I walk over to pour them coffee while he walks to my phone.
“I’ll start breakfast, Sir. Sit, Grant. You may as well have some coffee and eat too. I have bacon.”
“Sweet. You making ma’s pancakes?”
“Sure, or eggs.”
“And eggs.” C.O. says and I laugh a little.
“Yes, sir. Bacon, pancakes and eggs coming right up.”
An hour later we have some decisions to make. “We do not have DOD back-up. They won’t allow it because Syria is a touchy subject. We shouldn’t be there. The two guys that are there were just supposed to gather Intel and get back to us. We have suspected a terror cell here in this area. We heard they were terrorizing locals. They went in blind, with rumors to go by. Intel was their only goal. I don’t know if I can get the financing for another mission.”
“You need money, take it. You’re fucking Marines. You don’t leave men behind. Ryan and I both have a large next egg because of our father’s dying.” I walk over and get my checkbook. I open it up to the balance and point to it.
“That is more than enough to fly there. Go in, gather Intel. I’ll keep in touch, let you know what I see and hear from him. I can ask for help, his father will help me.”
“Emma that could kill you.” Grant says.
“Too fucking bad Grant! It’s my husband and your brother! Get a four man team, at least, and go. You sent two men! Two! You send two men to save two other men. It wasn’t enough. Take at least four, cover each other’s six, and go in hot. Can you get a contact there to get weapons and everything from?” I turn to ask the C.O.
“I’m sure I probably can if I call in favors. Give me a bit to make a few more phone calls. Anything you hear is not heard.”
“Never is, Sir. Just like what I can do stays in this house. I cover your six and you cover mine so I don’t become a science experiment.”
He nods and picks up the phone again. Grant and I walk into the living room to give him more privacy.
“He’s going to kill you if you get hurt trying to save him.”
“Too fucking bad, like I already said. I saw what was happening to him for a reason Grant. Everything happens for a reason. I saw where they are, I saw the men who have them. Oh, holy shit, wait!”
“Sir! I need to see the most wanted list. Pictures.”
“Get your shoes on then. I’ll take you to see them.”
Ten minutes later we’re pulling up to the guard gate. We run into the offices and he takes me to a wall. I see the man I recognized.
“If this guy was there, would that get you help?”
“That guy? That guy would get me a SEAL team and a free fucking ride.”
“Well, I guess it’s time I meet some SEALs then. Give them a call. He’s questioning my husband.”
“Fucking son of a bitch likes to torture women and children. Let’s hope you have a husband to bring home. He is keeping them alive for information. I hope your husband can hold out.”
“He was speaking French. Making them think he’s a French citizen.”
“French? Why?”
“Well, Argyle is so small we only had French as a language. He has dark hair, green eyes, he could pass for French. He passed French with a 98 average.”
“Fucking thinking on his feet. Well done. Let me make the call.”
Three hours later, I’m meeting SEAL team 4. “Ma’am. Sir.” They shake our hands.
“Men. We have 4 of ours behind enemy lines. An Intel mission went badly. I only sent two of my best men, and they were also captured. Turns out, this man is behind the suspected terror cell.”
They look at the photo and nod. “We’re familiar with that sick bastard. He’s been wanted for a while and hides between Syria and Iran.” One of the SEALs says.
“And ma’am, you’re who?”
“I’m the woman who saw it all happen and told him that this guy has my husband.”
“And you know that how, ma’am?”
“I almost died years ago. Since then I see and talk to the dead, feel emotions, and apparently I can see when my loved ones need me.”
He nods. “I’ve heard of that. We have a few people like you that work with the DOD on occasion. You should be employed by us. You need rank protection.”
“I need my husband home. We’ll figure out the rest of it later, Sir.”
“You sign on to work as an informant for us, and we’ll bring your husband home.”
“You have the power to make that kind of deal?” My C.O. asks.
“We’re fucking SEALs. We work for the President. Bet your ass I have the power. Do we have a deal, ma’am? We test you, and if you can help your country, you sign on.”
“You promise me to do whatever you can to bring home my husband and brothers?”
“With all the power available to us. We won’t leave a brother behind enemy lines.”
He pulls up his sleeve and shows me a Marine tattoo. Ooh Rah, a SEAL that was a brother. Once a Marine, always a Marine. I shake his hand, and feel his determination. He means it.
They all shake my hands, the last guy doubts me. “You have a little too much guilt there, doubtful brother. Cheating on your wife?”
“Holy fuck. You can read minds too?”
“Go save my husband, when you get back, try to work on your marriage. That kind of guilt will eat you alive, brother.”
“I’m not a Marine like those two were, ma’am, but thank you. I’ll try.”
I feel a lot of excitement in the room, determination, and power. These guys will bring our men home, and capture that son of a bitch. I can feel it.
I help explain where they are being held so they can make a plan. I sign a form agreeing to do testing when they get back. Ryan will be pissed, but he’ll be alive.
They give me temporary clearance so I can communicate with them as needed. If I get a dream, a vision or whatever it is I get that can help them, we will be able to communicate anytime. Watching them plan is impressive, awe inspiring, and a little scary. I’m glad I’m on their side.
Two days later, they are in place. C.O. and I are in a special room where we can communicate with them via coms. I tell them what I saw last. Ryan will need a medic, we lost one brother when they slit his throat, so we’re down to three to save.
I call on Dad. Grant was allowed into ops because I told them I need an anchor. Someone who knows what I can do and can call me back so I don’t die.
The guys are half a click out, and want updated details on where our guys are. I focus, and end up in-between. “Emma, I won’t bother with the lecture this time, let’s make this fast. He’s in the back east corner. All three are together right now because they are really close to killing them if they don’t tell them something useful. Ryan only speaking French lasted until they brought in a French speaking terrorist. His time is running out. Because they are close to killing them, and it is night time there, there are fewer men there right now. Timing is good to save them.”
“I wish I could tell him they are on the way, but he won’t hear me. It’s one way. Let me tell them, try to stay close in case I need you again, so I don’t have to come back here.”
“Of course, my daughter. Blessed be.” I say goodbye to Ryan’s dad, my angel, and pull back to myself. Grant looks relieved when I open my eyes.
“I’m okay, big brother. Get me some fucking chocolate though, will ya?”
“Back East corner boys! Less terrorists there right now because its’ night, but our time is running out. They are about to kill them since they found a French speaking asshole. Ryan’s plan has run out of time.”
“At least it bought him enough time. We got this. We’ll bring your man home to you. Stand by, you may be able to talk to him soon.” John, the lead SEAL and former Marine says.
“I’m not going anywhere, brothers. Stay safe, kick ass and get home.”
Coms are turned off while Seal Team 4 goes to save the men we have left.
A few hours later, commun
ication is open. Our men are at a hospital in Jordan, being cared for. Ryan has some lacerations and is dehydrated, but he’s okay. They will be home in a couple of days, safely.
He was surprised when they told him his wife saved him. I said no, technically the SEALs saved him, I just told them about a dream I had.
I know our lives will be different. I have to be tested and see what my skills are. I doubt I’ll be much help, unless the people in need are my own loved ones. I can be a lie detector test, that’s about it.
I know that when my husband gets home, I’ll hold him tighter. I’ll appreciate our time together even more, because I almost lost him.
The SEAL team got the terrorist. One of our most wanted. A lot more than three people were saved today because my husband needed me. Because of what I can do, partnered with some of the strongest men in our military.
Someday, there may be a knock on my door, telling me my husband won’t be coming home. Until then, I’m going to stand by him whenever I can, even from across the world.
****************************************************
NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR:
Writing about rape was really hard for me. I have lived it, though I wasn’t lucky enough to “check out” and not have to relive it.
As always, when I write something that affects others, I want to list links and phone numbers you can call for help if you ever need it.
National Sexual Assault Hotline US:
1-800- 656-HOPE
International outside of the US:
http://www.rainn.org/get-help/sexual-assault-and-rape-international-resources
Counties all over the US have Sexual Assault Crisis Centers now. If you, or someone you know, needs help they have 24 hour people on call. They will sit with you in the emergency room, go to the hospital with you, and talk to the police with you. You are not alone.
Domestic Violence US:
http://www.thehotline.org/
UK: http://www.nationaldomesticviolencehelpline.org.uk/
Canada: http://www.hotpeachpages.net/canada/canada1.html
Child Abuse Hotline US AND CANADA: 1-800-4ACHILD
UK: http://www.nspcc.org.uk/
Back when I was a child, it really wasn’t a big deal. We often had bruises and people looked the other way. It took a boy caring about me to tell someone that I was close to taking my own future into my own hands to stop my father from hurting us anymore. While that boys name wasn’t Ryan, I never forgot how he was my hero. Because he was selfless and cared about my safety, he got help and made people listen. I’ll never forget that. Today there are hotlines, safe homes, people who dedicate their life’s work to keeping people safe from abuse. Trust them to help you, or someone you know that needs help. You are never really alone. Not anymore.
Book 2 is called A Season. I hope to release it around May.
If you wish to follow my writing journey, join me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ClChamplain
I love to talk to my readers and here what you think.
I want to thank my amazing husband, a former Marine. Yes, only me and the USMC can make my Marine scream ooh-rah. Ha ha, they really do too. Yes they bark like devil dogs, and he is the most loyal person I have ever known.
I want to also thank a couple of old friends who are Special Forces and part of my past. You’ll be introduced to them a bit more in the coming books; my old friends FH, LM, MC- I couldn’t have written about a SEAL team 4 without the bravest special ops men I have ever known. It wasn’t always easy knowing you, but I regret nothing. *Before anyone freaks out, they are/were not SEAL team 4 lol.*
To my mom who is brave, strong, and fought through it all to finally escape and get her own happy ending: Of course my mom’s in my books have to be strong and teach memorable lessons. Everything happens for a reason is something you are always reminding me of, to keep me strong when I’m not sure how much more I can handle. x
A Reason (A Reason, Season, Lifetime Series) Page 19