~~~~~~~~~~~~
I started the spell, one that would tax even the connection I had with magic. I didn't want to forget who I am, but if I didn't I wouldn't be able to do what I needed to for the protection of my family.
“Sam, is it alright to come in?” Chris asked.
“I'm almost ready for your help Chris, so you're right on time,” I said.
He came in and looked around as though trying to figure out how I could even think of giving up who we both knew I was, even if it was only for a short time.
“Chris have you ever been afraid of something you knew you had to do?” I asked.
“Yes. Sam I was terrified the last time I tasted your blood. Nothing ever tasted so sweet, never had I felt the kind of power I did then, I was so afraid once I started I wouldn't be able to stop until it was to late, and this time scares me even more,” he said.
“Your bite isn't what scares me Chris, I know you'll only take enough to complete the magic. What scares me is I don't want to forget who I am. I don't want to go back to not believing in magic. I don't want to forget how I feel about you, about how much the thought of you biting me, giving me the blood of life, gives me comfort. Chris I know what it feels like to be who I am, to have the blood lust that you live with every day. I know because I wanted nothing more than to taste the blood of Major Chestnut. I could see his blood flowing through his neck, I could smell the fear he had as I revealed myself. I wanted to cherish the feel of his life slipping away, as he realized there was nothing more for him in this life. No, Chris what scares me is that the memories of all that will be gone until I again announce myself to the world. It scares me that I won't remember all the beautiful dresses I have back home,” I said.
He came up behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist. I felt his breath on my neck and closed my eyes knowing at any moment I would feel the needle pricks of his teeth as they sank into my neck puncturing the artery. I looked at the weave of the magic and felt the prick of his teeth and finished the tapestry of magic that would hide away all the memories of the last year plus of me being a woman, not just a woman, but a witch unlike any seen in hundreds of years, if ever. I cast out the spell and saw it fall on any and all who had known me as Samantha.
“Chris it's time. I need to get some sleep now,” I said.
“Sam, I'll do all I can to remember. I don't ever want to forget. I love you,” he said.
I felt his words more than heard them. As he sealed the holes his teeth made he felt me go limp in his arms and carried me to the bed getting me undressed and under the covers.
“I wish there would have been another way my love.” He kissed my cheek and turned for the door.
“Major is Captain Waters alright?” Mac asked.
“He's fine Sargent. He just needs sleep, will you see no one disturbs him before he comes out, it would be best for everyone,” Chris said.
I woke up I thought the next day and stuck my head out catching the sun full in the face. I saw Mac standing there and tried to say something, only to feel my voice stuck in the haze of sleep I was trying to shake.
“Captain, is there anything you need?” Mac asked.
“A drink Sargent, and something to eat would be nice,” I managed to get out.
I turned back to the bed and tried to sit and instead fell so I was laying half on and half off, and to tired still to even care.
“Sir, here let me help you sit up,” Mac said.
“How long have I been out Mac?” I asked.
“We got back three days ago sir. Major Jacobs said to let you sleep until you woke on your own. Sir the General isn't happy that no one would let him in to see you for the last three days,” Mac said.
“Let me eat this food you have here, then if you'll help me get dressed and over to HQ I guess I should let the General know I'm still alive,” I said.
I didn't hurry eating, but it seemed as soon as I started the plate was empty.
“I see how it is one bite for the Captain two bites for the Sargent.” I winked letting him know I noticed he hadn't taken any.
“If you want I'm sure I can get another plate for you sir,” Mac offered.
“I doubt I could eat anymore Mac. I do feel better now though. Thank you,” I said.
I tried to stand and almost feel again.
“You don't look any better sir. I'm sure General Talbot would be willing to come here to talk to you,” he said.
“Not if I can't get dressed. Mac, I'd rather not see him if the best I can do is sit here like a helpless child. Can you tell me what happened with Major Chestnut?” I asked.
“From what I've heard they're shipping him back home. The General was mad as a hatter when he heard the details of what happened out there. He said if he had his way the son-of-a-bitch would be spending the next twenty years in Leavenworth,” Mac said.
I couldn't help but smile at the thought of Jason saying something like that, flames shooting out of his ears and all.
“Mind if we try getting me dressed again now?” I asked.
“Whenever you're ready, but remember there is no rush,” he said.
I stood up again this time making it to my feet, but afraid to take a step for fear if I did, I would fall again.
“Mac have you got any idea why I'm so out of it. It seems hard enough to believe I've been out for three days, and now to find I can barely stand and walking unassisted is out of the question,” I said.
“I'm guessing it's how little sleep you got during that mission, that and the doc said you were a bit anemic,” he said.
I reached up and touched my neck as though checking for puncture wounds. Anemic? Me? Something wasn't making sense, but if I really was anemic there was a simple solution, I needed to add more beef liver to my diet, beans wouldn't hurt either, but liver was my preferred choice.
It took a good twenty minutes for me to get dressed with Mac doing most of the work for me.
“Well if you're up to helping me I guess it's as good a time as any to see if General Talbot is willing to see me,” I said.
“Curtis is waiting just outside to help too if needed,” Mac said.
“Mac I can't seem to remember what happened to end the battle. I remember the ranking enemy officer coming to see me to accept conditions, but I have no idea why, they had us at a stalemate, in part because of the actions of Major Chestnut, and his refusal to follow my orders even after Henry showed up with written orders from General Talbot giving me command of our forces,” I said.
“Sam I haven't got an answer, all I remember is being pushed harder than we ever had and then it stopped and the fight was over,” he said.
We headed for the door me taking as big of steps as I dared at the moment. I knew I would gain my strength back before long, but I felt so weak and tired at the moment. Mac said something when we reached the door and it opened showing not only Curtis but my entire unit standing there. I looked at each of the men in my little command and thought of how many times I had risked their lives on what seemed crazy ideas of how to accomplish what most would consider impossible missions.
The two men I had gotten from Rose company weren't there, but that didn't really surprise me since Sargent Collins and Sargent Cooper were both standing there wearing the patch of White Rose recon. I wondered if they had any idea just what those patches meant. On this base White Rose recon was an independent unit that was there to offer support to whoever needed it.
As I stepped out I heard someone call attention and saw everyone of these men come to attention and snap a salute that made the ones I learned in basic training seem sloppy at best. I gave a salute and ever man there dropped their salute.
“At ease gentlemen,” I said.
They all went to a snappy parade rest until I was down the few stairs to the ground. I knew there were tears in my eyes from the display of respect these men had shown me.
“I'm sure there are things you all could be doing other than standing around here. I'm sure Sargent De
nvers and Sargent Collins can manage to help me over to HQ just fine,” I said.
I smiled as they all started looking around as though trying to find something else to do even if it meant picking up litter on the base. I knew they would all follow me over to HQ and if either Mac of Curtis failed to assist me when I needed help, I could rely on any of them to be there in the blink of an eye.
“Lieutenant is General Talbot available?” I asked.
“I'm not sure Captain. I do know he wants to see you, so please don't run off,” the Lieutenant said.
“I doubt I could run anywhere right now Lieutenant, it only took me half an hour to make it from my quarters to here, and that was without stopping anywhere along the way,” I said.
I got a dirty look that said he didn't have a clue what I was talking about and heard Mac chuckle softly behind me.
“He said to have you go in sir,” the Lieutenant said.
I still had Mac on one side and Curtis on the other giving me both physical and mental support. We slowly worked our way toward Jason's office and were met by Jason before we covered half the distance.
“You look horrible Sam, what are you doing out of bed?” Jason asked.
“Why thank you Jason, I just thought I'd stretch my legs this morning. I didn't realize how far your office is from my quarters though,” I said.
“Mac I really do need to talk to Sam alone if you and Curtis wouldn't mind waiting out here once you've helped him into the chair in my office,” Jason said.
“No problem General,” Mac said.
“Lieutenant I don't want to be disturbed for anything less that this conflict ending,” Jason told his Lieutenant.
“Yes sir. Sir, what if he shows up before you're done with Captain Waters?” the Lieutenant asked.
“Then give him the most comfortable chair you can find and let him know as soon as I'm available I'll be with him,” Jason said.
“Sir we are talking...” the Lieutenant started.
“I know who you're talking about Lieutenant,” Jason said.
“Yes sir,” the Lieutenant said.
It took what seemed forever for me to make it into Jason's office and get settled in the chair across the desk from him.
“Tell me what happened Sam. All I've been able to piece together from everything I've heard and read of the different accounts is that something happened and General Tao wanted to talk to you about terms,” Jason said
“I'm afraid I'm not going to be able to shed much more light on it. I remember Major Chestnut refusing to assist in securing the center of our lines and both Chris and Henry hearing him telling me he intended to sit back and just watch as the great Captain Waters plans finally back fired on him. They both came over and placed Major Chestnut under arrest and asked two of the men in the area to see he was brought back here to face charges. The next thing I remember Curtis was telling me General Tao wished to speak with me about terms of surrender. Sir I have no idea why he wished to surrender because as I remember it we were getting our asses kicked,” I said.
“You know I put you in for promotion. I hope you didn't get your hope to high, it was shot down at the top. I tried to find out why and all I've gotten was a run around. No one wants to take responsibility or give a reason. You aren't the only one they're doing that to. I've been trying to get Chris promoted to Lieutenant Colonel ever since he got back after being thought missing in action,” Jason said.
“I can't say I'm surprised they didn't authorize a promotion for me, my guess is that they won't unless it's the only way of keeping me here,” I said.
“You still have a couple more years on your contract don't you?” he asked.
“I have six months mandatory active duty, then I can demand inactive reserve. Jason days like this have me wondering if when that time comes I shouldn't take the option,” I said.
“I know there isn't anyone here who would blame you if you do, but those same people I'm just as certain would also hope you don't. I don't have a single company commander who doesn't like the idea of you and your unit being here if they need you, and not one of them would insist on being in command while you're working to get them back home,” Jason said.
“It would be better if they learned to keep themselves from needing me to get them out of those kinds of situations. Maybe while I am recovering from whatever it is that's got me down right now I could work with the companies here on how to stay out of trouble,” I said.
“How would you feel about starting that training tomorrow? I thought the same thing and was just waiting for you to get about before saying anything,” he said.
The schedule for the training was set and I figured training more than just the various commanders would be appropriate. The command teams of each company really needed to work together and everyone who might end up in command should be able to look at the situation and come up with a way out.
Rather than starting the next day I asked for one more week to try gaining at least some of my strength back so I wasn't so dependent on my men to get anywhere. From Jason's office I talked Mac and Curtis into going to the officers chow hall with me promising if there was something they wanted I'd see they got it. I knew liver wasn't something I could get at the enlisted chow hall and hoped they might have some in the officers.
“Is there something special you want Captain?” the person behind the counter asked.
“Have you got any beef liver?” I asked.
“As a matter of fact we do. It came in just this morning we're supposed to be making it into pâté for a meeting in a few days, something about some big brass the General wants to impress,” they said.
“Is there any chance of getting some fried up with onions and garlic,” I asked.
“No problem sir, I'm sure we can squeeze a couple slices out and still have more than enough for the pâté the General wants. Can I get something for your men as well?” they asked.
“How about a couple big thick T-bones, and I know they both love their meat on the bloody side of rare,” I said.
“I'll have that out to you in about ten minutes unless you want your liver cooked more than medium well,” they said.
I took the question for rhetorical and didn't answer.
How was I going to teach someone to do what to me seemed only common sense? I found a table off away from anyone else there and took a seat.
“Are you two going to stand the whole time we're in here? Why don't you find a couple chairs and join me, I don't think I need a mother hen while we're sitting here,” I said.
I waited while they pulled up a couple more chairs and sat down with me.
“How hard do you think it would be to teach the command staffs of the companies to be able to keep themselves from getting trapped and needing us to come in and rescue them?” I asked.
Both men looked at me as though I had lost my mind.
“What would we do if we weren't needed any longer?” Curtis asked.
“I imagine some of us might end up teaching at one of the training centers for special forces. Others would likely be transferred into units here, or where ever else they might think they're needed. Those eligible to get out might choose to go home and have families,” I said.
“And what about you sir?” Mac asked.
“I've had enough excitement. I'm thinking about finishing my tour training the special forces companies here and then going home. Maybe even resign my commission,” I said.
“The fun isn't there any longer. I love what we do, but I wouldn't mind having things a littler slower paced, at least for a little while,” Mac said.
I still wasn't sure what I was going to do in six months, all I knew was I needed either more authority, or less authority, and to stay would mean at least two more years before I would again have the option of resigning my commission. I knew I was tired of killing. To waste life so foolishly, most of the men killed in this conflict didn't even know what they were fighting for. Then there were the folks back home, and what th
ey thought about what we were doing over here. How many of them would understand why I targeted officers first? Chances were there were very few of them, all they knew was I was over here killing an enemy they didn't understand.
“What about you Curtis. If White Rose is disbanded again what would you hope for?” I asked.
“I was thinking of reenlisting if it would mean being under your command, but if you're thinking of calling it quits I think I'll just finish out my time and go back home,” he said.
“What if you had the chance to go to Rose company?” I asked.
“Major Jacobs is the only other officer on this base I would feel comfortable serving under, but his company is full isn't it?” he asked.
“I'm sure if I gave you a good word he'd be willing to make an opening for you, but it would mean making a commitment,” I said.
“I'll have to think about it sir,” he said.
Our food was brought out and I almost died seeing the size of the steaks they set in front of Mac and Curtis. I hadn't seen steaks that big ever, and I knew both of them would finish them before I finished the liver and onions.
I had so many things going through my mind as I tried to eat. I didn't even taste the food. Eating seemed mechanical, just something I had to do, so I did it.
“Captain what did you do before joining the military?” Curtis asked.
“Graduated from high school. What did you do, Curtis?” I asked.
“You're barely in your twenties then?” he asked.
“I'll be twenty-one on my birthday,” I said.
“You have to be the youngest Captain in history,” he said.
“I don't know about that,” I said.
“So how did you become an officer without going to college?” he asked.
“I was picked for OCS out of basic training. When I completed OCS, I was promoted to First Lieutenant and chosen for special forces training. When I completed that I was promoted to Captain,” I said.
The Hidden Rose Page 56