In the waiting room
Sam lead everyone inside and passed them bottles of water before he got them comfortable and sat down himself, he had been on sentry duty for over three hours before he sent Darren to the SRU to collect the others; he wasn't sure how to deal with the mess himself and Darren was thankfully there to support everyone as required. Since Ed and Wordy had to remain at the base for a few hours until a call was resolved, Darren had gone back to lend his assistance if required and get them updated with information he was allowed by Sam and myself.
"You look exhausted, are you really alright?" Jules asked.
He nodded and took a couple of deep breaths before he continued, Greg saw he was struggling to get things sorted and clasped his arm which made Sam look up; he nodded and then sat back and sighed.
"That was a clusterfuck from the moment she heard Gabriel had been killed Greg!"
Both Jules and him nodded and waited patiently as Sam worked off a little energy before sitting back down and updating them with a short version of what had happened.
"We arrived in camp, logged in with the 2IC of the control unit and then got the shock of our lives with Gabriel standing there alive, she went mental at him as you know and then after a talking too, headed off to get some rest before we were due to head out with Darren and his unit on patrol. Next time I saw her she was in the mess tent and a medic had just dosed her with something she said was just for sickness, I quickly discovered that she was hiding a massive stressor which turned out to be true when the commander walked in and ordered her outside. I was called and then we started on the plan to get her home as soon as possible due to her pregnancy." He continued.
"I'm taking it there were obstacles in the way or you would have been home a lot sooner than this morning?" Jules asked quietly.
Sam nodded and took another controlling deep breath.
"Darren had been busy on patrol while Gabriel got things organised but a directive from command came through which blocked out air transport from our FOB to Kabul; basically we would have to land convoy the 140 miles through hostile area. As we learned the information from Gabriel, Darren arrived back from a sneak patrol with his unit and quickly discovered the reason Mac had been feeling unwell; that was another mess to deal with but was quickly put to one side as I removed Darren from the area to clean up and she passed out from heat exhaustion and stress – we met up at the medical tent where she was being treated and gave the rest of the details to those who would require them."
"Everything was alright with her after a check up though, no dangers?" Jules asked holding her own stomach.
Sam nodded and looked concerned, he knew that him being away Jules would be stressed and being so far along in her pregnancy she was probably trying to hold it in until she got him home and cried herself.
"Are you alright Jules?" asked Greg noticing Sam's concern.
She nodded and blew out a breath.
"Yeah guys I'm honestly okay; just really glad to have you home and I'm just exhausted and could use a rest as soon as I have seen Mac!" she replied smiling.
They both knew Jules would never hide any issues that would endanger her or the baby, she just looked exhausted from worry and Greg had kept her mentally occupied for the last week or so; thankfully that had worked a charm.
"So what happened next after Mac collapsed?" Greg asked.
"She was discharged with meds and fluids and we got her organised for the trip and put in the back of the Buffalo with me to transport us along the convoy, it would take between 2-3 hours for the trip and we constantly updated our Intel package and made sure we were properly secured. About ten minutes into the journey she fell asleep and only woke up about five miles before the airport in Kabul – that's where we were ambushed and the troubles began." Sam continued.
Greg gave him a moment, he could see the stress in Sam's body language and the hidden grief he was shielding; whatever happened within the next few minutes of their lives must have been traumatic and dangerous – his body language was back to instant defense.
"We came under heavy enemy fire about five blocks away from the airfield and it woke Mac up pretty quickly, I managed to get her unbuckled from the chairs and she prepared for immediate assault if necessary; no matter how many times you wake up in an active warzone you are nearly instantly ready for action if needed. The convoy clumped together and then we hit the dust and sped along the secure roads and broke through the old metal gates at the end of the runway, we dodged a few mortars and took cover under the awning which was about 100 meters away from the guarded transport flight that was waiting for us. Darren and his unit made their way from the pincer formation and provided cover for us as I took hold of Mac and got her onto the flight, that's when tragedy struck."
Greg and Jules looked at each other and then Sam.
"Gabriel didn't come home did he?" Jules asked gently.
Sam looked up at her and they could see immediately that Sam and I had witnessed an event that had shaken us.
"No," Sam replied strongly.
Last few moments before take-off
We took direct cover behind the Buffalo as incoming mortars made closer ranging shots that risked the flight and everyone in the direct area, Sam looked at me and I pointed towards the north hanger and spotted Darren's unit completing the pincer manoeuvre and aiming for our hidden location. Moments later they arrived and after surrounding Sam and I, we made a beeline for the aircraft that was signalling to us to get on or be left behind; we managed to climb on and I turned around to see Sam looking about.
"Where is Gabriel?" I demanded over the roar of the engines starting to rev.
Sam's face told me everything and I looked behind him and saw Gabriel heading back towards the Buffalo and climbing inside, I started towards the ramp again and we both heard the incoming high pitched whine of a large mortar coming into our direct area. Sam grabbed me and shielded me with his body as he heard the explosion that sent us both to the ground covered in rubble from the ground and hit the plane with fragments of the Buffalo that had been directly hit.
"GET US THE HELL OUT OF HERE!" shouted Darren.
The pilots closed the ramp as they made their way towards the runway and ordered everyone to hold on as this could be a bumpy take off; Sam had climbed off from covering me and did a full check to ensure I was alright and not hit anywhere. He got help from Darren and got me onto one of the bunks that had been secured into the walls of the hold and they clung on as they got airborne and out of direct enemy fire.
"Is she hit?" Darren demanded as the medics took over from Sam.
A few agonising seconds later and the medic completed their immediate checks, no injuries apart from minor scrapes and bruises and two heartbeats strong and regular on the monitor that had been set up for the transport.
"She's not injured and has a stable pulse and the baby is fine, I think she's just over stressed again and her body shut down after the explosion – I'm sorry for your loss, the Commander was a strong man and will be mourned," the medic informed them.
Sam sat down hard on the ground and leaned back, Darren joined him and after a quick check ensured he wasn't injured and his team was all accounted for and uninjured; he turned to Sam and frowned.
"Did you know Gabriel was going to try and divert attention of the enemy fire?"
Sam nodded.
"He ordered me to get her safely onboard and shield her at all costs, he knew it was a suicide mission under heavy fire; I will tell her in my own time Darren – but not until she has had the baby and recovered – swear to me you wont interfere in this?" Sam replied firmly.
Darren looked at him and after a deep sigh, he nodded.
"Done."
