Chapter 10

90 days felt like the fastest passage time that Tom had experience. The drugs had drowned out time to the point it felt like years had passed. Sober, he felt how quickly time slipped through his fingers like sand.

The people he'd been in treatment with all had stories just as horrific a story or worse than his own. Most were addicts escaping the horror of being survivors; one teenage girl had been a sex slave where they'd turned her into an addict to keep her docile and controlled. It sounded vaguely similar to his own story except that he'd been slowly eroded by the drugs to destroy who he was. He'd found solace in not being alone and strength in the others who were able to come to terms with what they had experienced.

The therapists made it clear, he would never be fully cured. The drugs would leave its scars inside him to carry for life. But he was the one who had control, he had coping mechanisms to help him when he felt his control slipping. He also was lucky to have a large support network to support him after rehab.

Today, he was going home. Well, the house he'd shared with Darien for so many years. He'd kept a hold on to it for sentimental reasons. He wasn't sure if it was still home.

"God, you're such a pain in the ass." Daniela grouched in a foul manner to her twin brother.

"You could've left me and kept on going." Wolf griped as he was out of breath and his chest burned. 3 months onward after being shot in the chest and he was still struggling to get into shape. His recovery hadn't been easy as he'd caught pneumonia in the hospital thus extending his stay. Now he was out, he was weak and dying to get back in shape. His body however wanted couch time than running and training.

"I couldn't leave you lying in the dirt." he told her as he took the bottle of water she held out to him. They'd barely made it around the block when Wolf face planted it on the pavement. Daniela had barely broken a sweat in her indecent running outfit. He was sweating like he'd run a marathon.

"Yeah, but then I wouldn't have been able to admire the fine sailors who picked you off the ground." She said with smile, what was murder on Wolf's ego was a peep show for Daniela. He knew he was lucky to have her. He was a mess, he could barely keep up around the apartment and his rehab.

Daniela filled in the blanks of taking care of house, cooking and driving him to rehab. She had two part time jobs as a barista and a book keeper. Everything was slowly working out for her though her driving skills left a lot to be desired but they'd fallen into a well worn sibling relationship. Burk and the others stopped by from time to time to help out.

But the Nathan James had been deployed yet again leaving him at the mercy of his sister. It was still so surreal to have her in his life. His mother called every night, his one remaining brother and younger sister called sporadically as they had lives and families to look after. His mother threatened to fly out but getting a flight out was next to impossible, but she was on a waiting list. So he figured one day she'd be kicking his butt. She didn't know about Daniela, he tried to talk to her about it, but he could never find the words. Frankly Daniela made it clear she didn't want to talk to their mother.

"The Nathan James is back today, Burk is taking me out for dinner. So Miller will be around to sit with you. He said something about watching TV and pizza." She told him as she lounged back into the couch beside him. Her long hair pulled into a top bun, she wore a tight t-shirt that hugged her curves and shorts. Though they barely met the definition of shorts given they were practically nonexistent. It really made Wolf's life hell as every man within the 10km of the apartment tripped over themselves to get inside said shorts.

"As in a date?" Wolf asked her.

"Well, I am hoping he'll put out given I've come to learn how uptight American men are about sex. They all want know your life story. I can't do that." Daniela told Wolf, he made a face as he really didn't like hearing about Daniela's sex life or lack thereof.

"Michael didn't work out?" Wolf asked, he knew his sister wasn't a nun but she had a pretty bad dating streak for the last three months.

"No, I'm seriously wondering what happened to 'fucking in the face of death'? Isn't that what's supposed to happen in the post pandemic world? Cause I can't find a man to do me. Maybe you should ask Miller for a handy." Daniela told him before taking a sip of her own water.

"Not happening." Wolf told her, he wished he could become inured to Daniela's crass nature but everyday he learnt there was no limit to how offensive and gross; she could be.

"Just close your eyes and imagine he's a beautiful redheaded woman." She said with a mocking smile. Wolf chuckled at how wrong the suggestion was.

"It won't work." Wolf assured her.

"So you've tried?" Daniela asked him with a grin. Wolf pressed his hands to his face and gave a groan. He scrubbed his face and looked to her, her smile just widen as she enjoyed his misery.

"Remember how we said there are some topics we shouldn't talk about?" Wolf asked her.

"Yes, but honestly who wants to talk about the weather and what's for dinner. It's boring. You know what? I'm going to find you a woman." Daniela told him, she got up off the lounge and stretched her arms above her head.

"No." Wolf told her.

"Honestly, your mood would be much improved if you got laid." Daniela assured him.

"No, and don't think about hiring a hooker." Wolf told her.

"Like I have the money for one?" Daniela asked him.

Sasha waited in the reception area of the Rehab centre waiting for Tom to be discharged. She had lived the most bizarre three months of her life in Norfolk. She had been hopping between St Louis and Norfolk helping with Naval Operations and training recruits.

She had formed a friendship with Daniela Soto which Sasha couldn't understand given how opposite their views were. But it worked as Daniela helped Sasha through the long waits to see Tom and she helped Daniela acclimate to Norfolk. Well, she tried given Daniela was a force of nature but a loveable one.

Azima had returned to active duty on the Nathan James along with the others. But their ship would be docking later today. Sasha couldn't wait to reunite with them all as Daniela had suggested a girl's night. Something Sasha was definitely interested in. She needed to make sure she wasn't entirely wrapped in Tom's life only for her own sanity. She loved him but she still remembered just how intoxicating their relationship was to the point it made her lose focus. But back then she'd been young, she didn't understand how to have both a life and the love of her life without feeling like one was destroying the other.

The doors that lead into the centre from the reception and Sasha watched in disappointment as it wasn't Tom. She turned away not wanting to watch the reunion between the woman and her family.

This time she was older and wiser, she and Tom had baggage that needed to be acknowledged, things had to be taken slowly. It was why she hadn't moved into Tom's house. She had her own apartment near where Wolf and Daniela were.

But she had made sure the house was ready for Tom as he'd said he had wanted to go to the house. She had enlisted Daniela to help her as they tackled the house, cleaning it from top to bottom. They cleaned up the front yard and tackled the backyard, she had no clue what it had looked like before but at least now it didn't look neglected.

The doors opened again and Sasha turned, a smile spread across her lips as Tom walked out with a duffel bag. He looked better, than the last time they'd spoken over a fortnight ago. Over the course of three months, he'd gained back half the weight he'd lost, his beard was gone but his hair was still about an inch longer than how he'd wore it in the Navy.

She liked how it curled his hair was at the ends, it made him look relaxed. He also smiled. When he did, her heart did funny somersaults as it was great to see him look so well.

"Hey," he said, he pulled her into his arms, she wrapped her arms around his back and took a moment to soak him in. She took a deep inhale enjoying the mixed scent of his soap and some rich masculine tone that was entirely Tom. They embraced for a long time before he pulled back and smiled at her.

"Ready to go?" she asked him.

"Yeah." He said, she half expected him to kiss her but when he didn't she was a little disappointed but understood. He too, was finding his footing in this new chapter of their lives.