PREPARATIONS
Major Damon's POV:
Stefan and I left the following morning and met Caspar and some other people from the camp. For me it was very good meeting them, but it was hard though. We were in a room together with all of the regular staff and had to introduce ourselves. We had to tell them who we are what we did and if we were once addicted or fought a mental illness or anything. It surprised me that half the people there whom contained mostly men but also two women had fought addiction or mental illness. When it was my time I told them my name, my job and my demons. While doing that I had to seek support by my brother whom luckily gave me that. Then the rules and events for the coming months where explained. I thought it was a really good program and was excited for it to start. After two days of preparations and dividing roles Stefan and I went back home. We decided together with our father that we would notify the cadets that went on the same morning we would leave.
MY POV:
I was once again really ashamed. When I woke up I saw major Damon sitting next to my bed. "Hey rebel" he said. "How are you doing", "great" I said sarcastically. He sighed. "This is a terrible timing, but Stefan and I are leaving in half an hour to attend a meeting away from here". "We will return in two days". "I made arrangements with our dad that he would look after you together with major John". "We want you to stay here for a while in the hospital wing". "So we can do a few tests again". "To see how your condition is right now". I agreed with him but was sad that not only him but also major Stefan had to leave the two persons in here that I trusted the most. But it was only for two days I thought, I told myself I would be ok.
Major Stefan's POV:
We talked about the children of our juvenile boot camp whom would join the other children here. We weren't allowed to talk about what there issues where they had to tell that themselves. The parents had to sign a paper and had to tell what was up with their children. For cadet Atwood it was another story. We told them that she didn't have parents her custody was in the hands of the state. We told she had very deep and disturbing problems. We had to tell them about her attachment problem but kept the reason why out of it. That was not our place to share. We told about her heart condition and the heart attack she had a few months ago. Everything went well and we arrived back four days before we would escort the children back here.
Director Salvatore's POV:
While my sons where away I made myself spent more time in the camp zone. The children mostly only saw me when they were in trouble. But with two majors short they needed me. I was working on finding others while my sons where away. But I was also more in the camp zone because I promised I would take care of cadet Atwood. I had grown rather fond of that girl ever since Christmas. She still remained in the hospital because the doctor's where doing all sorts of test on her so we could check if she would be physically ready to go to the camp. The kid wasn't stupid she knew something was going to happen. So she was scared for not knowing what that was. At the afternoon my sons would arrive back I decided to tell her that she was going someplace together with three other students to work on her problems. I told her my sons would join them but that I couldn't tell anything more because I was already giving her to much information. She didn't like the going somewhere different part and almost freaked wasn't it for me telling her that she had to let me finish. When I told her major Stefan and Damon would be there too all the time she settled down. That was the reassurance she needed.
Major Damon's POV:
"What do you think" I asked my brother "is it going to help them". "Well I think so" my brother said "it is not only going to help them I think it is going to help you and me as well". "The program is very strong and there will be progress because else you will hold the group back". "I think that is going to be her weak spot". "She doesn't want others to suffer because she won't tell anything". "But it is going to be very hard". We read the profiles of the other children. What typical was, was that especially the younger children came from really good families posh even. They were to say spoiled brats. There were some children from broken families but both parents were by all still in the picture.
We had a list with the names and ages of the children. They where:
Camp Raising Hope
Tess Atwood 17
Paul Kowalski 18
TJ Parker 16
Peter Johnson 17
UK
James 16
Justin 18
Joshua 15
Jen 16
USA
Ryan 17
Matthew 16
Rachel 18
Maddy 15
It was good that the ages of the children where close by we saw the other people and they were really nice. Some were big strong dudes which could be a problem for our rebel with her trust and all. Caspar was the biggest of them all he looked scary at first but he really had a heart of gold. Then there were two other therapist whom would talk with everyone too. There were also two guys who would be in charge of hiking. My brother and me would be in charge of physical exercise on the camp every morning or afternoon. There were people who would guard the base and some others who would do all kinds of different stuff. The children would arrive on the base camp where we just met. They stayed the night and the following morning they would be searched and stripped from all their belonging. Then we would drive very long to a base camp in the middle of nowhere. They would arrive in the dark and they had to sleep outside on a cow skin. To inflate the shock effect.
MY POV:
I was glad when major Damon and Stefan where back. Especially after what I heard from director Salvatore. I really didn't know if I liked it. It would be change and I didn't like that. I found my safe harbor here. I really didn't want to open up again and I knew they would try it there. I was probably going to freak if I didn't know that majors Stefan and Damon would come with.
"Hey rebel what are you thinking" major Damon voice took me away from my thoughts. "You're back" I said happy. "I am back" he said while he came sitting on my bed. I pulled him into a hug. "Well someone is happy to see me back" he said smirking. "So you went to that place they are going to ship me off to weren't you". "Huh" he said. "Your father told me that we were going someplace else, he said there was better help there". "Me and some others from here and that you and Stefan would join us". "I am kind of freaking over it all day to be honest". "I don't know if I am going to like that but everything is better than being here without you" I whispered.
"Tess" he said "this is going to be really good and we were there indeed". "It will be so worth it and you can think about the future". "What if I don't want to think of the future what if I am scared for it". "What is scaring you for the future" he asked me. "Honestly" I asked. He nodded. "No I can't tell" I said now almost crying. "Please do tell" he said. "I am scared because I don't know if you will be in it or major Stefan". "I don't think I can think of that yet". "Now you are probably freaked out that I said that right". He looked at me "no I am not". "And I can't for see the future but don't worry about that now". "First step one which is getting your biggest problems solved or make them more bearable".
Director Salvatore's POV:
It was time today was the day we would sent them away it was ten in the morning and the four kids were summoned to take their belongings with them to my office. Damon and Stefan where already there. I explained to them what was going to happen. Well I explained they were send to another camp for a while which wasn't juvenile but was one where they provided counseling and stuff.
MY POV:
I had to pack my belongings and take them with me. "Where are you going" everyone asked. "You are getting out" they asked. "No" I shook my head "I don't know" I said. Playing dumb because I knew the other three guys didn't know anything. "We will see" I said. We were all four sitting in the big office of director Salvatore when he came in with majors Stefan and Damon. When they came in Parker the smart ass asked immediately "what is going on I did nothing". "Probably that chick or Kowalski". I growled at him and he grew quiet. "That's twenty parker" major Stefan said and Parker went to the ground to do his pushups. "No you are not here because something happened or anyone did something wrong" Director Salvatore said. "So what's with the packed bags then" cadet Johnson asked. "Please take your seat again" director Salvatore said. "You are going to let us out" Kowalski said happy. "Not exactly" major Damon said. "So please be quiet and listen to what we have to tell you".
"You are going together with Major Damon and Major Stefan to another camp". "It is a bit different from here". "There are some similarities, but in there you will learn to talk about problems you have". "It is more like a therapy group". "On some accounts it will be better than being here". "Especially for you guys personally". "So this will be hard some things there will be very nice and some things you are definitely not going to like". "You are not going to be the only people there". "There will be eight other kids from you ages there, four from Europe and four from the south of the States". "There will be a whole team of people who will guide you including major Damon and major Stefan".
"You will go with them now, your belongings will be placed in the car". "You are going to the first stop where you meet the other kids". "This will be quite of a drive". "And to be sure that no one runs away or tries it later we will blindfold you". "So you will not remember the way" . Shit I thought I am not going to like that. My face probably outed me because when we walked to the jeep. Major Damon said "I will look after you okay". I nodded I was placed in the front seat. Major Damon accompanied me there and blind folded me. Major Stefan sat together with Kowalski in the back and Johnson and Parker where together in the middle. The driver started to drive. There we go I thought up to an new adventure. And I really , really doubted if I was going to like this. But on the other hand if it would help me deal with all my stuff it would be ok. I just hoped it would work. I truly hoped it….
