Signed, SEALed, Delivered

by Jaime Russell

  “Hey, now you’ve crossed the line. Ellen’s private life has nothing to do with this case, and you using it to justify him breaking the law, will get you court martialed.” I stand up straight. “Dr. Kane, Ellen.” I look at them both. “I’m truly sorry for this. This is not how my team works. Dr. Kane, what if Ellen goes undercover as a janitor or an aide to confirm his identity. Once we get that, then I can legally get the warrants to monitor him, until he’s released.” I ask politely, as Matt looks at me and nods.

  “You put my patient in jeopardy, and I’ll pull the plug.” Dr. Kane tells us.

  Sam walks out, dialing on his cell phone. “He’s probably calling his contact at the Pentagon to make sure you weren’t bullshitting him about the HIPAA law.” I chuckle, because everything that Matt said is right, and I wouldn’ve told Sam that, but he didn’t want to listen to me. Tyler and I head out of the office, while I notice Ellen is standing at the corner of Matt’s desk.

  “Are you going to argue with me, too, since you outrank me?” Matt snaps at Ellen. This must be hard on a marriage. I quickly walk away, not wanting in the middle of someone’s drama.

  After a bit, I meet up with Ellen in the locker room, and she’s dressed in scrubs. “How are you holding up?” I ask her. I’ve worked a couple of missions with her, and we’ve formed a friendship.

  “It’s always hard, when egos are involved. Sam thinks he’s in charge and has a right to run over people. He doesn’t understand the term that ‘you’ll get more flies with honey’.”

  “I’m sorry that he brought your private life into a mission. I’m pretty sure that goes against everything.”

  “Oh, it does, but Matt and I haven’t been husband and wife in a long time. He filed for divorce two months ago. I just got served the papers last night.”

  “I’m sorry, Ellen.” I squeeze her shoulder, as she smiles weakly at me.

  “Let’s do this.” I nod, as I hide a microphone in her wig.

  “Testing. Rico Suave and Lucy reporting for duty.” I reply out loudly, as a text message comes through my phone.

  Tyler: Rico Suave more like Donald Duck.

  I laugh aloud, as I show the text message to Ellen, as she laughs. She starts to make her way out of the locker room first, before I head down to the waiting room. I have a listening device in my ear, so it’s like there’s music playing. I’m not leaving Ellen unprotected, and Sam isn’t going to get near Dr. Kane, while I’m on this mission.

  Ellen’s in the room, as I hear some French accents, before I hit the record button. “Did you sleep well, doc?” The target asks Dr. Kane. “You look a little tired.”

  “I slept fine. Thank you for asking. How’s your pain level?”

  “It’s tolerable. The staff has been very attentive to me.” He tells Dr. Kane.

  “I’m going to work on checking the bandages. Sorry, guys. I’m going to need you to leave, so I can do this.” They start to argue with the doctor, and I start to stand up and walk to the door, when I’m stopped, as I hear him talking to someone. “Nurse, can you come help me? I need to check these bandages for puss, discharge, drainage, and blood.”

  “Yes, sir.” I hear Ellen’s voice, as I sit back down and relax, and then send a text.

  Me: Ellen is in the room.

  I hear a lot of shuffling around and gloves slapping, which makes me think that I can only imagine what is going on in this room. Ellen puts on her gloves and gown, so she can stand across from her husband. He tells her what he needs her to do, and she does it flawlessly, because I don’t hear any complaining or being told no do it again. She could’ve quit the Army, went to school to be a nurse, and be in the family business with her husband. I remember one night her crying into her beer about her having to give up her career of being in the CIA for her husband. She didn’t want that, and it’s a constant fight for them. I hear two other voices in the room. This must be the bodyguards.

  “That wasn’t too bad, was it?” I hear Dr. Kane speak, after thirty minutes.

  “It was painless. What did you do?” The suspected target asks.

  “I gave you some pain meds before, and since a lot of this skin is already dead, you didn’t feel it. Get some rest, but I do need to run some more tests. Although this is an Army hospital, these men with guns, do scare the other patients, who are trying to heal. Please keep them hidden better, or you’ll have to leave the hospital all together.” Dr. Kane states. “A nurse will be in to change the IV bag later one.” I hear the door and some things shuffling around.

  “Let me help you,” I whisper to Ellen.

  “The smell of burnt flesh never gets easy, and it still makes me queasy, but being close to that man, makes me so mad.” She tells me. “He’s the man that we’re tracking.”

  “Ellen, I need to speak to you in private. It’s about that man in there. Follow me.” Matt says, as I sit straight up. I hope that she doesn’t remove the wig with the microphone. “The man that I’m treating came here with multiple burns on his torso and face. I also noticed that he had a tattoo on his arm nowhere near his injuries, but it looked like someone took a sharp jagged object and shredded it. He’s going to be unrecognizable, once the scars heal.”

  “Will you be able to draw the tattoo or recognize it, if you saw it again?” I don’t know what is said or done, because nothing comes through, until I hear. “We’ll talk later.”

  I hear a door slam. “I’m in the locker room, and I’ll meet you in the cafeteria for a quick debrief, before a shower.” I keep the earbud in my ear because I want to make sure she’s safe. I sit drinking horrible coffee with Sam, Tyler, and Mark. I really want to call Ella.

  She’s been on mind so bad, so I pull up my email.

  My sweet Ella,

  I’m missing you so bad, and it’s only been a few weeks. I don’t know even know what day it is right now. I hate waking up without you. I wish I could bring you and Alec here with me, so I know that I can see you whenever I want. I know when I left you, standing on my front porch crying, I meant what I said. I love you, and when I come back to you, I promise we will talk about the future. I know that Alec wants me to the superhero, but this is eating me up inside right now. I think that I might startup a security business in Nashville. Do you think Oak Hill could handle Alec and me? I love you with all my heart. Please know that you’re on my mind all the time.

  You’re lonely without you boyfriend,

  Zack

  Someone is yelling my name to get my attention. “Yeah?” I look up to see Sam, standing over the table with some papers.

  “We got the warrants. Now, who wants to shove these up the good doctor’s ass?” He chuckles, as I stand.

  “I don’t know how you do things, but we have a code of conduct that we live by. We respect the people that we work with, and we need his help and understanding. I’ll talk to him. Why don’t you stay as far away as you can from him?” I take the papers from his hands, as I leave, knocking my chair over, as my team starts to follow me.

  “That guy is an ass.” Tyler scoffs, as I agree.

  I’m on my phone to my commander because I need to find out who is running this mission. He’s going to get someone killed. Dr. Kane comes through for us and has them running some tests, so we can get in there to listen and watch. We spend about a week listening, and as promised to Dr. Kane, we remove the HIPPA stuff. I finally get the confirmation, and we start making plans to follow him.

  Gabriele Marks

  Zack has been gone for a month, and I can’t sleep tonight. I have this feeling in my stomach that something’s wrong. I sent him an email, telling him that I missed him and loved him. I had a nice Skype call with Alec, too. We worked on his song some. It’s been so amazing getting to know this kid.

  I took a couple of Benadryl, hoping that helps me sleep. When I start to drift asleep, I toss and turn, as I dream. In my dream, it’s almost six months later.

  “Ella, there are two men here to see you.” My secretary pokes her head into
my office, while I’m working on my latest project with a deadline looming. Zack and I got married, when he came back on Valentine's Day. I moved to Knoxville to be with Zack, Alec, and Kelly. Annie loves being with Alec every day.

  Kelly has also become my best friend. We do a girls’ night once a week with my sister, and Joshua babysits Alec. I’m in Nashville two days a week, which isn’t too bad, but the commute sucks, so I stay with my parents.

  I quickly walk out of my office.

  “I’m Gabriele Sanders. How can I help you?” The two men who stand before me are dressed in Navy uniforms.

  “Mrs. Sanders, my name is Chaplain Michael Paxton. We’re here to inform you that you are the next of kin of one Zachary Sanders. He was killed last night in action.” I stumble backwards.

  “What? How? Are you sure it's my Zack?” I ask stunned. My bosses walk in, when I say my Zack.

  “What is going on?” My boss asks.

  “Zack was killed last night, and I’m his next of kin.” I tell her, as I look back at the chaplain. “What do I need to do?”

  “Lieutenant Sander’s remains are being transported by plane, as we speak. We identified him through his dental records, as he was severely burned. We’ll need you to come to the airport to retrieve him.”

  “Thank you. I’m assuming he will get a military funeral?” He nods, as he gives me the flight details and leaves. My bosses tell me that they’re going to call my parents to come and get me. I nod, as I’m standing there crying. My hands shake with the piece of paper in my hand. My secretary takes the paper, so it doesn’t rip to shreds.

  I sit at my desk, looking at old emails from Zack, and then watching videos from my time with him. I start to cry harder. “Why did you have to get yourself killed?” There’s a loud bang outside my window, and I stand up from my desk, looking out my window seeing nothing.

  I sit straight up from laying down on the bed, and I feel my face wet from tears that fell. I reach for my phone. I know that Zack isn’t able to answer his phone, but I call it anyway. It rings and rings.

  “Ella? Baby, are you okay?”

  “Zack,” I sigh in relief.

  “Yeah. If anyone else is calling you baby, I’m kicking their ass.” I start sobbing into the phone. “What’s the matter? Shh, calm down.” I hear him tell someone in the background that he’ll be right back. “Talk to me, baby.” I slow down on my crying.

  “I had a really bad dream. It started off where we were married, but...” I trail off not able to say it.

  “Oh, the horror of us being married.” He laughs, and I join in. “Let me guess, I died?”

  “Yeah. They came and told me. How did you know?”

  “Kelly and Alec have them once in a while, and even I have them. It’s perfectly normal. I’m sorry that you’re going through them right now.”

  “I don’t want to be that girlfriend. I want to be the supportive one, and not thinking about the negative aspects.” I tell him.

  “Baby, you’re the bright spot in my life next to Alec and Kelly. I’m so glad that you’re mine. Please, don’t think you’re letting me down. I love you.”

  “I love you, too. Thank you for talking me down off the ledge.” I chuckle.

  “Anytime my, love, anytime. Do you need to talk to me more, so you can fall asleep? Do you want me to tell you a bedtime story?” He laughs.

  “Is it a sexy one, or is it an Alec one?” I question him in a husky voice.

  “Well, considering I’m in the hotel bar with my group, it has be an Alec one.” I groan. “I know, but maybe tomorrow night, it can be a sexy one.”

  “It better be, or you’re going to have to go to bed, knowing that my fingers are inside me all alone without you hearing me moan your name.” I chuckle, as he swears into the phone. He tells me a sweet story that make me feel better, before I start to yawn again.

  “Good night, my love.”

  “Good night, baby. Have sweet dreams of me coming home. I’ll be safe, I promise. I have someone to come home to.” I smile. I miss him like crazy. We both finally hang up at the count of five.

  I feel better hearing his name. I cuddle in wearing his shirt with Annie. I think I’m going to head to Knoxville tomorrow for a while. I need to talk to Mr. Harris about my job. I’m crawling out of my skin right now. When I’m here, I want to be in Knoxville, and when I’m in Knoxville, I feel at home.

  I’m feeling sleepy now, so I close my eyes, until my alarm goes off and wake up feeling refreshed. I start my day by getting coffee and packing for a trip to Knoxville. Last weekend, Kelly and Alec were here to help me pack some of the things that I’m not using on a daily basis.

  Kelly and I had a heart to heart about me moving in. She thought it was the greatest news because she has met someone. She hasn’t been able tell Zack the truth about her wanting to move to Georgia to be with this man. Now, that I’m in the picture, she feels better about this man being in her life and having a future. She likes how I keep Zack in check, when we talk on Skype, as a family. Alec also has more of a structure now that she’s not the only person that he has to look up, too.

  I hope that Mr. Harris goes for what I have proposed. If not, I can freelance for a while. I have a savings that I can live off too for a bit. Mr. Richmond has given me his blessing, as long as I bring the young man home to meet him. He promises to work on my dad for me. I also gave Mr. Richmond the family picture of us from the day Zack left for this mission.

  “Okay, Annie. Mr. Richmond is going to come get you. I don’t have time this morning. I’m hoping that I’ll be home early, and we can go see Alec and Kelly.” Annie barks at me, which makes me laugh. I hum, as I run down the steps almost knocking Mr. Richmond over.

  “Slow down. Running late?” He chuckles at me.

  “Sort of. I have a meeting with Mr. Harris about me working from home in Knoxville. I need to be there. If he doesn’t, then I’m quitting.” I smile, as I kiss his cheek.

  I walk outside in the chilly air, and I know that fall is coming, but by noon, it will be in the nineties. I’m driving, as my cell Skype starts to go off, so I answer it, because it can only be one of two people. I hit the answer button, and Zack is there smiling.

  “Baby!” I squeal.

  “Are you driving?” He starts looking around.

  “Yes.” I laugh. “I have an early meeting with Mr. and Mrs. Harris.”

  “Is everything okay?” He sounds concerned. “You look beautiful by the way.”

  “You look exhausted. I’m hoping everything will be okay.” I smile at him.

  “I am exhausted and want to come home. I miss you. I don’t know when that will be, but this sounds like a bad one. It could take months, before we’re even stateside. I might miss our first Christmas together.”

  “It’s okay. We will have many more together. You just keep your head on straight and come home, when you can. Alec and I’ll be waiting. Oh, I’m meeting Kelly’s boyfriend this weekend. He’s coming up for some family reunion thing.”

  “Is she taking Alec?”

  “Yes, and me. I tried to get out of it, but Alec begged me to go. She didn’t think it was fair if her boyfriend got hit with all of the questions, since you have a girlfriend. I’m going to torture you, when you get back.” He laughs loudly, and I join him.

  “What is your meeting about?” I like how he changes the subject.

  “I’m asking to work from home on a more permanent basis, so I can move to Knoxville. I feel miserable, when I’m here. Alec and Kelly are family now, and Annie is just as miserable. Kelly’s been taking some of my stuff back in the truck with her, when they come up on weekends.”

  “I love how you two have bonded. She can’t stop talking about you. Are you sure that you want to do that?” Is he having second thoughts about us? I frown.

  “Hey, I want you to move in with us, but I don’t want you to give up your career for us either.”

  “I’m not giving up anything. If anything, I’m gaining what I�
��ve always wanted. I feel at home at your house more than I ever did here.”

  “That is music to my ears. Oh, damn it. I need get to sleep, but I want to talk to you.”

  “Go to sleep, and I’ll talk to you soon. I love you.”

  “I love you, too. Have some sexy dreams of me.”

  “Always.” We hang up, and I can’t stop smiling to myself. My Skype starts to ring again, and I answer it. “I forgot to say good luck. Even if they don’t allow it, don’t worry about money. I make a decent amount of money for us to live on, until you can find another job, or start your own business. The sky is the limit.”

  “Thank you for saying that to me. I love you. My nerves are gone. I’ve been so nervous about their reaction and your reaction, since I made this decision without talking to you.”

  “Baby, I told you. Make my house yours.” I smile and blow a kiss at him, which he laughs. “I love you. Knock them dead. You got this.” He winks, as he hangs up.

  I continue the drive, and once I pull into the parking lot, I grab my laptop bag and purse. I punch in my code, making my way to the office. I start looking at my pictures of Zack and me, Alec and me, Alec and Zack, Kelly and me, Ruthie and me, and I have a family picture there, too. I smile at them, as I look up to see Mrs. and Mr. Harris, standing in the doorway.

  “Ready for our meeting?” Mr. Harris asks.

  “Yes, I am. In here?” Mrs. Harris sits down across from me.

  “I’d like to start this meeting with what I think all three of us are thinking. Are you moving?” Mrs. Harris asks me.

  “Well, I want to stay working for you, but I can’t live here anymore. I’m in love with a man who has a seven-year-old son, who both have captured my heart. I could work from home, like I did last month, when Zack got deployed.” Mrs. Harris starts asking for the pictures. “I can come in for meetings, but I understand if you can’t do that.”

  “We’ve been talking about it, since you came back, and if this is what you want, we’ll support you. If you can come in at least once a month for two days straight for the department head meetings, then we’re good.” I start crying.