Sorry for the delay everyone! Here is Chapter 10 of Seeking the truth and Finding a way back Home! I have missed my fanfictions so much and was glad for the opportunity to finish this chapter for ya'll. Life has been hectic, I didn't get into the program like I had planned so I'm still working hard to get there, but now it gives me more chances to catch up on fanfictions. Enjoy!

Chapter 10

Cassandra

Tashgar, China.

Pac's pale skin started to regain its light-olive tone and his breathing patterns were deep and normal. The only problem was he was still asleep and it worried the shit out of me. When he was shot I could stop saying "Pac please don't leave me, please!" and I whispered something I do not regret, "I love you..", but I'm sadly certain he heard none of it… . After he fainted on the floor, the man who accidently shot him was very apologetic and a United States Marine operative. Halle-freaking-lujah! At last, I and once Pac wakes up, can breathe a huge and well deserved sigh of relief.

The marines hurried Pac and me to the nearest medical personal they had, apparently this company they're with has been moving troops through Western China and ended up in Tashgar. Their OC Greenland is the woman in charge and she took me for questioning while Pac was in, what I could suspect, surgery, fighting for his life with a bullet still in his stomach. I proved her my identification from the duffle bag I had my belongings in along with the SD card from Aiden's camera expressing my concern that it had the turning effect of the war on there. Major Greenland said to me "My intelligence men and I will watch and listen to the contents. If it has what you're saying is on it is true then this is a huge turning point for this "battle" but that's been almost an hour ago.

I reached and stroked Pac's right cheek, tracing the scars from top to bottom gently. After Greenland released me, the medic overseeing Pac's surgery explained that the bullet ended up passing through him and that no major organs were damaged. How I managed to contain my excitement I don't know because my stomach went from being sour with grief to flip-flopping with joy! I withdrew my hand from him and grabbed my MRE that the marines were kind enough to give me along with another one for Pac when he wakes up.

I chose the vegetarian MRE for me and for Pac because they were the only ones available. It isn't the tastiest red beans and rice but it has high nutritional value. I scooped the cardboard tasting concoction into my mouth, chewed fast and swallowed. Even though I was extremely hungry, I felt nauseated when I ate this MRE. I washed the food down with some water then placed it back on Pac's bedside table. As I crane my head back to Pac, his eyelids quivered and his lips opened to,

"Pac?!"

His eyes opened, as if my voice cued him, and stared at the ceiling. My hands caressed and squeezed his tight.

"Pac, oh my gosh, please say something!" I cried.

He groaned as he sat up and massaged his forehead with his free hand then turned his gaze to me. I locked eyes with him and gave him a comforted smile. His eyes focused to his bandaged side and lightly grazed his fingers over the rosy tinted bandages.

"I was shot by a damned friendly," Pac chuckles.

"Just be lucky no vital organs were damaged or worse." I laid the MRE on his lap.

"Teh red beans and rice, huh?" he chuckled.

"That's all they had left." I took another bite of my food.

Pac tore his MRE pack open and began to prepare his beans and rice while I handed him a bottled water. Our futures are starting to look a little brighter.

Pac

The red beans and rice MRE isn't the best meal I've ever eaten but my stomach didn't care. I wolfed it down like it was nothing and Cass just stared at me like I was a feral animal, but she giggled and commented that I shouldn't eat so fast. I smiled a bit and wiped my mouth with the back of my hand as I finished my frenzy. Cass threw our torn MRE bags in the trash and walked back to my bedside.

"Alright, the medics informed me that should you wake up you are to walk." She said placing her hands on her hips.

"How long do I have to walk?" I questioned.

"They said until you can no longer tolerate it"

I sighed reluctantly and Cass helped me to my feet and I gently held her shoulder until I gained my balance.

"How do you feel?"

"Honestly, not bad. I don't feel very sore." I answered truthfully.

"That's great news. Do you want to try walking on your own?" she asked still holding my arm.

"Yea."

Cass nodded and released her grasp of my arm and I walked to the door opening to the infirmary hallway. Once I finished walking for about fifteen minutes, that I could tolerate, I walked back to my room. I opened the door and see a robust woman in Marine Corp wetland attire talking to Cass. The collar adorned with the patch of a major.

"So, I take it he's recuperated?"

Cassandra's eyes glimpsed to the doorway and cued me the high ranking woman was not a threat.

"Sergeant Clayton Pakowski." I saluted the woman.

"Major Greenland, ad ease Sergeant. Your gear is on the bed, I suggest you change then rendezvous with me and Miss Cassandra in my office." Greenland nodded acknowledging to my sick bed.

I respectfully excused myself and changed out of my infirmary gown and back into my original gear, beanie and bullet hole in the lower right quadrant of my dark shirt included, then I re-grouped with Cassandra and Greenland in Greenland's control center. I emphasized a little on that, really all the room had was a desk for a single computer for intelligence and a desk bigger than that for Greenland that was littered with maps, empty tin cups, another computer and small boxes of C4.

"Now that you're here, Sargent," Greenland commented while sipping her coffee and I nodded, "we can get this show on the road."

"I assume Ms. Cassandra gave you the camera card to?" I raised an eyebrow.

"Your assumption is correct and she is right. This does contain some important information. Jin Jie is not dead." Greenland set her cup on her desk.

"China's future president? B-but I thought-"I stammered.

"So did I, but the audio tells otherwise," Greenland shrugged her shoulders, "it seems Admiral Chang wanted him murdered."

"Why do you think Chang would want Jin Jie dead?" Cassandra crossed her arms.

"Well, Jie was China's future leader and peacemaker. Chang was his rival in the election. I think he is more than capable of committing murder, but that is something you need to discuss with your superior Sargent." Greenland motioned with a finger for her communications person to her side.

"My superior? What would Garrison know about Chang and Jin Jie?" I questioned her confused.

"I need a quick evac before we are pushed farther away. I think Garrison is hiding something very important from you and it is something you need to discuss with him." She nodded and the person retreated back to the radio and looked to be making a quick call.

"I'm very confused. You listened to the recording and you won't tell us anything else except to talk to Garrison?" Cass is shocked as I am.

"Evac ETA is one hour Major Greenland." Communications yelled to her.

Greenland couldn't give us any more information even when we tried to pry more from her, but I was excited to learn that I was going home, well the Valkyrie is my home until I am off deployment, but…where will Cassandra go when we get back to Valkyrie?

Cassandra

Helicopter- Destination the USS Valkyrie

The clouds once fluffy, white texture turned a blackish grey as they began to clutter one after another.

"A storm is forming…" I could sense Pac's eyes observe me as I gazed out the open side of the helicopter.

"It seems so…" he releases a breath.

"Pac what will happen to me?" I asked him.

He was silent for a moment but answered that he honestly could not tell me. I could be held on the ship until his ship's captain makes contacted with the Department of Defense to safely escort me back to the United States or I would immediately be deported back to the United States via Navy escort. I want to stay, but I know I would be taking a huge risk of losing my life. The helicopter lands on the ships runway and its motor starts to slow down. Pac hopped out of the helicopter and held out his hand to me. I smiled lightly at the gesture and grasped his hand as I cautiously stepped out of the helicopter.

"You have no idea how happy I am to see your face again, Sergeant!" an aged man yelled over the engine of the helicopter.

"I'm happier to see you, Captain!" Pac yelled back.

The man, who I assume is Captain Garrison, led us away from the helicopter and accompanied us to the command deck.

"Who is this?" Garrison pointed at me

"Oh, Captain Garrison, this is Cassandra Beaumont. She's an international reporter who was captured by the Chinese military in Shanghai. We both escaped imprisonment at the Kunlun Mountains."

"She was in Shanghai? I'm guessing she's here because she-" Garrison was interrupted

"Yes sir she knows about the mission. She knows about everything, Sir." Pac finished for him.

Garrison leaned across a round table and looked at me. I already know what is going to happen next.

"What exactly do you know Miss Beaumont? What kind of impression do you have that would allow my marine to rescue you and bring you here?" Garrison raised an eyebrow.

"I have this," I pulled the SD card out of my pocket and set it on the table, " My camera man and I heard gunfire coming from the Zhi Yu Towers and decided to investigate. That's when I saw Pac and his group, but I didn't meet him until we escaped imprisonment in the mountains. Aiden, my camera man, and I were climbing out of an elevator because the power went out and we were trying find an exit. Next thing we know we hear Chinese military personal talking to each other in their native tongue, explosions happen, Aiden and I are chased by a tank, Aiden dies and I am taken prisoner.

"Major Greenland, who Pac and I met with in Tashgar, has her interpreter decipher what the Chinese men were saying. She told us Jin Je isn't dead but wouldn't tell us any more information. Now we are here and I would like to ask you something. Where is Jin Je and who were the VIPs in the Zhi Yu towers? Because I think Pac and all of China have been in the dark long enough"

I slid the SD card across the table and it briefly stopped in front of Garrison. Garrison sighed and picked up the SD card and began to inspect it.

"You are right, Miss Beaumont. Jin Je isn't dead. He is very much alive."

"And you know where he is. He is on this majestic ship isn't he?" I crossed my arms and leaned to one side.

"Cass-" Pac started to defend his superior.

"No Pac," he smirked, "she is right. Jin Je is on this ship. Remember one of the wounded VIP's you rescued from the towers?"

Pac studied his commander's face for a few moments. He was confused, I'm sure anyone would be in this situation.

"The native with the bandages…the same one who was shot and currently in critical condition…he's Jin Je."

"We knew Jin Je was a target. However, his would be murderer was closer to him than we thought. I spoke with Greenland briefly as you two were being boarded on the helicopter. Those Chinses military personal knew Jin Je was in the towers, but luckily Agent Kovic switched rooms and planted a bomb trap. They were acting under the command of Admiral Chang to execute Jin Je, then Chang would convince China that we killed Jin Je and World War III would start."

"Who would have thought Chang would murder is future commander…" I shivered at the thought

"Is Je still critical, Captain?" Pac asked

"He is stable. Resting and should wake up soon." Garrison assured

"Captain Garrison, I'm receiving a transmission from Gatekeeper! It sounds urgent." A fellow officer called across from the command deck

I watch was Garrison glided a little too fast to the officer and take the communication microphone. Pac shadowed his CO with a neutral expression and I followed suit. It wasn't hard, for me, to figure out that he was trying to interact with another vessel.

"Fortress, this is Gatekeeper, we advise you immediately-over." The static was problematic and was foiling Captain Garrison from obtaining a clear message.

"Gatekeeper, this is Fortress, Say again! You're breaking up! Over." Garrison calmly replied to the sister ship

"-Controls-north of Timsha Lake. Do not-Canal! I say again Do not-" Gatekeeper managed to respond but then was silenced by static

"Son of a Bitch!" Garrison spat and slammed the microphone back on the control panel.

"Sir, I can try morse code. It should get through clear." the officer offered an alternative.

"No time. The destroyers on our tail will not pause and wait for us." Garrison countered.

"Orders, sir?" the Officer asked

"You're gonna fire up radar, sonar, and every single scanner you got. I need to know what the fuck were sailing into." Garrison commanded the Officer and others in the command deck.

I happened to glance up and threw the windows I saw chaos ensuing miles away at a not-so-far-away canal

Pac

I follow Cassandra's gaze to the firestorm that was unfolding at the Suez Canal. We were heading into the heat of battle and there was no way of avoiding it. Garrison gestured me to follow him and, without thinking twice, I took Cassandra's hand and guided her. The least I could do was distract her from the closing threat.

"I didn't command you to bring her." Garrison noted

"Sorry, Sir, but I made a promise to her and I'm not backing out of it." I retorted.

"Fine, but she needs to choose. Is she going to help us fight or hunker down until I send her back to the States?" Garrison mumbled

"…Give us a moment," I halted and Cassandra also paused, "You don't have to fight. If you want a pistol and hide with the refugees I will gladly grant you that."

Cassandra held up a hand and shook her head. Her gold, curly locks waved, "I've ran enough. I want to be of some other use. I want to help in any way I can, until this is over with."

That's the Cassandra I've come to know. She's always fighter and has never stopped fighting. I looked over my shoulder to see that Garrison's was occupied with his radio then I grabbed Cassandra's upheld hand and pulled her into a quick but dying kiss. She tensed from shocked then loosened and caressed my cheek. I pulled away and pressed my forehead against hers.

"Then let's finish this together. So we can go home." I breathed against her and she answered with a nod.

"Well?" Garrison said impatiently

"What would you have me do, Captain?" Cassandra left my side and stood before my Commander.

"I want you to head to the medical ward immediately. Jin Je is going to need as many guards as possible right now, especially since Hannah is with Tombstone. I got a broadcast that Chinese boats are heading our way. Pac, you and I are heading to the command deck to evac everyone to a secure location." Garrison described the plan of action

"Wait! What about Tombstone?! There on a plane to the ship. They'll be in the crossfire on the landing strip!" I realized.

"The troops will do their best to aid Tombstone into the ship and way from harm." Garrison assured

"The Chinese outnumber us! You implied so yourself!" I reminded

"Do you have faith in your squad Sargent?! Do not underestimate your group! Now follow me, were running out of time!" Garrison finalized the argument and walked passed me back to the command deck.

I glared after him and looked down as I felt a feather touch on my upper arm.

"He's partly right you know…don't worry your friends are going to be okay." Cassandra squeezed gently

"The better or I will rip Garrison a new one. Take these," I handed her my side pistol along with extra ammo and a combat flashlight, "its equipped with a laser sight and most likely they'll cut the power off. Go down this hall about 20 feet and you'll see a map of the ship and how to get to the medical ward. Be safe, please."

"I will, Pac," She raised on her toes and to plant a gentle kiss on my lips, "God be with you until we meet again."She sprinted down the hallway and until she disappeared is when I ran my way back to the command deck.

Thank ya'll so much for the support, I knew would have thought this fanfiction would have been this successful and receive so much praise! Please stay tune for the next update, PM me if there is any grammatical errors or for constructive criticism, and as always, stay frosty!