by Jaime Lewis
Alejandra had been rescued from a collapsed building in the town they were currently in. She had been trapped for several days until rescuers had found her. Besides being dehydrated and having a few bumps, bruises, and the cut on her leg, she had escaped unscathed. Unfortunately, that couldn’t be said for the rest of her family. Alejandra was the only survivor. At the young age of seven-years-old, she was now an orphan in a country that could care less about what happened to her.
Tenley contemplated on how to tell the beautiful and bright little girl that she now had no family. Having worked in the medical field for quite a few years, Tenley had seen a lot, including death. But at times like this, she questioned how life could be so cruel. To take both a mother and father from a little girl leaving her with nobody, was devastating to witness.
Since her rescue two weeks ago, Alejandra had become her shadow. Every morning she would wake when Tenley did and make her way to the triage clinic, helping out where she could. She would assist Tenley with her patients; whether it was retrieving supplies, or just talking to them and trying to put a smile on their faces. The little girl was an angel sent from heaven and had a heart of gold.
“I don’t have any information on your family yet, sweetie. Why don’t you go with Ms. Shelia back to camp, okay? She can get you cleaned up and get you in some new clothes. I think we had a drop-off of some children’s clothes so you can pick out a few outfits. Afterward, she’ll get you some food in that belly of yours.” Tenley said as she started tickling her, making her giggle.
“Aren’t you coming with us?”
“I need to finish with a few more patients, and then I’ll be along. I promise.” Tenley leaned over and kissed Alejandra’s head before helping her down off the table.
Shelia walked over and put her arm around Tenley’s shoulders and squeezed. “She’s attached to you, you know. And if I’m not mistaken, I believe you’re quite taken with her as well.”
She looked at Shelia. “I can’t leave here, not knowing if she has a place to live and someone to care for her. I feel like I’m abandoning her. I wish I could just pack her up in my suitcase and take her home with me.” Tenley said as she started to prepare another triage kit for her next patient.
“What if there was a way that Alejandra could go and live with you back in Virginia?”
Tenley’s snapped her head up. “What are you talking about? Something like that takes years. There is all the paperwork involved, and probably even more, considering it’s international, and don’t forget the fact that she has no family. I wouldn’t even know where to start with a process as complicated as that.”
“Actually, her not having a family could expedite the process. I’ve seen this happen before on some of the other missions I’ve worked on. Let me talk with Donna and Nick, the directors, and get their insight. I’d say you have a very good chance that Alejandra could come and live with you if you are really serious about it, and you’re up to taking on the responsibility. I know you’re leaving in a few days, but I’ll be here for another few weeks. I’ll look after her and make sure she’s taken care of until we can sort this out.”
She smiled at Shelia. “Thanks, Shelia. I would love to be able to provide a good home for her. I can’t really explain it, but since the day she was brought into our clinic, I felt like her, and I just clicked. Like we belonged together.”
“You are very good with her and the other children who have come through here. You’d make a great parent, Tenley. Like I said, I’ll talk with Donna and Nick this evening about it.”
Shelia started to pack up her medical kit. “Are you sure you don’t want me to stick around until you’re finished?”
Tenley looked around. She only had three more patients waiting to be seen, and after that, she’d be finished for the day. Their camp was about a half-mile from where they staged their medical tent. The organization she was working with had tents stationed all over the city. She and Shelia were the only two medical personnel working in this particular tent. There was a security team that made rounds between all of the stations.
“I’ll be fine. We still have plenty of daylight. As soon as I’m through with these patients, I’ll pack up and head back to camp.” Shelia gave her a worried look. Rarely did they ever leave one another alone at the tent out of fear of the guerrillas known to frequent the area in search of anything they could get their hands on—including medical supplies, pharmaceutical drugs, as well as a woman. So far, they had been lucky and hadn’t had any problems or encounters with anyone trying to steal anything.
“Okay, be careful, and I’ll see you in a little while.” Shelia took Alejandra’s hand and started down the potholed road leading back to camp.
Tenley turned back to her next patient, a young woman, probably in her early twenties. She looked down and noticed the woman was rubbing her protruding belly. Tenley’s chest tightened, and the thoughts from that November day came flooding back like a dam had broken.
Tenley laid on an exam table in the ER at the hospital where she worked. She loved her job, but she didn’t like it when she was on the other side of the action. She looked down at the IV stuck in her arm and rolled her eyes. The past few days, she hadn’t felt well, and today was no better. She felt worse and couldn’t keep anything down, including liquids. She blamed her sickness on the recent uptick in flu patients coming through the ER in the last two weeks. Thankfully one of the attending physicians that day was a close friend of hers and took pity on her. After getting her hooked up to an IV to get some fluids in her, she drew some blood samples just to be on the safe side.
If she did have the flu, at least she got it at the best time possible since Potter, her boyfriend, was currently deployed, and she wouldn’t spread it. Thoughts of Potter always brought a smile to her face.
After laying on the uncomfortable bed for what seemed like forever, Dr. Minor finally appeared looking a little pale, and Tenley sat up.
“So, what’s the verdict, Doc? Flu?”
The doctor leaned against the counter. “Ah…Tenley, you may want to brace yourself.”
“Just spit it out Melissa. I don’t think anything could be worse than the flu right now.”
“Tenley, you’re pregnant.”
“Excuse me?”
“Your hCG levels are high. You’re having a baby. I’ll pull in Jacklyn so she can do an ultrasound and see how far along you are.”
Tenley shook her head. No, there was no way she was pregnant. She couldn’t be. “I’m on the pill. I’ve been on the pill since high school.”
Her friend sat down beside her. “You’re a nurse Ten, you of all people know the pill isn’t 100% effective. Have you had unprotected sex in the last month or two?”
She bit her lip nervously, “Yes, but I take my pills like clockwork. I never forget.”
“Okay, have you taken any medications in the last, say, four to eight weeks?”
Tenley rewound the last few weeks in her mind…then hit herself in the forehead with the palm of her hand. How could she have been so stupid?
“I was on amoxicillin back in September for a sinus infection. Shit!”
Dr. Minor smiled. “I know this is a surprise for you, but are you okay with the news?”
Tenley wasn’t sure how to answer that question. She always imagined settling down and having a family one day, but today hadn’t been the planned day. Hell, Potter wasn’t even in the damn country. She started to hyperventilate.
Oh, god, oh, god. I’m having Potter’s baby.
“Tenley, take a deep breath,” Dr. Minor said, trying to calm her.
Tenley felt the tears start to emerge. She was no way prepared for this, and she certainly had no clue what Potter’s thoughts were on kids. They never talked about it. She turned toward her friend.
“I’m scared, Melissa.”
“Are you scared about the pregnancy in general, or are you scared how the daddy may react?”
She sniffled. “All of the above.”
God, she hoped so.
Tenley shook her head to clear those thoughts from her mind. She smiled softly at the pregnant woman in front of her. After checking the young woman’s vitals and making sure everything seemed okay with the baby, she handed the sweet girl some prenatal vitamins and sent her on her way.
The last two patients were males, who looked like they’d seen better days. But appearances didn’t matter here. She’d help them no matter what. She wiped the sweat that dripped down her forehead. The temperature was in the eighties, but the humidity made it seem hotter than it was.
She couldn’t believe she’d been here for almost four weeks already. She had cut contact off with home, except for her mom and Alex, whom she emailed once a week, letting them know she was safe.
She had to laugh to herself. She actually felt safer here in a foreign country where kidnappings were the norm than she did back home.
Chaz was the thorn in her side that she couldn’t remove. Because of him, her life, her family, and the man she was in love with were ripped from her.
She smiled, remembering the day she had first met Potter at Bayside. She had stopped by to pick up dinner for Alex when out of the blue, the tall, dark, and dangerous man walked through the glass doors and made his way towards her. Just the sight of him caused a spike in her heart rate, but when Stitch introduced him, and he spoke in that deep, but low voice of his, her body responded in ways she couldn’t begin to describe. His mysterious, dark eyes, along with his quietness, were what drew her in. That was quite funny, considering she was usually the loud and obnoxious person in their circle of friends.
Thinking of Potter brought tears to her eyes. God, she loved that man and missed him terribly. Even after the ugly words he spoke to her. He was a badass Navy SEAL who treated her like she was a queen. She knew deep down he could’ve been the one for her. But then Chaz had to reappear, turning her fairy tale into a living nightmare.
She had taken the coward’s way out of breaking things off with Potter. When she knew he had returned from his deployment, she had avoided his calls and texts, and eventually, she sent him a text telling him she didn’t think things were going to work out between them. Of course, he hadn’t taken the breakup lightly. He refused to believe she didn’t have any feelings for him. It had been hard withdrawing herself from the group dinners, and if by chance she happened to make an appearance for a birthday or a holiday like Christmas, she made sure to avoid him at all costs.
Getting through Christmas day at Alex’s house had been the most difficult. He never took his eyes off her that day. Even when she had her back turned, she could feel the heavy gaze of those dark eyes. When he walked her home and kissed her so passionately, she wanted to confide in him. But knowing she could potentially cost him his life, she thought better of it.
Tenley was so lost in her thoughts that she hadn’t noticed the two men who were waiting to be seen had walked up behind her. She saw a hand come up, but before she could turn fully around, she was shoved to the ground violently. Rolling onto her back, she saw the other guy had already gotten a hold of her bag and was filling it with anything he could get his hands on.
She quickly got to her feet before the first guy could jump on top of her. Determined not to let them get away with anything, she lunged for the guy with the bag. She put all her weight behind her five-foot-three frame and connected with the guy, causing them both to crash into the tables and sending supplies flying all over the place.
The guy who shoved her to the ground used her vulnerable position as his opportunity and pounced on her. He grabbed her arms and pinned them to her sides with his thick thighs. He reached down and ripped her t-shirt, exposing her chest. She screamed at the top of her lungs, hoping someone would hear and help her. He backhanded her as he yelled something in Spanish that she couldn’t understand. The other guy joined in and kicked her in the side of the head. As her vision started to fade, she felt one of them lick her neck then cup her breast, squeezing it so hard she knew there’d be a bruise. The putrid smell from their body odor made her gag.
She screamed again and was hit in the head, silencing her. She laid there, helpless on the ground as the world around her began to turn black. As she started to lose consciousness, she felt their hands all over her body, and all she could think about were Potter, her friends, and family, and how she would never see them again. Just before she was plunged into the dark abyss, she prayed someone would at least find her body.
Chapter Five
Potter took a seat at the long table alongside the rest of the team. After a grueling training day, they all decided to stop into Bayside to grab a bite to eat and unwind before heading home for some much-needed rest. If the government chatter was correct, their team could be getting called up in the coming weeks.
With the attempted assassination on an American Ambassador and his family in Colombia, there was talk of sending in a team to eliminate those individuals responsible. Thankfully both, the Ambassador and his family had escaped uninjured, though he imagined it had to have been a frightening experience for the family of four. Especially for his two teenage daughters.
In the wake of the assassination attempt, it had left a need to send a strong message to those criminals responsible that you don’t mess with the United States and not pay the consequence. All fingers were pointing to the Onyx Organization.
Onyx had a pretty bad rep of being the main stronghold in illegal drugs and arms dealings in South America, though the talk in the rumor mill was that the organization's main player Miguel Dias had been quietly distancing himself from the illegal side of the business, and that some of the other players within Miguel’s circle were not happy with his decision. That had led the team, including their commander, wondering if there was unrest within the ranks of the organization.
Potter was the second in command on the team behind Ace, his best friend. They had met at BUD/s training and supported each other through the grueling training, ultimately earning the famed and respected SEAL Trident Pin. He loved going into battle and the adrenalin rush it gave him. Hell, he knew all the guys loved it. If they didn’t, they would never have signed up to live the life of a SEAL.
You didn’t get through BUD/s by just being physically fit. It helped, but most of the training was a mental test. He’d met some of the physically strongest men ever, ring out because mentally they couldn’t cope with the conditions they had been placed in.
He knew before going into the training that failure wasn’t an option. Nothing was holding him back to give everything he had.
Besides his team, he had no other family. His mom and dad both died within a year of each other. Both from cancer. His mom of breast cancer, and then seven months later, his dad of pancreatic cancer. He was only fifteen years old. Luckily, his older sister Tracy who was five years older than him and in college moved back home and became his guardian. She finished her final year utilizing the college’s online courses. They were each other’s rock.
Shortly after Tracy had moved back, she started dating a guy she had met through work. A year later, he proposed, but something from the start of their relationship hadn’t sat right with Potter. He was speculative of the guy. He was very arrogant and domineering. Especially towards his sister.
Unfortunately, his instincts were right, and one night the guy ended up beating his sister to death. Potter had been seventeen and due to graduate high school the following week. After graduation, he didn’t know what to do. He felt like he was in a twilight zone. It was his high school counselor who recommended the military. So, a few weeks later, on his eighteenth birthday, he walked into a recruiting center, signed some papers, and took the Navy Oath.
“Hey, commander…Are you joining us over at Ace’s for the poker game this Thursday?” Potter hea
rd Stitch ask their CO Derek Connors as he took a swig from his beer.
Derek looked at Stitch and then glanced over at Potter and gave him a sympathetic smile. “I don’t know yet. Tenley is due back that day. I think Juliette was going to reach out and invite everyone over for dinner to welcome her home.”
Just hearing her name had Potter’s chest tightening. It had been almost four weeks since the love of his life left for Ecuador taking his heart with her. He knew Tenley was a dedicated nurse who had a passion for helping others, but he knew this trip had also been an opportunity for her to run away from her problems. Problems that she had been hiding from everyone. But, he was guilty himself, as he too ran when things got intense the last time he saw her.
He didn’t even know the cause of her miscarriage. How far along was she? Was she still able to have kids? Fuck, he didn’t know anything because he let his temper get the best of him and jumped to conclusions, spewing accusations at her. He was trained to be a patient man. He was a Navy SEAL for Christ sake. SEALs don’t run from problems. They face them head-on and deal with them.
In the last three and a half weeks, he had done a lot of soul searching. A couple of days alone holed up in his condo had given him some time to calm down and think, and he concluded there had to be something or someone behind her actions. He felt like a complete ass with how he handled the situation. He hadn’t been a nice person to be around. It took Ace pulling him aside during a training exercise to make him see that it was not only about him, and that his piss poor attitude had been affecting the team as well.
“Man…I don’t know what the fuck is going on with you, but you need to get your shit together. You’re my brother. I’m all ears if you want to talk. But I will tell you as your team leader you need to get whatever shit you’ve got going on in your head out of it before you get yourself or one of us killed.”
He hadn’t spoken a word to anyone about what went down at Tenley’s. But, he did take Ace’s words to heart and vowed that when Tenley got home, the two of them would sit down and work their shit out. Until then, all he could do was throw himself into his work and be the best Navy SEAL and teammate he could be.