Chapter 26: Ash

After Lexa walks out of the room, I look at Abby and say, "What the hell is going on? Did I seriously just tell her I love her?"

Abby laughs, "Fletch, I don't know what to tell you about that. You know, they say you are most honest when you first wake up, especially from a coma. But seriously, let me examine you."

After a complete examination, Abby tells me what she knows. Starting from when the chopper landed on base with Lexa and me in it. As she tells me about my injuries and surgery, I begin to remember some things. First, I remember the explosion. Then, I vaguely remember being in the car with Omar, then waking up to him taking off my clothes and chaining me to the ceiling in some sort of basement.

I must have been quiet for too long because Abby asks, "Fletch, what are you thinking? What do you remember?"

"I remember being chained to the ceiling naked in a basement. I remember Omar yelling and punching me over and over in the face. He was trying to get me to admit that I was working for the United States. He said that someone had told him I was a spy. When I wouldn't talk, he moved on to using a knife, then a whip. I wasn't going to break, though; he was going to have to kill me. I told him that too, and he laughed and said that was fine by him but that he would punish me first and then have his way with me. I remember thinking that I deserved whatever he did to me because of what I let happen to Callie. I must have passed out at some point because the next thing I know, Lexa was there and killed two of his guys before the other two grabbed her. Omar started talking to her about what he would do to me, and she snapped when he started unbuttoning his pants. Oh God, Abby. I think I told her to let him, that I deserved it for Callie. I'm not sure, but before I knew what was happening, she was free and had killed the two guys holding her and was on top of Omar, beating him to death. Then there was a gunshot, and I was hit in the leg and then blackness. I remember waking up for a few minutes and her telling me she was going to get me out of there and to stay with her, then nothing until a few minutes ago."

Abby said, "Fletch, I'm sorry. Lexa didn't go into detail about what happened at Omar's place. She was a mess when she brought you in. You coded on the chopper ride, and she was so scared she was going to lose you. All she said was that I had to fix you and Omar was dead. After you didn't wake up after surgery, she fell apart, and she and Blake, well, mainly her, came up with a plan to get Ahmed…."

I interrupt, "Abby, they didn't do anything stupid, did they?"

Abby replied, "Well, I can't tell you if it was stupid or not, but whatever it was, it worked. They brought Ahmed and most of his organization in, and she hasn't left this room except on her interpreter missions and only if I stay while she is gone. Blake finally talked her into going on a dirt bike ride with him and some of his friends. She wouldn't even leave your side to talk to Commander Jared. So Lexa made him come here. She has spent the last four months jumping through every hoop he can throw at her as long as it can be done from this room. She has used the time to get her GED and pass the citizenship test. She even completed a two-year business program at an online college. After that, she was going stir crazy, so Commander Jarad talked her into being an interpreter for Blake's unit. She is to be sworn in as a US citizen next week."

"I can't believe it, really. How did she talk Jared into citizenship? She really hasn't left the room?"

Abby sighed, "No, she hasn't, not until recently when she started interpreting. The only reason she agreed to that and left today was that I threatened to have her committed if she didn't. She was going crazy the last couple of days. It was Blake's idea for citizenship, and Jared agreed that she deserved a chance to start over after everything she did. She passed the background inquiry and an extensive psych evaluation with Dr. Santiago."

"Wow, I can't believe she came for me and then went through all of this while staying by my side. I should be mad at her because she promised me no heroic acts before the mission, and then she risked her life to save me again, but I can't be mad at her."

"Fletch, that girl loves you whether you realize it or not. No one could have stopped her from going to get you, hell, not even God himself. You need to talk to her, tell her everything. Surely, she has proven herself to you now. She's not going anywhere."

"Thanks, Abby, for everything. I will talk to her, I promise, but right now, I need to think before she gets back."

Abby says, "Ok, I will just go sit in the corner over there. Take all the time you need, but I can't leave the room, or Lexa will kill me. I mean, she wouldn't even go to the bathroom if someone weren't with you."

I lay back and stare at the ceiling while I think. I can't believe it has been four months, and she is still here. She basically hasn't left my side the entire time. Not only that, she finished my undercover mission for me and rescued me again. If that isn't enough, she earned her GED, college certificate and passed the citizenship test. This girl is unique, and she hasn't left my side. Maybe it is time I tell her my past and why I haven't let her in. Right now, though, I really just want to kiss her properly.

Just as I finish this thought, she walks into the room. Her hair has grown out some, and it is hanging in her eyes, but she still looks fantastic. She has on the shorts I gave her that first night and one of my Red-Hot Chili Pepper t-shirts, and she looks like she has been working out. I can't help but stare at her as she walks straight for me and kisses me on the lips, but before I can deepen it, she pulls back and looks me in the eyes before saying, "Do I smell better now?"

Instead of saying anything, I grabbed her around the neck, pulled her back in for a deep, intense kiss. I start to pull her on top of me until I hear Abby clear her throat and say, "I think I'm going to leave you two alone." Before she could leave, in came Blake. I say, "Abby, stay, and can I get some food?"

She said, "Sure if you feel up to it."

"Can I get out of this bed, also?"

Abby said, "Fletch, you need to take it easy. You have been in a coma for four months; it's going to take some time before you can just get up and walk by yourself. But I think it would be ok for you to sit in a chair and eat."

Before I can even move, Lexa scoops me up in her arms and carries me over, and sits me in a chair. Abby goes out and gets some food for me, and I start to eat. Blake goes out and gets two more chairs so that we can all sit and talk. I look at Lexa and Blake and ask what happened with Ahmed. Blake tells me about Lexa's plan, and I have to admit it was an intelligent plan. He went on to tell me that it went smoothly with hardly any casualties and that Lexa definitely made a statement by throwing Omar's head on the table.

I looked at Lexa and said, "What? Why?"

She said, "I don't know. But, like he said, I wanted to make a statement that you don't fuck with my girl or me. Besides, I was pissed at Omar for what he did to you, so I cut off his head and maybe something else too."

Everyone was quiet until I spoke up, "Well, remind me to never piss you off." Everyone laughed. We all just sat around talking until I started yawning. That's when Lexa spoke up and told everyone that it was time for them to leave that I needed to rest. I tried to protest, but Abby agreed with Lexa, so Blake and Abby said they would be back in the morning.

Once they were gone, Lexa scooped me up and put me back in bed. She just stood there staring at me then asked if she could lay with me. I couldn't help but laugh and say, of course. She crawled in beside me, and I rolled to lay on her chest. She wraps me in her arms, and I can hear her start to cry. I look up at her and ask her what's wrong. She says that she is just so happy that I finally came back to her. She said that she was beginning to think that I might not. I looked at her and wiped away her tears, and told her that I would always come back to her.

She looked at me and said, "We need to have a serious discussion soon, but right now, I just want to lay here and hold you. If that's okay."

I smile and say, "Babe, you never have to ask if it is okay to hold me. I know we have a lot to talk about, but we have plenty of time. There is one thing I want to talk about right now. I want to tell you how proud I am of you, not just for bringing in Ahmed but for everything. Abby told me you got your GED and passed your citizenship test even got some college credits. Babe, that is amazing."

She turns red and says, "Thank you. There is one thing I want to ask you while we are on the subject of citizenship. Will you come to my swearing-in ceremony next week?"

I can't believe she even thinks she has to ask, but I say, "Of course, I wouldn't miss it!"