Author's note: Hey guys, chapter 20 is here! If you like the story please leave a comment.

Chapter 20

I woke up and it was dark. My eyes were trying to adjust, and everything seemed foreign. I didn't know where I was. I sensed that someone was next to me and when I heard them move, I jumped up and tried to move away.

- Shhhh, shhh, it's me baby. You are safe – when I recognised that it was James next to me, I felt relief but was still breathing heavy. His face looked tired like he hasn't slept in ages, and he had dark circles under his eyes. But he also seemed relieved. He saw me still looking around confused.

- You are still at the camp. We are going back tomorrow – when he said the word camp, my memories came back like a tsunami. I did not see him anymore. I did not see the room. I was back at the church watching people being massacred. Then, I heard this strange noise as if someone was screaming and I thought they were back, killing a woman. Then suddenly I realized that it was me. I was the woman screaming and howling. This brought me back to reality and I heard him whispering to me.

- You are safe baby, you are safe. I am here. No one will hurt you again – I felt his strong arms around my waist, pulling me closer and I realized that he was lying on the bed next to me. I looked up at him with quivering lips. He gently moved a strand of my hair that got stuck on my tear-soaked cheeks and cupped my face with one hand.

- Let me get you some water – he said and started to move away. I grabbed onto his uniform like a drowning person to a life vest.

- Don't go, don't leave me.

- It's okay baby, I am not going anywhere, I am right here – he laid back on the bed while I was still holding onto him with a death grip. He put his hands on my now white knuckles, but did not try to peel my fingers off. He pulled me as close to his chest as physically possible. I laid down on my back and slightly pulled him over me, so his body was almost covering mine. It made me feel safe, he made me feel safe and after a while, I fell into an uneasy sleep.

When they got back to the mission, Minty spent most of her time in her room. During the next few days, she found it challenging to eat or sleep or even get out of bed. One time Red tried to ask her what exactly happened in that church, but she just shook her head and started crying. Red was going crazy, he needed to know what took place, but he did not want to force her. He understood how traumatic this experience was for her. However, he could not stop his mind going to the darkest of places. Added to this, when Minty found out the circumstances of how he saved her life, she felt guilty and was blaming herself.

Red was going to the base to prepare for the official hearing into his team's actions. He knew that potentially his whole career was at risk, but he didn't care. The only thing he dreaded were the consequence on his brothers. But he decided that no matter what, he is not going to let anything happen to them. He will take full responsibility.

When he entered the briefing room, all his teammates were there, and he silently took his seat next to Lake.

- Attention on deck – they heard and stood up.

- At ease – Captain Rhodes said and took his place at the head of the table – this hearing is to investigate the actions of Echo team on the 17th of October for disobeying orders and overtaking a church occupied by enemy forces – he took his glasses off and looked at each one of the SEALs.

- Before we begin, I will play a video as evidence. Petty Officer Atkins, you might find it triggering – when Red gave him a questioning look, he explained – it is the video from inside the church.

Red could already feel his hands forming a tight fist and felt everyone's eyes on him. He did not make eye contact with anyone and simply nodded his head with a stern expression. However, he was definitely not prepared to what he was seeing. When Terwase called out his name specifically in the video, his whole body was shaking in anger. Captain Rhodes paused the video and looked at him.

- Continue – he said through gritted teeth, and he pressed play again. When he watched Terwase touching Minty up and tearing her clothes off, he felt like he could not breath and was watching his greatest fear being played out in front of him. He wanted to shout and cover the video. He did not want anyone to see someone assaulting her. He did not want to see someone assaulting her. He wanted Terwase to come back to life so he could kill him again and again in the most brutal ways that he could think of. However, before he completely lost his mind to rage, the church door was kicked open by his team and Lena pulled Minty to the floor. While he was still horrified, he felt the slightest sense of relief since the start of the video, knowing that Minty was not raped.

- Let's take a 10-minute break – Captain Rhodes said, specifically looking at him. Red stood up so quickly that his chair almost fell behind. He rushed outside and kept seeing bits of the video in front of his eyes as if he was looking at screenshots. He felt sick, enraged and powerless because someone tortured and assaulted the most important person in his life, and he was not able to stop it. He was not able to protect her. He knew he should have fought harder to make her stay in the mission. It was all his fault. He could not save her. She suffered because of him. He could sense his vision tunnelling and getting dark, and he punched the wall with full force. He kept punching it until someone grabbed him and forcefully moved him further away.

- Red, Red, can you hear me? Hey buddy just breath, okay? – it was Lake.

- He tortured her. It was my fault – he breathed. Lake put his hands on his shoulders and looked him right in the eyes.

- What happened to Minty was horrible. But it was not your fault - He took him to sit down, and the others gathered around as well.

- What do you guys think will happen? – Zee asked.

- I don't know – Lake answered honestly.

- We are one of the most successful teams. They cannot discharge all of us – Flea argued.

- They will probably decommission us and put us in different teams – Doc said quietly, and no one said anything. Suddenly, Red stood up and told his team that he needed some water and went inside. However, instead of going to the chow hall, he went into the briefing room where he found LT and Captain Rhodes.

- Captain – he saluted when he entered.

- At ease, Petty Officer Atkins – he replied and somewhat looked surprised.

- Captain, I wanted to talk to you before you make any decisions. I know someone needs to be held accountable for what happened, and I take full responsibility. However, I am not going to say I regret anything. I saved the life of the woman I love, and I am sure you would have done the same thing – he paused for a second and looked Captain in the eyes – but my team should not be punished. It was not their fault. As such, I would like to offer up my trident in exchange.

- Atkins...- LT said shocked.

- Are you aware of what that means? You will lose everything. You will face dishonourable discharge, lose your pension, the brotherhood and your whole career will be deemed and treated as if it never existed.

- Yes, sir I am aware.

- Well, then. We will consider your offer and let you know – Red saluted the captain and left. He went outside and saw his team mates still gathering nearby. He was about to approach them when LT caught up to him.

- Atkins, what has gotten into you? Offering up your trident like that? Have you lost your mind – he was positively angry at him. He saw the shock on all his teammates faces. However, he stood by his decision.

- Like I said, I take full responsibility, and my trident probably would have been taken away anyways.

- You are going back in and taking what you said back – Lake came up to him.

- I made my decision, and I am not changing it. It has been the honour of my life to serve with you guys. Now if you excuse me – he turned around and headed straight for the medical staff accommodation.

When he entered the room, he found Minty sitting in her bed, with her legs pulled up to her chest.

- What happened at the hearing. What is going to happen to you and the team? – she asked in a small voice.

- I don't know, they haven't decided yet – he didn't tell her about him offering up his trident. He didn't want her to feel more guilty.

- It's all my fault. You should have let me die – she whispered.

- There was no way I would have let that happen, whatever the cost – she looked up at him and he could see tears forming in her eyes. He sat down on the bed next to her and pulled her close to his chest.