I cracked my eyes open and had no idea where I was, the last thing I recalled was that doctor injecting me with some kind of drug and then darkness. I glanced down and realized I was shirtless, covering nearly my entire torso were bandages and gauze. My arm was in a cast, I felt stitches on my forehead, two of my fingers were in splints, and brand new scars littered my arms of course.

I looked around and found myself in a small bedroom, a tiny desk and dresser with a small tv on top of it. I sat up and winced a tiny bit but ignored it as I got out of the bed and made my way to the door. I opened and I could smell food being made just down the stairs.

I slowly made my way down and turned the corner to see Shane and an older gentleman playing videogames on a large flat screen.

"Hey! You're awake!" a voice said behind me, Shane and the man paused the game and turned to me as I turned around to see the doctor smiling at me as she held a few plates filled with bacon and sandwiches. They sat down at a table and then looked at me "Are you going to sit?" she asked chuckling.

I sat down slowly, looking at these people chat and talk about their days at work or how annoying their neighbor was and all that shit. Shane pushed a plate my way "Eat, you're going to need it Sam." he said giving me a smile.

I nodded and took a few bites after a minute or two the doctor turned to me "So we never were formally introduced. I'm Alexis." she said and I nodded in thanks.

"Patrick, I'm her husband." the man said.

"Trophy husband."

"Haha."

We all chuckled at the joke and I ate a little more "Thank you, I can't imagine how awful it must have been to perform a surgery out of nowhere." I said after a while.

"Yeah well, with my little brother being a fucking idiot I've had to do it before." Alexis said smiling.

"Was the fucking idiot part actually necessary?" Shane asked causing me to laugh. After a few more minutes of bickering between the siblings I heard a bark and a small beagle ran down the stairs.

It leaped into my lap and started licking my face, I chuckled as I tried to fight off the assault from the small canine. Eventually I gave in and allowed the dog to lick all he wanted "Dash! Down!" Shane ordered and the dog jumped off of me and ran over to the couch and jump onto the pillows and snuggled in.

"So, what's your plan Sam?" Shane asked when we all finished our meals.

"Get to the base, find Fitzpatrick, kill him." I said and the trio looked at me as if expecting more "That's it." I said.

"Are you serious? That's it?" Patrick said with an astonished look on his face. I nodded and and he sighed "You're going to die dude...like immediately. You do know which base Fitzpatrick is at right?! Fort Mcnair! That base has hundreds of soldiers and they have tanks there too! Not to mention that it is in D.C. meaning that the police will also be on you in an instant! As will the National Guard!"

Alexis nudged my shoulder "Patrick comes from a military family. You should take notes on this." she said and I nodded as Patrick continued talking about the types of defenses I would encounter.

Fucking hell alright I definitely need to have some kind of plan going off of this.

"Anyone got an idea?" I asked feeling beaten after that little talk.

"I do have one although it will take me a day or two to get everything ready." Shane said and I nodded. Any idea was better than none at all. Shane stood up "It's okay if he stays here until then right?" he asked his sister and she nodded with a smile. Shane put his hand on my shoulder "I have to head to the base, just lay low here for the time being okay?" he asked and I nodded again.

Shane grabbed a jacket and walked out the door leaving me with two near strangers staring at me.

"Ever play Settlers of Catan?" Patrick asked.

"Oh bitch! All the sheep are now mine! Suck iiiiiit!" I said as me and Alexis high fived and Patrick just groaned in annoyance. We had been playing Settlers for a good five hours now and it was some of the most fun I've ever had!

"You win...fucking hell." Patrick said and Alexis laughed before giving him a kiss and I felt a pang of guilt, I thought about Hylla. She didn't agree with this...and I did it anyway. I looked at this amazing couple in front of me and I honestly couldn't see Hylla and me playing this game and having an amazing time goofing around.

We never got to goof around...our world is filled with torment and survival.

"how long have you been married?" I asked the couple and they looked at me for a few seconds.

"Just got married last year! Fall wedding! It was so beautiful!" Alexis said and Patrick kissed her cheek. She glanced at me and must have guess my mood "I saw your wedding ring, how long have you been married?" she asked back at me.

I glanced down at my obsidian and gold ring that me and Hylla both were gifted by my mother on our wedding day. I looked back "Just a few months more than you. I got married at the end of last summer." I explained.

"Ohhhhhhh a summer wedding! How long were you guys together?" she asked excitedly.

"About a year or so."

"Oh quick! When you know you know I guess." Patrick said smiling as he wrapped his arms around his wife.

We all moved to the couch and Patrick started playing a video game I didn't recognize as me and Alexis continued talking.

"So what's with the sad face?" she asked curiously.

I fidgeted with my cast but finally answered "She...doesn't agree with what I'm doing. We fought a lot because of it. We made up but, I'm worried she is only letting me do this because she's tired of fighting. Like, am I right for doing this? I mean of course the right thing to do is stop a bunch of evil guys and protect the innocent but...is what I'm doing the right way to go about things?"

"Oh absolutely not if this was Patrick I would have chained you to the wall until you came to your senses." she said in a heartbeat. Patrick nodded in agreement without taking his eyes off the screen and continued playing, I stuttered a little trying to figure out what to say.

"I...I don't know what else to do. The time of peace is gone, these people can't be negotiated with. They have to be put to the sword for treason." I explained.

"Well, yes okay this is a delicate matter because these men are traitors to the Gargareans and deserve to be executed for their crimes. However, I want you to answer me this: How much danger does Hylla know you are in? How much carnage does she know you've caused? Hell, does she even know you are here right now? Does she know what happened to you?" she asked.

I blinked, she doesn't...she never knows. I always say I'm fine, I don't want her to worry about me, but does that mean that I'm hurting her more than I'm protecting her?

"Do you...do you have a phone or something?" I asked softly. Alexis nodded and pulled out a phone and I told her what to dial, a little loophole I figured out a little while ago. I'm not using the phone so no signal is sent to monsters...at least I hope that's the case because I only tried this once.

"Hello? Hey is this Hylla?" Alexis asked into the phone and she gave me a thumbs up "Hi! Listen my name is Alexis and I'm an underground doctor for the Gargareans. Your husband is Sam Strife right?" she asked and I heard a loud voice almost hysterical screaming from the other line. Alexis winced "He's fine! He's fine! He's right here actually and he wanted to talk to you." she said before handing me the phone.

"Hylla?" I asked softly.

"Sam? Are you okay?! What's going on?!" she asked and I felt instant relief hearing her voice. It was like an angel singing to me, Alexis grabbed her Husband and they went into the kitchen to give me space.

"I-I'm fine. Actually um...I'm not fine Hylla. I've been a really shitty husband to you." I said to her.

The line was silent for a few seconds "What are you talking about?" she asked confused.

"Hylla, I didn't tell you about the vendetta even when I promised not to go on one. I tell you how much you mean to me and then basically leave you in the dust the second something crazy happens. I want you to know that when this is over, I'm done. The second everything is over I am going to say fuck off to every god in my way that wants me to do something for them. I will be yours forever and you will never have to be alone at night, you will never have to wonder whether or not I'll come back, and I will always be there for you the way you've always been there for me." I said to her.

I heard sniffling on the other line "Sam?" she asked.

"Yeah?"

"I love you with all my heart." she said.

I smiled "I love you too Hylla. Always." I responded.

"So was that all? Did you just call to make me cry?" she asked and I could feel her smile.

"No, I just got some good advice so I wanted to let you know what I'm doing and if you will approve." I said.

"Uhhh...alright." she said.

"In a few days I'm going to attack Fort Mcnair, it's where Fitzpatrick is and where his armies are. I'm going to end him before he gets the chance to attack Camp Half-blood." I said.

"Sam...obviously I can't stop you from doing this. All I can ask is that you please be careful, you're safety is all that matters to me now Sam." she said.

I nodded even though she couldn't see my face "I promise I will be careful Hylla. I'll be home soon, just stay there and let me know if anything happens with you or the baby."

"I will."

"Okay, I needed that. Love you." I said smiling.

"Love you too."

I heard the line click and the call ended, I looked at the phone and smiled as I set it down. I felt a lot better about what I was doing now because I knew that Hylla would always have my back just like I'll always have hers.

Alexis poked her head around the corner and Patrick did too holding a bowl of macaroni and cheese.

"Everything good?" she asked curiously and I nodded as I gave her back her phone. Alexis smiled "Well, it looks like all that's left is to wait for Shane to let us know the plan." she said.

"Anyone up for some Halo?" Patrick asked holding up a controller.

"Right here. Let's start with three, the campaign is better." I said grabbing the second controller.

"After that we are watching all Lord of the Rings and Star Wars!" Alexis said grabbing the dog from the cushion and cuddling with him.

This is gonna be a good day!

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