Comeuppance and Compassion
Forward Operating Base
Cramming his meager belongings into a duffle bag, Carlson desired to make it on the next transport out … hopefully before a raging Hayes returned. Ellis, the bitch had notified their boss of the clusterfuck of a mission and now his career was in shambles. He may never get another field assignment. Damned Hayes screwed up all my plans.
He grabbed the bag, opened his door, and stepped out, taking two strides before he was slammed up against the wooden wall of the temporary housing. "What the fuck?" Amber eyes of a lion bore into him as a man wearing a tan beret unleashed a hurricane of words at him.
Sutton strode up to Blaze, observing Winds giving Carlson a piece of his mind. Nonchalantly he said, "You about ready to accept the promotion?"
Blaze kept his gaze on Winds, ready to intervene if his best friend moved into territory which would get him demoted or court-martialed. He rubbed the faded, thin line on his left palm. "Still have a few more animals to find and put down."
"So Yel Malik is dead?" the colonel asked.
"Yeah, he was among five close together. Nice sniper shot. We have the American's to thank for that."
"Make you a deal."
"What?" Blaze shifted his eyes to Sutton.
"I need you in the position left vacant by Plouffe. I need a man I can trust. Our guys have been lured into too many bogus missions lately. When we return to Kandahar, I want you to try on the major role, give Winds a chance to lead the unit, spread his wings. And when intel comes in regarding any of the bastards who tortured Dan, you can lead the mission. If you aren't happy in the position, then you can resume leading your unit."
Blaze considered the option. "If I accept, does the offer hold true if I take the promotion to major?"
"Yes. General Broderick supports your actions. He wants them all dead too."
"I accept your proposal then, provided Winds agrees too." A commotion made Blaze turn back to where Winds harangued Carlson. "Whoa, I believe Carlson is in for more than just a verbal lashing."
Sutton turned away. "Can't watch or I will be forced to intervene. Tell me later what doesn't officially happen." He strode away with a smile. At his rank, he would need to put a stop to this, but he had no desire to do so, he was done putting up with deceitful men who didn't care about the soldiers ... men who behaved as Plouffe. Carlson is in that bastard's league … I only wish Carlson was six feet under like Plouffe.
A smug grin formed on Blaze's face as he observed five pissed off SEALs, led by Hayes, striding with purpose towards one screwed CIA operative.
Approaching Carlson's quarters, Jason overheard someone yelling at Carlson well before he viewed the soldier letting loose and saying much of what he intended. He would've grinned at the cowed figure, but he was too furious. He planned more than words.
His fist launched as he came to a stop, landing on target, a satisfying crunch of cartilage as he connected with Carlson's nose. "You son of a bitch! You nearly killed my men with your shit for brains plan!"
Sonny joined in, pushing the gaping Canadian soldier out of the way. "You lying motherfucker, I should shoot you here and now, but I'll settle for this." He landed a powerful punch to Carlson's solar plexus, causing him to bend over and gasp for breath.
Brock, angry this asshole was the reason Cerberus got shot, lifted Carlson's head by using an uppercut to his jaw. As the back of the man's head whacked the wood wall, he barked, "My dog is more human than you. If Cerb was here now, I'd let him tear you to pieces."
Trent and Ray stood behind the other three, prepared to step in if their teammates moved beyond a few punches. With Jason and Sonny that was quite possible.
Reeling, gasping, hurting, Carlson's hand covered his bleeding nose as he said, "The plan would've worked if you stuck to it and if your worthless rookie didn't screw up."
Jason's restraint, what little he still held, snapped when Carlson laid the blame on Spenser. He let loose with a barge of strikes to Carlson's midsection, before Ray and Trent pulled him back and the worthless ass dropped to the ground holding his stomach and moaning.
Sonny wished his second in command had not yanked Jace off. His fists itched to do the same, but the glare he received from Ray told him to stay put.
Picking himself, Carlson's fear-filled eyes landed on Hayes. The man was a menace and would pay. "This is assault. I will make sure you are arrested and court-martialed."
"Your word against ours. You think anyone will believe you after the lies you told which almost cost the lives of thirteen soldiers?" Jason growled.
"Twelve," Carlson had the audacity to correct.
Landing another blow to Carlson's face, Brock yelled, "Cerberus is a soldier, asswipe!"
Dazed by the strike, Carlson sank to the dirt, and his head lolled to the side.
Trent squatted and by the hair lifted Carlson's head. He checked his pupils before standing. "He's had enough. Any more and he'll be concussed."
"Better than dead, which I would prefer." Sonny planted a well-placed kick to the asshole's right flank wanting him to feel pain exactly where Clay was injured.
"We're done here." Jason pivoted and strode away. He agreed with Sonny. Dead would be better. But he needed to shower, grab some food, and head back to the hospital … he could sleep there. Anyone tries to kick me out of the kid's room they will find out it isn't happening.
The rest of the team each kicked Carlson as he sat in the dust, before following Jason. A bit of justice served for Clay and Cerberus.
Tarmac
Mandy stood with Lisa and Eric as they observed a bloodied Carlson limping to the plane. She couldn't help the upturn of her lips. "Appears Carlson got his comeuppance."
Davis snickered. "Too bad he took a tumble out the door of his quarters. He really should be more careful."
Unable to stop the chuckle at Lisa's explanation for the man's appearance, Eric shook his head. "Must be a klutz as well as a crappy operative."
Becoming serious, Lisa turned to Blackburn. "Not that I'm a fan of Charlie Team, but Fuller and his men would all be dead now had Carlson's original plan been enacted."
"He won't be planning ops ever again," Mandy stated before turning her eyes on the group of Canadian's heading for their own helo. "Glad they showed up. Spenser might not be with us anymore if they didn't."
Both Eric and Lisa nodded.
Hospital – Clay's Room
Forced to sit in a chair and allow Trent to finally clean the graze on his arm, Jason kept his eyes on Clay. The kid lay motionless as sweat beaded, combined into pools, and trailed off his forehead. His fever still in the range of one hundred and two, with the help of meds, concerned Jason.
The second bed in the room was occupied by Cerberus, much to the hospital staff's dismay. The nurses gave the dog a wide berth and approached Clay on the opposite side because Cerb would growl at anyone other than the team who dared come near Clay, even though they were caring for the kid.
Trent finished wrapping gauze around Jason's arm. "Another scar to add to your list. Not too deep, you were right, didn't need stitches."
Jason nodded. "Shouldn't his fever be down?"
"It is moving in the right direction. Antibiotics need time to work." Trent closed his med kit and glanced at one of the chairs Sonny stole from other rooms so they all had somewhere other than the floor to sit. Though, the ground might be more comfortable than the small wooden chairs.
Trent chose to continue standing and shifted his eyes to assess each of his teammates. They all needed sleep, but none of them wanted to leave the kid. He halted on Sonny and noted the distress in his countenance. He's feeling guilty.
Sonny maintained his position between the beds. His gaze never leaving the kid. Guilt ate at him. No matter what Trent said about the wound rupturing on its own, he knew his weight crashing down on Clay caused the rupture and nearly cost the rookie his life. So much for taking him under my wing and protecting him. I'm the reason he is lying here half-dead. A hand landing on his shoulder caused him to turn, drawing him out of his self-flogging.
"Not your fault. I should've taken point into the room. If I had, he wouldn't have landed on that damned pyramid thing," Trent said.
"We alternated. It was the kid's turn," Sonny responded.
Jason rose and pinned his eyes on both his men. "If anyone is to blame it is me. I fucked up. I should've let him explain on the plane. I jumped to conclusions. If I had listened, we would've known he was sick and not drunk. He wouldn't have gone on the mission."
"Jace, we all thought the same thing. He smelled like a friggin distillery and the way he climbed into the hammock after take-off, well—"
Cutting off Ray, Jason shouted, "Well nothing! I would've given each of you the chance to explain … I didn't with him and I don't know why."
Jason's words caused each of them to turn inward as the truth of his statement rang in their ears. Jason would've listened to them. A moan from the bed drew their attention as Clay started to move and Jason was at the kid's side in an instant, gripping his hand.
"Be still. You're safe," Jason intoned close to Clay's ear as his rookie's body twisted in the bed. "Don't move or you might undo all the doctor's work."
Hot, so damned hot, yet freezing. And I fucking hurt. Clay grappled and clawed his way up to consciousness, a challenge as his mind wanted two things. One, to stay in blessed oblivion where pain didn't exist. Two, needing to wake to defend his teammates from the onslaught of hostiles.
As he fought to move a body which wouldn't respond properly, his first conscious thought came out in a dry raspy voice, "Cerb, gotta protect Cerb."
Brock said, "Cerb is right here. He is safe. You saved his life." He glanced at his dog who whined and tried to rise. "Stay. Don't move, boy."
The guys almost laughed as both Cerberus and Clay stilled at Brock's command.
Clay managed to lift his eyelids. His world didn't match. Instead of being outside under a rock outcropping he was in a sterile, white room with his teammates all standing around him. Rather than hard rocks and dirt, he lay on a semi-soft bed. "Hospital?" his cracked voice asked.
Jason grinned. "Yeah."
"Kid ain't as dumb as he looks. Got it in one," Sonny quipped as relief surged through him. He reached for the cup of water and brought it into Clay's field of vision. "Water?"
Clay gave a slight nod, and Sonny moved the cup to his lips as Trent lifted his head. He wanted to greedily drink, but Sonny only dribbled a few drops in. "More."
"Sorry, only a little. Your kidney is infected so you only get enough to wet your whistle now," Trent explained.
His throat less dry, his voice came out more normal. "Kidney? Infected?"
"As far as we can figure, your two-hour swim in the cesspool caused this. Sorry I didn't let you explain on the plane. All this could've been avoided." Jason continued to hold Spenser's hand and when the kid squeezed hard, he asked, "Need pain meds?"
"No, I'm fine." Clay lied as his mind chewed on the fact Jason apologized. Then he wondered why Jason would ask if he needed meds, until he realized he was gripping his COs hand. He released his hold as a blush came to his face, but lucky for him his skin was already flushed with fever.
"Liar," Sonny exclaimed.
Clay's eyes shifted to Sonny. He owed the man his life, but he didn't know what to say, how to say it. So, he opted for cockiness. "Am not."
Sonny turned to Trent. "Shoot him up with morphine. The kid's trying to be all macho. He fucking hurts whether he wants to tell us or not."
Cerberus barked until he got Brock's attention. His front paws inched forward, trying to move closer to Clay. A grin lit Brock's face as he said, "Sonny, Ray, move out of the way," and started to push Cerberus' bed. The only way to settle his dog was to shift him closer to Spenser.
As Brock repositioned the bed, Trent chuckled at the thought the nurses would be none too happy. He headed out of the room in search of one to request painkillers for Clay.
Sonny lowered the bedrail on both beds before moving out from between them and Brock finished pushing them together.
When Cerberus lay his head near him, Clay's hand reached out to pet the dog noting the bandage. "Cerb going to be okay?"
"Yeah, just a flesh wound. Couple of weeks and you both will be back in business," Brock answered, not sure who was happier with the new arrangement … Cerb or Clay.
His lids growing heavy, Clay closed them, as he fought the rising tide of pain in right side. He hoped the pain meds arrived quick. Several minutes later, he heard a gasp and chuckles, before a slight burn of meds entering his vein.
The men snickered when the nurse gasped at the sight of her patient and the dog lying next to one another. Luckily for her, Clay's IV port was on the opposite side of Cerb. She worked fast administering the morphine and left faster.
As he began to drift into a pain-free world, a cool cloth on his forehead caused Clay to crack his eyes open again.
Jason wiped Clay's fevered brow. "Rest now. We'll talk later."
The compassionate side of Jason confused Clay, but he didn't think long on it as Morpheus drew him into his arms and he gave up the struggle to stay awake.
Ray, Trent, Brock, and Sonny all resumed their seats, hiding grins as their hard as nails CO continued to tenderly wipe the kid's brow. Papa Bear could rest easier now that Clay had woken, spoke to them, and returned to a healing sleep. None of them had ever witnessed Jason so affected by a soldier. And in truth, they all were just as affected … Clay got under their skin. He was more than just their rookie … he was the younger brother they would all need to keep an eye on. They realized they had work to do to earn his trust … but that would come in time, provided they could keep the trouble-magnet alive.
Three hours after visiting hours ended, Eric strolled into Clay's room to find the entire team sleeping. The hospital called demanding come to order his men out. He stood and smiled as he gazed around.
Jason's head lay on the side of the bed and his hand gripped Spenser's. Brock lay on one half of Cerberus' bed, with the dog between him and Clay. Cerberus' head rested on Clay's thigh and Clay's other hand draped over the canine's neck. Ray lay sprawled across three chairs pushed together. Trent sat propped in a corner on the floor, his head supported by a blanket. Sonny's position was strange and appeared a bit painful. He sat in one of the chairs, his upper body leaned over the footboard, and his head lay on one arm as one hand held onto Clay's foot.
Eric closed the door without waking any of them. He turned to Dr. Bajwa. "They are not causing anyone any trouble. Leave my men be."
"But it is against our rules," Bajwa insisted.
"Screw your rules. They are staying. End of discussion." Eric strode out wearing a grin. The gruff and hard-core soldiers he commanded had changed since Spencer joined Bravo team. A change for the better, I think. Now, if they can only manage to keep the kid alive.
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AN: One more chapter to come 😊.
For those who read my published novels … the eighth book in the Beauty of Life series, SECRETS: Passion, Deceit, and Revenge, should be published by Saturday 9/8/18 … hopefully sooner if I can finish the final round of edits.
The first seven novels are available on Amazon, search for Laura Acton to find them. They are also part of Kindle Unlimited so if you subscribe to that service you can read them for free.
Summary of SECRETS: Passion, Deceit, and Revenge
A tangled web of secrets, deceit, and revenge driven by passion, endangers the lives of Alpha Team.
Whose secrets put everyone at risk?
Daniel Broderick and Lexa McKenna no longer deny their passion, and they break protocol to date secretly. Dan, still hounded by enemies, revels in their relationship. Lexa opens her heart to him, although she still fears losing everything she values. The lovers are not the only team members to possess secrets. Loki's innocent digging into his pa's life uncovers deceit while Ray's past comes back to haunt him with a vengeance.