Multiple explosions filled the street, blowing up two of the vehicles in the convoy. The rest of the soldiers dismounted quickly, dismounting to the sides of the street and looking for any other contacts.
"Medic!"
Blake didn't hesitate. Seconds after the cry he was already moving, sprinting towards the two wrecked vehicles.
The cries of pain and moaning surrounded him, even as contact was called out and shots began to be exchanged between the two forces. He focused in on the wounded; a young otter who was writhing in pain from a missing leg. Grabbing his body armor by the drag handle, Blake quickly hauled him into cover and began to get a tourniquet onto the leg.
The otter was incoherent, screaming in pain as Blake worked. He didn't bother to go back for the others; everyone in those two vehicles were plastered across the street and walls. He focused in on the injuries on the otter instead.
"Doc, doc please. I don't wanna die!" He wailed, still thrashing in pain.
"You're not gonna die, Corporal." Blake responded, still frantically working to control the bleeding. The next thing Blake felt was an impact on his back, and then sudden pain as his body was forced forward.
Blake jolted upright, gasping and looking around frantically, his eyes wide and alert, slowly calming down as he realized where he was. He sighed slightly, sinking back against the couch he was laying on. Just another visit from one of those dreams.
Shaking his head, he sat up, fighting down images of the bodies of his platoon mates laying in that street. He didn't want to think about it. Not now, not ever. Standing up, he began to quietly look around the room for his bag, becoming more and more anxious as he couldn't find it.
"Come on..where is it." He muttered frantically, moving far more nosily as he began to become more and more worried. "Don't tell me Officer Hopps didn't bring it in here with us…"
As minutes passed, Blake felt the fear rising in his chest and he slumped back onto the couch. "No no no no...it can't be missing...it can't be missing…" He muttered, rocking slightly as the fear threatened to take him once more.
Judy stirred as she thought she heard movement from the living area. She lay there, her arms around Nick as she held him close, listening for any further sounds.
The footsteps she heard kept on growing louder and louder, and then she began to hear muttering as someone sat down on the couch.
With a soft groan, she slipped her arms out from around Nick and walked into the living room. There she saw Blake, still frantically looking around. "What's wrong?" She asked.
As she spoke, his eyes snapped to hers, and she shivered slightly at the look he gave her. It was one of terror and worry. "My bag. I need my bag." He repeated over and over, starting to pace around for it again.
Judy paused for a moment, and then walked back into her room and grabbed his bag. "This one?" She asked, bringing it back out and holding it out to him.
In a flash, he was by her side, yanking the bag out of her hand and kneeling as he emptied all the contents out. She watched in surprise as he inventoried everything twice before repacking the bag. As he finished, he looked up at her again. "Thank you.." He said, before returning to the couch, laying down and closing his eyes.
Judy watched him for a few more moments, confused. What was that all about?
Walking over, she looked down at the bag, looking over the bag for anything she had missed the first time. At first glance it seemed the same, but as she glanced over it a second time, she noticed that one of the pouches she had only glanced into before was open, and there appeared to be writing on the flap.
Slowly, she lifted the flap up and looked down at the writing.
Property of SPC Blake "Doc" West
Judy's hands shot up to her mouth as she read that. Blake West wasn't just another street rat, nor someone who had shown up in aimless wandering across the land. He had served in the military as a soldier, as a combat medic.
More importantly, she knew what that nickname meant. She just couldn't believe what she was seeing. She didn't just have someone who had intervened and saved Nick's life, she had a solider here in her house.
So why is he here? And more importantly, why is he homeless?
So, two chapters being released today, mostly because these are both very, very short. Others will be longer, I promise, but these chapters had to be shorter for the flow of the story.
Anyways, I want to say a big thanks to everyone who has followed/favorited this story. I honestly wasn't expecting such a positive response, especially after not writing for such a long time. It really means a lot to me, and its great knowing that people are enjoying what I'm writing. Hopefully I'll be able to keep it going for the entirety of this story.
Given that it's finals week for me, and then I have some other things that I'll need to take care of, the posting schedule is very likely to change, but I will do my best to keep it at a chapter a day until the story is finished. If that gets changed, I will try and put something up to warn of the change.
Either way, thank you for all the support, and happy reading!