Running Bases CH 14

Lauren POV

It's been far too long since I been back on the base. Watching from my car, I can see many men and women on the air strip, doing what I do best. A smile forms on my lips as the aircrafts get set up and clear for take off, knowing how excited the pilots are getting the green light. As day turns into dusk, flying makes you feel as if you are truly going off into the sunset. I can almost feel the rumble from the engines as the two jets take off own the runway, most likely doing routine flight tests for the day.

God, I've missed that feeling. Heavily clothed, helmet secure, strapped down safely ready to fly high in the sky and look over the simplicity of the towns below. It's a whole different world being a bird in the sky. Day or night, it's one of the only times you can feel free, soaring through the sky and being unattainable.

Gripping the steering wheel tighter, I let go of the anger and sadness I have, knowing I can't be doing that again.

Looking down at the clock, I sigh knowing my meeting with my superiors isn't until a lot later. I was too anxious to wait, especially with Bo's worried eyes tracking my every move. Normally I love that she takes care of me. Constantly checking in and helping, knowing I do in fact need some assistance still, but the look in her eyes was different. It almost looked like she felt sorry that this happened. That I am some wounded animal that needs to be safe and secure. I couldn't stand it.

She admitted that she is scared. I get that. My job and the unfortunate things that resulted in this job. I hope Bo can accept this part of me, otherwise… I don't even ant to think about the otherwise.

Bo is nothing but supportive. She is the kindest, strongest, and most understanding woman I have ever met. Not a lot of people can stomach what I do, or that I have put Bo through. She is being patient, knowing the wounds from my past haven't healed completely. Wounds that she needs to hear. Hawaii in particular. A horrible event that change me both mentally and physically.

A tap on my window startles me, a young man in a light great button up, smiling down at me. "Evening Sarg."

Turning off the car, I fling the door open and step out. I decided to look the part and dress in my usual uniform. I made sure to iron out my navy pants and jacket, tucking the matching hat in the crook of my arm. I even went as far to shine the little gold buttons to my jacket, making my medals and stripes look in sync. "At ease, Artega."

The older Latino immediately relaxes his stance and grins wider at me. "It's good to see you out here again, Lewis. You've been missed." He says as we start to walk to the secure building, him knowing to go to my good side so I can hear him. Paul Artega is on active duty, but has been stuck on parking lot rotation since I have moved back. I don't know much about the polite man, only that he has generously supplied coffee on my overnight shifts I have had to endure. "You have your hearing today, yeah?"

I nod, ignoring the way that he not so subtly looks at the scarring on my neck. My hair pulled back in a neat bun doesn't hide it at all. "That's correct. I'm hoping I can start work as soon as Monday." Walking through the newly installed metal detector, I frown as the security detail gives us the all clear to continue. A sting appears in my chest, missing Ron's presence already.

Try as I might to cope with all that has happened here, I still feel a whirlwind of emotions being here. Guilt, anxiety, and underneath it all fear. Knowing that the most recent attacks on us was one of us is where all the underlying fear resides.

"You ok Sarg?" Snapping my eyes to Artega, I nod. He doesn't buy it but doesn't say anything as I try to smooth out the dents I made in my uniform had. He never leaves my side as we walk the halls, many people welcoming me back and other warm greetings, along with many new faces. Otherwise, the base still remained the same.

"I think I'm going to go to the tarmac before," I gesture forward to the conference room. "See how my aircrafts are holding up. Lord knows the team had their hands full already."

He grins and salutes me once more. "Sounds like a plan, Lewis."

Getting out of the stuffy hallway and eventually, the building. I take a deep breath once I'm back in the garage. Grease and grime, a home away from home. Messy rags piled by the trash, tools in array, but there is usually a method to the madness. Jet fuel penetrates my senses, but it's still comforting. You would think being set on fire and losing a friend and colleague would set off a trigger, but it's not.

Instead, I feel relief. Like a warm embrace after a long day, but in tis case a few months. It feels good to be back. Especially when I see my four jets. Even covered in the tarp, I know my babies when I see them. Knowing I don't have the time to really tinker with the, I set my warm hand on my favorite. "Soon, baby. I'll be back soon." I promise the old lady and walk away, in hopes that my meeting goes well.

This why I prefer digital clocks. The loud ticking from the hands on the one in the conference room is slowly making me fidget. The two men and one woman men are all going through the reports; anything from the psychologist, to my doctor, to my long drawn out history from when I first joined the Air Force. I wait, sitting in the hard metal chair waiting for their questions.

"Sergeant Lewis," I sit impossibly straighter. "I will keep this brief. Your work and dedication are impeccable. With that I have no questions." I nod and suck in a sharp breath when he continues. "But I am more concerned about your mental health."

Keeping my composure, I look to the two others who are waiting for my response to the not question. The two men are older, but not oldschool, which is always nice during these type of hearings. The woman, is around the same age, but not familiar, as are the others. She is starring at me, waiting for my answer, as if she already knows it. "I have a clean bill of health from the therapist that the Air Force recommended. It's all there in the report." I explain gently.

They murmur amongst themselves, and I cringe inwardly hoping that they don't expect me to hear them. It's literally right in front of them that I am legally deaf in one ear, while the other one is functioning only with aid. "Sergeant Lewis, to be frank here, I am just wondering why you want to come back so soon. You were attacked, burned, and comatose for nearly a month. You risk your life not just here, but back in Hawaii where your initial injury occurred." She takes a breath and waves her hands at the now scattered papers. "Why not retire with an honorable discharge?"

A question that I have been asked multiple times by my family. A question that I don't have a reason for my answer. A question Bo has asked, begged of me. Torn between wanting to please them and fighting to go when my heart leads. "It is an honor to serve, sir. An honor that I love and would be happy to retire when I am ready. But until then, I request to continue to serve my country."

"A true patriot." The redheaded woman says with a smile. "There aren't many out that as extraordianairy as you, SEargant Lauren Lewis."

The three of them look at each other again, even as I stand, placing my hat securely on my head and saluting. I stay in that position, all of my training and experiences molding me into the disciplined airman I am today. I stand there, waiting and waiting until they come to a decision.

Bo POV

Pressing the home button on my phone, I still see nothing from Lauren. Her meeting got pushed back until this evening, but now as 7:30 rolls around and still not hearing anything, I start to get worried. "Still no word from her, huh?"

Shaking my head, Dyson flags down the waitress for another round. I asked him if he had eaten, knowing Lauren would be gone and I didn't really feel like cooking. Especially, after I had to house sit 4 cats and they had a free for all knocking every glass and vase I had over. Needless to say, I had a tedious time picking shards of glass off my floors. So, dinner at one of the more popular sports bar seemed to be the best solution. "I sent her a text, just in case her phone turns back on that we're here. With wings." I add another bone to the graveyard stack in my basket.

The flirty waitress drops off the murky colored beer with a wink to the ladies man next to me. I'd be offended with her bold approach, but I'm a happily taken woman. "I just hope she's ok. We had a kinda fight before she left." I admit with a sigh.

"A kinda fight?" He suppresses a chuckle, but looks more amused than anything. "What the hell does that mean?"

Groaning, I push at his shoulder. He really can be an ass, more so now that I'm dating his sister. "It means, that I need to trust her. Even if I hate it every time she leaves for work." Pushing the basket away, I take a healthy sip of my beer. "We are growing, that's what adults do in relationships. Growing together and putting trust in each other. And I do." I finish, taking another drink, hoping the fear will slowly dissipate as I continue to repeat the words.

"And you trust her to have a drink with another woman?" His words have me glaring at him for asking, but before I can answer, I follow her wide eyes to a table top in the corner.

I'm surprised that I didn't spot her sooner, but from the looks of it, they just got their drink. Her and an older redhead. Even in this poorly lit area, I can see how attractive the redhead is. My heart dropping the bottom of my gut, heavy and making hard to breathe. I check my phone, eyes going back and forth between our messages and the way Lauren and this mystery woman seem so comfortable together. "Bo…" I shake my head and still see no response from my girlfriend.

Dyson seems to be just as confused, standing from the bar, but before he can take another step, I drag him back to his chair. "No. You don't get to do that." I reach for my wallet and flag down the waitress for two shots of tequila and my tab. She must see the fire in my eyes as she is back before I can even exhale.

Signing the tab, I take one more sip of my drink and put my coat on, grabbing the two shots and walking with purpose. Dyson follows suit, and make my way to the table. The redhead sees me first, and I notice how her hand slips away from Lauren's when I stop there. It's there that Lauren turns around. "Bo!"

I'd find her face utterly adorable, if I wasn't so upset with her. She's definitely surprised, I can give her that. "I just wanted to make sure that was you." I say coolly, my eyes only leaving hers as I see where their hands were once together on the table. "Thought I would buy the next round." I turn to the redhead who is glaring at me. "Tequila will help her loosen up quicker." I sneer and turn and walk away. "Enjoy my girlfriend." I growl out, but I can feel the sting in my eyes as I walk out of the bar.

"Take me home. Please." I beg, my voice cracking now that I am away from her. From them. Dyson is smart enough not to argue, genuinely lost just as I am. Instead, e head to his car and peel out of the parking lot. Neither of us caring that Lauren is calling out for us.

As soon as we pull up to my house, I choking on sobs as Dyson tries to comfort me. It doesn't work, nothing will work, feeling the betrayal from the woman I love. "Do you need me to stay, Bo?"

I don't answer, but he wordlessly follows. I don't even take off my coat, now freely crying as Dyson holds me until I fall asleep in bed. Hoping that I can wake up from this horrible horrible nightmare.

Gasping for breath, I clutch my chest, sitting up in my bed. It's dark out, my head pounding from crying and the yelling going on downstairs isn't helping. Especially when I hear Lauren's voice clear as day. My body is exhausted, the early rising following thanksgiving and now dealing with this. It's almost too much, but to be able to sleep, I have got to face her, even if my mind is furious with her.

"Classic move, Dyson! Did you fuck her, hmm?! Wait for her to be super vulnerable and bed her like you do the rest of them?!" Lauren yells and my mouth falls open. How dare her accuse her brother after she was being sneaky with some other woman.

Rushing down the stairs, I find Lauren's jacket thrown on the floor with her hat and her shirt unbuttoned revealing a compression shirt underneath. Her eyes are red, but her fury is evident, staring daggers at Dyson wrapped in a town from the waist down. "Oh fuck you, Lauren! You know I would never-"

"Did you enjoy fucking my brother? Was that your plan all along? Another notch in your belt, bravo Bo, bravo!" She claps emphasizing her point.

Oh, how I would give anything to smack the smirk off her damn face. It's obviously that she has been crying, but her movements are precise indicating she is sober. "How'd your date go, Sergeant?" I mock her title, watching her eyes turn dark. I'd be scared, but I've already lost the love of my life, and a second family, I doubt have much else. "I hope she was worth it. Although, she must have not been much of a lay. The night is still you and you seem to be able to walk." I taunt knowing how good our BoLo sexcapades were.

I hit a nerve, her muscles flexing and the look in her eyes is frightening. I have never seen hr so angry. So unattatched from the beautiful sweetheart that I fell in love with.

Not knowing where we go from here, I give Dyson a look. "Thank you for the ride home, Dy. But I think it's best you leave for now." He's pissed, their twinning mannorisms mirroring one another. He murmurs something about grabbing his clothes, but I leave him to it, going to the kitchen for a bottle whiskey. I don't even think twice bout drinking from the bottle, well aware of the eyes buring into the back of my head.

I wait until I hear Dyson leave, the front door making a loud echo in the oterwise silent house, before I speak. "So, your meeting went well, I assume. Did they give you the all clear to fly off and save the world?"

Glass breaking has my sarcasm cut short, turning to glare at the furious woman. Lauren throwing a fit, swooping the clean dishes drying from the morning we breakfast we had. Her fists are tight and shaking freom their spot on the counter. She bangs her fist a few times, her knuckles swelling and scraped from the force of it. I try not tp flinch at her outburst.

I wait, and wait, and wait for her to calm down. It's all I can do not wanting to make things worse between us. it's only whn she crumbles, sliding down to the floor, the broken glass cutting her skin as she falls apart. The bottle long forgotten, I kick what glass I can, away and wrap my arms around her. It hurts, the pain in her voice as she sobs, burying her head in her bloodied hands. "I-I didn't," she hiccups, tring to look at me but her eyes are wild. "I didn't get cleared for active duty." She cries and I keep her close. "They have me on desk duty until they determine I am clear."

Unbelievable. The Air Force gave her all the tools to return. The days spent doing everything they asked and pushing herself physically and mentally to the point of perfection and they still deny her her right to her aircrafts. This woman lives and breathes to help mold young airmen and teach them. Putting her on desk duty, as much as I would like it, is taking away the little joy she has left in this world.

We sit there, laying in broken glass, as I shush her cries until she calms down. I love her, and hate how devastated she is. "Come on, lets get you cleaned up." I whisper in her hair and move to stand.

"It wasn't a date, Bo." Her breath is hoarse, but adamant, even as I pull away. "She was on the council who decided this. She tried to overturn them, knowing I am ready, but…" She takes a shuddering breath and cups my face. "I swear to you, Bo. It was just a remorse drink from a fellow Airman."

I want to pull away from her touch, but it's too easy to press into it. "I would have been there for you. I was there for you. Now and before, even without knowing everything. I would have been there for you!" I stress and her bottom lip wobbles. "You didn't even give me a chance."

Looking at her, really looking at her now, I can see she has found that calm space. The shaking with rage has stopped and her body is completely relaxed. Gone is the darkness contorting her face and the warm eyes look at me with such sincerity. It's a painful reminder that I am in the dark about what truly goes on with her. Her time in the military has done a number on her and it's something she believes I wouldn't be able to grasp. And it's true. How can I compete with anyone who has been where Lauren has been?

"Please don't." She begs, both of her hands now on my face, staring directly at me. "I know what you are thinking and you're wrong, Bo Dennis. Please don't give up on me." She kisses my lips, over and over until I respond fully. "I love you. No one else, only you." She whispers against my lips and sighs along my jawline.

I hate having mixed emotions on hearing those words fall from her lips. It used to feel like she had my heart in her hands, safe and secured. But now, my heart feels as if the death grip on it is tearing it apart. The woman's hand in Lauren's still fresh in my mind. The being ignored and being an afterthought when it came to Lauren and her hardships from her job, shook me. The love bubble we surrounded ourselves it, popped and have us falling without anything to hold us up. We are falling from our spot high above the sky, but it reality, we are only falling apart.

Pulling away from her embrace, I take her injured hands in my own. "Lets get you cleaned up." She opens her mouth but I cut her off. "We can talk more tomorrow. Right now, I am tired and from the looks of it, so are you."

The fight leaves her body and she lets me lead her upstairs to the bathroom. There was far too may cuts to clean with cotton balls, so I offered her the shower. In the meantime, I sat on my bed, letting Lauren's brother that everything's fine and that we will tak later. The both of knowing what Lauren has to do, if we want to move forward. Either together…. Or apart.

Lauren POV

A week of politeness, but distant behavior. A week since I went towards the deep end and scared the woman I have fallen in love with, A week since I hurt Bo and made her doubt my feelings towards her. She hasn't shared a bed with me since she think I cheated on her. No matter what I tell her, there's this wall between us that I can break through or pass.

My brother and I tlked, or rather I apologized for my outburst. He showed his disappointment in me, but trusts that it wasn't what it seemed. "Make it better, Lo. Or you'll regret it the rest of your life." He tells me and I believe him. And that's ht has lead me here.

The office is small, even though the building is well known. Many colleagues and superiors of mine reccomened this place, knowing the ghosts that haunt me.

"Miss Lauren?" Greeted by the door, I stare at the woman in the wheelchair. She smiles warmly at me, her grey eyes matching her hair are lively and welcoming. It's enough of a distraction that I almost miss the fact that her legs are absent from the knees down. "Welcome to the road to recovery, Lauren. Are you ready to get started?"

Taking a deep breath, I nod and follow the doctor to her office. She lets me settle on the plush chair, as she wheels in front of me. I pick at my nails and look around the room. Photos, both in color and black and white, or many Navy, Air Force, Army, and other military men and women. "What brings you in here today?"

Going through the list in my head, I give a small chuckle. "Where do I start?"

AN: This is a doccubus story. It will be happy once we get through the mess I created. Lauren in therapy is a start. Have faith! Gotta rebuild the trust and maybe get a flashback or two in the process. I'm excited about it :) Thanks for reading and sit tight, I promise I will update as soon as I can. Take care!

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