Chapter 3

Leo P.O.V:

It started when I got accepted into the army. From day to day I trained with my brothers and sisters through boot camp learning the basics in military life. The only thing keeping me through the tough days was a picture of my brothers and father together before I shipped out. I got a call months later that our father passed away. I wanted to leave but my brothers wanted me to stay. I grieved in my own way, completely devoting my life to training and becoming a soldier. Two of my best friends in the army, Chris Thompson a southern kid with dark brown hair almost black and brown eyes and Eric Miller a kid just like me from New York. Eric was shipped first from our group of friends so we took a photo together before he left with our regular army clothes on.

It was a few days later when news arrived that the truck Eric was on hit an IED, they were ambushed and killed on site.

I was told by a superior that if there were more people involved with bomb disposal then they could have lived. Apparently Eric's team was leaving a town after helping kids rebuild their houses and schools after a raid by the enemy.

That's when I decided at Eric's funeral that I was going to become a bomb disposal. But I wanted to stay people before they came into contact with the bombs itself not when their already placed on someone. So my superior told me of the K9 unit where they train dogs to become a soldier and dog are partnered up and they work together finding bombs and disposing of them.

I agreed and was sent away for training. When I arrived at training I was greeted with the officer in charge he took me through the ringer getting me into seeing what a bomb was and how to disarm it under extreme pressure. And this was where I met Kaz.

Kaz was just a pup back then waiting for someone to choose him. Others wanted to get an older dog with experience already instead of just a pup that need more training and time. I took Kaz under my wing and at first his name was Black but I changed it to Kazuhiro meaning harmony worldwide. That's what I want and with Kaz by my side that's what I'll get.

I was sent state side after completing my training with Kaz. We were set in military housing on base and from there for the next three years Kaz and I lived together training in bomb disposal and location. Traveling all across the Middle East I worked with a lot of people, picking up the language and dialogue of the each and every one I met. I lost brothers and sisters and I attended all their funerals and honored them with the highest respect I could give them. I watched them be lowered into the ground, gave my respects to the families, and went back to work trying to save more lives. People don't trust a guy in military get up but with Kaz by my side people came up to me and warmed up faster to me than other military brothers and sisters.

I wasn't forced to join the army or to become a bomb disposal specialist I choose it and if people don't like it then its fine by me but never disrespect the uniform, my dog, or the reason why I do this.

"So what do you think now?" I asked.

Everyone was sat in silence.

"If you guys need time then I'll give it to you." I said.

No one moved so April spoke out.

"If you could Leo it would really help." April said.

I nodded my head. Taking Kaz with me we went back to the apartment where I called Sarah and talked to her back what happened. With her I could open up without knowing it and have her listen to me and give advice. She was really a nice girl and I hope we could do something about us later on.

Donnie P.O.V

No one knew what to do after Leo told us why he chose to become a bomb disposal specialist so my brothers and I left and went back to our homes separately. Raph told us he was on a case and wouldn't be able to talk to us for a couple of days. Nothing different from the usual but I didn't understand why we were treating this differently than Leo. Both Leo and Raph place their lives on the line to help everyone who can't fight for themselves. Raph could take a bullet one day or be poison or blown up anytime but we accepted that and let him be. But with Leo now knowing what he does we can't accept it. I went to work the next day with my head filled with all these questions. I worked in my office all day on both work for O'Neil Tech and for college. Trying to block out the real world and focus on things I could understand.

Mikey P.O.V

I'm working on a new game today but when I start it up and placed my video goggles on I immediately took them off and almost threw them.

A coworker of mine ran up to me to see if I was alright I waved them off and decided to take a quick breather before going back to work.

The game was an military just every game I've played in the past but this one had me working on disarming a bomb with a NCP soldier by my side helping me out. It reminded me too much of what Leo does and just wrong move and I was dead. I asked my boss if I could test another game and he let me. Losing myself in a game was easy for me so to block out my brother and his career move I devoted my time and energy into games far away from combat.

Leo P.O.V

It been two days since I talked about why I choose my career path my brothers have made no attempt to talk to me and my days here are counting down. I decided to dedicate something to my brothers so I called Sarah to help design it. Sarah came up with a great design from what I was describing to her and we went to a tattoo palor owned by a fellow soldier friend where he came and gave me a discount on it. It took two days but after it was finished and I showed it off to Sarah she was ecstatic. It was a dragon wrapping up my arm from my elbow onto my shoulder collarbone area with one red eye and one blue. There was room between the area of the body and tail wrapping up my arm with the names of my brothers and father between them on top I was saving area for something special in the future but I was saving that as a surprise.

The day before I had to leave was when Sarah was going to have her exhibit so I was going to drive and go see it.

I wore a nice navy blue dress shirt and black pants plus dress shoes. The event was held at the college so Sarah got me a pass to be there. Sarah was surrounded by her friends and fellow peers so when I walked in we waved and I let her continue talking to people before moving on to me.

"Hey Leo great to see you again." Sarah said giving me a hug.

"We just saw each other yesterday and we talked when you got here." I joked.

"I know I just get lonely when I don't get to talk to you." Sarah said.

I rubbed the back of my neck. "Sorry about that I'm trying to get in time to see you and talk to my family."

"I know I'm joking. How's everything going?" Sarah asked.

I shook my head.

"Still? Wow they're really not going to say anything." Sarah muttered.

"Hey go back to your guest and talk about your art."I said trying to get Sarah back in a good mood.

Sarah and I hugged and she went back to her guest.

The show lasted most of the night and I stayed after to help Sarah clean up. Walking out side by side I took Sarah back to her dorms and was about to leave when Sarah stopped me.

"You know there was one piece that I didn't show that I really want you to see." Sarah said.

Sarah had me wait outside and ran back into her dorm. Sarah ran down with a rolled up piece of paper. She took me to the Quad where we could see the her work under the lamps around campus.

"Here I want you to be the first person to see it." Sarah said handing me the paper.

I unrolled the paper and shined it in the light of the lamps. With wide eyes and Sarah peering over my shoulder I smiled at her and told it was beautiful.

Sarah must have worked from memory from when we were hanging out in the park with Kaz. She drew both me and Kaz relaxing under the tree with me leaning my back against it and Kaz sitting next to me.

I pointed to the area next to me where she made a beautiful sky view and asked her.

"What about here?"

"What do you mean?" Sarah asked me.

"Why aren't you here?" I asked.

"Because this is about you two." Sarah said.

I shook my head.

"No it's about the three of us. You deserve to be in it too." I said with a smile.

Sarah smiled back and took the paper from me. Rolling it up carefully Sarah said,

"Then you'll have to come back to see it finished."

"As long as you'll have me." I said.

"Always" Sarah said.

Sarah and I turned our heads to the side inching our faces closer to each other until our lips barely grazed each other. We pressed our lips together and savored each other's presence. I cradled Sarah's face in my hands as she rested her hands on top of my shoulders.

Sarah and I continued to kiss each other until the clock stuck midnight meaning I had to leave and Sarah had to get ready for class in the morning. I walked Sarah back to her dorm without hands holding each other's warmth.

"Write me" Sarah said before leaving.

"Wait" I called out.

Sarah turned around with a confused look.

"What?" Sarah asked.

I took my dog tags off my neck and placed them onto hers.

"Wait Leo don't you need those?" Sarah exclaimed.

"These are my old ones see." I said pointing out the rank was off.

I was promoted from specialist rank 4 to 5 so I got new tags to show this.

"I just got them today so I thought if anything happened between us you could have them so I'll always be by your side when I'm away." I explained.

Sarah looked at the tags in her hand one tag had my name on it while the other had Kaz's name on the other.

"Sarah" I looked at her with concern.

Sarah threw her arms around my neck and pushed her lips against mine. I took a step back in surprise but returned the kiss.

We broke apart and sadly parted ways.

I drove back to the apartment to get ready to leave in the morning with my friend with Kaz. I looked at my phone to see the picture of Sarah and Kaz together on my wallpaper. I smiled and placed the phone back into my pocket.