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A bit of a twist in this chapter...

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Chapter 21

Damage Control

…Georgie was tossing and turning…she was sweating profusely…the bed linens were damp….What was Elvis doing? ….He said he would try to make peace with Marie…..

Marie…..why do you hate me so much?….. You know I love the army!...why would you wish me to be pregnant and not able to go back now?…..He loves me….I love him…..please!...…..Don't do this…..Mum! Make them stop!...

"Georgie!...Georgie!" Elvis said. "Stop it! Please!" Georgie screamed. "Hey! George!" Elvis said as she lunged forward and he caught her short of her falling from the side of the bed.

The sudden impact with his body brought her instantly awake. She was disoriented. Her heart was pounding so loud she could barely hear Elvis' voice. Slowly her mind allowed her to return to wakefulness. She could see Elvis' face. The concern there. He was sitting on the side of the bed. She could hear him saying something that sounded soothing and she could smell food.

"Fuck!" she said breathlessly. "Georgie, it was a dream," Elvis said. "What?" Georgie said dazed. She looked at him again. Then she saw the tray of food on the vanity. "You made breakfast," she said. Elvis laughed, "I told ya I was gonna. Obviously you fell back to sleep,"

"Asleep," she said. "Where's Marie?" She asked warily. "No clue. Why?" Elvis said. Georgie looked at the tray of food again. "Was she in the kitchen with you?" "No. Just me," Elvis said.

"You didn't see her behind the door then?" Georgie asked cautiously. "Uh, no. I didn't see anyone behind any door George," he said. Her hair was damp and sticking to her forehead.

"What in hell were you dreaming of anyway?" Elvis asked, concerned that things were perhaps more problematic that he had thought. Somehow this dream was different though, because she was asking about Marie.

"I need to go to the loo," Georgie said and scooted out of the bed. "Alright, I'll get things situated here," Elvis said and watched her shuffle out into the hall.

She looked at herself in the mirror, "You look like shit," she said to herself. She washed the remnants of perspiration off of her face, neck and upper chest. "It was a dream. Thank God it was a dream," she said to herself as she gave herself another hard look in the mirror. "He went to all that trouble, now get out there Lane."

When she returned to the bedroom Elvis had the bedding re-adjusted so she could sit back comfortably and enjoy her breakfast. She smiled as he turned and welcomed her back in. She reached up on her toes to kiss him and felt more relaxed. "Come on babe," he said. Georgie crawled onto the bed and sat herself back as he expected. Elvis brought the tray over and planted the legs on each side of her thighs. "Feel like eatin?" he asked. "Yeah, it looks really good," she said.

"It's not often I'm served breakfast in bed," she said her eyes looking over the food and then to Elvis. He smiled and said, "I seem to recall such an occasion in London a while back." "Was it a special occasion?" Georgie teased. "I thought it was," Elvis said stopping to look at her. He rested his hand on the edge of the tray. It was a special occasion alright. It was the morning after their first night together. He was watching her reaction, hoping she would agree with him.

Georgie put her hand on his. "I've never forgotten it," she said softly. Elvis beamed. He reached over and placed the napkin gently on her lap. She batted his hand away. "I hope you enjoy!" he said but noticed she was still a little unsettled. "Do ya want to talk about it?" he asked, sitting down on the edge of the bed. Georgie looked at him as she reached for a piece of toast. She held the bread up in the air moving it around as she spoke.

"I dreamt that you and Marie had a row in the kitchen," Georgie said. "Who won?" Elvis asked with a half-smile. She looked at him, taking a bite. "Only you would ask that," she said. "Well, I'm always up for a good challenge," he said trying to get her to relax. "It was strange. As dreams usually are I suppose. Marie hoped I was pregnant and would not be able to go back to the army" Elvis' brows shot up. "You two were going at it pretty good. Of course, she was no match for your mouth." Elvis laughed. "Gotta be known for somethin," he said. "So it was pretty much home based. Nothing about Kenya?" Elvis asked, now serious. "No, not really, but it did make me feel like I do when I think about Kicki. That always haunts me," she said, her voice trailing off. Elvis said, "I know what's going on inside your head." She looked at him. "You know, that's the second time you said that to me. How could you possibly know what's going on inside my head about Kicki?" He pressed his lips together then looked away, sighing deeply. Georgie felt that he was remembering something as he returned his gaze to her. "Because I was captured once," he said. Georgie flushed, "What?" she whispered. "When?" "Early on. When my team had only been deployed for the second time. We found ourselves under heavy fire. It was brutal. Two of my men were killed. Myself and my other soldier were taken. "Oh Elvis," Georgie said now realizing his painful memory. "They had us literally hanging around for a while to wear us down. You know what I mean. Then the questioning started. Then the beatins. Since they weren't getting anywhere they decided to try and use us against each other." Elvis looked down at his hands. Georgie's heart ached for him. It was obvious what the outcome was. She placed her hand on his knee. Elvis looked up at her with sadness in his eyes. "I didn't tell them what they wanted to know and they killed him."

Georgie's eyes began to well with tears. "They laughed and said I would be next then left me alone with my dead soldier." Georgie was overcome and her hand shot to her mouth in horror. But she wanted him to continue. He had never shared anything like this with her before. "What happened?" she encouraged. Elvis let out a breathy laugh, "I managed to get the hidden blade out of the seam of my trousers and made short order of my jailer. I had enough time to grab Jacob's dog tags and get the fuck out of there. Those tags were only thing his family had for his funeral." Elvis' eyes were welling now. "He was a good soldier. He left a wife and baby behind. I'm just glad I wasn't the one that had to tell her." Georgie closed her eyes. The memory of Elvis telling her about Laura and his duty and wanting to give that little girl a life made so much more poignant now, knowing what he kept in his heart. "Those who survive always feel guilty Georgie. It's because we're human, and because we care. But I've learned it takes time and we must carry on. It honors those who died in our place." Georgie lifted the tray and moved it away. She reached for Elvis and they drew comfort from each other.