This chapter is strictly an Eli/Sanaa story with some flashbacks mixed in.
Eli:
Eli sat in the window seat of the luxury jet that was used by Team Rainbow to transport them home. The jet was nice with a stocked mini bar and kitchen, enough cargo space to transport a platoon of Marines and their equipment, now it was transporting a washed up green beret, and the best woman in the world.
Thinking of Sanaa made her appear, walking down the row with 2 water bottles. She handed him a bottle and took her seat beside him.
"No liquor?" Eli asked, and Sanaa smiled softly at him.
"No liquor now, you need your sleep, you haven't slept really in two days, darling." Sanaa said as Eli opened his water bottle and stopped before taking a drink.
"Did you spike my water with something?" He asked, and she took his water bottle and took a drink while giving him her bottle.
"Eli, we've known you a long time. Do you think I would do something like that during a time like this?" Sanaa asked as Eli put his water in the cup holder.
"I don't know anything right now, It's all conflicting inside my head right now. I know he's my dad, I know deep in my heart that I do love him somewhat, I know he's an impossible man who won't accept something that hasn't gone his way. One thing I know is that I still haven't forgiven what he did to you the last time we saw him." Eli said, and her brown eyes seem to harden and soften at the same time.
She placed her right hand over his, and he rolled it over so their fingers interlocked. It didn't bother him that she was missing fingertips he was missing an entire foot, and she still loved him all the same.
"The past is the past. You can't change what happened. What you can do is choose what kind of person you want to be in the here and now." Sanaa said, and Eli could hear the words repeat in his head in an elegant males voice.
He smiled. "Using Kaid's teachings already, maybe it'll be you to lead the fortress into the fortress and not Saif." Eli said as she smiled since he hadn't done much of it recently.
"You know if Saif wasn't next in line to inherite the Kaid's responsibility, you'd be a shoe in for the job." Sanaa said as Eli shook his head.
"You're his star pupil." Eli said, rubbing his thumb over her hand.
"And you're the son he never had." Sanaa blurted before stopping herself. Eli didn't blame her. Fathers were a touchy subject at the moment.
Eli leaned forward and pressed his forehead against hers, and shut his eyes. He felt her lips touch his softly and returned the kiss when a thought crossed his mind.
"Malcolm was right." He said as she pecked his lip again.
"About what?" She asked as he slowly opened his eyes.
"He said you'd keep me in line if I would ever lose my way." Eli said, and she nodded.
"He's right. What does this have to do with anything?" Sanaa asked, and Eli just blurted out what needed saying.
"Marry me." The words were so quiet that he wasn't sure she heard him.
"Okay." She said just as quiet.
"Yeah?" He asked with that goofy smile that only she got.
"Yes, you big goofy idiot, of course I'll marry you." Eli kissed her and cupped her face with one of his baseball glove sized hands.
"Wait here." He said, quickly rising and opening the luggage compartment above. He quickly dodged her backpack when it came falling out. He grabbed his duffel and found the pocket with the ring in the black box.
"Oh, Eli." She said as he handed her the box, and she opened it. "It's beautiful, but why emeralds, if I might ask?"
"That's your birth stone, July is emeralds, right?" Eli asked, and she shook her head with a very amused smile.
"July is the ruby, May is the emerald. It doesn't matter it's beautiful, and I love it, plus." She cupped his face as he was crouched in front of her seat. "The look on your face is priceless."
Sanaa:
Eli had reclined his seat and was using his jacket as a pillow while he finally got some sleep. Sanaa was happy he was able to fall asleep without having to give him something discreetly, which she planned on doing at some point.
She pulled her laptop out of the main pocket of her bag and logged in to check her email. She had received an email from Gustave, Malcolm, and Harry. She opened Harry's first and would work her way down.
Re: A new beginning.
"Sanaa, this email is to notify you that Team Rainbow is going to continue operations as if nothing happened, but we plan on changing things around some.
"First, the old five person teams are being dismantled and are replaced with four continuous operating teams of like-minded operators."
She liked the sound of that. She admired everyone's skill sets in Rainbow from Chul and Nøkk who made themselves invisible in the digital spectrum, to Tiana and Daryll, who used their considerable skill to best their opponents, but not everyone meshed well together.
She closed Harry's email after it went on about psychological effects and people working well together based on personalities. She respected Harry, but he sometimes drones on to people who just need simple awnsers. She opened Malcolm's email and grinned at the topic.
RE: B.L.U.F
"Bottom line up front is that the UN has agreed to keep us active. The secretary generals are keeping us on a short leash. You're being stood up on a team with Gustave. Team names are still under consideration until the teams are organized."
"We don't know where we're going to put Eli yet. He may be placed on the support oriented team, or I may take him as an assistant to help with the massive tactical planning on team assignments. Keep each other grounded out there, and come back to us."
Sanaa just skimmed Gustave's email, seeing that it repeated a lot of what the prior emails said. Eli groaned, and she saw him shifting in his seat. She grabbed her jacket from behind her and covered him with it.
He deserved better than the mess that his family was. Her parents loved Eli, and she just didn't understand why someone wouldn't accept their child's wishes. Sanaa was an only child, so she couldn't say how her parents would act with more than one child.
"Lady and gentleman, this is your pilot speaking. We are less than an hour from Bessemer Municipal Airport. Please prepare for landing, and we would like to thank you for flying Rainbow Airlines where earning miles doesn't matter cause these flights are free." The pilot, a group captain in the RAF named Whitmer, said over the PA system, and Sanaa covered her face to dampen her laughter.
"You can be my wingman anytime, Maverick." Eli said, raising his seat and handing Sanaa her jacket back.
"How are you feeling?" She asked as he rubbed his eyes.
"Better, let's get on the ground and see how I feel next." Eli said, sliding his jacket back on.
Eli:
The two of them walked down the ramp to the awaiting Tahoe and the two figures standing outside of the large vehicle.
Helena Crawley stood almost six foot tall with dirty blonde hair with streaks of gray now present. She was wearing a light brown blouse and blue jeans. She walked up to Eli and wrapped her small arms around his body while hugging his mother.
Eli noticed the man wasn't Junior Dempsey as he expected, but William Kovac, who was a retired Army Ranger he had met the last time he was here, when Eli asked him if he knew Malcolm the surly man from Arkansas nodded.
"Yeah, I knew of CSM Talbert. I was two classes behind him in Ranger School, but when he had to go on hardship leave, we bumped into each other on the bus ride back. Next time, I heard that name was before I got out of the service. He had been arrested, but the details were classified, probably something to do with the unit, or maybe special activities, I don't really know."
Will was a stocky man in his late thirties with short black hair. The two men nodded at each other as Eli released his mom.
"Thank you for coming, Eli." Eli still found it odd that his mom was using his nickname.
"Mom, you can call me Elliott if you want." Eli said as Helena took Sanaa's hand.
"No need, me and your father both agreed that we were awful the last time you two were here. I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive us, dear. I acted as a bystander in my own home for too long." Helena said, noticing the ring. "I see. Well, it took my son long enough, I knew from the moment I saw you and the way he acted that you would be together."
"Ma'am we should get going." Will said, opening the back driver side door to the SUV.
"You're right, William. Please take us to the house first." Helena said as Eli and Sanaa threw their duffels in the back of the SUV.
"The house? What about the hospital?" Eli asked as they made their way down the road. The Tahoe had three rows of seats, and the middle jump seat spun around to face the back. This is where Helena and Sanaa sat.
"Get settled in, and you two can go, I just came from there." Helena said, and Eli noticed the bags under her eyes for the first time.
"I'm sorry, mom." Eli said, reaching out, taking his mother's hand.
"It's not your fault, Hubert always smoked, and he didn't stop when we first got married, and now he's accepted his fate. He wishes to make amends before he passes." Helena said, never breaking eye with her son.
"Mom, I don't know that I can forgive him completely." Eli said, and she nodded.
"He's not looking for forgiveness, son. After you left the last time, he really sat down and examined everything he did wrong. It nearly sent him over the edge, and I had to talk him out of flying to the UK to find you." Helena said, and Eli took his hand back with shock on his face.
"That doesn't sound like him." Eli said, shaking his head.
"People can change, son, they prove it every day." Helena said as Eli leaned back into the seat.
Flashback
Sanaa:
Eli drove the rental car through the front gate of the Crawley estate, and Sanaa was shocked by its rustic beauty. The mile long gravel driveway flanked on both sides by beautiful flowering trees.
"So this is why you think Forrest Gump is an 'ok' movie." Sanaa said as Eli chuckled. She had wanted to watch a movie that was based where Eli was from. The large southern colonial architecture of the house, with its white columns and balconies, definitely reminded her of the movie.
The circular driveway at the end of the road had only one other vehicle, and it was a black Chevy Tahoe with state government license plates and a tall bald man standing with his arms behind his back waiting for them.
Sanaa exited the vehicle while grabbing her duffel and backpack from the back seat, and Eli did the same. They both stood across from the man who wore a black polo shirt that was tucked inside of his blue jeans. He was in his early to mid fifties and never broke eye contact with Eli.
"Master Chief." Eli said deadpan as if this man was his SNCO.
"Master Sergeant." The bald man said, and they never moved for three seconds until they both broke out laughing and exchanged strong handshakes.
"Good to see you, Junior." Eli said, gesturing to Sanaa. "This is Sanaa El Maktoub." Sanaa took the offered hand and shook it.
"Pleasure to meet you, Eli has told me a lot about you." What surprised her the most is that he said it in fluent Arabic.
"Your Arabic is flawless." Sanaa replied, and Junior smiled, which caused his eyes to crinkle around the edges.
"I'm a fossil from DEVGRU who served before the war in Iraq, and Afghanistan even started. I spent a lot of time in Arabic speaking countries, so i decided to learn the language." Junior said, gesturing to the house but stopped when he saw two small figures rushing down the stairs.
"Uncle Eli!" The two boys were Lucas and Aiden, who were the boys of Eli's oldest brother Logan, Lucas seemed to be eight or nine while Aiden seemed six or seven.
Eli dropped to one knee and opened his arms wide for his nephews. Eli scooped the boys up one in each arm and stood back up. "Man, you two are getting heavy. Before long, I won't be able to carry you." Eli said as both boys giggled, which caused all three adults to smile.
"Nuh-uh, Uncle Eli is the strongest. He'll be strong forever." Aiden said with that confidence only a little kid could have.
"Who's stronger boys me or your Uncle Eli?" Junior asked with a tone of bribery in his voice.
Both boys looked at the large frame of their uncle and the muscled fire plug frame of Junior after they spent a minute deliberating they both answered as one.
"Tie!" They both exclaimed, and Eli knelt to let the boys down.
"Weren't you both with your grandmother?" Junior asked as they made their way up the old wooden stairs.
"She wanted us to come get Uncle Eli." Lucas said as he pointed down the large covered porch that wrapped around the manor.
"Go see her, Eli. I'll take these two back to their father." Junior said, placing an arm around both boys' shoulders and leading them inside.
They rounded the corner, and Sanaa saw an old woman sitting in a rocking chair with a large bundle of blankets sitting on her lap that she was adding to with knitting skills only a grandmother could possess.
"Took you long enough." Dorothy Crawley said, laying her knitting needles on the quilt she was making. Sanaa saw the same grin that she saw on Eli's face every day.
"Sorry, nemaw, we came as quick as we could."Eli said, taking a knee beside he rocking chair. "Been taking your walks?"
Dorothy handed the quilt to Eli, who stuffed it inside a picnic styled box by the chair. The woman stood with a quickness that Sanaa was surprised to see in a woman who just turned ninety-four.
"Of course I have. I can't have you as the only fit one in this family." Dorothy said, squeezing one of Eli's bicep. "They feeding you right over there? You're looking smaller."
"Nemaw, I promise I'm eating my three squares a day." Eli said, and Sanaa could see the red start to appear in Eli's cheeks and ears.
Dorothy looked behind Eli and noticed Sanaa. She stood at eye level with her eyes just like Eli's that could pierce your heart.
The older woman smiled big. "My goodness, where are my manners. You must be Sanaa, Eli told me a lot about you in his letters." Dorothy said as the older woman walked up to her and took both her hands in hers.
"He's told me a lot about you as well, ma'am. He said you taught him how to sew." Sanaa said, nodding at the quilt box.
"Why yes, my husband had to learn back when he was in the first Marines, I taught all my children and grandchildren how to. It's a dying skill these days. Did your mother or grandmother sew?" Dorothy asked, and Sanaa felt at home with this woman.
"I never knew my grandmother's. Unfortunately, my mother tried her best when I was younger, but she gave up on it, I had to learn when I joined the military." Sanaa said as Dorothy led her to the railing.
"Shame about that, dear, knowing a grandparents love is the best kind in my opinion. I'm glad Eli brought you to meet us. He told me you were a big help to his recovery after he was hurt." Dorothy said as Eli leaned against the wall of the house, watching the two women.
"He's a strong man, and it wasn't just me that helped." Sanaa asked, and Dorothy smiled again.
"He didn't bring them home, did he?" Dorothy asked, and Sanaa had to agree.
Eli:
The SUV stopped in almost the same spot as their last visit, but it wasn't the same. The mood was completely different, and it made Eli uneasy.
Grabbing his bag from the back of the vehicle, he made his way to the bottom of the steps and noticed two small figures standing at the top of the stairs. Lucas and Aiden were almost a year older, but they grew so much since he last saw them.
"Hi Eli." Aiden said as Eli reached the top of the stairs.
"Hi Ms. Sanaa." Lucas said as she appeared beside him.
"Hello boys, how are you doing?" Sanaa asked, and both boys just shrugged.
"We went and saw Grandpa yesterday." Aiden said with a lot of sadness in his voice.
"Dad's mad at you, Eli." Lucas said, and Eli felt his stomach drop.
"I know he's mad at me, buddy. I upset everyone the last time I was here." Eli said as the front door opened and Dorothy came outside.
"They have no reason to be mad at either of you." Dorothy said, stepping behind both boys and touching their shoulders. "Boys, go inside and get started on your homework before your mom comes to get you." Both boys left, and Helena, along with William, followed them inside.
"Nemaw." Eli said before wrapping the old woman in a hug. "I'm glad I made it before."
"Shush, my boy, everything will be okay." Dorothy said, kissing Eli on the cheek before releasing him and turning to Sanaa. "My dear, I'm so glad to see you again."
Sanaa wrapped her in a similar hug and felt the old woman stroke her hair. When they released, they took each other's hands as they did before, and Dorothy saw the ring.
"My ain't that a rock, it's as pretty as you are dear." Dorothy said, touching the ring and looking over at Eli. "I told you what birthstone to get you ninny." Eli deflated a little.
"I'm an idiot I know. This has been a reoccurring thing in my life." Eli said, rolling his new prosthetic leg around. "I got a new foot. If anyone was curious." Dorothy rolled her eyes and gestured for them to follow her inside.
"You aren't an idiot dear, more knucklehead than anything. Go ahead and take your stuff upstairs, and William can drive you to the hospital." Dorothy said, and Eli narrowed his eyes.
"We're staying in my cabin." Eli said as Dorothy shook her head.
"Honey, Logan moved all your stuff out to use your cabin as a campaign headquarters for his run for governor. I told him not to do it, but he doesn't listen to his Nemaw anymore." Eli tightened his grip on his bag. "You can either stay in your old room or Chris's room."
Chris had moved out after taking control of the family construction business and bought a small plot of land nearby with his wife and son living in a house he built himself.
"Eli honey, we adapt and overcome, let's go pick a room." Sanaa said as Eli started up the stairs, but Sanaa stayed behind to talk to Nemaw.
Eli opened the door to his bedroom, and the smell of familiarity and dust hit his nostrils. Hitting the light, he saw that his bed had been covered with a sheet, and the windows had a blanket hanging over them.
Eli hated his room when he was a boy he'd love playing in here with Tommy, but when he returned from his first deployment, he began construction on his cabin that was near the lake on the other side of the manor. It took three years for him and Chris, with some help from Tommy, to get it finished.
"Now my big brother is gonna try and muscle me around." Eli muttered, setting his duffel on the old couch from his cabin that sat against the back wall.
He removed the covering from the windows, and with the help of the natural light, he noticed all the boxes of his belongings from his cabin.
Sanaa entered the room as he finished folding the sheet that was on his bed. She sat her bags by his and stood staring at the room with photos of classic cars, football team pictures, and a single photo of him and his family.
"All settled?" Eli asked, and she nodded at the look of determination on his face. "Let's go." He walked past her, but she grabbed his arm.
"Remember to keep an open mind." Sanaa said, and Eli nodded before continuing on his way to find their driver."
Flashback
Sanaa:
Sanaa had finished unpacking her clothes from her bags and was sliding the suitcase under the bed when the sound of knocking caused her to look at the door.
In the doorway was a man around Eli's age with a boy who could've been sixteen or seventeen. The older man was almost a carbon copy of Eli except for having dark brown hair. The man was fit but didn't have the large frame of Eli. He was also holding a bottle of brown liquid.
"Too early?" The man asked as they both crossed the threshold. Eli climbed down from the storage loft above and landed with a graceful thud.
"Absolutely not. The good times aren't over, are they?" Eli said, clasping the man's hand and pulling him into a hug. "Chris, Jerry, this is Sanaa." Eli said with his arm around Chris.
"It's a pleasure to meet you. My little brother has told me a lot about you. This is my son Jerry, say hi Jerry." Chris said as they all shook hands. Both men had rough calloused hands.
"Hi Jerry." Jerry said with a large smile on his face that made Sanaa smile. She knew that Chris was two years older than Eli and that Jerry's mother was a traveling nurse.
"Eli has told me so much about you all." Sanaa said as Eli popped open the bottle after retrieving three glasses.
"How about one for me, unc?" Jerry asked, and Eli looked up from pouring with a raised eyebrow.
"Not old enough, Jerry." Eli said, handing Sanaa her glass.
"Hey, when we were his age, we used to get into a lot of trouble." Chris said, shoving his son playfully.
"When we were his age, it was a different world." Eli said, bringing the glass to his lips. "Got any plans after high school?"
Jerry shrugged like every teenager did. "Mom says the military isn't an option." Jerry said, and Chris seemed a little aggravated that his son mentioned that.
Eli shrugged back. "It's not for everyone. Almost everyone back at base has some sort of degree to fall back on, except me, of course." Eli said, winking at his brother.
"Melanie didn't say that as a dig against you, Eli. She just wants him to get the most out of life." Chris said, trying to defend his wife.
Sanaa felt Eli take her right hand in his and raise it so both his relatives could see. "She's made the most out of life. She didn't get these in some hostile lands. She got them chasing a passion that she loves. Jerry, I won't insult your parents, but know that when you turn of age, you can choose your own destiny. I did, and look how I turned out."
"I'm sorry Eli, I know how passionate you are about chasing your own life, truce?" Chris asked, holding his fist out, which Eli bumped.
"All good, man." Eli drained his glass and sat it on the table. "Let's go see the rest of the family."
End of part 1