“Nina?” Tony asked.
“She’s recovering.” Mace saw the Father step into the compartment. They’d put him in a suit for protection, but the scarf and the cross hung on the outside. He knew he wouldn’t be permitted to take them with him when he left. “Be by her side, Tinman. Pray for her.”
“I don’t know how,” his voiced stuttered. “I wish I did.”
“Sure you do. You don’t have to believe in God, my friend, but he believes in you.”
Tony swiped at his tears and nodded. Kayla joined Mace, and together they held each other’s hands, bent their heads, and prayed with all their hearts for their friend, and for Lumin.
Life could be lived in solitude, but love had a mission as well. It was as much a part of a human as any organ. Seeded at birth, it waited till it found someone to make it grow and fill the void in one’s heart. Lumin was Tony’s seed, and Mace prayed that God would give them the chance to fill a lifetime with challenges and happiness till the end of their days.
Lumin was injected with the vaccine and another doctor injected Tony. They both stepped out of the priest’s way and exited, giving them a little privacy. Tony gripped Lumin’s hand and remained silent as the Father began, “May the blessing of almighty God the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit come upon you and remain with you, Lumin, Amen.” He gently placed an invisible cross upon her forehead. “Lumin, your sins are forgiven.”
He and Kayla watched Father Pickering administer the Last Rites. When he was finished, the Father looked into Tony’s eyes and rested a hand on his shoulder. “I can see your love for this woman and your hope. God’s arms are always open, son. Blessings to you both.”
Tony was wide-eyed and he swallowed deeply. His lips quivered and his brow kneaded together. “Thank you for coming, Father. I wish you could forgive my sins as well, but there are too many.”
“All you have to do is ask.”
Tony’s head jerked. A large tear trickled down his cheek. “I don’t have the right to ask.”
Father Pickering’s compassionate brown eyes gleamed. “We all have the right to ask, Petty Officer Bale.”
“I want to be a man she can be proud of.”
“I absolve you of your sins in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.”
Father Pickering brushed a cross on Tony’s forehead, and a heavy breath escaped Tinman’s throat. They all saw the movement at the same time.
Her eyes remained closed, but Lumin’s lips formed the sweetest smile under her mask. “Amen,” she mouthed.
Chapter Sixteen
For four days, Tony sat next to Lumin holding her hand, barely moving from his chair. He couldn’t sleep. Afraid if he closed his eyes, she’d leave him. After the first twenty-four hours, they removed her oxygen mask. She was weak and slept a lot, but when her eyes opened he wanted to be the first thing she saw. When the thirty-hour mark came, she sat up for the first time and ate a little soup that he fed to her. Between each mouthful he kissed her and praised her for her bravery. She was his warrior, and every minute that passed she strengthened and so did his heart. By forty-eight hours the color had returned to her cheeks. Although she was in a lot of pain, she made improvements. The doctors had done several tests assuming there was organ damage. Tony began to pray in his own way for God to protect her. There were things only he noticed, like the light in her eyes returning to a brilliant, youthful glint.
On the fifth day he woke after exhaustion pulled him down for a short nap. The feel of her fingers ruffling his hair in rhythmic passes woke him. He raised his head from her stomach to see her smiling at him. It was in that moment he knew for certain that five days ago had indeed been the hardest day he would ever know.
“Good morning,” she said.
He pushed himself up and kissed her mouth with a long, slow, loving touch. “I love you,” he breathed on her lips. They held each other. The constriction in his heart and the thickness in his throat were from happiness, not loss.
“You saved me again,” she whispered sweetly next to his ear.
“And every day for the rest of our lives,” he said, kissing her quickly, and then sat down.
“You need to eat, Tony. I’m worried about you.”
“I’ll get something later,” he said. His body had gone into starvation mode sometime yesterday when the grumblings in his stomach had stopped.
“How are you feeling?”
“Depends.”
“On what?” she asked, her brow wrinkling.
He squeezed her hand and brought it to his lips and kissed her palm. “On how you’re feeling. Apparently, I can’t live without my light.”
She chuckled, brushing his hand against her cheek. “You’re silly.”
“Maybe, but I don’t mind showing you that part of me, and every other part. There’ll be things I won’t be able to share with you in the future, but I’ll explain why.”
She nodded. “About your job?”
“Yeah, but I promise I’ll never shut you out again.”
She rearranged the bed sheet and took a deep breath. “We’re making a lot of promises today.”
“There’s more. Like, I promise to make you happy you chose me. If you do,” he paused. “Choose me, I mean.”
“I’m supposed to play the field, aren’t I?” she teased.
He cleared his throat. “Anyone you have in mind?” he asked, as Cracker jumped into his head and jealousy nipped him.
“No, but you’ve had a lot of—experience.” She blushed. “Well, you know what I’m trying to say.”
He laughed and played with the ends of her blonde strands. “You and I are going to learn it all over again. Together. Slow. Seductive. It’s a journey that will never end because I will never stop loving you.” Lumin was filled with a creative sexual energy, and he didn’t doubt for one second that she’d come up with ways to surprise him. He had a dream he’d replayed in his mind many times already. He’d come home to find her wrapped in a red ribbon and nothing else, just to keep their fire burning hot. And he would be the most romantic fool she’d ever know. “I’m never gonna be a rich guy. In fact, you’ll probably make more than me eventually.”
She placed her fingers over his mouth. “Do you really think I care about that?”
He didn’t, not for a second. “Guess it depends on how many pairs of shoes you want.” He grinned at her.
“I only need one pair,” she said, her gaze softening with emotion. “The ones that will let me walk beside you for a lifetime.”
“Lumin—aw, shit woman, you make me so happy.” He threaded his fingers through her hair and attacked her lips, nearly sucking the soul right out of her. He wanted to brand her with his mark. Branding? Hell yeah! He knew exactly what he was going to do, but he’d keep it as a surprise for now. She sighed when he finally released her lips.
“You have to leave me and rejoin the team, don’t you?”
He shrugged. “Can’t, I was infected. I need another day or two before they’ll clear us. The rest of the team is being vaccinated too.”
Lumin shuffled to the side of the bed and pulled on his hand. He slid next to her, and drew her against him. His eyes threatened to close and he gave in, comforted by the beat of her heart next to his.
“Lumin,” he whispered into her hair. She squeezed him to let him know she was listening. “There’s been plenty of times I’ve been scared in my life.” She raised her eyes to look into his. “But I never knew fear, real, cold, biting fear, until you died in my arms. Promise me you’ll never leave me again.”
“Petty Officer Bale, are you saying you like me?”
He shook his head. “No. I’m saying something I never thought I’d ever say to a woman. I don’t want to live without you.”
She closed her eyes and rested her forehead against his. “What about all the good reasons for staying a bachelor? Or the seven years that separate us?”
“I stopped being a bachelor a few days ago when I saw you standi
ng at my front doorstep. The only people that might be concerned about seven years are your parents.” He kissed her soft lips, and probably held her a little too tight, but she was holding him the same way.
“I think they’ll be more concerned that you’re not Catholic than our age difference.”
He kissed the tip of her nose and nuzzled her cheek. “Then I’ll become Catholic.”
She blinked at him. “You will?”
He was like two pieces of a chain, and when he met Lumin she was the missing link that made him whole. Her innocence. Her faith. Every last little cell that existed inside her made him whole. “I’d do anything for you. I will do anything for you.” She snuggled closer and that’s how they drifted off to sleep.
* * * *
Date: 08.02.2014
Time: 1800UTC 1000hrs PST
Mission: Code Name Luminous
Captain Patrick Cobbs finished his comms with Master Chief Briggs. Fox was deploying ten teams, locking down major routes in northern Nevada, Arizona, and New Mexico. Canadian and Mexican border patrol had been given Dafoe’s picture and advised to detain him if he attempted to cross. Ghost gave an ETA of one hour to join the team outside of Kingman. Lumin had been found, but both she and Tony had been infected. Snow White and Callahan appeared in the eleventh hour with the vaccine. The good guys were now one up on Callum Dafoe.
The mission had acquired a minor victory, but they were all waiting for the final curtain with two scenes left; Dafoe to be apprehended or neutralized, and the lethal crawl of the virus beneath their feet to be stopped. Would it make it to a main source of water? It was a ticking time bomb, but the longer it remained within the earth, the longer USAMRIID had to vaccinate as many people as possible before it raised its head and sunk its fangs into an unsuspecting population.
He dug his cell out of his pocket and thumbed the long list till it highlighted Marg’s number. He needed to hear her voice. It had been a hard decision to send her away, and where to send her. If she returned to Hawaii with their girls, she could be trapped on an island with a virus. Marg gathered all three of their daughters and went to her parents’ place on the East Coast. He couldn’t get her much farther away from the virus unless he put them on a transport to Alaska, which he’d considered.
“Hello.”
Just the sound of her voice leveled his blood pressure. “Hey, sexy lady.”
Marg laughed. “Well, if it isn’t my very own hero. How are you, handsome?”
“Better now,” he said, beginning to walk. His boots dug into the dry sand, and he headed toward a tent used for their field HQ. Not to mention some shade. “Did you pick up the water?”
“We did. Gallons of it. We’re not turning on the taps.”
“I know, I’m being overcautious. The virus can’t make it out east that fast, but when it comes to you, I’m not taking chances.” He halted in the shade. “How are the girls?”
“They’re good. They miss their dad, and Rayanne misses her boyfriend.”
“What boyfriend?” he growled.
Marg chuckled. “The one she’s afraid to tell you about.”
“Who is he?”
“A young man from school. He’s starting his second year of structural engineering at the university in September.”
He grunted. “Where does he live?”
“His parents are from L.A.”
“Good part or bad part?”
“Pat.” Her tone dropped by a few octaves, and he knew after spending twenty years with the woman, he had to rein it in.
“Guess I’ve got nothing to complain about. I convinced you to date a guy from the wrong side of the tracks.”
Marg’s sexy chuckle shot straight to his loins. The woman still held magic over him. He’d been caught in her spell when he first saw her, and nothing had changed. They’d struggled through years of her parents’ poorly disguised dislike for him and his own demons. Marg had met Ghost first and they’d shared one sweaty roll in the sheets together. Pat had wanted to walk away, he wouldn’t be second choice, but Marg wouldn’t let him. She was a determined woman.
“I didn’t care if you lived in a train car, Patrick Cobbs. You made me feel beautiful and loved.”
“That’s because you are, sexy lady. I’m standing here trying to hide a hard-on just listening to your voice. I don’t know how the hell you do it, but don’t stop.”
“Pat—are you safe?” she said, worry icing her words.
He blinked with her sharp change of course. “We’ve made it this far, Marg. None of us would have guessed we’d see this type of attack get so much mileage. It was always a possibility. Hell, Hollywood has made millions on the same scenario. When we bring Dafoe down and contain the virus, you and I will head back to Hawaii, and the worst thing I’ll endure is a paper cut.”
“I love you forever and ever, Patrick Cobbs.”
“Amen, my beautiful wife. I miss you and the girls. I always do, but I have to get back. We’re waiting for a team of geologists to advise on the virus tracking underground to a major water source. Everyone is holding their breath, hoping the three towns that were hit don’t connect with any subterranean waterways.” The line was silent. “What’s wrong, honey?”
Marg spoke through her tears. “Please, be careful.”
His brow tightened. Marg hadn’t cried since they said goodbye when they started dating and he was deployed for the first time. They’d broken up. At least he’d tried to break up with her. “Marg, I’m always careful because I know you want me home.”
“I do. I guess I never imagined you out in the field again after you took the new posting. I didn’t have time to prepare myself. I’m sorry.” She sniffled.
He smiled to himself, but his heart hung heavy. “I didn’t expect it either, honey, but they need as much experience as they can get on this mission. I’m doing this for selfish reasons. For you and the girls. We’ll have no future if this virus unleashes itself on the population.”
“I know, but it doesn’t mean I’m any less scared. For twenty years I watched you leave us, and I held strong, because that’s what a SEAL wife is supposed to do.”
“And you did a great job. You were my strength too. Every time I left. Every close call I had, I thought of you.”
It had been a long time since they’d spoken like this. After so many years of marriage, things just got comfortable. They loved each other more today than in the beginning. She was always ready and willing to love him, and he thanked heaven for its blessings, and for Marg being the woman she was. He’d seen a lot of marriages flushed down the toilet, but it took two strong-willed, determined people to stay the course. She’d fought like a warrior when he tried to walk away from her. It took a while before he realized she was never going to give in, that she loved him, not his swim buddy.
Once they’d married, Ghost would give him the gears from time to time about it. His best friend never let him forget what an ass he’d been and what a good woman Marg was. His career in the SEALs had been challenging, but he was surrounded by strength and love, and their faith kept them going whenever they faltered.
“Come home soon.”
“Can’t refuse that offer. I’ll call when I can. Kiss the girls for me.”
“Watch your feet, SEAL.”
“Always. Bye, beautiful.” He hung up and lifted his gaze to the desert stretching out before him. Scrubbing the three-day-old growth on his chin, he exhaled deeply. The quiet before the storm, he thought to himself. He and the team had been here many times. A SEAL learned early on the back end of a hurricane was usually the worst. His eyes felt the cool relief as he pulled his shades down. Some guys missed the adrenaline rush when they stood down from active duty, but he’d had a few months to get comfortable in an air conditioned office in Hawaii. Coming home to Marg every night with dinner waiting wasn’t a hardship. Having to choke down MREs in the field and ignore the aches and pains that his service years had bestowed on him while he trudged over rough terrain, weren�
�t missed.
He’d be a lifer in the Navy, but he wasn’t planning on hanging his ass out to get it shot off anymore, and yet, here he was. Rubbing the sweat from the back of his neck, he turned his gaze into the tent. Ditz and the new team guy, Ed “Cracker” Saxton, sat in a couple of field chairs gulping back water. They’d stitched Ditz up, and he was back in the mission. A couple of Marines joined them and the guys bantered back and forth. Most of the other service personnel didn’t know why they were here. Alpha Squad kept a lid on the details, but something told him it wouldn’t last long.
A truck rolled up, the driver’s door embossed with the United States Geological Survey emblem. The dust swirled in the air when it stopped in front of the tent. He stepped into the July sun to greet four people, two men and two women.
“Captain Patrick Cobbs, United States Navy SEAL,” he said sharply.
“Captain,” the tall redheaded woman greeted, stepping ahead of her team. “We need to talk.”
“This way, ma’am.” When they turned for the tent, he called out, “Seaman Young.” Nathan jumped to his feet. “Rally Alpha Squad and the members of DEVGRU. Meeting.”
“Yes, sir.” Ed scattered with him to collect the team.
“Captain, I’m Dr. Sandy Clarke, director of USGS Pacific, this is Assistant Director Hamilton Koch,” she motioned to the short, balding man to her left. And two of our best hydrologists, Lydia Harper and Gabe Timmons.”
“Thank you for coming,” he shook their hands.
“Didn’t really have a choice,” Dr. Clarke said. “We were ordered here by the White House, and I’d like to know why.”
“You will shortly. Admiral Austen is en route.”
As if summoned, a Black Hawk settled her skids to the desert floor and Ghost disembarked, but he wasn’t alone. Tinman and Mace were by his side.
He intercepted them. “USGS just arrived,” he reported to Ghost.
“Call out the team, I want all thinkin’ heads present,” Ghost ordered.
“Already done.”
Code Name: Luminous Page 21