Chapter 56 - Just For When We're Apart, I've Got A Piece Of Your Heart, But I Want The Whole Damn Thing
Rosalie's POV
After what feels like an eternity, I'm finally standing across the street in front of Amber's house. It only takes me a few moments to realize that there was something wrong.
The house seemed vacant. No American Flag displayed, no welcome mat, and a stale smell obviously showing that there was a lack of life.
What was even more disturbing was when a minivan followed by a u-haul truck pulled into the driveway.
A woman and 2 small children climbed out of the mini van and greeted the man who exited the u-haul. The kids excitedly greeted the man by yelling "Daddy" and then chased the dog who had jumped out of the front seat of the u-haul once the door was opened.
With the kids giggling and chasing the dog in the yard, it was what the husband said to the wife that sent Rosalie into a panic.
The husband pulled his wife close and after kissing her softly whispered, "Welcome to our new home."
With a horrifying realization I realized that this was no longer Amber's house, but then where was Amber?
Not having a valid Identification didn't stop me from using my vampire abilities to sneak into the SERE School.
Getting anyone to actually give me any information was the challenging part.
The other SERE Specialist's take to protecting their own to the extremes. In any other circumstances I would be admiring that type of quality and loyalty, but when all I wanted is to get to my love it's infuriating.
I've tried calling Amber's number multiple times, but it seems to be disconnected. I'm running out of ideas.
With no other option I immediately take off for the one place I might be able to find answers, Texas.
Amber's POV
As I hop the fence and slowly make my way towards my destination I can't help but reflect on everything that's led me to this moment.
With every step my haggard body feels heavier and heavier.
When I find my destination, it takes me over 10 minutes to finally raise my head and even through my tears I still manage to read the name I never wanted to see etched in stone.
Michael Gabriel Jones
Beloved Son Who
Was Taken Too
Soon
36 cents is all that I have left to offer.
A penny to show my respects, a dime to signify our time serviced together, and a quarter. A quarter placed on top of his headstone with a heavy heart showing that when Mike left this world we were together.
When I woke up after the IED I has been informed that I was the sole survivor. Though honestly? This doesn't feel like surviving. Hell, I was barely living.
I had been in a coma for almost 2 weeks. I had sustained multiple shrapnel wounds as well as some minor hairline fractures in my face and arms. My legs and spine weren't damaged that badly, but I still am dealing with quite a lot of pain. I also had some significant rib fractures, but the most concerning was the brain injury that I had sustained.
The doctors felt I wouldn't survive being moved, so I had remained at the FOB until I woke up and became stable enough to be transported to our US Base in Germany via aircraft to Ramstein's hospital.
I was there maybe a few hours before my room was flooded with my parents as well as Peter and Charlotte.
Once I was cradled in all three of my mother's arms is when I finally broke down. The realization of what had happened and the repercussions broke me in a way that I thought wasn't possible.
I stayed at Ramstein's hospital at the US Air Base for almost a month in total and it took me that long to finally feel like I was able to breathe.
Being surrounded by other military members who were dealing with their own injuries and recovery, but also dealing with their own survivors guilt and mourning their own losses helped me heal in ways that nothing else would have been able to.
It didn't heal the fractured pieces of my soul, but I'm in a better place mentally then I would have been if I didn't have that support.
Nothing could have prepared me for the overwhelming emotions that arose from being in this cemetery or standing in front of my brother's headstone hoping to find answers that I know will never come.
There was no goodbye, no last I love yous, or long farewell hugs.
I know that there will be no letter.
Since Mike and I long ago agreed that no words would ever be enough in this situation. We always made sure to leave nothing unsaid between us, so there was never a need for a goodbye letter or a just in case letter written to each other on the off chance that the other had died.
You would think I would regret making that pact, but we were both right. His last parting words wouldn't be enough and it is a comfort to know that we always left everything on the table between us.
I take the bottle out of my pocket and fill it with dirt from his graveside. With a heavily labored breath I cap it and place it back in my pocket.
With simple words I gently touch his Name etched into the stone as I say my last goodbye to a brother I thought would never die. "I love you Mike. No matter where life takes me to and even though I need you here, I'll meet you there. Save me a seat and I'll see you soon." With those parting words I kiss my palm then lay it on his name.
Every step I take as I walk away from my brother is agony. The mental pain almost surpasses my physical pain.
I knew I was pushing my body past it's limits, but I refused to not pay my respects and say one final goodbye to my brother. I owed him that.
When I finally make it to the gate that I had used to sneak into to the closed cemetery I practically fall onto it as my body starts to give out.
Within seconds I'm in Peter and Charlotte's arms as they worriedly look me over.
I was grateful for them giving me the space to say my goodbyes alone.
Peter and Charlotte don't say a word as they assist me back into the RV and into the bed.
Charlotte climbs into the bed after they settle me under the covers.
Peter kisses my forehead as he makes his way back to the front cabin so he can drive us back home to Texas.
It takes me a long time to fall asleep. Laying in Charlotte's comforting embrace helps, but my mind won't stop. It keeps replaying that day over and over.
My mind eventually drifts to visiting Nathan and Wyatt's families. I felt it was my duty to visit each of their graves and pay my respects to their families.
It was hard and beyond difficult to go to each of their families and tell the story over and over. To replay the explosion over and over, but I owed it to both Nathan and Wyatt and their families to answer any questions that they had and to share any stories or memories that I had of their loved ones.
From personal experience I know that memories are a comfort when that's all that you have left of those that you love.
What was devastating was Mike's family's reaction to seeing me. They slammed the door in my face. Not before yelling and screaming at me about how it was my fault that Mike died. Which wasn't something I wasn't already thinking. I knew Mike was there because he wanted to be where I was. I know that Mike was an adult and he made his own decisions, but it still didn't stop me from feeling responsible. Survivors guilt in a nutshell
They also blamed me for Mike re-enlisting, which again wasn't exactly my fault, but I still felt responsibility for.
Even if the blame wasn't solely on me I still felt it's weight on my shoulders.
Pain and love the two recurring themes in my life. Pain being the more prevalent for most of my life, but thinking about these last few months love might just overshadow the pain all thanks to the new additions to my family.
"Thank you both for driving me to see the families. And for giving me the space to do it alone." I softly say knowing that both Charlotte and Peter would hear me.
Charlotte's only response was to kiss my head and to draw me deeper into her arms. With that feeling of safety and love I was able to fall asleep.
Rosalie's POV
Texas didn't hold any answers for me either. Standing in the middle of Amber's cabin hideaway I'm overwhelmed with memory after memory of Amber.
I find my feet automatically carrying me to the pillar that has Amber's name carved into it. My fingers affectionately caress Amber's name as my whole being yearns for my fingertips to be touching Amber instead.
"Where are you?" I can't help but whisper brokenly. "I miss you and I need you." I continue to whisper to the pillar with a ragged breath.
Finding inner strength, strength I can honestly say comes from love in its truest form I vow, "I will fight for us and our love. I'm sorry that I didn't realize and accept our mate bond sooner. I was a coward... I'm still a coward to be honest, but I'm not willing to live the rest of my eternal life without you in it, it's not something that I think that I can do. So, I will find you and I will spend the rest of whatever time you'll give me to cherish you. This I promise you."
With a parting kiss to my love's name I'm running again towards who I hope will be able to give me answers.
Amber's POV
A particular hard bump manages to jostled me in bed enough to wake me up. With a pain filled groan I swing myself up and out of bed.
I slowly make my way up to the front of the RV's cabin holding my sore ribs as I go.
Thankfully the small fractures that I had have healed for the most part. Now I just get to deal with the pain as they finish up healing the rest of the way.
Peter is out of the passenger seat and guiding me into his vacant spot as soon as I'm within his reach.
With another groan I ask, "Not to sound like a little kid, but are we there yet?"
With a chuckle Charlotte says, "Yes, you big baby." We'll be pulling into the driveway within the next 20 minutes or so.
I'm relieved as I say, "Good. I'm starved."
With a smile Peter says, "Well it's a good thing your brother's so smart, because he made an H-E-B stop at the last gas stop that we made." He cheekily states while gesturing to the assorted foods in the bins in the corner opposite the couch.
"Man, I miss H-E-B." I longing say.
Peter proudly says, "Of course you do, like any true Texan should."
Charlotte lovingly flashes us a smile before turning back to the road.
In no time and a bag of cheddar cheese popcorn later we're piling out of the RV and with a sigh, it felt like I could finally breath again, because I was home.
Alice's POV
To say that not only was I relieved but the whole family is would be a huge understatement.
When I received the vision about 'Rosalie's epiphany' it was like I could hear the song hallelujah in the background of the vision.
The rest of the family was relieved and hopeful in equal measures.
The next vision that I received showed Rosalie's lack of information which led to Jasper contacting our family 'employees' that helps us from time to time with a number of things to include new identities or information gathering. Sometimes to include not always obtaining these types of things in the most legal of ways or methods.
Within a few hours we had all of our best assets out trying to piece together our puzzle pieces.
The family gathered back at one of our main hubs that we kept around the world when we needed to bunker down for whatever reason.
Which led us all to being here in our residence in New York City.
Usually, I would have become a tornado of shopping and redecorating as soon we arrived, but not this time. This time I had more important things to do and neglecting shopping at one of the shopping meccas in the world in my opinion spoke volumes to my love and devotion to not only Rosalie, but to Amber as well.
It didn't take long for Rosalie to appear with a haggard appearance demanding an update to any news or leads.
Unfortunately, so far information has been a slow process.
With anxious and over excited hands Carslie reaches for his phone as it goes off hoping to be finally receiving an update.
Carslie anxiousness could be heard in his voice as he hurriedly answers, "Yes! Hello! Any updates?!"
With a startled face that has the rest of the family's faces dropping, we're shocked to hear Carslie say, "Yes, she is. Ok." He then turns and holds the phone out towards Rosalie as he says, "Rosalie, it's for you."
With shaking hands Rosalie puts the phone up to her ear, "Hello, this is Rosalie." There was a pause then Rosalie's shocked voice exclaimed, "Tanya? What do you mean? I'm afraid I don't have time for a visit, I need to find Amber."
After another pause, Rosalie's voice shakingly asks, "What do you mean there's a letter?...A letter from who?...Amber?!.. How can that be?"
Within seconds of Rosalie hanging up the phone the whole family is loading up and headed to the small airport to fly out to Alaska to get our hands on this mysterious letter. A letter that hopefully will hold answers for everyone.
Amber's POV
I exasperatedly tell Peter and Charlotte, "I'll be fine I promise. You need to hunt and I honestly could use some alone time to gather my thoughts and spend some time with my grandparents before we make our way back home to Italy."
Reluctantly they both agreed and after a long family hug they were off.
I slowly make my way to my room at the main house.
There I dig through my boxes till I find what I'm looking for.
It was a photo of Mike and I. My favorite photo of us to be specific.
It was taken on a random day, the event or day wasn't really significant, because it was just a normal day just like any other.
Mike and I had gone over to one of our friends' houses and we were having one of our regular group hangs. Mike and I were in the kitchen standing shoulder to shoulder as we hunched over the counter and I honestly couldn't tell you what we were talking about at the time.
We were both happy and content with smiles on our faces as one of our friends took this random candid photo that summed up our friendship so well.
My heart clenched as I stared at my brother's face, knowing that I would never see him again. I didn't just loose a piece of my heart and soul the world lost some of its warmth and light that only could be gained through Mike's wonderful soul.
Holding the lump in my throat at bay I haggardly make my way outside to my grandparent graves clutching the photo in my hand.