After all the excitement that those reporters brought Washington sat quietly alone in his dark room. He spent that last few months of freedom he had trying to forget about the past and move on. And was ready. He was about to, he was gonna tell the guys the news and then they came. Those reporters had to arrive and bring along their conspiracy with them, not caring about for the betterment of sim troopers or the Freelancers. The scares on his body told the story of a battle hardened soldier worn down from fighting fight after fight and still they insisted on sending him out there.
He was just sick and tired of it all. He just wanted to finally retire for good and not have to fight someone else's battle. And now he was being dragged along in yet another wild goose chase. He just wanted to finally be done with this life and finally start on his next one.
"There you are." Carolina said when she walked into the room. She walked over to the night stand and turned on the lamp to lighten the dark room ever so. "I was looking for you. You disappeared after those reporters finished. Didn't want to give an interview?" She joked but Washington didn't laugh.
"No. Just wanted some quiet." He said flat. Carolina could tell he was upset. She wasn't entirely certain why he was but she knew he was. He was always stiff and hunched with his posture and his speech, like he was still carrying the burdens of his past after all these years.
She took a seat right beside him on the bed. He didn't move or show any sign of acknowledgement of her presence. "Wash whats wrong?" She asked in the most sincerest way possible and placed her hand on his shoulder. Washington turned when he felt her touch. He stared at the hand and then turned to her eyes. She could see the anger in his dull greyed eyes.
"I'm just tired Carolina." He said and stood up pacing around the room dragging his hands through his hair and down his face. "I'm sick and tired of all this. This bullsh*t that keeps finding us." He spoke with much rage, nearly shouting.
"Are you talking about Church?" She asked.
"What do you think!" He snapped.
Carolina turned away from him not wanting to show how hurt and frustrated she was. She didn't understand why he could be so upset about all this. There was a chance one of their friends might be alive. Why wouldn't he want to take that chance. "Wash. They brought us evidence from Kimball." Carolina stood up and walked over to stand by him. "There might be a chance that Church might be alive. We need to follow this lead." She said but Washington wasn't having it.
"Why? Why do we have to? Why can't we just let this go! Why can't we just tell them to leave so we can finally-" He said and then stopped when he felt her hands touch his face. They were face to face starring into each others eyes. They could see the only thing they ever saw in each other. Pain and sadness. He reached up and removed her hands from his face and then rested on her shoulder. She wrapped her arms around him wanting let him know that he wasn't alone. She also wanted to move on. "I'm tired Carolina. I just want to start our new life. Instead of chasing another ghost."
"I know." She whispered. She understood completely. He wanted to live a dream that was coming true only to be shattered.
It was the same dream that she wanted that was being torn away from them. It was a week ago. They were just sitting on the roof of their base watching the stars and talking. That was when he asked the two questions. If she was ready to move on. And if she wanted to do it with him. And thats when he showed the ring.
She was shocked and silent and the look of hope on his face slowly began to fade as he stood up and prepared himself for the bombardment of her anger and waited for her to scream at him about how he found the gall to ask her this. Instead she leapt into his arms and kissed him with tears streaming down her face feeling happier then she ever had in years. She said yes. Not because she was alone and thought maybe because he was the logical solution, but because she loved him. She learned to love him as the years of combat passed, from respect, to trust, to admire, and now to love.
They were supposed to tell everyone that day that they were getting married, and then they had to arrive.
They were now sitting back on the bed still in each other arms. Neither wanted to let go believing that if they did, then the dream would finally come to an end. A part of her wished that the reporters never came, then they could have finally moved on, they could have gotten married, gotten a house, maybe had a couple kids; they could have been happy.
"I can't let this go Wash." Carolina whispered. "I need to do this. And I need you."
"I know." He said and finally pulled away. He wiped away the lone tear she had on her face. They both gave a smile. "I won't argue. Just promise me that when this is over, we're done. We'll be together."
Carolina smiled wider. "I'll show you." She said and stood up and fetch Washington's laptop much to his confusion. She opened it and found the realtor website for the house that Washington had been eyeing for a week. A large two story house in the country with in acre of open untouched land for sale. It was meant to be a surprise, but she found it two days ago. She clicked the button to purchase.
"What are you doing? We probably won't see it for weeks maybe months." Washington tried to reason.
Carolina smiled even more. As she put the laptop away and moved to sit on Washington's lap and wrapped her arms around him. "I know. But when we come back, our house will be ready and waiting for us." She said and kissed him. "I promise."
Washington smiled again, believing every word she said. And she was right. Instead of coming back to this base, they could move in to their new home and finally be able live their new life together. He kissed her again and brought her down as he laid back on to the bed. They kissed each other while in each others arms, happy for the moment, reminiscing in the dream they would have together. They pulled away again so they could look in each others eyes seeing the happiness and love in them. "I love you."
"I love you too."
