Aloha everyone that still loves me... I completely re-did the whole plot, changed some names, added some characters... and added a back story! My main character didn't have a back story to begin with and I decided to add one because... well why not? I left a lot of stuff out of the first chapter for reasons and everything will make sense as the book goes on. Sorry again for the really long delay, I really hope I didn't kill any of you with suspense. I love you all!
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Chapter 1: Departures
"You're being transferred, Clancy." Captain Johnson said; his voice emotionless and cold. Clancy blinked several times and took a few steps back as if surprised by his words. Clancy New something like this might happen but not a week after Rebecca died. She wished to shout at him, to yell and scream but Clancy held in her words. She wouldn't dare yell at an authority figure, especially one that practically raised her from the depression she had when she first showed up at camp 127. "What happened to Rebecca is not your fault and I, along with the rest of well everyone, thinks that your transfer is needed."
"Sir I don't think that's necessary. I am completely fine and I will be even better within the next few months after everything calms down." Clancy sighed and rubbed the back of her neck. Clancy knew she wasn't completely alright, that Rebecca's death morphed her in some unknown way that would take more than a simple transfer to heal; she just didn't want to admit it to herself. Clancy stared at her combat boot covered feet and watched the dust settle around them as she moved her feet along the dirt. "What happened to Rebecca happened, and there's no going back. I screwed up, I got her killed but I will not leave the rest of this family… sir." Clancy raised her voice but lowered it as she concluded, and bowed slightly toward Johnson. The camp full of guys she had been with became her family for the past two years that she had been with them, and to leave would ruin Clancy and she would be in the same predicament she was in before, before she came to camp 127. "And anyway, I'm sure Ryan would disagree heavily. You know he'll fight for me to stay."
"Clancy listen to me. You're not the first person to fight this, but your transfer needs to happen. There is a group of soldiers, Task Force 141, which is expecting you in a few days. You will get on that helicopter and you will meet them Saturday morning. Am I understood?" Johnson stood from his seat and slammed his hands on the desk in front of him causing Clancy to step backward from her spot. Johnson could look like the devil reincarnated when he needed to be. "I don't mean to sound like your evil Step-Father but sometimes you need a kick in the ass to get you moving. Now go pack your stuff and I'll see you out." Johnson sat back down and waved Clancy off who stalked off from the tent to meet Ryan Holmes, her partner in crime. He flipped his brown/blonde hair and began to walk with Clancy.
"You're staying right?" Ryan asked. Clancy stopped and stared into his deep brown eyes that seemed to be filled with anxiousness and fright at the same time. He knew what she was about to tell him, but he wouldn't accept it. They had been best friends since she stepped onto Egyptian soil, and seeing her leave would kill him. "Don't tell me what you're about to tell me."
"I'm sorry, Ry." Clancy began walking again into her tent where she began packing quietly. There was so much tension in the room with two protesting minds. Ryan protested by taking her stuff from her bag and sitting on her suitcase. Clancy growled and shoved him off only to have Ryan grab her arm and pull Clancy in front of him.
"No, I will force you to stay if I have to. You're not leaving this base!" Ryan thundered, his voice shook the fabric of the tent.
"Ry I can't stay. Johnson's forcing me to leave." Clancy shuddered and began packing her clothes again, completely ignoring Ryan. "You and I both knew this would happen, and we both need to accept it." Clancy hated saying it but those words needed to be said, They needed to be heard by her stubborn friend, but Ryan was having none of it.
"I'll change his mind, and if I don't by God I will go with you." Ryan left her tent, leaving Clancy to silence and tranquility for the last hour and a half she had left before she would be relocated to God knows where. After she was finished packing, Clancy sat on her cot for the last time, and ran her hands down the scratchy, yet at the same time it was soft, top blanket that she had pulled from under her mattress several times because of the cold nights. The ripped window flap was torn by Ryan who was spying on her during her first night on base. It flapped back and forth awkwardly, and Clancy smiled softly at it, her bright, Disney green eyes watching the pale brown fabric as it flipped through the light wind. The dusty broken chair in the corner of the tent is from when Rebecca fell over and broke her leg on the chair. Clancy never thought to have it replaced.
She sat there for the longest time, deep in thought; reminiscing over the last two years of her life. Clancy had no family back home to look forward too. The entire Lombardi family had died in a tragic fire that erupted their family home into flames. Clancy had nothing except for her mother's locket and her father's family crest ring. The ring held the upmost significance to Clancy. There was a raven that flapped its wings on the front of the ring, the animal made and chiseled from silver. A square cut emerald sat under the bird and a silver band underneath the stone. The crest had been passed down from generations and Clancy was the only Lombardi left to have it. She was the man of the family now, and the woman. She would never go back to the states. Clancy decided that when she got out of the service she would move to England or Germany, or somewhere else. Going back to the states sickened her, made Clancy want to throw up. Her entire life was ruined in front of her and starting over sounded like the best idea when she left the service.
"It's time to leave, Clancy. Get your bags and get to the heli." Johnson poked his head through the door and practically yelled at her, and Clancy nodded slowly and stood up, grabbing her bags in the process. She looked back at her now empty tent once more and left the fabric cabin for the last time.
Johnson waited for her by the Helicopter, its blades spun uncontrollably, cutting the air without any remorse. He took Clancy's bags and stuffed them onto the helicopter. He paused and stared down at his soldier, his hazel eyes filled with sadness. He hated to see her leave, but it had to be done. Clancy needed to leave for her own sanity along with the rest of the camps. He swept Clancy into a hug and pulled her slightly off the ground. Tears left his eyes. This was the first time anyone had ever seen the man cry. He was always so tough and brave, and without a hint of fear in him. Seeing him react to a simple transfer like this made several soldiers question his authority, but only for a moment before he let Clancy go and regained his composure. Ryan wasn't there to see her off. Clancy asked about him but Johnson only shook his head and told her to get on the helicopter. She shook her head and moved to the end of the line of soldiers that she had just walked by and called for Ryan but he never showed.
"Ryan I swear to the Heavens if you don't come out of hiding I will personally put a bullet through your brain next chance I see you!" Clancy yelled into the camp but the only thing that answered was the wind that blew her nearly black hair from the tight bun atop her head. "RYAN!" She yelled once more but he didn't respond. A glint of salty water came to Clancy's eyes as she turned around and went back to stand in front of Johnson.
"He thought it would be better if he didn't watch you leave, but he told me to give you this." Johnson pulled a folded up piece of coffee stained notebook paper, and handed it to Clancy who snatched it quickly and stuffed it into her uniform breast pocket.
"Thank you." Clancy stood at attention for the last time in front of her superior, and Johnson did the same for her. "I'll see you around." Was the last thing she said to him as she boarded the helicopter to leave to a predestined place halfway across the world.
Once the helicopter got into the air, Clancy pulled the note from the pocket she had stuffed it in and unfolded it carefully. Her eyes traced over every word carefully. Bits were covered in coffee stains, others in old, dried tear drops. Her fingers ran over the dry paper and stopped when they reached a fossil of one of Ryan's tear drop stains.
Clancy,
I hate doing this to you, but I am unable to see you off the base. Johnson and I both think it best if I were not there when you left, and not for the reason you think. God I don't know what I'm writing, I'm writing so damn fast Clancy. Everything is a blur right now. Don't tell Johnson but I may have smuggled some vodka in from the city. I knew I would need it if I ever had to write something like this to you.
I know your life is complete shit. That first night when I ripped your tent and woke you, you told me everything. You entrusted me with your deepest, darkest secrets and I can only thank you for that. When you first came to us, when you transferred to us for some unknown reason I wanted to make some kind of impression. I wanted to make you as happy as possible and I think I did that. You smiled a lot more after we became friends, and you seemed to keep your head up more often, and that's good. I love you Clancy, and not as a brother or a father figure. I love you to the moon and back. Once this damned war is over I am going to find you and we are going to get married and have those two kids you want; and you can name them whatever you want. By God you can name them Alfie and Georgia if you want. As long as I get to spend my life with you, I don't care.
Don't ever change, Clancy. Please do that for me, or don't do that. Whichever is correct.
Ry
Clancy finished reading the letter and let it drop to her feet. Tears streamed down her face and wiping them off didn't seem to help much because new salty water took the old's place. Ryan had never admitted his love for Clancy but she knew he did deep in her heart and head. She knew there was a part of him that admired her more than what he was letting off. She knew but didn't admit it to herself until after she left. Maybe the transfer was for the best. Maybe Johnson did this to separate them because he knew. Clancy's head lifted quickly and she stared out the side window into the mass amounts of clouds. Johnson did this because of Ryan and Clancy's relationship, not because of Rebecca. Clancy barely knew Rebecca except for the few trips she went on with her. And anyway, Clancy didn't screw up, Rebecca did. She got herself killed.