The Return home: Tale of Survival

A/N: I'm back people, sorry about the super long hiatus. I am sad to report that some stories like, "our brother, our friend" from my digimon creations would not continue, and would probably be torn down, due to lack of ideas and inspiration. While I was gone, I became a US Marine. Upon hearing the accounts of the marines in my unit who've been to Iraq, it has given me some idea to what it was like. Obviously it wasn't pleasant and shouldn't be taken lightly. Disclaimer, I do not own digimon.

Summary: This Fanfic is set in an alternate universe, where the digidestineds (Post Season 2) have moved to the United States during the last few years of high school. The majority of the older boys are in the Marine Corps and were involved in Iraq. Upon returning home, they suffer through flashbacks of the war as their friends and loved ones back home help them through their troubles.

Chapter 3: Transitional Hardships

Sora was really relieved that Tai had returned home safely. Despite the fact that he is hurt, she doesn't care, him being alive and home is all that mattered to her. The two of them still remained in that embrace at the airport, completely oblivious of their other companions around them, as they shared their moment together. Sora continued to lay her head against his chest, eyes still closed and listening to his steady heartbeat, as she heard him say words of comfort to her as he's running his hand through her hair. He gently touched each silky strand of hair, as she breathed peacefully. She loved the feeling that she felt when being in an embrace with him. A moment later, she opened her eyes as she moved up from his chest to his face, locking lips with him and expressed how she missed him. She stopped the kiss a moment later, looking at his hardened and weary face and into the chocolate colored eyes of his. "Tai…" She tried to speak as she looked at him lovingly and worriedly at the same time. She briefly looked around at him, seeing his bandaged thigh and looking back into his eyes. She felt a tear welling up again as she started to ponder. How much pain was he in? What did he endure? What could she do to help? These thoughts started racing through her mind.

Tai kept trying to comfort her, seeing her eyes tear up again. "Sora, I'm okay. Really. Stop worrying so much." He said gently as he kissed her on the forehead again. He watched Sora stood up and whispered to him. "Tai, it hurts me so to see you like this…" Tai smiled. "I know baby. But cheer up, hmm? Seeing your smile simply makes my pain melt away." He said with a chuckle as he reached out to her hand with his. Sora felt herself smile again as she heard it. Taking his hand, she held it and then leaned in for a kiss on his cheek. She got behind his wheelchair and leaned in, wrapping her arms around him to hug him briefly from behind. "You just know how to make me feel better." She whispered into his ears as she stood up again. She took hold of the grips on the wheelchair, "Let's take you home."

The companions walked out of the airport, Matt and Takeru carrying the luggage they brought with them, while Mimi and Sora pushed their boyfriends' to the parking garage. Kari walked beside her brother, helping Takeru with some of the lighter bags. While waiting at a crosswalk, Tai looked over to see Izzy next to him. Tai playfully pokes Izzy's wounded leg. The red haired boy winced as he glared at his comrade. Tai slapped Izzy's hand away when he tried to poke him back. The girls couldn't help but laugh at the mischief their men were having. The light turned green and the digidestineds continued across the crosswalk and into the parking garage. They stopped shortly at the van, and helped the wounded ones aboard. Sora and Tai sat in the way back of the van, while Mimi and Izzy sat in the middle row. Matt took a seat next to Izzy and shut the sliding door. Takeru pulled out of the spot and drove the van to the exit. In the back, Sora leaned her head against Tai's shoulder, holding his hand in hers. Tai smiled, kissed her on the forehead and put his free arm around Sora's shoulders, pulling her closer. He was getting pretty tired, so he closed his eyes. Before he drifted off to sleep, he heard Takeru saying that they are going to be driving to Izzy's place first. He heard Mimi saying that she'll get off with Izzy to stay with him for the night. Sora listened to his soft breathing as she realized that Tai is asleep. She smiled as she shifted her head a little bit on his shoulder, careful not to wake him. She suddenly felt tired herself and slowly drifted off to sleep, holding one of his hands while leaning against his shoulder.

The van moved through traffic, stopping over at Izzy's house about 20 minutes later. Matt got off to help Izzy off the van. Matt watched Izzy and Mimi quietly got out, careful not to wake the sleeping pair behind them. Matt gently patted Izzy on the shoulder, said good night to his comrade and told him to get some rest. The two say goodbye to Matt and the others, as Matt got back onboard and shut the van doors quietly. Takeru then pulled out from the driveway as Mimi waved goodbye. She pushed Izzy onto his apartment driveway and helped him inside. While on the way inside, she giggled a little when he whispered something into her ears and kissed her on the cheek. The door closed a moment later as they prepared for Izzy to rest.

Tai awoke suddenly as he was afflicted by yet another vivid nightmare. Sweating and breathing heavily, he reassessed his surroundings. His sudden movement had woken Sora up and caught the attention of those around him. Sora asked him what was wrong, as she lifted her head from his shoulders. His hand in her grip felt cold, sweaty and a little clammy. Matt had turned around to face them and knew a little bit what was wrong. He looked and listened as Tai took a deep breath, as he tried to compose himself as he looked outside the window. "N...nothing, Sora." He said a moment later, smiling to mask the state of mind he was in. Sora looked at him worriedly as she then leaned her head back onto his shoulders and closed her eyes again. Tai just looked at Matt as the two of them just looked at each other with understanding. They both knew the cause of the problem. Matt just sighed and mouthed the words, "take care of yourself, bro." Tai nodded, as he then looked at Sora's sleeping face. He's got to be careful, he doesn't want her to worry herself to death.

Some time later, the van had stopped outside of the Kamiya's. Matt once again got out, while Sora helped Tai got out of the van. He winced a little as he felt some pain shoot through his injured thigh. Sora just looked at him with worrisome eyes. Tai sat down on the wheelchair and smiled at Matt. The young blonde smiled and spoke to him. "Get some rest, Tai. See you at the hospital tomorrow." With that, Matt gave Kari and Sora a hug saying good bye as he closed the sliding door and got into the passenger seat. He and Takeru waved goodbye as they drove off. Some minutes later, the girls had helped Tai inside. Tai was seated on his bed while Sora was in his closet, trying to find his sleepwear. Kari walked in with a glass of water and a bottle of aspirin. "To help you sleep, brother." She said with a smile. Tai smiled and popped two tablets into his mouth, and washing it down with the glass of water. He muttered thanks to his sister, and then tried to stand up. The pain shot through his leg, but he gritted his teeth and limped over to Sora. "Tai!" Both girls muttered when they saw him stand up. Sora instinctively ran over to support him. He smiled, and said he's going to be fine. He helped Sora look through his closet till they found something that was comfortable. Kari smiled and walked out. Sora helped him back onto the bed again and kissed him on the forehead. "Don't make it hard on yourself, okay?" She said to him as she looked into his eyes.

Tai smiled and kissed her back. He took off his shirt and took the sleep shirt and stuffed his arms through it, getting ready to pull it on. Sora blushed a little as she saw how much muscular he had became. She blushed even redder as her mind thought of even more things. Tai noticed her and said sheepishly, "I gonna need some help putting these pants on, wanna help me?" She laughed at that, while turning her face so he wouldn't see her face turn redder than a tomato. He smiled and pulled her closer by the waist. "I'm just kidding, honey. But you can if you want to." He said with a grin, before kissing her softly on the cheek. Sora got up, kissed him on the cheek. "I'm sure you can handle it. I got to help Kari with the guest bed. Good night, sweetie." Sora said as she walked out of his room, stopping at his door, looking back with a smile and walking out.

Tai smiled. It was good to be home, and with his beloved. He struggled a bit to take his pants off, careful not to ruin the bandage on his leg. Pulling on the pair of shorts, he then turned on his bed lamp. He looked at the bandage. It was a tad soiled. He opened a pouch he had brought with him. He opened it and there were some fresh bandages still sealed in the packaging. He took out an antiseptic packet and a gauze pad. He gently removed the tape around the old bandage as he gently lifted it off the wound. He winced as it hurt a little since it was somewhat stuck onto the wound. Tai looked at his leg. The gaping hole where the round had entered was now stitched up by the medical team over in Iraq. Some blood still oozed from small gaps, but not enough to be serious. It'll heal completely soon. He took the antiseptic and wiped the cloth on it, while gritting his teeth as the pain shot through his leg as the antiseptic burned. He placed the fresh gauze pad on the wound, covering it up and taping it together with a roll of bandage tape. After he had secured it, he tossed the soiled bandage in the trash and placed the first aid kit on his counter. He shut off the lamp a moment later and laid down. He pulled the covers up and went to sleep a moment later, as the aspirin finally began to take effect.

Some hours had passed as Sora woke up later that night to use the bathroom. After she was done, she was on the way back to the guest room when she heard groans from Tai's room. She wondered what he was doing when she leaned against his door and listened. "No! Matt!" She heard him say, when suddenly she heard him scream loudly. She opened his door and went in. She found him awake, and drenched in cold sweat. "Honey, what's wrong?" She asked as she sat down next to him. Taking his hand into hers, she gasped when it felt like it did just hours before on the van. "Seriously, Tai, can you tell me what's bothering you?" She pleaded, now really concerned for him.

Tai shook his head as the images still continue to plague him. "Nightmares. Vivid nightmares, of Iraq." He muttered a moment later as he gently squeezed her hand. "Its hard to sleep." He muttered as he buried his face into his hands. Sora wrapped her arms around him. "How long has it bothered you?" She asked. "Since we were rescued. The entire week, I haven't been able to get much sleep." Sora can't help but feel worried. She laid him back down on the bed. "You need your rest. How about I'll stay with you the rest of the night? I might be able to help you sleep." She said with a little giggle. It was at least worth a shot. Tai didn't say anything to say no, as Sora got into his covers with him. Leaning her head against his chest, she listened to him breathe as she drifted off to sleep. Tai however, remained awake for some minutes. He still felt uncomfortable from the images, but somehow having Sora by him eased the discomfort. He smiled as he kissed her on the forehead and finally went to sleep. "Tomorrow, hopefully the doctors might have a way to figure out our problems." He whispered to himself before he passed out.

A/N: And that's the end of Chapter 3. Tai and the others have been through a lot. Stay tuned for chapter 4 to find out how they will overcome these problems.