In the Navy
REPOST
Babe I got to go, I'll be back in like 12 weeks and I'll be here all over Christmas" Sam said putting a jolly face on things
"Dad you off again, you're all packed up I thought it was later tonight not now I'm not ready for this I was meant to get you some eats and everything" Chord said as he walked into the kitchen "And what's happening here? What's with the gap?" he asked looking at his parents laughing for their games, he knew they were in the middle of
Chord was 17 years old now and all his life his Dad had been in the navy, at first they'd be moving from pillow to post every other week it seemed like but when he'd started school properly Dad had decided that the family needed a base and they brought a house in Florida. It meant they saw each other less but for longer breaks and with his Mom constantly singing and touring it just made sense for him to be near Auntie Tina and Uncle Mike.
"No gap son I'm walking" his Dad said walking over to his Mom and hugging her in
"I stopped him in his tracks, because he led me to believe he was leaving later tonight too, not right now, I was just chewing his butt about it" his Mom told him
"I'm in the den when you're ready" he said walking back out of the kitchen, with snacks and a drink in his hand
"It's our twentieth this New Years Eve so you know it's going to be big babe please don't let me down" Mercy said
"Is that a word that goes with how I operate Yarne" he asked
"No but just in case I don't want anything to go wrong for this" she said "I've got big plans
"Hey I got your back, front, inside and outside babe don't stress" he said picking her up and putting her on the kitchen top "You gonna let me" he said putting his hand up her skirt
"Chord's in the …"
"Den yeah" he laughed "Don't leave me this way, I can't survive can't stay alive without your love, don't leave me this way" he smiled singing looking down at himself
"You win" she said giggling into his touch as his hands, mouth and everything did their business. "I love you so much Sam" she said as they straightened their clothes
"I love you more Yarne and seriously I'm going to miss you like heaven, I'm going to miss this" he said touching her "like a mad man and I'm going to miss Chord like a bitch" he finished
"Seven more years babe and then we can have a conversation" she said laughing which quickly turned into a frown and then a short cry "I'm sorry" she said falling into his chest
"It's okay babe I knew it was coming you were being too flip" he said hugging her in, "I'm not washing this off" he said wiggling his fingers "I want it to last as long as it can I need you near" he said laughing
"Don't you dare nasty, wash it off now" she said pushing him in the chest playfully "I mean it"
"Okay" he said taking her off the kitchen top and walking towards the door and across the hall to the bathroom
"Sam, Chord's in the house" she said with her legs wrapped round his waist and his trousers undone held up only by her thighs as they went across the hall and into the bathroom.
"Come on Yarne there's a reason Chord stays in the Den when we're around he knows what I'm like and he wants to give us privacy and, he is his father's son, he's with Amber remember"
"Yeah I remember us when you were 17 spider hands" she said laughing
"You're still a funny one when it comes to sex even after all these years, having it your like a wild thing, demanding, forceful and damn near erotic but comes to talking about it outside of us your like butter wouldn't melt, virginal and yeah I love that about you, but why are you like that?"
"It's private and I like that there's a part of me that only you see"
"Well actually, I like the thought of that too" he said going in for seconds on the bathroom sink as Mercy scratched his back hard "ahh Babe" he said moving in pain "guys are going to jeer me for that one"
"But you're going to remember this every time" she whispered in his ear before kissing him deep
"I don't need marks to remember times with you babe" he said once she let him up
"No babe but you need marks to be able to feel the times with me when you're away" she said squeezing his butt as he rammed into her again and again
"Ahh I can never get enough of this babe never I'm there babe, you with me"
"Not yet" Mercy said making him pull out, sit her back on the basin and manually deliver her pleasure, after a while he used every weapon he had smiling when he heard her tell him she was ready "Sam" she shouted with intensity
"Do it for me babe" he said in her ear as he pinched her nipple with his free hand "You love that don't you?" he asked
"I love you babe" she said before screaming through her pleasure as Sam delivered
"So tight" he whispered as he forced his way in through her peak, her muscles grabbing and releasing him rhythmically "I love you Yarne" he said as he pulsed for her making her smile, once down they just sat holding each other for a short while before Sam looked at the time "I've got to go babe" he said nestling his head in her shoulder
"Babe" she said making him lift his head to look at her "it's time to go"
"I know babe and I said I wouldn't do this but it's killing me" he said with tears brimming his eye, some already down his face
"Come on we promised"
"Okay" he said wiping his eyes and blowing his nose
"Dad, Mom come on, 'Pardon the pun'" he said under his breath, "it's past time we need to get going" Chord shouted from somewhere outside the bathroom
"Wash off Sam you have to go" Mercy said
"Compromise I'll wash my hands" he said laughing
"Wash off Sam" Mercy said looking at him disgusted "I'll throw you in the shower in a bit" she said "Teeth, Mouth, hands and dick wash off" she said standing over him laughing
"Compromise; shower" he said laughing "Together"
"Okay" Mercy said shaking off her skirt and taking off her clothes as she stretched past him and turned the shower on "Quick you're going to be late" she said laughing
"Okay I'm back in the den" Chord shouted over the giggle "Call me"
"Got you mini me we'll call you" Sam shouted through the door
"I'm the good looking one I'm mini Mom remember" Chord shouted back laughing
"That's what I mean the perfect mix of me and your Mom Evans, now bugger off" Sam shouted getting himself a slap from Mercy for swearing at Chord "Ouch" he said jumping in the shower, looking at his fingers singing 'When will I see you again, when will we share precious moments, will I have to wait forever, will I have to suffer and cry the whole night through' making Mercy laughed as she jumped in too. They were in and out within 15 minutes and dried, Mercy went upstairs to get clean underwear for them both and then once dressed she called Chord.
"About time old ones you got stamina I'll give you that" he said to his Dad giving him a fist bump.
"Sam" Mercy said looking on disapprovingly as they got in the car ready to drive to the airport
The goodbyes had always been the same Mercy and Sam would say theirs at home which always ended with tears and sex and once at the airport it was Sam and Chord's time to say goodbye, they always went to the Café got their hot drinks orders and Sam and Chord would go off somewhere leaving Mercy to nurse her hot drink for at least 20 minutes, while she people watched and checked emails. Then they'd come back all wet eyed and hugging which would set Mercy off and then Mercy and Chord would hug while Sam walked off into the plane without turning back and they'd send a text when they'd stopped feeling bad. Mercy was always the last one to send her text and Chord would get mega worried about her for hours and call Auntie T for support.
"Okay we're back here two weeks before Christmas" Chord said "Promise yeah"
"Promise son" Sam said hugging him in
"Okay love you Dad stay safe and come back to me" Chord said kissing his cheek and holding on for a long while
"Love you too Son, Mini me look after your Mom yeah" Sam said
"Goes without say Dad, we're all we've got" he said looking at his Mom, letting go of his Dad to go hug her
Sam grabbed hold of Mercy when Chord let her go "I promise you I'll be back" he whispered in her ear
"I know you'll do everything possible to make that happen babe I love you"
"I love you more babe you're my Txe'lan you know this right" he whispered to her still hugging her in
"We know this babe we do, I'm not going to cry I promised, go" she told him and he let her go, looked at Chord, looked at Mercy said "Bye" and walked away. Chord and Mercy hung onto each other until he could no longer be seen and cried for a short while then laughed at each other and left the airport.
"I'll drive Mom" he said, she didn't argue, she threw him the keys
"Let's go get something to eat pretend he's at home waiting for us"
"Mom you've been doing this for nearly 20 years now surely you're used to it by now"
"Yeah I'm used to it Chor but it doesn't mean it doesn't affect me or him every time, I love him, we love each other"
"I understand love Mom I think I'm in it; Amber is like the girl next door that you never knew was next door if you know what I mean, she's always been there in the background and I suppose I never took the time to get to know her before I don't know why. Then one day she's just the brightest star in the room and something inside me moved and I've been like got to have her, got to be with her, got to love her you know?"
"Love?" Mercy asked
"Yeah and it's not a word, or even something I can put my finger on it's a feeling that I can't explain I don't know where it came from it was just there when she came, all the other girls were playthings, and I mean that in the loosest sense Mom, I've never played with anyone's emotions you taught me well but I feel like I'm in love"
"Love" Mercy said again
"Will you stop with the Love word already your like one of Dad's favourite records" Chord said laughing
"We do like our old dependable R&B, have you had this conversation with your Dad?"
"Yeah about 5 months ago"
"What did he say?"
"He said when she gets you she gets you son look at me and your Mom, or something like that" he said laughing
"We need to meet Amber, sounds like a fixture"
"She's away now until the holidays her grandmother is sick in California but she'll be back before Christmas she said so it's all skype and texts and stuff, but this no contact just kills me and her to be fair"
"Whenever no rush" his Mom said thinking back to her young feelings with his Dad 'they haven't changed' she thought to herself making her smile.
So they had dinner looked in some shops and even brought a hat for Sam before Chord got fed up with hanging with his Mom and demanded they go home. "Okay" Mercy said as if the bubble had burst and all the air had been sucked out of her "Your Dad's going to phone anyway so yeah it's time to go home" she said as they got in the car and made the journey home
"What's he phoning for?" Chord asked "Did he tell you anything before he left Mom?" he asked, Mercy looked at him puzzled
"The usual love stuff and that, nothing spectacular" she said manoeuvring the car the short journey home from the passenger seat as Chord parked up
"He never told you anything" he asked stopping her from opening the front door
"Nothing Sweetheart, why do you ask?"
"I just felt something when you said that and Dad always told me to trust that stuff you know"
"He'll call in about an hour and I didn't feel anything so we might be safe"
About 9pm Mercy got her call from Sam "Hi Babe I'm back, couldn't call earlier we had a briefing, looks like we're off to somewhere soon we're going on training from tomorrow for 3 weeks and then we might be assigned everything is tight lipped at the moment but as soon as I know I'll let you know, how's things?" he asked
"Well getting you to stop talking has been a task but everything here is quiet and Chord had one of his moments he thought something was wrong with you but I told him to wait until you call before going into stress mode"
"Well he's right to be concerned babe, you know from the experience of others that when they start training us SEAL's up it's to do front line work and I'm thinking Afghanistan or Yemen or somewhere like that and if it is"
"Sam you're like 39 years old surely you're too old for active service" she said almost crying
"Babe no stress until the time comes I'm sure they'll make things clearer closer to the time"
"Okay" she said choking back tears
"And please don't say anything to Chord just yet we need him doing well at his recital it's an important time for him"
"Okay Sam, but promise me you won't be doing front line stuff I need you to promise me on this"
"Babe no pressure please I can't do that, you know I can't until we've heard assignments in three weeks, I don't expect it but, I hear things are rough down there so we just don't know"
"Sam I'm sorry but I'm fucking freaking out here I need something just something" she said
"Babe I love you, so much you know that right and I'll do everything in my power to be with you forever"
"Everything?" Mercy asked
"Absolutely You, Chord and Me it's all for us three yeah"
"Yeah I love you too babe come back to me"
"Babe I'm on PRT for three weeks so it's limited contact you know right so I'll speak to you on Saturday at about 3pm yeah? Bye babe"
"Bye babe Saturday" she said holding the phone for the longest time after Sam had cut off his side of the call. 'Now I don't feel right about this either' she thought to herself, something is going to happen and it's going to test us "please God protect Sam Protect our family in your name I ask this Amen" she prayed closing her eyes and clenching her fists together.
So the calls were made three times and still Sam had no idea what was happening with his regiment or himself then unexpectedly one night he was woken by his Officer and advised that last calls needed to be made to family members as they were to expect to travel at 06.00 hours "Where are we going I need something my wife is not going to sit with just somewhere"
"You're a SEAL Evans you know the drill" was the reply and Sam knew the drill everything was undercover even from family "Make something up but no promises" the officer said
Sam made the call "Yarne hi babe sorry to wake you up and everything but they've just told us we're on the move and I just wanted to say I love you before I go, can I speak to Chord for a second please" he said not wanting her to asks any questions, he heard Mercy shout Chord and then her voice was close again
"Sam what do you mean? Where are you going? When will you be back? Babe I don't know what to think about this I'm feeling sick babe what are you saying is this going to be like last time? Babe I love you; you know this right and you promised you'd come back to me babe babe!" Mercy started shouting down the phone
"Mom, what's up why are you shouting" Chord came into the room half ready for battle half expecting bad news to see his Mom on the phone "What's up with Dad" he said walking faster towards her and grabbing the phone from her, she was too hysterical to speak "Dad? What's up?" he said almost before the phone reached his ear
"Son I've been told I need to move at 06.00 today and I was just calling to say I know nothing as usual but I love you and your Mom like crazy and I'm coming back for you two okay"
"Dad where are you going?" Chord asked with cry in his voice
"I don't know Chor but I need you to be strong for me for your Mom she is going to freak I mean freak about this and I need you to be there call the GF and just keep her happy and son I love you; you know that right?"
"I will Dad and I love you too" Chord said still crying quietly
"Give your Mom back the phone kido hey; Amber if she's it treat her like gold Dude and don't join the forces" he said laughing
"Sam" Mercy said into the phone "Put the fucking officer on I want to know where my man's going like now, and don't you dare put this phone down on me I want him now"
"Mercy calm down you know that's not going to happen and no it's not like the last time I'm trained this time please babe calm down I need a level head for this and your taking up so much space in my head already with your fine self I don't need your stressed self in here too"
"Sorry Sam I'll try" she calmed down saying
"Babe all I want to be thinking about is the part of my Yarne that nobody else knows except us, sing a song for me babe"
"Now?" she asked searching her mind for something he liked, "I guess 'I love to love' by Tina Charles" she said and started singing a slow rendition of it as Sam listened quietly on the other side of the line.
"I love when you get into our bedroom grooves Babe" he laughed "I'm coming back to love you just the way we love" he said as she finished the song "I love you, will you put me on speaker please" which she did "Hey guys" he said trying to put jolly in his voice but failing "I don't know where I'm going from here tonight but I know where I'm coming back to, you two are my heartbeat you know that right, I love you so much I can't say, everything I've ever done I do it for you two you know that right?" he said without waiting for an answer "I'm shitting myself here but this fear will keep me alive, I'll see you both when I get back then, in a bit remember; Sam, Mercy and Chord Evans, Perfect Heartbeat" he said laughing "hey you know don't you infinity and beyond" he said and his voice broke as the phone line went dead and then he was gone as Mercy and Chord clung onto each other thinking what none of them dare say.
"I know and no it isn't the last time he'll be back with his dork self fighting to get us back" Mercy said pushing Chord under the chin to perk him up
"I knew this was coming Mom I did but I didn't if you know what I mean" Chord said unable to hide his cry any more
"I know baby but, he will be back we can't get rid of our man Evans that easily, he's a super hero remember, chameleon" Mercy said trying to keep perked up herself
"Mom I'm not 7 any more I know where he's more than likely going, and what's happening there" Chord said almost laughing at his Mom's attempt to lighten the air
"Humour me Chordie" she said as he left the room, she knew he was going to have a private cry because that was exactly what she wanted to do and they were so alike. There was no sleep for either of them for the rest of the night at 06.00 they cried again at the thought of him going off into the unknown with God knows who at nearly 9am the doorbell rang
"I've got it Mom" Chord said running to the door "Hey Aunt T" Mercy heard at the door seconds before Tina arrived at the kitchen door
"Mercy girl" she said, not waiting for Mercy's reaction, she hugged her saying "I know girl your hearts gone and it hurts like hell" she said in her ear "How are you holding up?" she asked putting her at arms length to look at her "Have you slept?" she asked for the look on Mercy's face before looking around the room to find Chord "have any of you slept?" she asked seeing his was just as tired
"No Auntie; Dad's gone in and we're mega stressed"
"Gone in where?" Tina asked
"Front line as far as we know" Chord replied
"Oh my God front line, and here's me asking stupid questions" Tina said getting her phone out to text Mike to let him know within seconds she got a ting back 'OMG' it simply read "Mike's in Europe until next month but he needs to know it's his best friend. I suppose the Family need to know too for prayers and stuff" Tina said tapping a text out to the family. "Put the kettle on Chor and, go get dressed" she said realising he was walking around in his boxers and a vest "They should have called you Sam 2" she said making Mercy and Chord laugh
"Auntie where's Harry is he coming over?" Chord asked through his laugh
"Still in his pit how he got through school I'll never know"
"It'll be fine T he's only allowed to be out there like two weeks at a time so he'll be calling us two weeks from today and then they'll send him in for another two weeks and so on, then he'll be home it will be fine" Mercy said "Good really because that just means he'll be home for a bit longer than we thought" Mercy said smiling, everything planned in her head
Tina looked at Chord who had a worried face on too "Mom, Dad's on the front line"
"Yeah I know babe but he's a NFO they're not going to put him out first are they he'll monitor all the others from the back and then be home"
"Mom" Chord said but Tina's look told him to tread carefully, "She needs to face up is all I'm saying Aunt T"
"Face up to what?" Mercy asked staring at him almost daring him to say the words
"That Dad's on the front line" Chord said looking at Tina for how quick his Mom's diva came out at him, he wanted to take it on, and he made to but she followed up with
"You need to get to your room boy before I come out of this box on you" pointing at him, he wasn't ready for that level diva, his Dad dealt with this
Chord left the room without another word and went to his room as instructed, he hated it when his Mom got like this there was no talking to her, she didn't want to hear anything from anybody. Right now her focus was on Dad and that's all she cared about, that's all he wanted to care about too but he had to look after her, he'd promised. He knew the drill she'd either be crying or denying in a big way, shouting at him or molly coddling him and everything would go back to normal when Dad got back. 'What the fuck am I supposed to do with her?' he thought slamming down a pillow, wishing his Dad was there right now, being careful not to make too much noise to alert her to something being wrong with him 'She'd go into orbit on that' he knew she loved him more than her own life, his Dad asked him to be strong for her and that was what he was going to do. He was laying thinking how unfair his life was right now, searching for something when he smiled 'Truth, we both love the drama I'm just pissed she'll always win because she's the queen of that diva shit, head to head, I always lose, "And I can't help it I'm my parents child I hate losing" he laughed
Mercy threw the dishcloth across the kitchen "He always gets like this when his Dad goes, he's Dad's dead before he lands wherever he goes and I'm sick of it, then he wants to get Diva with me, I'll take him on and he knows it"
"He's hurting too Mercy and you're the adult in all this" Tina said
"Don't you think I know that T it's just that with all my stuff around Sam I don't function right, I never have when he's not around and knowing he's in danger just makes it that much worse for me; for us" she said moving stuff around, stopping to look at Tina "I'm scared he won't cope with this its big isn't it I know it's big but I need him to not be too scared"
"You two need to find a way through this together there's a reason you called him Chord remember?" Tina said "Don't let this stew, go see him now and get it sorted before he closes down" she said picking up the dishcloth and handing it to her hugging her before leaving the house
Mercy put the kettle on and got two cups out to make their favourite drink, once it was made she called Chord to come down "Peace offering" she said pointing to the hot drink on the table "Chor I'm sorry I'm the adult in this situation and I know it's just as hard, if not harder, for you to deal with this stuff with your Dad because he makes you responsible for me too. Baby we've been together for over 20 years but every time he leaves it hurts like hell, just like it did back in school" she said grabbing hold of his hand "We called you Chord because you made us perfect, the perfect chord, we thought you'd be the person to level us out keep us from needing each other so much and you are baby you're our level that we both focus on all the time the most important person in our lives and if your Dad said he's coming back for us he's going to do everything in his power to come back to us. He's never lied to me and I mean never" she rubbed his cheek saying "He told me that and I need to hold onto that, because right now baby I can't think about you growing up without your Dad in your life and me growing old without him, do you know what I'm saying?"
"Mom you know I love Dad, but I'm dealing with this by thinking the worst and, I'm so up for celebrating the best when it gets here. I don't know how I'm going to get through this recital in two weeks thinking about this, I feel like my head is going to explode with all the stress of it, plus I'm missing Amber like crazy, she hasn't called for like two days and I don't want to call her just in case it's critical down there you know, and everything is just coming to a head for me and then there's you I don't like seeing you upset, it makes me angry that I can't do anything about it and…"
"Chord baby breathe, your having a panic attack, come here" she said getting up and grabbing hold of him hugging him in and letting him cry "Dad will be fine he said you're to do well with your recital for him so focus on that, Amber will be feeling the same as you right now and trust me she can feel your panic she'll call as soon as she can and baby I'll be fine we have a good network of friends we'll be fine" she said kissing him on the forehead. "You do what you have to do to get through this but remember I'm here and I expect regular updates on how life is for you so; what's so special about us Evans'?" she asked
"We don't beat right unless we beat together" Chord responded smiling into his Mom's chest
"So calm down for me baby" she said hugging him wondering where she found that strength from, realising it was him giving it to her 'Brave up' she told herself 'Your baby needs you'
So they started on their normal life; Chord at school and practicing his recital, Mercy at the studio and doing her nightly concerts, everyone waiting for any form of contact from Sam, not showing upset when it didn't arrive. To the outside world the Evans family was cooking on gas and doing a damn good job at it too, even Tina was impressed. Three weeks went by and no news of Sam or his regiment, Mercy called his base but was given no information other than when news arrived she would hear it first, her insides were in panic mode but because Chord was in a panic for his recital the following day on the outside she was totally calm.
"Anything from Dad today Mom?" Chord asked as he came in from his final practice
"No Chor maybe tomorrow and remember it's going to take extra time because they'll need to get it out of the country first and then to us" she kissed him saying "So we got this recital in the bag I'm guessing?"
"I think so but all this is getting to me now, you said they wouldn't keep him in more than two weeks and it's been like three and a bit now and I'm getting this growing feeling of I don't know it's not good that's all I know" he said looking at his Mom for reaction
"It'll be fine love, go de-stress and then get back here in an hour for food" she said holding things in
By week six there was nothing to hold in Chord had done his recital, Mercy had confirmed her tour dates and provisionally booked some gigs in between "Greg we're going to have to be flexible on this because as you know we could get word of Sam at any time, we've heard nothing for like seven weeks so I need to be ready when they say he's here" she ordered
So 24 days since Sam left PRT and made his last call to them and there was no doubt Chord and Mercy were bricking it so when the door knocked they looked at each other "Don't answer it Mom I don't want to know" Chord shouted as Mercy got up, shaking, to answer the door
"Hi Mercy I just needed to know if there was any more news about Sam" Tina said
"Little man" Mike said knocking fist with Chord before turning to Mercy "It's been like 6 weeks since you heard anything and I don't know that just rings alarm bells for me, what are you feeling?" he asked as he grabbed a hug
"Mike" she gasped "Good to see you, I'm fine" she said looking at Chord before grabbing his hand and saying "We're fine really"
"You might fool Kurt with that crap but you're not fooling me I know you two your bummed out, I mean seriously bummed out and putting a good face on for my guy here" Mike said grabbing Chord by the shoulder "And you're being brave for your Mom and that's fine, but you all need to let some of that strong go and get to grips with your feelings, let it out"
Mercy's bottom lip started to quiver but one look at Chord and she stopped herself "We know he's alright we're not phased he promised us he'd be back" she said
"I just need a word with Chord" Mike said leading him into the garden "Chor I know your Dad told you to be strong for your Mom I always say the same thing to Harry but son it's alright to show your feelings Mom is caging it all up so that you can cope and you're doing the same it will drive you mad if you don't vent"
"I want to vent Uncle but Mom really is a wreck and if I break god knows what will happen to her, I'm just scared to even talk about this whole thing with Dad to her, you know how she is, and then Dad made this stupid promise to her about situations he has no damn control over and she's not being deterred from it it's just crazy" Chord rambled on and one but Mike didn't stop him, he just saw his Sam coming out, he was venting.
"It must be hard for you being part Mercy part Sam" Mike smiled saying when Chord finally took a breath "They're total opposites she's closeted and he's extravert and you have to learn to manage those two traits inside yourself" he smiled "Right now you need to bring out your Dad's trait because that's how you'll deal with your Mom and get your frustrations out too" he told him
"I can't talk to Mom like Dad does she'd slap the black off me and then when Dad came back he'd slap my manners back into me or the white out of me" Chord said laughingly remembering his parents threats of punishment that never happened
"I don't imagine your Dad talks to your Mom in any other way but lovingly, but I don't mean their personal stuff son I mean saying the hard stuff which comes from a place of love you know"
"Yeah I hate when he does that because it's pure truth" he laughed
"And have you ever seen your Mom argue with the things he says from that place"
"No"
"So that's our next move it can only come from you" he told him grabbing Chord's shoulders and shaking him sternly "Give it an hour and get yourself prepared go play games with Harry that always relaxes you" Mike said turning him around and pushing him forward gently
Meanwhile Tina was having a conversation with Mercy "So truth time how do you really feel?" she asked not looking up at Mercy from the apples she was peeling for the fruit salad
"Well I don't feel like Sam's missing or injured or anything just that we're disconnected if that makes sense" she said
"Disconnected?"
"Yeah like it's just a no contact thing, we've done this before so it just feels like I need to play the waiting game. I think we've gotten used to it you know when I've been out the country on tour busy and he's been in PRT busy we just get used to seeing each other in our dreams for a while and, the surety of knowing we love each other hopefully gets us through"
"So for you the fact that Sam went away to war your treat like a PRT session yeah?
"Well not like a PRT session its front line stuff but he's safe"
"Well how do you know he's safe it's been like nearly 7 weeks without word?"
"Because Sam told me he would do everything in his power to get home and he never lies"
"So to you that means?"
"Not putting himself in harm's way"
"Okay so if he's given an order to go on the front line and he disobeys because his wife said don't put yourself in harm's way, they'd be fine with that?"
"He's an NFO he gives the orders T"
"He may be Merc but he's a NFO in SEAL Special Ops, they have a different protocol don't they?"
"Protocol" Mercy said through her teeth showing her frustration with the conversation "Let's just agree to disagree on this, please okay?"
Mike walked back in the kitchen and picked up the tense atmosphere "What's up ladies?" he asked looking from one to the other but getting no answer "What's up?" he asked again
"We agreed to disagree" Mercy said not looking up from the veg she was peeling
"I know somethings wrong you're doing the cooks job Mercy" he looked at her saying but she still didn't look up and Tina offered nothing "I'm going to cut the front edge Sam would shit bricks if he saw the size of them I don't know why he doesn't let the gardener do this, Mercy you might want to ask them to include them till he gets back" Mike said walking out the back door
"Thanks Mike, I just thought he'd have been back by now, I will" she answered still not looking up, Tina felt bad for making her cry, but it had to be said
An hour later dinner was ready and everyone was sitting at the dinner table praying for Sam, food and strength. Once dinner was finished Harry and T made themselves useful in the kitchen, Mike went home to do some work and Chord started the conversation with his Mom "Mom we need to talk" he said and Mercy went to get up but he reached for her hand stopping her as she looked in his eyes and flopped back in the chair "I know this is difficult for you to hear and this conversation comes from a place of love, remember that. Dad is late back and we need to start making some serious enquiries, we need answers Mom and we need Dad back so we need to stop putting our heads in the sand bucket and get to work on this no one is going to offer information to us he's a SEAL we know what that means, but we need to know"
"I know you're right baby but.."
"Mom I wished I could tell you that there was a but; but there isn't, we need to do something and sitting here doing nothing is worse for me, I feel like I'm just letting Dad go I want to fight for him he needs to be here for us, with us. So Mom tomorrow I'm calling the barracks and I'm not stopping until I get an answer and not just any answer the one I want which is where exactly my Dad is?" he told her
Mercy had tears in her eyes, he was used to it now there was rarely a time they looked at each other without tears or the thought of tears "You're right son there is no but just do it" she said as Chord stood up from the chair and stretched over to her for a hug
"We need to know Mom" he said kissing her cheek
So the next day Chord got on the phone with Mercy sitting next to him he went through the ranks up to the Lieutenant Commander demanding answers in relation to the whereabouts of his Dad "What do you mean?" he shouted at the phone making Mercy stop what she was doing and look at him "Yes you can she's here" he said holding the phone out for his Mom to take
"Hello I'm Mrs. Evans" she said into the receiver "Yes I am" she said as her eyes widened "What do you mean?" she asked grabbing hold of Chord who was doing his best not to break down until he had the full story "Well why wasn't I fucking called, it's not your right to hold things like this from us who do you lot think you are" Mercy said obviously not listening to the voice on the other end "You Dad's lost alive but lost" she mouthed to Chord
"How do they know he's alive if he's lost? Chord mouthed
"And how do you know he's alive if you've lost him?" Mercy asked, looking at Chord as they answered
"So you managed to get three out and they lost the other how many?" Mercy asked "Seven!" she shouted "So he's been lost for how long? And is he in enemy territory?" she gasped "God so what are his chances? And what the fuck are you lot doing about it?" she shouted angry before putting the phone down as realisation dawned on her "Sam's in trouble" she got out before breaking down there was no use hiding this feeling, she couldn't her life was crumbling
Mercy turned to a crying Chord and she knew, in his head the worst had already happened "Baby they say Dad is lost in Afghanistan he's in enemy territory, the last person to see him was a colleague and that was like 6 weeks ago they split up and three of them were found but seven of them are still missing. The Commander said the men are good at what they do so he has every confidence that they will get back, but war is rife in that area and as soon as your Dad and his friends can get news to him he'll let us know but time is of the essence"
"What does that mean Mom?" Chord asked, his mind unable to process his feelings
"It means Dad's lost Chor but he's doing his best to get back to us" she held him saying shaking him out of his thoughts to repeat herself
"So, he's not dead, he's lost?" he asked again falling back into his Mom's arms and they both cried for most of the morning
On the afternoon Tina and Mike came round again with Harry "Did it go well?" Mike asked trailing off on the last word when he saw their faces "What did they say?" Mike asked sitting down and grabbing hold of Tina pulling her in"
Mercy tearfully relayed the conversation with the Commander to Mike and a crying Tina with gasps and blood drained faces "Sorry Mercy, Chord, I'm really sorry to hear all this" Mike finally said as Tina took her phone out to text the family
"I don't know that I want everyone around me right now" Mercy said looking at what Tina was doing
"Merc you never know till you know this is my first instinct and it's never wrong" she said pressing send. Within seconds messages were coming in but Mercy stayed away from her phone not wanting to get tied up in it "Santana just sent a heart" Tina relayed "Kurt said don't joke and Blaine is crying" she said followed by arhh "Puck said GTFOOH"
"What does that mean?" Mercy asked
"Oh it means get the f out of here" Harry said making everyone's heads pop up before Chord laughed pointing at Harry knowing he'd have to explain where he'd used that phrase
"If you were reading your texts I wouldn't have to read this out and then …"
"So that was my fault? Mercy said laughing
"Well I wouldn't say fault but…"
"Mess Mrs. Chang hot mess" Mercy said laughing "You know what bring on the family" she said picking her phone up to read the messages before writing 'come see me I needs my family' and pressing send flurries of on my way, later, today, there, came back making Mercy smile "Chor we need to get the house ready we have guests coming" Mercy shouted through the house
"That's what we have maids for Mom" Chord said making his way to their quarters to get them to action stations, after giving his instructions he went back to the den with Harry and Mike. Mercy didn't like to admit it but Chord had the maid thing down more than she did she really didn't want to get used to telling people what to do, she was a negotiator, but Chord was born into that way of life and knew nothing else "She's always been funny about the maids" Chord said when he got back to his chair in the den, and settled in for the evening.
No one slept that night things went round in their heads harsh realities, dreams, promises, feelings of loss, fear, loneliness lots of thoughts at one point Mercy felt like screaming and the intensity of that feeling left her wondering if it was her wanting that or Sam which chilled her to the bone and for the first time she thought he might be hurt and cried until she fell asleep, by 7am everyone was up and pottering around "Are the rooms done?" Mercy asked the maid
"Yes Mrs. Mercy everything is ready" she replied
A short while later the doorbell rang, the butler went into action and suddenly the house was alive "Mercy" Kurt came running in with his arms outstretched for her "Come here Chord" he said as Mercy cried on his shoulder "Come on let it out" he said as they both fell into him. Blaine came in quietly and said a sombre hello making Mercy look up at him
"Blaine" she said holding her hand out for him "He misses you, you know that right?" she said to Blaine nodding in acknowledgement before he started crying
"Sorry Mercy he hasn't stopped since we got the news" Kurt said as he went through saying hi and hugging Mike & Tina as well as commenting about how Harry had grown up. Once they stopped sobbing Mercy settled them into their room and asked the cook to prepare food for breakfast "Satan and Britt are following us in about an hour, Rachel and Jessie are coming via Barbados, that's where they were but they've cut it short, Quinn and Puck should be here about 1 ish, and Artie should be here…" he was stopped by the doorbell "That should be them" he said as Blaine went towards the door
"Diva I cannot believe what everyone's telling me about Dork this cannot be happening God cannot be this cruel no way can we lose Finn and then lose Sam it's not what heaven wants girl it's not happening he's safe" Artie said wheeling himself in "If you lost him would you cry" Artie sang hugging her in and Sugar joined in
Mercy followed with a "oh how I love him baby baby baby baby" she sang bringing a tear to her eye
"That was the first time I noticed Sam look at you he moved in his chair that's what caught my eye I was jealous but I was with Britt so I let it slide" Artie said laughing "He'd cry" he added going into his own thoughts
"Don't shut us out" Someone screamed from the drive
"Rachel" Kurt said walking towards the front door "Mercy's a bit fragile" he said in her ear as he hugged her
"Well I guessed that Kurt that's why I've dropped everything to get here to be with my girl" Rachel said pushing him aside to get to Mercy "Mercy my god how are you coping?" she asked hugging her in
"I'll be a bit better once everyone starts cheering me up" she said
"God is this Chord haven't you grown do you remember me?" Rachel asked
"Yeah Mom's arch rival at school, Dad's last fling" he said
"I see you have filter issues like your Aunt Sugar" Rachel said laughing
"No, my parents just armed me with the information because Aunt Santana has a habit of letting things out and they wanted me to know from them"
"Truth" Artie said "So what did you learn from our behaviour?" Artie asked Chord
"Well I don't like cheerleaders that way, I always stay away from girl groups and if I can help it I don't go out with rival girls" Chord said confidently
"What do you know about girls anyway?" Jessie asked as he walked in laden with bags
"I don't know much about girls in general just about my Girl, her name's Amber and she is fine as hell"
"God if I closed my eyes then that could have been your Dad talking about your Mom" Blaine said with wide eyes
"And how's Harry?" Rachel asked Tina
"That's him" Tina replied pointing at the boy standing next to Chord
"OMG all these grown men around me you were a baby last time I saw you" Rachel said going up to Harry, you're both so handsome
"Jess keep a hold on that woman of yours" Mike said laughing
"You laugh I've seen that particular cougar in action" Tina said making everyone stop laughing as Mercy entered the room
"I'm over it" Mercy said waving her arms about, "I still get the best parts" she smiled
"Mom" Chord said laughing in disgust "Come on Harry let's leave these oldies to their thing" leaving the room
"Hey!" Mercy shouted making everyone look at her to see she was looking at Chord, he turned to look at her, her eyes telling him she was joking
"Yes Mom" he said walking back towards her
"I love you Baby Chord" she said hugging him in
"I love you more Mom" he said before leaving the room and Mercy holding her heart