Love Struck Delusion
Chapter 118 – Can we trust?
Raptor's POV.
Mason sat there with a look that said it all. I couldn't tell however how he felt about all this. I had to ask.
"So?"
Sat back in seat he replied.
"I don't really know what to say. If what you're saying is true Raptor then why are we fighting?"
"You heard what I said Mason. We need to end Linnen. It's for the betterment of both sides. Hecan changed my outlook on this whole mess. I don't want to fight G.U.N anymore. I want to work with them. Together we can change this world. I just need the trust of my men. Mostly the commanders like you."
"What about Archer?" He then asked as I slowly replied.
"Archer isn't a commander. When I get back to Iraq I'll make sure he knows that."
"Archer won't go quietly along with this Raptor. We both know that."
"I'll handle it when we get to that road Mason. Right now I need to know your okay with this."
"You already signed the contract Raptor. It's too late for any protesting. But regardless I'm with you. If you feel this is the right move."
Smiling I replied.
"Thank you Mason."
Mason smiled when all the sudden we both heard from my hood.
"Braf!"
In confusion Mason asked.
"What was that?"
Chuckling I reached back with my hand to ask.
"You okay?
In a second, Molly emerged from my hood to start licking my hand. Mason widened his eyes as I said.
"I found her in Pakistan trapped under some rubble. She's been with me ever since. Her name is Molly."
"Well god damn. She can't be anymore then a few weeks old Raptor." Stated Mason as he stood up to reach for her. Molly immediately started to sniff his hand as I said.
"It's okay baby. He's a friend."
Starting to lick him he said.
"She's in need of a good bath. Maybe some food too."
Smiling Mason replied.
"Lucky for you she's a carnivore. I'll have some of the chefs make something for her and bring it up to your room. For now go get that bath running. You can take Shadow's old room. It's empty and from my knowledge clean."
"What about the others?" I asked as he soon replied.
"Pierce and his men can take one of the empty barracks I have here in the building. Raze can stay with Doctor Gord and the medical staff and Zeta can take the room next to yours."
"Sounds good. I'll go tell them. Thank you Mason."
Smiling Mason replied.
"Don't worry about it. But Raptor?"
Looking at him directly he said.
"We still are at high alert here. Don't get too comfy just in case an attack comes."
"I understand." I replied as I got up with Molly leaning over my shoulder now panting. Petting her head I said.
"Let's go babe. Get you cleaned up."
Molly just continued to pant as we left the office. The men around the capital still all stared at me. This time in awe as they saw this dog on my shoulder. To be honest I was wondering if they even knew who I was. Mason might not have said anything. Heading for the medical labs, I soon was greeted by Zeta. She stood outside one of the rooms. With a smile she asked.
"How did it go?"
Smiling back I said.
"Well. Very well. Mason is on board with the idea. Can't say anything for Iraq yet though. Time will tell."
"Okay. Well what's the plan now?" She then wondered as she reached over to pet Molly.
"For now we hunker down here. I need to deal with Gorgon and Tusk needs to be saved. Blitz I don't know what to do with yet. We'll see. But for now you and me are in the officer's quarters. Mason has you a room to yourself. Raze will be staying here with Gord and the medical staff as they treat Tusk. Pierce and the others will take a barracks. I'll let him now after I'm done with her." I stated as I pointed to Molly.
"What you doing with her?"
"Got to get her a bath. Right girl?" I asked as she barked.
"Braf!"
Zeta smiled as I urged her.
"Follow me to your room."
Nodding, the wolf began to pace herself alongside me. Heading back upstairs she even noticed the looks we were getting. Not to my surprised she asked.
"What's going on?"
"Mason hasn't said anything about me being here. Rumors are probably going to move around as to who I am. No one knows what I look like. They just heard the name. I'm sure Mason will announce it soon. Till then I'm going to just ignore it."
Zeta nodded as we soon reached her room.
"Here it is. All yours."
Opening the door, Zeta widened her eyes as she saw the room was in perfect order.
"I haven't had a bed like this since I lived back home."
"Well enjoy it. I got to go now Zeta."
Turning to leave her, I heard.
"I never said I was staying. Hold up."
Letting her catch up, I questioned.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing. I'm just not letting you get all the time alone with this sweet thing."
Reaching for Molly, I was surprised when she actually let her grab her. Taking her into her arms I replied.
"Sounds like someone is jealous there wolfy."
Immediately Zeta looked right at me to reply.
"Call me that again and I'll kill you."
"Okay okay. We'll just see about that."
"Test me." She urged as I got to my room to open the door. Looking around as we entered it, I grew found of the memories that had to be here.
"This was Shadow's room." I stated as Zeta walked towards the bathroom with Molly.
"You want to partake in this?" She asked as I refocused.
"Yeah just give me a second. Get the water running for her."
"Don't have to tell me twice." She replied as she put Molly down in the tub.
Staying by the bed, I gently got off my duster and placed it on the pillow. Letting out a deep breath, I reached behind my back to pull out my glock. The gun was still dirty, but I'd clean it in due time. At least I know it shoots.
With my armor all on under the duster, I started to get undressed. Each piece came off in time and I felt more free as it did. As I got everything off, I soon realized Zeta was watching me from the tub. I could hear Molly barking as she was probably having her first ever bath. Shirtless and honestly tired, I made my way to them. Zeta was smiling as I knelt down to ask Molly.
"How is it?"
"Braf! Braf!" She replied as the water was starting to cover her little legs. She was happy. Jumping all over and splashing both me and Zeta in the process. As the water kept filling up, I soon heard from the wolf next to me.
"You tired?"
Nodding I replied.
"Yeah. I might need a good few hours to rest up. It's been quite a busy day. Plus being worried all the time doesn't help my stress levels."
Zeta chuckled as I leaned into the tub slightly. Molly jumped up for my arm as I reached in to start petting her head.
"Well listen I know a lot has happened today, but I need to ask. What happens after Gorgon?"
Keeping my eyes on Molly I replied.
"I'll need to help Mason deal with the G.U.N forces here. If we can take Afghanistan back it'll be a lot easier to handle things in Iraq. His support is strong here. And we'll need all the help we can get."
"Did you tell him about Pakistan? The bombs we made?"
Shaking my head I replied.
"There wasn't a point in telling him about it. And to be honest I don't want anyone knowing but us. It should stay that way."
Zeta looked back to Molly as I went on to say.
"I also didn't tell him about you. All he knows is that your a bomb expert, and that we met through Hecan."
"So he knows about the deal then." She replied as I nodded.
"He has to know. He's on board with it too. He understands why we still need to fight this war. But just like me he's concerned with Archer. He won't play nice. At least I don't expect him too."
With the water now making Molly float, I shut it off and began to cover her head with some small handfuls. Zeta even began to help as I said.
"We don't need to worry about all this yet. I just want you guys to be safe. You and Raze. Let me worry about the war. You yourself need to keep a low profile. I know I can trust Mason. But everyone else I can't speak for. You understand me Zeta?"
"Yeah I understand. Just do me a favor and don't go getting killed."
Chuckling I replied.
"Can't promise anything. Just that I'll do my best."
With smiles among us both we began to focus on Molly. You could clearly see she was having fun. Thankfully she picked up how to swim pretty fast. Plus you could see the dirt leaving her fur. Zeta soon got some soap on her coat as I continued to pour water on her. With things getting pretty calm Zeta soon asked.
"So Raptor? About the other night when you came back from your little time away. I know I asked you about my vest. Which you still owe me for by the way." She said as I looked over to her.
"I'm not dumb. Please don't lie to me when I ask again. What happened to your wound? The bullet went through. I know it didn't deflect. Why are you hiding this from me?"
Our eyes were locked as I was finally approached with this situation. I didn't know what to say. All I could do was look back at Molly. Zeta clearly was still staring at me as I didn't reply.
"Raptor?" She said as I shut my eyes.
"What's going on?" She asked as I reopened my eyes.
"Zeta I don't know how to answer that."
"You got shot? Right?"
I let out a sigh and replied.
"Yeah. I did."
"So what happened to the wound?" She asked again as I took my hand off Molly. She began to swim on her own as I leaned out of the tub to reply.
"I need you to not say a word about this if I tell you. Even to Raze. Do you understand me Zeta?"
Zeta's eyes went wide but she replied.
"I won't say anything. Promise."
I nodded my head once and focused on her. Quietly I replied.
"I tended to it myself."
In utter confusion she asked.
"What does that mean? You tended to it?"
Nodding I replied.
"Yeah."
"Raptor I'm lost." She then said as I knew this wasn't going to make any sense with just words.
"Just take my word for it."
"I'm still not understanding Raptor." She replied as I nodded and looked back to Molly.
"Just please trust me Zeta. Please." I begged as she went silent.
"It's better for both of us if we just drop this."
Now it felt awkward. But Zeta was clearly trusting me. I could tell when she just switched subjects by asking.
"You going to get washed after her? I didn't want to say anything in front of your friends. But you smell."
I let out a small laugh as she smiled to my reaction.
"Yeah I'm going to get a shower. Thanks for asking."
"Hey?" She whispered as I felt her hand reach for my arm. Looking back to the wolf, I shut my eyes as she leaned in to kiss me. Just touching lips for a second she pulled back to say.
"Thank you. For just helping me."
"How many times are you going to say that?" I asked her as she chuckled and came in for a deeper kiss.
Molly just kept doing circles in the water as I soon pulled off the wolf to ask.
"You going to get some sleep?"
Nodding she replied.
"I might. I want to be sure Raze gets some too. I know the fox. She won't sleep unless I tell her."
I kept my smile on as it was clear we both had plans. Looking to Molly I asked.
"You almost done?"
"Braf!" She replied as both me and Zeta laughed.
Grabbing a nearby towel, I reached in to grab onto the small girl. She came out so easily. She was better then my kids when I first had to clean them. Looking over to Zeta who just watched now with a smile, I urged.
"You should get going. Can you do me a favor and tell Pierce him and his men can take the barracks? I'm going be here for a while." I stated as Molly stood up straight for me to dry her.
Zeta nodded and slowly got up to reply.
"Yeah I'll go find them. Shouldn't be too hard. Make sure you get her something to eat before you bunk in."
"Mason has someone dropping something off for her. Should be here in a minute or two."
Zeta smiled and got up to head for the door. Just as she reached it she widened her eyes as someone knocked. I looked back as well as she opened the door to be greeted by one of the workers.
"Oh I'm sorry miss. Is this the commander's room? I was told to deliver this to him." She stated as it was clear she was the one responsible for Molly's food.
Taking the plate from her hands she replied.
"You got the right room. We were just talking about you to be honest. Thank you for this. She needs it." "Hey Molly!" She said in a louder tone as I looked down to see she was already gone from the towel.
Both Zeta and the worker smiled as she marched right for the plate.
"Oh my god she's adorable! Is she yours commander?!"
I nodded and stood up as Molly was clearly happy with the meal.
"Yeah she is. Thank you by the way."
The young girl smiled as I then said.
"If you guys don't mind I'm going to get heading to bed."
Zeta already made her way out and with wide eyes the girl replied.
"Of course commander. If you need anything while your here I'll be more then glad to make something up for you."
"What's your name?" I asked as she quickly replied.
"Jaime sir. I'm one of the head cooks."
"Well Jaime I'll keep that in mind. I'm sure I'll be hungry soon. Thank you again."
"No problem sir." She replied as she backed out of the room. Shutting the door, I looked down to Molly to see she wasn't more then a quarter of the way through. Jaime made her a plate twice her own size. Guess Mason did say she was starving.
Making my way over to the bathroom, I readied the shower and got off my pants. As I stepped in I felt the warm water hit my face and I instantly let out a deep exhale. After everything that has happened this is the first time I had a chance to rest with a calm mind. Gorgon was in my possession and I was safe with Mason and the others. Still as I stood here I had an issue with this time and place. What was Hannon thinking? I know the man. He knows Afghanistan. He wouldn't stop attacking even if he lost the first fight. He's up to something. I just don't know what.
mT Shadow.