LOST AND FOUND 3
They heard the front door slam shut and Angel's voice shouting `Hi guys I'm back Mary sends her love and says you're all invited to Sunday lunch`
Actor looked at Craig, `Please let us tell her first, we have been through a lot together these last few weeks , it would be best coming from us`.
He nodded and they all left and went to find Angel. He realized that it hurt him that these men could feel more for her than he could, he hoped that seeing her would make a difference, right now he would give anything for one face he remembered.
They took her into the library and sat her down ,Actor began, `We had a visit from Major Freeman today ,Angel, we've had some news, something that none of us was expecting . She looked at him `something's wrong isn't it? she asked She stared at him, `Tell me just tell me`, He bent down and held both her hands. He felt her trembling ,` It's all right` he said,` It's good news Angel ,they've found Craig, he's alive, he was thrown clear of the car ,to far along the ditch for us to see and covered in debris , he was badly hurt but he is alive.`
`Where is he?` she stammered `When is he coming home? How badly is he hurt?, don't just stand there tell me`.
`He's already here Angel, he arrived this morning`, she leapt from the chair and was out of the room and running down the corridor before anyone could stop her, and then came to a dead stop outside his door. She opened it and just stood there staring at him , not quite believing what she saw. Actor had not had time to tell her he might not know who she was and after staring at him for a few seconds she
Said` Craig`. and then threw her arms around his neck,
`Craig you're alive , Oh my God you're alive, I never thought I'd see you again , they said you were hurt , Oh it 's so good to have you home`. She hugged him again and then felt him gradually push her away from him and hold her at arms length.
`What's wrong Craig?` she asked `Why are you looking at me like that?`,
He looked at her and said `I'm so sorry I don't remember you`.
`How can you not remember?,` she asked. She looked in his eyes and knew that he was telling her the truth, as far as he was concerned he had never met her before. She was a stranger to him.
`I hoped that seeing you would help me remember , but I'm sorry I don't know you`. he said
`That's all right she told him I'll help you , we can talk and I'll tell you everything you want to know ,for as long as it takes , you are home and safe and that 's all that matters` .
`Thank you` he said` But right now I have a lot of work to do , maybe we can do this later when I have more time to spare`,
Angel stared at him She felt as though she had been dismissed from school. She had grieved for this man and now he had come back into her life he treated her like a stranger, to be sent for later when he had the time, at his convenience. She could have stood and cried she hurt so much , Actor saw that things weren't going well and gently took her arm and led her to the kitchen.
`We have to make allowances for him now, give him time Angel , once his memory starts to return he will know how much you mean to him , he will remember how much he loves you,`
`I hope so Actor I really do because all I feel right now is hurt and rejected`.
It will get better `, he said as he held her , `I promise it will get better` He only hoped that she believed what he told her because he wasn't sure he did.
The next few days were no better , in fact they got worse as he had decided that as he was ready to work so were his men. He arranged early morning runs for them, assault courses and firing range practice
`Casino moaned as usual until Craig stepped up `
`I've had about all the winging I'm going to take from you Casino, you are soldiers and it's about time you started acting that way, and you know what Casino , if you don't like it then you can just go back to prison , because I am sure that I can get someone to do your job. This goes for all of you , either shape up or go back inside the choice is yours.`
Angel heard what he said and when the guys had left she said,` Don't you think you were a little hard on them?
He turned on her , I think that it is time for you to leave`, he told her I think it would be better if you only came to the mansion when you were invited, I cannot make soldiers out of them while you are undermining my authority`.
`I think you'll find that I have an open pass to come here whenever I want Lt`. she said angrily.
`Well consider you pass revoked as from now `. He said and turned round and walked away.
The guys were not impressed with the change in him or the way he had treated Angel ,but when they tried to talk to him about it he told them what he did was no concern of their's and that they should mind their own business . They could not believe the way he was behaving, Before he had given them room to work out the frustrations of the day , but now , the last fight that Chief and Casino had started had cost them a day in the stockade, and a promise that next time it would be longer .for he would not tolerate brawling , and then sent them all on a five mile hike to burn off any excess energy they had. Something had to be done, the only thing was no one knew what
Angel was at the cottage when she heard the tooting of a horn ,and as she looked round she saw Peter walking towards her. `Hi` he said ,
`heard you wanted to see me`,
She sat him down with a cup of coffee and told him about the goings on at the mansion since Craig 's return.
`I'm really worried Peter and not just about him , those guys are being pushed to the limit , they're cutting him a lot of slack but their patience will run out soon , and Casino for one is going to do or say something that will get him into real trouble. Please as a favour to me , will you go and talk to him?.
Peter smiled ,`For you Angel almost anything, but I have to say I don't know what I can do , but I will drop by later today on the pretext of checking up on him , just a follow up visit from the hospital , if that will make you feel better`.
`Oh it would Peter , it really would you know right now there is a apart of me that wishes he hadn't come back at all, because I don't like him much these days.
`Is it really as bad as that Angel? She nodded ,`You'll see what I mean when you meet him, he's a changed man and not for the better, and if he doesn't alter soon he was going to lose all the respect his men have for him, if it isn't to late already`.
Peter came back later that day and once again sat down it the garden with her `My visit was very informative `, he told her, `I` think Craig is trying to act the way he thinks he should , and because he doesn't remember he's making a total mess of things. He's treating them as cons because that 's what they are to him, , He's determined to make them soldiers ,he doesn't understand that's not what they are, and the more he tries the more stubborn they become ,Some one has to talk to him , has to make him listen, make him understand how wrong he is .He needs to be shown that treating them as soldiers is not going to work they're specialists and he needs to cut them some slack to get the best out of them`.
He looked at Angel` you don't expect me to go up there and tell him all that do you? she asked, tell Craig that he's wrong, he'll throw me off the estate
`I've told you what needs to be done in my opinion`. Peter said `Now you have to decide what you are prepared to do for those guys ,and for Craig.
She called him and asked if she could call and see him, he asked if it was important and she said as far as she was concerned it was a matter of life and death , so he said he would see her that afternoon while the men were doing their assault course training , she thanked him and said she would see him then.
As she entered his office he looked at her` Sit down Angel , tell me what I can do for you`.
She didn't quite know where to start but kept looking at him and then asked him `What happened Craig to make you change so much?, please tell me, I need to know what happened to the brother that I loved so very much, and who loved me, , we went through so much together and now you won't even talk to me, I need to know why Craig,
He walked to the window `I don't know what you're talking about ,anyway how am I supposed to feel about you when I don't even know who you are?
`Have you even tried to find out? Since you got back you have shut me out, sent me away instead of letting me help you, you never ask about David or Sarah , they both loved you so very much and you just don't want to know, Oh Craig I could tell you so much about them if you'd only let me`
`I read the reports on their deaths , dwelling on it won't bring either of them back`, he said.
She stared at him in amazement. She took a picture from her purse and walked to the window and held it up in front of him.
`Tell me where this was taken, tell me what we were doing that day doesn't this interest you at all? Don't you care anything about this family? `He didn't look at he or say anything, she was beginning to get angry with him `You've changed so much Craig, and not for the better , you've become unfeeling both to me and to your men ,it took you a long time to earn their respect, and if you don't change your attitude towards them soon , all the hard work you put in over the last twelve months will all have been for nothing , don't you even care Craig ? You worked so hard to earn their trust`.
`He turned on her `What makes you think that I care about how much those cons respect me or trust me , all I want is for them to do their jobs and follow the orders I give them. Nothing more.
`Don't you understand , they would have done anything for you, they risked their lives for you, dragged you halfway across Germany when you had been shot just to bring you home, and this is the way you thank them, you treat them like no-bodies. treat them like they don't matter to anyone , like they are worthless , well you should be ashamed of yourself Craig Garrison and if this is the way you are going to treat people from now on I'm not sure I want anything else to do with you, so if you want to spend the rest of your life alone then that's all right by me. She realized she was shouting at him ,she turned towards the door and he followed her said rather sharply `Angel`, She tried to get the door open but he held it closed, `Now you are going to listen to me`, he said.
`No Craig I'm not and you know what , you can call me and make an appointment this time and I'll try to make time to see you this time.` As she struggled with the door he let go ,not realizing that she was pulling it with all her might , it opened sharply and she reeled backwards loosing her balance she staggered and fell, hitting her head on the wooden corner of the chair, as she went down the lights went out.
When the guys came back they went to the kitchen for a drink before hitting the showers to clean up before supper .Angel was sat at the table with an ice pack on her cheek and what was the beginnings of a rather spectacular black eye. Their concern was obvious and immediate . `Angel what the hell happened to you? Let me see `, Actor was at her side at an instant ,` Doesn't look too bad but it's going to need a couple of stitches, now what happened exactly?
`It was an accident , I tripped and hit my head , it was nobodies fault and I'll be fine just as soon as I stop seeing two of everything`,
`You probably have a mild concussion `
From behind them a voice said `I think I'll be the judge of that if you don't mind Actor `, Angel smiled `Hi doc `,
Peter took the ice pack away and looked at her face , `Couple of stitches that's all , Craig said you took a header into the chair didn't damage it too much I hope? How many fingers am I holding up ?`
`On which hand doc ?she asked,
`If at all possible it would be best if Angel could stay here tonight , I'm not on duty so I'll stay and keep an eye on her ,would that be possible Lt. ?`.
Craig watched as all eyes turned to him , `She can have the bed in the office `, he said
`Actually I would prefer the library couch, much more comfortable and that way you won't have to put yourself out for me.`
The others could feel the tension between them and were sure that the injury had been caused by something that had happened between the two of them, but they also knew neither one of them was going to tell
`Right lets get you to bed and then I can get those stitches put in`, As she stood up the world went round , strong arms grabbed her and both Actor and Peter gently walked her to the library.
Craig watched them go and as he turned to look at the three left in the room all he saw was the look of disgust on each face. He knew them that Angel had been right, unless he changed the way things were he would never see that same look of loyalty that they had showed to Angel , for he was sure that if they believed for one minute that he had inflicted the injury deliberately , the fact that he was their commanding officer would not have kept him from getting the beating of his life, he was sure that they would do anything to protect her . It was a loyalty that somehow he felt that at one time they had given him, he just couldn't remember when or how, all he knew was that somehow he had to put things right , if it wasn't already too late.
Angel woke the next morning to the smell of toast and coffee and realized she was hungry. She got up and having found she wasn't dizzy anymore decided to make her way to the kitchen. As she passed the bookcase near the door she caught sight of her reflection. As she prodded the offending cheek she found that it looked much worse than It felt. Her eye and cheek bone were a beautiful shade of purple with a little pink thrown in , it looked really spectacular .She started to smile but found that this was not a good idea as it was quite painful.
As she entered the kitchen there were whistles all round, there was a `Wow ` from Casino and Goniff pointed out `That must really hurt`,
She gave a little bow `Glad you're impressed boys or are you just jealous because I'm going to get all the sympathy next time we go to the Doves`?
This brought smiles all round and then Casino asked. `You want I should scramble you some eggs then? Don't look like you're going to manage much else baby.` They sat and had breakfast together which was something they hadn't done in quite a while, Peter came `You got room for another one ? He asked `Always make room for you doc , want to keep in your good books` laughed Goniff.
Craig came in and the laughter stopped , he went to get some coffee and was heading back for the door when Angel said We can always find room for one more if you'd care to join us, I'm sure the paperwork can wait a few more minutes.` He looked at her and then at his men `I'd like that if it's all right with you guys`, he said
They looked at him , sure that he was up to something ` . You want some toast Warden ?asked Goniff, `Got some jam too if you like it , Angel brought it for us , some of the best I've tasted`,
They ate in silence until she asked `What have you all got planned for today then?` Craig spoke first,` `Well as you've all been working so hard I thought you might like a day off`, do what you want just stay out of trouble , all right ? They just looked at him
`Well ` Angel said` You heard the man, do you want a day off or not? `Want to know what the catch is first` said Casino
`No catch Casino just a day off if you want if you don't that's all right too.`
`They looked at each other and then at Angel and said `See you later `,and all disappeared out of the kitchen at once leaving all the dishes and the washing up,
`You could have timed that a little better now I have all the clearing up to do `, she said
He looked at her `If I give you a hand do you think that you could spare a little time to talk for a while?
`I told you before , all you ever had to do was ask Craig , that's all, come on let's get stuck into this and then we'll have coffee in the library and we can talk for as long as you like`.
`Now that is my cue to leave. and it also gets me out of the work, thanks for breakfast Angel and take care of that cut I'll be back this way next week sometime so I'll take the stitches out then , and do me a favour , no more head butting chairs O.K.`
Angel smiled `All right doc I promise , and I'll see you next week bye.`
They stood in the quiet empty kitchen and looked at the mess surrounding them `Next time how about you give them the day off after they wash up ?` He smiled at her and said `I'll remember that `,
Craig carried the coffee to the library and put it on the table between the two large armchairs, He waited for her to sit down, he looked uncomfortable , as if he wasn't sure what to do next. `Why don't you sit down and have your coffee before it gets cold?` she asked. He looked at her, I'm so sorry about yesterday Angel , I didn't mean for you to get hurt, I just didn't want to admit to you or to myself that you were right `,he took a sip of coffee, `I've made a real mess of things haven't I `? he asked , She smiled at him `You might just have screwed up a little , but It's nothing that can't be fixed with a little help, if you really want to`.
`I'm afraid Angel `he said quietly , `Afraid that my memory won't ever come back, and I guess I thought that if I didn't care about any of you it would be easier to deal with if that happened, but I was wrong ,all it did was alienate me from every one and make me feel more alone and now it's got so out of control I don't know what to do to put things right . I watched them yesterday when they walked into the kitchen and found you , saw the concern on their faces ,knew that they really cared about you ,would do anything for you ,I guess I was jealous that I wasn't a part of the family that you had all become, `he looked at her, his eyes asking for her understanding ,
`Don't you know that this family started with us, just the two of us ,she said.` It was us that decided to let them into our family, not the other way round, we had so much and they all had nothing over here, Goniff and Casino missed their folks so much, and Actor and Chief had nobody that cared about them, so we decided that if they wanted to, they could be a part of our family, so they never had to be alone, they would always have someone who cared for them, This was as much your idea as mine, probably more yours actually because you cared about them, as much as they cared about you.`
`I didn't know Angel, I thought I had to make them behave more like soldiers, that if I gave them too much freedom I wouldn't be able to control them ,that they would put the missions in jeopardy and as a soldier I couldn't allow that to happen, I couldn't believe that I could put my trust in a bunch of cons`.
Angel looked at him `You don't need to control them` she said ,`Just be in command , they needed someone to trust and rely on , and you worked hard gaining both of those things Craig, They would have done anything for you , without question , because you never let them down`.
`I really screwed things up didn't I ?` he asked `Its just having read their dossiers I couldn't believe that they were anything but thieves and killers`
`Craig those dossiers are over a year old, a lot has changed since then, they are not the same men you took out of prison, you changed those four hoods into one of the best fighting unit's the Army had Then they didn't trust each other or anyone else back then , especially a screw , and that is what you were to them why do you think they called you the Warden? , but things gradually became different between you, they started to trust you and for them that was something really special.`
Craig put his head in his hands `I wish could remember any of that but there is just nothing in what you say that makes any sense to me at all.`
`You read their files didn't you ? Well let me tell you something , lets take Actor, for starters you now treat him as your second in command, you trust him to carry out any orders you give him , and he treats you with a respect that he shows to few other people. Goniff hates this war and all the killing , but he wants a fresh start and believes that if he can get through the war that you will keep your word and he will get his parole, but more than that Goniff holds this team together , he finds something good in every situation, he keeps their spirits up and even in the darkest times he can make them smile, his belief in you is getting him through this war because he knows you will not let him down.
Casino just wants to fight and doesn't care who so long as nobody really gets hurt he , has had a large family and needs to be heard so sometimes he's louder than he ought to be, but even if he argues he will eventually decide that he will have to do what he's told so he just gets on with it, he's never let you down , always done whatever you have asked him to.`
`What about Chief `, he asked , `He's a killer I can't even understand why I would take him out of prison with the record he's got`,
`Maybe you saw something in him that no one else ever saw ,she said,
Chief ,is your greatest achievement you turned a bitter young man , who had no trust in anyone into a member of a team that you could be proud of`. You saved his life on your second mission and according to him when he tried to say thanks , you just told him you were sure that he would have done the same for him. Chief had never had anyone in his life who had trusted him like that , or who didn't want something from him. He learned to trust you to Craig ,I think you were the first real friend he ever had`. He sighed and ran his fingers through his hair.
`You're right Angel , the men in those files aren't the ones you've been telling me about , I guess something changed for all of us.`,
`Craig`, she said `They need to let off steam sometimes and you usually give them enough leeway to do that, the only trouble is it's not usually in a conventional way. That fight you stopped the other day for instance, they would never intentionally hurt each other you know. If you had walked in and told them they had a mission it would have stopped straight away and started again the minute they got back to the mansion. I can walk into that room now and call Chief a half breed Indian and he would just look at me and say Oh hi Angel, but if Casino walked in and just said Hi Indian the reply would probably be `what did you call me`? And the fight would start straight away ,but don't forget that you trained these men .Chief is the best I've ever seen with a knife but after one of those fights I bet neither one of them as so much as a fat lip ,truth is they just like to brawl`.
Craig looked at her and laughed
`Do you know that is the first time I've seen you laugh since you came home` ,she said
`You're right , but that still doesn't solve the problem , I screwed up and I don't know them well enough to put things right `,
Now it was Angels turn to laugh, `You seem to think this is the first time`, she said, `The last time it cost you two bottles of good scotch to get back in their good books`,
`Think that would work again? `he asked her,
`It might `she said `But I know one thing that would work a lot better `, He looked at her `Try telling them the truth` ,tell them how you feel , that you're scared , they've all felt like that sometimes and you have always been there to help them , let them help you now as they wanted to do when you first came back`. They truly grieved for you Craig , we all did, they care about you and will give you all the help they can , all you have to do is ask for it `.
Will you wait here a minute ?` he asked her as he walked out of the room, she nodded, and a few minutes later he came back with a bottle tucked under his arm. `Would you mind coming to help break
the ice `, he asked ,She smiled at him ` O.K. but just one drink and then you're on your own.`
They knocked on the door and Casino's voice shouted `Come on in we're all descent`, He walked to the table and put down the bottle ,
`Have a drink with me? `, he asked
They eyed him with suspicion until Angel said `Don't forget my glass guys`, They looked at her and decided that if she would drink with him then so would they.
He sat at the table with them and took a deep breath. `I have it on good authority `, he told them, `That I have behaved like a complete idiot, and for that I am sorry , I have also been told that the best thing I can do is tell you the truth so here goes ,He took a long swig of his drink.
`All I had to go on when I got back was the dossiers that I was given when you first came out of prison, and until Angel told me I didn't believe that you could all have changed so much ,She says that you are a team that I am very proud of , and that I have trusted with my life more than once, I wish I could remember that , I get frustrated when I should know a name or a face and I don't and truthfully it's a little scary to think that it's always going to stay like this. I felt that if I lost control then I wouldn't be able to do my job ,and asking for the help of four cons I didn't know was unacceptable. It has been pointed out, very clearly to me that this was just about the worst mistake I've ever made and so I'm asking now ,please help me? Tell me things that we did together , anything that might help jog my memory . I need your help if I have any chance of beating this.`
Casino looked at him `Before we decide there's something we need to know, did you hit Angel, even accidentally,
He looked Casino straight in the eye ,`No Casino I would never do that, besides if it had been anything but an accident she would have knocked me for six , because she has a kick like a mule when she's angry.`
Angel smiled at him and asked `How do you know that then?`.
`Because I taught you self defence `he said .She laughed, `Yes you did, but I didn't tell you that`.
`I remember , he laughed too `I remember throwing you on the grass when you asked me to teach you told you that you had to fall first without hurting yourself, `Oh Angel I remember, he said.
The others were finding this new giddy Lt. highly entertaining, and Angel was sure he would spend the rest of the day walking round with a silly grin on his face. But no-one really minded because for him this was a giant breakthrough. They were smiling too now , glad that at last this looked like a new start for him. The belief that they were not just hoods that couldn't be relied on had gone, and maybe this was a start to ,finding the old Lt again because they hadn't liked this new one at all.
`So , is everything all right now he asked ,`Are we good
`Yea we're good Lt' but as a show of good faith maybe we could go down to the Doves for the evening now that you trust us to come back` .
Craig said ,`Gentlemen the evening is yours, but remember that tomorrow we work,
What's so special about tomorrow Casino asked
Craig smiled, `That's when new assault coarse I designed for you will be ready, so you can all get up bright and early and test it out , `
As he turned to leave he heard Casino `That's not fair Warden , not after a night on the town,`
`Cut it out Casino `said Chief ` unless you want him to find us something else for us to do as well`.
`Would it not be possible to do it another day , as the weather is supposed to be bad tomorrow?`, Actor asked
Behind them it was Goniff who had the last word, .As he closed the door he heard Goniff say `Good to have you back Warden`. `Angel smiled at him `Couldn't have put it better myself `, she said and put her arm through his and they walked into the grounds for an afternoon stroll , to find somewhere to sit and talk about their family.