Author's Note: I don't own Pirates of the Caribbean or any of its characters. I only own the plot to the story and a few characters which are my own.
Summary: Modern Au. One Shot. A soldier's journey home to those he loves. But something unexpected happens. When the convoy he is traveling with takes a direct hit by IED. But when news arrives home that Will is badly wounded and fighting for his life.
Camp Bastion, Afghanistan 27th October 2013. 0600hours.
I waited patiently for the Skype to load. The last time I had talk to Elizabeth had been three weeks ago before we had transferred to base at Bala Baluka. A lot of men from 2/7 had been killed or wounded there last year and even the year before that.
We were back here at Camp Bastion for a brief break of maybe a week and a half before we moved again this time to the base at Sangin where we would remain for about six weeks before we were shipped home for our tour was up.
It had been a long ass eighteen months here in Afghanistan. It would be maybe nearly 20 months since we had shipped out for this tour of Afghanistan. Elizabeth had still been in high school when I had left eighteen months ago. She had graduated early this year in May.
Now she was in college at the UCLA campus. I heard a familiar ding that sounded that Elizabeth was online. I switched on the webcam. I smiled when I saw her beautiful face for the first time in three weeks.
"How's college life babe" I asked looking at the face of my girlfriend. She didn't look happy. Something must have happened in those twenty one days since I had talked to her last. On the screen where she was visible to me.
A male voice was speaking to her in hushed tones out of sight of my eyesight. I racked my brain to think of who this guy was. She turned and yelled at the guy to shut the fuck up.
"Sorry about that Will. It's just my partner for my paper for Biology. Tyson's just being a dick about me dating a 'leatherneck' (AN Nickname for a Member of the US Marine Corp). "Elizabeth said turning back to give Tyson the finger.
I sat and listened to what Elizabeth was say about how college and everyone was going back home. I commented from time to time and putting my input in. Tyson came back into view and gave a kind gesture of a sault and wished me a safe tour for the rest of my tour here in Afghanistan.
Tyson left maybe half an hour. I looked at my watch it 0730 hours. We're leaving those in Fox Company to head out on patrol at 0825 hours. I had about fifty minutes left to talk to Elizabeth before I had to leave.
I hated saying goodbye to her like this. But I had a job to do. And she understood that plain and simple. I was a Marine and god dame proud one at that. I looked at my watch again 0810 hours it read.
"Baby I'm sorry but we've got to go on patrol in fifteen minutes. Look I'll talk to you when I can. I love you" I said, she said the same back. I shut off the webcam and logged off Skype. I grabbed my Beretta M82 along with my M4 and headed out of the tent.
The group of Humvees sat waiting for those in Fox Company to get in them and begin the patrol around the base.
Three Hours Later 1125 hours.
We were maybe ten miles away from Camp Bastion. The patrol had been uneventful. There was still the present danger of IED's in the area of a twenty mile radius from the bases gates. We were still in the danger zone until we entered the base or rather the green zone.
I looked over at the two fresh pups which had arrived yesterday from Twenty Nine Palms. Both where barely eighteen and scared shitless. This was my second tour. My first tour had been a six month tour of Iraq. After maybe a month or two we had shipped out again.
"Hey Sanders, Morgan you guys looking forward to heading home in about seven and half weeks." Private First Class Gilbert spoke up. The guy was on his first tour and still he was a loud mouth and ass.
"Stop given them shit Gilbert" I said reaching across and head slapping him for good measure. Sanders and Morgan looked at each other nervously.
"Ah stop your fretting boys. Old Turner here has got your ass when it matters most. Best dame shoot in the Corp if you asked me. I still owe you for when you saved my ass a year ago when we're stationed at Bakwa for three months." Roberson spoke up from up the back of the Humvee. His trademark toothpick resting between his lips.
"Maybe I should have just let the crazy Taliban shot yea and be done with it" I said, the rest of the company laughing at Roberson's expense.
"Will you lot quite down in there" Our Gunnery Sargent said, trying to hold back the smile maybe the smirk that was going to play out on his lips.
"Sorry Sarge" Roberson said apologising for us making fun of him. I could ask for a better lot of men to have my back then the guys in Fox Company. Sargent Henderson who was driving the Humvee was also trying to conceal the smile on his face.
Something happened that no one expected to happen the Humvee flipped from an explosion. The windscreen smashed or rather popped out. My vision was hazy and blurry. I could hear people yelling for medics.
My last though was that I survived to return home to Elizabeth. Roberson and Sanders grabbed Corporal Turner and dragged him form the smouldering wreck of a Humvee. The gas tank caught a light.
Gunnery Sargent Franks was still trapped inside as was Sargent Henderson. The remaining members of Fox Company watched in horror as the Humvee exploded. There had been no hope of saving them at all. They had been lucky enough to get those other guys out of the Humvee in time before she exploded.
The other Humvees in the convoy that were patrolling had taken evasive action in treating the wounded and injured. The man now in charge of Fox Company Staff Sargent Nixon had ordered the injured and wounded to be taken to Camp Bastion for amenity medical treatment.
The medical staff assigned to Camp Bastion where ready and waiting for the injured and wounded to be brought from the attacked convoy. Navy Lieutenant Commander Hilary Thomas was on her second tour of Afghanistan with the 2/7.
"Private what have we got" She asked as a Marine was brought to her to be treated. He was unconscious but was breathing. He had a neck brace on in case of any neck injuries he had sustained during the crash.
"Corporal Will Turner Ma'am. Fox Company. He was in the Humvee that took the direct hit from the IED. The only injuries that we could see he had where just bruises and cuts and various other abrasions. He may have two broken legs and chest trauma caused by the crash." The private responded. He was a trained medically profession
Lieutenant Commander Thomas began to examine the injured Marine. His legs where servile broken in multiple places. But was worrying her most was the chest trauma he could have sustained during the crash.
"Seaman Edwards. Give me a hand here removing his body armour." Thomas asked the young seaman. He walked over and helped her remove the armour off the Marine. His chest was servile deformed.
"Petty Officer Reynolds. Go get Captain Evans and tell him there is a badly injured Marine that is in need of emergency surgery ASPA" She yelled over to the Third Class Petty Officer.
Port Royal, California. Turner Residents 0123 hours
Bill cursed under his breath as he got out of bed to answer the phone. It was a number that Bill didn't know. Trying not to back Lottie he grabbed the phone and headed down stairs to talk to whomever it was calling at this ungodly hour.
"Mr Turner it is in regards to your son Corporal William. J Turner of 2/7. He was badly wounded in an IED attack on the convoy he was traveling with." The voice on the other end line said. Bill felt his world shatter with every word the stranger said.
"How badly wounded or rather injured was he in the attack." Bill asked drawing out a shaky breath waiting for whoever it was to reply to his question.
"He suffered two badly broken legs, with possible fractures to his pelvis and hips and major chest trauma sustained during the attack. He is still in surgery. Once he is out of surgery and stable he will be Medivac to Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twenty-Nine Palms." The voice said from the other end of the line.
Bill remained quite a commented and asked question about Will's current condition which was still unknown seeing as he was still in surgery.
UCLA Campus, Los Angeles, California, 0245hours.
Elizabeth groped around on her desk to find her ringing phone. She slid the bar across to answering the pestering thing.
"Yea" Elizabeth answered half a sleep still. Her roommate Ana-Maria was out with her boyfriend for a study group.
"Elizabeth. It's about Will, he's been injured".
Author's Note: Like I said in the Summary its a one shot. Well I might turn it into a multi chapter story depending on feedback. No Reviews which mean this story just going to stay a one shot. Also a not on the injuries described in the story. I'm not a doctor so if I got any of it wrong or anything like that I apologise.