Hello every body!
Here it is, the last chapter. I have to admit, this wasn't how I intended to finish it, but it just seemed so...natural?
This fiction helped me getting through a really rough time, as well as being extremely close to my heart. I am happy that I finished it, but sad to be leaving this world behind. I do hope that you enjoyed it. Let me know in the reviews! I do accept constructive criticism, but remember that this fiction represents my own battle against depression and suicidal thoughts, so please remain respectful.
I love all of you, you are not alone.
Enjoy your reading,
Pavs.
P.s: Post-its on guns is currently being re-writed as we speak, the update shouldn't be long now!
Chapter twelve:
Tool had never forgotten the tense silence that took place on the field just before shit hit the fan. He looked quickly around him to confirm that all the team was indeed preparing for what was to come. No words exchanged, only the sounds of weapons being loaded and cases of ammo moved around, except for the odd sigh of irritation while the guys were adjusting their gears. It was calming, in a weird way.
A way that the more he thought about, the less he liked. He thought he'd been past this, that he would never again set foot on a plane unless it was for a real vacation. How wrong had he been, he thought to himself as June got past him to help unload the small plane that Church had, oh so graciously, landed them.
At least the man was coming with them. Maybe he could convince June to stay behind to guard it.
''Or maybe not. "Tool said to himself as he saw her smile at Booker.
''I don't want to die for a woman, I want to die lying next to a woman. "He'd said to Barney.
''Fucking bullshit. "Tool whispered with a sad smile as he kept looking at June.
He would definitely die for her if need be.
''What was that? "Asked Trench and Tool send him a dark look.
''He didn't let me. "Trench replied, referring to Church and Tool scoffed.
Trench frowned and while Tool could see that Mauser really did feel bad, he couldn't stop recalling how pale June had been on her hospital bed.
''Now's not the time. "Said Booker before Tool could reply and June got closer.
Booker's words were echoing in his head. Of course, now was not the time. But there would've been plenty of time in the past few months. Before she tried to kill herself. Before her pain became agonizing.
''Don't go there, my love. "June told him with a soft voice before she kissed him.
He sighed in relief while Booker seemed to look anywhere but at them.
''I need you alive, and for that we need to focus. "She gently reminded him and he took her in his arms whilst closing his eyes.
Where war didn't exist, where bullets and guns weren't needed. Where there was only her love and warmth, roses instead of bullets and a small breeze instead of the constant firing of a thousand guns.
''Alright they're approaching! "Barney called in the com and Tool looked at her before they both nodded.
They would fight to get back to each other.
''I love you. "June said and he squeezed her hand as they heard Barney asking them to get into position.
''I love you. "He replied before he went with Trench and Yang, who currently were watching them with sadness in their eyes.
She turned to see Booker waiting for her with an apologetic look. For years, he'd wished that she would live her life as any young women should have, even thought he knew that she was already in too deep.
To see her love, smile, and being loved back made him happy no matter how much he'd been shocked to see who it was that she'd attached herself to. Tool was a good man, and at the end of the day, that's all that mattered.
It didn't sit right with him that she had to watch him leave like that. And while he was overjoyed at having her back with him, he felt guilt at the idea that he took someone so important to Tool that the man had come back on the field just for her.
God knew that no one had convinced him to get out the parlor in years.
Then the Sangs arrived at the airport, the first bullet was shot, and there was no time to wonder if reaching out to Church for revenge had been worth it after all.
.
June hated the fact that they couldn't have the airport evacuated before hand, but there was nothing she could do except for following up on the plan. It was always the most fucked up thing to know that civilians could die not only because of the bad guys, but because of her as well.
When she worked to liberate camps and trafficking victims with Booker, they were rarely in towns or crowded areas and were, more often than not, in remote areas of whatever country they found themselves in. She knew that the Expendables were more often confronted with that and had yet to find out how to live with that type of guilt and regret.
Still, she went to the upper levels of the airport and took position, making sure that her weapons were as visible as possible. She rather preferred scared/scattering civilians than dead people who were caught in the crossfire.
She heard more and more screams, then gunshots before she finally saw Booker from the corner of her eyes and started shooting the Sangs down below.
.
Vilain was trying to get away, and Barney was having none of it. He kept advancing with Trench and Church in tow while Toll and Hale were having their backs by efficiently killing whoever they encountered. He spotted Gunnar, Maggie and Tool making their way to Vilain as well, before Gunnar deviated completely, giving Maggie and Tool little warning before he ran up the stairs.
Then Tool followed, then Maggie ran to where Barney was and Ross felt a shiver running down his spine. He checked his coms only to find them dead.
He swore.
'' They got it under control, let's go! "Maggie exclaimed as she grabbed his arm and yanked him from his spot to go to wherever Vilain had disappeared to.
.
''BOOKER! "June all but screamed into her coms seconds after she opened a conference room door. ''I need help right now! "
She'd hear a child crying, then had entered the room to face at least fifteen scared children that looked like they'd almost been worked to death. The one crying was wiping tears with a hand marked with numbers and the Sangs logo burned into it.
"'Need backup? Yellow or red? I'm three to five minutes away. "Booker replied before she spotted five covered, unmoving kids in the back.
"' Black and yesterday. We've got a code Teddy bear, fifteen brown and five blue, gift from the Sangs. "She replied, not noticing that the others would hear her and not understand.
She was too used to working only with him.
''Where? "Booker replied with a dangerous tone.
''Third floor, admin quarters three doors down. "She replied and Booker gave his position while making his way to her. ''I've got ten Sangs on my ass at least. "
''We're almost there! "She heard Gunnar shout in his comms at the same time Booker said her was coming.
''We? "June asked right before she heard bullets close by and she closed the door back up and made a motion to let the kids know not to move and stay silent. She waited with them, knowing that she couldn't hide them in the too small room. She had to shoot first and going out would get attention on them.
She could only wait.
Then she heard two Sangs saying that they would have to finish the kids since they had to get out and they couldn't damn well let them behind as witnesses. The door was kicked open, June screamed at the kid to stay down before shots rang.
The now dead Sangs fell to the ground as she now could clearly see Gunnar and Tool behind them.
''Thank God. "June said and Gunnar would've made a smart ass comment were it not for the absolute horror that was in front of him.
''Teddy bears. "Tool murmured in sadness and anger while June nodded.
''Why blue. . . "Gunnar begun before he spotted the dead kids at the back of the room.
He growled.
"'Sorry I was busy. Glad to see you're OK. . . "Christmas said as he was joining them with Booker, both of them having come from the same direction.
He stopped. He threw up in his mouth a little.
''Gunnar, "June asked softly, as to not startle him. "' I'll need your sniper skills to recon the place so we can get them out. Go with Christmas so he can watch your six. I'll call up church. "
They were so mad that they accepted it without questioning it. No Sangs would survive them, June knew that much after seeing their expression.
'' First and Second floors are clear. Barney went after Vilain and Maggie's with him and Yang's doing rounds while complaining that he just came back to get shot at. What's happening here? '' Hale asked while arriving with Toll, Trench, and Church in tow.
''Mother fuckers! "Toll exclaimed in rage, making a couple of children look at him in fear.
He calmed down and kneeled before them.
''Do you guys speak English? "He asked in a gentle tone, and most of them looked at him with confusion on their faces.
''I do. "Said an older girl with a broken voice.
June looked at her and smiled sadly, trying to encourage her silently to speak as she realized that she was the only girl out of all the kids. Her hairs were cut short, and she was wearing loose clothes.
'' OK, good. "June continued. "' We are here to help. Could you tell them that? "
The girl nodded and did so while tears rolled down her cheeks. Some responded, some nodded.
''They will do as told. "The girl finally told them in English and June could see the unease wash over her and the others.
''Poor kids. "She barely heard Toll said as he got up once again.
'' That's why we're still here. "June replied and Tool looked at her with pride despite his anger and sadness at the situation, while Toll and herself shared a brief moment of understanding.
That moment in the parlor would never be far away.
They got to work as Gunnar and Lee went to reckon. June, Tool, and Booker stayed with the kids and Hale and Toll would close up behind them. Church and Trench had gone to call for two helicopters to bring the kids back to their homes.
All the surviving kids were outside by the time Barney had brought back Villain's head to Church. He looked at them and swore.
''Please tell me I killed him slow enough. "Barney asked June as he recalled Maggie talking to him about her Teddy Bear code.
''I'm sorry Barns, I can't. "June replied with a low voice.
''Five blue, huh? "Barney scoffed as he let down the bag containing villain's head.
Then he spit on it.
''Fucker. "Barney growled.
''Excuse me? "The girl from earlier asked with a shaking voice as she barely touched June shirt.
''Yes? "June replied, noting that Yang and Trench were waiting with the other children on two helicopters as Barney forced himself not to let his anger show.
The kid was scared enough as it was after all. Church walking straight behind her and the rest of them covered in blood didn't help much.
''Did you go to every village before you came here? "The girl asked.
''We did a few. "Barney replied in her stead, and the girl looked at the ground. '' What is it kiddo? "
"'I . . . I replaced my brother at the mines. I had heard that they made boys disappear. I did not see him there, but I was wondering if he was still with our mom. She looks like this? "She asked while showing him a picture that had seen way better days than this.
Barney instantly recognized the small boy that ran to help them when they assisted the women in the last village. He smiled at her.
''You are a very brave girl. "Barney said and the girl looked at him with hope. ''Your mother AND brother will be happy so have you back. "
The girl screamed in delight and hugged Barney without thinking. Thanking him over and over again. Then she let go and turned to June.
''You did it. "June said with a smile and tears in her eyes. '' I'm proud of you, now let's get you home. "
She then took a step back so that the girl would follow Church.
She looked at them getting in the helicopter and didn't say a word. Then as they rose in the sky, she almost collapsed on the ground as her vision got blurry and she felt nauseous. She felt a strong pair of arms around her as she started sobbing.
"'It's OK. You're OK. "Gunnar told her as he held her against him.
''I couldn't save him. "June managed to say and Gunnar held her tighter. "'I couldn't. . . I couldn't. . . I can't save anybody. "
Gunnar kissed her hairs and closed his eyes briefly before he changed positions so he could lift her up the ground. PTSD often gave no warning, and this was not the place for it. The others gave them space and entered the plane after them.
He put her on the bench next to where Tool was going and turned to Toll.
''I got you. "Road said as he reached in his pocket for his emergency anxiety medicine.
It wasn't the best scenario, but it would have to do. She was hyperventilating a little. She was trying to hurt herself with her nails while sobbing in pain into Tool's chest.
And Booker was watching them frozen in place.
Ah, Gunnar told himself, so this was new. It didn't reassure any of them.
Tool managed to make her take the medication, which eventually put her to sleep. Booker still hadn't moved, which was worrying since they were in the air by now.
Tool made her more comfortable before he turned to Booker. To see the man not even moving toward the girl he said was his daughter made the blood boil in his veins.
''Where the fuck were you? "Tool asked and the others tensed.
It was not normal for him to be this angry.
''Tool I…" Booker begun before the man in question got up and got closer.
''You fucking what? "Tool continued, visibly enraged. "'You left her! She found her dead brother when she got back to America, after thinking she'd left you to die! AND TRENCH KNEW IT GOD DAMNIT! "
''Not for a long time. "Booker replied, knowing that that sounded like the pathetic excuse it was. "'And he didn't know about her. I didn't know about her. Not until Gunnar threatened me at the fake village. I thought her dead. "'
Tool did calm down a little at seeing the pain that memory caused to Booker.
"'I know you'll probably never get that image out of your head, John. Nor will I ever forget how pale she was the first time I saw her. She was beautiful, you know? Even with her blood coloring her clothes and arms, even surrounded by shining broken glass, even as she sank in the water. . . She is so beautiful that even death couldn't keep her to itself. But I can't thank you for that. "Tool said with tears in his eyes and venom in his voice. "'You could find someone into other realms of realities, because you are that good as a tracker. But her, I had to steal her from death and I could smell her pain from another life. So, where the fuck were you, John? "
"'I was scared, Tool. I had been hoping that I was mistaken, but I couldn't find her, or not find her. I fucking froze. I wanted to be right, but I was scared of being wrong. I am not her father by blood, but I am by heart whether she likes it or not when she wakes up. I didn't leave, I didn't stay and I feel awful for it. But the pain you talk about I can see that it's the result of my fear and I am begging you to understand that I will never forgive myself for it. I disappeared, because if she was truly lost, I thought I could find her there. "John replied with his voice shaking more and more by the minute. "And I wanted to find her. I wanted . . . "
Tool took him in his arms then.
''She's here now. "Tool whispered as the other man finally broke down.
Barney was holding on to his commands so hard that his knuckles were turning white as he barely kept from crying himself. Lee put a reassuring hand on his shoulder and both of them thought back on John's birthday in the parlor. And so, Barney shed a single tear while sighing in relief.
Gunnar finally calmed down as he felt June's hand grabbing his own. Only then did he notice that she was awake after all and he smiled at her. Both Hale and Toll exchanged a beer before they offered them to the others. June got up in a seated position while both Booker and Tool sat by her sides.
Tool took her hand and kissed it before Booker passed his arm around her. Tool winked at her and June laughed a little. They finally got their own beers as they heard Barney's voice at the front of the plane. . .
"'Beware, Beware. Walk with care. . .
Careful what you do. . .
Or Mumbo Jumbo's gonna hoodoo you. . .
Mumbo Jumbo's gonna hoodoo you. . .
Boomlay, boomlay, boomlay boom! . . . "—The Expendables 2.
