Chapter 15:
Saturday March 3rd 2012
80 Wakefield Road, Annadale
Staten Island, New York
1300 Hours
Jameson was coming home via a car ride with Giuseppe Capelli, like his fellow war veterans who had travelled by car to get home as well.
He was wearing his Marine Greens; he carried his carry-on and surprisingly his Marine Greens were found in there. Thinking about it now, he really wished he didn't head back to the reserves, but he couldn't hurt Spencer's promise that he wouldn't go back to active duty.
He had told her about Bobby Thompson's death, but it weighed upon him that he wouldn't see his brother anymore, nor would he see Bradley Sokolov again.
He liked the young Marine that had meant a good deal to him, he was strong, tough and fearless, just as Dimitri, Bear and Junior were.
Flashing back, he could only think about the debriefing session that took place at Fort Bragg. Standing in front of General Brighton and other higher-ups hadn't made him sweat, but thinking about the questions that had been asked of him, he couldn't really think of the right answers.
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Flashback Scene
8 Hours Earlier
Fort Bragg North Carolina
At the home of US Army Special Operations Command, Jameson Bacciarelli stood to attention, speaking clearly, "Master Gunnery Sergeant Bacciarelli reporting, sir."
"At ease, Master Gunnery Sergeant." Seeing that Jameson was still standing up, one of the officers said, "You can sit, Master Guns." One of the Generals had said.
Jameson remained standing, even in his tired state, he was still functioning, standing ramrod straight to attention.
The Generals noticed Jameson not wanting to sit down, the veteran Marine who had changed out his fatigues and was in Marine dress greens, his ribbons were spotless and his cap was in his hand.
General Brighton then began, "Sergeant Bacciarelli, this hearing is a private one, one that will not be released to the public, nor will it ever reach the eyes and ears of the public, you aren't to share any info on the subject, not with your family, not even your comrades or even your priest."
"Yes sir, General." Jameson said.
Jameson then began, "The mission to take out the Altay Mountain base located in Russia was that Lieutenants Donarelli, Zelinski, Capelli and Lafayette along with former Captain Jose Salazar would lead the ground assault on the base, leading teams of their own landing in separate positions and to secure the perimeter."
"Navy SEALs and Marines would consolidate and provide entrance points into the base, this meant that assault teams would attack and secure the base before uploading abort codes." Jameson said.
The General nodded as one Marine official then spoke, "What about Corporal Bradley Sokolov? He was captured during the Azerbaijan mission. What was his role during this operation?"
"He saved Lieutenant Giuseppe Capelli's men from being overrun, had it not been for him, we wouldn't have gotten the abort codes, nor would we have found the location of the missile base." Jameson answered.
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Throughout the briefing, Jameson answered the questions to the best of his ability, outside the door were his friends. But they were more than that, they were people he'd come to love as family.
He remembered something that his father had told him when he was a kid, "Every Marine has two families, the people that you raise and there's those who you'll raise hell with."
Those men that stood side-by-side with him during the last 11 days, training together, fighting together and depending on each other in those days that defined who they were as warriors.
General Brighton then spoke once more, "Thank you, for your own accounting of the operation, Master Gunnery Sergeant. Once more, the loss of both Master Gunnery Sergeant Robert Thompson and Corporal Bradley Sokolov is a tragedy, one that all of us in the Special Forces all share with you and your comrades."
Jameson nodded, "Thank you all, sirs. General, if you wish to know how we live with the loss of our family, we remember their deeds, we honor them even as their faces fade from memory. Those are all we have left when someone takes it from us."
"We'll make sure that the families are compensated for the loss of their loved ones. It's been the duty of those who do it out of respect for our forefathers that fought side by side in the past." Jameson continued but he said this with a darkly tone.
Several officials on the panel looked at each other with murmurs as Brighton soon said, "Master Gunnery Sergeant, that is not on you, none of what you do to provide for the families of the dead is on you."
"That's where you're wrong, General. It is on us, what we do for their loved ones, comes from the experiences we shared, we saw death, day after day, battle after battle, loyalty means everything to us, because of how far we'd go to bring everyone home. We're a company of heroes, siblings in arms." Jameson said determinedly.
From where the chain of command sat, everyone was shocked by Jameson's tone, they all knew that it weighed heavily on him, they knew it weighed deeply on all the brave men and women that took part in the fighting, that risked everything to save their loved ones.
It worried them that the men and women of this elite squad would form a considerate front based upon their values and ideals they've held for many years. None of the brass understood how men and women like these depended on each other and fought under conditions that were different to them.
The panel dismissed Jameson as he executed a salute and an about face, walking out of the room, he spotted Lieutenant Thomas Donarelli and Lieutenant Commander Steve Lafayette standing in the hallway, they were the final 2 to be interviewed, Steve would be on his way back to New York and would hitch a ride with Giuseppe and Jameson.
Jameson stood to attention and saluted both commanding officers as he said, "Sirs."
"As you were, Master Gunnery Sergeant." Steve had said returning the salute with one of his own.
Exiting the base, Jameson stood by Lieutenant Capelli and they both nodded solemnly standing in the silence.
End Flashback
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80 Wakefield Road, Annadale
Staten Island, New York
1300 Hours
Jameson stood outside Antonio's house in tow with Giuseppe Capelli. They pushed the gate open; they saw the door open and Spencer stood there, she wore her hair down, a white blouse with a pencil skirt
Seeing her Jameson in his Marine Greens stirred feelings within her, feelings of an undeniable love for him, she walked down the steps towards him and jogged into his arms, tears streamed down her eyes as she buried her face into the crook of his neck, he kissed her passionately.
For what seemed like a lifetime, Spencer cupped Jameson's face in her hands as she whispered to him, "I'm glad you are home."
"I love you, Spencer Hastings." Jameson whispered. Spencer nodded and whispered, "I love you too, Jameson Bacciarelli."
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They walked into the household where the Bacciarelli sisters where, there was also Aria, Emily and Alison with Hanna who saw Jameson and Giuseppe walk in.
Giuseppe saw Aria and smiled as she raced into his arms, Giuseppe twirled her round and ran his fingers through her brunette hair, Giuseppe's blue eyes and Aria's hazel eyes looked at each other as Giuseppe kissed her proudly, everyone watched in happiness seeing Jameson and Giuseppe walk in the door.
Emily hugged her fellow veterans and Alison hugged both her adoptive uncle and her friend.
The Sarge bounded into the room as he saw both Giuseppe and Jameson standing in front of him.
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Sergeant Giuseppe Joseph's POV
Lieutenant Giuseppe Capelli's back! So's Master Gunnery Bacciarelli!
Having my brothers back again is the happiest feeling in the world, 'Tonio and 'Lexis have been keeping me occupied waiting for those two guys to return home. So have Aria, Spencer and Emily even Ali too.
Having all my family back home in this city would be the greatest dream come true. Guys like the Lafayette's, Sokolov's even the Lynn's welcomed me with open arms. They were a part of my pack.
Brothers from different mothers we were but that didn't matter, that treated me as I was a human being, someone that mattered to them.
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I walked over to the pair of them and licked their faces happily. Hearing the laughter from both of them was welcome feeling. Jameson laughing was the best thing to hear.
Those Bacciarelli's sure are the best, they give me any treat I like, they always award me with kisses, Natalia awards me with her some of her chicken whenever she cooks chicken chasseur.
I act all tough when I'm around the girls, but they break my defences down so easily with food. Same with Antonio and Alexis
Feeling their touch around my ears, it feels so loving, they all had the same scratch it made me feel like I belonged with them, we were all one big happy pack.
Throughout the afternoon, we all played catch by the beach, I kept diving into the water all the time, Jameson and Spencer were laughing and crying with what sounded like joy.
"Sounds like you guys are havin' a lotta fun!"
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Antonio's POV
I looked at seeing my friends relaxing by the beach, Jameson and Giuseppe were back home, I felt happy about it, beside me was John who picked me up from the Academy, same with Joe.
The Sarge bounded over to us and licked our faces as we laughed and stroked him, I walked to the beach and saw Giuseppe and saluted him with pride before saying, "Lieutenant."
"Good to see you, buddy." Giuseppe said to me. I nodded and bro-hugged him before saying, "Tell me, your home. Tell me, your home again."
"Always, buddy, I wouldn't leave again unless I wanted too." Giuseppe said.
Jameson walked over as I shook his hand before saying, "Everyone made it back?"
Jameson and Giuseppe shared a look with John as the three didn't know what to say, I took their silence as answer that not all of them made it back home.
I asked quietly, "Who didn't make it home?" "Bradley. Bradley didn't make it back." John said.
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Main POV
Joe had known Bradley since Fallujah in '04, Antonio had known him since '07 in Afghanistan.
The poor devil dog known as Bradley had it rough after he lost his mother in '09, then he got reassigned elsewhere.
To hear that another Marine Brother didn't make it home from combat. It hit them hard again, same as Bobby's death had hit us, those guys were each other's brothers in arms.
Joe and Antonio didn't need to know the details but they didn't matter, they would grieve their loss together, the entire family would grieve their loss together as they always done so.
Jameson signalled for everyone to huddle together, Joe held onto Natalia, Jameson stuck to Spencer like glue and Giuseppe stuck to Aria with the same closeness as well.
Everyone stood with tears in their eyes, Antonio then said, "We're not losing any more of our brothers, our sisters, mothers, fathers, grandparents. We stand together each other's saviours."
"Each one's saving grace. When we stand together for those boys… we stand as one, for those that gave everything for us." Jameson had said.
John nodded, "From Hell to Heaven. All that is left to do for we, the living, is to honour them, take care of them, and rededicate ourselves to the cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion."
Antonio then spoke, "Bradley and Robert…"
"May the road rise up to meet you. May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face; the rains fall soft upon your fields and until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hand." Everyone else said simultaneously.
Tears were shed for the fallen Marines that died in last 4 days. Cries were heard, Marines and Army veterans held onto their loved ones for comfort.
Jameson held onto Spencer for comfort for he didn't want to let go of her, he just wanted to feel her touch.
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By the nightfall, Jameson and Spencer were in the temporary room that Antonio had set them up with. Jameson slept on the bed despite his reservations about being in the same bed as Spencer.
Jameson was moving around in the bed, he was murmuring to himself, Spencer opened her eyes as she saw Jameson was having what looked like a nightmare, she could hear him say, "Target on the left, RPG!"
"We've gotta get outta here!" Jameson continued to murmur.
Spencer turned over and put her hand on Jameson's chest as she said, "Jameson, Jameson, wake up!"
"Wake up Jameson, it's okay!" Spencer said trying to snap Jameson out of it.
But suddenly, Jameson opened his eyes and got on top of her, starting to strangle her, muscle memory was guiding him, he was imagining being back in the war.
Wherever he was, he was going through something that ate at him.
Putting his hand behind his back, he pulled out what he thought was a bayonet and imagined thrusting it into a combatant's chest, Spencer tried to make sound to alert someone to her rescue.
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Jameson's hand covered her mouth as the door burst down, Antonio and Joe were on the scene as they saw what was happening.
Antonio raced to the bed and said, "Jameson, Jameson snap out of it, you're hurtin' her."
Joe grabbed hold of Jameson and tried to pull him off Spencer as he said, "Master Guns, snap out of it, you're gonna kill her!"
"Antonio, do somethin'!" Joe also said.
Antonio grabbed hold of Jameson's face and said, "Jameson, listen to me, you need to stop, you're hurtin' Spencer!"
Antonio got through to Jameson and he stared at Antonio in confusion and shock, Antonio then said, "You are home, Jameson, you're in New York, not in the Middle East."
Jameson slipped his hands from Spencer's throat as he looked down in horrified shock and dismay, he murmured to himself, "Oh my God, oh God what have I done?!"
"Come on, it's okay, buddy, you're okay!" Joe kindly said to his friend.
Jameson just looked on in horror of what he had done to the girl he loved. Feeling tears in his brown eyes he whispered, "I'm so sorry, Spence. I'm so sorry."
"Don't blame yourself, Jameson it's not your fault." Spencer felt sorry for her boyfriend who just felt horrified for his actions.
Helping Jameson down the stairs, Joe and Antonio got him situated as Natalia looked and asked, "What happened?"
"I think Jameson had nightmares and hurt Spencer pretty badly." Joe said. Natalia's eyes widened as she asked, "Oh my God, is she okay?"
"She's gonna have a sore throat, but I don't wanna risk leavin' anythin' to chance, I'll stay with Jameson for the rest of the night. I want you to stay with Spencer, get Aria or Emily to help, if things go bad, I don't want things to get worse such as Jameson hurting her worse." Joe said.
Natalia nodded as she left the 3 Marines to go upstairs. For the rest of the night and the early morning, Joe and Antonio stayed by Jameson's side, making sure that he slept.
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No, your eyes aren't deceiving you, I'm adding a new chapter and finally as well. Sorry for how long it had taken as well.
I thought I'd try to explore what Jameson would actually experience in his nightmares. Let me know what you thought of this.
Please like and review the chapter.