A/N: Sorry it's taken me a while to get this chapter done and up for y'all. Life (mostly my seasonal depression) literally took over for a while there and I was unable to write or even come up with an idea for this chapter until recently. Now, that I'm back and my seasonal depression has abated, I should be following a more concrete writing and upload schedule (every 2 weeks) from now on. Enjoy!
Chapter 10: Someday
It was now month two of his deployment and November 1990 had just arrived.
Henry had just received a letter from Elizabeth and couldn't wait to read it later that day after his time doing air patrols.
Once he finished his shift, he pulled the letter out of his pocket and immediately went to his barracks while everyone else was likely eating dinner in the mess.
As he opened the letter, the familiar scent of Elizabeth's perfume wafted off the paper.
It was a heavenly and welcome smell.
Truth be told, he missed her probably as much as she missed him.
The only difference being that he didn't necessarily have to worry about her as much as she did him.
He began to read the letter.
It read:
Dear Henry,
I thought I'd give you a little taste of home this time. I wish I'd thought of it, but truthfully, it was an idea Maura told me about. I hope you liked that little surprise because there is more in store for you in this letter.
I'm graduating in May, which obviously you already knew about, but the CIA just offered me a contract as an analyst that starts about a month after I graduate. Can you believe it? It's like a dream come true.
I hope you and the guys are staying safe over there. I think I'll forever worry about you when you're gone on deployment and it's something I'm finally learning to accept and live with thanks to the Marine wives.
Did you know that Ana's expecting? Kimberly and I have been taking her out shopping and helping feed her food cravings whenever we have time.
All of the Marine wives have been a big help in keeping me busy during the little downtime I do have. We meet once a week for dinner or coffee and it's really nice to have that support system while you're gone.
I still wish you were here to enjoy life with me though. The thought of something happening to you over there still scares the crap out of me. Some nights, I'll wake up in a cold sweat, mostly from nightmares that you die or are seriously injured. Isabelle has even had to shake me awake a couple times because I'll wake up screaming sometimes. I think the first few times it happened, it really scared her.
Did I tell you that Isabelle is joining the CIA with me as an analyst as well? Not sure if we'll even be in the same area of the CIA together, but it'll be nice to know at least one other person in the company, even if we end up riding separate desks.
I'll have to introduce you two to each other once you get back. Forewarning though, she can be a lot at times. I think you two will get along well though.
Is it selfish that I want you all to myself though? I miss you so much sometimes that it hurts. I miss our dates and your kisses on my dorm building's steps and after two months of no sex or even just physical affection, I'm really starting to yearn for you physically and emotionally and mentally. It's like you're a drug and I need my fix, Henry. It sounds a little ridiculous I know, but it's true.
Please send me something that will make me think of you as I fall asleep, or on the nights I stay at your place, as I touch myself in our bed. Hope that created a nice little mental image for you. That was kind of the point.
Anyways, just know that I miss you and not just your body, although that's definitely nice too.
I wear your dog tags all the time now and it helps me feel closer to you, even if we're thousands of miles apart right now.
I'm with you.
Always,
Elizabeth
Henry folded up the letter and stuck it in his pack before he headed into the mess to join his Marine buddies.
Once he got there, John asked, "Where have you been brother? We were gonna wait for you, but our food was gonna get cold."
"No worries, Castro. Let me get a plate and I'll sit down with you guys," Henry told them as he went and grabbed his plate of food before sitting down.
He gently clapped John on the back and said, "I hear congratulations are in order."
John smiled at that and said, "Yeah. Thanks. Who told you?" asked John.
"Just read the letter I got from Elizabeth this morning and she might have mentioned something about it," Henry told him.
"Ahh. Care to share any of the other information in that letter?" asked Castro.
"She said she hopes we're all staying safe," said Henry.
"Anything else, McCord?" asked Castro.
"Nothing you need to be privy to," Henry told him.
"Ahh…one of those letters," said Castro.
"What are we congratulating you on anyways?" asked Steven, changing the subject.
"Ana and I are going to be parents come summer," said Castro a bit bashfully.
"Congrats brother!" exclaimed Marty.
"That's great," said Jason.
"Thanks," said Castro.
"Well, neither Jason or I have kids yet, but I'm sure Marty and Steven would be willing to share their parental wisdom with you," said Henry.
"Sure," said Steven.
"Of course, brother," replied Marty.
"Is it just me or do these air patrols keep getting more and more tense every time we go on them?" asked Henry.
"Yeah, you're right. The higher ups seem antsy too," said Marty.
"Yeah. Word has it that we'll be going to war by the New Year," said Steven.
"That's not something the women in our lives will want to hear," Henry pointed out.
"No. Best not to tell them until the time comes. I really don't wanna upset Ana until I have to. Especially with the baby and all," Castro told them.
"Agreed," said Jason as the rest of the guys agreed as well.
"Yeah. Rumor has it that we'll be based out of Turkey and flying over Kuwait every day doing more than just air patrols," said Steven.
"Yeah. Don't know how I feel about actually killing people other than it feels wrong, especially when some of them are innocent bystanders," said Henry.
"Yeah, but we signed up for this. It's what we're trained to do. We've gotta go get the bad guys that do exist there," said Steven.
"I get that. I guess I just feel weird about launching missiles at targets that could have innocent workers just working and trying to feed their families," countered Henry.
"I guess we just have to put that to the back of our minds so we can do what needs to be done when we're ordered to do so," said Marty.
"I guess it's just a product of war that innocents will be slaughtered in the process," said Jason.
"Hell, I'm just trying to make it home to see my wife and kid before he or she starts walking. I'll do what I have to do to accomplish that," said Castro.
"Guess you're right, Castro. All I wanna do is make it home safe and in one piece to be with Elizabeth again," said Henry.
"Same," said Marty and Steven.
"I just wanna make it home and finally marry Kimberly," said Jason.
"Then we agree that we'll do what needs to be done in order to get back to our loved ones at home?" asked Steven.
"Oorah! Semper Fi!" they all chorused at the table before getting up and heading to their barracks for the night.
Once Henry was back in his room that he shared with Castro, he pulled the latest letter Elizabeth had sent him out and the stationary she'd slipped into his pack when he wasn't looking and began writing her back at the small desk located in the corner of their barracks.
"Is that perfume I smell?" asked Castro as he laid in his bed on the top bunk.
"Yeah. Elizabeth sent it with her letter," smiled Henry.
"You really do have it bad for her, don't you? I've never seen you this giddy to get a letter from home before," said Castro
"I do and I wouldn't change a damn thing about it. Also, in reference to getting letters from home, I guess I've never had someone this important waiting back at home for me," said Henry.
"That's why we fight," said Castro.
"Yeah. I guess it is," said Henry as he smiled at the thought of Elizabeth.
"You're gonna marry that girl," said Castro.
"Someday," replied Henry before returning to writing his letter to Elizabeth before lights out.
A/N: Thanks for sticking with me through the writing delays! Hope you enjoyed this latest chapter. Please leave a review if you so feel inclined.