Twenty nine hours later
We were flying about 50 meters off the desert surface in the Apache assigned to our relocation efforts, it was one hell of bumpy ride due to the weather we were having and all of us were sitting on the floor bouncing around the place getting pelted by the sand coming in from the open doors. My shirt collar was open as wide as possible as I got used to the heat again and enjoyed the stinging breeze the rotors brought to me, I just hoped that my ass would survive the ride as we bounced over another round of turbulence from the downdraft. Darren tapped on my shoulder and pointed to our right, we squinted and could just see the faint outline of the camp based at the bottom of a rocky incline – we were nearly there and everyone was looking thankful as it had been a hellish journey so far.
"Alright ladies listen up! We have just left Green Zone, we are now on our own when it comes to removal tomorrow and we still have a patrol to complete tonight so once we are settled get some sleep! Fraser, you're required in the medical tent first thing to sign off the documents and register your gear – get to bed after that!" Darren shouted over the comms.
"Copied," we all replied.
I was looking outside at the terrain and the bad thing was it felt good to be back here, eight years of my life had been spent in this area with the local people and deployed military staff; I actually did miss it sometimes and that worried me slightly. I held on to the bracket as the chopper swung around to do a turn and we landed just outside of camp and jumped off as we made our way towards the camp under the direction of Darren; Sam ran up behind me and shoulder bumped me as he grinned. We walked into a large tent where the base commander was and saluted to him as he turned around – both Sam and I stopped in our tracks as he faced us fully and he froze as he recognised Sam.
"Officer Braddock – what the hell are you doing here?" he demanded shocked.
He didn't recognise me yet as I was still in full gear and had my helmet, scarf and goggles on from the sand storm coming our way, I was just standing there and my heart was in my throat as I took the man in.
"Sir – what the hell is going on?" Sam whispered.
The Commander was looking at the rest of the team now and his eyes moved to me, I un-wrapped my scarf and pulled off my helmet as I glared at him in total shock.
"Mackenzie, what the hell are you doing over here?" he shouted.
"Coming to collect your fucking remains!" I yelled back suddenly.
The whole tent went silent.
The tent had been cleared of all non-essential staff, only Carrick, Sam and I and the team where in the area and I was single handily creating a new foxhole by pacing around the place blowing out my anger. Sam and Darren were both on a knives edge in case I went thermal at Carrick who was speaking to someone over SATCOM and arranging a transmission to Toronto for us; I had finally managed to stop pacing since my shoulders were protesting the weight of my gear after nearly fourteen hours of wearing the full gear.
"You can put your weapons down soldiers," Carrick called.
"I might still need mine!" I hissed quietly.
Sam heard that comment and pulled me to the side, he was pissed as I was and we needed to find out if this was just another major fuck up or was Carrick still involved in something and we had made a serious error by coming here personally? The XO came out of the tent and called on us to say the transmission was ready, we hadn't even changed and we were both covered in dirt and sand from the walk to the tent – I blew my fringe out the way and headed in with a death glare at Gabriel who kept out of the way of the camera.
A small countdown started and then we saw the whole of the team on the screen, they all looked healthy and no injuries which was a good sight to see; unfortunately we looked like we had went sand surfing with full gear and were majorly armed to the teeth with a full team of SEALS behind us.
"Hey guys, how's the weather in Toronto today?" Sam called.
We heard the laughter over the headsets and we waved at them all and answered a few questions that they had, wondering how our Ops were going – I lunged to my side for a moment and grabbed Gabriel by surprise and pulled him onto the camera LOS – everyone stopped smiling and then the yelling began from every single of them. Sam pulled me to the side and started yelling at me himself, he knew I was hurt and felt betrayed again, but to pull Carrick onto the video link was a major judgment call that could have serious repercussions for everyone involved.
"You need to get this into your head, whatever has happened to land us here today we have to play it out – thankfully that feed is secure and can't be traced back to this location but – why do I bother – you need to let the anger for him go Mac before it gets you killed!"
"Anger doesn't come close to what I feel for that man, and I am perfectly capable of putting my emotions to the side when it comes to it – something I believe you taught me!" I hissed back.
I walked back into the tent and went onto the video link again, Parker and Spike were the only ones there at the moment and they looked relieved to see me back on the screen; I could see the sorrow in them both and I blew out a deep breath.
"Well seems we might be home a little quicker than expected since this idiot is alive – don't even get me started Gabriel!" I said shutting his comment down.
"Is everyone alright over there, no issues or anything?"
"Everyone is fine here Mac, we are more worried about Sam and you – and now the Commander since you found him alive and not blown to smithereens! Do you have any idea what is going on?" Parker replied.
"Not got a clue boss, we all just arrived and then got the surprise, we'll need a couple to get things organised over here and then to deal with any issues – Sam and I are fine, Darren and the team have our backs!" I replied.
"I have them at my Command Sergeant Parker; they won't be put into active service!" Carrick added in.
I shoved an envelope at him and turned back around to the camera.
"As you can see, our resident Zombie is his usual bossy self – give us a 12 window and then we can contact you with details boss – we need to get our heads around this one!" I replied.
He nodded and I clicked the radio link to make the conversation private between me and Spike, I looked at him and smiled.
"Bella – how are you really doing?" he asked me in Italian.
"Angry, betrayed and emotionally screwed – it's going to hurt this one but on the upside I still have that asshole to be pissed about!" I replied.
"I love you, be safe and come home in one piece, that's to both of you!" he replied.
"I'll tell Sam of the bromance, he'll get a kick out of it!" I said laughing.
"Te Amo maestro – ciao!" I called before the screen went blank.
The room had emptied for me and as the video link beeped, Carrick walked back in.
"You weren't meant to come over here, why did you risk your life?" he whispered.
I looked up at him and sat down on the couch as I rubbed my face.
"You are still family, no matter the arguments we had and I wanted to bring you home! They told me that you had been killed in a RPG attack, they sent over your locker and weapon with everything inside it to make it look real!" I replied tiredly.
He paced the room himself and grabbed us both a canteen of water that I downed in seconds, how the hell was I getting my brain around this?
"The embassy dropped of the box, Darren came back from deployment and passed on the message that your remains had been 'black stamped' – due to the MOD fuck up, we came over as medical recovery and came to collect your coffin. But now, I am sitting here in the middle of the god forsaken desert talking to you and I am due to go out on patrol in six hours with Darren – so excuse me Commander but I need to go and rest!"
"What do you mean you are going on patrol with the team – not under my command you aren't young lady!" he shouted.
I turned around to him and snapped into a solid stance.
"Commander while on the field you will properly address me as Corporal Fraser as fitting my rank and not by any other means! Now, please excuse me Sir, but I have to go find a hole somewhere to sleep!" I replied walking out the tent.
He stared after me as I left the tent area and made my way to the medical unit to get some painkillers – this migraine just got ten times worse!