Monster

by Bernard L. DeLeo

  Reskova burst into tears, turning away, and walking a few steps from the group. McDaniels looked at the others uncomfortably. Rutledge winked at him. Rasheed merely smiled and shrugged. Barrington walked over to McDaniels and whispered to him quietly.

  “I think Diane was planning on a more permanent stay, Colonel. She’s been following the troop stuff in Fallujah religiously using Kay here as her play by play man.”

  “Collect the woman, my friend, and let us return to my house for leftovers,” Rasheed jokingly ordered. “It is getting cold and dark out here.”

  * * *

  McDaniels walked over to Reskova, putting a comforting arm around her shoulders again. “Hey Boss, c’mon… I’ll be here for maybe a month.”

  Reskova turned and hugged McDaniels. “I…I’m sorry. I never thought I’d see you again and… and now that you’re back… you have to leave again.”

  “Diane, many of those young vets you saw arrive today will be going back too. I hadn’t planned on returning home this soon anyway. The units I had been assigned to were overdue for rotation. They’d already been extended three times. I…”

  Reskova held her hand up to McDaniels’ face in a hushing manner. She looked up, wet tears glistening in the dusky light. “I…I understand, Cold. It’s good to see you again.”

  Before McDaniels could react, Reskova pulled his head down, kissing him with ardor. McDaniels clutched her tightly to him. With Reskova’s scent and softness so close, he felt reality blurring. He returned her kiss with almost a violent aspect. Reskova moaned softly, her feet leaving the tarmac in McDaniels’ embrace. Barrington looked around, gesturing at the security personnel who had stopped to watch. The three FBI agents moved closer to the couple and began clearing their throats comically in unison. McDaniels pulled away reluctantly, still supporting Reskova, who opened her eyes, reeling from the intensity of the prior moments.

  “You’re going to lose your nickname with stuff like that, Colonel,” Rutledge joked. “I think the tarmac was starting to soften from the heat.”

  “Yes, this disgraceful behavior must be reported,” Rasheed chimed in, evoking more laughter from Barrington and Rutledge.

  “I’m resigning as team leader, effective immediately,” Reskova told them. “I…”

  “Oh no, you don’t,” Rutledge interrupted. “We’re just now getting used to you. We ain’t breaking in any newbies.”

  “It is just so,” Rasheed stated, nodding in agreement. “I have no idea what a newbie is but I do not want to work with one.”

  “You’re a newbie, Kay,” Barrington instructed with amusement.

  “Oh,” Rasheed replied, quickly understanding the concept. “We have enough newbies then.”

  “I…I can’t stay as team leader with what I’ve done,” Reskova continued, taking McDaniels’ hand. “We all know the rules.”

  “If you could get over yourself for just a moment, Diane,” Rutledge said caustically, “you’d realize unless you plan on climbing Cold Mountain in front of our superiors no one will know.”

  “Although I am disgusted at your behavior, Boss,” Rasheed said with a grin, “I will tell no one.”

  “Ditto,” Barrington voted. “We also promise not to blackmail you with it, right gang?”

  “Who said anything about no blackmail?” Rutledge began, but quieted suddenly as Barrington smiled and pointed at her. “What?”

  “Don’t make me relate the specifics of our cleaning detail the other night,” Barrington warned.

  “Why you… okay… no blackmail,” Rutledge promised reluctantly.

  “Agreed,” Rasheed said. “Now, let us take this celebration to my house where my friend can become acquainted with the little Cold.”

  “Little Cold?” McDaniels repeated questioningly.

  “Never mind, Colonel, you’ll see,” Rutledge said, gesturing the group to follow her. “Let’s go. It’s getting dark and chilly out here. You ride shotgun, Cold, so Diane here doesn’t try to get to know you in the biblical sense before we get to Kay’s house.”

  Only her head start after Reskova’s initial infuriated gasp saved Rutledge from an instant takedown on the tarmac. The three men watched the chase quietly. Barrington sighed and looked up at McDaniels.

  “It’s been like this ever since you shipped out, Colonel.”

  “But we did much good in the Terrorist War,” Rasheed pointed out.

  “In spite of all this clowning around we were pretty good together,” Barrington concluded. “Dreyer and Aginson stopped trying to fry you and actually grew a set of balls between their bureaucratic asses. Diane really laid it on Dreyer over his relapse in the Mercado affair.”

  “My head’s still ringing from that hello the Boss gave me. It could be jet lag, but I’d prefer not to know about the office politics until I sip a couple Jack Daniels.”

  “Although I do not ever drink because of my religious beliefs,” Rasheed said, putting an arm up on McDaniels’ shoulder, “I believe I may have some of this devil’s brew you call Jack Daniels at my house. We will, of course, keep such things amongst ourselves.”

  “Kay, you little weenie! You still haven’t told Ansa you throw down a shot once in a while?”

  “There is no need to call my manhood into question over such a small point,” Rasheed replied indignantly.

  * * *

  McDaniels held the sleeping little Cold as Reskova sat next to him with her head against his shoulder. It was nearly ten o’clock in the evening. McDaniels had just finished giving the baby his ten o’clock feeding, competently burping him at the correct intervals. The group had been talking for hours, each one explaining an event which had happened while McDaniels was away.

  The retelling of Reskova’s upbraiding of Dreyer had McDaniels laughing and nodding in enjoyment. The more serious elements of how much the team had accomplished in tracking down the threads spiraling out from the Mercado cell were condensed for security reasons. McDaniels noticed a change in Reskova. Her banter with the others, even Rasheed, caused him no little amusement. Reskova’s relationship with the team was worlds apart from what it had been on the Hughes’ mission.

  “That was a great Thanksgiving, Kay,” Rutledge said finally, with the others echoing her sentiments. “Ansa, the dinner alone should qualify you for citizenship. Even my Mom never cooked Thanksgiving dinner any better.”

  “It was nice of Dreyer to give us the long weekend.” Barrington stood up. “After all the food, I guess I’ll have to spend it in the gym. You ready, Jen?”

  “Yep. You riding with us, Cold?”

  Even Suraya laughed, having witnessed how Reskova had clung to McDaniels ever since the four had returned from Andrews Air Force Base. She took the baby from McDaniels skillfully.

  “I will put little Cold to bed,” Suraya announced in a whisper, kissing McDaniels goodbye. “Please come over again before you must go back.”

  “I will, honey,” McDaniels whispered back, leaning in to kiss little Cold on the forehead.

  “Dino will blast off through the roof when he sees you,” Reskova said, as the Rasheeds walked their guests to the entrance.

  “From what you’ve told me, he seems to have already found a home.” McDaniels hugged Ansa and shook hands once more with Rasheed. “I can’t believe how easily you two have decided to adopt my nickname, not only for me, but for my namesake as well.”

  “I saw your face, my friend, when Suraya calls the baby little Cold,” Rasheed said. “Do not pretend to be offended.”

  “You are very good with babies, Cold Mountain.” Ansa laughed at the sigh she evoked from McDaniels.

  Outside, the four walked toward the street where their two cars were parked - Reskova’s Honda Accord and Rutledge’s Buick.

  “What are we all doing tomorrow,” Rutledge asked brightly. “How about…”

  “We all won’t be doing anything, troublemaker,” Reskova cut her off.

  “Okay, okay. Just make sure to stow anymore of that talk about
resignations.”

  “I’ll think about it,” Reskova slipped into the driver’s seat of her Honda. “I’ll see you two on Monday.”

  “You coming in too, Colonel?” Barrington asked as McDaniels reached in to put the passenger seat of the Honda back as far as he could.

  “I’m going up to Bethesda and Walter Reed Monday to check on the guys. Some of them are in pretty bad shape. I’ll stop over afterwards if I won’t be in the way.”

  “You’ll never be in the way, Cold,” Rutledge called out. “See ya.”

  “Bye guys,” McDaniels waved.

  Barrington closed the passenger side door and Rutledge sped away from the curb.

  After McDaniels settled into the passenger side seat he carefully put his seat belt on as Reskova watched him with amusement.

  “I would have rented a van if I’d known you were coming,” Reskova patted his hand.

  “I’ll survive. I don’t remember ever coming home to a better reception. I thought we had decided to keep everything on a cooler basis.”

  “I think you decided.” Reskova pulled McDaniels into a fevered embrace. “It seems like years have passed since I saw you. Do you mind about my less than reserved approach today?”

  “Your team seems to have minded it more than me. You really threw them for a loop with the resignation business.”

  “I just don’t want to pretend I don’t know you anymore. You sidestepped my question, Cold.”

  “Okay, you surprised me today,” McDaniels admitted, stroking her hair. “I didn’t expect any of you to be there. When you jumped into my arms… I… ah… oh hell, it was the best thing that ever happened to me.”

  Reskova pulled away from him, trying to peer through the darkness at McDaniels’ face. “You mean that?”

  “Why the heck would I lie? If I’m the cold blooded psycho you think I am I certainly wouldn’t care about sparing your feelings.”

  “Good point.” Reskova started the Honda. “You had kind of a pained expression on your face all night.”

  “It was all the excitement seeing the baby with Ansa and Suraya. Me and the guys never had a chance to throw down a couple of shots.”

  “Oh, it was that kind of pain,” Reskova replied, concentrating on the road.

  “Partly,” McDaniels said hesitatingly. “Look, don’t get mad, but…”

  Reskova steered to the side of the road, braking the car. She looked at McDaniels questioningly. “Look, you can’t hide that you were turned on, Cold. I felt it. You don’t have to pretend like you’re in love with me, but don’t…”

  “No, no, no, let me finish,” McDaniels said, holding up his hands in a placating manner. “I hadn’t planned on being greeted before I recuperated a little. Since you’re taking me home with more in mind than a goodnight kiss, I… well… I caught a little shrapnel this trip out and…”

  “Oh my God… you big dummy,” Reskova whispered in a hushed voice, putting her hand over his. “Why didn’t you say something? Is that what feels weird under your uniform? I thought…”

  “It’s not that bad,” McDaniels protested. “I just didn’t want to make a big deal about it. I could have used a couple of sips to take the edge off.”

  “Didn’t they give you any pain killers?” Reskova asked, driving the Honda away from the side of the road.

  “Yeah, but I didn’t want to be drugged and miss my reception. Holding the little Cold was almost like magic. The contradiction of sitting there with him in my arms, knowing I had killed his parents, and feeding him his bottle, was like an alternate reality. Even us psychos are susceptible to irony, especially something so wonderful yet so… disturbing.”

  “I can understand how you must have felt. I…I thought for a moment there you were going to tell me to take a hike. If I’d known you were wounded, I would have gotten us out of there early.”

  “The last thing in the world I’m going to do is tell you to take a hike,” McDaniels said with conviction. “Can we keep the wound stuff between us?”

  “Sure, but I don’t see why. What makes you embarrassed about being wounded? You think it will hurt your legend, huh?”

  McDaniels laughed, liking her even more for the dig. “Oh yeah, that’s it. You saw them loading up those kids for transport. Compared to them, I’m duck soup.”

  “How bad are you?”

  “I’m going into Walter Reed Monday to find out. There’s a fragment they’re tracking in me they think might get too near the heart.”

  “When were you hit?” Reskova asked, worry plain in her voice again.

  “A few weeks back. We…”

  “A few weeks? What the hell is wrong with you? Why…”

  “Calm down,” McDaniels cut her off. “Those guys needed me. I can’t draw, sing, or play piano. I do know something about urban warfare.”

  “You do at that.” Reskova patted his leg. “I didn’t mean it to sound like an attack. Can I go with you to Walter Reed?”

  “Nope. I’ll stop in to see you after I get through. By the way, all my stuff is being transferred still. We had to take a different transport. I don’t have…”

  “I’ll wash your underwear for you, Cold. We’ll go get you some new stuff tomorrow. There’s a mall within walking distance of the apartment. I have some extra toiletries, including razor, toothbrush, and all that.”

  “Good, thanks. I can’t take a shower until after they see me on Monday.If it feels like something’s wrong, I’m supposed to go in this weekend.”

  “I’ll give you a sponge bath,” Reskova volunteered immediately.

  “Okay, but no rough stuff.”

  “You big weenie.”

  “See, that’s why I was hoping to ship in unnoticed.”

  “You big weenie,” Reskova repeated happily.

  Chapter 19

  C.A.I.R.

  With Dino lying contentedly at his feet after a frenetic greeting and short walk McDaniels sat on Reskova’s couch letting her help him remove his uniform top. Reskova carefully pulled his undershirt off, watching his face for signs of discomfort. McDaniels smiled at her through the process, only losing eye contact when she pulled his undershirt up over his head. She gasped at the tightly wound bandages covering all of McDaniels’ midsection up to his chest. Red, scarred tissue had formed up and over his right shoulder, but was uncovered. Reskova lightly traced her fingers over his shoulder scarring.

  “What about this?”

  “It’s almost completely healed.”

  “It looks like burn tissue.”

  “Well, the stuff is hot.”

  “How did it happen?”

  “A blast went up under my armor. Some of it kissed my shoulder a little.”

  “Tough guy, huh?”

  “I probably screamed like a little girl while I played hot potato with my vest,” McDaniels answered and then changed the subject. “Do you think that short walk when we arrived was enough for Dino tonight?”

  “He’ll be fine.” Reskova reached down to ruffle Dino’s head. “Besides, I have an emergency area for him, complete with a plant.”

  McDaniels laughed, looking around. “You’re kidding me.”

  “It’s in the extra room. I bought one of those little kids’ shallow sandbox things, and filled it with sod and a small plant. Dino uses it like a good boy. I don’t have to worry about him messing my apartment up.”

  “That’s amazing.” McDaniels shook his head, trying to digest the latest wrinkle concerning Reskova.

  “I have a sun lamp on it to help the little plant and moss grow,” Reskova said proudly. “I’m glad Dreyer assigned him to me. I never had a pet before. Can I get you a drink before I give you your sponge bath?”

  “What have you got?”

  “Just some wine actually. We can pick something up harder tomorrow.”

  “I’ll take a glass of wine.”

  “You didn’t eat much dinner. I could cook you up something too,” Reskova offered, standing up to get the wine.


  “No, I had plenty. Just the wine will do.”

  With Dino trailing her Reskova brought back two wine glasses, filled three quarters of the way up. She handed McDaniels’ one of the glasses and sat down next to him with Dino again curling up at their feet. McDaniels sipped the wine and nodded with satisfaction.

  “This tastes real good.”

  Reskova leaned into McDaniels, lightly kissing him around the mouth and chin. “God, you look good.”

  “I look like I was dropped into a wood chipper,” McDaniels corrected her, putting his wine glass aside. “But you, lady, look very good indeed.”

  “I’ll give you the sponge bath later,” Reskova said huskily as McDaniels kissed her neck. “You’ll need it.”

  * * *

  Reskova woke up sighing contentedly and reaching over next to her. Instead of McDaniels’ body, she felt a familiar furry presence. Sitting up quickly, she grabbed Dino’s face between her hands accusingly. She shook his head gently back and forth.

  “How many times have I told you not to sneak up on the bed you disrespectful mutt?”

  Dino answered her charge by licking Reskova’s face while inching up on her lap. Reskova laughed, hugging the big dog to her. She looked around for signs of McDaniels. “Did Cold already get up and run you around in the middle of the night again? I’ll bet he did, didn’t he? He gets out of bed without me noticing and you get into bed without me noticing. I’m going to tie a bell around both of your necks.”

  Reskova looked at the clock. The digital readout informed her it was nearly five thirty in the morning on Monday. She remembered with regret the long weekend off was all but over. Dino accompanied her to the bathroom and then out in search of McDaniels. Having already made coffee, McDaniels sat at the kitchen table listening to someone on the high tech satellite phone he had carried with him at all times since returning. Looking up with a smile, McDaniels waved at her. Reskova smiled back, posing with hand on hip, her black silk robe open. McDaniels’ mouth dropped open momentarily in mock outrage. He said goodbye to whoever was on the phone.

  “It’s a little early for phone calls, Cold,” Reskova said, walking over and sitting on McDaniels’ lap, feeling the effect she was having on him right through the jeans he was wearing they had bought while shopping on Friday.