Chapter 14

Austin and Nonna hopped out of the Humvee and found themselves back at North Park. General Sato ordered the Team regroup there for debrief, but that would happen later. North Park looked like a giant refugee camp minus all the tents and stuff. There were stalls and things being set up to aid all those who lost their homes until the Island's Government could fix something up for them. Many people who did and didn't lose their homes were here temporarily until they moved out of the City and to somewhere else. Nonna smiled as she saw Saori, Chubbs, and their kids passing out food from their restaurant to people.

"Austin, Nonna over here!" Mark called to them by the medical tent. The two came over and saw Mark talking to someone on one of the stretchers.

"Butch! Your alive!" Austin said. He and Nonna heard how heavy the fighting had been in that corridor Butch and Darius defended but they didn't hear anything about survivors.

"You bet. I promised I'd hold them off didn't I?" Butch said.

"That you did Corporal. They'll probably give you a medal for that." Austin said. Butch laughed a bit before he looked at Nonna.

"Good to see you Lieutenant." He said as he saluted to the best of his ability.

"I'm glad to see you're alright Butch." Nonna said.

"Of course. It take more than an armory of bullets and grenades to kill 'The Butch Cavendish'." Butch said as one of the Medics came to check on him.

"I'm sure people will be singing your praises now rest Corporal, that's an order." She said.

"I outrank you Jessica." Butch said as the Medic glared at him. "Ok, Private 2nd class Linton."

She scoffed and replaced the some bandage before going off to help someone else.

"I like the health care I get." Butch said. Austin and Mark laughed with the latter giving Butch a fist bump. Nonna just scoffed.

"Men." She muttered.

"I'm sorry about Darius." Butch said opening his fist to reveal his tags. "He tossed these to me just before he closed the stairwell door. He gave me time to set up and hold back the bastards."

"You held them off for as long as you could Butch." Nonna said. Butch just shook his head.

"We took out every single one of them. Two men against two hundred. And Darius wont get to see it." Butch said.

"No! don't talk that way!" Nonna said coming up to Butch. "You said Darius got you the time you needed to keep fighting. so don't let his last act be something to be sad about. Honor his fighting spirit and tell people how it really happened. 'In his last moments of defiance Darius Robinson closed and locked the door so I could ready myself for my own last stand. In him giving his life, he allowed me to keep mine'. Don't ever let him down Butch. Now that's an order."

Butch felt tears rolling down his eyes as he nodded and laid his head back. The three moved away and let him rest, passing through the park and seeing more people arriving to set themselves up.

"Its going to take time to rebuild." Mark commented.

"Since when has this Island been afraid of rebuilding?" Austin responded.

"If that's what needs to be done then we'll help them. besides its our job to help these people right?" Nonna said. The two shrugged as they saw Carl and Johnson come over.

"Lieutenant! Good to see your alright!" Carl said saluting.

"At ease Private." Nonna said. Carl relaxed as Johnson sighed.

"I lost both Taylor and Darius. Things just never can be easier can they?" Johnson said.

"I guess, we just have to learn to live with it Sarge. Besides there are somethings we can be happy for right?" Mark said.

"I don't think one good thing happened to me today. Can you name one cause I cant." Johnson said before a voice interrupted the conversation.

"Sergeant Henry Johnson!" the group turned and saw the Dean of St. Gloriana English Cultural Academy walking up to them with a stern look in her eyes, and from what only Nonna noticed a small blush on her cheeks.

"Ms. Darjeeling? Forgive me I didn't expect to see you again so soon." Johnson said. Darjeeling's eyes looked as if they gleamed for a second before she coughed into her hands.

"It has come to my attention that while you saved my life back at my school you also placed your hands somewhere they shouldn't have." Darjeeling said causing Johnson to immediately go on the defensive.

"My apologies, I thought on the spot, and I was trying only to protect you Ms. Darjeeling. Any other time and situation and I would never dishonor you like that." Johnson said. Darjeeling softened her glare a little before she spoke again.

"I may accept your apologies, but I'd be more inclined to think about it if you could explain yourself more thoroughly. Perhaps over dinner if necessary."

"If it leads to you forgiving me than I will do that. I will need to talk to General Sato and get a time to do that." Johnson said.

"Never you mind that. General Sato's daughter goes to my school, If I talk to him he will abide by my request. Just find a place to take me and I may accept your apologies. Have a good day everyone." Darjeeling turned and walked away leaving Johnson already scrambling for dinner locations while the others were quite speechless.

"Well, I take it that's a good thing Sarge." Mark said.

"What do you mean?" Johnson said bringing out his phone to find restaurants on satellite map.

"You got yourself a date with Dean Darjeeling. What do you mean what do I mean?" Mark said causing Johnson to look up from his phone, a very noticeable blush on his face.

"Oh shit." He said.

Mark and Austin started laughing, Carl grinned ear to ear and Nonna smiled happily. However a question did linger in her head.

"She said your hands were somewhere they shouldn't have been. What happened?" She asked.

"At the school, dogs ended up chasing us. We ran to the North side of the school and there was a tree. I told her to climb but she couldn't get a grip. In a spur of the moment, tied with some desperation, I placed my hands on her behind and pushed her up the tree." Johnson said causing everyone to double back.

"Wow." Carl said.

"Reminds me of this one story I know." Mark said glancing at Nonna and Austin, who shook their heads at the memory. "Anyway, congratulations Sarge. Just remember that Darjeeling is a good friend of ours, so don't screw this up or hurt her."

"You remember I outrank you Corporal." Johnson said.

"But I outrank you Sergeant, and that's an order." Nonna said with a smile. Johnson sighed, now they were just teasing him.

"Yes, ma'am. I need to go find a date spot, excuse me." Johnson left the group and scratched his head as he looked at his phone.

"Twenty bucks says he comes crawling back for advice." Mark said.

"I'll take those odds." Austin said shaking Marks hand before a new voice interrupted them.

"Are you Austin Mayes?" The four turned and saw two men wearing nice suits approach them.

"I am. Who are you and what do you want?" Austin asked.

The first man opened a badge case showing the insignia for the Central Intelligence Agency, causing the group to have various reactions.

"We're with the CIA. We found a lead that said your elder brother Cody Mayes was here and apart of the Terrorists group, is that right?" The agent asked. Nonna looked at Austin worriedly while Mark and Carl were confused.

"Yeah, he was working with them." Austin said.

"Do you know where he is?" The second agent said kind of hurriedly.

"He's among the dozens of other dead bodies we left back in some ancient temple in Peru. I found him there and ended him there." Austin said.

"Are you sure?" Said the first agent.

"He lied to my family about being dead. He joined up with Terrorists! That bastard isn't my brother anymore." Austin said angrily. The two agents looked at each other and nodded.

"Thank you for your time Mr. Mayes. sorry about whats happened." The two then turned and left.

"Yeah I'm sure you are." Austin said under his breath. He turned back to see Mark with a raised eyebrow. Austin just shook his head and Mark nodded. "Lets get out of here, I want food and need to see my son."

A/N: Epilogue will be released on either Sep 1st or 2nd