56

Apologies for the sporadic posting of late, work's getting on top of me a little. Thank you for all the kind reviews and follows once again. Its spurring me on to complete this one!

Scott was on the edge of base in the pre-dawn light, in a small outbuilding that he had found was rarely disturbed. He had yet to be found here when he needed a moments peace but he knew that wouldn't last forever. He perched on the old crate he'd been using to sit on and leaned against the wall pulling his dress uniform closer around him to shield himself from the early morning chill, cigarette in hand. It was just starting to get light. He bowed his head; it was a whole year today since the attack on the base in Kuwait. A whole year since five of the squad had died. How could Mavi have been gone a whole year already? It was scary how quickly it came round. He leaned against the wall - god he missed her! He missed her laugh, her smile and how she could light up a room. He missed her ballsy attitude with the guys in the squad and knowing she was never that far off his six in the air. She always had his back and he hers until that fateful night. Any down time he had around base he'd spent it with her, they had been so similar in personalities all the guys said they could have been twins separated at birth. It still hurt, losing her. He sighed. No matter how many people told him it wasn't his fault it was hard for him to forgive himself. He pulled out his phone and scrolled through his messages expanding a picture of a white grave stone with a bloom of bright white and purple carnations with alstroemerias. He thumbed the picture softly as he read the message below. Thank you for the flowers, purple carnations were always her favourite. They look beautiful in the spring sunlight. I hope you are keeping well, don't feel afraid to pop in the next time your home. Your always welcome here.

Mavi's mother was so lovely, she had always welcomed Scott into her home with arms wide open, even though he couldn't bring her daughter home safe. He remembered the day of the funeral. He had saluted and handed her the flag before marching back to his place and trying to hold himself together mostly concealing his grief under the peak of his cap. He found he hadn't been able to bring himself to leave until it was just him and her, looking down at the coffin still exposed to the elements. He still couldn't believe that was her in there. He didn't want to leave her, not yet. He jumped at the hand that graced his shoulder. "I'm sorry ma'am." He was startled momentarily but continued to look downcast at the mahogany casket.

"It's Mary, you don't need to address me as one of your superiors and don't apologise. I've been watching you all day." She sighed and tried to get Scott to look at her, deep brown eyes searching his. "Scott, I don't blame you for what happened, none of us do and Mavi wouldn't either. I've heard the report, there was nothing you could do. You did your absolute best for her. I'm glad you got her out and she didn't go up in flames in that cockpit." Scott bowed his head, he couldn't respond, he was watching Mavi screaming that she couldn't get out before telling him to leave her. Then she was fitting in cardiac arrest on the table whilst he watched on helpless. He stood unyielding not trusting himself to say a word. He just nodded mutely. They stood shoulder to shoulder, Mary was petite like Mavi, Scott towered over her small stature. Tears started to fall silently, Mary noticed and pulled him around gently, tilting up his chin. "Oh Scott, you probably haven't even had a chance to try and process this have you?" He shook his head before he suddenly found himself pulled into a tight embrace. At first, he was as ridged as a board but she soon felt him relax into her shoulder. She held him close, she knew he had lost his mother late last summer and knew the Tracy's were a very male dominated family. Without his mother she knew he'd probably kept his grief hidden from them as well as his squadron. She couldn't do anything more for her daughter but she could try to help her friend who she knew her daughter had always held in such high regard. They'd stayed there for a long time, just talking about Mavi and their memories of her. Scott had found he missed his own mother keenly in that moment but he was thankful for Mary's comforting presence. It had helped to talk to someone else who was as close to Mavi as he was. He learned a lot about her younger years that day, the memories coaxed a sad smile from him.

Life would go on today and he would have to move along with it as dragged his mind back to present, putting his phone away before pulling out a slightly dog-eared letter. His conversation with Gordon the other night had spurred him on. He had written it back at Christmas but every time he went to hand the damn thing in, he just couldn't bring himself to do it. He had decided that the deadline was today. He was ready to walk into that office and hand it over, it seemed fitting on the anniversary of those terrible events that finally pushed him into a decision. It was time to start over. Experience something new and challenging again.

He pushed himself off the crate and headed out into the early morning sunlight. He had thirty minutes before he was due for active duty. He headed over to the barracks and straight for his superior's office, feeling like the letter was burning a hole in his front pocket. He was nervous, once he did this there would be no going back, he'd been in the air force since his late teens. His first and only career, it was a lot to give up, all the comfort and security of a stable job would be gone. He hated this! One minute he couldn't wait to leave and move on to greater things then the next a small seed of doubt in the back of his mind would creep up. The rational side of him throwing up valid what ifs that he found hard to dismiss. He hadn't realised he had arrived at his destination, he quickly cleared his mind and knocked on the door before he had a chance to talk himself out of it again.

"Come in." Major Newton was sat at his desk several papers stacked up to his left. He barely even glanced at who came through his door.

"Major Newton, Captain Tracy reporting. If I may request a moment of your time Sir?" He saluted and stood to attention.

"You May."

"Sir, I wish to submit my formal resignation. My commission comes to an end in June and I believe the time has come for me to leave my military career and to utilise those skills towards a civilian career." Scott stepped forward to place the letter on the Major's desk before formally standing. It was surreal, he never thought this move would come this early. He had always imagined retiring in his late forties, maybe once he had a family of his own that needed him.

The Major gave him a critical eye as he stopped typing and picked up the letter. He opened it and quickly surmised the contents. He was not expecting this from Tracy. He was his best damned Captain in the wing, he was loathe to lose him. He dropped the letter on his desk. "Captain; what is this?"

Fearing the trick question, he replied "My written resignation from the Air Force sir, I have relished having the opportunity to serve my county - hopefully with honour but I am now at the point where I wish to move on."

"Captain you were bred for this life, why the sudden change?" The Major looked at him intently.

Well this was an interesting line of questioning and not one he had expected, his face remained neutral while his mind tried to back pedal to some stable ground, he couldn't really say his dad was forming a secret global rescue organisation. The Major was right in that he had been bred for this life he'd wanted to follow in his father's footsteps since a young boy. Now he was just following his father once again, down a different path. He tried to stick close to the truth.

"To be honest Sir, in the past eighteen months I've lost my Mother and Grandfather, my best friend and nearly my brother who is still in recovery and now medically discharged from W.A.S.P, having been paralyzed and my Father went missing for over a month before thankfully being found. Naturally it led me to re-evaluate my life to the point where I have decided I need to be in a role where I can be there to support my family and commit fully to my job. My father has offered me a position within the company that was too hard to refuse. I will always value the time I have served and look back on it with fond memories but I believe my time has come to step down."

The Major leaned back in his chair silently chewing Tracy out a bit more. He always had such an effectual way of compartmentalising key events and information. When Scott summarised it like that he figured he should have seen this coming. A lot had happened to this young man in a short time it was no wonder he was burnt out. It was a shame; he was an exemplary pilot, strategist and leader. He would have made an excellent Major maybe even a Colonel like his father in time.

"And I can't change your mind? Your too good for me to let you go without a challenge Tracy. You more than have the potential to advance beyond Captain in the next few years. I had high hopes for you."

Scott smiled faintly. "Thank you, sir, but no my mind can't be changed."

"You realise there will be no going back once your out that's it." The Major fiddled with his pen.

"Yes Sir, terminal leave back to civilian life."

The Major sighed. "Very well, thank you for giving me advanced notice, I'll file the necessary paperwork. You still have leave to take... looking at your record here." The Major had pulled his record up.

"Yes sir, if I may I'd like to take it in the last month of my term so I may be discharged early, my brother is looking to compete in the Olympics and I'd like to be there."

Now the Major looked even more affronted with the knowledge that was going to lose him a whole month early. "Very well if that's what you want, seeing as I couldn't let you go when he was injured, I will put this request in with a strong recommendation that it be approved. Anything else?"

"No sir, I'm just about to head out to lead proceedings on the memorial service this morning."

"Well don't let me keep you. Dismissed."

Scott turned on his heel and smartly marched out.

He took in a lungful of fresh morning air. It was done. As of May, he would be a civilian. He hoped his Father's venture would be a success, his life now depended on it. He couldn't lead a normal civilian life; that terrified him, he resolved to make International Rescue a success. He straightened his uniform and replaced his cap back on his head before marching off in the direction of the memorial garden.

Major Newton threw his pen down, running a hand across his mouth. Just where was he going to find another Captain with Tracy's credentials?