Chaos.
Rounds cracked through windows, I weaved under the backblast of an RPG, hurdled a wounded Hotel Moscow soldier being tended to by a Delta medic, guys were screaming for more ammo, more rockets, anything to keep them at bay, Revy was ahead of me, running and firing, both Berettas on full display, my rifle slung across her back. I saw Dutch, in full kit, pull a grenade off his vest and hurl it into the fray.
Rock was running ammo in a borrowed vest, his face bandaged; I'd bet anything Benny was somewhere, breaking into their comms and creating havoc on the cyber plane.
General Asimov's men were kicking ass alongside Midas and his boys, one D-boy feeding a belt for a scarred Russian while a Triad soldier pointed out targets.
I finally caught sight of the wild mishmash of civilian clothes and gear that was Whiplash, flanking a balcony door, I hit the gas and slammed into cover next to Dave. Revy tossed me my rifle, and I added my own voice to the fight.
"HEY BUD!"
"HOLY SHIT! LOOK WHO IT IS!"
I grinned, throwing a wave to Kelly and Tucker; Scott was firing a pilfered PKP out the window, understandably distracted.
Sofiya was further down the line, firing and directing her men; I squeezed Dave's shoulder and moved, staying low, only popping up above the windows to rip a few shots at the approaching assholes.
I slid in next to Sofiya, changing magazines.
"EVENING, CAPTAIN!"
She never took her eyes off her targets, making her namesake sing, the Dragunov bucking against her shoulder, but I felt her boot bump into mine, a small acknowledgment that warmed me down to my soul. I gently nudged her back.
I'm here.
She fired, and more men died; I snapped my rifle up and gunned two to the ground before someone raked them with fire from one of the MGs.
The incoming fire slackened and died.
Just like that, no one was shooting at us anymore.
"CEASE FIRE!" Sofiya roared.
"CEASE FIRE!" Someone called in English.
Someone a floor above yelled in Mandarin; I caught the gist.
Quiet settled over the battlefield like a heavy blanket…or the calm before the storm. I kept sweeping my IR laser across the expanse, looking for targets that didn't seem to be coming…
Then, like ghosts, they emerged from the darkness, hundreds of them, with a man leading the slow charge, striding across the gap like he didn't have a care in the world.
Nothing about this was good.
Rumbling engines caught my ear as trucks rolled in from every direction, men disembarked, and I could hear shouting in rapid-fire Spanish.
Fucking Abrego…
He'd brought an entire army to back his buddies.
A thumping rotor sealed our fate as the missing Hind swung back into the fight, pulling into a hover over the bad guys, all of its guns trained on us.
A quick look at the battered defenders told me that we didn't have the manpower to stave off this next wave.
A voice boomed over a P.A. from the courtyard.
"CAPTAIN PAVLOVENA! I AM ARKADY LOMONOSOV!
And there it fucking was…
"YOU TOOK SOMETHING FROM ME… YOU KILLED MY BROTHER! NOW I AM HERE TO TAKE EVERYTHING FROM YOU! SURRENDER NOW! AND I MAY KILL YOU QUICKLY!"
Sofiya reached over and grabbed my vest, pulling me in for a deep kiss that stole my breath before standing, speaking into her radio softly, I couldn't make it out, but orders were being given.
I looked over at American, Russian, and Chinese alike; I could feel the burning assent from every last one of them as they slowly rose, Delta Operators, CIA Officers, Russian Paratroopers, Pirates Gangsters.
We stood together with one thought in every mind present.
Fuck 'em.
I stood next to her, shoulder to shoulder with my Captain, the love of my life, as her voice rang out.
"SURRENDER? WE ARE HOTEL MOSCOW! WE HAVE NEVER SURRENDERED AND YOU…"
She pointed right at him, a defiant smile on her beautiful face.
"WILL NOT BE THE ONE TO BRING US TO HEEL! WE WILL FIGHT TO THE LAST MAN! TO THE LAST BULLET! NOW COME TO ME, AND I WILL SEND YOU TO MEET YOUR BROTHER IN HELL!"
For a moment, nobody moved. Then three things happened almost in unison.
"KILL THEM ALL!" Lomonosov shouted
Sofiya keyed her mic twice and spun into me, sending both of us crashing to the floor, "EVERYBODY DOWN!"
And the entire front of the hotel went up like the Fourth of July, fire and shrapnel exploded across the courtyard, incinerating a shitload of Cartel soldiers, their screams drifted up through the windows, along with the smell of burning flesh and gasoline, I heard the engines on the Hind fail… they'd been too close to escape the explosions, a secondary explosion a moment later showered the front of the building with shrapnel.
I stared up at Sofiya from where she had me pinned; her eyes were wild, her lips parted in an almost feral smile as everyone opened up again, hosing the mass of assholes who were here to kill us all.
"Fougasse?" I whispered as her perfume washed over me.
She nodded, "Diesel and silverware from the kitchen. We buried them this morning."
I'd never heard anything so sexy.
"I love you," I whispered.
She leaned down and kissed me softly despite the raging gunfight happening all around us, "Moi horoshiy… I love you too."
And just like that, I was ready for the end, if a bullet found me if shrapnel tore me apart… I'd go to my grave knowing that she loved me.
She smiled, almost coquettishly, and rolled off me, offering a hand. I let her pull me to my feet, the incoming fire snapped off the bricks, the outgoing fire roared, and I was absolutely lost in her eyes. Her expression told me she felt the same, that just jumped out of an airplane feeling, those first breathless seconds before the chute opened.
I smiled softly as someone behind me fired an RPG, screaming obscenities that required no translation.
She smiled back.
I jerked my head at the window.
Let's kill these assholes, huh?
She nodded, grabbing my hand.
Let's…
I squeezed her hand before letting it go and pulling my rifle up.
The fight was on, and my Valkyrie was at my side.
The poor bastards didn't stand a chance.
"AMMO!" Rock shouted, sliding into cover next to me, passing me some magazines. I topped off, slapped him on the shoulder with a grin, and he was off again.
I didn't know how much time had passed since our little argument with Lomonosov; time tends to lose all meaning in a gunfight, I just kept loading and reloading, hitting the seemingly endless horde of cartel soldiers and contractors; they were gaining ground, pushing us back, we simply didn't have the guns to maintain this for much longer. Our outer cordon had pulled back at Sofiya's order before the mines detonated and were ferociously defending the ground floor.
Sofiya was aiming her shots, each time her trigger broke, another man died.
I was spraying with a MK 48 I'd taken off a wounded Delta troop; the heavy belt-fed made me smile, the thumping of it rattling my teeth as I walked tracers across what cover they'd found, keeping them suppressed.
And still, I wasn't foolish enough to think we could win.
Whatever fast-air Eda had cobbled together wasn't going to be fast enough…and as another Hotel Moscow soldier caught around in the face, my heart broke a little more.
We'd have to fall back.
Abrego and what remained of Lomonosov's guys kept coming, how ISR had missed them, I didn't know, but they were massing outside the gate, pouring fire on us as a few bold assholes threw a chain around the fence; a truck roared, and the perimeter fell.
They rushed in to fill the gap, howling and firing as they came.
My radio crackled.
"All elements, our air is gone, the Thai government eighty-sixed any incursion, we are on our own. Fall back to primary extract; this AO is lost."
Oh, God...
Sofiya heard the same thing because she jerked like she'd been electrocuted. Her eyes flickered behind her scope before she keyed her radio.
"All units, execute plan 'Easter' and fall back for re-positioning and re-attack. Now!"
I broke off the rest of the belt in someone's ass and dropped the heavy weapon. The D-boys were already headed for the stairs, Whiplash fell back behind me, and Rabbit came flying out of Sofiya's office with Eda in tow, hustling down the stairs.
Triad and Hotel Moscow soldiers covered each other and fell back, organized, but barely. Revy was hauling Rock by the collar of his vest, shielding him as she fired into the charge; Dutch dumped a mag and vaulted the railing; he hit the landing running, covering Revy and Rock.
It wasn't a retreat.
We were running for our lives.
I grabbed Sofiya, and she reluctantly allowed me to pull her away from the window; I could feel the fight in her, I knew it went against everything in her to run, but I knew that she wanted Lomonosov's fucking head and to achieve that, she had to live. I shifted to her right as we ran, keeping my fresh plates between her and any fire as we thundered down the stairs and across the lobby; Butcher and Oxide were ahead of us, holding the door, waving us forward. Triad soldiers were firing past us; I heard screams as the front door exploded open.
"LAST MAN!" I yelled as we blew past them into the humid night air.
And just like that…Hotel Moscow was lost.
I don't know how long we ran, but I knew they weren't following us, probably re-arming with our supplies. Sofiya stopped as Boris crashed up next to us, towing fifty Hotel Moscow boys; they all looked to her, some with tears in their eyes…
And their Captain responded, her eyes glinting dangerously as she stared back at her home.
"Tell everyone to hold."
I nodded and keyed up, as Boris did the same, calling out to who was left.
"All elements, this is Whiplash Four, Russian honcho says to hold in place. Stand by for clarification."
I got a chorus of tentative acknowledgments, questioning tones from everyone.
Boris stepped up, gently socking me in the shoulder and pulling something from his vest, passing it to Sofiya.
Her expression remained unchanged, "They're inside, Sergeant?"
He nodded, "Confirmed Captain, the bulk of their men have committed."
Sofiya keyed up, nodding in return, "All units, acknowledge safe distance achieved."
….
"Six copies all, stand by men; our victory is at hand."
I stared at her; what was she getting at?
She turned to me then, all flowing blonde hair and blue eyes that shone with sadness, but also love, lust, and the same bloodthirsty spark that set my heart on fire all those months ago. She held her hand out to me; I slung my rifle, pulled my gloves off, and took it, feeling something resting in her palm.
"I love you… the gift you've given my men and me is one that I will never be able to truly repay. You weren't here with us at the beginning, but you are with us at the end, and that is all that truly matters."
She squeezed my hand softly, and I felt the object clearly.
No…
She reached up with her unoccupied hand and keyed her radio, "All units…"
She didn't…
"Fire in the hole."
This crazy, beautiful, bitch!
"Fire in the hole."
She smiled beautifully, the first time I'd see one reach her eyes fully, "For our fallen," She whispered, and I felt the fierce pride and overwhelming sadness there…
I keyed up quick, "All units this net, COVER!"
"Fire in the hole."
She squeezed our hands together in a rhythm; the "Clacker" fired, once, twice, three times…
The explosion was nothing short of biblical; precisely placed charges went off in perfect unison; it began as a rumble, starting in the basement, explosions of flame that raced around the ground floor and up the sides of the pristine building.
The shockwave rolled over us a second later, the pressure popping my ears.
…And in the distance, Hotel Moscow came crashing down, sending a dust cloud hundreds of feet into the night sky, entombing most of the attacking force in one brilliant stroke…
Sofi grinned and grabbed her radio.
"SIX TO ALL UNITS! BULK OF HOSTILE FORCES DOWN!"
Her grin turned into the stuff nightmares are made of.
"CHARGE!"
A war cry went up from the jungle surrounding us, and charge they did, Hotel Moscow and Triad soldiers pushed out of the undergrowth, I keyed up "ALL UNITS, HOSTILES ARE DOWN HARD, LET'S MOP 'EM UP."
Acknowledgments came roaring at me. And the pounding footsteps grew closer until all four CIA teams, backed by the remaining Delta, came crashing out of the bush, Dutch and Revy were right behind them, Rock too, carrying a pilfered AK, the first time I'd ever seen him touch a weapon.
Good for you, kid.
We charged as one, Sofiya and I leading the pack.
One Cartel soldier tried; he shouldn't have; I walked rounds from his chest into his face, blowing his head open, Sofiya gunned one to the ground, and I finished him off with a headshot.
I watched Revy gun down a group of survivors who were desperately trying to shake off the concussion and kill us before we killed them.
None were spared as we continued our murderous advance.
I changed mags on the run, weaving past Revy, killing two more with a burst…all around me, there was only death, Whiplash pushed the right, killing and dead-checking contractor and sicarios alike as we closed on the ruins Butcher and Oxide ran on my left, Rabbit and some Triads took the wood-line, muzzle flashes and screams marked their charge. A Triad soldier took rounds and fell, tumbling, screaming… I hurdled him; the only way through this was through them.
Smoke and fire rolled up to greet us, it was hell on earth, and we were the demons of their nightmares…
I skidded to a stop on the rubble-strewn pavement, a Delta operator stopped next to me, slinging his dry rifle and drawing his pistol, dumping rounds into a wounded contractor.
My blood hummed with murderous energy as I spared a glance around.
Boris swung a Spetz machete through a guy's face.
Kelly muzzle-thumped a contractor in the chest as he struggled to rise, planting a boot in his face, cracking the stricken man's head like an egg.
Revy laughed as she scythed through them, her Berettas cracking like thunder.
And Sofiya…
She fired her AK until it ran dry, canting the weapon to check for a malfunction before tossing it over her shoulder and drawing her Stechkin, firing on full-auto…The firelight silhouetted her. The stream of shell casings, the sparks, and fire blasting from her weapon made her look every inch the avenging angel she was.
I snapped my rifle up into my workspace, reaching for a mag, finding none.
"I'M OUT!" I screamed over their screams, dropping my rifle and pulling my pistol, shoulder-checking a Cartel soldier who was fumbling his reload, three 230-grain rounds tore his head apart.
"HERE!" Dave yelled, tossing me the shotgun off his back; I caught the short 870 and racked a shell into the chamber, blowing a bloodied contractor off his feet.
And the fire stopped, the silence abrupt and shocking.
Someone moaned weakly.
"Shut the fuck up!" Someone else answered, and a snapping suppressed gunshot put an end to that shit.
Someone was coughing; the pattering of liquid told me that someone was bleeding out. I glanced over towards the noise and saw Sofiya kneeling on a prone form, a knee planted in the guy's chest, slowly reloading her Stechkin as he scrabbled at her; I started her way as she dropped the slide, shoving it under his chin.
"Say hello to your brother, for me."
The pistol cracked… and Arkady Lomonosov's career came to an abrupt end.
I stepped up next to her as she stood, the form at her feet more bloody mess than man at this point. I slid a foot in front of hers, blading my body to cover her with my plates in case someone felt like trying us.
All around us, the wounded cried out and were put down without preamble.
A voice from my right reached my ringing ears.
"HIJO DE LA CHINGADA!"
Abrego…
I stepped into Sofiya out of reflex, seeing the muzzle flashes and feeling the impacts before I heard the shots, rounds shattered my plates.
Fire from everywhere answered, shredding the Cartel boss to bloody ribbons…
I sagged against her, coughing and gritting my teeth against the pain blooming across my chest.
"Oh, Zack! MEDIC!"
I slid down her front, she caught me under my arms and pulled me close.
"No, you don't, not now…"
I whispered, coughing through it.
"What? I can't understand you, dorogoi… MEDIC!"
I slipped a hand under my vest; it came away dry.
Plates caught it.
I looked up into her wide concerned eyes with a grin that made me wince.
"Four-Two…"
And the love of my life dropped me on the pavement.
"YOU FUCKING ASSHOLE!"
The final tally was two hundred dead between Hotel Moscow and the Triads, twenty Delta operators lost their lives, and only Carter was left from Rabbit; her boys had been killed during our charge down the hill. We'd gathered their bodies with the kind of care and sadness that only comes from shedding blood with someone. The line of cloth and flag-draped bodies, Russian and American, stretched further than any of us would have liked; it included our Spetznaz saviors, the team wiped out by a lucky hit during the shelling while getting civvies to safety. I'd never gotten the chance to thank them for saving my life.
Eight hundred civvies lost their lives, a thousand more were injured, and more were homeless.
I cried a lot in those first few days.
Viktor didn't make it; he'd died protecting civvies during our fighting withdrawal from "June."
I'd held his cold hand for a long time, remembering the man he was.
Now he was going home with all the honors he deserved.
Between the Wagner assholes and the Cartel soldiers? Over a thousand dead and injured, even more taken prisoner and handed off to the Royal Thai Military when they'd finally arrived.
The Thai's left without asking too many questions.
That had been three weeks ago. Now the rebuilding began, Triads had swarmed the city at Chang's urging, aid was distributed, and an absolute legion of construction equipment had descended on the town. The CIA teams had left after a few drinks, places to be, and all that, I hadn't begrudged Dave when he'd gone home to his family.
And today was the day I'd been dreading.
I watched Sofiya get dressed, reclining on the bed in the small apartment above the clinic, miraculously spared by the violence that had raged all around.
We'd barely had time; now we had none.
The conversation had been tough on both sides, but there was no clear way out of it, not right away. I was a spy now, I'd been on the CIA's payroll, even if I was slowly coming around to the idea of leaving that behind too, she was a Russian Officer, there was no way that worked, especially not after she was only just exonerated. So we'd spent every spare minute together, making furious love every night, whispering sweet affirmations, and acting like the world outside our window didn't exist.
Roanapur had been the haven our love needed to bloom; the real world was far less kind. My heart was utterly broken, and if the look in her eyes was anything to go by, hers was too.
But I knew someone like her loved someone like me, and that was enough…
So we dressed silently, sharing a few sweet moments as we tried to stave off the inevitable. Boris waited outside the door, ever the stalwart protector of his Captain.
For the first time in a long time, she spoke, buttoning her uniform.
"There is something I would like you to have."
I slid off the bed, making my way over to her, wrapping my arms around her from behind, nipping at her ear as a matter of habit.
"Parting gifts?"
She nodded, her eyes sad in the mirror; she pressed something into my palm as her hand wrapped around mine.
"So you will never forget me."
I snorted, as if I could, ever, the hole she was leaving behind was a mile wide and just as deep.
She let my hand go, and I looked at her gift, tears leaping to my eyes.
Small metal tags.
Pavolovena
Sofiya A.
282876
O NEG
The weight of it hit me like a sledgehammer…I tried to choke back the tears.
She stood and turned, wrapping her arms around me and pressing her forehead to mine.
"Don't, please dorogoi, if you start that, you'll find me close behind, and then I'm afraid I'll never leave."
I nodded weakly.
Her smile went from sad to brilliant, "Now, walk your Captain to her ride?"
She was so much more than that, but I nodded and allowed her sweet kiss to break my heart all over again...
Our goodbye was short, any longer, and neither of us would've left the dock.
"I love you," She whispered, "and neither time nor distance will ever change that."
"I love you too…Thank you for giving me everything, a place in the world, and the kind of love that I never thought I would have again…." I sniffed, "Spare me a thought? Every now and then?"
She nodded, and her eyes turned misty; she'd softened these last weeks; I think the insanity finally lifting allowed her to be human again.
Her hand slipped into my mine, "You will always be in my heart."
I almost broke right there.
"And you'll always be in mine."
A horn blast from the ship behind us brought me back to horrifying reality.
"Time to go," I whispered thickly, pulling her into a hug.
She nodded against me.
Then as quickly as she had come into my life, she kissed my cheek and spun on a heel, heading up the gangway. Boris hung back for a moment, laying a hand on my shaking shoulder.
"I will keep her safe, my friend."
I nodded and plastered a smile on my face, "I know, Borya, I know you will. Thank you."
He pulled me into a hug, "You will always be a brother of Hotel Moscow; carry it with you wherever you go. And if your travels bring you to Russia, drinks are on me, no matter who you work for."
I sniffed, "Count on it."
He stepped back and slapped me on the shoulder, a mile-wide grin splitting his normally stoic face.
"Goodbye, my friend."
Then he was gone too, onto the ship that would take them further up the coast, to a Russian strip where their flight home awaited.
Someone bumped into my shoulder, breaking me out of the terrible heartbreak.
Morris offered me a light.
I knew he didn't smoke; you gotta appreciate a guy like that.
I stared at the retreating vessel with my whole world aboard, "Thanks, Jake."
"Anytime, Zack."
Eda stepped up next to me, throwing an arm around my shoulders, "We did it."
I nodded; the sunset was casting a beautiful orange glow over the port.
"Yeah, we sure did…"
"You could come with us, you know? The Agency needs people like you, we could-"
I slipped my arm around her waist and squeezed her, "I think I'm done for a while. Sofiya and her men are getting what they deserve; Chang is gonna run this place right, I think…I know it's time for me to move on."
"Are you sure?"
I nodded, "Gotta put some mileage between me and all this."
Eda's head fell on my shoulder, and I could hear her softly inhaling, breathing me in like she was trying to trap this moment in her mind forever.
I had to admit; I was doing the same. I laid a kiss on the top of her head, and she leaned in closer.
When she finally untangled herself, it was like a piece of me left with her.
"Listen, Zack, a little something is waiting for you when you get where you're going."
Morris palmed me something… a small flash drive.
"Just plug that in, and follow the instructions."
I stared at the black piece of plastic, "What's this?"
Eda smiled, "Let's just say that there were some oversights in Lomonosov's finances that have been corrected, courtesy of a friend in NSA."
I cocked my head, not comprehending, "You didn't."
"Oh, I fucking did, but keep it to yourself, huh? Call it back pay for the last ten years."
Morris slugged me in the shoulder, "Don't spend it all in one place."
Eda let her fingers trail over my hand as she walked by, but her smile was devoid of any sadness as she left me alone with my thoughts.
Eventually, the ship became a speck in the distance, and I slowly stood, a smile breaking across my face despite the pain in my heart.
Not bad for a cowboy from the middle of nowhere, huh?
We scattered to the wind after that, each making our way out of the city by our own route, but I had one last stop to make…
The Lagoon Office was lit up as my cab rolled to the curb; I slid out, tipping the driver to hang around.
A quick knock on the door produced no result; I knocked again, nothing…
Time to get creative
I hopped the fence and was halfway up the outside stairs, heading for the apartments when I heard it, someone sounded like they were in pain, but the closer I got, the more I realized it was definitely the opposite. I sidled up to a window and peeked in.
Holy hell…
Good for you, Rock…
I slipped through the hallway, giving them their privacy, and gently rapped on Dutch's door.
It popped open after a beat, and he looked over my shoulder, "C'mon in, nobody's getting any sleep tonight."
I chuckled and stepped across the threshold, "I'm proud of that boy; I didn't know he had it in him."
"Yeah, well, he does, and for the last few hours, so has Revy…" He grinned, "Proud of him too, let's see if he can keep ahold of that tiger's tail."
A shriek punctuated his words, and we both snorted, trying to keep from hysterics. Dutch moved to the fridge and pulled two beers, tossing me one.
"Gotta be honest, didn't think I'd see you back here."
I cracked the beer and leaned on the kitchenette counter, "I wasn't supposed to come back; I had some things I needed to tie up, though. Word on the street is that things are gonna get better around here; you guys work with Chang; he takes care of you guys."
Dutch smiled, "Truth be told, his jobs were always real smooth. You did something unbelievable here; you should know that."
I slugged my beer and smiled, "I have no idea what you're talking about."
Dutch held his beer out, grinning, and I gently clinked mine against it.
"Of course you don't. Listen, no bullshit," Something like a headboard started thumping against the far wall, and he shook his head," If you ever need anything, Lagoon has your back."
"Likewise man, likewise. I'm gonna be off the radar for a while, handling business. But once I come back up, I'll be in touch."
"Do you brother, Lagoon will always be around."
I nodded, finishing my beer, "I gotta jet, burning time I don't have as it is."
He smiled, "And out my door goes the last stabilizing influence, shame."
I stuck my hand out, "Been real, D."
He grabbed my hand, "Been fun."
"But it ain't been real fun," I finished with a grin, "Take care, man, keep 'em safe."
"You too, man."
I walked back down the hallway, feeling a twinge in my heart, leaving my friends behind now that my new family was gone… Revy moaned again, and I thought about cop-knocking, but they both needed this; I shook my head as I walked down the steps and back over the fence, the cab right where I left it.
I slid into the back seat, slapping enough baht in the driver's had to keep in betel and hookers for a good long while; he smiled at me with his stained teeth.
"Airport, please."
A nod and we were off, leaving Roanapur and a piece of my soul in the dust.
"Hey, Zack."
"Hey, Doc, busy night again, huh?"
Dr. Matthews rubbed his eyes, "Three critical from that MVA, none likely thank god, Two OD's and some guy lost a flashlight where the sun don't shine."
"Illuminating."
He glared at me, "That was a bad joke, and you should feel bad, Briggs."
I leaned against the charge desk, chuckling, "I feel terrible, Doc."
He snorted, "Doubtful. Gotta make the rounds, don't work too hard."
I waved at the tray of meds, "Just gotta check on ten, twelve, and twenty-three, then it's days off for me."
"Lucky bastard, later."
"Later, Doc."
All the years, everything I'd seen, and after it all…I'd come home.
The mountains called, and they were the furthest things from white sand beaches and beautiful mob bosses as you could get.
I told no one except Dave and Eda, throwing up signals and dead-ends that put me all over the world; hell, I didn't even have Facebook…
A long year passed as I played at a normal life.
The hospital Director had received no less than three recommendations from highly placed individuals in the "State Department" vouching for me, as well as certs from the smattering of courses I'd taken over the years, equivalent to a Trauma Nurse at this point, he was glad to have me aboard, and we kept it quiet. I'd taken a few courses at the community college to round it out, and here I was, working in the emergency department.
I'd talked to Eda a few days ago, couldn't tell me where she was, but she was staying safe, doing the job, the offer stood, she'd said. All I had to do was sign some paperwork, and I'd be back in her world.
I was more than a little tempted.
I gave Mr. Morton his meds; they were gonna discharge him in a couple of days after a massive heart attack. I checked on Ms. Harris; her leg was healing up nicely after her horse spooked on a trail. Finally, I peeked into Twenty-three; Mrs. Reilly was sleeping peacefully, her pregnancy had been complicated, but she and the baby would pull through; a small smile dragged itself out of me at the thought of her new baby girl, so much promise for that kid,
I wheeled the cart back to supply, heading back to the nurse's station to check the rolls and wait for Judy, the day shift charge, to get here so I could knock off and enjoy my three days off. I slid into a chair, going over paperwork.
"Penny for your thoughts?" Came a smooth voice; a slight accent left it smoky.
I almost gave myself whiplash; Judy eyed me as my chair wobbled, flashes of concern in her pretty brown eyes.
I played it off quickly. "Jesus, Jude damn near gave me a heart attack."
Her concern never wavered as she ran a hand through her dark hair, "I've been here for a minute, you were spaced out, singing something… I didn't know you spoke Russian."
I froze. Judy's family was from the Caucasus… of all the fucking people to walk up…
I smiled, "Picked up a little in high school. Nothing special."
"I recognized it, 'Bayu Bayushki, The Wolf's Lullaby.' It's just weird because that's a very regional song…"
I was sweating a little, but I kept the small smile on my face, "One of my friends in college taught it to me."
Jude was always too perceptive for her own good; I could tell she wasn't buying it. She stared at me as I reached for a real answer.
I shook my head, "Sorry, Jude, long shift."
She looked like she wanted to say something else but let it drop with a sigh.
"Okay, Zack. Well, you can bail, go home and get some rest; I'll see you in a couple of days."
Her gaze followed me as I stood and headed for my locker, cursing myself a little. Nobody needed any more questions about me.
Minutes later, I'd said a few goodbyes and headed for the parking lot, swinging a leg over my crotch-rocket. The bike had set me back a little, but the money wouldn't run out anytime soon.
Eda, Morris, and I would take that one to the grave.
I fired up the bike and slid my helmet on, heading for home as the sun slowly rose, illuminating the snow-capped mountains, the only bodies of water in sight were the lakes that dotted the valley. The winding roads were bare, nobody was moving this early, and I enjoyed the solitude, alone with my memories. It took me twenty minutes to get home, sliding the key in the lock and dumping my helmet and jacket on the couch, the house was small, but it was all I needed.
I shed clothes all over the floor as I headed for the shower, keying up some music on shuffle and stepping under the hot spray. The song that came on made me pause for a second before I kept washing; I hummed along to the steady beat.
The guy playing the balalaika was really nailing it.
I stepped out after a bit, dried off, and checked the fridge, fresh out of everything, but it'd have to wait; I threw on a pair of new boxers and collapsed into bed, out before my head hit the pillow.
A few hours later, I popped up, checking my phone.
No calls, but a text from Dave shone up at me.
Hey brother, I hope all is well.
I tapped one back.
All good brother, how's the family?
I was pulling on jeans when the ringing started.
"Hello?"
"Figured it'd be easier."
I chuckled, "Good to hear your voice, man. How's everything on your end?"
"Good, real good, the family is good, adjusting again."
"Where'd ya get off to?"
"Right now, we're in Tanzania, just standing up clinics, you know the drill."
I smiled, "I do."
"How about you, man, adjusting?"
I sat down, shifting my phone onto my shoulder as I tied my boots, "Yeah, things are good, it's all good."
"Bullshit."
"Hmm?"
"I said, bullshit, you know what it was like for me when I got out? I went half-crazy; you don't do what you did and then take it out of gear to hide in the mountains without some kinda growing pains. Talk to me, man."
I sighed; there was no point, "I hate it, it's quaint, it's safe, and it's driving me fucking bonkers."
"Say the word, and I'll have you back here with us in a heartbeat."
I stared off into the distance for a moment.
"…Zack?"
My hand drifted to the dog tags that I never took off, rubbing them idly.
"When do I leave?"
A/N: Epilogue chapters next. God, I love this story and the little version of Ronapur I created.
"The Charge" was inspired by a great song that I left on repeat while I wrote. The title is "Let 'Em Burn" by Nothing More.
Until next time, you know the drill. Let me know where I messed up and all that.