Fading into Nothingness

Frosty Toes Suck

Open Field

"NOOOOO!" Clay yelled as red mist splattered his face … the source coming off Sonny's body as the Texan staggered back, fell, and convulsed on the ground. Out of ammo, Clay couldn't defend either of them from the onslaught as his body was riddled with projectiles and he dropped to his knees next to Sonny knowing the end had arrived.

Laughter filled the air as four men and one boy high-fived each other … victory theirs against two of most badass SEALs ever trained.

"You just gonna lie there?"

Sonny peered up and lifted his gun, noting Clay covered in red. He aimed and fired hitting his mark.

"Hey! Not fair, not fair at all. You're supposed be dead," Mikey shouted at Uncle Sonny before turning his gaze to his dad who now supported blue paint oozing down his shirt.

Sonny laughed as he sat up. "All's fair in love and paintball."

Clay groaned as he stood, wiping the red paint from his cheek. He and Sonny went two against five after Sonny made a bet with Jason that the two of them could beat them all. Having been in the men's room when the terms of the bet were agreed, he asked, "What was the bet for?"

Jason answered, "Beer and ice cream."

"Beer ice cream, now that has a ring to it." Sonny grinned as rose.

Leaning on the wall, Clay shook his head. "Not for Mikey." He shifted his gaze to Jason's son. "What's your favorite flavor?"

"Any … well, not gross ones like pistachio nuts or something like that." Mikey beamed, happy Dad brought him along to play paintball today and to be treated like one of his dad's team. Sure beat going to the movies or being babysat by Emma.

"Let's clean up and head back to my place. Naima will have the burgers and such ready for the grill by now." Ray slung his paintball rifle over his shoulder and started to the area where they could shower and change.

Mikey sidled up to Sonny and dropped his voice, "You flopped around a lot when you were supposed to be dead. Did you let me win?"

Sonny snickered, enjoying hamming up his death scene, but shook his head. "Nope, I wouldn't do that. Ya got me … you're a sure shot … a chip off your old man's block." Sonny's heart warmed as the wattage of the boy's smile turned up and competed with the sun in brightness.

Clay slapped Sonny's back and teased, "Don't quit your day job, an actor you are not. Oh, and you're buying … you roped me into this bet without my consent."

"Now, Crimson Avenger, we're going halves," Sonny drawled.

Unknown Location

Awakening yet again to the damp chill, his pleasant memory fading into nothingness, Clay lay still, his eyes open but not a flicker of light filled his vision. He had no idea where he was, or how much time had passed. Cold and numb, shivers overtook him again and he pulled the thin piece of material over his bare shoulders in a futile effort to ward off the chill, but only succeeded in uncovering his freezing bare feet.

The last thing Clay recalled before waking here the first time was being the last man to walk off the back of the plane for a HAHO jump into Nepal near the Chinese border to rescue three female American missionaries who were nabbed by an extremist group who planned to sell them to the highest bidder. Oh, and his main chute not opening. His reserve opened but almost too late, and he was far from the intended landing zone.

He only knew the last two items, because if the reserve hadn't opened, he'd be dead, and if he had been anywhere near the team, he wouldn't be here … wherever here might be … somewhere in either China or Nepal. Of the two, China would be less preferable.

The ever-present pain in his neck and numbness of his lower extremities was nerve-wracking. He wanted to move, to explore his location … find a way out, get back to his team, wherever they may be, but he couldn't. All he could do was lay here and float in and out of naps to escape the never-ending coldness and pain.

Clay wondered if he was a prisoner … but so far, he had not seen or heard anyone, and he had no view of his environment … it might be a prison … or a hole in the ground. The only thing he did know, whoever had him, provided him a thin pad to lie on and a blanket of sorts, but took all his gear, leaving him in only his boxers. He wished for his socks … frosty toes sucked and only increase his misery.

Kathmandu, Nepal

"WHY THE HELL NOT!" Jason bellowed.

"Because we have no lead on where Spenser is." Eric let out an exasperated sigh. He had been sitting on Jason and the rest of Bravo for the past three days. Nanny was not part of his official job description, but with Hayes, it was necessary. No other commander had the ability to rein him in, so it was his distinct pleasure … or often displeasure … to be the one commanding the notoriously difficult and demanding Master Chief Hayes.

"Well, find a lead. He's been out there on his own for nine fucking days." Jason clenched and released his fists … hating the feeling of being ineffectual. This was the second mission in a row where everything spun out of his control. Sonny almost drowning … hell drowning in the Navy sub tube … and now Clay going missing during their HAHO jump.

When the kid's chute didn't open, they all watched him plummet towards the ground, fearing he would meet the same end as his friend Brian. They all breathed a sigh of relief when the reserve opened, but the kid was so far off course and the air currents took him further from them.

Upon landing, they called for him, but he didn't answer. Though he would take flak for deviating from his mission, they spent the hours before daylight searching for Clay. Not finding him … they had to hunker down during the daylight, but Jason kept trying to raise the kid on the comms.

He didn't want to leave before finding Spenser, leaving a man behind never sat well with him … they had to break off their search and go rescue the women. Took them two nights to locate them in China, and another three to traipse back to across the border for exfil.

Cooling his heels here while Mandy and her namby pamby nerds searched satellite footage of the area trying to locate a trace of the kid left him in a nasty mood.

"Jace, they're doing everything they can," Ray tried to placate Jason, though he too itched to be let loose to scour the possible landing radius. But since it included a large section of China, they were not green lighted.

Glowering at Ray, Jason ground out, "It's not enough."

"I know, brother … but its all we can do for now." Ray put a hand on Jason shoulder.

Lester grinned as he zeroed in on a section. "Hey! Hey! I think I found something."

Sonny, Brock, Ray, Trent, and Jason all surrounded the techie in a fraction of a second. Lisa, Eric, and Mandy all had to make do with being in the outer circle trying to peer over burly men's shoulders.

Lisa pushed near Sonny, and gave him a smile when he made room for her. Ever since his near-death experience in the sub, things had leveled out between them. Neither knew where if anywhere their relationship was headed, but for now the tension between them dissipated.

Pointing to his screen, Lester said, "See this. It looks like limbs were broken off the trees. And this area … looks like drag marks in soil. I think he crashed through the trees and then someone dragged him away. You have a starting point and a direction."

Ray clapped the man on the back. "Good work. Where is it?"

Lester shifted his eyes to Blackburn. "In China."

"Aw crap!" Sonny punched his palm.

Jason pinned his eyes on Eric. "Get us a green light."

Nodding, Eric said, "I'll do my best."

"Best isn't good enough. Do it, or we're going AWOL to get our boy back. International incident be damned."

"I didn't hear that," Eric strode away. He would place a call to Admiral Droit … the man displayed a soft spot for Clay and if ever the kid could use a champion in his corner, it was now.

Mandy turned to Lester, "Keep searching in that area, try to find more tracks."

"We need maps of the area," Ray said. "We'll be planning a rescue mission while we wait for the green light."

Lisa began making a mental list of what they guys would need as she strode out.

Trent said, "I want to review a zoomed in view of the landing."

"Why?" Lester asked.

"Might help me determine if there are any medical needs to prepare for."

"Oh. I'll put it up on the other monitor for you." Lester tapped away as Trent sat at the computer next to Lester.

As Trent examined the broken boughs his stomach dropped. Clay would certainly have sustained injuries … how severe he couldn't tell.

Ray, Jason, Brock, and Sonny poured over the map, discussing options and the fastest route to the initial site … their infil would depend on whether they received the go ahead.

.

AN: This started out intending to be AI-N, but it is taking on a life of its own so became a separate story. I will come up with a new concept for N for Alphabet Injuries. Meanwhile, I'm posting chapter 2 also, and working on chapter 3. Hope you enjoy.