Chapter 10
HEYA guys! I'm back! Here's another for ya, hope ya like!
I own nothing but the setting and my characters!
Cash opened climbed out the door of the faded red jeep, carefully closing the door so as to not wake anyone within earshot, mainly, his family, who were still sleeping. He stepped to the two story duplex he, his wife, and two children called home, fumbling with the keys until he found the right one. He popped the key into the lock and twisting it, once he heard the "click", he pushed the door open and walked inside. Cash then gently closed the doors, kicked off his shoes, and made his way upstairs to where his children slept.
The duplex, was designed to have two houses aside one another, with two bedrooms (one in the top floor, one in the bottom), a kitchen (in the bottom story), and a bathroom in each. Cash's children both slept upstairs, while he and his wife slept in a room downstairs, using the extra as a spare.
Cash silently tip-toed up the stairs, peering into the first room to his left, the bedroom of his five-year-old son, Alex. Alex was sleeping soundly, covering up in his old super-monkey blanket, which matched the rest of his room, filled with superhero posters, toys, and books. Cash smiled and shook his head. Alex looked up to his father, and often called him a superhero in himself. Cash slowly crept inside the room, grabbing the blanket and pulling it closer to Alex's chin. As if on cue, the young boy quickly nestled deeper into the covers. Cash chuckled to himself before reaching down and placing a kiss upon his son's forehead, then carefully backing out of the room.
The next room Cash entered, was his daughter's, six-year-old Delaney. Delaney, unlike Alex, was not very typical. She was a tom-boy, with numerous bug collections, animal posters, and various objects strew about her room. Cash smiled before tip-toeing over to her, kissing her forehead, then leaving the room.
Cash crept down the stairs, heading to his next destination. He and his wife's room. He quietly slinked through the narrow hallway, passing various pictures upon the walls, before coming to an open door. His room.
He expected to see the covered, sleeping form of his wife, but was shocked to see an empty space on the bed. Curious, he ventured further into the room.
"Heather?" He called, with no answer. Cash then left the room, venturing into the living room, where Heather could be seen reading a book from the small library stationed within. She wasn't there either.
"Where the hell is she?" Cash thought to himself. A feeling of being watched caused Cash to turn around to the image of his wife standing behind him. She was short, about five-two, with shoulder length brown hair, and piercing blue eyes. Ten years of marriage, and the woman still scared Cash.
"Do you have to make so much noise?" Asked the small women, placing her hands on her hips before bumping past Cash.
"Sorry." Replied Cash half-heartedly. "Wasn't thinking."
"Obviously." Chuckled his wife. "Why are you stomping around looking form me?" As if to answer, Cash strode forward, wrapping his arms around his wife, hoisting her into the air, before bringing his lips to hers.
"Because I was." He replied with a smirk.
"Well then…." Said Heather dreamily.
"Plus I have something I need to tell you." Added Cash, allowing his wife to stand on the ground, then running a hand through his hair.
"Okay," She said sitting down. "Sit down and tell me." Cash did as he was told, placing his head in his hands.
"I'm just gonna come out and say it." He began, "I asked Annalise to re-instate my active field agent status." Heather said nothing for a moment, she just stared before speaking.
"Wh-what?" She stuttered. "Why?"
"Heather," Began Cash. "I can't stand the whole office job. I gave it a shot, and for awhile it wasn't so bad. The fact that I didn't come home with fresh wounds was always a plus, and I had an easy view over the city, so I could see everything. But, it got old. Heather, I miss the thrill of being out there with my team, I miss commanding them in person, not over a radio. I can't take that room anymore."
"But Cash…" Said his wife, tears forming in her eyes, "You nearly died! The gate incident? Remember?" For a moment, Cash's eyes flashed with anger, then cleared.
"Yes…I do." Replied Cash. "I sent my team out recently, Kevin nearly died. I sent him in unprepared because I couldn't let Crowley handle his task alone. I sent the wrong men. I should've gone with Crowley, Dex should've gone with Kevin. Kevin nearly died because of me. I won't let that happen again."
"But Kev didn't die." Began Heather, moving closer to Cash. "He made it out. Your whole team did!"
"But what if they hadn't?" Asked Cash, standing up. "I put my team at risk because of my poor judgment, all that time in that office has softened me. I need to be out there with my team. They need me."
"Well what about your family?" Said Heather, standing up as well. "What am I going to tell Alex and Delaney? That their father wants to go fight monsters again, because he's bored? That he wants to put his life in danger again?"
"And what if I stay here?" Snapped Cash, looking his wife in the eyes. "What if I keep making bad calls? Heather, my team is going to die! They are the best of our defense force, I won't let them die. What's better, to stay and hide, or go and fight?"
"What's better Cash?" Snapped Heather, "Stay here and come home to your family, or go out and die out there, leaving me, and your children behind?"
"I'm barely here as it is!" Said Cash with slight regret.
"But at least you're here!" Whispered Heather, drawing herself closer to her husband. "Cash, Alex and Delaney look up to and love you, just as much as me! Do you even know what it was like to know you've left, and that you may never come back? What it felt like to hear that the gates had been breached, and that you weren't here to protect us?"
"If I'm out there," Began Cash, "I can stop all the people who would cause that to happen. I can stop a tragedy before it even occurs. Heather, I'm sorry, but my decision is made. I'm heading out with my team on their next job."
"And when is that?" Asked Heather, lip trembling.
"We meet to finalize plans soon." Replied Cash. "But Heather, I promise, I will be home." Heather nodded, and made her way out of the room. Cash began to follow, but Heather raised a hand, stopping him.
"I need to be left alone now Cash." Cash nodded, and watched as his wife left, to their room most likely. Sighing, Cash shook his head, and glanced at his watch. Ten-fifteen.
"Shit. Better go talk to Crowley." Thought Cash as he strode for the door, exiting the house and making his way to his Jeep. Climbing in, Cash noticed a picture on his dashboard. It was of him and his wife, holding their children. Everyone was wearing a large smile upon their face. Cash smiled and shook his head.
"I promise you Heather, I will make it back."
Crowley gasped as he quickly rose from bed, grasping his shoulder, and soaked in sweat.
"Another nightmare…" He thought bitterly. Grumbling, he rose to his feet, and made his way into his bathroom, opening up the mirror cabinet, and grabbing a bottle of Ibuprofen. Crowley popped two into his mouth before turning on the faucet and filling up a small cup, then drinking the water. Sighing, Crowley ran a hand through his hair and closed the cabinet door, before staring into his reflection. It had been twelve years since the accident that disfigured Crowley's face, when he was a marine stationed in Pakistan. He ran a trembling hand across his scarred face. He could feel the four scars that marked the entire left side of his face, one crossing his eye, which had been disfigured as well, turning it pure white, then there were the three others, one across the bridge of his nose, a scar running from just below his temple, to the middle of his cheek. The other began under his eye, and crossed his lip. Crowley hung his head low, placing his hands upon the sink. He dreamed of that day every night, and thought about it every day. How he failed.
The humvees made their way down the old dirt road, as their passengers restlessly shared stories of their hometowns, lovers, families, and plain old experiences. All except for one.
Corporal Chance Crowley sat in the back of the first vehicle, while his comrades each told stories. He just stared outside the window, a blank expression painted on his face.
"Hey, Chance!" Said a voice, snapping him out of his trance, making him turn to his comrades.
"What's up Collins?" He asked calmly.
"Why you so quiet man?" Asked Collins, "You ain't got nothing to share?"
"Not really." Chuckled Chance. "Not much to share."
"Wait," Began Collins, "You don't have a girl? A family? Nothing on your hometown?"
"No, no, and oh god no." Laughed Chance.
"Aw," Smiled Collins, "You lame man." Chance laughed and waved a hand at the man, shaking his head.
"What about you then Collins?"
"Oh me?" Asked Collins, pointing a finger to himself, "Oh I got stories to tell for years brother."
"Really?" Asked Crowley leaning forward. "Do tell."
"Well back home," Began Collins, "I got this girl, Tammi Lee, oh man. She is one smoking babe, brother."
"Really?" Repeated Crowley, leaning closer. "Tell me more."
"I'm tellin ya man," Began Collins, "Sweetest smile, with the prettiest blue eyes. Long black and curly hair. Plus, she's got a huge rack, with a slamming ass and set of legs. Tellin ya, she is one hell of a girl. I'm gonna marry that sweet thing when I get home. That's my Tammi Lee."
"Sounds beautiful." Remarked Crowley. "One question though."
"Yeah?"
"Is this girl made out of plastic?"
"What do ya mean?" Asked Collins. Crowley leaned closer, signaling for Collins to do the same.
"I mean," He began, looking at the vehicles other occupants, "I mean, when you're done with her, do ya deflate her, fold her up, and stuff her under your mattress so your momma doesn't see her?" Instantly the whole vehicle erupted in laughter, with Collins jokingly shoving Chance back into his seat.
"Asshole." Smirked Collins.
"So I'm told." Stated Chance with a smile.
"You know," Began Collins, "I have half a mind to come over there and make ya eat them words for what ya just said bout my Tammi Lee."
Chanced laughed.
"I'm serious man-" The young marine was cut off as the humvee was rocked with an unseen force. The men instantly shouted out in shock, pain, and anger as the humvee toppled over on its rood.
Unbuckling himself, Chance grabbed his assault rifle, crashing down. Outside, he could hear the commotion of gunfire, shouts of pain, and orders being shouted over the violent barrage of bullets. Focusing, Chance kicked the door to the humvee open, and crawled out.
"Form Up!" Yelled a fellow soldier across from him. Instantly, Crowley rolled to the front of the vehicle, taking cover behind it's front end, peeking around and firing a few rounds towards an unseen enemy.
"Chance!" Shouted someone form inside the Humvee, causing Chance to roll back over to where he exited. Looking inside, he was shocked to see that two of his comrades had not survived, or had not appeared to have survived the initial attack.
"Right here!" Shouted a voice. Collins.
"Collins!" Shouted Chance, "You okay man?!"
"I'm hurt but still okay to fight!" Was the reply.
"So you can move then?" Asked Chance. Crawling inside the downed Humvee.
"Pretty sure." With that, Chance then unbuckled his friend form his seat, and the duo slowly crawled out of the wreckage.
"You two!" Shouted another marine.
"Yes, Sir!" shouted the two together.
"All right," He said, stepping closer, "Crowley, you take the front of that humvee there, and Collins take the back of this one. Now move!" The tow men quickly sprang into action. Chance moved to the front of the first humvee, laying down fire against the enemy, while Collins did the same from his angle, until the two heard their superior scream out in pain, before turning to see him dead on the ground.
"Shit, Collins!" Shouted Chance.
"Yeah?" Shouted back Collins.
"We need to radio for back-up!" Collins nodded, before climbing inot the downed humvee, and attempting to activate the radio. Unbeknownst to Chance, an enemy approached him from behind, striking him in the back of the head, dropping Chance. However, before the assailant could attakc again, Chance delivered a devastating kick to his gut, causing him to drop his weapon, a Spaz-12.
Chance grabbed the weapon, rolled out of harms way, then fired a shell into the assailants chest, killing him. Chance then rolled over, rising to one knee, as something came into his line of sight. A grenade, and it was right next to Collin's humvee. Chance charged forward.
"Collins-" He was cut off as a sharp pain erupted on the left side of his face, and the humvee was also in flames. Chance landed with a sharp thud onto the hard ground.
"I'm sorry Collins…" He said before blacking out.
Chance awoke with a start.
"Where am I?" He thought. The last thing he remembered was the trip on the dirt road, he and Collins' joking, then there was the attack. Soon, it all flooded back to him, the death of his comrades, the grenade, the pain.
Instinctively, Chance placed a hand to his face, and gasped when he felt the large scars, now permanently seared into his flesh. Quickly he rose to his feet, and hobbled his way into the bathroom, gazing upon his newly scarred face, and his now pure white left eye.
"Oh my god…" He said to himself. "Collins! He shouted, tearing out of the bathroom, checking his room for his friend, but he was nowhere near. Then he remembered the rest of the incident, of how Collins' humvee had blown up, with him in it. Chance then felt himself fall into a nearby chair, slumping his shoulders.
"I failed…" He said to himself. "I'm so sorry Collins." Chance then placed his head in his hands.
"Corporal Crowley?" Said a stern voice. Chance quickly rose to his feet, seeing in front of him a man dressed in a full military suit. This man was clearly his superior, so he quickly saluted.
"Corporal Chance Crowley, Sir!"
"At ease marine." Said the man, causing Chance to relax. "How are you feeling son?"
"Like shit, Sir." Replied Chance. The man laughed.
"I'd imagine so. Says here you took a grenade blast to the face, got a concussion, nearly bled out, and you still stand before me. How is that?"
"Tough to kill, Sir."
"That's for sure." Said the man. "I'm Lieutenant Cash. I'd like to talk to you about the attack if that's okay."
"Fine with me sir." Said Chance. "But if I may ask, Sir. Was I the only survivor?" The Lieutenant had a grim look upon his face.
"I'm afraid so. The bodies of your fellow comrades were not found. I'm sorry. Chance, I truly am." Chance slowly placed a hand on his scars, before looking at the Lieutenant.
"Don't be." He said in monotone. "And please, call me Crowley."
Crowley quickly snapped back into reality as his comm buzzed.
"Hello?" He said gruffly, after placing it into his ear.
"Crowley?" Said Cash on the other end.
"Sir." Answered Crowley.
"I need you to head over to HQ soon. We have to talk."
"Yes sir."
"Until then," Said Cash, "I want you to relax. I'm gonna need you fully prepared."
"I'm always prepared sir." Retorted Crowley, to which Cash laughed in reply.
"I'm glad to hear it." With that, the line went dead, and Crowley placed his comm on the sink before running his hand across his face once more.
Crowley left the bathroom after gazing into the mirror one last time, and turning the light off.
Yo! Did ya'll like? I really enjoyed writing this chapter, and i really hope you do too. Any suggestions or questions, P.M. me, anyways, till next time,
Chayse_Man