The Breakdown
Chapter 10-Ray Diaz
Ray was not totally surprised by the news. After they landed in St. Louis, before they headed towards Vietnam, Mike had provided Ray with a home, knowing he needed a foster parent, at least until he was eighteen. It was only a few months, but Ray knew well that Mike spent the nights walking the floors.
After the Med, Mike had encouraged Ray to go to Academy, and so him and Kat both went, and when the war broke out with Tavo, that's where they were. Mike advised both of them, and they both had long careers to look forward to, simply because he had believed in them.
It was all a well kept secret right now, and Ray knew Mike was hospitalized. He was rebounding from pneumonia and was in intense therapy. It had become pretty dire, until a few days before, when Mike suddenly started fighting the pneumonia. There was even talk he might be released from the hospital. No one knew why he rebounded, other then maybe Ray. He knew that Mike and Maddie Rawlins had been 'seeing' each other for about a year. He would never tell, because he knew; Mike didn't want his secret out.
If Maddie could pull Mike through, then Ray would buy her a beer. She would accomplish what few others had. He liked her, and he knew she was tough enough to handle Mike at his worst. He also had seen pictures of Mike's wife, and knew there was a resemblance. He remembered the night he had realized Mike and Maddie were in a relationship, leading to some embarrassment, but also some laughs.
Ray pulled up to Mike's apartment building, needing to get his ball glove and bat. As he walked down the hallway, he heard Mike's voice; along with a woman's.
"Are you coming back tonight?" Mike asked.
"I can. I'm only in town this week, so we might as well take advantage of our time. I can bring Chinese food or pizza?" The woman asked.
"Chinese sounds good. Extra crab rangoons and sweet and sour chicken." Mike answered.
"You got it. Last night was amazing. Really amazing." The woman said. Ray could hear them kiss, which was just weird.
"It was. Seven? I'll provide the wine and beer?" Mike offered.
"Sounds good. Get red wine. I prefer it." The woman answered.
"Aye, aye." Mike said. Ray sunk back into the hallway as the woman passed, shocked to see Lieutenant Maddie Rawlins pass by.
If it was ever found out, it could ruin both Mike and Maddie's careers, and that was not Ray's game. Mike deserved happiness, and even though Ray didn't know Maddie that well, she did too. Mike had retired a short time later, and rumor had it, Maddie wasn't going to re-up. In the meantime, Ray would keep his mouth shut, because Mike had done him a solid more than once. He'd return the favor, and would encourage the relationship.
