Because of You: Covert OPS 1

by Kymber Jones

  “You told Doc the Captain is on his way here. Is that a good idea?”

  The Commander shook his head. “I know he wants to be here for the Brat, but she’ll kill us if he gets here and finds out about Farijika instead of her being able to take him home and surprising their Dad. Somehow I’ve got to be able to talk the Captain into staying home until she gets there.”

  “What about using your brother to help? He’s back at Base by now, isn’t he?”

  The Commander looked surprised. “He may be,” he said. “I’ll go give him a call.”

  With that, the Commander hurried over to a corner at the far end of the room where he could talk in relative quietness, then pulled out his phone from a pants pocket and dialed his twin brother Commander Tate Bollinger, known throughout the Teams as Bullet.

  “Hey man, how’s everything going?” Bullet asked in greeting.

  “It’s not. Our girl’s been shot. She just got out of surgery. Doc said it’s touch and go for a couple of hours, but after that, she should be out of the woods.”

  Bullet swore. “What the fuck happened?”

  “She was trying to get the packages on the plane. However, some of the men that work for the General gave chase.”

  “Alright, give me a few minutes, and I’ll get the Captain. We’ll get on….”

  “No, that’s why I’m calling you. I need you to help me keep Theo there. We’re going to be out of here the day after tomorrow. Tomorrow if I can talk the Doc into it. He only really wants her here overnight to see how she does. Once she’s out, we’re getting on the first plane back home.”

  “Then we’ll meet you some….”

  “That’s just it. We need Theo to stay home. Chrys is bringing a special surprise back home with her. And she needs the house to be in order when she gets there.”

  Bullet sounded skeptical when he asked, “What kind of surprise?”

  “She found Farijika.”

  “I’m sorry. I thought you just said Chrys found Fari….”

  “Yes. Bwana Mkubwa came across him during a Gorilla raid. He kept the boy with him until someone was able to take him to Theo. Chrys just happened to be the one who went there and found him at the village with Bwana Mkubwa. The boy’s here with the guys and me now.”

  “So, how the hell do you expect me to keep the old man here? If he’s already planning on heading over there, not many things can stop him.”

  “I know, but I need you to try. Do whatever you need to do. Just keep the Captain there. Surprising their Dad with Farijika means the world to her.”

  “Shit. You don’t ask for much, do you?” Bullet laughed.

  “You know I wouldn’t ask for this if it weren’t important.”

  “I know. But do I want to be killed by the Bastard or the Bitch? Whichever one I go against, the other will be sure to kick my ass.”

  “That’s why you need to make sure the Captain doesn’t find out about this. What his sorry ass doesn’t know about, he can’t kill you for. And that means Chrys won’t kill you for screwing up the surprise for her father.”

  “Thanks so much for putting me in this position,” Bullet muttered.

  “What else are big brothers for?” Stone joked. “Besides getting their baby brothers in trouble, that is?”

  “Baby brother, my ass. You’re only older by two minutes.”

  “I’m still older.”

  Bullet muttered. “Aw, fuck it. Fine. I’ll keep the Captain here. Just get our girl back home. ASAP.”

  “We’ll get her home. I’ll call you as soon as we have an update.”

  “Thanks.”

  Disconnecting, Stone walked back to his men, where he told them about his call to his brother.

  “So, Commander, is your brother going to keep the Captain there?”

  “Yes. But if we don’t get Chrys out of here by the day after tomorrow, nothing will keep him from jumping on the first flight out to haul her back himself.”

  * x * x * x * x * x * x * x *

  “Captain!” Bullet shouted, entering the house everyone in Covert OPS’s Hellion Division called home.

  “What is it?” Captain Hopkins called out from the second floor.

  “Where are you at?”

  “Packing! I’ll be right down!”

  “Don’t hurry on my account,” Bullet muttered. “I need you to unpack your shit.”

  “What was that?” Captain Hopkins asked as he made his way downstairs.

  “Oh, nothing. A couple of guys and I are going out to get some drinks. I came by to see if you wanted to go out with us.”

  Hopkins looked at Bullet as if he were crazy.

  “What?” Bullet asked.

  “What the hell is going on?” Hopkins demanded.

  “What do you mean?”

  “Stone, lay off it, man. You’re not stupid. And you’re sure as Hell, not some eighteen-year-old recruit. What the hell are you trying to hide?”

  Bullet swore. “I can’t say, Boss.”

  “Can’t?” Hopkins asked. “Or won’t?”

  “Believe me. I would if I could. You know I can’t lie for shit, but I really can’t say. And if I tried, Chrys would kill me.”

  That stopped Hopkins from replying for a minute. When he got his voice back, he said, “Okay, what do you know? And don’t give me any shit about what you can’t say. My daughter’s laying in a hospital on the other side of the world. I need to get over to her. So if I have to stay here, there damn well better be a good reason why.”

  Sighing, Bullet said, “Look, all I know is what Jack told me. Chrys was shot but is now out of surgery. She should be getting out of ICU any time now, and they’re going to hold her overnight. The Doc wants to keep her overnight for observation, but if everything looks good, they’re going to let her go either tomorrow or the next day at the latest. The Doc said they’re going to send her home to recuperate. Jack is going to push to get her out tomorrow so they can get back here as quickly as possible.”

  “Then I’ll just meet them somewhere.” Hopkins insisted.

  “That won’t do.”

  “Why the hell not?”

  “I don’t know. I swear. All I know is Chrys has this huge surprise for you, but she has to give it to you here. I was told we have to get this place ready for a party once they return.”

  “A party? Are you serious?”

  “If word gets out that I told you, you know Jack and Chrys are going to kill me. I told Jack I would keep you here and help get this place ready.”

  “And, of course, this place is going to be set up for a party without my knowledge.”

  “Which is why I’m not trying to hide it. Just don’t tell the Team I told you. Or if you do, at least tell them, you tortured it out of me first.”

  Hopkins finally smiled. It was fun to see a grown man scared of a young slip of a girl, not quite eighteen years old. But then, if he were in Bullet’s shoes, he’d be scared of her too.

  “Fine. We’ll stay here. I need to be kept updated on Chrys every time a call comes in. Got it?”

  Bullet nodded. “Yes, Sir,” he said.

  “Then let’s go do what we need to, to get this place ready for a party. Other than her coming home safe and sound, I don’t see anything else to celebrate, but I guess we’ll have to see what the Brat has in store for us.”

  “I agree, Sir. The Brat always has something up her sleeve. It would probably be safer for everyone if we just let her show her hand in her own time.”

  Hopkins nodded. “Truer words have never been spoken.”

  * x * x * x * x * x * x *

  “So, Far, are you excited to see America?” Stone asked Farijika as the plane the Covert Ops members were on was getting ready to descend.

  “Oh yes! I cannot wait to see America! I want to see the Big Apple! Is it shaped like an apple?” Far asked eagerly.

  Stone chuckled. “No, as far as I can tell, it’s not.”

  “Then why do the American’s call it the Big Apple?”
Far wanted to know.

  “You know, that’s a damn good question,” Stone told him. “And probably one you should ask your Dad when you see him, or Chrys after she wakes up.”

  “But, Chrys will wake up, yes?”

  Stone nodded. “Yes, Chrys will wake up. Probably soon. She just has to sleep a lot to help heal from the gunshot.”

  “Will she be awake when we land?” Far asked.

  “Yes,” Chrys answered Far’s question sleepily. “I’ll be awake.”

  “Oh! Chrys! We did not wake you, did we?” Far sounded worried.

  “No, the plane landing woke me up. I always wake up when we start to land.”

  “Really? Why?”

  “So I can get my gear ready to depart the plane,” Chrys told Far. “We all have to carry stuff off when we leave. If I don’t wake up early enough, then we leave late, and that means our entire trip could be ruined.”

  “And you do not want to ruin your trip,” Far said in all seriousness. “A lot of people could be hurt.”

  “That’s right. A lot of people could be hurt. And a lot of money wasted. So, no, we don’t want to ruin any of our trips, which means we have to wake up before the plane lands.”

  Far nodded. “I understand,” he said. “One day, I am going to be in the American military, just like you and father. And I’ll be able to help people like you do, too.”

  “When you grow up, I think Dad would like it a lot if you decided to join the military. But only if it’s something you want to do. You can also go to school, get a degree, and have any job you want, as long as you work for it.”

  “I can do any job?”

  Chrys nodded. “As long as you go to school and study hard, then yes, you can do any job you want.”

  “Even medicine?”

  “You want to be a Doctor?” Stone asked, interjecting himself back into the conversation.

  “A healer, yes.”

  “Damn right you can be a Doctor. It’s a lot of schooling, but if you study hard, you’ll have no trouble becoming a Doctor if that’s what you want.”

  Far nodded. “It is.”

  “Then we’ll get you into a school where you will have a lot of hard work, but if becoming a Doctor is what you want, then we’ll all help you.”

  Far smiled. “Thank you!”

  “Don’t thank us. You’re the one who will have to do the work.”

  “I will, I promise!”

  “Alright. Now, sit back and make sure you’re buckled. We’re about to land.”

  Twenty minutes later, Chrys and her group made their way slowly down the Tarmac, where two Toyota Rav 4s sat waiting.

  As the group approached, the door closest to the group opened, and Captain Hopkins stepped out, a dark pair of aviator sunglasses covering his eyes.

  “Daddy!” Chrys cried out excitedly, about to rush over to him only to be stopped by Stone.

  “Easy, Brat! Slow it down. You’re going to tear those stitches open, and the Doctor’s are going to kill us for not taking care of you properly.”

  Instantly Chrys stopped. The pain that radiated from her chest had her gasping for breath.

  “Dammit, Girl!” Stone swore.

  “Sorry!” she gasped.

  “Not as sorry as you’re going to be if you don’t take it easy. No strenuous movement for three weeks, you know that.”

  “I know.” She gasped, then made her way slowly to her father.

  Wrapping his arms carefully around his daughter, Hopkins looked Chrys over to see any damage other than what he was told about.

  “How’s my baby girl?” Hopkins asked Chrys.

  “I’m good,” she said. “I’m sore, but I’m good. I have a surprise for you.”

  “I think any surprise can wait until we get back to the house and you rest. You must be exhausted.”

  Chrys shook her head. “This surprise can’t wait. Daddy, I want you to meet Farijika. Far, this is….”

  Hopkins interrupted Chrys. “Farijika? As in...Fari?” Hopkins wanted to know, refusing to believe what he just heard.

  Chrys nodded. “Bwana Mkubwa found him and kept him safe until someone could bring him back here to you. It just happened to be me.”

  Without another word, Hopkins pushed away from Chrys. Quickly, he turned around and walked over to where the men hanging around the plane were hiding someone behind them.

  As Hopkins got closer, the group parted, allowing Hopkins to see his adopted son for the first time in four years.

  “Damn boy,” Hopkins said, choking up on his words. “You’ve grown to where I almost can’t recognize you.”

  “You are my American father.” Far said.

  “I am.” Hopkins gathered Far in his arms, hugging him in what he was thanking God would be the first of many hugs to come. “Do you remember me at all?”

  “I remember pictures. But Bwana Mkubwa also showed me pictures of you. He wanted me to get to know about you.”

  “I am going to have to find something to thank that man for finding you and keeping you safe.”

  “Maybe he can come here to America.” Far suggested.

  “Believe me, if he ever chose to come here, that man has more than earned it. I have everything ready to bring him here. He refuses to leave his people.”

  “Because Bwana Mkubwa is a good man. He has to help our people from the Gorillas.”

  “And we’ll help him however we can, I promise. But we also have to keep everyone here safe too.”

  “I understand.” Far said.

  “Good. Now, let’s get you home. I think Chrys has something set up for us at the house.”

  “No,” Chrys denied, smiling as her father and Far walked up to her. “Not at all.”

  “Sure you don’t.” Hopkins smiled. “I think it’s time you let poor Bullet off the hook. Don’t you?”

  “No! He told you about my surprise.”

  Hopkins laughed. “Bullet didn’t tell me a damn thing about anything. I just know you too damn well.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Chrys?” Hopkins said though it sounded like more of a question. “Love?”

  “Yes?”

  “Since when can Bullet tell a damn lie?”

  “Never.”

  “Exactly. So, if we’re both telling you Bullet didn’t tell me anything, I think it’s pretty easy to believe he’s telling the truth. Besides, he’s too afraid of you to tell a lie.”

  “Well, that’s something at least.”

  Hopkins laughed. “Give the man a break. I think he’s earned it, keeping your shit from me.”

  Chrys pretended to pout before laughing herself. “Fine. Just know I reserve my right to kick his ass at a later date.”

  “It’s duly noted, Brat.”

  “Good. Now, what’s this about going home? I think that would be a great idea if nobody has any objections.”

  “You’re right. Let’s get the hell out of here.”

  Hopkins walked with an arm around Far’s shoulders, and an arm wrapped securely around Chrys’s waist, leading them both to the Rav 4 he had driven to the Airport and helped them into the vehicle. Two other men climbed into the back seat with Far, letting Chrys take shotgun, and they waited as several bags were loaded into the back before Hopkins left and made his way back to the house, leaving the other vehicle to follow.

  * x * x * x * x * x * x * x *

  A couple days passed, and everyone was getting back into their daily routines. Hopkins and Chrys had spoken at length, and they decided it would be a good idea if Hopkins took a little bit of leave time and spent some one-on-one with Far, who was now going by the name of Daniel Hopkins. When asked how he came up with the name Daniel, Far said he heard it in a story about a man defeating a giant and that someday he was going to beat a giant too.

  As Chrys strolled around the Hampton Mall, just window shopping, she thought again how close she came to losing her life and how similar her and Daniel’s lives were in that both of them were kidnapped fr
om their families at young ages; and both had little hope of seeing them again. However, just like Daniel, she had several people looking out for her, and they would do anything to make sure she was safe and happy, and if that meant finding her biological family to see how they were doing, they would do that too.

  Which is how Chrys came to be wandering the mall like she was. After coming so close to death, Chrys needed to make a decision, and walking gave her the focus to do just that.

  Grabbing her phone, Chrys dialed Bullet’s number.

  “Hey, Brat,” Bullet greeted Chrys.

  “Hey, Uncle Tate.”

  “Uh oh, what’s wrong?”

  “Nothing, I promise. I just thought you could help me out with something.”

  “Shoot, what is it?”

  “I want to find them.”

  Bullet didn’t bother to ask who she was talking about. The only people she kept hesitating on whether or not to locate were her biological family.

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yes. After getting shot as I did, I want the chance to meet them finally.”

  “Okay. I can send you their location now if you want it.”

  “You already know where they are.” It wasn’t a question.

  “I found them when you first started debating on whether you wanted to find them or not. I’ve just been waiting to give you the information.”

  “Go ahead and send it to me.”

  A buzz indicated an incoming message.

  “Sent,” Bullet told her.

  “Thanks.”

  “Have you given any thought as to whether or not you’re going to meet them?”

  “I haven’t decided yet. I thought I’d see where my family is first and then decide.”

  “You have a couple of brothers in New York, a brother outside of Phoenix, and a brother in Los Angeles. You also have parents and grandparents in Italy.”

  “So I have an entire family.”

  “Yes, but you also have family here, with us. Don’t you ever forget that.”

  “I won’t, Uncle Tate. I don’t want to leave this family. I was just thinking about getting to know my other family, possibly.”

  “If that’s what you want, we’ll all support you. You know that.”