer,” I tell him thankfully.
“I like the way Daddy’s driving,” Kally claims, and Ashley tries to hush her.
“I have a brother that got back last year. I remember what he went through.” The officer seems to debate with himself for a minute, before adding, “He got some really good help with the VA. You might want to get in touch with them.”
“Thank you, officer,” I tell him noncommittally.
“Thank you for your service,” he says before turning and heading back to his car.
Karrista grips my thigh, after she gets in the driver’s seat of our car, telling me that everything’s okay.
But it’s not. I’m home now. That broken down car on the side of the road isn’t an IED. That van coming up on our left isn’t speeding up to shoot at us. Why is my wife driving so slow?
We’ve got a long drive ahead of us, and as thankful as I am to be back with my family, I’m still feeling the effects of jetlag, so I take a nap.
* * *
“You really need to get the sand out of your pussy,” Anderson says to me, as we fly down the deserted road. I ignore him, as I do every time I know I can get away with it. “I don’t understand why you chose to be a soldier. You’re a coward, Baker. You’re lazy, and a detriment to this team.” He continues in this vein, but I’ve heard it all before.
He considers me lazy, because during our training, on breaks, I choose to read, instead of socialize. Staff Sergeant Anderson is a butt-kisser of the highest caliber, and if you don’t kiss his ass, then apparently you aren’t worth shit.
I AM worth shit, though, and know it. Checking my speed, I see I’m doing a whopping fifty mph. Laugh if you will, but in a fully up-armored HUMMV driving on these crappy roads, that’s pretty fast. There are almost more pot-holes than road, and the trip isn’t a smooth one.
Despite knowing that he’s just trying to get to me, and get me to say something that’ll get me into trouble, I can feel my anger rising.
“I don’t know how you made it through basic training, and I really don’t understand why you chose to stay in after your initial enlistment. Hell, I tried to stop you from getting your E-5 rank, but you went over my head.” Yeah, so that makes me smile. I know he’d been badmouthing me, so I went over him, and convinced the chain-of-command that I was worth promoting. That’d really pissed off my NCO, and was one more reason he always ragged on me.
The thing I really don’t understand is: I’ve put in three different requests to be transferred to a different section, but Anderson has denied them. In truth, if it weren’t for Michael, I probably would have lost it with this superior acting asshole.
“Look,” I tell him, taking my eyes off the road for just a second, anger thick in my voice, “if I’m really that bad, then transfer me. I could be out of your hair in less than a week.”
“I can’t do that,” he tells me, and I can just barely hear the note of laughter in his voice over the sound of the engine, as I gun the truck past some debris on the side of the road. “You’re a danger to those around you, and I can’t pass you on to anyone else.”
Alright, that’s a low blow, no matter how you look at it.
“You sonuffa—,”
“IED, IED, IE—” Michael Barton cuts me off, only to be cut off himself by a large explosion, and the world goes yellow.
* * *
“Jason!” Karrista yells, and I bolt upright, sweat streaming from my brow. I see we’re pulled off to the side of the road, and I open the door just in time to lean out, and puke. The remains of my lunch from the plane paint the dirt on the side of the road, as tears stream down my face.
“Mom, is dad okay?” Ashley asks, while Kally cries her own tears.
“Honey, are you alright?” I can feel my wife rubbing my back, reassuringly, but I shake her off. I don’t want to be touched right now.
Why am I still having this dream? That all happened months ago. Why can’t I be stronger?
Wiping my mouth, I sit up, and suck in a deep breath.
“Honey. . .?”
“I’m fine,” I snarl at her. Can’t she see that? I’m no longer puking, so obviously I’m fine. I see the hurt look in her eyes and immediately regret my tone. “I’m sorry, babe. I guess I just ate something bad on the plane.” Kally is still crying in the back, and I turn around to her, placing my hand on her leg. “Daddy’s just a little sick, darling. I’ll be better soon.” I tell her. I just have to get stronger, I tell myself.
“Do we need to get you something for your stomach?” Karrista asks.
My first thought is to snap at her again. Why can’t she just leave me alone? But I shake it off, and get my emotions under control. “No,” I tell her, keeping my voice calm. “I think I got it all out.”
We get back on the road, and I start talking to the girls about their friends, and about what their plans will be for summer break, starting in a couple weeks. We chat amiably until they decide to take a nap, by which time Kally has regained her good mood.
“I know what I plan on doing with you during summer break,” Karrista tells me, reaching over and squeezing my manhood.
“Why wait?” I ask, smiling at her. Right now she reminds me of how she was when we first started dating. I grab her hand, and try to get it into my beltline.
She looks in the rearview mirror at our two sleeping daughters and then pulls her hand away and gives my crotch a light tap. “When we get home.”
I know better than to argue. Over the last few years, her sex drive has almost entirely disappeared, while mine has remained the same. We used to screw three to four times a week, but before the deployment with my National Guard unit, it was down to once a month, when I was lucky.
“Were you dreaming about Michael?” she asks me, and I feel my mood turn sour again. She never liked my best friend, and I really don’t feel like discussing him with her right now.
Turning to look outside, I let my mind wander as the terrain moves by.
“Oh, don’t give me that,” Michael had said. “You’re just as much a pervert as I am.”
“Maybe,” I hedged, “but I’m not the one that watched hentai out in the open bays back in Indiana, and my fetishes aren’t necessarily the same as yours.”
“I’m not asking you to like them. I just want you to edit them, Prick.” He got a bit defensive, and I knew to start taking him seriously. “Besides, I’ve hidden it all, since we came out here. You were the one that showed me how to do that.”
“You realize the trouble either one of us could get into if we’re caught with that on our laptops?” The concern was real. We were in one of those countries that outlawed any type of pornography. We both had some, but it was well hidden.
“Yeah, yeah. We’re not likely to get caught, as long as we keep our mouths shut about it.” I only grunted in response. “Look, it’s all already written. We can’t access the sites that I was posting to while here, but some people complained about errors, so when I repost this story, I want it as close to perfect as possible. I also want it to come out as I originally wanted it, instead of the shortened version.”
“Why didn’t you just finish it then?” I asked, and he gave me a look like I’m an idiot, and I answered my own question. “Because we were leaving for here, and you wanted an ending before we left.”
My wife pulls into our driveway, and I help her carry our still snoozing kids into the house. She offers to help me carry my bags in, but I know she can’t lift most of my duffle bags.
“You rearranged again, while I was gone,” I accuse her teasingly, as I drop my bags in front of the closet. She’s left me no room, having taken over my side of it.
“You weren’t here to argue. Now, are you really going to complain about that right now, or will you come over here, and take advantage of the fact that our daughters are asleep?”
Grinning deeply, she already knows my answer, as I start stripping off my clothes. Giggling, she does the same, while I lock our door.
I won’t pretend to be some well-endowed god, but it’s been so long since I’ve been in the same room as a naked lady, and my wife does have a killer body, with her small waist, and child-bearing hips. Her once B-cup breasts, are now C-cups, and sag only slightly after two kids, and her nipples are already hard.
My rod is veritably hurting, it’s swollen so much. Crawling up onto the bed, I kiss my lovely wife passionately. While our tongues entwine, I bring my right hand up to her left breast, and give it a gentle squeeze. I moan, not because she is doing anything for me, but just the fact that I have my hand on a breast (My favorite part of any woman), turns me on even more. I need to taste her nipple, and kiss my way down her neck and chest, until I can pull the rubbery tip between my teeth, and suck hard, making her moan, as her hands dig into my scalp.
“I’ve missed you,” she whispers to me, lovingly.
I try to say the same, but it comes out more like, “Mffm mhm hmf.”
I begin to kiss my way down her stomach, but she stops me.
“We don’t have time for that,” she informs me, and I groan. I love tasting my wife, but for some reason she hasn’t let me do that very much in the last few years. I know her excuse is just that, but I don’t push her.
Spitting into my hand, I rub it against her vulva, making sure she’s wet enough. I slide halfway into her on the first stroke, and then am fully seated on the second. Missionary style isn’t necessarily my favorite, but after a year of celibacy she feels exquisite!
She feels so good, wrapped around my rod, and I start to move my hips, while I nibble on her neck. I use my elbows to prop myself up, and use my hands to tweak her nipples.
“Mmm, you keep doing that, and I won’t last long,” she warns me, but it’s been so long, that I can already feel my own climax building. I love my wife dearly, but when it comes to her orgasms, she’s like a man. One and she’s done.
I pick up my pace, and a moment before I start to shoot off deep inside her, I feel her vagina clamp down on me. We both strive to muffle our moans, as we crescendo together.
* * *
“IED, IED, IE—,” Michael yells a moment before I feel the impact of the explosion.
The wheel is ripped out of my hands, as the entire vehicle is moved sideways from the explosion. It’s odd; you hear about being in this situation from those that have been there, but until you actually live it yourself, you never really understand.
My ears are ringing, and I’m half blinded. There’s a sharp pain in my right leg, and my whole body feels like it’s been hit with a speeding truck.
Everything seems to happen all at once and yet in slow motion. I see Anderson yelling something, blood already running down the side of his face, but I can’t hear what he’s saying. Fear grips my insides like an icy fist to the stomach, as I see Michael Barton, face covered in burns and blood, lying unconscious next to me.
* * *
Karrista rolls over, as I sit up in bed, trying to rid my mind of that image. It won’t leave though, and I clearly remember how badly he’d been torn up by that blast. I want to throw up, but walk out of the bedroom, my wife softly snoring behind me.
Booting up my laptop, I navigate to the hidden folder on my computer, and stare at the one marked ‘Barton’.
Inside that folder is part of a hero’s last wish. I know I should open it. I know I should do as my best friend asked, but I can’t face his ghost right now.
Silently, I grab a pillow next to me, and soak it in tears, cursing myself for how weak I am.
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Chapter 02
“Mom, why is Daddy sleeping on the couch,” I hear Kally ask my wife, and I come awake. Finally some sleep where I don’t dream!
“Go play in your room,” Karrista tells our youngest daughter. She turns and looks to me, hands on her hips. “So, Daddy. . . Why are you sleeping on the couch?” I know she’s not mad at me, but neither is she happy.
“I don’t want to talk about it,” I mumble at her, hoping she’ll drop it.
She won’t. “Jason, why won’t you talk to me? I know something’s bothering you. I’m your wife. Please open up to me. Is it the nightmares?”
Ignoring her, I walk into our room, and start getting dressed. How am I supposed to talk to her about what happened? She’d never understand. Even if she did, how could I dump that on her? My best friend, a man she couldn’t stand, is dead. Literally died in my arms, and it’s my fault. . .
* * *
“Michael!” I yell, but can’t hear my own voice over the ringing in my ears. “No, no, no, no, no,” I repeat, as I reach out to check his pulse. Where is it? Why is there so much blood?
There! Is that it? Yes, it’s faint, but it’s there.
A hand grips the front of my body armor, and turns me to face Staff Sergeant Anderson. He’s still yelling at me, and I can just start to make out his voice, but not his words. I notice that his right arm isn’t moving properly, but rip his left hand from my chest, as I try to open my door.
Thankfully it’s not jammed shut, and I step out onto wobbly legs. Or try to, the pain in my right leg intensifies tenfold, and I fall to the ground, yelling out in torture.
Michael, I think. Michael needs my help. Determination turns my limbs to steel, and I get back up, and reaching through my open doorway, grip my best friend’s body armor, and pull him out. Some small part of me notices that the vehicle is on fire, as another inner voice screams that you shouldn’t move a wounded person if you don’t know the extent of their injuries.
As carefully as I can, I get Sergeant Barton out, and pull him to safety. Feeling for his pulse again, I sense it’s still there.
A noise from the HUMMV gets my attention, and I realize the ringing in my ears has lessened. Looking up, I see Bertke dragging himself from the vehicle. He collapses, and I note that his legs are to be useless.
I don’t see Anderson or Garret.
* * *
The front door slamming shut brings me back to reality, and I realize that my wife just walked out with the kids. I’m not worried about her leaving me. She’s just probably giving me some space.
Hmm, space. . .
No! I’m not going to think about those stories right now.
I walk into the kitchen and open a beer. By the time my wife and kids return from a trip to the zoo, I’m thoroughly drunk.
“Go to your room, girls. I need to talk to your father.” Uh-oh. Whenever she refers to me as their ‘father,’ I know she’s mad.
“Awe, come-on, babe,” I slur, trying to turn her mood around. “Why don’t we lock the door, and have a repeat of yesterday afternoon?”
“Because you’re drunk,” she scolds me. “What happened to you? It isn’t like you to get drunk in the middle of the day.”
“I told you, I don’t want to talk about it,” I snap, turning my back on her. It’s supposed to be a grand gesture, but the room violently spins around me, and I collapse onto my bum. Ha. . . Bum. . . Such a funny word that is.
“Don’t you think ‘bum’ is a funny word, babe?” I ask her, forgetting that I’m upset with her.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you this drunk before.” She looks down at me with her judgmental look, and I don’t want to look back at her. “This is because of what happened to Michael, isn’t it?”
Tears, unbidden, rise before my already blurry vision, and this time I nod. Nodding was the wrong thing to do, though, and I feel my gorge rise. I try to head for the bathroom, but the floor moves beneath me, tripping me up, and I end up puking on the floor.
“Come on,” Karrista says, as she drags me to the shower. The wonderful woman strips me of my clothes, and as I lay under the shower, she cleans up my mess in the bedroom. I puke a few more times, the entire shower doing its best impression of a carousel; before I finally feel good enough to get cleaned up.
Unbidden, memories of all the times I’d gotten drunk with Michael surface.
“Are you ready to talk?” Karrista asks me, and I look up into her disapproving eyes. I’m tempted to. I know I need to talk to someone, but that look in her eyes stops me.
“You need to find help,” she tells me, the corners of her mouth tight. “I love you, but I can’t live with you like this, and it’s not fair to our children.
“I’ll call the VA as soon as I sober up,” I tell her. We don’t talk as she helps dry me, and tucks me into bed.
“Drink this, so you won’t feel so bad in the morning,” she hands me a glass of water, and I down it. I have to place my foot on the floor to stop the room from spinning, but it’s not long before I’m passed out.
* * *
“Are Garret and Anderson still inside?” I yell at Bertke, but he doesn’t hear me. I look from Michael to the burning HUMMV, and back.
Cursing soundly, I get up and limp back to the vehicle. Anderson is conscious, but I can see now that his right arm is hanging limply at his side. He’s fumbling with his seatbelt, but can’t seem to get it off.
Pulling out a tool from a pocket on my armor, I slice his seatbelt, and he helps me get him out of the burning vehicle. Garret is passed out in the back, and it takes all of my failing strength to get him extricated.
“Baker, get your ass over here,” Anderson yells at me, and suddenly I wish my hearing were still gone.
I pretend that it is, as I check over Garret. His leg is bleeding, but not badly, and blood is running from under his helmet. Checking, I can see that it’s a shallow cut, but surrounded by a massive goose egg.
Checking on Bertke next, (if Anderson has it in him to yell at me, then he has it in him to wait), I see that both of his legs are busted, the bone poking through his right thigh. Ripping off his medical kit, I apply first aid, until I’m sure he’ll survive. He’s already passed out from the pain.
Where is our other truck? Our radio is down, and there’s no way I’m going to try and get into the back of the HUMMV to get the backpack radio out. That entire vehicle is up in flames right now.
Still ignoring the ranting Anderson, I head back to Barton, and check him over. The side of his face is raw and burned. Horrible blisters have already started to form, where his skin had been exposed. Blood flows freely all over his face, and I can see blood soaking his digital camouflage. I rip open his armor, and then his top, gasping at what I see. Despite his armor, holes riddle his chest and arms.
Some of the wounds are bubbling, and I know at least one of his lungs are pierced.
* * *
“I told you, I wouldn’t put up with this,” Karrista screams at me, while she packs bags full of clothing. It’s been three weeks, and she’s sick of my excuses for not calling the VA.
“I’ll call them,” I promise for the umpteenth time.
“Call me when you’ve had your first appointment,” she tells me as she slams the trunk closed.
“Dammit, Karrista. Don’t take my daughters from me!’ I plead with her.
“Did you know they’re scared of you?” She asks me, looking me calmly in the eyes.
I take a step back, pain lancing through my heart. My girls, my baby girls are afraid of me? I’ve never hit them, unless you count a single spanking once in a great while. In fact, I haven’t had to spank Ashley once, and there was only that one time I had to tell Kally three times to do her chores.
Then I think about my anger. I used to be so laid back, but lately I’ve been so angry. It’s only because I’ve not been sleeping lately, I think, but I know better.
I watch, tears streaming down my cheeks as my life drives away.
* * *
“I need your help,” Anderson yells in my face. When had he crawled over to me?
“He needs me more,” I tell my NCO.
“He’s good as dead,” Anderson says coldly. “Now get your ass in gear, and bandage me up. I can’t do it alone.”
Glaring at him, I pour all the venom I can into my voice, “If he’s already dead, why are his chest wounds still sucking? Now get out of my way, while I try to save his life!”
I know I shouldn’t, but I shoulder the man aside, as I start tearing open packages, and placing them against the wounds, trying desperately to save my best friend’s life. It only takes me a few seconds to see that only his right lung has been punctured. As soon as it looks like I have the bleeding there under control, I turn my attention to his arm.
Michael’s hand grips my arm, and I see he’s awake.
“Don’t worry, brother. I’ve got you. We’ll get you patched up, and back to your wife again in no time,” I try to keep my voice reassuring, but I know there’s no hiding the quaver in it.
Sergeant Barton opens his mouth to say something, and I lean close to listen. He coughs, and I feel warm, wet blood splatter my face. Looking back down, I see his eyes roll back in his head, as he dies.
* * *
“I’ve got an appointment with a counselor at eight tomorrow morning,” I tell Karrista over the phone. “Will you please come back now?”
“Call me when you get out of that appointment,” she tells me, and I have to fight hard not to curse her.
“I’ve already been to a few,” I remind her. “I’ve been diagnosed with PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder), and that’s why I have the appointment tomorrow. I’ve done what you asked. Why won’t you let me see my daughters?”
“I need to know you’re serious. Call me after your appointment and we’ll talk,” she repeats, and then hangs up on me.
* * *
“Staff Sergeant Anderson is trying to bring you up on charges of neglect,” Chaplain Patterson tells me, and I can only nod my head despondently. “Don’t worry though. You saved all their lives. That won’t be forgotten.”
“Everyone’s but Barton’s,” I tell the tall man, as the stitches in my right calf start itching again. Who cares what Anderson is trying to do? Even after I splinted his arm, and then had to apply a tourniquet, the man is still bitter with me. He blames me for the loss of his arm. Of course, he’s also upset that they’re threatening to demote him for disobeying orders, and taking a single guntruck out, against our standard operating procedures.
“Speaking of which,” Patterson says, “This was dropped off earlier for you. Barton had it on him, as well as a letter for his wife. Apparently he wanted you to have both. I’m really sorry, man.”
The chaplain gets up, his shadowy form looming over me as he hands me two blood-stained envelopes, and leaves my now oversized room. Barton’s personal belongings are supposed to be getting packed up, to be sent home, but I can’t bring myself to do it.
New, hot tears pour from me as I see the letters have already been opened. I know the leadership doesn’t want any classified info getting out. Pulling out the letter with my name on it, I pull it out of a plastic bag and read:
Listen, Prick, I know I’m dead, or else you wouldn’t be reading this.
A surprising laugh escapes me. This letter is so like him, irreverent, and blunt. I continue reading.
I know you’re having a hard time with this, but you need to get over it. I don’t know how I’m going to die, but however it happens, don’t blame yourself.
How can I not blame myself? If I had been the one in the gunner’s hatch, or if I’d kept my eyes on the road, instead of allowing Anderson to goad me, or if I’d tended to his wounds quicker, he might still be here today. His death is on my shoulders.
I know my wife will be taken care of, but I want you to deliver my other letter to her. It’ll be hard enough on her as it is, but I know you will make things easier on her. I don’t want a stranger delivering my words to her.
A fresh stream of tears spring from my eyes, hot and wet, and I have to clear them, to keep reading. I had introduced Michael to his wife a few years ago, and know that she’s going to be taking his death badly. Despite him wanting me to deliver the other letter, I don’t know if I’ll be able to face her.
I want you to have my laptop. I need you to complete what I started. I know it won’t be easy for you, and I know you won’t like it, but I know you’ll do right by it as well. You’ll know where to find them.
There’s no doubt in my mind that he’s talking about his erotic stories. I glance across the room, to where his laptop sits, after being returned yesterday, and close my eyes. Now I know why they took the computer. After they read his letter, they must have gone through his laptop, to make sure it was clear of sensitive information. Part of me hopes that they found his stories, and deleted them. I know it’s wrong to feel this way, but I don’t know if I can go through them.
Everything may seem like it’ll be easy to do, but I don’t know if I can. Face his wife, and tell her I let him die? Edit stories that I will see him behind every word?
Okay, Prick, I’ve got to go now. Hopefully Anderson won’t razz you too badly tonight. I look forward to burning this thing when we get back tomorrow.
Michael Barton
* * *
“Okay,” Dr. Tony Albert, my psychiatrist says to me, “that’s good. You’re making a lot of progress, and your memories seem to be sorting themselves out.”
I’ve been coming here every Friday for a few months now, and Tony, as he prefers I refer to him as, has helped me with the IED attack. I hadn’t even realized how much about it I’d forgotten, but with his help, I’ve been coming to terms with it.
“Do you see how your friend’s death wasn’t your fault?” This question again. . .
“But—“ I start, and he cuts me off.
“It was your Staff Sergeant. He made the call to go against your orders, and send you out. You did the right thing, by trying to stop him. There are plenty of ‘ifs’ in your memory, but it all starts with Anderson forcing you to go out.” He sounds so sincere that I want to believe him. What he says makes sense, logically, but emotionally, I don’t know. “Have you taken the letter to his wife, yet?”
I shake my head, not wanting to speak.
“And the other thing?” I shake my head again. I haven’t gone into detail about Michael asking me to edit and post his stories, just that it’s something that I don’t know if I can face. “Well, you’re making some good progress, but I think if you can do those two things, then you will make even better progress.” He gives a slightly nervous chuckle. “You still want to get better, right?”
“Yeah, my wife and daughters are back, and I don’t want to lose them again,” I tell the slightly portly man. Karrista had come back after my second appointment with Tony. I’d felt as if she’d been stringing me along, kept telling me next time, but all had been forgiven when she’d returned, bags packed, and moved back in. I’d missed them so much. I just wish I didn’t feel like Karrista is still punishing me.
“Which do you think will be the easiest: facing his wife, or the other? I mean, you’ve already been through combat, and battle. The rest should be easy.”
Shaking my head, I know the answer, but don’t want to admit that editing erotic stories will be the easiest thing to do.
Back in my car, the engine running, I look at my clasped hands. Can I do this? Can I edit those stories? I’d have to keep them secret from my wife and daughters. Karrista would have a complete freak out, if she even knew they were on my computer, and she’d likely take my daughters away again.
Maybe. . . Reaching over, I open my glove compartment, and pull out the white, crinkled envelope holding two letters. I’d gotten rid of the blood stained envelopes before leaving that cursed country.
Before I can change my mind, I put my car in gear, and drive. Karrista will be upset that I’m getting back late from my appointment, but the VA center is halfway between home and my current destination.
It takes me a good fifteen minutes sitting in my parked car, before I can build the courage up, and get out, a single letter in my hand. My heart is thundering almost painfully in my chest, as I knock on the door. A very strong part of me hopes that she’s not home. My legs feel like jelly beneath me, and my entire body is shaking with apprehension.
I’m about to turn around and leave, when the door opens.
“Jason?” Allison Barton asks, and suddenly my feet are lead weights, too heavy for me to move. “It is you!” She actually sounds happy to see me. “Come in. Please, come in.”
The door opens all the way, and I see her standing there. I’d forgotten how good she looks. Her blonde hair is loose, and hanging down her back. She has on a white t-shirt that doesn’t hug her figure, but doesn’t hide it either, and a pair of Capri’s hugging her slender legs.
“I—“ I have to clear my throat, and try to speak again. “I have a letter from. . . From Michael.”
She draws in a deep breath, and I hand the white parchment to her. I can see that her hands are shaking as she takes it.
“I’ll. . . I’ll leave you to it, then,” I try to turn and walk away, but her hand on my arm stops me.
“No, please,” her voice is barely a whisper, and I can almost feel the emotion choking it. “Please, come in. I don’t know if I can read this alone.”
I don’t want to be here. I want to turn and run. Tony’s voice drifts through my thoughts, and I know I need to face this.
I follow her inside.
“Can I get you anything to drink? I still have Mountain Dew in the fridge. I don’t drink it, but I can’t bring myself to get rid of it.” Mountain Dew had been Michael’s favorite drink, especially when mixed with whiskey. I haven’t had an alcoholic drink in two months.
It takes a moment to speak past the lump in my throat. “I’ll take one.”
She returns a couple moments later, can in hand. She has a glass with Ice, and I know the dark liquid is Pepsi. She doesn’t give me any ice or a glass, knowing how I drink my sodas.
She sits across from me, letter in hand, just staring at it. I know she’s trying to build up the courage to read it, and feel like an intruder. Looking around the room, I remember all the parties we had here. My wife never liked Michael, but she got along well enough with Allison.
“I don’t think I can read this,” the blonde tells me, handing the letter back to me. “Will you please read it?”
Me?!? It’s hard, but somehow I reach out and take the paper from her. Despite having the letter on me for most of a year, now, I’ve never read it.
My hands are shaking so badly, that it takes me a couple tries to unfold it and start reading.
Allison, my dear wife.
If this is in your hands, then I was not able to return to you. You will never know how sorry I am for that. For the last three years, you have been the rock that has supported me through so many trials. I’m sorry that we were never able to have children, I know how badly you wanted to have kids of your own.
I know we fought about this before I left, but I want you to move on, and find a man that’ll treat you right. You deserve the best, and I want you to have it, and children.
I know Jason is going to have a hard time with my death, but I hope he is able to get this letter to you as soon as he gets home.
There really isn’t much more to say, that I didn’t say in my will.
I love you now, and always,
Michael »Anonymous readerReport 2013-05-11 01:58:38 Great work
Are you going to post more or was this just a one time thing? darthel01011