TC Stark: Thank you once again for the great reviews! I'm so glad that people are liking this story and I hope I don't disappoint. Just a quick not, the opening lines in italics is from a song by Alice in Chains called Rooster. Quick back story, one of the members of the band had a family member in Vietnam so they sat him down to talk to him about his experience in the war and wrote this song as a result. It's a wonderful song, you should all hear it. It's also called Rooster because the Vietnamese had no word for the Eagles on the soldiers uniforms so then thus called them 'roosters'. Anyway, I hope you all enjoy this chapter!
Disclaimer: I only own CJ, wish I owned the Expendables, that'd be awesome lol
Chapter 4
Ain't found a way to kill me yet,
Eyes burn with stinging sweat,
Seems every path leads me to nowhere,
Wife and kids household pet,
Army green was no safe bet,
The bullets scream to me from somewhere.
It was hot. Very hot. Then again it was always hot in South America. He guessed that's why most of the habitants were much darker than their neighbors up north. There was something almost admirable about it. The way they worked out in the sun all day long, sweat beating down their strong skin; completely living life by one's hands. In his country, people would have to wear sun screen and hats to even think about being out in this weather. Not these people though; they took on the sun with no fear of skin cancer or anything else.
Barney Ross loved South America. He loved the people and he loved the continent. It was beautiful how happy people could be with so little worldly possessions. Closing his eyes, he thought back to Sandra. Her country was in ruins and yet she was still positive that things would get better. She walked around town with confidence rather than hiding in the shadows. He was impressed by her, so beautiful yet so strong inside.
The Expendables were just leaving their latest job. Like he had hoped it was short and sweet, a week to free the hostages that needed to be freed and they were out of there. They'd be going back to America and they would be getting paid. Looking around, he knew why they all did what they did. It wasn't the money; it was never about the money. It was about the only world any of them ever knew. God he would love to trade a war field for a work field; but when it really came down to it this was what he did best and it was all he ever knew since he was barely legal and shipped out to Vietnam.
It was his first time Ross had tasted his own blood. It was also the first time he tasted someone else's blood. Standing in a field, he looked all around him. When they had sent him out he had flashes of running into this country, saving lives and even maybe going home to a city filled of people celebrating their return. What he found was something he couldn't imagine. In this country…no one was shouting your name. Men he had considered friends he had seen get their heads blown off, their legs if they were lucky. He stood in a field of dead bodies. Nothing was safe in this war…women, children, animals. Everywhere you turned was another opportunity to be killed.
After Vietnam he made a promise that if he were to use what God had given him at least he was going to do it on his own terms. Not by being recruited to go to a country where he didn't even know what he was fighting for. No doubt it had been a long life, seeing plenty of friends come and go. Looking back on it all, he could at least justify it all that when he lost his friends outside of Vietnam he knew at least why.
"I'm telling you, this baby danced beautifully," Hale spoke out, rubbing the large machinery that sat on his lap, "I hope you saved that girl's number, I'll be needing more of these."
"You wouldn't think these are home grown." Toll Road commented.
Ross and Lee eyed each other, smirking. He knew Christmas was a bit brash and wouldn't want to admit that he actually was impressed by CJ's work. The machines held up and handled beautiful with accuracy and precision. He knew for a fact the large guns Gunnar and Hale equipped themselves with made them happy, the hand guns Yin grabbed were quick and easy to handle, the demolition equipment she had thrown in made Toll happy, the knife she had crafted went to good use with Lee, and Ross was just happy to have help to save his ass when the time came for it.
When the plane landed in America the boys split up on their own paths to have some down time after their little excursion. They were of course paid handsomely, everyone taking their share to use it on whatever they so pleased. Yin Yang would always ask for a raise and he would never give it to him. Sure, he was smaller than everyone else, but everyone put just as much effort in and everyone's life was on the line when it came down to it. In the end, Yin knew that and just essentially wanted to bust some balls.
Although the personalities in the group were vast, they all shared several things in common. They were all going to work every day with the thought that they may not make it out alive. Although it was great knowing you were part of a team that had your back. Each member only knew of their lives in the Expendables. He had no idea who they were outside of the gang, if any of them had families, and if their names were even really their names. It seemed to anyone that names like Tool and Yin Yang were farfetched, but to him that's who these people were, and he was fine with just that thought.
Lee Christmas was someone who kept his life very private or at least tried to from all parties. He tried to keep his life with Lacy away from the Expendables and he tried to keep his life with the Expendables away from Lacy. In the end he was essentially keeping the woman who had captured him away. It wasn't meant to be harmful; he was trying to protect her. This was a hard life and if any enemy found out that he was involved with someone they could become an easy target.
Ross would tell him that she wasn't his type, but it came down to it he wouldn't know what the blade expert's type was. Ross had never seen Lee with a woman or what kind he sought after. All in all the opinion was made by just knowing Lee. And even if he had a type, all of that logic was thrown out the window when confronted with a truly amazing person.
Today he found himself actually inside Lacy's house. Looking around, he sighed. He hadn't been inside these four walls since they had made love right before he left for Somalia. The Englishman shut his eyes and took in a deep breath, remembering it was like yesterday. The way their bodies moved together, her hands dancing around his muscles, the warm sensation of being inside her. It would have been easy to just remember memories like those and jump back into her life, but other memories stopped him in his tracks.
A cup of coffee was gently placed in his hands, giving her a thankful smile as he brought the hot beverage up to his lips. She knew just how he liked it; black with one sugar. She smiled as well, grateful that he had even agreed to come back into her home. Running his hand over his bald head, he sighed, "So…ugh, how's your sister?"
"Oh, good," Lacy nodded hurriedly, "Expecting her second child. A girl."
"Beautiful."
The room fell silent again. It's like they didn't know how to talk to each other anymore. It was terrible to think about considering all the times they had made each other laugh. It bothered him as he placed the cup down, standing up. Her eyes followed him with worry, afraid that he might just walk out. She was pleasantly surprised when he had went to position himself on the couch next to her, "God, can we talk anymore?"
"I'm sorry…it's hard." She frowned.
Lee shook his head, tucking a strand of her beautiful hair behind her ear, "It's both our faults…"
Shaking her head, the beautiful woman touched her chest with her hand, "I shouldn't have just abandoned you like that."
"You didn't know when I was coming back," He placed his elbows on his knees, holding his hands together, "I didn't know sometimes if I was coming back."
Lacy looked over at him, reaching out to touch his cheek with a sigh. She should have known upon meeting him that what he did for a living somewhat involved using that muscle of his. And he did care about her, that she saw. And he was kind and never used his strength over her like Paul had. She had never been hit by a man and when she had despite how things ended she knew she had to call Lee. How great he was to come to her aid regardless of how things panned out.
Smiling softly, she retracted her hand, "Thank you for coming by, Lee."
He nodded, leaning over to kiss her cheek, lingering near her face for a second. The two breathed deeply next to each other, Lacy biting her lip as he reluctantly pulled back. He knew he wanted her, he wanted to kiss her. It took a real man to admit that he was afraid that if he did kiss her he'd be hurt all over again. So instead he stood up, promising to call. Like before she watched him swing his legs over his bike and ride off. She had no idea what was happening between them, but God she was glad that he was back in her life.
TC Stark: So, tell me what you think? I'm not planning on making this also a Lacy/Lee story, but I feel since Lee is a main character of the movie I feel it's important to at least include this story in my story. Also, I hope no one was offended by my Vietnam background story, a lot of innocent people lost their lives in that war and I certainly am not putting that war down. So, please stay tuned to the next chapter and review ^^
