Losers - Kyler's Story

Wanted to thank Verbophobic and Saadhana for reviewing. And now on with the show... err, story?

ENJOY!

Losers - Kyler's Story

During my semi-short flight to Montana I took a much needed nap. It seemed all my sleepless nights were catching up with me and I took the time I could to sleep. However, during my nap I unfortunately relived a memory from my past that I truly wished had never happened. Though if it didn't things wouldn't be how they were. It was the time when I realized I had the ability to harm another human being.

I was only five years old when my mother passed away. Two years later my father took me and my sister to Pakistan so he could meet with a new business associate, Ahmed Khalfan Fadhil. There I was introduced to Aisha al'Fadhil. She and I didn't truly get along until a large group of older boys attacked Kayci in the street. Aisha and I had worked together to save her.

I had grabbed a knife that was lodged in a near-by wall while Aisha ran straight into the fight with her knives gleaming. After I was armed I let instinct take over and attacked. I had never felt like that before, and even now I was scared of it. I sliced through the boys with speed I didn't know I had. Once I reached my sister I turned my back to her so as to hurt anyone who came close. Aisha was on the other side of Kayci doing the same thing as me, though her path of destruction was far larger than mine.

Two of the boys charged at me, testing me. I quickly stabbed one in the chest before he could hurt me. I wasn't fast enough to stop the other boy from cutting my arm down to the bone. Instinct pulled me back into the fight through the pain. The boy quickly lost his hand. I picked up his fallen blade and watched as the group of boys became cowards and ran.

Aisha, Kayci, and I quickly made our way to Aisha's home to clean up. Our fathers were doing some sort of business and we didn't want them to know what had happened. It took three hours for us to fully get the blood off our bodies. Aisha took the blades I used and hid them. I never found out where they had gone.

The dream faded as I reached consciousness. I panted as I woke from my relived nightmare. That was the first time I took a life. Aisha had killed four that day. We believed I had only killed two, maybe three if the boy whose hand I cut off died of blood loss.

"What a horrible dream," I whispered. I absently traced the scar that boy made. It had taken over three months for it to heal. It still bugged me every once in a while. "To think that Father sent those boys to kill us," I spit out.

The pilot came on the speaker to tell me we were landing. I waited for the plane to land. As the dream played over and over in my head I left the plane and found the car that would take me to my sister. I soothed Shami when she started crying, but I really didn't pay much attention. The memory just kept playing in my head.

When the large gate of the Montana mansion came into view my mind finally went to some happier thoughts. I thought of the life I led after my father. The mansion was my home and I would raise my baby girl in it. I hugged Shami closer and sighed in relief once we were inside the private property.

The car door was opened by the butler, George. I smiled at him and got out.

"Gracias," I thanked.

He simply smiled at me, probably thinking I wouldn't understand English. He always tried to make it easy on the new staff. He grabbed my bag and walked with me to the front door. I could hear a shotgun coming from the back.

Ci-Ci must be shooting pigeons.

George led me through the house to the backyard. Ci-Ci was shooting pigeons just like I thought she would be. When she stopped George gained her attention. He spoke to her quietly, probably saying something about me.

I took the time to see how my sister had been. Her hair was dyed a burnt orange color and she wore a pair of black tight skinny jeans and a blue tank top. Her arms were muscled well but her legs looked like she spent too much time standing in one place. She wasn't as thin as she used to be so she was eating well.

"Do you speak English?" she asked as she walked towards me. "Tú hable inglés?" she repeated in Spanish.

"Yes, ma'am," I replied with my Bolivian accent.

"Good. Do you know how to clean?" she asked.

Before I could reply Shami started to cry out. I immediately tried to sooth her. Kayci smiled softly at me.

"Lo siento," I apologized to her over Shami's cries.

"It's fine. Take care of her first," she stated.

I nodded and tried to calm my baby girl down. She did not seem happy about something. I felt her diaper and realized she needed to be changed. I walked over to the grass of the backyard and pulled out a blanket to lay her on. I then proceeded to change her diaper. Once she was clean I stood up and turned back to Ci-Ci.

"You remind me of someone," Ci-Ci stated as her eyes softened more. "She died a few months ago; at least that's what the military said."

"Do you always believe the government?" I asked her, letting my old northern United States accent come through. "I thought you hated the military, Ci-Ci?"

Finally, my sister started to recognize me. She stared at me before pointing at my body from head to toe. When she finally got over most of the shock she screamed. I could only laugh as I soothed my once again crying Shami.

It had taken Kayci a few minutes to calm down enough to let me tell her what happened. While I told her my story we ate a late lunch, early dinner. George had stayed near-by to hear the story, but he let us have more privacy than I thought he would. He used to always hover over us when we were kids. Kayci listened as I told her all that happened, everything, even the stuff with Cougar and Aisha.

"So, hombre don't know 'bout Shami?" Kayci asked after I became quiet.

"No, I haven't told him. I didn't know how," I explained. "We never talked about kids. I mean, we told each other that we loved the other, but we never talked about the future. Being in the military makes it hard to think about the future I suppose."

"What about now? You think about the future?"

"Every day, it feels like. I'm always wondering about Shami's future. Will she have a father figure? Will she grow up in a warzone like us? Will she have enough? Will I ever tell Carlos?" I choked a little. It had been a long time since I said Cougar's real name aloud. "I just don't know anything anymore." I felt tears run down my face for the first time in two months. I hadn't truly cried since Pooch found me.

"Hey, you've got me now. And when Max is dead, you'll have Sha-Sha and Frank (Clay) and Linwood (Pooch) and Jolene (Pooch's wife) and Jake (Jensen) and probably Carlos," Kayci told me, using the team's real names.

"You left out Roque," I told her. It was automatic and I really didn't care much about it. She always left him out for some reason or another.

"I still don't like him. He gives me a bad vibe," Kayci explained. I 'hmm'ed in acknowledgment. "Sha-Sha tell you how long they'll take?"

"She doesn't know. But I have a way to talk to her in emergencies." I fingered the com that rested in my pocket. It felt heavy all of a sudden.

"Alright. Well, my dear baby sister, I'm sure you're tired. I want to spend some time with my niece, so you can get some sleep." Kayci stood to take Shami.

"No," I replied automatically, "I slept without Shami last night. I don't want to tonight. I like having her in my arms."

"Okay, well then, I'm going to go buy some baby stuff. I am taking my spoil-rights and they begin now."

I laughed and let Ci-Ci lead me to my old room. I fell asleep with my baby girl in my arms and dreams of life in the mansion in my head.

Losers - Kyler's Story